02.02.07

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2,

2007

Newly professed nun realizes her calling after decades in needle trade By

DEACON JAMES

N.

DUNBAR

FALL RIVER - Those finding themselves on a long and winding road in discerning a vocation to the religious life might want to take the advice of newly professed Missionary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Sister Isalia Carvalho.

"Keep praying and working at it, don't give up hope, and take time from your busyness," said Sister Carvalho, 58.

An Azorean immigrant, her journey to God's service winded through 30 years as a sewing machine operator in Fall River, some college studies, and six years as a lay associate missionary in New York City and the Philippines before receiving a waiver because of age and accepted as a Tum to page 18 - Calling

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LIKE-MINDED - Students from Bishop Feehan High School, Attleporo, along with school chaplain. Father Mike Fitzpatrick and Campus Ministry Director, Carla Tirrell (front right), stop for a group photo during the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. They joined tens of thousands to defend the sanctity of all human life from birth to natural death. .

Young Catholics a~ center of March for Life'in Washington

By CAMERON DURANT SPECIAL TO THE ANCHOR

MISSION BOUND - Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Sister Isalia Carvalho is headed back to Manhattan to resume ministry with the elderly and the poor.

(Photo by Mike Gordon)

Editor's note: As The Anchor went to press, the following statement was released: With great sorrow, Bishop GeorgeW. Coleman followed news reports of the lost crew of the New Bedford fishing vessel, Lady of Grace, which was found this week in Nantucket Sound. Bishop Coleman extends his deepest condolences to the families of the four fishermen who are presumed to have lost their lives. He extends to these families the assurance of his prayers during this time of tragedy, and he is united with them in commending the souls of their loved ones to the loving mercy of God.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - "Change cannot happen unless our children find their voices." That message and many more echoed throughout the streets of Washington D.C. on January 22 as tens of thousands came together in the name of life to protect the unborn.

But what was more impressive than the speakers and the march's massive size was the youth involvement and their dedication to the Pro-Life movement.

Justice can only happen if the children oftoday are raised with a respect for life and with strong convictions. The students of Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth ex-

emplified the power that the youth have in the political process. Their support gives us all hope for the future.

Growing up in a devout Catholic family, my siblings and I learned about the right to life. In a family of four children one realizes that life is precious. I am grateful for all of the laughter, fighting, and tears, whether or not my responses reflect that. Throughout elementary school I gained a respect for life, no matter how small, from the example of the Holy Family. These years in school have given me a devotion to Mary because of the fervor in her yes to bring Jesus into the world. It is with this devotion that I felt the call to use my voice to fight for a culture of life.

Tum to page 20 - Youth

Fall River market owner not alone watching his native Lebanon burn

By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR FALL RIVER - While basketball courts, gridirons and ice rinks are the fascinating playing fields for many, a sad George Daou is watching his native Lebanon as thick plumes of black smoke rise from battle-rocked Christian areas in Beirut, where rival factions seek to topple a government.

"Lebanon has always been a playing field, a table top where outside factions have competed since Lebanon emerged from the war in 1990 and this is the most critical it has been," Daou, 49, said January 26 in the office of Daou's Market on President Avenue.

"The politics are very, very complex and not easily explained," he told The Anchor. "Meanwhile the government, the people and the Church are hurting badly."

Why Lebanon?

"Lebanon is coveted by the Gulf States for its beauty and lifestyle," said Daou. "It used to be called the Switzerland of the Middle East. While it has no great natural resources, it has a wonderful climate and scenery and ocean

view. AJI it had charismatic Christian and Catholic leaders who cAred for their country and their people."

It is co~sidered a gem by the French for its imperial and cultural ti~s, and by Syria as the sliver of empire that slipped its grasp. ., Lebanon is the push-me-pull-me slice of the Middle East "that seell1s always destined for turmoil. But the issues that have edged it to the abyss this time are bigger than normal," said! Daou.

"Whatever wonderful leaders Lebanon had in the past were assassinated by the Syrians," he said frankly.

In Syri'a, President Bashar aI-Assad is showing a keen interest. He has promoted and pushed the street fighting in Lebanon Jnd hopes it will unseat the Lebanese leaders.

"Syria Iland Iran are partners," said Daou. "Syria plays smart. It i~ next to Israel. And yet, no Israeli rockets have ever landJd in Syria. And Syria has maintained a friendship with lithe u.s. and Russia too. What's unfortunate is Tum to page 18 - Lebanon

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FROM THE VATICAN

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FEBRUARY

2, 2007

Message urges media to protect children from harmful programs

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - Media professionals, prior to offering violent or sexually explicit films, cartoons and video games as entertainment for children or teens, should ask themselves how young victims of abuse and exploitation would view such products, Pope Benedict XVI said.

In his message for World Communications Day, which will be celebrated May 20 in most countries, the pope called for cooperation among media, parents, schools and parishes to protect children from harmful programming and to educate them in choosing their entertainment wisely.

"Beauty, a kind of mirror of the divine, inspires and vivifies young hearts and minds, while ugliness and coarseness have a depressing impact on attitudes and behavior," said the message, released last week at the Vatican.

The pope chose "Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education" as the theme for the 2007 celebration.

The theme, Pope Benedict said, is important because of the growing influence of the media over people around the world, and especially over children, in some cases maybe even rivaling the influence of the school, the Church and the home.

While acknowledging that most media professionals try to do what is right, he said they often are forced

to compromise because of financial pressures.

"Any trend to produce programs and products - including animated films and video games - which in the name of entertainment exalt violence and portray anti-social behavior or the trivialization of human sexuality is a perversion," he said.

"How could one explain this 'entertainment' to the countless innocent young people who actually suffer violence, exploitation and abuse?" Pope Benedict asked.

In choosing what children will watch or listen to, the pope encouraged a mainly positive approach.

"Children exposed to what is aesthetically and morally excellent are helped to develop appreciation, prudence and the skills of discernment," he said.

The example of what parents watch and listen to, and access to children's classics in literature, fine arts and music, will help young people learn to enjoy and prefer what is beautiful, he said.

"So often freedom is presented as a relentless search for pleasure or new experiences," the pope wrote. "Yet this is a condemnation, not a liberation!"

"True freedom could never condemn the individual - especially a child - to an insatiable quest for novelty," he said.

The pope called on the media "to safeguard the common good, to uphold the truth, to protect individual human rights and promote respect for the needs ofthe family."

France's Abbe Pierre dies VATICAN CITY - Abbe Pierre, the white bearded founder of the Emmaus Community in France, dedicated his life to fighting poverty and serving the poor, Pope Benedict XVI said.

The 94-year-old priest, repeatedly voted the most respected person in France, died January 22 in Paris.

"Informed of the death of Abbe Pierre, the Holy Father gave thanks for his action on behalf of the poorest through which he witnessed to the love that comeS to us from Christ," said the condolence message signed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state.

IA.-Th;~~hor~

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When France was still recovering from the destruction of World War II, the winter of 1954 was particularly harsh and many people were living on the streets or in inadequate shelter.

Using a radio station, Abbe Pierre launched an appeal for help and began his "insurrection of kindness."

What began as an emergency assistance project has turned into the Emmaus Community, which includes shelters for the homeless in more than three dozen countries and strong advocacy for the right to housing.

OFF~f~~~::~::AP拢R ~~JHE----!

Vol. 51,

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service

Published weekly except for two weeks in the summer ar'ld the week after

I Christmas by the Catholic Press ofthe Diocese of Fall River, 887Highland Avenue,

Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 - FAX 508-675路7048, email: theanchor@anchomews.org. Subscription price by mwl, postpaid $14.00 peryear.

Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or l.IS6 email address PUBUSHER - Most Aeverend George W. CQleman i EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry tatherrQgerlancl!'Y@aoch0tn8ws.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejQllvet@aochomews.org : NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jimdunbar@anchomews.org REPORTER Mike Gordon mikegordon@anchomews.org OFACE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherrogerlandry@anchomews.org POSTMASTERS send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

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The faithful greet Pope Benedict XVI as he arrives for his general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/Daniele Colarieti, Catholic Press Photo)

WITHIN REACH -

American's donation lets pope peruse oldest copy of路5t. Luke's Gospel

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - A donation to the Vatican by a U.S. businessman enabled Pope Benedict XVI to peruse a few pages of the oldest existing copy of the Gospel of St. Luke and one of the oldest copies of the Gospel of St. John.

The Catholic businessman, Frank J. Hanna ill, and his family were present in the pope's library January 22 when Pope Benedict got his first look at pages from the famous Bodmer Papyrus XIV-XV. Hanna is the Atlanta-based chief executive officer of HBR Capital Ltd., an investment management company, and co-chairman of President George W. Bush's Presidential Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the Vatican's archivist and librarian, presented both the papyrus and the Hanna family to the pope.

The Bodmer Papyrus XIV-XV, handwritten in Greek around the year 200, contains "about half of each of the Gospels of Luke and John," Cardinal Tauran explained.

"With this new precious papyrus, the library of the pope possesses the most ancient witness of the Gospel of Luke and among the most ancient of the Gospel of John," he said.

For the presentation, Cardinal Tauran and his staff brought only a few pages of the papyrus to the papal apartment.

He invited the pope to '~come in person to the library to meditate, if! may say so, in front of that which can be considered a true relic, given that the Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord."

Claudio Piazzoni, vice prefect of the Vatican Library, told Catholic News Service January 23 that the new acquisition includes the oldest existing copy of the Lord's Prayer, which is found in Luke 11: 1-4.

The new acquisitions join the Bodmer Papyrus VIII, a copy of the First and Second Letters of St. Peter, which Martin Bodmer personally gave to Pope Paul VI in 1969.

Bodmer died in 1971, entrusting his vast library'to a foundation he established. The Gospel texts were acquired from the Bodmer Foundation in Cologny, Switzerland.

Piazzoni said he had no idea how much money was involved in the transaction, although it must have been "significant."

The day after the papal presentation, the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, dedicated a full page to the manuscripts.

Before the Bodmer documents were discovered in Egypt in 1952, it said, biblical scholars relied on references to the Gospels in the writ-

ings of the early Church theologians to assert that by the year 100 the Christian community had accepted only four Gospels as inspired texts.

The Bodmer Papyrus XIV-XV, containing the last two Gospels, the newspaper said, provides concrete evidence that the four Gospels were circulating among Christian communities as a complete set by the year 200, although the twin papyrus containing the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark has not been found.

The Vatican Library's experts have been working to restore the rough binding, which they believe was placed as a protective covering around the papyrus in the early 300s, when the text was already too fragile to use in the liturgy.

The binding was made of layers of parchment and paste and, in restoring it, the newspaper said, new fragments from the external pages of the text itself were discovered.

"The research on an ancient manuscript can never be said to be finished," L'Osservatore said.

Worcester priest named as Vatican's representative to international agencies VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope Benedict XVI has chosen Msgr. Michael W. Banach, a priest of the Diocese ofWorcester, Mass., to be the Vatican's representative to several international agencies based in Vienna, Austria.

Msgr. Banach, 44, has served in the Vatican diplomatic corps since 1994, most recently serving in the Vatican Secretariat of State's section for relations with states.

In Vienna, he will serve as the Vatican's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency;

the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization; the U.N. Organization for Industrial Development; and the local United Nations office.

Born in Worcester Nov. 19, 1962, he was ordained to the priesthood July 7, 1988.

After earning his degree in canon law, he entered the Vatican diplomatic corps and served at Vatican embassies in Bolivia and Nigeria before moving to the Secretariat of State.

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FEBRUARY

2, 2007

$

THE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH' $'

London Opus Dei .head complains to BBC over depiction on TV show

By SIMON CALDWELL 'CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE I,

OF AN ANGEL - Hanley Denning, a native of Maine and founder and executive director of Safe Passage, talks with children during the first day of school in 2005 in Guatemala City.

Hanley, 36, died in a January 18 car crash in Guatemala. She was known in that country as "the angel of the garbage dump" because she helped poor children escape garbage picking as a livelihood. Safe Passage provides free tutoring to poor children, who often grow up searching the garbage dumps for items to.be sold to support their families. (CNS photo/Joseph J. Delconzo)

THE PASSING

Guatemala's 'angel of the garbage dump' dies in tr~gic car crash

By AGOSTINO BONO CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - Hanley Denning, known in Guatemala as "the angel of the garbage dump" because she helped poor children escape garbage picking as a livelihood, died in a car crash in Guatemala.

Five days after her January 18 death at age 36, a documentary featuring Denning was nominated for an Oscar.

Denning died from injuries suffered when the car she was in collided with a bus on a mountain road outside of Guatemala City. She was a native of Yarmouth, Maine.

With help from a $10,000 grant from the Sisters of the Precious Blood in Dayton, Ohio, Denning founded Safe Passage in 1999, an educational reinforcement program for children whose parents take them daily to Guatemala City's garbage dump to look for recyclable articles that could be sold.

Denning, a teacher, had originally gone to Guatemala to learn Spanish so that she could better work with Hispanic students in the U.S. On January 23, "Recycled Life," a documentary in which Denning commented on the lives,of garbage pickers was nominated for an Oscar in the category for best documentary short by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

"She did so much in 'so little time. She was 100 miles ahead of the next person," said Mike Glad, writer and producer of "Recycled Life."

Glad said that after a nun took

Denning to the dump,'Denning de- fund~raising and organizational cided that helping the children who skills.

From the initial start in the abanpick through the garbage would be doned church, Safe Passage has her life's work.

A priest let her use an abandoned grown to where it now has an anchurch next to the dump, said Glad. nual budget of ,$1.6 million and a "She swept it clean, chased out the full-time and part-time staff of 100 rats and the next day she had 40 kids employees, mostly in Guatemala.

"Through her dedication and show up."

Convincing parents that educa- those working beside her, 550 chiltion is a better path for their chil- , dren are in school, destined to bedren than garbage Picking was dif- come productive, working adults with a hopeful future,". said Paul ficult for Denillng, he said.

Parents were used to taking their Sutherland, chairman of the Safe' children to the dump because the Passage board of directors, in a ' extra hands meant finding more re- statement on Denning's death. . After Qenning's death, her body cyclable things to be sold, he said.

Her program involved giving was taken to a funeral home in Guafree meals to the children, tutoring temala City, which mourners visthem, encouraging them to go to ited through the night, and then was school and providing gift packages taken to the school the next day. Her . of foods and medicines to the par- body was returned to Maine and funeral services were held January ents, he said. ''The gift packs were the reward 23.

She is survived by her parents, to parents for giving up their children to education," said Glad. "She Michael and Marina Denning of was a young, attractive girl. I was Yarmouth, and three brothers, Seth amazed how she could be such a ofWashington D.C., Jordan ofNew entrepreneur," he said of Denning's York City, and Lucas of Yarmouth.

LONDON ----= The 'director of Opus Dei in London has formally complained to the British Broadcasting Corp. over an alleged "defamatory portrayal:' of the organization in a televi.sion police drama.

The director, Jack Valero, said Ii two episodes of "Waking the Dead," shown on the BBC One channel January 21-22, depicted Opus Dei members as I~iolent and hypocrites.

"In these program~ Opus Dei was portrayed as an organization of murderers, thieves and adulterers who justify and cdver up evil actions while hiding behind a veneer of hypocritical piety and penitential rituals of self-fl~gellation," Valero said in a letter to the BBC. Valero told ,theBBC it was wrong to naine Opus pei and then attribute fictional characteristics to its members. He said it \,vould have been more fair to invent" an imaginary organization for the storyline.

He said the BBC'sd~piction appeared ,to have been lifted straight from the pages of ''The Da Vmci Code," the international bestseller

by U.S. author Qan Brown. The

book, which Opus Dei 'members felt depicted them in a negative way, was made into a 2006 film starring actor Tom Hanks.

Opus Dei, founded in 1928 in Madrid, aims to spread throughout all sectors of society an awareness of the call to holiness i~ ordinary life.

Valero also accused the publicly funded BBC of breaching its own guidelines committing it to avoid the perpetuation of ''prejudice and disadvantage which exist in our society."

"We hope that the BBC will investigate the matter and apologize," Valero said in a statement. "But more importantly, we want the corporation to think carefully before choosing again to portray us in this irresponsible way."

"Waking the Dead" is one of Britain's most popular police dramas about unsolved cases.

A BBC spokeswoman told Catholic News Service January 25 that the complaint had not yet been received.

"We will be replying directly to whoever has complained;' she said.

"We won't be making public the find.ings of our inquiries straiglit away."

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THE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH

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FEBRUARY

2, 2007

British cardinal seeks exemption for a~options by same-sex couples rently waiting for adoptio~ placements," the cardinal said in the letter, which was also sent to each member of the British Cabinet.

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said the agencies have had an "outstanding record of finding stable and loving homes for some of the most disadvantaged children in society - including children who have been abused, physically, sexually.and emotionally; children with disability and limited life expectancy; and large sibling groups who need a family where they can grow up together."

He said that Catholic agencies would be happy to refer homosexual couples to other adoption agencies that might be able to help them. ''There is nothing to lose, and children waiting for an adoptive family have much to gain, by our continu- THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH - Catholics receive Communion during morning Mass at Ham Long Church, also known as St. Aflthony's, in Hanoi, Vietnam, recently. Signaling continued improvement in ing successful collaboration," he said.

Vatican-Vietnamese relations, Pope Benedict XVI hosted the first-ever visit of a prime minister from The cardinal's intervention is the Vietna~'s communist government January 25. (eNS photo) most recent and most charged in a series of efforts by the bishops' conference to safeguard the future of the agencies.

The regulations, due to be enacted in England, Scotland and Wales in April, are aimed at outlawing discrimiBy CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE nation against gays in the provision of the fact that Catholicism hilS de- something that a few Vatican offacilities, goods and services.

HONG KONG - The Chinese veloped in China. He urged the ficials can manage," he added.

Besides complaints from the ~overnment said it ,appreciates the Vatican to take action to create the The Vatican qoes not recognize Catholic Church, the rules have led Vatican 'swillingness to have necessary conditions for normal- either the government-sanctioned Bishops' Conference of the to complaints from the Anglican bish- "constructive dialogue" with izing bilateral ties. ops and the leaders of other Chris- China, as expressed in a statement China insists the Vatican must Catholic Church in China or the tian grpups. Jewish and Muslim lead- issued after a Vatican meeting to sever diplomatic relations with underground Church's Chinese ers also have voiced concerns. discuss the status of the Catholic Taiwan and says the Vatican Bishops' Conference on Mainland The Catholic Bishops' Conference community in mainland China. should stop interfering in Chin,a's China. The underground commuof Scotland wrote Blair January 23 Catholics in China also wel- internal affairs, using religion as nity refuses affiliation with govurging him to amend the proposed comed the idea of a Vatican com- its excuse. ernment-approved Church adminregulations ~ that Catholic adoption mission to monitor tht< Church on "If the above two issues can be istrative structures. agencies would notbe "compelled to the mainland. properly resolved ... the prospect Bishop Wei, 48, suggested that placechildren with same-sex couples:' Responding to reporters' ques- of bilateral relations will be a Vatican commission could deal Anglican leaders also wrote Blair tions on the JaDuary 19-20 Vatican bright," Liu said. with practical matters and help asthe same day.

The Vatican considers relations sess bishop candidates. It also meeting and ,subsequent state''The rights of conscience cannot 'ment, China's Foreign Ministry with Taiwan a secondary issue and could help China and the Vatican be made subject to legislation, how- spokesman Lfu Jianchao said ,has said for several years that it is to normalize their relations, he ever well-meaning," said Anglican China always has regarded im- willing to move its embassy from added. He said he hoped members Archbishops Rowan WIlliamS ofCan- provement of ties with the Vatican Taiwan to Beijing if diplomatic of the commission would truly unterbury and John Sentamu ofYork. ''It as important and has made unre- relations are established with derstand the situation of the is vitally important that the interests mitting efforts in this regard. In a China.

Church in China and employ the ofvulnerable children are not ~legated regular press conference January Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph "Chinese way of thinking and doto suit any political interest."

23, he said China appreciates the ' Zen Ze-kiun was quoted as tell- ing things" in handling its affairs.

In the open-Church commuThey added that conditions should Vatican's willingness to dialogue ing a Hong Kong newspaper that not be created that make ethical so as to normalize bilateral rela- thee Vatican would establish a nity, Father John Baptist Yang choices "an obstacle to, rather than tions, reported UCA News, an commission on China to continue Xiaoting of Zhouzhi Diocese, in the inspiration for, the invaluable pub- Asian church news agency. to monitor the situation of the Shaanxi province, told UCA lic service rendered by parts of the The high-level Vatican meeting Church in the country and to pro- News that the Vatican's decision voluntary sector." was chaired by Cardinal Tarcisio vide a coordinated response to de- is "time~y and necessary." The Bertone, Vatican secretary of velopments there. Church sources priest also said he believes that state. About a third of the attend- confirmed the report to UCA such a commission could play "a Music Director/Cantor prophetic role" in normalizing ees were Chinese, including car- News.

Sino-Vatican nilations.

In mainland China, Bishop Jodinals and bishops from Hong St. Lawrence, Martyr Parish, New Bedford, is seeking a Music Father Yang, a theologian at' Kong, Macau and Taiwan, Others seph Wei Jingyi of Qiqihar, a Director/Cantor. The position entails directing the Parish Choir Shaa'nxi Seminary in a suburb leader in the underground Church were from Vatican offices heavily and serving as cantor at the lOAM Sunday Mass. 'It includes coinvolved in matters concerning community, said he would wel- of Xi' an, pointed out that the ordinating ml;lsic selections with an established organist and staff views of mainland bishops and come such a commission. the Church in China. of cantors who minister at three other parish Masses. The sucSince there is no Vatican-rec- priests '~are very significant" to In addition to stating the cessful candidate would have the ability to read music and the ognized bishops', conference in the commission, because they Vatican~s willingness to dialogue, necessary interpersonal skills to energize a parish liturgical muthe statement said Pope Benedict the China Church and China has are "the ones who have firstsic program. Compensation is commensurate with experience.

XVI would write a letter to Catho- no diplomatic relations with the hand experience and understand Please contact: Vatican, "the current process of best the Church in China." lics in China.

Rev. John M. Sullivan, St. Lawrence Church Liu said China hopes the handling the numerous affairs of Thei'r opinions could be ex, 110 Summer Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 Vatican can recognize China's the China Church is too slow," he , pressed through dialogue and 508-992-4251 policy on religious freedom and , said. The amount of work "is not exchanges, he said.

.LONDON (CNS) - The head of the English and Welsh bishops' conference told British Prime Minister Tony Blair that seven Catholic adoption agencies would close if the government forced them to place children with same-sex couples.

In a recent letter, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster, England, appealed to Blair to. grant the agencies an exemption from proposed gay rights laws called the Sexual Orientation Regulations. ''This is an appeal for fair play," the cardinal said.

He said that without the exemp,tion the Catholic agencies, which are partly funded by the government, would be forced to end a service that each year places more than 200 problem children with new families.

A 2003 document from the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said it would be "gravely immoral" to let same-sex couples adopt children. Pope Benedict XVI, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, headed the congregation at that time.

Last year ~n the United States, the Boston and San Francisco archdioceses changed their adoption practices because of civil laws requiring no discrimination against gay and lesbian couples seeking to adopt. The Boston Archdiocese announced it would stop providing adoption services. Catholic Charities in San Francisco eliminated some of its activities - such as home studies and adoption placements - and shifted its efforts to education, outreach, information sharing and linking prospective adoptive parents to county and private adoption agencies.

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said that closing the agencies was a ''wholly avoidable" outcome. He said the bishops believed it would be ''unreasonable, unnecessary and unjust discrimination against Catholics" if the government insisted that they must act "against the teaching of the Church and their oWn consciences by being ~bliged in law to provide such a service."

"It would be an unnecessary tragedy if legislation forced the closure of these adoption services, thereby significantly reducing the potential resources of adoptive families for the approximately 4,000 children cur-

Chinese government, Catholics welcome meeting with Vatican

FEBRUARY.2, 2007

·tt THE CHURCH IN THE U.S. ,

Bush highlightS.health care, war, .immigration in State of Union talk

By NANCY FRAZIER O'BRIEN .

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

couraged by the president's ac- he missed."a rare and ideal opporknowledgment of the health care tunity to put his leadership where WASHINGTON - The heads crisis that leaves'many individuals the rest of the nation is - behind of two national Catholic organiza- uninsured," he said in a statement. a health care system that works for tionstook some encouragement . "We lookforward to learning more everyone,' starting with those who from the priority placed on health about the president's proposal in are young and least able to provide for themselves." . care in President George W. Bush's the days ahead."

In his 49-minute speech, Bu.sh Bush said, "If American forces January 23 State ofthe Union mesalso discussed the war in Iraq, im- step back before Baghdad is sesage.

"It is encouraging that President migration, spending reforms, as- . cure, the Iraqi government would· Bush presented health care as a do- sistance to fight HIV/AIDS and be overrun by extremists on all mestic priority ..• especially given malaria abroad, education and a sides," he said. "A contagion of the urgency of providing health· .plan to reduceD.S. gasoline usage violence could spill out across the country - and in time the .entire care for 'millions of people in the by 20 percent in 10 years.

On health care, the president region could be drawn into the . U.S. who do not currently have any kind of insurance coverage," said . proposed changes in the tax code conflict." .Although the U.S. Conference Sister Carol Keehan, a Daughter of to give all Americans the same tax Charity who is president and CEO breaks on health insurance, as well of Catholic Bishops had no immeof the Catholic HealthAssociation. as greater assistance to states that diate.comment on the president's "At the same time, CHA is dis- cover their citizens who cannot af- talk, the U.S. bishops have called appointed that the president's plan ford insurance or who have persis- for s~eps toward a responsible transition in Iraq and have cited "our falls short of significant coverage tently high medical expenses.

'Sister Carol said the president's nation's moral responsibility to expansion and of truly addressing the weaknesses of our health sys- plan "would do little to expand help Iraqis to live with security and coverage to low- and middle-in- dignity in.theaftermath of U.S. tl;m," she added in a statement.

Father Larry Snyder, presid'ent come families who cannot afford military action."

On immigration, Bush asked of Catholic Charities USA,called monthly premiums or wait for an the lack of access to affordable end-of-the-year deduction to help Congres's to "have a serious, civil and conclusive debate so that you health care '.'a huge barrier to low- finance their health care."

She also decried Bush's failure can pass, and I can sign, compre~come families trying to lift themto m~ntion the State Children's hensive immigration reform· into selyes out of poverty."

"Catholic Charities USA is en- Health Insurance Program and said law."

Father Drinan, ex-congressman, Jesuit and 'law professor, deadat86

By NANCY FRAZIER O'BRIEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - Jesuit Fa~ ther Robert F. Drinan, the first Catholic priest to vote in the U.S. Congress, received praise and censure during his lifetime for his active involvement in politics.

Father Drinan, 86, died Sunday at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, where he had been treated for pneumonia and congestive heart failure for the past 10 days.

"Few have accomplished as much as Father Drinan an.d fewer still have done so much to make the world a better. place," said T. Alex Aleinikoff, dean of the Georgetown University Law Center, where Father Drin~n had taught since i 981.

But others saw Father Drinan as less praiseworthy and his celebration of a Mass January 3 at Trinity University in honor of new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who supports legal abort~on, brought new criticism.

In his Web log, or blog, for First Things magazine January 19, Father Richard John Neuhaus calle4 him "a Jesuit who, more than any other single figure, has been influential in tutoring Catholic politicians on the acceptability of rejecting the Church's teaching on the defense of innocent human life."

Father Drinan represented Georgetown University Law Cen·Massachusetts' 3rdDistrict in ter, he was admitted to the DisCongress for five terms, from trict of Columbia bar in 1950 and . 1971 to 1981, but his political ordained a Jesuit priest in 1953. career effectively ended May 5, . He was dean and professor of law 1980, when he announced "with at Boston College Liw.School regret and pain" that he would not fro~ 1956 to 1970, specializing seek re-election because of an or- in cnminallaw, constitutional law, der from his Jesuit superiors. . family law, philosophy oflaw and Father Pedro Arrupe, Jesuit su- church-state relations. perior general, said the order re.His electiol1: to Congress in flected "the express wish" of Pope 1970 made him the first priest alJohn Paul 11.lowed to vote'in the House of RepAt the press conference an- resentatives. Among Father nouncing his withdrawal from the Drinan's most historic moments race, Father prinan said his goal in Congress was his July 31, 1973, in Congress had been "to work for, introduction of the first formal justice in America and for peace . resolution to impeach President throughout the world." .'

Richard M. Nixon. "The time has But George Weigel,-a senior arrived when the members of the fellow at the Ethics g:nd Public House must seek to think the un. Policy Center in Washington and thinkable," he said from the a syndicated columnist, told House floor. . Catholic News Service JaIiuary 29 He served on the House com. that Father Drinan's reputation as mittees on the Judiciary, Int~rnal a fighter for human rights was Security, and Government Operatainted by the fa.ct that he was "on ,tions and on the House Select the.wrong side" of the abortion is- Committee on Aging, and chaired sue and played "a pivotal role in the Judiciary Subcommittee on the transition of the Democratic Criminal Justice. from 1979 to Party" from a Pro-Life party to 1981. one that ardently supported keep. He was a strong opponent of ing abortion legal. the Vietnam War and in a 1974 Born in Boston, Robert speech to the AmeriCan Academy Frederick Drinan received both of Religion'criticized the churches bachelor's and master's degrees of the United States for failing to from Boston College in 1942, the speak out on such political issues same year he entered the Jesuits. as the threat of genocide from After receiving bachelor of laws nuclear weapons and the danger and master of laws degrees from of worldwide famine.

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But Father Snyder !'said Catho- . economic prospects, health, labor lic Charities "strongly supports a protections and stability of all broad immigration bill ... thafpro- U.S. residents, including new-' . vides a path to lawfu~. permanent comers." residence and citizen~hip for the The Catholic Charities presi11 million to 12 milli'on undocu- dent praised initiatives to fight .men ted persons in the United hunger, poverty and disease I States" and that "creates greater abroad, such as the President's legal avenues. for nece~sary work- Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, ers to enter the United States in known as PEPFAR, and Bush's the future' ... and improves the . anti-malaria funding. il I'

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. The Drinan effect On Sunday, Jesuit Father RobertDrinan, one ofthe most scandalous figures in the history of U.S. Catholicism died. He was 86.

His obituaries focused on the fact that he was the first Catholic priest elected to Congress, the first to call forthe impeachment ofPresident Nixon, a passionate crusader against the Vietnam War, an intrepid foe of racism and an ardent proponent of government programs to support the poor and underprivileged.

They noted his impressive curriculum vitae, which, among other things, in- . cluded a 14-year stint as dean of Boston College Law School and a 26-year tenure as a professor at Georgetown sandwiched around his five terffis as a .

Massachusetts Congressman. .

They also acknowledged the fact tha): he ~ notjust a Roman Catholic but a Roman Catholic priest - was one of the most reliable and influential 'propo. nents of abortion on Capitol Hill.

If Father Drinan took his vows ofobedience seriously, he would have never run for office. He repeatedly ignored and disobeyed the explicit'commands of his Jesuit General Pedro Arrupe not to run. Acc.ording to canon law at the time, moreover, in order for a cleric to run for office, he needed the permission of the bishops of those areas he would represent. Father Drinan never recei,:ed the permission of either the Archbishop of Boston or the Bishop of Worcester who several times stated that they had not given it - but he ran and continued to run anyway. He cited a conflict between conscience and authority, but as the documented histories of the time suggest, his conscience seemed to have a conflict wi~ any authority that opposed what he wanted to do. That conflict between his conscience and authority was also evident in his support of the destruction of innocent children made in the image and likeness of the one whom Father Drinan in prayer would call Lord.

Father Drinan's advocacY of abortion preceded his 197H981 Congressional tenure. When he. was head of the American Bar Association's Family Law' section, he gave a 1967 interview to TIme magazine, in which he suggested that all abOrtion laws be repealed - so that" the law andsociety [not be involved] in the business of selecting !hose persons whose lives may be legally terminated." In other words; theonly persons who should be involved in select~ ing those lives for legal termination should be mothers. Six years later, ~r the Supreme Court handed down its despicable Roe v. Wade decision, Congressman Drinan wrote a public defense of it, .saying that it was a flawed but benefi-路 cial decision. Throughout his tenure, he supported every proposal to make abortion legal and to fund it with tax dollars. For one of his re-election campaigns, the National Abortion Rights Action League wrote a fund-raising letter citing bini amend whose reelection to Congress was essential to the abortion cause. . ito路 After Pope John Paul II in 1980 forced Father Drinan either to leave C;:ongress or leave the priesthood, then citizen Drinan continued to advocate for abortion. As the head of the Americans for Democratic Action, he repeatedly criticized the Pro-Life movement and authored fund-raising letters urging the moral necessity ofelecting pro-abortion candidates to CongresS'. The exClamation point came in 1996 when he authored an op-ed in the New York TImes defending President Clinton's veto of a ban on partial-birth aoortion. Cardinal .

John O'Connor said it well when he responded publiCly to Drinan, "You could have raised your formidable voice for life; you have raised it for death."

Despite his record, throughout his career Father Drinan always insisted he was Pro-Life. He said he was opposed to abortion on moral grounds but in favor of it on legal grounds. He routinely called abortion "virtual infanticide" - but, obviously, he ~as nevertheless in favor of a legal right to ''virtual infanticide." lt should be noted.that Father Drinan didn't make the distinction between "moral" and "legal" in any other area of his political life. He was opposed to the war on moral grounds and voted against funding it on every opportunity. He was opposed to racism on moral grounds and never once voted in favor of sqmelh1ng that was racist. . .

His distinction between moral opposition to abortion and legal support of it was political sophistry at its worst and it had major consequences. It charted the path for many others to follow. Soon many others, especially Pro-Life Catholic Democrats, would adopt a "personally opposed, publicly in favor" stance with regard to abortion. How could any layman be faulted for publicly supportiIlg abortion if the most prominent Catholic priest in public life did the same? More than any other figure, he was responsible for leading so many Catholic politicians astray. More than any other, he, a priest, changed the Democratic party int~ the party of abortion. Had he publicly and politiciilly used his moral authority and great personal skills to argue in f~vor of life, the political landscape today would be much different and perhaps millions ofunborn lives could have been saved.

Father Drinan told the Boston Pilot in November of 2004 that "abortion is a' small issue." It obviously was to him. Doubtless it is not so insignificant tothe one Father Drinan met face-to-face on Sunday, who said thatwhatever we do 'or fail to do to the least ofhis brethren, we do or fail to do to him (Mt 25:31-46).

And in terms of the littlest of Jesus' brothers and sisters in the womb, Father Drinan did a lot of damage and wasted an opportunity to do immense good.

We pray that the Good Shepherd, who alone sees the heart and therefore alone can judge, be mercifui on him, and help all of us in the Church to learn from, repair and repent of his mistakes.

as

The Anchor ~

FEBRUARY

2, 2007

the living word UNIVERSITY STUDENTS CARRY THEIR BELONGINGS AS THEY WALK PAST CARS THAT WERE DESTROYED IN CLASHES THE PREVIOUS DAY IN BEIRUT, LEBANON, BETWEENS~UOENTSLOYAL

, TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THOSE OPPOSED TO THE GOVERNMENT. (eNS PHOTO/ HUSSAM SHEBARO, REUTERS)

"THEY HEAL THE BROKENNESS OF THE DAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE SUPERFICIALLY, SAYING, 'PEACE, PEACE,' BUT THERE IS NO PEACE" (JEREMIAH 8:11).

A no-brainer For the second time in recent even acknowledged as a human occurred during the same week as month&, it becomes necessary to being. The very definition and worth the anniversary of the shameful devote this column to the absurdity of the child are determined solely by decision of Roe v. Wade, which of our laws regarding abortion, and legalized abortion, 34 years ago. whether or not it is desired by its . ' the ~esulting obligation of those who mother.

To~ther with more than 200 high consider theinselves to be Christians.

Surprisingly, in the case of Baby school students from the diocese,'I Last week, the secular media Ashley, the law has recognized her marked this anniversary by atten~i1g reported that a young woman here in undeniable humanity, in spite of the the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., peacefully Massachusetts has been arrested and fact that her mother didn't want her.. protesting the legality of abortion. criminally charged for attempting to It is only because the abortion ."abort her baby" during the seCond During the March, I had an attempt failed, and Ashley was interesting conversation with one of trimester of her pregnancy, by taking mistakenly born alive, that she has the students about his reasons for pills normally used to prevent ulcers. been recognized as a human being.

The baby, named Ashley, weighing Under our laws, if unborn child is being Pro-Life. He explained that one-and-one-quarter his parents never told him what to think about pounds, survived the '\F~G", abortion. They didit't have abortion attempt and lived /'(Putting Into for four days, before dying to. He simply learned a '~~th~Deep at a hospital. As a result, her little biology on the --i . mother has been charged beginning of human life, ,')\ - '1 (~.~ with the felony of procuring and a little about what Jesus

By Faf"erDfilvid.'1 taught the world, and he a iniscarriage, and may A. PiQnato . couldn't conclude othereven be charged with homicide. wise. As teen-agers would say, the immorality of abortion is a Interestingly, the case was killed in the womb, or even while "no-brainer." They know that reported as a "tragedy;' but without partially out of the womb, it is mention of the fact that the mother considered a legal abortion. But if abortion is what the Second Vatican could have destroyed her daughter Council called "an unspeakable the unborn chil~ is s~ddenly born, even inadvertently, she is 'considered crime" (Gaudium et Spes, 51). legally, if only she had gone to a .a child, with the full protection of It is refreshing, for sun:, to see this clinic and paid an abortionist to honest objectivity in the new perform the abOrtion. If that had the law. Because Baby Ashley died generation of the Pro-Life movement, been the case, she would have been after her abortion, her death is consisting of young people for whom exercising her constitutionally considered a crime. the truth about abortion is obvious. protected fundamental right.

If all of this is confusing to you, Some of these young people admit According to rulings of the Unite9 you are not alone. The inconsistency and irrationality in our laws and accept this truth, in spite of States Supreme Court, it remains a beliefs and influences to the contrary woman's "right" to obtain an cqnceming unborn life are the result from those most responsible for their abortion throughout the nine months ,of our society's stubborn insistence of pregnancy. But because she chose . on the lie of a right to abortion. moral formation. The conviction of to perform the abortion by herself, Although this'irrationality and our new, young Pro-Lifers is firm evidence of the work of the Holy and failed, she is charged with a absurdity may be recognized by Spirit, who is able to "convict the many, and rightfully criticized, it is crime.

This sad, and indeed, tragic case more likely that we Will hear protests world in regard to sin" (In 16:8).

Please God, these young people will highlights the blatant inconsistency of the prosecution of Baby Ashley's mother, rather than complaints about put into the deep of their faith in in our laws regarding unborn life.

Christ, by challenging our society to Usually, if an ,unborn child is wanted the fiction of a right to abortion. IT! by its mother, it is guaranteed the response, we must ask; "If it was adroit and correct the absurdity of our protection of the law, and any wrong to kill Baby Ashley with ulcer laws regarding abortion.

Father Pignato is chaplain at attempt to kill the child is considered . medication, why is it a "right" to kill . Bishop Stang High School in Norlh a crime. But if the child is not her with an abortionist's instruDartmouth and is secretOry to wanted by its mother, it is given no ments?" protection under the law, and is not Perhaps providentially, this case Bishop George lv. Coleman.

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FEBRUARY

$ The Anchor· $ You're free now Barbaro

2, 2007

You're free' now Barbaro. Run free my friend. God created you to run, and run you did - with grace and power and class. As a creature born to .run, you ran to the death.

Those of us who know sports are the better for your having been around. You were beautiful and proud, strong and agile.

You're free now . Barbaro. No longer do casts and slings, bandages and swimming pools strangle you. There will be no more operations, no more recoveries, no more therapy, no . more pain.

You fought the good fight and finally it was time to return to your Creator.'

Once again, you can stretch out those four magnificent.

pistons and gallop at full speed.

And now you're not limited to a mile-and-a-half oval. To paraphrase a popular airline commercial tagline, "You are now free to move about ... everywhere."

You're free now Barbaro.

Rarely does a tragic story like yours touch so many lives. I'm willing to wager that millions of hearts sank on that fateful May afternoon when your leg · crumpled beneath you. I know mine did. Your mind wanted to keep running, but your body

wouldn't let you.

Amazingly there were as many prayers lifted for you, as were hearts that were broken on that day. Perhaps hundreds of times more. , We watched you fight for life. For eight months we were buoyed by good news and deflated by bad news. Through it all you stood tall and you stood proud when other beasts wouldn't have stood at all.

You were an inspiration to millions and I for one am glad you're pain is over.

My only regret is that many of my hum,an cohorts don't seem to value human life as much as they did yours.

The country rallied around your recovery efforts, yet some of the same citizens fight for the

Cardinal says his committee's work is to be' faithful defe'nder of life

By SUSAN BRINKMANN. CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

example of how lack of respect for human life plays out in the world.

"It's a violation of human dig· nity and a violation of human life. ... Violence is not the answer to the problems ofthe world," he said. He echoed the se.ntiments Pope Benedict XVI expressed during an address to the ambassadors and ~p-

note" that disturbs marital intimacy . and contributes to a decline in society's respect for marriage and for life.

"Christianity is not a police force.

There is no way in the world you can force people, because these are not God's instructions (to force people)," he said. ''To challenge them, yes, to force them only by the com-

right to terminate the unborn or even in some instances, the elderly and the frail.

You were a beautiful animal graced with muscles apd tissue I, and bones and folks prayed for your well being. Yet, thousands of tiny human beings maturing in the womb - comprised of the same muscles, tissue and bones - are II killed each day - witpout so much as a second thought. It's a right, you know.

Mankind made me proud when it rallied behinq your cause, but shames mej'the way it treats its own. Surely you would agree that the life of a tiny human being is as valuable as the life of a racehorse.

You're free now Barbaro. Run free. like the Good Lord intended.

And while you're at it take some kids along for the ride. It'll be fun. You won't have any problem finding candidates; there are millions up there who never got to see the light of day. Show them what life is. Tell them how many people were pulling for you. They'll be amazed. Perhaps it will restore their faith in mankind, because believe it or not my good horse, you only saw our good side. davejolivet@anchornews.org

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Anchor, subscription weekend Feb. 3-4, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - The priorities of the U.S. bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities today are "the priorities we've had for years, along with new challenges to life, " said Cardinal Justin Rigali of Phila1 Year $14.00 Foreign $25.00 delphia, who is now chairman ofthe Name: - - - - - r - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - committee. pellingpow~oftruthiffie~­ "We are simply trying to Address: _ "Whatever wounds, weakens or not physical force." be faithful defenders of life All of those engaged in the at this juncture in the history destroys life anywhere is something City: State: Zip: _ of the U.S. and the world," that is to be banned from the world. " fight for life can never, stop extending the invitation of said the cardinal.

IF GIVEN AS A GIFT, THE CARD SHOULD READ: Christ, even to those who repeatCardinal Rigali was chosen lomats who serve at the Vatican.

From: _ chairman-elect of the Pro-Life com"The Holy Father said that the edly reject it, he said.

"We must pray for them, undermittee during the bishops' Novem- Holy See will never tire of reiteratStreet: City/State: _ ber 2005 general meeting, and took ing that armed solutions achieve stand them in their we~ess, try over as chairman at the end of the nothing," CardInal Rigali said. to convince them, strive to explain' Parish to receive credit: _ bishops' fall meeting in 2006, suc- "Violence is not an adequate solu- jt well," he aid. ~'And when we have ceeding Cardinal William H. Keeler tion to dealing with human beings. explained it, we must explain it Enclose check or money order and mail to: of Baltimore. · We need to find new solutions to again and again and again."

The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722 "Whatever wounds, weakens or our problems, solutions that take destroys life anywhere is something into account true respect for every that is to be banned from the world," . human life."

He said the pope also spoke . the cardinal told The Catholic StanWebsite: cssdipc.org dard & Times, his archdiocesan "about the mounting threats to the CAPE COD newspaper. "But we must start by natural composition of the family FALL RIVER NEW BEDFORD TAUNTON ATTLEBORO 261 SOUTH ST. showing respect to each and every based on the marriage of a man and 1600 BAY ST. 238 BONNEY ST. 78 BROADWAY 10 MAPLE ST. HYANNIS human being; recognizing the right a woman, and the attempts to P.O. BOX M - SO. STA. 508-997-7337 508-824-3264 508-226-4780 508-771-6771 508-674-4681 to life of each human being from relativize it by giving it tlie same • ABUSE PREVENTION , conception to natural death." status as other radically different • COMMUNITY ORGANIZING • ADOPTIONS: • COUNSELING Cardinal Rigali was in Washing- forms of union," the cardinal said.

INFANT • HOUSING COUNSELING ton for the annual March for Life "All this affects the family, and INTERNATIONAL • IMMIGRATION, LEGAL EDUCATION events January 21-22, which this therefore, the source of life.'; SPECIAL NEEDS AND ADVOCACY PROJECT Within the family itself, life is year marked the 34th anniversary • ADVOCACY FOR: • INFORMATIONIREFERRAL of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. being attacked by practices such as SPANISH & PORTUGUESE SPEAKING • INFANT FOSTER CARE Wade decision legalizing abortion. the widespread use of contracepFISHERMEN • PARENT/SCHOOL CRISIS INTERVENTION PERSONS WITH AIDS/IUV tives. In response, he said;the bishHe noted that between 45 million • REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT , PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES • HOUSING FOR WOMEN: to 50 million abortions have oc- ops approved a pastoral letter on CAMBODIANS ST. MATHIEU'S curred in the U.S. since 1973.

"Married Love and the Gift of Life" DONOVAN HOUSE ·'BASIC ENGLISH FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING Earlier that morning he cel- last November.

ST. CLARE'S/ST. FRANCES' • CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ebrated Mass for a crowd of youths It strongly supports natural fam• BASIC NEEDS SPONSORSIDP: at DAR Constitution Hallin Phila- ily planning, which "enables SAMARITAN HOUSE SOUP KITCHEN SPECIAL APOSTOLATES: delphia. There, he said, the high couples to cooperate with the body COMMUNITY ACTION FOR APOSTOLATE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES murder rate that has occurred there as God designed it." It adds that BETTER HOUSING APOSTOLATE FOR SPANISH SPEAKING since the tum of the new year is an contraception introduces "a false

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FEBRUARY

2, 2007

Life is worth living If you are elderly or spend much time around the elderly, you may have noticed how certain words or situations prompt the sharing of stories that are repeated with relish and vivid detail, in almost ritual form. That's the way it must have seemed to St. Paul's audiences as he so frequently regaled them with the standardized capsule version of our faith in Jesus' resurrection. The Apostle used every available opportunity to pass on that supremely important Christian doctrine.

He had surely learned his lesson on that afternoon trip to Damascus as he had an experience he could never forget.

The first reading puts us in touch with the call of another hero of our Tradition: Isaiah. With all the description of a captivating novel, we're brought in as witnesses to his unforgettable encounter with the

living God. In that aweinspiring Temple scene, Isaiah is commissioned as a prophet, declares his unworthiness for the task, is told that God will supply for his need, and then eagerly offers himself to the Lord.

In the Gospel we stand up on the shore and watch Jesus at work, transforming simple fishermen into co-workers of his for the Kingdom. St. Peter is so overcome

by Jesus' power and the corresponding awareness of his own sinfulness that he, too, protests his unworthiness but ultimately accepts the Lord's invitation.

Like all these men we meet today, all of us had an experience that inserted us into the mainstream of God's life and love. That experience was our baptism, and it had ~ the further effect of commissioning us as active apostles

to share with all people the meaning and power of Christ's resurrection.

Through baptism, we died with Christ to our old ways and rose with him to newness of life. And that has changed us in a unique and irrevers-

ible way.

Are we joyful, enthusiastic messengers of the power of the Resurrection? Do we realize its power ourselves?

Do we need to rekindle the flame of God's love and light symbolized by the Paschal candle used in baptism? Or, do we not believe that this could be our job?

I have heard it said that,

in years gone by, the laity were often told (subtly or outright) that their role in the Church was to "pay, pray and obey." Vatican Council II put that kind of thinking to rest for good, one w~>uld hope. The laity, by their baptism, are established as part of Christ's priestly people and, as such, have the privilege and obligation both to hear and to proclaim the Gospel.

Strengthened by the grace of the Eucharist, you are sent into the professional, social, cultural and political spheres with the good news of God's love for us revealed most effectively in Christ's resurrection, the pledge and promise of our own resurrection. The Resurrection declares powerfully that life is not .empty and futile. On the

contrary, life has a meaning and a purpose: union with God on high.

"I am not equal to the task," you say? Turn to God and let him do for you what he has done for all the other weak hum<\n instruments he has used throughout salvation history. Paul's realization that he was called to do God's work gave him the confidence to declare: "I can do all things in him who strengthens me." Like Paul, you must never tire of bearing witness to the joyful, hopeful message of Christ's triumph over sin and death; for it contains within it the good news, encapsulated in the title of Bishop Fulton Sheen's popular television show, "Life Is Worth Living!"

Father Kocik is chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and in residence at St. Michael Parish, Fall River.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat, Feb 3, Heb 13:15-17,20~21; Ps 23:1-6; Mk 6:30-34. Sun, Feb 4, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Is 6:1-2a,3-8; Ps 138:1-5,7-8; 1Cor 15:1-11 or 15:3-8,11; Lk 5:111. Mon, Feb 5, Gn 1:1-19; Ps 104:1-2a,5-6,10,12,24,35c; Mk 6:53-56. 'fues, Feb 6, Gn 1:20-2:4a; Ps 8:4-9; Mk 7:1-13. Wed, Feb 7, Gn 2:4b-9,15-17; Ps 104:1-2,27-30; Mk 7:14-23. Thurs, Feb 8, Gn 2:18-25; Ps 128:1-5; Mk 7:24-30. Fri, Feb 9, Gn 3:1-8; Ps 32:1-2,5-7; Mk 7:31-37.

Turning toward Christ, together . -discussion by dismissing it as a As discussion of deepening project of anti-Vatican II reacthe Church's liturgical reform tionaries eager for the priest to unfolds, a lively conversation will likely revolve-around the "turn his back to the people" should be resisted. As Father question of "orientation" during Mass: inight priest and people Lang wrItes, this cheesy soundbite "is a classic face in the same direction, toward the Holy Trinity, during example of confoundthe celebration of the Eucharistic ing theology and liturgy? Father U. M. Lang of the topography; for the London Oratory has done that crucial point is that th~ conversation a good service with Mass is a common act -his book, "Turning Towards the of worship where priest Lord: Orientation in Liturgical and people together, Prayer" (Ignatius, Press). Among representing the Father Lang's interesting points: pilgrim Church, reach - The question at issue is out for the transcendent God." "not so much the celebration of - This, in fact, is one of the Mass 'facing the people' as the orientation of liturgical prayer." primary purposes of the Eucharistic liturgy: it is meant to point Thus attempts to de,rail this

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"Christian existence toward Christ coming in glory." This goal can be lost in what sometimes seems the "closed circle" of our present orientation. A~d that loss can lead, in turn, to

what Father Lang calls an "eschatological deficit" in the liturgy - a deficient sense of liturgical prayer as our privileged participation in the heavenly liturgy, which anticipates Christ's coming in glory.

- This common orientation of priest and people toward Christ, returning in glory, is deeply rooted in the origins of Christianity. Then, it was a _ "matter of course" for Christians to turn in prayer toward the' rising sun - an orientation that was a symbol of Christ, the light of the world: and of the Church's hope for the Lord's return and the inauguration of the Kingdom of God in its fullness. (Interestingly enough, Islamic polemicists criticized Christians for this, claiming it was a ret\.Jrn to pagan

sun-worship.)

- In addition to this Kingdom-meaning of priest-andpeople looking together-toward the' returning Lord, common orientation during the Eucharistic liturgy also symbolized, once, "the journey of the pilgrim people of God towards the future..." It's worth discussing whether our present orientation contributes to a loss of the congregation's selfawareness as God's people on pilgrimage, through history, towards God's promises.

- The office of the priest, not his personality, is what counts or what should count. -Thus the priest ~'facing the same direction as the faithful when he stands at the altar, leads the people of God in a [common] 'movement toward the Lord,' who is 'the rising sun of history' ...." Practically, what does this mean? That consideration should be given to celebrating the Liturgy of the Word with priest and people facing each other (an orientation appropriate for listening and for teaching/preaching). Then" "f9r the liturgy of the Eucharist in the strict sense, in particular for the canon, it is more fitting that the whole congregation, including the celebrant, be directed towards

the Lord, and that is expressed by turning towards the altar," with the priest leading the congregation in the Eucharistic prayer as all face together toward Christ, whose.coming is foreshadowed in his Eucharistic Presence.

Can't be done? Each summer, during the Terrio MilLennio Seminar on the Free Society, that's precisely how we do it in the St. Hyacinth Chapel of the Dominican basilica in Cracow.

There, for reasons of space, a free-standing altar is impossible.

Yet no one thinks that the celebrant is "turning his back to the people;" everyone instinc-. tively understands that, together, we are turning towards Christ.

The liturgy can be reverently celebrated with priest and people facing each , other; that, too, happens in Cracow every summer - and in many other times and places, of course. The question is whether recovering the Church's ancient practice of a common orientation of priest and people during the Eucharistic liturgy wouldn't make such reverent celebrations'more likely, while helping the Church recover the Kingdom aspect of its Eucharistic life. That's worth a serious discussion.

George Weigel is a senior fellow ofthe Ethks and Public Polky Center in Washington, D.C.

FEBRUARY

$' The Anchor

2, 2007

9

be shy." past, which when I am writing is The task in the second half of still in the future. I don't know if life is becoming your personality I am coming or going. So, what's sausage. I had seconds. More opposite. That's wh~t "mid-life" new? than 80 women attended and is all about. In the old days I start well before the deadline even a few men. people had the good sense to up and spend a lot of time tweaking.

I begin with a confession. and die when they reached the I have consultants and proof "My name is Tim and I age of 40. I'm past !bid-life. I'm readers from Boston to Cape Cod am shy." People have to New York. The "Walking the 60 years old. How ~any people II always said to me "Oh, do you know who at,"e 120? My Talk" article last week underwent you're not shy." YES, I task in this half of life is to 10 drafts. No article is ever AM! As humorist I'm become more extroverted. fInished.

When I can't stand it I Garrison Keillor (who working on it. . any more, I submit it. Then I is very shy) writes, How did I get started writing a resubmit it three or four more "Would anyone say to a column? I was invityd by the times. Dave Jolivet, my poor woman or a Third executive editor, Father Roger editor, has trouble fIguring out if World person, 'Oh, Landry. He didn't realize I had the articles are corning or going. don't be such a woman! Oh, already volunteered to write for Welcome to my world. don't be so Third World?, And The Anchor but nobody took me People comment on my use of yet people make bold with us seriously at the time. Roger had humor. Humor is in the ordinary. I whenever they please and put an visited one of my Websites. He like to laugh, especially at myself. arm around us and tell us not to said he liked my style. Go fIgure. I use humor to make a point.

I accepted Roger'si9vitation.

Comedienne Carol Burnett once "Sounds like fun,"·was my said: "Humor is pain, given time."

This is very true. How joy can response.

Roger wanted a column about come from suffering will forever the daily life of a di6cesan priest. be a mystery. Theologians call it ing of our faith lives. If the I can do that. I am a "parish priest. the Paschal Mystery of the Cross Great Commission is the main My life is all about tpis particular and Resurrection. Coaches put it mission of the Catholic Church faith community in this particular very succinctly - "No pain, no here on earth, then like the village, but I try not to be too gain." Here's an example. Years main verb of a sentence, there parochial. Roger wanted a title ago, just to make small-talk, I are often many helpers that that tied in with The iAnchor's asked my physician what, in his determine where that mission nautical theme. We came up with opinion, was the worst disease. He "may, might, can, could, shall, the "Ship's Log." or will" be carried out. Your answered, "There are two. One is .

I have now published 65,000 faith life and my faith life are cancer. The other is clinical words in this space, Vt0re or less. depression (a chemical imbalthose helping verbs.

Not bad for a man offew words. ance)." Since that conversation, I And here is today's Where do I find the ~me? Easy have experienced both. I've not exciting epiphany...

- I don't watch TV. only survived but thrived. I figure all being· verbs are II People ask me how I come up I've earned the right to laugh. I've also helping verbs! with a new material every week. paid my dues. Believe me when I Man, that's fun. This MY problem is not f'iliding say I'm happy to be here. means that simply by something to say.

M); problem is Writing for The Anchor sure is being better Catholics, .

I having too much to say.

There a hoot!

Who knew? we are helping to , are a dozen topics floating Father Goldrick is pastor of further the main • around in my head atl any given St. Bernard Parish, Assonet. mission of the Church. This, in Comments are welcome at time. I must decide ~hich one to tuI11, helps the cause of write about. I never Have writer's StBernardAssonet@aol.com.

Catholic schools, which are a block. It's more like diarrhea of Previous columns are available significant part of that mission the brain. around the world. at www.StBernardAssonet.org.

I'm a homebody, so it's not Like being verbs in senthat I have a lot of lifb-experitences, the role of Catholic Montie Plumbing ences; it's just that I ponder what schools in our secular society . & Heating Co. experiences I do have. I look, I is often and easily overlooked..

Over 35 Years see, I hear and I remember. Then Like helping verbs to action of Satisfied Services I write. I'm a Writer. verbs, Catholic schools support Reg. Master Plumber 7023 Anchor articles must be and clarify the meaning and JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR. submitted a full week' before the mission of the Catholic 432 JEFFERSON STREET publication. To comp\icate Church. We can help to FALL RIVER 508-675-7496 matters, I date my articles in the highlight the importance of Catholic schools in the wide world of school choice by pointing out their unique contributions to our society and by helping them remain in existence. We can, could, FIRST Cq:MMUNION DRESSES " should, and must donate our OvER 700 DRESSES IN STOCK ~. time, talent, and treasure toward developing, sustaining, ..s • S.hoe,. I.I.SUP' + Olov" + + Ca"" ',' ..... . . and improving our schools as WHITE SUITS .,. we work toward a hope-filled future where our God, the I J , " SqoARTING AT $59.50 great I Am, "will be exalted in /1 i\··.\ Blue S'portcoats + Shoes + Shirts + TIes + Belts the earth." ....

1. 0 Heidi is an author, phot()gSUIT SALE - FEB. 19T11-24TH rapher, andfuU-time mother. % She and her husband raise All White Suits OFF theirfive children in Falmouth. orner of North Main & Field Streets, Brockton/Avon Line homegrownfaith@yahoo.com.

So happy to be here 2 February - Homeport .-.:...

"What's My Line" TV premiere (1950) I've had a new experience.

Call it "What's My Line?" I made my fIrst public appearance as a "newspaper columnist" Dottie Hiltz of Christ the King Parish, Mashpee, phoned me.

The Women's Guild· was looking for a speaker. "Sure, on what?" " ... About writing for The Anchor." She caught me offguard. "It's no big deal. I just write," I protested. Dottie added,

"We'll be serving breakfast."

That did it.

First I celebrated that community's morning Mass, by

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arrangement with the pastor, Msgr. Dan Hoye (who happens to be my classmate - class of '72). Then there was a big breakfast of scrambled eggs and

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To be Catholic . To celebrate National Catholic Schools Week, I thought it would be appropriate to pen a tutorial on the parallel makeup of sentences and of our faith lives. Yeah, we Catholic writers have a peculiar sense of "fun," but trust me, this is pretty cool.

Among the different parts of speech, being verbs are among the most difficult things for elementary students to find in a sentence. Without fail, when I first introduce the idea of being verbs to my home-school students, they are shocked.

"Verbs are action words," they say, "not being words. We learned that in kindergarten!"

So we playa game, where I say, "Okay, then, fill in the blank of this sentence: 'Abby _ a dog.' What verb completes that sentence?" After a lot of silly sentences, we end up with the following eight being verbs: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been.

What I have discovered is that being with God is as easily overlooked by grown-up Catholics as being verbs are overlooked by elementary-age grammar students. Like my students searching sentences for verbs, we naturally look for where the action is when we are searching our lives for meaning. Action, however, isn't the only spiritual work that has meaning. The straightforward state of just being with God is also an important spiritual work. States of being with God are things like simply believing that God is here with us, recognizing that his love is real, and trusting that his Word is truth.

In Exodus 3:14 Moses listens to the Spirit of God talking to him from within a burning bush. When Moses asks the spirit's name, the Spirit of God answers by saying, "I AM WHO I AM." God the Father's name for himself is the short sentence, "I AM." How cool is that?! Knowing

this detail, it makes perfect sense that in Psalm 46: 10 God instructs us, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

To make our grammar-tolife lesson even more fun, action verbs rarely stand by themselves in a sentence. They have helping verbs that support and clarify their meaning.

Helping verbs are the next hardest type of word for elementary-age students to recognize in a sentence. My students often think that if they've found an action word, then their search for a verb is over. However, if we look at the second part of Psalm 46:10, we can see that the helping verbs "will be" change the meaning of the action verb "exalted" considerably. If we only recognize the action verb of that sentence, we misunderstand its true meaning. "I will be exalted" is not the same as ,"I might be exalted" or "I should be exalted." Likewise, if we only recognize the action part of our faith lives, we misunderstandthe true mean-

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Teacher enjoys promoting Catholic faith in students

By MIKE GORDON, ANCHOR STAFF

"We begin and end the day with prayer and that's MANSFIELD - Kindergarten teacher Carole important," added Rush. "We pray at snack time and Anne Rush knows the value of a Catholic education. recess. On Fridays we say a decade of the rosary and She grew up with a strong sense of faith, instilled by if I forget the students are quick to remind me. They her family and now brings that love of God to her enjoy their prayer life." students at St. Mary's School.

Rush also was grateful for the dedicated staff and As she sat down to be interviewed at the parish the support they give her as well as the terrific acaschool she declared, "I love to teach. It's always been demic program they are able to offer to students. something I wanted to do even when I was younger.

She spoke with excitement about a recent project It gives me joy." they completed with students on virtues. A virtue was Rush,has been teaching kindergarten at the school assigned each month and students would practice that since it opened in 2002 and has 24 students in her virtue in school. "You wouldn't be able to talk about full-day kindergarten class. She is assisted by teacher's God and religion at a public school," said Rush. She aide Margaret Sarro. 'r-."........,.....,.-------,------,----,--:-T"""------, explained that makes for a She said it's greatto ~ ,> <'_. _:~ ~/"/ ," - : big difference and why she have ajob you look for- ,: '~.~ ..:; I ,~:Stoites enjoys teaching at a Cathoward to each day. ''The : .......~ , lic school so much.

"My faith was always students can't wait to '~\1!I~."Jl\z~JfJiiIIiii'''t!litJiiojtlUt~W~k . ':.':~,.' important when I was growget into the classroom'<-'/~>"r ' , and that gives you a ing up." She recalls her fagreat feeling and it's a ther praying often and her rewarding job." grandmother reciting a roThe 54-year-old sary each day at 2 p.m. "We Rush was born in lived the idea that a family Providence, R.I., and that prays together stays tonow resides in gether," said Rush.

Mansfield with her hus"Family and prayer are important to me. I want to band John. He is an assistant vice president .. be a good example for our for Arnica Insurance in students here and we all Rhode Island. They need God's love and supwill celebrate their 30th • ~, port. I offer up my school wedding anniversary ~ ~ day to him and pray during the drive in." thisAugustandarepar-', :_.{.,.._ ents of two sons. The Principal Riley said, "I oldest Matthew is ) Photo by Mike GordM have witnessed and learned

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studying law in VerCAROLE ANNE RUSH AND LINNEA CARCHEDI from her Catholic faith in mont. The youngest, action as a teacher, parishRyan, is a recent graduate ofUMass-Lowell. She and ioner and friend." her husband are members of St. Mary's Parish.

Asked what challenges she finds as a teacher, Rush She earned a bachelor's degree in child develop- cited making sure all needs of the students are being ment from the University of Rhode Island and also met and that no two days in the classroom are the holds a certificate in early childhood education. Rush same. "One must be prepared and ready to set a posialso has her master's degree in special education at tive foundation for the students." She added that it is Framingham State. essential that they develop "a love of learning" so they Before coming to St. Mary's she taught first grade may succeed in subsequent grades. "You have to make for seven years at St. Catherine of Siena in Norwood. it fun for students."

She also worked at St. Francis ofAssisi in Torrington, She has also worked, along with her husband, with Conn., for two years and prior to that taught in the the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults Program. public school system.

"Doing that made me appreciate my faith and workWhen Rush finished college, she worked as a ing with those who wanted to become Catholic is inteacher's assistant in Providence. She knew then that spiring," said Rush. She added that some of the canthe field she had chosen was a worthy one and teach- didates were parents ofher students and that it's amazing was the correct career path for her. ing to think of the impact a child's bringing the faith Rush was on the planning committee at St. Mary's learned in the classroom can have on a family. and helped to select school curriculum, books and Rush also taught Religious Education classes for design for the classrooms. "It was a lot of work, but it several years and worked alongside her husband as was worth it," she said. "Our school is really thriv- team members for marriage encounter weekends when ing." they lived in Connecticut.

School Principal Joanne Riley praised the efforts When she is not teaching, Rush.enjoys reading biof Rush in and outside of the classroom. ographies and romance stories. Her favorite author is ''We are privileged to have CaroleAnne Rush teach- Nicholas Sparks. She also does watercolors and "ening here at St. Mary's. She was instrumental in the joys a good movie." opening of our school as a dedicated member of its Rush has been a lector at Mass for 10 years and planning committee. She is diligent in her commit- said although she waS nervous at first, reading out loud ment to Catholic education and is true to the mission is something she has come to enjoy. "I think being a of the school." lector is fulfilling a call from God. It's something that Part ofthe reason Rush enjoys teaching so much is gives me happiness. I enjoy the opportunity to share the fact that ''throughout the day we have opportuni- the word of God with people." ties to talk about faith and incorporate it into our classThe Anchor encourages readers to nominate othroom." She said students learn to treat others how they ersforthe Person ofthe Week- who and why? Subwould like to be treated and they share their faith and mit nominations to: theanchor@anchornews.org, or have a great opportunity to learn more about it. God write to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA is everywhere throughout the school," she said.

02722.

I think

we can Every Catholic school once had a beginning. Like the "Little Engine That Could," every Catholic school is begun by a community that joins in one voice to say "I think we can."

For most Catholic schools do not begin with a large engine and a full train, but rather a "little engine" full of strength that can do what seems impossible, a "little engine" fueled by a community of faith and dedicated people who believe. They begin with a "little engine" that believes that one day the train will have enough cars to carry all that need to be carried to a destination through a journey in education and faith.

The students are of course the passengers who play an integral part in what the train can deliver.

They benefit from the education and the faith.

They are the , \: reason for the (, .\ train. " In my life I ,1\'11';:(\ have experi, enced being part 1'1 'I of two new Catholic

By Greta schools; one as a student, and the other as a parent and faculty member.

In my hometown of Patterson, Calif., Sacred Heart School opened in 1962 with just grades one-three, staffed by Dominican nuns. Over a 10-year period, the school grew to grades one-eight and 193 students, before closing in 1972. The new school building and convent were then used for Religious Education programs until 1983.

In 1982, a group of dedicated parents, many of whom were once Sacred Heart students, became the "little engine" once again. They pooled their resources, their time and their talent and reopened the school in 1983 with 21 students and two teachers serving kindergarten through grade two. Now, nearly 25 years later, the school has over 230 students in pre-K through eighth grade.

The next school is one much "closer to home," St. Pius X in South Yarmouth. In the summer of 2004, I first met Patricia Marmen, principal at St. Pius X School, when I registered our son, Max, and daughter, Marysa, in the new school. The new building was not yet open, but Marmen, an experienced and dedicated principal, and Margaret Keras, administrative assistant, were working all summer in their offices in the parish rectory, to get the school up and running. ,

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Msgr. John Smith, pastor, now retired, was in many ways, a true visionary behind the school, offering spiritual direction and pastoral guidance with his quiet, yet powerful presence. The generous parishioners, dedicated faculty and staff, and parent volunteers also played important roles in the little engine saying, "I think we can." And now I am a faculty member in the new Middle School and it is clear that the "little engine" is growing stronger as the school takes on "new cars" and "new passengers." We have been blessed with a new pastor at St. Pius X, Father George Bellenoit, who now offers his own special gifts and vision for the school.

The next school that will open in the Fall River Diocese, Pope John Paul II High School, is a

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very special "little engine." I had the opportunity recently to speak with the principal, Christopher Keavy, at a St. Pius X School basketball game in which our daughters were playing. Anyone who has met Keavy knows that his vision, dedication and enthusiasm for the new school are strong and unceasing.

Of course, there are challenges in opening a new school.

PJPII High School will open this fall with a freshman class and will therefore provide a different experience than a fully established school. In many ways, it will offer an opportunity to be part of something very special.

It is the chance to believe in and have faith in something you cannot see. The chance to be part of a "little engine" that says "I think we can."

And someday the "little engine" of the freshman class and the community of Pope John Paul II High School will surprise itself with its strength as it carries many more cars and many more passengers, a "little engine" filled with strength and faith and love that has grown through the years.

Greta is an author and illustrator. She and her husband George, with their children are members of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee.

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12

FEBRUARY

2,2007

DVD/video reviews NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of new and recent DVD and 'video releases from the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Air Buddies" (2006) Straight-to-video fifth installment in the live-action "Air Bud" series in which the sports-playing golden retriever, Air Bud, and his mate are dognapped by a flamboyant animal dealer, leaving it up to their litter of five "talking" puppies to undertake a rescue mission, while evading capture themselves by the poacher's bungling henchmen. The pups are adorable, but director Robert Vince's lightweight effort is padded with frivolous slapstick that may keep very young children adequately amused, but have older kids pawing for the remote. Don't be fooled by the DVD's cover art; there's hardly any of the doggy-sports antics of the previous four films. And while you could do worse for clean, family-friendly entertainment, if you're expecting "101 Dalmatians" - which this movie references - you're barking up the wrong tree. Bonus features include a cute "interview" with the pooch stars,an instructive segment on how to train your dog, and more. 'rhe USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classifu:'ation is A-I - general patronage. (Disney Home Entertainment)

lives in a positive direction, while competing for the regional high school championship. Despite formulaic plot elements, director Phil Joanou's uplifting movie shows the heart of a winner, with emotional performances and a surprisingly strong redemptive theme of second chances. Pervasive crude language, scattered profanity, intense street violence, brief sexual humor, football roughness and a few racial slurs.

Some parents may feel the worthy message 'makes it acceptable for older adolescents. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III adults. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

"Walk the Line" (2005)

Superior biopic about country singer Johnny Cash (a mesmerizing Joaquin Phoenix, who does his own singing). It traces the singer's childhood marred by the accidental death of his older brother, and his father's subsequent coldness, through an unfulfilling first marriage, and his budding romance with singer June Carter (Reese Witherspoon, who matches her co-star in the singing and acting departments), drug dependency, and ultimate survival.

Director James Mangold deftly balances the personal drama with plenty of good music::, making for first-rate entertainment, though the touching romance between the ''Employee of the Month" married Cash and Carter - de"Gridiron Gang" (2006) spite cautious treatment by Inspiring truth-based sports scriptwriter Dennis - iso, drama about a juvenile detention naggingly problematic from a ba- . camp probation officer (Dwayne sic moral, as well as Catholic, per"The Rock" Johnson) who orga- spective. Some rough and crude nizes a football team from among language, ethnic slurs, ,;gcenes of the teen inmates (including Jade domestic violence, drug and alcoYorker and David Thoinas) to hol use,and an extramarital relateach them discipline and team- : tionship. The USCCB Office for work, and through his tough-love Film & Broadcasting classificadetermination succeeds in instill- tion is A-III - adults. (Fox Home ing" self-esteem and turning their Entertainment)

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lC~' ~\l()viile lCa.I[)~Ulllte~ NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of ~atholic Bishops.

"The Hitcher" (Rogue) Thriller about two college students (Sophia Bush and Zachary Knighton) menaced by a homicidal stranger (Sean Bean),to whom they offer a ride while driving through New Mexico while on spring break, subsequently finding themselves framed for the trail of murders left by the killer. Director Dave Meyers' remake of the 1986 horror-action movie starts off promising psychological suspense, but ultimately follows the original's predictable road map of bloody excess and plot implausibility, capped by a flippant act of violent retribution. Strong graphic and gratuitous violence, vigilante justice, a shower scene with partial side nudity, much rough and crude language, and an instance ofprofanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is 0 - morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R - restricted.

Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Primeval" (Hollywood Pictures) Bloody action thriller about an American television news crew (Dominic Purcell, Brooke Langton

aDd Orlando Jones) dispatched to a bedraggled ex-soldier (Pierce civil-war ravaged African nation to Brosnan in an impressively gritty report on a giant crocodile terror- change of pace) flees relentless purizing the locals and to bring the suer (Liam Neeson) and posse, beast back alive with the help of a while enduring bitter cold, raging seasoned hunter (Jurgen Prochnow) waterfalls, gunshot wounds and and an Australian reptile expert other vicissitudes before the film (Gideon Emery). Allegedly inspired climaxes with a redemptive conby true events, director Michael frontation in the desert. Director Katleman's mostly suspense-free and co-writer David Von Ancken "Jaws" rip-off is undone by pays homage to iconic Westerns of schlocky effects and a script that the past, but his script is disappointtries to wedge social-conscience ingly routine, and much of what's commentary into its B-movie plot. here feels merely like an uninspired Much gory violence, grisly images, retread. Though the leads are solid, recurring rough and crude language there's an enjoyable cameo by Anand some sexual humor. The gelica Huston, and the resolution is USCCB Office for Film & Broad- admirably moral, there's a "tirecasting classification is L - liIll::.. somely contrived air to the whole ited adult audience, films wh9se enterprise. Sporadic brutal if reaproblematic content many, adults sonably restrained violence, a would find troubling. The Motion mercy killing, a gruesome bullet Picture Association ofAmerica rat- removal and some crude language ing is R - restricted. Under 17 re- and profanity. The USCCB Office quires accompanying parent or for Film & Broadcasting classificaguardian. tion is A-ill - adults. The Motion "Seraphim Falls" (Samuel Picture Association ofAmerica ratGoldwynlDestination) ing is R - restricted. Under 17 reDownbeat, post-Civil War chase quires accompanying parent or film with surrealistic flourishes, as adult guardian.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m.

Scheduled celebrant is Father Kevin Cook, a parochial vicar at St. Patrick's Parish in Wareham, and a vocation coordinator for the New Bedford Deanery.

FEBRUARY

'The Anchor

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"On the other en~ of the line was garian connection,' nor in the many the frightened vOIce of Cardinal other reconstructions in circula(Angelo) Sodano, the secretary of tion." Likewise, he said, he gave no state. We turned the television on, credence tojournalistic theories that and the pope was able to see those the disappearance of a Vatican City est aides, including then-Cardinal dramatic images, the collapse of the teen-ager, Emmanuela Orlandi, was towers wi~ so many poor victims in any way connected to the papal Joseph Ratzinger. shooting.

The pope concluded that he imprisoned inside."

The pope passed the rest of the - Toward the end of the book, would remain in office, saying that day going back and foIth between Cardinal Dziwisz described the God had called him to the papacy the television and the chapel to pray, pope's final moments. and that "God will call me back, in s a i d . . ''It was 9:37 p.m:We had noticed he the fonn that he wishes," Cardinal "He was worrie~, strongly worthat the Holy Father had stopped Dziwisz wrote. ried that it wouldn't end there, and breathing.

But only in that precise "At the same time, John Paul U that the attack could set off an endmoment did we see on the monitor also established a specific proceless spiral of violence," Cardinal that his great heart, after continudure for giving his resignation, in I ing to beat for a few moments, had Dziwisz wrote. case he would not have been able Recalling when the pope was stopped."

Someone, he said, to carry out his ministry as pope to the very end," Cardinal Dziwisz shot in 1981, CardiQ.al Dziwisz said blocked the hands of the clock to he was convinced h,is assailant, the mark the hour of the pope's passsaid.

Turkish gunman MehrnetAliAgca, ing. Those around the pope's bed' "So, as one can see, he considwas "sent by someone who thought began singing a UTe Deum" of ered this possibility," he said. the pope was dangerous." He said thanksgiving, not a requiem. .The book recounts other behindit seemed logical to conclude, at "We were crying. How could the-scenes moments, according to least as a hypothe~is, that the Soonenotcry!Theyweretearsofboth excerpts provided by the Italian viet KGB was involved - an alle- sadness and joy. It was then that all publisher, Rizzoli: gation made later by J\gca when he . the lights in the house were turned - On Sept. 11, 2001, shortly described a supposed "Bulgarian on.... And then, I can't remember. after two planes crashed into the connection" to the ~hooting.

It was as if it had suddenly become twin towers in New York, the phone . ''In dark.

It was dark above me, and it But Cardinal Dziwisz added: rang in the pope's office in Castel fact, there was no belief in the 'Bulwas dark inside of me," he said.

Gandolfo outside Rome.

New book offers inside glimpse of John Paul Ii's life in Poland, Rome

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE ROME - Pope John Paul II consulted with top aides about possibly resigning in 2000 and set up a "specific procedure" for papal resignation, says a new book by the pope's fonner secretary.

The pope eventually decided . that it was God's will that he stay in office, despite the illness that left him more and more debilitated, wrote Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland, the late pope's closest aide.

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In the book, "A Life With .Karol," Cardinal Dziwisz offers an inside glimpse at key moments of Pope John Paul's life in Poland and his 26-year pontificate. The book was being published in Polish and Italian in late January.

In his last will and testament, made public after his death, Pope John Paul strongly hinted that he had considered resignation as he prepared to turn 80 in the year 2000.

Cardinal Dziwisz said the pope, in fact, decided 'at the time to consult 'on the question with his clos-

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AS FEW KNEW HIM - This is the cover of "A Life With Karol," a new book by the late Pope John Paul II's secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland. (CNS photo/Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo)

Hardly a Vatican prisoner: Late pope made many secret outings ROME (CNS) - Pope John Paul IT made more than 100 clandestine trips to ski or hike in the Italian mountains and was rarely recognized by others on the slopes, his fonner secretary said.

Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz described the secret outings in a book of memoirs, "A Life With Karol," which was being published in late January. An excerpt appeared recently in the Rome newspaper II Messaggero.

The cardinal; who was Pope John Paul's personal secretary for 38 years, wrote that the pope, an avid skier and hiker in his youth, often felt pent up inside the Vatican.

In the winter of 1981, the pope, his secretary and two of his Polish aides decided to make a "getaway" to the mountains from the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo.

They packed into a car owned by one of the priests, in order not to raise suspicions, and when they passed the Swiss Guard post one prelate opened wide a newspaper to . hide the pontiff in the back seat. . Then they drove to the central Italian ski town of Ovindoli without an escort, winding. through mountain towns and carefully respecting the speed limits.

Once they arrived, they chose a deserted slope and the pope was able to ski. all day long. On the way

back, the pope smiled and said, "We did it!" It was the first of many such escapes, the 'papal secretary sai.d.

In the beginning, no one - including journalists and other Vatican officials - knew about the mountain excursions.

And the odd thing was that, for a long time, no one recognized the pope, Cardinal Dziwisz said. He would dress as other skiers, with a ski jacket, beret and sunglasses, taking his place in line at the lifts with the rest.

One of the first people to recognize the pope was a young crosscountry skier, a boy no more than 10 years old, who was lagging behind the rest of his family when he came upon the papal party. He asked them if they had seen his family go by, and one of the priests pointed to the trail.

At that moment, the pope arrived at the bottom of the slope.

The boy looked astonished, pointed to the pontiff and. began yelling, "The pope! The pope!"

One of the pope's irides intervened quickly: "What are you saying, silly! You'd better think instead about hurrying up, you're going to lose your group."

The boy skied away, and the pope and his friends quickly returned to their car and headed for Rome before the word got out.

aWe cannot direct the wind, hut we can adj-,ut the sails."

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The Anchor

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We often hear fellow Catholics ask what difference does it make if same-sex marriage is allowed or why cannot the Church be more loving and tolerant on this matter? Unfortunately, there is more to this ;ssue than love. Translating it into a demand to uproet traditional marriage becomes a battle against obliterating societal nonus and natural law.

Civil rights can only be given by the people. The irony is that, althougQ the court, after some mythical interpretation of the Constitution, told the legislature to make a law legitimizing same sex marriage - .they never did. The validity of same-sex marriages is questionable and still on the books is that marriage in Massachusetts is between one man/one woman But it is even more than that, because what is planned to follow an acceptance ofsame sex-maITiage becomes a steep descent into the total eclipse of the moral values of society.

In 1972 the 475 member groups of the National Coalition of Gay Organizations convened in Chicago and developed 17 federal and state "demands" which became the manifesto ofthe movement. Over the years they have been reaffirmed, including at the 1987 March on Washington.

Some ofthe 17 demands include: forcing acceptance of homosexual behavior as normal and forcing acceptance of same-sex marriage; and repealing laws against male and female prostitution extending legal benefits to all who cohabit, regardless of sex or numbers. .But the greatest concern should be the real targets of the GLBT - our children, even now being subjected to "Health Education" classes, graphic films and discussions, books, guest speakers and GLBT teachers intent upon recruiting kids into experimenting with gay sex. Your legislators recently voted up to three million tax dollars annually - beginning this year - to increase this kind of"diversity education." Same sex marriage is only the camel's nose under the tent. Unless this is fought to defeat, our children will inherit a sexsaturated, degenerate society. Do we not want better fortbem?

Pat Stebbins East Sandwich Small newsprint getting harder to read Having been a subscriber to The Anclwr since its

your efforts to promote discrimination against homosexuals that I felt compelled to write you. After years, decades and generations of protecting serial pedophile priests from law enforcement, how you people can pretend to be experts on morality is beyond my compre- . hension.

I hope that you ~ill consider that all people are only here on earth for a short time and it is not fair to persecute those who are a bit different, particularly when they do not threaten us. If you are so sure they are going to hell, why persecute them in this life too? I also hope that you will exercise your free will and give this some thought.

To paraphrase E.O. Wilson and Robert Trivers:·Religion is collective self-delusion to which people are genetically predisposed.

Paul W. Swanson Franklin School plan demands faith, sacrifice In response to the criticism that has been voiced by

some in response to the announcement of the plan for the Catholic schools of New Bedford in the January 12 edition of The Anchor, we of Communion and Liberation would like to express the followingjudgment.

We firmly support Bishop Coleman in his decision, which clearly arises from a serious and prudent consideration of a difficult situation. While sacrifices are asked 'of some, we would encourage all to find in Christ's sacrifice and obedience to his Father the courage and strength to accept and offer a simple and intelligent obedience to the bishop's plan.

We feel that the heart of this crisis is that the faith is no longer lived as a source of life, judgment, clarity, and a criteria for life, and indeed an experience ofthat greater life that Christ promises. We so often see it simply as a collection oftraditions and doctrine, which are cold and sterile, and ultimately uninteresting. Therefore, we are not willing to make the sacrifice to communicate this faith. We feel it urgent that the renewal of the schools, which our bishop wishes to launch with this reform, be accompanied by and enlivened by a return to faith as a lived experience in our families, our communities, and our parishes. We have learned from our founder Msgr. Luigi Giussani that only through a courageous comparison ofthe proposal made to us by our faith with the deepest needs of our hearts can we come to perceive Christ once again as the one who alone has the words of eternal life.

beginning, I'm familiar with the various changes in format.

I have always enjoyed reading your paper from beRobert Sampson ginning to end but now find it almost impossible to Lay Responsible read regarding the small print of most of the articles, For the New Bedford Community especially the editorial. Using a magnifying glass is not convenient: of Communion , and Liberation A good majority of your readers are seniors, like me, and even though I have 20/20 Vision in one eye, I Letters are welcome but the editor reserves the find trying to read such small print a major task.

I enjoy the paper but am disappointed not to be able right to condense or editfor clarity if deemed necessary. Letters should be typed, no longer than 100 to read it all.

Mary J. Tessier words and should include name, address, and tele-

FaIl River phone number. Letters do not necessarily reflect the -editorial views ofThe Anchor. Letters should be sent to: The Anchor, Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 7, Retrieved from the recycling bin Normally I would just drop your publication in a Fall River, MA 02722-0007, or emailed to recycling bin but I was so upset by the article about fathen'Ogerlandry@anchomews.org.

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Our Lady of Fatima to Sister Lucia, Blessed Jacinta and Blessed Francisco July 13, 1917

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"I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If . my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace. If not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and pers~utions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father WIll have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace wjll be granted to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved, etc."

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Public advocacy part of Church work with immigrants, says cardinal

ST. PAUL - The Church must supplement its ministerial programs

with political advocacy if it is to meet the needs of the growing immigrant population in the United States, said Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony. Some people question the Church's role in politics or challenge the Church's position on immigration reform, but the Church's mission is not limited to people's spiritual well-being, the cardinal said. "Our concern is with the whole person and his or her human development," he said at an immigration conference at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The January 18-19 conference was sponsored by the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity and the Archdiocese of S1. Paul-Minneapolis. Catholics should form their opinions on immigration by considering the capacity of the United States to accept immigrants and the benefits immigrant workers provide to the nation's economy, the cardinal said.

Franciscan University announces new international business program

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio - Franciscan University of Steubenville will launch a new concentration in international business next fall, to help students respond to the increasingly global nature of the business world.

Program requirements will include four semesters of. a foreign language and nine courses in international business; eight of which will be taken during the junior year abroad in Gaming, Austria. Don Materniak, chairman of the department of accounting, business administration and economics at Franciscan University, said in a statement that the new global economy "requires business leaders equipped to communicate, manage and make decisions across national and cultural barriers."

Religious leaders urge renewed Israel-Palestine peace initiative

WASHINGTON - Several Catholics were among nearly 40 U.S. religious leaders who called on President George W. Bush to launch a new Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative. "We ask that you make IsraeliPalestinian peacemaking, in the context of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace initiative, an urgent priority for your administration," the leaders said in a letter delivered to the White House and to all members of Congress last week. Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando, Fla., chairman of the international policy committee ofthe U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was among the five chief signatories on the letter. Among 34 other signers joining in were eight representatives of Catholic organizations. "The United States and the world will become safer as confidence grows that the U.S. is willing to take leadership and work cooperatively with the United Nations and other nations to resolve this conflict," the letter said.

Aid official says Iraqi refugees seek out Catholic Church in Jordan

JERUSALEM - The Catholic Church is the first point of reference for Christian Iraqi refugees when they arrive in Jordan, said the director of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine in the Jordanian capital, Amman. "Usually the first thing they do is come to the Church. It is the first contact they have with other people and with relatives," said Ra'ed Bahou. "Then they learn about the projects we are doing." About five percent of the estimated one million Iraqis who have sought refuge in Jordan over the past two years are Christian, he said in a telephone interview with Catholic News Service. Between 1,000 and 2,000 Iraqis have crossed the border into Jordan over the past six months, he added. The Pontifical Mission is an emergency relief agency under the direction of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, a New York-based humanitarian and support group founded

by Pope Pius XI. Christians urged to end divisions in face of global problems

ROME - In the face of global instances of racism, poverty and conflict, Christians need more than ever to end their divisions and proclaim the Gospel with one voice, Pope Benedict XVI said. He made the comments at a recent ecumenical prayer service, the liturgy that closed the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, in the Rome Basilica of S1. Paul Outside the Walls. After entering the brightly lit basilica, the pope was joined on the altar by representatives of Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran churches. Below the main altar was a recent architectural opening that allows visitors to glimpse what Church officials have identified as the tomb of S1. Paul. The pope said he was happy that the tomb is now visible to pilgrims and called St. Paul a "tireless builder of unity" in the early Church. After the service, the pope walked into the crypt area and peered through the opening to see the saint's burial place.

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The Ancho~ ~

15 Catholic Citizenship's director re'signs; praised. fo~: marriage amendment work BOSTON - Lafry Cirignano, director of Catholic dtizenship, 'and a moving force in the ~uccessful vote by the Massachusetts Legislature January 2 on the constifutional amendment to define marriage as the union ofone man and one woman in the Bay State, has resigned.

Philip D. Moran, on behalf of Catholic Citizenship'sboard ofdirectors, announced last !:week that the board had accepted Cirignano's resignation. At the same time he said the board congratulated the former direc!!

tor for, his "invaluable assistance" in the marriage amendment's progress.

The board also noted that because of Cirignano's efforts, it feels confi-. dent that Catholic Citizenship will continue to be a major force in legislative issues of mterest to the Catholic laity.

"Because of his outstanding work in the area of grassroots organization, Larry has been tapped to head up a national organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., dealing with samesex marriage and other issues in a number of states;' Moran reported.

Our Lady's .

Monthly Message From Medjugorje CROSS OF HOPE ~ Bishop William Slattery of Kokstad, South Africa, preaches at a Mass in Queenstown, South Africa, to welcome the World Youth Day cross January 7. The cross, seen at left, was welcomed by nearly 1,000 youths in the province of a country where'18 percent of adults are HIV positive. Father Matthias Nsamba, the youth chaplain of the Aliwal North Diocese', said that after the ceremony bishops sent young people home with their own crosses to take into hospitals and homes where people are dying of AIDS. (eNS photo/Koadi Ma!hibedi)

Priest: Wor~d Youth Day cross a sign of hop~ for South African youths

By BRONWEN DACHS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

AIDS by Taking Ownership of cross.

Pautos Mbovu, an adult vol- Your Life in Christ the Healer."

"Each bishop at the ceremony CAPE TOWN, South Africa unteer in Aliwal North's diocesan -. The World Youth Day cross is youth council', sang loud wel- sent his own young people home a sign of hope for the many coming praises in Xhosa' when with their own crosses that they young people devastated by the cross arrived, Father Nsamba will take with them into hospitals and homes where people are AIDS in the "South African prov- said. dying .

A tradition to ,have a praise of AIDS," Father Nsamba ince of Eastern Cape, said a singer at 'major celebrations in Catholic youth chaplain. said.

Before reaching Australia, the The cross was recently carried South Africa, "the singer intercross has been carried through through the largely rural prov- prets the feeling of the people at the ceremony, representing them several AfriCan countries as a ince which has high unemploysign of SOlidarity with the suffer~ ment, poverty and inadequate and speaking on their behalf," ing populations of the continent. education in a country where Father Nsamba said. more than 18 percent of adults Mbovu ~'praised the cr.oss, Then it will be taken on a pilare HIV positive, s~id Father praised the depth of faith in the grimage through Oceania, arrivMatthias Nsamba, the youth province and its young people's ing in Sydney in July 2008. , More than 100 youth 'leaders chaplain of the Aliwal North Dio- .spirit of working together, and he cese. emphasized that the cross has from five dioceses attended a Father Nsam1:)a told Catholic come t,o bring us hope," sl.lid Fa- Church-run training workshop ther Nsamba. . before attending the event. They Ne~s Service in a telephone inThe South African theme for were trained in leadership and terview that few job. opportunitie~ for young people exist in Eastern the World Youth Day cross and, taught about AIDS, and have Cape, which he called "a province the icon, given by Pope John Paul helped to' "form structures in of death, disaster and despair."

II to the youths of the world, is: their dioceses that will support a The young people "go to big "ChristComes to Heal Our Land sustainable youth ministry," Facities to look for jobs but struggle and Its People:' Prevent HIV/ ther Nsamba said. ·to find work without proper education and training, and many turn to prostitution, drugs and . " CHRISTIAN PRO-LIFER crime," Father Nsamba said.

HELPER Ho\yever, he said, "the cross ApOSTOLIC is a sign of hope."

ADVISOR TRUE Nearly 1,000 young people RESTORER turned out for the January 7 event HOLY MEDICATOR at a farm neat Queenstow'n in· ANTI-ABORTIONIST Eastern Cape to welcome the ONE World Youth Day cross and icon CAREGIVER THOMAS PASTERNAK LOVING of Mary which are being' taken Phannaclst INSTRUCTOR around the world before the 2008 INFALLIBLE 202 Rock St. SPECIALIST World Youth Day in Sydney, AusFall RIVer tralia. " CHARITABLE . THERAPEUTIST Four bishops led a vigil to reThe NalIonaI eathoIc PhannIcIsls Guild of the United Slates 508-679·1300 ceive the cross from young peo~le who had traveled by bus from Cape Town to hand overthe

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January 25, 2007 Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina "Dear childr~n! Put Sacred Scripture in a visible place in your family anq read it. In this way, you will come to know prayer with the 'heart and your thoughts .will be on God. Do not forget that you are passing like a flower in a field, which is visible from far but dis~ppea.r:s in a moment. Little chil- , dren, leave a sign of goodness and love wherever you pass and God will b~ess you with an abundance'of His blessing.

"Thank you for having responded to my call."

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YOUTH PAGES路 ,

FEBRUARY

2, 2007

STARS OF THE DAY - These students from St. John the Evangelist School in Attleborp were among many who participated in its annual talent show. The event included singing, dancing and skits and raised' more than $400 for a local charity. From left: Siri Devlin, Kelsey Sheehan, Brianna Burley, Bridget Gay, Meiissa Sheehan. In front is Michelle Sheehan.

THE BIG 'READ' DOG- Students from the Pre-K class at St. Pius , X School in Sout_h Yarmouth spent time with Clifford, the Big Red Dog, during its. recent book fair. Pictured from left: William Wolaszek, Kevin Sullivan, Stephen Bilski, Gillian Arden, Abby, Benoit and Addison Hoben. .

COLORING HER WORLD Alessandra' Cavallo, a preschooler from Espirito Santo School, works on a coloring lesson during a recent class at the Fall River school.

THE WHOLE WORLD IN THEIR HANDS - First-graders in Margaret McCormick's class at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in New Bedford have fun coloring a giant mural they and their classmates created.

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AMONG THE VERY BEST :- These students from Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro receive congratulations from Principal Bill Runey upon being named commended students in the 2007 National Merit Scholarship Program. They placed in the top five percent in the nation. Standing from left: Alexandra Dainis, Lukas Tiziani, Nathan Barry, Principal Ru.ney, Martin Finn, Donald Burlone and Bryana Killion. Seated: Bridget Endler, Ishani Choksi, and Abby Melesciuc.

FOR THE PEOPLE - Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, Junior Class officers share a moment together. They plan events for their peers and organize fund-raisers. From left standing: Lauren Ketschke, treasurer; Erik Robichaud, president; and Anna Nash, secretary. Seated is Riley Sullivan, vice president.

FEBRUARY

YOUTH 'PAGES

2, 2007

House unanimously approves resolution honoring Catholic schools "Catholic schools ensure a WASHINGTON (CNS) The House of Representatives broad values-added education unanimously passed a resolu- emphasizing the lifelong detion recently praising Catho- velopment of moral, intelleclic schools "for their ongoing tual, physical and social valcontributions to education and ues in America's young for the key role they play in people," the resolution added.

Noting that more than a promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for quarter of the students in Catholic schools are from mithis nation."

The vote was 428-0 in fa- nority backgrounds and 14 vor of H.R. 51, sponsored by percent are non-Catholics, the Rep. Daniel Lipinski, D-Ill., resolution said the schools and co-sponsored by 73 other . "prqduce students strongly dedicated to their faith, valmembers of the House.

HI understand how impor- ues, families and communities tant Catholic schools are in by providing an intellectually providing a spiritual, moral stimulating environment rich and intellectual foundation for in spiritual, character and students," Lipinski said in a moral development."

The theme of Catholic statement. "My 12 years of Catholic education in the Chi- Schools Week in 2007 was cago Archdiocese provided "Catholic Schools: The Good me with the knowledge, dis- News in Education."

"As a complement to our cipline, desire to serve and love of learning that enabled . public schools and private inme to become a teacher before stitutions, Catholic schools provide top-quality, values-added I was elected to Congress."

The resolution was approved educations for millions across less than a week before the start this country," Lipinski said. "As of Catholic Schools Week, Janu- we recognize Catholic Schools Week this year, we must pay ary 28-February 3 this year.

It said U.S. Catholic special tribute to the thousands schools "are internationally of dedicated ~eachers, parents, acclaimed for their academic students and countless others excellence, but provide stu- that continue to support and dents more than a superior promote strong Catholic values and educational excellence." scholastic education."

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But first let love out

By CHARLIE MARTIN LET LOVE IN You wait, wanting this world To let you in And-you stand there Afrozen light In dark and empty streets You smile hiding behind A God-givenface But I know you're so much more Everything they ignore Is all that I need to see Refrain: You're the only one I ever believed in The answer that could never be found The moment you decided io let love in Now I'm banging on the , door of lin angel The end offear is where we begin The moment we decided to let love in I wish Wishing for you to find your way And I hold on for all you need That's all we need to say I'll take my chances while You take your time' with This game you play But I can't control your soul You need to let me know You leaving or you gonna stay (Repeat refrain.)

There's nothing we can do about The things we have to do without The only way to feel again Is let love in There's nothing we can do about The things we have to live without The only way to see again Is let love in Hear me Wanting this world to let you in Sung by Goo Goo Dolls

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Copyright 2006 by ramer Bros/ Wea ' It's been four years sInce the Goo Goo Dolls putllout a new disc. Reviewers seem split over this new album. Thlb group's edgy, high-energy work is missed by youngerl!listeners, while their parents~ generation appreciates the mOfe mature, mellow sound. " No matter what '~our age or what you think of their current music, the CD's title song offers listeners much to consider. "Let Love In" asks us to reflect on what we think lovd' is. What often passes for lo~e in our society, and certaiQly what primarily fills today's pop/rock, is more akin only to sexual attraction or emotibnal dependency.

The song's character expresses an important insight about love's true nature: "The end of fear is whe~e we begin the moment we deCided to let love in." He is right, but he doesn't go far enou.gh.

It's not I just letting love in that matters, . but letting love out.

So how do you accompl'Ish this, that is, let lo~e out? As with many choices thatldefine who we are and why we are on this . e~rth, take specific; and small steps.

First, practice *ndness toward everyone you know.

Even when othersiitalk poorly about you or put you down, refuse to respond with spite to their attitude. Justiwalk away.

Next, don't judge others.

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Remember, that is God's job.

Intelligence, socia1 skills, good looks or plenty of money do not determine anyone's value. Treat others as your equal even if they are different from you.

Reach out to those whom most of your friends exclude.

For example, attempt to greet and talk with that student in your school who doesn't speak English very well. Or spend time with those who are mentally challenged. Further, choose to have lunch with that'girl or guy no one wants to sit with.

As you do these things, will your friends think that you've lost it? Perhaps, but those who have decided to let love out don't allow others' opinions to diminish the caring that they can bring to this world.

Are you likely to get hurt if you love so freely? Assuredly!

Should you let the fear of this hurt keep you from giving what dwells within you? Only you can decide.

Each of us is made in the image and likeness of God, the One who manifests perfect love.

Thus, guess what's inside you?

That's right, lots and lots of love!

Jesus told us: "You are the light for the world." Your choices and actions reveal how much light you are willing to shine into the world around you.

Your comments are always . welcome. Please address: Charlie Martin, 7125 W 200 S, Rockport, Ind. 47.635, or email: chmartin@swindiana.net.

I!

Ask God for a second chance i

Peter once asked Jesus, reconciliation, the examination As in romance,. we desire to "Lord, how often shall my of conscience focuses on three see the loved one on a regular brother sin against me, and I key personal relationships: their basis, not just once a year. The forgive him? As many as seven life with God, their life with more we reveal ourselves to times?" Jesus said to him, "I do others; and their life within each other, the deeper that love not say to you seven times, but themselves. becomes. Are you honestly and seventy times seven times" If we sincerely intend to sincerely able to say you love (Mt.l8:21-22). begin a new life, it involves risk, the risk God's forgiveness is indeed abundant. His mercy is everlastof confession. Do you ing. Sometimes, however, it is have confidence in very difficult to ask for that God in the midst of forgiveness. We find ourselves troubles? The sacrawaiting and waiting and always ment is not a one-time waiting for the right moment. experience, because we We know we need changes in . are not one-time our lives, the desire to make sinners. We need to something new f<;>r our lives. So discipline ourselves to why do we wait? receive this sacrament on a your neighbor as yourself? Are The need for the savior regular basis. The sacrament not you selfish in your love, trying cannot wait for tomorrow. We only provides forgiveness, but to monopolize others, fearing need him now, today. But we, also helps us to heal our spiri~ that their love for others cannot receive what we do not tual wounds and grow stronger diminishes their love for you? ask for. There's no denying it- in our rehltionship with God. Do . Are you honest in' conversation our lives need constant improve- you see God and love him in with others, willing to appear ment. other persons? Give God a in a bad light rather than lie to When our youths gather to second chance by accepting his them? Do you honor your celebrate the sacrament of love. It's there for the asking'. parents .and others wh.o carry

the burden of leadership in the world? You may pot always agree with your parents, but trust them in their judgment it comes only fr~,m love. Give your parents a second chance.

Sibling rivalries.I,Who doesn't . hav~ those? Step back and give them a second thance.

Everyday we are reminded of the world's troubles; we live them and experiI' ence them. We pray for a better F0rld and how we can begin to fix it.

It must begin with you.

Do you accept being the person you are, realizing that you're the very best of God 1s creation? Do you treat yourself with respe~t and reverence? ~ave you mistreated路your own body, God's holy temple, through improper use of drugs, alcohol or sex? Have yoq excused yourself from guilt because

"everyone else is doing it"?

How can you, or any 路of us, fix the troubles of this world if we cannot fix our own? Sometimes we feel closed in and there's nowhere to tum. You cry "Help."

Jesus reminds us: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Mt. 7:7).

Every morning I am reminded of God's abundant love and forgiveness. As I drink my coffee I read the inscription on my favorite coffee mug: "Dear God, if we miss the bus, will you send another one?" One of the most incredible things about God is that, even though he is so perfect, though he never gets outsmarted or makes a mistake, he is patient with us when we mess up. Ask God for a second chance.

Ozzie Pacheco is Faith Formation director at Santo Christo Parish, Fall River.

I 18

$ The Anchor ~

Lebanon

Continued from page one

that Syria uses Hezbollah to play its cards." ''But we cannotjust blame Syria," said Daou. "So many other nations are out for themselves."

Also among five key player nations is Tehran.

Iranian's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad loves the turinoil and sees it as an asset as he seeks to'exert his Middle East power - via nuclear ambitions.

Almost every Arab state has a particular interest in what's going'on in Beirut. So too Israel. in total, just under 40 countries showed up at the recent donor conference dubbed Paris ill, the third staged by France in is former colony's honor since 2001.

It began anew January 23, when clashes broke out dwing a nationwide strike in Lebanon, where rival factions live cheek by jowl. In its wake, three were dead and 170 wounded, "and this is very sad and painful to me;' said Daou.

What's worse, he said, is that new actions on a greater level are planned if the government does not accede to opposition demands for the formation of a new government.

Some Lebanese Christians support the Syrian-backed Hezbollah movement - which calls itself the Party of God - and its Shiite Muslim allies, whose strike aimed to topple the country's U.S.-supported Cabinet. Others have aligned themselves with the government ofPrime

Minister FouadSiniora, a Sunni Muslim.

On January 23, the day of the strike, clouds ofsmoke hung over the capital, Beirut, and the stench of scorched rubber and gasoline filled the air as all main arteries into the capital and its airport were blocked by piles of. rubble, burned-out cars and burning tires.

Scores of Hezbollah-allied protestors milled around each blockade, the Christians among them easily identified by their bright orange scarves and hats that signify the Free Patriotic Movement, founded by former Gen. Michel Aoun, a Maronite Catholic.

"Aoun and others in a war had re:ally destroyed basically the Christilin part ofLebanon," said Daou, a member of St. Anthony of the Desert

-

Maronite Catholic Parish in Fall River. "Aoun had even attacked Syria." After that he was escorted to France and was in exile for several years.

'The warring and violence makes me very heartsick, as I was when my wife and daughters suddenly had to flee Lebanon last July, when we visited to celebrate the 4Q-day Memorial Mass for my mother who died in May:' It became a nightmare as the grocer and his family found themselves in the middle of a war and facing a perilous escape route that took them through Syria and Jordan before finding a flight to Paris, France and back to the U.S.路 At that time, an Israeli offensive began in Lebanon in response to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by the Islamic militant group Hezbollah.

In recent weeks, Daou's father, Habbib Daou, 84, fled from the family's native town ofBybIos, a village with old Phoenician traditions, also known as Jbeil, which is 22 miles north ofBeirut. He is currently residing with the Daou family in Montreal, Canada.

The Daous have dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada. ''I have many, many relatives in Lebanon, including my 87-year-old grandmother on my mother's side, lll}d they are in my prayers constantly.

Everyone is affected. Right now, the Free Patriotic Movement supporters are contending they are exercising their democratic right to protest against a U.S.-~upported Cabinet that lost is legitimacy when all five of the its Shiite ministers resigned last No-. vember;' said Daou.

The grocer was also aware that the leader ofthe predominantly Christian Lebanese Forces, Sarnir Geagea, asserts that the Patriotic Movement is not acting with a democracy or freedom in mind, but it engaged in a revolt to take over the government. ''According to Lebanon's Constitution, the presidency, now held by Emile Lahoud, is designated for a Maronite Catholic;' Daou explained.

"But that might change;' he added. "~oud remains iIi office backed by the Hezbollah and its Islamic militant leader Hassan Nasrallah."

Days before the strike, the

PRACTICE THE DEVOTION OF THE FIRST SATURDAYS, AS REQUESTED BY OUR LADY OF FATIMA' On December 10, 1925, Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucia (seer of Fatima) and spoke these words: "Announce in my name that 1

promise to assist at the hour ofdeath with the graces necessary for the salvation oftheir souls, all those who on the jirst Saturday of jive consecutive months shall: 1. Go to confession; 2. Receive Holy Communion; 3.. Recite the Rosary (5 decades); and 4. Keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries ofthe Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me."

In a spirit of reparation, the above conditions are each to be preceded by the words: ''In reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

Confessions may be made during 8 days before or after the first Saturday, and Holy Communion may be received at either the morning or evening Mass on the first Saturday. .

Paid advertisement

FEBRUARY

2, 2007

Maronite patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah P. Sfeir, criticized Continued from page one Lebanon's opposition and pro-government factions for no.t reaching a. candidate.

Her 1995 meeting with the In what is truly a story of per- little known Missionary Sisters of compromise.

Cardinal Sfeir remained neutral in severance - 10 years actively the Sacred Heart of Jesus "came his position betweenthe two camps, pursuing her vocation as a mis- about in a funny way," Sister saying at Mass on January 21 that sionary Sister - she finally pro- Carvalho related. those who opted to strike and those fessed her vows in the Sacred "I had never heard of them begoing to work both had the right to Heart of Jesus Congregation at fore. But after having told a priest ceremonies Dec. 22, 2006 in of my ardent desire over many their路respective decisions.

"But some time ago, Cardinal Rome. years to join a missionary order The celebration continued of nuns, he invited me to come to Sfeir sent his bishops in various areas ofLebanon in an attempt to make January 7 at St. Michael's Parish Portugal where he introduced me peace among the parties, but unfor- in Fall River's north end, where to-them." she had been a member since tunately it failed," said Daou.

At the time she had already "Christians and Maronite Catho- corning to this country in her t~ens been a sewing machine operator lics are among the many leaving in 1966. making men's jackets at Santoro "With my parents and siblings Manufacturing on Davol Street in Lebanon because the warring and the bad economy. The whole system is in this country present I repeated Fall River for 30 years'. Remark~ paralyzed," Daou reported. "While my vows JailUary 7 at the 8 a.m., ably, although she had never comChristians are in the majority and Is- and 10 a.m. Masses at St. pleted high school, she had lamics the minority, it could be Michael's celebrated by Father learned English and had earned an changing;' he said. 'The good people Edward E. Correia, our pastor. associate's degree at Bristol Comare hurting. I don't think any of the There was a nice reception and . munity College in 1991 and was sides in this warring want death and many people came,~' she reported. studying part-time for her In coming days Sister Carvaiho bachelor's degree in history at destruction. Even the Christian parwill be returning to Manhattan on UMass-Dartmouth. ties are divided, sad to say."

President Lahoud is asking for full New York City's lower east side It didn't tak~ long for her to cooperation of his army in order to to join five colleague Sisters in an grasp 路the gift of vocation God was apartment and resume a broad offering her after so many years restore stability. ''The appeals for calm issued by range of ministries to the elderly of discernment and prayer. She Lebanese political and spiritual lead- poor. She will also be a catechist left the mill and college in July ers ... must be translated into practi- to young Hispanic immigrants 1997 to join the Cabrini Mission cal steps;' Lahoud said last week. He and prepare those studying for the Corps working among the poor in is calling for a national unity govern- Rite of Christian Initiation of Manhattan for a year.

Adults.. ment.

"My problem was that I was How did her religious vocation over the age of 40, the 'The economy at present is chaCongregation's cut-off age at otic, and as a business owner, this come about?

"I always had a good relation- which women could be accepted," hurts me greatly. And because of the ship with God and the priests and she explained. "The Sisters also terror there is also a night curfew," religious at St. Michael's helped wanted to see if! could handle the reported Daou.

Even as Beirut burns, five differ- foster my feelings to serve the experience of mission that I ent world capitals are watching along- Church. I was very much involved prayed and longed for." with the parish. I always had a After a year with the missionside Daou.

Prime Minister Siniora is watch- great devotion to the Sacred Heart ary corps she extended for another ing from Paris with $9.8 billion in of Jesus. And I had hope and year, and that turned into five aid pledged in his kitty from more trusted in God to lead me. By years. In 2002 she was missioned than a dozen benefactors at a donor 1995 it all came down to where to the Philippine Islands, where she served for a year. conference in the French capital. He would I serve him," she said.

While most women would find "I was still feeling a strong pull wants to use it to show he has clout a problem beginning religious life to be 'a missionary Sister, and pewith international power brokers. ''I hav~ no idea what he is going at age 58, Sister Carvalho says re- titioned for membership, and the to do with that money;' Daou said. alizingher vocation in the work- request for an exception because He wondered what could be done to ing congregation founded by of age was made to the fix an unstable economy straggling America's first and the well- congregation's Mother General for the past 17 years. "I fear Beirut known saint, St. Mother Francis Sister Lina Colombini in Rome; .. could become another Baghdad with Xavier Cabrini, is a bright and and in 2003. it was granted," Sishappy fulfillment after what ter Carvalho joyfully told The Ana civil war."

But the funds could go a long way amounted to more than a decade chor.

After nearly 10 years of misin determining the stability of U.S. of formation.

Ironically, like St. Cabrini, sionary service as a laywoman, Secretary ofState Condolezza Rice's new plan for the Middle East as well Siste.r Carvalho's mission life and two years of Apostolic service as the fortunes of Iran, Syria and began in another country. Sister in Evora, Portugal in 2005 and Hezbollah, and even the change of Cabrini, a native of Italy, who 2006, she professed her vows Depeace talks between Damascus' and founded the congregation there cember 22 before Sister in 1880, came to New York in Colombini as a Missionary Sister the Jewish State.

Meanwhile in Beirut, Islamic 1889 at the request of Pope Leo. of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at cerMilitant leader Hassan Nasrallah is XIII to serve the Italian immi- emonies in Holy Redeemer keeping a wary eye on things. But the grant population. When Isalia Church on Via Sicilia in Rome.

"Everyone wonders why I death and mayhem he did not antici- was 18, her parents,. Jose and pate could chip away at his repute and Dilia (Reis) Carvalho, emigrated chose our Congregat~on because from Mosteiros, a village in St. it is not well known .. , We have Hezbollah, Daou agreed... ''Lebanon's former present, Amin Michael, the "green island" of only 500 nuns worldwide. We are Gemayel, a member of Lebanon's the Azores, settled in Fall River spread out on six continents and most prominent Catholic political and became members of St. ministering in 16 countries," Sisfamily, has called for an end to the . Michael's Parish. She is the old- ter Carvalho said proudly.

"But simply this is where strike and violence;' Daou said. He est of five children.

When they later moved to God led me and I'm very happy added quickly, ''Let's pray for that."

Also contributing were eNS Somerset they remained faithful for that," she said with a wide parishioners of St. Michael's. smile. and wire news service reports.

Calling

"''J..

FEBRUARY

,

2, 2007

The Anchor ,

19 !!

Sister Madeleine M. Cormier SSJ; taught in several diocesan schools

Around the Diocese ~

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I

ends. For more information call Manuel Benevides at 508-999-4561.

Eucharistic Adoration

EAST FALMOUTH - First Saturday devotions, including the Fatima Rosary will be held tomorrow at St. Anthony's Church immediately following the 8 a.m. celebration of Mass.

It is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council No. 813. For more information call 508-540-1808.

FALL RIVER - Sacred Heart Church, 160 Seabury Street, will host exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Monday following the 8 a.m. Mass until 2:30 p.m.

FALL RIVER - First Saturday devotions will be held tomorrow beginning with the celebration of Mass at 9 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. Exposition, adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will follow.

WEST HARWICH - Perpetual Eucharistic adoration is held at Our Lady of Life Chapel at Holy Trinity Church.

For more information call 508-4324000.

IPro-Life Activities

.o==J

ATTLEBORO - Pro-Life advocates picket and offer prayers on Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at 4 Women's Clinic at the comer of Park and Emory streets in Attleboro, where abortions take place on those days.

Participants are needed to pray and picket to help save the lives of unborn children.

HYANNIS"':"" The Cape Cod ProLife Group welcomes volunteers to pray the rosary on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. in front of the abortion clinic located at 68 Camp Street.

[HeDling Masses ATTLEBORO - A Hispanic healing service will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. La Salette Father Pedro Chingandu will lead it.

For more information call 508-2225410.

Lectures/Presentations FAIRHAVEN - Hospice volunteer training sessions are ongoing through February 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, located on Center Street. Hospice volunteers provide support for patients and family members coping with terminal illness.

A light lunch will be provided. For more information call Jo-Ann Beaulieu at 508-992-6278.

FALL RIVER - A soup kitchen is open on Mondays from 5-6 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church Hall, 160 Seabury Street. Volunteers are welcome to assist beginning at 4 p.m.

FALL RIVER - The Catholic television program "Good News For Life," sponsored by the Communications Department of the diocese, will present the next part in its Christian's Ask Series, "We Sing Because God Loves Us," February 7 and 21 at 9:30 p.m. on the Portuguese Channel.

SOMERSET - A blood drive, coordinated by Boy Scout Brendan Meehan as an Eagle Scout project, will be held February 6 from 2-7 p.m. at the AmVets Hall on Brayton Avenue. If you cannot donate blood consider donating baked goods for those who do. For more information call 508-679-8583. The drive is sponsored by the American Red Cross.

IRetteatsh0~.

CENTERVILLE - Echo of Cape Cod, a retreat program for high school students, is now accepting applications for its upcoming retreat weekends at the Craigville Conference Center. A Boy's weekend is scheduled for February 9-11. Applications may be downloaded from the Website: www.echoofcapecod.org. For more information call Mary Fuller at 508759-4265.

EAST FREETOWN - Emmaus, a co-ed Catholic retreat program for those ages 20 and older who are seeking to grow in their relationship with Christ, will be held February 23-25 at Cathedral Camp. For more information call Rick Silvia at 508-455-2331 or visit emmausretreat.com.

. [SOcl3t_'E_ve_n_ts

IMisceUaneous FAIRHAVEN - Our Lady's Haven seeks volunteers to assist at the nursing facility in transporting residents to and from their rooms to meals, activities and daily Mass. People are needed during the week and on week-

-,

MANSFIELD - Magician, juggler and comedian Scott Jameson will perform February 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic School. For more information call Lori Lousararian at 508-339-6655.

NEW BEDFORD - The "Music at St. Anthony's" Program will resume February II at 3 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue with an organ recital by Kevin Birch. He will perform favorite selections on the church's historic 1912 Casavant Freres pipe organ. Complimentary tea will follow in the parish hall. For more information call 508993-1691. r::;---------.-.

[Support Groups FALL RIVER - The Fall River Area Men's First Friday Club will meet tonight at 6 p.m. for the celebration of Mass at Good Shepherd Parish, 1598 South Main Street. A meal will follow and two guest speakers will discuss their recently published books. For more information call Norman Valiquette at 508-672-8174.

~_-

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ATTLEBORO - Catholic Social Services is sponsoring a support group for women experiencing the challenges of midlife. It will meet February 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. at 10 Maple Street. Meetings will continue on the second and fourth Thesday of each month. For more information call 508-226-4780.

NORTH DARTMOUTH - Project Rachel, a ministry of healing and reconciliation for post-abortion women and men is available in the diocese. If you are hurting from an abortion experience and want help call 508-997-3300.

All calls are strictly confidential.

HOLYOKE - Sister Madeleine Marie Cormier, 92, formerly known as Beatrice S. Cormier, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died January 27 at Mont Marie Health Care Center here.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Donat and Madeleine (LeBlanc) Cormier, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of

Taunton church to host course on praying the Psalms TAUNTON - Father Maurice O'Connor, a retired priest from the Archdiocese of Boston, will lead a four-session course on "Praying the Psalms." Each session wiD be one hour.

The course will take place over four Thesday mornings and evenings at the Holy Rosary Parish Center on Bay Street. The first session is February 27 at 10 a.m. and is repeated again at 7 p.m.

Following the same morningevening format, the sessions continue on March 13, 20 and 27.

The Psalms contain a full range of human emotions. The course hopes to find in the Psalms, the wonder of creation, humanity's place in it, making sense out of evil, and the awesome power and love of God. All are invited to explore the Psalms with Jesus and his followers and find in them a wellspring from prayer.路 For more information, contact Holy Rosary Rectory at 508-823-

3046.

_..~~_X<?ur Pr~楼ers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks February 6 Most Rev. Frederick A. Donaghy, M.M, Bishop of Wuchow, 1988 February 7 Rev. Arthur N. Robert, O.P., St. Anne Shrine, Fall River, 1991 February 8 Rev. Raymond P. Monty, USAF Retired Chaplain, 1996 February 9 Rev. Msgr. John J. Kelly, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1963 Rev. Peter J. McKone, S.1., Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River,

Fall River from St. Joseph's Parish in New Bedford.

Following early education in parochial schools in New Bedford, she graduated from Novitiate High School and the former Sacred Heart College in Fall River. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Fall River and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield merged in 1974.

Sister Cormier taught at St. Jean Baptiste, Blessed Sacrament and St. Michael's schools in Fall River; St. Joseph and St. Therese schools in New Bedford; and St. Michael's in Ocean Grove, Swansea.

She retired in 1987 and in 1992

became a member of the Mont Marie Retirement Community in Holyoke, where she served in the Companion Ministry.

She leaves three brothers, Herve Cormier of Evansville, Ill., Laurier Cormier of Acushnet, and Donat Cormier of South Dartmouth; a sister, Florence Pion of New Bedford; and nieces and nephews.

Her Mass ofChristian Burial was celebrated January 30 in the Mont Marie Chapel in Holyoke. Burial was in Mont Marie Cemetery there.

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1972

Rev. Vincent R. Dolbec, A.A., Assumption College, 1985 February 10 Rev. Edward L. O'Brien, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1966 Rev. Lucien A. Madore, Retired Chaplain, Mt. St. Joseph School, Fall River, 1983 February 11 Rev. John O'Connell, Founder, St. John Evangelist, Attleboro, 1910 Rev. John J. Sullivan, S.T.L., Retired Pastor, Holy Rosary, Fall River,

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1961

Rev. William J. McMahon, Retired Pastor, St. Joan of Are, Orleans, 1987

February 12 Rev. Stanislaus Bernard, SS.CC, Retired Founder Our Lady of Assumption, New Bedford, 1961

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lL...:.-

Youth

Continued from page one

On January 21 at 5:30 a.m. my pilgrimage began. I groggily packed my luggage and drove to the pick-up station at Bishop Stang with an essential cup of coffee. An II-hour bus ride followed, bringing 118 Stang students through seven states, three rest stops, and every Cinnabon in the area. Our trip was long and tedious, but it was an amazing bonding experience. My bus passengers watched Drew Barrymore movies until everyone on the bus went mad. We listened to music, had sing-a-Iongs, and played 21 questions until the Washington Monument came in sight.

The pilgrimage began at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This beautiful church hosted thousands of Catholics coming before the march in prayer. Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, was principal celebrant at a Mass and gave an amazing and powerful homily that incorporated the youth in attendance. The students from Bishop Stang were spread out throughout the basilica, stuffed and squeezed into corners. But they listened attentively. The crowds cheered at the mention of Pope John Paul the Great when his message to St. Louis from his visit in 1999 was read aloud. His warning to America about the Culture of Death that has fallen upon us was an eyeopener. The Mass gave me a renewed sense of duty as to why we were in Washington. Communion took well over 20 minutes as thousands came forward to receive the Body of Christ. Throughout the whole trip my favorite experience was seeing Father Benedict

WHALER~S

Groeschel from EWTN. He has been a favorite of my mother and a spiritual guide. Seeing him was an amazing way to end the night.

After Mass we took the long drive to Georgetown University to drop off the girl pilgrims for their overnight stay. An hour later the boys found themselves at St. Joseph's Elementary School. We ate a late but satisfying dinner and headed off to the basketball court for five hours of sleep. It was very cold that night and a sleeping bag was our only comfort. We awoke at 6 a.m., ate bagels, and went to pick up the girls.

On that Monday morning the Diocese of Washington hosted a youth Mass at the Verizon Center, home of the Wizards basketball team. Approximately 20,000 students sang "God of Wonder" and "Our God is an Awesome God." Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington was chief celebrant of the Mass and introduced the many bishops in attendance.

Cheers went up as their respective bishops were called. When Bishop George W. Coleman was introduced, the hundreds of participants from the Fall River Diocese gave him a rock star's welcome. It is with this enthusiasm that Mass began.

Father Bill Byrne, the chaplain at the University of Maryland, gave a powerful homily. He discussed how the truth can never be changed.

"Junk food can never be nutritious, video games are not a form of exercise, and abortion can never be anything else than the killing of an innocent life." This quote put the day into perspective. We were here

LOVERS OF LIFE - Thousands 01 Pro-Life advocates assembled at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., as part of the annual March for Life in the nation's capital. (Photo by Cameron Durant)

to restore the truth that was attacked 34 years ago with the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the U.S. Along with the 20,000 in the Verizon Center, many others joined the march on the Washington Mall. Its theme was "Thou shalt protect the equal right to life of each innocent human in existence at fertilization. No exception!

No compromise!"

In recent months I had attended rallies on the Marriage Amendment in Massachusetts. Politics are a passion of mine and these previous rallies were an amazing experience. Yet, when I joined the masses in Washington, I realized the sheer magnitude of the event.

Tens of thousands of people from every state in the union were marching in the streets. We walked for a mile and ended in front of the Supreme Court building. It was appropriate that this was where our journey ended. In this building the culture of death began on Jan. 22, 1973 and it is here that a culture

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ment can be found.

"It was amazing to see the growing number of young people in attendance," said Marian Desrosiers, director of the Pro-Life Apostolate.

"We are very proud of the youth from the Fall River Diocese. They showed great reverence and listened intently during the Mass at the basilica."

'The following day at the march, there was an overwhelming sea of young faces everywhere you looked," added Desrosiers. 'There is tremendous hope that the message of sacredness and dignity of all human life will be brought to future generations by these young people."

Students from Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River, Coyle Cassidy High School in Taunton and Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro - as well as chaperones and an adult group - also made the Washington pilgrimage.

Durant is a senior at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, and a member of the diocesan Pro-Life Committee.

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of life can return.

We left the march at 4 p.m. and began the long bus ride home.

Eleven hours later, through' snow and more Drew Barrymore movies, we arrived home in the Stang parking lot. Despite the exhaustion I had for the days to come, I had a feeling of satisfaction. My convictions were upheld through actions. As a member of the Diocesan Pro-Life Committee, I have spent the last two years working for the cause. But this march was the first time I went to the front lines and immersed myself in the fight for life. My brief s,tay in Washington was the most influential experience in my adolescence. Attending this pilgrimage gave me an opportunity to grow in my faith life and fulfill my civic duties as an American. It made me proud to look into the sea of students and see the possibilities of the future. Above all the quotes and chants I heard during the March, one stood out, "youth for life," and it is with this generation that the true trailblazers in the Pro-Life move-

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SIGNS OF THE TIMES - Among \those from the Diocese of Fall River standing up to defend all life in the nation's capital were, from left: Paulette Martinville; Kate Arsenault; Marian Desrosiers, dir~ctor of the diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate; Jean Arsenault, assistant dire.ctor; ~ather R~c~ard E: Degagn~, pastor of St. John Neumann Pari~;h in East Freetown; Sea MartIns, ~Iocesa~ liaIson WIth Catholic Citizenship; and her granddaughter Mercedes Moffatt. (Photo by MaddIe LaVOIe)