t eanco VOL. 43, NO. 10 • Friday, March 5, 1999
FALL RIVER, MASS.
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS . CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Missionary brings message of hope, nee-d ~
Franciscan Father Cook has spent 29 years ministering in one of the world's poorest nations. By MIKE GORDON ANCHOF! STAFF
SPREADING THE WORD - Father Emil Cook speaks with parishioners about life in Honduras. He hopes people will join him this year to help the poor of the Central American country and encouraged people to "do something beautiful for Jesus." (Anchor/Gordon photo)
SAGAMORE - Franciscan Missionary Father Emil Cook has worked with the poor in Honduras, the second poorest country in out hemisphere, for 29 years, but exudes such enthusiasm and energy when talking about his work one might think he was preparing for his first trip to the Central American country. Father Cook brought that message of mission to St. Theresa's Chapel last· Saturday as he continued his journey through the Fall River Diocese before continuing across the U.S. During the homily he spoke about the plight of the poor in Honduras and stressed the importance of getting involved in mission work and specifically what we as Catholics are called to do. "The people in Honduras don't have the power to break out of poverty," declared Father Cook. "People live in homes with dirt floors, no lights and very few children go to school beyond the sixth grade. People don't feel good about themselves, but we are trying to work with the Honduran people to help themselves." Father Cook spoke about the power of education and how through educating the young people of Honduras we are helping families break from the grip of poverty. "All the kids we work with in Honduras have some sense of family and when they get education they help their families. But we have to get more people involver;l," he advised. . Durjng his talk, Father Cook also stressed the importance of bringing the Catholic faith and prayer to the Honduran people. "In a 'recent pastoral letter from the bishops we were told that Tum to page? 3.- Missionary
Bishop. 0 ',Malley .speaks out against capital punishment ByANcHOR MIKE GORDON STAFF
have an impact. "I would be very gratified if people read . this and let their voices be heard by the governor and legisFALL RIVER":"'- Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., lators;' said the bishop. Recent debates in Massachusetts have proposed bringaddressed the press last week on the eve of the release ofhis Pastoral Letter on Capital Punishment, 'The Gospel of Life ing back the death penalty which former Gov. William Weld vs. The Death Penalty;' his longest letter to date, in which called "a deterrent to crime?' Bishop O'Malley addressed he advises that violence sHould not be our response to viothe "myth of deterrence;' in his pastoral letter and asked: ,...--......;:.-------....;.------. "How can we help our society belence. "I would be very gratified if come less violent with state-sup"We want a society where life is ported violence? . valued. That is the. plea of the people read this (Pastoral Letter "We should be looking (or real Church," declared Bishop O'Malley on capital punishment) and let solutions. It's not that we are soft at the two 0' clock press conference their voices be heard by the govon Feb. 26. "It is not necessary to on crime or want criminals back on the streets. We want to make our kill prisoners in order to protect our ernor and legislators. n society safer, but when human life citizens. We can incarcerate them - Bishop Sean P. O'Malley without parole." under any circumstance is not held as sacred in society, all human life The bishop~s pastoral letter calls for the abolishment of the death penalty and encourages is diminished and threatened;' asserted the bishop. . people to seek "real solutions to alleviate crime and vioBishop O'Malley's pastoral letter was also sent to parlence in communities." It comes on the heels of three recent ishes, local high schools, ecumenical leaders, fellow bish~ messages issued by Pope John Paul IT also calling for an end ops and clergy. He said that the Massachusetts bishops will to capital punishment. issue a statement on capital punishment and all hope to be present when a vote in Massachusetts comes up. As a. follow Bishop O'Malley published the pastoral' letter in The Anchor and several secular newspapers to make the Church's up to his pastoral letter, Bishop O'Malley 'plans to organize teaching clear to people and stated that he hoped it would state-wide prayer vigils. .
BISHOP SEAN P. O'Malley addresses the media regarding his recent pastoralletter.denouncing capital punishment. He hopes that those reading ':The Gospel of Life vs. The Death Penalty," will support the abolishment of the death penalty and encourage a society where life is valued. (Anchor/Gordon. photo) .
Diocese pla~s Eucharistic .Congress for Jubilee Year 2000