t eanc 0 VOL. 24, NO. 2
FALL RIVER, MASS., THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1980
Charity Ball tomorrow
Diocesans has,ten aid to Azores
Thousands of friends of ,exceptional and underprivileged children within and without the area of the Diocese of Fall River - from Provincetown to Attleboro - will dance to the music of Lester Lanin and his orchestra and Art Perry's orchestra at the 25th annual Bishop's Charity Ball tomorrow evening at Lincoln Park Ballroom in North Dartmouth. Children attending the Na:zareth Hall Schools and summer camps will benefit from the proceeds of this outstanding New England social ana charitable event. One of the many highlights of the evening will be the introduction of 34 young ladies from diocesan parishes to Bishop Daniel A. Cronin in an elaborate presentee ceremony. The young ladies will be escorted by their fathers. In addition to names of presentees already announced, the Turn to Page Six
225,000 sign Hub covenant BOSTON (NC) - I\. covenant of justice, equity and harmony has been signed by 225,000 Boston area people, according to a Boston newspaper. The Archdiocese of Boston reported that 225,000 covenant cards and olive branch pins had been given out, and more w,ere to be available. The covenant, an effort to eradicate racism in Boston, was launched Nov. 19 by clergymen throughout the city as a result of racial tension resulting when a black high school football player was shot and paraly,~ed during a game in a predominantly white neighborhood. The first phase of the covlenant program, signing of the agreement, has been organized mainly at the local church level, with individual congregations and some schools holding special peace ceremonies to sign it. It is now available for signing in Boston banks. The net phase will be a more direct attack on the causes of racial tension, such as unemployment, housing, school disegregation and affirmative action programs. Cardi~al Humberto Medeiros of Boston urged "every person who lives in Boston and loves it" to sign the covenant, "not as a m~re ceremony, but as: a new beginning."
20c, $6 Per Year
All parishes in the Fall River diocese took up a special collection last weekend to aid victims of the New Year's Day earthquake in the Azores. Thousands of diocesan residents are Azorean immigrants and many have relatives and friends affected by the major disaster. Immediately upon learning of the earthquake, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin sent a cable of support and sympathy to Bishop Aurelio Granada Escudeiro of Angra, the diOCese comprising the nine Azores islands. He called on members of the Fall River diocese to unite in prayer for the earthquake victims and inquired into possible aid to the Azores from Catholic Relief Services, the overseas arm of the United States Catholic Conference.
MARC TREMBLAY of St. Anne's parish, Fall River, prostrates himself before the altar of St. Mary's Cathedral during ceremonies ordaining him to the transitional diaconate. (Torchia Photo)
Dutch hishops in Rome By Jerry Filteau
Since the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) the church in the Netherlands has had a reputation for pushing post-conciliar changes farther and faster than any other church. In the process it has had frequent clashes with the Vatican, often delightedly played up in the press. Some of the more dramaticheadlines in the late 1960's and early 1970's focused on such controversies as: - Vatican objections to "The New Catechism," a Dutch-published catechism for adults that tried to incorporate Vatican II reforms and to express the faith in modern terms. - Blunt dissent throughout the Dutch church agafnst the prohibition on artificial birth control in Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical "Humanae Vitae" (On Human Life). - Massive departures from the priesthood and religious life in the Netherlands. - The formation of the Dutch National Pastoral Council, which called for optional celibacy for
priests and change in church teaching on birth control and the subsequent Vatican suppression of national pastoral councils. - Delegations of Dutch bishops going to Rome to seek optional celibacy for priests or, at least, a new look at the question. - The Vatican banning of a high school catechetics text used in two of the seven Dutch dioceses. - The closing of all traditional minor and major seminaries in the Netherlands, substituting more flexible pastoral and spiritual formation programs for priesthood students, with theology courses taken at the Catholic theology faculties of state universities. - Widespread unauthorized liturgical experimentation and popular support for married priests who were celebrating Mass, despite objections by their bishops. - Strong protests from organized lay and priest groups over the papal appointments of two conservative bishops: BishTurn to Page Six
Although communications and access to isolated fishing villages remained difficult, authorities said that at least 5 were killed by the quake, hundreds injured and thousands left homeless. Most damage was done on the islands of Terceira, Sao Jorge and Graciosa, where towns and villages were at least 60 percent destroyed. The town of Angra do Heroismo, on the island of Terceira, capital of the three-island group, was hardest hit, with 80 percent of its buildings destroyed. Its 16th century Cathedral of San Salvador, where many priests serving the Fall River diocese were ordained, was severely damaged. The village priest at Santa Barbara on Terceira Island was buried in the ruins of his church as he rang the bell to alert villagers of the earthquake. The text of Bishop Cronin's cable to Bishop Granada Escudeiro follows: Please know of the great distress of the bishop, clergy, religious and faithful of the diocese of Fall River at the news of the dreadful tragedy in the Azores. Our sorrow at the calamity is the more profound because of the bonds of true fraternal affection between the diocese of Fall River and the diocese of Angra and between our peoples. We are preparing means
to bring physical assistance to you and to your suffering flock. In the immediate moment, we unite with you in prayer that Almighty God will pour forth graces and blessings upon you and your people in this hour of sorrow. May the good souls of victims of the earthquake rest in peace. May the sufferings of survivors be lightened through God's strengthening graces. The Azores were settled by the Portuguese in the 15th century. As an ocean crossroads for the fleets of European powers, they became a center of maritime warfare in the 16th century. The Diocese of Angra was created in 1534. It has a Catholic population of 260,000.
Day of study for priests Father Stephen C. Doyle, OFM, professor of scripture at Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston and an authority on the Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, will lead a priests' study day on that book of scripture' from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at St. Patrick's church hall, Wareham. The program, open to all clergy, wil not require pre-registration. It has been arranged by Father Michel C. Methot, diocesan director of clergy continuing education, at the request of the Priests' Council and with the support of Bishop Daniel A. Cronin. Father Methot noted that lunch will not be served and that a nominal fee will be requested at the door. Father Doyle is recognized for his ability to cast the Book of Revelation into contemporary terms while analyzing its literary form, setting it in historical perspective and explaining its symbolism. Father Methot pointed out that study of the Book of Revelation has increased in importance with the development of charismatic communities within Catholicism. He said the study day "will attempt to address key questions relating to Catholic understanding of the Apocalypse."