VOL. 46, NO.6¡ Friday, February 8, 2002
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Diocesan Lenten Pilgrimage to be led by Bishop O'Malley ~
La Salette Shrine in Attleboro will be the site for the March 16 event.
By
DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR
ATTLEBORO - "Living the Faith, Knowing the Faith," is the theme of an upcoming Lenten Pilgrimage Day spon-
sored by the Fall River diocese. The all-day event, which will include Mass, is set for March 16 at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro and will be led by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. Keynote spe.akers will be Karl Keating, founder of "Catholic Answers," and Jason Evert, a full-time apologist
with that organization. "Catholic Answers" is one of the largest lay Catholic organizations in the nation. "With the strong rise of fundamentalist Christianity, many Catholics are being challenged in our traditional beliefs and practices," said Bishop O'Malley. ','We are fortunate to ha,ve
Karl Keating coming to our diocese. He is an outstanding layman and has a great gift of explaining the difficult points of Catholic faith, showing how they relate to the Bible. For our catechists, RCIA team members, and all Catholics, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our faith," he added.
According to Lisa Gulino, director of Adult Education and Evangelization for the diocese, who is coordinating the event, "it will be a day of prayer, worship and reflection regarding the richness of our Catholic faith and the unity of our diocese. We encourage as many parishes, youth groups, and di- . Turn to page 13 - Pilgrimage
PRE-KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS at Notre Dame School, Fall River, perform for parents and grandparents. Students in all grades invited family members to eat lunch with them at the school as part of Catholic Schools Week celebrations.
Pope calls for 'gratuitousness'. in giving to others during Lent By MARK PATTISON CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON - Pope John Paul II exhorted Catholics to a "gratuitousness" in their service and charity to others this Lent. "What better time is there than Lent for offering this testimony of gratuitousness which the world so badly needs?" the pope said in his annual Lenten message. "In the very love which God has for us, there lies the call to give ourselves freely to others in turn." The papal message, dated October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, was released Tuesday in Washington by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The text of the message was distributed in January to the world's bishops' conferences for them to release in their respective countries. For Latin-rite Catholics, Lent begins
on Ash Wednesday, which is February we must be open to a life marked by 13 this year. 'gratuitousness,' by the giving of ourThe theme of the pope's message is selves unreservedly to God and neigh"Freely You Have Received, Freely bor." Give." He said, "The world prizes human "'What do you relationships based have,' St. Paul asks, on self-interest and 'that you did not repersonal gain, and cei ve?'" the pope this fosters an egosaid, quoting from 1 centric vision of life, Corinthians. "The dein which too often mand which follows there is no room for the poor and weak. this 'recognition is that of loving our Every person, even brothers and sisters, the least gifted, must and of dedicating ourbe welcomed and selves to them. The loved for themselves, regardless. of their more needy they are, qualities and dethe more urgent the believer's duty to fects." serve them." Such a stance is Diocesan Lenten Pope John Paul based in the Gospels, regulations - Pg. 2 the pope said. added, "As believers,
"It is highly significant that Jesus spoke the words 'You received without paying, give without pay' as he sent the Apostles out to spread the Gospel of salvation, which is his first and foremost gift to humanity," he said. "Christ wants his kingdom, which is already close at hand, to be spread through gestures of gratuitous love accomplished by his disciples." He added, "In our own day too the good done by believers becomes a sign, and often an invitation to believe. When, like the Good Samaritan, Christians respond to the needs of their neighbor, theirs is never merely material assistance. It is always a proclamation of the kingdom as well, and speaks of the full meaning of life, hope and love." Lent, Pope John Paul said, is "a return to the roots of our faith, so that Turn tp page 13 - Lent