Diocese of Fall River
The Anchor
F riday , September 3, 2010
Diocese celebrates Blessed Mother Teresa’s 100th birthday By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff
Adding that all those present that day were blessed with her presence, Bishop Coleman said: “We are also blessed on this day, for today is the 100th anniversary of Mother Teresa’s birth and it marks the beginning of
a year during which we will be given the opportunity to reflect on her life and on its meaning to us and the world. NEW BEDFORD — Although the nave of St. LawToday we give thanks to God for her.” rence Martyr Church wasn’t as packed as it was during Sister Maria Perrine, one of the five Missionary Sisher historic visit to New Bedford in back in ters of Charity currently living and minis1995, an estimated 200 people turned out tering in the diocese, opened the Mass by last week to celebrate the 100th birthday sharing how Blessed Mother Teresa has of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the impacted her life and those of her fellow beloved foundress of the Missionaries of nuns. Charity. “Each one of us is here today because of While the late religious only spent a Blessed Mother Teresa,” Sister Perrine said. brief time in New Bedford 15 years ago, “Today, as we gather to celebrate the 100th her spirit was alive and well during the reanniversary of the birth of our beloved cent Mass and celebration through the presMother and the beginning of her centennial ence of her Sisters still working and living year, we raise our hearts and prayers to God in the city and the many people who vividly in grateful thanks for the gift of her life — remembered her historic visit as if it were a life that served as a constant reminder of yesterday. Christ’s light in the world.” Bishop George W. Coleman, who celMother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha ebrated last week’s anniversary Mass, reBojaxhiu on Aug. 26, 1910 in Albania. She called in his homily how excitement grew later took the name Teresa after St. Therese in the days leading up to Blessed Mother of Lisieux, the co-patron saint of missionarTeresa’s arrival on June 14, 1995. ies. When she turned 18, she left her home “It was unlike anything that has ever to join the Sisters of Loreto as a missionhappened in our diocese,” Bishop Coleman ary. That work brought her to India in 1929, said. “A high school student commented: MAKE A WISH — Bishop George W. Coleman and Sisters from the Missionar- where she devoted her life to helping the ‘Famous people like her don’t come to New ies of Charity blow out the candles on two birthday cakes inside the auditorium “poorest of the poor” in Calcutta. Bedford.’ And even though rain accompa- of Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford during a special celebration In 1950 she founded the Missionaries of nied her visit, people were saying: ‘Today, last week commemorating the 100th birthday of Blessed Mother Teresa of Charity, an order dedicated to helping the the rain is holy water.’” Calcutta. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza) Turn to page 18
Abortionist goes on trial for manslaughter By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent HYANNIS — The first trial of a Massachusetts abortionist who killed a woman as a result of the procedure is scheduled for September 13. Three years to the day of Laura Hope Smith’s death, Rapin Osathanond will face a charge of manslaughter. The trial is expected to take two to four weeks. Smith, 22, of Sandwich, was reportedly 13 weeks pregnant when she entered the Hyannis abortion clinic on Sept. 13, 2007. She died of cardiac arrest while under anesthesia. “Laura died because she didn’t have oxygen. All she needed was
air,” her mother, Eileen Smith, told The Anchor. “It was Propofol, a drug that should only be given out in a hospital setting and only by an anesthesiologist. And the patient should be monitored the whole time. Not only was Laura not monitored, there wasn’t even monitoring equipment there.” Neither Osathanond nor his staff member, who had no medical training, noticed Smith had died until after the abortion was completed, she said. The medical board suspended Osathanond’s license in February 2008, and the only abortion clinic Turn to page 18
CALLING ALL SAINTS — Sherri Swainamer, principal of the new All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford, welcomed more than 270 students on the first day of classes Monday morning. The newlydesigned parochial school uniforms had not yet been delivered in time for the start of classes, so Swainamer allowed students to dress down for the first week of school. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)
Diocesan schools well prepared for 2010-11 academic year
By Dave Jolivet, Editor
FALL RIVER — Several new diocesan school administrators, the first graduating class for an area high school, the opening of a new school, and the major upgrade of another, highlight the
upcoming academic year for the Diocese of Fall River’s Education Center. Superintendent of Schools Dr. George A. Milot told The Anchor that everything is in motion and “this will be an exciting year in Catholic schools
across the diocese. The schools are doing well, enrollment appears to be brisk and we’re pleased to announce that no schools will experience any cuts in sports or extracurricular acTurn to page 13