o VOL. 44, NO. 11 • Friday, March 17,2000
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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest .Weekly • $14 Per Year
FALL RIVER, MASS.
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N.B. 'Friendly Sons ofSt. Patrick hos"t celebrations and his wife, Mary Colarusso, perIrish songs to an overflow ANCHOR STAFF congregation. NORTH DARTMOUTH Following the concert was the There were many Irish eyes smiling 59th annual Memorial Mass for the in Southeastern Massachusetts last . deceased members of the New BedSaturday during a day-long ford Friendly Sons of St. series of activities hosted Patrick and the Robert by the New Bedford Emmett Club (predecesFriendly Sons of St. sor of the N.B. Friendly Patrick. Sons of St. Patrick). Special guests of The principal honor included celebrant was Councillor Pat Bishop Sean P. Ramsey, mayor of O'Malley, OFM Derry, Northern Cap. Ireland, his wife, During the Mayoress Chris Mass, Clark and Ramsey, Chief ExecuColarusso provided a tive Cathal Logue, and very emotional musihis wife, Mary. cal accompaniment. The festivities began in the mornSt. Julie pastor, Father Brian J. ing at St. Julie Billiart Church. A Harrington was singled out for spehalf-hour before the special, 9 a.m. cial thanks for again allowing the Mass, Massachusetts State Trooper, celebration to begin in his parish. Dan Clark, "The Singing Trooper," Tum to page 13 - Celebrations
By DAVE JOLIVET
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Bishop O'Malley dispenses from meatless Friday on March 17 FALL RIVER - Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., has dispensed Catholics in the Fall· River Diocese from Friday fasting or abstinence today, St. Patrick's Day. His statement reads:
"The news media has kept me in a constant state of amazement 'over the last two weeks. The latest controversy is 'to beef or not to beef' on St. Patrick's Day, which this year Tum to page 12 - Bishop
BISHOP O'MALLEY meets with Coun.cillor Pat Ramsey, mayor of Derry, Northern Ireland, and his wife, Mayoress Chris Ramsey after a Mass at St. Julie Billiart Church in North Dartmouth last week. (Anchon'Jolivet photo)
.Mayor of Derry works for youth, peace and prosperity By DAVE JOUVET ANcHOR STAFF
NORTH DARTMOUTH -
There may be
3,000+ miles of ocean separating the people of Derry, Northern Ireland from the IrishAmerican residents of Southeastern Massachusetts, but the philosophical, spiritual and ethnic ties_ remain as tight as ever.
Last weekend, the New Bedford Friendly Sons of St. Patrick hosted a weekend series of events for a group of distinguished visitors from Derry, including Councillor Pat Ramsey, mayor of the city, his wife, Mayoress Chris Ramsey, Chief Executive of the Derry City Council, Cathal Logue and his wife, Mary. Tum to page 13 - Mayor
Adults hunger for faith satisfied by religious instruction By LISA M. GUUNO
spiritual formation of adults reaps a positive impact on family and parish life as well as sociAOULT EOUCAll0N ety. . of the greatest challenges to faith forSome FALL RIVER -As the secular world presses mation and on-going religious education are in with is own set of false values, the growing _ the many dehunger that-overwhelms many Catholics is ofmands placed adults to experiten more than just for food. 'This /Junger helps explain the upon the adult's Realizing this, the U.S. bishops last Novem- ence God, his ber approved a pastoral plan for adult faith for- truth and his widespread interest today in new time. One's relaWord. mation they see as necessary. The growing .religious' movements and in New tionship with Entitled "Our Hearts Were Burning Within God must be part Us," the document renews the bishops' com- spiritual hunger .Age spirituality." among adults is bishops' of. the equation. mitment to the on-going religious education The diocese, par" surely "God and faith formation for adults. pastoral letter ish and family As the Church begins this new century, in opening before. should provide fact the new millennium, this pastoral plan pro- the Church the vides pastors, priests, deacons, religious and horizons of a humanity more fully prepared for varied opportunities and situations to assist the laity with guidelines to meet those caught in , the sowing of the Gospel," the pastoral letter individual in his or her growing knowledge and states. It goes to on say that "People are ready experience of Jesus and the gift of faith. the whirlwind of everyday life. The pastoral plans states, "Ongoing faith , Within society we seen an ever increasing to gather in groups to read Scripture, study the formation can be accomplished through a great teachings of the Church, and talk about the spiritual hunger. There is, says the pastoral plan, variety of forms: systemic and occasional, in"a quest for meaning and for a deeply personal importance of Christ in our lives." Diligent sowing of religious education and diyidual and community, organized and sponexperience ofGod and ofcommunity. This hunDIOCESAN DIRECTOR OF
ger helps explain the widespread interest to-' day in new religious movements and in New Age spirituality." The U.S. bishops recognize and reemphasize the responsibility of the Church to provide, ways for .
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taneous." The U.S. bishops recommend five approaches that can be used in some way and adapted as appropriate to parish size and need. In essence, the approaches to adult faith formation are: the liturgy, family or .home-centered activities, small group study and prayer, larger group activities and educational opportunities; and individual activities such as Eucharistic adoration, morning and evening reflection. "We are entering a period of new vitality for the Church," the pastoral points out, " a period in which adult Catholic laity will playa pivotal leadership role in fulfilling the Christian mission of evangelizing and transforming society. For adults to fulfill their roles in this new era of the Church, their faith formation must be lifelong...." As members of the laity grow in their love and knowledge of Scripture and their understanding of the Church's teaching, the light of Christ will be radiant in the world.