01.16.98

t ean VOL. 42, NO.3. Friday, January 16, 1998

FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETIS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS FALL RIVER, MASS.

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Christian Unity Prayer Week observance set tel' coordinated by the MassachuFather Marc H. Bergeron, passetts Council of Churches, ap- tor of St. Anne's Church here and pealing to their reliecumenical officer gious communities to for the diocese, said "offer leadership to the letter draws from heal the divisions of the theme for the

By JAMES N. DUNBAR race and class by pro1998 Week of Prayer: viding structures for "Be led by the Spirit FALL RIVER-Twenty-six dialogue, reconciliain Hope," taken from religious leaders whose jurisdiction and change."

St. Paul's letter to the tions cover Massachusetts and Among those who Church in Rome. The this city arc encouraging active insigned the letter were theme reflects many volvement in the Week of Prayer Bishop Sean P. initiatives in the glofor Christian Unity to be observed O'Malley, OFM bal church.

January 18 through 25.

Cap., Cardinal Ber- ....

FA-:r-H..llE·R-B-E-R....G-E-R . .OI:....IN A worldwide obThe Roman Catholic, Orthonard F. Law and servance, the annual dox and Protestant leaders reBishop Daniel P. Reilly of week of prayer began in 1908 cently release~ an ecumenical letWorcester. with the Friars of the Atonement at Graymoor in New York's Hudson Valley, Father Bergeron said in a recent interview. "It was a Franciscan group within the Episcopal Church then, working for ecumenical unity. At that time it was seen as a reunion with

By MIKE GORDON Rome - the Catholic Church - a FALL RIVER-Pediatric nurses Cathy Bonner and Judy Garcia rather primitive motive as we see of Saint Anne's Hospital spend their days working and caring for it today. The group didn't wait, sick children and soon' they will be helping children and parents in but came back to Catholicism. another important way; giving parents the skills to protect their chilThe ensuing Yl~ars found them dren from the dangers of abuse and abduction. still working for Christian unity, These nurses, who have over fifty years of service between them and the idea has been picked up at St. Anne's, were rcc:ently certified as "KidWISE" instructors folby the spectrum of mainline lowing an extensive training course. They are now qualified to teach churches." parents and professionals how to prevent exploitation, abuse and abduction of children by teaching them safety skills, good jUdgment, Turn to page 13 - Unity and responsible beha·iior. They are two of only 26 such certified people in the United States.

"The program teaches kids how to react to a situation rather than using scare tactics and it prepares them to respond to situations with strangers:' said Garcia, who explained what parents and teachers can

By JAMES N. DUNBAR gain from the program. .

Turn 10 page 13 - KidW1SE HYANNIS-When St. Clare's Home for Women was formally dedicated Sunday, it was the realization of years of hard work and planning by dozens of Cape Cod residents as well as women inmates at the Barnstable House of Correction.

A spiritually based residential program that assists women from the house of correction to make a successful transition into the community, St. Clare's Home was dedicated by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., at ceremonies attended by hundreds.

Arlene McNamee, executive director of Catholic Social Services, which will oversee the home's administration, credited the Residents EncoiJnter Christ program on Cape Cod - wh ich does a great deal of work with men and women in the Barnstable House of Correction for the success of the project.

"In the past, REC members were frustrated because when women were released from the House of Correction, there was no place for many of them to go," McNamee exST. JAMES pa.rish, New Bedford, presentee Jennifer plained. "The group approached Harrington is introduced to Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Bishop O'Malley in June 1994 and Cap., by her mother Deolinda and her brother John. See it has been a three-year challenge page 14 for more Bishop's Charity Ball photos. (Kearns photo) to plan and fund this wonderful

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Church leaders urge prayer, action to counter racism Jan. 18-25.

Hospital's "KidWISE" to promote safety

BE LED BY THE SPIRIT IN HOPE is the theme of the 1998 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

St. Clare's Home for Women dedicated venture."

It was only a year ago that a suitable, private residence on Pitcher's Way became available. Built as a single family home it offered fairly large rooms that made it ideal for rebuilding as a multi-residence that would house several women.

"It was members of the REC community as well as inmates from

the Barnstable House of Correction who did the refurbishing work, including laying new Iloors and painting," McNamee reported. "It was done under the leadership of such people as Richard J. Murphy, Sr., a permanent deacon, Joe and Natalie Ryan and Anne and Dick Hepworth. A great many of the 150 Turn 10 page 11- St. Clare

AT DEDICATION of St. Clare's Home, Director Eileen White and Deacon Richard J. Murphy, Sr., chaplain of the Barnstable House of Correction, participated in the ceremonies at which Bishop Sean P. O'Malley presided. (Kearns photo)

2 . THE:.ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

Fifteen U.S. bishops may retire this year

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All will reach age 75 when they must submit their resignations to the pope, although he could refuse or delay them.

anniversary approaching soon, such as his 50th as priest or 20th or 25th as a bishop, often the pope delays his retirement until the anniversary has been celebrated.

The other nine U.S. bishops who will turn 75 in 1998 are: - May 13: Bishop Donald W. Montrose of Stockton, Calif., a priest since 1949, bishop since 1983

By JERRY FILTEAU and head of the Stockton Diocese CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE since 1986; - May 29: Bishop David B. WASHINGTON-As many as 15 U.S. bishops-including three Thompson of Charleston, S.c., a cardinals- could retire for age rea- priest since 1950, bishop since 1989 and head of the Charle~ton Diocese sons in 1998.

Ten currently active bishops, in- since 1990; - June 16: Archbishop Joseph cluding Cardinal Anthony M. Bevilacqua of Philadelphia, are to T. Dimino of the Archdiocese for celebrate their 75th birthday during the Military Services, a priest since 1949, bishop since 1983 and head the year.

Five bishops, including Cardi- of the military archdiocese since nals John J. O'Connor of New York 1991 ; - July 4: Maronite Bishop John and James A. Hickey of Washington, were still active at the start of G. Chedid of Our Lady of Lebanon the year although they were over of Los Angeles, a priest since 1951, bishop since 1980 and head of the 75.

Church law says at age 75 a Los Angeles-based Maronite diobishop "is requested to'present his cese since it was formed in 1994; - Aug. 30: Bishop Joseph L. resignation" to the pope, but the pope may refuse it or delay accept- Howze of Biloxi, Miss., a priest since 1959, bishop since 1972. ing it.

Cardinal O'Connor, born Jan. When he was made bishop of Biloxi 15, 1920, is the oldest active mem- in 1977, he became the first Afriber of the U.S. hierarchy. A priest can-American bishop in this censince 1945, he has been a bishop. tury to be named the head of a U.S. since 1979, archbishop of New York diocese; since 1984 and a cardinal since - Oct. 12: Auxiliary Bishop 1985.• Leonard J. Olivier of Washington, Cardinal Hickey, who was born a priest since 1951 and bishop since Oct. II, 1920, follows close behind. 1988; He has been a priest since 1946, a - Oct. 24: Bishop Andrew 1. bishop since 1967, archbishop of McDonald of Little Rock, Ark., a Washington since 1980 and a car- priest since 1948 and bishop of dinal since 1988.

Little Rock since 1972; - Nov. 29: Auxiliary Bishop When the pope refused the resignations of Cardinals O'Connor Walter Paska ofthe Ukrainian Archand Hickey in 1995, he did not set diocese of Philadelphia, a priest a specific later retirement date, but since 1947 and bishop since 1992; indicated he wanted them to remain - Dec. 6: Auxiliary Bishop in their posts indefinitely.

Anthony F. Mestice of New York, a Of 10 other U.S. bishops who priest since 1949 and bishop since were already 75 or turned 75 in 1973.

1997, seven retired. The three over 75 who remain active are: Daily Readings Bishop Norman F. Jan. 19 1 8m15:16-23; McFarland, a priest since 1946, a Ps 50:8-9,16-17, bishop since 1970 and head of the 21,23; Mk 2: 18-22 Diocese of Orange, Calif.. since Jan.20 1 8m 16:1-13; 1986. He turned 75 Feb. 21, 1997; Ps 89:20-22,27-28; _. Bishop Patrick J. Sheridan, a Mk 2:23-28 priest since 1947 and auxiliary Jan.21 1 8m 17:32-33,37, bishop of New York since 1990. He 40-51; Ps 144:1-2, turned 75 March 10, 1997; 9-10; Mk 3:1-6 Jan.22 1 8m 18:6-9,19:1-7; - Bishop Thomas J. ConPs 56:2-3,9-14; nolly, a priest since 1947 and bishop Mk 3:7-12 of Baker, Ore., since 1971. He Jan. 23 1 8m 24:3-21; turned 75 July 18, 1997.

Ps 57:2-4,6,11; Topping the list of bishops who Mk 3:13-19 will turn 75 in 1998 is Cardinal Jan. 24 28m 1:1-4,11-12, Bevilacqua, who was born June 17, 19, 23-27; Ps 80: 1923. A priest since 1949, he was Mk 3:20-21 2-3,5-7; made auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn, Jan.25 Neh 8:2-4a,5-6,8-10; N. Y, in 1980, bishop of Pittsburgh Ps 19:8-10,15; in 1983, ~rchbishop of Philadelphia 1 Cor 12:12-30 or in 1988 and a cardinal in 1991.

12:12-14,27; Like Cardinals O'Connor and Lk 1:1-4;4:14-21 Hickey, Cardinal Bevilacqua could well be asked by the pope to stay I1II1111111111111111111111111 on past ordinary retirement age. It TIlE ANCHOR (USPS-545.mO) Periodical is not unusual for the pope to delay fustage Paid at Fall River, Mass. Published weekly except for the first l\m weeks in July the retirement of cardinals. and the week after Chrisunas at 887 Highland For other bishops, a date of or- Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720 ~ the Catholic dination or promotion could playa Press ofthe Diocese of Fall River. Subscription role in when a resignation is ac- price ~ mail, postpaid $14.00 per year. cepted. When a bishop has a major Postmasters send address changes to The Anchor, P.D. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

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.Pope falters during litllrgy

old pontiff was fine. "He's concentrating on his visit to Cuba, which CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE begins in a few days," NavarroFALL. RIVER-Sister Brigid McCoy, VATICAN CITY - Pope John Valls said. .SS.Ce., 88, died unexpectedly Jan. 8 at Paul II had to be steadied by an aide The pope had partial hip replacethe Fall River convent of the Sisters of the ment surgery in 1994 after he fell when he appeared to falter during a .Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. She entered the com- baptism ceremony, but Vatican of- and broke his thighbonl~ and expemunity in En- . ficials later said the pope's health rienced difficulty in walking for months afterward. The Vatican also gland in 1932 was fine.

The incident occurred as the acknowledged in 1996 that the pope and made her religious profes- pontiff entered the Sistine Chapel suffers from an unspecified nervous sion in 1935 in Jan. II to celebrate Mass and bap- system disorder, whicb many beFrance. tize 19 babies. He paused for a few lieve to be Parkinson's disease.

Born in Ire- moments during an entrance hymn, One symptom of Parkinson's land, she was the gripping his staff, then began to disease is loss of mobility and baldaughter of the sway forward. ance. The pope began the year with late Felix and Msgr. Piero Marini, papal mas- an unusually heavy sl:hedule of _ _ _---1._:1 Ellen (Harding) McCoy. After teaching high school stu- ter of ceremonies, quickly reached events, presiding over lengthy litdents in England, she came to the United out and grabbed the pope's arm to urgies and the ordination of bishops, making a trip to Assisi and States in 1937. During her active years stabilize him.

The pope went on to preside over other central Italian towns, and· she was librarian and principal at the former Sacred Hearts Academy in the two-hour-Iong cerem~>ny with- . meeting with several groups at the Fairhaven, and later was principal at St. out any problems and appeared in Vatican, including the entire diploJoseph's School, also in Fairhaven. Ad- gqod form later at his Sunday bless- matic corps. ditionally she was a pastoral minister at ing from his apartment window,jokIn Cuba Jan. 21-25, rhe pope is St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford. scheduled to visit four dties, preing about the mild winter weather.

From 1981 to 1988 she was provinVatican spokesman Joaquin. siding over liturgies in the morning cial and regional superior of the Sacred Navarro-Valls downplayed the epi- and holding separate rr..eetings in Hearts community, also translating docu- sode, saying reports of papal dizziness the afternoon and evening. ments for the generalates of both the Havana Cardinal Jaime Ortega priests and sisters of the community. or sudden illness were unfounded.

"It is known by everyone that the said Jan. II that the visit would be Sister Brigid was active in justice and peace issues, contacting key personnel pope has a certain difficulty in mo- a "great effort" for the pontiff, bein those areas by telephone and letter bility, and that's why he often uses cause of the change in time zones during 15 years when she was stationed a cane. But I don't think there's any and internal travel require:ments. He in Mt. Rainier, Md. In 1995 she cel- reason to talk of dizziness or loss described the pope as one who has ebrated her 60th anniversary of religious of balance," the spokesman said. understood pain and suf[t:ring since profession at ceremonies attended by her He said the health of the 77-year- his youth. brother and nephew, both from Ireland.

Her Mass ofChristian Burial was offered Jan. 12 at St. Joseph's Church, Fairhaven. Father Patrick Fanning, East Coast Provincial of the Sacred Hearts community, presided. Her survivors include her brother, sister and several nieces and nephews, all in Ireland.

FALL RIVER-Recent legisla- maximum allowable annual income tive changes have improved the Se- remains at $11 ,844, the elimination HARWICH-Sister Mary Tarcisius, nior Pharmacy benefit and made it of the requirement to report the RGS, 98, the former Mary Andersen, accessible to more elders through- Medicare B premium, $525 for died Jan. II at Cranberry Pointe Nurs- out Massachusetts. Effective this most elders, means that more elders ing Facility. She had been a Sister of the past December, Senior Pharmacy will be able to meet thl~ income Good Shepherd for 81 years.

Program (SPP) enrollees are eligible guideline.

Born in New York City, the daughter of for up to $750 in prescription drugs In addition, the applicarion deadthe late Henry and Mary (Addely) for the current benefit year which line has been eliminated and enrollAndersen, she entered the Good Shepherd runs through June 30, 1998. The ment will now be continuous. Those Novitiate at age 17, pronouncing final vows SPP benefit has also been expanded applying at age 65 will b~ eligible in 1921. Thereafter she served at facilities to cover drugs in all therapeutic for the current benefit year. of her community in Peekskill and Albany, Elders and elder advocates may N.Y, caring for troubled teen-age girls and classes, except those excluded in older women. In retirement she was a sac- MassHealth. Insulin and disposable call Senior Pharmacy Central Operaristan and part-time tutor in Albany, N.Y, insulin syringes with needles con- tions at 1-800-953-3305 for more tinue to be included in the SPP ben- information or to request an appliuntil entering Cranberry Pointe in 1991. cation form. Information, applicaShe is survived by cousins and was efit. pre-deceased by her brother, Father Payments for the Medicare Part tions and assistance are also availHenry Andersen, SJ. Her Mass ofChris- B health insurance premium will no able by calling Bristol Elder Sertian Burial was offered in Marlborough, longer be counted as income for vices, Inc. at 1-800-427-210 I or a Jan. 14 and interment was in Mt. SPP applicants. Although the local Council On Aging office.

Benedict Center, West Roxbury.

Sr. Brigid McCoy

By JOHN THAVIS

Legislature improv(;~s pharmacy benefit

Sister M. Tarcisius

In Your Prayers Please pray for the following priests during the coming lveek NECROLOGY

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January 17..

1967, Rev. John Laughlin, Re' d Pastor, Holy Ghost, Attleboro

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January 20

~~RGland 1.

Notre Dame deL:ou~ al River

PRIESTS CURRENTLY SERVING FOR THE FALL RIVER DIOCESE January 16 Rev. William T Babbitt January 17 Rev. Freddie Babicz~k January 18 Rev. Bernard B. Baris, M.S.

January 19 .

Jan 'Y.2~ Rev. H. Stanley Barney . 1983, Rev. Msgr" ~nri A Hamel~~.

January 20 Bedford tired, St. Joseph, N'

~~Barnwell

January. 2-l~ Rev. Ric;hard W-:Beaulie.J,l .

January 22 Rev. George C. Bellenoit

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Sainthood cause,for Knights of Columbus founder officially opened, By

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

HARTFORD, Conn. (CNS) - The cause for sainthood for Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, officially opened Dec. 18 with a ceremony at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Hartford.

"Today marks an important moment in the history of the Archdiocese of Hartford, indeed in the history of the whole Catholic Church in North America," said Hartford Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin, formerly bishop of Fall River.

This fall the Vatican notified the archdiocese that the sainthood cause of Father McGivney could proceed. The announcement came several months after the U.S. bishops agreed unanimously to support the initiation of his cause.

If Father McGivney becomes a saint, he will be the first diocesan priest from the United States to be canonized as well as the first person from Connecticut.

The Knights' founder was born in Waterbury, Conn., in 1852, the oldest of 13 children.

EDICTAL CITATION DIOCESAN TRIBUNAL FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS Since the actual place of residence of CHARBEL EDOUARD ABOURACHED is unknown.

We cite CHARBEL EDOUARD ABOURACHED to appear personally before the Tribunal of the Diocese of Fall River on Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 10:30 a.m. at 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Massachusetts, to give testimony to establish: Whether the nullity of the marriage exists in the Jardin - Abourached case?

Ordinaries of the place or other pastors having the knowledge of the residence of the above person, Charbel Edouard Abourached, must SBe to it that he is properly advised in regard to this edictal citation.

Paul F. Robinson, O. Carm., J.C.D. Adjutant Judicial Vicar Given at the Tribunal, Fall River, Massachusetts on this the 6th day of January, 1998.

EDICTAL CITATION DIOCESAN TRIBUNAL FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS Since the actual place of residence of RAYMON ENCISO is unknown.

We cite RAYMON ENCISO to appear personally before the Tribunal of the Diocese of Fall River on Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 2:30 p.m. at 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Massachusetts, to give testimony to establish: Whether the nullity of the marriage exists in the Habel - Enciso case?

Ordinaries of the place or other pastors having the knowledge of the residence of the above person, Raymon Enciso, must see to it that he is properly advised in regard to this edictal citation.

Paul F. Robinson, O. Carm., J.C.D. Adjutant Judicial Vicar Given at the Tribunal, Fall River, Massachusetts on this the 6th day of January, 1998.

Ordained in 1877, he founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882, in an effort to provide for families in financial need and to offer

FATHER MICHAEL J. MCGIVNEY

men a fraternal society to aid them in their faith life. Father McGivney also organized the St. Joseph's Young Men of New Haven, a total abstinence society.

He died from tuberculosis in 1890, just two days after his 38th birthday.

"Father McGivney was renowned for his priestly virtue and his concern for the families of immigrant working men in the second half of the 19th century," said Dominican Father Gabriel B. O'Donnell, postulator for the priest's sainthood cause and assistant pastor at St. Mary Parish in New Haven.

Father O'Donnell described Father McGivney as "tireless in his efforts to provide both materially and spiritually for the poor and the destitute."

Archbishop Cronin said Father McGivney was an ordinary man born into a large family and to Irish immigrant parents, who had very little. "He used the short life he had as a priest to do an awful lot of good," he added.

He said the priest as a saint "would be a tremendous model" for young men considering priesthood and for young priests working in difficult circumstances.

Bishop Pilla, reco,vering, celebrates Mass •

His mother attends his Mass, the first since his Nov. 18 bypass surgery.

By SAM

ASHER

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

CLEVELAND - For the first time since surgery in November, Bishop Anthony M. Pilla of Cleveland presided at Mass Jan. 6.

Bishop Pilla, 65, is president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

He celebrated the Mass - marking his 17th anniversary as bishop of Cleveland - at the home of his mother, Libera Pilla, where he has been recovering from a quadruple bypass operation performed Nov. 18.

Joining him for Mass in the dining room were his mother; his brother, Joe; his secretary, Father Theodore Marszal; and his diocesan communications director, Father Michael Dimengo. , Earlier in the day Bishop Pilla had gone to Cleveland Clinic for a series of blood tests and X-rays.

Father Dimengo said there was no sign of the infection which delayed Bishop Pilla's reoovery from surgery and forced him to return to the hospital for 12 days in December.

"The bishop seemed quite heartened when we walked into the house - he looked very well," Father Dimengo said.

The bishop has been receiving visits three times a day from a nurse at Cleveland Clinic for antibiotic shots, which were to continue for

two more weeks.

Father Dimengo said the latest blood tests indicated the infection was under control.

He said the bishop had concelebrated Mass since surgery but was not the chief celebrant until Jan. 6.

"I got the sense he felt very privileged to be celebrating," the priest said. "Afterward, we sat in his mother's kitchen and had coffee and pastries, and I said, 'Congratulations, bishop, on 17 years, and many, many more,' to which he replied, 'If God intends it Michael, if God intends·it.'"

He said the bishop has received so many cards and notes of prayer and support that it. would be impossible for him to answer each one personally. "He wanted it expressed publicly how much he appreciates each individual expression of support," he said. Just days before his surgery Bishop Pilla presided over the annual mid-November meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

He had to cancel plans, however, to participate in the monthlong Synod of Bishops for America in November-December and to travel to Cuba in late January for Pope John Paul II's first visit to that country.

Before surgery he announced that during his recuperation all the responsibilities of the NCCB president would be handled by the vice president, Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston.

Bishop Pilla said he currently plans to ease back into his work schedule around mid-February.

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

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t PHILIP F. TALLY (July 7, 1937 - December 22, 1997) . at the Cathedral of SSe Peter and Paul Friday, January 23, 1998 at 12:05 PM. Clergy are invited to concelebrate the liturgy.

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An Evening of Irish Comedy"

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Tickets: $20.00 each Write/Send Check to: St. Pius X Men's Club

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THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River ~ Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

the living word

the. ri1Oorin~ No More Rocking Chairs An entire new industry has evolved in America since World War II, involving a specific age group, namely senior citizens. What was thought impossible a mere 50 years ago has become a fascinating reality which impacts on all aspects of national life.

In many ways this phenomenon is a creation of government itself, beginn'ing with the New Deal and the creation of the Social Security system. Some criticize the.se inventions of "big brother," but they have proved to be the backbone of working America. The current difficulties of Social Security in no way detract from its objectives and ideals.

The next gift to citizens was the GJ. Bill and all it did to raise the quality of life of its beneficiaries. In our entire history it perhaps has been one of the greatest gifts of our government to its people. Sad to say, however, the concept was limited to the collegiate level. The American educational world would have been blessed if it had also extended to all levels of the educational spectrum from nursery to high school. Europe is in many ways far ahead of the United States in respecting the educational choices of citizens, neveitheless, the GJ. Bill did offer scholastic opportunities that brought thousands of Americans into the professional realm with the monetary rewards that accompany graduate and post-graduate degrees.

A third governmental contribution, this for senior citizens, is, of course, Medicare. Debate on this issue combined with the managed care battle does indeed affect health benefits, but in general Medicare has helped seniors achieve longer and healthier lives.

The anti-big government mind-set aside, there would be fewer benefits for senior citizens if the matter were left to big business.

In short, because of these programs there are many who live a good life that would have been an impossibility for them just a few decades ago. Nevertheless, nostalgia for the "good old days" clouds many seniors' appreciation of the good, life they now enjoy, although many are working not only to maintain their benefits but also to expand them. Senior citizens are perhaps the most powerful voting bloc in the country. They get out to vote and they are highly protective of what they already possess. Such organizations as the AA~P back the senior agenda on Capitol Hill with , massive political punch and also provide insurance, pharmaceutical and investment serviCes'.. Furtnerm6re, 'we' should not ignore the fact that nearly every town and hamlet has a senior center that provides not only entertainment but also political programs.. In short, of all American age groups, seniors mount the most effective resistance to any opposition to their agenda.

Many industries depend on seniors for their very lifeblood. Tourism, retirement homes and restaurants are but a few of the many enterprises that flourish because of seniors. Grandpa and grandma are no longer locked into the rocking chair and the front porch. They are on trains, planes and cruise ships. ,Many have dual residences, one for summer, another for winter. They are driving trailers across the country, in the process keeping gas stations and food chains financially solvent. Many have opted to return to school, others are indispensable to civic organizations. In many places they are also the backbone of churches, synagogues, and temples, while in today's social order many have been forced to become "parents" for their grandchildren.

Living longer and staying healthier, seniors are a boon to the parttime job market, while indications are that most are quite content with their lifestyle. In short, senior power is unlimited in scope. Its effect on the nation is tremendous and our country would be much poorer without seniors' interest, care and concern. As their numbers increase . and their life span is extended, they must be respected not merely as retirees but as an ongoing source of actiye participants in the national process. Home, country and church are their heartbeat. In many ways they are ~eepers of the flame ofAmerican life. We need them in all of living as much as they need the younger generation.

The Editor

the ancho,s,

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Published weekly by The Catholic Press of the Diocese 01 Fall River 887 Highland Avenue P.O, BOX 7 Fall River. MA 02nO Fall River. MA 02722·0007 . Telephone 508-675-7151 FAX (508) 675-7048 Send address changes \.0 P.O. Box 7 or .call telephone number above

EDITOR Rev. John F. Moore

GENERAL MANAGER Rosemary Dussault ~

NEWS EDITOR James N. Dunbar

LlAlIY PRESS - 'ALL RlVlA

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PAPAL SILHOUETTE - POPE JOHN PAUL II IS SILHOUETTED AS HE ADDRESSES THE PEOPLE OF ASSISI FROM THE BASILICA OF ST. FRANCIS RECENTLY. THE POPE TOURED THE AREA WHERE POWERFUL EARTHQUAKES STRUCK LAST FALL.

"You indeed, 0 Lord, give light to my lamp; 0 my God, you brighten the darkness:about me." Psalms 18:29

Roe/Wade decision, a sad date in history

By FATHER

KEVIN

J.

HARRINGTON

Good drama often imitates the desperate emotions of real life.

Shakespeare, long recognized as the master'of portraying such emotions, is at his dramatic height when portraying the agony of guilt. In one of his best remembered plays he had a confused and misguided Othello kill his own wife. Afterwards, when the enormity of the act dawned on him, he cried out: "Whip me, ye devils...Blow'me about in the winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in steeped-down gulfs of liquid fire!"

As a parish priest for almost 23 years, I have encountered women who have had an abortion when confused and misguided and have later been tormented by guilt reminiscent of Othello's. My' role has been to redirect such guilt so that it becomes more like the remorse of the prodigal son in Luke's Gospel, who eventually came to his senses and turned to his father for forgiveness.

Sometimes women's realizations of guilt occurred after a strong pro-life message from the pulpit or when receivirig the sacrament of reconciliation before receiving the sacrament of matrimony. These are graced moments that can only occur when consciences are correctly formed. This is why Jesus had the foresight to give Peter and then the other apostles the power to Jorgive or to bind.

Today's danger is that consciences will not be correctly formed because some church leaders have stopped preaching against abortion, feeling they are in no position to stand in judgment of others. This false sense of compassion has wreaked havoc on our times.

Worse still are those who not only.fail to recognize this· evil, but encourage it. A bishop in England has now actually produced special prayer to be used on the occasion of an abortion. Perhaps it was such charlatans as these that Jesus , had in mind when he described that famous o~e-way trip into the drink with a millstone necklace.

Such Church leaders are probably even now busy writing a bedside prayer for physician-assisted suicide. Priests with genuine compassion can understand the wisdom of the old Redemptorist saying, "We should preach like a lion from the pulpit and reconcile like a lamb from the confessionaL',' Pope John Paul II, Peter's present successor, has provided clear direction for the formation of consciences during these troubled times. In one of his most moving testimonies of genuine compassion, the Holy Father wrote in "Evangelium Vitae" directly to women who deeply regret having had an abortion: "The Father of mercies is ready to give you his peace in the sacrament of reconciliation. You will come to understand

a

that nothing is definitively lost and you will be able to ask f:>rgiveness from your child, who is :now living in the Lord. With the friendly and expert advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experiences, you can be ~lmong the most eloquent defe:nders of everyone's right to life.

"Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life."

As we approach a new mill~n­ nium mid during the month that marks the 25th anniversary of one of the most divisive Supreme Court decisions in the nation's history Roe vs. Wade, which established the constitutional right to an abortion weare given an opportune time for conversion.

Today, when a baby's first picture via an ultrasound is often displayed on the refrigerator door and neonatal c~re has saved babies less than 23 weeks after conception, there is no excuse for treating a fetus as simply an appendage of a woman's body. Keeping women confused and misguided is what abortion providers do best. One provider said that no one baving an abortion ever asks to look at an ultrasound. Take heart, all who fight the pro-life battle. ' Denial' and deception cannot obscure thl: light of truth!

Are you creative yet? cess. I think that in doing so, many never moving ,beyond its circumferwill discover that they are more cre- ence.

By FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK ative than they suspected.

Then he erased part of the circle, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE When I was studying psychol- drew jagged lines extending out beMany people don't think of ogy, our professor drew a circle on . yond its circumference and comthemsel ves as creative. But all of us the board, pointed to it and said that mented that this is the way creative can imitate the creativity of Christ most people tend to conduct their people act: they more often than not and improve our lives in the pro- lives within a predictable circle, do the unpredictable by venturing out beyond the confines of their familiar, "enclosed" world.

Christ's life was anything but predictable. In his early public min'-4;--'" istry we would have expected him to first go to the Holy City ofJerusaDear Editor, lem. Where better to begin to preach the kingdom of God? But he didn't.

As citizens of faith continue to celebrate the Rather, St. Matthew portrays him spirit of Christmas throughout the new year by witnessing their going to the land of Zebulun and faith in Jesus Christ both internally and externally, it is imporNaphtali and the Decapolis. In writtant that believers, who are the majority, remain steadfast to ing this, Matthew teaches us that the ideals of religious freedom that our great country was Christ is not ordinary. He goes in founded upon. Today dictatorial judges have set themselves the opposite direction from Jerusaup as the final arbitrators of how our society will be run and lem and to people who arc not of continue to promote the extinction of any recognition of Chrishis culture. tian worship in public by their ludicrous decisions and interThis lesson is repeated frepretations of our state and federal constitutions. quently. Instead of working with Individual rights and the rule of law is the battle cry of religious leaders, Christ works with sinners. He talks with women from those who wish to control the majority. This directly contraSamaria in public, which is contrary dicts the concept of democratic freedom, self-determination, to Jewish custom, and he dies like and majority rule, which is being eroded in our society at an a slave, which is contrary to his dialarming rate. Regardless of recent fallacious inventions by vinity. secular activist judges who routinely ignore our founding faIn doing the unpredictable, thers' original intent, the fact remains and the evidence supChrist offers us a beautiful model ports that America is a Christian nation and that Christian of creativity that contains suggesmorality is at the heart of civilized law in our great nation. tions for changing our lives.

Intimidation by the American Civil Liberties Union to force To start with, do we ever take any representation of God from the public domain' is misstock of the circles we live in? Is our circle usually the same predictguided and dangerous to the freedom of all Americans, no able group of friends? Although matter what your beliefs might be. To hand over our hardthey may be fin(: people and supfought freedoms to unelected life tenured judges who arroportive, have we ever thought of gantly defy our elected representatives and overturn citizen moving beyond this circle and trypetitions demonstrates total worship of and dovotion to the ing to touch someone who might evil of dictatorial mandates. Citizens need to be reminded of need our support - someone, perthe insidious effects upon our democracy of judicial activhaps, who gravitates to the corner ism. Maintaining order while allowing personal freedom and of a room and sits alone? majority rule is admittedly a difficult task and one that must Have we ever tried to improve remain in the people's hands. our ability to listen seriously to others - including others who may Scott Smith not be part of our circle?

Somerset, MA Next December, will our Christmas card list be the same as it was in 1997, or will it include new names - people we've gone out of our way to meet?

Today neighbors tend more and more often not to know each other.

This, in part, rs because both spouses in a family work and neither one is able to find time to get to know neighbors. Perhaps a spark of creative energy will lead us this Dear brothers and sh;ters, year to look upon our home as Continuing our catechesis in preparation for the great jubilee of something more than an isolated, the year 2000, we reflect today on what Jesus means when he impersonal residence in a particuspeaks of his "hour." This hour is the moment filCed b\:l the Father lar part of town. for the fulfillment of the work of salvation. Certain moments in the life of Jesus are especially significant. At the wedding feast of Cana, he says that his hour- has not yet come but, at Mary's insistence, he shows his messianic power for the first time. Later,,he speaks of the hour when the Father will be worshiped in a new way. His whole BALTIMORE, MD.-On Januwork is directed to the hour of redemption, the hour willed and ary 7 the weekly English-language determined by the Father, when he offers the sacrifice which will edition of L'Osservatore Romano, bring salvation to humanity. When Jesus falls into the hands of his the official Vatican newspaper, beenemies, what seems to be the hour of greatest darkness is really gan printing in the United States in the hour of the fulfillment of his mission. Through the sacrifice of order to improve delivery and disthe cross, Jesus returns to the Father. In this hour of glorifica- tribution in the nation. tion a new relationship is established between God and humanity.

The Cathedral Foundation of BalThe human race is redeemed and called to unite itself to the Son in timore, MD, is collaborating with his triumph at the right hand of the Father.

L' Osservatore in use of Internet techI warmly greet the group of diocesan pilgrimage coordinators nology to increase circulation of the from the United States meeting in Rome. May your preparations for U.S. edition. The foundation pubthe great jubilee of the year 2000 have as their principal aim the lishes The Catholic Review, the Balspiritual renewal of the pilgrims you assist. I welcome the members timore archdiocesan newspaper, and of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation League, and I elCpress the hope Catholic International, a news and that your visit will help to strengthen the cooperation of recent documentary magazine for the English-speaking Church. years. , Subscription information on Upon bll the English-speaking pilgrims, especially those from Denmark, .Japan and the United States, I invoke the abundant bless- L' Osservatore is available by.calling (410) 547..5380 or FAX (410) ings of Almighty God. 332-1069.

5

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Jan. 16, 1998 To whet your appetite for creativity during the year ahead, I leave you with a thought from Edith Shaeffer: "A Christian, above all people, should live artistically, aesthetically and creatively.

If we have been created in the image of an Artist, then we should look for expressions of artistry and be sensitive to beauty, responsive to what has been created for our appreciation ,"

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THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

Oregon abortion foes face new challengers •

Seattle-based rightto-die group will transfer headquarters to Portland.

By ED LANGLOIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

PORTLAND, Ore.-The move to Oregon of a prominent group that supports a right to die will boost physician-assisted suicides, say foes of the practice.

Compassion in Dying, now based in Seattle, will transfer its headquarters te;> Oregon, where voters in November affirmed the nation's only law removing penalties for doctors who help patients die.

The organization also plans to establish a statewide network of suicide .counselors by June I. Founded in 1993, the organization has guided dozens of patients toward hastened death, even while Washington law forbids assisted suicide.

Compassion in Dying was a major force in appealing Washington and New York's bans on assisted suicide all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"They are trying to really become entrenched as a group here in Oregon," said Dr. Bill Toffler, president of the Physicians for Compassionate Care and a member of Holy Rosary Parish in Portland.

"Unfortunately, their whole paradigm of setting up a consultative service to help people in kill-

ing themselves is misguided at best and dangerous at worst," he told the Catholic Sentinel, newspaper of the Portland Archdiocese.

Toffler, who teaches and practices at Oregon Health Sciences University, said the new network will enable depressed patients to commit suicide instead of seeking psychological counseling or good pain management.

He cited cases in which the Hemlock Society and renegade pathologist Dr. Jack Kevorkian engineered suicides for people who had no terminal physical illness.

Toffler contrasted the suicide network to hospice programs that offer pain control, counseling and spiritual support to patients who are beyond cure.

"The people Who enter hospice care feel desperate, too, but almost no one commits suicide," he said.

Compassion in Dying's director, Barbara Coombs Lee, helped write Oregon's 1994 Death with Dignity Act and spent much of 1997 defending the suicide law against a repeal effort. .

Oregon voters in November affirmed their choice for doctor-aided death by a margin of 60-40 percent.

The relocation of Compassion in Dying to Oregon "is another symbol of acceptance, another bit of encouragement to physicians," said Gayle Atteberry, executive director of Oregon Right to Life. "E9r those, who want to participate,- it will embolden them. It will encourage those in the middle of the road."

Pope's visit spurs Cuban Catholics to practice faith

By JENNIFER E.

REED CATHOLIC NEWS SERI/ICE

WASHINGTON - CubanAmericans hope Pope John Paul II's visit to Cuba will strengthen the church and encourage the country's Catholics to practice their faith openly.

"It is a tremendous historic occasion to see the Holy Father in the land where I was born," said Elena Freyre, 49, who left Cuba for the United States 37 years ago.

"But above and beyond that, we need to let people in the Cuban church know that the church in the United States supports them, and we are there to help in any way we can," said Freyre, a member of Miami's St. Thomas the Apostle Parish.

The church has struggled under Cuban President Fidel Castro's communist government since he took power in 1959.

Priests and religious were expelled by the government in the I 960s, when Cuba was officially an atheist state. After Cuba was declared a secular state in 1992, religious tolerance began to improve.

However, the church still has restrictions, such as lack of access to media and of the opportunity to provide religious education.

Freyre said she was waiting to receive her visa in the mail so she could travel to Cuba on a plane from New York forthe pope's visit.

Marcelino Rodriguez, 65, who will also be flying to Cuba on the plane. from New York, lives in the Bronx and has been a security guard for the past eight years. He was born in Cuba in 1932 and came to the United States in 1958, before Castro came to power.

Rodriguez said he has high hopes that the pope's visit will be positve.

"I hope it helps a lot. Since there is not much religion now in Cuba, it should help improve the Catholic faith," he told CNS Jan. 8 in a telephone interview. "It's possible that the pope can change U.S.-Cuban relations. The pope can influence Castro for good. I don't know how, but I hope that he wilL" At a Jan. 8 press conference in Washington, Franciscan Father Jose Somoza, a Cuban-American and pastor of Our Lady Queen of the Americas Parish, Washington, described decades of religious repression in Cuba. People who openly practiced their faith risked losing their jobs because of government disapproval, he said.

"Even practicing Catholics did not baptize their children or teach them about God, lest their future be jeopardized," said the priest, who left Cuba as a seminary student in the 1960s. "So today, many Cubans do not know Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, or the basics of their Catholic faith."

A ministry to women Arlene Goetz never planned to start a ministry for women or the bimonthly newspaper Catholic Women's Network. But the California mother of seven told me that, in a way, her life was a preparation for the work that now dominates her days.

She mentioned a strong urge to write, her years serving as the director of communications for the Diocese of San Jose and extensive graduate courses in spirituality at Santa Clara University.

All this came together back in 1987 when she and a number of other women were "struggling to find our place in the church," as she put it. Several of them 'decided to hold a meeting on the empowerment of women. When an unexpected 100 women attended, a decision was made to publish a report on what came out of their meetings.

And thus was born the newspaper Goetz calls "a forum for women to express their spirituality."

It is funded by ads and subscriptions, and produced by Goetz, savvy in desktop publishing.

Catholic WOlJ1en's Network, which has a 10,000copy run, now is sent to subscribers coast to coast and distributed free to many churches, libraries and bookstores in the San Jose, Calif., area.

Though it has the reputation for being a Catholic women's ministry, the newspaper covers a range of themes such as prayer and healing, the environment, money issues and mysticism. The women's stories in these issues are truly models of hbw we can approach God: "We are not out to be' reactive agai nst the church, but to build something positive, as women share their wisdom and spiritual concerns," says Goetz. "Our focus is always to be in search of knowing God better, establishing a stronger relationship with God. "We're exploring how to access God better, and so we study such topics as dreams, friendship, intuition, forgiveness. We try to look at the spirituality of everything common in our life. Our focus

is to grow, to be open to let God - the Spiritmove within us."

I became familiar with the Cathol::c Women's Network when Goetz called me la!it year and asked me to write an article on forgiveness for her publication. She sent me some sample cop-

The Bottom Line

By Antoinette Bosco

ies, and when I saw them I was more than impressed. , There is more to this ministry than the newspaper. Each year Catholic Women ':; Network sponsors a gathering of women who corne together to savor a menu of spirituality. About 20 percent of those attending are not Catholic. "These elements make us a ministry of evangelization and ecumenism," says Goetz. Catholic Women's Network also has funded a series of programs for women in jail. Two of Goetz's columnists are women serving life sentences in prison.

Not everyone is pleased with the network.

Some, who mistrust a women's ministry or view it as some kind of anti-church radical feminism, have complained to bishops about the use of the word "Catholic" in the organization's name.

But as the network begins its 11 th year, Goetz looks back and says: "I'm flabbergasl:ed. It has evolved, with so much positive response. I actually couldn't have planned anything better to help raise the consciousness of God's involvement in our lives."

How to fall asleep Dear Dr. Kenny: I can't get to sleep. I lie awake at night with a racing mind, worrying about all the things that could go wrong, planning what I have to do when I get up. I'm tired but I can't stop thinking. Help! (Chicago) Of course you can't stop thinking. Your mind is always active. The tri"k is to get your mind "working" on something less troubling.

You are suffering from what is called "nervous fatigue." You are tired but your nervous system re, mains' aroused. The first step is to reduce the arousal.

Telling yourself to relax doesn't work. In fact, the more you tell yourself to relax, the more tense you are likely to become.

The following suggestions are based on two important points: 1. If you can't slow your mind down because your body is still "wired," then get your body busy.

Do something physical to "capture" the physiological arousal.

2. You cannot stop thinking. You can only think about something else. So think differently, and think about something less troubling. . Some pre-bed preventive measures might help.

Avoid caffeine from noon on. A light snack before bed, however, can be calming.

Mild, not vigorous, exercise followed by a warm but not hot bath about an hour before bedtime is another good preparation. Lovemaking can be physical, distracting and relaxing.

Many people tune out by occupying their minds with soft music, radio or television as they rest in bed. Lie back and enjoy. The passive nature of these entertainments can replace your troubling thoughts and invite sleep.

Reading is my favorite bedtime ritual. I like to read mysteries and science fiction, stories far removed from everyday life and' worries.

Before sleep is a wonderful time to pray. Pray the rosary. Or say nothing at all. Simply reflect on how good it feels to be safe and loved and loving.

If your mind still won't stop, get your body ,busy.

If you cannot sleep, don't just lie there. Get up and

do some housework. After a half hour, imagine how good it will feel to go back to bed.

Try a technique called "imaging." InSlJ::ad of trying to empty your mind, fill it with engagi ng, peaceful sensations and scenes.

Family Talk With Dr. James & Mary Kenny

Imaging is simple to learn. Recall a scene from your past that was pleasant and free from stress.

Then use all five senses to examine it.

What does it look like? What do you hear? What do you smell? How does it taste? How dOl~s it feel?

Here is a sample of how imaging might be used: Imagine you are settling down on a warm beach.

Feel the sand fit itself to your body as yOll snuggle in. You can sense the warm sun caressing you like a mother's touch.

Look up. How high is the sky? Why is it so blue?

Guess what the clouds resemble. Watch those birds drifting and floating. Hear them call to one another.

Smell the ocean breeze, that unmistakable mixture of seaweed and brine and fish, so outdoorsy and healthy. And taste it. Ifyou lick your lips, you can taste the salt.

But most of all, listen. Listen to the rhythm of the incoming waves washing up against the shore one after another as they have done for centuries.

Listen, and let your heart beat in rhythm with the waves. Let your breathing be in harmony with the sea breezes.... .

Sleep well!

Reader questions on family living and child care to be answered in print are invited. Address questions: The Kennys; St. Joseph's ColI(~ge; 219 W. Harrison; Rensselaer, Ind. 47978. I ,

A baby-boomer's questions about confession Q. I am 40 years old and during Advent made my first attempt at the sacrament of reconciliation in about 20 years.

I was baptized as an infant and made my first Communion, but had little involvement with the c~urch or the sacraments after that.

The night before my wedding the priest informed me I was to go to confession. I had no idea what to do, and in addition believed at the time, from my Prot€:stant friends, that I only needed to go to God for forgiveness.

My husband, also Catholic, never told me anything about this sacrament either.

Recently, at a nondenominational Bible group I attend, while discussing confessing our sins, I felt the Holy Spirit urging me to make the necessary steps to this sacrament. .Finally, on the last weekend of Advent, I went to see my priest. But I couldn't remember anything I wanted to say so I didn't confess anything in particulm..

I need to know, am I absolved of all sins prior to that? Should I go back with some sort of list in my hand? Is there any literature out there to help me understand confession better?

Please answer. I would like to go again, possibly during Lent. (Ohio)

have brought you there, and guide you gently through this experience of God's mercy in your life.

It is essential, by the way, to remember what I just said. The focus of the sacrament of penance is not on me or my sins, but on the faithful tenderness and compassion of God, who desperately de-

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

7

ThaAk you fOl ,uppoltiAg OUI advelti,ell

WESTON JESUIT

School of Theology

Questions and Answers

()·P·E·N II·Q·U·S·E

By Father John J. Dietzen sires that we grow in awareness of his presence and power in us.

Whatever we have done, good or bad, is past. It is part of our history, and not even God can change that. Thus, it is also valuable to keep in mind that, while we place our sins in God's hands for forgiveness, the grace, love, life and strength of reconciliation equip us to turn our lives for the better from here on.

The church's Rite of Penance (7, 13) recommends that this sacrament be celebrated "frequently," especially during the season of Lent. Thus, several times a year, perhaps including Advent as another appropriate occasion, would be good.

Finally, next time try to avoid the last week of Advent or of Lent. Because of larger numbers, priests sometimes feel pressured to hurry confessions along more than they otherwise would like.

You can find lots of books or pamphlets to read, and that's good. But the important thing is just to do it.

Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

Are you interested in education for profeSSional ministry in todays Catholic Church?

Programs Include: Master of Divinity Master ofTheology Master ofTheological Studies Licentiate in Sacred Theology Continuing Education Programs including the Sabbatical Program

WESTON JESUIT School of Theology

A. I quote your le,tter at some length because many "boomer generation" Catholics have experiences much like yours.

First, I'm happy you believe this sacrament is important for you. It can be the source of enormous spiritual benefits in our lives.

An International The simplest and most honest advice I can give Theological is this: either make an appointment with a priest for confession (many Catholics do this today), or Center go during a regular confession schedule at your parish, tell the priest just what you told me and ask A free brochure answering questions Cathohim to help you. lics ask about the sacrament of penance is availIn spite of our tre,pidation, it really is not that able by sending a stamped self-addressed envecomplicated or difficult. And there's no need to lope to Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Church, . make a list. If you give some thought to it before704 ~. Main St., Bloomington, III. 61701. hand, any sins so serious thanhey need to, be ~on~ ,.',1 I fessed will quickly come to mind.

- , , .' Questions for this column should be sent to Father Dietzen at the same address or to this By far most priests will just be happy you came, Catholic paper. trust that your desire for forgiveness and doing good

Open House Visiting Day Wednesday, Februal)' 4, 1998 from 9:00am-2:00pm For infonnation please contact: Mal)' Pat St. Jean

Director ojAdmissions Weston Jesuit School ofTheology 3 Phillips Place, Dept. Q5 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 -3495 Phone: (617) 492-1960 Fax: (617) 492-5833

i (

Share a Great Compassion

A recliner ready for "Lazy Boy" heaven My wife claims I love my chair more than her.

Unfair.

For one thing, I have never once in my life taken my recliner to Maui. For another, I have never bought it a Valentine's Day card.

However, when I point this out to her (my wife, not my armchair), she stubbornly insists airline policy would not allow me to declare my chair a carry-on and that there is no way I can really prove I have not sent the chair a card.

"With that kind of logic," I pointed out, "there is no way I can prove I have never sent Angie Dickinson, Demi ~\1oore or Whitney Houston Valentine's Day cards either."

"Ah-hah," she exclaimed, "then you admit you think of your chair in the same terms as sex symbols."

Her not-very-secret agenda is vaporization of the chair, despite the fact it was she herself who bought it for me some time ago as a Father's Day present when the kids were little.

"I've also bought you underwear," she tells me, "and you have been able to part with it and wear new."

"That's different," I tell her.

"In this case, I'm not so sure anymore," she-says sarcastically.

According to her, it is time to replace one's armchair when most people mistake it for the skeletal remains of a moose.

"That's not good enough," I insisted just yesterday. "Give me another good reason."

She held up her hand. "Give me two minutes."

I settled into my chair. Smiled. Closed my eyes.

Started to dri ft oft: Spouse startled me awake before I had a chance to achieve deep-space dozing zone. She read from a prepared list: "First, an armchair is ready for removal and replacement when its recliner arm has been replaced

by a tire iron."

"But ...," I started, but she shushed me into silence.

"Second," she continued, "an armchair is ready for R&R when the sound it makes tipping back opens garage doors within a two-mile radius. , "A recliner is ready for Lazy Boy heaven when

The offbeat world of Uncle Dan

By Dan Morris the head cover has been restuffed with cotton from the tops of aspirin bottles more than once.

"A recliner is recycle fodder when moths hack and cough after contact with it.

"A recliner must go when newspapers covering the springs have served more terms than the president.

"A recliner has reached the end of the line when pocket change falls through it onto the floor.

"A recliner shall be deemed unfit for human habitation when ..."

"OK, OK, OK," I managed to insert. "I think I get the point. But can we afford to go to Maui for Valentine's Day?" Her hands dropped to her sides. She gave me a look that indicated my response had been off target, in the same sense Columbus had not discovered East India.

I had the distinct sense any card sent to my chair in the not-tao-distant future would not be to my address.

Your comments are welcome always. Please send them to Uncle Dan, 25218 Meadow Way, Arlington, Wash. 98223.

Sr. Teresa Marie Native of Las Vegas, Nevada

Prior experience: "[ worked as a blackjack dealer for thirteen years. Actua/l)1 [ was almost the last person to know that God was calling me. [knew [ had to do more with ~y life than [ was doing. [searched for a course ofaction, and turned my thoughts to L:F-:..L..L.:--,,:Z;::= religious life at the suggestion of a friend Nursing had been my aspiration as a teenager, and it is what initially attracted me to the Hawthorne Dominicans, One visit was all it took. [was struck most by tbe Sisters' compassion for the patients. They weren't just caring for the sick, they were caring for Christ. What made all this possible was their religious life."

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THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

Ethicists: Cloning plan premature, commercializeed

By PATRICIA ZAPOR CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON-A researcher's plans to attempt human cloning have been criticized as crass commercialism and premature scientific experimentation.

Chicago scientist Richard Seed announced Jan. 6 that he has four couples lined up to participate in his attempts to produce a human baby by cloning.

"My target is to produce a ... pregnancy in a female within a year and a half's time," Seed told the Chicago Sun-Times. Under the technique involved, called somatic cell nuclear transfer, scientists would replace the DNA in a human egg with that of another person, then implant the fertilized embryo in a woman to develop. If successful, the result would be a child who is genetically identical to the person whose DNA was used: The technique was used by Scottish scientists in 1996 to produce a sheep named Dolly, the world's first cloned mammal.

Moral theologian John Haas, president of the Pope John Center for the Study of Ethics in Health Care, said calling Seed a scientist is generous.

"He's an entrepreneur who wants to make money from exploiting people who aren't able to have

children," Haas said. "It's part of the trend toward commercialization of everything, including human life," he continued.

From the perspective of scientific progress alone, LeRoy Walters, director of Georgetown Uni-versity's Kennedy Institute of Ethics, said Seed's goal of cloning

are the long-term effects on genes and chromosomes, Walters said.

In June the National Bioethics Advisory Commission to the President recommended that Congress outlaw human cloning because of unacceptable risk of mutations and disturbing ethical implications.

Only one of several bills intro-

Among the unknowns of cloning that should be resolved before experimentation. begins on humans are the long-term effects qn genes and chromosomes a human being by 1999 "is just so premature as to be an outrageous proposal." .

Walters noted that the Scottish researchers made 277 attempts before Dolly was produced. He said that worldwide probably fewer than 25 mammals have been successfully cloned.

"The idea of moving from there into human reproductive technology, I find incredible," Walters said.

While he doesn't object philosophically to genetic research that might help people overcome infertility, Walters said, "this particular technique at this stage isn't ready for human beings."

Among the unknowns of cloning that should be resolved before experiment~tion begins on humans

"'ws Briefs Plain talk on finances WASHINGTON (CNS) - "Clergy and lay people collude to create a thundering silence about money in most of our churches," says a new book about U.S. churches and money.

"We talk about money only when we have to; w~ are ill at ease when we must get down to bottom lines; and we handle this topic with a amazing variety of kid gloves," it adds. The book is titled "Plain Talk About Churches and Money." It is the ,first in a series to be put out under the heading "Money, Faith and Lifestyle" by the Alban Institute, a nonprofit, nondenominational organization devoted to strengthening local church congregations.

Pope decries violence VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul II decried re.:. newed violence in Algeria, hardships imposed by economic sanctions on Iraq and other afflictions around the globe ina!) annual message to diplomats. The pontiff also warned against letting technology and economic interests replace moralitY in his Jan. 10 speech to representatives of 168 countries to'the Holy See. "We know from experience that man is unfo.rtu~ nately capable of betraying his humanity," Pope John paul said. "He must then be enlightened and accompanied so that, in his wanderings, he can always find again the sources of life and order which the Creator has inscribed in the most intimate part of his being." The pope said the current crises erupting around the world painfully demonstrate "the fragility of our societies." . .

Vatican¡ downplays.buggedchurch VATICAN CITY (CNS)- Cuban church officials preparing for Pope John Paul II's visit discovered a rudimentary bug~' ging device in a parish building, Va~ican sources said. The sources said the electronic eavesdropping device was foynq, in October in a church building that was not being used to host the pope when he visits Jan. 21-25. They said it appeared' to have been in place for several years. The news of the discovery of the device was reported by the Spanish newspaper EI Pais Jan. 10. The Vatican press office and a Cl,Jban church. spokesman refused to comment on the report, but Vatican sources privately confirmed it in part. The Vatican sources said it was untrue, however, as the Spanish newspaper had reported, that discovery of the bug prompted the Vatican to consider calling off the papal visit.

duced in 1997 to prohibit human cloning has proceeded beyond being assigned to a committee. The House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held hearings last summer on a bill introduced by Rep. Vernon 1. Ehlers, R-Mich. It was awaiting further action by the full House Science Committee as Congress returned in mid-January.

Father Michael Place, research .theologian for the Archdiocese of Chicago, said the news of Seed's plans was "certainly regrettable."

"Even the president has said that there are certain dangers for our society when it comes to cloning," Father Place 'said.

"The National Conference of Catholic Bishops has a,lso stated its opposition to cloning."

In a statement in early 1997 when the news about Dolly broke, Richard Doerflinger, associate director of the NCCB Secretariat fo'r Pro-Life Activities, said the church

rejects cloning "because this is not a worthy way to bring a human being into the world.

"Children have a right to have real parents, and to be conceived as the fruit of marital love between husband and wife," he said.

Haas, of the Pope John Center, said most discussion of cloning as a treatment for infertility leaves out the fact that the technique used by the Scottish scientists results not in a baby that is the biological product of the couple involved, but a genetic duplicate of the DNA donor.

"What theY,have will not be a child of theirs - of their bodiesbut a clone of one or the other of them," ,he sail Haas said there has been far too little societal discussion of the implications of cloning for anyone to be seriously attempting it with humans.

Even the recommendation of the presidential commission didn't go far enough, according to Haas.

While the commission said it should be illegal to bring a cloned human being to term, it didn't also oppose creating human embryos and destroying them, he said.

"I think as a society we have to be ready to take positions against doing something before it becomes technically possible," Haas said.

"Even though right now we may declare human cloning to be morally unacceptable, by the time Dr. Seed has his techniques perfected, societal percepti'ons may have changed and he'll be the one poised to proceed and financially benefit,"

he said.

Cynthia Crysdale, an associate professor who teaches ethi,:s at The Catholic University of A.merica, said Seed "wants to be the Bill Gates of cloning technology."

"Why is he not willing to wait to see how cloning will affe(;t Dolly over her lifetime, to take 'the time to study how this technology will affect human persons?" she asked in a statement released by the university. .

A statement from the Christian Medical and Dental Society not~d that experimenting with human cloning risks deaths and lethal birth defects.

"We all sympathize with infertile couples, but is it worth paying the price in human lives a.nd suffering to come up with an experimental baby?" asked Dr. David Stevens, executive director of the organization.

Walters said, unlike early human experimentation with in vitro fertilization in the 1970s, human cloning research is far from the point where there is a reawnable hope for success. He said the research is years away from the point where it might be morally acceptable to consider experimenting with cloning humans as a solution to infertility.

"I'm not opposed to the point that I'd say all possibilities of human cloning should now and forever be prohibited," Walters said.

"But I'm horrified by the idea of Dr. Seed getting'involved with human cloning at this point."

Human clone would be

image of man, not God •

Statement from Vatican official says cloning is an affront to human dignity.

By CATHOLIC

NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY .,---: A human clone would be created in the image and likeness of man, not God, a Vatican official said. Bishop Elio Sgreccia, vice president of the Pontifical Academy for Life and director of the Bioethics Institute at Rome's Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, told Vatican Radio , human cloning would be "the most serious" violation of natural and divine laws regarding procreation. , "In a formal way, it was already declared seriously illicit in 1987" in a document on the dignity of human procreation issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Bishop Sgreccia told the radio Jan. 8.

The bishop's comments came in the wake of growing media coverage of the announcement by a Chicago scientist that he was prepared to attempt to clone a human being.

The scientist, Richard Seed, has said he is assembling a team of doctors to help him clone a human embryo and implant it in a woman's womb. Four infertile couples have volunteered and have been selected for the experiment, he said, but he

still needs investors to help him pay stance of man's abuse of man, this for the preparations and procedure. enslavement of the human image in Bishop Sgreccia said human . the body of another person," he . cloning would be contrary to nature said.

President Bill Clinton already and to divine law because every person has the right to be conceived has banned federal funding cof huand to be born within marriage and man cloning experiments, and a from marriage. Cloning takes place national bioethics commissie'n has "outside the exercise of sexuality recommended that Congress pass and is agamic, that is, without the legislation banning the experiments. .

To attempt cloning a hum,tn be'The law mustproing would be "a serious sin," said Franciscan Father Gino Conc,;:tti, a hibit this instance of moral theologian who writes for the man's abuse of man, ' Vatican newspaper. this enslavement of If Seed does try to clone ,!l human being it would be "an affront the human image in to Almighty God and to the laws of the body of another the transmission of human life," person," he said.

Father Concetti told the newspaper

Avvenire. contribution of a man and a woman.

It uses only the genes of one individual to make a photocopy of this individual," he said. .

Cloning, the bishop said, "represents a dominion by man over man and includes a kind of desire to replace God's plans in an arbitrary and complete way, creating man in man's image and likeness."

Bishop Sgreccia said the condemnations by the Catholic Church, other religions and ethicists are not enough; "the law must intervene."

"The law must prohibit this in-

The Franciscan priest said S,;:ed's plans would be "an affront not only to nature but to reason and good sense: human cloning cannot be accepted even in cases in which a couple is sterile and has no other possibility for overcoming infertility."

The fundamental problem, he said, "is that human life would be reproduced in a laboratory as if it were just any old instrument or chemical product, forgetting that a human being is a person with an inalienable patrimony, inviolable rights and the mark of transcendent divinity."

THE ANCHOR -

Human services: Can forprofits deliver the goods?

By NANCY HARTNAGEL CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON - Catholic officials who monitor the delivery of human services are questioning whether for-profit firms can deliver the goods - and the goodthat public and nonprofit, often faith-based, providers traditionally have delivered.

Increasingly over the past 10 years, for-profit companies have competed for contracts typically administered by state and county governments and by non profits such as Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army.

Today, more than a year after enactment of sweeping federal welfare changes, private companies better known in accounting and military defense circles are contracting with states to handle

Job placement, child support enforcement and child welfare programs, and to convert state benefits systems to debit card systems.

Patricia King, who monitors health and welfare issues for the U.S. Catholic Conference Office of Domestic Social Development, said privatization has prompted a number of concerns, includinR philosophical ones about the appropriate roles of government and the private sector.

"It represents another step in the direction of the government completely abdicating its responsibilities to the common good and turning all of that over to the free market," she said.

She recalled the teaching of Pope John Paul II that some goods are not appropriate for the marketplace.

"Among those certainly are health

care and social services,:' she said.

King identified several concerns: "making a profit on programs for the poor," assessing the quality of service to this population, and building performance standards into contracts. She noted the experience of California, which contracted with Lockheed Martin Information Systems, a division of Lockheed Martin, the nation's largest defense contractor, to provide a statewide computer system to track child support.

"There were huge cost overruns," said King. "They couldn't do the job that was required on what their bid was in the contract."

In fact, a state Assembly report projected a 163 percent cost overrun, and California eventually stopped making payments on the contract.

"A major concern that keeps coming up," King said, "is the abdication of the governmental re"The program also tries to give sponsibility about eligibility deterparents and children better coping minations."

Though there are some standard skills so that kids aren't afraid to' speak up if something does hap- criteria, she said, there also is "a pen," said Garcia, who will be con- huge area of individual variability ducting the classes with Bonner at among recipients that has to be St. Anne's and throughout the dio- meshed with the standard criteria."

She cited the recent example of cese. They will eventually bring "KidWISE" around New England. the Social Security AdministraPrograms outside St. Anne's will be tion, which is revaluating the cases presented in conjunction with ser- of tens of thousands of children vices at the hospital's new Center dropped from the Supplemental Security Income rolls. for Children and Families. ' "They have the ability to step "We're hoping to get the PTA groups and the schools involved," in and make those changes quickly added Bonner. Their first presen- because it's a governmental contation is at the Atlantis Charter tinuum," she said. "If that was a private sector contract, it's difficult School on Feb. 4.

"We're starting to get phone to know how quickly the intervencalls and we're anxious to get out tions could have been made, especially if the entity was showing a there," said Garcia.

"If we can save just one child very strong bottom line." it's worth it," added Bonner.

In addition to the nationally sucJEFFREY E. SULLIVAN cessful "KidWISE" program the FUNERAL HOME nurses offer a safe sitter program 550 Locust Street and classes for new and expectant Fall River, Mass. parents. If you would like more information on "KidWISE," please Rose E. Sullivan William 1. Sullivan call Saint Anne's Pediatrics DepartMargaret M. Sullivan mentat 675-5655.

Diocese of Fall River -

9

Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

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KidWISE: safety ·at St. Anne's Continued frolll page one

Those who auend will spend two days working in a very interactive program discussing safety and situations, like a child's first visit to the playground where danger can lurk.

Through a series of exercises, checklists, and question and answer sessions, parents will be better able to prepare their children to be safe. The program instructs on the use of nonalarming language and promotes self-esteem, open communication, and development of a child's sense of safety and trust.

Entitled "Raising Careful, Confident Kids in a Crazy World," this award-winning program is geared for parents, educators, coullselors and health care/day care providers responsible for children bt:tween the ages of three and 12. It was developed by California psychotherapist and parent educator Paula Statman.

"We see a lot of children brought into our emergency department who have been victimized," said Bonner. "Our goal is to teach parents and guardians how to keep their children safe."

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THE .ANCHOR -

Dioces~

of Fall River - Fri., Jail. 16, 1998

,

,

Priest;s album encourages people to -pr~ay •

While the priesthood is his first calling, music is his ministry.

Tenn., took I:tim a year to write. spiritual stories, preaching and teaching as through music."

"It was almost effortless. I would wake The priest, whose next album will be puthe entertains. His goal is to provide a musiting prayers of the saints to music, believes up with words and melodies in my head. cal and prayerful experience.

He uses his free. time for concerts and there is power in music "to heal, to comfort Once I started it, it just flowed," Father songwriting so as not to take time away from and bring the Good News right to the center: Hemann said.

By RENEE WEBB Some of the album's traditional prayers his priestly duties as the pastor of two par- of your heart."

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE are verbatim, but others wen~ adjusted to fit "I am happy to be a channel of Christ's ishes.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - In creating his lat"Some people take time to golf, some take peace, joy and hope for God's people," he . his music.

"It is through prayer that this world will est musical project, "In God's Company," time to play cards and others take time just added. be touched

by God," he added. "It is through "In God's Company," which was recorded Father David Hemann said he was looking to relax," the priest said. "The way I spend in Omaha, Neb., and mastered in Nashville, prayer that many positive things happen." for a way to encourage people to pray. my time is music.

So far, it's working. Close to 1,000 copies While it is work, it of "In God's Company," an album of tradi- is very rewarding." tional Catholic prayers set to music, have Father Hemann been sold since its release in the fall. said he found that Most of the sales have followed concerts his first two albums the priest has given in the Diocese of Sioux appealed to high City and surrounding dioceses. school students on Ordained in 1985 for Sioux City, Father up, but "In God's Hemann said the priesthood is his first call- Company" has ating and his music is one of several ministries tracted a wide age that flow out of that vocation. range of listeners The album, his third, contains settings of - from young chilthe Our Father, the Hail Mary, thy Act of dren to the elderly.

Contrition, the Glory Be, and other familiar One person told Catholic prayers. the priest his little "These are beautiful, well put together, boy listens to it evtime-tested prayers," but their recitation can ery night to go to become routine rather than a spiritual expe- sleep. rience, Father Hemann told The Globe, Sioux "I~ve had several City's diocesan newspa.per. "One of my goals. people, tell me that was to put these basic, beautiful prayers to their loved ones music so they would enter more deeply into coming to the end " our heart and our prayer experience," he said. of their life at death Father Hemann said he was having trouble constantly listen to coming up with a suitable name for. the al- the music,". Father bum"Then a priest friend remarked to him, Hemann said. "To . "In God's companY,there is no fear." , me) one, of the Fath~r Hemann knew immediately he had g,reatest honor,S found the title., As people ·enter into Gpd's would be tq p'!,aye~~ • company in,prayer, fears are lifted and fully ush.er soWe- : . ' '. . •.... ,.. . .. wounds· are healed he explained. ' . . .. one into. eternity .. ' HOPIN~.TQ enC?Qurag e people topr~y,):~th~rO~v.,d Hemann ofSlouxCltY"lowa, n3corded an .:.:' D'~ring ,his ~o~~~rts'Father Hemaml shar~s'. ' .. , ~ '''':' '. :'" . )'album of,traditiomilG8:tholic prayers,',setto"rii4slQ: . (CN$lWebophbto)" " ':..; , " ..' . ':;' . . ' I'

Fo~mer,NFL By

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player. s~ares' ~le of h~m~lessness Movie Reviiews ,

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PETER FINNEY JR.

shocked' middle-school students at New CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE Orleans' St. Pius X School in November.

NEW ORLEANS-To look at Jackie "It's amazing what you can find inside a Wallace now, at his clear eyes and his Dumpster. I was about as black as somebeaming smile, reveals nothing of the " one co'uld get; and did I stink! I thank God former Super Bowl defensive back,'\vith the fOf saving my life because when I was unMinnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles derneath that bridge, I was dying. I was Rams \Vho seven years ago was sleeping one or two breaths away from dying." under an interstate highway overpass and Wallace, 46, tells his life's story with foraging through Dumpsters for food. brutal honesty becaw:e he has accepted "My favorite meal back then was every detail and asked for forgiveness. He shrimp-fried rice," Wallace told a group of is a recovering alcoholic and cocaine ad. ,

y

fORMER NFL defensive back Jackie Wallace talks to middle-school students at S1. Pius X School in New Orleans about the years, he spent as a hemeless man because of drug and alcohol addiction. (eNS/Finney photo)

diet who has been sober for seven ye,ars.

After The Times-Picayune, a New Orleans daily newspaper, found him living under the bridge in 1990 and published the shocking story of Wallace's fall from celebrity, former teachers and priests at St. Augustine High School helped get Wallace into a treatment program in Baltimore.

Wallace, who had been a three-sport star at St. Augustine, resisted early attempts to get him to face and admit'his·addictions.

"In July 1990, I. was sleeping under a bridge for three-and-a-half weeks because nobody could tell me what to do."

Wallace'held odd jobs during the time.

Before Christmas in 1982, he hocked his two Super Bowl rings for cash to buy presents for the woman with whom he was living. "The day after Christmas, she left," Wallace said. Wallace said he never got his rings back. One student asked if he missed them.

Wallace works as an operations specialist at the Baltimore Arena, setting up the stadium for basketball and hockey games.

"I drive the Zamboni machine and set up the equipment for the hockey players," Wallace said.

"My life is happy and my life is fun," Wallace said. "Everything has been coming along excellent. For some reason - God - I don't sleep under bridges and I have a wonderful and loving wife."

Whenever Wallace returns to New Orleans to visit his family, he makes sure one stop is on his itinerary. "I always go back to that underpass, get down on my knees and say a prayer," Wallace said. ~

NEW YORK (CNS) - Tfle following are capsule reports on movies recently reviewed by the U.S. Cathc,lic Conference Office for Film and BrOadcasting.

"The Boxer" (Universal) Against the backdrop of a shaky IRA cease-fire, the efforts of a Belfast IRA ex-con (Daniel Day-Lewis) to resume a boxing career and romar~ce his old flame (Emily Watson) are c6mplicated by the fact that she is now the wife of an IRA political prisoner. Director Jim Sheridan explores IRA infi~lhting in a grim yet hopeful drama tha,t stresses surviving in a culture of violellce. Some violence, much rough language and intermittent profanity. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III adults. The Motion Picture Allsociation of America rating is R - res,tricted.

I:

"Live Flesh" (MGMI) Overwrought Spanish mel6drama in which an unjustly convicted ex-con (Liberto Ribal) becomes invblved with the wives of the two police d:etectives who arrested him seven yea:'s earlier.

Writer- director Pedro Almodo~artrans­ forms Ruth Rendell's 1986 dovel into a soap-operatic tale of betrajrals, guilt and belated forgiveness. ~>ubtitles.

Several sexual encounters, brief nudity, fleeting violence, recreational drug abuse, recurring rough langl\age and occasional profanity. The U.S; Catholic Conference classification is: A-IV adults, with reservations. Thl~ Motion Picture Associatio,r.t of.Ameril~a rating j~~ . F!:;i";;;{r,!§tdca~~~,~ft<,l$fi.,:1~~;;r;ii,.,i,~,t..i

11 Cardinal Mahoney may appear St. Clare's Home for Women on EWTN show THE ANCHOR -

â&#x20AC;˘

MotherAngelica urged by her bishop to invite the cardinal in order to settle differences.

tounding and reprehensible.' He de- cumbed to one of the primary sins in manded a public apology. Mother the church today - the tendency to Angelica offered a rather tepid apol- revert to name-calling when we disogy to the cardinal but continued to agree with others." criticize the letter. The debate continHe called her remarks about Carues." dinal Mahony "especially unfair. '"

By Lou JACQUET The incident spilled over into the . He is a kind, gentle and holy man ...

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE Youngstown Diocese - Mother An- a leader who has givfm his whole life YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The gelica is from Canton - when a di- in dedicated service to God and his bishop of Mother Angelica's native ocesan priest and pastor wrote a let- people."

That Mother Angelica and others diocese ofYoungstown has suggested ter to the Catholic Exponent in rethe nun ofter "a sincere invitation" to sponse to a Catholic News Service "resort to such angry and divisive Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. report on the nun's remarks and the rhetoric," he said, "may come about Mahony to appear on her EWlN pro- cardinal's response. 'The priest criti- because some members of the church gram as an avenue to settle their dif- cized Mother Angelica's actions and '" have not had their legitimate comsaid she lacked serious theological plaints about abuses in the church ferences.

In November, during her show training to be speaking on the sub- taken seriously by church leaders."

"Mother Angelica Live" on the Eter- ject at all.

"In fairness, it should be noted, nal Word Television Network, The Jan. 9 issue of the Exponent however, that some of the most voMother Angelica questioned the cal critics of Mothf:r Angelica have cardinal's faith and ministry based on been as uncharitable and mean-spira pastoral letter he issued Sept. 4 titled ited as they accused her of being. And "Gather Faithfully Together: A Guide I wonder if all those who profess to for Sunday Mass." be outraged by her call to disobediSeveral days later she apologized ence have always been obedient sons and daughters of the church thembut continued to question his teachselves?" ing on the Eucharist as presented in He added that "in the heat of the the pastoral. argument, we should not lose sight of "Perhaps the cardinal would accept a sincere invitation" to appear as the many good things Mother Angelica has accomplished" through a guest on the show, Youngstown EWTN. Bishop Tobin cited televised Bishop Thomas J. Tobin wrote in his Masses for shut-ins, "some excellent "Without a Doubt" column in the Jan. educational programming," and the 9 issue of the Catholic Exponent, his diocesan newspaper. televising of special live events as among her contributions to the church.

"There, they could effect a public' Bishop Tobin said clear teaching reconciliation and engage in serious, is imperative in pastoral letters and civil and informed discussion on the other church directives. cardinal's pastoral letter," Bishop CARDINAL MAHONEY The fact that official church teachTobin said. "Such a public reconciliing on the Eucharist was found in a ation and discussion would give a whole new meaning to the phrase then carried letters from readers up- footnote in Cardinal Mahony's pas'common ground' and perhaps spill set with the priest's remarks, as well toral rather than directly in the text over into other areas in the life of the as letters from diocesan priests who would be "disturbing to some," he supported his views; Bishop Tobin noted. "I suspect that much of this church in the United States today."

After learning of Mother devoted his column to the contro- controversy could have been avoided ifthis teaching had been placed in the Angelica's criticism, Cardinal versy.

"What Mother Angelica did was body of the letter itself," he said, addMahony was, "as you might imagine," Bishop Tobin said, "very upset wrong, very wrong, in attacking the ing, "It is incumbent upon all teachers of the faith to be as simple, clear about Mother Angelica's comments, pastoral and the cardinal as she did," saying that her remarks were 'as- Bishop Tobin wrote. "She suc- and direct as possible."

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

in Hyannis dedicated

Continued from page one

involved come from Our Lady of Victory parish. It is a group that has been involved in offering retreats at the prison and many of them are cursillistas."

McNamee described St. Clare's as a "transition house" that will accommodate seven women after they leave the correctional institution.

Candidates for the program participate in an entrance interview, as well as psychological, academic and medical evaluations. Upon acceptance the candidate signs a contractual agreement to accept house rules and begin an individual program of mutually agreed upon spiritual and educational goals. The program director and each resident review progress towards those goals on a regular basis. Each individualized program may last up to two years.

"Many of these women have not completed high school, so there are education courses given on site," said McNamee. St. Clare's provides aptitude and skill-based instruction to residents in areas such as spiritual development, academics, psychological counseling, alcohol and drug counseling, jobs skills training, vocational training, and social, parenting and life skills.

"The job readiness program has been aided by Bank Boston, which recently donated six computers for the home, and there are computer literate volunteers ready to teach those skills," McNamee added.

"Also on the practical side, courses will include life skills such as cooking and budgeting."

Some of the courses and counseling will be done in-house, while others will be done at professional centers.

Administration of St. Clare's will be led by Director Eileen White, a full-time staff person and two, parttime workers.

"It doesn't mean these seven women living there will be confined," McNamee asserted. "They have a right to life, and the purpose is to acclimate them to life. Some of them may be working at jobs. But for many, who have been incarcerated for long periods of time, becoming acclimated to life in the community is what the home will be all about. Drug abuse might have been predominant in some of their lives, and so they never have had a stable family life and need direction and definition. It will involve learning about making relationships with people."

The cost to operate St. Clare's is budgeted at $118,000 this year.

Approximately $90,000 of that will corne from the Catholic Charities Appeal, and another $40,000 will come from the Violence Against Women agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, McNamee reported.

"This first-time program is a big step for us and one I think is very exciting," McNamee stated.

"Barnstable County is a wonderful place to start because Barnstable County Sheriff John DeMello has been a wonderful ally. The women among the prison's population have also" been very supportive. But withOllt the volunteers from REC and others, this would not have been possible. There has been a certain marriage between REC and Catholic Social Services in this program.

REC saw the need and identified it.

We became the vehicle to help make it happen."

Catholics alDong those honored by Queen Elizabeth By

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

LONDON (CNS)- A host of Catholics have been honored by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in the New Year's Honors List.

The headlines in the British media were dominated by the news that Elton John, who reworked his hit single "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to the late Princess Diana, was to become a Knight Bachelor -meaning that he will now be Sir Elton John. But the De(;. 31 awards announcement also contained good news for many Catholics, ranging from senior politicians to charity workers, a London parish priest and a retired Scottish school principal.

The queen made the former governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, a Companion of Honor. Patten, a former Conservative member of Parliament and a Catholic, was an influential figure in the administrations of Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

As chairman of the Conservative Party he masterminded Major's 1992 election win - only to lose his own scat of Bath in the process. He subsequently became governor of Hong Kong to oversee the transition back to Chinese rule.

The director of education for the Catholic Fund for Overseas Devel-

opment, Brian Keston Davies, was awarded the Order of the British Empire. His award was for "services to development education," said the office of British Prime MinisterTony Blair.

Davies has worked for CAFOD since 1980 and was due to retire in 1998.11ie organization is the official development agency of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

Also honored Was Robina Rafferty, director of the Catholic Housing Aid Society. She became a Member of the British Empire for her service to homeless people.

Rafferty, 53, has worked for Catholic HousingAid Society for 21 years, the last 10 of them as director.

She said the award by the queen was a tribute to the agency's work.

"I am still gripped by a sense of outrage that we still h~ve people living on the streets or in housing which is untit for human habitation," she said Dec. 30.

A well-known London parish priest, Father Christopher Basil Cunningham, also received the Member of the British Empire. The rector of St. Etheldreda's. Church was honored for "services to the community in the City of London." Father

Cunningham, known as "Father Kit," is a member of the Institute of Charity, the Rosminians.

In an interview with Catholic News Service Dec. 31, he said he believed the¡award was recognition for his work as founder and director of an annual street fair in central London, known as the "Strawberrie Fayre." The fair, which has been running for 15 years, has raised more than $100,000 for charity. .

Sister Anthony Wilson was awarded the Member of the British Empire for her services to the Metropolitan Cathedral ofChrist the King in Liverpool, where she leads a team in making tapestries, wall hangings and vestments.

A retired Catholic high school principal, Thomas O'Malley, was awarded the Order of the British Empire. The former principal Cif St. David's High School, Dalkeith, Scotland, was honored for services to education.

An Order of the British Empire was also awarded to novelist and professor David Lodge for services to literature. The novelist is best known among Catholics for his international best seller, "How Far Can You GoT' which details the ethical and religious dilemmas faced by a group of young Catholics growing up in the I 960s.

OCTAVE OF CHRISTIAN UNITY Saturday, January 17 - 4:30 p.m.

Prayer Service & Mass Rev. Martha Vaguener Rev. Ernest Corriveau, M.S.'

COFFEE HOUSE: "ELIJAH" Saturday, January 17 - 6:30 p.m.

Cafeteria -Good-will offering

PORTUGUESE HEALING SERVICE Sunday, January '18 - 2:00 p.m.

Portuguese Confessions Sat., Jan. 17, 2-4 p.m.

Rev. Manuel Pereira, M.S.

GRIEF EDUCATION PROGRAM Thursday, January 22 - 1:00 p.m. $7.50 Donation "Grief: a normal response to loss" Counseling Center Romero Room

--

12

THE ANCHOR -Diocese of Fall River -路Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

Pope renews roster of College of Cardinals

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II began 1998 by preparing to renew the roster of one of the church's oldest and most unusual institutions, the College of Cardinals.

As an organization, it is without parallel in the secular world. Its membership remains all male and all clerical. Its dress: the unmistakable cardinal-red cassock and biretta. And its most important meetings - for election of a new pope ,-- take place under lock and key, in utter secrecy., Youthful the College of Cardinals is not. What. other i'nstitution could. be revitalized by the naming of 16 'new members with an average age of about 65?

That's what the pope is expected to do sometime this month. With the next batch of cardinals, the pontiff will have named about 80 percent ofthe l60-plus members of the college. More importantly, he will have appointed 85 percent of the 120 cardinals under age 80 who are allowed to vote in a papal conclave.

It's an exclusive club, unlike any other. But cardinals have no assembly hall oftheir own and can't even call their own meetings. Except for papal elections, they are convened by the pope when he wants their advice on particular matters, but he doesn't have to ask for it.

The College of Cardinals has its own internal hierarchy, a three-rank system of cardinal-bishop, cardinale priest and cardinal-deacon. That pecking order dates back centuries,

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Consecration to. the Divine Will .

--

Oh adorable and Divine Will, behold me here before the immensity ofYour Light, that Your eternal goodness 'may open to me the doors and make me enter into It to form my life all in You, Divine Will. Therefore, oh adorable Will, prostrate before Your Light, I, the least of all creatures, put myself into the little group of the sons and daughters ofYour Supreme FIAT. Prostrate in my nothingness, I invoke Your Light and beg that it clothe me and eclipse all that does not pertain to You, Divine Will. It will be my Life, the center of my intelligence, the enrapturer of my hemt and of my whole being. I do not want the human will to have life in this heart any longer. I will cast it away from me and thus form the new Eden of Peace" of happi~ ness and of love. With It I shall be always happy. I shall have a singul~ strength and a holiness that sanctifies all things and conducts them to God, Here prostrate, I invoke the help of the Most Holy Trinity that They permit me to live in the cloister ofthe Divine Will and thus return in me the first order of creation, just as the creature was created. ' Heavenly Mother, Sovereign and Queen of the Divine Fiat, take my hand and introduce me into the Light of the Divine Will. You will be my guide, my most tender Mother, and will teach me to live in and to maintain myself in the order and the bounds ofthe Divine Will. Heflvenly Mother, I consecrate my whole being to Your Immaculate Heart. You will teach me the 'doctrine of the Divine Will and I will listen most attentively to . Your lessons.' You will cover me with Your mantle 'so that the infernal serpent dare not penetrate into this sacred Eden to en:.. tice me and make me 'fall into the maze of the human will. " Heart of my greatest Good, Jesus, You' will give me Your flames that they may bum me, consume me, and feed me to form in me the Life of the Divine Will. ' Saint Joseph, you will be my protector, the guardian of my heart, and will keep the keys of my will in your hands. You will keep my heart jealously and shall never give it to me again, that I may be sure of never leaving the Will of God. .My guardian Angel, guard me; defend me; help me in everything so that my Eden may flourish and be the instrument that draws all fllen into the Kingdom of the Divine Will. Amen. ,::.~.'~.,,' . . ,' ..... : ' . . .: .

( /n Honor of LUisU; Pi~(arreta .J..865-J94.? C.hild ofthe Divine Will)

larged and internationalized the college; he set a limit of 120 cardinal-electors and said this group would include only those under the age of 80.

Pope Paul's move was not appreciated by some cardinal octogenarians, and the issue still simmers Pope John Paul has made it point to involve in Rome. Pope John Paul does not feel he can change a :rule made by the cardinals more in the actual management of such a close predecessor, but he has the universal church, calling them to Rome five invited the older cardinals to partimes during his pontificate for meetings, or ticipate fully in the advisory consistories he has called. As indiconsistories, on such issues as church finances, viduals, cardinals today influence anti-abortion strategies and ecumenism. church policy in another major way: through their membership in universal church, calling them to 20-30 cardinals back then, and Vatican congregations and other Rome five times during his pontifi- eventually the popes came to rely curial agencies. A modern cardinal cate for meetings, or consistories, on them almost as a U.S. president typically. flies to Rome several times a year for plenary assemblies of on such issues as 'church finances, relies on the Cabinet. anti-abortion, strategies and By the 1200s, they were meet- these organizations and for other , ecumenism. ' . ing with the pope in consistory three meeti'ngs.

Perhaps the most striking differAs he once told the cardinals, he times a week. Some popes conwants to "profit ,from advice and voked the cardinals wnenever they 路ence between the college of old and your many-sided experience." He received ambassadors and dignitar- that of today is the greater internasaid he sees this as a "reanimation" ies in official audiences. The argu- tional diversity. Italian influence, in of the College of Cardinals and a ment was made, and accepted by particular, has declined; Italians new expression of collegiality. many, that the cardinals actually comprised more than half the colThis consultative role for cardi- shared in papal powers. lege membership 60 years ago, As the temporal role of the pa- while today they represent just 15 . nals may have seemed a novelty when reintroduced in 1979, but in pacy grew, that of the cardinals did, percent of voting-age: cardinals. early centuries the cardinals had a too. During the Renaissance, abuses Mem,bers from Africa, Asia and huge influence in the day-to-day became more common'. A famous Oceania, virtually non路路existent 50 workings of the church. They were, example was when Pope Alexander . years ago, now make up more than in effect,-the ,power-brokers in VI named his son, Cesare Borgia, one-fourth the total.

Rome and at the Vatican.. to the college.

Given the evolving nature of the Scholars are still debating where The cardinals' influence de- ,College ,of Cardinals and the fact the term "cardinal" cameJrom and clined by the late 1500s, however. that there have been lay cardinals what it meant when it surfaced in One reason may have been the . in the past, some have proposed the sixth century, but the title gen- college's growing size. In 1586 opening up this exclusive society. erally came to oeused for prelates , Pope Sixtus V.established a maxi- At the African synod a, few years , in ,service outside 'their own dio- mum number of 70 cardinals, a ago, a bishop even suggested nam, ceses. In-Rome, many of these bish- _ limit that held until the mid-20th ing women cardinals. The idea ops and priests were already the century, when.Pope John XXIII in- caused great clamor in the press pope's trusted advisers, and they creased it to more than 80. His suc- before it was quietly buried by the began meeting on' a regular basis. synod. : ce~sor, Pope Paul VI, greatly enbut today the' distinctions signify little, except when it comes time to line up for liturgical processions..

Pope John Paul has made it a point to involve the cardinals more in the actual management of the

In the 11 th century, the College of Cardinals was institutionalized and its membership extended to non-Romans. At this time, it was officially given the task of electing n.ew popes. There were only about

a

~frican

bishops acknowledg~e Holy Spirit's gifts

By BRONWEN OACHS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS)';-:,.. The bishops of southern Africa said the Holy Spirit encourages South Africans in the face of the nation's many problems.

"So many problems beset us: poverty; corruption in public life, inequality of access to education, health and other services. These problems lead to attitudes which corrode our national well-being," the bishops said in a late-December pastorai' letter on the Jubilee Year 2000. Pope John Paul II has declared 1998 the year of the Holy Spirit, in preparation for the jubilee.

"But the Spirit does not allow us to simply give up. The Spirit en'courages us with confidence to act, not just to talk. The Spirit challenges us to seek positive solutions to our prob,lems," the bishops said. ''The c~use of reconciling the divid~d nation is championed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as it probes the depths of suffering in our past. In this unfolding drama of exchanging stories of pain, there is a desire on the part of the victims 'and the tormentors to reach out toward one another," the

letter said.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, scheduled to complete its work in June, is hearing evidence of human rights abuses by those who fought for and

The encouragement given the people in the face of many diverse problems attests to the Holy Spirit's presence. against apartheid, South Africa's former system of strict racial segregation.

"In many ways, we are still a very divided nation, and the search for reconciliation attests tothe presence of the Holy Spirit among us," the bi~hops said.

"One of the greatest gifts of the Spirit is unity," the bishops said.

"There can be no doubt that the Holy Spirit's unifying action h\ls been powerfully evident in our land over the past few years.

"From being a divided nation on the brink of civil war, we experienced a mira<.:ulous transition, a peaceful election (in April 1994)

and a promise of peace and security that, unfortunately, are now being threatened by the escalation of crime and violence.

"The Holy Spirit call:. us to action. It is the Spirit who inspired our pastoral plan which aim; at transforming us into a 'community serving humanity.' The variel:Y of gifts given us by the Holy Spiril: are given to be of service in the building up of God's kingdom here on earth, which also means to bui Id up our land," they said.

The letter tells of signs of a new Pentecost,' "evidence of t;]e breath of the Spirit in the chun;h in the renewal of catechetics and liturgy, in a new appreciation of the Bible, and in a new awareness within the church fostering small (:hristian communities, pastoral councils and faith-sharing groups."

The bishops said they saw evidence of the Holy Spirit in society, "where a new awareness 01' the dig~ity of the human .person :!~ taking , root and where the individual's rights are now protected u:lder our new Constitution. A new 'culture of human rights' is being born in our land." , South Africa's post-ariartheid Constitution' was adopted in Cape Town in May' 1996. :

Unity: Week of Prayer to end racism COIl/i/ll/ed from page one

The yearly observance is a reminder "that unity is a concern and we ought to be busy with it," the priest added. "The Second Vatican Council put a greater impetus on the theme wit.h bishops and theologians writing about 'sister churches' a special kind of grace moment from the Holy Spirit for the Church.'~ . Father Bergeron said "the time - of Vatican II - was right, and the renewal spilled out in other churches and the Council of Churches was the result. The years after Vatican II have seen a tremendous outpouring of energy into the relationship between the churches."

The great priestly prayer of Jesus on the night before he was to be crucified, "in which Christ prayed ' ... that all may be one,' has been before our eyes since the very beginning of the Church," Father Bergeron said. "But we human beings have done a great job of frustrating the Lord's prayer. But it now appears that the Lord has allowed the idea to bubble to the surface in lots of ways and lots of people."

No doubt it makes headlines, the pastor added, noting that members of famous Catholic families as well as Catholic leaders of nations are reportedly opting to receive Communion in nonCatholic churches. "What it shows is that people are anxious to get on with some kind of church unity."

He also noted that a recent internat.ional story reported that Anglican bishops had agreed with much of Pope John Paul II's encyclical letter "Ut Unum Sint" ("That they may be one"). However, the bishops noted that their agreement did not signal conformity.

"If there is a broad house, it is the Catholic Church," Father Bergeron stated. "We have many rites, Melkite, Maronite, Ukrainian, just to name a few. While uniformity might appear to be the name of the Catholic Church, it really isn't. There are vast differences, and yet we are united. A church that can have both Mother Angelica and the charismatic renewal in it is indeed a diverse church."

Although many still envisage unity as all churches in full com-

munion with Rome, that is "a very old-fashioned idea," Father Bergeron reported. "More of what is happening is finding areas in which we agree on essentials and agree to disagree on less important things; a civil and sensitive disagreement. It seems that the late Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin's urging of a dialogue within the Catholic Church itself, a dialogue he called an 'initiative,' appeals in a broad(~r fashion."

According to Father Bergeron, there is currently a LutheranCatholic agreement on the key issues that led to the Lutheran break with Rome, as well as an agreement that there are other issues tolerable ones - that still divide the two churches. "But that is not just for church leaders, but for the people in the pews to study together. It is up to the people to consider what next to dO now that we have come this far."

On the local scene, the efforts toward unity in the Christian churches "have made a big difference in drawing people together at the grassroots. But it is the mainline churches such as the Episcopalians, Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians that would be involved, and that also includes

the United Church of Christ that brought together many Congregational parishes."

The history of churches in Massachusetts focuses on the Congregational Church as the former official church of the state, Father Bergeron noted. "The Quakers were brought up to Boston Common to be flogged by the Congregationalists for not paying the church tax. It also happened close by in Westport and Dartmouth. So those Quaker assemblies made a major contribution, preparing the way for us as Catholics. They took the major floggings and the hangings and ostracisms, so that when Catholics arrived in this state it was much easier for them to survive persecution." .

This year, the principal ecumenical gathering in Fall River to celebrate Christian Unity Week will be held Jan. 2.1 at St. Anthony of the Desert Church, a Maronite parish, and will be hosted by Msgr. Norman 1. Ferris, pastor.

"It will be an evening of study for all the clergy on baptism. It is in this sacrament that we recognize one another as Chris· tians," Father Bergeron said, "and so it is an important starting point."

"Relations D;e:tWE~errG,hri:st at, mutual kgq, ,' They ,presuppq~e., sible form of ~r~ctlca' cooRera I , ral, cultural aQd !social, as well est, the ~bspel m;~~sage;,' " ,.; j' , . "Cooperati~nlam~I)~JII C~rist! that bond whlcfl.already umtes: "clearer relief the features of Chris " '''Moreover,:'scumenical coc5p:en of e9umeni~rr; ~ dynamiq road t~ le?ds to ,the fulj unity ~f faith. TtJroug tion, all believE#s in Christ are able to they can understand ~ach other be each other more, and how the road:to tians may be made smooth. , "In the eyes bf the world, cooperati tians becomes a form of common and a means of evangelization whi '- : valved."

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VATICAN CITY--Vatican officials confirmed that Pope John Paul II would meet Russian President Boris Yeltsin during the president's February trip to Italy.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Jan. 12 Yeltsin would have a papal audience during his Feb. 9- t 1 visit, as the Kremlin had announced in Moscow.

A Yeltsin spokesman said the president was also to visit Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and President Oscar Luigi

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Scalfaro in Rome and to travel to the northern Italian city of Bologna.

Last year, Pope John Paul appealed to Yeltsin to block a law on religion that gave favored status to the Orthodox Church and curbed the rights of other faiths in Russia. Yeltsin signed the legislation in September.

Yeltsin met the pope during a December 1991 Vatican visit.

On Jan. 13 the Vatican announced that Cardinal Edward I. Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council' for Christian Unity, was to leave the follow-

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Diocese of Fall River -- Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

ing day and meet with ranking members of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow for two days of talks.

Cardinal Cassidy's visit to Moscow.was part of a regular series of exchanges between the Vatican and the Moscow Patriarchate meant to improve ties between the two churches.

The cardinal's Jan. 14-15 trip to Russia was to be followed by a May 7-8 visit to Italy by Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, the Orthodox Church leader responsible for relations with other churches.

, o

hey have been driven from their homes.

Their animals have been poisoned. All for the sake of gold. Yet, the people of the Luzon region of the Philippines have not lost their most precious possession - their faith. A local priest, Father Father Ben (striped shirt) sticlcs with Ben Be Imer, his community through thick and thin. has helped make sure of that. Despite the continuous gold mining that threatens their land, prayer and the Good News of Christ has given the people of Luzon strength and hope for the future.

Your gift through the Societyfor the Propagation of the Faith can help Father Ben and others like him continue their mission ofhope...

The Society for. THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH Reverend Monsignor John J. Oliveira, V.E. 106 Illinois Street· New Bedford, MA 02745 "Attention: Column." No. 101 ANCH. 1/16/98

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0 $50 0 $25 0 $10 0 $ _ _ (other)

Name - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Address _ City State Zip _ Please remember The Societyfor the Propagation ofthe Faith when writing orchangingyour Will.

14

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

Scenes from the 1998 Bishop's Charity B At left, Bishop O'Malley stands with presentees from the Taunton area: Rebecca Sable, Sacred Heart, Taunton; Marie Frias, St. Joseph, Taunton; Jessica Ventura, St. Peter, Dighton; Clare Forstie, St. Joseph, North .

Dighton; Shannon Leigh Mealy, St. Jacques, Taunton.

At right,co-chairpersons of the ball Theresa Lewis, president, Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, and Horace Costa, diocesan president St. Vincent de Paul Society stand with the evening's host.

Below, the Quirk family of, St. Pius X parish in South Yarmouth gets the chance for a photo opportunity. With the bishop stand, from l~f1, Margaret, Victoria, Ann and James Quirk, Jr.

Below, sharing a laugh with the bishop are presentees Elizabeth Charpentier (left) of St. Mary parish, Mansfield, and Aimee B. Rioux of St. Julie Billiart parish, North Dartmouth.

Above, members of the Office of Adult Education peruse the evening's program which they helped to plan.

From le,ft are Doreen Dixon, Michelle Hamel, Lisa M., Gulino, Nancy LeBlanc and , Sue McMann.

,

,

, At left, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Kaczynski escort their daugh- . ter Karen, the presen!ee from Immaculate Conception parish in Fall River, to meet the bishop.

All smiles, pictured at right, Julie Aimee-Adele Tracy makes the grand walk with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Philip Tracy of St. Mary parish in Norton. (All photos by John E. Kearns, Jr.)

.~

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Pall River -- Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

Our Rock

. r~~

and Role I

By CHARLIE

MARTIN

I Do When I'm done with thinking, Then I'm done with you.

When I'm done with crying, Then I'm done with you.

When I feel so tired, Then I'm done with you.

Everybody feels this way sometimes, Everybody feels this way -

.I

And I do.

You can't hear it, but I do.

You can't hear it, but I do.

You're trying to convince me That what I've done's not right.

I get so frustrated, I stay up every night.

You ask me for an answer, And I'm so tired, And I'm up in the air.

Everybody feels this way sometimes, Everybody feels this way And I do.

You can't hear it, but I do.

You can't hear it, But I'm feeling this way Just because 'you say I will be ignored.

I will be denied.

I could be erased.

I could be brushed aside.

I will get scared, And I will get shoved down, But I feel like I do Because you push me around.

I'm starting to ignore you, I've doubted you so long.

I'm tired of overthinking, I know you don't belong.

Now I'm asking questions No one pushes me around.

Everybody feels this way sometimes, Everybody feels this way And I do.

You can't hear it, but I do.

You don't seem angry, but I do.

I do.

Written and sung by Lisa Loeb Copyright (c) 1997 by Furious Rose MOsicl Music Corp. of America Inc. (BMI) THE MORE I hear Lisa Loeb's music, the more I like it. Her songs often have a rough

edge, especially when speaking about relationships. Yet, even though her music may leave me

uncomfortable, it also makes me think.

Her new CD !'Firecracker" has her current chart hit "I Db." The song describes arelationship going nowhere. Apparently the couple's romance primarily brings depression and disappointment into their lives.

The girl in the song says that she's "done with thinking, ... ,done with crying," and feels "so tired.'" She's been "ignored," "denied," "erased," "brushed aside" and "shoved down."

Consequently, she tells her boyfriend, "I'm' done with you."

However, her decision seems colored by ambiguity. When her boyfriend asks her "for an answer," presumably about whether they are going to be together, she says, "I'm so tired, and 1'm up in the air." Such a response creates more melodrama, and does little to end the confusion and depression.

Indeed, it can be difficult to face the truth of how you feel.

Also, fear can keep you from acting even when you accept and understand your feelings.

Avoidance and fear can keep individuals stuck in unhealthy and unsatisfying dating relationships.

Perhaps the girl's ambivalent responses are a way to manipulate the guy. Expressing tiredness and disappointment may be a threat to make the guy change, In that case, both people need to see that they are only hurting each other. They need to walk away from such games.

The teen and young adult years are not well spent maintaining relationships that are over. Instead, draw upon your courage to see and act on the truth.

Once you do leave the romance, be kind to yourself.

Reach out to those who can support you through this difficult time, especially trusted family members and friends. Such people can be there for you as you rediscover your bearings.

Life holds many lessons for all of us. Ask God to help you recognize what you need to learn from these hurts.

Your comments are always welcome. Please address: Charlie Martin, 7125 W 200S, Rockport, Ind. 47635.

Coming of

Age

,

When 'you'redonewith c'rying

15

FORYOOTH

â&#x20AC;˘

ABOOT YOOTH

Friends worried about friends

By CHRISTOPHER

CARTSENS

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

"1 can't stand it. He's my best friend, but what he's doing is stupid."

It's not an uncommon problem. Your good friend is making a terrible mistake. You know it.

The other kids in your set know it. In fact, you talk about it with one anotherall the time.

"Isn't it terrible?" you say.

"He's really messing up his life."

Friends worry about friends.

They watch each other's choices, they make guesses about how things might turn out. But all t~o often nobody says anything to the object of all this concern and conversation: the friend who is making the mistake. We stay quiet and don't take the friend aside to say, "You really need to think about what you're doing."

You shouldn't start making your friends' decisions for them.

But, if you really do believe that your good friend is going down a bad path, you do have an obligation to say so. If you don't share your opinion clearly, at least once, you're letting your friend down.

Let's take a look at some of the arguments for silence and see how they hold up: "It's not my life: he needs to decide for himself."

Well, that's absolutely true.

You can't live your friend's life, and you aren't in charge of anybody else's choices. Still, an important part of any decision-making process is gathering information. Teens often ask their trusted friends for opinions on an important issue. "Should I take chemistry next semester?"

"Should I go to the Valentine's formal with Jack?" Many conversations between teens boil down to a simple formula: "Here's what I'm considering. What do you think?"

Sharing your opinion is commonin the life of friendship. We seek and give opinions all the time. The fact that you disagree with a friend's decision is no reason not to give an opinion this time.

"She already knows what I think."

Maybe, and maybe not. Actually, I find that the ability to read minds is pretty uncommon. Your friend may think she knows your opinion, but she could be entirely wrong. Mostly, people assume

that if nobody says anything, people think whatever is happening is just fine. If you haven't told your friend that you think she's making a mistake, it's entirely possible that she hasn't even considered that possibility.

"He's already made up his mind, and he doesn't care what I think. Why cause an argument if it won't change anything?"

This is the tough one. This is where you test the strength and the importance of your friendship.

Be careful here. Don't set up a situation where your friend has to choose between accepting your opinion and losing your friendship. If you say, "I think you're really stupid to go on doing this," you maximize the chances of getting blown off and maybe losing a good friend.

My pal, Roy, is one of the best at handling these situations., "Chris," he'll say, "I know that this is your life, and you're going to do whatever you think is right.

Just now, I think you're making a mistake. But you decide for yourself."

That really works. I know what Roy is thinking, and I'm usually glad to have his opinion; he makes a lot of sense. And I know that my decision won't change our friendship.

And then, I almost always give what Roy says a good deal of serious thought. After all, he's one of my good friends.

-

.

...

Your comments are welcome.

Please address: Dr. Christopher Carstens, c/o Catholic News Service, 3211 Fourth 81. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017.

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16

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

BOSTON-Massachusetts Citizens for Life invites everyone to attend the 25th Interfaith Assembly for Life on Jan. 18 from 1-3 p.m. at John Hancock Hall. Prayers will be offered for victims of abortion. For information call the Cape Cod chapter 7712255.

ATTLEBORO-Hospice offers bereavement support groups focused on the uniquf< needs of children. For more information call 222-0188.

ATTLEBORO-The 1998 coffee house season begins at La Salette Shrine on Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m. with the group "Elijah." This Rhode Islandbased group blends lively praise and worship with country sounds and music. Ali are welcome. Those wishing to be on the mailing ·Iist. for the 1998 coffee house series or for the calendar of events should call 222-5410.

The Shrine's winter schedule follows: Mass is cekbrated ·every day at 12: 10 p.m, Mon.-Fri; there is a 6:30 p.m. Mass and on Sat: Mass is at 4:30 p.m. Confessions are heard Mon.-Fri. 2-3 p.m., Sat. 1-4 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.

For more information call the above number.

CENTERVILLE-In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the next meeting of Pax Christi of Cape Cod will be "a Peace Dreamer's Pot Luck Supper" on Jan. 19 from 7:30-9: 15 p.m. It will be held at Our Lady of Victory Church and all-who are searching for peace are invited to come and bring a simple dish to share.

The Progressive Club ofCape Cod, a. social club for ages 55 and over, meets the third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Masonic Hall. For information call 420-5670.

ATTLEBORO FAJ.,LS-The Adult Confirmation Program for any baptized Catholic who has received first Communion but not the sacrament of Confirmation will be held Jan. 18 and Feb. I. These two four-and-a-half hour programs wi II be offered by deacons and deacon candidates. To register or for more information contact Deacon Wal£er Thomas 339-2981.

CRAIGVILLE-ECHO, a retreat held at the Craigville Conference Center, has begun another season. of retreats, for young people. If you are a sophomore, junior or senior in high school, contact your parish for more information abo"ut this opportunity.

The schedule is as follows: boys' weekend, Feb. 6,7, and 8; girl~' weekend, March 6,7 and 8; boys' weekend,

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PRO-LIFER

ApOSTOLIC

HELPER ADVISOR RESTORER MEDICATOR ANTI-ABORTIONIST CAREGIVER INSTRUCTOR

TRUE HOLY

ONE LOVING INFALLIBLE

SPECIALIST CHARITABLE .THERAPEUTIST The National Catholc PhalllllCiIlI Guild of the United StItes

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•. ~ Walsh Pharmacy THOMAS PASTERNAK

Pharmacist

202 RockSt.

Fall River

679-1300

®

Support the weekly TV Mass through· your donation . to the Catholic CommunicatiQnCampaign in your-parish this weekend' or write: TELEVISION MASS APOSTOLATE P.O. BOX 2511 FALL RIVER, MA 02122·2511 Rev. Stephen J. Avila, Director John E. Kearns, Assistant Director

continue throughout t he afternoon. At 5 p.m. a bilingual Rmary for Life will be held and an English Mass will folNORTH DARTMOUTH-The low at 5:30 p.m. with Exposition of Divorced and Separated Support· the :Blessed Sacrament following. A Group will meet Jan. 26 at the Family closing bilingual prayerselvice will be Life Center at Bishop Stang High held at 7:30 p.m. For more informaSchool from 7-9 p.m. to celebrate its tion call the rectory 9~)2-7727. anniversary. All past and present memSOUTH YARMOUTH-The bers are welcome to attend and help Separated-Divorced Catholics support plan for the future. group will meet on Jan. 18 at the St. NEW BEDFORD-A prayer Pius X Parish Life Center. Welcome group will meet at I p.m. Jan. 27 at Our is at 6:30 and the meeting begins at 7 Lady of Perpetual Help Church for the p.m. For more infonnation contact recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet Father Roy 255-0170. and the rosary and Benediction 'of the TAUNTON - An afiernoon of song Blessed Sacrament. All are welcome. and prayer with singer songwriter John NEW BEDFORD-The Hya- Polce will be held at St Paul's Church cinth Circle Daughters ofIsabella will on Feb. 1 at 3:00 p.m. All are welmeet (weather permitting) on Jan. 20 come and encouraged to bring famiat 7 p.m. in the Holy Name C.C.D. lies. For more information call 8802808..

Center.

All are welcome. For more information call Heather Kirby 548-2346.

Fri., Jan. 16, 1998

April 3,4, and 5.

FALL RIVER-St. John Seminary College is hosting a pay of Discernment for young men in their junior or senior year of high school or beyond on Jan 25. It will begin with a Mass at' 10 a.m. and those interested· should contact the Vocation office to register attel. 675-1311 or via E-Mail: FRVoc ationOffice@Juno.com.

The Vocation office's next gathering for high school students to discuss God.'s call to service will be held Jan. 22 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church. The evening will consist of prayer and. faith sharing and all are welcome. .

FALL RIVER-The Interfaith Counci Iof Greater Fall RiverInc., will hold its annual Martin Luther King Day Program at the Bethel AME Church beginning at 10 a.m. Jan. 19.

It will consist of music, guest speaker Rev. Hylanie Chan-Williams and a chance to honor the memory of Dr. King. All are welcome to attend.

KINGSTON-A journal retreat day is being offered on Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by the Sisters of Divine Providence. Share a retreat day focused on writing, prayer, reflection and opportunity to deepen your relationship with God. For more information contact Sister Mary Francis (617) 585-7724.

MANSFIELD-St. Mary's Church will be hosting a new program in conjunction with the Literacy Center ofAttleboro, a nonprofit group that provides educational opportunities for GEl;> preparation and tutoring. It will give adults the opportunity to attend free classes in the community. Classes will be held at the parish center from . 9 a.m. to noon each Tues. and Thurs. beginning in Feb. For more informa~ tion or to register call Betty Reis 6995511.

MASHPEE-A young adult prayer group meets the 1st and 3rd Wed. of each month at 7:30 p.m~ in the chapel of Christ the King Church.

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NEW BEDFORD-A Day ofEucharistic Worship For Life wil\'be held onJan. 22 at 12:05 p.m. a~ St. John the Baptist Church. The noon Mass will be celebrated in Portuguese and will be followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration will.

WEST HARWICH:- Bishop Sean P. O'Malley will' celebrate the noon Mass at Holy Trinity Church and bless the Perpetual Adoration Chapel on Jan. 18. All are invited to attend the Mass and celebrate the one-year annfversary of the chapel.

Seniors enJoy many acti.'vities Dighton Council On Aging (COA) The Dighton Council On Aging wants to remind seniors that fuel assistance applications are still being accepted at Citizens for Citizens in Taunton. They will be accepted until March 31 and benefits vary according to household and energy circumstances. For more information call tel.

823-6346.

On Jan. 21 at 9 a.m. a free continental breakfast will be served at Prime Time and Jane Bilodeau, RN, will give a presentation on Medicare. She will explain what rights seniors are entitled to and new changes in the system. Call tel. 669-6272 before Jan. 20 to register for this program.

Medical equipment is available for loan and those who are interested should contact the COA. Currently there are 2 "Geri" chairs available.

A Literary Group will be meeting Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. If you like to read and would like to get together once a month to discuss a new book, author or just to share your literary interests, please stop by. Refreshments will be served.

Any senior interested in having blood pressure checked sho.uld call the COA attel. 823-0095 to make an appointment.

Sandwich COA The fire department has offered to teach a CPR class at the Senior Center if there is enough interest. If you would like to participate in this program please call the COA at tel. 8884737. When enough people have signed up the COA will contact the department to set up a date and time.

On Jan. 28 at 12:30 p.m. there will be an Alzheimer education seminar.

Maria Sullivan of Olympus Health Care Group and psychologist Dr. Jim Crimmens, ~ill speak about Alzheimer's and advances in its treatment. Those interested should call the COA to sign up for this program.

If you live alone and would like a daily telephone call to make sure all is well, take advantage of the Telephone Reassurance Program. Contact the COA if you are interested in this service.

The COA is looking for volunteers to read its newsletter onto audio cassettes for sight-impaired seniors. If you have a cassette recorder, it would help, but it is not necessary. For more information contact the office, also if you know someone who does not attend sight loss support group meetings, because the COA may not know of their need.

The Well-Spouse support group will next meet on Jan. 20 from 7-8:30 p.m. It provides education and support to spouses ofperson:; with chronic illness. Call tel. 428-6785 for more information.

The Shine Counselor will be in on Jan. 28 to assist seniors and provide answers to questions concerning health insurance. If you cannO!: come to the office a home visit can b~ arranged.

Outreach assistance lor seniors is available by appointment. It provides an opportunity to meet confidentially with an outreach l;oordin;;.tor concerning resources and programs seniors may be entitled to. Call the COA to schedule your appointment or for more information.

Chatham COA Voting seniors are reminded that the land bank election wi II be held on Jan. 27. If you are going to be away you may pick up an absentee ballot at the town clerk's office.

On Jan. 28 at I :30 p.m. Herb Goodman and Attorney Nancy Gage of the Enforcement section of the Massachusetts office of the Secretary of State will address the growing problem of scams within the securities industry. Call the COA at tel. 945-5190 to reserve your space for this informative session.

A "Beat the Blahs Card and Game Party" will be held on Feb. 3 at noon and all are welcome to attend: Join us for Scrabble or checkers 01' bring one of your favorites! Coffee and dessert will be served. Call the office if you would like to attend.

The Chatham Police Reassurance Program invites any senior living alone and wishing to enjoy the tenefits of the safety check to call t~l. 945-1213.

The reassurance program has been in the community for 25 years and is free.

Would you like to attend a midwinter course in vegetarian nutrition at the'Senior Center? Leave your name on the list in the volunteers office and you will receive a call back concerning time and dates for the course.

With tax time approaching in February, keep in mind that a ffC<~ income tax service to prepare returns will once again be available in the center. Call the COA for more information.

A blood pressure clinic i:; offered every Wed. from 9-11 a.m. an:! on Jan. 28 seniors will be able to have their hearing or hearing aids tested for free with Barbara Eaton. Call the COA if you are interested in these sClvices.