Pope Urges Lent of Self-Denial VATICAN CITY (NC) - Pope Paul has opened Lent with a plea to put lenten self-denial to work for the poor. "If each one lets his brothers and sisters come into his own life, if he shares with them of his substance rather than of his surplus, then he overcomes many ·obstacles to reconciliation and attains renewal," the Pope said in a Feb. 11 Lenten address to the universal Church. Of Christ's words, "The poor you .always have with you," the Pope commented: "It always sounds as though the efforts of Christian charity and human justice were destined to be always defeated. And would not an overall view of our times seem to confirm this? Even though we appear to have all the means of fighting poverty, we still hear of wars, famines and disasters.
"But for the Christian the fact that such situations continually recur does not mean they are inevitable. The Christian rather understands the words of Jesus in the sense that none of His followers can ignore the fact that Jesus identified Himself with the poor." The Pope's address, in its entirety, said: Dear sons and daughters, "The poor you always have with you" (In 12:8). These words ot' Christ to the Apostles are full of meaning. It almost sounds as though the efforts of Christian charity and human justice were destined to be always defeated. And would not an overall view of our times seem to confirm this? Even though we appear to have all the means of fighting poverty, we still hear of wars, famines and disasters. But for the Christian the fact that such situations continually recur does
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Asserts Holy Year Themes Heart of Catholic. Press CINCINNATI (NC)-Renewal and reconciliation - themes of the 1975 Holy Year-are "at the very hear.t of what we're doing. in the Catholic press." That is the conviction of Father Jeremy Harrington, O.F.M,. editor of the prize-winning St. Anthony Messenger, vice president of the Cathoilc Press Association. Interviewed on the eve of the annual Catholic Press Month (February) observance, the Franciscan journalist said he saw reason for optimism about the future of Catholic publications despite economic setbacks of recent years. And he cited two areas in which the publications - particularly the diocesan newspapers - provide. unparalleled service to the Church: "They are the most effective means of communication within a diocese." "They are without a doubt the best means of adult education." Father Harrington, who in 1972 received the Catholic Press Association's highest honor, the annual St. Francis de Sales award, spoke of the "renewal" theme of the Holy Year, observing: "That's just what the Catholic press endeavors to do-to help its readers achieve a- deeper faith, a stronger commitment to Jesus, a better understanding of their membership in the
Christian community. If we don't know each other and what each other is doing-and why, how can we act as members of the Body of Christ?" he asked. Turn to Page Nine
not mean that they are inevitable. The Christian rather understands the words of Jesus in the sense that none of His followers can ignore the fact that Jesus identified Himself with the poor. Until the end of time, the poor are "with" Jesus. They are His partners, His companions, His brothers and sisters. The Christian, precisely because he is a Christian, must take his place beside the destitute. He must give of himself to assist them in their immedate needs. He must commit himself to helping, in many different ways, to build a better world-a more just world. Lent is an appropriate time for this exercise of self-denial, because it reminds Christians who they are. It puts them on their guard against the satisfaction of a comfortable existence and against the temptations of living in abundance. Tum to Page Three
Bishop Cronin Leads Pilgrims For Rome Holy Year Renewal Eleven. priests and nine Religious will be among the 17 pilgrims that will accompany Most Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, S.T.D., Bishop of Fall River, on the 1975 Diocesan Holy Year Pilgrimage to Rome. The diocesan group will leave Boston tomorrow, Feb. 14, and ·return on Saturday, Feb. 22. Among the priests accompanying the Bishop are:· Rev. Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, Director of the Diocesan Travel League and pastor of Our Lady of Angels Parish, Fall River. Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, Diocesan Chancellor. Rev. Msgr. Henry T. Munroe, Officialis. and pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Attleboro. Rev. Msgr. John J. Regan, Rector of the Cathedral. Rev. William F. Blottman, assistant pastor of St. Mary Parish, So. Dartmouth. Rev. WiUiam E. Farland, pastor of 51. Joseph Parish, Woods Hole. Rev. Leonard Mullaney, assis-
Waiting for Help from Home Mission Collection Weekend of Feb. 15-16
tant pastor of Immaculate Con- who will journey to Rome are: ception Parish, Taunton. Sister Mary Agnes Shannon, Rev. Felician Plichta, OFM Sister Lucille Richard, Sister Conv., pastor of Holy Cross Anastasia, Sister Dorothea BeauParish, Fall River. lieu, Sister Theresa De1isle, SisRev. John J. Smith, Diocesan ter S.F. Dwyer, Sister Helen Director of Vocations and assis- Fletcher, Sister Cecile Marquis, tant pastor of St. James Parish, and Sister Margaret Ready. New Bedford. The pilgrimage will leave from Rev. John J. Steakem, Instruc- Logan International Airport in tor of Religion at Bishop Stang Boston at 7:10 P.M. tomorrow High School and assistant pas- night, Feb. 14. tor of St. Julie Parish, No. Dart- . Their first day in Rome will mouth. be a free-day to permit pilgrims Rev. Horace J. Travassos, as- to rest from the transatlantic sistant pastor of St. James Par- flight. ish, New Bedford. On Sunday morning, Feb. 16, Among the Religious Sisters rum to Page Eight
Dedicate Pediatric Center At St. Anne1s Hospital A pediatric center at St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, was dedicated Sunday by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin. The first of its type in Bristol County, the new facility will offer complete ambulatory health services for all children in the Greater Fall River area. At the Sunday ceremonies Bishop Cronin praised the hospital for its dedication to health care "within the context of Catholic ethical and moral conV'ictions" and noted the constitutional right of members of the Church to follow their religious principles regardless of possible loss of federal benefits. Also speaking was Dr. Sydney S. Gellis, chief pediatrician at the New England Medical Center Hospital in Boston, who has been involved in development of a residency program bringing future pediatricians and specialized medical services from Tufts University and the New England Medical Center to Fall River. Dr. Gems said the pediatric center has the potential of serving as a regional facility and could become instrumental in serving children wi.th learning disabilities and emotional problems as well as physical ailments. Noting that "national health . service is sure to come," the
physician declared that St. Anne's Hospital "will be ready for tomorrow's developments in delivery of health care, and at the same time, is a reflection of continuing commitment to community service." . Doctors presently staffing the center are Edward A. Penn, Turn to Page Five
Catholic Papers Seen Necessary' CINCINNATI (NC) - Most people who receive the Catholic Telegraph read it "every week" (90.3 per cent) and consider the paper "not a luxury but a necessity" (91.4 per cent). That's what subscribers told the Telegraph, Cincinnati archdiocesan newspaper, in a readership survey conducted last fall, tabulated at the University of Dayton and reported to the Telegraph's advisory board recently. The Telegraph has been the weekly newspaper of the Cincinnati archdiocese since 1831. The 91.4 per cent who called the Catholic press a necessity included 66.8 per cent who "agree strongly" with that position and 24.6 per cent who "agree somewhat." Turn to Page Eight