Diocese of Fall River
The Anchor
F riday , September 17, 2010
Oldest Portuguese parochial school in the U.S. turns 100 Espirito Santo School to celebrate centennial Sunday By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff FALL RIVER — For the past century, Espirito Santo School has distinguished itself as a premier resource for a Gospelinformed, Catholic-based education while becoming a leader in bilingual studies. Now past and present students, faculty and staff members
will come together Sunday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the school’s founding with a Mass celebrated by Bishop George W. Coleman at Espirito Santo Church on Alden Street beginning at 11 a.m., followed by a celebratory luncheon at White’s of Westport at 1 p.m. “The Mass will feature the stuTurn to page 18
feeling right at home — Three of the 10 students from China attending Bishop Connolly High School this year are pictured with Principal E. Christopher Myron, left, and Director of Admissions/ Alumni Anthony C. Ciampanelli, right. The students, from left, Allen (Meng) Gao, Danna Liu, and Queena (Yanwen) Wang, are part of the Fall River school’s involvement with an international student placement agency. The students spend the entire academic year with a host family and have the option of completing their high school education at Connolly. (Photo by Dave Jolivet) CENTURY OF CLASS — Students, faculty and staff members of Espirito Santo School in Fall River recently posed in the formation of the number “100” to commemorate their school’s centennial celebration this weekend. Espirito Santo School, the oldest Portuguese parochial school in the United States, will mark the 100th anniversary of its founding Sunday with a Mass celebrated by Bishop George W. Coleman followed by a luncheon at White’s of Westport. (Photo courtesy of Lifetouch School Photography)
Government study says teens, parents support abstinence By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent FALL RIVER — At a time when federal funds have been pulled from abstinence education, a survey found that the majority of teens and their parents oppose premarital sex. The 196-page “National Survey of Adolescents and Their Parents: Attitudes and Opinions about Sex and Abstinence” showed that 62 percent of teens and 70 percent of their parents agreed with the statement, “Sexual intercourse is some-
thing only married people should do.” Those percentages increased to 80 for teens and 92 for parents in families that attended religious services weekly. By contrast, 35 percent of teens who never attended religious services and 36 percent of their parents agreed. The Department of Health and Human Services released the results on Aug. 23, 2010 even though the report was dated Feb. 26, 2009. The major study interviewed 1,000 teens and their parents. Turn to page 18
So different, yet so alike: East meets West at Bishop Connolly By Dave Jolivet, Editor FALL RIVER — Their worlds are roughly 7,000 miles apart, covering 12 time zones, and it’s a 14-hour flight one way or the other. Their cultures, in some ways, are even more distant. Yet teen-agers are teen-agers, and it’s
the spirit of youth that can easily recognize the similarities over the differences. Nowhere is that more evident than at Bishop Connolly High School, where 10 students from China are earning a high school education side-by-side with their
American peers. The fact that the program that began at Connolly in 2008 with five Chinese students and has doubled since is proof positive this is a very successful venture for all involved. Turn to page 15
Father Terence F. Keenan dies at age 73 By Dave Jolivet, Editor FALL RIVER — Retired diocesan priest, Father Terence F. Keenan, died suddenly September 11 while vacationing in Aruba. Born in New Bedford, Father Keenan attended St. Mary’s School for grades one through six, then Holy Name School, both in New Bedford, for grades seven and eight. He went on to graduate from Holy Family High School in New Bedford before entering St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md. He was ordained a priest on May 1, 1965 by Auxiliary Bishop James J. Gerrard in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.
Father Keenan’s first assignment was as a parochial vicar at St. Joseph’s Parish in North Dighton. He also served at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis; St. Patrick’s in
Father Terence F. Keenan
Wareham; St. James in New Bedford; and Sacred Heart in Taunton before receiving his first pastorship at Immaculate Conception Parish in Fall River in 1981. He served there for 10 years and was named pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Swansea in 1991. In 1997, Father Keenan became pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in South Dartmouth, where he served until his retirement in June of 2007. He took up residence at the Cardinal Medeiros residence in Fall River. Shortly before his retirement, Father Keenan underwent hip surgery. In an interview with The Anchor, he quipped, “My retirement hope Turn to page 19
40 Days for Life begins September 22 - page 20
News From the Vatican
2
September 17, 2010
In Britain, pope will focus on common Christian mission VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI’s trip to Great Britain will feature strong ecumenical moments, but the focus will be more on what Christians can do together than on issues still dividing them, said the Vatican’s top ecumenist. Archbishop Kurt Koch, the new president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said obviously there are problems in the Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue, “but it is important to speak about what we have in common.” When Pope Benedict and Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury lead evening prayer together tonight, he said, “the Christian communities will be challenged to work and pray together to ensure that the Christian message is confidently proclaimed so that faith can have a creative involvement in British life.” Archbishop Koch and other council officials met with reporters September 9 to discuss the ecumenical importance of the pope’s visit September 16-19 to Scotland and England, looking particularly at Catholic-Anglican relations. Efforts to promote full unity have stumbled over the decision of some members of the Anglican Communion to ordain female priests and bishops and to bless homosexual unions; the decisions also have caused tensions within the Anglican Communion and have led some Anglicans to consider joining the Roman Catholic Church while preserving some of their Anglican heritage. The pope’s decision in 2009 to allow the establishment of Catholic ordinariates, special jurisdictions like dioceses, for former Anglicans led to some unease among some Anglicans and Catholic ecumenists who saw the move as running counter to the ecumenical goal of promoting full, visible unity. “There are difficulties in the Anglican Communion and not all Anglican communities have the same convictions — that’s a great problem for us,” Archbishop Koch
The Anchor www.anchornews.org
told reporters. “When the Anglican Church decides to have females in the ministry, we must respect it,” he said. But he also said that showing respect for their ministers does not mean Catholics can pretend the practice fits in with the Catholic understanding of ordained ministry. “However, it is important to see these issues in the broader context of the common witness of Roman Catholics and Anglicans,” the archbishop said, adding that Catholics and Anglicans need to support each other and work together to proclaim the Gospel in “a complex modern society” like Great Britain. “The pope’s message is a very positive message for what is common to both churches,” he said; the real problems still existing between Catholics and Anglicans are discussed in the context of the formal dialogues but will not be the center of attention during the trip. Msgr. Mark Langham, the pontifical council official responsible for relations with Anglicans, said the fact that the pope and archbishop of Canterbury will pray together will send a message “that what we have together is much more important that anything that divides us, and our task together is to proclaim the Gospel and to make a contribution to British society.” Reporters also had questions about the ecumenical implications of Pope Benedict traveling to Great Britain to beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman, a 19th-century leader in the Anglican’s Oxford Movement before becoming Roman Catholic. Msgr. Langham pointed out that Cardinal Newman already is commemorated as a saintly theologian on the Church of England’s liturgical calendar. Archbishop Koch said Cardinal Newman’s teaching about the importance of a correctly formed conscience, one which seeks and strives to act on truth, is important for all Christians, especially given the modern debates on a variety of moral and ethical issues. OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 54, No. 35
Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service
Published weekly except for two weeks in the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $20.00 per year, for U.S. addresses. Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address
PUBLISHER - Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase m arychase@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza k ensouza@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org PoStmaSters send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722. THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.
a pontiff of the arts — Pope Benedict XVI addresses musicians at a concert organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the courtyard of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, recently. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)
Mozart’s sacred music reflects hope in face of death, pope says CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) — Strongly rooted in his faith, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart used his sacred compositions to celebrate God’s love and hope even in the face of suffering and death, Pope Benedict XVI said. Specifically, Mozart’s “Requiem” is “an exalted expression of faith that fully recognizes the tragic nature of human existence” and yet it is also aware that human life is “illuminated by God’s love,” he said. The pope made his comments at the end of a special concert performed in his honor at the papal summer residence at Cas-
tel Gandolfo recently. The concert was hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and featured Mozart’s “Requiem.” Claudio Desderi conducted the performance by the Italian Symphony Orchestra of Padua and Veneto and by Turin’s “Accademia della Voce” choir. Pope Benedict said he has always had a deep fondness for Mozart. He said every time he listens to his music, he is transported back in time to his local parish when he was a boy, listening to Mozart’s “Great Mass” on holy days.
“In my heart I would feel a ray of heavenly beauty reach me and I get the same feeling every time, even today, when I listen to this great dramatic and peaceful meditation on death,” he said. In a letter to his dying father, Mozart demonstrated “a deep and simple faith” that is also reflected in his work, “Requiem,” the pope said. The musical piece reminds the listener to fully appreciate earthly life as a gift from God and at the same time helps one transcend the earthly world by seeing death as being “the key” for opening the door to eternal happiness, he said.
Rights need universal, not local, foundations, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Universal rights grounded upon a rational, objective foundation are needed if countries are to successfully combat the problems of violence, religious intolerance and violations against human dignity, Pope Benedict XVI told a group of European legislators. “How could a fruitful dialogue among cultures take place without common values, rights and stable universal principles understood in the same way” by all member states of the Council of Europe?, he asked. The pope met privately with 38 members of the bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at the end of a weekly general audience at the Vatican recently. The pope recalled that 2010 marked the 60th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, which commits member states to promote and defend human dignity.
He also recognized the parliamentary assembly’s recent work in trying to address the problems of extremism, human trafficking, the illegal drug trade and prostitution, as well as its efforts to help war victims, defend religious freedom and fight religious intolerance and violence. The only way international bodies such as the Council of Europe can be effective in a multicultural world is by emphasizing the universal validity, inviolability, inalienability and indivisibility of human rights, he said. There are many risks if rights, values and duties were changing and merely relative to particular cultures and local laws, he said. Such relativism does not offer “solid and lasting ground for supranational institutions,” such as the Council of Europe, he said. “These values, rights and duties are rooted in the natural dig-
nity of each person, something that is accessible to human reasoning,” he said. Christianity does not impede, but rather promotes the search for common ground and invites people “to seek a supernatural basis for (human) dignity,” he said. Such universal principles, when they are adhered to, will help international bodies “respond adequately to the decisive and urgent challenges” facing many countries today, including the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death, marriage which is “rooted in the exclusive and indissoluble gift of self between one man and one woman,” and the freedom of religion and education, the pope said. “I encourage you to fulfill your sensitive and important mission with moderation, wisdom and courage at the service of the common good of Europe,” he said.
3
The Anchor
September 17, 2010
In Africa, U.S. bishop finds ‘youthfulness, energy, zest for life’ By Nancy Wiechec Catholic News Service
Father Timothy P. Reis
Father Richard D. Wilson
Bishop Coleman appoints two new diocesan deans
By Dave Jolivet, Editor
FALL RIVER — Bishop George W. Coleman has announced two new deans for the Diocese of Fall River effective September 15. Father Timothy P. Reis, pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Taunton, has been named dean of the Taunton Deanery, and Father Richard D. Wilson, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James in New Bedford, is the new dean of the New Bedford Deanery. The Fall River Diocese has five deaneries including Attleboro, the Cape and Islands, and Fall River. Reappointed to their current dean positions are Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, Attleboro; Father George C. Bellenoit, the Cape and Islands; and Msgr. Edmund J. Fitzgerald, Fall River. A deanery is a division of a diocese into smaller groupings, usually based on geographic designation. The duties of a dean in the Fall River Diocese are: to convene and conduct deanery meetings; undertake the annual visitation of the parishes of the deanery, to exam-
ine the sacramental registers, and inspect parish properties; be available to the clergy of the deanery for consultation; be available to the bishop for consultation regarding the appointment of pastors within the deanery; and be a member of the Presbyteral Council. “I appreciate the bishop’s confidence in appointing me,” Father Reis told The Anchor. He takes over for Father Jay T. Maddock, now pastor of Holy Name Parish in Fall River. “I hope I can continue what has been a great tradition here. This is a very active deanery and I hope we can build on that. We will continue to work as a team to use our resources to continue the Church’s mission.” Father Wilson told The Anchor, “I am honored and humbled to be chosen by the bishop. I hope to do the best job I can, while continuing as pastor and director of the Hispanic Apostolate. I’ll do what I can for the bishop and for my brother priests and their concerns.” Father Wilson takes over for Father John J. Oliveira.
Diocese of Fall River
OFFICIAL
His Excellency, the Most Reverend George W. Coleman, Bishop of Fall River, has announced the following appointments: Reverend Monsignor Stephen J. Avila, V.F., Dean of Attleboro Deanery. Very Reverend George C. Bellenoit, V.F., Dean of Cape Cod and the Islands Deanery. Reverend Monsignor Edmund J. Fitzgerald, V.F., Dean of Fall River Deanery. Very Reverend Timothy P. Reis, V.F., Dean of Taunton Deanery. Very Reverend Richard D. Wilson, V.F., Dean of New Bedford Deanery. Reverend David M. Andrade, Chaplain of Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River. Reverend David A. Costa, Chaplain of Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro. Reverend David C. Deston, Chaplain of Pope John Paul II High School, Hyannis. Reverend Gregory A. Mathias, Chaplain of Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth. Reverend David Stopyra, OFM Conv., Chaplain of Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton. Reverend Michael Shanahan, SS.CC., Chaplain of Our Lady’s Haven, Fairhaven. Effective, September 15, 2010
ACCRA, Ghana — A U.S. bishop on his first visit to the continent of his ancestors said he found Africa to be full of life and great potential. “There is youthfulness, energy and a zest for life here,” said Washington Auxiliary Bishop Martin D. Holley, during a recent visit to Ghana and Nigeria. “No one seems to sit still.” Bishop Holley traveled with a U.S. Catholic delegation led by Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla. Both serve on the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee on the Church in Africa; Bishop Ricard is chairman. The delegation met with Church leaders in Ghana and Nigeria, discussing ways in which the U.S. and African Churches can be better partners and share resources. Bishop Holley celebrated a three-hour Mass at St. Kizito Church in Nima, a suburb of Accra. It was a typical Ghanaian service rich in traditional hymns, and ethnic music and drumming. Every pew, chair and bench on the church floor and in its balcony was full. People stood outside, listening. Many women, men and children were dressed in fabrics imprinted with religious images and the name of the parish patron, St. Kizito. Bishop Holley said he was awe-struck by the community, its joy and its sense of unity. “We received welcoming, lively and bright smiles,” he said. The faith of the Catholic parishioners is “strong and full of joy.” “I felt our voices being lifted up to heaven,” he added. St. Kizito has more than 9,000 parishioners, and its pastor, Father Raymond Osei-Tutu, said, “We are praying for more.” About 1,000 children — a mix of Christian and Muslim students — attend the Church-run school. The parish has its challenges, said Father Osei-Tutu. “Nima is a very poor area. It’s not a place anyone would want to follow you to,” he told Catholic News Service. “But when you’re inside (the church), it’s a very different feeling.” People are happy and parishioners respond to Church activities, he said. The parish runs a public washroom, because many homes in the community do not have proper facilities. Later this year, it will begin an adult reading program to help alleviate the high rate of illiteracy among adults there. St. Kizito’s role in Nima is
similar to churches in communities all over the continent. Many Catholic communities have benefitted from the nearly $5 million U.S. Catholics have given to the U.S. bishops’ Pastoral Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa. Since its establishment in 2006, the fund has supported seminarian and clergy formation, training for catechists, evangelization and communications efforts, leadership training and other pastoral programs on the world’s poorest and most underdeveloped continent. U.S. Catholics also help with contributions to Catholic Relief Services, which operates in 35 African nations, including Ghana. The U.S. bishops’ international relief and development agency focuses on education, health, treatment to patients with HIV, peace initiatives, clean water and sanitation, food programs and emergency response for all people. Even with its struggles, the
greatest hope for the Church in Ghana is its youth, said Accra Archbishop Charles G. PalmerBuckle. He said 60 percent of Catholics in the country are age 30 or younger. “It is a massive force,” he said. “If we do invest well in them, build their capacity in social, political, economic and financial (ways) as well as in the Church’s social teachings and the Catholic faith, then there’s no reason not to have greater hope,” he said. The growing Church in Africa seeks more than financial assistance from its First World partners. The archbishop told the visiting delegation that he hopes for more exchanges between the U.S. and African Churches. He said he would welcome exchanges between youths, laypeople, clergy and others, especially in the areas of academics, business and government.
a growing church — Seminarians attend Mass at St. Peter’s Regional Seminary in Pedu, outside Cape Coast, Ghana, recently. This spring the seminary had 36 men ordained to the priesthood. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
4
The Church in the U.S. Archbishop says pope’s call for new evangelization offers opportunity
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI’s call for a new evangelization offers a special opportunity for all Catholics, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington said in a new pastoral letter titled “Disciples of the Lord: Sharing the Vision.” “What we call the new evangelization is all about retelling the story, this time awakening a sense of meeting Jesus,” the archbishop wrote in the pastoral, released September 9. He encouraged clergy, religious and laypeople in the archdiocese to embrace the pope’s call, to renew their own love for Christ and then to share their faith with others who may have drifted away from the faith or who have never heard the Gospel message. “Our archdiocesan efforts to share the good news and invite others into the joy of new life in Christ are not simply a new program — one among many,” he said. “I hope all of us will see the new evangelization as a lens through which we see everything that we are doing, but now in the light of our understanding of how important it is for each of us to tell the story, share the excitement and be that leaven where the faith has gone flat and that salt where the faith has lost its zest,” he said. Catholics can help transform the world by reaching out to others with Christ’s message of hope and love, the pastoral noted. “We can help people we know, neighbors, co-workers, even, in some cases, family members, hear all over again, this time for the first time, the good news,” the archbishop wrote. “We are summoned to transmit faithfully the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. The Church’s primary mission is evangelization,” he said. “The word ‘evangelization’ comes
from a Greek word for ‘Gospel.’ Jesus himself establishes evangelization as of the very nature and essence of the Church when he gives his disciples the commission to evangelize, that is to announce this good news ‘to all the nations.’” The Second Vatican Council emphasized that every Catholic, as a disciple of Christ in today’s world, is called to undertake the mission of evangelization. “Strengthened by the summons of Jesus and by love of our neighbor, it is our call to reach out again, in charity and truth, to our brothers and sisters who have been away from the practice of their faith so that the Church may bear abundant fruit for each person, each parish and for our society,” Archbishop Wuerl wrote. In June, Pope Benedict announced he was establishing the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization “to repropose the perennial truth of Christ’s Gospel.” “Somehow in what we do and how we express our faith, we have to be able to repropose our belief in Christ and his Gospel for a hearing among those who are convinced that they already know the faith and it holds no interest for them,” Archbishop Wuerl wrote. Christ’s truth is urgently needed in a world where many people are distracted by secularism, materialism and individualism, he said. Any evangelization effort begins not in a program, “but in a person, Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” he said. The call to discipleship “involves us welcoming Jesus into our everyday lives,” wrote Archbishop Wuerl. “We can do this by beginning and ending our days in prayer, by reading Scripture each day and hearing God’s word and reflecting on how to make it a part of our life.
We draw closer to Jesus by faithfully attending Mass and receiving our Lord in the Eucharist, and by accepting his love and mercy in the sacrament of penance.” Today’s evangelists, like the first disciples who burned with love for Christ, are called to help others get to know and love Jesus, he said. “We are called not just to announce, but to adapt our approach so as to attract and to urge an entire generation to find again the uncomplicated, genuine and tangible treasure of friendship with Jesus,” he said. He said Catholics must deepen their own faith, then reach out to others in various ways: “a direct conversation about Catholicism, extending an invitation to Mass, or providing simple witnesses such as blessing ourselves before a meal in a restaurant, offering to pray for someone in need, keeping a devotional item on our desk at work or wearing a crucifix for others to see.” He said Catholics can plant the seeds of faith whether they are working alongside colleagues, standing next to fellow passengers on the subway or waiting with other parents to pick up their children from sports activities. Archbishop Wuerl said those engaged in parish ministry, including priests, deacons and catechists, and parishioners themselves, can welcome people home when they return to church for Easter or Christmas or for the Baptism of their children or the funeral Mass of a loved one, or while they face illness. To reach those who have drifted away from the faith or whose faith has grown cold, the pastoral proposed using new means of communication, including websites and email. A goal of the archdiocese’s new Office of Evangelization, Outreach and Information is to use “new media to invite, engage and teach,” said the pastoral. The Washington Archdiocese has a new email system using email addresses submitted by Catholics earlier this year. A message from Archbishop Wuerl about the new pastoral was sent out along with an online link to the full text: www. adw.org/pastoral/pdf/ADW_PastoralNewE_Eng.pdf. “As God was with those who first accepted the challenge, so God is with us as we accept the summons to be witnesses today in all that we say and do,” Archbishop Wuerl wrote in conclusion. “We renew our commitment in the sure expectation that God’s grace working through each of us can bring about a renewal of faith and a rebirth of life in the Spirit.”
September 17, 2010
can’t go any further — Jesuit Father Matthew Ruhl touches his bicycle’s front tire to the Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S.A. marker in Key West, Fla., recently, after completing a 99-day, 5,052-mile bicycle ride from Cape Flattery, Wash. Father Ruhl, who is pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Kansas City, Mo., and his team of 11 other bike riders, made the diagonal cross-country trek to promote Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty, a plan to cut U.S. poverty in half by 2020. (CNS photo/Rob O’Neal, Florida Keys News Bureau handout via Reuters)
Catholic student group wrongly denied funding, court rules MADISON, Wis. (CNS) — A federal appeals court has ruled that the University of Wisconsin imposed unconstitutional limits on the activities of a Catholic student group at the school. The August 30 U.S. Court of Appeals ruling is a victory for the Badger Catholic, which has been arguing with the university for years about which activities are eligible to receive student-fee funding, according to Inside Higher Ed, a Washington-based higher education news journal. The decision was based on several U.S. Supreme Court rulings that have upheld the use of public funds for the activities of religious organizations, Inside Higher Ed reported. Nico Fassino, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and chairman of the Badger Catholic board of directors, said that when the Catholic organization was able to receive funding, programs with a religious feel were “more effectively able to serve the student.” Since the university decided to deny student-fee funding, however, the Badger Catholic was not able to offer programs that explicitly involved prayer or worship, Fassino told the Catholic Herald, official newspaper of the Diocese of Madison. “It’s been a struggle for an organization that’s fundamentally rooted in religion to serve the needs of students on the campus without addressing their spiritual needs,” he said.
Though he said he had not yet fully read the ruling, Fassino said his understanding from lawyers was that the decision would impact not only the Badger Catholic, but other religious student organizations on campus. “This ruling will allow for all religious organizations on campus to get involved in getting access to funding,” he said. “It will allow student organizations to deepen the level of their offerings, to serve the students in a more unique and effective way now if they are able to offer programs with prayer and worship involved.” The Badger Catholic serves 4,500 to 5,000 students with student-developed publications, service trips, peer faith mentoring, speaker series and more, but expects to grow beyond that, Fassino said. “The Badger Catholic is not some insular Catholic community; our goal is to reach every student on campus,” Fassino said. “We’ve always tried to keep a campuswide discussion of faith alive, to keep alive the ideas of faith in the student consciousness.” Advocates for the Badger Catholic called the decision a victory for the constitutional rights of Christian student groups, while groups who disagree with the ruling said it sets a dangerous precedent and that funds for evangelization, prayer and worship should always come from independent sources, according to Inside Higher Ed.
5 The Church in the U.S. Wisconsin bishops publish letter to guide Catholics in upcoming elections September 17, 2010
Madison, Wis. (CNA) — In advance of the 2010 elections, the five Catholic bishops of Wisconsin have written a letter to provide Catholics a “framework” of Catholic social teaching to help them form their consciences in evaluating candidates and public policies. The letter called the right to life the “most essential” right. The bishops’ September 1 letter emphasized four themes: the right to life, the protection of marriage, assistance for the poor, and the protection of the environment. “First and foremost, the right to life of every human person — from conception to natural death — is the primary and thus most essential of all human rights,” the letter stated. Both faith and reason confirm that human life is not a “privilege” but a “right” that society must protect. “As Christians, we are called to witness to an authentic ‘human ecology’ which safeguards all human life — no matter how frail or impaired — from being manipulated or destroyed,” the bishops explained. Discussing marriage as God’s
established foundation of the the need for unity on essential ness to Our Lord Jesus Christ family and the “vital cell of so- matters of Church doctrine as when, in the midst of our vigciety,” the bishops said that mar- well as the disagreement possible orous debates, we demonstrate riage is a social as well as charity and respect for one a sacred good that governeing a faithful citizen is another,” the bishops comment needs to recognize never easy. Yet, if Catho- mented. “Being a faithful and encourage. “Marriage citizen is never easy. Yet, promotes the interest of lics continue to remain engaged, if Catholics continue to rechildren who need the con- not just politically but also cultur- main engaged, not just postant love, attention, and ally, there is so much good that we litically but also culturally, guidance of their mothers will contribute to our nation and to there is so much good that and fathers to reach their we will contribute to our fullest potential,” they ex- our world.” nation and to our world.” plained. They said they wrote A “consistent life ethic” also about non-essentials or about the not to endorse candidates or to means recognizing God’s special means of pursuing true goods. impose doctrinal beliefs but to love for the poor and all those in “All of us, however, bear wit- assist the laity’s role as citizens distress, they continued, citing Matthew 25. They also quoted Pope John Paul II’ s encyclical “Centesimus Annus” which noted the need to change lifestyles and the structures of power to help the marginalized succeed economically and develop as people. “Our natural resources are gifts from God and we are all responsible for protecting them,” the bishops added, noting that the wise use of natural resources will give everyone “the opportunity to thrive.” The bishops’ letter recognized
“B
Abortion chain under investigation after teen critically injured Elkton, Md. (CNA) — A four-state abortion business is under investigation after an abortionist allegedly critically injured a woman during an abortion and used a private car rather than an ambulance to take her to a hospital. The business has a habit of moving late-term patients across state lines. Police also removed 35 late-term fetuses or their parts from one facility. Steven Brigham, 54, would initiate abortion procedures at his Voorhees, N.J. abortion clinic and then lead a caravan to his facility in Elkton, Md. to continue the abortions. When one 18-year-old woman suffered a critical uterine perforation during surgery at the Elkton branch, the bleeding, semiconscious woman was put into the back of a rented Chevrolet Malibu and driven to a nearby hospital emergency room, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. According to medical board documents, Brigham and the responsible abortionist Nicola Riley originally contemplated taking the patient by wheelchair to the hospital about two blocks away. The two abortionists reportedly dodged questions “about who they were, what had happened, and from where they had come.”
The patient’s injuries were so complicated that she had to be flown by helicopter to Johns Hopkins Hospital. Riley “returned to the Elkton office … to perform another abortion,” the documents report. The Maryland Board of Physicians and Elkton police are investigating Brigham’s abortion business, American Women’s Services, which has clinics in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. On August 25 the Maryland Board of Physicians ordered Brigham to stop performing abortions in its state, where he has never been licensed to practice medicine, the Associated Press reports. The board also suspended the licenses of Riley and George Shepard Jr., who ordered medication for AWS’ Maryland facilities and took part in the arrangement of starting abortions in one state and having patients drive across state lines to complete the killing procedure. Police who raided the Elkton facility removed 35 “lateterm fetuses and fetal parts.” The remains were frozen and records showed fetal ages of up to 36 weeks, two weeks short of full-term. The police also raided the Voorhees, N.J. headquarters of the 15-clinic abortion chain.
to “bring the love and truth of Jesus Christ into a world where these are so dearly needed.” The letter was signed by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki of Milwaukee; Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison; Bishop Peter F. Christensen of Superior; Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay; and Bishop William P. Callahan of La Crosse. While federal tax rules prohibit churches from endorsing or opposing specific candidates’ election, they may speak for or against specific legislation or positions.
6
The Anchor Necessary distinctions and conversations
Around the anniversary of September 11, the subject of Islam in America was very much in the news. There has been the ongoing controversy surrounding the planned construction of the Cordoba Center, a Muslim community center that Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf is seeking to build a couple of blocks from the ruins of the World Trade Center. There were also last week the much-hyped plans of Rev. Terry Jones, pastor of a 50-member church in Gainesville, Fla., to burn the Koran as a means to protest the “Ground Zero mosque” construction and draw attention to what he said is a “very dangerous and very radical” element of Islam; even though Rev. Jones decided not to carry out his plan, Korans were burned on September 11 by two pastors in Springfield, Tenn. and a Cordoba Center protester in Manhattan. Catholic readers of a diocesan newspaper certainly do not need a lengthy analysis of why burning the Koran is, in the words of a communiqué from the Vatican’s Council for Interreligious Dialogue, an “outrageous and grave gesture.” There are many legitimate ways to protest the building of the Cordoba Center and to express anger at the radical Muslims who promote and carry out terrorist acts. To desecrate the Muslim holy book is not one of them. Such an action serves only to affront, wound, scandalize, and horrify all Muslims as well as, in their opinion, attack and offend the God whom they believe dictated the work. With regard to Muslim terrorists, such an action will serve not to convert them, but to enrage them, and doubtless to facilitate their recruitment efforts and propaganda. The fact that the Koran burning was promoted by those purporting to be Christian ministers — followers of the one who instructed us to love even their enemies, pray for their persecutors, do good to those who hate them and bless those who curse them — makes it all the more disgraceful. It was good to see how universal and univocal the condemnations of the Koran burning were. At the same time, however, there was something important missing in all the censorious commentary. It was totally legitimate to note that Koran burning will hurt the reputation of the United States abroad by making all Americans seem like people who tolerate the desecration of others’ sacred books. It was accurate to emphasize that igniting Islam’s sacred text will make the work of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan more difficult, because American soldiers and diplomats risk being painted with a broad brush as Islam-hating Koran-burners. But it’s something altogether of another order when General David Petraeus, for example, says that it will endanger the lives of American troops, when security experts say that it will dramatically raise the risk of terrorist attacks, and when Rev. Jones ended up calling off his sacrilegious stunt because, reportedly, the FBI showed him more than 100 credible threats to end his life. As abominable as the burning of Islam’s holy book is, the possible murder of a Koran-burner, or the wanton destruction of groups of innocent people through terrorist retaliation, is worse. If an atheist had been threatening to burn a Bible in Gainesville or an anarchist the American flag, it’s highly unlikely that such a publicity stunt would have garnered the near constant attention of media outlets, not to mention statements from the president, the secretary of state, the head of U.S. military forces overseas, and so many international governments. When more than 10,000 people assembled outside the U.S. embassy in Tehran on Saturday to burn the American flag, and when Muslim mobs in 2006 assembled in various places around the world to desecrate the Bible and burn in effigy photos of Pope Benedict (not to mention burn five churches in the West Bank and murder an Italian nun in Somalia in cold-blood), it got some attention, but didn’t evoke anywhere near the same types of condemnations as Rev. Jones elicited. The principal reason for the divergence is something that shouldn’t be overlooked: there’s no movement of excessively-patriotic Americans or fanatically-fundamentalist Christians that thinks that the appropriate response to outrageous acts such as the desecration of national symbols or sacred texts is to murder those responsible or their fellow citizens or believers. The mostly unmentioned subtext to the frenzy around Rev. Jones’ proposed action is that President Obama, General Petraeus, Vatican officials, parents of soldiers, parents of school children, and ordinary citizens recognized that they, their loved ones, and those they have a duty to protect might be killed by those who believe killing innocent people is a legitimate response to such desecration. Even though the proposed destruction of an innocent human being made in God’s image and likeness — like that called for by two Iranian grand ayatollahs earlier this week in a fatwa against those who insult the Koran — is infinitely worse than the proposed destruction of a sacred text, few leaders have condemned this homicidal retaliatory tendency in segments of the Islamic world, possibly because they believe that even making what should be an obvious point might escalate that barbarism even further. This brings us to the controversy over the construction of the Cordoba Center near Ground Zero. The main issue is not freedom of religion, since everyone recognizes that Muslims have an ability to build mosques or cultural centers in the United States, as they have in several locations in New York City. It’s not even about the fitness of having an Islamic center, whether cultural or religious, close to the former World Trade Center. The Park 51 property has, rather, become a proxy battleground for the way non-Muslim Americans feel about the connection between Islam and terrorism. Those who think that the 9/11 terrorists were observant Muslims attacking what they believed was the Great Satan, who assert that Muslims in general and the financial backers of the Cordoba Center in particular are bent on creating a world-wide Ummah through violent jihad or other means, and who are seeking to have the Ground Zero cultural center stand as a symbol of past and future triumph, are among those most vehemently opposed to it. Those who look at Islam as a peaceful religion — and the terrorists as unfaithful Muslims who manipulate the meaning of jihad to satisfy their unholy ends — view the construction of the Cordoba Center at Park 51 as a sign of our country’s respect for Muslims and their religion and a conspicuous sign of American reverence for religious freedom. Which group is right? The answer is, basically, that both groups are. There are peaceful Muslims and there are homicidal Muslims, both of whom claim to find their justification in the Koran. Just as it is wrong to treat all Muslims as terrorists, so it is likewise naive to treat all Muslims as peaceful. Most Muslims are peaceful, prayerful and pious, but a sizeable minority — fueled by certain belligerent nation states — is not. The Cordoba Center is really a question about what type of Muslims are seeking to build a community center. Because there is no central doctrinal authority in Islam, there are essentially many schools of Muslim interpretation. Many hermeneutical schools — the ones that often don’t get the attention — help people practice faithfully the five pillars of Islam and live according to the teachings of the Koran, which, like Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, also features the command to love Allah with all one’s being and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. There are other schools of interpretation, like that of Imam Anwar al-Awlaki in Falls Church, Va. — who helped to incite Major Nadal Hasan to murder 12 and wound 31 at Fort Hood, Texas and afterward praised him for his heroism — that preach hate and destruction. Six Muslim countries decree the death penalty for those converting from Islam. Other interpretative schools not only permit but promote honor killings as well as the execution of women who have been raped (and not their rapists) because these women have violated the prohibition of sex outside of marriage, which they believe warrants capital punishment. The conflict between peace-loving Muslims and murderous Muslims is something that has long plagued peaceful Muslims in the Islamic world. In several Muslim countries, the homicidal Muslims have it life-threatening to have that conversation publicly. This is a conversation, however, that — as recent events have made clear — needs to take place, and take place soon, in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
September 17, 2010
‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner’
A
that of Cain’s against his brother Abel, t the beginning of each Mass, in order that we may more worthily we see how sin not only separates us from God, but also weakens our resolve celebrate the sacred mysteries of our to admit that we have done wrong and faith, the priest invites us to take a moment to call to mind our sins and beg for need forgiveness. When God asked where they were, Adam and Eve said God’s mercy and forgiveness. This part that they were hiding. They did not want of the Mass, called the Penitential Rite, to face God because of what they had reminds us that we are all sinners and done. that we are all in need of God’s mercy. After Cain had just committed the This moment of silent recognition of world’s first murder, God asked where our sinfulness also prepares our hearts his brother Abel was and Cain responded and minds to enter into the mystery of what Christ Jesus did for us on the cross by saying, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). In neither case were the and what he continues to do for us at sinners able to admit that they had done each celebration of the Mass. This very important part of the Mass prepares us to something wrong. The Penitential Rite at each Mass does not allow us to hide “put out into the deep.” from our sins from God, but in fact gives This part of the Mass can often be overlooked or even reduced to just a mo- us the opportunity to admit our sinfulness and to cry out, “Lord, have mercy.” ment to quiet ourselves from the chaos “Lord, have mercy! Christ, have of our very busy lives. But let us not be mercy! Lord, have mercy!” often said or mistaken, it is a moment for us to ask chanted in the original Greek — Kyrie for God’s forgiveness and mercy. If we fail to recognize our own sinfulness, our Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison — is an imitation of the prayer of the relationship with him is compromised. blind men begging the Lord to restore Jesus himself spoke this parable to their sight (Mt certain people 9:29), of Barwho were contimaeus (Mk vinced of their Putting Into 10:47) and of own righteousthe Deep the Canaanite ness and who woman who despised all asks Jesus others. Jesus By Father to heal her said: “Two Jay Mello daughter (Mt men went up 15:22). We into the temple beg for God’s mercy, we beg for our sins to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the to be forgiven, we beg him to restore our other was a tax collector. The Pharisee relationship with him. stood and prayed to himself like this: Important to note is that this act of ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, unrighteous or adulterers, or repentance done at the beginning of every Mass is not something randomly even like this tax collector. I fast twice a or arbitrarily placed within the context week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ of the Mass, but something found in “But the tax collector, standing far the Old and New Testaments as well as away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, in the practice of the early Church. In Leviticus, for example, before the high be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you, priest would offer the sacrifice, he was this man went down to his house justiinstructed to confess all the iniquities of fied rather than the other; for everyone the children of Israel (Lev 16:21). who exalts himself will be humbled, but Christ teaches us the same thing, “If he who humbles himself will be exalted” you bring your gift to the altar and there (Luke 18:9-14). recall that your brother has anything At each Mass, we take a moment to imitate the humility and meekness of the against you, leave your gift, go first and be reconciled with your brother and tax collector who truly understood who then come back and offer your gift” (Mt he was before God. He understood that he was unworthy to stand in the presence 5:23-24). The early Church practiced this of God because of his sins. Perhaps he as well. We read in the Didache (The knew well the words of Psalm 51, “For Teaching of the Apostles), “All asI know my offenses; my sin is always semble on Sundays for the breaking of before me. Against you alone have I the bread, after having first confessed sinned”? But he also prayed with the psalmist, “Turn your face away from my their sins, so that their sacrifice may be pure” (Didache 14,1). It continues, “You sins and blot out all my guilt; a clean shall confess your transgressions in the heart create for me O God; renew in me Church, and shall not come to prayer a steadfast spirit” (Ps 51: 5-6, 11-12). with an evil conscience” (4,14). The Penitential Rite places us in the The Penitential Rite allows us the right frame of mind. It not only gives opportunity to “put out into the deep” us the opportunity to acknowledge our by humbling ourselves before the God, sins, but also helps us to take responthe Father of mercies, who desires that sibility for them. During the Confiteor we be free from any stain of sin before (the prayer that begins, “I confess”), we we approach his altar. Let us seize the strike our chest, like the tax collector, opportunity at every Mass to be transsaying, “I have sinned through my own formed by God’s sanctifying grace in fault, in my thoughts and in my words, our lives as we cry out — Lord, have in what I have done, and in what I have mercy. failed to do.” Father Mello is a parochial vicar at If we look back to the first sins ever St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth. committed, that of Adam and Eve, and
September 17, 2010
7
The Anchor
Teens as extraordinary ministers of holy Communion? Editors’ note: In anticipation of the implementation of new English translations of the Mass in November 2011 and in view of the overall liturgical renewal that the U.S. bishops are seeking in the interim, we begin a new weekly feature, a liturgical question-and-answer box by Father Edward McNamara. Q: My parish is thinking of making young teen-agers into extraordinary ministers of holy Communion in order to try to keep them practicing their faith. I myself am not very comfortable with this, especially as they do not help with anything else around the parish. I think that “He who is faithful in little things,” etc., and that they should be encouraged with smaller jobs, at least to begin with. So what is the minimum age for an extraordinary minister? — G.D., High Wycombe, England A: This is not an easy question to answer, as it appears that there are no universal norms to guide us. It should be remembered, however, that this decision does not belong primarily to the parish but to the bishop. Also, extraordinary ministers of holy Communion should be called upon only if really needed. I would also question the wisdom of the motivation. While not making any mention of age, the norms of the 1973 document “Immensae Caritatis” indicate the qualities of the person chosen for this ministry: “The faithful who are special ministers of Communion must be persons whose good qualities of Christian
a stable orientation and the life, faith, and morals recomcandidate an acquired pastoral mend them. Let them strive to rapport.” be worthy of this great office, If this is required of a foster their own devotion to seminarian who has received the Eucharist, and show an several years of formation, example to the rest of the some bishops draw the confaithful by their own devotion clusion that an even higher and reverence toward the most level of maturity is required of august sacrament of the altar. laypeople. Thus many Italian No one is to be chosen whose dioceses, such as the Patriarchappointment the faithful might ate of Venice, have established find disquieting.” While there are many young people who have shown heroic sanctity and not a few fulfill the requirements mentioned above, I do not consider it approBy Father priate to use this very Edward McNamara important ministry as a means of retaining 25 years as the minimum age interest in attending Mass. A for extraordinary ministers. young person should only be In 2009 the archbishop considered as a suitable canof Manfredonia-Vieste-San didate if he or she would go to Giovanni Rotondo issued Mass anyway. Even among those churches precise norms in this respect. We offer them as an example, whose bishops have issued fully aware that each bishop is norms, there is quite a differfree to judge for himself what ence in opinion. In the United States it would is best pastorally for his own diocese: appear that the most common “1) The mandate of EMHC minimum age is 18. This is the is conferred exclusively by norm in dioceses such as New the archbishop who, for the York and St. Louis. Some othmoment, has decided not to ers have a lower age, such as avail himself of the faculty of Detroit which indicates “high permitting priests to entrust school age.” this mission to suitable persons Most European countries in cases of necessity. Theresuch as Germany and Italy as fore, no priest or deacon may well as some Latin American entrust this mission to others bishops seem to opt for higher on his own initiative. minimum ages of between 21“2) The choice of the 30 years old, although excepcandidates must be made in a tions can also be found. community manner, hearing In Italy, the bishops set the the parish pastoral council, minimum age for seminarians and must take into account the to receive the ministries of following: instituted lector or acolyte at “— A good level of Chris21. The bishops consider that tian formation, especially “before this age it is difficult formation obtained at an Instithat the person has reached
This week in 50 years ago — The Dominican Sisters of the Congregation of St. Catherine of Siena acquired the former Prescott estate on Tucker Road in North Dartmouth as the order’s new novitiate quarters. The 17-room house was designed to accommodate 20 to 24 religious and was expected to be occupied by Christmas. 25 years ago — Members of Holy Rosary Parish in Fall River joined Bishop Daniel A. Cronin and pastor Father Vincent F. Diaferio in celebrating the 60th anniversary of former pastor Msgr. Joseph R. Pannoni’s priestly ordination.
Liturgical Q&A
Diocesan history 10 years ago — Holy Cross Family Ministries opened its newly-constructed, 22,700-square-foot international headquarters at 518 Washington Street in Easton on property owned by the Congregation of the Holy Cross and adjacent to Stonehill College. One year ago — Father Paul A. Caron, who was already assigned as pastor of St. Rita’s Parish in Marion, officially took over a second assignment as pastor of nearby St. Anthony’s Parish in Mattapoisett due to the retirement of former pastor Father Leonard M. Mullaney.
tute of Religious Sciences or similar institute; “— Full ecclesial communion; “— A solid eucharistic piety; “— A recognized capability of dialogue, of attentiveness and service toward the elderly and sick; “— Eventual experience as a volunteer or with Caritas; “— Commitment toward some specific sector of diocesan or parish pastoral service. Particular care should be taken in choosing the candidates for this ministry so as to avoid causing disquieting the faithful. “3) Superiors of communities of female religious can be granted this ministry during their mandate, although the dispositions of numbers 2, 4, and 8 also apply to them. “4) Each pastor shall evaluate the number of extraordinary ministers (men and women) to be presented to the archbishop, with the written consent of the candidate, and according to real needs. “5) Those who can be proposed for this ministry must have reached 25 years of age in analogy with the dispositions of the Bishops’ Conference with respect to the ministries of lector and acolyte. The mission of
Revised and updated ...
extraordinary minister ends on reaching 75 years of age. “6) The conferral of the ministry will be ordinarily held in the cathedral presided over by the archbishop. “7) The diocesan liturgical office will grant a credential card with the duration of validity and eventual renewal of the ministry. “8) The duration will be normally three years and renewable on the request of the pastor or religious superior and with the consent of the minister. “9) The ministry can only be carried out in the place for which it has been granted (parish, religious community) as specified in the credential.” These precise norms are clearly not applicable everywhere, but I believe that they do go to show the seriousness with which the process of choosing extraordinary ministers of holy Communion should be taken. 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.
Order Ear Comple ly!!! Sellou te t La Year!!! st
2010-2011 Diocese of Fall River Catholic Directory ... Now shipping!! Published by The Anchor Publishing Company P.O. Box 7, Fall River, Massachusetts 02722 Please ship _____ directories x $18 each, including shipping and handling. Total Enclosed $_____ NAME ____________________________________________ ADDRESS _________________________________________ CITY _____________________ STATE _______ ZIP _____ Please make checks payable to “Anchor Publishing” For more information, email theanchor@anchonews.org, call 508-675-7151, or order online at www.anchornews.org
8
T
he first reading today from the prophet Amos is one that is quite thought-provoking. It made some of my childhood memories come back with a little wonderment. I can remember watching a store clerk weighing a pound of minced ham with his finger on the edge of the scale to make it seem like he was giving us a full pound. My dad had something to say to him. I also remember quite well when stores were closed on Sundays because it was a special day to rest and we were expected to spend some time in church and visit with family and friends. Today we might not see the clerk’s finger on the scale as in the old days but we do see that the cost of some items half the size they once were are many times more expensive. It is also
September 17, 2010
The Anchor
What have you got in your spiritual wallet? very difficult for some of us and he has no other talents. to have a day off on Sunday He then reacts by giving up because of our jobs and the his inflated commission and need to make ends meet. setting up security for the fuYes, the prophet Amos ture. The master commends quotes those who are in the dishonest steward for positions of control regardhis shrewdness in his abiling sales of goods. “When will the Sabbath (times when Homily of the Week work is not permitted) Twenty-fifth Sunday be over that we may in Ordinary Time sell our products? We will diminish the By Deacon weight and add to the Robert D. Lemay cost of them to make more money.” ity to do with less so that he Wealth becomes more will have more after he is no important than the people. longer a steward. Love of wealth becomes Jesus tells the Apostles to more important than the love make friends for themselves of God. with dishonest wealth (give The Gospel story of the it away) so that when it fails, dishonest steward is about a they will be welcomed into man who gets caught squaneternal dwellings. dering his master’s property. “Dishonest wealth” is Imagine his embarrassment defined as temporal wealth when he is fired from his job
whereas “honest wealth” is defined as eternal wealth. Jesus’ concern is for us to use our energies to focus on spiritual matters, which have eternal consequences as much, more than we focus on earthly matters that are temporal. The Lord expects us to use our possessions whether they are material or spiritual in a prudent manner. To be a disciple of Christ means we need to look ahead and plan accordingly. The path to eternal life has a lot of distractions. God gives us many gifts and he expects us to use our talents, time and treasures for him and others and not hoard them for ourselves. Now would be a good time to ask ourselves, who or what is the master in my life? We can be ruled
by a lot of things: the love of money, possessions, the power of position, beauty, and many other addictions, alcohol and drugs and on and on. There is only one master who can set us free from the slavery of sin and addiction and that is our Lord Jesus Christ. Love of money and wealth and possessions (the temporary things) crowd out the love of God and neighbor (the eternal things). It is said somewhere that true generosity does not impoverish the giver, but enriches him a hundredfold. Where is my heart, where is my love? Is it in God, neighbor or something else? If it’s something else, what can I do about it? Deacon Lemay serves at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee.
Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Sept. 18, 1 Cor 15:35-37,42-49; Ps 56:10c-14; Lk 8:4-15. Sun. Sept. 19, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Am 8:4-7; Ps 113:12,4-8; 1 Tm 2:1-8; Lk 16:1-13 or 16:10-13. Mon. Sept. 20, Prv 3:27-34; Ps 15:2-4b,5; Lk 8:16-18. Tues. Sept. 21, Eph 4:1-7,11-13; Ps 19:2-5; Mt 9:9-13. Wed. Sept. 22, Prv 30:5-9; Ps 119:29,72,89,101,104,163; Lk 9:1-6. Thur. Sept. 23, Eccl 1:2-11; Ps 90:3-6,12-14,17bc; Lk 9:7-9. Fri. Sept. 24, Eccl 3:1-11; Ps 144:1b,2abc,3-4; Lk 9:18-22.
G
iven the degree to which American politics has deteriorated into barrages of sound-bites, it may seem quixotic — perhaps even idiotic — to indulge my biennial habit of proposing Questions Candidates Should Be Asked by Catholics serious about bringing moral reasoning into the public square. Given the gravity of the issues that ought to be discussed between now and November 2, however, I’ll risk the charge of being a fool and try to remember that “habit,” in classic moral theology, can be a synonym for “virtue.” And so the questions: Marriage. Do the states or the federal government, through legislation or the actions of their respective
Questions for candidates in a crucial election courts, have the inherent ter of right-and-wrong, should capacity to change the classic Social Security and Medicare definition of marriage as the benefits be means-tested? Is stable union of a man and a there a moral imperative to women? create public policies that Fiscal Responsibility. Does encourage personal retirethe recent accumulation of ment and health care savings national debt at unprecedented rates and in staggering amounts constitute a form of theft from future generations, thus suggesting a grave moral By George Weigel dimension to what may be an impending fiscal Armageddon? accounts? In other words, how What sacrifices should should public policy encourtoday’s wage-earners, and age a culture of responsibility, today’s Social Security and rather than a culture of entitleMedicare beneficiaries, be ment, with regard to health expected to make in order to care and retirement? assure the nation’s fiscal solHealth Care Reform. How vency in the future? As a matdo you resolve the tension between the goal of universal health coverage, on the one hand, and an enormous concentration of economic and political power in the hands of the national government, on the other? Should “reproductive health” measures — meaning abortionon-demand — be included in the coverage guaranteed in the insurance-pools being formed under Obamacare? What steps will you take to protect the conscience-rights of Catholic health care providers in the face of pressures to perform
The Catholic Difference
what they regard as immoral acts? The Dangers of Hubris. How do you understand the law of unintended consequences in public policy? Take, for example, the politicization of federal home-loan guarantees, which seems to have had a lot to do with the mortgage crisis that triggered the 2008 financial crisis, from whose effects we still suffer. Does the national government do something immoral, as well as something stupid, when it manipulates markets in order to accelerate what it deems to be desirable social change? Immigration Reform. In immigration policy, where would you strike the moral balance between a generous extension of the traditional American practice of welcoming the stranger, and the imperative to uphold the rule of law by punishing offenders and rewarding those who play by the rules? Religious Freedom. Is “religious freedom” to be understood primarily, or even solely, as freedom-of-worship? Does “religious freedom” as you understand it include the right of believers and religious institutions to bring their religiously-informed moral
judgments to bear in our public life? What role should the defense and promotion of religious freedom play in U.S. foreign policy? Foreign Policy and National Security. What is the morally-appropriate response to an Iranian regime seeking nuclear weapons and threatening to use them to hasten the advent of the messianic age, as the Iranian leadership understands it? Given that Iran and North Korea have ballistic missile capability and weapons of mass destruction, and are governed by outlaw regimes that regularly defy the “international community,” is missile defense a moral imperative? What is morally required of the United States when confronted with genocides underway or imminent, as may be the case in Sudan? Where would you draw the moral line between aggressive interrogation techniques and torture? How would you codify that line in law? Is the first use of military force ever morally justifiable? The Big One. Over what issue of principle are you prepared to lose the seat in the House or Senate that you seek? George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
September 17, 2010
The memory box Sunday 12 September 2010 They have no value, except to — on the shores of the Segme. They remind me of people reganset River — National I have known and places I have Hug Your Hound Day (I am been. I treasure these memories. not making this up) Every so often, I take out my ometimes, as a values memory box and travel back in clarification exercise, the group leader will present a hypothetical situation. “If your Reflections of a house caught fire and Parish Priest you could flee with just By Father Tim one item, what would Goldrick that be?” I can imagine myself and the greyhounds standing on the rectory lawn. Under my arm time. I can go way back. would be my “memory box.” “There was a little girl who Call me sentimental, but I had a little curl right in the keep a box of memories on the middle of her forehead. When shelf in the closet. It’s just an she was good she was very, old shoebox but it holds a lifevery good, but when she was time of trinkets and souvenirs. bad she was horrid.”
S
The Ship’s Log
I
9
The Anchor Not to be outdone by some mercurial girl, this little boy also had a little curl right in the middle of his forehead. Whether I was very, very good or horrid, I don’t remember. I still have the curl but it’s no longer on my forehead. It’s in my memory box. It seems that, on the occasion of my first haircut, my mother saved the curl as a memento of my rite of passage from infancy to childhood. She tied it with a red ribbon, put it in a cellophane envelope, and stashed it in her “hope chest.” I’ll never know the particulars of her hope for my little curl. If she was hoping that I would never develop
Icons of the Christ Child
brothels to ascertain the ages t was a disjointed eveof the girls in order to free ning. I had some time the youngest. He would find to spare and was wandering them hidden under stairs, through the jungles of Youbeneath floorboards, behind Tube, trying to gain some infalse walls and in attics. sight on the tragic phenomAfter being coaxed out enon of child brides. I found of impossibly small hidstories from the Middle East, ing holes, they would stand from several parts of Africa mutely, blinking in the light, and from Indonesia. The afraid of what would happen girls were as young as seven next. In the most frustratand dished up as sacrificial lambs: serving as goods to be bartered, a means of reducing family debt or simply a genuflection to cultural norms, and the incredulous By Genevieve Kineke questions from nosy journalists elicited only baffled shrugs. Enough of the ing clip, by the time he had girls were wearing crosses rounded up a second group of around their necks to show girls in one building, the first that it’s not bound to one had fled past the rows of men religion. Old habits die hard, in uniform on the streets outand traditions such as this side — who seemed bewilone will press degradation dered that they would have and death onto a child rather been expected to interfere. than give sway to foreign Such is the concern that notions. While we wring our many have for the well-being hands over premarital activity of girls. Great swaths of among the immature in our the planet are covered with own country, they embrace peoples whose tribal mores these customs as an unaltercare not a whit for feminine able fact of life. The major dignity, the gift of persondifference is that our children hood or the transcendent are tempted into such physibeauty of human love. cal intimacy by a popular And then before bed, as culture undermining the I checked email one last traditional family — theirs is time, I saw a reference to the the traditional family. From the suggested videos latest “America’s Got Talent” sensation, 10-year-old on the sidebar, my search Jackie Evancho from outside next devolved into the shady of Pittsburgh. I clicked on world of human traffickone final video and heard ing, with the films primarily the unearthly strains of Pie from India. In one series, a Jesu from her angelic voice. man (under uncertain authorStunning. ity) made personal visits to
The Feminine Genius
It wasn’t until my head hit the pillow that the irony of it really registered. So many of sweet Jackie’s peers world-wide are chattel, the means to an end, given and taken without due consideration for the children of God that they are. Are there other girls in rotted cellars with voices like hers? If they were washed clean, would their hair shine as brightly? Are they capable of channeling the same penetrating joy in other ways, using their own distinct talents from the creator of them all? We may never know this side of the veil. Surely parents everywhere recognize that sometimes cherished activities become oblations on the family altar, but those cultures that reduce children to one-dimensional objects deserve to be roundly condemned. Education and extracurricular activities provide depth and breadth to any young woman, and for those who are called one day to motherhood, each additional facet will enhance the wisdom and guidance they offer their own dear children. Ultimately as each young person develops, she is entitled to know how very deeply she is loved by God, and our response to those in peril should illustrate that fact. Mrs. Kineke is the author of “The Authentic Catholic Woman” (Servant Books) and editor of woman.catholicexchange.com.
a bald spot on the crown of my head, her hope was sadly disappointed. Let’s see. Here’s my junior high school diploma. Yuck, junior high school. Who wants to remember junior high school? Not me. Some things are best forgotten. In the box is an admission ticket engraved with the papal seal. It gave me clearance to concelebrate the Eucharist with the Holy Father. There were 100 priest concelebrants that day. I ended up just one seat away from the papal throne. I suspect that the “priest” closest to the pope was an imposter. I think the guy was a federal agent. I could see a billy club and handcuffs sticking out under his Mass vestments. When I extended the sign of peace, he sneered and growled at me. During the Mass, my eyes wandered. So did the pope’s. His eyes and mine happened to meet. In a reflex action, I made the Sign of the Cross in the pope’s general direction. He smiled and did the same for me. I don’t know but I’ve been told it’s very bad etiquette for a lowly young priest to bless the pope. “Do this in remembrance of me,” Jesus said over the bread and wine at the Last Supper. How did his disciples understand their act of remembering? There’s a technical word for it. The word is anamnesis. We are not remembering in the sense of pondering things past, as I do with my memory box. Nor are we remembering by reenacting something that once happened, as Civil War buffs in period costume do when repeating the logistics of the Battle of Gettysburg. This holy remembering erases the
barrier between the past and the present. We are not recalling. We are not reenacting. We are there. When we celebrate the Eucharist together, we are actually at the Last Supper. But wait, there’s more. Not only is the barrier between past and present erased, but so is the barrier between present and future. The future that awaits us is the heavenly banquet. In heaven, the saints and angels offer unceasing praise and glory to God. Stay with me, now, and let’s go deeper. There is no time in heaven. God does not wear a wristwatch. Heavenly worship is happening now, has always happened, and will continue to happen for all eternity. We are one with the saints in heaven as they worship before God. This is called “the Communion of Saints.” Our celebration of the Eucharist here on earth is a participation in the unending worship of heaven. Conversely, the saints in heaven participate in the celebration of our Eucharist on earth. As a reminder of this mystery, we display statues of saints around our earthly altar table. By worshipping God along with the saints, we are participating in our future, although not yet fully. Hypothetically, if, God forbid, my church building caught on fire and I could save only one item, what would it be? It would be the Eucharist reserved in the tabernacle. My memory box is nothing compared to the mystical remembrance of the Eucharist. Back in the closet goes the shoebox. It’s time for me to celebrate holy Mass. Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.
‘The Ultimate Pilgrimage’ The Holy Land Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus March 28 - April 6, 2011
Spiritual Director: Rev. Craig A. Pregana $2,879* p/p from Boston call All Star Travel: 508-245-4783 or for brochure: www.allstartours.com
10
I
can’t count the times in the last week that people have mentioned to me that a hurricane has been named after my dog. I almost feel a sense of pride. Please don’t get me wrong and take this the wrong way. In no way am I hoping that Igor (the hurricane) makes landfall and does harm to person or property. The devastation a hurricane, or tropical storm for that matter, can cause is welldocumented and downright scary. My feelings of self-esteem are largely because many folks, over the last seven years, have questioned our naming a pooch, particularly a female pooch, Igor. And now, when reference is made to Igor (the hurricane), many of them think of Igor (the canine). I’m not alone in delighting in having a hurricane named Igor. When the big bag of wind was making its way off
The Anchor
September 17, 2010
An Igor by any other name ...
the western coast of Africa, After seven years, I’m still he fluctuated in strength and not quite sure what upsets her development. most — the vehicle, the attire, Emilie and I would watch the package under the arm, the the Weather Channel and chant smell of food, or the bundle “Go Igor, go. Go, Igor go,” to of groceries. Whatever the ensure he made it to hurricane stimulus, Igor reaches category status. five status with a great roar and As we go to press today, Igor (the hurricane) is a category four storm. Pretty impressive. As we watch his westward progress across the Atlantic, I can’t help but think of all the similariBy Dave Jolivet ties between Igor (the hurricane) and Igor (the canine). First I’ll focus on the maniacal motions. Igor (the casimilarities. As a category nine) loves people, particularly four or five typhoon, Igor can children. Just don’t drive a be pretty nasty, not unlike my truck or wear a uniform (school four-legged Igor when faced uniforms are OK though). with a UPS driver, or FedEx Igor (the hurricane) has employee, or grocery delivery the potential of causing major person, or pizza guy, or anyone disruptions with flooding rains, wearing a uniform, or driving damaging winds and power a truck. outages — all major incon-
My View From the Stands
veniences. Igor (the canine) can be equally as disruptive, particularly at the most exciting part of a movie or at a crucial moment of a ball game. It’s at those moments when she stands by the door and stares at me without blinking. Ah, the eye of the storm. I try to avoid eye contact because she’ll start wagging her tail and motioning to the door. “Time to go out dad.” There’s no getting out of it once she gets noticed. Knowing exactly what the response will be, I foolishly ask her, “Do you have go out?” Like Igor (the hurricane), she spins in place until I grab the leash and bring her out. There’s no question as to what her track will be ... hovering over every square inch of lawn, detecting who has trespassed on her turf and eventually completing the task at hand. By that time, the Patriots have already scored two touchdowns and Cap’n Jack Sparrow has seemingly risen from the dead. But how? Now the differences. Igor (the hurricane) is very fond of thunderstorms. Igor (the canine) is not. She will make her home behind the sofa minutes before we hear any approaching boomers. Wind is a major
component of Igor (the hurricane). His canine counterpart is easily spooked by the sound of wind blowing through the trees or through the window screens. And another of Igor’s (the canine) “pet” peeves is the alarm that sounds on the Weather Channel when a local alert is released. She knows that means thunder. Should Igor (the hurricane) approach this area, she’ll hear quite a few of those. Despite her disdain of certain delivery individuals, Igor (the canine) is as gentle as a lamb. Igor (the hurricane) ... not so much. I truly hope the new Igor stays over open waters providing a nice whirlpool bath for the sea creatures in the Atlantic. But it is fun to watch Igor’s (the canine) ears stand at attention every time “her” name is mentioned on television. Now if only the weather people could take her out when she stands by the door. There’s one more benefit from having a hurricane named Igor. Hopefully now people won’t call her Eyegore (ala the movie “Young Frankenstein”). I can understand people butchering the Jolivet name, but Igor? I must switch gears at this point in my column and express my great sorrow at losing a dear family friend in Father Terence Keenan this week. Anyone who has ever known the man and the priest knows what a gentle, caring, giving individual he was. I spent nearly 10 years teaching CCD with Father Keenan when he was at Immaculate Conception Parish in Fall River. Everyone involved in the program and their immediate families, received the royal treatment from him. I know many, many people have fond memories of this wonderful man. He will be greatly missed. He will be in my prayers and those of countless others.
11
The Anchor
September 17, 2010
Diocesan teams prepare for annual Alzheimer’s Memory Walk By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff
FALL RIVER — Several teams consisting of employees of the Fall River Diocese will be participating in the local Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk benefit to take place September 26 beginning at 9 a.m. on the Elsbree Street campus of Bristol Community College. Of the 44 teams currently registered for the event, there’s a team comprised of representatives from all the diocesan health care facilities — many of whom work directly with Alzheimer’s patients, another made up of students from Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, a third representing SS. Peter and Paul School in Fall River, and a new group of students from Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro. In fact, one of this year’s cochairmen for the southeastern Massachusetts walk is Rose Grant, a teacher at Bishop Stang High School who has been participating in the event for the past 15 years. Grant first became involved with the benefit when her late husband, John P. Grant Jr., was diagnosed with the disease. “My husband was an art teacher here at Bishop Stang for nine years — this is where I met him,” Grant said. “We were married for 33 years. At 59 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was sick for 12 years — the last six of those he spent in Country Gardens Nursing Home in Swansea. He died four-and-a-half years ago.” As a way of honoring her husband’s memory, Grant formed a team of students from Bishop Stang she dubbed “Jack’s Pack,” which has been participating in the walk for the past five years. The team has raised a total of $15,422 just over the past two years combined. “It’s a community service for the kids — mostly made up of juniors and seniors,” she said. “It’s been very gratifying to have that kind of support from my own community.” While participation varies from year to year, this year Grant anticipates at least 100 students to be prowling with Jack’s Pack at BCC. Grant is also proud that one of her former students, Peter Crepeau, is co-chairing this year’s event alongside her. Although Crepeau first became involved with the Memory Walk in 2007, his grandmother’s recent battle with Alzheimer’s spurred him to do more. “In 2008 my grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s,” Crepeau said. “She was a resident at Kimwell Nursing Home in Fall
River. So in 2009 I did more to help with organizing and set up and this year I was asked to cochair the event.” Oddly enough, it was this former Bishop Stang student who encouraged a team from another diocesan high school — Bishop Feehan — to participate in the
of our homes are participating as well as our main office.” While they’ve consistently raised more than $10,000 a year, Pinheiro said they’ve set a more realistic goal this year given the current economic climate. “Our goal this year is to raise $5,000,” Pinheiro said. “We didn’t
“I never really know how many will be walking until that day,” she said. “Every home is a little different with their participation level, but it’s a combined group effort.” Like many people involved with the Memory Walk, Pinheiro has also been personally affected and inspired by someone strug-
WALK THIS WAY — Members of last year’s “Jack’s Pack” team comprised of students from Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth participated in the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Memory Walk at Bristol Community College in Fall River. The team is organized by Stang teacher Rose Grant and was formed in memory of her late husband, a former art teacher at the high school. (Photo courtesy of Rose Grant)
walk for the first time this year. “I don’t know the exact number already registered, but I know as of last week we had surpassed last year’s total,” Crepeau said. “We already have more teams walking this year.” According to Grant, one of the top fund-raising teams every year has always been the combined diocesan health care facilities team, which has raised a total of $23,677 in the past two years alone. “I don’t know if this year we’re going to be as successful with the economy,” said Betsy Pinheiro, human resource coordinator for Marian Manor in Taunton and the coordinator of the joint diocesan health care team. “We’re certainly doing all we can and we’re hoping to do as well as we’ve done in the past. All
want to put people in awkward situations. If we meet or surpass that goal, great. We’re just hoping to support the effort however we can.” Pinheiro expects at least 50 walkers will be on hand representing each of the seven health care facilities within the Fall River Diocese.
gling with the disease. “My father is a resident here at Marian Manor and he has Alzheimer’s — so it’s near and dear to my heart, certainly,” she said. “I think the Memory Walk is a nice way not only to showcase each home, but also the true compassion these employees have for the residents and their families.”
According to Grant, all the money raised during the walk and several others held around the state will remain within the region and be used to fund research, education and support for the caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. Those interested in walking can still register right up until the morning of September 26 beginning at 9 a.m. Walkers generally begin the three-mile trek around the BCC campus at 10 a.m. “We changed the route this year, because it used to just be around the pond at BCC,” Grant said. “We felt we weren’t getting enough exposure that way, so we’re going to walk along Elsbree Street for a bit so people can see us.” Although Grant realizes her students mainly get involved with the Memory Walk each year because of her, she also stressed how Alzheimer’s disease impacts nearly everyone. “When I ask for a show of hands, I’d say about half of them go up who have a relative or friend they know with Alzheimer’s,” she said. “That’s pretty typical. It’s hard to escape not knowing someone touched by the disease.” “Because I have a loved one who is directly impacted, I know what these patients go through and I know how important the services of the Alzheimer’s Association are,” Pinheiro added. “Hopefully the money we raise can continue to provide services and maybe one day make it so we don’t even have to have the walk anymore.” For more information about the Memory Walk, visit www.alz. org/memorywalk.
12
The Anchor
September 17, 2010
Jesuit rebuts reasoning behind claim that God didn’t create universe WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Jesuit priest who is former president of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., has taken to YouTube and his blog to rebut arguments raised by British physicist Stephen Hawking, who says in a new book that God had no role in creating the universe. “Though Dr. Hawking is an outstanding physicist, his metaphysical skills are less than honed,” said Jesuit Father Robert J. Spitzer, now president of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith in Irvine, Calif., who headed Gonzaga from 1998 to 2009. He made the comments in a seven-minute YouTube video titled “The Curious Metaphysics of Dr. Stephen Hawking.” Hawking, a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences since 1986, said in his new book, “The Grand Design,” that “because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing.” “Spontaneous creation is the reason why there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist,” Hawking added. The book, written with physicist Leonard Mlodinow, was published September 7. Father Spitzer, author of the recently published “New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy,” said Hawking’s “fundamental assumption about the universe” is “that it came from nothing.” But the priest said “what many term the first principle of metaphysics” is “From nothing only nothing comes.” “If the physical universe had a beginning (a point at which it came into existence) then prior to that point it was nothing,” Father Spitzer said in his blog. “And if it was nothing then it could not have created itself (because only nothing can come from noth-
ing). “So what does that imply?” he asked. “The very reality that Dr. Hawking wants to avoid, namely, a transcendent power which can cause the universe to come into existence.” Father Spitzer holds a doctorate in philosophy, and three master’s degrees — in theology, divinity and philosophy. He is currently producing a documentary on God and modern physics, which is scheduled for completion in November. The claims in Hawking’s new book also drew comment from religious leaders of various faiths after an excerpt was published in The Times of London. Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury said that “physics on its own will not settle the question of why there is something rather than nothing.” “Belief in God is not about plugging a gap in explaining how one thing relates to another within the universe,” he added. “It is the belief that there is an intelligent, living agent on whose activity everything ultimately depends for its existence.” Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, a Vatican astronomer who has studied physics and philosophy, told Catholic News Service September 3 that “the ‘god’ that Stephen Hawking doesn’t believe in is one I don’t believe in either.” “God is not just another force in the universe, alongside gravity or electricity,” he added. “God is the reason why existence itself exists. God is the reason why space and time and the laws of nature can be present for the forces to operate that Stephen Hawking is talking about.” Father Spitzer’s YouTube video and blog and information about his book and upcoming documentary are available at http://magisreasonfaith.org.
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, September 19 at 11:00 a.m. Celebrant is Father Gregory A. Mathias, pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth
“here’s how you do it dad” — Emilio Estevez directs his father, Martin Sheen, along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain while filming “The Way.” The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival September 10. (CNS photo/David Alexanian, courtesy “The Way”)
At father’s urging, Estevez makes film he sees as metaphor for life By Michael Swan Catholic News Service TORONTO — Actor and director Emilio Estevez reluctantly went to Spain to tell a story about how faith, hope and walking are all part of the American way of overcoming hard times. The movie has “no nudity. There are no explosions. There are no car chases,” said Estevez. “It’s about people. It’s about this community of broken souls. And there’s a ton of humor in it.” Estevez told The Catholic Register, a Canadian weekly, that his new film “The Way” is about American spirituality. The story follows four characters walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, or the Way of St. James, through Spain. “Americans are searching for something. The Camino serves as the ultimate metaphor for life,” said Estevez. The movie premiered September 10 at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Estevez was seeking a North American distribution deal. The film is to be distributed outside North America by Icon Productions. It was Estevez’s father, Martin Sheen, who first proposed making a film about the Camino seven years ago. During a break in filming “The West Wing,” Sheen had attended a family reunion in Ireland, then headed for Spain to walk the Camino. But Sheen had to be back in the United States and did not have the six to eight weeks it takes to walk the pilgrim’s path to the cathedral in
Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of St. James the Greater can be found. Sheen, his grandson and a family friend did most of the route by Mercedes, but walked part of the way. The veteran film actor came back and insisted his son had to make a movie about the Camino. At first, Estevez said no. “It’s the old dilemma,” said Estevez. “You can’t say no to your father.” What started as a brief outline became 40 or 50 pages of script and led to Estevez reading as many books as possible about the Camino. Journalist Jack Hitt’s book “Off the Road: A Modern-Day Walk Down the Pilgrim’s Route Into Spain,” captured Estevez’s imagination and helped give shape to the story. By this time, Estevez had a full-fledged project he had never wanted to do. In “The Way,” Sheen plays a 70-year-old American doctor who travels to Spain to claim the body of his son, who died halfway through a pilgrimage. The grieving father decides to complete the walk his son began and falls in with an oddball group of companions: an Irishman angry with the Church, a cynical Canadian woman looking for some vague redemption and a Dutchman who seems lost. In test screenings across the United States, Estevez found the film got its most positive response from university students and senior citizens. He said young and old Americans find themselves look-
ing on the wreckage of a broken economy and wondering whether there needs to be more to life than consumer confidence. Estevez’s characters in “The Way” are also wondering about meaning in their lives. “None of these characters is in any way perfect. In fact they’re all flawed, broken and not particularly attractive. They’re difficult to be around — for each other anyway,” he said. “Ultimately, what they discover is that it is a community, a global community, and they are emblematic of that. And we can’t do it alone. We can’t walk this earth by ourselves. We need community. We need faith. We ultimately need each other.” Walking inevitably becomes a theme in a movie about a pilgrimage. “Isn’t it our first instinct?” asked Estevez. “When we’re babies it’s the only thing we want to do — to get on our two feet and move forward.” Getting the walking right was an issue during filming. Sheen was walking too fast, too confidently, too vigorously for the director’s tastes. “I said, ‘Look, you’re fit. You look great. You’re playing a guy who is 70. You are 70, almost. So maybe you could slow the pace down a little bit,” said Estevez. A father burying his son and then walking for weeks through a strange country may seem like a pretty grim premise for a movie, but Estevez said he believes he has made a film about American resilience. “America will bounce back,” he said. “Because of our resilience, because of our faith and our hope. I think faith plays an enormous part of it.”
13
The Anchor
September 17, 2010
Our readers respond Not easy to understand Your September 3 editorial about “Eucharistic faith and eucharistic miracles” was motivated by complaints about the paid advertisement for “The Truth of the Eucharist Revealed,” a video that includes an eerie eighth-century testimony from Lanciano, Italy that flesh and blood (type AB) were found in a bleeding consecrated host, and coagulated AB blood globules were found in the chalice. This claim has been portrayed as “truth” described in an “introductory-priced” $10 DVD focused on 1970 tests of the host’s and globulins’ remains. You correctly noted that “eucharistic miracles do not have to be believed by Catholics,” and we should evaluate them using “common sense,” that is, were they more likely of “supernatural or natural agency?” My common sense tells me this particular eighth-century “miracle” was of “natural agency.” According to the legend, a Basilian monk doubting Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist witnessed first-hand the host turn to flesh and the wine into blood during consecration, and that same flesh and blood amazingly has withstood deterioration for over 1,200 years. This occurred in an Italian town to which pilgrims, having their faith in the Eucharist renewed, then flocked in great numbers — all being a coincidental Godsend for the monk’s notoriety as well as town business and tourism, so the cynic in me says. “The real presence of Jesus Christ” isn’t the easiest concept to understand. Instead of this eighth-century actual flesh and blood “experience” as a way to understand and appreciate the real presence, I much prefer the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops description the Real Presence found in the 2006 United States “Catholic Catechism for Adults”: “The substance of the bread and wine is changed into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ with the appearance of the bread and wine remaining: the color, shape, weight, and chemical composition. It is the underlying reality — that is, the substance that is now the Body and Blood of Christ.” Christ is sacramentally present. Contrary to this definition, actual blood would indicate the host’s chemical composition had changed. That cannot be. A person with blood type AB means he/she is a universal recipient, capable of receiving blood types O, A, B, and AB. Jesus, who gave us his blood to
drink under sacramental form, is a true universal donor. He always gives. He never takes, especially $10. Deacon David Pierce St. John the Evangelist, Pocasset St. Elizabeth Seton, N. Falmouth Executive Editor replies: Deacon Pierce makes a valid point of sacramental theology, but “real presence” and “sacramental presence” of Christ are not co-extensive terms. The blood that Jesus shed on the cross was truly his blood, though not under sacramental form. If the Lord did work a miracle in the case of Lanciano, we would no longer be dealing with the “sacramental presence” of his flesh and blood under the appearances of bread and wine, but that does not mean we would not be dealing with his real presence under a miraculous no-longer sacramental form. Addressing God Father Jay Mello’s column of August 27 (“Who is this all about?”) brought some muchneeded clarity to the present confusion over the central focus of the Mass. I only wish my colleague had pointed out the elephant in the middle of the room, namely, the question of what direction the priest should face when addressing God. The fact that the majority of the words and actions in the liturgy are directed towards God is more clearly expressed if the priest presents the prayers of the Church to God and offers the holy sacrifice by facing the same direction as the congregation: towards the east (if not geographical east then “liturgical east”), towards the Lord who is to come. (Of course, the priest should face the people when directly addressing them). The psychological shock some may have when they realize the priest is not looking at them when he prays can be a very good tonic. This has been the practice of the Eastern churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, from time immemorial and of our own Roman rite until the mid-1960s. To this day, the rubrics of the Roman Missal presuppose a common direction of priest and people for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Visually this practice corresponds better to the nature of the words and actions. Furthermore, it is highly formative of the spirituality and attitude of the priest. This way it will be made more clearly perceptible not only for the congregation but also for the celebrant that he is a priest “taken from among men, ordained for men in the things that
appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Heb. 5:1). Father Thomas Kocik Santo Christo Parish Fall River Thanks for the cyber Anchor I enjoy The Anchor immensely and due to limited time I have been reading the print edition at breakfast only. At lunch today I had a graced moment from the Spirit to see The Anchor on the Internet. I have just used the 3D feature for the first time. I love it! It’s as close to holding the newspaper right in my hands. I love being able to turn the pages and read the articles from page to page. My compliments to the staff for this new feature. Keep up the great work. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless you, Dan Boucher Westport It’s time for parents to go to school The recent story in the September 3 Anchor that Catholic parents will be alerted to the threat of the Massachusetts Health Education Frameworks and its effect on their children comes at the eleventh hour. Already the Department of Education’s standard for sex education, school systems are currently permitted to pick and choose what they will implement. But a dogged, four-year long battle by members of the Mass Teachers Association, Planned Parenthood and homosexual activist groups threatens to force its imposition in its entirety. Many school systems already include radical and graphic sex education, including “how-to” gay and lesbian sex, from Pre-K to 12. Parents in Brookline reported an obscene booklet given to middle-schoolers and parental legal rights to exclude their children from these classes were ignored. Newton parents were taken to court for demanding those rights. Recently in New Bedford, parents needed to rise in protest when a “Human Rights” group sought to impose gay material into their schools. GLSEN clubs and GLBT “Days of Silence” are being forced on schools all over the state, despite the fact that the American College of Pediatricians warns educators that “pro-
gay attitude toward gender confusion damages children.” Joining in the fund-feast is Planned Parenthood, which is also getting huge amounts of taxes to start “Health Clinics” in high schools with birth control information and condoms, tests for pregnancy and referrals for pills and abortion can be done without parental consent. The evil genie is out of the bottle. Only determined, educated parents fighting to choose what their children will learn, can stop this immoral, anti-religion, anti-family juggernaut that is already steamrolling through our schools. I urge parents to start by going to your child’s school and demanding to see what is being taught as sex education. Patricia Stebbins East Sandwich Call it what it is The excellent article on the ellaOne abortion drug (8/27/2010) contains one questionable item in a quote attributed to Susan E. Wills of the office of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She said that the “emergency contraceptive” Plan B (also known as the Morning-After Pill) “functions primarily by disrupting ovulation and sometimes prevent implantation, causing an early abortion.” The Pontifical Academy for Life statement on the Morning-After Pill says quite the opposite: “Only if this pill were
to be taken several days before the moment of ovulation could it sometimes act to prevent the latter (in this case it would function as a typical ‘contraceptive’).” Pharmacist For Life International provides on their website an even more precise response to the question of whether Plan B is an abortifacient drug or a contraceptive: “Numerous studies support the notion that the high dose, high powered steroid(s) found in Emergency Abortion drugs like Plan B are abortifacient 75 to 89 percent of the time. Rarely will a drug like Plan B work to suppress ovulation and truly prevent the meeting of the male and female gametes prior to the moment of conception.” The sad irony is that while prescriptions are required to obtain conventional birth control pills, abortifacient “emergency contraceptives” are available in pharmacies, without prescriptions, to 17 year olds, in hospital emergency rooms for rape victims and even at some school nurse’s offices. Whether you call it ellaOne, Plan B or something else, if you can get your drug or mechanism (i.e. intrauterine device) labeled as a “contraceptive,” the authorities are likely to overlook the fact that it sometimes — or even frequently — causes an abortion. Charles O. Coudert Sherborn, Mass.
SPIRITUAL VACATION to
“HAWAII”
Spiritual Director: Fr. Joseph P. McDermott, Pastor Immaculate Conception Church 122 Canton Street, Stoughton, MA 02072
PROPOSED ITINERARY:
Date: February 8 - 17, 2011 (10 days, 9 nights) Amount: $3,29.00 per person, Double Occupancy $850.00 (additional), Single Occupancy INCLUSIVE FEATURES: - Round trip air - Round trip transfers to hotel - Baggage handling - 9 nights accommodations @ Hotel - Hotel taxes & service charges - 9 breakfasts - 8 dinners - All sightseeing per itinerary - Daily Mass when possible - Lei Greeting
- Polynesian Cultural Center - Pearl Harbor & Arizona Tour - Guided tour of USS Missouri & National Cemetery - Circle Island Tour - 5 nights @ Outrigger Reef Hotel (5 Star) in Honolulu, located on the beach - 4 nights Royal Lahaina Hotel in Maui - 3 Luaus - Tour Iao Valley & Iao Needle & Wailuku Town
For further information you may contact Margaret Oliverio @ 781-762-2029 or 781-344-2073
The Catholic Response
14
September 17, 2010
Daunting and soothing: Abuse report gets facts straight Review makes clear that pope is a hero in Church reform By Elizabeth Lev ROME, (Zenit.org) — I must have looked pretty bizarre on the beach this summer with “Pope Benedict XVI and the Sex Abuse Crisis” in hand. Indeed, through the first chapters it seemed like Hurricane Earl had come to ruin my summer, but persevering through the book, the clouds cleared and left me with a brighter outlook on this very difficult time for the Church. Written by Gregory Erlandson and Matthew Bunson (president of Our Sunday Visitor and Catholic Almanac editor respectively), “Pope Benedict XVI and the Sex Abuse Crisis” presents a clear, objective and comprehensive view of sexual abuse among the clergy. Besides presenting the hard worldwide facts and figures of the scandal, it focuses on Benedict XVI’s actions and reactions from his time as bishop to the years heading the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith and through his reign as pope. After six months of confusing news reports and general hysteria in the media and in the public square, this dispassionate and fact-laden book does much to organize one’s thoughts and present verifiable truths. While the secular media continues to raise its “clerical sex abuse” flag at every turn, especially as they attempt to frame the upcoming papal visit to Britain singularly in these terms, this book demonstrates that Pope Benedict should be hailed as a hero in this tragic chapter of the Church, not assailed for “crimes against humanity” (as radical atheists Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have proposed).
By no means is this an easy read. Opening with a report of vandalism at Pope Benedict’s childhood home, the authors invite the reader to delve into the hostility and divisiveness of the issue. As the authors trace the life of Joseph Ratzinger from that home through the turbulent waters of the 20th century, it becomes clear that our pope is no stranger to hard issues. But he could not have expected the tidal wave of sex abuse reports that would flow into his office as head of the CDF in the wake of Pope John Paul II’s 2001 apostolic letter, “The Safeguarding of the Sacraments.” This document required bishops to report sexual violations “committed by a cleric with a minor below the age of 18 years.” Cardinal Ratzinger knew at once he would have a battle on two fronts: (1) the problem of sex abuse itself and (2) the ensuing scandal and its effects on the Church. The authors quote a 2005 New York Times article to illustrate how seriously Cardinal Ratzinger took this task. Reviewing the reports every Friday, the Times reported, Ratzinger “found the cases so disturbing he called the work his Friday penance.” The length and breadth of sexual abuse data is daunting. Erlandson and Bunson take the reader through the many reforms the Church has made over the centuries to combat everpresent sexual sin, illustrating that the problem is not endemic to the Church but rather, in a post-fall world, a human failing that requires constant vigilance and renewal within the Church. From the dawn of the second millennium, the Church has written, legislated and preached
to protect its flock especially in this area. Interestingly, the issue of the correlation between sexual abuse and homosexuality was far more overtly examined in the 11th century than in the 21st, despite the fact that in the 3,000 cases reported to the CDF, 60 percent involved homosexual activity. The most difficult part of the book is the descent into the inferno of the modern crisis. From the breaking story in 2002 to the Murphy report in Ireland, the facts and figures of sexual abuse are devastating. It is difficult to read about the suffering of the victims, let alone imagine being the person required to clean up this sea of sin and scandal. Erlandson and Bunson offer a few unusual pieces of information. They consulted the “Insurance Journal” of the companies that insure Protestant Churches for some comparative numbers and discovered that there were more reports of sex abuse per year than in the Catholic Church. Since very few entities besides the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have commissioned a study like the John Jay Report to comprehend the scope and nature of the problem of sex abuse, the problem has sometimes mistakenly been perceived as specific to the Catholic Church. The tragic stories and data from Germany, Australia, Canada and other countries leave the reader asking, “Where do we go from here?” The rest of the book addresses that question. First, it underscores the decisive response of United States bishops in 2002 with the “Charter for the Protection of Children
and Young People.” These new directives as well as the expeditious system for dealing with a sex abuser, however, came from the direction of Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger, who identified and began addressing the issue pointedly in 2001. The British newspaper Daily Telegraph wrote in March 2010 that thanks to this pope, “There is no safer place for a child today to be than with a Catholic priest.” Pope Benedict’s frequent encounters with victims of sex abuse are recorded, as well as his extensive comments on the topic in interviews and homilies. By the last page, one wonders why it is that one of the most dramatic turn-around stories in history has been so ignored. Last year in the United States, there were a mere six allegations of abuse of children under age 18 out of a population of 42,000 priests and 70 million Catholics. One wonders why the Catholic Church hasn’t become the model of how to deal with this kind of crisis, instead of a synonym for sex abuse. I personally found Erlandson and Bunson too gentle with the secular press as well as the
contingency fee for lawyers who have exploited the sins of Catholics to their own greatest advantage. On the other hand, the authors’ restraint bolsters their argument, which focuses on the problem and the solutions implemented by Pope Benedict. They do, however, drop one interesting number regarding the total settlement amounts thus far (about $2 billion) and the 30 percent pocketed by the lawyers under the American system of lawsuits of this nature. British papal detractors have harped on the sex abuse scandal to justify their hooligan-like attitude toward Benedict’s visit. Six months ago British columnist Christopher Hitchens wrote: “The Roman Catholic Church is headed by a mediocre Bavarian bureaucrat once tasked with the concealment of the foulest iniquity, whose ineptitude in that job now shows him to us as a man personally and professionally responsible for enabling a filthy wave of crime.” In the face of such rhetorical vitriol, the calm facts and historical data presented by Erlandson and Bunson go a long way toward soothing troubled spirits.
Clergy abuse needs conversion, not radical change of Church, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The problem of abuse by clergy is solved more by a spirit of penitence and conversion by its members than by a radical change of Church structures, Pope Benedict XVI said. He made his comments during his a recent general audience at the Vatican’s Paul VI hall. The pope briefly left the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo to give his audience talk to about 7,000 pilgrims from all over the world. He continued his talk from last week on the life of St. Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-century German mystic. He called her a “great nun” who used her gifts to “work for the renewal of the Church,” which was experiencing troubles similar to those of today. In St. Hildegard’s time, there were calls for radical reform of the Church to fight the problem of abuses made by the clergy, the pope said. However, she “bitterly reproached demands to subvert the very nature of the Church” and reminded people that “a true renewal of the ecclesial community is not achieved so much with a change in the structures as much as with a
sincere spirit of penitence” and conversion, the pope said. He said she urged the faithful, especially the clergy and monastic communities, to live holy and virtuous lives. “This is a message we must never forget,” he said. He called on the Holy Spirit to help “raise up wise, holy and courageous women whose God-given gifts will enrich the life of the Church in our own time.” Pope Benedict praised St. Hildegard, who “brought a woman’s insight to the mysteries of the faith.” Her work shows how “even theology can receive the distinctive contribution of women, because they are able to speak of God and the mystery of faith with their distinctive intelligence and insight,” he said. The pope encouraged female theologians to continue their special contribution to the Church in a spirit of fidelity and by enriching their reflections with prayer. He called for greater study into the works of St. Hildegard and other medieval Christian mystics, which he said remain partly unexplored.
September 17, 2010
Bishop Connolly is home to 10 international guests for 2010-11 continued from page one
“An agency advocating the education of international students in the U.S. approached then-Principal Michael Scanlan in 2008 and asked if we would like to be involved,” said Connolly Director of Admission/ Alumni Anthony C. Ciampanelli. “We thoroughly researched what it would take for that to happen. There was a great deal of paperwork to be done, on a diocesan level and on a political level, but we felt this would be a great opportunity for our students to learn about their Chinese counterparts and vice versa. “We did all the leg work, obtaining liability forms, school transcripts, medical records, determining if the student’s English was adequate for them to sit and learn in the classroom, and so on.” The agency had to receive diocesan approval, and the students needed a letter of approval to obtain the proper visa. “The next step was to find host families that would also be a proper fit,” Ciampanelli told The Anchor. “We had to be sure the student and the family would be comfortable with each other. The families went through CORI testing, we reviewed a profile of the family and eventually everything worked out for us to bring five sophomore students from China to Bishop Connolly High School. Of those five, three were girls, and two were twins, a brother and a sister.” Another agency, also approved by the diocese, approached the Connolly administration with six more Chinese students. “Again, every ‘t’ had to be crossed and every ‘i’ dotted, but we got it done, and we’ve added six more international students this year,” said Ciampanelli. “One of the original five moved to a school in Boston, but we now have four of our original students plus our six new arrivals. “Since the beginning in 2008, the American kids have been great in accepting and including their visitors, academically and socially. The students are learning from each about their cultures and ways of life. It’s fantastic.” E. Christopher Myron has taken over as principal this year after Scanlan moved to Florida. “I’m so excited to be a part of this international program,” he told The Anchor. “The Bishop Connolly community has welcomed these young men and women with open arms. Christ teaches us to accept everyone as a brother and a sister. The Chinese students may not know Christ, but they are seeing him in the actions and hearts of the students, faculty, and families. The more diverse a school, the more that
15
The Anchor
will be learned. We’re all helping each other learn about what our respective countries are like.” Myron also commended Ciampanelli for his diligent efforts in the program. “Tony has connected our cultures, and others are highly inspired by his efforts.” So committed to this program is Ciampanelli that he spent 10 days in China this past summer in the Beijing and Shanghai areas. “I went with representatives from four other Catholic schools in New England,” said Ciampanelli. “It was an amazing experience. We held two school fairs while in the Beijing area and interviewed perspective students face-to-face. It’s too late for this year, but maybe some of them can come in the future. In recent years, things have really loosened up for Chinese students allowing them this opportunity to get an education in America. Many want to achieve their high school diploma in the States, and then move on to an American college or university. Most have their sights set on attending Harvard or Yale.” The 10 students have seemingly settled in nicely with their host families in just the few weeks they’ve been here. The host families include some members of the Connolly faculty and staff, and others are parents of Connolly students. Some of the Chinese students have selected an American name by which they’d like to be referred and some have maintained their given names. There are three sophomores: Danna Liu, Lei Yang, and Selena (Zhenni) Gong; four juniors: Queena (Yanwen) Wang, Edward (Yueming) Huang, Ming (Mingyi) Xiong, and Allen (Meng) Gao; and three seniors: Steven (Linghao) Zeng and his twin sister Lily (Lingian), and Zoe (Yudan) Ding. Allen Gao is one of the original five and has taken the newer arrivals under his wing to make sure they are comfortable. “Allen is our trailblazer,” said Ciampanelli. “With his help, we’re planning on starting a new club at Connolly this year, the Chinese-American Cultural Exchange Club, so the students can bounce ideas of each other.” Before coming to Connolly Gao researched the school on the internet. “I liked what I saw and I came to America to find higher education and life here,” he told The Anchor. “I try to draw in another environment here.” “When I first arrived here I was nervous,” he continued. “I didn’t know what I should do or not do. There’s a difference in
manners and culture. There was a lot to learn right away and I wanted to do right. It was a different world.” Gao added that the language posed the most problems. “Some of the American expressions and slang were new, and the teachers had to explain them to us.” Another great help was the host family. “I think the host family is a good way to learn the American culture,” he added. “It’s something you can’t learn in a boarding school. You have to learn the family customs and manners and you have to learn to care for yourself. The first year was tough but I’m really enjoying it here.” Adding a bit of American jargon, Gao added, “So far, so good.” One of the host families is Taunton resident Debbie Arruda, administrative assistant at the school, and her husband John. Sophomore Danna Liu is the Arrudas’ guest. “Right away, Danna learned the Portuguese name for my husband is João, so that’s what she calls him,” said Arruda. “When we first met her at Logan Airport, only a few days before school started, we were there with a sign, balloons and flowers for her. When she got off the plane I knew her right away, and she immediately gave me a hug and a kiss. I was surprised at her response, but I liked it, and I sensed she was happy to be here.” Arruda said she and John had wanted to host an international student before and felt the time was now right. “In just a short time it’s been a great experience,” she said. “It’s a wonderful way to learn another culture and help her learn ours. I feel God has blessed me with this wonderful young lady. She’s so eager to fit in, to help and to learn about American culture.” The Arrudas have two daughters, Mikala, 24, a nurse, and Ariana, 20, in medical school. “Danna calls them her sisters and she’s taken over the family dog. She’s adapted so well and she has a great sense of humor. And she’s fallen in love with McDonald’s Frappés ... and she’s taken a shine to Portuguese food as well.” Arruda told The Anchor that the family routines have not changed since Danna arrived. “We went to Sunday Mass that first weekend and Danna went with us and she tried to make the Sign of the Cross with the holy water and genuflect. She was watching what everyone was doing. She wants to go to Mass with us every Sunday.” Lori Huyler has a son Craig who is a freshman at Connolly, and they have taken in two of the new students, Edward Huang
and Lei Yang. The Westport resident told The Anchor, “It’s been a great experience for us so far. It’s been a lot of fun and they are very nice kids. There is a little bit of a language barrier and at first they spoke Chinese to each other, but I told them to speak English when around me so they can better learn the language and I can know what they’re saying.” Huyler said the guests have adapted very well to their new routine. “We all sit down for dinner together, and I can see their lives are becoming more structured. They do their own chores and are becoming very self-sufficient.” Huyler, a widow, has older children that are on their own with children of their own, and sees the three boys bonding nicely. “With my other children out of the house, Craig is basically an only child, and Edward and Lei were in much the same situation in China, so it’s good for them. They’re so down to earth and want to participate in everything. They play basketball, ride bikes and help tend to my horses and pets. Neither had any. They’re teaching us to eat with chopsticks, and they’ve fallen in love with breakfast cereal.” Huyler mentioned that Edward is an accomplished guitarist and flautist. “He listens to Chinese bands, but he is into Lady Gaga.” Both host families told The Anchor that their guests speak regularly with their families in China via the internet at Skype. com, where they can talk to their parents and see them as well via webcams. And with the help of their student translators, the host families have communicated with the parents in China as well. “Danna speaks almost daily with her parents through Skype,” said Arruda. “Her mom is happy she’s in a safe environment.” “Our parents worry about us,” added Gao, “so it’s important that we keep in contact to let them know we are all right.” Frank Sherman, the school’s athletic director, is also part of a host family. At the school, the American students have welcomed their Chinese guests with open arms. “The students here have treated us very good, very kind and they are very outgoing,” said Gao. He added that if the roles were reversed, and an American student were to visit a Chinese school, “I promise the students there would be very welcoming as well. We need life to be beautiful and colorful. We have to take care of each other and we’re glad to help others, too.” Ciampanelli told The Anchor that the international students excel in mathematics and science, being more or less international
subjects. He said it’s more difficult for them when the language is in the mix, “But they are doing very well. Many of them are hoping to attend a top 10 college or university in America. They are very devoted to their studies.” During the summer months, the students return to China and continue their studies. “They’re very bright students,” said Ciampanelli. “In China they stress the 3 A’s ... academics, academics, and academics. Their parents expect them to achieve at a high level, and the children want to please their parents. At home and here, they have a great respect for authority.” But it’s not all work and no play. “The Chinese students take part in school activities,” said Ciampanelli. “Some sing in the choir, some take part in film study or dance, and they attend school sporting events.” Myron said the students are obligated to take Religious Education with their peers. “We’re not trying to convert them, but this is part of the curriculum here and they are a part of it.” “Some of them have heard of Jesus and some haven’t,” added Ciampanelli. “But everyone involved knew this was part of the curriculum and there was no hesitation. As a matter of fact, we just had an opening liturgy, and they were invited at Communion to come up for a blessing.” Ciampanelli told The Anchor that Bishop Connolly is just the right size for a productive learning environment. “It’s not too large. The teachers can provide our guests with guidance in a one-on-one environment. Our teachers and our students are concerned about their welfare.” As the program becomes more successful at Bishop Connolly, there are more and more families interested in hosting an international student. “We have more host families now than students,” said Ciampanelli. “And it’s not just limited to Chinese students.” “Hosting is not for everyone,” Huyler told The Anchor. “But I would definitely do it again. I love children.” “This is a great experience and I would recommend others to look into it,” said Arruda. “Danna has been a joy in my life. She adores João, likes America, and she is more than welcome to finish her high school years with us.” For 10 Chinese students making Bishop Connolly High School their home, the world has become a smaller place, as it has for those with whom they interact. This is bigger than a win-win situation. More importantly, it’s a learn-learn situation, a crucial element to higher education and life itself.
Youth Pages
16
September 17, 2010
All Saints Catholic School teams up with National Football League NEW BEDFORD — All Saints Catholic School (the former St. Mary’s and St. Joseph-St.Theresa Schools) of New Bedford is a registered and participating school in the National Football League’s NFLRUSH program for schools across the United States. By participating in the program, the school becomes eligible for potential awards in cash and services for the enhancement of good nutrition, athletics and the promotion of academic excellence through writing and peer participation and leadership projects. The event “kickoff” across the country was September 10 to coincide with the start of the 2010 NFL season. Besides showing their local support of the Patriots, students
dressed in the red, white, and blue met with specialists in the areas of nutrition and physical fitness from the Southcoast Hospital. Students, parents and school staff participated in healthy events, meals, and “thought-provoking class exercises” geared toward academic excellence and achievement. In addition, as good community citizens, students were encouraged to bring in fruits and vegetables that will be presented to the St. Anthony’s Food Pantry for distribution to the needy. It will be through the documentation of the day’s activities and results that the pre-registered schools will become eligible for consideration of the awards and grants from the NFL.
Busy summer — Several teachers from Bishop Connolly High School spent part of their summer vacation enhancing their educations and picking up skills to bring back to the Fall River school. At left, Helen Flavin, PhD. attended the Biotechnology Institute’s National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Program, where she was certified in biotechnology eduction. She also attended a course at Emmanuel College for courses in forensics and immunology and neuroscience. Flavin’s article on “Sickle Cell Biology” will be published in the Network of Educators in Science and Technology fall newsletter. Dean Lauzon spent one week at James Madison’s home in Montpelier, Va., studying the Constitution with prominent Constitutional scholars. The course was sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. He also spent several days at Clark University at a conference sponsored by the American Psychiatric Association, on modern developments in psychology and new methods of teaching the subject. (Photo by Dave Jolivet) History Department chairperson Michael A. Vieira, below, was a Table Leader at the Advanced Placement United States History Exam Reading. The reading was held in Louisville, Ky. He was one of 30 teachers chosen nationally, to participate in a National Endowment for the Humanities seminar on Abraham Lincoln and the Forging of Modern America. This NEH Landmarks Seminar was held at the University of Illinois, Evansville. Vieira was also one of 25 teachers chosen nationally to participate in a Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History seminar on the Reconstruction Era (1863-1877). This seminar was led by Dr. Eric Foner, the nation’s leading scholar on Reconstruction.
coloring their world — St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro is creating a wall of crayons at the school. Parents will be purchasing the crayons as part of the school’s upcoming fall auction. The family’s name will be painted onto the crayons and attached to the fence that surrounds the school. Pictured, from left, are eighth-grade students, Caroline Fortin, Megan Bischoff, Madison Tager and Juliet Messer, after painting their crayons.
just a little off the top — The large, six-foot statue of St. Francis Xavier which greets all who visit St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School in Hyannis recently received a makeover. Robert Karczewski, who has restored a number of statues in the Diocese of Fall River, was contracted to give the school’s patron saint’s image a fresh look. Nearly 235 students attend St. Francis Xavier in Hyannis this year and all seemed to appreciate the fresh, clean appearance of their school — inside and out.
woods hole veggie tales — Some children from St. Joseph’s Parish in Woods Hole display some of the bounty of their community garden. From left, front row: Liam Burr, Harry Burr, Tibby Heard, Juliana Dvorak, Sophia Burr, Isabel Heard, and Angelina Dvorak. Back, Walker Heard and Tomasz Dvorak. The children declared it the year of the cucumber.
I
know I’m treading on dangerous ground here, but I’m hoping my editor, Dave Jolivet, will grant me this one incursion into his area of expertise — sports. This is not really an article about sports, but about a person that is well-known for playing football. Last month, while out west, flipping through news on my iPad, I came across several articles about Emmitt Smith, an NFL football player, who was inducted into the 2010 NFL Hall of Fame and, as my wife will gleefully point out, the winner of the 2006 “Dancing with the Stars” competition. I’m not much interested in football or dance, but my wife makes me watch the dancing so I’m more familiar with Emmitt Smith as a dancer. On August 13, Emmitt Smith was inducted into the 2010 NFL Hall of Fame. His
What about ... ???
a way that the light was shone acceptance speech has been on others, not on himself. widely reported as “moving.” Gratitude and humility. We I didn’t hear it myself, but don’t see these two words put from what I’ve read, it was into practice much today when one “classy” speech. One reporter wrote “Emmitt’s speech everyone seems to want to be top dog and doesn’t fear steprevealed so much more than classy.” The NFL’s all-time rushing leader was “brutally authentic. Inspired.” His speech contained the “dance most admire: gratitude and By Frank Lucca humility. Oh how these two things do dance. It was beautiful to watch,” Steven Kalas of the Las Vegas Review ping on someone else to get to the top of the heap. And how Journal, wrote. “The capacity often do we ourselves forget of gratitude is itself humility. to show gratitude to those Gratitude and humility dance around us, like our parents, or as one,” Smith said. children, spouses, teachers, Emmitt spoke about gratifriends, co-workers, or priests tude to everyone. To his emand deacons and religious? Do ployers, coaches, teammates, we think that we don’t need fans and most importantly his others and can do it or did it family. And he did it in such
Be Not Afraid
Academics and faith should go together, says head of NCEA By Mark Haney Catholic News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As the new school year gets underway, Catholic educators may wonder if academics or faith should get more emphasis in the classroom. Karen Ristau, president of the National Catholic Educational Association, believes the two should go hand in hand. “My big question is how can we talk about Catholic identity and excellent academics in the same sentence, the same paragraph,” she said in a recent address to nearly 500 educators at the Diocese of Grand Rapids’ back-to-school kickoff at Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids. Ristau urged the group of staff members and pastors from Catholic schools to remember that their schools promote “a Catholic way of life” and should “cultivate a sense of awe and gratitude, a desire for truth, an ability to continue learning about the world and the knowledge that we are especially loved by God.” “We want young people to learn that this is how we do things, this is how we live,” she added. Ristau told her listeners that Catholic education has changed since she and many others in the room attended Catholic schools and certainly since Catholic Central became the nation’s first private coeducational high school
17
Youth Pages
September 17, 2010
in 1906. Where religious once dominated the classrooms, she said, now 96 percent of teachers in Catholic schools are laypeople. Today these teachers fall into three categories, she said: those who chose to teach in a Catholic school and consider their job a vocation; those who came to teach in a Catholic school because they needed a job but now love it and also consider it a vocation; and those who thought they wanted to teach, so have landed at a Catholic school but will be gone when a “better” job comes along, either in a public school or somewhere else. She asked the educators to think about why they teach in a Catholic school, telling them that she believes “the answer is crucial to your personal sanity and morale. Why are you teaching in a Catholic school?” “Your students probably should know your answer because it is essentially important to them that you articulate why you are doing what you are doing,” Ristau said. “Students and parents are not inspired by neutrality, by teachers and administrators sitting in neutral. They are looking for your excitement and passion,” she noted. But she also said excitement and compassion are not enough and that schools need to be vibrant and current to reach today’s students. “Complaining can be heard in
various places,” she said, “questioning whether we even teach children cursive handwriting anymore. We would be laughed out of our profession if our schools did not use computers and the many ways technology can help us learn.” “We need to be up-to-date. Our teaching methods, our programming, our communication needs to be appropriate to our times. Do not hesitate to find appropriate ways to meet today’s young people,” she continued. “We have a powerful message and wonderful knowledge to share and we need to search to find ways to engage young people so they hear us.” Catholic educators, Ristau said, must always remember the image of Christ as the good shepherd and must model themselves after him in their life and in the classroom. “We are asked to be shepherds in our own way,” she said, “to look after God’s people, to teach them how to live in the world, to share and celebrate the good news, But people, the reality is shepherding can be hard. It can be difficult. It can be messy. And it can be lonely.” She encouraged the teachers to find meaning in their work by taking time to reflect on their important role. “You are a sacrament to your students,” she stressed. “You are making the word real to them in the lives they live right now.”
all by ourselves? And what about God? Have we taken the time to show gratitude for all the Almighty has done for us or do we display a selfcenteredness that flies in the face of what it means to be a disciple of Christ? Now I don’t know Emmitt’s spirituality or the way he lives out his relationship to God. That wasn’t discussed in the articles, but what was clearly stated was that “Emmitt’s glory is not about Emmitt.” Rather it is about everyone around him. Here in a secular sports speech at the NFL Hall of Fame induction, Emmitt Smith clearly demonstrated two important Catholic values, which we are called to put into action. So, let’s take a few minutes today to give gratitude first of
all to God for all that he has done for us. Then let’s give some thought to those that have been there for us over the years. Like parents who have given up so much to give you what we need: food, dress, shelter and love. What about those teachers or religious who have made a difference in our life? What about those who toil in difficult jobs to make our lives more comfortable? What about those doctors and others in the medical field who take care of us? What about those friends who have stood by us through thick and thin? What about….??? Frank Lucca is a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea. He is chair and director of the YES! Retreat and director of the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI). He is a husband and a father of two daughters. He has so much to be grateful for.
The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools or parish Religious Education programs, have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org
18
The Anchor
September 17, 2010
Espirito Santo School celebrates 100th anniversary
Study shows teens support abstinence
continued from page one
continued from page one
dent choir along with the parish choir and folk group,” said Louise Kane, principal of Espirito Santo School. “The latter group is comprised of alumni and parents who have or have had students in the school. We’re very happy to have all these groups represented.” In fact, Kane said the Mass will include representation from the current student body, former alumni, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary who staffed the school until 1994, along with past and present faculty members and school administrators. Since opening its doors a century ago, Kane estimates that more than 2,000 students have graduated from Espirito Santo School. “That’s impressive,” she said. “We still have a very vibrant parish community that supports this school tremendously.” Established to meet the needs of the city’s growing Portuguese population in the early 1900s, Espirito Santo School was founded by the parish’s second pastor, Father João Baptista de Valles, and opened the doors to its first class of 220 pupils — 104 boys and 116 girls — on Sept. 19, 1910. The five classrooms were originally confined to the first floor of a newly-constructed building, wholly funded by parishioners, with the parish church occupying the second tier. “When they established the new church, their intent was to
have a parochial school from the beginning,” Kane said. “When you think about the forethought that went into planning a sanctuary upstairs with the classes on the first floor … you have to applaud their thinking back then.” Father de Valles’ original intent in founding a parochial school was not only that students could receive a complete education grounded in the Catholic faith, but also to keep alive the Portuguese language and culture of the immigrant families while they learned to assimilate into their new American way of life. Born out of necessity, Espirito Santo School was also one of the first schools in the area to offer full-day kindergarten classes, which were added in 1925. “The reason for that was [because] so many of the parents worked in the nearby factories and mills, they needed a place for their children during the day,” Kane said. “So they established full-day kindergarten classes. Often the mothers would come over and have lunch with their children and then go back to work.” Over the years as enrollment increased, the school was expanded, first by longtime pastor Father Manuel S. Travassos, who moved the lower grades into another building previously used as the church; then more significantly by Father João V. Resendes, who added a new extension onto the old school building,
ARE YOU MOVING? The Post Office charges The Anchor 70 cents for notification of a subscriber’s change of address. Please help us reduce these expenses by notifying us immediately when you plan to move.
Please Print Your New Address Below
NAME: STREET ADDRESS: CITY, STATE, ZIP: NEW PARISH: MOVING DATE: Please attach your Anchor address label below so we can update your record immediately.
Please cut and adhere address label in this space CLIP THIS ENTIRE FORM AND MAIL TO:
The Anchor P.O. BOX 7 — FALL RIVER, MA 02722 THANK YOU
which was blessed and dedicated by Bishop James L. Connolly in 1963. The combined structure continues to serve as Espirito Santo School to this day. Eighty-eight-year-old Irene Pacheco of Westport graduated from Espirito Santo School in 1936 and plans to be among the many alumni present to celebrate this weekend. “I remember we used to have a bulletin board in the school hallway,” Pacheco said. “When we’d get our report cards, the top two or three students’ names were put on a list and my name was always there. God gave me a good brain and even with a limited education, I did well.” Pacheco recalled the tuition back then being about “10 cents,” which was a considerable sum during the Great Depression. “But my mother always made sure she had the money for us,” she said. Years later when she had children of her own, Pacheco said she and her husband decided to send them to St. George’s School in Westport. “My husband went through public schools in Westport, but when he saw they were starting a parochial school at St. George’s Parish, he figured our children would get a better education,” she said. Earlier this year, Espirito Santo School was adopted and honored by the PortugueseAmerican Leadership Council of the United States for its efforts in continually teaching the Portuguese culture and language for the past 100 years. “Two weeks ago we were also recognized by Lesley University and the University of the Azores for teaching Portuguese for 100 years,” Kane added. In keeping with the school’s rich history of bilingual education, the Mass of Thanksgiving will appropriately include prayers and readings in English and Portuguese. “I’m thrilled — I’m so excited for Sunday,” Kane said. “We’ve put so much time and work into this celebration. I’ve met many alumni who still have a deep connection to the school. They think about their fond memories and you really see how attending school here really touched a lot of lives and made a difference.” Sunday’s 11 a.m. Mass of Thanksgiving is open to the public, but limited to church capacity. Some tickets are still available for the 1 p.m. anniversary luncheon at White’s in Westport. Those interested should contact the school at 508-672-2229.
Chad Hills, Focus on the Family’s analyst for sexual health and abstinence education, said President Barack Obama’s administration has “cut off the air supply” to abstinence education. The president and Congress have cut all abstinence-centered program grants from the fiscal year 2010 budget, which will affect more than two million students. Some states have already made the switch to apply for federal funding from the Personal Responsibility Education program, which focuses on contraception and “safe sex” considerations for youth with same-sex attraction. “Their objective was to completely zero out abstinence funding in the new budget years, and that’s what they effectively did,” Hills told The Anchor, adding that he believes the information in this report could have made a “significant difference.” Focus on the Family is investigating the possibility that the report was intentionally embargoed until after the budget was set. “We believe this wasn’t just a mistake. There’s more to it than that,” said Hills, calling the timing “highly suspect.” Hills criticized elected officials who cut abstinence education funds, which are clearly supported by the majority of their constituents. The study indicated that 66 percent of adolescents and 89 percent of their parents wanted the teens to remain abstinent at least until they graduated from high school. “The majority of kids, the majority of parents still have some values, still have a moral compass in relation to sexual morality,” he said. “They know that sex outside of marriage should not be condoned by society.” Hills alleged that comprehensive sex education gives license to children who are already challenged by the distorted picture of sexuality put out by the culture and the media. Pumping taxpayer dollars into programs that promote contraception and abortion addresses the symptoms, not the root causes, of risky adolescent sexual behavior. “Now we have a bunch of bruised, bleeding, hurt teens at the bottom of this cliff they jumped off of when we could have put a fence up at the edge that said, ‘Warning, do not walk off this cliff,’” he said. Hills added that time and time again studies, including the HHS study, have shown that parents are the most important influence in their children’s lives, regardless of the “eye rolling and the attitudes” teens tend to display. The HHS study reported that the more parents talk about sex with their children, the less likely they will be to participate in sexual behavior as teens. The HHS survey also found
that parents favor education coming from multiple sources, and that teamwork is best. When a teen’s teacher, doctor and religious leader work with parents to emphasize abstinence, the adolescent is more likely to achieve it. “Given the evidence that hearing messages about sex and abstinence from more than one source increases the likelihood that adolescents hear and report these messages, a multi-pronged approach to delivering these messages to adolescents will likely be more influential than approaches focusing on a single message source,” the report said. Marian Desrosiers, director of the Diocese of Fall River’s Pro-Life Apostolate, told The Anchor that the parents are the primary educators of their children, adding, “The Church does have a call to assist parents.” “The Church, now more than ever, needs to be present because at one time, the school was giving the same message, the parents were giving the same message, the society at large was giving the same moral message as the Church, but now that whole system has broken down. The school may be giving a very different message. Our culture, our media are giving very different message. And if the parents were to remain silent, there’s a lot of danger there,” she said. The Catholic Church’s teaching on chastity promotes abstinence as a positive choice. Pope John Paul II highlighted the dignity of the human person and the importance of understanding “the language of our bodies” in his “Theology of the Body.” “The Church in her wisdom invites us to say ‘yes’ to something that is beautiful, that is true,” said Desrosiers, who has been teaching chastity to teens for 17 years in the diocese. “Oftentimes the young people will tell me they never understood that their sexuality was a gift.” Hills said that teens must understand the order of sexual activity in order to give them the best chance at a stable, committed and lifelong marriage. “There’s an order to sexuality. We don’t just enter into sexual activity at the outset of a date or a relationship. This is something that is done in order like building a campfire. You can’t just throw huge logs on there, throw a match on it and expect the thing to light and stay lit throughout the night,” he said. “I think if we — as adults, as parents, as society, as an education system — uphold a higher standard and expect that of our kids, I think we’ve got some great teens out there. I think we’ve got kids who have more than enough self discipline, character and responsibility to achieve this,” Hills added.
The Anchor
September 17, 2010
Father Keenan dies at age 73 continued from page one
is to walk straight again, and to do that I’ll be on a full sabbatical — no schedule, no assignment, and letting the younger fellows at Cardinal Medeiros carry out the work.” Besides his parish assignments, Father Keenan also served as chaplain of the Cape Cod Girl Scouts, Cape Cod Hospital, Cape Cod Community College, and the Bristol County House of Corrections. “I’ll have many fond memories of him,” said long-time friend retired Father George F. Almeida, a classmate of Father Keenan’s. “I enjoyed him living here at the Cardinal Medeiros residence the last two years. We had a lot of laughs and camaraderie. It won’t be the same without him. We went out to dinner to celebrate our 45th anniversary as priests and he surprised me with a lovely anchor with a crucifix inside. I wear it daily, and now I’ll remember him when I see it. He will be in my prayers.” “Our friendship began as students at Holy Family High School,” said retired Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington. “And every summer while in seminary, we served together at St. Vincent’s Camp. It was the start of a great friendship. It was in retirement, as a resident at Cardinal Medeiros that I came to admire his extraordinary spirit of goodness — a cheerful servant of the Lord.” Father Keenan was the son of the late Thomas F. Keenan and Annie C. (Hart) Keenan. He was predeceased by a brother, Thomas H. Keenan. Father Keenan’s wake is Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m., and the funeral is September 20 at 11 a.m., both at St. Mary’s Church in South Dartmouth.
In Your Prayers
Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Sept. 20 Rev. Simon A. O’Rourke, USN Chaplain, 1918 Rev. Omer Valois, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Bedford, 1958 Sept. 21 Rev. George Pager, Founder, Sacred Heart, New Bedford, 1882 Rev. George Jowdy, Pastor, Our Lady of Purgatory, New Bedford, 1938 Rev. William H. Crane, SM, Superior at National Shrine of Our Lady of Victories, Boston, 1988 Sept. 23 Rev. Antoine Charest, SM, Former Assistant, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 2001 Sept. 24 Rev. Joseph E.C. Bourque, Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1955 Sept. 25 Rev. Robert J. Woodley, SJ, Missionary, Taunton, New Bedford, Fall River, 1857 Sept. 26 Rev. John J. Donahue, Assistant, St. William, Fall River, 1944 Rev. Flavius Gamache, SMM, Former Pastor, St. Peter, Dighton, 1996 Rev. John C. Martins, Former Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fall River, 2008 Rev. Clement E. Dufour, Retired, Former Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, New Bedford, 2009
Around the Diocese 9/17
A Hole-in-One Shootout to benefit My Brother’s Keeper will be held tonight, tomorrow and Sunday at Golf Country, Route 138, South Easton. This is an innovative golf fund-raising event where participants can win up to $1 million as well as $5,000 in consolation prizes. All proceeds will provide furniture and food to those in need. For more information go to www.mybrotherskeeper.org.
9/18
Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 121 Mount Pleasant Street, New Bedford, is having a Meat and Seafood Raffle tomorrow beginning at 5 p.m. with supper and the raffle scheduled for 7 p.m. in the parish center. For more information call 508-992-3184.
9/19
St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, New Bedford, will hold CCD registration and parent meeting for all grade levels Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Family-Holy Name School, 91 Summer Street in New Bedford. Families must be registered at St. Lawrence Martyr Parish to participate. For more information call 508-993-3547.
9/19
The Legion of Mary will have a Day of Recollection Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Cathedral Camp Retreat Center, East Freetown. The day is open to members and non-members and will include a talk by Father Joseph Medio, formerly of New Bedford now serving the Archdiocese of Boston. For reservations call 508-995-2354.
9/20
St. Louis de France Parish, 56 Buffington Street, Swansea, will host a Fall Scripture Study on the Gospel according to Matthew every Monday beginning September 20 through November 15. Sessions begin promptly at 7:15 p.m. on the second floor of St. Louis de France School and will last about 90 minutes. For more information call 508-264-5823 or email forums8799@mypacks.net. To register call Nancy at 508-674-1103.
9/21
The Daughters of Isabella will hold their next monthly meeting on September 21 at 7 p.m. at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart Church, Mount Pleasant Street, New Bedford. All are invited to attend and any woman over the age of 18 interested in becoming a member should call 774-526-2640.
9/22
The Martin Institute at Stonehill College, 320 Washington Street, North Easton, will welcome Professor Roger Newman to help celebrate Constitution Day, a commemoration of the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution, on September 22 at 4 p.m. Professor Newman, an author and journalism teacher at Columbia University, will discuss “Civil Liberties, Surveillance and Terrorism.” All are welcome and there is plenty of free parking in lot 11 behind the sports complex.
9/22
The Celebrate Life Committees of Holy Redeemer and Holy Trinity parishes will host a monthly Holy Hour September 22 at Holy Trinity Church, 246 Main Street, West Harwich, following the 9 a.m. Mass. The rosary will be recited, there will be a short homily, Pro-Life prayers, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
9/23
On September 23 the Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women District I will hold an open meeting, hosted by the St. John the Baptist Women’s Guild at 945 Main Street, Westport. The main speaker will be Kathryn Crosson. The topic will be a new non-profit group “Missions For Humanity.” Children and adult vitamins, anti-fungal creams, pain medicines, etc. may be brought as donations.
9/24
St. Bernard’s Parish, 30 South Main Street in Assonet, will host its Harvest Festival beginning with an outdoor middle school dance on September 24 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The festival grounds will be open September 25 and 26 beginning at 11 a.m. both days, with a Pumpkin Fun Run slated for September 26 at 1:30 p.m. For more details visit www.igroops.com/igroops/stb or call 508-644-5585.
19 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 of the month, concluding with Benediction and Mass. Buzzards Bay — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m. Mass. East 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). EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place First Fridays at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 8 p.m. FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has 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. 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. 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.
9/25
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.
9/25
SEEKONK — Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has eucharistic adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508336-5549.
The Immaculate Conception Church Ladies Guild will be holding its annual Flea Market in the parish hall on County Street, Fall River on September 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This fund-raiser is for the benefit of the boiler fund and other church projects. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Margaret’s/St. Mary’s parishes, Buzzards Bay and Onset, will sponsor its second annual Canal Walk on September 25 (rain date: October 2). Registration is from 8:15 - 8:45 a.m. in front of St. Margaret’s Church, 141 Main Street, Buzzards Bay. The one-mile walk begins at 9 a.m. starting at the train depot. For information call 508-291-1791.
9/26
Sacred Heart Church, corner of Pine and Seabury streets, Fall River, will host a Chopstick Auction on September 26 at 1 p.m. There will be more than 100 prizes and a cash raffle. Food will also be available starting at 11:30 a.m. For more information call 508-990-6224.
10/2
St. Julie Billiart Church, North Dartmouth, will host a Prayer Shawl workshop on October 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parish hall. The presenters are Janet Bristow and Victoria Cole-Galo. More information about this workshop and prayer shawls is available at the website, www.shawlministry.com, or by calling the parish at 508-993-2351.
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.
20 By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff ATTLEBORO — The fifth local 40 Days for Life campaign and the second to be held this calendar year will kick off September 22 and continue through October 31. Participants will once again assemble to keep a daily vigil outside the only remaining abortion clinic operating within the Fall River Diocese — Four Women, Inc., located at 150 Emory Street in Attleboro, just steps from the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette — to pray peacefully for an end to abortion. According to co-coordinator Darlene Howard, all are welcome to join them and they shouldn’t feel intimidated to participate. “This is a very peaceful, prayerful campaign, across the street from the abortion clinic,” Howard said. “Because of the buffer zone in Massachusetts, we are not able to get close enough to speak to any of the people going inside, but occasionally they or family members or friends will approach us. We tell them we’re there to help them .... We’re just there to be a voice for the babies who can’t speak for themselves.” Howard said some people prefer to picket the abortion clinic by holding signs with graphic images
The Anchor
September 17, 2010
40 Days for Life vigil begins September 22 of aborted fetuses, which occasionally elicits negative, knee-jerk reactions from the general public. “I understand people have negative reactions to those signs, which is why we don’t have them,” she said. “We ask that those who are there on a regular basis not use those signs during the 40 Days and people have been good about honoring our request. Again, we want to have a peaceful and prayer presence at the site.” Having now worked alongside local 40 Days for Life co-coordinators Steve Marcotte and Ron Larose for the past two-and-a-half years, Howard said she first became involved shortly after the first Attleboro campaign in the diocese. “My husband and I said this is really something we should do as a family,” said Howard, a parishioner at St. Mary’s in Mansfield. “We have a daughter — she’s now 15 — and we realized it was something that was going to affect her. So we went down and prayed outside the clinic with the people that were there.” After meeting Marcotte and Larose, Howard soon realized this was an important and daunting effort and she volunteered to assist.
“I realized this was a big undertaking and they needed help,” she said. “Everyone works full time, so it’s a lot of work for just two people.” The largest and longest coordinated Pro-Life mobilization in history, the nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign includes prayer and fasting, community outreach and participation in peaceful vigils
at sites throughout the country like the one in Attleboro. Since 2008 the Diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate has supported two local campaigns of the nationwide effort each year — one in the fall and one during Lent. Unlike some of the other campaigns, however, Howard noted the Attleboro vigil only runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the 40-day period. “Some campaigns do it for 24 hours, around-the-clock, but we don’t want anyone out there alone overnight,” she said. One new trend that’s been implemented this fall to get more people involved is the idea of “coupling” people so they won’t
have to attend the vigil alone. “I know my parish, St. Mary’s in Mansfield, through its Pro-Life group, is organizing two different shifts on the first day of the campaign so anyone who is uncomfortable going alone can join up with someone else and carpool over to Emory Street,” Howard said. “If that works out, they’re going to offer the two shifts every Thursday during the 40 days. We encourage all parishes to do that because we have heard some people — especially older people — are a little nervous about going there alone.” Since its inception, 40 Days for Life has generated measurable life-saving results in more than 130 cities where it has been implemented. Some locations have reported as much as a 28 percent decrease in local abortion numbers and hundreds of new people getting involved in local life-saving ministry efforts. In a recent letter to the priests in his diocese, Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, of Fargo, N.D., encouraged them to commit at least one hour of prayer outside a local abortion clinic during the upcoming 40 Days for Life Campaign. “Many among the faithful in our diocese have persevered in prayer and fasting,” Bishop Aquila wrote. “Each fall since 2007, they have joined with people of other faiths to raise awareness of the scourge of abortion on our state.
They have prayed in their homes, in churches and adoration chapels, and on the sidewalk outside the abortion facility in Fargo. I know what a busy time this is for you in the parishes, yet I ask that you schedule one more very important thing on your calendar: your hour of prayer outside the abortion facility. I encourage you to tell your parishioners when that hour will be so that they may join you, or pray in union with you from wherever they may be at that time.” During the last Lenten 40 Days for Life vigil in Attleboro, Howard said she knew of at least two confirmed cases where women decided to keep their babies as a result of their efforts. “I’m sure there were others,” she said. “We often see people drive by and wave and give us the thumbs up, but we don’t count them unless we can confirm it. In our hearts we know they’re not waving to us and smiling if they haven’t changed their minds. So we know the power of prayer is working.” The 40 Days for Life vigil in Attleboro will run September 22 through October 31 and all are welcome. A Pro-Life Mass will also be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. on September 25 at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro. For more information about theAttleboro 40 Days for Life campaign, visit www.40daysforlife. com/attleboro or send an email to 40dflattleboro@comcast.net.