02.01.02

VOL. 46, NO.5¡ Friday, February 1,2002

FALL RIVER, MASS.

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year

Diocese sends large contingent to annual March for Life event ~

Catholics find a mixture of all faiths, more young people taking part. .

Court decision legalizing abortion in this nation.

Only this time, she's seeing changes in the usual patterns.

"For the first time since I've WASHINGTON - For the been attending, I'm sensing a ninth cohsecutive year, Marian springtime," she said -after this Desrosiers, assistant director of the year's event. "I'm seeing a Diocese of Fall River Pro-Life change in attitude towards aborApostolate, has made the trek here tion. There are more-antl more to participate in the annual March' young people at the march each For Life to protest the Supreme year, and more and-more they

are exhibiting a strong willingness and dedication to stand up for the- truth, for life."

Desrosiers was among the approximately 225 pilgrims from the diocese who accompanied Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., to the nation's capital last week. "Especially in light of the events of SeptemTum to page eight - Life

ALL FOR PEACE --: Imam M. Abdul-Jaami Mahmoud left, and Bishop Sean' P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., exchange greetings at interfaith service for peace as Cantor Richard Wolberg of Temple Beth EI, Fall River, second from left; and Father Charbel T. Semaan, far right, pastor of Our Lady of Purgatory Maronite Catholic Church in, New Bedford, look on. The January 23 service was held in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in New Bedford. (John Kearns Jr. photo) .

Religious leaders attend interfaith peace service ~

Members of various faith communities make common commitment to peace.

NEW BEDFORD - Representing many religions but with a common goal to pray and work for world peace and jus-

tice, hundreds gathered in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on the evening of January 23 for an interfaith service.

The program, hosted and led

by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., followed the request of Pope John Paul II to bishops Tum to page eight - Interfaith

BISHOP SEAN O'Malley, OFM Cap., and Father Stephen A. Fernandes, diocesan director of the Pro-Life Apostolate, walk with scores of youth from the Diocese of Fall River in the recent Ma'rch For Life in Washington, D.C. (Maddy Lavoie photo)

Rite of Election, continued conversion ceremonies set

ADOPTION - Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., met with adopted children following a special Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on January 27 .that celebrated all those involved in the adoption process. Front, from left, Elena Rzasa, Stephen White, Brandon Riendeau, Povilas Mitchell, Kristain Riendeau, Elizabeth and Michael Timoney; and rear, Marcia Rzasa, Vytas Mitchell, Bishop O'Malley, Renat Romero and Kaitlyn Timoney. See story on page five. (Photo by Joanne Rzasa)

FALL RIVER - Adults and young people readying for initiation into the Catholic Church thro\fgh baptism, as well as others advancing in the faith will be recogniz,ed on February 17 at 3 p.m., in St. Mary's Cathedral.

Since early summer, unbaptized adults and children of school age throughout the Fall River diocese have been in the process of preparing, as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults notes: "(who) after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith."

Known as catechumens, they and their godparents will t~ke part in the ancient rite known as the Rite of Election.

Father Henry J. Dahl, director of the Office of the Rite of Christian Initia-

tion of Adults, explained that the ceremony takes place in the cathedral, the central church in the diocese and the church of the local bishop, "because it is the bishop himself, in this case Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., who calls the unbaptized to initiation."

After questioning the godparents and the catechists whQ have been preparing the catechumens, the bishop, satisfied that the catechumens h~ve been well prepared, "calls" them to the sacraments of initiation.

The initiating sacraments, which the catechumens will receive at the Easter Vigil Mass, are baptism, confirmation and Eucharist.

At the February 17 ceremony, each ciltechumen, accompanied by a godparent, is invited to come forward to inTum to page eight - RCIA

2

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., February 1,2002

African-American family . prayer da,Y' set for Sunday

aD htllHtl"U Father Daniel J. McCarthy SSCC

"

NEW YORK (CNS) - The 13th annual National Day of , Prayer for the African"American Family has been set for Sunday.

This year's theme is "Jesus Our Rock," taken from Psalm 71.

Families are asked to worship and pray together at Mass; cel'ebrate a meal together and share family stories; make a family resolution no matter how big or small; unite as a family to uphold the sacredness oflife; and develop ways of ending all forms of violence in the family and the community. . , Caiholic sponsors of the prayer day include the U.S. bishops' Sec" retariat for African-American, Catholics, the National Black

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Franciscan Father .James ' Goo~e, president of the New York-based National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life, founded the prayer day in 1989. It serves as'a Catholic kickoff for Black History Month.

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,WAREHAM-:Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Fatl\er Daniel J. McCarthy, died January 17, three days short· of his 87th birthday.

Born in Braddock, Pa., the son ofthe late James and the late Margaret (Goulding) McCarthy, he entered the ~ongregation at Fairhaven in 1936. He was professed in 1937 and ordained a priest in 1942. He received a licentiate degree in theology from The Catholic University of

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FALL RIVER - Area residents are invited to attend a series of heart-healthy events during the celebration of American Heart Month planned at Saint Anne's Hospital during February.

Sponsored by Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Cardiac Testing Services at Saint Anne's, the three-part series will give area residents a handson, interactive look at some of the most common ' facets of heart health.

The free events, all to be held in .the Nannery Conference Room at Saint Anne's Hospital, will include: ' -'February 7, 6-7 p.m.: "Testing Your Knowledge of Cardiac Testing." This informal program

by Fall River cardiologist Dr. Wajid Baig of Internal Medicine-Cardiology Associates, will" explain the various diagnostic tests that may be in one's

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future physicals; - February 12, 6-8 p.m.: ''The Emotibnal-Aspects ofHeart Disease." John Todaro, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University and staff psychologist at Miriam Hospital, will lead a discussion on the emotions and stresses , that can lead or accompany heart disease; - February 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m.: "Cooking With Heart." Kerry Downey Romaniello, executive chef at Westport Rivers Winery's Wine and Food Education Center, and Marin Woods, RD, clinical nutrition manager at Saint Anne's Hospital, will show h9W to make flavorf~l, healthy foods using wine and regional food products.

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Cape Cod Pro-Life Alliance plans talks HYANNIS - Four panel discussions following up on the "In Support of Life Initiative" ex~ ploring euthanasia and assisted suicide will be, held this month and in April. , Panelists will include Father Mark Hession, pastor of Our Lady

Daily Readings

Feb 5

Feb 6 Feb 7

Feb 8 Feb 9

Charlie's Oil Co.,ln'c.

He ministered in the Fall River diocese from 1969 to 1971, serving as assistant pastor at Holy Redeemer Parish in Chatham.

In 1998, Father McCarthy retired to Damien Residence in Fairhaven.

He is survived by nieces and nephews. ' His funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Joseph's Church, Fairhaven. Burial was in the Congregation's cemetery in Fairhaven.

Saint Anne's Hospital to observe American Heart Month

Feb 4

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America in Washington, D.C. During the 1940s and 1950s, 'Father McCarthy was a professor of philosophy and theology.' He , later served in the U.S. Navy as a chaplain and rose to the rank of commander.

He taught in Minnesota; was provincial superior of the U.S. Province of the Congregation from 1963 to 1969; and subsequently was assigned to the Bahamas, Rochester, N.Y., and Boston:

Feb 10

2 Sm 15:1314,30;16:5-13a; Ps 3:2-7; Mk 5:1-20 2 Sm 18:910,14b,2425a,30-19:3; Ps 86:1-6; Mk 5:2143 , 2 Sm 24:2,9-17; Ps 24:9-17; Mk 6:1-6 1 Kgs2:1-4,10,12; (Ps) 1 Chron 29:10-12; Mk 6:7-13 Sir 47:2-11; Ps 18:31,47,50-51 ; Mk6:14-29 1 Kgs 3:4-13; Ps 119:9-14; Mk 6:30-34 Is 58:7-10; Ps 112:4-Ba,9; 1 Cor2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16

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THE ANCHOR (USPS-S4~) Periodical ~'Paid at Fall River, Mass. Publisbed weekly except for the first two weeks in July am the week after Ouistmas at 887Hig111aId A-. FaD River, Mass. 02720 by theCatlKilic Press ofthe Dioa:seofFall River. Sumcriplion price by mail, postpaid $14.00 per year.

POSTMASTERS sen1 address changes to The Am:hor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA C11:1Z2.

of Victory Parish in Centerville. ,increase their knowledge of topHe will focus on the Church's ics important in today's society.

The talks will be held: positions on the Pro-Life issues; - February 16 at 10 a.m., in Retired District Court Judge John St. Cyr. The former attorney and ,St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall in state legislator will outline the Hyannis following a light breakimportance of healthcare proxies; fast; - February 23 at 10 a.m., in and Deborah Wood of Cape Cod Hospice. She will explain the St. Joan ofArc Church in Orleans; - April 7 ·at 3 p.m., in St. range of services offered by Hospice to patients and their fami~ Patrick's Church in' Falmouth; lies. . , - April '10 at 7 p.m., in Our The public is invited to attend Lady of the Assumption Church any of the panel discussions to in Osterville.

In Your Prayers Please pray for the follo.wing ,priests during the coming week Feb. 4 1921,.Rt. Rev. Msgr. Hugh 1. Smyth, P.R., Pastor, S1. Lawrence, New Bedford. First Vicar General, Fall River, 1904-07. Administrator of Diocese, February-July 1907.

• \~eb.6

. 1988, Bishop Frederick Donaghy, Vicar Apostolic of Wuchow \ \ ~eb 7 .-'"" -- __ 1991, Rev. Arthur N. Robert, O\P:;SLAn1le Shrine, Fall River

,

~~b.~.

1996, Rev. Raymend-P. Monty~ahaplain

Fe~~

' .

'

\ , ' . . 1'963, ~1. Rev. Msgr. John J. KellYIP~tor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River \ \ ' 1972, Rev. Peter J. McKone, S.J., BiS~op Connolly High School, Fall River \ '.

1985, Rev. Vincent R. Dolbec, A.A., ¥~umption College

Feb. 10

\'

1966, Rev. Edward L. 0' Brien, S1. MarY, Mansfield 1983, Rev. Lucien A. Madore, Retired Chaplain, M1. S1. Joseph School, Fall River. Direct~r, Notre Dame Cemetery, Fall River

DCCW re~chedules 'Welcoming the Stranger Among. Us' program FALL RIVER - The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women has announced that the program, "Welcoming the Stranger Among Us," which was cancelled due to inclement weather, has been rescheduled for February 10 at 2 p.m. at Holy Rosary Church, 120 Beattie Street, Fall River.

This event has been organized by the DCCW, in conjunction with the ethnic apostolates of the Diocese of Fall River and the Eparchy of St. Maron. The program will include a multicultural prayer service, with witness talks by people describfng their faith experience of coming to, or growing up in the United

States and their faith life. Refreshments of various ethnic groups will be served following the prayer service.

The women and men organizing this event did so in the wake of events of September 11, 2001, and the "alerts" under which we are now living.

"It has also been a time in which the fact that we are a nation of immigrants and that we are a Church which is Catholic (universal), have been brought to the forefront of people's minds, for good and for ill," said Father Richard Wilson, director of the Hispanic Apostolate of the Dio- . cese of Fall River. "We hope that this event will help us to understand Our Lord's call to

THE ANCHOR - Diocese ofFall River - FrL, February 1,2002

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., February 1,2002

the. moorin~

. the living word

Capitalism amok History testifies that one of the greatest economic scandals of the past centuries was known as The Teapot Dome S~andal.

Basically it was the secret leasing of federal oil reserves by the 'Secretary of the Interior. When the fraud was unveiled, President Harding, the Congress and the Supreme Court all got into the act. Eventually, some were jailed and others held in contempt of cou~t. Hardi.ng himself escaped implication but the revelations of his associates topk a severe toll on his health and' he died before the full extent of the wrongdoing had been determined. It is interesting to note that while Teapot pome' entered the American political vocabl,llary as a synonym; per se, for governmental corruption, it also' tainted the image of the Republican Party.

Now we have a far greater fiasco to deal with in the unveiling of the Enron fraud. Again, it's government, qil and business interests conspiring to make a bundle and run. From whistle-blower to shredder, accountant to consultant, ex~cu­ tives to politicians, the, many faces of Enron merge to form one huge and horrific scandal. Daily t,he, vilification increases. Job losses, suicide and outright corruption have become a blizzard-like fallout. Of course, there, is- the scrambling to hide and disassociate oneself from Enron. Once again, even the highest elected officials are to be found lurking in the shadows of the Enron cover-up. Since then the w,eb of safeguardS failed as Enron descended into the depths ot: debt. All the \\Taming signs were surreptitiously ignored., A Republi~an Administration known openly as Texas oil people is'remarkably quiet about its Enron connections. The government, the boardroom, the legal advisors and the financial seers must have bel;n looking the other way as doom descended on the Enron money machine.

As we enter the new century, the nation must once again face ' the 'reality of capitalism run amok.

When will we ever learn that economic development. must be kept under control? It cannot be left t(} the sole judgment qf a few robber barons or groups possessing excessive economic powers. By their very nature private property and goods have a social quality deriving from the law of the common purpose of all earthly goods. If this social quality is overlooked, property often becomes an occasion of greed and conspiracy. 'It's a good time for all of us to once more affirm the fact that God intended the earth and all it contains, oil included, for the use of every human being. In this light, people should regard lawful possessions not merely as one's own but also realize they have communal dimensions. The folks on Wall.Street and the gaggle on Capital Hill should be reminded that the investment of goods ought to be directed toward providing employment and sufficient income for the people of today and of the future, Whether individuals, groups or public authorities make the decisions concerning this distribution 'and the planning of the economy, they are bound to keep 'these social dimensions in mind. ' Above all, in'the area of financial transactions, those in power should avoid hurting the welfare of their own country. Enron failed to measure up to' any standard of social justice and in the long run has indeed hurt the nation.

The Executive Editor

theanc~

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Published weE;lkly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River 887 Highland Avenue P.O. BOX 7 Fall River, MA 02720 Fall River, MA 02722-0007 Telephone 508-675-7151 FAX 508-675-7048 E-mail: TheAnchor@Anchornews.org Send address changes to P.O. Box, call or use E-mail address EXECUTIVE EDITOR Rev. Msgr. John F.Moore EDITOR David B. Jollvel

NEWS EDITOR James N. Dunbar

OFFICE MANAGER Barbara M. Reis

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"FOR THE LORD SHALL . BE YOUR LIGHT FOREVER, YOUR GOD SHALL BE YOUR GLORY. No LONGER SHALL YOUR SUN GO DOWN, OR YOUR MOON WITHDRAW" (ISAIAH

60:20).

Moving from bleak stats to a hope-filled future

By FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK CATHOUC NEWS SERviCE

"You're too negative about the future!"

That accusation was voked after a talk I ga\le on parish life. In it I pr~sented stiltistics regarding the number of priests we will have in future years, and I discussed parishes that will lack resident pastors, parish closings and consolidations, and the increase of new immigrants, who are changing parish life.

Since that talk, I personally have experienced the reality of these bleak numbers in dioceses across the United States. When i ponder these realities, they send a chill up my spine as I wonder how many men preparing for the priesthood fully understand the life they will enter after ordination.

Today, newly ordained priests in small dioceses, and even large ones, can expect to be made a pastor within two to three years after ordination. But it won't be just one parish they pastor, rather it will be two', three or even four parishes.

For many of these priests, this will mean driving between 200 and 400 miles a week; catching meals on the fly; living in more

Some advocate that creativity than one place and trying to bal'ance one's own spirituality, health be practiced by allowing for a and personal needs with the needs married priesthood, women priests and the reinstatement of of parishioners.

As much as these priests will . former priests: Although such be with parishioners they love, steps might help solve several they may live a lonely existence. problems, the likelihood that they Most people, and many priests, will come about is slim and sugdon't realize that the priesthood gests we look elsewhere for soluis a culture unto itself. Being with tions.

That "elsewhere" is the present other priests and sharing common ideas helps to nourish priests. pool of lay leaders, deacons, bishWith fewer priests in existence, ops and priests. At this time, we they are deprived of this neces- are being challenged to ask: Where are the experimentations, who is sity.

Bishops are very sensitive to testing hypotheses, what brainthese problems and have tried to storming is being brought to bear respond to them by limiting the on new models of parish life? number of Masses a priest may Where are the scholarly, yet pascelebrate on a given day, consoli- torally oriented think tanks to dating parishes to avoid overex- methodically 'analyze and reartending priests and clustering range the variables in ways that priests together to maintain their might generate greater efficiency and effectiveness? What is needed community spirit.

When parishes are consolidated, to foster the entrepreneurial spirit however, it frequently happens that .that will be able to "capitalize" bishops and pastors get caught in on this transitional. period in our , a crossfire of parishioners who Church?

As negative as some of the sta• violently resist the change. The hostilities this creates only heap tistics on the future of the Catholic Church in America may be, misery on top of misery. . " Although the above observa- they also act as a catalyst for new tions are negative, they have'a and refreshing ideas. All it takes positive side. They 'reveal that we is one good idea to tum a seemare in a period of transition that ingly bleak picture into a hopefilled tomorrow. opens the door to creativity.

'Adoption' Mass celebrates all involved in the process

By PAT MCGOWAN SPECIAL 10 THE ANCHOR

FALL RIVER - Last Sunday saw 75 adoptive parents of children as well as birth parents, officials - and the children as well - attending a special Mass in St. Mary's Cathedral celebrated by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. The event, "Adoption ... A Bittersweet Experience," referred both to the sorrow often felt by birth mothers who for many reasons feel they must give up their children to loving families, and the joy of such families, who in some cases cannot have children of their own, in providing happy secure homes for children who might otherwise be neglected or abused. .

THEANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., February 1,20<?2 soften the sorrow of birth parents unable to keep their babies," BIshop O'Malley said.

5

"God bless all of you who have the love and generosity to make adoption possible."

Have you remembered to include

Noting that abortions and/or Hkely to be settled in his lifeeuthanasia have in many soci- time, he said. "What could eties established a culture of change our abortion statistics is death, Bishop O'Malley said a change of heart regarding the only answer to such a cul- abortion," he declared. ture is to establish a culture of Many at the Mass agreed love. 'with him, noting their own hap"Love and generosity," he piness after adopting a child. declared, "have a ripple effect One couple, after expressing the on society, whereas adoption is joy brought them by their adopa hallmark of a civilization of tion of a Chinese baby, added love." that the infant had grown up, Bishop O'Malley said he had married a wonderful man and just returned to Fall Riveraf- that they now have a beautiful ter participating in the annual child of their own.

March For Life in Washington, Bishop O'Malley said he had D.C., on January 22, the 29th recently gone to Colorado to atanniversary of the Roe v. Wade tend a family wedding and the decision by the U.S. Supreme ·,bride's sister suffered from Court that virtually legalized Down's Syndrome. He deabortion on demand. scribed how glad he felt that she The abortion issue is a "po- had not been aborted. litical football" and one not Adoption "is a great way to

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After further· review...

After further review, further stead of showing us a picture review needn't be reviewed fur- of a man in a striped suit from ther. It should be overtumed~ the neck down?

I know, I know, if it weren't There is no longer a flow to for further review, the Patriots a football game. Even when the wouldn't be back in the Big Easy coaches have fired their red this year. But since the damage flags for the final allotted time, is done, I'll take it. Yet, how has the officials in the "booth" can the further review feature ruined the game of football as we know it?

Let me count the ways.

Just imagine someone who has no clue what the game of football is all about, watching with

By Dave Jolivet amazement as what looks like a zebra periodically cantering to the sidelines suspend play for a further reto clear its sinuses under the view in the last two minutes of canopy of a vaporizer. No doubt each half. It used to be that 75 they'd wonder aloud, "Why don't percent of the game coverage they just get a healthy zebra?" came in the last two minutes.of Better yet, why don't we just get the halves. Now with the furrid of the vaporizer? ther review brainstorm, that's The game on the gridiron has bumped up to 90 percent. slowed to a crawl with the adI'm told the whole idea bevent of further review. Particur hind the further review initialarly when the season slips into tive was to make sure the call playoff mode. No longer can fans on the field was the correct one. celebrate what they think is a And·one would think that's postoiJchdown for fear of a small red sible. A seasoned referee with projectile being fired from the ample knowledge of the game sidelines. It was bad enough when watching a replay from 60 difwe constantly had to keep an eye ferent angles at 12 different out for a yellow flag before our speeds should be ableto "make celebrations coufd proceed in ear- the correct call." Yet, is there nest. But now, a pro football anyone who watched the Patrigame has more flags flying than ots win the AFC title in Pittsthe outside of the United Nations burgh last week, who thinks the building. referee made the correct call on It was di fficu It enough to at least half the further reviews stay entertained at a pigskin during that game? It's bad game during the seemingly enough when the refs blow the hour-long TV timeouts. At call on the field, but how bad least at home, you could find is it when they blow the call on things to do until play resumed. a further review?

Now what can fans do when the And while I'm on a roll here, ref is sidelines-bound to grab a is it just me, or do the officials . joystick and plant his face in huddle up more than the playfront of ,a TV monitor? And ers do during the game? That's wouldn't it make some kind of just what we need - further desense if the networks broke for lays to go along with our fura commercial to save time in- ther reviews.

The solution? Pack ~p the vaporizers and the red flags, put them in a museum filled with exhibits of ideas that went wrong, and let the officials make their mistakes without being helped electronically. It seemed to work OK in the days of Vince Lombardi, Jim Brown and Johnny Unitas. Why not now?

And when you visit the museum of not-sobright ideas, and you make it past the displays of Nehru jackets, leisure suits and Edsels and finally reach the glass case containing a hooded TV monitor attached to a black clicker, remember it wasn't a completely foolhardy idea. It did help get the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXVI.

,.;..----------.,--...-0::--...,...

My View From the Stands

Dave }oUvet is aformer sports editorlwriterandthecu"enteditor of The Anchor.

Comments are welcome at Dave.lolivet@Anchornews.org.

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6 THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River - Fri., February 1,2002

Publicity. Chairmen are asked to submit news items for this column to The Anchor, P.O. Box7, Fall River, 02722. Name of city or town should be included, as well as full dates of all activities. DEADLINE IS NOON ON FRIDAYS. Events published.must be Qf interest and open to our general readership. We do not carry notices· of fund-raising activities.

School, 180 Orchard Street, wiU be collecting toiletries and non-perishable food items for local agencies February 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information call 508-9960534.

NORTH DARTMOUTH-A Diocesan Ultreya will be held February 5 at 7 p.m. at the Family Life Center. It will be hosted by Roland Hebert and Ken Silva. Witness speaker Deacon Jeremiah Reardon will address the topic ''Awareness.''·

. ATILEBORO - The Hospice . NORTH EASTON - Holy Program of the Community Visiting NurseAgency is offering several grief Cross Family Ministries will sponeducation sessions as follows: Six- sor an Evening of Reflection for week Adult Grief Education series, ORE's February 8 from 7-9 p.m. at February 6 from 7-8:30 p.m.; the Father Peyton Center, 518Wash-€hildren's Bereavement Group, Sat- ington Street. For more information urciay from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 call 1-800-299-7729. They will p.m. Programs Will be held at Hos- ·sponsor an afternoon retreat for colpice, 141 Park Street. Pre-register by lege students February'9 from 1-5 calling 508-222-0118, ext. 2157. A p.m. also at the center. drop-in support group meets MonTAUNTON....:... Members of the ,days from 7:30-9 p.m.

Taunton District Council" of the St. FAIRHAVEN - First Friday Vincent de Paul Society will sponMass, 7:00 p.m. tonight at St. sor a Mass February 4 at 7 p.m. at Mary's Church on North Main Holy Rosary Church for the intenStreet, Fairhaven. SponsoreQ by the tion of the canonization of Blessed Men ofthe Sacred Hearts, Fairhaven Frederic Ozanam and in memory of Chapter. All are welcome. Refresh- deceased members. Its regular monthly meeting will follow in the ments follow. church hall.

FALL RIVER - The Fall River WEST HARWICH - The St. First Friday Men's Club invites all men of area parishes to join them for Francis of Peace Fraternity, Secular Mass at 6 p.m. tonight at Sacred Franciscan Order, will·meet FebruHeart Church. An informal dinner ary 10 at Holy Trinity Church for . will follow in the parish center. For the noon Mass. Discussion and remore information call 508-678-1792. freshments will follow. For more information call 508-362-5238.

FALL RIVER - Mass 'will be celebrated February 2 at 9 a.m. in WEST HARWICH - The Our Lady's Chapel at St. Mary's PerpetualAdoration Chapel at Holy Cathedral. Exposition ofthe Blessed Trinity Church, Route 28, invites Sacrament will follow with adora- people to sign up and spend an hour tion until noon. Benediction will or two in prayer. This regional conclude the service. chapel ofthe mid-Cape area depends on the support of people.· All ages ,NEW BEDFORD - The stu- welcome. For m~re information call dents from St. James-St. John Jane Jannell at 508-430-00·14.

T~s month's Youth Apostles'Yquth Ministry seminar is:

"The Cohabitation Crisis" Where: Youth Apostles Residence, 42 Chicago St., Fall River (Formerly St. William's Rectory)

Please note new address effective February!

When: Thesday, F~bruary 5, 2002 7: 15 p.m. Evening Prayer 7:30 Mass 8:00 Seminar Presenter: Mr. and Mrs. Jerry and Scottie Foley, Program Directors, Diocesan Family Ministry· Office For: Youth Ministers, Teachers, ReI.. Ed. Volunteers, Parents, , Priests

..

Info: Youth Apostles 508-672·2755

Lutheran weddings Q. I hope you can advise me lations indicate that we should on something bothering me avoid this kind of participation' in . much right now. One of my Protestant worship. I have discussed grandsons will be married this the reasons for such a rule more spring. He is Lutheran, and the deeply several times in this column.

It is worth keeping in mind that ceremony is in a Lutheran church.

What should I do during the wedding as far as kneeling, sitting, taking Communion or whatever else? Do Ijust sit and listen? (New York) A. Under ordinary cirBy Father cumstances, you are free, John J. Dietzen as a Catholic, to participate in the ceremony the same as other people attending, except you may not be invited to Comthat you should not receive Com- munion anyway. This will depend on which Lutheran synod that parmunion.

Judging from ceremonies. I've ticular congregation is part of.

Certain Lutheran groups and shared in other churches, I cannot imagine then~ would be anything . congregations strictly prohibit contrary to the Catholic faith that people of other faiths, even other Lutherans, from sharing their eushould make you hesitate.

Sit, stand, kneel (some Lutheran charistic communion. We have an congregations kneel during parts of obligation to respect those wishes. the service), respond to the prayers when we are their guests.

Q. After the terrorists attacked - in other words, follow the lead of others present. We are encour- New York September 11, news· aged by the Catholic Church to. papers reported that pri~ on share in prayer with those of other the scene gave the ''last rites:' Is this what we used to call faiths, particularly at special occasions like weddings, funerals and extreme unction? I thought that sacrament was replaced by the ecumenical services.

As I said, you should not receive anointing of the sick. (Florida) Communion during the Lutheran A. It is not quite correct to say service, if Communion is offered. that one sacrament replaced another.

For us, reception of Communion Rather, a different name "is now is a significant sacramental state- given to what is the same sacra. ment of common belief and reli- ment. gious commitment, and faith comThe name extreme unction came munity with those With whom we from the Latin "extrema unctio," the last anointing. For centuries, ' receive'this sacrament. , For this reason, Catholic regu- most people came to assume this

Questions and Answers

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meant the anointing should be given in the final hours of a person's life.

Some of us still remember when a dying person's family hesitated to call a priest to minister this sacrament, fearing the sick person would panic and assume death was imminent.

The actual meaning of the term was something different. It implied that this was the last of four possible sacramental anointings of the Church, the other three being baptism, confirmation and holy orders.

The Constitution on the Liturgy ofVatican Council II addressed this confusion. "Extreme unction," it said, "which may also and more properly be called anointing of the sick, is not a sacrament only for those at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger Of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for that person to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived" (No. 73).

"Last rites," therefore, is not a proper designation for this sacrament, though I imagine it will continue to be used, especially in tragic circumstances like September II. A free brochure describing basic Catholic prayers, beliefs and, moral precepts is available by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Box 325, Peoria, IL 61651.

Questions may be sent to Fa.ther Dietzen at the same address, or e-mail: iidietzen@aol.com.

Preparing for marriage No one has to remind ·us that Valentine's Day brings homes where the only parent or both parents worked a fine distraction in mid-winter, warming us with often and were simply not around.'" thoughts of love. This holiday belongs to everybody as As for Generation X Catholics, ''they are, for the a time to remember those who are special to us. But, as most part, unreceptive to Church teaching·on important we all know, Valentine's Day is tailor-made for certain social and ethical issues, and claim that the Church holds couples, those in very special relationships, that one- little credibility with them." Yet the Marinellis, who " coordinate marriage prepaon-one joyful relationship called ''being in love." ration in the Diocese of When people raised iQ a Rockville Centre on Long religious tradition fall in Island, have learned that love, they generally begin when they reach out to to want to have a relationcouples sincerely, opening ship that. will never end. up an honest dialogue, asTranslatioI)? They want to suring them they are n.ot get married and make it

By Ant,oineUe Bosco. being judged harshly for work well. Trouble is, with not practicing their Catholic faith, a good relationship all too many young people, ....- - - - - - - - - they get the MrJMrs. Deis quickly formed. ' gree first and take all the courses afterward! .

Perhaps the respect they show young couples is what I have a recommendation for lovers planning mar- makes this important connection. The Marinellis beriage this Valentine's Day. Pick up candy and flowers, lieve "that every human being is hard-wired for a relaand add an extra bonus, a book called ''The Joy of tionship with God." They work with the couples at their Marriage Preparation," (Resurrection Press). With wis- own spiritual starting point, helping ''to build a bridge dom and honesty about what goes into forming a healthy, between young adults and the good news ofJesus Christ." holy relationship, the authors, Tony Marinelli and Pat Their work is an exciting' and important endeavor, they McDonough, parents of three, marned 18 years, have say, because ''these young couples are the future of our reac!ted out to couples who have made the decision to Church." marry. Drawing from their extensive experience in psyThe authors haven't Side-stepped the really serious chology, religious education and ministry to engaged issues. Living together ~fore marriage, the role and couples, as well as their personal journey in marriage importance ofsex, family planning, communication and and parenthood, they address the most impOrtant issues interfaith relationships all are discussed, ending with a facing couples contemplating marriage today. beautiful chapter on the wedding liturgy.

Some of the facts. they relate from their research are The authors are very·convincing as they point out disturbing. Their chapter on "Generation· X Gets Mar- the value of marriage preparation, where young adults ried" is particularly sobering. The data amassed by so- can "learn a lot about the Church, about tliemselves, ciologists "suggests that these young adults are a gen- about the sacraments, ScriptUre and, one hopes, about eration lost to traditional values, to long-accepted defi- what goe~ into forming a healthy, holy relationship." nitions of faith, commitment and love. 'They are the I can't think of a better Valentine's gift for couples in children of a 50-percent divorce rate who grew up in love than this little book.

The 'Bottom Line

The sky is not falling Bjorn Lomborg, who describes one can accuse Professor Lomborg himself as an "old left-wing of not doing his homework; his Greenpeace member" and teaches book contains 70 (minutely pOOted) statistics at the University ofAarhus' pages of bibliography and 2,930 in Denmark, was wandering around footnotes. Nor has Lomborg flipped Los Angeles in early 1997 when he from Chicken Little to Pollyanna, found himself in a bookstore and from enviro-pessimist fo enviro-opstarted reading an interview with timist; as he writes, "Humanity still Julian Simon, the curmudgeonly has a whole series of challenges to economist then teaching at the University of . - - - - - - - - - - Maryland.

Simon argued that the doomsday scenarios favored by many environmental activists were just wrong, empirically speaking; claims that the environmental sky was L.. ~~~_ falling were based on bad statistics, ideologically charged tackle, now and in the future ... assumptions, or both. Simon em- [because] things are still not good phasized that, in his work, he de- enough." liberately used official statistics that What they are, Lomborg insists, anyone else could check. The im- is better. Much better. He marshals plicit challenge was to prove him an overwhelming amount of data wrong, using the same numbers. to demonstrate that Chicken Little Lomborg took up the challenge. is living in fantasy land. Life exHe picked 10 of his best students, pectancy is increasing throughout and together they tried to prove that the world, including the Third Julian Simon, whom they imagined World. Energy is not disappearing a purveyor of''American right-wing and neither is food; in fact, both propaganda," was cooking the energy and ,food are cheaper and books. Much to their surprise, they more plentiful than ever before. couldn't do it. They found a few Natural resources are more abunflaws here and there, but, as dant today than in the past.'

Lomborg puts it, "a surprisingly The gap between the purchaslarge amount of his points stood up ing power of the poor and the rich to scrutiny and conflicted with what is narrowing, not widening. More we believed ourselves to know." people, not fewer, are reasonably The sky wasn't falling, after all. prosperous and live in political se' Professor Lomborg took his re- curity. sults to the Danish press and a ragWater and air are cleaner than ing debate ensued. During the con- before; in urban areas of the develtroversy, Lomborg discovered that oped world, water and air are "the only reaction from many en- cleaner than they've been in 500 vironmental groups was the gut re- years. Fears of chemicals poisonaction of complete denial." His old ing the land are vastly exaggerated. friends weren't interested in data; Species aren't disappearing at a prethey had simply decided, a priori, cipitous rate. There is ample room that Lomborg must be wrong, and for landfill left on the planet. Glothat they "could comfortably go on bal warming is a "limited and manbelieving in the impending dooms- ageable problem" that is "not anyday." where near the most important With the intellectual courage to problem facing the world." follow the data wherever it led him, And so forth and so on. The picLomborg produced one of last ture, in sum, is one that Professor year's mQst explosive books, The Lomborg describes as "unprecSkeptical Environmentalist: Mea- edented human prosperity.", suring the Real State ofthe World Yet things are still not good (Cambridge University Press). No enough, he insists. We can do bet-

George Weigel

THEANCHOR-DioceseofFall River-Fri., February 1,2002

ter, as a human race. That's why it's important to get the facts straight now - so that we can make reasonable policy choices about the human future. Especially choices about beating poverty, which involves empowering the poor to enter the economies of the developed world. Eradicating poverty doesn't mean dismantling developed world economies, as some environmental' activists imagine. The world can have a lot fewer poor people and better environmental quality; the key to both is the expansion of the free economy.

Bjorn, Lomborg's summons to intellectual honesty should be particularly challenging to religious environmentalists formed in the biblical traditiot;l. We are the stewards of creation, according to Genesis. Genesis also teaches that, created with intelligence and free will, we ,must exercise that stewardship with our minds. Cooking the books so that Chicken Little always wins is, in a word, sinful.

George Weigel is a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Catholic Martyn At least 33 Catholic missionaries were slain in 2001. Where they died...

lO Asia

Who they wert25 priests

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2lay missiooories

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SourlI: '1IarIJnIlogy IIrh,.. 2lm,' f1dII.

Sacred Hearts Retreat Center, Wareham, MA, seeks an Administrator: Candidates should be active Catholics with background in budgetary planning and financial management, public relations, programming, personnel supervision and administration. They must also be willing to be guided by the charism of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts.

The Center hosts a variety of adult and youth retreats ?s well as private, directed and guided retreats for priests, religious and laity.

Please send resume and salary requirements to: RC Administrator Search, P.O. Box 111, Fairhaven, MA 02719-0111 (No later than 3/1/02)

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For questions or directions, please call Mary Leite at 508·822·2219

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Interfaith

AbortIon Laws In the 29th year since the Supreme Court legalized "rtion~ almost 40 percent of Americans say laws reslriding the procedure need to be more strid. Percent of those who feel laws........

Continu.et/ from page one.

throughout the world to hold ser- of Purgatory Maronite Catholic vices that keyed on praying for Parish in New Bedford. peace and condemning violence Everyone was offered a "Comcommitted in the mlJne of reli- mon Commitment to Peace" that gion. they could sign. , The New Bedford gathering It quoted from the pope's own came on the night prior to the appeal: ''Together we ffi)Jst firmly pope;s oWI\ pilgrimage on lanu- oppose the temptationof hatred ary 24 to the Basilica of St. and violence that only gives the' Francis in Assisi, Italy, for an ecu- illusion of resolving conflicts but menical service also to foster instead causes real and permanent peace. damage. Instead, forgiveness, that , Among those joining the pope can appear to be weakness, defor a two-hour train ride from the mands great spiritual strength and Vatican to guarantees Assisi, were long-term adChristian relivantage."

In N~w Bedfor~, the conAm 0 n g gious leaders, Jews Hindus gregatlon also lit candles, the commitB u d'd his t s: 'promising to pray for peace m~nts each Sikhs, Jains and work for peace whenever person would . make were: and followers' and wherever they could. of traditional praying for ,peaceandjus. African relitice; never using the name of God gions as well as Muslims.

Father Roman Chwalizewski, to justify or incite violence; conOFM, Conv., among the forming personal, familiar and Franciscans who staff and minis- social choices to what is right and ter at Our Lady of Perpetual Help just; fIrmly opposing the temptaParish, smd that Bishop O'Malley; tion of hatred and violence; speakespecially chose th~t parish for the ing out against discriminatory interfaith service "because it is our speech or acts against anyone; group of Franciscans who also learning about other religious trastaff the Basilica of St. Francis in ditions; &Od participating in local interfaith initiatives to alleviate Assisi," he told The Anchor.

At the New Bedford service, poverty.

Bishop O'Malley, who welcomed In Assisi, the representatives of the assembly, was joined by Imam religions ratified their commitM. Abdul-Jaami Mahmoud of ment by lighting one of the New Bedford; Cantor Richard candles in the large candelabra Wolberg of Temple Beth EI, Fall made for the occasion. The canRiver; and Father Charbel T.. delabra was later placed in St. Semaan, pastor of Our Lady of Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, in' Purgatory Maronite Catholic remembrance of the commitment of the world's religions to peace.

Church, also in New Bedford.

In New Bedford, the congreThere were testimonials !o.,. peace given by the leaders ofvafi-· gation also lit candles, promising ous traditions; a reading from the to pray for peace and work for sacred text of each tradition; and peace whenever and wherever a brief meditation on personal they could.

A priestly, three-fold benedicviews of what the achievement of peace might finally be like. tion was given by Cantor Wolberg The religious leaders led in Hebrew which was answered prayers for peace and there were by the assembly in English. songs by the choir of Our Lady

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Life

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intendent of Catholic Schools for the Fall River diocese, and who also attended the march, described it as "a wonde.rful experience for all our students from the high schools and the parishes. They got to meet and see that abortion is not a local, but a national problem as they marched with students from around the country. They met with students from Chicago, St. Louis, New York, and many other areas of our nation."

He agreed~with Desrosiers that this year's march certainly incIuded>a· greater number of non-Catholics that he experienced in other years.

"There was definitely a mix from Protes,tatit churches ,many Baptists particularly, and there were also representatives froni the Greek Orthodox ,ChuJ;ch and many other denominations that we met and , talk~d to."

McNamee called that "a spreading phenomenon that is , not just a Catholic issue, but a worldwide and national issue encompassing many more people than just religions, and our students saw that."

The Mass was not without government participation.

At the end, of Mass, Tim Geoglein, a special assistant to Continued from page one President Bush, read a greeting from the president to those assembled. scribe his or her name in the "I look forward to this an"During these extraordinary Book of the Elect. cient ceremony because 'as times, we realize more than Following that, the catechu- someone who has himself come ever the b~auty of life, the blessmens, now know as "members' to the Catholic Church ,as an , ings of family and friends, and of the Elect," are dismissed to adult, I am deeply moved as· I the enduring resolve, generosmake final preparations to cel- look at the faces ofthe catechu- . ity and compassion of Ameriebrate the sacraments of initia- mens· as they are called by cans," Bush wrote in his mesBishop O'Malley to the memtion. sage. It received applause.

Along with the Rite of Elec- bership of the Elect."

Bush's father, former Presi, He added that, "This is one tion, another ceremony, kn.own dent George H. Bush, and the as the call to continuing conver- of those awesome moments' elder Bush's predecessor, Presision, will be also be held. It rec- where we have the opportunity dent Ronald Reagan, had ognizes candidates who have al- of seeing God moving in greeted those participating in ready been baptized in the people's lives. It is a life-changthe annual March For Life with Catholic Church or other faith ing moment." either'a message read from the . After the ceremonies in the traditions, and who have been podium at araBy preceding the preparing for the first sharing of cathedral the newly E:lect and march or through a video feed Eucharist, and or confirmation. their godparents, as well as from the White House.

"This is the second year that other candidates iUld their sponHowever, this year was beI have been directing the Of- sors, families, friends and catDIOCESAN YOUTH sit on the floor of the Basilica of the lieved to be the first time a sitfice of the Rite of Christian Ini- echists are invited to the Cathetiation of Adults," said Father dral' School for refreshments National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington ting president's remarks had been given during a Mass . .Dahl. an? photo opportunities. during the annual Vigil For Life. (Maddy Lavoie photo)

·ReIA

ber II., the. number of attend- ity. Even 40 minutes before the ees from this diocese was tre- Mass began, every seat in evmendous," said Desrosiers. Of ery pew was either occupied or those 225, ,nearly 75 percent saved. Many hundreds more were diocesan youth. "The lined the aisles and the side . Masses and the march were just chapelareas, straining to see the filled with young people who Mass In the sanctuary or the outwardly radiated compassion, EWTN telecast of the Mass on for life, but also a condemna- televisions placed throughout tion of the act of abortion." the shrine.

At the January 21 Vigil Mass Next year will he the 30th for Life at the Basilica of the anniversary'of the ~oe v. Wade National Shrine of the Immacu- Supreme Court decision, and .late Conception, held to mark the 10th anniversary of the Diothe anniversary of the Jan. 22, cese of Fall River"s involve1973 Supreme Court decision' ment with the March for, Life. which legalized abortion virtu- "Aside, from a greater youth inally on demand, 'C~rdinal An- . vohremenHn Pro~Life issues' thony Bevilacqua of Philadel- since nine years ago, I also see phia told the gathering: "neu- a more ecumenical presence." trality is not an 9ption and si- said Desrosiers. lence is not a choice."

"It's not just Catholics but a He added, "To be Christian mixture of all faiths, and not means that no disciple of Christ orily Christians. Respect for all can responsibly take a 'pro- . life is reaching,lteyond all choice' stand when the 'choice' boundaries. " ',.. " .':" involves the taking of human "I hope ne.~t year ~ilLbe the.. life." last year we have to go to The growth of the movement Washington, and I also hope can easily be seen. since it will be the 30th anniIn 1981, the first year of the versary ofRo~ v.Wade and the vigil, fewer than 50 people 10th year of our involvement, came to the basement church at that some members of the secuthe shrine. They stayed awake lar press in our diocese will atall night praying for an end to tend with us, to truly-see what abortion. the Pro-Life stand is all about," This year, thousands filled she said. .James A. McNam,ee, superthe shrine', straining .its capac-

Pope urges Vietnam's bishops

lHEANCHOR-DioceseofFallRiver-Fri.,FebruaIy 1,2002

..

to encourage missionary efforts

By JOHN NORTON CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

country. Vietnam's Church has grown by more than VATICAN CITY - While praising the courage 14 percent in the last five years, while vocations to and perseverance of minority Catholics in Vietnam, male and female religious life have increased by 78 Pope John Paul II told the country's bishops they and 51 percent, respectively. The country's Cathoneeded to do more to encourage missionary efforts. lics officially number 5.3 million, or about seven He also appealed for greater religious freedom in percent of the population.

"I encourage all consecrated persons not to weaken the communist country, saying greater autonomy for religious believers would benefit all of Vietnamese in their missionary commitment and to engage them, . selves with renewed fervor society.

The pope made his remarks to announcing Christ and . serving all people," he last week after celebrating Mass in his private chapel said. with 28 Vietnamese bishops.

Vietnam's bishops The prelates were in Rome also cautiously hailed for their "ad [imina" viswhat they viewed as reits, made every five years cent signs of an into report on conditions in crease in religious their dioceses. freedom, though they Touching on an issue said the communist that has been controvergovernment still resial in recent years, the stricted many areas pope noted that he and of Church activthe Vatican have asked ity.

Asian Church leadThey said this was the first . ers to focus on "the fundamental questime all the tion of explicitly bishops were announcing salallowed to vation to the come to Rome many Asians for their "ad /imina" visits. who have not In past years, yet heard Christ spoken of." the government denied exit viSome Asian bishops and sas to some of theologians the bishops. have objected The pope said he rejoice<;l that direct at being able to proclamation meet with the of Christ as the sole savior is • country's bishops all at once, ineffecti ve in but appealed for Asia; they I further steps stress the power from Vietnam's of life witness leadership. ' to the region's Vietnam's peoples. government inThough the VIETNAMESE CATHOLICS 'congregate outside Notre. sists on approvpope did not address the objec- Dame Cathedral in Hanoi. Recently, all Vietnamese bishops ing bishops' tions directly, he were allowed to leave their country for the first time for their "ad nominations and told Vietnam's Iimimj' visits to' Rome, required of all heads of dioceses every contr?lling the bishops, "The five years. In past years, the communist-controlled government s~lectiOn ofcanurgency of mis- denied exit visas for some of the bishops. (eNS file photo) dl~ates to the prIesthood, sionary efforts priests' assignmust always inspire the courageous decisions that you ments, and construction ofreligious centers and semihave to make.

He also urged the bishops to develop uniform naries. Officials prohibjt religious books and maga~ catechetical materials for new Catholics, as well as zines sent from abroad and often deny approval for continuing formation programs for priests, religious visits from foreign professors and speakers. . . The Pope said the Church didnot seek to usurp the and laity.

During the visit, the bishops presented their most rol~ of.th~.government, but to develop a "sound colupbeat report in decades on Church life in their laboration" with it for the good of all Vietnamese.

BURNED-OUT HOMES barely stand and lava flows into Kivu Lake in this aerial view of the town of Goma in Congo recently. The Nyiragongo volcano erupted January 17, killing .at least 45 people in an explosion and dozens more in lava flow. (CNS photo from Reuters)

.Pope prays for Congolese after volcano displaces more than 300,000 people'

By JOHN THAVIS

the Nyiragongo volcano ... which in recent days has resumed its acVATICAN CITY - Pope. tivity with unheard-of violence.

"Our concrete help should not John Paul II urged humanitarian aid for the more than 300,000 be lacking to those suffering the efCongolese left homeless by fects of this great calamity," he said.

Africa's worst volcanic eruption U.N. officials estimated that 45 in 25 years. . people were killed when the volA telegram sent in the pope's canic eruption sent up to six feet name to Church leaders in Goma, of lava flowing in a path that Congo, said Pope John Paul was overran several viilages before praying that those deprived of Gutting through Goma. The erupshelter, food and water would re- tion filled the air with ash and receive the necessary assistance leased toxic gases, polluting wafrom international agencies. ter supplies.

The telegram called the erup-· Aid workers outside of Goma tion a "terrible drama" for people were trying to set up food and water distribution points for the of the region.

At a recent noon blessing from displaced after molten lava literhis apartment window above St. ally divided the city and swept Peter's Square, the pope said, "I through homes last week. The assure you of my spiritual close- city's cathedral was destroyed By ness to the populations stricken by the flow.

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Putin says he hopes to host pope WARSAW, Poland (CNS)Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hopes to host a visit

by Pope John Paul II during his time as head of state, but his remarks were criticized by the'Russian Orthodox leader.

In a recent interview with Poland's mass-circulation Gazeta "'»borcza daily, Putin said he felt "huge respect" for the Polish-born pope and "fondly remembered" his "warm reception" during a Vatican visit two years ago. , "This could sound unexpected, but we also have a feel-

ing of pride thatarepresenta-'· tive of Slavic nations became pope, and that it was a Pole for us Russians, this is particularly nice," Putin said.

"There are nQ, problems in ties between Russia and the Vatican, and'Tm'ready at any time to invite the pope. But if he's te,gQ to,Moscow, he himself wishes the visit to have full value, which means achieving " full relations with the Russian Orthodox Church. And this, unfortunately, doesn't depend on me," Putin added.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch

Alexei II of Moscow, who has canceled two scheduled meetings with the pope, immediately criticized Putin's remarks.

"A visit by the Roman pope to Russia is impossible as lorig as the Catholic Church continues its expansion in western Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, and as long as three of our church's dioceses in western Ukraine remain crushed," said the patriarch, repeating remarks he has made in the past.

Vatican officials and Ukrainian Catholic bishops have said such claims were exaggerated.

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TIIEANCHOR - Diocese ofFall River - Fri., February 1,2002

"Count' on this film to entertain

eNS video reviews featuring nuns

NEW YORK (CNS) - Direc- and sent to the infamous island.· count throws a lavish party - intor Kevin Reynolds spins together prison, the remote Chateau D'If viting all the right people - and jealousy, betrayal, mercy and re- (run by a favorite villainous ac- floats down on a helium balloon demption - and a few energetic tor, Michael Wincott), for 13 before stepping out to greet his guests. The director has toned sword fights - in the rousing ad- long, tortuous years.

It is in this hellish confinement down the complexity of Dumas' aptation of Alexander Dumas' ByCA~OucNEWSSE~E ing portrayal of religious life as a "The Count of Monte Cristo" where Edmond meets a priest and extraordinary work, giving it a NEW YORK - The follow- vocation requiring more than good (Touchstone). fellow inmate, Abbe Faria (a bril- zippy, but not exhausting, pace, ing are home videocassette re- intentions. The U.S. Conference The film stars Jim Caveziel as liant Richard Harris). In exchange which works well on the big views from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification the noble, naive Edmond Dantes for helping him dig a tunnel by screen. of Catholic Bishops Office for is A-II - adults and adolescents. who reinvents himself as the so- which they may escape, Faria Shot in Ireland and Malta, the Film and Broadcasting. Each vid- Not rated by the Motion Picture phisticated count, intent on tak- molds Edmond into a Renais- film is crammed with breathtakeocassette is available on VHS Association of America. (Warner ing revenge against those who sance man who can make a sword ingly beautiful visuals. Purists format. Theatrical movies on Home Video) wronged him. Caveziel carries his dance, transla~e complicated text may be disappointed, however, video have a U.S. Conference of "Song of Bernadette" (1943)' role with confidence and that a few narrati ve details Durable adaptation of the skill, treating the audience Catholic Bishops classification from the book have been and Motion Picture Association of Franz We rfe1 novel about to a remarkable perforchanged. The film's endAmerica rating. All reviews indi- Bernadette Soubirous (Jennifer mance. It is a breakthrough ing is a bit different as well, with a brighter concate the appropriate age group for Jones), the French schoolgirl who role in some ways for the in 1858 saw apparitions of the actor as he demonstrates a clusion and a slight movethe video audience. .. The following films feature' Virgin Mary at a grotto near broader range than in his ment away from the originuns'as key characters in the story. Lourdes, but news of this is ini- previous roles ("The Thin nal lessons of mercy and tially discredited by her stem pas- Red Line," "Angel Eyes," "The Nun's Story" (1959) justice.

Sent by her religious c9mmu- tor (Charles Bickford), the town "Pay It Fo·rward").

To call him comic relief nity to be a nurse· in the Belgian prosecutor (Vincent Price) and an would be to belittle Luis The guileless Edmond Congo, a young nun (Audrey envious teacher (Gladys Cooper). changes from a callow Guzman's skillful perforHepburn) resists her feelings of Directed by Henry King, the story youth to a man hardened by mance. He plays Edmond's love for the doctor (Peter Finch) of a young girl's fai,th withstand- years of grief and torment, right-hand man, J acopo, with whom she wor-ks, returns to ing the disbelief of her elders is wishing for nothing more with zest and appropriate.

Belgium and, after struggling made dramatically convincing by than to taste sweet revenge. refinement, dovetailing mowith the routine of convent life, a fine cast, evocative photogra- Then, with his eyes opened ments oflevity into the othleaves for the world beyond the phy and largely unsentimental to God's loving nature, he erwise earnest film just wall. Sensitively directed by Fred treatment. The U.S. Conference· finally grows in maturity, when it needs it the most.

Zinnemann, the fact-based story of Catholic Bishops classification compassion, and even And, embodying his charfocuses on the interior conflict is A-I - general patronage. Not mercy.. However, though DAGMARA DOMINCZVK and Jim acter the way few actors between the nun's idealism and' rated by the Motion Picture As- Edmond's spiritual metacan, Harris is exceptional. her growing sense of her own sociation ofAmerica. (Fox Home morphosis is evideIit, it is Caveziel star in a scene from the film He appears most unexpectneeds as an individual. Convinc- Video) more subtle than' in the "The Count of Monte Cristo." (CNS photo edly, and unusually, and book, as Reynolds unfortu- ' from Touchstone) there is a noticeable defla.; . tion in the film when he exnatety underplays ...•( ., .

Edmond's struggles with faith and into Italian and work out intri- its.

God. cate economic problems in his Visually rich and handily Edmond and Fernand (Guy head. But more importantly, Faria told, "The Count ofiMonte Pearce) are fellow sailors and reignites the spark of God in Cristo" is a film that involves childhood friends who, when Edmond's soul. And he reveals to the audience with its one-man forced to take their injured cap- Edmond the secret locale of a journey through social, spiritual tain to the restricted island of fabulous gold treasure, which - . and psychological paths to find Elba (home of the exiled emperor after his 'novel escape - Edmond love, honor and redemption at of France, Napoleon Bonaparte), uses to transform himself into the the end of the road.

SUNDAY HEALING SERVICES become embroiled in political in- Count of Monte Cristo, a worldly, Due to an implied affair, fleet2/3 - Hispanic 2:30 p.m. trigue and deception. Fernand wealthy man finally in a position ing sexuality and intermittent 2/17 - Portuguese 2:00 p.m. pounces on the opportunity to rid to exact revenge on those who sword fights and gunplay, the . himself of Edmond, for whom he wronged him. And later, he also U.S. Conference of Catholic Bish2/24 - English 2:00 p.m. has always harbored a nagging, feels justified in reuniting with ops classification is A-II - adults undeniable jealousy. Femand also Mercedes, 'now married to and adolescents. The Motion PicAFTERNOON DEVOTIONS, sees it as a perfect opportunity to . Fernand. ture Association of America ratSunday, February 10 - 2:00 p.m. take Edmond's lovely fiancee, Reynolds is a deft visual sto- ing is PG-13 - parents ar~ Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk). ryteller and he honors his source strongly cautioned. Some mateEdmond is thus falsely accused material in this opulent produc- rial may be inappropriate for chilASH WEDNESDAY - February 13 of treason by the coy Fernand,' tion. For his grand entrance, the· .dren under 13.

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f:~ViLIIlei NEWYORK (CNS) - Following are capsule reviews of movies recently review~ by the U.s. Conference ofCatholic Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting. .

1'Beijing Bicycle" (Sony Classics) Dramatically slim yet sometimes poignant story set in Beijing about one bicycle coveted by two teen-agers, a country boy (Cui Lin) who needs it for his liveli-

hood, and an arrogant city slicker (Li Bin) who views the bike as a means by which to attain social status. Clearly reminiscent of De Sica's ''The Bicycle Thief," director Wang Xiaoshuai:s film adequately conveys the significance of the bike while offering a fresh perspective on Beijing's back streets, but the film needs trimmingand contrivances too quickly pile up. A few vicious beatings, brief nudity, and minimal crass language. The U.S. Conference ofCatholic Bishops classification· is A-III - adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents. are strongly cautioned. Some materi~l may be inappropriate for children under 13..., "Storytelling" (Fine Line) Repulsive two-part drama, the first part of which deals with a" college stude~t (Selma Blair) who

s~xually submits to her AfricanAmerican writing teacher (Robert Wisdom) out of a sense of political correctness; in the second part, a slacker documentarian (Paul Giamatti) makes a clueless New Jersey teen-ager and his dysfunctional family the subject of his exploitative new piece.

Equally misanthropic and misogynistic, director Todd Solond,z's bleak look at the societal pressures of fitting. in is loaded with selfish, nasty characters and is aimed at discomfiting 'and belittling an audience with traditional values. Several explicit sexual situations with nudity, some drug use and pervasive rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is 0 - morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R restricted .

ACLU report on conscience clauses draws strong Catholic reaction,

By NANCY FRAZIER O'BRIEN CATliOUC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - Catholic leaders strongly objected to a new report which claims women's lives are put at risk by conscience clauses that permit Catholic hospitals to refuse to perform certain medical procedures on religious grounds.

The report by the American Civil Liberties Union's Reproductive Freedom Project was released January 22, the 29th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

Titled "Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights," the report said, "As more hospitals are managed by religious entities and more states adopt broad refusal clauses allowing health care providers to deny treatment on the basis of religious or moral objections, more women are harmed and more pttysicians find themselves thwarted in their efforts to care for their patients." .

"You have to remember that abortion is an elective procedure" that is rarely performed on an

emergency basis, said Cathleen The report also implied that the Cleaver, director of information only health care institutions which and planning for the U.S. bish- should be allowed to use the conops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Ac- science clause are religious institivities. "But this notion that tutions that serve only members women's lives are in jeopardy of their religion, such as Chris. (because ofconscience clauses) is tian Science sanatoriums. ridiculous."

Although much of the report "Where 'there' are circum- focused on abortion, it also raised stances when women's lives are such issues as emergency contrathreatened, no Catholic hospital ception for rape victims, contrais going to tum away" the patient, ceptive sterilization, distribution Cleaver told Catholic News Ser- of condoms in AIDS prevention vice. But no hospital should have programs, coverage ofcontracepto perform services that violate tion in prescription plans prothe religious tenets on which it vided by employers, pharmacists' was founded, she added. right to refuse to fill prescriptions Father Michael D. Place, pres~­ to which they are opposed, and dent and CEO of the Catholic the training of obstetrics and gyHealtli Association, said the re- .necology students in religiously port "leaves the false impression affiliated hospitals in abortions, that Catholic health care gets sterilizations and contraception. funds it isn't entitled to."

"Their ultimate objective is that "There's no rule that any hos- abortion be on demand in every pital that receives government hospital in the United States," funds should provide every ser- Father Place said. "They will pick vice," he said. whatever method will contribute The ACLU report contends that incrementally to that goal." health care providers should not Cleaver said the ACLU and have unlimited access to con- other groups want to force Cathoscience-clause protections. lic institutions "to provide and pay

THEANCHOR-DioceseofFaIlRiver-Fri"February 1,2002.

11

for abortions."

"But that's never going to happen; it's a losing proposition," she said.

Also made public were results of the latest Gallup Poll on abor~ tion, which found that 48 percent ofAmericans described themselves as somewhat or very satisfied with

the nation's policies on abortion.

Asked whether they would like the country's abortion laws to become more strict, less strict or remain the same, 39 percent said they should be trl0re strict, 19 percent said they should be less strict and 39 percent said they should remain the same.

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\J.JJJ POLICE CONFISC~TE a banner unfurled by opponents of capital punishment on the steps' of the Supreme Court in Washington recently. Seven supporters of the Abolitionist ' Action Committee and the Catholic Worker movement were arrested during the demonstration. The protest was held to mark the 25th year since the execution by firing squad of convicted murc;terer Gary Gilmore in Utah. Gilmore was the first to be executed after the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. (CNS photo by Martin Lueders)

Catholic press ca~ help country recover says CPA president,

By CATliOUC NEWS SERVICE

RONKONKOMA, N. Y. The Catholic press can have a significant role in helping the country recover from the terrorists attacks of September 11, according to Catholic Press Association president Karen Franz.

Franz said many of the lessons , learned after the attacks - the heightened spirituality, efforts to understand other religions and renewed bonds of patriotism and community - can all be continually supported through the Catholic press.

"Catholic newspapers, magazines and books offer readers a forum in which to discuss their beliefs and to consider world events in the light of faith," said Franz, who is general manager and editor of the Catholic Cou-

rier, newspaper of the Diocese of Rochester, N.Y. She made the comments in a statement prepared for Catholic Press Month 2002, observed in February.

This year's theme is "Strengthening Our Spirituality, Diversity and Community," which was chosen weeks before the terrorist attacks, but is now even more poignant, according to Franz. She said the Catholic press educates readers about the diversity and commonality among world religions and of the diversity that is within the Catholic Church.

U.S. Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontificai O;l\.incil for Social Communications, said in a Catholic Press Month message th~t for him, "the Catholic press is an important 'source

of strength for my spirituality and my sense of Catholic identification and community."

He said what the Catholic press does very well is "lead to a greater understanding of and appreciation for diversity" because the Church in the United States, Canada and "indeed the world reflects such universality and indeed such unity in diversity."

In another message, Coadjutor Bishop Joseph A. Galante of Dallas, chairman ofthe U.S. bishops' Committee on Communications, said the Church is made up of many cultures, races and ethnic groups "in relationship with one another."

The Catholic press is "a wonderful medium for teaching and expressing our diversity, our oneness and our relationship with the Trinity," he added.

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THEANCHOR - Diocese ofFall River- Fri., February 1,2002

r----------------------------------------------~------ --~

~,

Diocese of Fall River Confirmation Schedale 2002

Most. Rev. Sean O'Mailey, OFM Cap. March 8 10 17 April

-r-.

May

•I

•

.~

7 10 a.m.

8 7 p.m.

9 7 p.m. ·11 7 p.m.

14 10 a.m.

22 7 p.m.

23 7 p.m.

27 11 a.m.

28 .10 a.m.

29 7 p.m.

I 4 5

. 3

6 9 25

~

r

• • •••

••

-,

May

St. Stanislaus', Fall River St. Peter's, Dighton St. Michael's, Swansea' St. Anne's, Fall River Sacred Heart, Fall River St. John of God, Somerset St. Bernard's, Assonet Our Lady of the Cape, Brewster Vineyard Parishes St. John's Pocasset

Espirito Santo, Fall River Immaculate Conception, North Easton St. Mary's Cathedral, Holy Rosary, Fall River at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River 7 Our Lady' of the Assumption, Osterville 7 p.m..

9 6 p.m.

St. Mary's/Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket 10· 7 p.m.

St. Michael's,. Fall River II 5:15 p.m. St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis 14 .7 p.m.

St. Joseph/St. Therese, New Bedford St. Patrick's, Falmouth .

17 7 p.m.

19 5 p.m.

Adult Confirmation, Cathedral 26 5:30 p.m. Christ the King, Mashpee 29 7 p.m.

Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe/St. Hedwig, New Bedford

•• June I• •• Feb. 27 •. March 3 April

St. Anthony's, Mattapoisett 7 p.m.

10:30 a.m. St. Peter and Paul Parish at Holy Cross Church, Fall River St. Joseph's, Taunton .. noon.

2 6 8

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

5 p.m.

7 p.m.

March 11 18

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

St. Mary's, Mansfield (group 1) St. Mary's, Mansfield (group 2)

April

8 30

7,p.m.

7 p.m.

St. Mary's, Seekonk St. Anthony's, Taunton

May

3 13

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

St. John the Evangelist, Attleboro Immaculate Co~ception, Taunton

Feb.

11

7 p.m.

April

2

7 p.m.

28 May

noon 7 p.m.

4 p.m.

7 p.m.

Holy Trinity, West Harwich' Our Lady of Fatima, New Bedford St. James', New Bedford St. Paul's, Taunton

7 p.m.

4 p.m.

7 p.m.

10 11 13 28 28

St. Anthony's, New Bedford St. Anthony's, East Falmouth Our Lady of the Assumption, New Bedford and St. Mary's Fairhaven at St. Mary's, Fairhaven St. Anne's, Raynham 7 p.m: 7 p.m.

St. Margaret's, ~uzzards Bay 4 p.m.

Blessed Sacrament, Fall River 11 :30 a.m. St. Elizabeth Seton, North Falmouth 4 p.m.

Corpus Christi, East Sandwich (group 1)

1 5 13 20 26

7 p.m.

4 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m. noon

Notre Dame, Fall River Corpus Christi, East Sandwich (group 2) St. Mary's, South Dartmouth St. Mary's, Norton St. Lawrence, New Bedford, Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, New Bedford and St. Francis of Assisi, New Bedford at St. .La~rence, New Bedford

4 8 13 16 19 21 23

St. Julie's, North

D~mouth

Our Lady of Angels, St. Patrick's and Holy Trinity, Fall River at Holy Trinity, Fall River 11 :30 a.m. Holy Redeemer, Chatham

•

5 p.m.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New !3edford \, 7 p.m.- Holy Family, East Taunton Holy Ghost, Attleboro . .7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Our Lady of Victory, Centerville (group 1) 11:30 a.m.St.Patrick's, Wareham 7 p.m.

Annunciation of the Lord, Taunton Our Lady of Victory, Centerville (group 2) .

7 p.m.

Rev. Michael K. McManus March 18 23

7. p.m.

April

3 7 8 21 24 28

7 p.m.

St. Stephen's, Attleboro 11 a.m. St. John the Bap~ist, Westport 7 p.m.

Santo Christo, Fall River .

5 p.m.

Sacred Heart, North Attleboro 7 p.m.

St. Dominic's, Swansea 10:30 a.m. St. Joseph's, North Dighton

29

7 p.m.

Rev. Msgr. George W. Coleman, .~G. Immaculate Conception, Fall.River

•

.Rev. Jay T. Maddock

St. Theresa's, North Attleboro

7 p.m.

• • • • I• • ••

May

noon

St. John Neumann, East Freetown Holy Cross, South Easton

•

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Seekonk

Rev. Msgr. John J. Oliv:eira, P.A. March 14 7 p.m.

18 7 p.m.

21 .7 p.m.

St. John the. Baptist, New Bedford Our Lady of Health, Fall River Immaculate Conception, New Bedford

April

23 25

7 p.m.

4 p.m.

7 p.m.

7'p.m.

St. St. St. St.

7 10 13

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

St. Anthony's, Fall River St. Patrick's, Somerset St. Mary's, North Attleboro

1 (>

May

Francis Xavier, Acushnet Thomas More, Somerset Louis de Fran<:e, Swansea Mary's, New Bedford

R~v.

Msgr. John J. Smith

March 15

7 p.m.

St. Mary's, Taunton

April

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Our Lady of Grace, Westport Holy Name, Fall River

26 29

•

Rev. Msgr. Daniel F. Hoye • May 3.' 7 p.m.

St. Joseph's, Fairhaven • 2 11 a.m. St. Mark's, At.tleboro Falls (group 1) St. Rita's, Marion 6 .7 p.m.

•• March '9 II a.m. St. Mark's, Attleboro Falls (group 2) 13 7 p.m.

St. Pius X, South Yarmouth •.~-----------------~--------~,------------~~--------------~

THEANCHOR- Diocese of Fall River-Fri., February 1, 200~

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CHR5T1AN APosTOLIC POPE JOHN Paull! arrives at the Assisi train station for his meeting with religious leaders from around the world January 24 in Italy. (eNS photo from Reuters)

Pope, in Assisi,. says religions leaders want to help end' terrorisDl

By CINDY WOODEN CAlHOUC NEWS SERVICE

ASSISI, Italy - Saying religious leaders wanted to do their part to fend off "the dark clouds of terrorism, hatred (and) armed conflict," Pope John Paul II led an interreligious pilgrimage to Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis.

Pope John Paul said he and other leaders of the world's religions share the anxiety of many of their faithful, but they also share a firm belief that God can granUhe world peace.

"In times of greater anxiety about the fate of the world, we sense more clearly than ever the duty to commit ourselves personally to the defense and promotion of the fundamental good which is peace," he said, welcoming the leaders to Assisi.

The pope and his guests ~r­ rived in Assisi after a two-hour pilgrimage by train, a journey which began only 10 minutes later than scheduled with an "all aboard" at the Vatican's seldomused train station.

Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox, as well as two other Orthodox patriarchs, representatives from 14 other Christian denominations and II ,other religions, accepted the pope's invitation to come to Assisi. ' Pope John Paul offered a special greeting to Cardinal Edward M. Egan of New York, "the city so terribly affected by the tragic events of September 11."

In his morning address, the pope said, "We are here as representatives of different religions to examine ourselves before God concerning our commitment to pe~ce, to ask him for this gift, to bear witness to our shared longing for a world of greater justice and solidarity."

Listening to one another is the first step in peacemaking, he said, because it "serves to scatter the shadows of suspicion and misunderstanding."

Pope John Paul and the other whether land or places are more leaders who spoke at the morn- important than people's lives and, ing session in Assisi repeatedly until we learn to do that, there underlined the need for justice will be no peace," the rabbi said. and the respect of human rights History, he said, has shown that despite beautiful religious in building peace.

"It cannot be forgotten th~t exhortations to be a force of situations of oppression and ex- peace, "the reality has been that, clusion are often at the source of in practice, religions have served violence and terrorism," he said. to foment scores of horrendous But religious leaders also and bloody wars."

"We must remember that in no know that forgiveness is, part of peacemaking because it alone religion are we commanded to "heals the wounds of the heart kill indiscriminately, and those and fully restores damaged hu- who have taught otherwise have man relations," the pope said. done so by hijacking and distortPope John Paul also said it ing the religions in whose name was essential that the religious they speak," he said.

Sheikh Mohammed Tantawi leaders clearly proclaim their common conviction that "who- of al-Azhar University in Egypt ever uses religion to foment vio- and spiritual leader of the lence contradicts religion's deep- world's Sunni l'y1uslims sent a est and truest inspiration.'" message to the gathering thank"Now is the time to overcome ing the pope for his initiative decisively those temptations to arid explaining Islam's fidelity hostility which have not been to God the creator of all humanlacking in the religious history ity, its precept of respect for "all monotheistic religions revealed of humanity," he said.

Patriarch Bartholomew, the by God" and its emphasis on first of ·11 religious leaders to moral values.

"AU the monotheistic religions speak, told the gathering, "Today, once more, following hor- preach that the human beings rendous holocausts and the should support law and justice, slaughter of so many innocent restoring the legitimate proprivictims, it is our duty to acknowl- etors to their rights," he said, edge the spiritual conditions for making his reference to tensions peace on earth, and not merely in the Holy Land obvious by thanking the Vatican for its "honeconomic or other factors.

"We must repent and turn back orable support of the Palestinian to God in full awareness of his 'people."

After snaring the "testimonies holy. will and in obedience to it.

Only then will God hear our for peace," Pope John Paul and prayers and grant us and all man- Patriarch Bartholomew led the kind true peace on earth," he said. Christians from 17 Orthodox Rabbi Israel Singer, secretary churches and 14 Anglican and general of the World Jewish Protestant communities into the Congress, followed little of his lower basilica for an ecumenical prepared text, instead telling prayer service.

Franciscan ,friars escorted Pope John Paul, "Only you can make this happen,~' and telling members of the 11 other relithe other leaders that only by gions into their huge convent fostering commitments to peace complex where, in separate among their faithful can reli- places around the cloistered gions turn their potential for courtyard, each faith held its own peacemaking into a concrete re- prayer service: the Zoroastrians. lighting a fire in the courtyard; ality. ,"You should tell your people the Muslims kneeling on rugs in and we should tell ours, all of us the annex to the Friar Elijah -,all of us --:.- to question Chapel.

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Our. Lady's Monthly 'Message Fr.om MedJugorje January 25, 2002 Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina

"Dear Children! At this time while you are'stilliooking back to the past year, I call you, little children, to look deeply into your heart and decide to be closer to God and to prayer. Little children, you are still attached to earthly things and little to spiritual life. May my call today also be an encouragement to you to decide fer God and for daily conversion. You cannot be converted, little children, if you do not abandon sins and do not decide for love towards God and neighbor.

"Thank you for having responded to my call."

OUR LADY QUE,EN OF PEACE GROUP Marian Messengers P.O. Box 647, Framingham, MA 01701· Tel 1-508:879-9318

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14 THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River - Fri., February 1,2002

Scholarship established a~Bishop Connolly

KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS in Mary Puleio's class at Saint Joseph School, Fairhaven, sing a song about Jesus during a prayer service.

FALL RIVER - It was an- promise and will be awarded to nounced recently that The James an incoming freshman student. and Lorraine Nicoletti Memorial Candidates will be chosen from Scholarship has been established applications submitted to the at Bishop Connolly High School. admissions director at Bishop Jame's Nicoletti was the Connolly. A committee will reformer principal of Durfee view the applications and one High School, principal of student will be selected.

Henry Lord Junior High An Adopt A Student Program School, director of middle has also been established at the graders in Fall River, director school in which part or all of a of Cathedral Camp in East student's tuition will be underFreetown, board member of the written by a Connolly benefacSerra Club, founding member tor. Principal Anthony' Nunes of the Century Club at said"the need for such a program Connolly and the first recipi- exists because "more and more ent of the Diocesan Marian families are requesting financial Medal. assistance each year. This proLorraine Nicoletti was a ,de- gram will\allow us to help as voted wife and mother. Her many students as we can so they legacy as a loving and giving will be able to attend Bishop person influenced and touched Connolly High School." all those who knew her.

For more information call The' four-year scholarship is Christopher Myron at 508-676b.ased on need and academic 1476.

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S'IXTH-GRADERS from Ann Defrias' class at Our Lady of Mount Carmel' School', New Bedford; had the opportunity to learn the . process a cartogra.ph~r goes through in making maps as they planned and designed their original cities.' :, At right, Rebecca Ybarra,'displays he'r three-dimensional, desig'n. Above,' Kirsten Pereira points out the medical ~enter in her ciW. ,

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STACY'MCPHERSON,above, a -coordinator ,of educa'tional programs· for the Anti-Defamation League, recently spoke to'·senior~.at BishopFe~h~n High School ~~out public prejudice. Her presence was sought by students in the A~leb9.ro school's social justice classes. Below, students '-Susc:i.h'Cabral and Courtney Tritla take a snack break during ttl~ school's annual Blood Drive. Theywere among many students todonate blood.

THE~CHOR-DioceseofFalIRiver-Fri.,February 1,200~

15

Fo.-----Dig in and make a difference

By CHARUE MARTlN â&#x20AC;˘ CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE DIG IN lovin' for you to share."

It's time to face it, come That's good advice! Get inon in and join the party volved with life, and see how you Life has been waiting . can make a positive difference. for you to care This updated version of Jesus' Don't try to fake it, jump on in, and get it started There's so much lovin' for you to share There is nowhere to run There is no way to hide Don't let it !;)eat you Say "nice to meet you" and "bye" Refrain: Once you dig in You'll find it coming out the other side And once you dig in You'll find you'll have yourself a good time Wake up and shake it, you didn't make your contribution There ain't no time for you to spare Gospel message is from "Dig In," If you ain't part of the the hit single off Lenny Kravitz's . game then how can you disc "Lenny," his first album of find a solution? new material since his highly acclaimed "5."

Nobody said ~hat it would be fair Life at the start of 21st cenWhen the mountain tury is full of challenges. In is high Kravitz's words: "There ain't no Just look up .to the sky time for you to spare. If you ain't Ask God to teach you part of the game then how can Then persevere you find a solution?" In the face with a smile of difficult issues, Kravitz asks us Yeah; yeah, yeah not to back down: "When the mountain is high, just look up to Repeat refrain the sky. Ask God to teach you, four times.

Sung by Lenny Kravitz then persevere with a smile."

Copyright (c) 2001 by With God's guidance each of Virgin Records Inc. us can find ways to be involved

ral southern Indiana, clubs at our local high scho()l have gotten involved in a variety of causes.

They have sponsored blood drives, run fund-raisers to purchase Christmas gifts for poor children, conducted a "mitten drive" to help impoverished families deal with the winter and cooked meals to sell as support for a fellow teen who faces a long recovery from a broken spinal cord. Clearly, these teens are "part of the solution."

Our parish youth group has made a commitment to keep working to assist the millions of Afghan refugees suffering as a result of the current war.

Perhaps some information can help your youth group start !ts own plan. Consider these facts about how you can help: $250 will feed 10 Afghan children for six months. Many of these children are teens. Just $500 will provide shelter for two displaced families for six months.

How many of God's family iri Afghanistan is your parish youth group or religious education class willing to literally keep alive?

We began this new year remembering that Jesus offered us a different vision of how to treat each other. ~robably Jesus would not have said it the way Kravitz did, but I think he would agree that "once you dig in, you'll find you'll have yourself a good time."

Few things in life are as satisfying as making a difference to those who suffer and truly are in need.

Look around at your school, your community and our world. It's time to "dig in" and be that difference!

Your comments are always welcome. Please address: chmartin@swindiana.net.

0 . .Wk

SIXTH-GRADERS Irene O'Brien of North Falmouth, Amy Duggan of Plymouth and Walter Butler of Bourne were all winners in a recent essay contest at St. Margaret's Regional School, Buzzards Bay. They were required to discuss the topic of friendship and each was awarded a gift certificate to the school store.

Technology and Catholic Schools Over 80.percent of Catholic schools provide internet access to students.

Source: The National Catholic Educational Assoclatlon (NCEA). 2001.

"It's time to face it; come on in and join the party. Life has been waiting for you 'to care.

Don't try to fake it, jump on in, and get it started. There's so much

with others' needs. A good place to start is right in your high school. Almost every school has a variety of service clubs. Are you a part of one?

For example, here in very ru-

John Walker Lindh

By AMy WELBORN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Allah and praying five times a day. He's clare. With that kind of upbringing, of admitted to being linked to at Qaeda, the course he'd tum out this way.

There are a lot of pretty famous young terrorist group responsible for the SepNot necessarily. people around these days..There are en- tember 11 attacks on the Sure, the way we're tertainers like Brit':ley Spears and <:;:hris- United States, being . .- - - - - - - - -... raised has a huge impact tina Aguilera. There are political kids like trained in their terrorist on who we are. It would Chelsea Clinton and Jenna and Barbara camps and' meeting ....' .\...... be stupid to deny it. Our Bush.

Osama bin Laden. Lindh environment and our biolAnd then there's John Walker Lindh. was discovered in a group of ogy both contribute to our Or, as the media call him (among other of al Qaeda prisoners of identity in definite, but still things), Johnny Taliban. â&#x20AC;˘ war in Afghanistan, filthy mysterious ways, with an You probably kpow the story~ Over the and disheveled. . accent on "mysterious." past few years, Lindh, who turns 21 Since Lindh was capAfter all, though you February 9, has been through a major tured, a lot of people have tried to figure can .certainly .see evidence of your upidentity change. A fairly typical, intelli- out how a privileged California kid could bringing in your own life, there's no way gent kid evolved into a huge rap fan who transform himself into a someone who you're a simple product of it. If that were converted to the strictest form of Islam' now could be charged with engaging in a true, you'd be exactly the same person as' and traveled halfway across the world to conspiracy to kill Americans, and why. your siblings, and you're not. immerse himself in this new way. of life Most of the blame has been laid on his If it were true, every kid from Northeven more. upbringing, which was permissive. He at- em California with a permissive, unfoAnd you think you've been through tended an alternative, loosely-structured cused upbringing and divorced parents some changes. high school. His conversion to Islam was would have joined the Taliban. But that Of course, there is more to Lindh's ver- closely preceded by his parents' divorce. didn't happen. sion of Islam than Muhammad, the Quran, Of course, all the commentators deAnd you're not an automatic product

Coming

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of your parents, as predictable as the outcome of a chemistry formula.

You're a person. That means, despite all the influences around and within you, you still have that important, essential God-given thing called free will.

No, we can't choose ourselves out of anything, and we.don't have control'over things like mental and physical illness. but we QO have more freedom to form our own personality than we think.

Lindh made choices to become the person he is right now. He started making them when he was a teen-ager. Teen readers of this column are doing the same thing. Every time you decide which voices will be authoritative in your life, where to use your time and talents, and when to do right and when to do wrong, you're making choices that are forming your character.

No, John Walker Lindh was not fated by his environment to be who he was.

The good news is, neither are you.

"'.

16 THEANCHOR-DioceseofFallRiver-Fri., February 1,2002

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Dr~

Dijg .uncovers tbeBlble

NewTestament places: Cap~rnaum, city by the sea

u.s. PRESIDENT George W. Bush escorts Coretta Scott King, widow of slain civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr" during a ceremony at the White House. Bush marked King's federal holiday by hailing him as a "modern American hero whose leadership rallied people of all races to rise up against injustice." (CNS photo from Reuters)

Vatican ratifies U.N. convention blocking biological weapons, VATICAN CITY (CNS) Vatican said it wanted to help the The Vatican, citing a new global international community take con, danger since September 11, has crete steps toward "a system of ratified a U.N. convention pro- disarmament of weapons of mass hibiting the development, produc- destruction, as part of the process tion and stockpiling of biological of global and complete disarmaweapons. ' ment." , , The Biological Weapons ConIn October, Vatican officials vention, drafted in 1971, has been voiced disappointment at the failratified by more than 150 coun- ure to strengthen the convention's tries, including the United States. provisions and ensure that it is But last year the Bush adminis- followed by signatory counmes. tration rejected a draft internaIn July, the Bush adrninistrational protocol that would have tion decided not to support the put verification and enforcement draft protocol aimed at strengthening the Biological Weapons measures in place.

After recently ratifying the Convention. The protocol had U.N. convention, the Holy See been approved by the other 55 left a statement with U.S. authori- countries involved in,negotiations, ties underlining the need to pro- which had lasted more' than six mote "practical implementation" years. of its provisions, the Vatican said.

The administration said the The statement was consigned protocol would not guarantee comto unnamed U.S. officials early pliance with the global ban on last month by Archbishop Gabriel biologiql weapons and would Montalvo, the Vatic::m's nuncio to "put national security. and confithe United States. dential business information at ''The tragic events of.Septem- risk." It said no modification of ber 11,2001, have led to a clearer the text would make it acceptable and more widespread awareness of ' to the United States. the need to build a culture of mulOne reported U.S: concern was tilateral dialogue and a climate of that the protocol would have made trust between all the 'members of U.S. pharmaceutical plants open to international inspection. the human family," i~ said.

"At this particular point in hisAlso last y~ar, U.S. pfficialsactory, instruments of cooperation knowledged that for y~ars the and prevention constitute one of ' United States secretly had been prothe most effective safeguards in ducing small amounts of biologithe face of heinous acts such as cal and chemical agents, including the use of biological weapons, anthrax, in what was t~rmed a "decapable of indiscriminately strik- fensive" program aimed at'better ing at innocent civilian popula- understanding such w~apons. tions," it said.

U.S. officials said such limited In encouraging i111plementa- production did not violate the ~rrns tion of the 1971 convention, the ()f.the 1971 U.N. conve,ntion.

Just after his glorious baptism in the Jordan River

by John the Baptist and victory over all the temptations of the 40 days in the Judean wilderness, Jesus, exercising the will of God in his life and ministry, left Jerusalem.

He walked with some friends, followers, and perhaps even family members north up through the Galilean region, probably as far as Capemaum. Then they returned sO,uth and southwest down the shore ofthe SeaofGalilee and eventually stopped in Cana There, at a local wedding, Jesus' made a very generous and loving gesture to an embarrassed host by changing water into needed wine. Then the amazed friends and followers continued their way on the four-mile trek to Jesus' boyhood home of Nazareth.

Being recognized there as Jesus, thesonofJoseph the carpenter' his welcome was' not as expected. Evidently rumors , , ofthe miracle at Cana had pro- ' ceeded them, and in his refusal to repeat those marVelous feats, Jesus was quickly shuttled out of Nazareth to escape the angry mob that was ,intent upon killing him.

From there he returned to Capernaum where he began calling his disciples and with an earnest urgency; started his public ministry.

Capernaum became the headquarters for his travels in the northern cities and villages. Here in thispopulated, important city with a fishing-based economy, Jesus taught and ministered amid several.unportant '" events: 1) Several of his disciples were fishermen and had their homes in this area, including Peter, 2) Matthew was the tax collector based in this region, 3) Miracles were performed in Capernaum, includ-, ing the healing of the centurion's servant, healing of the nobleman's son, healing of Peter's mother-in, law, healing ofthe paralytic, and the raising ofJarius' daughter from the dead. It was also here thafJesus , cast out demons and taught the great lesson on humility by using, the little child as an example,(Matthew 18:1-5).

As with most biblical sites, the ravages ofseveral millennia of wars, natural devastations and changing civilizations took their toll on most historical evidence in Capernaum even to its exact location.

After more than a century of debate among modern, scholars, the exact site has been finally settled upon as Tel Hum.

The arrival of the Order of Franciscans of the Custody ofthe Holy Land to the ruins in 1894 settled the matter and thus began the ae,eelerated archaeological interest. Recent excavations (beginning in 1968) have uncovered a spectacular find: what is thought to be the house of Peter and which some debate as being the synagogue in which Jesus preached. It is located in the remains of a fifth century octagonal Byzantine church which was discovered in 1921. Sincy then a great deal of information has surfaced about the city. ' Capernaum stretched for almost a mile along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Its harbor for fishing boats was almost 9.00 yards in length. Fishing and fishing-related industry (boat building, etc.) and agriculture thrived in the region. The city became a major trade route from the second century B.C., and at least a centurion and his detachment ofRoman soldiers were garrisoned in the town at the time of Jesus.

It was a busy and prospering city "eventually condemned by Jesus for its pridefulness" (Matthew 11:23) and in contrast, and perhaps rebuke, the city from which Jesus 9ecided to announce to all etemity, that he was the Bread of Life, the one by which and in which all things mattered (JoOO 6:41).

Ask Dr. Dig ~<A friend recently worked in Saudi Arabia and brought back a camel's saddle. The merchant told him that use ofsuch implements dated back thousands of years. Is this true, and is it in the Bible? '.

Raymond

Dear Raymond: . My daughter, who also worked in Saudi Arabia for two years, brought back an identical item. It must be a skill learned in Arabic Merchant Sales Training 101. Yes, the:history of 'camel's saddles dates back for millennia, and it is in the Scripture.

Check out Genesis 31 :34.

Dr. John Heinl is a Bible historian and arclfaeologist. He is a writer and lecturer on biblicalbackgrounds a~ is the development director for the Diocese of Little Rock. Write him, at drdig@lampcom.com.

Remains of fifth-century Byzantine Church and first-century

hom~

of Peter.