t eanc 0 VOL 44, NO.8
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Friday, February 25, 2000
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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Diocese sets Eucharistic Congress June 18-25 ~
Eucharistic adoration and liturgies diocesan-wide will end with an ol:Jtdoor Mass at Kennedy Park and Eucharistic processions to three downtown parishes. By JAMES N. DUNBAR
FALL RIVER - An eightday Eucharistic Congress including Eucharistic ador.ation and evenings of reflection across the diocese and ending with a concelebrated Massand procession to three churches in this city, are slated to be held June 18 through 25. The celebrations that including pilgrimages to parishes, adoration of the Blessed Sacra~ ment, talks by leading speakers, an outdoor Mass at Kennedy Park at 3 p.m. on June 25 and processions, has been called by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. Diocesan officials say it is the first Eucharistic Congress in the history of the diocese. In an interview this week, Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, secretary to the bishop, and chair-
Jesus whose body we have beman for the Eucharistic Concome." gress, said planning of events He added that the celebrahas been ongoing for more than tions are not only to focus us a year, "by a hardworking, wonon how we should路 know more derful committee." about the Eucharist, but in Talking about the many knowing more and coming to a events being coordinated, he said the congress here coe e incides with the Eucharistic 'Xl ~ Congress to be held in Rome on the same July weekend, convened by the Holy Father, and he urged parishes to mark the events on their calendars now. "What we will have here in our diocese is a response to the Holy Father's request that this Jubilee Year be intensely Eucharistic in nature," Msgr. Avila .stated.. "Our focus as Church should be to recognize the gift ofEucharist in our Church for the building up of the Body of Christ, and to help us to go forward to live Fall River Diocesan Eucharistic the mission of June 18-25, 2000
Bring Christ to the world, pope tells permanent deacons By CINDY WOODEN CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - Permanent deacons must not let anything stop them from bringing Christ to the world, Pope John Paul II told deacons celebrating their jubilee at the Vatican. More than 2,000 people - deacons, their wives and family members - attended the Feb. 19 papal audience during the Jubilee for Permanent Deacons at the Vatican. Later in the day the deacons, many holding hands with their wives, processed from the center of St. Peter's Square, through the Holy Door and into St. Peter's Basilica to renew the promTurn to page 13 - Deacons
greater understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist, that we become the presence of Jesus in the world. So it has a social mission dimension - as every Mass does. "Sometimes we think of the Eucharist as
. ChrlS: t 0 n Iy SaVIOr 0f th e Jesus ,.,.orId, Bread J.or New Lefi 1e
something devotional or bringing us together," said Msgr. Avila. "Yes, it brings us together but it then sends us forth." He said that through the various speakers at the events across the diocese, "we are trying to tap into those different aspects of the Eucharist." The theme of the Eucharistic Congress is "Jesus Christ: Only Savior of the World, Bread for New Life." Msgr. Avila said that it is also the same theme for the International Congress in Rome. Congress '~ B ish 0 p O'Malley felt that
since we here were linking our celebrations with Rome's, that it is certainly appropriate," he said. Some might recognize the logo as the one used for the International Eucharistic Congress held in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1976. As this diocese looked for a symbol of the reality the Eucharist for the events in June, it was given permission to use Philadelphia's logo. "I wear a pin with that logo that was brought back to me from that congress, and I use it occasionally because I think it captures the essence of the Eucharist: the Eucharistic host at the center unites us together as one community. But the open top shows an aspect that we are to go forth." The Eucharistic Congress gets underway on June 18 with a call to worship at parish weekend Masses. At 7 p.m., that night, there will b~ Diocesan Youth Mass at St. John Neumann Church, East Freetown, including a guest homilist. "The centering on the Eucharist for most people is in Turn to page three -,.. Eucharist
Cape Cod mom authors children's books ~
Heidi Bratton's photography ta/~nts have become路a true vocation. By JAMES N. DUNBAR
NORTH FALMOUTH - Heidi Bratton isn't sure what a photo-evangelist is, or whether she merits or fits the title. But she is sure that the eight, photo-illustrated children's "Walking With God" books she's authored in an attempt to have parents and their children grow together in love 9f their creator, are the result of God's call. The 33-year-old mother of five arid member of St. 'Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish says she "was' moved" to link her love for parenting with her life-long love of photography and the result are books with the Gospel message affirming family love and values in a fun format that helps parents answer the perplexing "big" questions of life that kids so often ask. "I've kept a spiritual journal of the many ways the Lord has inspired me, led me along, given me many innovative ideas that I was seeking. I'm trying to help kids, parents and families see that God is everywhere; that he's just not in your church on Sundays, but he's in your house, he's in your school, he's in your neighborhood. That's where the power of photographs, versus illustrations, can bring that out, make that real," Heidi ~sserted. "Photographs are tools. I'm in awe that God made me useful in this mission-field," she said.
AUTHOR -
Heidi Bratton and daughter Lucy.
And while Paulist Press will publish two more of her books with black-and-white photos in July, the author, with the devoted help of her husband, John, to mind the children, finds some time to pursue a precious ministry of talking to women's groups of many denominations about teaching their children all Turn to page 13 -.Author