04.05.19

Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, April 5, 2019

Marian Desrosiers, longtime director of the diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate, received the John Cardinal O’Connor Award from Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., at the annual Pro-Life Mass on March 25.

(Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

April 5, 2019 †

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Bishop da Cunha prepares meatless Lenten meal at Sister Rose House for CRS’ Rice Bowl challenge

By Kenneth J. Souza Editor

kensouza@anchornews.org

NEW BEDFORD — During Lent, the familiar cardboard Rice Bowl is a gentle reminder that we are all called to not only give up certain things as a sacrifice, but also to give out to those in need as part of almsgiving.

The idea is that the money saved from not buying and serving meat can be put in the bowl to benefit the hungry and poor.

The Rice Bowl initiative is the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, the official relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Through CRS’ Rice Bowl, faith communities in every diocese throughout the United States put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

This year, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., accepted the “Rice Bowl Challenge” to prepare one of several meatless ethnic dishes that CRS offered on its website. The bishop opted to cook a dish called Batar Da’an from East Timor at the Sister Rose House in New Bedford, a shelter which also provides meals in its downstairs kitchen.

“It’s basically vegetables, rice, beans, and I think it’s a combination of Portuguese and Pico-Asian style food,” Bishop da Cunha explained.

“East Timor was a Portuguese colony until 1975, and then they became part of Indonesia. In 2002 they became an independent country. So I’m hoping this is going to be a good dish.

To tell you the truth, I’ve never tried it before, so this will be my first time preparing it and I’m looking forward to sharing it with some of our guests today for lunch.”

Held on March 21, the event was streamed live via the Facebook page of the Fall River Diocese and the bishop cooked the meal in anticipation of the noontime lunch at the facility. More than 100 people enjoyed the bishop’s cooking that day.

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“The Sister Rose House is one of the diocese’s shelters for the homeless,” said Claire McManus, diocesan coordinator for Operation Rice Bowl and director of Faith Formation. “But during lunchtime it is open to the general public, so we should have a pretty good crowd coming in here.”

McManus said this year’s “Rice Bowl Challenge” was started to bring greater awareness to CRS’ Operation Rice Bowl and the charitable efforts it supports.

“What we’re doing today is we’re trying to raise awareness, and we’re going to challenge people from around the diocese and around the country to also take part and cook a meal,” McManus said. “All you have to do is go on the website (www.crsricebowl.org) and it has Lenten recipes and you can cook one of these meatless meals for your family. I would challenge everyone to do what Bishop da Cunha is doing.”

While most people are familiar with the Rice Bowl as a means of collecting money for the poor and hungry, McManus said the outreach is much more extensive.

“Every year, I’m sure you’re used to seeing those little cardboard rice bowls at the back of the church,” McManus said. “In addition to collecting spare change, they have a lot of things that you can do during Lent to live in solidarity with the people in the countries that are served by Operation Rice Bowl.”

She explained that Operation Rice Bowl was started by a priest in Pennsylvania who “wanted to teach his parishioners about the plight of people around the world who go hungry.”

“So he started this little fundraiser and it spiraled into a major (initiative) for CRS,” she said. “The Diocese of Fall River has taken part in it for many, many years, and the best part about it is the money that is raised through Operation Rice Bowl, 75 percent goes to CRS, but 25 percent of it stays right here in the diocese

and is used to serve some of our own hunger needs.”

McManus said that money is allocated to Catholic Social Services and is used to fund diocesan soup kitchens, food pantries, and homeless shelters such as the Sister Rose House.

An avid gardener, Bishop da Cunha relished the experience of cooking a vegeterian meal that also reminded him of some of the recipes from his native Brazil.

“Most of our meals in Brazil have beans, rice, vegetables, and meat,” the

bishop said. “That’s really the basic ingredients for most of the Brazilian meals. Of course, today we are leaving out the meat, but we pretty much have everything else.”

“That’s the basis of the Rice Bowl,” McManus added. “You cook a meatless meal, and the money that you might have spent on meat, you put it into the Rice Bowl. That’s how

we build up all those quarters and dimes that add up to thousands of dollars to help the homeless and hungry.”

Lenten alms donated through Operation Rice Bowl support the work of CRS in roughly 45 different countries each year. Since its inception in 1975, CRS’ Operation Rice Bowl has raised nearly $300 million.

BATAR DA’AN – EAST TIMOR 1 bag frozen corn 1 can red kidney beans, drained 1 butternut squash, cut into small pieces 3 cups water 1 large onion, diced 5 cloves garlic, minced 3 tbsp fair trade olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups cooked rice Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until tender. Add water and squash, and increase heat until water is simmering. Add corn and kidney beans, reduce to medium heat, and cook (stirring occasionally) until squash is tender (15-20 minutes).

Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with rice.

Makes 4 servings.

Sunday evening Mass at Cathedral captures, engages youth

By Kenneth J. Souza Editor

kensouza@anchornews.org

FALL RIVER — While statistics suggest that the younger generation — especially the so-called “Generation Z,” or those born from the mid-1990s onward — are drifting away from the Church or even identify themselves as “nones” when it comes to religious affiliation, Father Thomas Washburn, O.F.M., rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption and pastor of the collective Catholic Community of Central Fall River, has found a way to engage this group and bring them back into the fold.

“Obviously the great challenge that we face as a Church is that we are losing that younger generation,” Father Washburn recently told The Anchor. “So we need to make a specific and targeted outreach to those younger people; to create a place in the Church that looks like them. Especially when sometimes they don’t feel like they have a place in the Church.”

To that end, last month Father Washburn began celebrating a special Youth Mass on Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral that has “has already become one of the best-attended Masses at the cathedral on the weekend.”

“I would say that the only other community that rivals it is the Spanish,” Father Washburn said. “They have a really strong turnout every Sunday. But, other than that, it’s definitely the strongest Englishspeaking Mass at the cathedral now.”

Father Washburn has found that one of the keys to drawing in youth is to get them involved in all aspects of the Liturgy.

“The Mass has a very youthful face,” he said. “What I mean by that is, other than the priest, everyone involved is young. We have young people who are serving and reading and Eucharistic ministering and greeting and ushering — they are fulfilling all of the different roles.”

In addition, Father Washburn

will tailor the messages of his weekly homilies to better address the concerns in their lives and instead of organ-based traditional hymns, the celebration uses contemporary Christian music performed with acoustic guitars which “is a little more opening and welcoming to younger people.”

“These are not competing styles; the beauty of our faith is in its diversity,” Father Washburn said. “And I love that — especially throughout the (Catholic Community of Central Fall River) collaborative, we have so many different (Liturgical) styles. They’re all beautiful, they’re all wonderful, and they all have an audience. One’s not better than the other. Each one is just appropriate for a different audience.”

Another reason for the popularity of the Youth Mass, according to Father Washburn, is that it fits better into their hectic weekend schedules.

“We remember the day when Sundays used to belong to the Church, specifically Sunday mornings,” he said. “All the stores were closed, everything was closed, and activities didn’t happen. But we know those days are gone and other things have slowly crept in.

“Today, the lives of our young people are busier than ever with all the different kinds of things and sporting events that they have going on. It’s just been my experience in different parishes that a Sunday evening Mass seems to hit that little sweet spot when they have a moment.”

Although it’s been designated as a “youth” Mass, Father Washburn has also seen older parishioners take advantage of the 6 p.m. Liturgy, too.

“We don’t card at the door, so it’s open to everybody,” he said. “I think it also finds a niche among people who maybe just have a busy weekend and need that last chance for Mass before the weekend’s over. So it serves that purpose as well.”

For Father Washburn, who became rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral on Oct. 31, 2018, it’s been particu-

Father Thomas Washburn, O.F.M., rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River, delivers his homily during the inaugural Youth Mass on March 3. larly gratifying to see the growing numbers of people at Mass.

“Whenever I do an event, I always sort of have a number that I’d be happy with in my mind,” he said.

“And I knew the first (Mass) would be well-attended because we directed all of the kids in our Faith Formation programs in the (Catholic Community of Central Fall River) to attend.

“But it’s been so uplifting to see the cathedral so full young people.

The overall demographic of the cathedral as a parish tends to be a bit older, more so than other parishes.

So just to see the cathedral full of so many young faces has just been really uplifting to everybody.”

Since the first Youth Mass on March 3, Father Washburn said they’ve been averaging between 100 and 150 attendees every Sunday night.

“I was conscious of the fact that this is something that we’d have to be actively building,” he said. “I thought if we had 25 to 30 the first week, that would be great and we can build from there. But since that time, it really seems to be finding its niche. And we haven’t lost that momentum from the first night, so it continues to be pulling in a good

number of people.”

Now that he’s managed to get young peoples’ attention, Father Washburn said it’s important to keep things consistent every week.

“I think one thing that happens in some parishes is they don’t have it every week, or they only have it in certain seasons,” he said. “I’ve learned in my many years of Youth Ministry that you need to have a robust, reliable time every week. Otherwise, young people will be asking: ‘Is it this week or was it last week?’

When you have that reliable time, that’s helpful. And it really helps to establish the ‘regularness’ of it.”

On Palm Sunday, April 14, the 6 p.m. Youth Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral will be celebrated by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. “Bishop da Cunha has supported this endeavor from its inception and so excited was he about it that he offered to come for the first Youth Mass,” Father Washburn said.

“But I was a little nervous, not having any idea who would show up. I didn’t want to be in a position where we had the bishop and there were only five kids in the front pew. So I suggested he let us grow the con8 Turn to page 13 April 5, 2019 †

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Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. By the Grace of God and the Favor of the Apostolic See Bishop of Fall River

DECREES

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Film about controversial abortion doctor to be shown in New Bedford NEW BEDFORD — St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 1359 Acushnet Avenue, will show the movie “Gosnell” at the St. Anthony of Padua School on Palm Sunday, April 14, starting at the Hour of Mercy, 3 p.m.

The film is the shocking true story of the investigation and trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell and his 30-year killing spree and the political and media establishment that tried to cover it up. Originally investigated for illegal prescription drug sales, a raid by DEA, FBI and local law enforcement revealed crimes they could not have expected within the clinic.

While they find evidence for the drug sales, during their search of the common areas they find baby bodies stored in orange juice containers

and bags in the lunchroom refrigerator. These discoveries raise questions on what Dr. Gosnell is doing in this clinic.

Based on the New York Times’ bestseller, “Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer,” the movie was one of the most successfully crowd-funded projects in history.

Almost 30,000 people donated over $2.3 million online in 45 days.

When it ended it was the most successful crowd-funding campaign on the Indiegogo website.

The film stars Dean Cain as Detective James “Woody” Wood, Sarah Jane Morris as Alexis “Lexy” McGuire, Earl Billings as Dr. Kermit Gosnell, Michael Beach as Dan

Molinari, and director Nick Searcy as Mike Cohan.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish has purchased a group license to show the film, and the screening is free-

of-charge and all are welcome. For more information, contact the parish rectory at 508-993-1691.

For more information about the film, visit www.gosnellmovie.com.

April 5, 2019 †

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Editorial

Christus Vivit

This Tuesday the Vatican released Christus Vivit, a post-synodal exhortation of Pope Francis addressed to young people. The document’s name comes from its first words in Latin (as is the norm for Vatican documents), “Christ is alive!” The pope finishes that first paragraph of the document with this statement to his chosen audience: “Christ is alive and He wants you to be alive!”

The document is quite long (299 paragraphs!), so we cannot summarize it easily in an editorial. It is worth reading, both for young people and for those not so young (both Church employees and volunteers, as well as parents, grandparents and anyone wanting to help youth grow in holiness).

In the final paragraph (#299), the Holy Father expresses his desires for the youth. “Dear young people, my joyful hope is to see you keep running the race before you, outstripping all those who are slow or fearful. Keep running, ‘attracted by the face of Christ, Whom we love so much, Whom we adore in the Holy Eucharist and acknowledge in the flesh of our suffering brothers and sisters. May the Holy Spirit urge you on as you run this race. The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them! And when you arrive where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us’ (the part in quotations is from a talk that the pope gave on Aug. 11, 2018 in the Circus Maximus in Rome to a youth vigil).”

In chapter one of the document, the pope answers the question, “What does the word of God have to say about young people?” by looking at the Old and New Testaments.

From the Old Testament, he brings up Joseph (the great dreamer, son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery), Gideon (Paragraph #7: “In Gideon, we see the frankness of young people, who are not used to sugar-coating reality. When told that the Lord was with him, he responded: ‘But if the Lord is with us, why then have all these things happened to us?’ [Judges 6:13].

God was not offended by that reproach, but went on to order him: ‘Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel!’ [Judges 6:14].”), Samuel (with his famous call from God), King Saul (whom God chose in his youth), King David (whom God chose, when his father would have thought the older sons were more appropriate), King Solomon (whose “audacity of youth moved him to ask God for wisdom” – paragraph #10), Jeremiah (“The devotion of the prophet Jeremiah to his mission shows what can happen when the brashness of youth is joined to the power of God” – ibid.), the Jewish servant girl of the Syrian general Naaman (who gets him to do what God directed him to do to be cured), and Ruth (“a model of generosity in remaining beside her mother-in-law who had fallen on hard times [cf. Ruth 1:1-18], yet she also showed boldness in getting ahead in life [cf.

Ruth 4:1-17].).

In the New Testament section, Pope Francis doesn’t talk as much about characters (since Jesus is the primary “character” in that part of the Bible).

Instead, he discusses Our Lord’s various interactions with or discussions of youth. He begins with the two brothers in the Prodigal Son story (“Jesus OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org

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praises the young sinner who returned to the right path over the brother who considered himself faithful, yet lacked the spirit of love and mercy” - #12.), then says, “Jesus, Himself eternally young, wants to give us hearts that are ever young. God’s word asks us to ‘cast out the old leaven that you may be fresh dough’ (1 Cor 5:7) (#13).” Pope Francis is not talking about being “forever young,” as Rod Stewart did in his song. Rather, he is calling us to have “true youth, [which] means having a heart capable of loving, whereas everything that separates us from others makes the soul grow old.

And so [St. Paul] concludes: ‘above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony’ (Col 3:14)(ibid.).”

“Let us also keep in mind,” the pope exhorts us, “that Jesus had no use for adults who looked down on the young or lorded it over them. On the contrary, He insisted that ‘the greatest among you must become like the youngest’ (Lk 22:26) (#14).”

In the following paragraph the pope reminds older people to treat youth as having equal dignity to them and remarks, “I constantly urge young people not to let themselves be robbed of hope; to each of them I repeat: ‘Let no one despise your youth’ (1 Tim 4:12) (#15).”

However, the Holy Father is not giving carte blanche to youth. “[Y]oung people are also urged ‘to accept the authority of those who are older’ (1 Pet 5:5). The Bible never ceases to insist that profound respect be shown to the elderly ... [T]hey have a store of experiences that can teach us not to make mistakes or be taken in by false promises ... It is unhelpful to buy into the cult of youth or foolishly to dismiss others simply because they are older or from another generation. Jesus tells us that the wise are able to bring forth from their store things both new and old (cf. Mt 13:52). A wise young person is open to the future, yet still capable of learning something from the experience of others (#16).”

Next the pontiff discusses seeking after holiness even in youth, beginning by mentioning the rich young man, who had observed the commandments from his youth (Mk 10:10). After quoting Psalm 71, which describes youthful fidelity to God, Pope Francis observes, “We should never repent of spending our youth being good, opening our heart to the Lord, and living differently. None of this takes away from our youth but instead strengthens and renews it: ‘Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s’ (Ps 103:5). For this reason, St. Augustine could lament: ‘Late have I loved you, beauty ever ancient, ever new! Late have I loved you!’ Yet that rich man, who had been faithful to God in his youth, allowed the passing years to rob his dreams; he preferred to remain attached to his riches (cf. Mk 10:22) (#17).” Here the pope is both responding to the mentality Billy Joel promoted in his song, “Only the Good Die Young” (in which Joel said that he’d rather be “laugh[ing] with the sinners than cry with the saints”) and to the shallowness of the rich young man’s faith — he could “jump through hoops” for God, but when God asked for something more, he said no.

This editorial just scratches the surface of this document. Let us read it and see how God is calling all of us to imitate His youthful faithfulness.

Daily Readings † April 6 - April 19 Sat. Apr. 6, Jer 11:18-20; Ps 7:2-3,9b-12; Jn 7:40-53. Sun. Apr. 7, Fifth Sunday of Lent, Is 43:16-21; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 3:8-14; Jn 8:1-11. Mon. Apr. 8, Dn 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62 or 13:41c-62; Ps 23:1-6; Jn 8:12-20. Optional for any weekday this week: 2 Kgs 4:18b-21,32-37; Ps 17:1,6-8,15; Jn 11:1-45. Tues. Apr. 9, Nm 21:4-9; Ps 102:2-3,16-21; Jn 8:21-30. Wed. Apr. 10, Dn 3:14-20, 91-92,95; (Ps) Dn 3:52-56; Jn 8:31-42. Thurs. Apr. 11, Gn 17:3-9; Ps 105:4-9; Jn 8:51-59.

Fri. Apr. 12, Jer 20:10-13; Ps 18:2-7; Jn 10:31-42.

Sat. Apr. 13, Ez 37:21-28; (Ps) Jer 31:10-13; Jn 11:45-56. Sun. Apr. 14, Palm Sunday, Procession: Lk 19:28-40. Mass: Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9,17-18a, 19-20, 23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23:56 or 23:1-49. Mon. Apr. 15, Is 42:1-7; Ps 27:1-3, 13-14; Jn 12:1-11. Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a,6a,8b-9; Ps 89:21-22,25,27; Rv 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21. Tues. Apr. 16, Is 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-4a,5-6ab,15,17; Jn 13:2133,36-38. Wed. Apr. 17, Is 50:4-9a; Ps 69:8-10,21-22,31,33-34; Mt 26:14-25. Thurs. Apr. 18, Holy Thursday. At evening, begin Easter Triduum of the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Ex 12:1-8,1-14; Ps 116:12-13,15-16bc,17-18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15. Fri. Apr. 19, Good Friday, Mass is not celebrated today. Celebration of the Lord’s Passion: Is 52: 13-53:12; Ps 31:2,6,12-13,15-17,25; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42.

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Protecting our humanity — and the vulnerable

ecause of the times we are living in, Pope Francis has spoken out repeatedly about the dangers of “gender ideology,” a modern form of gnosticism that not only undermines our basic understanding of anthropology but also of reality.

He has made a distinction between the welcome, support, accompaniment, and loving pastoral care that we must offer to those who say they’re transgender — whose sexual selfunderstanding does not align with their biological sex — and pretending and teaching others that there really are men trapped in women’s bodies and women in men’s. While we must affirm the dignity of those who believe themselves to be transgender and defend their fundamental human rights to be free of violence and unjust discrimination, he says we must also be clear about the danger that the ideology of gender poses to individuals and to society.

“We must protect our humanity,” Pope Francis stated in his exhortation on the family, “and this means, in the first place, accepting it and respecting it as it was created.” It is “one thing to be understanding of human weakness and the complexities of life and another to accept ideologies that attempt to sunder what are inseparable aspects of reality” (Amoris Laetitia, 56). Our sex is a basic part of human nature, just like our genes, race, age and species. It’s an objective fact, not a subjective choice, mental state or feeling.

To deny that is to deny our humanity. Gender ideology, he said in a 2015 General Audience, is therefore a “step backwards. The removal of [sexual] difference in fact creates a problem, not a solution,” a problem not just for those with gender dysphoria but for everyone.

And yet our culture is recklessly sprinting backwards.

Earlier this week, the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives gave first hearing to the Equality Act of 2019, which aims to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — which banned discrimination based on “race, color, religion, sex or national origin” — by changing its definition of “sex” to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” the latter defined as

“gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or characteristics, regardless of the individual’s designated sex at birth.”

Similarly during the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women last month in New York, there was a push by the LGBTI Core Group — representing 28 countries, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the NGOs Human Rights Watch and Outright Action International — to change the meaning of “woman” to include those who claim to be women, “no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.”

Whereas everyone once knew what “woman” meant based on her bodily nature — her two X chromosomes, capacity for motherhood, female hormones, internal reproductive organs, external genitalia, secondary sex characteristics — proponents of gender ideology are asserting that bodily nature has nothing intrinsically to do with womanhood beyond how sex is “assigned” at birth.

Womanhood, rather, is the way one thinks about oneself, or expresses oneself, based on sexual stereotypes like the clothes and shoes one wears, the hobbies or sports one enjoys, the make-up one dons, etc. Manhood is similarly a state of mind rather than a biological and bodily reality.

The person is reduced to spirit and will and the human being almost becomes a disincarnate abstraction until one discerns what nature and gender one is or wants to be.

Gender ideology, however, doesn’t stop at profound anthropological confusion. As we are witnessing in Washington, the U.N., and various state and national capitals, those promoting it are trying to reorder society according to that confusion, with profound consequences not just in terms of law, education, economy, health, safety, sports, language and culture, but also in terms of human rights, Marriage and family, motherhood and fatherhood, and the cause of women, men, and especially children.

Let’s focus on the harm to four groups.

First, to women. Chang-

ing the definition of woman to include biological men who identify as women means, de facto, that what women have fought so hard to achieve over recent decades in terms of jobs, education, and sports — and what is necessary for their safety in terms of shelter, bathrooms and locker rooms — will no longer be protected. Any biological man saying he is a woman would now be entitled to whatever a biological woman is.

Employers who want to save on parental leave but still claim gender balance can

employ biological men who believe they’re women instead of biological women. Boys claiming to be girls — with their physical advantages in terms of muscle mass and type, bone density, heart, lungs and natural performance enhancing hormones — can compete against girls and take their championships (and no doubt soon scholarships), and in violent contact sports also put them at greater risk for serious injury. Women who have suffered violence from men will have to endure biological men entering battered women’s shelters, bathrooms and locker rooms, no matter the trauma to their sense of safety.

And the opportunity for those who want to exploit such facile, subjective redefinitions of personal identity are already sadly in evidence: rapists who self-identify as women to enter women’s prisons to rape again; peeping toms or exhibitionists who identify as women or girls to enter women’s bathrooms and locker rooms at their will and pleasure; careerists who want to improve their chances for jobs identifying as women to take advantage of gender parity policies.

Second, to children. Pope Francis is particularly concerned about gender ideology being taught to kids, so that boys and girls are encouraged to question, at their earliest ages, whether they are a boy or a girl and are

taught, at a time when gender non-conformity is higher, that they can choose their gender.

Rather than solid anthropology, indoctrinating them in categories like those found in the “gender unicorn” is a form of intellectual child abuse.

Worse, however, is what is happening medically with children who experience gender dysphoria. Rather than treating the underlying issues of gender non-conformity, children are being encouraged to transition socially at a very young age and adopt opposite-sex names, habits and expressions. As pre-pubescents, they are then being given puberty blockers — which are not even FDA approved for this purpose — despite the fact that they arrest bone growth, decrease bone density, stop the formation of sex cells, and leave them physically behind their maturing peers. When they reach the general age of puberty, they’re being given cross sex hormones in very high doses, despite foreseeable side effects in terms of bone mineral density, lipid profile, cardiovascular problems and cancer. And finally, as early as 13 in some places, they’re being helped to have sex reassignment surgery, surgically removing their external sex organs and replacing them with a simulation of opposite sex organs.

All of this is happening despite the fact that longitudinal studies have shown that 85 percent of children with gender identity disorder do not persist in dysphoria in adolescence.

Once, however, children begin the four-step pathway of social transition, puberty blockers, cross sex hormones, and reassignment surgery, it’s rare that they revert. Parents who seek to prevent this pattern are treated as facilitators of their children’s future suicide, or uncaring bigots, and in some countries have even begun to lose their children.

Third, to those with gender dysphoria. Studies in Sweden have shown, for example, that despite a culture strongly supportive of those who say they’re transgender, the suicide rate 10-15 years after sex reassignment surgery is 19 times that

of comparable peers, including groups who also experience some form of social stigma.

How come? Because you can’t fool nature. All non-ideological, commonsensical thinkers recognize that there is something awry when someone thinks he is a man trapped in a woman’s body, or vice versa, in a similar way to those who think they’re transspecies or transracial. Such dysphoria is not remedied by everyone else’s feigning the emperor is an empress. But there’s a vast cultural conspiracy pretending that those with gender dysphoria are psychologically healthy and normal, and that their only issues concern integration within the larger culture. It’s medical, psychological, cultural and ethical malpractice of the highest measure.

The last group is everyone in society, as gender ideology seeks to compel us to suppress our common sense and knowledge of elementary biology and play along with the fiction. All of us will have to change our pronouns, or pay fines, or lose jobs.

Individuals and institutions that fail to abide by the zeitgeist will suffer severe consequences for civil rights violations. Medical professionals, despite their oath first to do no harm, will have to prescribe puberty blockers and opposite-sex hormones and to perform surgeries. Women and girls will have to live with the new situation that treats transwomen and biological women as legally identical. Families that try to give their children adequate psychological care to treat underlying issues may be found guilty of civil rights abuses and lose their children.

All of this will likely continue until children who have suffered all of the consequences of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and amputations as minors grow up and begin to sue the medical establishment for the irreversible damage done to them.

These radical changes, however, are not inevitable. But if they’re going to be halted, those who see clearly, truthfully and charitably need to act now to protect our humanity and defend and help those who are vulnerable.

Father Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

April 5, 2019 †

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(Roman?) Catholic — Part Four

he international trading enterprises of King Solomon through the Gulf of Aqaba, the Red Sea, and beyond brought his influence into the land of Sheba, and his fame to that land’s queen. Legend has it that she had a son by him named Menelik who later took the Ark of the Covenant back home to what is now modern day Ethiopia where it was welcomed by Jewish merchants and other Jews who had settled there.

(For fascinating reading, see the following article: www.smithsonianmag.com/ travel/keepers-of-the-lostark-179998820/).

The Ethiopian Jews and then the Ethiopian Christians after the conversion of King Ezana in 330 have guarded their claim over this treasure of our common faith in the town of Axum for nearly 3,000 years.

I do not know what is in the chapel at Axum. I do not know how much historicity is to be attributed to the Menelik legend.

However, it does stretch credulity to hold that an entire people for nearly 3,000 years has so vigorously guarded a totally empty hoax.

In just the past few decades nearly the entire Ethiopian Jewish population has relocated to Israel — about 130,000 of them.

Again, legend has it that the formal evangelization of Alexandria and the lands under that city’s metropolitan influence was conducted by St. Mark, named in the New Testament. Those lands included areas of Egypt, 8

Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

The Eritrean Rite is a new Catholic Rite, having been separated from the Ethiopian Rite in 2015.

I shall not treat Eritrea separately since it shares so much of the history of Ethiopia and the same language at Mass, Ge’ez.

At the Council of Chalcedon in 451, theological questions about how the Divine and human natures exist in Christ were debated. The majority of bishops present at the council held the position that both natures were present and entire in Christ, but not melded. The bishops of the Alexandrian lands held that in Christ there was one new and unique nature. For this reason they call themselves miaphysites (one nature), while those who accepted the decision of Chalcedon call themselves monophysites (single nature). A war of words and pride!

Modern science has discovered that traditional forms of logic do not always apply to the physical world. If this is so for creation, traditional logic might give us the whole truth about God. The decision at Chalcedon states that the majority position is true and valid, and that it is illicit (not invalid) to hold and teach the minority position. If theologians can apply the insights of modern physics to this matter, possibly both positions can be found to express truth about the mystery of the Incarnation.

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As Vatican II gave rise to the traditional Catholics led by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, and Vatican I saw the Old Catholic movement consolidate under the leadership of the Church of Utrecht, so the Council of Chalcedon saw the rise of the Orthodox Coptic Church, and the Ethiopian Tewahedo Church. They called themselves Orthodox

(i.e. right, or correct) long before the split between the east and the west in the 12th century which gave rise to the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Unlike the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, the Alexandrian Orthodox churches continue to celebrate the same seven Sacraments as the Catholic Church.

One of the greatest developments in Christian asceticism came from the Coptic Church. St. Anthony of Egypt is credited with starting the practice of Christian monasticism.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, close to 150,000 Coptic Christians were martyred. They were persecuted by Greek emperors from after the Council of Chalcedon until the Arab conquest of Egypt in 641. Moslem persecution lasted from the ninth century until the British rule in 1882. From the late 12th century to

the present, Copts have been victims of attacks by Islamic fundamentalists.

In 1442, the Orthodox Coptic Patriarch embraced the Catholic Church, but the people back home would have none of it. A similar thing happened in 1713. In 1781, the small number of Catholic Copts once again came under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Pope Benedict XIV. At present, there are seven eparchies (i.e. dioceses) of the Catholic Coptic Church in Egypt.

At the present time, there are at least two Catholic Coptic Rite parishes in our country, but no eparchies: in Los Angeles (with services in English, Coptic, and Arabic) and in Brooklyn.

There are also parishes in Toronto, Ontario and Laval, Quebec.

As far as the presence of Ethiopian and Eritrean Catholic Rites in

North America, there are a few Roman Rite parishes which host Ge’ez Liturgies and some Ethiopian/Eritrean parishes, but again no eparchies. Among these are Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston and other parishes in Washington, D.C.; Annadale, Virg.; Berkley, Calif.; Stone Mountain, Ga.; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago, Ill.; Toronto, Ontario, and Calgary, Alberta.

Pope Francis has often expressed his great concern and his prayers for these Christians of the Alexandrian group. They have a venerable history, have suffered greatly, and even now continue to suffer persecution.

Father Martin L. Buote is a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese and a frequent contributor to The Anchor.

I

It’s not just about the frozen embryos

remember a conversation I had with a married Catholic couple a few years ago. They were feeling lost and desperate over their inability to conceive a child. They were casting about for options.

They understood there were moral concerns with doing in vitro fertilization (IVF), though they weren’t sure about the specifics, so they asked: “Would it be OK for us to do IVF as long as we don’t make any extra embryos and we’re careful to implant all the ones we make?”

The thinking behind their question was understandable and they clearly recognized it would be wrong to produce and then store their embryonic

sons and daughters in the deep freeze. It’s important to note, however, that the possibility of “spare” embryos ending up in “frozen orphanages” would not be the only reason, or even the main reason, that IVF is morally unacceptable.

The immorality of IVF is primarily due to the fact that the process turns human procreation into a method of production in which children are made, not begotten.

Embryos certainly face grave risks whenever they are cryopreserved, and a significant percentage of them do not survive the steps of freezing and thawing. The cryostorage of embryos is

a form of “collateral damage” that routinely occurs when IVF is done. Ethically speaking, doing IVF and making extra embryos would be more offensive than doing IVF without making extra embryos, in the same way that stealing jewels out of the bank vault and shooting the guards on

the way out would be more objectionable than stealing the jewels nonviolently.

Yet the action of absconding with the jewels remains seriously wrong in either case, apart from any considerations about whether the guards are harmed. Similarly, IVF does not become morally acceptable merely by eliminating the collateral damage associated with the process, whether it’s the freezing of embryos, the “selective reductions” of twins and triplets, or any of the other objectionable practices that tend to be part of the process.

The heart of the IVF process itself, the practice of joining sperm and egg together in the fertility clinic, remains an intrinsic evil, flowing from the decision to allow our offspring to be “manufactured.” The domain of procreation is a delicate arena, one in which our human vulnerability is uniquely laid bare. We have a particular responsibility to safeguard our own sexuality and the

origins of our children from damaging forces in this arena, which implies a duty to respect the marital act as the unique locus and setting for the engendering of new human life.

IVF is not really a “treatment” for infertility, given that the couple remains as infertile after doing IVF as they were before they started the process, with the underlying cause of their sterility remaining unaddressed and unresolved. The procedure offers little more than a workaround to completely bypass the marital act — an expensive, complex, unwieldy substitute, not a genuine therapy.

Through IVF, husband and wife use their own (or even another person’s) sex cells to become “donors” while constructing their own offspring through a kind of programmed project, with the marital act no longer a part of the equation. In the final analysis, however, only when the bodies of our children arise as the immediate fruit of our own bodily and spousal self-surrender can we say they have been freely and unconditionally received as gifts, rather than coerced into being as the result of human willfulness, financial planning, and scripted biological technologies.

Only then can we say that we have not dominated the process of procreation nor preponderated over the origins of our offspring.

By yielding to the project of fabricating our children in the cold, clinical,

and commercial venture that is in vitro fertilization, we act against the human dignity of our offspring by sanctioning inequality and setting up a subclass of those who originate in petri dishes and test tubes rather than in the intimacy of the mutual spousal donation that receives life within the protective maternal hearth.

These various explanations of the wrongness of IVF can seem distant and hard for infertile couples to accept. They yearn intensely for a child. The infertility industry appeals to their desire to be in control in an arena where control has been elusive, and part of the allure is also the carefully choreographed assembling of babies who have been planned, screened, and quality-controlled.

It is a tragic step when spouses opt for the production of their own offspring in glassware, because they move forward and violate the deepest meaning of their marital union, rather than holding firmly to the truth that their one-flesh communion is the unique and privileged interpersonal sanctuary in which a new and unrepeatable person appears by a power and a will that is not their own.

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, and serves as the Director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

See www.ncbcenter.org

April 5, 2019 †

9

Diocesan Catholic school students attend annual Pro-Life Mass Pro-Life essayists, advocates honored with awards

By Kenneth J. Souza Editor

kensouza@anchornews.org

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Five diocesan youth and the former diocesan director of the Pro-Life Apostolate were all recently honored at the annual Pro-Life Mass celebrated by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth on March 25.

The yearly celebration, organized by the Pro-Life Apostolate of the Fall River Diocese, is a unique opportunity to recognize those who dedicate their lives to advancing the Pro-Life cause and promoting the Culture of Life.

“Our coming together here today, is our way of saying to the young people in our Catholic schools that life is the most precious thing that any person can ever have,” Bishop da Cunha said in his homily. “But not just my life, the life of every person God created.

When we lose that sense of the dignity and respect for life, we’re all going to pay some price; we’re all going to suffer.”

For this year’s Pro-Life Essay Contest, students in the diocesan Catholic schools were asked to write on the theme: “Every Life Cherished, Chosen, Sent.”

The first-place essayist in the high school category was Giovanna Lemos, an 11th-grade student at St. John Paul II High School and a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish, both in Hyannis.

Lemos wrote about her brother Felipe, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome shortly after his birth, and how he “opened my eyes to the gift of life.”

Second-place honors in the high school division went to Kylie Hyde, a 10th-grade student at St. John Paul II High School in Hyannis and a member of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee.

Hyde similarly cited the example of her baby sister, Lily, who was diagnosed with Chromosome 10

† April 5, 2019

Deletion, and how she considers her sibling “the most beautiful little sister anyone could ask for.”

In the Junior High School category, the first-place essay was written by Brendan Resende, an eighthgrade student at Holy Name School and a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, both in Fall River.

Resende noted how Massachusetts has some of the most stringent animal cruelty laws, and yet legislators are saying “it’s OK to perform an abortion in the ninth month.”

Second-place honors went to Veronica Medeiros, an eighthgrader at Holy Name School in Fall River.

Medeiros discussed how she has been inspired by the example of Frank Stephens, a man with Down Syndrome who has “committed himself to defend the unborn lives of people with Down Syndrome.”

The John Cardinal O’Connor Pro-Life Awards are given annually to one adult and one youth who have worked to promote and support the Pro-Life effort.

This year, Bishop Connolly High School student Sonja Morin, class of 2020, received the Pro-Life Apostolate Youth Award. Morin’s spirit and passion for the Pro-Life movement has made her a student leader at Bishop Connolly as well as a Pro-Life advocate in the Greater Fall River community. At Bishop Connolly, she founded the Cougars for Life Club, a Pro-Life student group dedicated to promoting education and advocacy for the dignity of the human person.

Morin also has dedicated her time to educating her peers on important issues in the Pro-Life movement by creating and giving presentations to her classmates at Connolly. In the community, Morin is a member of Massachusetts Citizens for Life and is involved in the Respect for Life group and pastoral council at her home parish of Holy Name in Fall River.

The adult Cardinal O’Connor Award was given to Marian Desro-

Winners at this year’s annual Pro-Life Mass included, from left, Sonja Morin, John Cardinal O’Connor Youth Award; Giovanna Lemos, firstplace high school essay; Kylie Hyde, second-place high school essay; Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.; Veronica Medeiros, second-place junior high school essay; and Brendan Resende, first-place junior high school essay. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza) siers, former director of the ProLife Apostolate and Project Rachel in the Fall River Diocese.

“For 25 years Marian has spearheaded all aspects of the Pro-Life Apostolate and Project Rachel,” said Jean Arsenault, who worked alongside Desrosiers for many years.

“At Cardinal O’Malley’s behest and with her own hard work and dedication, the March for Life in Washington, D.C. became a reality in our diocese. And over the years, this diocese has sent thousands of students and their chaperones to this national, important event.”

Desrosiers, who is now director of advancement at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River, was honored and humbled with the award.

“To be recognized for my years of service to the Pro-Life Apostolate was a moment of humility, strong emotions and gratefulness,” she told The Anchor. “During the Mass, I prayed for all of those who have and continue to fight tirelessly for the Sacredness and dignity of all human life — the unnamed heroes of yesterday and today. I gained strength and hope listening to the next Pro-Life generation speak

truth from the altar and share stories of love from their hearts. I prayed for my husband, Joe, and my family who lovingly and tirelessly supported and encouraged me at every moment along the way.”

Desrosiers said as she accepted the award from Bishop da Cunha, “I carried in my heart all of who have suffered because of the tragedy of abortion and the unborn who are not with us.”

She expressed thanks to all who have supported the Pro-Life Apostolate over the years, especially Bishop da Cunha, Bishop George W. Coleman, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, and all the diocesan clergy, employees, parishioners, educators and youth.

“Be assured of my thankfulness and continued prayers,” she added.

“May all of us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, ‘renew the face of the earth.’

“To my family at the Pro-Life Apostolate who will continue to carry on rebuilding the Culture of Life and love — you have my admiration, thankfulness and firm belief that God has chosen wisely.”

2019 Pro-Life Mass † Award-Winning Essays First Place, High School: Giovanna Lemos Grade 11 - St. John Paul II High School, Hyannis This year’s essay theme is “Every Life Cherished, Chosen, Sent.” What strikes me about this theme is that it couldn’t be more true.

Every life is precious and has been planned by God Himself.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born I set you apart.” When first hearing the theme, I knew that this would be the perfect year to share the story of my brother, Felipe.

During his earliest stages in the womb, his stomach was not developing properly, and because of this, my parents were being constantly asked and even encouraged to consider abortion before it’s too late. My parents knew that, regardless of the child’s condition, they would keep him, no matter what; because God had chosen him to be in our lives. God has a plan for everyone. It’s shocking to see that just because the fetus wasn’t considered “perfect,” the doctors assumed it was right to simply get rid of the child.

Shortly after his birth, my mother received the news that he had been diagnosed with Down Syndrome. As the doctor was leaving the room, she turned to my mother and said, “I’m so sorry.” My mother looked at her and replied, “Sorry? For what?” This was the last thing my mother needed to hear from a medical “professional.” Instead of congratulating our family and giving us hope for this next chapter in our lives, the Ob-Gyn felt sorry for us, for providing a life for someone she saw as imperfect and disabled.

After his birth, my brother needed a small, yet risky procedure done to his heart to detect what was wrong with it. After the procedure had begun, my mother walked to a store to get a magazine, to help take her mind off of everything. She came across one on the floor, with a picture of Pope John Paul II on the cover. When she got the chance, she opened up to a random page and it was a photo of Pope John Paul II embracing a child with Down Syndrome. Later that day, my mother had received a call from one of her closest friends, saying she had a vision of Pope John Paul II beside Felipe, interceding for him. All of this seemed ironic at first, until my mother then noticed that Felipe’s birthday, May 18, was also that of Pope John Paul II! We truly believe that St. John Paul II has been interceding for my brother from the moment of his conception and continues to do so.

Today, Felipe is currently seven years old and attends an elementary school like any other kid. He has speech delays, but with the help of therapy, it is getting better each day. Since he has reached the age where his delays and disability are noticeable to his peers, he does experience bullying, but since he is so kind-hearted and pure, he doesn’t even notice. Felipe effortlessly shows and expresses love towards everyone and he has shown me that I can do the same. If it wasn’t for the life of my brother, I wouldn’t be the same person I am today. Felipe’s life has been cherished greatly by my family for all he has brought into our lives. He has been chosen and sent from God so that we may see the beauty of life and how everyone has something to offer regardless of being different. Felipe has opened my eyes to the gift of life and I am so grateful.

Second Place, High School: Kylie Hyde Grade 10 - St. John Paul II High School, Hyannis Pope Francis once said, “Our defense of the innocent unborn … needs to be clear, firm, and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life which is always Sacred and demands love for each person, regardless of his or her stage of development.” This quote allows us to understand that, no matter what the differences are in human beings, there is always a distinct plan created for each soul.

With God’s grace, we are able to grow in a strong faith and fully understand the definite plan God has for each of us.

In 2003, I was welcomed into this world with the open arms of my two older brothers. About two years later, I became an older sister to my four younger brothers who joined our family. As much as I love my brothers, I always prayed the Rosary with my grandmother Mimi for a sister once a week. My Mimi always tells me that “the Rosary is the most powerful prayer in the world.” I really spent time thinking about that saying and thought maybe it would bring me a sister.

The year 2007 came along and on September 27, I was blessed with my first and only baby sister, Lily. I remember running through the hospital entrance and screaming with joy that God had given me such an amazing gift. I said to myself, “Yes! Now I will finally be given the chance to dress her up, play Barbies, and have endless sleepovers!” From the second I first held her, I could already see the face of Christ in her smile. I was extremely thankful for this amazing blessing.

It wasn’t until a few weeks later that she was diagnosed with Chromosome Deletion. A Chromosome Deletion is a condition whereby you are missing a piece of a chromosome containing DNA. This causes you to process things longer and act younger than the age you are. The doctors had told us that Lily was never going to be able to walk, but in order for her to stand and support herself, we would need to purchase a walker. We bought her a hot pink one and decorated it all girly so she would feel happy using it! She loved it! After having many house visits for her eating and walking classes, a miracle occurred.

On February 22, Lily took her very first steps all by herself! Next thing you know today she is running, jumping, and playing on multiple sports teams and has even developed the skills of an awesome skier over the past few years!

My mother and father explained to my siblings and me that every life is cherished, chosen and sent; and that no matter what situation you are in, life is always worth living. Just because she will face greater difficulties in her lifetime, doesn’t mean her life is worth less or is different from any one of us. God knew Lily and chose her to be who she was even before her birth. Jeremiah 1:5 states, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Abortion would never have been an option for my parents, even if they had known Lily was going to be born with special needs. We are more than beyond happy with what God has given us. We love Lily for who she is and how God created her. Every life should be cherished, and abortion should never be an option, no matter the circumstance. I am so grateful for God and my parents for blessing my siblings and I with the best and most beautiful little sister anyone could ask for.

First Place, Junior High School: Brendan Resende Grade Eight - Holy Name School, Fall River After being a bit stumped on where to start this essay, I walked into my brother’s bedroom and I asked him directly, “Why are you going to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. in a few weeks?”

Being the man of few words that he is, he responded, “It’s the right thing to do; I’m doing my part in protecting life.”

The more I thought about it, the more I understood. Human life has lost its value. Senseless deaths are common, child neglect and elderly abuse are often in the news and the fight over abortion happens with every election. My brother was right. As Catholics, we need to do our part in protecting all life, especially the innocent and unborn.

At eight weeks, you can hear a baby’s heartbeat with an ultrasound machine. By this time, all the organs are formed as well. By 18 weeks, a baby can start sucking his or her thumb. There are many politicians who want laws changed to make abortions easier and more accessible.

One example of this is Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York. As part of the “Reproductive Health Act,” Governor Cuomo would make ninth-month abortions legal, as well as repeal the “Baby Doe” law, which right now, has a doctor present at an abortion to take care of the baby if the baby survives. By repealing that, the baby would be left to die after surviving the abortion. These actions do not protect the dignity of life; they are not even humane. We treat our pets better than that.

Many people pride themselves of their love for animals and some call their pets their “babies.” My parents sometimes like to watch the TV show “House Hunters” and they have noticed that some people are more concerned about Fido’s room to run in the backyard than the layout of the kitchen! The comfort of their pet is a priority in this really important purchase. If people are willing to protect their pets like this, shouldn’t we protect the unborn and innocent like this?

Our animal cruelty laws have harsh penalties for people who disregard an animal’s safety. Take for instance a Massachusetts law — Mass. General Laws Chapter 272, Section 77 (2017), “Cruelty to Animals”: “And whoever, having the charge or custody of an animal, either as owner or otherwise, inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon it, or unnecessarily fails to provide it with proper food, drink, shelter, sanitary environment, or protection from weather … or knowingly and willfully authorizes or permits it to be subjected to unnecessary torture, suffering or cruelty of any kind shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than seven years in state prison or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than two-and-a-half years or by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by both fine and imprisonment.”

So, if someone denies food and water to an animal and causes them unnecessary cruelty or suffering, they can go to jail. If a mother abandons a newborn in a dumpster and that child dies, it’s murder. But if Governor Cuomo has his way, it’s OK to perform an abortion in the ninth month or let a baby who survives an abortion just lay there and die. How does this make sense?

There are many things that we can’t control in our lives. As Catholic youth, we need to do our part as Christians and help our fellow human beings. My brother was right. It is our job to help protect the innocent since every life is cherished, chosen and sent by God.

Second Place, Junior High School: Veronica Medeiros Grade Eight - Holy Name School, Fall River “You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made.” — Psalm 139:13-14.

The other day, I was scrolling through my YouTube recommendation list and my eye caught sight of an interesting video titled “I am a man with Down Syndrome and I am worth living”

by Frank Stephens. I was interested in the title, so I clicked on the video and by the end I was not only moved by his speech, but at the same time shocked to learn that several different countries around the world, like Denmark and Iceland, used abortion as a weapon to get rid of the Down Syndrome among their population. Frank Stephens says that “the pre-natal screening identifies Down Syndrome in the womb and 90 percent of those pregnancies are just terminated.” He also compares this terrible method to “The Final Solution.”

At one point during his speech, I felt as though Frank Stephens was basically begging for the unborn babies with Down Syndrome to have a chance to live. He says that Down Syndrome population is a “medical gift to society, an extra chromosome that may lead to the answers to Alzheimer’s and cancer, among other incurable diseases.” It’s very tragic how he had to basically explain to society why people with Down Syndrome should exist.

During his speech, Mr. Stephens spoke highly of Dr. Jerome Lejeune, an internationally well-known French doctor and the Father of Modern Genetics, who could see that in every human being, there’s God’s goodness and love. He especially saw this in every one of his patients with Down Syndrome.

Dr. Lejeune was the first to discover “the cause of Trisomy 21” which has been misused to kill children before they are born. He committed himself to defend the unborn lives of people with Down Syndrome and their families. He received many awards because of his work, but was denied the Nobel Prize in Medicine because of his Pro-Life stance. His example of life and legacy call us to speak against what “the culture of waste” suggests and to promote human life no matter what.

The way this is all connected to the theme of this essay — “Every Life: Cherished, Chosen, Sent” — is because even though children with Down Syndrome have a disability, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t human or worth living. These kids can still make a difference in our world and lives today. Take Frank Stephens, for example. He has made an impact in the world by speaking out against aborting children with Down Syndrome. He has made a difference even though he has a disability. Just because he has Down Syndrome doesn’t make him less human or inferior to us because at the end of the day, we are all human and we should all have a chance to live.

April 5, 2019 †

11

A

The blessings of end of life

fter I took the call around 1 a.m. that did not come unexpectedly, I laid back in bed and said to Denise, “Well, I’m an orphan now.”

We each chuckled a bit, as I relayed the news that my mom had passed away peacefully in her sleep at Catholic Memorial Home.

Millie was 95. It didn’t seem that long ago that I took the same call from the same place for my dad.

That was late in 2017. Larry was 96.

The call last week was the end of a chapter in my life that had a long, good ride ­— for the most part.

But the last 10 years or so, that chapter of my life became increasingly difficult — seemingly with each day that passed.

I’m not telling anyone who has cared for and ultimately lost an elderly parent anything they don’t already know. I just feel the need to share some of that journey, now that it has come to an end.

It is not a pleasant experience to watch people who were once so young and strong deteriorate mentally, physically, and at times Spiritually.

With dad, his mind slowly fell victim to what would become major dementia. Along that long agonizing road, the physical deterioration joined the fray. While that part of the journey was the worst for me, there were some blessing that arose from those times.

I got to know Larry better than I had in my previous 50 years. He had always been my hero and 12

we always had a close bond, but I got to see him at his very lowest points, first physically and then as his mind faded. But during those times, in the seemingly countless hours in medical waiting rooms he shared things with me that he had never told me, maybe anyone. Some of the anecdotes were warm and humorous. And many, particularly his experiences aboard a U.S. destroyer in the South Pacific just after the devastation at Pearl Harbor, were horrific. Moments that haunted him for life, moments he kept inside all those years.

I felt honored that he confided in me, and my respect and love for him grew past what I didn’t think was possible.

His time at Catholic Memorial home in Fall River was bittersweet. He was confused and didn’t know why he was there, and why he was still alive.

But the staff there was second-to-none in Larry’s care. Care that went beyond a job. It was care that was sincere, loving and comforting — to him and me. Larry rode the painful dementia train for nearly three years before it was evident that Hospice should become involved to assist with his end-of-life care.

Dad had Steward Hospice and everyone there was fantastic beyond words.

Larry held on in a coma-like state for more than a week — a week when my brother Paul and I kept vigil with the little old guy. And through it all,

† April 5, 2019

the CMH staff and Hospice were at our sides. Larry passed away peacefully in

his sleep in a warm, comfortable, room.

Father Mike Racine celebrated Larry’s funeral. He had already celebrated my youngest son’s funeral and my eldest daughter’s wedding. So it

was only appropriate that he send dad off.

Larry was buried at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne and the committal service was so uplifting. Two sailors flanked the casket standing 8 Turn to page 16

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, April 7 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Maurice O. Gauvin, pastor of Espirito Santo Parish in Fall River

Sunday, April 14 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Riley J. Williams, parochial administrator of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass

on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, April 7 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Providence, R.I.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, April 14 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Anthony Church in Taunton

Sunday night Cathedral Mass captures, engages youth continued from page three

gregation a little bit. So he thought that Palm Sunday would be a perfect day for him to come. Hopefully we’ll have a nice, full church for the bishop that day. As you know, he’s great with the young people — he’s very interactive and engaging with them.”

While Father Washburn is intent on maintaining consistency with the weekly Youth Masses, he did note it will not be celebrated on the following Easter Sunday, April 21.

“I’ve had these Masses in every parish that I’ve been in, and I just learned

over the years that on Easter Sunday everybody goes in the morning with mom and dad, and then they’re off with family in the afternoon,” he said. “So that will be the one day that we’re not having it. But immediately the following Sunday, it will resume every week.”

For Father Washburn, the past and continued success of the Youth Mass cannot be attributed to any one thing — it’s really a matter of all the pieces fitting together.

“It’s a matter of hitting the right time that works in their schedules, making it

clear that this is their time and their place and really maximizing the ways that they’re engaged because it invites them to be engaged on another level — to not just be a person sitting in the pew,” he said.

Not surprisingly, once they become active participants and take up that mantle of ministry, Father Washburn said the youth want to continue in those roles.

“We’ve already got a full list of young people who want to serve in all of those roles, and the thing that amazes me is that I’ll have morning Mass in one of the other churches and I’ll have altar servers who will come back for the 6 p.m. Mass to serve again,” he said.

“They are maintaining their prior commitment, but they are also coming back to be part of the Youth Mass, as well. So now our challenge is just to maintain that momentum that we’ve started, and to see what we can do to reach out to other communities.”

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass Holy Week Liturgies on the Portuguese Channel Holy Thursday, April 18 at 9:30 p.m.

Broadcast from Santo Christo Church in Fall River Good Friday, April 19 at 9:30 p.m.

Broadcast from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in New Bedford

April 5, 2019 †

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For and About Our Church Youth Five Bishop Stang High School students, right, recently received Knights of Columbus awards for their submissions to the Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest. Winners were, from left, Eric Payette of Dartmouth; Elizabeth Golden of New Bedford; Quinn Sullivan of Westport; Laurenne Wilkinson of Marion; and Chloe Katz of Tiverton, R.I. The awards were presented in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the school by Philip Martin, chairman of the Theology Department at Bishop Stang.

(Photo courtesy of Jennifer Golden)

First-grade students at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro recently set their leprechaun traps up to try to catch a little luck on St. Patrick’s Day. This is a task that first-grade teacher Denise Piette has been doing every year at SMSH. The project is a fun, imaginative one that helps teach students about simple inventions and movements with pullies and latches — all vital aspects of engineering. Below, Brennan Ryan and Isabel Leca look at their traps full of little leprechaun ‘footprints.’

(Photo courtesy of Veronica Welch)

Pioneers and Patriots from the American Heritage Girls Troop MA3712 recently completed requirements for their Artistic Badge at Paint Crazy in Raynham. The girls got a fantastic tour of the art/teaching studio and received a paint-pouring lesson from artist Wendy Dennull.

(Photo courtesy of Trish Larkin)

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For and About Our Church Youth The fifth-graders at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro recently graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. DARE Officer and St. John’s School alumnus Joseph Daday facilitated the weekly sessions and the graduation. Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux and members of the Attleboro Police Department joined parents and students for the ceremony.

(Photo courtesy of Gina Cuccovia-Simoneau)

On March 23, the members of the Robotics Team from Coyle and Cassidy Middle School in Taunton, below, went to the Massachusetts State Science Olympiad at Assumption College in Worcester. The team competed in 13 of the 21 challenges against 31 teams from schools all over the state. Coyle came in first place in ‘Mystery Architecture’ and placed sixth in the ‘Boomilevere’ and ‘Potions and Poisons’ categories. (Photo courtesy of Brooke Bigda)

Students in Mrs. Medeiros’ third-grade class at St. Joseph’s School in Fairhaven, above, recently learned about fractions by arranging them on a number line. (Photo courtesy of Tracy Travers)

April 5, 2019 †

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My View from the Stands - Dave Jolivet continued from page 12

perfectly still. “Taps” was played and being so near Otis Air National Guard Base, a fly-over coincidentally (?) occurred during “Taps.” The U.S. flag that draped his casket was meticulously folded and ceremoniously handed to me. I never felt so proud in my life.

Millie went through a couple of years with dad slipping into dementia mode. She endured suffering she kept to herself — that must be an old French Canadian thing, because they both adhered to that philosophy all their lives.

When my brother and I detected the onset, we moved them out of an apartment that had been their dwelling place and comfort zone for more than 40 years. It was traumatic for dad and a relief for mom.

I got them into The Landmark in Fall River.

Dad didn’t last one night there. He was found wandering the halls and ended up at Saint Anne’s Hospital. From there he went to CMH. Mom stayed at The Landmark for nearly five years, and she couldn’t have been treated any better by the staff there. She became a sort of landmark of The Landmark.

She would complain to me about things, but everyone I talked to there said she was a delight and a pleasure to be around — another French Canadian trait?

Millie established a friendship with Mary “Connie” Furtado there.

They became like sisters and were pretty much inseparable. Remark16

ably, Connie celebrated her 100th birthday at The Landmark last August.

After that, she showed signs of slowing down rather rapidly. Along with the fact that mom found a best friend in Connie, I was blessed to get to know Connie’s loving daughter, Holy Union Sister Beverly Furtado.

Connie passed away in early February, and that’s when Millie began her mental and physical decline. Never in my life had I seen the death of anyone affect my mom like Connie’s.

I relived some of Larry’s saga in the final few months of Millie’s life, and again it was the people around her who were vessels of support. The Landmark staff was awesome, as were the Sisters who reside there, and when mom went to Saint Anne’ Hospital for a few days, she was treated with respect, kindness and compassion.

Millie went from Saint Anne’s to Catholic Memorial Home, where Hospice immediately became involved. While at CMH for her final three days, I got to see a few of the staff who so lovingly cared for my dad. It was a comfort to get a hug from them and chat for a bit. In her short time there, the CMH staff was its usual awesome self.

This time it was Kindred Hospice that became involved with Millie’s end-of-life care. It was at this time when I received a special blessing though the words and listening of a Kindred nurse, Ann-Marie Carter. She and I sat in an

† April 5, 2019

empty CMH cafeteria as we got to know each other and talked about Millie and the time she had left. I mentioned earlier that Larry and I had a strong bond and that he was always my hero. But one odd fact was that I never mourned for Larry. I was so busy with Millie, things at home and at work, that I never once mourned my dad’s passing. Yet while talking with Ann-Marie, my emotions about Larry began to pour out. And she was there to absorb it all, telling me I was beginning to mourn the two of them at once.

It was a cathartic moment for me, and one I will never forget. Two days later Millie left this world to see Larry and Connie and her best friend and brother, Pete, the grandson she never met, and more.

Again Father Mike Racine was there for us, and it was a beautiful funeral Mass, not without its humors and hiccups on the way there. Millie joined Larry in Bourne. It’s nice to know after all these years, they own land on the Cape!

As has been the case for the last 10-12 years, still more people stepped up to be of comfort, humor and solace. The folks at the National Cemetery can’t be beat.

I never mentioned family during this column, but they, too, were there in moments of need. I thank them and love them. And I thank and love the people at Catholic Memorial Home, Saint Anne’s Hospital, The Landmark, Steward Hospice, and Kindred Hospice. You can take all the news about bad people doing bad things every day and file it where it belongs,

because there is an army of good out there. I know — they have served me well.

Rest in peace Larry and Millie, and Connie, too.

You gave me so many blessings and brought people into my life that have done the same. jolivetdb@comcast.net

InYour YourPrayers Prayers In Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks April 6 Rev. Philip Lariscy, O.S.A. Founder of the New Bedford Mission, 1824 Rev. Edward J. Mongan, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1920 Rev. Msgr. John A. Chippendale, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Wareham, 1977 Rev. Lorenzo Morais, Retired Pastor, St. George, Westport, 1980 Rev. Msgr. William D. Thomson, Retired Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1987 Rev. Gerald E. Conmy, CSC, Associate Pastor, St. Ann, DeBary, Fla., 1994 Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Gilligan, P.A., STD, Archdiocese of St. Paul, 1997 Rev. Lucien Jusseaume, Chaplain, Our Lady’s Haven, Fairhaven, Retired Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River, 2001 April 7 Rev. James A. Dury, Retired Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1976 Rev. Alvin Matthews, O.F.M. Retired, Our Lady’s Chapel, New Bedford, 1988 April 8 Rev. Bento R. Fraga, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 2012 April 9 Rev. Cornelius McSwiney, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1919 Rev. Edward F. Dowling, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1965 April 10 Rev. John P. Doyle, Pastor, St. William, Fall River, 1944 April 11 Rev. John F. Downey, Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1914 April 12 Rev. John Tobin, Assistant, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1909 Rev. Msgr. Alfred J. Gendreau, STD, Retired Pastor, Notre Dame, Fall River, 1996 Rev. Edward P. Doyle, O.P., St. Raymond, Providence, R.I., 1997 Rev. Bertrand R. Chabot, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, New Bedford, 2002 April 13 Permanent Deacon Joseph P. Stanley Jr., Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, 2006 April 14 Rev. Louis N. Dequoy, Pastor, Sacred Heart, North Attleboro, 1935 Rev. Cosmas Chaloner, SS.CC., St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet, 1977 April 15 Rev. Christopher G. Hughes, D.D., Retired Rector, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River, 1908 Permanent Deacon Oscar Drinkwater, Retired Deacon, 2011 April 16 Rev. Arthur E. Langlois, on sick leave, Denver, Colo., 1928 Rev. Norman F. Lord, C.S.Sp., Hemet, Calif., 1995 Rev. John W. Pegnam, USN, Retired Chaplain, 1996 April 18 Rev. Hugh B. Harrold, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1935 Rt. Rev. John F. McKeon, P.R., Pastor, St. Lawrence, New Bedford, 1956 Rev. Joao Vieira Resendes, Retired Pastor, Espirito Santo, Fall River, 1984 Rev. Wilfred C. Boulanger, M.S., La Salette Shrine, Attleboro, 1985 Rev. George E. Amaral, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony, Taunton, 1992 Permanent Deacon Vincent P. Walsh, Holy Trinity, West Harwich, 1992 April 19 Rev. William Wiley, Pastor, St. Mary, Taunton, 1855 Rev. Msgr. Leo J. Duart, Pastor, St. Peter the Apostle, Provincetown, 1975 Rev. Daniel E. Carey, Chaplain, Catholic Memorial Home, Retired Pastor, St. Dominic, Swansea, 1990 Rev. Msgr. Antonino Tavares, Retired Pastor, Santo Christo, Fall River, 2008

Our Readers Respond Massachusetts law making parents criminals OK. It is not Halloween time yet in Massachusetts, but a Halloween-scary legislative proposal is now being voted on in Massachusetts making it a criminal act for a parent to stop their child from having a sex change!

Specifically, HB.140 and SB.70 would criminalize “any practice,” including talk therapy and counseling, that encouraged a minor to “change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.”

SB.70 even adds a provision labeling this type of treatment “child abuse,” and would expand the state’s authority to remove children from their homes.

This legislation talks about a child being confused. I don’t know about you, but I as an adult am confused! My confusion is trying to understand what wisdom our legislators have that I don’t have that would make me a criminal to decide who I wanted to counsel my child about anything.

Anything! Isn’t this America?

Our Fall River area legislators that have this wisdom are waiting to explain this to you. Our state reps that have this wisdom are Carole Fiola, phone 617-722-2430, and Paul Schmid, phone 617-7222017. Our senator, who will be voting on this in a few days, is Michael Rodrigues, phone 617-722-1114.

— Daryl Gonyon Fall River

Libraries shouldn’t promote LGBTQ agenda The Massachusetts public library system was once one of the finest in the nation. However, it has now become a political animal and often promotes the viewpoint of LGBTQ activists.

The Boston Public library now hosts “Drag Queen Story Hour” events held at different branch libraries. One of these events is held almost every month.

The program consists of men in drag reading children’s books to kids as young as three. The books are written from the LGBTQ perspective and deal with gender fluidity. They typically teach children that they should feel free to identify as a gender that is different from their own biology.

The following photograph was taken by library staff at one of these events and is deeply disturbing.

The libraries have no business introduc-

ing this agenda to children and taxpayers should call their elected officials to speak out against this sort of indoctrination.

— Timothy R. McGuire Fall River

Wareham pastor gratefully announces church reopening On behalf of the faith community of St. Patrick’s in Wareham and St. Anthony’s Chapel in West Wareham, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have supported us in a myriad of ways, as we went through the challenging process of refurbishing our beloved church after the fire of Sept.

22, 2018.

First, I wish to thank Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., for his guidance and encouragement as we navigated the monumental tasks of restoring our house of worship to its original splendor. We salute our Wareham firemen and police for their quick action in saving our church. I am so grateful for all of our parishioners who have prayed for the needs of our parish during this time of sacrifice and patience. We thank all of the greater Wareham

community and the churches who offered their prayers and support. We were made aware of how united our community is in time of need.

A special thank you to Mr. Chris Borba for his insurance expertise and guidance through the completion of the project. Also, thank you to Mr. Christopher Lyons from RebuildEx and the skilled craftsmen they employ.

I am proud to announce that our church will be reopening in the near future for Liturgical services. Please watch for the announcement of the official date. Later date we will be having a special blessing ceremony to celebrate the completion of our new organ.

Please join us in worship and witness firsthand the fruits of many laborers and God’s goodness to us all!

— Father Antonio L. da Silva, S.D.V., Pastor St. Patrick Parish, Wareham

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Around the Diocese The Fall River Area Men’s First Friday Club will meet on April 5 at St. Joseph Church on North Main Street in Fall River.

Mass begins at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. The celebrant will be Father Jay Mello, pastor of St. Michael and St. Joseph parishes. Following Mass, members of the club and women guests will gather in the church hall for a hot meal prepared by White’s of Westport. After the meal there will be a presentation by Representative Alan Silvia, who will speak on the topic of Abortion in Massachusetts. All members and guests are welcome to participate in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 5 p.m. prior to Mass. New members are always welcome. For more information, contact Norm Valiquette at 508-672-8174.

A special Divine Mercy Devotion will be held on Sunday, April 7 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High Street in Wareham. Come pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy with the Blessed Sacrament exposed. Special guests will be two Sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy. Sister Confida will speak on “The Feast of Mercy.” A freewill donation will be taken for the Sisters and light refreshments will be served.

At 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, Rosalind Mohnsen will take command of the great historic pipe organ in St. Anthony of Padua Church in New Bedford. An accomplished and extremely experienced performer, her music is described as fluid, bringing to mind images of merry brooks, babbling streams and thundering waterfalls. The concert will benefit the ongoing fundraising for the renovation of the historic Casavant organ that is more than 100 years old. After the concert, complimentary tea and cookies will be served in the church hall and the organist will greet those in attendance. A suggested donation of $10 will be collected at the door. For more information or directions, please contact St. Anthony’s rectory at 508-993-1691.

Our Lady of the Cape Parish, 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster, invites all to attend its upcoming Parish Lenten Mission on April 8, 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. Father Pat, M.S., and Father Cyriac, M.S., will be presenting on the theme of “Called, Reconciled and Sent.” Father Pat will be enhancing the experience with beautiful songs from a number of his original recordings. Please contact Kathy at adultfaithformation2@gmail.com or 508-385-3252, extension 14 for more information.

A non-residential Worldwide Marriage Encounter experience will be held at Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14. This is a non-residential weekend, but discounted accommodations are available on a limited basis. For more information, please call Steve and Michelle O’Leary at 1-800-710-WWME or visit www. wwmema.org. Space is limited.

The Spiritual Life Team of St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford will present the Tenebrae on Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. One of the oldest traditions of the Catholic Church, Tenebrae (which means “darkness” in Latin) interweaves the last words spoken by Jesus from the cross with prayer, shadows, darkness and light to tell the story of the defeat of the darkness of evil and sin. For more information, contact Spiritual Life Team Director Barbara Bonville at 508-995-3593.

A Divine Mercy Cenacle group meets every Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 306 South Street in Somerset. Meetings are held in the parish center, except for holidays. Meetings include formation on the Divine Mercy message from the “Diary of St. Faustina,” readings from the Bible and “Cathechism of the Catholic Church,” and praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet. All are welcome. For more information call 508-646-1019 or 508-672-1523.

St. Anthony of Padua Church on Bedford Street in Fall River will host a recitation of the Holy Rosary and Litany with the Divine Mercy Chaplet every Monday evening at 6:15 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, call the rectory at 508-673-2402.

To submit an event for consideration in The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing, please send the information by email to kensouza@anchornews.org.

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Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ASSONET — St. Bernard’s Parish will have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar at the conclusion of 9 a.m. Mass and the church will be open all day, concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds 6:30 p.m. Mass followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Adoration at 7:15 p.m. every Wednesday evening.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John the Evangelist Church, North Main Street, Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Adoration Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every First Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending at 5 p.m.

East Freetown — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John Neumann Church every Monday (excluding legal holidays) 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady, Mother of All Nations Chapel. (The base of the bell tower).

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the chapel at Holy Family Parish Center, 438 Middleboro Avenue, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. On First Fridays, Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. until 7:45 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of Padua Church, on the corner of Bedford and Sixteenth streets, has Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by music and prayer every first Wednesday of the month from 6-7 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has Eucharistic Adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursdays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Friday at 8 a.m.

FALL RIVER — Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, has Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

FALL RIVER — St. Joseph’s Church has a Holy Hour every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m., with Benediction at 6:45 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Michael’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Benediction at 5:30 p.m.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday following the 7 a.m. Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m.

HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, 347 South Street, Hyannis, has Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 3 p.m., daily Monday through Friday.

MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Benediction at 5:45 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Each First Friday Mass ends with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Adoration continues until Benediction at 5 p.m.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration is held every Thursday, with Confessions, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church. Please use the side entrance.

NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Rosary, and the opportunity for Confession.

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

NORTH EASTON — A Holy Hour for Families including Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday from 3-4 p.m. at The Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street.

NORTH EASTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Immaculate Conception Church Chapel on the first Wednesday of the month beginning after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, until 6:40 p.m. Those wishing to make a monthly commitment can sign up on the parish website at www.icceaston.org or call the parish office at 508-238-3232.

ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m.

Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m.

Mass.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 5 p.m.

Taunton — The Chapel of St. Andrew the Apostle, 19 Kilmer Avenue, Taunton, will host Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Taunton — St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Taunton will host Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 9 a.m. Mass and the St. Jude Novena, until 11:30, ending with Benediction. It will take place at Holy Rosary Chapel during the summer months.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church takes place 9 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall.

† PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION † East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

NEW BEDFORD — Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street, offers Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day. For information call 508-996-8274.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

Obituaries Emilie M. (Vautrin) Jolivet, mother of Anchor editor Dave Jolivet Emilie M. (Vautrin) Jolivet of Fall River passed away on March 23 at Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River after a brief illness. She was 95.

Born in Fall River, she was the wife of the late Loridas J. Jolivet Jr. to whom she was married for 65 years.

Emilie graduated from St. Anne’s School in Fall River and was a 1943 graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River.

After working at Anderson Little and Davis Screen in Fall River, she was a 20-year employee of Aetna Life and Casualty in Fall River. She was a lifelong member of St. Anne’s Parish in Fall River, until its closing in 2018.

Emilie enjoyed traveling and was a longtime regular of Howland Beach during the summer months. Emilie was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles.

She is survived by two sons, Paul and David and

his wife Denise, of Fall River; and five grandchildren: Adam of California, Benjamin, from Cranston, R.I. and Aaron Jolivet from Fall River; Lauren Jolivet-Reney and her husband Steve; and Emilie from Fall River; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents Ernest and Alice (Simon) Vautrin; a grandson, David Joseph Jolivet; brothers Roland, Albert and Eudore “Pete” Vautrin; and sisters Bertha Levesque, Irene Tavares, Veronica Wahl and her twin Bernadette Rocha, and Gertrude Anctil.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Auclair Funeral Home in Fall River and a Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Bernard’s Church in Assonet with a private burial following at Bourne National Cemetery.

Donation in Emilie’s name can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.

Father Manuel Garcia, editor of Portuguese Missalette Father Manuel Garcia, 84, died on March 27 at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I. Father Garcia was born in Faial, Azores and was the son of the late Maria Garcia de Lacerda and Antonio Garcia da Rosa.

He entered into the seminary in 1945 under the Diocese of Angra, Terceira, Azores and was ordained a priest on April 21, 1957.

In 1965, he emigrated to America and was a priest in various Portuguese churches. He was a founder of the Fundação Beneficente Faialense. Father Garcia edited the Portuguese Missalette beginning in 1973, and was the founder of The Promotora Portuguesa and Rooster Printing in 1980 and through those he was

able to distribute Portuguese music and books up to its closing in 1999.

He is survived by his sister, Maria Alice Fialho of Horta, Faial, Azores.

A wake and Mass of Christian Burial were held at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 48 Sixteenth Street in Fall River on April 1, followed by burial in St. John Cemetery in New Bedford.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Missionaries of Charity, St. Teresa of Calcutta, 556 County Street, New Bedford, Mass. 02740 or St. Anthony of Padua Church, 48 Sixteenth Street, Fall River, Mass. 02720.

May the Lord grant Father Garcia the fullness of life promised to His faithful ones.

April 5, 2019 †

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Anchor expiration date EXAMPLE FALL RIVER — New mailing labels (right) are now printed on all Anchor publications, along with the notice of a $25 subscription amount beginning at renewal time.

Below is a sample of the label that shows when the subscription expires allowing readers to renew to keep their subscriptions active. If no payment is received within 30 days of the expiration date, The Anchor will send one reminder notice at a later date. NOTE: We cannot accept credit card payments by phone.

Subscriber name Subscriber Street Address Subscriber City/Town/Zip Code

A subscription to The Anchor would make a wonderful gift for a loved one, a friend, or yourself. It’s a publication that provides a Spiritual uplift and keeps Catholics connected to our Church — locally and beyond.

One-year subscription — $25 Two-year subscription — $45 Name: _____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ City: ____________________ State: _____ Zip: ___________ if given as a gift, the card should read:

From: _____________________________________ Street: ____________________________________________ City-State: _________________________________________ Enclose check or money order and mail to: The Anchor, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720

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