THE ANCHOR -
Diocese of Fall River -
Fri., Feb. 16, 1990
9
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... New England GetAways Magazine
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CHRISTIAN APOSTOLIC
. -•.
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PRO. LIFER HELPER
~Walsh Pharmacy
ADVISOR TRUE
ff/fff. BARBARA BUSH, center, gets acquainted with the large family of Ray Orsi (kneeling, left) and his wife Nancy (standing, rear). (CNS photo)
HOLY
MEDICATOR
ONE
ANTI-~BORTIONIST
LOVING
CAREGIVER INSTRUCTOR
INFALLIBLE
Catholic couple, adopters of disabled children, honored by Presiden,t PLAINVILLE, Conn. (CNS) Ray and Nancy Orsi had their 19 children with them when they and . about 200 others from across the country were honored by President Bush at a White House reception for families with adopted and handicapped children. - Upon their return to their big house in blue-collar Plainville, they added one more to their family of special needs children by adopting 7-week-old Elizabeth, who has a fragile heart. In an interview with the Catholic Transcript, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Mrs. Orsi described the meeting with President Bush and his wife, Barbara, Jan. 26 as wonderful and "like visiting in their living room." She said Mrs. Bush was very comfortable and grllndmotherly to the children, spending 25 minutes with the Orsi family. Their 16-year-old daughter Clorissa held onto Mrs. Bush's hand for a long time, she said, and Mrs.. Bush, with tears in her eyes, stroked 3-year-old Julio, who will be co.nnected to a respirator for life. The president, Mrs. Orsi said,. was very relaxed with the children. He was very down-to-earth, she said, in sharing with them words about his proposal to make it easier to adopt children with special needs. At home in Plainville, the Orsis and their 20 children, who areboth adopted and foster children, live in a house they call Domus Amoris, or House of Love symbolized by a red heart and cross engraved in cement at the entrance. Their house resembles a condominium complex and its front yard is like a park with swings, slides and a jungle gym. Inside, on the walls of a hall I,eading to the kitchen hang more than 50 pictures of Jesus; some traditional, others depicting him laughing, playing soccer, kissing a child.
RESTORER
SPECIALIST
CHARITABLE THERAPEUTIST
THOMAS PASTERNAK Pharmacist
202 Rock St. Fall River
679·1300
Across the way are the child- of Mercy church in Plainville:. Orsi ren's nine bedrooms, each deco- plays the guitar and leads the folk rated with bright colors and 'each group; Mrs. Orsi interprets the Mass in sign language. with its own theme, among them Loving 20 children with disabilclowns, hearts, balloons and rainities is, Mrs. Orsi said, "fun, excitbows. "It's important to have lots of ing and challenging. There are days when I wonder if I'm.going to light, sunshine and, color," Mrs. make it to the next moment. Some Orsi said in an interview with the Transcript last summer. "None of of the children could die anytime." A sign of They have had four children my kids are drab." who did die because of thtir illNancy and Ray Orsi became nesses, foster parents in 1976 and by 1978 Some of our children are much had incorporated Domus Amoris closer to God than we are," Mrs. as a non-profit charitable commitOrsi said. "We learn from them ment. simple trust and faith in the Lord. Currently, they get limited subWhat is normal? They are so in sidies and medical care from the tune with life and God. state for their children. Also, sev"They are very happy, very frienderal families tithe to them. Caring for their children is their Iy, they live life to the fullest. They're my teachers. Without them career. "This is our life, it's not a job," I wouldn't get to heaven." Mrs. Orsi said she has a lifelong said Mrs. Orsi. "My children are all very precious and dear to me. I commitment to get children out of take them everywhere with me. I institutions because she feels children have the birthright to become like being known as the mom. part of a nuclear family. That's a gift from God." The Orsis have "two homegrown Besides living with a day-to-day kids," as Nancy called them, Sons commitment to children with dis- In the Central African nation of Chad, older youths, like this Ray Jr. and David, in their 20s, are abilities, Mrs. Orsi works on state young man, serve as catechists, telling others the "good news" of both involved in their extended legislation to help such children, family. . spending a day each week at the the Gospel. Daily many like him throughout the Missions share their own faith and nourish the faith of others. A gift of $15, Ray Jr. and his wife, Dee, who Connecticut state capitol. have three children of their own, Among needs, she said, is money offered through the Propagation of the Faith, allows a catechist go to Nancy and Ray's house Sat- for operations, medical care and to carry on such work for one month. Won't you offer a village urday nights to give the children equipment for disabled children in the Missions the gift of experiencing such "g{Jod news"? baths and showers, which takes and for respite services for parents. about four hours. The couple are r----~Societyfur-----------I in the Orsis' will to take over Domus Amoris. THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH The Orsis have developed an I ...all of us committed to the worldwide mission ofJesus I endowment fund so that Domus If you would like to subscribe to I I Amoris can go on for as long as the Anchor, please use the enveReverend Monsignor John J. Oliveira, V.E. I possible. lope in your budget packet OJ pick I 47 UnderwoodSlreel, P.O. Box 2577, Fall River MA 02722 . "In the world's eyes our kids are I not beautiful, not lovable, not val- one up in church. We are so> con- I To help catechists share the "good news," I enclose: 0 0 ODD $ 0 $ I uable," says Mrs. Orsi. "Some vinced of the value of the Anchor that if you would like to sub!.cribe I $15 $30 $45 $75 100 Other _ _ people think our kids should not but find it difficult to afford, the I I be here." "parish will absorb the cost. . Just I Name I "Ray and I have seen Jesus in put th~ empty envelope with your Address I each of our children" and have the name 10. the basket. I C·lty S tate z·lp _ _ J. challenge to show that to the world, . she said. - From the bulletlO of St. . I . '.. I Julie Billiart parish ANCH. 2/16/90 0 I want to be a monthly donor to the MISSIons! Each Sunday the whole famil~ attends II a.m. Mass at Our Lad~ North Dartmouth ~~o~ _ -Your gift is tax deductible! ..J
GOODNEWS
Thank you, St. Julie! I
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