FALL· RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS VOL. 34, NO.2.
Friday, January 12, 1990
FALL RIVER, MASS.
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Immigrant youths need special care say officials WASHINGTON (CNS) - Catholic churches must take extra steps to make the children of immigrants welcome, a U.S. Catholic Conference official said. "They take on much more responsibility than they normally would," said Father Peter Zendzian, USCC director of pastoral care of migrants and refugess. "They have to be adults even though they are children. They learn English and the American ways faster than their parents. They often read the bills and explain things to their parents." Father Zendzian was interviewed Jan.4 by Catholic News Service i.n connection with National Migration Week, which ends tomorrow. Cardinal Bernard Law, archbishop of Boston, is chairman of the U.S. Catholic Conference Committee on Migration. In the Fall River diocese, Father John J. Oliveira, parochial vicar at St.
Michael's parish, Fall River, is advisor to the migration commit~ tee on pastoral care of Portuguese immigrants in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. . Additionally, Father Oliveira is chairman of the Portuguese Community Health Care Committee at St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River. The church needs to be sensitive to the needs of children of immigrants," Father Zendzian said. "It can help make the immigration scene much more gentle." Parishes can help the children feel welcome, he said, by getting volunteers to tutor them in English and other school subjects and planning activities to help them learn "the new culture and be part of the scene." Pastors, he added, should be
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Deacon ordination held Saturday John M. Sullivan of St. Bernard's parish, Assonet, was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin last Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River. During the ordination ceremony, Bishop Cronin said that Deacon Sullivan is advancing toward "a state of total dedication moved by a sincere love of Christ" and
that he must bear witness "that God must be loved above all else, and it is he whom you serve in others." . Msgr. John J. Oliveira, YE, was master of ceremonies and many diocesan priests, including Father Edward E. Correia, pastor of S·t. Bernard's, were Mass concelebTurn to Page Six
BISHOP DANIEL A. Cronin ordains John M. Sullivan to the transitional diaconate in ceremonies at S1. Mary's Cathedral. (Hickey photo)
"All of you are Christ's body and each one is a part of it." (1 Cor. 12:27) Candidates and team of Emmaus 81
The Emmaus retreat
Gifts of love and light Story and photos ral Camp, East Freetown, since by Marcie Hickey the 1970s. The most recent retreat "On that same day two ofJesus' weekend, Dec. 15 through 17, was followers were going to a vii/age Emmaus 81, called The Gifts of named Emmaus, about seven miles Love and Light, for which there from Jerusalem. and they were were, 16 team members and 16 talking /0 each other aboui all the candidates, including this reporter. Said Tom Barber, Emmaus 81 things that had happened. As they talked and discussed, Jesus him- ,director, "Emmaus is encounterself drew near and walked along ing a stranger and recognizing him as Christ." with them." (Luke 24:13-15) The retreat focuses on two These days there is another Emmaus, and though it may be a aspects of the Emmaus story: little farther from Jerusalem than encountering Christ as the discithe original, what is talked about ples came to recognize him in the stranger and as we'encounter him there is just as extraordinary. in others; and experiencing Christ, Like the walk of Jesus' disciples, the Emmaus retreat for people as the disciples "recognized him in ages 19 to 30 is a journey in which the breaking of the bread" and we participants seek to recognize experience him in the Eucharist Christ and deepen their relation- and other sacraments. Both aspects ship with him, regardless of their are found in the community of faith. present level of faith or practice. The 12 Emmaus retreat talks Today the journey takes the form of a series of presentations take the form of a spiral, "starting with the individual and reaching on faith and community followed out to the people around him or by reflections and small group her to the community of faith," discussions. Activities are led by Emmaus said Frank Medeiros, codirector for the weekend. team members, most of whom Each presentation began with a have previously ma'de the retreat, which has been offered at Cathed-, prayer and lighting of a Christ
candle, "inviting Christ to be with us." Most of the speakers presented their topic as a personal story in which they described people who had deeply affected their lives and experiences that brought them to a turning point in faith. Reflections followed in the form of prayer and music. Groups of five or six candidates and team members met after each presentation to share questions; impressions and insights. The groups also participateo in activities further exploring presentation themes. Encountering Christ The first few Emmaus talks seek to help candidates discover the communities of which they are a part and how participation in them can enhance their relationship with Christ. Emmaus 81 began with a "Personhood"talk by Denise Levesque, focusing on looking within the self and evaluating and accepting one's strengths and limitations. She described personhood as "an inalienable right" and "a realization that you are a creation of God." Turn to Page Eight
Tonight! The Bishop's Ball