teanc 0 VOL. 43, NO.9· Friday, February 26, 1999
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Year ofthe Father proclaimed at Mass ~
Bishop O'Malley launches celebrations in preparation for Jubilee Year 2000
FALL RIVER - In officially opening this year's celebrations of the Year of the Father in preparation for Jubilee Year 2000, Bishop Sean P. O'Malley told those attending a special Mass Feb. 19 in St. Mary's Cathedral: "Let us strive to live as Jesus has taught us, in the Father's love, rich in mercy." Delegations from parishes across the diocese attended the Mass. The liturgy was the third during three years of spiritual preparation for the new millennium that began in 1997 with the Year of the Son. That was followed by the Year of the Holy Spirit in 1998. Following this year which focuses on God as Father, the jubilee year itself will be dedicated to the Eucharist as the cent~al mystery of our lives of faith. The recent liturgy was called a Mass of Reconciliation because it is the spirit at the heart of the Lenten journey, Bishop O'Malley said. In his homily, the bishop keyed on Luke's Gospel story of the Prodigal Son and the son's conversion. The theme was visibly depicted by a huge reproduction of Rembrandt's famed painting, "Return of the Prodigal Son" in the sanctuary of the Cathedral. "Our beautiful painting depicts for us the family torn apart by sin ... but now coming together because of the Father's mercy and love. We can see
HERITAGE - An ornate cross brought from Rome and similar to one used by the Holy Father to bless a papal audience, is carried by Chris Kinnane, an altar server from S1. Stanislaus Parish, during the procession to the altar in S1. Mary's Cathedral for the special Mass launching the Year of the Father. (Photo by John E. Kearns, Jr.) ourselves in this portrait - sometimes the prodigal son wanting freedom to do what we want, only to discover that having fun is not the road to happiness." Noting that the prodigal finally came to his senses, the bishop said that "In
conversion, we come to our senses with the light of the Holy Spirit, who shows us our misery, but also holds out the hope of the merciful forgiveness of the Father." The son comes to realize that the real evil of his sin was not that he wanted
his inheritance, the bishop said. "Rather, the real tragedy lay in his sin against the father and the loss of his dignity as a son. He had made his father suffer and because his father loved him so much, the father had suffered more than the son." Bishop O'Malley said that while we can still call our dad, father, or call our priest, Father, or call our teacher, teacher; "We must realize that when we turn around and address God with the same terms, we really mean something much different. God is not just one more father or one more teacher. He is the Father, the source of all fatherh·ood. He is the teacher, the source of all truth. In this final year of preparation for the jubilee, the entire Church casts her eyes on God the Father, the creator of all, the Father of all mercies." As we approach the jubilee, the Holy Father has asked us to examine our lives and ask forgiveness of our sins, our prejudices .and especially for the lack of mercy we have shown to one another, the bishop said. "Let us try to take the Holy Father's teaching to heart and work for a civilization of love, a culture of love - one that will make the Father's mercy more present in our hearts and in our world." The painting by Rembrandt was reproduced for the front side of a special prayer card printed for the Mass. A processional cross brought from Rome was used to lead celebrants and participants to and from the altar for the special Mass.
Candida'tes for Church membership are enrolled ~
Catechumens advance through Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults during. liturgy in St. Mary's Cathedral. " By JAMES N. DUNBAR
FALL RIVER - To loud applause more than 140 catechumens and candidates on their path to baptism were welcomed Sunday afternoon by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley and the assembly at Rite of Election ceremonies in St. Mary's Cathedral. . For the candidates, it is the 'process of progressing through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults as they seek full communion in the Church. PATH TO BAPTISM - Mary Amarante, right, a candiOn Holy Saturday, the catechumens will be baptized, receive their first Communion and be confirmed at Iitdate for t.he ini.tiating sacrar'!'ents that ~ill brin~ her in~o full urgies within their own parishes. communion With the Catholic Church, IS all smiles as IS her. Bishop O'Malley welcomed the candidates .saying mother-in-law and sponsor, Peggy Amarante, left, at Rite of . that they will soon be joining more than one billion Election ceremonies in S1. Mary's Cathedral Sunday. Catholics across the globe who have been led by the
Holy Spirit to come into the Church. "We come in all shapes, colors and sizes and our history is 2,000 years of a long rosary with joyful and sorrowful mysteries. We are a Church that has saints and sinners. The Holy Father has raised many saints to the altar to remind us that there is a universal Church that issues a call to holiness; all of us are called to be saints." The bishop said that many saints, like St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, came into the Church as adults, "just as you are doing. Just as immigrants bring new gifts to this nation, so too in the Church. Within the Church, new Catholics bring new gifts and enthusiasm into our par. ishes. They help us to be more faithful in our call to holiness." One of those Godparents who came forward to put her hand on the shoulder of a catechumen and answer to a candidate's worthiness was Peggy Amarante of St. Mary Parish, South Daftmouth~ She was there to speak in favor of her daughter-in-law, Mary Amarante, 37, also .
Turn to page five - RCIA
Bishop O'Malley issues Pastoral Letter on capital punishment -
pages 7..10