t eanc 0 VOL. 44, NO.6· Friday, February 11, 2000
FALL RIVER, MASS.
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETIS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Religious gather for World Day for Consecrated Life By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
FALL RIVER - World Day for Consecrated Life was celebrated on Feb. 6 at St. Mary's Cathedral and it was a chance for religious throughout the diocese to gather together and renew their vows and commitment to the Church. Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., was principal celebrant at the 3 p.m. Mass and was pleased to see so many religious in the Cathedral. "In starting this day three years ago, the Holy Father Pope John Paul II, reminds us of the great gift of consecrated life," the bishop said. "Consecrated life is at the heart of the Church and is a gift that comes from God. It is a call to belong completely to the Lord and the Holy Father invites all of us to take stock of our own lives and celebrate the great gift the Father has given us." The bishop also asked those in attendance to pray for the many religious who are ill or retired and could not be at the Mass fortheir "life of prayer, service and sacrifice." He stressed that the concern of religious towards all people and their dedication to God and the Church is an important thing. "We owe a debt of gratitude to the religious here in the United States and we thank you." A special banner with logos was on display near the altar and it represented the religious communities of the diocese. People admired it following the Mass and the bishop said it was a delightful display. The Mass was concelebrated by Augustinian Father William T. Garland, La Salette Father Dennis Loomis, Franciscan Father of the ImTurn to page 13 - Day
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DOMINICAN SISTER Lorraine Beauchesne presents a photo of
religious order symbols to Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., during Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral celebrating World Day for Consecrated Life. Religious attending the service renewed their vows. (AnchodGordon photo)
Diocesan scholarships now available FALL RIVER - The Diocese of Fall River is again making available through the St. Mary's Education Fund, need-based scholarships for students who will attend Catholic elementary and middle schools in the 20002001 school year. Students currently enrolled in a diocesan elementary or middle school or who are accepted for enrollment for the 2000-2001 school year are eligible to apply. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the principal of the school where their child!children attends or will attend, for further information and an application. Anyone interested in enrolling their child! children in one of the 24 elementary and middle schools in the Fall River Diocese should contact the principal of the school in which they have interest. Once the child is accepted, they then may apply for financial help from the fund. Scholarships from the fund are awarded solely on the basis of financial need. In the current school year, 309 elementary and middle school students are receiving assistance from it. The St. Mary's Education Fund was established by the Fall River Diocese in 1991 from proceeds of the sale of the former St. Mary's Home of New Bedford. The interest from the fund along with receipts from the annual St. Mary's Education Fund Fall Dinner and a summer benefit on Cape Cod provide the financial backing for the yearly scholarships. From 1995-1996 through 1999-2000 more than $1 million was distributed from the proceeds of the efforts of the St. Mary's Education Fund Scholarship Committee to more than 1,400 students in diocesan elementary, middle and high schools. It is anticipated that over $500,000 will be distributed to an additional 400 students during the 2000-200 I school year.
Sounds of silence: mandating quiet time in schools raises questions ~
Even as Catholic Schools Week was being observed, public schools in some states were given time for reflection prior to classes. By CAROL ZIMMERMANN CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON - Across the country there has been a lot of noise in some state legislatures about mandating daily moments of silence in public schools.
In the first days of February, lawmakers As some legislators see it, the minute of silence is a positive step in quelling the vio- in both Colorado and Virginia approved legislation to allow lence in our nation's schools. In Colorado, the Senate education a moment of silence at the start Others see it as committee voted Feb. 3 to advance a of the school day. crossing the line bill to the full Senate that would require of separation be- public schools to have a moment of Similar legislation is pending in tween church "quiet reflection" and to also post the Illinois and Misand state and getting a foot in the ~Te.n_C.o.m.m_a.n.d.m.e.n.t.s•. .. sissippi. A handful of other states door for school • prayer, which the U.S. Supreme Court already have some version of a moment-ofbanned in public schools in a 1962 decision. silence law.
Virginia, like some other states, already has in place the option of observing a moment of silence, but teachers have not been required to announce the purpose of the reflection time and few of its school systems have followed it. In Colorado, the Senate education committee voted Feb. 3 to advance a bill to the full Senate that would require public schools to have a moment of "quiet reflection" and to also post the Ten Commandments. On Feb. 1, Virginia state senators overTurn to page 13 - Silence
Pages 7-10 II Bishop O'Malley's pastoral on marriage II