dJ The ARCHOR Vol. 21, No.7 - Fall River, Mass., Thurs., Feb. 17, 1977
An Anchor of the Soul, Sure and Firm-St. Paul
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Diocese Prepares to Enter Solemn· Season of Lent
REMEMBER, MAN: In ancient rites, ashes will be blessed and placed on foreheads of faithful on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 23. (NC Photo)
Diocesan Women At NCCW Parley In California Mrs. Michael J. McMahon, St. Mary's Cathedral parish, Fall River, and Mrs. Richard M. Paulson, Immaculate Conception parish, Taunton, were among executive committee members of the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) who met in Lafayette, Calif. to make plans for NCCW's national convention in November, for a United Nations seminar to be sponsored next month in New York, and for effective participation by members in relevant political ~ctivity. _ Mrs. McMahon is national chairman of NCCW's Organization and Service Commission and Mrs. Paulson is director of its Boston province. Turn to Page Seven
Families First, Says Carter WASHINGTON (NC) - Since entering the White House, President Jimmy Carter has taken the name "The First Family" seriously. In addition to his nine-yearold daughter Amy, he has moved his sons Chip, 26, Jeff, 24, and their wives into the White House. But beyond that, he has tried to make sure Cabinet members, White House staff and government employees in general do not let their jobs interfere with their family lives. Turn to Page Nine
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"As Shepherd of the Diocese of Fall River, -I earnestly encourage clergy and faithful alike to spend this season well," declares Bishop Daniel A. Cronin in a Lenten Pastoral Letter to be read at all Masses this weekend, preparatory to the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 23. The Ordinary also reminds the faithful of the obligation to receive the Eucharist during the Easter Season, which this year extends from Feb. 27 through Trinity Sunday, June 5.
DIOCESE OF FAll RIVER FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSI;TTS BISHOP'S OFFICE
February 17, 1977 Dearly beloved in Christ, This year, The Anchor, our diocesan newspaper, will complete twenty years of faithful service to the apostolate of the Catholic Press. The Anchor, however humble in format or appearance, has been a forthright voice for Catholic truth in our midst. It has without .embarrassment" or hesitancy embraced revealed truth and the authoritative teachings of the Church's Magisterium and proclaimed them with courage and a sense of mission. It is, after all, the mission of the Catholic Press to participate in the teaching aposto(ate of the Church. This The Anchor has done admirably over these many years. May its good work continue into the future. As the official voice of the Catholic Press in the Diocese of Fall River, The Anchor is a useful source of information about the Faith for our Catholic people. Our diocesan newspaPl!r is also an invaluable teaching instrument for clergy, religious and laity engaged in the awesome apostolate of proclaiming the Good News the message of Jesus and the values taught in His Gospel. Furthermore, The Anchor communicates news items of interest from all areas of the Diocese, thus creating a sense of diocesan identity and fostering bonds of unity among our diocesans .from the Attleboros to Cape Cod and the Islands. It gives me great pleasure to announce that this coming Sunday, February 20, 1977, has been set aside as "Anchor Sunday." I take this occasion to recommend The Anchor to all in the Diocese of Fall River and to urge that it be in every home in the Diocese. Devotedly yours in Christ,
Bishop of Fall River
He notes: "Acts of self-denial and sacrifice can also help us deepen our life in Christ during the Lenten season. In a day which has evidenced a serious breakdown of spiritual values, there is an ever greater need to discipline our wills through penance so that we might better arrange our lives according to· the holiness and love of God." In this regard, the Fall River diocese will again this year participate in "Operation Rice Bowl," a program of prayer, sacrifice and almsgiving sponsored
by Catholic Relief Services, the national relief agency of the American· bishops. Part of Rice Bowl is the serving by families of one sacrificial meal a week during the Lenten season, with money saved to be given to works of charity. Also encouraged by Bishop Cronin is reception of the sacrament of reconciliation "as an indispensable means to the change of heart to which Lent calls us." Although the Revised Rite of Penance became effective Turn to Page Three
Deacons Are Seen As New Resource For the first time, the Diocese of Fall River has been represented at the Annual Meeting of Diocesan Directors of the Permanent Diaconate; held last week in New Orleans. Present at the meeting was Father John Moore, Diocesan Director of the Permanent Diaconate. Reflecting on the convention, he has offered the following comments: National conventions of vari-
Whites Protest Rhodesian Rite SALISBURY, Rhodesia (NC)More than 1,000 blacks and whites stood through a drizzling rain for the funeral here of seven Catholic missionaries killed by terrorists, but the mourning was marred when several whites walked out in protest. The whites left after the homilist, Jesuit Father Isidore Chikore, said, "The majority of the people of Zimbabwe - call it Rhodesia if you like - are denied the law." (Many blacks object to the name Rhodesia because it commemorates the 19th century British colonizer of the area, John Cecil Rhodes.) One of the protesters who left was overheard saying, "Why don't they arrest that black bastard?" Rhodesian Premier Ian Smith also responded angrily. when he learned that Father Chikore Turn to Page Seven
ous aspects of Church life have a unique effect, insofar as they bring together a broad sector of the Church as it really is functioning to do the Lord's work here in this land. When such a meeting is attended by representatives from a hundred Ameri· can dioceses to learn, share and discuss a particular phase of the Church's ministry as reflected ir the witness of the sacrament 01 Holy Orders, it is not only in· formative but stimulating. The convention of Directors . of the Permanent Diaconate is an annual event sponsored by the Bishop's Committee for the Restoration of the Permanent Diaconate. The central theme of this year's event was ministry in the Church, in partiCUlar the ministry of the Permanent Diaconate. The secretary of the Bishop's Committee, Msgr. Ernest J. Fiedler, in giving hi~ annual report, noted that there are now 1,474 ordained deacons in the Ameri. can Church, with 2,507 currently enrolled in programs of various dioceses. In addition, there are 21 dioTurn to Page Seven
MORAL CHOICES In this- week's article on mora' choices. Anchor columnist Father Andrew Greeley discusses sexual intimacy in terms of traditional and moral viewpoints. It's on page 8.
IT'S CATHOLIC PRESS MONTH
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