03.16.12

Page 1

Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

F riday , March 16, 2012

Physician-assisted suicide hearing rallies opponents By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

BOSTON — More than 50 opponents of physician-assisted suicide testified at a committee hearing at the statehouse March 6. The group included doctors, nurses, activists with disabilities as well as Pro-Life and pro-family advocates. “Opponents of the bill vastly outnumbered the advocates of the bill. Our voices were heard loud and clear,” Kristian Mineau, president of Massachusetts Family Institute told The Anchor. Mineau added that he would be “shocked” if the proposed legislation comes out of committee. “I cannot imagine the legislature wanting to vote on a bill this controversial with an election coming, so it makes all the sense in the world that they’re going to punt and just let it go to the ballot.” If the legislature fails to act on the bill, proponents would need to gather nearly 11,500 certified signatures in order to put the measure before voters in November. Mineau and others expect the

measure to appear on the ballot in the fall. The legislation, called the Death with Dignity Act, is a citizens’ initiative petition that has garnered more than the required number of signatures. Proponents say the measure would give patients greater peace of mind, choice and control in their final days of life. The legislation permits individuals who are given six months or fewer to live to receive life-ending drugs. The law would require that two doctors verify the mental competence of patients and that there be a 15-day waiting period between the request for and writing of the prescription. In his testimony, Mineau told legislators, “Deliberately ending a human life as one would a suffering animal is utilitarian and degrading, contrary to the special dignity and unique value of every human being recognized in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence.” “I have accompanied and supported several family members Turn to page 14

St. John’s Parish in New Bedford to join with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish

NEW BEDFORD — In October 2009, Bishop George W. Coleman approved the recommendation of the Parish Pastoral and Finance councils of St. John the Baptist Parish in New Bedford to begin a process to determine the viability of the parish in the face of a significant decline in parishioners, mounting debt and an aging church in need of repair. It was agreed that the process would have specific goals to measure if the parish could continue in a sustainable way into the future: an increase in membership; an increase in Mass at-

tendance; the development of a plan to retire debt; and sponsorship of a capital campaign for critical building repairs. In recent weeks, Father John J. Oliveira, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish, and Diocesan Pastoral Planning Office staff met with Bishop Coleman to review the results of an evaluation of the process that had been undertaken by them in November with members of St. John the Baptist Parish Pastoral and Finance councils. That evaluation was based on data reported by the parish through Turn to page 14

LIFE-CHANGING WORK — Marian Desrosiers, Jocelyn Trindade and Jean Arsenault put their hearts in their hands as they look through files at the Pro-Life Apostolate Office. As director of the apostolate for 20 years, Desrosiers said that her office brings the passion and compassion to Pro-Life issues. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

Pro-Life Office: Making the message more than just words By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — As the Church nears the celebration of the Solemnity of the Annunciation on March 26 this year, the diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate is busier than usual preparing for the diocesan Pro-Life

Mass. The Mass is held around the feast of the Annunciation, on which Jesus began His saving life as a precious one-cell embryo in Mary’s womb. Fostering respect for human life at all stages while at the same time tackling controversial issues that

include abortion, the Health and Human Service mandate and physician-assisted suicide, the office is a beehive of energy. “My day begins at home, when I check my emails in the morning,” said Marian Desrosiers, director for Turn to page 18

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

their brothers and sisters 1,500 miles to the south. Little Children of Mary began as a prayer group started by Vineyard native Margaret Penicaud who felt the call to live out Our Lady’s call for prayer, monthly Confession, receiving the Eucharist and fasting. “I know some don’t yet know what to think about Our Lady’s monthly apparitions in Medjugorje, but I believe in the messages coming from there,” Penicaud told The Anchor. “Following the steps of prayer, reconciliation, Eucharist, and fasting, I’ve grown closer to God, and I wanted to share that with others.” Penicaud met a Sister of the Daughters of Mary Queen ImTurn to page 15

Living the Gospel message — From island to island

hope — The Little Children of Mary group from Martha’s Vineyard is bringing this Haitian girl to the U.S. for needed surgery.

MARTHA’S VINEYARD — The islands grace the same ocean, but in a sense they are worlds apart. Martha’s Vineyard, just off Cape Cod’s southern coast, is picturesque year-round and a summer hot spot for tourists, including vacationing presidents and entertainers. Haiti, on the other hand, is a tiny island country southeast of Cuba with many of its inhabitants living in abject poverty, magnified by a devastating earthquake that rocked the area in January of 2010. One of the common denominators linking the islands is a bond between a small group on Martha’s Vineyard living out the Gospel message by working hard to help meet the needs of

Catholics using new media tools to enrich faith — Page 10


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.