02.03.12

The Anchor

Diocese of Fall River

F riday , February 3, 2012

MCFL annual assembly calls for opposition to legalized ‘doctor-prescribed death’

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

BOSTON — The word compassion is taken from the Latin compatī, which means “to suffer with.”

Putting people “out of their misery” under the guise of help-

ing them is not compassion, attested Wayne Cockfield. He urged those gathered at Massachusetts Citizens for Life’s annual Assembly for Life, held at Faneuil Hall on January 22, to oppose legislation that would Turn to page 13 Father John F. Andrews

Father Leonard M. Mullaney

Father Barry W. Wall

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

well for it in the seminary,” Father Wall told The Anchor. “It was exciting. I feel blessed to have lived at that time. The council stressed a universal call to holiness, and it opened the door for lay people to serve the Church in a way not available in the past.”

“When I was ordained I was celebrating the Mass in Latin,” added Father Andrews. “Then it changed to English, and now we’re experiencing another change. These are just a few of the many changes in the Church over the last 50 years.”

Father Mullaney agreed, saying, “It was a time of great change.

It was good to celebrate the Mass facing the congregation and celebrating it in the vernacular.”

“I am surprised it has gone by so fast,” he continued. “I have enjoyed all my assignments over the years, one as much as the other.”

Father Wall said that people tend to live in the present, so a number like 50 years can seem elusive. “That’s the way life is.

It doesn’t seem like 50 years, but the past is always with you, and sometimes those parts are very present.”

“I’m thankful to God to have lived long enough to celebrate this 50th anniversary,” said Father Andrews. “It’s been a good run.”

Father Andrews grew up in Dighton, but since there was no parish in the town back then, he was a member of Sacred Heart Turn to page 18

Classmates celebrate 50 years of priesthood

EVAN’s ALMIGHTY LUNGS — Brian Hill holds his son Evan as his sister-in-law, Diana Richard, waits with her daughter Avery while her husband (not pictured) holds their son Owen. Just moments before, Brian’s wife Amy held their daughter Savannah, who was first in line to be baptized by Father John Murray, pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Attleboro. For the Hill family, the Baptism of their twins marked the fruit of a return to the Catholic faith. Story on page 13. (Photo by Becky Aubut).

Beloved Somerset pastor dies unexpectedly

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

SOMERSET — Father Raul M. Lagoa, longtime pastor of St. John of God Parish in Somerset, unexpectedly died Monday.

Father Lagoa, 66, served as pastor of the Somerset parish since 1996 and was ordained a priest on June 2, 1979

in St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin along with Father Bruce W. Cwiekowski, who now serves as director of pastoral care for the Providence Portland Medical Center in the Archdiocese of Portland, Ore. “Father Lagoa loved to laugh, he loved to Father Raul tease and he teased right Turn to page 20 M. Lagoa

FALL RIVER — They were classmates at Cardinal O’Connell and St. John’s seminaries in the years leading up to Pope John XXIII’s calling for the historic Second Vatican Ecumenical Council.

Fathers John F. Andrews, Leonard M. Mullaney, and Barry W. Wall were ordained by Bishop James L. Connolly at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Feb. 2, 1962. The trio will celebrate their 50th anniversary in the priesthood by concelebrating a Mass at Catholic Memorial Home exactly one-half century later.

“We were ordained eight months prior to the opening of Vatican II, but we were prepared

Book documents 50-year history of faith of Centerville parish

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

CENTERVILLE — Edward W. Kirk knows all about the rich, 50-plus-year history of Our Lady of Victory Parish on Cape Cod because he’s lived through it.

“I’ve been a parishioner since day one,” Kirk said. “My parents had a house on Cape Cod for many years and we always came here for the summer. We used to belong to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville; that’s where we’d attend Mass when I was a kid.”

But when Our Lady of Victory Parish opened in 1957, the then 12-year-old Kirk and his parents found a new summer house of worship. When he later moved with his family permanently to Cape Cod in 1973, Our Lady of Victory became his parochial home.

“Since then it’s been the yearround parish for me,” he said.

“Most of the memories and reminisces of Centerville are pretty much based on my own personal recollections of the village and of the church.”

Kirk painstakingly gathered all those memories, along with those of fellow parishioners and local historians, and collected them into a book-length labor of love entitled “Faith of Our Fathers and Mothers: A Look Back at 50 Years in the Life of a Parish — Our Lady of Victory and Our Lady of Hope.”

The 140-page hardbound tome began with Kirk’s suggesting that he contribute little “history nuggets” to the weekly parish bulletin in celebration of the jubilee year.

“I came across the date — I think it was Christmas 1956 — when Dr. Herbert Kalmus, who

was the owner of the land and the inventor of Technicolor, had deeded the property to the Diocese of Fall River,” Kirk said of his first history contribution. “So I sent our pastor, Father Mark Hession, a note that this was the day, 50 years Turn to page 11

2

News From the Vatican

Vatican signs treaties against drug trade, organized crime, terrorism

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican has signed three international treaties supporting the fight against the illegal drug trade, financing terrorism and organized crime.

By signing onto these international legal instruments January 25, the Vatican “confirms its intention as well as its effective and practical commitment to collaborate with the international community in a manner consistent with its nature and mission, with a view to guaranteeing international peace and justice,” wrote Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican secretary for relations with states.

The Vatican released copies of its declarations supporting the three treaties January 26.

The Vatican ratified the U.N. Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances to help “contribute and to give its moral support to the global prevention, repression and prosecution of drug abuse and the related problem of illicit trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic substances,” wrote the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who certified the declarations.

The Vatican is adhering to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, the cardinal wrote, in an effort “to contribute and to give its moral support to the global prevention, repression and prosecution of terrorism and to the protection of victims of

such crimes.”

“Instruments of criminal and judicial cooperation constitute effective safeguards in the face of criminal activities that jeopardize human dignity and peace,” he wrote.

The Vatican is also adhering to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime as “the Holy See upholds the values of brotherhood, justice and peace between persons and peoples, whose protection and strengthening require the primacy of the rule of law and respect for human rights,” wrote Cardinal Bertone.

Archbishop Mamberti wrote in a separate note that the adoption of the three instruments reflects the determination to bring the Vatican “into compliance with the most rigorous internationally agreed rules,” especially concerning the financing of terrorism and money laundering.

Such international collaboration renders “the fight against terrorism, money laundering and drug trafficking, as well as organized transnational crime, even more determined,” he wrote.

The archbishop added that given current concerns over “serious and repeated acts of violence for religious motives, all too frequently against Christians, I consider it necessary to underline that this kind of international cooperation may help, in the future, to prevent and combat such grave attacks on the life and religious freedom of every human being.”

Silence is key ingredient to meaningful communication, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Amid the deluge of information and nonstop chatter in today’s media, the Church needs to help people find safe havens of silence, Pope Benedict XVI said. Far from being the enemy of calm and quiet, social media and the Internet can lead people to virtual sanctuaries that offer silent reflection, thoughtful dialogue and true meaning in life, he said.

“Attention should be paid to the various types of websites, applications and social networks which can help people today to find time for reflection and authentic questioning, as well as making space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation or sharing of the word of God,” he said in his message for the 2012 celebration of World Communications Day. Even brief posts and viral tweets can carry potent messages when people use those tools — not for spamming or

for scanning the latest gossip — but for sharing a real part of themselves, he said. “In concise phrases, often no longer than a verse from the Bible, profound thoughts can be communicated, as long as those taking part in the conversation do not neglect to cultivate their own inner lives,” he said.

The theme of this year’s World Communications Day — marked in most dioceses the Sunday before Pentecost, this year May 20 — is “Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization.”

The papal message was released on the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron of writers, January 24. At a news conference on the message’s release, Archbishop Claudio Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, said there is a huge difference between a “semantic silence” that can be rich in or bolster meaning versus “keeping quiet” and ignoring the realty.

holding court — Pope Benedict XVI poses with judges to mark the start of the judiciary year of the Roman Rota at the Vatican recently. The Rota is the Church’s central appellate court. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)

Pope asks Catholics to pray for Christian unity

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Jesus’ “priestly prayer” at the Last Supper for Christian unity should inspire Catholics to pray and work for it, Pope Benedict XVI said on January 25.

“His priestly prayer can thus be seen as instituting the Church, the community of the disciples who, through faith in Him, are made one and share in His saving mission,” the pope said at his weekly general audience.

He also urged Catholics to pray “for the gift of the visible unity of all Christ’s followers, so that the world may believe in the Son and in the Father who sent Him.” The pope addressed his remarks to thousands of pilgrims gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, the day that brings the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to a close.

The “priestly prayer” of Christ is recalled most vividly in chapter 17 of the Gospel of St. John. In order to understand “its immense richness,” said Pope Benedict, it must be seen “against the backdrop of the Jewish feast of expiation, Yom Kippur.”

During Yom Kippur, he explained, the Jewish High Priest sought “atonement first for himself, then for the order of priests and finally for the community as a whole.”

In an identical fashion, “Jesus, as priest and victim, prays that the Father will glorify Him in this, the hour of His sacrifice of reconciliation.” Jesus also “asks the Father to consecrate His disciples, setting them

apart and sending them forth to continue His mission in the world.”

The pope then broke down the prayer into its three main parts.

Benedict XVI first touched on Jesus’ prayer that He would be glorified, when He said “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son so that Your Son may glorify You.” The pope pointed out that this prayer is “more than a request.”

It is “a declaration of willingness to enter freely and generously into the Father’s plan, which is accomplished through death and resurrection.”

As the new High Priest, the glory Jesus seeks for Himself “is to be fully obedient to the Father, an obedience which leads Him to fulfill His filial status.”

The second prayer Jesus prays to His Father is for His disciples, who “do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth.”

“To sanctify means to transfer

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something — a person or thing — to God,” explained Pope Benedict. This involves two complementary aspects of “segregation” or being “set apart” from the world, and then “being sent out” to evangelize the world.

For the disciples of Christ, this meant continuing “Jesus’ mission,” he said.

Finally, Jesus prays for future generations of Christians, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word.” In this “Jesus prays for the Church in all times, He also prays for us,” said the pope.

“The main element in Jesus’ priestly prayer for His disciples,” he taught, “is His request for the future unity of those who will believe in Him.” Christian unity is “not a worldly achievement” and “derives exclusively from divine unity and comes down to us from the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit,” the pope said.

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 56, No. 5

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February 3, 2012

The International Church

sudanese solidarity — Members of the Villanova University men’s basketball team enter the Pavilion in Villanova, Pa., prior to their recent game against Seton Hall University. The teams wore “Playing for Peace” shirts as part of a partnership between Villanova and Catholic Relief Services to showcase the struggles of the people of the Republic of South Sudan as they work to build the new nation. (CNS photo/Villanova University)

Months after independence, South Sudan grapples with contentious issues

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — The Church in South Sudan and its partners in the U.S. are frustrated that their efforts to build peace in the infant country are threatened, but they have not given up, Catholic officials said.

A serious political deadlock between South Sudan and its northern neighbor, Sudan, over the split of oil revenues “could lead to a declaration of war,” said Auxiliary Bishop Santo Loku Pio Doggale of Juba, capital of South Sudan.

Bishop Doggale said that he and other Church leaders met with South Sudan President Salva Kiir and other senior government officials in Juba after the government announced recently that it was shutting down oil production immediately.

“We are very concerned that no agreement has been reached with Sudan” on contentious issues, the bishop said in a telephone interview from Pretoria, where he was meeting with the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

A year after the referendum in which 99 percent of South Sudanese voted to secede from the North, leaders of the Khartoum government and South Sudan have yet to agree on issues such as the border, citizenship for residents in disputed regions, and the split of revenues from oil reserves, which are largely located in South Sudan.

South Sudan, which gained independence last July, produces 350,000 barrels of oil per day, but the only pipeline to market runs through Sudan. Oil revenue accounts for almost all of South Sudan’s budget.

There is no agreement on the terms of pipeline use and, since

December, Sudan has been diverting the oil to its own refinery.

The U.S. bishops’ Catholic Relief Services, along with other Church agencies, has been providing emergency assistance to South Sudan after a series of retaliatory attacks between ethnic groups in Jonglei state displaced tens of thousands of people, beginning in late December.

“What is most disturbing is that the violence prohibits real development taking place,” Dan Griffin, adviser on Sudan to CRS, said in a telephone interview from Baltimore.

“The provision of emergency medical assistance means that building clinics will take longer. Building shelters for the displaced means that community centers aren’t being built, which is very frustrating,” Griffin said.

“But the Church understands that peace is a process and has not lost its footing,” he said.

“Despite the tremendous challenges, we’re not giving up,” he said.

The situation in Juba, which has had an “enormous influx of refugees from the fighting” in Jonglei, is “beginning to come under control with the help from many organizations,” Bishop Doggale said.

The outbreak of violence in Jonglei has led to a “new cycle of revenge and retaliation,” the Sudan Council of Churches, of which the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference is a member, said in a statement.

The council warned that expressions of ethnic hatred “could be the precursor to larger-scale atrocities.”

Another “threat to peace is the implosion of cultural divi-

sions that is happening in South Sudan,” said Bishop Doggale.

“Now that the civil war is over, deep internal wounds are emerging that need healing,” he said.

“The Church in South Sudan has an extremely important role to play in making sure that the different communities are woven together and don’t unravel,” Griffin said, noting that fear or greed could pull South Sudan apart.

When it gained independence from Britain in 1956, Sudan was two distinct regions and peoples — a dry, Arab-dominated North, and a more lush, ethnically African South — joined into one. Until a peace agreement was signed in 2005, southern rebels fought successive wars with the North, leaving millions of people dead and the region in ruins.

During the decades of war some tribes within the South developed ties with warlords linked to the North “in complex allegiances that still cause conflict,” Bishop Doggale said.

“There is much bitterness that leads to revenge killings,” he said, noting also that “more than 15 communities in South Sudan have huge herds of cattle and there have been raids and counter-raids.”

“There is an overwhelming number of guns in the country that the government is unable to control on its own,” he said.

“It needs military support to help the army to disarm lawless people,” Bishop Doggale said, noting that South Sudan is a “huge country with a lot of forest, where militia groups hide.”

“The Church is trying to build a culture of peace” in South Sudan “that is about more

than just stopping the fighting,” Griffin said, noting that “aid and resources are needed to do this.”

With the long-term view that the Church takes, South Sudan “needs universities, opportunities for the youth,” he said.

“The Church has a broad geographic reach and transcends ethnic boundaries,” Griffin said, noting also that people trust the Church not to have a political agenda.

In the aftermath of Jonglei’s conflict, the Church will make a renewed “strong outreach to the youth, to persuade them that by taking up arms they are selling themselves and their country short,” Griffin said.

The young people of South Sudan need to learn “to look beyond their own ethnic group and to see the value in others,” he said.

The Church in Sudan “recognizes the need to engage directly with young people,” Griffin

3 said, noting that “without jobs they are drawn toward conflict.”

Bishop Doggale said he was in Pretoria to seek help from the South African bishops in setting up a strong parliamentary liaison office and to get guidance on how to “develop our justice and peace office and its reach into communities.”

The Church in South Sudan has a “powerful voice that I think we will see grow,” Griffin said.

“It will guide the government in its transition from a military outfit into a transparent, functioning democracy,” he said, noting that “this will take time.”

While South Sudan is rich in oil, minerals and fertile land, it is one of the world’s poorest and least-developed places.

4

The Church in the U.S. Archbishop Chaput: Catholic school crisis shows need for vouchers

Philadelphia, Pa. (CNA) its 17 Catholic high schools and cese itself faces serious financial — The “unique value” of Catho- 44 of its 156 regional or elemen- and organizational challenges that lic education in Philadelphia is tary schools. The action would have been developing for many being threatened by a shortage displace as many as 24,000 stu- years and cannot be ignored.”

Vouchers, he said, give parof resources, and Pennsylva- dents.

The archbishop praised the ents the power to choose the nia Catholics should encourage their legislators to create vouch- “long record of dedicated ser- schools for their children. They ers to sustain them, Archbishop vice” compiled by Catholic make all schools more accountable, and would assist Charles J. Chaput says.

“We can honor f nothing else, the crisis of Phila- “many more families” Catholic Schools Week delphia’s Catholic schools is an than only the poor.

If approved, vouchthis year by actually doing something about unpleasant but finally very healthy wake ers will free up Eduthe fiscal problems up call. The bill for our failure to pass cational Improvement hurting our schools. school choice over the past decade has Tax Credit funds and We need to press our come due. Now we’re paying for it,” the other grant and scholarship monies for “many lawmakers, respectthousands of other fully but vigorously, archbishop said. school families.” They to pass school choice,” could provide “milthe archbishop wrote in his January 26 Catholic Stan- school teachers and administra- lions of dollars” of additional tors. resources for many families, indard & Times column.

“Today, scores of our pastors cluding Catholic school families.

“If nothing else, the crisis of Archbishop Chaput lamented Philadelphia’s Catholic schools make extraordinary commitis an unpleasant but finally very ments of parish funds to keep our the failure of vouchers in the healthy wake up call. The bill for schools open and excellent,” he Pennsylvania legislature in 2011, which he attributed to “too few our failure to pass school choice continued.

But schools run on resources, people in the pews” listening. over the past decade has come “Very few Catholics called due. Now we’re paying for it,” he said, “not simply good will and heroic service.” or wrote their state senators and the archbishop said.

“The resources simply don’t representatives. Even fewer visThe Archdiocese of Philadelphia has announced the recom- exist. Many of our parishes are ited their offices to lobby as citimendations for closure of four of financially strained. The archdio- zens,” the archbishop reported.

Though the legislation passed in the state Senate, it failed in the House.

“If we Philadelphia Catholics love our Catholic schools, and we obviously do, then the time to get active and focused is now,” Archbishop Chaput said.

He announced that he will be writing every state senator and representative in his archdiocese’s territory to ask them to support school vouchers.

“And I’ll continue doing it until vouchers pass.”

The archbishop encouraged Catholics, including his fellow bishops and pastors, to do the same.

February 3, 2012

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words of wisdom — The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is pictured etched into a wall outside the Newseum in Washington January 30. The establishment clause prevents the formation of a national religion. The free exercise clause prohibits religious persecution and discrimination by the government. (CNS photo/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

Pittsburgh’s Bishop Zubik: Contraception mandate tells Catholics ‘To hell with you!’

Pittsburgh, Pa. (CNA) — The new federal contraception mandate is “like a slap in the face” that says “To hell with you!” to Catholics and religious freedom, Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh said.

“This is government by fiat that attacks the rights of everyone — not only Catholics; not only people of all religion. At no other time in memory or history has there been such a governmental intrusion on freedom not only with regard to religion, but even across-the-board with all citizens,” Bishop Zubik wrote in the January 27 edition of the Pittsburgh Catholic.

“Kathleen Sebelius (Health and Human Services Secretary) and through her, the Obama administration, have said ‘To hell with you’ to the Catholic faithful of the United States,” he charged, adding that the administration has damned Catholics’ religious beliefs, religious liberty and freedom of conscience.

The new rules from the Department of Health and Human Services mandate insurance coverage for “preventive services,” a category which the department ruled covers sterilization and contraception, including an abortifacient drug.

Catholic teaching recognizes the use of these procedures and drugs as sinful, but the mandate’s religious exemption is narrow and will not “practically

speaking” apply to many Catholic health systems, educational institutions, charities and other organization, the bishop said.

It will apply in “virtually every instance where the Catholic Church serves as an employer.”

Bishop Zubik said the mandate treats pregnancy as a disease and “forces every employer to subsidize an ideology or pay a penalty while searching for alternatives to health care coverage.”

It also undermines health care reform by “inextricably linking it to the zealotry of pro-abortion bureaucrats.”

He said the mandate tells Catholics “not only to violate our beliefs, but to pay directly for that violation” as well as to “subsidize the imposition of a contraceptive and abortion culture on every person in the United States.”

The bishop asked Catholics to write to President Obama, Secretary Sebelius, their senators and members of Congress.

“This mandate can be changed

by Congressional pressure. The only way that action will happen is if you and I take action,” Bishop Zubik said.

“Let them know that you and I will not allow ourselves to be pushed around (or worse yet) be dismissed because of our Catholic faith.”

Unless the rules are changed, they will go into effect in one year.

February 3, 2012

The Church in the U.S.

5

Cardinal-designate Dolan: Natural law, not religious preference, dictates all life sacred

NEW YORK (CNS) — Natural law is a concept of objective truth, not religious preference, and reliance on natural law and human rights will move the culture and its laws in the direction of authentic respect for human life, Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan of New York said in a recent address.

Cardinal-designate Dolan, speaking on “Law and the Gospel of Life,” gave the inaugural talk in a lecture series sponsored by the Institute on Religion, Law and Lawyers’ Work at Jesuit-run Fordham University School of Law. “Our society has caricatured natural law as some medieval tool the Church is using to justify its own unique and antiquated system of teaching. Of course, the opposite is true,” he said. “Natural law theory is not uniquely Catholic, it’s human.

“Some of the greatest exponents of the natural law, like Aristotle and Cicero, never heard of the Catholic Church.

These things we teach are not true because they happen to be taught by the Church. We teach them because they happen to be true. Their truth antedates the Church.”

According to Cardinal-designate Dolan, the most effective way to engage in conversations about human life with people who disagree with the Church’s position is to “untether” discussions of natural law “from what might be thought of as unique Catholic confessionalism” and reference the writings of non-Catholic authors. “It’s not a Catholic thing. It’s a natural thing.

It’s a human thing.”

Cardinal-designate Dolan said Blessed John Paul II’s encyclical “Evangelium Vitae,” described the culture of death as one that denies the basic solidarity inherent in the human person, is obsessed with efficiency and convenience, and wages a war of the powerful against the weak.

“Can sustained human rights, girded by law, survive in such a culture?” Cardinaldesignate Dolan asked. “The pragmatic, utilitarian world view depends upon sand to construct a system of laws protecting human rights, particularly that of life itself, since everything is constantly being re-negotiated, based on drifting dunes of utility, convenience, privacy, and selfinterest.”

Cardinal-designate Dolan said, “It is a bedrock feature

of modern political and legal theory that only neutral, utilitarian principles can provide a basis for public policy discussions and law, and that appeals to transcendent values, such as religion, cannot legitimately be presented.”

“The Gospel of life proposes an alternative vision of law and culture, one that provides an antidote to the pragmatic nihilism that produces a culture of death. It seeks to recapture the essential relationship between the civil law and the moral law, and to foster a culture in which all human life is valued and authentic human development is possible.”

Cardinal-designate Dolan said, “The Gospel of life calls us specifically to offer a clear, faith-based view of humanity as a basis for human law. As Christians, we propose that truth can only be known and freedom truly exercised by recognizing that they are a gift from God.”

He said an important proposition of the Gospel of life is “that the dignity of the human person and respect for inviolable human rights are not just based on divine revelation, but on ‘an objective moral law which, as the ‘natural law’ written in the human heart, is the obligatory point of reference for civil law itself.”

Cardinal-designate Dolan said, “A reliance on the natural law, and human rights, will enable us to move the culture, and thus our laws, in the direction of authentic respect for human life. It will be a gradual, incremental process ... and require compromise and acceptance of intermediary steps.”

He described pragmatism, utilitarianism and consumerism as a trinity of related culprits that chisel away at the culture of life and “seem to be ascendant in culture and normative in making laws.”

Cardinal-designate Dolan

said, “A baby is useless and impractical from a raw, pragmatic, utilitarian or consumerist view” and is seen by some in the culture of death “as a commodity, an accessory. We have babies, if at all, to satisfy our desires, not to sacrifice for theirs; to fulfill our needs, not to invite us to spend the rest of our lives fulfilling their needs; to reward us, not because we want to give to them.”

“To this culture of death, the Church boldly and joyfully promotes the culture of life,” he said.

Cardinal-designate Dolan said people can promote the culture of life by living, speaking and teaching the truth in love. “Usually, we will attract more people by the compelling nature of our love and, in the end, that will be what most hypnotizes and magnetizes people.”

In a response to Cardinaldesignate Dolan’s address, Jacqueline Nolan-Haley, a

Fordham law professor, said the Gospel of life “is pulling us to bring greater morality and justice to civil law.”

Monica McDaniel, a 2009 Fordham Law graduate and associate at the White & Case firm, said the culture of death has infiltrated private practice and law schools, both secular and Catholic. “Law schools, many nonprofit human rights organizations and the pro bono departments of many law firms are generally confused about human rights because they lack the sound ethical philosophy of the natural law.”

She said “pro-abortion” initiatives dominate the pro bono departments of virtually all major law firms because Pro-Life lawyers are silent.

She encouraged fellow young lawyers to spread the Gospel of life one-on-one, challenge people who make dubious claims and oppose unethical practices.

6

The Anchor Defending our religious freedom

On Apr. 16, 2008, when he appeared with President George W. Bush on the White House lawn, Pope Benedict XVI extolled America’s role as a beacon of freedom in world history and in the world today. He remembered our nation’s founding fathers, who risked their lives to sign the Declaration of Independence, and how they grasped as a “self-evident truth” that certain rights and freedoms are “inalienable,” given by God not by the state, so that no state has the authority to take them away. He illustrated how this recognition of human rights and the connection between freedom and truth was on display in the struggle against slavery, in the civil rights movement, and in the wars against evil for which so many American soldiers have laid down their lives. He cited the prophetic words not of the first pope but of the first president, George Washington, who in his farewell address expressed the conviction that religion and morality are “indispensable” supports for political and national prosperity. But he added that we must never take our freedom for granted. “Freedom is ever new. It’s a challenge held out to each generation and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good.”

The time for that fight to preserve freedom for the cause of good in our country is now.

In the last four years, much has changed at the White House with regard to respect for and defense of freedom, home and abroad. In terms of foreign policy, the Obama administration’s State Department, led by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has been actively trying to reduce the promotion of “freedom of religion” to “freedom of worship,” a change that basically means that the United States will still defend the right of people to associate in various houses of worship to pray, but will no longer defend the right of people to live by their faith against government oppression. Secretary Clinton declared in a 2009 speech at Georgetown University that the reason for the change was to defend as a fundamental international human right that people “must be free … to love in the way they choose,” a euphemism that means promoting and protecting a radical gay agenda. Because almost all major organized religions that maintain their vigor oppose the gay agenda’s push to normalize same-sex relations, redefine marriage, and obliterate the significance of sexual differentiation, the Obama administration recognizes that freedom of religion must be eliminated in order to advance the novel “fundamental” right to “love in the way they choose.”

The same radical undercutting of religious freedom in order to advance a secularist libertine agenda is happening here at home, although because of the First Amendment’s explicit protection of freedom of religion, the administration has had to be more surreptitious about it.

On January 20, the Department of Health and Human Services announced its final rule mandating all new private insurance plans to provide free “preventive care” for women, including access to sterilizations, contraception and abortion-causing morning after pills. In a token acknowledgment of constitutional protections of religious freedom, it offered religious groups a conscience exemption, but made it so narrow that it would only cover those non-profit organizations whose purpose is the “inculcation of religious values” and that primarily employ and serve those who share its religious tenets. Most religious institutions — including Catholic hospitals, universities, schools, and social service programs — would not qualify because they do not serve exclusively or primarily those of their faith but all those who are in need. In effect, the Obama administration is compelling all religious institutions with conscientious objections either to violate their consciences and pay for these services, eliminate health care for their employees and pay a $2,000 fine for each uninsured employee, or shut down altogether. Since HHS published a draft of the policy last August, thousands of individuals and religious organizations contacted the agency with objections, but the only concession HHS gave was to give those religious organizations that requested it an extra year to comply with the policy. “In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences,” Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, candidly and unappreciately commented.

We see in this narrow HHS restriction the Obama administration’s attempt to limit religious freedom simply to the most tightly-defined activities of worship, things done basically only for and by the adherents of a particular religious group. Charity — or religious faith working through love in hospitals, inner-city schools, food pantries, adoption agencies and more — will no longer be protected. This is clearly unconstitutional, as became obvious on January 11, when Supreme Court decided its most important religious freedom case in decades. It involved whether a religious institution, in this case the Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran Church of Redford, Mich., should be free from government interference when choosing religious leaders or whether it can be forced to follow all government anti-discrimination laws, regardless of whether the person understands or lives by the religious teachings of the group. The Obama administration argued before the justices that religious groups have no greater right to choose their leaders than labor unions or social clubs; the only exception is when a person’s duties are exclusively ministerial, defined as doing nothing other than teaching the faith. In a 9-0 decision, the Court emphatically rejected the Obama administration’s concept of religious freedom. Even Justice Elena Kagan — who was appointed by President Obama and previously served as his administration’s solicitor general — called the government’s restricted view of the First Amendment “amazing,” in the sense that she couldn’t believe the administration was making the argument. During oral arguments, when Chief Justice John Roberts pressed Leondra Kruger, Obama’s assistant solicitor general, whether the administration believes the Constitution requires special protection for religious organizations, she said that there was no categorical protection for churches or religious schools, something that the decision noted was “remarkable,” “untenable,” and “extreme” in its misunderstanding of the First Amendment. Yet this extreme — and extremely incorrect — understanding of right to religious freedom is what the Obama administration unabashedly applied in its HHS decision, nine days after its argument was totally laughed out of the Supreme Court.

The reaction of Catholic leaders to the trampling of conscience has been swift and strong, not only by Catholic bishops but also by people like Sister Carol Keehan, president of the Catholic Health Association, and Father John Jenkins, president of Notre Dame, both of whom have defended President Obama and his initiatives in the past. Perhaps the most powerful response of all, however, came from Pope Benedict himself in a very strong January 19 address to a group of U.S. bishops making their ad limina visits in Rome.

Just four years after citing President Washington and praising America on the White House Lawn for our country’s promotion and defense of freedom, he lamented that “powerful new cultural currents … opposed to core moral teachings of the Judeo-Christian tradition and increasingly hostile to Christianity as such” were eroding our nation’s respect for liberty. This culture is based on a “radical secularism,” an “extreme individualism” that is seeking to promote “notions of freedom detached from moral truth.” Of particular concern, he declared, are “certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion, … to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices, … to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience.” These are all obvious references to what the Obama administration is seeking to do at home and abroad.

Various efforts are underway in Congress and in the Courts to overturn the HHS policy and the Obama administration’s radically secular and increasingly hostile multipoint attack on the freedom of religious and conscience. All readers of The Anchor are urged to become vocal and actively involved in these efforts. Freedom, Pope Benedict reminded us four years ago, is a challenge held out to each generation that must be won over constantly for the cause of good. Now it’s our generation’s turn.

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February 3, 2012

‘With this ring ...’

ven though I know very little about article), they then place a ring on the finger it from personal perspective, I think of their spouse. This isn’t just a piece of it is uncontroversial to say that there is a lot jewelry, these rings are first blessed to of planning involved a wedding. draw attention to what they symbolize in Choosing a wedding dress, deciding the life of the newly-married couple. on where the reception will be and who The priest or deacon presiding over the will provide the music are some of the wedding blesses the rings with the words: decisions that face a couple preparing for “Lord, bless these rings which we bless their wedding day. I am sure, however, that in Your name. Grant that those who wear most brides would add many more items them may always have a deep faith in each to that list of things that need to be done other. May they do Your will and always before the big day. live together in peace, good will, and love.

If engaged couples were to make such We ask this through Christ our Lord.” a list, I’d be interested to see if they placed Invoking God’s blessing upon these as high a priority on the spiritual prepararings helps us to realize that God is very tion for the Sacrament as they do on the much a part of this marriage, that what He actual reception itself. has joined together must not be separated.

The unfortunate reality is that many The wedding rings symbolize that pledge Catholic couples don’t put as much of fidelity made to each other in the prespreparation into the actual marriage as they ence of God. do the wedding ceremony and reception.

The bride and groom then put the ring Months of preparation go into the planning on each other’s finger with the words: of an event that “Take this ring will last a few as a sign of hours, when my love and Putting Into little spirifidelity. In the the Deep tual preparaname of the tion goes into Father, and of something that the Son, and

By Father is supposed to of the Holy Jay Mello last a lifetime.

Spirit.”

I don’t From this propose to have the answer to this cultural we are able to see clearly that the wedpredicament; there is much, however, that ding ring symbolizes the entrance into a can be gained by looking at some of the covenant with the other person, not just a signs and symbols of the ceremony. As contract or a legal agreement to share the I’ve mentioned before in this column, the rent. Marriage is a pledge of “love” and Catholic Liturgy is so profound and rich in “fidelity,” of freely choosing to enter into meaning, but it needs to be unpacked and a relationship with another person for the explained so that it can be understood and rest of one’s life. The wedding ring is a enrich our lives. visible sign of that love and fidelity, but Allow me to begin with one of the most also of the life-long commitment that one beautiful and often times emotional momakes to their spouse on their wedding ments of a wedding, namely the moment day. when the father of the bride walks his The future Blessed Pope John Paul II daughter down the aisle. wrote in his great 1960 book “Love and Often we hear people refer to this as Responsibility,” “Marriage is an act of being “given away” which unintentionally will that signifies and involves a mutual gives the wrong impression. As I wrote in gift, which unites the spouses and binds an earlier article on the Sacrament of Bap- them to their eventual souls, with whom tism, Christian parents take on the respon- they make up a sole family — a domestic sibility of raising their children in the faith Church.” in order to help them get to Heaven. When The Sacrament of Marriage is more a bride’s father (or both of her parents) than a civil union or a partnership between places her hand in the hand of her groom, persons who choose to live and sleep he isn’t “giving her away” as much as he is with one another. It is a visible sign of our handing over that responsibility. participation in God’s plan for humanity, When a bride and groom take each that each human family would become other’s hand, they are taking on the rewhat John Paul II called “the domestic sponsibility of helping one another to get Church” — a tangible sign of Christ’s love to Heaven. This is why marriage is a Sacfor His bride, the Church. Christ loved her rament — to confer to couples the grace and gave His life for her; married couples that they need to accomplish this task. are called to imitate that love.

Helping each other to get to Heaven The “Catechism” beautifully articulates gets to the very heart of marriage. Couples this point: “The Sacrament of Matrinaturally get married because they love mony signifies the union of Christ and the one another. But what is love? Certainly it Church. It gives spouses the grace to love is more than an emotion or sexual attraceach other with the love with which Christ tion. True love desires the best for the has loved His Church; the grace of the other person and the very best thing that Sacrament thus perfects the human love of we can desire for one that we love is God, the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble that they receive Him and His love forever. unity, and sanctifies them on the way to Is this what we see when we see a man eternal life” (CCC 1661). walking his daughter down the aisle?

Next week, I will reflect on the marriage Another symbol of the wedding vows that a bride and groom make on their ceremony is the blessing and exchange of wedding day. rings. After the couple makes their vows Father Mello is a parochial vicar at St. (something we will cover in next week’s Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

February 3, 2012

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or the past several weeks I have been paying special attention to the parables found in Matthew with references to parallel or similar passages found in the other Gospels. I also expanded on some parables found in Matthew and Luke that had a second theological thrust in Luke.

Now we shift our concentration to the parables of Luke that have references to parallels in the other Gospels. The first of these is found in Lk 10:25-37, which has partial parallels in Mt 22:35-40 and Mk 12:28-31.

The partial parallels give the set-up for the parable of the Good Samaritan, which is found only in Luke. The set-up is the question about the greatest Commandment, and Jesus’ twofold answer about love of God and love of neighbor. The lawyer who posed the question, as a learned man, shows that he

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The Anchor

The Good Samaritan

knows the theory. He quotes avoided ritual contaminafrom Deuteronomy 6:5 and tion according to their unLeviticus 19:18. That gives derstanding of their service a perfect theoretical answer, to God. This should not be but there is a practical side construed as anti-clericalism of the answer as well. His or disparagement of the Jewsecond question, “Who is my ish religious leaders. This is neighbor?” was not an honest question, but Luke uses it as an opportunity to tell this parable.

The Jerusalem to Jericho road was

By Father about 18 miles long Martin L. Buote and went from 2,500 feet above sea level to 770 feet below sea level. The road went through simply something that the desert and rocky terrain, a lawyer would understand as very opportune area for waytrue service and love of God! layers. It is important to note (The action of the priest and that the muggers left the man Levite here is quite similar to badly wounded and half-dead. another practice condemned In that condition, someone

by Jesus. The lawyers allowed coming to his aid would risk a person to show his parents ritual impurity from contact utter neglect if he declared his with the blood or a corpse wealth and goods Korban, that (Num 5:2; 19:2-13). is, dedicated to God. Cf. Mk The priest and Levite 7:11.)

Parables of the Lord

The Samaritan saw human need as greater than ritual demands and went to the aid of the victim. Oil and wine poured into the wounds can be thought of as practical folk medicine.

The oil would be an emollient and the alcohol of the wine would be an antiseptic.

There was such animosity between Jews and Samaritans at this point in history that the lawyer would not even say the word Samaritan. He was forced, however, to acknowledge that the love of neighbor was exemplified in him, and not in those who sought only the ritualistic pleasing of God. The two commandments of love of God and love of neighbor are resolved of any possible conflict by Jesus when He taught about the judgment (Mt 25:31-46). He identifies Himself with the

neighbor in need.

The parable of the Rich Fool is found only in Lk 12:16-21. Other parables about greed, however, are found at other places in the Gospels.

We are told that the man is already rich. He has the resources to tear down the storehouses and build others.

We may legitimately assume that his future harvests will be good as well. His attitude does not indicate any thought of sharing his good fortune with the others of his estate, but simply shows a selfcentered greed. The modern maxim is, “You can’t take it with you.” The final words of Jesus remind us that there are riches of the spirit.

Father Buote is a retired priest of the Diocese of Fall River. For more than 30 years, he has been leading Bible study groups in various parishes and has also led pilgrims to visit sites in Israel associated with the Bible.

Time to figure out how to violate our consciences

he Obama administration recently announced that it would not exempt religious employers and Catholic organizations like colleges, hospitals and charities from a new regulation requiring them to provide insurance coverage for sterilization and contraception, even if they cause abortion. The regulation, which goes into effect August 1, but which federal officials said would be delayed another year until 2013 for some Church-related organizations, rides roughshod over the conscientious moral and religious beliefs of many Catholics and others. The effective date of the controversial regulation is conveniently after the presidential elections.

Catholic bishops, led by Cardinal-designate Dolan of New York, vowed to fight the measure in the court of public opinion, the legislature and the courts of law. “In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences.

We’re unable to live with this,” he said.

By strange coincidence, just the day before, on December 19, the pope had addressed a group of American bishops in Rome for their periodical ad limina visit. He said, “It is imperative that the entire Catholic community in the United States come to

realize the grave threats to the than the religion itself. The Church’s public moral witness Supreme Court’s decision in presented by a radical secuthe case of Hosanna-Tabor larism which finds increasing Evangelical Lutheran Church expression in the political and v. EEOC was unanimous, cultural spheres. Of particular which is evidence that the adconcern are certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion.

Many of you have

By Dwight Duncan pointed out that concerted efforts have been made to deny the right of conscientious objection on the ministration was adopting an part of Catholic individuals extreme and marginal underand institutions with regard standing of religious freedom. to cooperation in intrinsically While the insurance evil practices. Others have regulation emanates from the spoken to me of a worrying Department of Health and Hutendency to reduce religious man Services, headed by the freedom to mere freedom of pro-abortion and nominally worship without guarantees of Catholic former governor of respect for freedom of conKansas Kathleen Sebelius, the science.” legal position came out of the Precisely.

Equal Employment OpporJust last week the U.S. tunity Commission, and was Supreme Court spanked the vetted by the Department of Obama administration over its Justice. This is all evidence overly-restrictive understand- that the buck stops at the ing of religious freedom. That president, who is making hash case decided that a Lutheran of the first freedom of the school teacher fell within a First Amendment, freedom of constitutionally-mandated religion. religious-minister exemption Not only does the First from government anti-disAmendment guarantee that crimination laws. Otherwise, there shall be no official we would have the anomalous government-sponsored relisituation of government agen- gion (called an “establishcies deciding who could teach ment”), but also guarantees a particular religion, rather the free exercise of religion.

Judge For Yourself

This is broad enough to cover religious practice and conscientious objection to involvement in morally questionable practices.

HHS Secretary Sebelius explained, “I believe this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services.” What balance? Coverage of the morally questionable practices is mandated. Religious employers are required to cooperate in their provision, regardless of their consciences. Cardinaldesignate Dolan commented, “To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their health care is

literally unconscionable. It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom.”

Now the matter will be decided by the courts. The case is called Belmont Abbey College v. Sebelius, and is being brought by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the same religious freedom law firm that brought the successful challenge to the restrictive EEOC ruling on the religiousminister exemption.

As Cardinal-designate Dolan said, “The Catholic bishops are committed to working with our fellow Americans to reform the law and change this unjust regulation.”

The sooner the better.

Dwight Duncan is a professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth. He holds degrees in civil and canon law.

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February 3, 2012

The Anchor

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ur First Reading this week is from the Book of Job, the central character of which is man who by the standards of his day had it all. Job was blessed by God with a large and wonderful family, many flocks and a great amount of land. Job was grateful for all the blessings that God had bestowed on him.

His glass was filled to the brim, until the bottom of his glass fell out and everything was taken away from him.

His children were killed in a wind storm, his land and livestock were destroyed.

No wonder this once optimistic man began to call human existence drudgery. Job did not despair, however, because despair would have led Job farther away from God and down a road that would only end in sin.

In our Gospel we find that

Hope

Peter’s mother-in-law was of hope even when it seems sick with a fever. It would impossible? In other words appear that her glass was are we hope-givers, men half empty, because illand women who choose to ness in Jesus’ day was often bring the hope of God’s love thought be the result of sin. She did not despair in her condition, however, but Homily of the Week — thanks to those Fifth Sunday who brought Jesus of Ordinary Time to her — recovered from the fever. Job

By Maurice was not so lucky; he O. Gauvin had friends who only made matters worse.

Through these readings we are able to see to those in need of consolahow daily life can present us tion? many challenges and difOur Christian faith is ficulties that at times apbased on the hope that pear insurmountable. What comes from God and His is our attitude toward these son Jesus. In the Gospel we problems? Are we pessioften find Jesus telling the mists who complain about crowds to place their trust every evil and wrong and do and hope in God and in Him. nothing about it or optimists He healed the sick, drove who try to find a glimmer out demons and comforted

those who found their lives to be burdensome. Jesus never left anyone in despair; on the contrary, He always left the crowds better than when they first came to Him. Ultimately He died on the cross so that authentic human hope would never be extinguished. As Christians we, too, are called to bring hope to our brothers and sisters who have grown tired with the worries, challenges and struggles of life. Our words and actions must be hope-filled and life-giving like Jesus’. We are to speak words of comfort and healing to those who have found life to be a drudgery.

Job eventually would find hope and courage to face all of his sufferings. His drudg-

ery turned into hope because he trusted in God; even when pessimistic he never despaired. Like Job even in our darkest hours when all may appear lost we cannot despair, we cannot throw our arms up in the air and say, “That’s it! I can’t go on,” because when we do, we are denying the ability of God to transform our lives and its circumstances for the good.

Despair can and will lead us to a road of self-destruction.

Hope, on the other hand gives to us the ability with the help of God to face life head-on and find our way through the darkness into the light of God. Authentic Christian hope is what makes us fully alive and fully human in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Father Gauvin is pastor of St. George’s Parish in Westport.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Feb. 4, 1 Kgs 3:4-13; Ps 119:9-14; Mk 6:30-34. Sun. Feb. 5, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jb 7:1-4,6-7; Ps 147:1-6; 1 Cor 9:16-19,22-23; Mk 1:29-39. Mon. Feb. 6, 1 Kgs 8:1-7,9-13; Ps 132:6-10; Mk 6:53-56. Tues. Feb. 7, 1 Kgs 8:22-23,27-30; Ps 84:3-5,10-11; Mk 7:1-13. Wed. Feb. 8, 1 Kgs 10:1-10; Ps 37:5-6,30-31,39-40; Mk 7:14-23. Thurs. Feb. 9, 1 Kgs 11:4-13; Ps 106:3-4,35-37,40; Mk 7:24-30. Fri. Feb. 10, 1 Kgs 11:29-32;12:19; Ps 81:10-15; Mk 7:31-37.

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n the Solemnity of the Epiphany, I heard a sermon — a rather well-delivered one at that — about the Magi as religious “seekers.” The same note, I’ll wager, was struck from pulpits and ambos across the country, perhaps across the world.

But isn’t there something a bit askew here?

Isn’t the point of Matthew’s tale of the “wise men from the East” (Mt 2:1) that they were finders, not just seekers?

Moreover, isn’t the further point

Seekers or finders?

that what was found was “He I don’t want to overstate the who has been born King of the indictment. All believers are Jews,” to whom they, gentiles “seekers,” in that we obey the from afar, wished to offer gifts? Don’t we lose the evangelical thrust of this charming story of seers, stars and caravans, “gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Mt 2:11), when we focus

By George Weigel on the seeking, not the finding, which was the first moment of messianic encounter with the gentile prophet’s injunction to “seek the world (meaning most-of-us)?

Lord while He may be found” (Is 55:6). Still, the point is not about the seeking, but about the finding. More than two millennia after they trekked across the Levant following a star, the Magi are of interest — indeed, compelling interest — because of the One Who awaited them at the end of their search: a Jewish January 25, 2011 child who would become the Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina Redeemer, not only of His own people, but of all people. If the “Dear children! With joy, also today I call you to open your hearts Magi had wandered about Cenand to listen to my call. Anew, I desire to draw you closer to my Imtral Asia and the Middle East maculate Heart, where you will find refuge and peace. Open yourselves for decade after decade, they to prayer, until it becomes a joy for you. Through prayer, the Most High would be of little interest, save will give you an abundance of grace and you will become my extended perhaps as chroniclers of ancient hands in this restless world which longs for peace. Little children, with cultures. No, the point is that the your lives witness faith and pray that faith may grow day by day in your Magi were religious finders, not hearts. I am with you. just religious seekers. And what “Thank you for having responded to my call.” they found was the fulfillment of Spiritual Life Center of Marian Community their search.

One Marian Way There’s another problem with Medway, MA 02053 • Tel. 508-533-5377 our contemporary emphasis on Paid advertisement religious “seeking”: it tends

Our Lady’s Monthly Message From Medjugorje

The Catholic Difference

to miss the fundamental dynamic of biblical religion and to confuse faith in the God of the Bible with “spirituality.” Go through the “spirituality” section of an online bookstore or browse the “spirituality” stacks of an old-fashioned book shop, and you’ll find a lot about the human quest for God. That is not what biblical religion is about, however. Biblical religion is about God’s coming into history in search of us, and our learning to take the same path into the future that God is taking.

Abraham, whom the Roman Canon calls “our father in faith,” was not some generic spiritual seeker. Abraham, or Abram (as he then was), was a unique individual to whom God spoke disturbing and challenging words: Abram was to go on a journey to another land, led there by God, who was now entering history in a new and saving way. In that promised land, God would make of Abram, who would be renamed Abraham, a “great nation and … a blessing” (Gen 12:2).

Abram-become-Abraham was to follow God’s path through history. God has the salvific initiative; God comes in search of us. We are not seekers without a compass. Nor are we just find-

ers; we are those who have been found.

The same dynamic pervades the Gospels. There, Jesus does not appear as a homely sage Who attracts disciples because He does better cures than the local medical people and tells interesting moral stories. No, Jesus says, bluntly, “Follow Me” (Mt 4:19; Mk 1:17). In John’s account, two disciples of the Baptist ask Jesus, “Where are You staying?” To which Jesus replies, “Come and see” (Jn 1:38-39). The initiative in salvation history is always a divine initiative. God leads; we follow. God comes into history in search of us; we learn, often slowly and with difficulty, to follow the divine lead.

In the terms in which it presents itself today, the notion of the Christian life as a matter of spiritual “seeking” usually has more to do with our culture of self-absorption than with biblical religion. In the Bible, God’s revelation is discerned in history, not outside of it inside our heads. Seeking, in the sense of deepening our friendship with Jesus, is good: but let’s first understand that we have been found.

George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

February 3, 2012

Going postal

Monday 30 January 2012 enjoyed the DVD course I had — Segregansett neighborhood, ordered by mail from the uniDighton — Bubble Wrap Apversity. The local Post Office preciation Day is one of the benefits of living s far as the United States Post Office is concerned, the rectory in which I live doesn’t Reflections of a exist due to the fact Parish Priest that it has no mail receptacle. This has

By Father Tim never been a problem.

Goldrick Mail is received at our Post Office box. At the Post Office, I get to meet the townsfolk. The postal in a small town. There are clerks know me by name. They indications that, nation-wide, occasionally ask how my grey- many of them are scheduled hound Transit is doing or if I for closure.

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The Anchor

The Ship’s Log

I was surprised to receive a letter in my Post Office box from, well, the Post Office.

Why, I wondered, are the nice people at the Post Office writing letters to me? Why don’t they just speak to me as usual? As it turned out, the letter was not from the local Post Office, but from the Supreme Headquarters of the Postal Service, located I know not where — probably in Washington, D.C. or maybe on some other planet. It was Postal Service Form 1039 PSN 7530-02-000-7165. The head-

One powerful minute

and ended up in the Big Apple ere we are on the cusp annex, New Jersey. of Super Bowl XLVI, The transgressions weren’t yet there’s one event from the that egregious, but villains they American Football Conferbecame. ence’s championship game Some athletes are on my from nearly two weeks ago that ogre list because of far more remains etched in my memory. serious actions: spousal abuse, It wasn’t part of New illegal possession of a fire arm, England’s 23-20 win over the drug dealing, and the like.

Baltimore Ravens, but what But for me, the worst ofhappened in the Ravens’ locker fender was the Ravens’ Ray room following the game.

Lewis, who in 2000, followTo set up what makes the ing a Super Bowl party, was event so significant for me, I should first provide some sports Jolivetisms.

Ever since I was the size of Tim Thomas’ goalie pads, and I was drawn into the wacky world of sports never

By Dave Jolivet to be released, I have made it my business to be the moral barometer somehow involved in a double of the playing field. murder in Atlanta.

Athletes who met my stanLewis and two companions dards of what a human being were questioned by police, should be were held in high and eventually arrested for the esteem. Those whose character crimes. The charges against the and/or actions fell short were Raven were eventually reduced to be villains for all time. There to obstruction of justice charges was no redemption. in exchange for testimony I, like far too many Ameriagainst the two companions. cans, doubted the sincerity of Since then, Lewis has been those athletes who ended up on for me public enemy number the wrong side of a prison door, one. The fact that he played and “found the Lord” while in and won a Super Bowl less incarcerated. than a year later, and two men Once someone fell from my were still dead, was evil. graces, there they remained, To me, his pre-game antics regardless of the “crime.” were not human. I couldn’t For instance, to this day I stomach him. So when he and don’t care for Hall of Fame the Ravens fell victim to the quarterback John Elway Patriots a couple of weeks back, because before he ever played it was doubly satisfying for me. one down of football in the But it was Lewis’ post-game NFL, while still in college, he behavior that stopped me dead essentially told the league for in my tracks. whom he would play, and for To put things in perspective, whom he wouldn’t. one must realize how bitterly Years later, the same scedisappointing that loss must nario played out with the New have been for Baltimore — York Giants’ Eli Manning, who especially losing because of a with his daddy, thumbed his missed chip-shot field goal. nose at the San Diego Chargers

My View From the Stands

There are several “oldtimers” on the Ravens who know how hard it is to make the big dance, and how close they actually were to punching their ticket. Ray Lewis was one of them.

It was Lewis who gathered the team in the locker room after the loss. He spoke for less than a minute.

“God has never made a mistake,” he began. “God has never made one mistake. It ain’t about our play. It ain’t about nothing.”

This wasn’t lip service. His voice was strong and sincere.

“Don’t ever, don’t ever drop your head when it comes to a loss, dog, because there’s too much pain outside of this that people are really going through. Let’s make somebody smile when we walk out of here.”

I’ve seen the video more than a few times, and it still stirs up the emotions within me. In 2006, Sports Illustrated ran a cover story about Lewis and his strong Christian beliefs.

I gave the piece a raised eyebrow at best.

I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what happened on the Atlanta early morning in 2000.

What I do know is that I convicted and condemned a man based on how I viewed him.

Thank goodness God doesn’t judge us in the same manner.

I’ve done that far too many times in all walks of life. I couldn’t stand Ray Lewis.

That’s changed. Now I can’t stand the way I felt about Ray Lewis.

I hope I can leave the judging to God more often. I have my own transgressions to worry about. And I know God doesn’t hate me.

line read, “How to apply for a PO Box.” Apply? I already have a Post Office Box. That’s where I found this form.

The form began, “Many people have discovered that Post Office Box Service is a safe, convenient way to receive their mail.” But I already find it convenient or I wouldn’t use one. Four pages of detailed information were requested. I completed the form as best I could and hand-delivered it to the service counter.

“Oh, hi Father Tim,” said the nice woman at the counter.

“How can I help you?” “I need assistance completing this form,” I responded. “Maybe I can help. What’s your name?”

“But you just called me by my name.” “Well, it’s an official Post Office thing.” I told her my name. “Thank you. Now, please provide one photo ID. We accept a valid driver’s license or an Armed Forces, government, university, or recognized cooperate ID.” I gave her my driver’s license.

“That’s a nice picture of you, Father Tim.” “You think so?

You know who I am now?”

“Not yet. In addition to the photo ID, please present one non-photo ID. We accept a current lease, mortgage, or deed of trust; a voter or vehicle registration card; or a home or vehicle insurance policy.”

I gave her my auto registration. “So, you really are Father Tim.” “I am.” “And what size Post Office Box are you applying for today?” “The one I already have! If I had a tape measure with me, I could go over and find out.” “No need,” the nice lady responded. “Your box is Size No. 3, 11” x 5.5.”

“Now,” she continued, “please provide the names of all individuals who will be receiving mail at this Post Office Box.” “Well, there’s me; the director of Faith Formation, the church secretary, the church accountant, the Grand Knight, the president of the Women’s Guild, the chairperson of the Fund Raising Committee, the heads of the two parish craft fairs, the leader of the Prayer Shawl Group, the organizer of the Supper Club, and sometimes even the Roman Catholic Bishop of Fall

River. There are many others.”

“Thank you. Now, please go home and come back with all these people so that they can show me two forms of identification — one photo ID and one non-photo ID.” “What?

That’s ridiculous. And besides, many of the heads of parish committees change annually.

Will I have to return with all the new group leaders also?”

“Well, no, as long as that, in addition to the individual recipients, the envelope also names the church. But please note that failure to update any changes in the information provided here may result in termination of service. The Post Office will provide only two keys to your box.” “I already have two keys.” “Oh, right.”

“Be assured that we will not disclose any information on this form to third parties, except, under certain limited circumstances, to the legal or judicial process; to process servers; to Post Office contractors and service providers; to financial entities; to domestic or foreign government agencies; or to congressional offices.

Your confidential information is safe with the U.S. Post Office.”

Mostly. I signed the form. The people in line behind me were growing uneasy.

“Now, see how easy that was, Father Tim? Need any stamps today? Our rates are going up again.”

I long for the days of the Pony Express, that legendary high-water mark of U.S. mail delivery. Oh wait. The historical fact is that the Pony Express lasted only 18 months before going out of business.

I bet those poor horses wore themselves out delivering saddlebags full of Form 1039 PSN 7530-02-000-7165 throughout the Wild West.

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

10

The Anchor

February 3, 2012

Continually called to service along the pilgrimage of faith

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

NORTH DARTMOUTH — She may be soft-spoken, but Barbara Tracy’s faith speaks loud and clear as she talks about her volunteer work and a journey of faith. That spiritual pilgrimage has led her to St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth but began in Milford, Mass., with a small girl who was too short to see what was going on at the altar, but bright enough to embrace the devotion within her heart.

“It was the ’50s and times were good.

You knew who your friends were and Milford was a small town then. It was a comfortable place to grow,” said Tracy.

Recalling the Latin spoken during Mass at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Parish, it was the time after Mass that Tracy enjoyed as well.

“It was nice because it was a family day. It was just around the table. You would hear chairs scraping down to make room for someone else. It was nice and it all centered on Sunday morning and the family gathering,” said Tracy, who holds one particular family member in high regard. “I had a very special relationship with my Aunt Margaret, who lived next door to me. She just had this great devotion to our Blessed Mother and every Monday night for years, we went to the Miraculous Medal novena. It will always be a part of me, and on Mondays I still think of that.”

Her 12 years of learning at the parish school was a “true gift from my parents,” said Tracy, and planted its own seeds

within her. Tracy said that she had so “That was fun for both of us because many nice Sisters as teachers that when that was a brand new parish,” she said. she graduated “We were from Framall willingham State ing to College, she work hard also became a to make teacher. Marthis parish ried to her work.” husband RobFor five ert now for 46 years she years, the couand her ple spent the husband first few years worked of their maralongside riage moving other paaround the rishioners country, inito help tially settling raise funds in Connecticut for the parand becomish, which ing members back then of the Holy consisted Trinity Parish of a large in Rockville. auditorium Tracy taught and no forFaith Formamal living tion classes quarters for while her husits pastor. band became “Beone of the first cause it lay lectors. was just “We have getting off always worked Anchor Person of the week — Barbara the ground, Tracy. (Photo by Becky Aubut) together,” said he didn’t Tracy. have a recTwo years later the couple moved to tory so they rented him a little ranch Rochester, N.Y. and joined the Church of house two miles from the church. He the Holy Spirit Parish in Webster. didn’t have a housekeeper so it wasn’t uncommon for him to call me or some other woman and say, ‘The bishop is coming for lunch after Mass — could you put the potatoes in the oven?’” said Tracy, who said helping clean the home was another duty. “You just did that, everybody just pitched in to help him. It was fun to be in such a new parish because everyone was in the same boat.”

Tracy and her husband relocated to California, landing on the steps of St. John Fisher Parish in Rancho Palos Verdes, where they became involved with the Christian Service Organization and “focused on the social side of the Church.”

Working with the Missionaries of Charity in downtown Los Angeles, Tracy said she learned so much about the benefits of helping others.

“That’s where the real world was. It wasn’t Hollywood or any other places.

We saw things that will be with us for the rest of our lives. One of the things we did was to befriend families who were living in one-room hotels. Sometimes we

would bring them to our house. Believe it or not, some of the kids had never taken their shoes off and walked on grass because they were city children. They had a wonderful time. This was just our little piece of it,” said Tracy, humbling adding, “there were many others that were involved.”

Tracy assisted the Little Sisters of the Poor, who ran the Jeanne Jugan Residence, a large nursing home in the area.

She and her husband also did some behind-the-scenes work for Marriage Encounter, helping get rooms ready. Tracy also became one of the first extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at St. John Fisher Parish in 1982.

By 1988 Tracy and her husband had made their way back to Connecticut, became members of St. Stephen’s Parish in Trumbull, and when her husband was asked to start a Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults at the parish, Tracy was right there with him.

“We held it in the rectory and it was nice. That was the joy of RCIA; someone is taking that leap to come,” said Tracy.

“You know they’re vulnerable but you look at how you would feel walking into a religion you didn’t know much about.

We have made lasting friendships.”

She added, “Of any program in the Church, I think RCIA is the most beautiful because they want to come. The opportunity is so special. You see them in the market and you get a hug. You’ve gone through a very special time with them.”

Both she and her husband retired in 2000 and moved to Dartmouth, where St. Julie’s Billiart Parish “wholeheartedly welcomed us in,” she said.

“St. Julie’s is a wonderful parish. It’s a beautiful mix of the older folks and the younger folks, just the friendliest group we have ever encountered,” said Tracy, who has continued with RCIA. “We have a beautiful team.”

Tracy volunteers in the parish office and continues being an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, including visits to the home bound that she said is “very rewarding; I love it.”

“I can’t thank God enough for all the experiences I’ve had,” said Tracy. “I’m basically a very plain person but along the way these experiences have found us and it’s been a joy to be a part of them. We always say that God saved the best for last with St. Julie’s because I don’t know how it could get any better.”

To submit a Person of the Week nominee, send an email with information to fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org.

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The Anchor

February 3, 2012

Book documents 50 years of faith of Centerville parish continued from page one

ago, that the parish got going.”

As Kirk provided regular updates in the bulletin, Father Hession struck upon the idea of gathering all this information into a book.

“Father Hession asked if I’d be willing to undertake a chronological history of the parish, and I said I would,” Kirk said. “That’s how the book came to fruition. It was originally supposed to be completed for the end of the jubilee year in the summer of 2008, but as these things happen, it took a little longer than that. But we finally did get it done.”

Once Kirk had assembled and pieced together a historical narrative of the founding of Our Lady of Victory Parish, he realized it needed to be presented within a certain context that was easy to follow for readers.

“I felt most people enjoy looking at pictures so we collected some photographs from the parish records and then I asked others to send pictures in,” he said. “It seemed to make sense, other than having just text, to add a little life to the project. We did get some old black-and-whites and some color photos, some of which are strictly parish-related and others of which are presented in a broader context.”

Some of those broader historical photos — including shots of The Beatles arriving in America and Blessed Pope John Paul II meeting with President Ronald Reagan — are meant to place the parish’s history within its proper perspective; something akin to a parish yearbook.

“I didn’t want the book to be too narrow,” Kirk said. “What I wanted to do was present a history of the parish with some context — both geographically, in terms of the setting and what Centerville was like then — and then some of the personalities of the village and those of the Church at large and the world. I wanted to offer some context so people of a certain age would remember and call things to mind, things we’ve all been through as Catholics and as Americans.”

Kirk credits Kristen vonHentschel of KVH Graphic Design with creating the visuallyappealing layout for the book, including its photo-filled cover; and also praised Raymond Glaser at the Business Center of Cape Cod for assisting with the printing of the volume.

Having printed an initial press run of 500 copies, Kirk said the book had its official “roll out” last November during a book-signing event featuring Raymond Flynn, former mayor of Boston and U.S. Ambassador to The Vatican under President Clinton.

“I have been friendly with Ray Flynn and I invited him to come to speak at one of the parish men’s club meetings and he did a terrific job,” Kirk said. “Father Hession asked if we could get him to come down and speak at the book signing, so he was very gracious and agreed.”

“An Italian cook who owned a family restaurant just outside the Vatican once said to me: ‘You’ll love the sauce, because it’s made with a little bit of love,” Flynn said in an interview with The Anchor.

“The 50-year history of Our Lady of Victory was also written with a little bit of love.”

Flynn said the parish reminds him of one, big happy family rooted in faith in Jesus and pride in one another.

“Ed Kirk captures the parish history beautifully, and the young families demonstrate its promising future,” he said. “To cynics who are doubtful about the Catholic Church’s future, let them come to Our Lady of Victory Parish and see for yourself.”

“Ed’s history reminds us to hold both memory and hope as signs of our love for God,” added pastor Father Mark Hession.

“Every parish’s history is the living memory of its founders, their faith, their dreams and their hope — drawn from the Good News that we are loved by God.” A lawyer by profession, Kirk said this was his first effort at authoring “something

that could be called a book” and he found it to be a challenging but enjoyable experience.

“Of course in my business you do a lot of writing and I’ve always had an interest in history, which I majored in at Boston College,” he said. “I thought it was an opportunity to just sit down and pull together some facts and see what kind of historic narrative we could create.”

In the end, though, writing about the parish he loves brought him great joy.

“Everyone who belongs to this parish has a great love for it,” Kirk said. “We’ve always had terrific priests and it’s a very vital and lively place. It’s a special place to go, not only on Sundays, but any day.”

Copies of “Faith of Our Fathers and Mothers: A Look Back at 50 Years in the Life of a Parish” can be ordered via the parish website at www.olvparish.org or by calling the rectory at 508-775-5744.

11

12

The Anchor

February 3, 2012

Catholic school leaders honored in White House ceremony

WASHINGTON (CNS) — A group of Catholic school leaders, including a student, a few principals, diocesan education officials and other school representatives, were honored recently at the White House for their innovation and dedication.

The group was recognized as part of the Obama administration’s “Champions of Change” program, which highlights different groups each week for contributions they make to their communities. Past recipients have included inventors, artists, volunteers, chefs, farmers and health activists.

The attention to Catholic school leaders was timed to coincide with Catholic Schools Week January 29-February 5. At the gathering, Joshua DuBois, head of the White House Office

of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, praised Catholic schools for not only serving their own students but also local communities. “You step up to the plate for everyone,” he said, citing the example of how Catholic schools in New Orleans were the first schools to open after Hurricane Katrina. Roberto Rodriguez, special assistant to President Barack Obama for education, thanked the Catholic school leaders for the work they do “day in and day out” with limited resources and budgets.

Although a handful of government officials took the microphone to praise the accomplishments of Catholic schools, the hour-and-a-half-long ceremony primarily gave educators the chance to speak about current challenges and successes.

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beginning of a Quest — Thomas Horn and Tom Hanks star in a scene from the movie “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below.

(CNS photo/Warner Bros.)

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” (Warner Bros.)

Devastated by the sudden loss of his devoted father (Tom Hanks), a victim of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, an introverted grade schooler (Thomas Horn) sets out to identify the purpose of a mysterious key he discovers among his dad’s belongings. His quest gains him the friendship of the traumatized German immigrant (Max von Sydow) who lodges with his grandmother and ultimately brings him closer to his seemingly grief-paralyzed mom (Sandra Bullock). Director Stephen Daldry’s grim drama, adapted from the best-selling novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, focuses on community, shared suffering and familial solidarity as it upholds positive, humanistic values. But the main character’s eccentricities — he may or may not have a mild form of autism — and the diffuse nature of his search, which brings him into contact with a whole series of strangers, makes it difficult for viewers to establish a sense of connection with his plight, and renders his story, for the most part, more emotionally trying than cathartic. Mature themes, some disturbing images, a transvestite character, a couple of crude terms, occasional vulgar wordplay. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents

strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“The Grey” (Open Road) Survival story set in the Alaskan wilderness has an oil-rig worker (Liam Neeson) struggling to lead six other victims of a plane crash in their battle against marauding wolves. As directed and co-written by Joe Carnahan, the chases, killings and feats of courage are brisk but routine while the script (written in collaboration with Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, and based on Jeffers’ short story “Ghost Walker”) includes attempts at profundity and spiritual reflection that are wildly uneven. Given the meager rewards of trekking through it, even most adults would be well advised to decline this grueling cinematic journey altogether.

Troubling themes — including suicide and one character’s blasphemous expression of despair — frequent gory animal attacks, at least one use of profanity, pervasive rough, crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

“The Iron Lady” (Weinstein) Touching dramatization of the life of Margaret Thatcher (a glorious Meryl Streep), Britain’s first female prime minister, and arguably its most important post-World War II politician. Shuttling between the present day, with Thatcher suffering from dementia and short-term memory loss, and flashbacks recounting significant passages in the handbagwielding ex-leader’s life — including her romance with future husband Denis (Jim Broadbent) director Phylidda Lloyd’s film is sympathetic yet fair. Despite a few historical inaccuracies and moments of overemotional fluff, her portrait is both intimate and educational. Viewers of faith will appreciate its explicitly pro-family celebration of Thatcher’s successful marriage as well as its implicitly Pro-Life vindication of her dignity (and enduring perceptiveness) despite mental frailty. Two scenes of terrorist attacks, documentary footage of real-life violence, a glimpse of upper female nudity, a few instances of crass British slang.

The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned.

Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, February 5, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Gregory A. Mathias, Pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth

February 3, 2012

13

The Anchor

Faith reignited after birth of twins

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

ATTLEBORO — Baptisms are always a celebration of life in a parish but at St. Joseph’s Parish in Attleboro, the Baptism of two sets of twins from the same family was not just a distinctive moment for the group but also a fruit of a return to the practice of the Catholic faith for one set of parents.

“Alluding to the Gospel passage, ‘Let the children come to Me; do not hinder them,’” said Father John Murray, pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish and celebrant of the Baptism, “so often it’s the children that bring parents back to the faith when it comes time for sacramental celebrations like Baptism; sometimes it’s the whole family that comes back to the faith. I’m a firm believer that no one ever leaves the faith, something just reopens their hearts to what God wants to do in their lives.”

Amy Hill and her brother were raised in the Catholic faith, attending Blessed Sacrament Parish in Walpole and were students of its parochial school of the same name.

“It was a good education,” said Hill, who spent kindergarten through the fifth grade at the school.

While in college, Hill began to ponder her faith and to challenge her beliefs.

“In college I was almost a religion minor,” she said. “I took three courses in religious theory just because I had questions about faith.

How do you rectify all these different faiths in the world claiming that they are the one true faith? You know, how do we all get along?

And is there really just one God, or are Allah and Yahweh and Jesus just one entity of the same person?

Are the Jewish people right that Jesus is just a prophet? I had all these burning questions and I just stepped away from the Church and went on my own path to figure everything out.”

As a biology major, Hill tried to merge her studies in science and religion and find a balance. By her mid-20s, she was traveling all over the world, including Europe, Egypt and China, and found herself inves-

tigating how others embraced their faith. Just over a decade later she married her husband, who became a confirmed Catholic while he was in college, and they began to talk about having children.

“We talked about, as they got older, what do we want them to know and learn?” Hill said. “Both of us knew that we wanted them to be raised knowing volunteerism and service and community, and becoming part of the community and really understanding how to help others. When we thought about service, we felt that the best place to start that foundation is in the Church.”

After looking at a few Christianbased churches online to see what area parishes had to offer, Hill said, “Everything just didn’t feel right, I guess is the way to put it. For the Protestant churches, there’s no Mary and for me that was a big issue. When I was in Italy, wherever I was, I went into every single church and every time I walked in, it felt like home.”

When Hill and her husband attended a service at her brother’s church, St. Joseph’s Parish, Hill felt a connection right away, especially after meeting with Father Murray.

“Brian and I made our decision together,” she said, “that this was the path we wanted to go on and this was where we wanted to raise our children because of service; it feels like community and a way to connect with community.”

Upon realizing that Hill would be giving birth to twins and her sister-in-law would also be giving birth to twins a few months later, the decision was made to try and have all four babies baptized together. For Father Murray, baptizing two sets of twins from the same family was a first for him.

“This is certainly unique because having two sets of twins from the same family, for me it just symbolized the immensity of God’s love and how His love can’t be contained,” said Father Murray. “It’s how the newness of life is present at Baptism and how the faith is being passed from the parents to the children.”

Be sure to visit the Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese.org The site includes links to parishes, diocese offices and national sites.

vietnam vet for life — South Carolina resident, Wayne Cockfield, who lost both his legs as the result of a land mine explosion in Vietnam, was the guest speaker at the recent Massachusetts Citizens For Life annual assembly at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

MCFL assembly calls for opposition to doctor-prescribed death continued from page one

legalize doctor-prescribed death.

“Medical abandonment is not compassion,” he said. “Dying is not dignified. What we need for devalued people is living in dignity.”

The legislation, called the Death with Dignity Act, is a citizens’ initiative petition that has garnered more than the required number of signatures. The state legislature has until May to choose whether or not to act on the proposal before it would appear on Massachusetts’ 2012 ballot.

Proponents say the measure would give patients greater peace of mind, choice and control in their final days of life. The legislation permits individuals who are given six months or fewer to live to receive life-ending drugs.

The law would require that two doctors verify the mental competence of patients and that there be a 15-day waiting period between the request for and writing of the prescription.

Cockfield, from South Carolina, said such legislation targets the “medically vulnerable,” who include the elderly and disabled.

A Vietnam veteran, he was wounded by a land mine in 1969. After two years spent in hospitals and 29 surgeries, Cockfield had survived the blast that almost claimed his life.

However, he is disabled and lost both legs to infection. He returned home in 1972 and witnessed Americans, angry about the war, shouting “baby killers” at his comrades.

The following year, the United States Supreme Court handed down Roe v. Wade.

“I heard people say we need to kill babies,” he said. “Killing babies became a social good.”

He said euthanasia legislation builds on the same principle — withdrawing constitutional protections from vulnerable populations.

“Once people get used to killing, the pool of death always expands,” he said.

Cockfield emphasized that doctor-prescribed death is rarely a free choice and that at issue is perceived quality of life.

Studies out of Oregon, where physician assisted suicide has been legal since 1997, show that the number one reason people choose to poison themselves to death is that they do not want to be a burden for their loved ones.

Statistics for one year list 26 percent of those who requested death as depressed and none was offered mental health therapy.

If a healthy person made such a request, they would face suicide prevention counseling, not suicide assistance counseling, he said.

Cockfield said he understands that people jump to the conclusion that life with a disability would be unbearable. He recalled the first time he had seen a disabled person. He was 15 and thought to himself, “I would rather be dead than like him.”

“God kept that memory sharp in my mind. I understand. People fear disability. I fear disability.

It’s not unusual to fear disability,” he said.

Facing disability himself, Cockfield evaluates his quality of life as “better than average.” He said he fears being hospitalized at some point in the future and having “mercy” imposed on him.

The MCFL assembly’s master of ceremonies, Angelo Scaccia, who is dean of the Massachusetts House of Representatives,

called Cockfield a “true American hero” who fights to defend God’s gift of life on a daily basis.

“Life is a gift from God, sacred and blessed,” he said.

“There always seems to be a threat on the horizon, and 2012 is no exception.”

MCFL’s president, Anne Fox, said that the doctor-prescribed death bill is only one battle the Pro-Life movement could win this year. There is an opportunity to vote in enough Pro-Life elected officials in the state House of Representatives to constitute a majority. The election of representatives to national office could also result in a Pro-Life majority.

Fox called the physician assisted suicide bill the most important Pro-Life front in the state this year.

“When we defeat this bill, we will set back the death forces by a decade, literally,” she said.

During his remarks, Cockfield said that the Massachusetts legislation must be stopped in order to prevent momentum that would pass similar legislation in other states. If the ballot question succeeds, he said he sees a future that is predatory, where those who do not measure up are done away with.

“The day will come when everyone in here doesn’t measure up in some way,” he said. “I am here to beg you to take this serious. Speak to everybody. Hound people until they hate to see you coming down the street.”

He added that everyone should give what they can financially to the cause.

“God is on our side, but the electric company is not necessarily on our side if we can’t pay the bills,” he said.

14 Religious freedom at home and abroad At first glance the title of the January 20 Anchor article, “Obama administration promoting a gay and lesbian agenda in foreign policy” seems almost bland. Reasonable people usually agree that we should be nice to homosexually-inclined individuals, whether at home or abroad, and what harm is there if President Obama includes this concept in his foreign policy agenda?

But when we turn to the president’s December 6 memorandum on the Government’s “International Initiative to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons,” we see why we should be concerned.

The memorandum directs all U.S. government agencies engaged abroad to promote the “human rights” of LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] persons, and then gives a variety of actions to be taken to achieve this. This involves not only combatting the criminalization by foreign governments of LGBT status or conduct but also requires all U.S. agencies engaged abroad to advance the LGBT cause. This could mean, for example, that U.S. military chaplains assigned abroad could be given duty relating to the promotion and legalization of homosexual activities.

There was a trial run of Obama’s new policy in Islamabad, Pakistan last June 26. There the American Embassy hosted a “gay pride” party billed as a celebration of homosexual rights. Not surprisingly, conservative Pakistani groups condemned the event as an act of “cultural terrorism.” Incidentally, the Pakistan penal code section that the Obama administration wants revoked punishes “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” with a fine or prison sentence of two years to life, or both.

The Anchor

February 3, 2012

Our readers respond

Recently Catholic leaders have paid a lot of attention to opposing, on religious grounds, the new health-care law that may require Catholic associations such as hospitals and colleges to provide contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs in their health plans. While the health care law clearly poses a threat to religious freedom in this country, the administration’s new move to promote “gay rights” abroad could, if successful, also have a devastating impact on religious freedom throughout the world.

Charles O. Coudert Sherborn, Mass.

Fighting back against unjust mandate The Obama administration has drawn a line in the sand and challenged the Catholics in our great country to compromise our religious liberty. We are being forced to choose between giving up our health care or to violate our conscience by mandating all health plans to cover contraception, sterilization and some abortions. This is a fight all Americans cannot afford to lose. All Americans paying taxes will be complicit in providing health care that offers these services.

The ramifications of this mandate are far reaching. Will Catholics be forced to cancel their health care so they will not be complicit in what they sincerely believe is wrong? Will Catholic hospitals and schools be forced to close and many lose their jobs? Will one group in society be discriminated against and denied basic health care, which is supposed to be a “right” for all?

This is not a partisan issue. It’s an issue of human rights, of the freedom of religion that our Bill of Rights protects. When Catholic groups are denied religious free-

dom and the rights of conscience, then who will be next? It won’t stop with one group.

Those who want America to be a godless nation are hoping Christians will retreat and surrender our heritage and culture. They believe that Christians won’t have the courage to defend their faith. Are we that lazy? I urge my fellow readers to join me in calling our senators and congressmen and demanding that our religious liberty and rights of conscience be restored and that this evil mandate be rescinded. We need to act and to vote to protect our conscience for the life of our republic is at stake!

Jane Wilcox Assonet

The importance of the family There are many critical topics being discussed during the current political debates, including repealing the disastrous Obamacare; the stagnant economy; joblessness; energy; illegal aliens and what to do with them, etc. But looming large in the background is one of the most crucial of our times: social issues.

No matter how one may wish to dodge them, they have played a major role in the breakdown of American families, the descent into poverty and unemployment, the creation of at least two generations of children who are often neglected or abused, and the reality that 47 percent of the population on government assistance, paid for by the other 53 percent. Rick Santorum, in the recent Republican debate at Dartmouth College, noted, “It is impossible not to discuss the relevance of the breakdown of the American family in debating the economy.” He further called attention to the poverty rate among families. “You want to look at the poverty rate among families that

have a husband and wife working in them? It’s five percent today. A family that’s headed by one person? It’s 30 percent today. We need to have a policy that supports families, that encourages marriage.” By not doing so, we have found ourselves with increasingly younger single mothers and absent males who demonstrate little interest in the children they have procreated.

These young mothers often go through a series of “boyfriends” who have varying kinds of influence on the physical, mental and spiritual growth of children who are not their own and for whom they care little.

Abuse and often death to these little ones is not uncommon. How have we gotten to this point? For years we have been encouraging our kids to become promiscuous, through school-based sex education programs, music, TV programs and movies, resulting in thousands of pregnancies, abortions, sexuallytransmitted disease and huge demands on our welfare system. In a good or bad economy, intact traditional families demonstrate a unity that holds them together, protects the children and operates on a budget that pays the bills and prepares for better times. Their stability, which relatively rarely calls upon state or federal aid, is a social anchor and a valid reason for responsible adults to insist that young people desist from sexual activity until they are old enough to marry or at least to recognize the probable consequences of licentiousness. And single parenthood almost always results in poverty for the woman and the child.

A child deserves two parents who are married and committed to raising their offspring and working together — a family. We must encourage schools (and parents) to teach abstinence and the value of traditional marriage and its advan-

This week in 50 years ago — Bishop James L. Connolly and Father Joseph L. Powers, director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in the diocese, announced that a CCD Parish Executive Board course would be conducted in the Cape Cod area, led by Sister Dolores of the Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters at Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich.

25 years ago — Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament, based at Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel of Sacred Hearts Church in Fairhaven, marked their 10th anniversary with a Mass celebration at the church. Concelebrants of the Mass included priests associated with the 250-member group over the years.

tages. We must require the father of a child — not the taxpayer — to be responsible for supporting his offspring and to require a cleanup of our media and its dreadful influence on children. To focus exclusively on the admittedly major issues of the day without recognizing that a national policy of recognizing, respecting and promoting marriage is essential to national health is evading this important matter.

Patricia Stebbins East Sandwich Appreciate positive message The Archbishop of New York and president of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Timothy M. Dolan, in the inaugural lecture at the University of Notre Dame’s new Project on Human Dignity, said, “My identity, my personhood does not depend on whether or not I have a green card, a stock portfolio, a job, a home or even a college diploma. Nor does my identity depend upon whom I am sexually attracted to, or to race, religion, gender, social status, bank account, passport or health insurance, but on my essence as a child of God.” The archbishop went on to say that this doctrine, this Church teaching is pivotal, normative and that the Church must not be a “shrill, crabby, naysaying nag, but a warm, tender, gracious mother who invites, embraces and nurtures her children, calling forth from within the truth, beauty and goodness she knows is within them.”

How utterly refreshing! This is where truth lies, where we as a people of hope must be: eliminating the negative, accepting the positive and moving on. How refreshing to have found this in The Anchor. Thank you.

Rev. Msgr. Ronald A. Tosti Cotuit

Diocesan history

10 years ago — Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., celebrated Mass at Our Lady’s Haven in Fairhaven, to mark the dedication of the new St. Mary, Queen of Peace Unit at the home.

The 36-bed unit would serve residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

One year ago — Pope John Paul II High School in Hyannis reached an important milestone by earning accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

The high school joined more than 630 private schools that have received the distinction from the NEASC, which accredits between 12 and 20 schools a year through a rigorous 18-month process.

February 3, 2012

15

The Anchor

making history — In this panoramic view, bishops of the world line the nave of St. Peter’s Basilica during the opening session of the Second Vatican Council Oct. 11, 1962. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the council, one of the monumental events in modern religious history. (CNS photo)

Half a century after Vatican II, a year of faith and debate

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Fifty years ago this October, Blessed John XXIII and more than 2,500 bishops and heads of religious orders from around the world gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica for the opening session of the Second Vatican Council.

Over the following three years, Vatican II would issue 16 major “pronouncements” on such fundamental questions as the authority of the Church’s hierarchy, the interpretation of Scripture, and the proper roles of clergy and laity.

Those documents, and the deliberations that produced them, have transformed how the Catholic Church understands and presents itself within the context of modern secular culture and society.

Because Vatican II was one of the monumental events in modern religious history, its golden anniversary will naturally be the occasion for numerous commemorative events, including liturgical celebrations, publications and academic conferences.

At a Vatican II exhibition at Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, which opened in late January and will run until November 2013, the displays include original handwritten pages from Pope John’s speech at the council’s opening session, and a Vatican passport issued at the time to a young Polish bishop named Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II. Yet Vatican II is not merely of historical interest; it is very much a living issue in the Church today.

Scholars still debate to what extent the council’s achievements, in such areas as interfaith dialogue and liturgical reform, were organic developments in the Church’s history or radical breaks with the past. And clergy and laity alike differ over how expansively to apply the council’s pronouncements, whether sticking closely to the letter of the documents or following a more broadly construed “spirit of Vatican II.” Pope Benedict XVI has rejected what he calls the “hermeneutics of discontinuity and rupture” in the present-day understanding of the council and has called instead for interpreting Vatican

II as an instance of “renewal in continuity” with the church’s 2,000 years of tradition. Exploring and promoting that idea will be a major goal of the Year of Faith that begins this October 11, exactly half a century to the day since Vatican II opened.

A relatively small but highly vocal number of Catholics reject the council altogether, charging among other things that subsequent changes to worship have undermined the solemnity of the Mass and that a growing openness to other religions conflicts with the need to proclaim salvation through Jesus Christ alone. The most prominent such group, the Society of St. Pius X, effectively broke with Rome in 1988, when its founder, the late French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, ordained four bishops without approval from the pope.

Pope Benedict has made reconciliation with the traditionalist society a priority of his pontificate. He lifted restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass, now called the extraordinary form, in 2007.

Less than two years later, he removed the excommunications of the four illicitly-ordained bishops. And last fall, the Vatican held out the possibility of making the group a personal prelature if a full reconciliation is reached. A prelature is somewhat like a global diocese, a status currently held only by Opus Dei. As a condition of reconciliation, though, the Vatican has asked the society to give its assent to a summary of certain non-negotiable doctrines. These have not been made public, but they presumably include the major teachings of Vatican II. Though the ongoing dialogue between the Vatican and the society remains confidential, both sides have recently published documents that give insights into their respective positions.

In early December, L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, published an article by Msgr. Fernando Ocariz, the second-highest official of Opus Dei and a participant in talks with the Society of St. Pius X. In the article, Msgr. Ocariz insisted that all the teachings of Vatican II re-

quire nothing less than “religious submission of intellect and will,” and that even the council’s apparent innovations in doctrine are properly understood as in continuity with tradition. But he also emphasized that “there remains legitimate room for theological freedom” in interpreting them.

Later the same month, Father JeanMichel Gleize, a theologian who has represented the society in discussions

with the Vatican, published a response to Msgr. Ocariz’s article. Perhaps the most striking part of Father Gleize’s argument was his rejection of the hermeneutic of continuity as overly “subjective” and neglectful of the “unity of the truth” necessary in Church teaching.

That would seem to suggest an endorsement of the hermeneutic of rupture usually associated with the council’s most progressive champions.

16

Youth Pages

a successful map quest — Connor Quigley, an eighth-grade student at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro, won the 2011 National Geography Bee for St. John the Evangelist School. He will now take a written test to see if he qualifies for the Massachusetts state finals. The winner of the state finals goes to Washington, D.C. for the Nationals. Alex Trebeck asks the questions in Washington. Quigley is shown here with his medal, certificate and Jay Hoyle, history teacher at SJE.

hot shots — St. Nicholas of Myra Parish Knights of Columbus Council No. 14947 recently hosted a Basketball Free Throw Championship event at the Taunton Middle Catholic School. Open to boys and girls ages 10 to 14 the event allowed for the kids to shoot 15 balls with each age division winner to proceed to the regionals to be held later this month. In attendance were several boys and girls from the greater Dighton/Taunton area, several Brother Knights and District Deputy Lew Corcoran.

sticking to it — The fifth-grade students at Holy Name School in Fall River recently made electromagnets with a battery, nail, and wire. In writing the procedure, they discovered that the more tightly and closer together they wrapped the wire around the nail, the stronger the electromagnet became. Some students picked up six paper clips.

February 3, 2012

busy bee — Amber Hunt, a seventh-grade student at All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee and a chance to win $25,000 college scholarship. The school-level bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the National Geography Bee. She will now take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers on that test in each state will then be eligible to compete in their state bee in March. The winner of the state finals goes to Washington, D.C. for the finals where Alex Trebeck will host.

it all added up — Amanda Medeiros of Fall River, front left, was a member of a five-student team from Providence College that won the 2011 xTREME Accounting national competition in New York City.

The win was compared to the PC basketball team “winning the national championship,” by associate professor of accountancy and department chairman, Dr. Patrick T. Kelly.

c-C Homecoming — Coyle and Cassidy 2009 graduate Courtney Halloran recently returned from Costa Rica where she studied and worked for four months. As a student at Providence College she was able to participate in Duke University’s Tropical Medicine and Global Health program, exposing her to many different Costa Rican cities, towns and peoples. She taught health education and assisted in local clinic work. Living with a host family enabled her to immerse herself in the culture and language. She is pictured sharing her story with Coyle’s Spanish IV honors class.

Youth Pages

February 3, 2012

N

ot much is actually known about St. Blaise, but people often remember his feast day because of the tradition of the blessing of the throats. He is the patron saint of those with throat illnesses as a result of a legend that he healed a boy brought to him with a fish bone stuck in his throat. Since the eighth century, he has been invoked to heal the sick, especially those with diseases of the throat.

The tradition of blessing throats is not as popular as it once was. I remember, growing up, that my parish offered a special service at 3 p.m. on this feast day so that people could get their throats blessed. It seems to me that we need the help of St. Blaise now more than ever. Perhaps it is time for a resurgence of this tradition! The rise of

17

The blessing of throats

oral cancer and cancer of the for anyone within earshot. It throat would certainly encour- is certainly not an attractive age us to invoke the interceshabit but it seems that we have sion of St. Blaise; but what become so desensitized to it if we extended our concept that we barely notice anymore. of throat disease to include On the occasion when we do the diseased things that come out of our mouths as well? We often use our words as weapons, hurling insults and threats at one another. With the increased use

By Jean Revil of social media, it’s even easier to wage verbal attacks with a false feeling of anonymity or say something to someone, to invulnerability. We say things correct their behavior, they are online that we would never often totally unaware that their say to each other face to face. language is offensive. I have Foul language has become to say that the one exception I the norm in our society. People have found to this is in the jail swear on a regular basis, using ministry where the women are vulgar language that shows so conscious of not using ofneither self-respect nor respect fensive language in our gather-

Be Not Afraid

ings. Their efforts reflect the respect that they have for the members of the ministry. How sad, that outside of the walls, my experience is not quite the same. Many people don’t seem to have that same level of awareness or of respect.

Bullying is the other thing that comes to mind. Barely a week passes without something on the news related to a bullying situation, some of which even result in suicide.

We have young people afraid to go school. Outside of their homes, school should be one of the safest places in the world for them. Think about how much less bullying there would be if we asked St. Blaise to intercede for us and pray that we might use our words to heal

rather than hurt, to build each other up rather than tear each other down.

As we commemorate the Feast of St. Blaise, may I suggest, first of all, that we all get our throats blessed. Then, as the priest prays “Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” may the prayer of our heart echo the words of Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” Amen.

Jean Revil teaches theology and is campus minister at Bishop Stang High School.

Comments welcome at: jrevil@bishopstang.com.

Youths’ joy is ‘greatest evidence’ Jesus rose from dead, priest says

WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Washington pastor told 17,000 exuberant teen-agers and young adults gathered at a Pro-Life rally and Mass in the Verizon Center January 23 that he wondered if they knew “what an encouragement you are.”

“I am so glad for your joy ... your joy is the greatest evidence Jesus rose from the dead,” said Msgr. Charles Pope, pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Parish, said in his homily.

The Mass and rally that morning, he said, were “about praising God and thanking Him for the gift of life.”

Msgr. Pope noted that crowds at the Verizon Center normally cheer for hockey and basketball games and rock concerts, and he challenged them to offer a louder cheer for God. The spirited crowd responded with a loud sustained roar.

The annual Youth Rally and Mass for Life there and a second rally and Mass for another 10,000 young people at the D.C. Armory were sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington and each year precede the March for Life.

All of the Pro-Life events mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

At Verizon, the crowd offered a huge ovation for Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, who smiled and thanked them for witnessing to God’s gift of life. “I share your enthusiasm and your spirit,” he said.

“You are alive with hope and love, and you are alive with the life of Christ. Stay always that way!”

Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, main celebrant at the Verizon Center Mass, smiled as he processed into the arena, preceded by about a dozen other bishops, nearly 180 priests and 30 deacons.

“I welcome you as we renew our commitment to the value and dignity of all human life,” the cardinal said.

Acknowledging the large crowd, he said, “There would be even more if it weren’t for the fact we had great storm warnings, and schools and bus lines were closed. I think the Lord did that to say to us, ‘For decades you’ve been persevering — continue to persevere.’”

Warnings of possible icy roads caused delayed openings in government offices and for area schools, preventing some local Catholic schools from busing students to the Verizon Center rally as in previous years.

Archbishop Vigano read a letter on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI, who thanked the youths for “this outstanding annual witness to the ‘Gospel of Life.’”

In an interview with reporters before the Mass, Cardinal Wuerl spoke about how inspired he is each year to process into the Verizon Center and see tens of thousands of young people standing together for God’s gift of life.

“You can’t help but be filled with joy and confidence” and hope for the future, he said.

“In the struggle for the soul of America, these (young) people support the best of the American tradition — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

In his opening remarks at the Mass, Cardinal Wuerl encouraged the youths to greet the concelebrating bishops, who included Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George. As bishops were announced, youths from those regions sitting in different sections of the arena burst into loud applause and cheers, waving their hands and scarves, giving their bishops a shoutout.

SOGGY SOJOURNERS — Teen-agers from St Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton and Holy Family Church in East Taunton traveled to Washington D.C. in prayerful support of the gift of life. (Photo by Greg Bettencourt)

Via a satellite link from the D.C. Armory, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, main celebrant of the Mass there, likewise introduced the bishops present with the youths, and they were greeted with loud cheers.

Youths interviewed before the Mass expressed their determination to stand together, in faith, and support human life in all its stages. Yajaira Hernandez, a member of the youth group from St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, Md., said, “Everybody deserves a chance.”

Jimmy Owens, a senior majoring in mathematics at the University of Nebraska, had helped lead a group of nearly 100 “Huskers for Life,” who made a 30-hour bus ride, partly through a snowstorm, to attend the rally and march.

“Because of our faith, we believe in the dignity of every

human life,” he said, noting that Catholic students there volunteer at Pro-Life crisis pregnancy centers and pray outside abortion clinics. The crowd at the youth rally “means a lot, to see there’s hope for our generation, with so many young people coming out,” Owens told the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Washington Archdiocese.

Christian Monsalve, a junior majoring in philosophy at Fordham University in New York, said, “It’s our understanding from the right to life stems all the other rights we have.

For our generation to be conscious of that is very important.”

During his homily, Msgr. Pope said that Scripture makes it clear, “You’re somebody, your life is sacred, and it’s part of God’s plan. No one is a mistake, accident, surprise or inconvenient.”

The priest, who writes a popular blog for the Archdiocese of Washington’s website, encouraged the youths to make a daily choice for chastity, charity, courage and constancy.

An estimated 85 percent of abortions are performed on single women. “I pray that every one of you understands how important it is to remain chaste and pure and save sexual relations for marriage,” the priest said. “Dress modestly, act modestly and avoid situations (involving) temptations.”

Noting that 42 percent of abortions are performed on women who live below the poverty line, the priest said, “We have to reach out to help women and families in this situation,” and he encouraged the young people to support prolife crisis pregnancy centers.

“We’ve got to let women know they don’t walk alone,” he said.

Msgr. Pope said that 90 percent of women who receive a prenatal diagnosis that their unborn child might have Down syndrome or a severe disability decide to have an abortion.

People with disabilities have “incredible gifts” to offer to the world, he said.

Regarding constancy, the parish priest said the struggle to end abortion continues 39 years after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. He noted polls that show a majority of Americans, and a growing number of young people, oppose abortion.

“We’re going to get there. We will win the hearts and minds of people in our country. We’re heading to that promised land where people respect life from conception to natural death,” he said.

Just before the Mass, one young priest, Father Mel Ayala, a parochial vicar at St. Peter Parish in Olney, Md., looked at the Verizon Center crowd and said, “This is the future, right here. It’s so awesome to be among so many young people who love life and live life. It’s incredible.”

18

The Anchor

Classmates celebrate 50 years as priests continued from page one

Parish in Taunton. “Our pastor, Father Francis McKeon and the curate, Father Francis Connors were two priests who were very instrumental in my decision to become a priest,” he said. “They led the way and my family was very supportive.”

The graduate of Msgr. Coyle High School in Taunton entered the seminary in 1954.

Following his 1962 ordination, Father Andrews was first assigned to St. Joseph’s Parish in Fall River, beginning a ministry that took him all across the Diocese of Fall River, most of that on Cape Cod where he spent 34 years.

Father Andrews has the rare distinction of having been responsible for building two new church buildings — St. Joan of Arc in Orleans, that was dedicated in 1984, and Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Wellfleet, dedicated in 2009.

He served at SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Fall River, St. Margaret’s in Buzzards Bay, and St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis.

Pastoral assignments included St. Joan of Arc, St. Bernard’s in Assonet, St. Dominic’s in Swansea, St. Patrick’s in Fall River and Our Lady of Lourdes.

Diocesan appointments included serving as chaplain of the Fall River and Cape Cod Boy Scouts and assisting on the Bishop’s Charity Ball and the Catholic Charities Appeal.

One of his favorite ministries

was his involvement with the ECHO retreat program for nearly 50 years. In a 2011 interview with The Anchor, he said of the program, “It’s designed for high school juniors and seniors. I got involved with it while I was assigned at St. Margaret’s Parish in Buzzards Bay. It was just a super, fantastic program. It was God’s grace coming through my priesthood into other people and me bringing them through my priesthood to God. Oh, I loved it.”

That sums up his 50 years as well. “The priesthood was everything I hoped for and more,” he said. “I think I did some good.

And I had a good time.”

Since his 2011 retirement, Father Andrews lives in Dighton and helps out at St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton on weekends.

Father Mullaney was born in Fall River and like Father Andrews, he too attended Msgr. Coyle High School in Taunton. “We were taught by the Holy Cross Brothers, and they made a great impression on me,” he told The Anchor. “Before I decided I wanted to become a priest, I initially wanted to become a Brother.”

He also credits his family for nurturing his decision to enter the priesthood. “My parents were very faithful Catholics,” he said.

“We always prayed the Rosary at home and attended daily Mass during Lent. Sunday Mass was

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not something we thought about; there was no question about it. It was automatic.”

Following his ordination, Father Mullaney was assigned to St. Patrick’s Parish in Wareham.

It was there he developed an affinity for riding motorcycles. In an earlier Anchor interview he said, “I began riding a motorcycle there. The young men would ride through the cranberry bogs and so I began to join them.”

Perhaps it was there too, where he took a liking to quahogging.

Father Mullaney also served at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in New Bedford and Immaculate Conception in Taunton. Pastorships included St. Bernard’s in Assonet, St. Anthony’s in East Falmouth and St. Anthony’s in Mattapoisett.

He has also served as an advocate and a pro-synodal judge in the diocesan Tribunal, and was director of Cathedral Camp in East Freetown from 1972 to 1983.

“I know I made a good choice in becoming a priest,” he said. “I’ve put my life to good use as a priest.”

Father Mullaney currently resides at Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River.

Father Wall grew up in St. Lawrence Parish in New Bedford, eventually attending Holy Family grammar and high schools in the Whaling City.

“I have to thank my parents, family and priest friends for their support and influence,” he said.

“Some have gone on to their reward.”

Father Wall served in only five parishes during his ministry. “That averages out to about a decade in each. I was blessed to get to know the people in each parish well. It’s an advantage in ministering to them. I think often of the people I’ve met over the last 50 years, their encouragement, devotion.

They are true workers of grace.

“I was also blessed with having dedicated bishops who worked hard in our local Church.”

While the number of his parish assignments was comparatively low, there is a litany of diocesan appointments on his resume. Father Wall has served as spiritual director of the Legion of Mary, dean of the Fall River Deanery, chaplain of the Taunton Boy Scouts, moderator of the Taunton district of the Council of Catholic Women, co-director of the Taunton Deanery CCD program, interim chaplain at Bishop Cassidy High School, on the PreCana Team, as chaplain of the Fall River chapter of Catholic nurses, and as moderator of the Fall River Catholic Women’s Club.

Father Wall has been the diocesan archivist since July of 1999, a position he still holds in retirement.

February 3, 2012 One of Father Wall’s most notable achievements was the completion of the massive history of the Diocese of Fall River project, of which he was the author and publisher. “Bearing Fruit By Streams of Waters,” was published in 2003, in time for the diocese’s celebration of its 100th anniversary.

Father Wall told The Anchor his interest in history was sparked in eighth grade at Holy Family School. Other of his publications include a necrology of priests, on which he collaborated with Father Andrews; a book commemorating the 75th anniversary of the consecration of St. Mary’s Cathedral as well as a book celebrating the parish’s 150th anniversary; and a visitor’s guide to the diocese’s Mother Church.

Father Wall, a resident at Cardinal Medeiros Residence in Fall River, remains very active, assisting other parishes as well as maintaining the diocesan archives.

Each of the priests agree that the vocation crisis concerns them but each offered words of encouragement to any young man

contemplating a vocation to the priesthood.

“I have nothing negative to say about my 50 years as a priest,” said Father Wall. “I wouldn’t hesitate in the least to encourage someone who is thinking about becoming a priest.”

“For me, the most important day of the week is Sunday,” he added, not referring to football games. “That’s the day when you come in contact most with the people to whom you minister. I felt that way when I was first ordained, and I still feel that way today.”

“If a young man is contemplating the priesthood, I say ‘Go for it,’” said Father Mullaney. “You won’t get a more fulfilled life.”

“I would tell any young man who is thinking about the priesthood to pray and talk to priests and family,” added Father Andrews.

“Hopefully they are supportive.

Don’t worry, you’ll get there.”

Also ordained with Fathers Andrews, Mullaney and Wall on Feb. 2, 1962 at the Cathedral was La Salette Father Gilles Genest, who passed away on January 17.

Around the Diocese 2/3

The Fall River Area Men’s First Friday Club will meet today at the Parish of the Good Shepherd, 1598 South Main Street, Fall River. Following the 6 p.m. Mass celebrated by Father Freddie Babiczuk, there will be a hot meal in the church hall. The guest speaker is Attorney John Polak, who will talk about tax preparations. Any gentleman wishing to attend may do so. For reservations or information call Norman Valiquette at 508-672-8174.

2/4

The Placement Exam for prospective high school and eighth-grade LEAP students of Bishop Connolly High School, 373 Elsbree Street, Fall River, will be tomorrow at 8 a.m. To reserve a space or for information call Anthony Ciampanelli, director of admissions, at 508-676-1071, extension 333.

2/4

A Day With Mary will take place tomorrow from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street in downtown New Bedford.

It will include a video presentation, procession and crowning of the Blessed Mother along with Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and an opportunity for Reconciliation. There will be a book store available during breaks. For more information call 508-996-8274.

2/9

The Divorced and Separated Support Group will continue its Divorce Care Series with a video screening of “The Road to Healing and Help” on February 9 beginning at 7 p.m. at St. Julie Billiart Parish, 494 Slocum Road in North Dartmouth. This session will help identify the losses that occur as a result of divorce and discuss ways to begin the process of healing. Discussion will follow and refreshments will be served. For more information call 508-678-2828, 508-993-0589 or 508-673-2997.

2/10

The diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate is sponsoring its annual essay contest to focus on the upcoming 40th anniversary date of Roe v.

Wade and Doe v. Bolton. The theme this year is “I came so that all might have life and have it to the full!” The deadline for submissions is February 10.

For more information, contact your parish office or call 508-675-1311.

2/10

In honor of World Sick Day (February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes) a special Healing Mass will be celebrated on February 10 at St. Jude the Apostle Church, 249 Whittenton Street in Taunton. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. Rosary will begin at 5:30 p.m. with Mass starting at 6 p.m., with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick within the Mass. For more information call 508-824-3330.

2/10

The Sacred Heart Retreat/Spirituality Center and the diocesan Office of Faith Formation will be sponsoring two retreats, one for men and one for women. “Walking on Water — With Feet of Clay” will be guided by Father Stan Kolasa, SS.CC., and Deacon Bruce Bonneau at the Sacred Hearts Retreat Center in Wareham. The men’s retreat will be held on the weekend of February 10-12. The women’s retreat will be held on the weekend of February 17-19. For more information, call the retreat center at 508-295-0100 or visit www.fallriverfaithformation.org.

2/11

Courage, a welcoming support group for Catholics wounded by same-sex attraction who gather to seek God’s wisdom, mercy and love, will next meet on February 11 at 7 p.m. For location and more information, call Father Richard Wilson at 508-992-9408.

2/23

A Healing Mass will be celebrated at St. Anne’s Church, 818 Middle Street, Fall River on February 23. Rosary will begin at 6 p.m. with Benediction and healing prayers after Mass. For more information call 508-674-5651.

3/3

On March 3, Good Shepherd Parish in Fall River will host an International Buffet and Dance at the Liberal Club located at 20 Star Street in Fall River from 5:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. Buffet items will include American, Portuguese and Italian plus more. Music will be provided by the 5-A-Live Band and Portuguese music to be announced. Tickets can be obtained by calling the rectory at 508-678-7412 or visiting www.gsfallriver.com for more information.

February 3, 2012

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese

Acushnet — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds eucharistic adoration in the Shrine Church every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. until February 3, 2012, and from January 7 to November 17, 2012.

ATTLEBORO — St. Joseph Church holds eucharistic adoration in the Adoration Chapel located at the (south) side entrance at 208 South Main Street, Sunday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Brewster — Eucharistic adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays following the 11 a.m. Mass until 7:45 a.m. on the First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and Mass. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m. Mass.

East Freetown — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. John Neumann Church every Monday (excluding legal holidays) 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady, Mother of All Nations Chapel. (The base of the bell tower).

East Sandwich — Eucharistic adoration takes place at the Corpus Christi Parish Adoration Chapel, 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Also, 24-hour eucharistic adoration takes place on the First Friday of every month.

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place in the chapel at Holy Family Parish Center, 438 Middleboro Avenue, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. On First Fridays, eucharistic adoration takes place at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, following the 8 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 8 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has eucharistic adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at noon. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration. Refreshments follow.

Fall River — Espirito Santo Parish, 311 Alden Street, Fall River. Eucharistic adoration on Mondays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

FALL RIVER — Notre Dame Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has eucharistic adoration on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the chapel.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has eucharistic adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

FALL RIVER — Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, has eucharistic adoration Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has eucharistic adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass until 6 p.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel. There is a bilingual Holy Hour in English and Portuguese from 5-6 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has eucharistic adoration each First Friday, following the 9 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 4:30 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

HYANNIS — A Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration will take place each First Friday at St. Francis Xavier Church, 347 South Street, beginning immediately after the 12:10 p.m. Mass and ending with adoration at 4 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m.

Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of eucharistic adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and Confessions offered during the evening.

NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Rosary, and the opportunity for Confession.

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and every Friday from noon to 5 p.m., with Benediction at 5 p.m.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has eucharistic adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508336-5549.

Taunton — Eucharistic adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

WAREHAM — Adoration with opportunities for private and formal prayer is offered on the First Friday of each month from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, High Street. The Prayer Schedule is as follows: 7:30 a.m. the Rosary; 8 a.m. Mass; 8:30 a.m. exposition and Morning Prayer; 12 p.m. the Angelus; 3 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet; 5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer; 7 p.m. Sacrament of Confession; 8 p.m. Benediction.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual eucharistic adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All from other parishes are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

WOODS HOLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Joseph’s Church, 33 Millfield Street, year-round on weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No adoration on Sundays, Wednesdays, and holidays. For information call 508-274-5435.

19

The Anchor Father Paul J. Duff, C.S.C.

EASTON — Holy Cross Father Paul J. Duff, C.S.C. died January 18, at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind. He was 88 years old.

Father Duff, one of three children, was born on April 27, 1923 to Daniel and Mary (Salzer) Duff in Queens, N.Y. He is preceded in death by his sister Rita Cashin and his brother Daniel V. Duff. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Priscilla Duff, nine nieces and nephews, 27 grandnieces and grandnephews, and 18 great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.

Father Duff received his B.S. in Sociology from Holy Cross College, Worcester, in 1948. He entered the Congregation of Holy Cross’ Novitiate in North Dartmouth, on Aug. 15, 1950 and made his First Profession on Aug. 16, 1951. He made his Final Profession on Aug. 16, 1954 and was

ordained a priest on June 4, 1955 in Philadelphia.

From 1959 to 1973, he served at Stonehill College in North Easton, in various roles, including Dean of Students, Athletic Director, and in the Office of Development. Father Duff served as a Chaplain at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., from 1973 until 1974. He also served at Holy Cross Parish, South Easton (1983-85).

From 1979 to 1980, Father Duff worked at the University of Notre Dame in the Renewal Program for Clergy and also as rector in a student residence hall. Father Duff worked as a counselor at Iona Preparatory School, New Rochelle, N.Y., for the 1982 academic year.

In 1985, he became chaplain at Marymount College, Tarrytown, N.Y., until his return to Stonehill College as local superior of the Holy Cross Community in June 1993. He retired from full time active ministry in 1997 and moved to Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, Ind., in July 2007, where he resided until his death.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Chapel of Mary on January 25. Arrangements were handled by Kane Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 605 Washington Street, Easton.

Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, Ind. 46556-0765.

Sister Marie Lurz (William Marie), SUSC

FALL RIVER — Sister Marie Lurz, SUSC, (Sister William Marie) a resident of The Landmark, died on January 21 at the age of 98.

She was born in Baltimore, Md. in 1913, the daughter of the late William and Matilda (Schnebelen) Lurz. In addition to her Holy Union Sisters, she is survived by her brothers, John Lurz of Florida, Albert Lurz of Baltimore, and nieces and nephews. Her sister Alma Lurz and brother Edward predeceased her.

Sister Marie, a graduate of the former Seton High School, Baltimore, entered the Holy Union Sisters in Fall River in 1932 and pronounced her vows on March 25, 1934. In August of this year, she would have celebrated 80 years as

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Feb. 4 Rev. Msgr. Hugh J. Smyth, P.R., Pastor, St. Lawrence, New Bedford; First Vicar General, Fall River, 1904-07; Administrator of Diocese, February-July 1907, 1921 Rev. Raymond Graham, SMM, 2004 Feb. 6 Most Rev. Frederick A. Donaghy, M.M, Bishop of Wuchow, 1988 Feb. 7 Rev. Arthur N. Robert, O.P., St. Anne Shrine, Fall River, 1991 Feb. 8 Rev. Raymond P. Monty, USAF Retired Chaplain, 1996 Feb. 9 Rev. Msgr. John J. Kelly, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1963 Rev. Peter J. McKone, S.J., Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, 1972 Rev. Vincent R. Dolbec, A.A., Assumption College, 1985 Feb. 10 Rev. Edward L. O’Brien, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1966 Rev. Lucien A. Madore, Retired Chaplain, Mt. St. Joseph School, Fall River, 1983

a Holy Union Sisters. Sister Marie studied at the Sacred Heart School of Education, Fall River and received her BA degree from Catholic Teachers College, Providence.

She received her MA in education from Catholic University.

Throughout her life, she continued to update herself by taking courses dealing with educational innovations as well as theology.

Sister Marie’s teaching career, which spanned more than 60 years, began at Sacred Hearts Academy Elementary School, Fall River. On completion of her masters degree she was an education instructor at the Sacred Heart School of Education, Fall River, taught at the Holy Union Preparatory School, Tiverton, R.I., and St. Mary High School, Taunton. She served as principal of the Sacred Hearts Academy Elementary School and Sacred Heart

School, both in Fall River. While superior at Sacred Hearts Convent, Fall River, she taught English at Sacred Hearts Academy. She was superior and principal in schools in Maryland and New Jersey, and then taught in Astoria, N.Y. She moved to Florida in 1970 where she taught at Gulliver Academy and Holy Cross Academy, in Miami. She retired in 2001 to an assisted living community in West Palm Beach where she volunteered as a lector at Mass and receptionist. She joined the Holy Union Sisters retirement community at The Landmark, in Fall River in 2007.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, Fall River on January 26, followed by burial at St. Patrick Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements were by Waring-Sullivan Funeral Home.

Donations in Sister Marie’s memory may be made to: The Holy Union Sisters Mission Advancement Office, P.O. BOX 410, Milton, Mass. 02186-0006.

20 LECTIO DIVINA — Sister Miriam, left, and Sister Veronica of the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth in Williamsport, Pa., read a recent edition of The Anchor. The Sisters resided in New Bedford until early last decade when the community moved to the Diocese of Scranton, Pa. They keep up with happenings in their original diocese through The Anchor and bring those happenings to their prayer.

The Capuchin Sisters are experiencing a recent boom in vocations to their community and invite any young women ages 16-30 to a vocation discernment retreat February 17-19 at their convent in Williamsport. For more info, call Sister Veronica at 570-836-2727 or visit capuchinsisters.com.

The Anchor

February 3, 2012

Beloved Father Lagoa dies unexpectedly continued from page one

back — that’s why he endeared himself to so many people,” Father Cwiekowski said. “He loved his ministry and loved his people. This is really very, very sad. My heart goes out to the Diocese of Fall River because they lost a good man, but I’ve also lost a good friend.”

Father Lagoa was a native of Villa da Santa Cruz, Graciosa, Azores, and immigrated to this country with his family. He was the son of the late Evaristo and Maria (Dias) Lagoa.

His home parish was Our Lady of Mount Carmel in New Bedford. After graduating from New

Bedford High School in 1966, he served in the U.S. Navy until 1968, then entered Johnson and Wales College in Providence, from which he graduated in 1971.

His seminary studies were at Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston. After ordination he was a parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Parish in Norton, serving during that time as director of the Attleboro area Pre-Cana program. He served as an acolyte and deacon at Espirito Santo Parish in Fall River and was also a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes in Taunton, St. John the Baptist in New Bedford, and St. Michael’s in Fall River.

Father Lagoa was appointed pastor of St. Joseph’s in Taunton in June 1995, and in June 1996 was named pastor of St. John of God in Somerset. His other diocesan duties included serving as chaplain at Morton Hospital in Taunton; as chaplain at Bristol Community College in Fall River; and as moderator of the Taunton Area Catholic Nurses.

Newly-ordained Transitional Deacon Jason Brilhante, who first met Father Lagoa when he was assigned to St. Michael’s Parish, cited him as one of the reasons he wanted to become a priest.

“It’s unfortunate to learn about the news of Father Lagoa’s death,” Deacon Brilhante said. “He certainly was a priest who loved being a priest and the people he served.

We’ve lost a good priest and we pray for the repose of his soul.”

“It was a great shock to learn of Father Lagoa’s passing and it is certainly a great loss for the diocese,” said Father Edward E. Correia, pastor of St. Michael’s Parish in Fall River, who preached at Father Lagoa’s ordination.

Besides his parish family and brother priests, Father Lagoa leaves behind a brother, Charles; and three sisters, Mary C. Ouimet, Teresa Gifford and Eileen Beaulieu.

At press time funeral arrangements for Father Lagoa were still pending.