02.10.06

VOL. 50, NO.6¡ Friday, Febroary 10,2006

FALL RIVER, MASS.

Southeastern Massachusetts~ Largest' Weekly • $14 Per Year

STUDENTS FROM Fall River's nine Catholic schools stream into St. Anne's Church in that city to take part in' a Catholic Schools Week prayer service led by Bishop George W. Coleman. (AnchotiGordon photo) .

Nearly 2,000 Fall River students march, pray to mar" CSW

By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF

FALL RIVER - Well over 1,000 students representing the city's Catholic schools, filled St. Anne's Church to capacity February 2 for a prayer service celebrating Catholic Schools Week.

Prior to the service students marched to Kennedy Park from St. Mary's Cathedral on Second Street, St. Stanislaus School on Rockland Street and SS. Peter and Paul School on Pulaski Street. They converged

at 12:30 p.m. and were joined by Bishop George W. Coleman and several priests.

Students from each school carried a banner and each wore a blue knit cap which featured the diocesan logo and their schoolname.

Principal Jean Willis of St. Stanislaus School led her students to the park and said the gathering is nice because "it shows the unity of Catholic schools." As they left St. Stanislaus, students sang. Willis said neighbors were opening windows and doors to

ing and loving. listen and say hello as they passed.

The bishop told students it is wonderful Bishop Coleman presided at the prayer service and stated, "It's wonderful to see so to be alive and in the presence of God but many Catholic schoo,1 students here today." we are also "alive in Christ. We gather t~ "If it were not for the dedication of teac:h- gether as children of God." He said that ers, the support of parents and our parisqes Catholic schools are about learning and enwe could not have Catholic schools," he couraged students to "Learn about Christ, added. "We thank each for their generosity . the Church and the saints and do as they in supporting Catholic schools in so many have done. If you take the saints for your role models you will be fulfilling God's will ways. I thank you one and all."

I In his homily, the bishop said,Catholic in your lives." schools are about three things: living, learnTurn to page 16 - Students

Limited hearing on sex curriculum concerns called 'injustice' to taxpayers >

Joint Committee "It was more than disappointaffords little time, little ing," said Bea Martins, Catholic Citizenship policy director for space to hundreds the Fall River diocese, who was who traveled far to among 70 people from the dioexpress opinions cese who traveled in two buses but were never heard. ,to the statehouse, on January 31,

By

DEACON JAMES

N.

DUNBAR

BOSTON - The failure of a legislative committee to offer sufficient time and space for more than 400 parents waiting to tell why they oppose making controversial and often "troubling" sex education classes for their children so mandatory that it becomes a requirement for graduation, has come unde.r strong criticism.

where joined by hundreds more, they were to offer oral and written testimony against the measure.

"But most never did get to speak because time was very limited," Martins reported. "Some never even got into the hearing room because it was too small."

"With all due respect for the committee, they did not handle this hearing on a volatile issue very well," said Marie Sturgis of

Massachusetts Catholics For Life.

"It was an insult, an injustice to taxpayers as well as professional people and parents, some with children, who had come from all comers of the state to offer opinions," she added.

"Legislators were allowed to testify while ordinary people, who had come so far at a sacrifice for their children, were not.

The average family person had to wait ... and was never heard," Sturgis told The Anchor.

The Joint Committee on Education, chaired by Rep. Patricia Haddad, D-Somerset, conducted the hearing on House bill H 1641 Turn to page 13 - Hearing

RELIGIOUS FROM across the diocese gathered on February 4 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fall River to join Bishop George W. Coleman, the principal celebrant of a Mass celebrating World Day for Consecrated Life. (Photo by Eric Rodrigues)

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Pope says marriage tribunals must act quickly, follow Church law

Father Sebastian Slesinski OFM Convo; served mostly in Fall River diocese HOLYOKE Father in 1992, he returned to Our Sebastian Slesinski, 85, of the Lady of Perpetual Help for Conventual Franciscan Friars, the remaining of his active died January 30 at years. the Sisters of Earlier, he had Providence Infiralso served in St. mary here, after a Anthony's Parish battle with Lou in Chicopee, and Gehrig's disease. was a teacher at Father Bishop Ryan High Slesinski spent the School in Buffalo, majority of his N.Y. priestly ministry He is survived in the Fall River by his sister, Elizadiocese, most rebeth Kieras of cently as parochial Chicopee; two vicar at Our Lady brothers, Frank of Perpetual Help Slesinski of Parish in Bedford.

Worcester and He was the pasAlbin Slesinski of FRANCISCAN FATHER tor of Holy Rosary Palmer; and his Parish in Taunton SEBASTIAN SLESINSKI Franciscan for a number of confreres. years until 1982 when he became His funeral Mass was celpastor of the former St. Hedwig's ebrated February 3 in St. Parish in New Bedford.

Stanislaus Basilica in When the Conventual Chicopee. Interment was in Franciscans left St. Hedwig's Calvary Cemetery, Hatfield.

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Friday, February 10, 2006

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The ease or difficulty of obtaining documentary evidence is key factor in annulment timeframe, top official at Fall River diocesan tribunal says.

The pope, who called marriage an indissoluble contract, said it is "not something of which the spouses can dispose at will." When a couple brings a petition for annulment, the goal of the tribunal must be to determine whether or not, in fact, a

By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR valid marriage occurred.

AND CWNEWS.COM REPORTS Father Robinson said most of VATICAN CITY - For the the people who say, "My margood of individuals and the riage is invalid," are looking to remarry in the Church, or are in Catholic Church as a whole, a relationship and want to regumarriage tribunals must act as larize it. quickly as possible while fully following Church law, Pope "The tribunal is an external Benedict XVI said. forum that deals with documents Speaking recently to officials and testimony. We don't deal of the Roman Rota, the pope unwith matters of conscience. derlined the indissolubility of Those are between the person marriage, and rued the fact that and their confessor. The burden "this truth is so often forgotten." of proof is on the one seeking He said that couples seeking the annulment. He or she must annulments of their marcome up with the proof that riages have a right to a will cause the tribunal reasonably fast response judge to decide whether "Essentially we're talking about the proof is sufficient and from Church tribunals.

However, he stressed the sacrament of marriage," said the marriage is invalid." that annulments should be Father Robinson. 'The Church's unIf the proponent cangranted only when the evi- derstanding has always been that it not come up with the dence indicates that a true is a relationship between one man proof, "then the decision marriage never took place. must be that the marriage and one woman, exclusive, per- is The pope strongly denied valid," Father Robinson that a "pastoral" approach petual, lifelong. If two baptized stated. could overlook the re- people enter into the marriage and . In assessing each case, quirements of the take the vows with their eyes wide the tribunal should be Church's legal process. open and with full knowledge, it is a guided by the search for We're right on line with sacrament and you can't blow it out truth. The pope cautioned that thinking," said Father strongly against any tenPaul F. Robinson, of the water." dency to compromise the O.Carm. J.c.n., judicial rigor of that search, in a vicar of the tribunal for misguided effort to serve the Fall River diocese, which cally married may, as soon as the needs of individuals. "Such deals with marital matters. possible, regularize their do- attitudes may seem pastoral," But he was quick to point out mestic situations," and thus be the pope admitted; "but in realthat the number of requests for admitted to Communion. ity they do not respond to the annulments are down by ap"Essentially we're talking good of the individuals, or that proximately 30 percent than about the sacrament of mar- of the ecclesial community." were requested 10 years ago "for riage," said Father Robinson.

Pope Benedict also said the many reasons, most probably "The Church's understanding Church should also be working because Catholics are not prac- has always been that it is a re- "to prevent nullity of marticing their faith as they once lationship between one man and riage," by preparing couples did, and marriages are occurring one woman, exclusive, per- more fully for Christian matrioutside the Church." petual, lifelong. If two baptized mony and by helping married Addressing the timeframe of people enter into the marriage couples to resolve conflicts and the annulment process, Father and take the vows with their form a deeper mutual commitRobinson said that based on the eyes wide open and with full ment The Rota acts as an appeals cause or root of the request, as knowledge, it is a sacrament well as the ease or difficulty of and you can't blow it out of the court in marriage cases, and other canonical proceedings, obtaining or tracking down pa- water." perwork, interviews of princi"So legally there's no human hearing appeals of judgments pals and witnesses, the proce- power that can undo the valid- that have been rendered by any dure may be resolved in days or ity of that marriage," he added. of the 3,000 canonical tribunals months in some cases, while othUnfortunately, people think around the world.

In 2004 the Rota received 246 ers can take years. the tribunal "is a Catholic di"If we can obtain all the docu- vorce court." But grounds that appeals regarding marriage anmentary evidence and testimony can be presented in a civil di- nulments. Of these, 163 came then it might take about 14 vorce court, "mayor may not be from dioceses in Europe, 73 months on average to be re- sufficient to question the valid- from the Americas, and 10 from solved," he told The Anchor. ity of the marriage," he ex- Asia; there were no such appeals from Africa, Australia, or The work of the Roman Rota plained. is also dominated by marital isWhile external events like Oceania.

With only 20 judges hearing sues, and as the pope met with money and many other factors the officials of the Vatican tri- in the relationship can subse- the cases, an appeal to the Rota bunal in a private audience at the quently make a marriage "un- can be a time-consuming prostart of their judicial year he livable," Father Robinson said, cess; the average case lasts asked them to adhere carefully "it is not because it is invalid nearly two years. These involve to the terms of Dignitatis Con- that makes the marriage im- only those cases in which an apnubii, the Vatican document re- plode. Rather it is human is- peal is sent to the Vatican. The leased in 2005 to guide the work sues the partners have been vast majority of annulment peof tribunals. unable or are unwilling to re- titions are resolved by local tribunals.

"Dignitatis Connubii is the solve." current procedural tweaking of the 1983 Code of Canon Law we operate under," Father Robinson explained. "It certainly is not new theology. But it is the guide which all the tribunals across the world - and of course here in our diocese - are using. It is a combination of theology and law," he added.

Pope Benedict acknowledged the lively public discussion of the Church's discipline barring Catholics who are divorced and remarried from receiving the Eucharist. He observed that the Synod of Bishops, meeting last October to discuss the Eucharist, had .:'called on ecclesiastical courts to make every effort to ensure that members of the faithful not canoni-

Friday, February 10, 2006

the ancholS)

Pope focuses on mental illness in World Day of the Sick message Pastoral care ministers provide patients in and around Fall River diocese with comforting spiritual connection

By DAVE JOLIVET, EDITOR

There are those who also minister makes a difference in the quality NORTH ATTLEBORO - In to patients suffering from any of a of life for the patients at Madonna Manor. Sister Mary admits, "We the tradition of his predecessor, number of mental illnesses.

Sister of St. Joseph Mary M. don't know what goes on in their Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI offered his prayers and undy- Duffy, director of Pastoral Care at minds, but we continue to keep ing support to pastoral care minis- Madonna Manor in North that awareness of God in their ters across the globe for World Day Attleboro, works with patients suf- lives." She told The Anchor there ofthe Sick, February 11. fering from dementias and are at least five patients who do Pope John Paul II initiated Alzheimer's Disease. "Alzheimer's their best to attend daily Mass.

World Day of the Sick in 1993, is a heartbreaking disease," she told "They know why they are there, but sometimes can't verbalstating, "This day will be ize it." celebrated every year on the "No two are alike," Siscommemoration of Our Having a spouse with Alzheimer's ter Mary said of the elders Lady of Lourdes ... to be a special time of prayer and can be like losing a loved dne twice: to whom she ministers. "For sharing, of offering one's the first time when the spouse is no me, it's so inspiring to see suffering for the good of the longer recognized, and the second patients in all stages want to Church and of reminding time when the patient passes away pray and sense God's presence. It's a privilege to work everyone to see in his sick physically. . with them." brother or sister the face of At Catholic Memorial Christ who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the sal- The Anchor. "In the earlier stages, Home in Fall River, Holy Union there are patients who can't remem- Sister Mary Ellen Donahue spends vation of mankind."

In his message for 2006, Pope berthings and they know they can't a great deal of time with Benedict paid special attention to remember things and they don't Alzheimer's and dementia patients' "problems connected with men- know why. It's so very frustrating, families. "It's so tough on the loved tal disturbance, which by now af- confusing and frightening for ones," Sister Mary Ellen told The Anchor. "It's very important that we fects a fifth of mankind and con- them." stitutes a real and authentic socialSister Mary said that she and try to keep their morale up."

As Pastoral Care assistant at health care emergency." The Holy the staff at Madonna Manor proFather offered prayers for all those vide the patients contact with God the home, Sister Mary Ellen said "burdened by illness, so as to in- on almost a daily basis. "Many of she has seen such positive vite you to offer your condition the patients, depending Qn what changes in some family members of suffering, together with Christ, stage they're in, want to take' from when they first bring their to the Father, certain that every Communion daily," she said. "For loved ones to the extended care ordeal received with resignation those who are non-Catholic, we facility. "Just recently one of our Alzheimer's patients passed away, is meritorious and draws the be- offer them tender words like nevolence of God upon the whole . 'God loves you' and 'God bles~ and a week later his wife came in of mankind." you,' and 'God cares very much to see me. The strength and the Throughout the Fall River dio- for you.' When they receive Com- support she received from the cese and beyond, scores of dedi- .munion or hear comforting words Catholic Memorial Home staff cated chaplains and pastoral care about God, there's a connection made her a new woman. When ministers bring spiritual healing and there. They pause and become she first came here, she wasn't comfort to those afflicted with very receptive to what they are even taking care of herself. And now she's doing quite well." physical ailments in hospitals, nurs- receiving."

Having a spouse with ing homes and in private residences.

Knowing the pastoral care staff

Alzheimer's can be lik~ losing a loved one twice: the first time when the spouse is no longer recognized, and the second time when the patient passes away physically. '.'It's hard fo} a spouse who has lived with a hOsband or wife for so many years to not even be recognized any longer," said Sister Mary Ellen. "There's a loneliness there, and that loneliness continues at home, where they may be truly alone for the first time ever."

Sister Mary Ellen told The Anchor that despite not being recognized by their spouses" husbands and wives continue to Ilvisit on a daily basis. Like the,! Catholic Memorial Home staff, the husbands and wives just: try to be there for the patient~. "I was watching one man dante with his wife who no longer knew him. He told me that he had to be with her, saying there were times'! when 'we used to dance the nigh~ away. C'.'

Once a teacher and ~. principal, Sister Mary Ellen now finds her new ministry very rewarding.

"God knew it was time for me to change ministries, and he opened the door to this one for me."

Anchor news editor, Deacon Jim Dunbar, is in his eighth year of hospital ministry at Newport Hospital, and ministers to patients there with other forms of mental illnesses not related to dementia or Alzheimer's. Many these patients are in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

"Ministering to those suffering from mental illness calls for a special kind of understahding and sensitivity," he said in an interview. "Because most priests and deacons and religious jn pastoral care in hospitals are not trained in psychology or psycHiatry, have a medical degree, or are social workers."

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He added, "While it might be sometimes advantageous to have some of those skills, they are not essential for the pastoral minister whose principal calling is to bring Christ to those suffering; those in need of hearing the comforting' and consoling message that Christ thinks they are very important, very worthy, so much so that he willed to die on the cross for them, and that he loves them."

Dunbar said some of the very disturbed patients are not able to understand what. is happening, and the care they receive from the medical staff dictates the pastoral care he can minister. "Often it is advantageous to remind them that God is a divine physician and healer, and an all-powerful and all-loving Father who cares and wants us to ask for his help."

Stating that it's encouraging to see some of these patients eventually released from hospital care, Dunbar said, "What concerns me is who will continue to bring their spiritual 'medication' so to speak?

Who will make Jesus available to them in Word and sacrament? It always comes back to the fact that it is a matter of faith in God, and his providence. Without faith, pastoral ministers wouldn't be there in the first place, would they?"

In his World Day of the Sick letter, Pope Benedict said, "I thus encourage the efforts of those who work to ensure that all mentally ill people are given access to necessary forms of care and treatment." He continued saying that through chaplains, pastoral workers and volunteer organizations and associations, the Church, "will not fail to offer you her own help, being well aware that she is called to express the love and care of Christ for those who suffer and for those who look after them."

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POPE BENEDICT XVI greets sick people during a general audience in St. Peter's Square year. The pope devoted more than 30 minutes to meeting Vl{ith sick and handicapped children and adults. February 11 has been designated World Day of the Sick. (eNS photo la~t

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T HE LANDING Eros and Agape In his fIrst encyclical, Pope Benedict XVI takes us to the "heart of the Christian faith" and presents us with a "summary of the Christian life." He described who God is, who we are, and who we're called to become: God is love, we're made in the image and likeness of that love, and our vocation is to love others as God has loved us.

Pope Benedict notes that in order for us to understand God, ourselves and morality, we fIrst have to grasp accurately what real love is. That's a problem, he says, because love is one of the most used and misused words in our lexicon. The Greeks had four words for love: storge, the deep affection we have for family members, pets, and familiar things; philia, the deep bond between friends based on a common interest; eros, the passionate desire for self-completion, most normally shown in the desire for union with a person of the opposite sex; and agape, the unselfIsh willingness to sacrifIce oneself for the sake of another. Benedict says that love is a single reality with these diverse dimensions that emerge at different times. But he also states if we misunderstand one of these expressions, it can distort our notion of love, God and ourselves as a whole.

That distortion, he says, has happened because of a misunderstanding of what most consider the "epitome" of love, eros. God gave us the capacity for erotic love to draw us out of ourselves into communion with others, but sometimes this innate drive can turn "warped and destructive," and lead us to use others selfIshly for our own pleasure and satisfaction. This "counterfeit" form oferotic love strips it of its dignity and dehumanizes it, as it strips loved ones of their dignity and dehumanizes them. For eros to lead us to true happiness, it fIrst needs to be healed through discipline and purifIcation by agape. This path becomes an "ongoing exodus out of the closed inward-looking self towards its liberation through self-giving, and thus towards authentic self-discovery and indeed the discovery of God." The Moses leading us on that exodus is Christ, who Benedict says enfleshes the true bond between passionate and selfless love. The fIrst icon of that bond between eros and agape is Christ's passion, in which the Lord shows the depth of his desire for union with those he loves by unselfIshly "turning against himself' and laying down his life to save their lives. The second image is the Eucharist, which Christ "earnestly desired" to eat with his disciples and left us as the means by which we can enter into his act of self-oblation. The Eucharist is the consummation of the long-prophesied marriage between God and his people, when Christ's bride takes within herself the flesh and blood of the divine bridegroom and they become one flesh. It is in the Eucharist that man and woman receive agape and eros in their most divine and divinizing way. It is in the Eucharist that they are strengthened and moved to share that passionate, selfless love toward others, where they learn how to say, "this is my body... given for you" and to love others as Christ has loved. them. It is in the Eucharist that the words "God is love and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him" become flesh.

Rather than stifling eros, Christ and the way of love he indicates ennobles it and restores it to its true grandeur.

The relevance of Pope Benedict's theological and philosophical reflections on the importance of appropriately understanding eros in order to grasp accurately who God is, who we are, and how we're called to live is . seen readily in two articles in this issue.

On the front page, there is a story on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework. If this framework becomes mandatory, it would mean that children in public schools would be forced to learn about the meaning of sex and love within a context in which eros is entirely distorted. The curriculum mandates that kids from pre-k to fIfth grade learn not just the alphabet, but among other things, how to "defIne sexual orientation using the correct terminology (such as heterosexual, gay and lesbian)." In order to receive a high school diploma, older students \Vould need to pass this core program, which is heavily endorsed and promoted by Planned Parenthood. The harmful consequences would be enormous, because if young people learn a "destructive form" of eros, they will have far greater difficulty in coming to discover who God is and who they are.

Likewise, on page six, Dale O'Leary begins a series examining the scientific evidence about homosexual activity, which is based on a false form of eros and therefore necessarily brings with it harmful consequences. This evidence is something to which the mainstream media gives scant attention.

Catholics in our Commonwealth, called by Christ to respond in a truly loving way to those with same-sex attractions, will discover in this series the scientific truths that will enable them to become sincerely compassionate.

theanch~

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DiOCESE OF FAll RIVER

Published weekly except for two weeks in July and the week after Christmas 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, E-mail: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mall, postpaid $14.00 peryear. send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use E-mail address Member: Catholic Press Association, 'lew England Pre" As>ociation. Catholic News Service

PUBLISHER路 Bishop George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J.Landry fathetrQgerlandry@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jol/vet davejol/vet@anchomews.org NEWS EDITOR Deacon ~lames N. Dunbar jimdunbar@anchomews.org REPORTER Michael Gordon mikegordon@anchomews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchomews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: theanchor@anchomews.org POSTMASTERS send address chanses to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA (Y27'12.

TIlE ANCHOR (USPS-545-C20) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.

Friday, February 10, 2006

the living word CARDINAL WILLIAM KEELER, ARCHBISHOP OF BALTIMORE, PAUSES TO BLESS PILGRIMS AT THE BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION IN WASHINGTON,

D.C. THE

CARDINAL WAS PRINCIPAL CELEBRANT FOR THE MASS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE.

(ANCHOR/GORDON PHOTO)

"BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN THE WOMB I KNEW YOU. BEFORE YOU WERE BORN I DEDICATED YOU, A PROPHET TO THE NATIONS" (JEREMIAH 1:5).

A full day's wa.ge generosity, God does not punish Very often these days, a those who turn back to him late priest's pastoral work calls to in the day. And God's generosity mind the parable of the partto the part-time workers does time laborers from St. not affect the justice of his Matthew's Gospel. Our Lord original offer to those who explains that the kingdom of worked all day. heaven is like the landowner Often, however, we hear who pays a full day's wage to people say that their decision those who agree to work all day and those who are hired to work for only part of the day (Mt 20:1-16).

When the full-day laborers complain, protesting the apparent injustice, the landowner

By Father David asks them, "Am I not A. Pignato allowed to do what I please with what belongs to me?,Of'do not to be faithful to God is due you begrudge my generosity?" to the way others have chosen to The lesson of this parable respond to him. Frequently, stiU:strikes many today as people are quite frank about unfair, just as the full-day explaining that they do not laborers were left questioning practice the faith because of the whether or not they should have behavior of others. Sometimes, agreed to work all day. The people explain that they keep parable is not, as some might their distance from God in the think, a defense of God's sacraments, because of the arbitrariness, but rather a lesson scandalous behavior of a priest. of God's generosity and a Some, for example, say that they message to us regarding the stay away from Our Lord's offer motives for our religious lives. of mercy in confession, because The full-day laborers are they see others receive the those who follow God from the sacrament with less than real beginning, and for their whole sincerity of repentance. And lives. Each of the part-time sometimes the reason offered is laborers, who are hired at the even less compelling, such as a third, sixth, ninth and 11 th dislike for the way others talk hours, represent those who路 about their faith .. convert to God at successive Now, certainly, hypocrisy and stages later in life. The reward, the bad example of others can however, is the same for all of discourage people from being them. It is the payment of a' full day's wage, the gift of salvation, faithful. But the question always remains: What on earth does the the gift of eternal life. In his

Putting Into the Deep

behavior of another person ultimately have to do with whether or not each of us decides to be faithful to Christ?

The decision to follow Christ should be made based on nothing other than faith in Christ and love for him. The decision of the full-day laborers to accept the landowner's offer had nothing to do with the amount of time that others would work for him. Likewise, our desire to serve Christ and to be faithful to him should never depend on whether others will choose to be as faithful. We serve and follow Christ because it is the right thing to do, whether or not anyone else chooses to do it.

If ever we are tempted to stay away from God in the sacraments due to the behavior of others, we must remember that it is only we who will suffer.

Never should we punish God by being unfaithful to him, simply because we don't like how others have treated him, or us.

God is'offering each of us the full day's wage of eternal life.

Some will work longer than others to receive it, but whoever follows Christ faithfully will receive even more than he deserves. And the sooner we get to work by being faithful, the more beautiful our lives will be here on earth. If we love Christ, we should allow nothing to keep us way from him, where he is, as he promised to be - in the Church and in the sacraments.

the ancholS>

Friday, February 10, 2006

My View From the Stands

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Take a look through a comprehensive baseball encyclopedia and you'll find great aliases such as the Slendid Splinter, Cyclone, the Iron Horse, Joltin' Joe, Satchel, Tex, Boo, Hammerin' Hank, the Say Hey Kid, and of course the Babe and the Sultan of Swat.

Man, you don't get any better than that.

Great nicknames weren't just a baseball phenomenon. There have been some classics on the gridiron, the hardwood and frozen ponds across North America: Earl the Pearl, Magic, the Chief, Wilt the Stilt, Dr. J, the Iceman, Pistol Pete, Cornbread, Pie, Cheesie, the Rocket, the Pocket Rocket, Dit, Bronco, Sweetness, Broadway Joe, Deacon, and the Grey Ghost.

Equal in the Spirit of God ing to the standards of the They were brilliant. They them in their lives as adults. world. In our world this person were heartfelt. And they They realize that although they may be ignored, because they reflected true wisdom about may have talents to develop, are different and apparently not goals to reach, academic their faith in Jesus Christ and equal. Many may wonder: Why programs to complete and jobs their profound experiences of does God allow this to happen? and careers to acquire, they can Catholic school. Yes, the Why does God allow children winning essays of the students do so with a different vision, which w'ere printed in because of their faith.

The Anchor two weeks r------------r-~~~-,. There is a realization ago were truly wonderthat what is important is ful, and I'm sure were how well they will be enjoyed by many who able to weave God's read them. As I replan into their own, and flected upon them, they that to truly win in life were a reminder that means to help bring when it comes to about the Kingdom of

By Greta MacKoul matters of the Spirit God. and of faith, age is not It is true that chilan issue; all can be equal. In the dren, teen-agers and adults can to be born this way?

Spirit of God we are all equal. assist in God's spiritual work It is because God does not It is true that children do here on earth; to allow all to be measure things the way we do. need to grow physically, equal as they are equal in God's With God there is no real emotionally and intellectually sight. To love as God loves us. concept of time; in him there is over time in order to be mature To be a voice for the poor, the no becoming or acquisition. adults, and sometimes we may outcasts and those who cannot But in the temporal world, in speak for themselves, so as to want to throw spirituality right into the mix. We may think that the world of time and of earthly share in the heart of God and possessions and achievements, spirituality is also something to his vision for all people. be achieved, something that can this equalization is not there.

Greta MacKoul is thtJ,nc be taught or measured quantita- There are many goals to reach, author and illustrator of . tively, taking years to acquire. , many things to be achieved.

"The Ocean Flowers, A And there will always be those But I believe that in matters of Parable of Love" and numerwho are more beautiful or the Spirit and of faith, such is ous articles. Greta and her not the case, because with God, handsome or physically gifted. husband George" with their There will always be those who children Maxwell and the gift of faith and spirituality have more intellect and natural can come at any time. Even the Marysa, are members of intelligence. There, will always youngest children can know Christ the King Parish in be those who have more status, much about God, about faith Mashpee. who are higher up on the ladder and about love. Even the of success and who have more youngest children can have worldly possessions. wisdom equal to that of adults.

God does not care about Yes, in God's eyes all are these things, unless of course, equal; all are invited to the we use them to build the same equality of Spirit. All are Kingdom of God. invited to the same union with God. God's embrace, when Yes, the faith of children is accepted, is immediate. God's awakened and strengthened in visitation to the heart of a wonderful Catholic schools, in person is on the other side of an Religious Education programs, authentic "Yes, Lord I believe." , in Catholic homes and in Sometimes we may see Church communities. What someone who is born with a many of the young people expressed in their Catholic. physical disease or some birth Schools Week essays is that defect that does not allow that person to live a full life accord-. their faith and values will guide

Our Journey of Faith

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Pawtucket Pete? notably Simon.

It's difficult enough for Frankly, there just aren't adults to remember the name of enough good nicknames in the weather wizard woodchuck sports today. The Sox have Big that each February 2 predicts Papi and Coco, but those pale whether winter will wax or in comparison to the good old wane. So I completely underdays. stood when my ll-year-old asked that morning, "did Pawtucket Pete see his shadow?"

Granted, I couldn't help but tease her, but I completely understood her not remembering it's Punxsutawney Phil

By Dave Jolivet from Gobbler's Knob.

All this led me to ponder nicknames, Growing up with the Sox it especially since the Red Sox have acquired a player with one was common for names like Yaz, the Boomer, the Rooster, of the best I've heard in some Pudge, Stinger, the Hawk and time - Coco Crisp.

El Tiante to come up in converI'm not quite sure when sation. nicknames originated, but in Eventually the choices the New Testament it seems dwindled to the Rocket, Butch, Christ enjoyed renaming a and Flash. few of the Twelve, most

5

.

And let's not forget the pugilists: Sugar Ray, the Greatest, the Brown Bomber, Marvelous Marvin, Boom Boom, Raging Bull, and: my II favorite Butterbean.

We desperately need ~o recapture the romance of sports from days gone by.

Today money dictates everything. There are few personalities left, and it seems the predominate remaining , I personas are those of braggart I an d taunter.

I' Here's a challenge for all Sox fans on the cusp of Spring Training 2006. Let's find out what our 25-man roster will be to begin the season, and: coine up with colorful, offbeat, and fun nicknames for the W;hole lot of them.

Anyone in?

I:

Please support

ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL PIPE ORGAN FUND All contributions will be gratefUlly received.

Rev. Paul Bernier, 327 Second St., Fall River, MA 02721

PRACTICE THE DEVOTION OF THE FIRST SATURDAYS, AS REQUEStED BY OUR LADY OF FATIMA Ii

On December 10, 1925, Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucia (seer of Fatima) and spoke these words: "Announce in my name that I promise tb assist at the hour ofdeath with the graces necessary for the salvation oftheir souls, all those who on the first Saturday of five consecutive months shall: 1. Go to confession; 2. Receive Holy Communion; 3. Recite the Rosary (5 decades); and 4. Keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the路15 ,,!,ysteries ofthe Rosary, with the intention of mdking reparation to me."

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

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

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We've got a small head start with Coco and Big Papi. By the way, Manny being Manny doesn't count as a nickname.

For those who would like to help resurrect the romance in sports, let's begin with our beloved Sox. E-mail your recommendations. It would be a hoot to share your contributions as the season progresses.

Remember now, this is a Catholic newspaper.

I can't wait to get started, but I think I'll be hard pressed to top Pawtucket Pete.

Dave Jolivet is a former sports editor/writer and regularly shares his views of the unique world of sports.

Comments (and nickname suggestions) are welcome at davejolivet@anchornews.org.

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Friday, February 10, 2006

Christ makes us whole A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, "If you wish you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I will do it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was cleansed (Mk 1:40-42). This Sunday's Gospel recalls for us the healing power of Christ, made manifest in the life of that man, stricken with leprosy, who called to him. By one simple touch, the man was made clean, healed.

There are, of course, several examples in sacred Scripture in which Jesus miraculously helped those in need of healing. It is a perennial source of hope for us to know that Our Lord wills us to be made whole. We are assured that when we suffer we too, can tum to Jesus and ask for his healing touch.

The plight of those who lived with leprosy, at the time in which Jesus walked the earth, was truly dreadful.

loved in life would have been Lepers were people shunned like for a leper at that time. by society. They were outcasts.

Perhaps that alienation would They were made to live in their have been worse than the own little colonies on the disease itself. With this fuller margins of society. As we hear understanding of what being a in the first reading of this leper in the first century weekend's Mass: "the one who entailed, we can better apprecibears the sore of leprosy shall keep his garments clean and his head bare, and shall muffle Homily of the Week his beard; he shall cry S路IXth Sun d ay out, 'Unclean, unclean!' As long as the of Ordinary Time sore is on him he shall declare himself

By Father unclean, since he is in William M. Rodrigues fact unclean. He shall dwell apart, making his ate what being "made clean" abode outside the camp" meant to that man who Jesus (Leviticus 13:45-46). So . met in this Sunday's Gospel. It leprosy, we must remember, was not simply that he no represented much more than longer had to live with a just physical suffering. It was a painful physical ailment, but physical disease that forced its rather, it meant that he could victims to be ostracized. It go home. It meant that he represented a banishment from could re-enter the mainstream family, friends, work and of society. It meant that he did home. One could just imagine not have to remain ostracized, the emotional pain that living on the margins. separation and detachment Today, the word "leper" is from all that was known and

used to describe, in general, all the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, those who are ostracized or not seeking my own benefit but living on the margins of that of the many, that they may society. There are many examples of modem-day lepers be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (I Corinthians in our own place and time: the homeless person who is unable 10:30-11:1).

This week is an opportunity to care for himself; the immifor us to tum to the Lord in grant struggling to succeed in a foreign prayer and ask for the grace to increasingly see the world land; the person disaround us through the eyes of criminated against simply for being who he . faith. With God's grace we can make a difference for the or she is. These are just better. With God's grace we a few examples of those can be instruments of his among us who may be healing power. As we have viewed as "second-class citizens," or modem-day received from him, may we lepers. As Christians, we always be inspired to share the are called to look beyond these gift of his love with others, according to his will. After all, societal judgments and the Lord Jesus who in one recognize the intrinsic human simple gesture gave new life to dignity and worth of every the leper, assures us that what person. We are called to reach we do for the least of our out, as Jesus did, and be brothers and sisters, we do for people of compassion and him. healing. As St. Paul said in the Father Rodrigues is second reading of this Sunday's Mass: "Whatever you director of Hispanic Ministry on Cape Cod and resides at do, do everything for the glory Holy Trinity Parish, West . of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or Harwich.

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Following Jesus' approach

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Editor's note: This is the first of a series ofarticles which will bring together the Church's teachings on this issue with the evidence in hopes ofpresenting truth andpromoting'compassion toward persons who experience same-sex attraction.

Today the Church's teachings, specifically its teachings on sexuality, are under attack.

When the Church talks about poverty or peace, the world applauds, but when it talks about sex, its wisdom is rejected. Scripture and the constant .tradition of the Church are clear.

God designed sexuality to cement the union between man and woman in marriage and bring forth children: therefore all sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong.

Human beings have always been tempted into sexual sin.

Societies may have tolerated various forms of sexual immorality, but have for the most part paid lip services to the idea that it was wrong and tried to protect children from sexual exploitation. Today there is a powerful movement dedicated to normalizing sexual activity outside marriage, to redefining marriage, and to the sexualization children.

The promoters of this change don't of course come out and say "we are for adultery, fornication, homosexual sex, and the sexualization of children." Rather they use parents' fears of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases to push their agenda into :the schools and use the enter-

tainment industry to change driven by an alcohol-impaired culture. The battle over abortion driver traveling at high speed is crucial part of this conflict. crashing; therefore we pass laws against drunk driving.

Those promoting sexual activity It is true that drunkenness is a for teen-agers know that this sin and that some religions even will lead to pregnancies, and so for them abortion becomes a necessity.

When people of faith point to devastating effects of promoting sexual activity outside marriage and sex for children, they are told that they are intolerant,

By Dale O'Leary don't respect diversity, and are trying to impose ban all consumption of alcoholic their religion on others. beverages, but were someone to But God's plan for sexuality argue !hat the ban on drunk' is not a collection of arbitrary driv.~J,lg,jwas an imposition of rules designed to take the fun out of life. Rather it is a clear religion or a violation of Church warning about the risks involved and State, people would laugh at in various choices. God made him. the world and he understands However, when people of faith point out the cause and how it works. Sexual activity effect relationship between sex outside a permanent, faithful marriage may be tempting, but it outside marriage and various disastrous outcomes, they are creates fatherless families, accused of being "judgmental." destroys marriages, increases One of the reasons why those poverty, spreads diseases and promoting the sexualization of breaks hearts.

We don't have to take God's culture have been so successful is that we Christians have not word for it; we can look at the followed Jesus' approach to social science research and see sexual sin. While defending the the effects caused by sexual sin. norm of chastity before marriage Those promoting the sexualizaand fidelity in marriage, we tion of society demand that have not always shown compassociety alleviate the harmful effects, but insist that society sion toward those who have fallen into sexual sin. We need ignore the obvious cause. to enlarge our understanding of In areas that don't involve sexuality, the modem world has the forces which drive people no trouble recognizing cause into destructive sexual behavior, and effect relationships. For the power of sexual addiction, and the part that childhood example, we understand the sexual abuse plays in adult effect of alcohol on the human sexual choices. For example, it brain and the effect of a car

is well known that the majority of those who engage in prostitution are victims of childhood sexual abuse.

There was a time when alcoholics were simply written off as sinners; now 1-I through AA they are able to receive real help. In the same way we need to reach out to those who struggle with sexual temptations. The Church has received from Christ the power to say "Your sins are forgiven," but many people need help with "Go and sin no more" part.

We also need to make people aware of the massive amount of solid scientific research which shows that those who follow God's plan for sexuality will avoid unnecessary suffering. God loves us and wants to protect us. Like a good parent he warns us that actions which may seem pleasurable can have disastrous consequences.

Not that our moral decisions should be guided predominantly by current science, because in some cases it takes years or even decades for the negative effects of sexual choices to become eviqent. We don't want to be like a fool who jumps off the Empire State building and as he passes the 40th floor shouts, .

"So far so gooq."

The scientific evidence helps us understand the wisdom of God's word. It is also useful in the public policy debate, since those who will not listen to God, may be convinced by the evidence.

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Truth and Compassion

The existence of evidence supporting God's plan for sexuality may come as surprise to many since this research has not received the publicity it deserves. This is because those pushing the sexual agenda have engaged in a massive campaign to suppress the evidence.

Nowhere is the truer than in the debate over how society should deal with the issue of same-sex attraction.

Dale O'Leary is an internationally recognized lecturer is author of The Gender Agenda:. Redejining Equality. She regularly lectures in Massachusetts in support ofthe Church's teachings on the gift ofhuman sexuality.

Daily Readings Feb 11

Feb 12

Feb 13

Feb 14 Feb 15 Feb 16 Feb 17

1 Kgs 12:2632;13:33-34; Ps . 106:6-7,19-22; Mk 8:1-10 Lv 13:1-2,44-46; Ps 32:1-2,5,11; 1 Cor 10:31-11:1; Mk 1:40-45 Jas 1:1-11 ; Ps 119:67-68,7172,75-76; Mk 8:11-13 Jas 1:12-18; Ps 94:12-15,18-19; Mk 8:14-21 Jas 1:19-27; Ps 15:2-5; Mk 8:2226 Jas 2:1-9; Ps 34:2-7; Mk 8:2733 Jas 2:14-24,26; Ps 112:1-6; Mk 8:34-9:1

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Friday,February 1,0, 2006""

The answer priest Sunday 29 January 2006 Homeport - Chinese New Year 4704 Here I stand in a CCD classroom. It was Father Joe Powers who organized the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD). It's now known as Religious Education. I prefer to call it religious formation. The task is more than education. The task at hand is the faith formation of our children.

In the Village, we have a married couple coordinating Religious Formation - Brian and Marlene Correia. They sometimes bring along their twoyear-old, Ericka. Ericka and I share a common interest in the Chicken Dance. Their daughter Alyssa is in the eighth-grade. We are doubly blessed in that Marlene holds a doctorate in education.

One Sunday, two boys come running up to me in the parking lot.

All out of breath, they hand me an invitation: "Our seventh-grade class cordially invites you to visit

us and help unravel some of the . mysteries of faith." As a hook, these savvy emissaries add: "By the way, Father, we will have CHOCOLATE CAKE." I take the bait.

My visit is a big deal. A welcome mat and crayoned paper

"carpet" have been handmade for me to walk upon. A big blue chair has been imported. I see the chocolate cake.

As these young teens grapple with the faith, their questions are sincere.

Q. Why did God create us?

A. God made us to show his goodness and to share with us his everlasting happiness in heaven. (That was easy.)

Q. How was the world created?

A. (So, they've been following current events.) God created the world. We have had different theories about how God did this.

Right now, our theory is called evolution. Sometimes something is so true, no theory can fully explain it. We tell a sacred story to help us understand. In the first book of the Bible, there are two sacred stories about how God l created the world.

Q. WIll the last judgment be scary?

A. When you make the right choices in life, there will be no scary surprises at the last judgment.

Q. Have you always wanted to be a priest?

A. (They're warming up). Once I wanted to be a farmer. Once I wanted to be an architect. I finally fi~ out, with the help of others, that God wanted me to be a priest.

Q.-Do you have a secondjob?

A.Notime.

Q. How do you have time to do the things you do?

Love for a lifetime underutilized gems in Catholic It seems to me that romantic teaching. Among couples that love is, by nature, spontaneous. practice NFP, however, there is not Thinking back to when my only an incredibly low divorce husband and I were dating, I rate, but also an incredibly high remember my stomach leaping rate of satisfaction within marinto my throat every time the phone rang. What should I say if it riage. I did a little research and is he? I remember when his hand's found that only two percent of couples that practice NFP get brushing mine caused my heart to skip a beat.

Following the normal cycle of getting married, starting careers, and having children, the impulsive nature of our love has matured. What was once a high-spirited ~y Heidi Bratton maple key, swirling down from the sky, has been planted and grown into a divorced as compared to the steadfast tree. This steady, 'love is national divorce rate of 50 a choice' kind oflove has given us percent. I also found that 89 the strength to weather temporary percent of women who practiced activity whirlwinds, and longerNFP seem to share a deeper term seasons of stress as a couple. intimacy with their spouse than I am grateful that we now share women who did not practice NFP both kinds of love, because I (see www.familyplanning.net/ believe God designed marriage to index-home.htrnl). be both passionate and practical.

The long and short ofNFP is The trick is to continue romancing that it is much more than a natural even after the wedding bells have method of birth control. Practiced stopped pealing, and routine has faithfully, it is a marriage tool that set in. facilitates better communication, My husband and I had the more self-giving, and, yes, possibly privilege of being taught the more children. Whether a couple importance of this in pre-marital desires to have or to postpone counseling by several Catholic having a child, they use the same couples that had been married for awareness of the wife's ovulation 20+ years. These couples talked cycle to decide when to share the openly about the importance of a marital embrace. Of course healthy sexual relationship, so, with St. Valentines Day around the periodic abstinence in marriage may not sound like it helps comer, I'd like to share some key spontaneity, but a monthly, agreed bits of their wisdom.

The first key they taught us was upon recess from sex throws spouses back into the dating years, to leam and practice the art of Natural Family Planning (NFP). As helps them not to take sex for granted, arid reminds them to a way to naturally regulate cultivate non-sexual ways of childbearing, NFP is one of the expressing their love. Clearly these most misunderstood and

are not the theological reasons to practice NFP, but our pre-marital counselors were not theologians.

They were just calling it as they saw and lived it: obedience to church teachings about NFP had the positive side effects of heaping multiple blessings on their marriages.

The second and third keys from our pre-marital counselors were to pray together daily and to continue dating. They taught us that by praying together, we would not .only feel the relief of lifting our burdens to God, but also the companionship of sharing our burdens with each other. We have made it a priority to continue dating weekly, and it has kept our romance alive.

Over time our daily prayer time together has also become a mini date. Listening to each other's prayers not only helps us keep in touch with daily happenings, but with each other's souls.

With regard to love that was promised for a lifetime, it takes intentionality to preserve spontaneity, especially amid the complexity of family life. By practicing Natural Family Planning, praying together daily, and scheduling dates, romance gives way to routine, which carves out occasions for romance, which give way to routine... so that, like tree rings in a giant maple, the spontaneous and the steady natures of marriage go round and round allowing love to grow stronger and stronger, year after year.

Heidi is an author, photographer, andfuU-time mother. She and her husband raise theirfive children andgrow theirfaith in Falmouth.

A. I don't watch TV. Q. How do you know what's happening? .

Aâ&#x20AC;˘. I read several newspapers and I monitor the Internet.

Q. How much do you get paid?

A. (Ah, these kids! "Financial Transparency" comes home to roost.) Priests work more than "40 hours." A priest is on duty 24/5 and often on-call otherwise.

Parishes provide a gross hourly entry-level pay of $4.02; the takehome pay is $2.89 after taxes. With 50 years of service, the gross hourly pay has increased to $4.80; the take-home pay is $3.40 after taxes.

All this means, kids, is that it's not a whole lot.

A parish also provides meals and a place to live; some health and dental insurance; and funds are put aside for a priest's pension.

We don't need a lot. And the benefits are out of this world.

A diocesan priest provides his own automobile, gasoline, auto insurance, clothes, life insurance, books, travel, sabbatical studies, hobbies, incidentals, and more expensive medical and dental costs.

Q. Do you live alone in the Big House?

A. Yes. I have a sitting room, a work office, and my own bedroom. The other rooms are for meeting with people.

Q. How long did you go to school and what degrees do you

"The help received from the Propagation of the Faith is literally our 'lifeline,''' says one seminary rector in India.

Although the seminarians if ,grow most of their own food ~ t . ~, ' â&#x20AC;˘.\ and their parents are able to ) .. ' .... offer some financial assistance, f'"'i . these students would not be able to prepare to serve their people as priests without help offered through the Propagation of the Faith. "Daily the seminarians pray for the great sacrifices made for them," says another rector in that country. "We continue to ask God to bless you and the important contribution you make toward the Church in India."

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Home

Grown Faith

have?

A. (This is going to be different.) I went to school for 20 years.

After 12 years of regular school, I was sent to a college that specialized in Latin. This college used the British educational system. There are 13 grades in a British school. I spent four years in college, studying Latin, but (lacking a high school Grade 13) I couldn't receive a bachelor's degree. On top of that, the Church switched from Latin to English. I never got to use all that Latin.

I went to graduate school for four years more, but, lacking a bachelor's degree, I didn't receive a master's degree. Most priests have at least a master's degree. I have only a high school diploma. I still study all the time, though. It's fun.

The dismissal bell rings. The kids seemed comfortable asking me their honest questions face-toface. I'm pleased with the "Answer Priest" session. Children nef'd to feel at ease. approaching their priest with whatever's on their busy minds. These kids are exploring questions of faith. The answers are important. So is their quest is fqr truth. I call it religious formation.

Father Goldrick is pastor ofSt Bernard Parish, ASsonet Comments are welcome at StBernardAssonet@aoLcom.

Previous columns are at www.StBernardAssonetOrg.

*..

With God's grace and your help, young men who hear Christ's call to follow Him as priests may respond "Yes!" well into the future. Through a Gift Annuity with the Propagation of the Faith, you can help the future missionary work of the Church and benefit as well. A Gift Annuity with the Propagation of the Faith can provide you with income for your lifetime at a favorable rate of return. Please write for information; your inquiry will be kept in confidence.

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SOO''Y~:.~:.:f~~O~~ THEFAITH .www.worldmissions-cotllolicc1mrch.org

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Rev. Msgr. /olm E. Kozar, National Director 366 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10001

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Friday, February 10, 2006

Widow ofcivil rights pione,er remembered for work for justice

By CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE ATLANTA - Coretta Scott King, who died January 31 at age 78, will be remembered for her fidelity to civil rights and nonviolent justice that had been sought by her husband, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. She died during the night at a holistic health center in Baja California, Mexico.

"The entire nation stands in awe ofthe wondrous legacy ofthis great woman of faith," said Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta. "We in the Archdiocese of Atlanta are especially grieved at her death.

"She was a noble resident ofour city and a proud bearer of the heritage of freedom and justice that her husband epitomized and that she fulfilled with incredible determination. Dr. King could not have found a worthier spouse and colleague in the struggle for social change and civil rights," Archbishop Gregory added.

Father John Adamski, the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Atlanta's first African-American parish located adjacent to the King Center in Atlanta, called King's death the "transition of an era."

King's impact on Catholics is equivalent to her impact on the world, the priest added. "The strength and determination of her commitment to continue as best she could her husband:s work is an example of virtue for all of us," he said.

Speaking to the Catholic Press Association in Atlanta in 1969, one year after her husband was assassinated, King said the concept of churches, offering financial repara-

tion to African-Americans was ''too little to demand of churches." ''Their help," she said, "can be more effective if the enormous influence of the 80 million members were mobilized behind demands upon Congress."

King added, ''If programs which would end poverty and abolish discrimination were enacted, all society would benefit. And all society would pay the cost rather than one part of it."

Thirty years later, addressing the Catholic Health Association in Orlando, Fla., King had a simple remedy to cure many societal ills: ''Turn off the television."

Although positive role models exist, she told the CHA, they are not "raised up" because the media is too busy elevating "newsmakers," she said.

She had suffered a serious stroke and a heart attack in 2005.

King received several honors and awards, including one from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, and the Freedom Medal for her contribution to fulfilling President Franklin D. Roosevelt's vision of "a world founded on four essential freedoms": freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

Born April 27, 1927, in Marion, Ala., she earned a bachelor's degree in music and education from Antioch College in Ohio in 1951.

She also had two degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music. She and Rev. King were married June 18, 1953. She is survived by the couple's four children, Yolanda Denise, Martin Luther ill, Dexter Scott and Bemice Albertine.

BANNERS HANG from light posts in Atlanta across from the King Center. Many people flocked to the center to remember Coretta Scott King, who died at age 78 January 31. (CNS photolMichael Alexander, Georgia Bulletin)

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BACKED BY images of saints, Pope John Paull! waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for All Saints' Day Nov. 1, 2000. The cure of a French nun suffering from Parkinson's disease could possibly be the miracle needed for the beatification of the late pontiff, who also suffered from Parkinson's disease. (CNS photoNincenzo Pinto, Reuters)

Postulator says French nun's cure could be miracle for JPII cause

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

case history and confirmed that there likely was no natural or medical explanation for her healing.

While Pope Benedict XVI set aside the normal five-year waiting period before Pope John Paul's cause could be opened, Msgr. Oder said there is still much work to do. People who knew the pope are being interviewed, a thorough biography is being prepared and all his writings are being collected for study by a panel

pleted soon.

While a Vatican panel of hisROME - The Polish priest torians and theologians will recharged with shepherding Pope view the "positio, " another panel John Paul II's sainthood cause of Vatican theologians and a panel said he believes the healing of a of Vatican-appointed physicians French nun suffering from will review the nun's medical Parkinson's disease could be the records. miracle needed for the pope's beIn Poland, the head of a Polish atification. tribunal gathering evidence for the Msgr. Slawomir Oder, postulacause criticized media speculation tor of the cause, announced on about witnesses after press reports Italian radio in late January that that the country's fonner commuhe had chosen the case of the nist strongman, Gen. Wojciech French nun from among the Jaruzelski, had been asked many apparently miracuto give evidence. lous healings people from "It's natural and right that The postulator told eNS he had people should b~ interested around the world had refelt it was important not to talk about in our work," said Bishop ported to him.

He told Catholic. News the case until several doctors had Tadeusz Pieronek, head of Service that the case in- reviewed the nun's case history and the Krakow Theological volved a French religious as well as the triconfirmed that there likely was no Academy who had been diagnosed bunal. "But the witnesses with Parkinson's when she natural or medical explanation for are covered by secrecy rules was "very young; it was a her healing.

- those called should be precocious onset." discreet about the questions Pope John Paul had sufthey're asked and how they fered from Parkinson's, a progres-' of theologians. answered." sive disease that attacks the nerThe bishop said witnesses were Before Pope Benedict can provous system. claim that Pope John Paul hero- summoned according to their Msgr. Oder had refused to ically lived a life of Christian vir- knowledge of "important motalk about the French nun's case tue, Msgr. Oder must compile all ments" in Pope John Paul's life. in late November when Pope the information collected in a ''The tribunal can't be expected John Paul's former personal sec- "positio, " a document of multiple to consider how a particular sumretary, Archbishop Stanislaw volumes explaining who the can- mons will be publicly interpreted, Dziwisz of Krakow, Poland, told didate was and how he or she nor does it see such invitations in reporters her healing would be lived and acted. terms of rewards and punishsubmitted to Vatican investigaA separate report is prepared ments," he said. tors.

Jaruzelski, who was educated on the miracle, Msgr. Oder said.

Newspapers had reported at ''The procedure for the verifi- at a Marian order school and was the time that the French nun was cation of the miracle is a process raised a Catholic, became notorisuffering from cancer, but Msgr. that can parallel the verification ous for supervising the arrest and Oder said it was Parkinson's. of heroic virtues," he said, so the internment of around 10,000 opThe postulator told CNS he miracle can be submitted even ponents of communist rule after had felt it was important not to before the "positio" is. crushing the Solidarity labor talk about the case until several Nevertheless, he said, he does movement with martial law in doctors had reviewed the nun's not expect the process to be com- December 1981.

9

Friday, February 10, 2006-

Young women live out reality of contemplative life as Poor Clares

By JEAN M. SCHILDZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE ST. LOUIS - It's hard to imagine young women of today choosing a life of enclosure, silence and prayer.

But three happy, healthy young women -all in their 20s-are now in fonnation at the Monastery ofSt. Clare in St. Louis. Each heard God's call and chose to be a Poor Clare.

Sister Mary Therese of the Sacred Heart Lavery, 26, entered the Poor Clares in 2001. The fonner Texas A&M University engineering student learned about the monastic community on a "nun run," in which young women discerning a vocation visit several religious orders in a set period of time.

Sister Mary Christiana of Our Eucharistic King Schwent, 20, entered the monastery in September 2004. She learned of the Poor Clares through her youth group; her mother and a young priest also encouraged her vocation.

Sister Mary Joseph of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Rieger, 27, arrived in October 2004. The University of Missouri-Columbia political science graduate, who once worked as an intern on George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign, hadn't even known there were Poor Clares in the St.

Louis Archdiocese until a close friend led her to them.

The three differ in personalities, looks and backgrounds. But what is impossible to miss is the one thing they share in abundance: a joyfulness of spirit.

These young women have given up everything that the secular world claims is needed to be happy, and yet they couldn't be happier. Are they somehow different from other people?

Not at all, said Poor Clare Mother Mary Leo Hoffmann, abbe~s of the 12-member cloistered community.

"We are ordinary women, but we've just been called to an extraordinary vocation," she told the St. Louis Review, the archdiocesan newspaper.

The Poor Clares carry on traditions handed down to them more than eight centuries ago by St. Clare of Assisi. They take vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and enclosure, promising to remain within the confines of the monastery.

The nuns meet and speak with visitors from behind a grille, or partition, which physically separates them from the outside world. Even when their families come to see them, which is permitted four times a year, they re-

main in enclosure.

Their main ministry is prayer.

They constantly pray for others and gladly accept prayer requests.

Their prayer lives include frequent adoration of the Eucharist, praying the rosary and private meditation. .

The nuns follow a simple rule of silence. They are allowed to speak when it is necessary; otherwise, they keep silent throughout the day. During one recreational period daily, and on special occasions, they are free to talk.

Immersed in prayer, their days also are filled with caring for each other, chores, sewing - including making their own habits - music, cooking, studying the Catholic faith and helping to support themselves through the making of altar bread.

They don't eat meat. They don't usethe Internet. They don't watch television, listen to the radio or read secular newspapers. One member scans the daily news to keep her fellow nuns infonned of major events.

People who learn about their cloistered lives often ask how they can give up everything. Those who ask that question are looking at the situation from a worldly point of view, Mother Mary Leo said, and consequently would not be able to

POOR CLARE nuns, from left, Sister Mary Joseph of the Hearts of Jesus add Mary Rieger, Mother Mary Leo Hoffmann, abbess of the community, Sister Mary Christiana of Our Eucharistic King Schwent, and Sister Mary Therese of the Sacred Heart Lavery, enjoy a lighthearted moment at the St. Clare Monastery in St. Louis in early January. The four nuns in the cloistered community are all in their 20s. (CNS photo/ .

Mark Kempf, St. Louis RevieW) live in this way. . But these young women, she said, "have been touched by God's grace. They enjoy those things just as much as anyone else, but they see something deeper and of greater value than what the world is offering to them."

Sister Mary Joseph wanted to clear up a misconception that they never speak, pointing out they are allowed to talk at certain times.

Otherwise, "I wouldn't make it," she said.

Sister Mary Therese pointed out that though they are cloistered they are not locked inside the building.

"We can go outside" in the monastery yard, she said.

The enclosure's purpose, they said, has more to do with keeping the world out than keeping in its occupants. It helps them to concentrate on what God intended and be totally devoted to him. ''It's so much harder tb stay in a cloister than to leave," Sister Mary Joseph said "You can always leave."

Operation Planting Seeds July 2005 - May 2006 Campaign to Foster Vocations to the Priesthood

Visit our Website at www.FaIIRiverVocations.org Diocesan Vocation Office 530 Gardner's Neck Road Swansea, MA 02777 508-673-2808

d

Enjoying (he afJnual Christmas Dinner with the bishop in 2005, from left: Diocesan Seminarians Daniel Nunes, Riley WiUiams, David Deston, Gregory Bettencourt, and Jason BriIhante.

* Sunday, March 5, 2006 -

Day ofInformation for College Students about the Priesthood, ~ from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Road, North Dartmouth

* Sunday, April 30, 2006 -

Information Day about the Priesthoodfor High School Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at St. Francis ofAssisi Church Hall, 530 Gardner's Neck Road, Swansea

* Final Celebration of the Campaign -

Holy Hour for Vocations, on Sunday, May 7, 2006, 3:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral, 327 Second Street, Fall River

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Friday, February 10, 2006

,A Distant Thunder' A COMMENTARY BY FATHER

FRANK

PAVONE, NATIONAL DIRECTOR, PRIESTS FOR LIFE

-..,

There are Pro-Life people who work in Hollywood, and two of them - Jonathan and Deborah Flora - have created a new tool to help the American people wrestle with abortion. "A Distant Thunder" is a powerful new 35minute film that combines courtroom drama and supernatural warfare to help reveal the reality of what abortion does to a baby, and to the baby's mother. The film helps the viewer wrestle with the issues and their implications, but is not presented in explicitly ProLife or religious themes. What it does, instead, is to help the viewer touch some of the aspects of the abortion issue that the other sides tries so desperately to cover up. [n touching these painful and often scary facets of the issue, the viewer has the opportunity to let the light of conscience and compassion inform his or her conclusions.

The court case is about a partial-birth abortion that went wrong. The abortionist is on trial, not for having done a partial-birth abortion, but for what he did when the procedure "Went awry. One of the key witnesses is the nurse who witnessed the abortion. She testifies to how the procedure takes place, and to what wen~ wrong this particular time.

Her testimony brings to mind a number of real events related to abortion in the past 10 years, and also reveals the striking contradiction between the care we give to the born and the brutality abortion allows to the pre-born. "What difference does three inches make?" is the question in the film and in reality. How can it be that when the baby's head is in the birth canal we can kill her, but if it is pulled three inches farther, we can't? The cognitive dissonance created by this absurd state of abortion policy is accented by reference to the Unborn Victims ofViolence Act, which recognizes the unborn child as a victim when, in the commission of a federal crime, a pregnant woman is injured or killed. How can the same child, if killed in a federal crime, be a victim, but if killed by an abortionist, be no more significant than medical waste? Common sense tells us that it's the same child.

The nurse's eyewitness testimony reveals to the jury the incredible details of a partial-birth abortion: the abortionist delivers the baby in a breach position, all but the head, and then creates an opening in the back of the neck with scissors. Then, inserting a catheter, he suctions out the contents of the skull. This description of the procedure reflects that contained in the medical paper issued

by Dr. Martin Haskell in 1992 at a Risk Management Seminar of the National Abortion Federation.

In the film, the reaction ofthe jury to these details is predictable.

They are disgusted and horrified, as are the American people in general when they hear about this pro-

cedure. The reaction of the defense attorney is also predictable.

He objects that it is unnecessary to relate these graphic details in the courtroom. This brings to mind a scene from "Judgment at Nuremburg" when, after a film is shown in the courtroom of the indisputable horror of the Holocaust, the defense argues that it is inappropriate to show such graphic imagery in the court.

Similar objections were made in the halls of the U.S. Congress when the diagrams of partial-birth abortion were shown during the debates about whether to ban it.

But in fact, we cannot honestly wrestle with abortion until we face what it is and what it does.

"A Distant Thunder" assists us to do precisely that.

Just as significant as what occurs in the courtroom is what occurs in the prosecutor's office, and in her personal life outside the office. She is given numerous and perplexing indications that this is no ordinary case, and that it involves her in a far deeper way than she can realize. She wrestles with nightmares and intrusions of the supernatural that give the viewer a clue to the surprise ending of the story. The struggles of this prosecutor (played by Deborah Flora) represent the struggles of each one of us regarding abortion. It is an issue that speaks to us about our own life and death, our own family and relationships, our successes and failures, our God and our demons, our responsibilities and our limitations. When the prosecutor is given the case and she expresses doubt about whether she should take it, her mentor says, "This case has your name written all over it." Indeed, abortion has the name of each of us written allover it, because the destiny of the unborn in inextricably bound up with the destiny of the born. The extent to which we no longer recognize the humanity of the child in the womb is the extent to which we have lost sight of our own.

The film also reveals the psychological storms that take place in the mind of someone who has an abortion. In the Pro-Life movement in our day, the presence of women who publicly declare, "I Regret My Abortion" and of the men who declare, "I Regret Lost Fatherhood," has become a powerful dimension of the public debate. The testimonies ofthese parents of aborted children bring abortion out of the realm of slogans, abstractions, and rationalizations, and leave the rest of us convinced that it is about as benign as an earthquake or a tsunami - or perhaps a distant thunder that has come too close for comfort.

Without a doubt, this film will become one of the most powerful tools to make people think and wrestle with the abortion issue, and will challenge them to do something about it.

For more information, visit " www.ADistantThunder.com.

ACTRESS SYDNEY Penny portrays Sister Marie Bernard in the film ''The Passion of Bernadette." (eNS photo/Ignatius Press)

'Bernadette' star promotes film's sequel in U.S. debut WASHINGTON (CNS)Soap opera fans may know Sydney Penny from rer current role as Julia on the ABC soap opera "All My Children," her two-year stint on the CBS soap ''The Bold and the Beautiful" that ended last year, or a couple of other daytime dramas.

But a small- and, in the hopes of promoters, growing - group of film fans think of her most fondly from a pair of movies that never got a theatrical release in the United States.

Penny, now 34, played St. Bernadette in the French-language film "Bernadette" released in 1988 - half a lifetime ago for her. That film was finally issued stateside last year, but only on a direct-to-video basis.

She also starred as the saint a year later in a sequel, known in English as "The Passion of Bernadette." Like "Bernadette," it

is not being released in theaters, but people who specifically grew up Ignatius Press, which is distribut- with Bernadette or had her story in ing both films, has lined up church their consciousness," she said. "It's screenings beginning in February a story about a woman a much for ''The Passion of Bernadette." wider audience can appreciate. It February 11 marks the anniver- really is an interesting story to me. sary of the Blessed Mother's first It gives the final portrait - a fuller apparition to Bernadette in portrait - of her life."

Massabielle, France in 1858.

The original "Bernadette" foAnd Penny, when on breaks cused on the saint's early life. "I from the "All My Children" taping think that ~hen they had the fIrSt schedule, is helping promote the film (finished) that Jean Delannoy movie. (the director and co-writer) had "The Passion of Bernadette" wanted to make a sequel," said is "a buried treasure because it Penny, who is a Protestant. "He was was only in French," Penny told much more passionate about her life Catholic News Service in a tele- in the convent, but the fIrSt film had phone interview from New York to be made to pave the way for the City. "The distributors (of films) second film. He was so extremely were shaky: It's a slice of life of passionate about telling the story is an iconic religious figure. They why the film got made in the fIrSt wondered whether there would " place." be an appeal to a larger audiCopies of the movie are availence." able on DVD or videofrom Ignatius To Penny, the answer is yes. Press by calling: (800) 651-1531, "(It's) not just (for) Catholics or or online"at: www.ignatius.com.

Providence College cancels 'Vagina Monologues' play PROVIDENCE, R.I. (CNS) Providence College will not be presenting the play 'The Vagina Monologues" this year, according to an announcement made by Dominican Father Brian Shanley, president of the college.

The priest said the play, performed on several hundred college campuses around the country in midFebruary, is not appropriate for a Catholic college campus "because its depiction of female sexuality is so deeply at odds with the true meaning and morality" of Church teaching.

For the past six years, colleges across the country, including Catholic schools, have been staging limited productions of "The Vagina Monologues" on or around February 14 with students reading the script as part of a fund-raising campaign called V-Day, which raises money for organizations working to stop violence against women.

The play is based on more than 200 interviews by playwright Eve

Ensler and features female characters as vaginas tl)at speak out in a series ofmonologues. Production of the play on Catholic college campuses often raises questions and occasionally sparks protests.

FatherShanley, who took his post at the college last summer, wrote a letter to the college community that was released recently. He said he has often been asked his opinion about the production of the play on campus. ''To prepare a response, I have carefully read and studied the play. I have met with some of the student leaders of Women's Will, the main sponsoring group, to listen to their perspective and share some of my concerns. I have pondered their position, discussed the matter with many people, educated myselfabout what other Catholic schools have done and prayed to God for guidance," he wrote.

The priest disputed some of the play's claims, written on the back cover of his paperback edition, that

the play is a "celebration of female sexuality in all its complexity and mystery" and has been "hailed as a bible for a new generation of women."

Father Shanley said the play "simplifies and demystifies" female sexuality by neglecting its ''unitive and procreative dimensions." ''To explore fully the dignity of woman requires not only a consideration of female sexuality, but also of the capacity of women for intellectual, artistic, moral and spiritual activity; none of these dimensions are featured in 'The Vagina Monologues,'" he added.

"Artistic freedom on a Catholic campus cannot mean the complete license to perform or display any work of art regardless of its intellectual or moral content," he said.

Likewise, he said the true meaning of academic freedom "is not the license to hold any view that one chooses" but is "always governed by truth."

111

Friday, February 10, 2006

Ad campaign seeks to dispel "myths about abortion "

PRO-LIFE .ADVOCATES stand in front of the U.S. Supreme Court after the confirmation of Justice Samuel Alito Jr., in Washington. Alito's confirmation makes him the fifth Catholic on the nine-member court. (CNS photo/Joshua Roberts, Reuters)

What will happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned? States will decide

By NANCY FRAZIER O'BRIEN CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON - As Judge Samuel Alito Jr. was confirmed to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court, the voices of those working to keep abortion legal in the United States were getting more worried.

"Roe hangs by a thread on the Supreme Court," said NARAL ProChoice America in its 2006 report on 'The Status ofWomen's Reproductive Rights in the United States," referring to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision lifting most state restrictions on abortion.

"And while existing restrictions are numerous and significant, ifthe court were to overturn Roe, the outlook for women in much of the United States is bleak," the report added.

Alito "poses a direct threat to women's health and safety," said Karen Pearl, interim president ofthe Planned Parenthood Federation of America, in a statement January 24, the day the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Alito's nomination.

"His long record of hostility toward women's rights and privacy' rights make him a wholly unsuitable replacement" for O'Connor, Pearl added.

Some ofthe rhetoric on the mat. ter has seemed to imply that as soon as Alito takes his place on the court, abortion clinics across the country will shut down and hundreds of women will be forced to wander the back alleys ofthe nation looking for illegal abortions.

That's not true, of course.

What will happen - if the Supreme Court accepts a case challenging Roe and then votes to overtum the 33-year-old decision - is that each state will decide if and how to regulate abortion within its own jurisdiction. In short, no one really knows the outcome.

True, at least four states - South Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee and Indiana - have enacted or are considering laws that would prohibit abortion in the state ifRoe is overturned.

Another four - Alaska, Florida, on abortion since the 1990s.

Minnesota and Montana - have Although a slight majority (52 provisions in their state constitu- percent) still favored abortion in tions that would keep abortion Ie" some circumstances, only 42 pergal even if abortion is banned at the cent approved of government fifederal level. Four others - Ala- nancing for abortions and 43 per. bama, Delaware, Massachusetts cent opposed abortion in most and Wisconsin - have pre-Roe cases. laws against abortion on the books "What's striking to me is that the that have not been overturned by numbers were radically different 10 the courts. years ago," said John Zogby, presiBut any ofthat could be changed dent and CEO of the polling comby legislative action or a court rul- pany, in a statement. ''Ten years ago, ing before or after a Roe-related maybejust seven or eight years ago, case comes before the Supreme pro-choice forces were in the ascenCourt. dancy and posted pro-choice numOn the federal level, the Right bers in the area of 65 percent to 68 to Life Act - which would guar- percent." antee equal protection under the In a report released Jan. 23 by 14th Amendment "for the right to the Heritage Foundation, a Washlife of each born and preborn hu- ington think tank, Michael 1. New, man person" - has 70 co-sponsors an assistant professor of political in the House but has been pending science at the University of Alawithout action since its introduction bama, said state laws requiring innearly a year ago. formed consent or parental involveNARAL Pro-Choice America ment before abortions did much to and the Center for Reproductive bring the number ofabortions down Rights, a legal advocacy center in in the 1990s, after two decades of New York working to keep abor- rising numbers. tion legal, both say that if Roe were "Overall~ this research finds that overturned about 20 states would value shifts have little impact on the be likely to ban abortion, another incidence of abortion," New wrote.

20 would keep it legal and the other "Conversely, enacted legislation re10 states and the District of Colum- sults in statistically significant reducbia could go either way. tions in abortion rates and ratios."

But even those organizations Deirdre McQuade, director of don't agree on which states would planning and information for the go which way.

U.S. bishops' Secretariat for ProIt's important to remember, too, Life Activities, believes state reguthat in the years before Roe, the U.S. lation ofabortions and court actions was not abortion-free. Colorado . that narrow the scope of Roe v. was the first state, in 1967, to per- Wade both are important in buildmit abortions in some circum- ing "a culture of life." stances.

But perhaps more important, By the end of 1972, according she said, are policies at all levels to the National Right to Life Com- of society that show a commitment mittee, 13 states had laws that al- "to support women in making good lowed abortions in cases of rape, choices" - everything from fair incest or fetal deformity or when the wages to adequate day care to mother's mental or physical health "life-affirming legislation" on was endangered. Another 31 states adoption. permitted abortion to save a Only then, McQuade said, will woman's life. the U.S. become a society in which In survey results released to co- abortion "is not seen as the soluincide with the 33rd anniversary of tion to a problem" and a place Roe, Zogby International found a where abortion is considered "undramatic shift in public sentiment thinkable and unnecessary."

WASHINGTON (CNS) - A spokeswoman fOF: an advertising campaign called the "Second Look Project~,' said the aim is to dispel myths about Roe v.

Wade, the SuprerQe Court decision legalizing aqortion.

The advertisements also challenge the pU~lic to reconsider the scope o~ abortion laws in the United States by asking, "Have we gone too far?"

"Roe v. Reality" ads began appearing in January on Metro subway trains and buses in the Washington area;' and 60-second radio spots have" been airing in the Washington ::area. Print ads appeared in latl1 January, near the anniversary 9fthe Roe decision, in major media outlets including The Wq.shington Post and The New York Times.

"The Second Look Projt:ct seeks to inform Americans of the actual legal: status of abortion in the United States," said Deirdre McQuade, director of planning and information for the bishops' Secretariat for ProLife Activities, who oversees the Second LObk Project.

"By citing pro-choice legal scholars, Supreme Court jus~ tices and:, a feminist organization's:' survey, the new ads challenge Americans to take a second :ilook at common assumptions al;>out abortion that are, in reality" false," she said.

McQuade, in a recent statement, said she was confident that the advettisements would appeal to the general public,

particularly since "public support of abortion on demand is declining," she said.

"One Metro ad highlights this point," she said, citing the myth that "the vast majority of American women believe abortion should be legal for any reason," alongside the fact: "only 30 percent do." . Other "Second Look Project" ads have been running for several weeks in the San Francisco Bay area transit system, sponsored by Friends of the Oakland (Calif.) diocese Respect Life Ministry. Many of the ads in San Francisco have been vandalized and destroyed, an action which McQuade called "vigilante censorship."

"The destruction of these factual, understated ads is quite revealing," she said. "Some supporters of choice would deny the public the right to make informed choices on this important issue of public policy."

The advertisements direct viewers to the Website www.secondlook.org for more information. The project first launched an ad campaign in the Washington area in January of 2005.

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Pope mourns death of Italian priest gunned down in Thrkish church By

CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI condemned all fonns of violence as he mourned the death of an Italian missionary priest gunned down while praying in a church in Turkey.

The pope noted the "generosity and apostolic zeal" with which Father Andrea Santoro carried out his work as a missionary priest "in favor of the Gospel and in service of those marginalized and in need." The pope made his remarks in a telegram addressed to Bishop Luigi Padovese, apostolic vicar of Anatolia, the Asian part of modem Turkey.

In the telegram released February 6 to journalists, the pope assured Father Santoro's small Catholic community of his spiritual closeness to them "at this moment of sorrow" as he "finnly deplored" every fonn of violence.

The 60-year-old Italian priest was part of the Vatican's "Fidei Donum" program, which sends . priests to help in the missions for a fixed period of time. In the afternoon of February 5, the Italian priest was shot twice while he was praying in his parish, St. Mary Church, in the Black Sea coastal city of Trebizond.

Father Santoro, from the Diocese of Rome, had been serving in Turkey for about 10 years, according to the Italian missionary news service AsiaNews.

In another telegram, the pope said he was "deeply affected" by the "serious loss of such an esteemed and enthusiastic priest."

"While I hope that his spilt blood may become a seed of hope for the building of authentic fraternity among people, I raise fervent prayers for the brave witness to the Gospel of love," the pope wrote in a telegram addressed to

ITALIAN FATHER Andrea Santoro was shot dead in St. Mary Church February 5. (CNS photO/Reuters)

the papal vicar of Rome, Cardinal Camillo Ruini.

The reasons for the priest's murder were still unclear because those responsible for the shooting were still at large.

Bishop Padovese told AsiaNews February 6 that the furor over the publication of newspaper cartoons ridiculing the prophet Mohammed had reached Turkey, where the population is predominantly Muslim.

He said it "did not seem accidental" that the murder occurred while tensions in Turkey between Muslims and non-Muslims were "hot."

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Turkish bishops' conference, Father George Marovitch, told the Vatican missionary news agency Fides February 6 that the murder could have been an isolated incident caused by a mentally unbalanced person. He said investigators also were looking into the possibility that organized crime might have been behind the priest's death.

Father Santoro was active in helping young women escape from traffickers who had forced them into prostitution.

Meanwhile, the apostolic nuncio to Turkey, Archbishop Antonio Lucibello, told AsiaNews February 5 that Father Santoro's death made him "a new martyr for this millennium."

Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, head of the Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes, said prudence and further infonnation about the priest's murder would be needed before declaring the missionary a martyr.

In an interview' with La Repubblica, the cardinal said despite the dangers and risks involved the Church's missionaries "will continue to proclaim Christ's word with feelings of peace, love and forgiveness."

Pope prays that Olympics show friendship amid world's tensions

By CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI prayed that the upcoming Winter Olympics would show that friendship and mutual understanding were possible even at a time when humanity is experiencing so much conflict and tension.

He also asked that the games, which will be held in Turin, Italy, February 10-26, be a spiritual catalyst for people of faith and give them "an opportune occasion to reflect" on how the lessons derived from sport can carry over to "spiritual exercise."

The pope's written message was addressed to Cardinal Severino Poletto of Turin to mark the upcoming opening of the XX Olympic Winter Games. Though the message was dated Nov. 29, 2005, the Vatican released the text recently.

The pope told the cardinal he was praying that the Olympic events "would be for all an eloquent sign of friendship and contribute to strengthening mutual understanding between people."

The pope asked how it was possible "to not recognize how much this is needed in our age that witnesses humanity marked by not a little tension and yearning to build a future of authentic peace."

Christ is "the light of the world that illuminates humanity in all of it~ dimensions, including sport," he said.

Even sport needs "to be illuminated by God through Christ so that the values it expresses may be purified and elevated both on a personal and collective level," the pope said.

MARVIN BIEGHLER speaks during his clemency hearing at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City January 20. While on death row Bieghler joined the Catholic Church and received the sacraments at Indiana State Prison January 26, hours before he was executed January 27. (CNS photo/courtesy Anthony Lambre, Michigan City News-Dispatch)

Hours before execution, inmate on death row joins Catholic Church INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) -Indiana death-row inmate Marvin Bieghler joined the Catholic Church and received the sacraments at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Ind., January 26 about eight hours before he was executed for the 1981 murders of Tommy and Kimberly Miller at their mobile home near Russiaville.

Bieghler was put to death early on January 27 about 90 minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a stay of execution by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that allowed him to appeal his capital sentence by challengthg the legality of lethal injection. . Also January 26, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels denied Bieghler's clemency petition requesting life in prison without parole.

Bieghler admitted that he was a drug dealer, but denied killing the Millers in rural Howard County.

Holy Cross Father Thomas McNally of South Bend, who has been a volunteer Catholic chaplain at the state penitentiary for three years, said Bieghler asked to be received into the Catholic Church.

Father McNally said he spent time with the 58-year-old Bieghler, a Marine Corps veteran who fought in the Vietnam War, during the afternoon and early evening January 26 while the stay of execution was still in effect.

"I was not at the execution," Father McNally said. "When I left the prison, the stay was still

in 路effect."

Bieghler was a Christian and had been baptized, Father McNally told The Criterion, the official publication of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

"I received him into the Catholic Church at 4:30 p.m. at his request. He received the sacrament of penance at that time. I heard his confession in a more private mode. Later in the evening, he received the sacrament of the Eucharist and sacrament of the sick - the last rites - in the holding cell while his attorney and two guards were present."

Father McNally said that during the weeks before Bieghler's execution he had urged the inmate to consider joining the Catholic Church.

"As. the time grew closer, he became interested in it and asked to be received into the Church," the priest said. "He was preparing to go home to God. He was certainly ready to go to God, and seemed to be very calm about whether the execution was going to happen or not. ."As far as he was concerned, if the stay of execution remained in place, that was fine with him.

But if it didn't, if it was overruled - as it was - that was fine with him, too," he said.

Bieghler's written statement released by the prison said, in part, "I believe in God, country, (the Marine) Corps. Death before dishonor. To my son, grandkids and stepkids, you will always have a piece of my heart."

theanc~

Friday, February 10, 2006

Nest Drive. For more information call Peggy Patenaude at 508-548-9149.

EUCHAR~nCADORAnON

MANSFIELD - A holy hour for vocations will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. at St. Mary's Parish, 330 Pratt Street. Father Dariusz Kalinowski will preside and share a reflection on vocations. It will include Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Refreshments will follow. For more information call 508-3392981.

HEALING MASSES ATTLEBORO - A healing service in Portuguese will be held February 19 at 2 p.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. For more information call 508-222-541 O.

Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street. For more information call 508-679~6732.

FREETOWN - Mother of the Sorrowful Heart Rosary Crafters are making and sending handl11ade cord rosaries to missions throughout the world and are available for demonstrations. Individuals or groups interested in learning how to make rosaries should call Carol Spoor at 508-644-2645.

MASHPEE - The Third Or-' der of Carmelites will meet February 1~ for a day of prayer and study following the 10 a.m.

Mass. For more information call Dottie Cawley at 508-4772798.

MISCELLANEOUS ATTLEBORO - La Salette Father Richard Landry will present "Coming Home to the Earth: An Eco-Mission of Reconciliation," Saturday and Sunday at noon and 4:30 p.m. and February 18-19 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. For more information call 508-222-5410.

POCASSET The Discalced Carmelite Secular Order seeks new members.

They meet each month at St. John the Evangelist Church, 841 Shore Road. For more information call Rachel Cote at 508-540-9767.

RETREATS

ATTLEBORO Ned Dougherty will present a picture slide presentation on his meeting ''The Lady of Light," February 18 at 7 p.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. For more information call 508-222-5410.

EAST FREETOWN - A contemplative Lenten retreat, "The Theme of the Desert as Part of the Christian Journey," will be given by Father Robert J. Powell, OSB. February 25 at Cathedral Camp. For more information call 508695-6161.

FALL RIVER - Mass will be celebrated Sunday at 5 p.m. for recently deceased patients of Charlton Memorial Hospital, at

MASHPEE - "Time Out: A Couples Retreat," will be held Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Brain Center, 33 Sea

In Your Prayers Please pray for the following. priests during the coming weeks Feb. 14 1932, Rev. Charles E. Clerk, Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River 1980, Rev. Msgr. Francis McKeon, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton

Feb. IS 1910, Rev. Joseph G. Lavalle, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River 1957, Rev. James C. Conlon, Pastor, St. Mary, Norton

Feb. 16 1983, Rev. Alphonse J. LaChapelle, Assistant, Holy Ghost, Attleboro 2001, Rev. Joaquim Fernandes da Silva, CM

Feb. 19 1895, Rev. Andrew 1. Brady, Pastor, Sf. Joseph, Fall River 1953, Rev. Leopold Jeurissen, SS.CC., Pastor, Sacred Hearts, Fairhaven .

Feb. 20 1922, Rev. James H. Fogarty, Pastor, St. Louis, Fall River 1986, Rev. Raymond M. Giguere, O.P., Assistant, St. Anne, Fall River

NORTH DARTMOUTH The next Retrouvaille weekend will be March 31 to April 2 and offers couples a chance to heal and renew troubled marriages. Rediscover yourself and your spouse and a loving relationship in marriage.

For more information call 1800-470-2230 orthe Diocesan Office of Family Ministry at 508-999-6420.

SOCIAL EVENTS FALL RIVER - District One of the Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will meet February 27 at 6:30 p.m. for Mass at Holy Trinity Church.

A business meeting will follow.

Affiliates are asked to bring their refreshment donations to the parish center prior to Mass.

For more information call 508673-6145.

SUPPORT GROUPS ATTLEBORO - Catholic Social Services is sponsoring a support group for' women struggling with relationship issues that have resulted in feelings of abandonment, loneliness and anxiety. It meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 677 p.m..at 10 Maple Street. For more information call 508-2264780.

NORTH DARTMOUTH The Diocesan Divorced-Separated Support Group will meet February 13 from 7-9 p.m. at the Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Road. For more information call Bob Menard at 508673-2997. Refreshments will be served.

Mission priest to tape TV Mass NORTH DARTMOUTH Father Craig A. Pregana, a priest of the Fall River diocese serving at the diocesan mission in Guaimaca, Honduras, will be in North Dartmouth for the taping of a TV Mass tomorrow at 9 a.m.

Home for a brief visit, Father Pregana, would like to invite friends and benefactors to join him for the taping at the Bishop Stang High School chapel.

The Mass will be shown on WLNE Channel 6 at 11 a.m. on February 26.

Father Pregana 'Was the diocesan director of the Vocations Office before he accepted an assignment to serve as parochial vicar at the parishes of St. Rose of Lima in Guaimaca, and St. Francis of Assisi in Orica. Both parishes are part of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa.

Pastor of both parishes is Father Paul Canuel, also a priest of the Diocese of Fall River.

Hearing

Continued from page one

and Senate bill S102, which comprise "An Act to Provide Health Education in ::Schools."

The proposal would make the 1999 approved Massachusetts Health Curriculum Framework in the area of comprehensive health necessary for students to advance in grades and even graduate.

Edward E Saunders Jr., executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the four Catholic bishops in Massachusetts, said "parents have a legitimate cdncern that, as a reI suIt of the proposed new man. date, the d~licate subject of ~exuality will assume a 'onesize fits all' dimension that fails to take the individual needs of their children into account, and that inculcates values and ideological perspectives foreign and even hostile to their own."

Sturgis said those attending the hearing - most of whom were wearing badges showing they 'were against the bill "were crammed into a very tiny room like sarClines, on a day the committee knew in advance was a very controyersial bill. Setting only an hour',- 30 minutes for testimony of the opponents they knew were coming - was unjust."

The principal concern the opponents wanted to put on record are that traditional moral values they want for their children may be replaced by a "politically correct" ones in the mandatory curriculum.

Although Massachusetts parents currently have the right to opt their children out of those classes basedl on their religious beliefs and tb determine when they believe reproduction, sexuality and family should be covered for their children, the proposed legislation usurps parents' role, opponents of the measure contend.

"But it doesn't work well, and although school districts are supposed to specifically detail to parents what ;the subject matter of the Framework courses are in advance, theX have failed to do so," Martins Jdded.

Saunders ~dded, "The enactment of S.102/H.1641 would raise substaniial legal questions about the continued applicability of the current parental opt-out guarantee." , He made it clear that while the MCC does not oppose health

education in general, the broader subject of "health education" inc1udes.many controversial lesson objectives that may conflict with parental rights and the best interests of children."

Because it raises more questions than it answers, throwing a cloud over parental rights and the best interests of children, the MCC "urges the Committee to give this legislation an adverse report," said Saunders.

Martins said that many had gone to the trouble of leaving their homes early and allotting time to meet with area legislators in their offices beforehand. But when it came time for the 1 p.m. hearing, the room was too small for the hundreds - including those from other parts of Massachusetts, "and not just Catholics alone - who came to show opposition to the bill," she added.

Although the room could sit approximately 250, "many were standing against the walls all around. There was another 200 people of the overflow crowd in the hallways and were unable to hear what was going on in the hearing room," she said. 'No one made any provisions for them."

While the committee offered a half hour to the opponents and a half hour to the proponents of the bill, testifying legislators took up most of that time, said Martins.

"Unfortunately, when that hour was up, the committee moved on to other bills before it, despite the fact that at least 80 percent of the people jammed into the room were there to speak on the Curriculum Framework, she stated.

"Although the committee said those of us who came for that would be heard later, after 6 p.m., the committee was still not rp--ly at that time to hear us," she .eported.

It would mean many - including hundreds who had to stand all afternoon waiting would stay for another four hours," she reported.

Although the majority had left by then, some remained and the committee continued until 9:30 p.m.

Fortunately, everyone had been told in advance that they should write down their testimony, their opinions, to be presented to the committee, Martins added.

In honor of Sister Lucia dos Santos,

I:

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seer of Fatima, who died February 13,2005, age 97.

Lucia pray for us.

]1

II ;1

St. Anne's Prayer

"Good St. Anne, Mother of Mary, and Grandrriother of Jesus, Intercede for me and my petitions. Amen."

.-

L.

114

theanc~

Friday, February 10, 2006

Keep a light heart

By CHARLIE MARTIN -

MARY MIDURA'S fifth-grade Religious Education class at St. Bernard's Parish, Assonet, raked leaves last fall to help others and were able to raise more than $250. The money was donated to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. From left front: Kelsey Martin, Meghan Cabeceiras, Alex Nery, Brandon Nogueira, Nathaniel Keich, Michael Parisee and Kelly McCarthy. Back from left: Kathy McCarthy, Philip Joncas, Cheryl Nogueira, Eileen Keich and Midura.

SECOND-GRADERS from St. Anthony of Padua School, New Bedford, enjoy themselves during a recent field trip. Cristina Raposo is their teacher.

FIRST-GRADERS from St. Pius X School in Acushnet, are all ready to ride the Polar Express during a recent class dress-up day. They are taught by Luanne Stevenson and her assistant Ann Bearse.

-; I

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

about what attitudes help us CRAZY through life's ups and downs.

In a church, by the face Central to the song's message is its He talks about the people encouragement that "we're never going under gonna survive unless we get a little Only child knows ... crazy."

A man decides after 70 years It is true that maintaining a That what he goes there for is to certain lightheartedness helps us to unlock the door While those around him criticize navigate life's surprises and keep finding the best in life. We also and sleep need the attitude of positive And through afractal on a expectation that, as the song says, breaking wall "miracles will happen as we I see you, my friend, and touch speak." In fact, miracles are all your face again around you, but it takes the Miracles will happen as we trip willingness to notice them and see Refrain: how they bless your life.

But we're never gonna For example, think about your survive unless body. If you are fortunate to have We get a little- crazy good health, then the ongoing No we're never gonna metabolic processes of life function survive, unless without a thought from you. You We are a little crazy don't have to tell your lungs to be Yellow people walking through sure and take in oxygen or inform my head One of them's got a gun to shoot your liver to get rid of those nasty toxins. The body knows. With the the other one right perspective, you can see this And yet together they were - as a miracle. friends at school Or consider your mind. How do Oh, get it, get it, get, get it no no!

If all were there when we first took the pill Then maybe, then maybe, then maybe, then maybe...

Miracles will happen as we speak (Repeat refrain.)

In a sky full ofpeople, only some want tojly Isn't that crazy?

Crazy In a heaven ofpeople there's you learn all that you learn? And only some want to jly where do your innate aptitudes and Ain't that crazy? abilities come from? What about Oh babe, oh darling your passions and interests? These In a world full ofpeople there's are the very qualities that make you only some want to jly ''you.'' It's a miracle!

Ain 't that crazy?

This is not to say that everything Crazy, crazy, crazy is wonderful in your personal life (Repeat refrain.) or anyone else's, or in the world in And then you see things general. Suffering, uncertainty and The size of which you've never disappointment afflict us all at known before some time. Should you allow that They'll break it reality to color your attitude toward Someday ... life? That's up to you. You get a Them things choice. Without denying the pain in The size of which you've never the world, you can recognize that known before we live in a world of miracles.

Someday Perhaps to perceive the presence Someday of miracles requires that others see Written by Seal you as a little "crazy." Throughout Sung by Alanis Morissette from history, followers of Jesus often "The Collection, 1995-2005" have walked through life a little out Copyright (c) 2005 by Maverick Alanis Morissette's new disc 'The Collection, 1995-2005," reviews her successful music career. Yet it is her remake of the Seal standard "Crazy" that has drawn the most attention to this album.

"Crazy" was the song that in 1990 brought worldwide attention to Seal's remarkable talent.

Morissette slightly raises the tempo of the original. Her version is getting considerable radio airplay, adding another hit to her repertoire.

The song invites us to think

of step with society's beliefs and attitudes. Indeed, to take on the vision of Jesus means to observe miracles all around you, even if others think that you've temporarily checked out of reality.

Keep lightheartedness in your life. Let the "light" in your heart be the vision of Jesus. With that illumination you can clearly see the path to miracles.

Your comments are always welcome. Please write to me at: chmarlin@swindialULnet or at 7125W 200S, Rockport, IN 47635.

15

Friday, February 10? 2006

Teachers, youth ministers sound warnings about popular Website

By PEGGY WEBER CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

WIl11 ANCHOR REPoRTS

AFGHAN BOYS warm themselves during rainfall in Kabul, Afghanistan, January 31. At a recent conference in London, Afghanistan received promises of economic and military support from the international community in return for governmental pledges to fight corruption and the illegal opium trade. (eNS photo/Ahmad Masood, Reuters)

WESTFIELD, Mass. - Most teen-agers are more than familiar with the networking Website MySpace.com and similar sites where teens post online journals, photos and thoughts and interests to share with others.

As youth ministers and teachers become more aware of the growing Web phenomenon, many of them do not like what they see.

Anchor youth columnist Jean Revil, director of Campus Ministry at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, wrote about MySpace.com in her January 6 piece. "As a teacher in a Catholic school, I have heard a great deal about MySpace.com, and my observation is that a lot of what I've heard and seen is really disturbing," she wrote. "From screen names to pictures to feedback, there is a lot ofvulgar, crude, basically unchristian content."

Pat Sears, a youth minister in the Springfield diocese, said that at the end of last summer he became acqua.inted with MySpace.com. An E-mail he received from a teen included a link to the site, which has a reported 32 million members and another 130,000 are being added each day. ''The more I looked, the heavier my heart became. There was so much negativity. There were so many pictures that were inappropriate. They were very revealing,"

he told The Catholic Observer, Springfield's diocesan newspaper.

Sears, a father of four young sons, wrote to the teens he knows through his youth ministry work and asked them to examine their own personal WeQ pages "through the eyes offaith."

"If there are things written (or pictures posted) that you would be . embarrassed to look at with me (or a parent, grandparent, etc.) beside you, it's probably a good idea to make some changes," he wrote.

He stressed that the Webite was not "inherently evil." But he is concerned that those creating pages use good moraljudgment and be aware of their personal safety.

Danger is a real aspect of MySpace.com. InSeptember 2004 a 16-year-old Port Washington, N.Y., girl was abducted and molested after trading messages on the site with a 37-year-old man who tracked her do~n because she posted herjob address on her page.

Many schools are coping with the problem of cyberbullying where someone posts something negative or harmful or harasses another person.

MySpace.com offers safety tips and privacy notices and urges bloggers not to po~t any personally identifiable information. That rule is rarely followed, though, as students often talk about their school, team orjob. One dollege freshman listed her dorm and room. Many teens state where they are going on a particular night and invite others .

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to meet them there.

Marty Gaudrault, ajunior at St. Mary High School in Westfield, said a lot of his friends have a site on MySpace.com.

He said knows the site includes inappropriate pages but thinks that is not the norm. "Some kids are doing it just to talk with friends or put pictures up," he said. "but not everyone is doing bad things there."

The Internet appeal for teens, according to Gaudrault, is that' 'you can say things without being embarrassed on the computer that you wouldn't say on the phone because you wouldn't be able to hear the person's initial reaction or see their reaction."

Debra Foley, computer teacher at Mount Carmel School in Springfield, suggests that parents keep their computer in a public part of their house so they can walk by and keep an eye on the sites their children are visiting. ''I think that kids are in their own home and feel safe," she said. "so they don't realize what's on the computer is out there for everyone to see."

Revil challenged teens in the Fall River diocese in her column stating, "If MySpace is the world of your generation, then it's time for all Christians on the site to do the work that God calls us to do," she said. "If you can transform a Website, then maybe there's more hope than you think for this changing world."

The sound of silence Have you recently, or ever, reflected in a quiet moment to listen to the sound of silence?

There, in that quiet, you will hear the voice of God. The other day as I prepared for one of our youth catechist meetings at church, I had some soft, gentle music playing in the background as our members gathered. The soft music is there in the hopes of setting a quiet, calm and spiritual tone to the beginning of our meeting, which always begins with prayer. Suddenly, the soft relaxing sound turned to a chaotic joy. Some of the young members decided they wanted something more colorful, something more in tune with today's "louder than life" music. What they did was give me a sudden shake and a fast-beating heart. I smiled and asked them kindly to put the soft music back on.

Then I began to wonder. Do the youth of today know the worth of reflecting in quiet moments?

With televisions, computers, X-

BOXes, Play-stations,iPODs and become so accustomed to noise The only way Samuel can respond, an array of other "sound makers," that it recognizes it as a form of "Here, I am, Lord; speak, your no wonder it's difficult to get relaxation. Or is it? Why were you servant is listening," is if Eli turns yourself in a moment of quietness. awakened when the TV was the TV off. Then, and only then, in Although these serve to entertain, turned off? Your mind and body that silence, can Samuel hear the often they are distractions. I have sensed it as something strimge and voice of God. The sound of silence yet to understand why was a strange noise - no some families gather for ...--"""1.- pun intended - and dinner and their source of Samuel awoke. conversation is the Have you been called television set; a wonderful

by God to serve him in opportunity for quality some capacity, but missed family time is missed, for the "call" because your quiet and contemplative mind and,body were time is gone. distracted? Have you

By Osvaldo Pacheco Some young people ....::..1J........ thought about joining your have told me they can parish's youth group or watch Tv, listen to music and do you awoke. The sound of silence. some other ministry, but are homework all at the same time (as It's not a new concept, but one that constantly distracted by other well as throw in an occasional call many of us have forgotten. Silence things that appear to be more on the cell phone). Baffling. Talk has become a lost form of reflecappealing? God may be calling about multi-tasking. I think it's tion and prayer for peace of mind you through these distractions, but great. But there is a time and place and body. you cannot hear him. Stop for a for everything. When you relax, do Let's imagine, just for a moment. Tum off those distracyou have to have some sound moment, the story of young tions. Close your eyes. Let go for present? For example, you fall Samuel (l Samuel 3) in today's a moment and let God. Allow asleep with the TV on; then your high-tech world. Samuel is asleep yourselves to hear God's voice mom or dad turns it off and, and the Lord calls him. But through the silence of a falling suddenly, you awaken. Interesting, Samuel doesn't hear the Lord's snowflake, a gentle breeze, the isn't it. Our minds and bodies have voice because he left the TV on. warmth of the sun, the light of the

Be Not Afraid

..------------t.

moon, the quiet of your room.

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. So true.

We reflect on the image in the picture and try to discover its meaning. We begin to understand the picture when our mind becomes one with the artist's. We study its colors, the brush strokes and the intimacy that made it a work of art. Not a word is spoken. Yet a part of life (the artist's and yours) is revealed before your eyes and you come to know its worth.

Your life, like that picture, is a beautiful revelation. But are you too distracted to see what it's telling you? Only in listening to the sound of silence can you truly hear the voice of God and what is being revealed to you. God is calling you. Hear him and respond, "Here I am, Lord."

God bless.

Ozzie Pacheco is Faith Formation director at Santo Christo Parish in Fall River, where he has been involved in youth ministry for 22 years.

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Friday, February 10, 2006

Students

Continued from page one

Students listened intently as the bishop spoke about how Catholic schools and their students must be filled with love and compassion for other people.

"Help other people and love your neighbor," he advised. "Love God above all things."

Third-grade teacher Kelly Medeiros from St. Anne's School said, ''Today is a wonderful event.

In bringing the Catholic schools together we are joining together as a community." .

One of her students, Cassie Lemay was "excited" to be participating "with all her friends."

Patrick O'Connor of St. Stanislaus School was watching the steady stream of young people go by and said participating with

so many other Catholic students was "cool."

George Milot, superintendent of schools, commented, "It's a nice event to showcase our Catholic schools. It's great for our students to get together for an event with the bishop and for us to renew our commitment to Catholic schools."

At the end of the service, representatives from each school presented the bishop with a school hat in honor of his birthday and sang ".Happy Birthday" to him.

Participating schools were: St. Anne's, Holy Name, Espirito Santo, Holy Trinity, St. Stanislaus, St. Michael's, Notre Dame, SS. Peter and Paul, and Bishop Copnolly High School.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEKBishop Connolly students, at left, display signs used to help organize more than 1,000 Catholic students attending a prayer service at S1. Anne's Church, Fall River. Bishop George W. Coleman, top, receives a birthday gift as Deacon Bruce J. Bonneau and Father David A. Pignato look on. At right, S1. Anne's teacher Kelly Medeiros shares a moment with Cassie Lemay.

(AnchodGordon photos)

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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED - Students and chaperones from Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro, take a break near the end of the annual March for Life. They and students from other diocesan high schools traveled to Washington, D.C. to support the sanctity of life. (AnchodGordon photo)