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Bishop’s Lenten Message —

Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

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Friday, February 5, 2016

World Day for Consecrated Life

Dominican Sisters of the Presentation chapel in Dighton. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

February 6-7 Weekend

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Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. 2016 Lenten Message

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The Anchor - February 5, 2016

Paper overboard — calling all Catholics … save The Anchor

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff beckyaubut@anchornews.org

FALL RIVER — When word came down that The Anchor was losing its principal funding after a new diocesan assessment was being implemented to help with “the operations of the diocese’s central administration which supports all diocesan parishes and institutions,” the staff at the paper had only a few months to generate cost-saving ideas before the January 1 deadline, when all mandatory income from diocesan parishes would cease.

We broke the news to our readers in the Nov. 13, 2015 edition, and put inside that week’s issue an insert to make a donation, renew a subscription or to become a new subscriber. The initial response was positive, with more than 2,000 inserts being mailed back to us with a blend of renewals and donations, some with uplifting comments from subscribers offering their support and well wishes for paper. The staff at The Anchor felt the love and encouragement, and thanks everyone wholeheartedly for sending back

those inserts.

“Go Fund Me” page has and the Islands — with However, the return of been created; and diocesan inspirational and faith-filled those initial inserts has ministries and organizations stories that are often overtrickled down in numbers have offered their help, inlooked by secular papers. to only a few. The Anchor’s cluding Holy Cross Family The paper helps highlight circulation falls between Ministries in Easton, the individuals living in the 18,000–22,000 subscribers, Knights of Columbus and Fall River Diocese, who are and having so few returned the Massachusetts Chapters working hard to live the will not help keep the paper of the Catholic Order of Gospel with their actions, running. We need to hit Foresters in Massachusetts. and those stories often those circulation numbers While living in an age motivate others to do the

by April in order same. Recent articles to continue to be include the newlyThe Anchor connects all five deana viable paper. relocated St. Vineries — Fall River, New Bedford, cent de Paul Thrift In the past, parishes would Taunton, Attleboro and Cape Cod Store in Buzzards pay for subscripand the Islands — with inspirational Bay that brought tions for some awareness to helping and faith-filled stories that are often of its parish families in need on overlooked by secular papers. members, but it the Cape, while an is important to article on the House note: parishes will no longer where the Internet has of Possibilities in Easton be paying for subscriptions; become the go-to source showed how a mother’s so for those already receivof information, some journey to find assistance ing The Anchor but haven’t may question the need for her special-needs son yet sent in their renewal, for a printed newspaper. brought forth the birth of the paper will stop being The Anchor is not just any an entire facility designed delivered in April. printed newspaper, but a to support families with During these last few comprehensive source of special-needs children. months, the staff at The information for Catholics The Anchor also covers the Anchor has also been doing of the Fall River Diocese, youth in the diocese, from its part in cutting back in from local reporting within Faith Formation programs expenses. We have begun the borders of the diocese to events being held at the to publish bi-weekly along to international coverage of diocesan schools. A recent with renegotiating our the Vatican and beyond. article underlined how printing fees; corresponThe Anchor connects all diocesan students achieved dents are no longer writing five deaneries — Fall River, higher than the national avfor the paper; an advisory New Bedford, Taunton, erage in SAT scores, while board has been formed; a Attleboro and Cape Cod

the paper’s youth pages show photos of Catholic students doing community service, listening to guest speakers, participating in classroom projects and receiving awards for academic achievements or volunteer service.

Columnists continue to volunteer their time to writing columns, with routine favorite Father Tim Goldrick filing “The Ship’s Log” on a regular basis and offering a comedic spin on priesthood, while former executive editor of The Anchor and current member of the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, Father Roger Landry, offers a more academic view on the Gospel in his column, “Putting Into the Deep.” The Anchor also ties the deaneries together with the written word from Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., most notably during Easter and Christmas.

If you’re a priest, please let your parishioners know about The Anchor from the pulpit and bulletin; The Anchor features all the Good Turn to page 21

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New diocesan committee chairman seeks to spread the word to youth, adults about the strong faith value of Scouting

By Dave Jolivet Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

NEW BEDFORD — Scouting in America has long been associated with adult role models leading young women and men to strive for being the best person they can be — in mind, body, and spirit.

The list of prominent women and men who were Scouts as youngsters is long and impressive. In the field of space exploration alone, more than 180 U.S. astronauts were former scouts, including 11 of the 12 explorers who walked the face of the moon.

Others include the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court Sandra Day O’Connor, astronaut Sally Ride, former first lady Laura Bush, and actresses Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore.

Notable men who were Scouts include the iconic news anchor Walter Cronkite, director Stephen Spielberg, basketball legend Michael Jordan, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., President John F. Kennedy, and actors Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne.

Becoming a Scout doesn’t guarantee any youngster will grow up to be a household name, but in the Diocese of Fall River, the Catholic Committee on Scouting is striving to show boys and girls how to fully engage in their faith and with what they learn from Scouting, make them more effective to society.

The Fall River Catholic Committee on Scouting recently named Michael McCormack as chairman to assist diocesan Scouting chaplain Father David C. Frederici in ensuring that Scouting in the diocese is a youth ministry concentrated on their duty to God and country.

“The youth ministry that is Scouting encompasses every aspect and age category of Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and American Heritage Girls and the mission of all these organizations is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes,” McCormack told The Anchor. “Boy Scouts for example, strives to instill the values of the Scout Oath and 4

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Law and today, places an evergreater emphasis on a premise of Duty to God. The Catholic Com-

Michael McCormack

tee on Scouting chairman, McCormack, along with committee members seek to spread the word about religious emblem awards and attract youth and parents to become involved in Scouting.

“The committee is looking at basically two geographic areas — Bristol County and Cape and the Islands, with two groups of volunteer coordinators and counselors — one for each area,” explained McCormack. “They will assist in informing Scout units and process applications. They may also be called on to coordinate counselors and boards of review, although emblem counselors and boards are generally only for Scouts 13 to 18. Younger Scouts typically work within their family or unit grouping.

“Counselors are important and generally are volunteers much like many you may find teaching Faith Formation, RCIA and CCD class-

es. All volunteers for the committee would join Boy Scouts as a formality and established diocesan youth policies would be followed. The committee would meet as needed but probably six times a year. A regional conference generally takes place early in October. Training and certification for counselors is available online or at an annual meeting of the committee.”

McCormack told further The Anchor that the committee’s goal is to stage for area Scouts a yearly retreat; a day of prayer; a religious awards ceremony at St. Mary’s Cathedral and on Cape Cod; and to garner increased participation in the Peace Light program.

According to the Peace Light website (peacelight.org), “Each year, a child from upper Austria fetches the Peace Light from the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

The light is carried in two blast

mittee on Scouting believes that any Scout entering the community, in whatever career they may choose, Turn to page 15 will need the support of his faith to better guide him through that life.”

McCormack’s connection to scouting goes back nearly 60 years.

He joined Troop 19 at St. James Church in New Bedford in 1956.

He earned the Ad Altare Dei emblem (“To the altar of God,” a program to help Catholic Youth of the Roman Rite develop a fully Christian way of life in the faith community. The program is organized in chapters based on the seven Sacraments) in 1959, and he became an Eagle Scout in 1960.

He is an assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 333, which meets at St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown.

McCormack is a member of St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford, where he serves as a special minister of Holy Communion; as a lector; as a member of the parish council and arts and environment committee; and is a third-degree member of the Father Hogan Council of the Knights of Columbus.

He’s a retired public official and Homeland Security Specialist and resides in New Bedford with his wife Cheryl.

Screenshot of the Diocese of Fall River Catholic Committee on Scouting website at As Fall River Catholic Commit- www.fallriverscouting.org

Award-winning author discusses Works of Mercy at La Salette Shrine

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff kensouza@anchornews.org

ATTLEBORO — When she first planned to write a book about the Corporal Works of Mercy in 2013, author Kerry Weber never dreamed that Pope Francis would declare the current Jubilee Year of Mercy.

“I wish I could say it was all a genius marketing plan, but it was just providential, really,” Weber recently told The Anchor. “My sister jokes that we should be paying Pope Francis for PR, but I think he has just tapped into something that really resonates with people — this concept of mercy as it’s associated with service, with forgiveness, with giving of oneself.”

Weber’s book, “Mercy in the City: How to Feed the Hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Visit the Imprisoned, and Keep Your Day Job,” was first published

by Loyola Press in January 2014, but it has since found new life with the beginning of the Holy Father’s Year of Mercy in November.

“It’s been out for about two years now, but the Year of Mercy has obviously inspired a lot of people to look for ways to celebrate that, so I’m really grateful that the book and the Works of Mercy can be part of that for people,” Weber said.

To that end, the book — which won the 2015 Christopher Award — was the subject of a recent “parish read” project at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Attleboro, which also precipitated the author’s coming to speak about her experiences recently at La Salette Shrine, one of the official locations where a “mercy door” has been designated

by Bishop Edgar M. da

Cunha, S.D.V., in the Fall River Diocese.

“The response to our parish read was overwhelming,” said Chris Donoghue, a member of the evangelization committee at St. John the Evangelist Parish.

“We estimate that as many as 400 parishioners participated in some way in the event and we are thrilled to be co-hosting Kerry’s Attleboro visit with La Salette Shrine.”

Donoghue said the presentation by Weber and the parish read were planned as part of the observance of the Jubilee Year of Mercy — a holy year declared by Pope Francis during which the pope has asked the Church to focus on mercy, a major theme of his pontificate.

“One of the things the pope has suggested for this Jubilee Year is to focus on the traditional Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, and Kerry’s book documents her own attempt to complete each of the seven Corporal Works of Mercy during the 40-day period of Lent,” he said.

Weber said she first felt compelled to learn more about the Corporal Works of Mercy while researching an article for America magazine, the Jesuit publication where she currently serves as managing editor.

“I was writing about this Jesuit who is teaching theology classes at San Quentin State Prison in California,” she said. “I was Googling around about prison and Catholicism and up pops this list of the Corporal Works of Mercy.

I remembered memorizing them for a test in Catholic school, but as I was looking at them I realized that I hadn’t been committed to many of them and they

Kerry Weber, managing editor of America magazine and author of “Mercy in the City,” recently discussed her book and the Corporal Works of Mercy at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

seemed like worthwhile things.”

Weber then pledged herself to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy during Lent and to document her experiences as part of the project.

“I wanted to use a concentrated period of time to really start making a commitment to them,” she said.

“Not just to say: ‘Let me do seven Corporal Works of Mercy for seven weeks.’ But I wanted to know which of these resonated with me and how could I be more involved in making these connections and building community. So that’s what I tried to do with the project and then decided to write about it.”

One of the things that immediately struck Weber while examining the oftencited but sometimes forgotten Works of Mercy was how challenging it is to put them into practice.

“A lot of us are struggling with this and aren’t quite sure what’s the best way to serve or be present to others,” Weber said.

“Part of the way to learn is just to talk about it and

go out and do it and make mistakes and learn from them — and go from there and be honest and authentic about it. Being present to each other is a good first step.”

Admitting that she didn’t have any particular expertise in the subject, Weber soon found it to be a matter of baptism by fire.

“When I was writing the book I felt like maybe I was going to put myself out there and say: ‘Look, I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m trying, but I have no idea how to do this. So here’s what I’m trying,’” she said.

“And I think I assumed

that most other people would know better than I. But I realized, actually, in having conversations with people that we’re all in this together.”

Weber’s inquisitive nature lent itself to a career in journalism that began Turn to page 21

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A conversation with Pope Francis about God’s mercy

ost people would jump at an opportunity to have an intimate hour-long conversation with Pope Francis.

Most would be happy just to be a “fly on the wall” eavesdropping. With the publication of Andrea Tornielli’s book-length interview with Pope Francis entitled, “The Name of God is Mercy,” Catholics have the chance to listen in on a fascinating conversation about Pope Francis’ life, priorities, advice for Catholics, his analysis of some of the bigger issues facing the world and especially about God’s mercy and why and how much we all need it.

To call it a book-length interview is perhaps a little deceiving, since there are only 40 questions and even meticulous readers could finish it in

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idea of a special Jubilee an hour. But even in this went back to his time quick read, Pope Francis as Archbishop of Bueand Tornielli cover a lot nos Aires, when during of ground. As we begin a roundtable discussion next week the holy seawith theologians about son of Lent during this what a pope could do to extraordinary Jubilee of unite people in the face Mercy, the conversation of so many seemingly is particularly timely and relevant.

Tornielli got the idea of such a Putting Into book last March the Deep 13, when on his second anniversary

By Father Pope Francis led a Roger J. Landry Penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica and surprised intractable disputes, one everyone by announcing participant suggested a a Jubilee of Mercy. Pope “Holy Year of ForgiveFrancis was happy to ness.” He never forgot. oblige. Last July he sat Tornielli does an exceldown with Tornielli to lent job of asking quesdiscuss what he called, tions that people regular“Jesus’ most important ly have and follows up on message,” God’s “name” various themes raised by and “identity card”: Francis since his election. mercy.

Here’s a taste: He revealed that the About his prayers for the holy year: “I hope that the Jubilee will serve to reveal the Church’s deeply maternal and merciful side, a Church that goes forth toward those who are ‘wounded,’ who are in need of an attentive ear, understanding, forgiveness and love.”

About the Church as a hospital for sinners: “The Church does not exist to condemn people but to bring about an encounter with the visceral love of God’s mercy.”

About his love for hearing Confessions: “At times, I’d like to be able to walk into a church and sit down in a Confessional again!”

About advice he’d give to confessors: “A priest needs to think of his own sins, listen with tenderness, pray to the Lord for a heart as merciful as

The Anchor - February 5, 2016

His, and not cast the first stone because he, too, is a sinner who needs to be forgiven. He needs to try to resemble God in all His mercy.”

About the need to confess one’s sins to God through a priest rather than directly: “If you are not capable of talking to your brother about your mistakes, you can be sure that you can’t talk about them with God, either, and therefore you end up confessing into the mirror, to yourself.”

About the importance of Confession for knowing God: “Only he who has been touched and caressed by the tenderness of His mercy really knows the Lord. Recognizing oneself as a sinner is a grace.”

About the advice to make a good Confession: Someone should “reflect on the truth of his life, look earnestly at himself, feel like a sinner, recognize our need, our emptiness, our wretchedness.

We cannot be arrogant.”

About whether great sinners can be forgiven: “God’s mercy is infinitely greater than our sins, His medicine is infinitely stronger than our illnesses that He has to heal.”

About the repentance necessary to receive God’s forgiveness: “Mercy exists, but if you don’t recognize yourself as a sinner, it means you don’t want to receive it.”

About what a priest should do when he can’t absolve someone because of insufficient resolve to abandon sinful situations: “If the confessor can-

not absolve a person, he needs to explain why. If we don’t show them the love and mercy of God, we push them away and perhaps they will never come back. So embrace them and be compassionate, even if you can’t absolve them. Give them a blessing.”

About why the Church denounces sin: “The Church condemns sin because it has to relay the truth. But at the same time, it embraces the sinner who recognizes himself as such, it welcomes him, it speaks to him of the infinite mercy of God.” About what he meant by saying, “Who am I to judge?” with regard to repentant gays: “I was paraphrasing by heart the “Catechism,” where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized. God loves all His creatures. I prefer that homosexuals come to Confession, stay close to the Lord, and that we pray all together.”

About what’s most important for a Catholic to do in this Jubilee Year: “He should open up to the mercy of God, open up his heart and himself, and allow Jesus to come toward him by approaching the confessional with faith. And he should try to be merciful with others.”

As the title suggests, God’s name is mercy. And Pope Francis in this interview helps us to learn how better to hallow God’s name.

Anchor columnist Father Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

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ver the last dozen or so years, I’ve received my fair share of letters and emails correcting or lambasting me, and even questioning my faith. So I suspect this column will be fodder for some to express their opposition to the content.

Ever since I was a young boy (no, I’m not going to slip into a rendition of The Who’s “Pinball Wizard”) I never looked forward to Lent.

After spending nine years in a parochial school, and having attended daily Mass before school on my own quite often, I got the impression that Lent was just not a happy time of year.

I understand it’s a time to reflect on our conversion and repentance, and to renew and rejuvenate our faith lives, but I always felt like many Lenten

Having a few Lenten laughs

sermons, homilies and reflecBut this year, I’m going to tions pointing out our faults, change the way I look at Lent were directed right at me. and the way in which I will There was even a year approach this holy season. when a cousin of mine and I Yes, I will reflect upon how as youngsters were accused of I can be a better disciple of getting ashes from the barrel my pépère used My View to burn trash, instead of going to church to From get them. And we did the Stands go to church.

By Dave Jolivet I thought I was a good kid, but I didn’t feel that way during Lent. Maybe it was just my Christ, and yes, I will work neurosis back then, carrying at correcting my many faults. over into adulthood.

But I want to do it with a That, and the fact that smile on my face.

I was expected to give up Mostly everywhere I go, I something that I enjoyed, notice that people in genmade Lent for me seem like eral are not happy — at least much more than 40 days. when I see them, which is Even as Lent 2016 apusually while proaches, I feel a sense of they’re working dread and guilt creeping up. or running er-

rands or care-giving for a sick or elderly loved one.

I also noticed that given the chance, I try to make people smile, and if I’m really successful, make them chuckle. It doesn’t take much — a look, a joke, even laughing at yourself. A simple smile one way can evoke a return smile.

I was in a store the other day and the cashier cashing me out was obviously having a bad day. She tried to scan my rewards card (once I found the right one) while I held it in front of me. It wouldn’t scan and as the lasers were pelting me instead of the card, I stumbled backwards,

as if shot. She immediately broke into laughter. I thanked her for charging me up for the day.

As I left, I noticed she was still smiling. A simple, silly gesture brought some sunshine to a cloudy day.

So, for Lent this year, I’m going to try to make a stranger smile or laugh each day, to bring some sunshine where it may otherwise be lacking.

It’s not exactly the sackcloth and ashes approach, but many of our neighbors already have enough of that in their lives.

Pope Francis asks that we always exhibit the joy of being a Catholic. That makes me smile.

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Anchor Editorial

Visit the sick

With the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes approaching (February 11, the day after Ash Wednesday this year, which is why it might pass somewhat unnoticed), which the Church also dedicates as the World Day of the Sick, it might be good to consider a Corporal Work of Mercy, visiting the sick.

Pope Francis reminded us in a Nov. 27, 2013 general audience that Jesus demands that we see Him in the sick. “Let us remember that He is present in the weakest and the most needy. [I]n the well known parable of the Last Judgment, He says: ‘I was sick and you visited Me, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” (Mt 25:35-36, 40).

Since Jesus Himself has warned us that we will be called to account before Him as to whether we visited Him in the sick, we had better make sure that we are doing this.

On another occasion (nearly a year later, on Nov. 23, 2014 at a canonization Mass) Pope Francis cited the same Biblical verses and explained their connection to our Salvation. “The starting point of Salvation is not the confession of the sovereignty of Christ, but rather the imitation of Jesus’ Works of Mercy through which He brought about His Kingdom. The one who accomplishes these works shows that he has welcomed Christ’s sovereignty, because he has opened his heart to God’s charity. In the twilight of life we will be judged on our love for, closeness to and tenderness towards our brothers and sisters. Upon this will depend our entry into, or exclusion from, the Kingdom of God: our belonging to the one side or the other. Through His victory, Jesus has opened to us His Kingdom. But it is for us to enter into it, beginning with our life now — His Kingdom begins now — by being close in concrete ways to our brothers and sisters who ask for bread, clothing, acceptance, solidarity, catechesis. If we truly love them, we will be willing to share with them what is most precious to us, Jesus Himself and His Gospel.”

Jesus wants us to visit the sick because they are in particular need of accompaniment. In his message for the 2016 World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis explained, “Illness, above all grave illness, always places human existence in crisis and brings with it questions that dig deep: Why has this happened to me? We can feel desperate, thinking that all is lost, that things no longer have meaning. In these situations, faith in God is on the one hand tested, yet at the same time can reveal all of its positive resources. Not because faith OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org

Vol. 60, No. 3

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service Published bi-weekly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $20.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

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PUBLISHER - Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Richard D. Wilson fatherwilson@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza k ensouza@anchornews.org REPORTER Rebecca Aubut beckyaubut@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherwilson@anchornews.org

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The Anchor - February 5, 2016

makes illness, pain, or the questions which they raise, disappear, but because it offers a key by which we can discover the deepest meaning of what we are experiencing; a key that helps us to see how illness can be the way to draw nearer to Jesus Who walks at our side, weighed down by the cross. And this key is given to us by Mary, our mother, who has known this way first hand.”

The Holy Father explained that the Blessed Mother, at the wedding at Cana, displayed her loving concern for others, which she then translated into action. “In Mary’s concern we see reflected the tenderness of God. This same tenderness is present in the lives of all those persons who attend the sick and understand their needs, even the most imperceptible ones, because they look upon them with eyes full of love. How many times has a mother at the bedside of her sick child, or a child caring for an elderly parent, or a grandchild concerned for a grandparent, placed his or her prayer in the hands of Our Lady! For our loved ones who suffer because of illness we ask first for their health. Jesus Himself showed the presence of the Kingdom of God specifically through His healings.”

We are called to be a presence of the Kingdom when we visit the sick. We are similar to the servants at Cana. “These unnamed people in the Gospel teach us a great deal. Not only do they obey, but they obey generously: they fill the jars to the brim (cf. Jn 2:7). They trust the mother and carry out immediately and well what they are asked to do, without complaining, without second thoughts.”

Our visits to the sick, be they in hospitals, nursing homes or their own homes, should be done with love, not grudgingly. Just as we are called to see Christ in them, the way we interact with them should help them to see Christ in us. The pope noted, “On this World Day of the Sick let us ask Jesus in His mercy, through the intercession of Mary, His mother and ours, to grant to all of us this same readiness to serve those in need, and, in particular, our infirm brothers and sisters. At times this service can be tiring and burdensome, yet we are certain that the Lord will surely turn our human efforts into something Divine. We too, whether healthy or sick, can offer up our toil and sufferings like the water which filled the jars at the wedding feast of Cana and was turned into the finest wine.

By quietly helping those who suffer, as in illness itself, we take our daily cross upon our shoulders and follow the Master” (cf. Lk 9:23).

Mary is ready and waiting to accompany us on our visits to the sick. Let us go with her.

Daily Readings Feb. 6 — Feb. 19

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Feb. 6, 1 Kgs 3:4-13; Ps 119:9,10,11,12,13,14; Mk 6:30-34. Sun. Feb. 7, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Is 6:1-2a,3-8; Ps 138:12,2-3,4-5,7-8(1c); 1 Cor 15:1-11; Lk 5:1-11. Mon. Feb. 8, 1 Kgs 8:1-7,9-13; Ps 132:6-7,8-10; Mk 6:53-56. Tues. Feb. 9, 1 Kgs 8:22-23,27-30; Ps 84:3,4,5 and 10,11; Mk 7:1-13. Wed. Feb. 10, Ash Wednesday, Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-4,5-6ab,1213,14 and 17; 2 Cor 5:20—6:2; Mt 6:1-6,16-18. Thurs. Feb. 11, Dt 30:15-20; Ps 1:1-2,3,4 and 6; Lk 9:22-25. Fri. Jan. Feb. 12, Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51:3-4,5-6ab,18-19; Mt 9:14-15.

Sat. Feb. 13, Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-2,3-4,5-6; Lk 5:27-32. Sun. Feb. 14, First Sunday of Lent, Dt 26:4-10; Ps 91:1-2,10-11,12-13,14-15; Rom 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13. Mon. Feb. 15, Lv 19:1-2,11-18; Ps 19:8,9,10,15; Mt 25:31-46. Tues. Feb. 16, Is 55:1011; Ps 34:4-5,6-7,16-17,18-19; Mt 6:7-15. Wed. Feb. 17, Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51:3-4,1213,18-19; Lk 11:29-32. Thurs. Feb. 18, Est C:12,14-16,23-25; Ps 138:1-2ab,2cde3,7c-8; Mt 7:7-12. Fri. Feb. 19, Ez 18:21-28; Ps 130:1-2,3-4,5-7a,7bc-8; Mt 5:20-26.

I

t is time to take steps to combat climate change.

The world is watching.

Pope Francis’s global call for action on climate change took a big step forward on Dec. 12, 2015 as an historic agreement was reached in Paris among 195 nations to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases in an attempt to limit the average warming of the earth by 200 C (3.600 F), or less, by the end of the century. When looked at as a whole, it may appear to be an impossible task due to the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by billions of tons by 2050, and the fact that we have a current addiction to fossil fuels.

There is an ancient Chinese proverb which states that, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” We should look at the reduction of greenhouse gases in this light.

In 2004, Steven Pacala and Robert Socolow of Princeton University’s Climate Mitigation Initiative introduced the concept of “Wedge Analysis” in a paper presented in the prestigious journal Science.

This approach breaks down the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions into bite-size pieces, or wedges, that, when combined, show that we can achieve this goal, and we can do it by using currently available technologies.

So, what does this mean for each of us? Our individual contributions to greenhouse gas reductions will be different, but we must all contribute.

At home, replacing incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent bulbs or Light Emitting Diode bulbs can reduce energy use by 80 percent or more. Keeping our homes slightly cooler in the winter or warmer in the summer, if it is medically feasible to do so, saves

The world is watching energy and is actually better makes these systems feasible for upping our metabolism for many. It is very important and burning more calories. to try to reduce the waste Programmable thermostats that we produce, reuse maallow us to control temterials, and recycle materials, peratures at desired levels where possible, rather than during the day or week. The throwing them in the trash. purchase of “Energy Star” For example, making an labelled appliances increases aluminum can from recycled energy efficiency. Maintainaluminum requires 1/20 the ing our heating and coolenergy of making an alumiing systems, as well as our num can from raw materiother appliances, ensures als. Composting at home is they are running at peak efficiency.

Our We should have Common our homes properly Home insulated to conserve

By Professor the heat we do generRobert Rak ate. Conserving water plays a part in energy efficiency in many ways, another energy saver because including the need to treat it reduces the weight of trash less water at the municipal to be hauled away, and the plant, pump less water into fertilizer produced reduces the community system, and the need for synthetic fertilheat less water when using izers, which use natural gas more efficient shower heads, in their production. or taking shorter showers.

We can learn to drive If you can, clothes can be smarter. Purchasing a fuel dried on clothes lines rather efficient or electric vehicle is than using dryers. This was one way, but we can conserve the only way to do it in the fuel by coordinating our past. We should all try to trips better to avoid needless control “phantom power,” travel. We should reduce the which is the power used hard acceleration and hard by many of our appliances braking, which uses more when they are not in use. A fuel. We can increase gas typical microwave uses more mileage by removing unnecpower in standby mode over essary things from the trunk the course of the year than that just add weight. Removit does in actually cookal, if possible, of the roof rack ing food. Phantom power from the car will make your accounts for 22 percent of vehicle more aerodynamic. the energy used to power We must maintain our veappliances, and 10 percent of hicles, including proper tire the total energy used in the inflation and regular oil and home. It all adds up. filter changes. If possible, we We also now have the should try to carpool or take ability to purchase power public transportation. Walkfrom the generator that we ing or riding a bicycle, where choose, so we can purchase possible, is better for your energy from wind or solar health, as well as your wallet. power generators. We can In the office, we should use the power of the sun power down computers and to heat our hot water and monitors when they are not produce our electricity right in use. Many power adapters on our own roofs. There are use energy when plugged in new creative ways to finance and not in use. We can turn these systems, and there are off the power to equipment tax incentives as well which by attaching things to power

strips that can be turned off, or by purchasing smart outlets that you can set timers on. Lights can also be on motion sensors so that they turn off when no one is in the room.

We who live in developed countries are in a good position to deal with climate change issues and to adapt to climate changes. Many living in poorer countries are not. The Paris accord took this into account and states that, “acknowledging that climate change is a common concern of humankind, parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity.”

As part of the agreement the

developed countries agreed to put together a fund of approximately $100 billion per year to help developing countries with implementing new technologies and adaptation to climate changes.

Dealing with climate change issues now becomes a bit easier if we remember that the goal of these actions is a better, healthier, world for ourselves, for our children and grandchildren, and for all the peoples of the world.

A noble goal indeed.

Anchor columnist Professor Rak is a Fall River native and a parishioner of St. Mary’s Parish in Fall River.

He has been a professor of Environmental Technology and coordinator of the Environmental Science and Technology Program at Bristol Community College in Fall River for 18 years. He earned a degree in biology from Holy Cross College in Worcester, and a master’s in marine biology from UMass Dartmouth. rrak@verizon.net.

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Battleground state Monday 1 February 2016 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — one month to the Massachusetts primary uring this election cycle, dear readers, I watched every minute of every televised presidential debate, Republican and Democrat. I consider it my duty as a citizen to stay well-informed, even though (being a priest) I’ll never endorse any particular candidate or party — not that my endorsement would amount to a hill of beans.

I suppose a certain amount of vitriol has always been part of American politics. Abraham Lincoln, when publicly accused by a political opponent of being two-faced, famously retorted, “Sir, if I had two faces, why would I wear this one?” The difference is that Lincoln’s pithy repartee was heard by only a handful of people, not by millions.

What I find most fascinating about the recent candidates’ debates is not so much the political platforms (or lack thereof ) of the candidates, but rather what the cold blue eye of the television screen was mirroring back to us about the culture

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in which we live. I see a erything they have decided culture of incivility. Worse, we need to know about the vitriol, it seems to me, has debate. Their opinions of the become entertainment. candidates, of course, were in When did politics morph place well before the debate into theater? began. This applies to rightIn any drama worth its leaning and left-leaning salt, the divide between the television news networks. protagonist and the antago- The term “unbiased news” nist must be exaggerated. has become an oxymoronic The presidential candidates, anachronism. consequently, strive mightily to set The Ship’s Log themselves apart Reflections of a from the rest of the Parish Priest pack. This involves strategies that were

By Father Tim once frowned upon Goldrick in polite society — interrupting the other speakers, hurling ad I determined to go back hominem attacks, misstating in history to identify when facts, and slipping into the this trend became estabbottomless pit of “I said/you lished in the American said.” Sometimes even the culture. debate moderators, supposIn 1968, I was cloistered edly neutral, will throw fuel in a seminary in Canada. I on the fire with patently missed the debates. During inflammatory questions. a recent winter storm, I sat Which candidates get to down and watched archival be on stage and which do footage of the 1968 debates. not is determined by the These were not, however, the television network polls, debates between the candiwith an eye towards their dates themselves (Richard own ratings.

Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, Following the debates, I and George Wallace), but also watched the political another debate series. pundits, the so-called “talkBy the way, in 1969, I ing heads,” explaining evactually ran into President

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Nixon. He was at the Washington Monument during the Moratorium March.

Then, in 1972, I attended a George Wallace rally in Baltimore. I ended up being carried out by four state troopers — but these are stories for another time.

In 1968, the Republicans gathered in convention in sunny Florida. The Democrat Convention (hosted by Mayor Richard Dailey), was held near the stockyards in Chicago. I watched footage of neither convention.

Instead, I watched two commentators duke it out in secluded corners of the convention floors.

The debaters in that series were the torrid novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and mores-busting Gore Vidal against the iconic conservative champion and founder of the National Review magazine, William F. Buckley Jr. The two men, both of astronomically high intelligence, obviously loathed each other. Their seething mutual dislike was palpable.

Ironically, they presented themselves similarly — witty, elegant, eccentric, urbane,

upper-class sophisticates — but apparently from totally different worlds. Those worlds were colliding.

Each viciously attacked the other and repeatedly stabbed his opponent with steely words snarled through smiling teeth. It was a clash of the Titans; and it was televised to millions of viewers. That network’s ratings went through the roof.

These two were the embodiment of a tectonic shift then taking place in the nation. They stood on the fault line, albeit on opposite sides.

They modeled the future to us. It was not a pretty sight.

We now live in the world Buckley and Vidal prophesied — only more so. They didn’t go far enough. Incivility, rudeness, confrontation, ad hominem attacks, slander, and a general attitude of personal superiority and entitlement are pandemic.

They are embedded in the culture in which we now find ourselves. They are in evidence not only in civil society but have even seeped into faith communities. This is neither the same society nor the same Church in which I was born and raised.

My world has changed.

I’m not complaining, you understand, dear readers. It does no good to complain.

One cannot flee to the past for safe harbor. One must remain firmly anchored in the present. I’m simply saying we have to weather this cultural and moral tsunami as best we can, all the while remaining faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There is a phrase popular in today’s political parlance: “battleground state.” Rather, ours is a battleground world.

And that’s the latest breaking news, as I see it, from out here in the trenches.

Anchor columnist Father Tim Goldrick is pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

Thousands brave monster storm at March for Life

Washington D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) — Despite weather forecasts calling for what might end up being the worst blizzard in over a century, tens of thousands flooded the nation’s capital to support the dignity of life.

Held every year on or around January 22, the March for Life in Washington, D.C., marks the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion throughout the country.

Weather forecasts of up to 30 inches of snow beginning the day of the march forced some groups to cancel their trips this year.

Nonetheless, huge crowds spilled out across the National Mall as thousands upon thousands of marchers — primarily young people — braved the blizzard to show their support for life.

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New date for rescheduled FACE Winter Brunch announced

FALMOUTH — Due to the recent snowstorm, the 11th annual Diocese of Fall River FACE scholarship Winter Brunch was postponed. The new re-scheduled date is February 7, to

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be held at the Coonamessett Inn in Falmouth at 11:30 a.m.

Please join Bishop Emeritus George W. Coleman, for a delicious buffet brunch, children’s enter-

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tainment, many fabulous raffle prizes including Walt Disney World tickets, silent auction items, and mystery prizes. This fun-filled family and friend event will benefit the Foundation to Advance

Catholic Education/FACE which provides “need-based” scholarships to children in need of financial assistance to attend one of the schools of the Diocese of Fall River.

Call Jane Robin at the

Foundation Cape Cod Office 508-759-3566 for reservations or to make a donation.

Brunch Tickets: Adults $25; youth $14 (under 13); kids under seven, complimentary.

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Women may now have their feet washed at Holy Thursday Mass, pope says

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Pope Francis has changed the rules for the Church’s traditional foot-washing ceremony on Holy Thursday, issuing a decree allowing women to participate in what has until now been a ritual officially open only to men.

In a letter addressed to Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the pope said that from now on the 12 persons chosen to participate in the ritual of the washing of the feet will be selected “from among all members of the People of God.” “For some time I have been reflecting on the rite of the washing of the feet, which forms part of the Liturgy of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, with the intention of improving the ways in which it is put into practice, so that we fully express the meaning of the gesture made by Jesus in the Upper Room, His gift of self until the end for the Salvation of the world, His boundless charity.”

Francis also stressed that “an adequate explanation of the meaning of the rite itself ” ought to be provided for those chosen to participate.

The official decree was recently signed by Cardinal Sarah. In it, the cardinal specified that the previous text of the Roman Missal, which says that “the men chosen are accompanied by the ministers,” has now been changed to read “those chosen from among the People of God are accompanied by the ministers.”

Pastors can freely choose a group of faithful “that represents the variety and unity of every part of the people of God,” he said, explaining that this group may now consist

of “men and women, and suitably of young and elderly, healthy and sick, clerics, consecrated and laity.”

Many parishes around the world had already been including women in the ritual for years; the decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship makes the practice licit.

Francis himself had a habit of including women and nonCatholics in the ritual during his own Holy Thursday Liturgies, which have taken place in a juvenile detention center and a center for the elderly and disabled.

Just after his election as Bishop of Rome in 2013, Pope Francis said Mass at Rome’s Casal del Marmo juvenile detention center, where he washed the feet of 12 youth, including two women and two Muslims.

A year later, he said Holy Thursday Mass at the Don Gnocchi center for the elderly and disabled, where he washed the feet of young people and elderly, four of whom were women.

Although the pope has previously chosen to wash the feet of non-Catholics and non-Christians, Archbishop Arthur Roche, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, cautioned that the new change does not necessarily include them.

In recent comments to CNA, the archbishop said that the changes are meant for “the local community,” and members of “the local parish.”

He said that reading the decree as an invitation for non-Catholics to participate would be a “selective interpretation” of the text, and that while this could be something that happens “in the future,” it’s probably not what the pope’s decision intended.

However, Archbishop

Roche did say that although the decree is meant for the local community, it’s possible that a non-Catholic spouse of a parishioner who regularly attends the Catholic Liturgy could be chosen to participate.

The archbishop also touched on the topic of whether non-Christians could be chosen. He pointed to Pope Francis’ decision to wash the feet of Muslim youth in 2013, distinguishing between papal Liturgies from the everyday Liturgy in “normal” situations.

He explained that when Pope Francis chose to wash the feet of Muslim youth, it was under “special circumstances” and took place in an “unusual setting,” whereas the current decree is intended for the “normal, everyday Liturgy in the parish.”

So when reading the decree’s emphasis on the “People of God,” Archbishop Roche said the phrase can be interpreted from its use in Lumen gentium, the Second Vatican Council’s dogmatic constitution on the Church, in which the term refers “specifically to the Church.”

Scouting chairman extols faith values continued from page four

proof miners lamps from Tel Aviv, Israel to Vienna, Austria, from where it is distributed at a Service of Dedication to delegations from across Europe who take it back, with a message of peace, to their own countries. The Peace Lights are then flown from Bethlehem to New York City. The goal of this website is help the light spread like the branches of a huge tree rooted in New York and spreading across the continent.”

McCormack recently brought a Peace Light to St. John Neumann Parish.

McCormack told The Anchor that there is a need for adult counselors and facilitators to lead area Scouts, as well as individuals to serve on the committee to “expand this important aspect of youth ministry.”

“As Scout leaders we work toward the benefit which can never be underplayed of producing a person who is rooted in doing what is correct and what is right,” said McCormack.

“Not someone expecting the world to revolve around them. Scout leaders feel that

we must embed in them the belief that above all else their primary function is one of service. Showing them how to fully engage in their faith and with what they learn from Scouting, makes them more effective to society. Counseling Religious Emblem candidates in the very basics of what the Catholic faith holds closest allows them to fold it within themselves. This is our youth ministry. If they know where they stand in their community, their Church and their faith, then they become a powerful presence for what our community needs most.

“The Catholic Committee on Scouting is a youth ministry beyond the typical.

You are able to touch the lives of a young person in a manner not often found.

Bringing their faith into a place they can touch and embrace it, where someone who believes is willing to share that love.”

The committee website at www.FallRiverScouting. org. McCormack can be contacted at Michael@ FallRiverScouting.org or 508-998-1218.

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Youth Pages

I

n several weeks, the Diocese of Fall River Office for Campus Ministry will hold our newest Charis young adult retreat entitled “Choosing to Be Catholic” which will be held on February 19-21 at Sacred Hearts Retreat Center in Wareham.

Charis Retreats are peer-led and open to those in their 20s and 30s. The Choosing to Be Catholic Retreat asks the basic question: “Why do you choose to be Catholic?” That might very well be a question we all ask ourselves.

The Choosing to Be Catholic Retreat gives each retreatant an opportunity to reflect on what the commitment to being Catholic looks like in our day-to-day life. After all, when it comes to faith, we have a choice. So, why do you choose to be Catholic — were you raised Catholic or decided to become Catholic later in life, or if you’ve come back after drifting away or have been here all along?

I believe being a Catholic primarily means that we have a deep relationship with Jesus Christ and that our faith is at the heart of who we are; the values, practices and norms of the Catholic faith have become inter-

Choosing to be Catholic

twined with our sense of self-identity.

This identity becomes a compass for our life, helping us make choices and put our faith into action.

So what does it mean to you to be Catholic? Are we Catholic in more than name?

Is our faith the center of who we are? I guess we can only answer

By Deacon that for Frank Lucca ourselves; but I know that I have met many people in my life who are fully-committed Catholics.

I don’t mean that they are fanatics or radicals or conservatives or diehards. I mean, rather, that I see in them God’s love present and moving outward from their hearts in all that they say and do. I see in them evidence of their relationship with God governing their actions, character and values.

Simply put, they walk the talk. They let out what so many have trapped inside. As Catholics we are not called to a “me-God” relationship alone. We are called to an apostolic life. We are called to serve others. We are called

Be Not Afraid

Bishop Stang High School (North Dartmouth) Members of the Sister Theresa Trayers, SND chapter of the National Honor Society, in conjunction with the Student Council, recently completed a drive to collect new and gently-used stuffed animals to be donated to various juvenile courts in Southeastern Massachusetts. The animals are given to children taken from abusive homes who have been brought before a judge as proof that the child exists. The judge offers each child his or her choice of a stuffed animal to have as a source of comfort during these frightening events in their lives. Even teen-agers accept the gift with gratitude and relief. The drive lasted for just about a week. The total of stuffed animals collected and donated to the Fall River Juvenile Court and others was 646. In keeping with the Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis, no incentive was offered to the students except for the opportunity to help a young child through a difficult time. The members of the NHS executive board were recently paid a visit by Judge Spinale, Magistrate Oliveira and Officer Alberto. They expressed heartfelt thanks and praised the “humanitarian efforts to share with those less fortunate.” All three agreed that the Bishop Stang Stuffed Animal Project would put a smile on hundreds of children’s faces.

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to bring Christ to all others.

The world is a crazy and scary place. And it is getting crazier and scarier by the second. So what can we do about it? What can one Catholic do? Well first of all, we can get off our butts and get out there and make a difference.

The Cursillo movement of the Catholic Church, of which I am a member, has a basic plan of action for changing the world toward Christ.

It’s a simple plan and an attainable plan. Simply put, the plan states that we are to change our environments toward Christ. That is, we work in a very limited area, those areas that we come into direct contact with. The areas might be our school or workplace, our family or town. These environments may have few or many people.

The important point is that we can bring Christ to those environments and if we do, if we live as Catholics, we can actually have an effect on the environment and it will become more Christ-like. If we change enough environments, we can begin to have an affect on the world.

Yes, we can do that! You need only to look around to find environments that you are involved in and you can begin to work today to make those environments more Christian. If we all had an affect on our own environments, ultimately we might very well change the world one person at a time. Now that seems doable — right?

But we need to get to work. We can’t just throw up our hands and say it’s crazy out there. If we only dwell on the current world situation, we may very well give up. But let’s not give up, let’s look around and see where we can make a difference and then make a difference!

Pope Benedict XVI wrote in an address to young people a few years back, “To build your life on Christ, to accept the Word with joy and put its teachings into practice: this, young people of the third millennium, should be your program! There is an

urgent need for the emergence of a new generation of Apostles anchored firmly in the Word of Christ, capable of responding to the challenges of our times and prepared to spread the Gospel far and wide. It is this that the Lord asks of you, it is to this that the Church invites you, and it is this that the world — even though it may not be aware of it — expects of you!”

In this Year of Mercy, let’s take a closer look at what it means to be Catholic. Being Catholic is not just about the rules. It’s not just about what we can’t do. It’s about what we should be doing.

I think Cardinal Timothy Dolan put it beautifully in an interview about vocations. “The Church,” he said, “is always looked upon as saying ‘no’ to everything. And, we aren’t saying ‘no.’ The Church is one big ‘yes.’

Yes to anything that will make us truly happy in this life and the next.”

Join us on the Choosing to Be Catholic Retreat to reflect on what the commitment to being Catholic looks like in your day-to-day life.

Or, if you can’t join us on the retreat, continue on a joyful pilgrimage of faith and action in your own life.

Let’s work together, young and old, to embrace the fullness of our Catholic identity at a time when many may be wondering what it means to be Catholic. Let’s share with each other the various beliefs, traditions, and practices that externally mark one a Catholic that we may discover the richness and deeper meaning of our own Catholic identity in today’s world. Let’s discover what it means to be Catholic! Then let’s live our lives as fully committed Catholics.

From the prayer that was prayed at a past World Youth Day, please keep these words in mind as you go about your day: “We believe in the Church, the people of God, who brings this faith to life through word and deed.

This is our Catholic faith. This is who we are.”

And we are proud to profess it through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen For more information or to register for the Choosing to Be Catholic Retreat, visit umassdcatholics.com, or call Deacon Frank Lucca at 508-9998872.

Youth Pages

St. Mary-Sacred Heart School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening of its registered Little Free Library, which is registered online for the community to come and take a book or leave a book. The North Attleboro school got involved with the program when Shawn Sweet, the school art teacher, heard about it from a friend. Michael Peixoto stepped up and volunteered to build the little library as a model of the school which now sits in the front of the school, near the front play area and parking lot. They recently gathered around the new little library, as seventh-graders and firstgraders watched as principal Denise Peixoto cut the ribbon. Also pictured is Sweet, Michael Peixoto and Father David Costa, the school director.

Third-grade student Alena Nelson from St. Margaret Regional School in Buzzards Bay enjoyed an ice cream sundae and a “dress-down day” for being in the class with the highest Box Tops for Education totals for the month.

Third-graders at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro recently used Plickers cards which allowed teacher Paula Bedard to collect real-time data without the need for student devices. For one of their science lessons on plants, as the students were answering multiple choice and true/false questions by holding up the Plickers cards, Bedard was able to scan the cards with her cell phone and knew immediately how many and which kids got the right or wrong answers. Plickers are used for quick checks for understanding to know whether students are understanding big concepts and mastering key skills.

Second-graders at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton recently practiced their spelling together.

Eighth-grade students from St. Joseph School in Fairhaven brushed up on the dance routine that they performed during National School Choice Week.

Students at St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet recently wore PJs to school for “I Have A Dream Day,” to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students were cozy as they learned more about MLK and made goals to help achieve their dreams for this world. Pictured are the three-year-olds in the Small Wonders preschool program.

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Youth Pages St. Vincent’s Home receives grant from Mechanics Cooperative Bank

Taunton — Mechanics Cooperative Bank, and president and CEO Joseph T. Baptista Jr., recently announced the winners of the first annual “Let’s Keep it Local! Community Grant Program!” The bank, as part of its annual 10 percent Net Income Pledge, is donating $25,000 to these local nonprofit organizations who received the most votes from customers.

Thousands of customers voted through the bank’s website to voice their opinion on which local nonprofit organization deserved a share of the $25,000. It was an extremely tight race right down to the finish and the winners were: First place: Forever Paws Animal Shelter, $15,000; Second place: Kids Kickin’ Cancer, $7,500; Third place (tie): Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, $ 2,500; Third place (tie): St. Vincent’s Home, $ 2,500.

Voting began in February of this year and was open to all Mechanics Cooperative

Bank customers who had a loan or deposit account.

Mechanics Cooperative Bank wanted as many local non-profit organizations

promote the program and encourage support for their cause.

Baptista said, “That is what the bank was hop-

hard work paid off. I want to thank all of our customers who participated and voted, and all of the great local non-profit organizations that

The winners of the 2015 Let’s Keep it Local! Community Grant Program recently received their funds from host, Mechanics Cooperative Bank. From left: Jack Weldon, executive director of St. Vincent’s Home; Gail Furtado, president of Forever Paws Animal Shelter; Joseph T. Baptista Jr., president and CEO of Mechanics Cooperative Bank; Emanuel Bairos, president of the Kids Kickin’ Cancer Foundation; and Ann Duhaime, executive director of Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen.

included in the Community Grant Program as possible, so to get included on the list, each non-profit had to join on social media.

All four of the winning organizations were added to the list by posting a photo to social media and using the hashtag #LetsKeepitLocal; and then continued to

ing to accomplish. To get people involved and talking about these great local nonprofits; and to encourage and highlight the great work they do. I was impressed with the strong effort our winning organizations made through social media in support of our program and I am thrilled that their

participated but did not win.

We will continue the Let’s Keep it Local! Community Grant Program in 2016 and thank you for sharing in its success.”

Jack Weldon, executive director of St. Vincent’s Home, said, “Mechanics’ continued and sustained support of St. Vincent’s over the years

St. Vincent’s Home receives funding from Sisters of Mercy

FALL RIVER — St. Vincent’s Home has received another round of funding from the Northeast Mercy Ministry Fund Council of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in the amount of $9,000. Youth in St. Vincent’s Life Skills Program will directly benefit from the grant award through assistance with transitions to independent living and young adulthood, specific school-to-work experiences, St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River has received another round of and opportunities to learn funding from the Northeast Mercy Ministry Fund Council of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in the amount of $9,000. From independent living skills in left: Mercy Sisters Bernadetta Ryan, Elaine Marchand, Catherine addition to completing their Donovan, and Lourdette Harrold. education.

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St. Vincent’s youth participate in an assessment of interests to better identify strengths and weaknesses.

Youth receive job coaching, career development and learn valuable employment skills at work-based learning sites throughout the community. Youth are encouraged to establish meaningful, sustained connections with supportive adults and community organizations which promote a successful transition to independent living.

St. Vincent’s board member Sister of Mercy Cath-

speaks volumes to their commitment to the youth and families of our community.

We are extremely grateful to Mechanics Cooperative Bank for its support of our mission of giving children and families in need what they need most. We are also extremely grateful that the bank created this program in support of local non-profits that desperately need additional funding. The process to be added to their list for consideration was easy and the promotion provided additional exposure for our organization and the wonderful work our employees do each and every day. A sincere thank you to Mechanics Cooperative Bank, its executive vice president and St. Vincent’s board member Deborah Grimes, and its president and CEO Joseph Baptista.

“Funds were used to purchase holiday gifts for many of the local children in our care that don’t have a family to celebrate the holidays.

These funds help provide a small piece of hope and joy to children.”

erine Donovan was pleased with the grant award saying, “The mission of the Sisters of Mercy addresses the needs of those who experience life’s limitations, empowering them to achieve lives of dignity. It is only fitting that the Northeast Mercy Ministry Fund Council would fund St. Vincent’s Life Skills program.”

The Northeast Mercy Ministry Fund Council funding will provide youth with vocational stipends for work completed at workbased learning sites throughout the community.

“M

y child is involved with sports; it’s really going to be hard for him to go to Religious Education.”

This is a common lament thrown in the face of our parish leaders these days. The domestic Church has been struggling with the question of what takes priority, faith or sports. It is as if youth sports are the Baal of this generation, filling its voracious appetite with our children’s time and talent. With all of these professional and college level athletes being showcased it is no wonder that young people want to devote all of their time and energy to the elusive dream of becoming superstar.

Not wanting to discourage their young from pursuing their dreams, parents are faced with the dilemma of fitting life into their children’s sports schedule. This sets up the epic battle between Church and sports.

Most parish leaders feel that the Church is on the losing end of the struggle for the souls of our little athletes. Maybe parents think that sports offer a tangible reward that is more measur-

All are born with the desire for God able than the prospect of faith, it would seem that pareternal Salvation. The children ents have been misled about gain in self-esteem and they the path that must be taken to can see the benefit of physimake their children successful. cal health more clearly than I have had a unique Spiritual well-being. Parents perspective on this dilemma are also out of control of their because I worked with youth schedules and rather than in the parish and also as a do a schedule cleanse they high school coach. In those choose the path of least resistance, which usually means giving up Mass. It is clear that The Great the prevailing attitude Commission is that the choice between Church and

By Claire McManus sports is an either/or proposition.

Even if parents do not be25-plus years of working lieve that their children are the with athletes there has been next amazing athlete to come a handful that went on to along, they seem to devote a play Division 1 college sports great deal of time and effort to and even fewer who became an activity that will be a small professionals. Three families part of their children’s adult in particular come to mind life. Only a small percentage because they each produced of young athletes go on to multiple professional athletes. play at a high level in college These three families went to or professionally, and it doesn’t Mass on Sunday, sent their necessitate giving up Church. children to Religious EducaMany of the families that tion or Catholic school, and produce these super athletes all of their children received are very devout in their faith. the Sacraments without any Given the number of professpecial accommodation by the sional and college athletes parish. These families went to who publicly profess their Mass daily, and were actively

involved in parish ministries.

Why were they able to live a life devoted to their children’s sport without sacrificing the practice of their faith? It is highly unlikely that coaches reworked their practice and game schedules to accommodate these gifted young athletes, but their parents were committed enough to their faith to go out of their way to find a way to hand it on to their children.

Those families that managed to keep faith in their lives while guiding their children to a successful sports career did not go through a special program that their church designed. Their faith came from within. The answer comes from Jesus’ Own method of inviting people to follow Him into a life of discipleship. He had no program, but His message was compelling. He changed lives by His encounter with people, and they in turn told others the reason for their joy. When we gather the parents together for meetings, why waste the moment by focusing on the

details of the program? They can read about how to register, what meetings to attend, how much to pay and all those other odds and ends. What a difference it would make if we stood before these parents and told them, unabashedly, about when and how we first encountered Jesus. How this encounter made us want to know Him better. We could tell them that now that we have come to know Jesus, we are hungry for the Eucharist, and wouldn’t dream of missing Mass. If we could get one of those parents of the talented athletes to do this for us what a powerful witness this would be!

Not everyone is born with the gifts and talents to be a super athlete, but everyone is born with the desire for God. This desire for God cannot be filled by anything that we have created, but we can turn everything that we create into a means to give glory to God. This simple adjustment could turn our little athletes into dedicated disciples.

Anchor columnist Claire McManus is the director of the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation.

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At the heart of the tragedy of addiction

A

ddiction can be extremely harmful, and in some cases, fatal for those individuals ensnared by it. It can be seriously disruptive and damaging to those around them.

Who is to blame when it comes to addiction? Family and friends may think to themselves, “Why can’t Jane just stop drinking?”

Or, “Doesn’t Joe understand that his gambling addiction is bankrupting the family?” Or, “Can’t Bob see how his pornography habit is destroying his Marriage and his relationships?” For those facing addiction, it seems they ought to be able to recognize their behavior as harmful, and turn away from it by a resolute decision. Family and friends, however, can face years of frustration when they see their loved ones fall into a slow motion “crash and burn,” spiraling

downwards as they remain spiral of the addiction may unwilling or unable to step have already co-opted the away from their addiction. individual’s ability freely to The individual caught choose otherwise. Eventuin the web of addiction ally this bondage can apobjectively falls prey to a pear to be permanent, and loss of personal freedom. addicted individuals can His will becomes weakimagine themselves paened, and he becomes thetic and hopeless to such enslaved in a way that limits his ability to recognize Making Sense the right order of Out of goods in his life.

Bioethics By repetitively choosing the adBy Father Tad dictive behavior, it Pacholczyk becomes ingrained, and the ability to choose better, alternaa degree that they almost tive behaviors becomes give up. In the words of a enfeebled, if not seemformerly-addicted indiingly impossible. For these vidual: reasons, there is almost “I believe that I did not always diminished perhave a choice to stop. It sonal responsibility in never became clear to me situations of addiction. that I could live another To be accountable for our way until a medical interacts, we must freely choose vention from my physician those acts, but the internal and friends took place. pressure and downward Willpower plays a small role here, but it too cannot work if one has a malfunctioning brain. I speak for myself here. I could not stop. Period. Now, I have stopped. Not just because Sunday, February 7, 11:00 a.m. of the intervention, but because I have turned my life and my will over to the God of my understanding.

That is something 12-step Celebrant is Father Riley J. Williams, programs have taught me.” parochial vicar at Corpus Christi Parish This radical loss of in East Sandwich freedom lies at the heart of

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6

Sunday, February 14, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Edward A. Murphy, pastor of St. Anthony’s Parish in New Bedford

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The Anchor - February 5, 2016

the tragedy of addiction.

Because we are creatures of habit, the choices we make, either for good or for evil, form us in one direction or the other, so we become individuals who are either capable or incapable of choosing the good freely. Virtue is a habit of good, while vice is a habit of evil. Early choices leading down the road towards addiction, freely made, can quickly snowball into vice, addiction and a loss of freedom. As one recovered addict graphically described it: “My beef is with those who claim that they never chose to become an addict or never chose to hurt their families. While we likely didn’t intend to end up helpless, dysfunctional people who [hurt] our loved ones, the choices we made put us at risk of ending up in a sorry state where we were capable of doing things we would have never dreamed of.

Unless you were raised on Mars, we all deep down knew the risk of our choices, especially if you’re talking about coke, crack, meth, or heroin but we chose to roll the dice anyway. At a certain point,

when I was starting to do coke almost every weekend, I knew that it would be wise to stop, but I chose not to because I was having fun and I told myself it will never happen to me.

By the end, I was going on solo three day benders with alcohol and cocaine, and I landed in treatment.

My point is that I made the choice to try the substance, the choice to begin to use the substance more regularly, and the choice not to quit when I could have.”

While there may have been significant moral culpability at the beginning of an individual’s descent into addiction, it is still critical for us to never stigmatize, patronize or abandon those who are in the throes of addiction. They may feel they are defined entirely by their addiction, unlovable and wretched, rather than seeing that they are, in fact, human beings who are precious to God and those around them, and even now endowed with some tiny space of remaining freedom. That tiny space will become key to determining whether they ultimately choose the behavioral changes needed to improve their situation and recover the human freedom that is rightfully theirs. We should support, encourage and love them in ways that will help lead them toward those good choices and successful outcomes.

Anchor columnist Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, and serves as the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org.

Award-winning author discusses Works of Mercy at La Salette continued from page five

with her involvement with the Catholic press at age 16, when she joined the summer staff of the diocesan newspaper and hosted a television program in Springfield, Mass.

“I went to Providence College, so I’m familiar with this general area,” Weber said. “We used to come to La Salette Shrine when I was little to see the Christmas lights. I haven’t been back for a few years, but it’s

nice to be here.”

After graduating from Providence College, she spent one year as a fulltime volunteer with the Mercy Volunteer Corps.

Through MVC, she worked as a special education teacher in St. Michaels, Ariz. on the Navajo Nation.

She then worked as an associate editor for Catholic Digest magazine before moving to New York City, where she earned a master’s

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks 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 Rev. Robert S. Kaszynski, Former Pastor, St. Stanislaus, Fall River, 2014 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 Feb. 11 Rev. John O’Connell, Founder, St. John Evangelist, Attleboro, 1910 Rev. John J. Sullivan, S.T.L., Retired Pastor, Holy Rosary, Fall River, 1961 Rev. William J. McMahon, Retired Pastor, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, 1987 Rev. Christopher (Leo) King, SS.CC., Damien Residence, 2013 Feb. 12 Rev. Stanislaus B. Albert, SS.CC, Retired Founder, Our Lady of Assumption, New Bedford, 1961 Feb. 13 Rev. Richard R. Gendreau, Retired, Former Pastor, St. Louis de France, Swansea, 2015 Feb. 14 Rev. Charles E. Clerk, Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River, 1932 Rev. Msgr. Francis McKeon, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1980 Feb. 15 Rev. Joseph G. Lavalle, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1910 Rev. James C. Conlon, Pastor, St. Mary, Norton, 1957 Feb. 16 Rev. Alphonse J. LaChapelle, Assistant, Holy Ghost, Attleboro, 1983 Rev. Joaquim Fernandes da Silva, CM, 2001 Feb. 17 Rev. Louis R. Boivin, Retired, Cardinal Medeiros Residence, Former Pastor, St. Theresa, Attleboro, 2010 Feb. 19 Rev. Andrew J. Brady, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1895 Rev. Leopold Jeurissen, SS.CC., Pastor, Sacred Hearts, Fairhaven, 1953

gether and remind us of our shared humanity as people of God and people of goodwill,” she said. “I think it shows just how mercy connects us all. It really brings people together in a form of community and then that community is so important to supporting

the continuation of mercy in our world — it gives us that energy, it gives us the motivation, it gives us the support we need to actually try to live it out.”

For more information about Kerry Weber or her book, visit www.loyolapress. com/mercy-in-the-city.htm.

degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Kerry deepened her connection to the Mercy charism when she became a Mercy Associate with the Sisters of Mercy Mid-Atlantic Community.

“Mercy in the City” Paper overboard ... help save The Anchor not only details Weber’s continued from page three experiences in performsubscription is only $20.

News your parish does, let ing the Corporal Works The Anchor makes a great your congregation know that of Mercy, it also sheds a gift; where else can you little light on the resulting news from the paper is good. get reliable Catholic news Want an easy fund-raiser benefits to those who give on diocesan events than for your Faith Formation and receive. through your diocesan program?

Purchase a bundle “I wanted to capture my paper? If you lose the insert, and have students sell the emotions throughout,” she don’t worry — we will said. “I didn’t want to get to paper at Mass. Looking for regularly have an order form a project for students to do the end and look back and in the paper (page three just say: ‘Gee, I’m glad I did in their community? Raise of this edition) itself that that.’ I didn’t want to forget money and purchase subyou can cut out and mail scriptions for homebound about the struggle that was in. You can also subscribe parishioners, or a bundle for part of it. That was importhrough our webpage: www. an area nursing home. tant to me — to make sure We have included an in- AnchorNews.org. Please it wasn’t a preachy book. support The Anchor today! sert in this edition; a yearly It was more an example of ‘here’s how I tried it’ and we should all keep trying this together.”

Weber said it’s important for Catholics to not only know the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, but also to put them into practice on a regular basis — whether it be during this Year of Mercy or beyond.

“They leads us, ideally, in this sort of cycle where service leads to prayer and community, which leads us back to service,” she said.

“It’s all kind of connected — it’s not just a matter of checking these boxes off, so when I get to Heaven I can show St. Peter the list of what I’ve done. It’s the idea of really integrating these works into our lives and into our community.”

For Weber, the Works of Mercy are concrete, tangible ways for us all to put our faith into action.

“I think a lot of young people today are longing for community, and these acts help to bring us toThe Anchor - February 5, 2016

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Around the Diocese The Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign at the Four Women Clinic at Angel Park, 150 Emory Street in Attleboro, begins on Ash Wednesday, February 10, at 6 a.m.

A special Opening Ceremony will be held on February 13 at 8 a.m., followed by 9 a.m. Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Parish on Linden Street in Attleboro.

Located near the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, the clinic is the only one of its kind within the Fall River Diocese. 40 Days for Life is a peaceful Pro-Life effort, with daily vigil hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or to get involved, visit www.40daysforlife.com/attleboro or contact Ron Larose at 508-736-9813 or 40dflattleboro@comcast.net.

A Healing Mass will be celebrated on February 11 on the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford. The Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include Benediction, healing prayers and anointing of the sick. At 5:15 p.m. there will be a holy hour including the Rosary. For directions or more information, call 508-993-1691 or visit www.saintanthonynewbedford.com.

All are invited to pray the Culture of Life Chaplet on February 18 at 1 p.m. in St. Jude’s Chapel of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee. Recitation is on ordinary Rosary beads and will include a brief meditation preceding each of the five decades.

A Lenten Taizé service, “Coming Home to God’s Mercy,” will be held on February 21 beginning at 7 p.m. at St. John Neumann Parish, 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown. All are invited to attend.

The Stonehill College Campus Ministry and Holy Cross Family Ministries in Easton invite all to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy with prayer, praise, Adoration, Reconciliation and fellowship on March 18 beginning at 4:35 p.m. at the outdoor Social Justice Stations of the Cross. This prayer will be followed at 5:30 p.m. with a light supper of soup and bread. At 6:30 p.m. priests will be available for Reconciliation. The event is free and open to all. Groups attending are asked to please RSVP by March 14 to Kimberly Cordeiro at 508-565-1551 or kcordeiro@stonehill.edu. For directions or more information visit www. familyrosary.org/events.

The amazing story behind the 100-year history Our Lady of Hope Chapel in West Barnstable is now available in a special publication. This book tells the story of the builders, artisans, and local tradesmen who made it all possible. Featuring color photographs in a separate section, the rich symbolism, architectural elements, and works of art in the National Historic Landmark are explained. “Our Lady of Hope Chapel: The Convergence of Hope: A Story of the Hundred Year History” is the result of the Centennial Committee’s yearlong research. Printed locally, this small format book makes a wonderful keepsake or gift.

Copies are available and can be ordered by calling the Our Lady of Victory parish office at 508-775-5744, or by mail to: Our Lady of Victory Parish, 230 South Main Street, Centerville, Mass. 02632. For more information see the parish website at: www.olv.org.

To submit an event for consideration in The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing, send the information by email to kensouza@ anchornews.org

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ASSONET — Beginning September 14, St. Bernard’s Parish will have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar at the conclusion of 9 a.m. Mass and the church will be open all day, concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Adoration Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

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. through November 17.

ATTLEBORO — There is a weekly time of Eucharistic Adoration Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church on North Main Street.

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 beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, Monday through Saturday, from 6:30 to 8 a.m.; and every first Friday from noon to 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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 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, from 8:30 a.m. until 7:45 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — S t . M a r y ’s C h u r c h , M a i n S t . , h a s E u c h a r i s t i c A d o r a t i o n e v e r y Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m.

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 — St. Bernadette’s Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has continuous Eucharistic Adoration from 8 a.m. on Thursday until 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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 and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 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 7 a.m.

Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m.

HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, 347 South Street, Hyannis, has Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 3 p.m., daily Monday through Friday.

MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Benediction at 5:45 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. Please use the side entrance.

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.

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also 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.

NORTH EASTON — A Holy Hour for Families including Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday from 3-4 p.m. at The Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street.

ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m. Mass.

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

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.

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.

Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church takes place 9 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m.

Friday. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall. ~ PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ~ East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

NEW BEDFORD — Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street, offers Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day. For information call 508-996-8274.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

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 are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

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The Anchor - February 5, 2016

Rudolph ‘Pete’ B. Bernier, father of Father Paul Bernier

FALL RIVER — Rudolph “Pete” B. Bernier, 93, of Somerset, passed away January 25, surrounded by his family, at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. He was the husband of the late Lorraine L. (Gauthier) Bernier.

Bernier was born in Fall River, the son of the late Oscar and Eva (Boucher) Bernier. He was the last living member of the 1939 graduating class at the former Msgr.

Prevost High School. Bernier honorably served his country during WWII with the United States Army. He then worked as a licensed pharmacist for more than 50 years for Duffy’s Pharmacy in Tiverton, R.I., and several other local area pharmacies, retiring in 2000.

He was an avid reader, who also enjoyed boating and walking. Bernier cherished the time he spent with his family and friends.

He was an active member with the American Legion Post #303 in Swansea and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Survivors are three daughters: Jeanne T. Dallaire of Swansea; Susan Koerner of South Kingstown, R.I.; Diane Trepanier of Westport; two sons: Father Paul Bernier, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Somerset and Alan Bernier of Tiverton, R.I.; 10 grandchildren, five great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Roland, Arthur, Omer, Rene, Leo and Rev. Adrien Bernier, Bertha Lagasse, Yvette Parent, Jeannette Kern, Lucienne Holewka, Gertrude Roberts, Ida Matuk and Maurice Bernier. He was the father-in-law of the late Richard N. Koerner.

A private Funeral Mass was celebrated January 29.

Memorial donations in his memory can be made to either the St. Vincent de Paul Society c/o St. Louis de France, 56 Buffington Street, Swansea, Mass.

02777, or Veterans Services of Swansea, 68 Stevens Road, Swansea, Mass. 02777.

Arrangements were handled by Hathaway Funeral Homes.

The Anchor - February 5, 2016

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Marian Medal Awards ceremony available on video

The Dec. 13, 2015 Marian Medal Awards ceremony is available on DVD from the Diocesan Office of Communications. The DVD cost is $25.

To obtain one, please forward a check in that amount payable to the Diocesan Office of Communications, Diocese of Fall River, PO Box 7, Fall River, Mass. 02722.

Shipping is included in the video cost.

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The Anchor - February 5, 2016