t eanc 0 VOL. 42, NO. 11 _ Friday, March 13, 1998
FALL RIVER, MASS.
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETIS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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Coyle's student-run food pantry serving community By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
TAUNTON-The motto of Coyle and Cassidy High School is "Enter to learn, learn to serve" and students have be:en living such a life through their untiring efforts at the school's food pantry for some five years. On the last Saturday of each month from 9-11 a.m. student volunteers and coordinators hand out free bags of groceries to needy families. More than 350 such families take advantage of the food pantry each 'month. The bags contain about five or six nutritious meals put together by student volunteers who do shopping and preparation each week. One of the student volunteers is senior and food pantry coordinatorTim Saccone. According to director of community service and faculty coordinator of the pantry, Mike Cote, Tim has been intensely dedicated to the project over the last two years. ''I'm extremely proud of the food pantry and the students' efforts like
Tim's. There's amazing energy here," he said. That energy has spread throughout the sch.ool due partially to the success of the food pantry and the enthusiasm generated by students participating in the project. "It's very important that the food pantry exist because so many people rely on it," said Saccone. "I do it because it helps people and I get a personal satisfaction out of that. It's a chance to lend a helping hand." he declared. That personal satisfaction is being felt by a lot of students according to Cote, who said that at a volunteer meeting this year 79 students showed up. Although only 15 are at the pantry handing out groceries on any given Saturday, there are many behind the scenes who do the shopping and help with storage. Cote said that the idea of the food pantry came about when Coyle and Cassidy sought a way to serve the community a few years ago. After checking with community groups, teachers and
MAKING A DIFFERENCE-Director of community service and faculty coordinator of the Coyle and Cassidy High School Food Pantry, Mike Cote (left), stands with senior and student coordinator Tim' Saccone and headmaster Dennis Poyant in the pantry storage area. Each month student volunteers hand out bags of groceries to more than 300 needy families in the Taunton area. administrators decided to help pick up the slack when word came that a local food bank was closing its
doors. "They started it based on a real need they saw," said Cote. Since it began in October of 1992, the food pantry has given away over $75,000 in food and helped a variety of people including many elderly living on a fixed income.
The pantry is not only completely coordinated by the school and students, but also funded mainly by the student body. What works out to be about $2000 per month is generated by student fundraisers and donations. Turn to page 14 - Food Pantry
St~.~atrick's
pay:
The legend co~tinues By JAMES N.DuNBAR
, j• PRISON 'RETRE:AT- Bishop Sean P. O'Malley distributes Communion to inmates of the Bristol County House of Correction in Dartmouth and to lay volunteers at a historic three-day retreat last weekend.
Spiritual retreat held at . House of Correction •
Bishop O'Malley offers advantage of a three-day religious Mass; tells inmates that retreat resulting from a clergy-laity partnership and joined with a merciful God is ready Bishop Sean P. O'Malley at a to grant forgiveness. Mass marking their spiritual en-
NORTH DARTMOUTHThirty-two inmates at the Bristol County House of Correction took
counter. When the inmates came together for the retreat on March 6, 7 and 8, it was the first time that
such a program had been offered for inmates in a Bristol County Corrections facility, said Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson. For Bishop O'Malley, who was principal celebrant of the Mass on the Saturday in the Turn to page 10 - Retreat
FALL RNER-The potato famine and the cplonial polities that drove thousand.s·from their land in the 1800s o(fer a wealth of stories of the diasl?ora of the Irish from the Emerald !sle. But none of them ~a'sthe drama of the story of St. Patrick, ~ tale told across the world wherever ~ish gather to celebrate the M¥ch 17 feast day of . their patron saint. . . Patrick is B~~bably b~tter ~own for the l~g~ndary !idding ~e land of snakestllan f.or hIS achIevement as a mlsslo!lary In establIshing the Catl1oli~Cllurch there. But more to tile !point might be that Patrick did use the three-leafed shamrock to teac~ the doctrine of the .• . . .i . Holy Trinity. '. 1\ Hist9rianst~1I us that Patrick, reportedly the son of a somewhat well-to.:do lowe~ official, was born about the ydr 389 along the seacoast of what was then Roman Britain. Kidnapped by raiding Irish bands, he was taken as a slave and bound over ~o an Irish king in a northern district. ' Much like the Prodigal Son in the parable, Patrick was in servitude as:a her~eiand probably not treated as wqll as the animals he tended. He' was later to write, "I was chastened exceedingly and humbl~ every~ay in hunger and nakedness." • . It brpught aF.hange in the young man who hap formerly taken illS Christianf3;ith'fQr granted. Indifference changed to days of prayer and c~ntemplaiion of the suffering Christ-as! well as thoughts of escape.:.. .:< i.._ Tlle,chanc,~,(.;.~mese\leral years later.. It included. a dangerous trek over several hppdred llliles·to the Irish coast. ahd return by packet ! ,.' TUni t~ page 8 - 8t: Patrick I .
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THE ANCHOR -
eteIS'" h prime e miDIS t er frequently at Mass
... B rl·
Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Mar. 13:1998
•
lee
But Tony Blair says he has no intent of converting.
Blair told journalists March 4: "Though the Prime Minister regularly worships at a Catholic Church with his wife and family, he is not converting to Catholicism, The only occasion on which he has attended Westminster Cathedral alone arose because he had been at a speaking engagement, and his family had attended
By PAULINUS BARNES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
LONDON-British Prime , Minister Tony Blair has been attending Mass on his own at London's Westminster Ca- ....- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - thedral, a spokesBlair caused controversy before man adlpitted, but the election when it was revealed he has no plans to that he had been receiving Comconvert to Catholimunion in a Catholic Church near cism. his north London home. After an inBlair, who ousted John tervention by Cardinal George BaMajor'sConservasil Hume o/Westminster, he agreed OVERLOOKING ROME-When Bishop Sean P. O'Malley tivegovernment in to stop.:;, , the May 1997 gen- 1.. ;";,;,,;,,.... ......
returned recently from visiting the North American College' in Rome, he brought this picture of Fall River diocesan priests and students st.udying there. From left are Roger Landry, , Father Stephen B. Salvador, who is on sabbatical for a 'few months; Father Richard Wilson, who is in his fifth year of studies; Rodney Thibault, Tad Pacholc?yk, Gerrard O'Connor and David Pignato. Father Wilson, who was ordained last summer, will return to the diocese this summer for his first assignment.
Saint Anne's Hospital gratefully acknowledges contributions to the Tribute Fund received during February 1998*. Through the remembrance and honor of these lives, Saint Anne's can continue "Caring For Our Community".
eral election won by the Labor Party, is married to a Catholic, Cherie, and the couple's three young 'children are all baptized Catholics. For years Blair, a member of the Church of England, has attended Mass with his wife and children most weekends. But in late February and early March, if in London without his family, he attended the Saturday or Sunday evening Mass at Westminster Cathedral. An official spokesman for
Pope prays for dead cardinals •
Saint Anne's Hospital Tribute Fund In memory of: Ann Abati Francis Abreau Virginia Bell George Botelho Joseph Caouette Joe Davies Walter J. Eaton Elvira Ferraro Vickie Lee Gariepy Garretson Hageman Jesse Hebert Edward Kaminski Thomas P. McGillick Arthur J. McGpugh . Lionel Medeiros Gloria Moniz Lorraine V. O'Connor ' Raymond E. Parise Mary Ann Pelletier Raymond Pelletier , Leopold J. Pichette Sr. Beatrix de SL Joseph Ri!>'ard Sr. Jeanne Therese Rivard Sr. Marguerite Rivard Chester Robert Edward Rousseau Mildred C. Fiore Samuel Joseph C. Saulino Constance Sherman Mary Sullivan
SaintAnne's Hospital 795 Middle Street Fall River, MA 02721 (508) 674-5741 *As ofFebruary 28, 1998
church earlier." Blair caused controversy before the election when it was revealed that he had been receiving Communion in a Catholic Church near his north London home. After an intervention by Cardinal George Basil Hume of Westminster, he agreed to stop. Speaking March 6 at a Scottish Labor Party conference in Perth, Scotland, Blair joked about rumors that he planned to convert.
"Keep the faith," he told his supporters. "According to the newspapers, I keep several," he added, interrupted by la,ughter. The news that he had been attending Mass on his own had prompted a rash of media speculation. The London newspaper The Daily Telegraph - edited by Catholic convert Charles Moore - said in a March 5 editorial comment that there wa~i nO'constitutional bar to the prime minister converting to Cath~licism. "If the prime minister had been taking Communion, Roman Catholics would have every right to feel offended that he was receiving their central sacrament without adopting their faith. Protestants might also be offended that he had participated in what the 39 Articles call 'blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits.' But as far as we know, all the prime minister has been doing is joining in the prayer of the Roman rite. It should be reassuring that a modern leader takes time to pray in church," said the editorial. , In matters of faith, the newspaper concluded, Blair should be allowed to make his decisions in private.
The French prelate had only recently been inducted into College of Cardinals. By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
FEAST OF ST~ JOS'EPH MAR.CH
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VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II offered his prayers for Argentine Cardinal Antonio Quarracino and French Cardinal Jean Balland, both of whom died over the weekend of Feb. 28March I.
'Cardinal Quarracino, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, died Feb. 28 at the age of 74. He had been hospitalized a week earlier for emergency surgery to remove an intestinal blockage. He suffered a heart attack and died in the hospital. Cardinal Balland, the ·archbishop of Lyons, was 63 years'old and suffering from lung cancer. He died March I. , Pope John Paul had inducted the French prelate into the College 'Of Cardinals just a week before tiis death. Walking 'up the
In Your Prayers Please pray for the following priests ,during ~he coming week , PRIESTS' CURRENTLY SERVING
NECROLOGY
March 14 Rev. Clarence J. D'Entremont
March 15 Rev. Vincent F. Diaferio
March
~6
Rev. John F. Dias, CSC
March 17 Rev. William Dillon, SSCC
Match 19
1905, Rev. Jo~n ](1 cQu.;de, A'Si".nt, Mary, Taunton / ;
SI.
/ /March20 1951, Rev!!7ancis A. Mrozinski, Pastor, St. Hedwig, New.Bedford
~.
"
March 18
Rev. Gustavo Dominguez, lYE
a hJ9 Rev. Robert C:-Dooovan ,
March20
~
Rev. Jose A.F. dos Santos
steps in St. Peter's Squa.re to receive his red hat from l:he pope Feb. 21, Cardinal Balland had to be assisted by two priesls. The deaths of the two cardinals left the College of Cardinals with 163 members, 120 of whom are under age 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a con,clave for a new pope. . Antonio Quarracino \Vas born in Pollica, Italy. When he was a small child, his family moved to Argentina, where the fUl:Ure cardinal attended elementary school. He did his high school and univer~ity studies at San Jm:e Seminary in La Plata and was ordained to the priesthood in 1945, He was named bishop of Nueve de Julio in 1962. Six years later he was transferred to the Diocese of Avellaneda, then in 1985 was named archbishop of La Plata. Pope John Paul named him archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1990 and made him a cardinal a year later. Jean Balland was born in Bue, France. At the age of 12 he entered the minor seminary of the Diocese of Bourges. After finishing his high school studies there, he was sent to the French seminary in Rome and studied at Gregorian University. His seminary studies were interrupted from 1957-1959 for his military service, which he performed in France and in Algeria. Ordained to the priesthood in 1961, he' was named bi~ihop of Dijon in 1982 and archbi shop of Reims in 1988. Pope John Paul II transferred him t<? Lyons in 1995.
East Taunton parish slates Lenten mission EAST TAUNTON-Father Joe Tagg, a priest from the Diocese of Memphis, Tenn., will direct a fourday Lenten mission March 15 through 18 at 7 p.m. in Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Ave. The topic of the mission will be "God's Mercy, Forgivt:ness and Love for his People." Father Jay T. Maddock, pastor of Holy Family Parish, said that "Father Tagg brings a unique perspective to the understanding of God's love and mercy for us. He himself has traveled a long road that led to him tinally accepting God's call. He is not afraid to share this journey with others. Those who attend the mission will surely corne away spiritually enriched." Born in Memphis on May 28, 1944, Father Tagg attended Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, where he was captain of the football team, and graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1967 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. Following his graduation, he moved back to Memphis and was employed in the Business Development Department of the First Tennessee Bank from 1967··71. At the same time, he attended law school at Memphis State University in the night program and graduated with
a doctor's degree in jurisprudence the priesthood on July 15, 1978, Fain 1971. He joined the law firm of Gerber, Gerber and Agee in 1971 and became a partner in 1972, practicing law until August 1974 when he entered the seminary as a candidate for the priesthood for the Diocese of Memphis and attended the North American Gollege in Rome, Italy. He graduated from the Angelicum Pontifical University with a bachelor's degree in sacred theology in 1977 and with a master's degree in pastoral theology in FATHER JOE TAGG 1978. Although he was scheduled for ordination to
May Institute, St. Anne's to serve region's youth HARWICH-The May Institute, one of New England's most respected non-profit behavioral heallhcare organizations, recently announced ajoint effort with Saint Anne's Hospital to pTovide the highest level of pediatric care to children in the Greater Fall River. area. Il means that children with special needs can receive every aspect of their treatment at the new Center for Children and Families at SaintAnne's Hospital in Fall River. "We're pleased to announce that the Greater Fall River area is horne to a one-stop center dedicated to helping children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, behavioral challenges, developmental disabilities, brain injuries, neurological disorders and chronic diseases," said Dr. Dennis Russo, chief clinical officer at May. "Children with special health care needs often have behavior challenges as well," he added. "Many of these children do not receive coordinated care that carries over into home, school and community. "At the Center, doctors, therapists, social workers and families work as a team to provide a unique level of care to children. Until now, many children and their families had to travel to Boston for this type of care." The Center's mission is to involve the entire family in a child's care from the start. Saint Anne's and the May Institute recognize that families need to be active and in-
formed participants in their child's treatment, Russo stated. Deidre Donaldson, a licensed psychologist and director of the Center for Children, said that there arc more than 33,000 children under age 18 in the Fall River region and 40 percent of them live below the poverty line. 'These children are more susceptible to behavioral and neurological problems than children from other backgrounds. That's one reason we saw a tremendous need for the Center for Children and Fami.lies," Donaldson said .. "Our desire is to solve a child's problems before they reach a crisis point." Dr. Jeannine Audet, the only physician in the Greater Fall River
area specializing in behavioral/developmental pediatrics is also on the staff at the Center. "Another added benefit is our pediatric specialty clinics held at Saint Anne's on a monthly basis," she said. "Boardcertified specialists from the New England Medical Center and area physicians in cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, orthopedics and urology, among others, are brought in." The May Institute of Harwich was recently chosen as one of America's best nonprofits for its commitment to employee development. For more information on the Center for Children and Families,
call 1-888-280- KIDS.
Daily Readings Mar. 16 Mar. 17 Mar. 18 Mar. 19
Mar. 20 Mar. 21 Mar. 22
2 Kgs 5:1-15a; Pss 42:2-3;43:3-4; Lk 4:24-30 On 3:25,34-43; Ps 25:4-9; Mt 18:21-35 Ot4:1,5-9; Ps 147:12-13,15-16,19-20; Mt 5:17-19 2 8m 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5,27,29; Rom 4:13,16-18,22; Mt 1:16,18-21,24a or Lk2:41-51a Hos 14:2-10; Ps 81 :6-11,14,17; Mk 12:28b-34 Hos 6:1-6; Ps 51:3-4,18-21; Lk 18:9-14 Jos 5:9a,10-12; Ps 34:2-7; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 .
111111111111111111111111'11111 TIlE ANCHOR (USPS-545.Q20) Periodical fuslage Paid at Fall River, Mass. Published weekly except for the first two weeks in July aoo the week after Chrisanas at 887 Highlaoo
Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720 by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $t4.00 per year. Postmasters send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.
THE ANCHOR -
Diocese of Fall River -
ther Tagg decided to decline ordination at that time and returned to the active practice of law again with the Gerber law tirm. From 1978 until the fall of 1988 he practiced law and exercised no ministerial functions. I"September, 1988, Father Tagg returned to Rome for a three-month update in the study of the Sacraments and was ordained a priest on Dec. 10, 1988, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, his
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Fri., Mar. 13, 1998
home parish, in Memphis. Following ordination, Father Tagg served in several posts and parishes. In the spring of 1993, he obtained a degree in canon law from St'-Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. Currently he is judicial vicar in the marriage tribunal. He is also a board member and has been elected by the National Conference of Christians and Jews to serve as cochair representing the Catholic community.
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THE ANCHOR ~ Diocese of Fall.River -
Fri., Mar.. 13, 1998 _.
the living word
the moorin9..-, A worthwhile issue At the start ofthe academic year this past September, a group of young Orthodox Jews began a moral debate on the housing rules at Yale University. Claiming that the popular innovation of coeducational dormitories has led to a modern version of Sodom and Gomorrah, they waged a campaign for alternative housing accommodations. They felt very str~>ngly that their religious rules of modesty, privacy and sexual abstinence until marriage forbade them to live in coed residences where condoms, alcohol and shared bathrooms were the vogue. Their much publicized effort has sent a jolt through the university system. For years, administrators have been developing the concept of shared experiences as an educational ideal. This in itself has raised issues concerning the extent to which colleges and universities should provide and develop services for their undergraduate student bodies. Often executive decisions have included the matter of providing student housing. Given the need for campus dormitories and the permissive mentality of mu.ch of today's society, many schools, including Catholic institutions, have developed policies that go beyond mere education. Indeed, in many cases, they provide excuses for cohabitation. It is embarrassing to learn that the vast majority of schools encourage this mode of campus residency. Whether the secular world agrees or not, there is a moral issue here. Permissiveness in any form should not be public policy. At one time in our educational history, there was a real effort to develop in the young the ideal of a moral conscience, but now, in an age·where individual choices take precedence over the common good, the concept of morality per se has been relegated to the back burner. So many educational leaders have refused to agree that recognition of the true dignity of the human person implies and requires moral conscience. Without this a' person.is ultimately unable to assume responsibility for his or her acts. After all, conscience is ajudgment of reason by which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act to be performed or already carried out.. It includes knowledge of the principles of morality and discernment of their application in given circumstances. At one time this universal guideline was an essential part of the educational process, but seemingly it has been abandoned by our universities and colleges. . Excessive capitalism, the desire to succeed and the recognition of status all effectively refuse to recognize that little becomes of a person if he or she gains the whole world but loses his or her very .being in the process. The failure of our schools to teach that everyone has a right to act in conscience and in freedom to make moral decisions has become a cancer on our social order. All one need do is to take off the sunglasses of irresponsibility and look at the America we live in, from the debacles of Washington to the destruction of family and pro-choice murder on demand. Good education teaches and supports virtue; it does not condone polic.ies and practices that are wrong and morally unacceptable.. What is being publiCized at Yale should not be ignored by Church-sponsored colleges and universities. In order to become relevant and acceptable in our secular society, too many of our Catholic schools have simply turned their backs on this issue. Too . few Catholic schools support those who have the courage to make choices of conscience with regard to their mode of campus life. This is more than tragic. Someplace along the line·all schools, whether secular, private. or church supported, must come to grips with the growing number of students who oppose morally unacceptable school policies. Let's hope the Yale five not only raise a debate on this issue, but also bring hope to our schools that the role of conscience in education will once more be rec,ognized and respected.
ST. PATRICK, BISHOP AND MISSIONARY TO IRELAND, IS DEPICTED IN THIS STAINED GLASS WINDOW AT THE CROSIER COMMUNITY IN ANOKA, MINN. LEGEND SAYS THAT HE USED THE. SHAMROCK TO DESCRffiETHE TRINITY FOR THOSE HE SOUGHT TO CONVERT. HIS FEAST DAY IS MARCH 17.
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Bapti~e them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy S~pirit." .Matthew 28:19
u.s. students lag in math, sciel1lce By
FATHER KEVIN
J.
HARRINGTON
Ever since the Russians shocked the United States by zooming first into space in 1957, Americans have been promising to improve math and science education. I was one of the first beneficiaries of the postsputnik mania through my participation in the honors science program at Providence College. But despite such efforts, the grades of the most recent and biggest math and science exam are in and they don't look good for us. Michigan State University's William Schmidt, coordinator of U.S. testing in the Third International Mathematics I and Science Study (TIMSS) put it bluntly: "Our best students in mathematics and science are simply not world-class." . Our high school seniors, including those adjudged the most ad-" The Editor vanced, finished on the bottom of a list of 21 nations that excluded Asian countries. known to be science and math powerhouses. Educators are used to finishing behind the Swiss and the Scandinavians but to finish behind the Cypriots and the OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Lithuanians waS a!l unpleasant surPublished weekly by The Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River· prise. . . ·887 Highland Avenue P.O. BQX 7 Apologistsilotedthat the test did Fall River. MA 02720 Fall River. MA 02722-0007 not take creativity into considerTelephone 508-675-7151 ation but emphasized conformity. . FAX (508) 675-7048 Others rationalized that our seniors Send address changes 10 P.O. Box 7 or call telephone number above are not exposed to calculus until college, while others found hope in . EDITOR GENERAL MANAGER . the fact that our fourth graders NEWS EDITOR Rev. John F. Moore Rosemary Dussault James N. Dunbar scored well and our eighth graders were only slightly lagging behind. ~ L!A'AV PRESS - FALL RIVER But we should stop apologizing and
theancho~
•
promising reform and actually be- are spending three hours a day. Years ago, foreign students, came to gin implementing that reform. Our textbooks and aptitude and this country to obtain a better eduachievement tests are designed to cation from kindergarten through make it easier for our youngsters to high school. Now they only come gain better results but not to make to this country to gain a be:tter colit easier for them to learn more. lege education. Twenty-eight perPoints were added to SAT scores so cent of high school math teachers that the average would be elevated and 18 percent of high school scito 500. Educators rationalized that ence teachers neither majored nor more people are college bound than minored in those subjects, The key to improving math and before, therefore there was a need science performance is what goes to adjust the average. High school girls have tradition- on in the classroom. Most high ally finished behind high school schools require only three years of boys in their PSAT math scores, so math and two years of science, and last year the girls were given bonus many students stop taking math and questions to compensate for the dis- science after the 10th or 11th grade. Students with varying aptitudes and parity. National MeritScholarships are abilities should not be kept in the granted according to PSAT scores same classroom. but' the college boards changed the Most nations begin to identify rules because they feared a gender the gifted by middle school age. To discrimination suit. be egalitarian may be politically Forty years of promises of re- correct but it is disastrou:; in the form have yielded few results. classroom. Math and scienc~ textThere is no quick fix solution. books should be written b"y mathPresident Bill Clinton points tlie fin- ematicians and scientists ~vorking ger of accusation at our teachers and with our best teachers, not hy comexonerates parents from responsi-" mittees in publishing hou:;es that bility fot poor student performance~ , are only good at marketing books. Twenty-eight percent of U.S. 12th More than half our high school graders work more than five hours students will be taught physics by a a day at a paid job, while only nine teacher who neither majored nor percent of students fro,m the other minorerd in physics. Th,ey will not 20 nations on the TIMSS list work encounter a teacher who majored in so lon·g.. physics until they reach colle:ge. The Parents are definitely respon- majority of foreign-born professors sible for the fact that most high are on science or math faculties. school students are spending only We don't have to worry about an hour a day on homework while becoming globally non-competiother nations' high school students tive. We already are!
Holy Father praises UN's Annan for Iraqi resolve •
Pontiff hopes lor a conclusive settlement to bring peacE~ to the Persian Gulf nations By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY _. Pope John Paul II thanked U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for negotiating a solution to the Iraq crisis and said he hoped it would put an end to the threat of new military action there. The pope, who had urged Annan to travel to Baghdad in February, called his successful mission there an international diplomatic victory. "I want to thank the Lord for the happy conclusion of the Baghdad agreement, in the hope that it definitively ends the danger of recourse to
weapons," the pope said at a Sunday blessing March 1. Under the agreement, Iraq agreed to continued international weapons inspections. The pope singled out Annan for praise, along with those' who supported the United Nations' lastminute efforts to halt a new bombing campaign against Iraq. "A particular word of appreciation goes to the secretary-general of the United Nations and to all those who, in this difficult crisis, wanted to believe in the goodwill of human beings. Their diplomatic succe~s is certainly a victory of the international community," he said. While noting that the situation in Iraq remains "delicate and complex," the pope said there were high hopes for a conclusive settlement. "May God continue to enlighten all those who are concerned about the
Pope reiterates Church's stand on contraception By LYNNE WI:IL CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul IT said the Catholic Church understands the difficulties some couples might have with natural birth control, but he said the church still opposes contraception. In a March 2 message to a meeting on birth control at Rome's Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, the pope noted that the church's position had not wavered since Pope Paul VI articulated it in his 1968 encyclical "Humanae Vitae." The encyclical, which concerned married love and procreation, reaffirmed church teaching that artificial .contraception is morally wrong. Pope John Paul said the Catholic Church "is aware of the difficulties of various types which, pal1:icularly in the present social context, married people can encounter not only in carrying out
but also even in understanding the moral nonns regarding (birth control). "Like a mother," he continued, ''the church draws near to couples in difficulty in order to help them, but also reminds them that the way to find the solution to their problems cannot be found but through full respect for the truth of their love." The pope urged couples to call on the Holy Spirit for strength in remaining "coherent with the truth of conjugal love." "In the act which yxpresses their love, spouses are called to make a reciprocal gift of themselves in the integrity of their person," Pope John Paul said. "Nothing which conStitutes their being can remain excluded from this gift. This is the reasoning behind the intrinsic illicitness of contraception: It introduces a substantial limitation within this reciprocal exchange," he said
Weekly General Audience Message Pope John Paul n Dear brothers and sisters, Our catechesis on the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 reflects today on how the salvation accomplished by Christ is realized in human history. The descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost enabled the disciples to grasp the profound significance of the kingdom of God present in human affairs. God ,ntervenes in history at times of his own choosing. We must discern these times and allow ourselves to be challenged b'd them. The most fundamental time was the coming of the Son of God as man, whose saving work continues in the church. In her history, the church experiences both periods when her missionary efforts seem to be less effective and favorable times when the Gospel is welcomed and conversions muttiply. Those who have a special responsibility to evangelize must discern these times in order to make the best use of the opportunities offered by grace. Despite their human weaknesses, the power of the Holy Spirit enables Christ's disciples to be authentic witnesses to the Gospel. The same power will always continue to produce new marvels of grace in the work of the evangelization of peoples. I extend a warm welcome to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at this audience, especially those from Denmark, Australia, the Philippines, Japan, Canada and the United States of America. Upon you an~ 'dour families I cordially invoke the blessings of Almighty God.
fate of the Iraqi people and peace in the Middle East," he said.
THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Mar. 13, 1998 causes the civilian population. The Iraqi government made the same point during the recent crisis, but U.N. Security Council members, including the United States, have so far opposed a lifting of the embargo. In the same talk, the pope also lent his support to a group urging debt relief for poor countries. He repeated his suggestion that the foreign debt be alleviated for the year 2000. "In the face of this grave problem, I again propose that we use the moment of preparation for the great jubilee as an opportune time for a substantial reduction, if not outright forgiveness, of the international debt that weighs like a rock on so many countries," he said.
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Pontiff urges all Christians to pray By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II completed a week of prayer and Lenten reflection and encouraged Christians around the world to do the same. The pope's annual Lenten retreat was preached this year by Slovakian Cardinal Jan Korec, a 74-year-old Jesuit once imprisoned under communism, who later in life conducted his ministry clandestinely as a factory worker. The pope canceled all regular meetings and audiences during the retreat. In a brief talk before beginning the. spiritual exercises March 2, he explained why such reflection is important in the lives of all Christians during the preparation period for Easter. "I ask you to accompany me with your prayers and I encourage everyone, in keeping with their work and family commitments, to find moments of silence and reflection," he said. The pope said such moments are especially important today so that Christians can "listen to the voice of the Lord, which risks being suffocated in the whirl of daily occupation." The pope encourages members of the Roman Curia to join him in the morning and afternoon exercises. During the retreat, the pontiff prays and listens to the prelate chosen for preaching. The pope does not address the group, except atthe end to give a brief talk of thanks.
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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of FalI River - Fri., Mar. 13, 1998
A curious history of America
Priests we remember
I was pretty devastated when a very dear friend called me, very upset. Claire, a lovely person, was raised Catholic but fell away from the church in early adolescence. We often have talked about her continual search for God. She told me she had begun to visit a Catholic By MSGR. GEORGE HIGGINS church in Manhattan on her way to work mornCATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE ings. That day she had noticed a sign saying that Paul Johnson, a distinguished British Catholic journalist and popular confessions were being heard. She felt moved to historian, just published a mammoth I ,088-page "History of the Ameri- go into the box. can People" (Harper ColIins). It is easy, almost too easy, to read, but let She began by telling the priest that it had been the reader be on guard. "I do not seek, as some historians do, to conceal 32 years since her last confession. He asked her if my opinions," Johnson says. she was married and whether the ceremony had There is something rather engaging about that kind of up-front honbeen in a Catholic church. She said that when she esty, but Johnson might have added that his opinions, for the most part, answered that she had been married in a "Chrisare at the spectrum's extreme, ultraconservative end. The America he loves is a place where, especialIy in the 19th century, "the spirit of laissez- tian church," he said, "I can't give you absolution," and shut the door. faire libertarianism ... pervaded every aspect of life." When she told me this, I wondered, "What Johnson, to his credit, urges readers to comment on opinions of his would Christ have done?" which they find "insupportable." I can think of at least a dozen such opinI immediately called a priest I know and arions, but I will limit my comments here to Johnson's superficial treatranged for Claire to talk to him. I knew he would ment of the U.S. labor problem in the 19th century. As one reviewer pointed out, there are no robber barons in Johnson's' begin by asking her, "What is drawing you back to book and no real victims, since "the facts" demonstrate "a panorama of the church, and how can I help you?" general progress in which alI classes shared." To be sure, some shared Whether this can heal the wounds Claire is feelmore than others - notably Andrew Carnegie, in his day the nation's ing from the rejection she received in confession I wealthiest man. Johnson finds Carnegie; in his own way, the most effec- don't know. At¡least it will show her she mustn't tive economic and political philosopher of the age. judge all priests based on one experience. Johnson notes the Homestead strike at Carnegie's main steelworks in That very week I sent a report to Claire that I . western Pennsylvania, but artfulIy explains it away. In this respect he is read in The Long Island Catholic, the weekly pacompletely outside the mainstream of American historiography. Almost per of the diocese of Rockville Center on Long without exception, American labor historians agree that the brutal break- Island. Reporter Peter Feuerherd has been collecting of that strike by Pennsylvania militiamen in calIous colIusion with ing stories from people inspired by the work of a Carnegie's company was one of U.S. labor history's most disgraceful priest, deacon or religious. events. Feuerherd was struck by the pattern of responses. The strike was a catastrophe for American labor. As Johnson notes, Very few mentioned a brilliant sermon, noted Carnegie's biographer wrote 40 years later: "Not a single union man has "grand liturgical expertise" or mentioned a pastor's' since entered the Carnegie works.". That doesn't seem to bother Johnson. He makes clear that he realIy financial or administrative genius as transforming does not believe in unions in his eccentric defense of the infamous the lives of Catholics. And "no one mentioned Pinkerton detective agency which, in the 19th century, specialized in break- anything about a priest's admonition about immoral behavior as having an impact," he wrote. ing strikes by fair means or foul. "Pinkerton, it should be noted," he writes, "was not anti-working class.... But he hated bulIying of the weak from whatever quarter, he upheld the rule of law against alI comers and he believed passionately in the right of the working man to selI his labor in the open market as he pleased. "Trade unionism as practiced in 19th-century America went against alI these convictions as Pink.erton wilIingly used his organization to beat Dear Dr. Kenny: We have a boy and a girl, undemocratic strikes." both in junior high. My husband and I work, There you have Johnson's view of unions in a nutshell. Like Pinkerton, and we think our children should help around he believes passionately in the right of the working man toselI his labor the house. We need the help, and we think it's in the open market as he pleases. If Johnson was ever told at the presti- good for our children. We have explained all this gious Catholic prep school he once attended, he has completCIy forgotten to them, but without result. The more we get that this is¡ totalIy incompatible with Catholic social teaching, starting after them, the more they procrastinate. We have with Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical "Rerum Novarum." • tried grounding and punishing, but that doesn't On wage justice, Pope Leo famously wrote as folIows: "Let workers work either. What to do? (Missouri) and employer ... make any bargain they like, and in particular agree freely about wages; neverless there underlies a requirement of natural justice Of course children should do chores. You need higher and older than any bargain voluntarily struck: The wage ought your children to help, and they need to be needed. not to be in any way insufficient for the bodily needs of a temperate and The world, however, doesn't run on "shoulds." SaywelI-behaved worker." ing something doesn't necessarily make it happen. Johnson, throughout his book, stresses the central, fundamental influYour children are probably getting too much atence of Christian belief in American history. tention for not doing their chores. As you say, the Not so fast. more you get after them, the less they do. I don't know about Christianity in general, but surely laissez-faire libThe worst of it is that they get a payoff for "not ertarianism, so dear to Johnson's heart, cannot be blamed on Roman Catho- doing." . lic Christianity. Quite the contrary. They get your lecturing, your punishment, your time and attention. Even though it may be negative, people do what gets them attention. . You need a system that d~fines the chore, sets a deadline, provides a minireward if the chore is completed and a consequence if it is not. All this must happen without your nagging and getting after them. You must avoid the "secondary gain" of providing attention for failing to do what is asked. , Cleaning their room, picking up a: room around the house, setting the table before dinner and doing dishes are common household tasks performed by children. Select one chore for each of them. , Suppose you were to assign setting the table before dinner as one child's daily chore. Your first step is to define the job concretely. For example: "Set table for four with plates, knives, forks and spoons. Glasses at each place. Salt and pepper and butter on the table. Water pitcher filled." Then set a deadline. "The table is to be set by 6 . A .GIRL is helped into a baptismal pool duril"!g her initiation Into the Catholic Church at an Easter Vigil service last p.m." You may set the oven timer for a five-minute year. Thousands of people are expected to receive the sac- warning, but do not give verbal reminders. If the r~n:'ents <;>f baptism, first Eucharist and confirmation during table is not set by 6, you set it. If your child does vigil services on Holy Saturday, April 11, this year. (CNS/ not set the table by 6 p.m.; no television that night. Or no phone that night. The consequence should ~;";g.~lta~~y photo)
Here is what they cited: "how a priest touched their lives when the letter-wri~er or a family member was seriously ill; how a priest assul'ed them that they were still a welcome part of the church after long periods away from active practice or after a divorce; a kind word in the midst of a per-
The Bottom Line By Antoinette Bosco
sonal crisis." He concluded that a priest "must never shut the door" when people are feeling distressed or unworthy. "It's compassionate intervention~; at such times which appears to be remembered forever." I am so fortunate. I never have met a priest who turned me away. Most priests I have met have been human, caring and Christlike, especially when I have been the most wounded. I want to end by giving one personal example. Four years ago I met an impressive bishop at a conference in Israel on Christians and Jews. He was Bishop Francis Eugene George of the Dk)cese of Yakima, Wash. We had several talks, and he helped ease the pain I was feeling because of the recent murders of my son and daughter-in-law. We stayed in tOl:ICh for a while by mail. I still cherish his handwritten letter saying: "You're in my prayers. I hope we can meet again. You're always welcome here." What a joy it was to see that this good man became archbishop of Chicago and now a cardinal! God blesses His good priests.
Getting children to do 'household chorles be brief (so as to avoid secondary gain), but annoying and unpleasant. If, however, he or she does set the table, provide some mini reward. That's your way of saying thank you. Some people say that virtue should be its own
Family
Talk With Dr. James & Mary Kenny
reward, that children should not be rewarded for doing what they are supposed to do. Tho!;e very persons are usually the ories who "reward" children with considerable nagging and lecturing and long-lasting punishments when they misbehave. I would rather reward children when they do pehave than when they do not. Learn what pleases your child. Common rewards for children ages 12-14 include token amounts of money, food treats, surprise gifts, music tapes, chauffeuring service and privileges. Many parents use a point program to rewa::d their children. Each accomplishment earns a point toward some reward. Score the points on a chart. To summarize, don't nag children to do their chores. Instead, write o!Jt a specific plan. Make clear what happens if your child does what is required and what happens if he does not. Reader questions on family living and child care to be answered in print are invited. Address questions: The Kennys; St. Joseph 's Colle~:e; 219 W. Harrison; Rensselaer, IN 47978.
Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence, Those who are 14 years of age and older are obliged to abstain from m(~at. \ :. r, f ~ ; ,
II
Covering statues and crosses in purple Q. My question concerns the practice of covering statues and the crucifix in the week or two before Easter. Only one parish in our area had them covered last year. Our liturgy committee is uncertain what to do. ArE~ there official church regulations that would help us? (Ohio) A. In years past the crucifix and other images in Catholic churches were covered with purple cloths during the two weeks before Easter. For reasons having to do with the proper liturgical spirit of those days, especially of the Easter triduum, that custom was changed when the revised missal (Sacramentary) was published in 1970. At the end of the Mass for Saturday of the fourth week of Lent, the Sacramentary indicates the practice "may be observed, if the episcopal conference [so] decides." That same regulation was repeated in 1988 in a letter on the celebration of the Easter feasts from the Congregation for Divine Worship. Since the National Conference of Catholic Bishops has never voted to continue the practice of covering images and crosses, the practice has not been permissible in the United States for the past 28 yea~. . As the bishops' Committee on the Liturgy has noted (April 1995), individual parishes are not free to reinstate the practice on their own.
Q. Why does St. John's Gospel not even mention the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper? We believe that, in Chapter 6 of that Gospel, Jesus was referring to the promise of the Eucharist when he spoke of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. If John believed those words as we do, it's strange he did not tell us when that promise was fulfilled. (Californi.l!l) '" ., A. As everyon~ familiar with the New Testament knows, the Gospel according to John is quite different in a number of major ways from the other three Gospels. '
Reasons these differences occur are not always easy to find. Much has to do with the fact that the fourth Gospel was apparently completed some decades after the others. An even larger reason is ~hat John's whole approach to Jesus and his message reflects a level of
Questions and Answers By Father John J. Dietzen theological reflection unknown in Mark, Matthew and Luke. For example, another instance that occurs to us particularly during Holy Week is that John is the only Gospel to tell us the mother of Jesus was present at the crucifixion. The other evangelists name other women being there, but not Mary. If she was there, were they ignorant of the fact, which doesn't seem likely. Or didn't they think it was important? Or did John speak of her on Calvary because of a theological relationship between her and the church, represented by "the beloved disciple"? Thus, in the case you mention, maybe John knew the story of the institution of the Eucharist was already well known from the other evangelists, and he wanted to explain further what the Eucharist meant. So he told a Last Supper story the others omitted: Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. We probably will never know for certain, inthis life at least, the answers to such questions..
A free brochure answering questions Catholics ask about receiving the holy Eucharist is available by sending a stamped, self-addressed enveloPe to Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Church, 704 N. Main St., Bloomington, Ill. 61701. Questions for this column should be sent to Father Dietzen at the same address.
Memories of baseball cards and bubble gum~ Cactus League baseball is here, and the excitement of the season is underway: pitchers and catchers showing up early, last-minute trade rumors, multimillionaire 20-year-olds refusing to autograph 8year-olds' baseball cards. I remember when baseball trading cards carne in packets of bubble gum as an inducement to buy the gum. Those of us who scoured ditches, parking lots and trash cans for pop bottles to sell so we could buy the cards were mystified by this marketing scheme. We wanted the cards, not the gum. (Little did we realize that in the future someone would do a similar thing: put sports "news" in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition and pretend people were buying the magazine for the articles.) For one thing, you could not chew the gum. However, you could drill a small hole in it through which you could thread a piece of string and hang it from your parents' rear-view mirror - the ancestor to the modem car-freshener. We were convincc~d that it was not really gum at all, but either: a) World War II surplus rubber-raft patches soaked in some kind of secret pink biochemical flavoring brine. If sailors were lost at sea for long periods of time, they could eat the patches once they had gone completely over the edge from drinking sea water for weeks on end. Or, b)A derivative of linoleum soaked in some kind of secret pink biochemical flavoring brine for several months prior to being wrapped in packets of baseball cards. In either case, the "stick" of gum was roughly the size of a 3 x 5 note card, only thicker, and you couldn't take legiblf: notes on them. Thus, to "chew" the "gum" the trick was to get it into your mouth, a procedure that resembled push-
irg a pink shingle into your face. Most of my friends prefem~d to chew the cards of players no one liked, although these made poor bubbles. And today they are worth more than most n.ew cars. The "gu~ shingles" were brittle, probably from
The offbea ... . ·won
Dfi~le
By" D~riL'~6~ri~' i·; -;
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drying out from years of storage in military surplus warehouses until they were purchased by an entrepreneur who saw their real potential. They would crack into little pieces (the gum, not the entrepreneurs) if you'd try to use them to patch knotholes in your tree fort. But they were pretty good for BB-gun target practice. Guys (girls would not touch the stuff) who actually managed to pry a whole piece into their mouths could make the rest of us roll on the floor with laughter. For some reason this was usu~lIy in Mrs. Hammersledge's third-grade class and not the best place to roll around, especially during geography. . I wonder if anyone at Sports Illustrated has thought about wrapping an issue around baseball trading cards.
Your comments are welcome always. Please send them to Uncle Dan, 25218 Meadow Way, Arlington, Wash. 98223.
THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Mar. 13, 1998
7
.One priest's path to the "good life" By
FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
"You have toiled without cease and what have you got?" This sage question is found in the ancient book, "The Gilgamesh." Well, I'm a priest who recently celebrated yet another birthday, after which I found myself asking, "What have the toils I endured during my priesthood produced?" Furthermore, I was asking myself, have I experienced the "good life"? Reflecting on these questions proved a good exercise for me, and I'm now ready to pass on to you a few of the joys of becoming a priest - my joys, at least. All of life goes through stages, and so does priestly life. At age 13, I attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago where I was anything but a good student. Many days I would stop at Holy Name Cathedral on my way to school and bombard heaven with prayers for help with merely surviving my studies. As difficult as those days were, they formed in me the habit of talking with God heart-to-heart. In those conversations I learned the lesson of spiritual capitulation in which you turn everything over to God when you have done all you can. What this toil produced was a beautiful friendship with God and thus my first real taste of the good life in its truest sense. In the major seminary those conversations deepened, thanks to the meditative environment. And I entered a new stage of the good life when I fell in love with my studies in theology. We had wonderful courses. There was our study of the prophets, which immersed us in examples of religion in action at its best. And I especially remember our course in grace, which inspired me so powerfully that I couldn't wait to be ordained and to pass on its uplifting message. Most of all, there was the realization of what the Eucharist is and the important role I would play in celebrating it with others. Eating, sleeping and living in this "world of theology" truly was, I decided, the good life! I've now been ordained 35 years. Most of those years were spent in research, studying almost every facet of church life. Reflecting on those years, I realize that what was good about the work was much more than the opportunity always to learn something new. There was also the discovery of how powerful and uplifting new ideas can be in others' lives. So, just as I experienced the good life through professors who shared inspiration and knowledge with me, I found myself following in their footsteps and sharing ideas with others in the hope of enriching their lives. One of my present goals is to discover how to help ecumenical and interfaith couples live a more unified family life. Another exciting endeavor has me exploring how to welcome people from other cultures - how we all can stop making new immigrants and others who reside among us for a time feel like foreigners and instead help them to feel part of a family. Such endeavors, in my view, point us toward Christ's good news and the need to spread it by promoting recognition of life's dignity. "You have toiled without cease, and what have you got?" I believe I can say that my toils in the priesthood have brought me closer to God and showed me how to pass on God's magnificent goodness to others. And this is only one priest's joy. Many thousands of other priests have their own experiences ofjoy to share.
Add a little "fiber·· to your religious diet New book release. Get to know the author of
--Unlocking the Secrets of the Shroud--
Thursday_ March 26. 1998
7:00 p.m. St. Thomas More Parish Center 386 Luther Ave. • Somerset. MA 02726 Whether or not you are sold on the authenticity ofThe Shroud ofTurin, a night with Dr. Gilbert Lavoie will weave some new fiber into the fabric ofyour religious thoughts. Gilbert R. Lavoie, M.D., a general practitioner living in Needham; MA, tells his own story about The Shroud ofTurin. Let Dr. Lavoie share his story with your group.
Contact Liz Lavoie Langfield to set aside a time convenientfor your parish group, tel. (508) 675·6173 Dr. Lavoie will have'copies ofhis new book with him, available for purchase and signing.
8
THE ANCHOR -
Diocese of Fall River -
Fri., Mar. 13, 1998
An Irish' confession betters an "Inside Edition"
New book on St. Patrick geare~d for young children
The following are excerpts taken looked at St. Patrick. "Do you think and darkness," he said. The Druids For all the criticism the church gets from the media for being too from a condensation of the book of- God might be calling you to be one mocked him but the'king spoke up. CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE "Be quiet," he ordered the Druids, of us?" he asked. judgmental and rigid, it seems it is fered by the author. "I know how to watch sheep and and awe filled the hall, as Patrick I'm reading a book called "How the media, not the church, that are Things were good for St. Patrick.. how to pray, but I never learned the turned to the people. the Irish Saved Civilization:' by Tho- unforgiving.about sin. "Men and women of Ireland, lisThe TV networks tear people His father was important, he lived in Bible," said Patrick. masCahil1. It is, ofcourse, true in "If you know that God loves you, ten to God's word," he said. "The every detail. I say that from the stand- apart on the news for the very sins a nice house in Gaul, a land that topoint of true objectivity, being only they laugh' at on the sitcoms! I'd day has become France, Spain, and you ire very wise," said the old three-quarters Irish. , rather an Irish confession than "In- part of Italy. His town had a strong priest. "Return to your people. If fort because of wild people. Some God is calIing you, and I think He During Lent there is one Irish con- side Edition." The practice of private confession lived in dark forests and some across is, come back to us." tribution to civilization that is very So Patrick prepared to return much on our minds: the Catholic prac- has served the church wel1 for 1,400 the sea in a place called Ireland. One day they attacked St. Patrick's home. "Christ go with you," said tice of private confession. Given Presi- years. It gives us a path to reconcilident Clinton's recent public agony, it ation that-does not lead through the town, There was blood and there was the priests. "Yes," ,said Patrick. fire and there was crying. The wild "Christ be in front of me, and seems that the Irish custom of con- valleys of shame and humiliation. Before the Irish monks, sin was people threw Patrick in a big boat and Christ be behind me. Christ be at fessing one's sins in secret has sometreated as a public concern requiring made him row to Ireland, where they my right side and my left." thing important to teach our culture. When' he reached hom'e, his sold him into slavery. , public revelation and penance. , "I had a mother who comforted me parents couldn't believe it. They But as Cahill writes, "The Irish innovation was to make confession and a father who loved me:' Patrick had thought he would be a slave a completely private affair between shouted into the black night. "Now I forever and die in a strange land. One night, when Patrick was penitent and priest ... and to make it have no one!" Continued from page one as repeatable as necessary ... on the But even in the black Irish night, sleeping, he had a vision that boat to Britain where he rejoined theory that ... everyone pretty much Patrick was not real1y alone. As he changed his life. It was of an anstarted to fall asleep, for the first time gel from Ireland who gave him a his family who had long considered sinned just about al1 the time. "This adaptation did away with he felt the presence of Jesus. After letter that' began, "Voice 91' the him dead. But Patrick had changed. Bear- the public humiliation, out of tender- that night his life changed. He was , Irish." As he read it, he heard the ness for the sinner's feelings.... It also still a slave, watching his master's voices of the people he had known ing the scars of his enslavement he emphasized the Irish sense that per- cattle, but for six years, every day and when he was a slave. "We beg also was zealous in his faith and you, holy young man, to come sonal conscience took precedence every night, he prayed and prayed. love of God, and saw a divine plan over public opinion or church authorOne night God spoke to him. back to us and walk with us," they in the entire episode. He left for ity. The penitt"nt was not labeled by "Soon you will go home," he told cried. . Gaul (France) to study for the' others, he labeled himself." But first Patrick had to stay in Patrick. "Your ship is ready." priesthood. "No one could ever pry knowl- ' Patrick left his master's fields and Gaul to study Latin and the Bible The accounts of the dreams edge gained in confession ... from a for 200 miles he walked up and down and learn how to be a priest. This took God who made this island and the sea Patrick had as he progressed to- priest," Cahill says. Breaking the seal hil1s and through streams. Then there many years, but he never forgot the around it, wants to make you His sons wards the priesthood and was sub- of confession "was practical1y the it w~s in front of him, a ship and sail- angel and at last, after about 40 years, and daughters and He has sent me as sequentlY,ordained are ~ocu only sin the Irish considered unfor- ors and freedom. He ran aboard and it was decided that he should be a His messenger. The Father (if us aH mented. He said he saw those who givable." J the ship sailed to Gaul. But his bishop; so, when the bishop of Ire- has sent His Son to free you from sin had imprisoned him begging him The more confessions I hear (and troubles were not over. He was still land died, Patrickwas consecrated to and give you His Spirit." When Patrick stopped speaking, a toreturn to them. His superiors con- make), the more I realize what a·great far from home and stil1 a captive and replace him. "Christ before me and behind me, hush fell. E.veryone was t(luched. sidered the idea ludicrous, pointing spiritual innovation the Irish gave us. the landlhe ship came' to was barren. out that Patrick did not have the It al10ws us to face up to our sins Its fieldS:and woods had been burned. on my left and on my right," Patrick The Irish heard the word of Ood and The sailors searched the land but . prayed. "May those who look at me they took it to their hearts and held it experience or even knew the people while preserving our dignity. It resufficiently to accomplish such a quires us to change but recognizes there was no food and after many days see Christ and may those who listen fast. ' we might fail. The king gave Patrick pennission they were starving. "If your God is to me hear Christ." mission. In my experience there is a slight so great," shouted the captain at St. He returned to Ireland, but there to preach throughout the land and It was in 434 and after he had been ordained a bishop that he re- increase in the numbers coming to Patrick, "ask him to get us some he met enemies, the Druids, who now because of his work, love and learnconfession. Each week I hear 10 or food." ruled the land by magic, spel1s and ing..replaced fierceness and Ireland turned to Ireland where he had suf12 confessions at the regular hour on "Why don't you ask him too?" fear. Before Patrick's return, a Druid became known as the Island of Saints fered so much. Saturday. I get a couple more con- said St. Patrick. So he and the cap- had predicted that he would come and and Scholars. For more than 30 years Patrick fessions by appointment every week. tain and crew prayed. They told God bring the Irish a new religion. So So God blessed the Irish by sendcrisscrossed Ireland, establishing People seem mature about the sac- that they were hungry"and if he did when he arrived, they plotted to kill ing them Patrick, and he blessed a lot 'churches and monasteries, found- rament. Few are what we once cal1ed not help him they would die. Then him. of other people by sending them the ing the See of Armagh and ordain- "scrupulous" confessions. Most peni- they opened up their eyes. Running On Easter morning the king ofIre- Irish. ing hundreds of priests he had con- tents have a good sense of social as right at them was a great herd of pigs! land and tile Druids were meeting in 'verted from the local communities. well as personal sin. Occasional1y They ate and ate and ate and they the great hal1 of Tara when Patrick "And God blessed the Irish - The Like 5t. Francis Xavier, he is said people even confess sins of "omis- al1 thankeq God and Patrick. Then at walked in uninvited and stood before Story of Patrick" is available from to have baptized tens of thousands. sion." They do not seem to be ob- last they came to, a monastery where the ,king. Ambassador Books, Inc., 71 Elm St., Ironically, the Gospel had driven sessed with any topic, including sex. priests and monks lived, where they "I have come to tel1 you of your Worcester MA 01609. To order call Patrick to return to the place of his In my parish it seems most regu- were given food. There an, older priest Sav!or who wil1 free you from death (800) 577·0909 .enslavement, but this time it was to lar parishioners go to confession do the evangelizing work of God, about twice a year: Advent and Lent. The numbers coming to confesthe savior and redeemer. Patrick's tremendous devotion sion seem to relate directly to how and love for a foreign people prop- often I mention it in homilies. Last erly set him as the patron saint of year I preached at every Mass about Irelartd. But the lesson taught is that the need for reconciliation. I even Patrick sought and succeeded in the' made the congregation practice saythey played with the other lads of the There is still anger in the stories By Henry Herx peaceful conversion of a people ing "I'm sorry" out loud so they neighborhood as well as the mischief they tell of the local clergy wham they would get used to saying it to God Catholic News Service who h~d oppressed him, whose charge with being "not interested" in they got into. and each other. It seemed to have a crimes and injustices were themNEW YORK - Four brothers re, What they remember most, how- the poor families qf the parish, big impact. selves legend. The story really cenFrank is especially bitter, Ithough At the Lenten reconciliationser- call their impoverished childhood in ever, is the hardships they suffered ters on Patrick's putting aside the vice such a huge crowd showed up Ireland with nostalgic humor tinged from poverty, especially going to bed he does recall his mother getting bitterness and anger that once were that seven priests could not hear al1 with bitterness in .the documentary hungry every night. Frank is the most clothes from the St. Vincent de Paul "The McCourts of Limerick," Tues- nostalgic about the Poor neighbor- Society. It wasn't much, he says, but deep-rooted in his heart. Official the confessions. _day, March 17,8-9 p.m. EST on the' hood in which he grew up and "the "at least they were there." . Church documents date Patrick's Our parish seems evenly divided dignity of the people" who lived there. Their antagonism to the Catholic death in the year 461. on the style of the confessions: face- Cinemax cable channel. It's a family portrait produced by He says they suffered poverty Ch!Jrch remains as strong now as when Patrick's great love might well to-face or behind the screen. While I be seen in the following prayer, prefer the face-to-face, some are just Conor McCourt, whose uncle Frank "with good humor" and "if they com- they left Limerick some 50 years ago and commonly called the Breastplate of .too shy to confess to me one day and authored the 1997 Pulitzer Prize-win- plained, they did it with great style." is the only sour note in this chronicle of ning memoir, "Angela's Ashes.~? AU four emigrated to the United four brothers who overcame the: tragic see me in church the next. ·5t. Patrick and ascribed to him: Jesus did not shame people, he , Malachy, Michael and Alphie add States, did well and look back now'on poverty of their childhood. "Christ be with me, their recollections to those of brother the hardships of their Limerick youth Interviewing the McCourt brothreformed them. Christ before me, Frank in recalling being raised by a with some equanimity, even fondness. ers'in both Limerick and New York St. Patrick's Day falls in the Christ behind me.... mother who suffered bouts of depresAs Michael puts it, "One thing City, the'documentary bring:; their Christ in the heart of everyone middle of Lent. The sixth-century sion after their father abandoned them about what we went through, there experiences to life through extensive Irish monks might appreciate the who thinks of me, during World War II. was nowhere to go but up." use of family photographs and home Christ in the mouth of everyone connection to confession. The family lived in a single room Of all the sad things in their Irish videos as well as historical film footIt is not a burden; but a way to lay who speaks of me, in a squalid Limerick tenement with ' Catholic youth, the one the brothers age and appropriate Irish songs. Christ in every eye that sees me, down a burden. It is the poor man's an outside privy and only a water tap cannot forgive or forget is their feelMaking it inappropriate for chilcouch. The sinner's' refuge. The Christ in every ear that hears I'Of bathing. . ing of rejection by the local church . dren, however, is some coarse lansaint's consolation. me." , The brothers remember the games and its priests. ' .. \',1 •. , ·guage an~ a bit of profanity.·
By FATHER
PETER DALY
BOOK
REVIE""
St. Patrick
"The'McCourts of Limerick" follows "Angela's Ashes" theme
THE ANCHOR -
Diocese of Fall River -
Fri., Mar. 13, 1998
9
Ex-ambassador: Religious effective as peace negotiators •
Raymond Flynn, former ambassador to the Vatican, says many of the world's disputes center on religion. By TOM TRACY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
College Class of 2001 strong on religion •
Telephone poll of college freshmen shows unprecedented inclination of students to help others. By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
MILWAUKEE-According to a new survey, 89 percent of the college graduating class of 2001 believes in God. . The survey, "Generation 200 I: A Survey of the First Graduating Class of the New Millennium," commissioned by Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, was conducted in 25-minute telephone interviews with 2,00 I college freshmen from around the country. Seventy-five percent of the students said they believed in life after death and 68 percent of the students said they attend religious services at least occasionally. When considering how important religion will be to them in the future, 52 percent thought it would be the same and 45 percent said that religion would be more important. Nine out of 10 of the class of 2001 agreed that helping others was more important than helping themselves. The response seems to reflect the respondents' previous volunteer involvement - 73 percent reported volunteering within the last year, most with school-age children, charitable organizations or their church. Another 58 percent said it was very likely they would volunteer in the future. David Krane, executive vice president of Louis Harris & Associates, said if the class of 2001 continued its volunteering trend, "the future is bright." "This apparent willingness to help others may be unprecedented," he added. "Our country's leaders have always been quick to endorse volunteerism and helping others. The survey's results indicate ~hat this generation may have taken the advice to heart." Krane described the surveyed students as less radical than students of the I960s and less materialistic than those of the 1980s. "What makes this generation special," he said, "is the mixture of idealism and optimism of youth with a surprisingly realistic view of the world." He said the importance the students placed on religion might not be different from the rest of society. But what is surprising, he said, "is the degree to which these college freshmen seem to be acknowledging the importance of religion in their lives. No doubt, these feelings, if they continue as the students get older, will be comforting to the leaders of organized religion in this country." When it comes to people these students most respect and adm,ire, parents came out on top. Moms held a slight edge - 26 percent -- over dads - 24 percent. . Nearly all respondents, 96 percent, said they hoped to get married. And 91 percent hope to have an average of three children. The survey, conducted by Louis Harris & Associates, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Politicians love the game of diplomacyespecially when it benefits them personally - but religious leaders are often the most effective peace negotiators, according to the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican. Raymond Flynn, a former mayor of Boston who held the ambassador's post from 1993 to 1997, talked about his perceptions of diplomacy and his experiences at the Vatican during a Feb. 27 Shabbat service at Temple Beth EI in Boca . Raton. "So many world disputes center on religion - whether it be in Northern Ireland, the Middle East or in Bosnia," said Flynn. He recalled witnessing how a small interfaith meeting of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish religious leaders had created an informal cease-fire in Northern Ireland during one of his visits there. "There needs to be a better understanding of the role of religion in the world today, and that doesl1 't happen at the national· government level," he said. St. Joan ofArc Parish and Temple Beth EI in Boca Raton have invited Flynn to speak about Israel and the Vatican in the new millennium during an upcoming two-day event coordinated by the American Jewish Committee. The 58-year-old Flynn - a father of six and a churchgoing Catholicis now a consultant to a health care organization and is considering running for governor of Massachusetts. Speaking to a mostly Jewish audience at Temple Beth EI, Flynn praised the interfaith progress that Catholics and Jews in south Palm Beach County have made. He argued, however, that the United States has "almost an extrt:me interpretation" of the separation of church and state. The result has been that politicians and the media often shy away from really examining the role religion plays in world affairs and in the community, he said. "Young children are the ones who benefit from your (interfaith) efforts here today," Flynn said. "We need our government to understand that if the U.S. is going to continue to be a great country, it should be a country of church or synagogue-based communities. Let Washington take the example of what you are doing." During his service as ambassador to the Vatican, Flynn received three formal reprimands from the U.S. State Department and was criticized by White House officials for opposing President Clinton's veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. But upon his resignation last year, Flynn said he had attempted to serve the president to the best of his abilities while being loyal to his country, faithful to his Catholic religion and true to himself.
When he arrived in Rome in mid1993, Flynn raised eyebrows with his assertive attitude toward what some believed should be a low-key position. He has said he thinks the United States and the Catholic Church are "in sync" on many global issues, but that the ideological similarities are sometimes lost in the public perception, which focuses on more divisive issues like abortion. Flynn resigned as ambassador to the Vatican last Sept. II, the day before President 'Clinton formally nominated former Rep. Lindy Boggs of Louisiana as his successor.
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THE ANCHOR .- Diocese of Fall River -
Fri., Mar. 13, 1998
"Krippendorf's Tribe" is crudely offensive'misfire By GERRI PARE CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
NEW YORK In "Krippendorf's Tribe" (Touchstone), Richard Dreyfuss plays a lazy anthiupologist who steals, lies and commits fraud - by getting his children to ljelp him to carry it all otf. In addition to these moral considerations; the movie also features enough crude sexual references and toilet humor to offend just about everyone except perhaps youngsters, who hopefully will be spared the ter-' rible messages in this drendful comic misfire. A~ widowed professor James Krippendorf, Dreyfuss returns after two years in New Guinea, his $100,000 research grant spent an.d :,nothing to show for .it. . Wanting to avoid being arrested, 'he simply invents a primitive tribe he claims to 'have' discovered, the Shelmikedmu, from the names of his three children, Shelly, 14 (Natasha Lyonne), pre-adolescent Mick~y (Gregory Smith) and little Edmund (Carl Michael Linder). His Il)cture about the tribe is a big success'and he thinks he's off the hook, but publicity-seeking colleague Veronica (Jenna Elfman) falsely boasts 'there is also foot'age of the tribe. Soon the professor has his kids involved in the lie by covering them in blackfac;:e and primitive costumes and filming them at a bogus backyard circumcision ritual.
.NEW XORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting.
"The Big Lebowski" (Gramercy)
flick
Leaden, foul-mouthed comedy Soon the kids are just as adept at in which a shiftless character (Jeff lying as dad, and a cable series deal, Bridges) and his volatile buddy book rights and another six-figure (John Goodman) are duped into a check are his for the taking. Of kidnapping scam involving avaricourse, he has to multiply the lies and ety of claimants to the fraudulent research to keep the scam ransom money. Co-written by direcgoing, but Veronica and the children tor Joel Coen with his brother back him up and are smugly sitting pretty as the media offers pour in by Ethan, the picture focuses on an unsavory collection of self-obthe end. sessed Los Angeles eccentrics Oh, and then there is the one-night stand between the professor and a whose mindless antics are more drunken Veronica, which he also tapes aggravating than amusing. Stylized finding they have been killed or to conveniently incorporate into foot- violence, recreational substance .driven off by soldiers or guerrilla~, abuse, an implied sexual encoun- though his selfless example comes age on mating rituals. A leering comedy that revels in ter, brief nudity, some profanity and to inspire others. Writer-director talking dirty under the guise of dis- constant rough language. The U.S. John Sayles e'xplores the spiritual cussing anthropology, the movie also Catholic Conference classification strengths arid human weakne!!ses of manages to waste the talents ofElaine is 0 ~ - morally offensive. The Mo- people struggling to survive the Stritch, Tom Postom, Lily Tomlin and 'tion Picture Association ofAmerica calamitiys of civil war. Subtitles. \ David Ogden Stiers. Bt:ief violence and occasional rough rating is R ~ restricted. , Any humor is strictly gutter level language. The U.S. Catholic Conand African-Americans especially are ference classification is A-III "Men with Guns" likely to find the blackface and steadults. The Motion PlctureAssocia(Sony Classics) reotypical depiction of native peoples Powerf~l drama of a troubled . tion of America rating is R - rehorrendous. Latin American country where an stricted. This is a movie that deserves to idealistic physician (Federico. be savaged by critics and ignored by "Twilight" (Paramount) Luppi) sets out to visit the novice the public. . , Flawed suspense story in which doctors he had trai ned. to care for Due to its positive view of major theft, constant lying, fraudulent schol- the rural poor, but he despairs after a retired private eye (Paul Newman) arship, a one-night stand, crude sexual references and an instance of profanity, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is 0 - morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13,
becomes involved with the wife (Susan Sarandon) of his terminally ill friend (Gene Hackman) while trying to figure out their part in the long-unsolved murder of her first husband. Director Rohert Benton's twisty mystery is ably abetted by a veteran cast (including James Garner) whose skillful performances distract from a major plot contrivance. Intermittent violence, implied sexual encounters,' brief nudity, some rough language and recurring profanity. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R - restricted.
Catholic screenwriter Dlakes art iDlitate life By MARK
PATTISON
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
-!-
WASHINGTON - To some, life imitates art. For Catholic screenwriter Charles Robert Carner, art imitates life. Carner suffered temporary paralysis in a freak accident several years ago. The accident led him to reconsider his.'priorities and to embrace the Catholic faith of his mother and of the girlfriend who would eventually become his wife. His latest script, "The Fixer," for the Showtime pay cable channel, stars Jon Voight as a corrupt Chicago lawyer who has his own brush with death, a i i reordering of priorities, and an embrace of the Catholic faith of his childhood. ',I Carner's accident occurred when he was sliding down a waterslide in an l . inner tube. He became dislodged from the inner tube and hit his head at the ,f .:jl;J bottom of the pool. The resulting paralysis, albeit temporary, was enough, he' said, to make him think of his mortality and what he was going to do with the SUSAN SARANDON and Paul Newman star in the murder mystery "Twilight." The U.S. rest of his life. The accident, which took place on Easter Sunday in 1991, changed his Catholic Conference classification is A-III - adults. The Motion Picture Association of America perspective. His girlfriend, a member of St. Monica Parish in Santa Monica, rating is R - restricted. (CNS photo from Paramount) Calif., steered him to the Rite of Christian Initiation ofAdults at her parish. A .year later, he formally joined the church during the Easter Vigil at St. Monica. Carner said he has incorporated Catholic themes into his screenplays since. Catholicism was already an element in "A Killer Among Friends," a CBS' Continued from page one made-for-TV movie starring Catholic actress Patty Duke, but "I just empha-' sized it," he said. gymnasium at the facility, "it a merciful God is waiting to be their happiness." His next assignment, CBS' "One Woman's Courage," also starred Duke. was a dream come true:" He said discovered by them. "Indeed, The retreat was part of an on"I rewrote the script to inc:lude her (character's) journey back to the church as that "If we weren't sinners and Jesus is a friend of sinners. He going program known as Resipart of her story," Carner said. In last year's "Vanishing Point" for Fox, a remake of the 1970 car-chase didn:t need pardon more than welcomes those that no one else dents Encounter Christ. It is the picture, he rewrote the script to have themale lead role convert to Catholicism we' need bread, then we has 路helped," Bishop O'Malley result of the ministry of Sacred wouldn't know how forgiving said. He also told them that "Jesus Hearts Father Matthew Sulliv~n to win the heart of his lady love. God really is." is warning us that the minimal re- of Fairhaven and his fellow "Almost everything that I've ever done has been influenced to some deThe bishop said that he was quirement to be a disciple is to be chaplains at the HOl:lse of Corgree" by matters of faith and religion, Carner told CNS, "but ,it's been an ever greater degree in the last few projects." happy to be part of the Lenten merciful." rection and lay leaders who volIn ''The Fixer," Jack Killoran (Voight) is asked to cover up an accidental retreat which offered the inmates Hodgson" who suports the unteer to provide rel:igious promurder committed by one of his real estate developer friends. In the midst of the spiritual experience and has times of reflection and prayer for grams to inmates throughout the helping cover up the murder, Killoran is temporarily paralyzed in a horseback been given assurance' by the inmates, reminded them that year. There are approximately riding accident. While hospitalized, the hospital chaplain befriends him, hears Hodgson that the retreats will be the message he offered at the spe- 30 lay volunteers who conduct his confession and becomes his spiritual guide. . continued. He commented that a cial Advent season Mass the many biblical presentations, Carner said he wanted ,to show that doing the right thing does not always result in a "happy Hollywood ending, (that) if you do the right thing you'll similar retreat program has been bishop celebrated at the prison in team prayer sessions, meditation offered at the county jail in December remains the same. "It's periods and spiritual discuswin the lottery." Barnstable. my belief that spirituality is the sions. The retreat w.as open to Instead, "if you do the right thing, you'll pay a great price. You'll get hurt. The bishop told the inmates most important component for inmates of every religious deYou'll lose your job, you'll lose your (trophy) wife, you'll lose your way of life," Carner added. But ultimately, for Voight's character, "he saves his soul." that despite their criminal pasts, those being rehabilitated and for nomination. ';.
'1
Retreat
U.S., Hong ,Kong human rights groups meet •
Winding up its China trip, busy religious delegation from U.S. to file report. By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
HONG KONG - A three-man religious delegation from the United States met with local religious leaders and human rights groups in Hong Kong during the final leg of a three-week visit to China. 'They invited us to express our opinions through the U.S. Consulate here," the Rev. Tso Man-king, general secretary of the Hong Kong Christian Council, told UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. The groups met Feb. 27. "We plan to have a discussion in early March among major reli-
ARCHBISHOP THEODORE MCCARRICK gions so that they may include our opinions in their report," Rev. Tso
added. The U.S. delegation's report was to be released March 18 in New York City. The delegation comprised Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick of Newark, N.J., chairman of the U.S. bishops' International Policy Committee; Rabbi Arthur Schneier, president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation; and the Rev. Don Argue, president of the National Association of Evangelicals. The three, appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton, visited China Feb. 9-March I. Rev. Tso said that although the trip was short, he believed the group had the sensitivity to write a comprehensive report. He noted that Rabbi Schneier had survived the Holocaust and was concerned about persecution. To facilitate discussion, Hong Kong religious leaders met with the
THE ANCHOR -
American delegation in two groups: first Buddhist and Taoist leaders, and then Catholic, Jewish, Orthodox and Protestant leaders. Auxiliary Bishop John Tong Hon of Hong Kong represented the Catholic Church at the meeting. . On the same day, the delegation met representatives of Amnesty International and two other human rights groups. Amnesty International delivered a report on human rights conditions in Hong Kong that was to be submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Committee in March.
By PAULINUS BARNES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
LONDON - A British Catholic aid agency staged a protest outside the German Embassy in London by dumping a mountain of "gold bullion." The Catholic Fund for Overseas Development, the official aid agency of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, was protesting what jt.d(ll\c.r.~b~p.as
the German government's obstruc- result of a conference in London tion of international efforts to re- in which more than 20 of post-war duce the debts of the world's poor- Germany's creditors decided to cancel more than 50 percent of est countries. The bullion mountain, com- German debt, because debt repayposed of 700 bars made of plaster ments had become an obstacle to of Paris and painted gold, was normal economic relations besymbolic of German opposition of tween Germany and other states. CAFOD director Julian a plan to sell some of the International Monetary Fund's gold re- Filochowski, who led the protest in London, said: "We are outside the serves to help fund debt relief. The action was one of a series German Embassy today to remind of protests at German embassies the German government that one across Europe Feb. 27 to mark the reason they are amongst the richest 45th anniversary of the 1953 Lon- countries in the world today is that don Agreement that canceled a 45 years ago they received debt relarge amount of Germany's post- lief five times more generous than that currently on offer to the world's World War II debts. The London Agreement was the "p9.Q.~e!,~~Olll\t~ie~;.. ,i: J;' J...... ~, );;.1.
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VATICAN CITY - Fivl: missionaries were freed by their kidnappers in Sierra Leone two days after an appeal by Pope John Paul IT and following negotiations conducted by a local bishop. The missionaries, who were kidnapped Feb. 14 and released Feb. 27, were unharmed and issued their own appeal for peace and for humanitarian aid to Sierra Leone. "Don't think about us, but about the thousands of people in Sierra Leone who risk death, crushed by hunger and illness," said the five missionaries in a statement distributed by MISNA, a Rome-based press service operated by a variety of religious orders. At the end of his Feb. 25 general audience, Pope John Paul prayed for peace in Sierra Leone and expressed his concern for the five kidnapped missionaries. "Worrying news continues to reach the Holy See from some regions of Africa, particularly from Sierra Leone, where opposing factions are fighting each other, creating serious suffering for the beloved population," the pope said.
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The pope had offered special prayers for the five missionaries kidnapped from the Catholic hospital in Lunsar: three brothers from the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, a lay missionary with the brothers and an Augustinian priest. After their release, MISNA reported that they had not been held by members of the rebel Revolutionary United Front, as initially thought, but by a military squadron that supported the 1997 coup against the country's democratically elected president. Bishop George Biguzzi of Makeni, Sierra Leone, began face-toface talks Feb. 24 with representatives of troops holding the missionaries and continued negotiating with them until the religious as well as two volunteers from Doctors Without Borders were released, MISNA reported. In mid-February, a West African intervention force ousted the leaders of the coup. Fleeing soldiers and Revolutionary United Front rebels who had supported the coup were reported to be on a looting spree in the country's central region. The West African forces reported Feb. 25 that they had captured Bo, Sierra Leone's second largest city. Fifteen Christian Brothers who had fled into the bush when the rebels
began looting Bo were all accounted for; one, a Sierra Leonean, had been shot in the foot, but it was reported that the injury was not life threatening. Pope John Paul's concern for Catholic pastoral workers was not limited to those who had been held hostage. "Equally worrying is the news about the fate of dozens of men and women religious in the Dioces y of Makeni," the pope said. "May the assurance of my deep solidarity as well as that of the whole church reach them and all of the people of Sierra Leone," Pope John Paul said. While many of the missionaries in the diocese east of Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital, were able to flee northwest on foot to Port Loko, the situation of others working in Makeni remains uncertain, said a missionary in Rome. In their statement, the released missionaries said, "The drama of this civil war in which thousands and thousands of innocent people have lost their lives is much more important than the news of our release. "Medicine, first aid equipment, food and many other things are needed here to assist a multitude of desperate people," they said.
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Rev. Argue said the visitors were impressed with the richness of the religious community in Hong Kong and were grateful to meet with a broad cross section of that community. During the three days in Hong Kong, Archbishop McCarrick met with Cardinal John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung of Hong Kong and other Catholic leaders. During the China mission, the U.S. delegation had also met with China President Jiang Zemin and visited Lhasa, Tibet.
"New England hospitality with a European Flair"
Kidnappers free five lDissionaries By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
•
Diocese of Fall River -
,
stepped in. t "Father Ben showed us that we can help ourselves," says Leonito, who used to be among those searching in the trash. Father Ben asked Leonito to work in the local parish to help the people - and to bring them the Gospel. "1 am able to make the lives of these people more valuable by teaching them to love and help one another, as Jesus taught us to do," says Leonito. t With your help, stories like this one can J:>e repeated throughout the Missions. Perhaps you can offer $40 -:- a sacrifice of $1 a day for each day of Lent? Whatever you send will be greatly appreciated, and so very much needed. The Society for THE PROPAGATION OFTHE FAITH Reverend Monsignor John J. Oliveira, V.E. 106 Illinois Street· New Bedford, MA 02745 Attention: Column No. 101 ANCH. 3/13/98
o $100 Name Address City
0 $40 0 $25
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Please remember The Societyfor the Propagation ofthe Faith ..,....."', :'} ,,_ when writing orcha.~Ri~!! y'°f:' Vf,'i((- " I.A" ••",:' '. ", .;: :
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THE ANCHOR -
Diocese of Fall River -
Fri., Mar. 13, 1998
Ukrainian Catholic diocese invites toddlers to Euch~Lrist •
All three initiating sacraments will be given at the same time in some Catholic churches in New England. By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
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STAMFORD, Conn. - Soon it will be common to see infants and toddlers going to Communion in some Catholic churches in New York and New England. Starting this Easter, any child baptized in the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford will receive all three sacraments of initiation baptism, chrismation (confirmation) and the Eucharist - at the same time. "The Eucharist will be received as a drop of the precious blood of our Lord either on the tip of the spoon or on the.tip of the little finger of the priest," said new guidelines for infant Communion published in the Feb. 8 issue of Sower, the diocesan newspaper. "The Eucharist will be received in this manner until after the first reception of sacramental confession," the guidelines added. "At that time there will be a first solemn Communion at which the child will receive both the precious body and blood of our Lord."
The Stamford Diocese has about 32,000 Catholics in 49 parishes in New York and New England. Bishop Basil Losten of Stamford issued the new instructions in his diocese to implement a decision by last October's churchwide synod of Ukrainian bishops that the ancient Christian practice of infant Communion should be restored throughout their churches. From the earliest days of the church the Eucharist was regarded as "one of the benefits for those who were baptized:' he said. "Parents do not deny their children food until they are old enough to understand the necessity of food .... The same is true for the Eucharist:' he said. "The Eucharist is a desirable food for the many gifts that come from its partaking." In 1995, in anticipation of the synod decision, Bishop Losten announced that parentswho wished to have their children begin receiving the Eucharist at the time of baptism could do so. Father Jonathan Morse, diocesan director of religious education, said Bishop Losten's decision to delay reception of Communion under the form of bread until after first confession in second grade is a pastoral concession for Ukrainian Catholics who have become attached to Latinstyle first Communion celebrations.
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Consecration·to the Divine Will Oh adorable and Divine Will, behold me here before the immensity of Your Light, that Your eternal goodness may open to me the doors and make me enter into It to form my life all in You, Divine Will. Therefore, oh adorable Will, prostrate before Your Light, I, the least of all creatures, put myself into the little group of the sons and daughters of Your Supreme FIAT. Prostrate in my nothingness, I invoke Your Light and beg that it clothe me and eclipse all that does not pertain to You, Divine Will. It will be my Life, th~ center of my intelligence, the enrapturer of my heart and of my whole being. I do not want the human will to have life in this heart any longer. I will cast it away from me aJidcthus form the new Eden of Peace, of happiness and of love. With It I shall be always happy. I shall have a singular strength and a holiness that sanctifies all things and conducts them to God. Here prostrate, I invoke the help of the Most Holy Trinity that They permit me to live in the cloister of the Divine Will and thus return in me the first order of creation,just as the creature was created. Heavenly Mother, SovereiglJ and Queen of the Divine Fi~t, take my hand and introduce me into the Light of the Divine Will. You will 'be my guide, my mosrtender Mother, and will teach me to Iive~in and to maintain myselOn the order and the' bounds of the Divine Will. Heavenly Mother, I consecrate my whole being to)'our Immaculate Heart.,You will teach me the doctrine of the Divine Will and I will listen most attentively to , Your lessons. You ,,",i11 cover me with Your mantle so that the , infernal serpent dare not penetrate into this sacred Eden to entice me and make me fall into the maze of the human will. Heart of my greatest Good, Jesus, You will give me Your flames that they may bum me, consume' me, and feed me to form in me the Life of the Divine Will. Saint Joseph, yqu will be my protector, the guardi~ of my heart, and will keep the keys of my will in your hands. You will ~eep my heart jealously and shall never give it to, me again, that I may be sure 6f never leaving the Will of God~ My guardian Angel, guard me; defend me; help me in everything so that my Eden may f1o':lrish and ,be the instrument that draws all men into the Kingdom of the Divine Will. Amen.
( In Honor ofLuisa Piccarreta 1865-1947 Child ofthe Divine Will)
The Second Vatican Council, a in that diocese is mixed: some pargathering in 1962-65 of all the ishes have the three sacraments of world's Catholic bishops, urged initiation together, some delay first Eastern Catholic churches which Communion until age 7. Bishop Robert Moskal of the had adopted Western liturgical practices to restore their own ancient cus- Ukrainian Diocese of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, said he encourages the toms. The Ukrainian Archdiocese of . reception of both the consecrated Philadelphia has no immediate plans bread·and wine by young Catholics. He said his diocese now discourto change its policy of first Communion at age 7, said Father Robert ages, wi'thout absolutely prohibiting, Hitchens, English-edition editor of solemn Communion ceremonies The Way, the archdiocesan newspa- like those that mark first Communper. ion among Latin-rite Catholics. Father Nicholas R.A. Rachford, "We are waiting until the pastoral guide is published by the Ukrai- communications director of the Byznian synod of bishops:' he said, re- antine Ruthenian Diocese of Parma, ferring to a synod project currently said his diocese restored infant Comunder way. munion about four years ago. S,onia Peczeniuk, chancellor of He said the other Ruthenian diothe Ukrainian D.iocese of St. Nicho- ceses in the country have also done las in Chicago said current practice so, most recently the Archdiocese of
PittSburgh, which mac:e the change last year. Like Ukrainian Catholics, Ruthenian Catholics are of the Byzantine liturgical fami.ly and have their roots in Ukraine or neighboring areas. When the change was made in ' Parma, Father Rachford said, on the Sunday the instruction was issued he explained the change at the Divine Liturgy and invited que,;tions. Someone asked when their young children who had already been baptized without the Eucharist could begin to receive Communion, ancl he said anytime the parents decid;:d, including that liturgy if they wanted to. He said that as far as he could tell, every preschool child ::n the church was brought up for Communion that day. '
Auschwitz convent
controversy persists \
By JONATHAN LUXMOORE CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
jections were "press chatter." He said the Warsaw-based Polish bishops' conference had received no notification of changes to the status quo. "I'm certain Jewish circles have no wish to offend believers for whom the cross is a sign of hope and resurrection," the priest told Catholic News Service. "People were persecuted for stay-
ing loyal to the cross under communism. It would be shocking if they were forced to disown it under a democracy," he added. About 90 percent of the estimated 1.5 million Holocaust victims at the German-run Auschwitz complex were Jewish. Tens of l:housands of Christians also died in the Holocaust, particularly at Auschwitz.
WARSAW, Poland - Polish Carmelite nuns have handed over ownership of a vacated convent' at a former Nazi death camp, but controversy still surrounded a large cross near the camp. Boguslaw Skreta, an Interior Ministry official in charge of religious affairs, said the nuns would be compensated for their vacated building, but the agreement did not cover a nearby cross, used at the papal Mass in the town of Oswiecim in 1979 and· moved closer to the former Nazi death camp, Auschwitz, in the early 1980s. Christian-Jewish disputes overthe presence of religious symbols have tlared repeatedly since 1993, when the Catholic Carmelite convent was moved from Auschwitz's Old Theater building at the personal directive of the pope. The nuns moved to a nearby interfaith center. ' The 30-foot cross outside the notorious Death Block at the ·main Auschwitz camp marks the site of the first mass execution of Polish prisoners. Father Marian Subocz, deputy POLISH CARMELITE nuns have handed over ownership secretary-general of the Polish bishof this vacated convent at Auschwitz, the former Nazi death ops' conference, said claims that Vaticamp. Still at issue is the future of a 30-foot·cross in another can and church leaders had consented area of the camp. (eNS file photo) to moving .the cross after Jewish . 'ob"
Church's· work in,·Cuba skyrocl~ets By ART BABYCH CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
HAVANA - While the papal visit tq Cuba was an unqualified success in the eyes of the Cuban bishops, 'it also. added considerably to the church's workload. Before the pope's visit, 97 children attended catechism classes offered by the Sisters of Charity in Havana. "Afterthe pope's visit, 130 came," said the ord!lr's provincial, Sister Ines . Espinosa Penate. The story was the same' in many churches in Havana and Camaguey, in eastern Cuba, where the pope directed his message at youth at a Mass on the third day of his Jan. 21-25 trip. "After the pope's visit, 12 people in my parish alone asked to be baptized," said one young seminarian.
. Many. Cuban youths found it easy to relate··to the pope's message for them. He also left a written message forCutian young people, presented to a delegation of you~hs after the Mass in Camaguey. , "A dangerous crisis of identity is spreading, causing young people to live in meaninglessness, without direction or plans for the future, suffocated by immediate concerns:' said the pope's written message. 'There is a growing relativism, together \¥ith religious indifference and the lack of a clear moral sense." He added that people are tempted by "idols of the consumer society" and are attracted by things coming into Cuba from outside the country. While the visit may have bolstered the ranks of the faithful, the Cuban
laity, religious, priests and hierarchy are hoping that another fruit of the pope's visit will be increased freedom to w.orship and to work with as little state interference as pos,!:ible. A parish priest said Cub:UlS "are looking for deep changes in our society." 'The pope's visit will change everything:' predicted Patricia Andujar, 21, a University of Havana medical student. The hope is that Christians in Cuba will find it easier to practice their faith, she said. Regardless, "Cubans are used to having problems," said Andujar, a Catholic youth leader. "But," she added, "the pope's visit was like a breath of fresh air." A student at San Carlos seminary in Havana said, "All Cuba now understands the mission ofthe church."
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Papal trip will bring focus on Africa •
Pope hopes his upcoming trip to Nigeria will focus world concern on that continent's plight. By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II will try to focus the world's attention and compassion on Africa later this month while also calling forth the strength of the continent's Catholic community. His 14th papal visit to Africa is to last just three days and take him only to Nigeria, but his gaze and his voice will be cast beyond the boundaries of the West African nation. From a strictly religious point of view, Nigeria is jewel in the Catholic Church, with extremely high rates of Mass attendance and seminaries bursting at the seams. But the country has been under military rule for 14 years with only a brief period of civilian governance. The regime of the current president, Gen. Sani Abacha, has been widely criticized for serious human rights abuses. Nigeria's population is almost evenly divided between :.vIuslims and Christians, and it has some 250 different ethnic groups. What Pope John Paul will say in Nigeria could be applied easily to many other African countries where there is a need to fortify dcmocracy and respect for human rights, sow pcace between ethnic and religious groups, and promote economic development.
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Still, Pope John Paul makes sure his visits are pastoral - acknowledging problems but not dwelling on them at the expense of preaching the message that deep faith put into action is good for individuals, families and by extension, nations. In his eyes, such deep faith exists in Africa and will conquer. "Despite the mainly negative picture which today characterizes numerous parts of Africa, and despite the sad situations being experienced in many countries, the church has the d~lty to affirm vigorously that these difficulties can be overcome," the pope wrote in his 1995 apostolic exhortation on "The Church in Africa." As preparations for his March 21-23 trip to Nigeria were under way, Pope John Paul and African church leaders were expressing their concerns abolJt situations of tension in Sierra Leone, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Sudan. The Vatican Secretariat of State called all nuncios in Africa to the Vatican for a meeting before the trip to discuss the church's role on the continent. The agenda of the March 10-12 meeting included an overview of Africa's sociopolitical situation, conflicts and interethnic tensions as well as interreligiolJs dialogue and clergy formation, The current tensions in African nations have serious political roots, but they also directly touch the Catholic faithful, church personnel and church policy: - Five missionaries were kidnapped in Sierra Leone in mid-February and dozens of others were forced to hide in the forests as sol-
diers and rebels who supported a 1997 military coup fled from West African The troops. troops had been called in to restore Sierra Leone's democraticallyelected president. - In Kenya, Catholic and Protestant church leaders called for the drafting of a more democratic constitution, prompting. charges from President Daniel arap Moi and his party that the church was a'dvocati ng the overthrow of the government. In Kenya's Rift Valley, ethnic fighting in mid-January left at least 100 people dead and thousands displaced. Some of ,those who were afraid to go home were being housed in Catholic churches. Church leaders have said ethnic groups who voted against Moi and his party in the late December general elections were l ' t . targeted. - The bishops of Burundi and Rwanda, trying to promote recon-
THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Mar. 13, 1998 ciliation between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups in their countries and restore some semblance of normal-
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ity, asked in February for an end to African nations' economic sanctions against Burundi.
. Population 107 million Catholics 12 million Chief Religions Islam 50% Christianity 40%
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Single Ellropean currency issues aired By CATHOLIC
NEWS SERVICE
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The head of Germany's central bank told European bishops that the creation of a single European currency would present risks and opportunities. In a speech to bishops from various European countries, Bundesbank President Hans Tietmeyer laid out the principles of the European Monetary Union, or EMU, and discussed its expected effects. European Union member-states voted in the Dutch city of Maastricht in December 1991 to create a unined monetary policy, a ce:ntral European bank and a single currency for those countries which met certain criteria. This arrangement, the EMU, is scheduled to take effect at the start of 1999. Tietmeyer, one of Europe's most widely quoted authorities on financial matters, started his Feb. 20 address to the bishops' conference representatives by explaining that current conventional wisdom on the EMU reminded him of the injunction in the Gospel of Matthew to "beware of false prophets." "Some of them are inclined to see only the dark side of (monetary union)," he said, "while others consider it the path to paradise. I find both of these views incon¡ect." While the EMU was "no 'deus ex machina'" capable of solving all of Europe's financial woes, 'rielmeyer noted, it would offer greater stabi Iity for its memberstates, and create political and eco-
nomic opportunities. Maastricht Treaty, but has yet to be Tietmeyer told the bishops' con- implemented. ference representatives the EMU The criteria for being a member would eliminate fluctuations in the of the EMU include limited budget value of its members' currency and deficits and external debt, a relapreclude any single country from tively low rate of inflation and other signs of financial stability. leaving the arrangement. On Feb. 27, EU economic offiIt would also create consensus among Europe's financially stron- cials announced that Germany, gest countries on international eco- France, Italy and Finland had cleared nomic issues and encourage all EU one significant hurdle by meeting member-states to exercise "fiscal the deficit criterion, which Spain, discipline," Tietmeyer said. Portugal, Austria, Belgium and LuxEventually, he noted, it would embourg had already met. Countries urge the union toward forming a that failed to meet anyone of the much-discussed common social and standards set down in the Maastricht political policy - which was also Treaty were not to be allowed into one of the fundamental goals of the the EMU until they qualified.
Farmworkers combine faith, work Antonio, who spoke of his own farm work experience, picking cotSAN ANTONIO ton with his family. The archbishop stressed the imFarmworkers from acros!! the United States met for five days in San An- portance of education, especially for tonio to discuss combining their children, particularly because modwork and faith in a pastoral course ern machinery is taking over many sponsored by the Catholic Migrant farmworking tasks. Father Toribio Guerrero, a diocFarmworker Network. The presentations during the mid- esan priest from San Antonio, also February course at the Mexican spoke to participants about the miAmerican Cultural Center ranged grant work he did with his family from discussion on current immigra- and how he paid his way through tion laws to talks on the significance college by working in the fields. of devotions to Our Lady of The priest urged participants to Guadalupe and ways to begin small take on more leadership roles. Christian communities. The course was funded through The 24 participantS met with grants from the Koch Foundation Archbishop Patrick E Flores of San and the Lilly Foundation.
By CATHOLIC
NEWS'SERVICE
CONTEMPORARY WAY OF THE CROSS Friday, March 13 - 7:15 p.m. Father Raymond Moquin, M.S.
MINI MISSION: "COME HOLY SPIRIT" March 14-18 at all Masses Father Richard Delisle, M.S.
PORTUGUESE HEALING SERVICE Sunday, March 15 - 2:00 p.m. Father Manuel Pereira
LENTEN SERIES: . "LIVING IN THE SPIRIT" Tuesday, March 17 - 7: 15 p.m.- Theater Father Richard Delisle, M.S. -
Good-will offering
GRIEF EDUCATION PROGRAM Thursday, March 19 - 1:00 p.m. "Giving Sorrow Voice" Counseling Center - $10 Donation
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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Mar. 13, 1998
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ART STUDENTS WIN AWARDS-Headmaster Dennis Poyant and art teacher Carol Caulfield of Coyle and Cassidy High School stand with students recently honored at the statewide Scholastic Art Awards. They are (from left to right) Brian . O'Donnell, Emily Bowen and Nancy McCormack. McCormack won a gold key award and has qualified for the nationals in New York City. Stephanie Lennon also was recognized but was not available for the photo.
LENTEN PROJECT-Students in grades three and four from Espirito Santo School, Fall River, team up and work on Lenten cross necklaces to wear during Lent. Grades kindergarten through eighth participated in the special project.
Food Pantry Those donations come from student collections on dressdown days (days that they are not required to wear their uniforms). Some money 路is generated by matching contributors, but it mostly comes out of students' pockets. "They see it and want to get involved. Students find it rewarding," said Saccone. Cote said that the great thing about the food pantry is that all the donations and funds go directly towards food and that is the advantage of not having to pay rent somewhere or expend money each month on heat or electricity. The food pantry has never missed a month and even when school is not in session the students keep it going. "It's exciting to see young people making a pos.itive impact on the community," said Cote. That impact earned Saccone a $10,000 college scholarship路 when he was named an Alan Feinstein scholar lasl year. Feinstein is a Rhode Island philanthropist whose goals include ending wortd hunger路and providing educational opportunities for dedicated students. Recognized as an outstanding young person, Saccone's involvement in the food pantry and Habitat for Humanity, among other accomplishments and community involvements, merited him early acceptance at Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI.
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Juniors Heather Baylies and mains for projects like the panTracy de Escobar also serve as try, said Cote. "When we started, coordinators for the food pantry the students were excited when and help to make this unique we went over a hundred people project more visible to students one Saturday, and I tried to exsaid Cote. "Other schools don't plain to them that more people offer such a project and although is not necessarily a good thing." they may collect food to be do- The needs of the community are nated to a shelter, nothing growing but Cote said that "the reaches our involvement." That commitment to families goes beuniqueness earned Coyle recog- yond the food pantry. It's an exnition in 1995 by Boston's cellent lesson in Christian com路Project Bread, as "an outstand- passion." ing high school" for its contriHe feels that the students have . butions to the community. That learned a lot. "Talking to an Outstanding ServiCe to Hungry older person or seeing the smile Award was a highlight of the last of a mother of three getting a bag five years, s'ilid Cote. . of groceries makes an impact. But earning awards is not Students see that real people are what the students and the project being helped." He said that the are about. "There's a spirit of people who receive help from the warmth that's generated. Kids pantry really appreciate it. learn and people are being "They say 'Do the students do helped," commented Cote. He this?' and when they find out added that it was very rewarding they do, they are amazed at their for him to be involved in such a involvement." He added that evproject and the kids really enjoy eryone' at Coyle is invited to working with the families. make a difference in the commuWhether students are out on a nity and the world and with weekend picking up food or wel- projects like this one they concoming families on a Saturday tinue to do so. . morning their spirit helps keep People from the community the project going. "We do it be" who would like to get involved cause of our faith in Jesus and with the food pantry may inquire we're doing our best for the com- through the school about volunmunity as a Catholic high teering time or can send donaschool," said Cote. tions for the project to: Coyle The only downside to all of and Cassidy High School Food this and to the increased number Pantry, 2 Hamilton Street, Taunof people utilizing the food pan- ton, MA 02780 telephone: (508) try is that such a strong need re- 823-6164 ext. 650.
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SPELLING BEE WINNERS-Eighth grader Jllmanda DaSilva and fifth grader Dominic DeMello of St. Mary's School, New Bedford, finished first in their respective grades at the Bee Buddies Spelling Bee I~st month. DaSilva was the overall winner for the competitionwhich featured 19 schooh). Spelling advisor Susan Costa (left) holds a trophy recognizing St. Mary's as the best elementary school in spelling.
St.. Joseph's Day On Thursday, March I 9, the Church celebrates the feast 01F St. Joseph, honoring him as th,~ spouse of the Blessed Virgin Malry, the patron and protector of th4~ universal Church and workmen"
THE ANCHOR -
Our Rock
Diocese of Fall River -
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and Role Who dares to love forever? By CHARLIE
Who Wants to Live Forever
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Coming of Age
FOIt YOOTH
MARTIN
ever?" Queen's style features lots of decibels, and once more, their vocal power is obvious on the recording. Beyond the music, their There's no time for us question is intriguing: "Who wants to live forever?" There's no place for us During the teen years, death What is this thing that seems distant, perhaps "forever" Builds our dreams distant. However, accidents, suiAnd yet slips away from us? cide and illness ,take teen lives. These occurrences remind us of Refrain: death's certain reality. Who wants to live forever? The song says that "there's no chance for us, it's all decided for Who wants to live forever? us, this world has only one sweet moment set aside for us." Perhaps There's no chance for us. this is the way it appears when It's all decided for us. someone dies as Diana did. Yet, This world has only one sweet moment the gift of life is not about time or Set aside for us. life span. Primarily, it is about learning to love yourself, your God and others. (Repeat refrain) Meeting this challenge is a tremendous task. The goal is to make Who dares to love forever? progress; few of us can complete Why must love die? the task. Just catch my tears with your ears Many times progress is epiTouching my warm heart sodic. Sometimes, we give in to With your fingertips selfishness, self-righteous judgment, arrogance 01' other attitudes And we can have forev.er that do not faster the emotional cliAnd we can love forever mate that can nourish our spirits or Forever is our place. others. Eventually we recognize these mistakes and once more learn (Repeat refrain) to walk on the path of love. The song asks, "Who dares to Forever is our place love forever?" Maybe a better question would be: Who dares to Who waits forever anyway? keep trying to love forever? Many experiences in life might Written by Brian May , erode our willingness to do so. Sung by Queen Personal failure, criticism from Copyright (c) 1997, The Diana, others and disappointment in rePrincess of Wales, Memorial Fund lationships may leave us skeptical about love's reality and power. As Jesus' followers, we face CAN YOU outlive death? most renowned artists in today's Sounds like a crazy question! Of . music. A message on the disc in- such situations, but we'choose not course not, you might respond. Yet forms us that profits will be used to give up. We place our belief in the power and gift of human life can to help "the many causes which love. , ' . live beyond death, as we witness in' the princess held dear." Clearly, Your comments are always the death of Diana, Princess of her death has not stopped the posiwelcome. ,Please address: Wales. tive effects of her life. ' The "Diana - Tribute" CD 'The first cut on the CD is Charlie M~rtin, 712S' W 200S, disc features music by some of the Queen's "Who Wants to Live For- Rockport, Ind. 476~S.
Fri., Mar. 13, 1998
•
ABOOT YOOTH
Study bursts and how to make thelD work By CHRISTOPHER
CARSTENS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
every day, it was a bargain. Decide how long you can study It's early spring, and the little in a burst, and set the timer for your fears and anxieties you've been chosen time period. Start with having about your grades are grow- something between 10 minutes and ing up into a great big case of the half an hour. If you're a really acpanics as you ask yourself, "Is there complished staller, those 10 minany way I can still pass Algebra ll?" utes may be your absolute outside Relax. You still have weeks. All limit. Don't worry, you'll gain abilit takes is a sense of-timing. ity to concentrate as you go along. Here's the problem You sit down Start the timer, and put it someat exactly 7 p.m., in a quiet envi- place where you can't see it withronment, surrounded by peaceful out turning around. Now, study till music. Open the algebra book, and the timer rings. Don't go looking your mind is instantly filled with a for a snack, don't'go to the bathsingle, pressing question: "Are room, don't make a phone callthere any Oreo cookies left in that just study. Keep working steadily for your bag on the top shelf?" You go look and have a few. Of chosen time. Then, as soon as the course, while you're down in the timer rings, stand up immediately, kitchen you notice that Seinfeld is ' and take a short break. This is reon, and it's one ofthe funny shows, ally important. You can concentrate because you know the break is comso you watch the rest. At 7:35, you again sit down in ing, Go get the cookies. Walk downyour chosen study environment, stairs, and talk with your folks for open your book and remember that a few minutes. Then go back to your study space, set the timer and do it you need to call Brad. Three phone calls later it's 9:20, again. Repeat that pattern till your and you still haven't done any al- homework is done. If you start with 10 minutes, afgebra. You return to your study environment. You do one problem and ter a week you might try 15. Althink, "I've been working on this most any teen-agel' can eventually algebra since 7. I think I'll call it a work up to 30 minutes at a burst. Usually, three of those a night will night." Don't even try to say it isn't true. get your homework done. If you're Hard tasks make us nervous. Stall- preparing for an exam or doing a ing permits 'avoiding the anxiety for big paper, you may need to do four or five. a while. It's a simple technique, but it's I've developed a plan I call "study bursts." I've taught it to the really powerful. Start your study parents of a lot of hyperactive chil- bursts tonight, and you'll almost dren, and they report that it is re- certainly pass Algebra II. Keep it ally effective for these bouncy kids. up steadily until the end of the seI've also taught it to hundreds of mester, and you might even get an regular teens. It works, and I still A. What more could you ask? Your comments are welcome. use it myself. It's really simple. You'll need a Please address: Dr. Christopher timer. (I bought a nice electronic Carstens, do Catholic News Serkitchen timer at the grocery store vice, 3211 Fourth St., N.E., Washfor about $10.) Sincel use it almost ington, ~.c. 20017.
Build your own home now with a Construction Loan from Citizens-Union Sayings Bank.
Fall River-Main Office: 4 So. Main Street. 678·7641. 335 Stafford Road. 570 Robeson Slreet. 81 Troy Slreel, 4548 North Main Street: Somerset Plaza (Rle. 6), 554 Wilbur Avenue. Swansea
AWARD WINNERS! Many students were recently chosen as winners in the scienc~ !air at St. Francis Xavier school, Acushnet. Winners will participate in the regional competition at Bristol Community College March 28.
Member FDICIDIF
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March 15 following the 11 :30 a.m. Mass. All are welcome.
THEANCHOR-DioceseofFaIlRiver-Fri.,Mar.13,1998
confessions will be heard in Portuguese from 2-4 p.m. at LaSalette Shrine. On March 15 a Portuguese healing service and Mass will be offered by Father Manuel Pereira at 2 p.m. and the Mass will include the opportunity for people to be prayed over and anointed individually. The shrine is offering three minimissions from March 14-18 as part of Lent. Themed "Come Holy Spirit," they will be preached by Father Richard'Delisle at the following Masses: Sat 4:30 p.m., Sun. 12: 10 p.m., and Mon., Tues., and Wed., at 12: 10 and 6:30 p.m. Father Delisle will also lead a talk on March 17 at
Publicity Chairmen a.re asked to submit neWS items for. this column to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, 02722. Name of city or town should be included, as well as full dates of all activities. DEADLINE I.S NOON ON MONDAYS. Events published must be of interest and open to our general readership. We do not normally carry notices offundraising activities, which may be adver'tised at our regular rates, obtainable from our business office at (508) 6757151. ATTLEBORO-On March 14
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7:15 p.m. for the "Living in the Spirit" series in the Shrine Theater. On St., Patrick's Day the shrine will hold a celebration at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. It will include a corned beef and cabbage or chicken dinner and entertainment by singer Rene Rancourt, the voice of the Boston Bruins. For more information call 222-5410. ATTLEBORO FALLS-St. Mark's Church will celebrate exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on the Feast,ofStJoseph, March 19. All are welcome to visit the parish for prayer and meditation from 3-7 p.m. The Respect Life Group of St. Mark's will hold its next meeting on
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FALL RIVER-Father Tom Grey, executive director of the National CoalitiQn Against Gambling Expansion, will speak at McGovern's restaurant, 310 Shove Street, at 4 p.m. March 15 regarding the city's proposed land transfer for gambling purposes. All are welcome and refreshments will be served. Father Tom will also speak with area clergy at 8 a.m. March 16 at the Unitarian Church regarding this issue. HYANNIS-A support group for parents, families and friends of gays and lesbians meets on the second Monday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Catholic Social Services Building, 261 South Street. The group offers support in a safe and confidential setting where members can share experiences and concerns. New members welcome. For more information call 771-6771. NEW BEDFORD The Daughters of Isabella, Hyacinth Circle 71 will hold their next meeting following the 7 p.m. Mass at Holy Name Church. The Mass will be offered for Bishop Sean P. O'Malley. ' All are welcome. NORTH ATTLEBORO-The Benedict Circle #61 Daughters of Isabella of Sacred Heart Parish invites everyone to join them and other local parishes in contributing new baby items to the annual "Newborns in Need" program to be held through April 5. A box decorated by the children of the Crescent Day Nursery
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NORTH DARTMOUTH-The Diocesan Office of Family Ministry will offer a three hour mini-retreat entitled "Hope and Spiritual Survival for Church Ministen:" at 7 p.m. March 14 at the Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Road. It is for volunteers and fulltime parish ministers including clergy and laity. Registration is required and interested parties can call the center at 999-6420. NORTH DARTMOUTH-The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will attend their annual St. Patrick's Day Mass at 9 a.m. March 14 atSt. Julie's Church. A musical program will commence at 8:15 a.m, and Bishop Sean O~Malley will celebrate the liturgy. NORTH DIGHTON-The Taunton District Coundl of Catholic Women will hold' a board meeting on March 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dolan Center of St. Mary's Church. SOMERSET-An adult Bible study class will begin meeting on March 18 at St. Thomas More Church with morning and evening sessions. It will be he:ld following the 9 a.m. Mass and evening sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. For more information call Patricia Pasternak at 679-1236. SOUTH YARMOlUTH-The Separated-Divorced Catholics support group will meet on March 15 at the St. Pius X Parish Life Center. Welcome is at 6:30 p,m. and the meeting begins at 7 p.m.. The topic will be "Happiness is an Inside Job." For more information call Father Roy at 255-0170. TAUNTON The St. Maximilian Kolbe Men's Guild of Holy Rosary Church is sponsoring a Lenten evening of recollection for men on March 17 at 7 p.m. in the Holy Rosary Parish Center. Father Robert S. Kaszynski, pastor of St. Stanislaus Church, Fall River, will lead the evening program which will include a presentation, Mass and time for quiet prayer. All m~n are welcome and need not belong to the guild to attend. TAUNTON - Father John Spenser will lead a Lenten mission March 1618 at St. Joseph Church entitled "Spiritual Maturity: Do I Really Have to Grow Up?" It will begin withreconciliation from 6-7 p.m. and a mission talk and celebration of the Eucharist will follow at 7 p.m. For more information call 824-543:,. On March 20 St. Joseph's will host a Lenten concert at 7:30 p.m. It will feature a musical interpretation of the Stations of the Cross. All are welcome. WEST HARWICH--A Life in the Spirit seminar will be offered by the Charismatic Prayer Group of Holy Trinity Parish onMarch 21 and 22 and all are welcome. Saturday's session will run from, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday's will be from noon to 4· p.m. For mof,~ information call Doreen Webb at 432~4622 . or Ella Gardner at 432c3E,63.
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WESTPORT-All an~ invited to join the family of St. Jobn's Parish in the' Lenten mission "Consider the Mercy of God" March 23-26 at 7 p.m. presented by Father Craig Pregana. It will includ~ evening prayer and reconciliation. For more information call 636-2251.
Published on Dec 7, 2011
tudeas:a her~eiand probablynottreatedaswqllastheanimalshe VOL.42, NO.11 _ Friday,March13,1998 FALLRIVER,MASS. SoutheasternMassachusetts'Larg...
