The Anchor Diocese of Fall River

F riday , April 19, 2013

Boston cardinal says all feel ‘deep sorrow’ for victims of explosions

PROUD MOMENT — Marissa Cline of West Yarmouth proudly shows her husband, Wayne, her newly-acquired U.S. citizenship certification after a Naturalization Ceremony held in Hyannis. Cline was one of 25 who became a U.S. citizen during the event and one of 13 who participated in the citizenship program sponsored by Catholic Social Services of the Fall River Diocese. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

Diocesan CSS assists group in becoming U.S. citizens

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

HYANNIS — José Francisco DaSilva sat gripping a small American flag in a room at the JFK Museum, surrounded by colorful photos on the walls of the late President John F. Kennedy and his famous family. In a few minutes he and the 24 other fellow immigrants sitting with him inside this Cape Cod landmark would become part of a new family, too, as they proudly took an Oath of Alle-

giance as U.S. citizens. The gravity and solemnity of the occasion wasn’t lost on DaSilva, whose friends call him “Frank.” It’s something he’s been aspiring to do since moving here from Brazil in 1989. “This is the best day of my life … I’m very excited,” DaSilva said, smiling. “Tonight I’m going out with my niece and my wife to celebrate. It’s a great day.” To help prepare for this milestone achievement, the Center-

ville resident participated in the Citizenship Services program sponsored by the Catholic Social Services apostolate of the Fall River Diocese. The program offered DaSilva assistance with English language, American history and civics classes and also helped him file his application and study for the naturalization exam. “The classes were very nice because the lady who taught us had a lot of experience,” DaSilva said. “She’s been doing this for a Turn to page 18

BOSTON (CNS) — Within hours of two explosions taking place near the finish line of the Boston Marathon April 15, Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap., sent a message of prayer and support for those injured, their loved ones and those who experienced the trauma of the tragedy. “The Archdiocese of Boston joins all people of good will in expressing deep sorrow following the senseless acts of violence perpetrated at the Boston Marathon today,” he said. Close to 3 p.m. the Boston Police Department reported that officers had responded to two large explosions along the Boston Marathon route that left three people dead, including an eight-year-old

boy, and more than 176 wounded. “The citizens of the city of Boston and the commonwealth of Massachusetts are blessed by the bravery and heroism of many, particularly the men and women of the police and fire departments and emergency services who responded within moments of these tragic events,” the cardinal said. Many expressed fear the explosions, which were seconds apart, and the AP reported that federal officials were treating the bombings as an act of terrorism. As of early April 16, no one had yet stepped forward to claim responsibility for the act, which took place on Patriots’ Day, a civic holiday in Massachusetts that comTurn to page 14

BOSTON MASSACRE — A runner and race officials at the finish line of the Boston Marathon react to an explosion April 15. Two bombs exploded in the crowded streets near the finish line of the marathon, killing at least three people, including an eight-year-old boy, and injuring more than 176. (CNS photo/MetroWest Daily News/Reuters)

Springtime Cape Cod mission to focus on God’s creation By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff BREWSTER — The parishioners of Our Lady of the Cape Parish invite everyone to participate in a parish mission at 7 p.m. each evening on April 22, 23 and 24 at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster. Spring on Cape Cod sings of the glory of God, and this year’s theme is “All Creation Belongs to Christ.” As spring renews nature, we are invited to the renewal of our spiritual life as well. As taught by St. Francis of Assisi and his Franciscan sons and daughters, we have come to know that all of creation came into being as an expression of God’s love. That belief must always shape how we see everyone and everything — as well as how we treat them. Father Jack Clark Robinson, OFM, is a Franciscan and the director of the mission. He has worked for many

years with Native Americans. Presently, he is a professor of theology in San Antonio, Texas. He will lead the group through a process of spiritual renewal through the prism of Franciscan spirituality. Father Robinson was born on the fourth of July in eastern Kentucky many years ago. His parents and most of his family were school teachers. He went off to Kentucky Wesleyan College as a good Baptist and ended up a Roman Catholic. A few years later, he ran off to law school in an attempt to escape God’s call to religious life and the priesthood, but that didn’t work! He graduated from law school, took the bar exam and went off to the Franciscans. While he was a novice, he was sent to the Southwest, where he fell in love with the land and the people. In 1985, he became a founding member of a new Franciscan province headquarTurn to page 18

CAPE MISSION — Father Jack Clark Robinson, OFM, will be leading a mission at Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster beginning April 22.

News From the Vatican

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April 19, 2013

Pope thanks U.S. foundation for fight against poverty, work for peace

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a written greeting to members of the U.S.-based Papal Foundation, Pope Francis said he was “deeply grateful” for their work against poverty and on behalf of peace. “The needs of God’s people throughout the world are great, and your efforts to advance the Church’s mission are helping to fight the many forms of material and spiritual poverty present in our human family, and to contribute to the growth of fraternity and peace,” Pope Francis said. He made his comments in a recent message distributed during a private audience with about 120 members of the foundation and their families, including Cardinals Donald W. Wuerl of Washington; Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington; and Justin Rigali, retired archbishop of Philadelphia. Instead of reading his speech, Pope Francis personally greeted each of the participants, which was “a great experience,” said William Canny, the foundation’s chief operating officer. “This year, we were especially blessed to have a private audience with Pope Francis as he sets the course for his papacy. These are exciting, hope-filled days for the Church, and for a world in need.” In a written statement released after the audience, Cardinal Wuerl said, “from the first day of his election, Pope Francis has reminded us of the Church’s fundamental responsibility to the poor and marginalized.” In his message, the pope noted that April 11 marked the 50th anniversary of Pope John XXIII’s encyclical “Pacem in Terris” (“Peace on Earth”). Pope Francis asked that the document “serve as an incentive for your commitment to promoting reconciliation and

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peace at every level.” The Easter season also offers people an opportunity “to give thanks for God’s mercy and the new life we have received from the Risen Christ,” he said, adding “I pray that you will experience the joy born of gratitude for the Lord’s many gifts, and seek to serve Him in the least of His brothers and sisters.” This year, the foundation gave an $8.6-million donation that will be used to fund scholarships and Catholic projects around the world. The Papal Foundation was established 25 years ago and, in the name of the pope, has given close to $85 million in grants for the building of churches, seminaries, schools, hospitals and other projects for the care of the poor around the world. The many projects they funded last year included the restoration of a Carmelite convent in Argentina. The pope said the foundation has helped “the Successor of St. Peter by supporting a number of apostolates and charities especially close to his heart. In these years, you have contributed significantly to the growth of local Churches in developing countries by supporting, among other things, the continuing formation of their clergy and religious, the provision of shelter, medical assistance and care to the poor and needy, and the creation of much-needed educational and employment opportunities.” The pope said the work of the foundation reflects its “spiritual solidarity with the Successor of Peter.” “I ask you, then, to continue to pray for my ministry, for the needs of the Church, and in a particular way for the conversion of minds and hearts to the beauty, goodness and truth of the Gospel,” he said. OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 57, No. 15

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sidetracked again — Pope Francis greets people in wheelchairs as he leaves his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Cardinal says Pope Francis’ election is new phase in living Vatican II

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The election of Pope Francis marks a new phase in the Catholic Church’s process of fully understanding, responding to and living out the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, said Cardinal Walter Kasper, who was part of the conclave that elected the new pope. “From the first day of his pontificate, Pope Francis has given what I would call a prophetic interpretation of the council and has launched a new phase of its reception,” the cardinal said in a speech prepared for an April 1213 conference in Bergamo, Italy. The speech was published in the Vatican newspaper. Cardinal Kasper, a theologian and retired president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said Pope Francis continues to remind Catholics they are called to follow Christ, “Who became poor for us,” and to remind them of the “poverty and apostolic simplicity of the Church.” The March 13 election of a pope from Argentina also highlights the need for the Church to respond to the poverty afflicting the majority of the world’s population and to the fact that most of the world’s Catholics live in the global South, Cardinal Kasper told the conference. The conference, looking specifically at the contributions of popes to the council and its implementation, was sponsored by the John XXIII Foundation in Bergamo and the Paul VI Institute in Brescia. The two institutions are named for the popes who presided over the council sessions from 1962 to 1965. Cardinal Kasper said each of the major ecumenical councils in

Church history was followed by a time of some turbulence and that it took decades, sometimes centuries, for its teachings to be fully understood and implemented. He outlined not only the visions of the two popes who presided over the council, but also the contributions Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI made to proper understanding and implementation of the council. Pope Benedict’s teaching about the need for “reform and renewal in continuity” with the Church’s tradition means the Church must continue to respond to changing circumstances, showing how the Christian faith can answer the questions and needs of all people at all times, he said. The cardinal said Pope Benedict’s remarks were not meant to deny the need for reform, but to remind people that the Church must be the Church. “A Church that bases itself on the social mainstream becomes superfluous,” Cardinal Kasper said. “It does not become interesting by decorating itself with feathers that don’t belong to it, but by stating its case in a credible and convincing way.” One of the challenges, he said, is precisely the need to recognize that the world’s Catholic population has shifted, and Pope Francis already “has changed the agenda: topping the list are the problems of the Southern Hemisphere.” “The situation of the Church has changed since the time of the council. At the beginning of the last century, only a quarter of the world’s Catholics lived outside Europe; today only a quarter live in Europe,” and the South is where the Catholic population is growing most.

All of that makes the problem of unity in diversity even more important today, he said. The Petrine ministry of the pope is “a true gift of the Lord to His Church” because it provides a focal point for unity, but that “does not mean accepting an exaggerated centralism.” “Therefore, it is very significant that Pope Francis has referred to (himself as) ‘the Bishop of Rome who presides in charity,’ the famous affirmation of Ignatius of Antioch,” Cardinal Kasper said. Focusing on presiding in charity is important in relations with other Christians, but also for the life of the Church itself. While the Second Vatican Council saw a challenge in dealing with atheists, Cardinal Kasper said the Church today must find a way to deal with the millions of people who believe the whole question of God simply isn’t relevant to their lives: “The problem is indifference.” Still, he said, those same people ask questions about the meaning of life, why there is suffering and how to find happiness. “We must not speak of a vague transcendence, but we must speak concretely of God, Who in Jesus Christ revealed Himself as God with us and for us, as the infinitely merciful God Who awaits us, Who gives us another chance in every circumstance and Whom we, in prayer, can call ‘Father.’” Cardinal Kasper said the journey toward Catholic renewal begun by the Second Vatican Council has not concluded. “We must continue, with patience, but also with determination and courage and, despite everything, with interior joy.”

3 News From the Vatican Irish Catholic leaders say country must remain vigilant about violence April 19, 2013

DUBLIN (CNS) — The Irish cannot afford to be complacent about violence, even though they have lived with a peace agreement for 15 years. Political, religious and community leaders marked the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement April 10, 1998. The agreement, between the British and Irish governments and political representatives of the region’s Catholic and Protestant communities, brought to an end 30 years of sectarian violence and committed all sides to exclusively peaceful political activism. The agreement established a cross-community power-sharing government based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Irish nationalists, most of whom are Catholic, want Northern Ireland to become part of the Republic of Ireland and form a single united Ireland. Unionists, most of whom are Protestant, want the region to remain part of Britain. The agreement provides for an eventual referendum process to establish the wishes of all the people about the constitutional future of Northern Ireland. Some 3,720 people died during the Northern Ireland conflict — often called “the Troubles” — from 1968 to 1998. Tensions soared in the late 1960s after Catholic civil rights campaigners began demanding equal rights from the Protestant-dominated government in Belfast. Baroness Nuala O’Loan, a Catholic member of Britain’s

House of Lords and the woman responsible for overseeing reforms of the Northern Ireland police force to make it more representative of both communities, said sectarianism remains a key problem. “We have not been able to build a shared future. There are now at least 59 so-called ‘peace walls’ in Northern Ireland, nine more than there were in 1998,” she said, referring to walls built along flash points where Protestant and Catholic communities live in close proximity to keep both sides apart and avoid tension leading to violence. “There is no doubt that sectarianism costs hundreds of thousands of pounds a year in segregated housing, health, welfare and recreational facilities,” the baroness said. She said she believes that a reconciliation process must be established to deal with past hurts. “It has been recognized in peace processes across the world that failure to deal with the past leaves a legacy which has the potential to prevent the consolidation of peace,” she told Catholic News Service. “We need a process for investigating the unresolved deaths from our troubled past.” Retired Bishop Edward Daly of Derry, Northern Ireland, recalls how, in 1979, Blessed John Paul II hoped to visit Northern Ireland in addition to the Irish Republic, but an upsurge in violence made this impossible.

Pope Francis reaffirms Vatican’s call for reform of U.S. nuns’ group VATICAN CITY (CNS/CNA) — Pope Francis reaffirmed the Vatican’s call for reform of the U.S.based Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Archbishop Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, told the U.S.-based nuns’ group that he had “recently discussed the doctrinal assessment with Pope Francis, who reaffirmed the findings of the assessment and the program of reform for this conference of major superiors.” The doctrinal congregation met April 15 with the LCWR leadership and Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, who had been assigned by the Vatican to oversee the reform of the pontifically recognized leadership group. “It is the sincere desire of the Holy See that this meeting may help to promote the integral witness of women Religious,” a communiqué from the CDF stated, and this requires “a firm foundation of faith and Christian love, so as to preserve and strengthen it for the enrichment

of the Church and society for generations to come.”

 Since it was his first time meeting with the leadership of the group, Archbishop Müller thanked the Sisters for their “great contribution” to the Church in the United States, “as seen particularly in the many schools, hospitals, and institutions of support for the poor” that have been founded and staffed by religious.

He also “emphasized that a Conference of Major Superiors, such as the LCWR, exists in order to promote common efforts among its member institutes as well as cooperation with the local Conference of Bishops and with individual Bishops.” “For this reason, such conferences are constituted by and remain under the direction of the Holy See,” said the written statement released by the doctrinal congregation. LCWR is a Maryland-based umbrella group that claims about 1,500 leaders of U.S. women’s communities as members, representing about 80 percent of the country’s 57,000 women religious.

Bishop Daly recalled the pope’s appeal: “On my knees I beg you to turn away from the paths of violence and to return to the ways of peace,” the pontiff urged paramilitaries. “It was such a powerful address,” Bishop Daly recalled. “It was a well-received message, and there were great hopes immediately after it and praise for the pope in meeting with the issue of violence head-on.” He added that the warmth of reception for the pope’s message at that time did not include those engaged in violence. “I was dismayed that there was no considered response to John Paul’s message,” he said. “There was just the usual kneejerk reaction. His speech was worthy of more than that. There should at least have been an internal discussion.” Bishop Daly was involved in efforts to convince paramilitaries to embrace peace. “I visited prisons for 20 years, reasoning with people who were angry. It was hard to get through to them, to make them listen when, for them, revenge is the only thought. When a conflict is in full flight, it is hard to rationally discuss the idea of peace and a peaceful resolution.” Paramilitary prisoners eventually proved to be key in ensuring cease-fires in 1994, events that paved the way for the peace accord four years later. “The challenge for us all now, 15 years on, is to face our divided, troubled past with courage, and to take every opportunity which presents in our individual

lives, whether through prayer, community work, politics, economic development or social activity, to work for the com-

mon good, to bring an end to the politics of division, and to create a shared society,” Baroness O’Loan said.

tense times — North Korean defectors living in Seoul pray for peace and reunification of the divided Korean Peninsula, during a church service in Seoul recently. North Korea, angry about new U.N. sanctions imposed for its third nuclear weapon test in February, has made increasingly strident warnings of an imminent war with South Korea and the United States. (CNS photo/ Lee JaeWon, Reuters)

Diocese of Fall River

OFFICIAL

His Excellency, the Most Reverend George W. Coleman, Bishop of Fall River, has accepted the nomination of the Reverend Johnathan Hurrell, ss.cc., Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, United States Province, and has made the following appointment: Rev. Martin Gomes, ss.cc., Administrator of Saint Mary Parish in Fairhaven. Effective April 15, 2013

April 19, 2013 The Church in the U.S. Rally shows a range of issues at heart of push for immigration reform

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WASHINGTON (CNS) — At a recent massive rally on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the underlying demand — comprehensive immigration reform — came with different primary interests for different people. A look at the range of issues underlying the effort to produce a bill that can pass in both the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House helps explain why it’s taking so long for a bipartisan Senate panel to produce a bill, reported to be 1,500 pages long. Among the issues being cited that day: — Make it easier to reunite families; stop separating parents from children and husbands from wives through deportation. — Allow undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. — Enact the DREAM Act. — Shorten the waiting times for legal immigration and increase the number of visas for unskilled workers. — Give people who are living in the shadows a chance to legalize their status and stop hiding for fear of deportation. — Protect the labor rights of those who lack legal status. Signs carried by participants, points raised by the dozens of speakers who took the stage, and testimony given in an ad hoc hearing in the House and at various news conferences around Washington raised all those points and more. Some people focused on selfinterests, but not all. Fatima Abdelsadek, a 17-year-old from New York, sat in the shade with a group of fellow children of Arab immigrants. Though her family doesn’t face the legal obstacles that trouble many of the people at the rally, she passionately pursues the goals of comprehensive reform. “All our families come here for the American dream,” she said. She’s gathered hundreds of postcards for members of Congress calling for immigration reform.

One news conference focused migrants,” the priest said. mothers and fathers of U.S. cition the parents of young adults Other families remain sepa- zen children,” said Father Carwho would be affected by the rated, with parents deported to roll. “This reality falls far short of DREAM Act, which would pro- Mexico and minor children — what Scripture teaches regarding vide a path to legalizacare for the widow, the tion for those who were n the first six months of 2011, orphan and the stranger. brought to the United the United States government Our current policies esStates as children and releave many removed more than 46,000 mothers and sentially main in immigration limchildren as orphans, bo, lacking permission to fathers of U.S. citizen children,” said wives and husbands as live and work in the U.S. Father Carroll. “This reality falls far widows and widowbut disconnected from short of what Scripture teaches regard- ers and the stranger detheir homelands. across the border, ing care for the widow, the orphan and ported At that event, away from their family DREAM Act activists the stranger. Our current policies essen- members who need them introduced their mothers, tially leave many children as orphans, so deeply.” who also lack legal sta- wives and husbands as widows and widHe referenced the Jetus, and some of whom suits’ February report, owers and the stranger deported across “Documented Failures: face deportation. “My dream is for my the border, away from their family mem- The Consequences of mother to live without bers who need them so deeply.” Immigration Policy on fear and realize her own the U.S.-Mexico BorAmerican dream,” said der,” which looked Lorella Praeli, according to a re- often U.S. citizens — left in the at data collected from March port of the press conference from care of extended family or foster through October 2012 from organizers. “She is an original homes, said Father Carroll. He nearly 5,000 people who passed dreamer, who sacrificed so much cited a November 2011 report through a dining hall in Nogales. for me to have a better future.” of the Applied Research Center, Located a few blocks from the Praeli is United We Dream’s di- which said 5,100 children were U.S. border, the dining room run rector of advocacy and policy. in foster care because their par- by the Kino Initiative serves peoShe was brought to the United ents were in immigration deten- ple who were recently deported States from Peru as a child as the tion or had been deported. or are planning to try to get into family sought medical treatment. “In the first six months of the United States illegally. In a hearing room below the 2011, the United States governThe Mexican and Central Capitol a short time later, a Jesuit ment removed more than 46,000 American migrants were quespriest from Arizona talked about the people he meets. “We at the Kino Border Initiative watch in disbelief as we receive women deported to NoWASHINGTON (CNS) — the world by adopting the treaty gales (Mexico), while their husThe chairman of the U.S. bish- quickly. bands are repatriated to distant “As a world leader and major ops’ Committee on International points of entry along the U.S.arms exporter, our nation should Justice and Peace urged U.S. Mexico border because of the set a positive example for other leaders to take fast action on a Department of Homeland Secunations to follow in efforts to United Nations treaty that will rity’s Alien Transfer Exit Proreduce the flow of weapons into regulate arms sales across intergram,’” said Father Sean Carroll, situations that violate human national borders. executive director of the Kino rights and cause terrible sufferBishop Richard E. Pates of Border Initiative, a Jesuit mining,” Bishop Pates said. Des Moines, Iowa, called upon istry and education program. He The U.N. General Assembly Secretary of State John Kerry to spoke at an ad hoc hearing hosted adopted the treaty April 2 with “expedite a thorough review of by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz. 154 nations in favor of it and the treaty” so that the U.S. Senate “These women endure serithree against it with 23 countries can adopt it and President Barack ous trauma because of separation abstaining. Only Iran, North Kofrom their husbands, since they Obama can sign it in early June. rea and Syria voted against the Noting that the Catholic are alone in an unfamiliar city pact. Church has supported arms conand very vulnerable to exploita“The treaty is not perfect, but trol as a means to limiting viotion and violence at the hands of it is an important step,” Bishop lence in the world, Bishop Pates organized criminal syndicates Pates wrote. told Kerry in a recent letter that that prey on recently deported Citing comments by Archthe U.S. can set an example for

“I

tioned about how they were treated by the U.S. Border Patrol and by police agencies in other countries and about the circumstances at home that led them to leave. The fact that it was an ad hoc hearing itself speaks to the complexities of immigration legislation. Typically such hearings are sponsored by members of the party that does not control their branch of Congress. Ad hoc sessions are held when the party that is in control won’t schedule a hearing on the topic, or won’t allow witnesses presenting certain perspectives. Half a dozen House Democrats, most of them freshmen from states with large immigrant populations, attended Grijalva’s hearing. Other data cited at the ad hoc hearing came from reports titled “How U.S. Immigration Policy Fragments New Mexico Families,” by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico and the Regional Center for Border Rights, and “In the Shadow of the Wall: Family Separation, Immigration Enforcement and Security” by the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Arizona.

Bishop asks administration for fast action on Arms Trade Treaty

bishop Francis Chullikatt, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Bishop Pates said Church officials viewed the treaty’s adoption as “constituting a step towards establishing in the world a culture of responsibility and accountability.” The bishop also cited Church teaching on the sale of arms as found in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” in saying that “public authorities have the right and duty to regulate them.” The United States, as the world’s largest arms dealer, pushed for the treaty’s passage and despite pressure from progun ownership groups to scuttle it. The groups maintained that the treaty could be invoked to control arms sales within the U.S. However, Kerry said the treaty covered only international deals. The legal arms trade accounts for about $70 billion in sales annually. The treaty covers attack helicopters, tanks and other larger arms as well as small arms and ammunition for such weapons. Under the agreement, nations are required to determine whether an arms shipment to another country would be used to commit atrocities or violate human rights or if they could be diverted for such purposes and report back to the U.N. on their efforts.

5 The Church in the U.S. Religious leaders mark 50th anniversary of famed King letter from jail April 19, 2013

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Fifty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. took a group of white Alabama clergymen to task for suggesting he find ways, other than demonstrations and protests, to seek racial equality. The civil rights leader did not mince words telling the group that included Protestant pastors, a rabbi and a Catholic bishop — Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Durick of what was then the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Ala. — that he was “disappointed with the church.” In their public letter to Rev. King, published in an April 13, 1963 newspaper, the religious leaders urged him to negotiate and wait for court actions and described the civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham as “unwise and untimely.” Rev. King, held in solitary confinement for eight days for violating the city’s ban on civil rights demonstrations, began his response to the clergymen April 16, the fourth day of his prison sentence. He used a pencil to write on margins of a newspaper and slips of paper, and he only wrote during the day since his cell had no overhead light. The letter, addressed to “My Dear Fellow Clergymen” became the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Pieces of it were smuggled out with his attorneys

and an associate compiled them and gave them to Rev. King’s secretary to type. The 21-page letter was never sent to the religious leaders; they saw it when everyone else did, published in part in newspapers and magazines May 19, 1963. In the letter, Rev. King explained why he felt compelled to participate in demonstrations, marches and nonviolent actions. “I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham,” he wrote. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Jonathan Bass, history professor at Birmingham’s Samford University and author of the 2002 book “Blessed are the Peacemakers: Martin Luther King Jr., Eight White Religious Leaders, and the Letter from Birmingham Jail,” said Rev. King’s letter is “without a doubt the most important written document of the civil rights era.” He told Catholic News Service that the letter was meant for a much broader audience than just these eight religious leaders but, since he wrote to them as a minister, it has deeply spiritual themes. “Those who read this through a nonspiritual lens miss a lot of these truths,” he added. For the letter’s 50th anniversary, public readings of the letter

are taking place not only in Birmingham, but across the United States and in places around the world. Religious figures in particular are not just reading the letter but responding to it. Leaders of U.S. Christian denominations who are part of the ecumenical organization Christian Churches Together gathered in Birmingham April 14-15 to sign a response to the letter and discuss its meaning then and now. One participant was Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In an April 14 address to the gathering, he stressed the importance of responding to Rev. King’s words by asking forgiveness for past wrongs, appreciating efforts that have been made and being “resolved for more action.” He commended steps made by the Catholic Church including its Aug. 23, 1963, statement “On Racial Harmony,” issued by the administrative board of what was then the National Catholic Welfare Conference, the predecessor of today’s USCCB. It said: “We must insist that the heart of the race question is moral and religious.” He also quoted the U.S. bishops’ 1979 pastoral letter “Brothers and Sisters to Us,” which said

Cardinal says peace stems from recognition of human dignity

Washington D.C. (CNA) — Cardinal Peter Turkson marked the 50th anniversary of the papal encyclical “Pacem in Terris,” or “Peace on Earth,” by saying that peace stems from the dignity of the person and is meant for everyone. “We often hear about peace,” but we often misunderstand what it is, Cardinal Turkson said at a recent conference at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. The cardinal, who serves as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and hails from Ghana, noted that peace is not simply “the absence of war and conflict” but “a gift from God.” “Peace is an attribute of God Himself. God is peace. Creation aspires to peace,” Cardinal Turkson said. “This gift” and expression on earth, he added, “becomes real only when people embrace it.” Thus peace “begins with the basis of the human person.” “Pacem in Terris” is a 1963 papal encyclical written by Pope John XXIII. The encyclical, written during the height of the Cold War, emphasized

negotiation as a means of conflict resolution, and places a strong emphasis on the inherent human rights “to life, to bodily integrity, and to the means which are suitable for the proper development of life.” The encyclical addressed interpersonal peace in addition to man’s relationships to the state and the relationships between nations. The document also encourages cooperation between Catholics in promoting peace and its proper understanding among non-Catholics and non-Christians around the globe. Cardinal Turkson emphasized that “Pacem in Terris” is an encyclical directed at the human persona and at all persons throughout the globe — a fact that is represented in that the encyclical addressed “all men of good will,” not just Catholics. “All men are involved in this endeavor,” the cardinal emphasized. “The building block of nations has been a stumbling block for peace,” he added, explaining that “the humanly established order does not inherently promote peace.”

He said that countries are fundamentally in conflict with one another because they exist to promote their own interests and national agendas. “Here then are the origins of conflict: envy and greed and other base human tendencies are still with us” in many aspects of the structure of states. This is why “Pacem in Terris” was “addressed to people, not to nations,” Cardinal Turkson said. He also explained that the mission “Pacem in Terris” did not begin 50 years ago with the writing of the encyclical, but “began with the shepherds and the magi way back at the birth of Christ.” The cardinal added that the Incarnation and the announcement of Christ’s birth was spread not just to the Jews but to everyone. In a similar way, the encyclical is for the whole world, not just Christians or Catholics. The mission of “Pacem in Terris” is also recognized in the reception of peace and the Gospel, Cardinal Turkson added. There is a “need for everyone to be an agent, but also a beneficiary, of peace.”

that “racism is a sin: a sin that divides the human family, blots out the image of God among specific members of that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father.” In a telephone interview before the two-day gathering in Birmingham, the archbishop told CNS that when he reread Rev. King’s letter he “recognized

not just what a classic it is, but how touching it is to uncover the soul of someone seriously trying to follow Christ” and trying to move people to action. He said Rev. King’s words can have an impact today on religious leaders as they listen to one another and try to work together to bring about necessary changes which he described as “prayerful dialogue.”

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The Anchor The tragedy in Boston

Last week in this space we began with a telegram with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, sent to the British prime minister on behalf of Pope Francis to express his condolences upon the death of Margaret Thatcher. Little did we think that a week and a day later a telegram from the same office would be sent to Cardinal Sean O’Malley, expressing the Holy Father’s prayers for much more tragic deaths than Lady Thatcher’s passing. The message stated, “Deeply grieved by news of the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of violence perpetrated last evening [this may be an accidental translation confusion between “afternoon” and “evening” in Italian] in Boston, His Holiness Pope Francis wishes me to assure you of his sympathy and closeness in prayer.” The telegram continues with a normal Catholic approach to suffering and death. “In the aftermath of this senseless tragedy, His Holiness invokes God’s peace upon the dead, His consolation upon the suffering and His strength upon all those engaged in the continuing work of relief and response.” Then, evoking the approach of the pope’s patron saint, the message continues, “At this time of mourning the Holy Father prays that all Bostonians will be united in a resolve not be to overcome by evil, but to combat evil with good (cf. Romans 12:21), working together to build an ever more just, free and secure society for generations yet to come.” Last week’s editorial commented on the Prayer of St. Francis (since Margaret Thatcher began her prime ministership with it). The attack in Boston on Patriots’ Day was the opposite of that prayer, but the response of so many good people showed us people bring love where there is hatred, light to darkness, etc. As this editorial is being written, we do not know who was behind these bombings, but we are called to pray for them, just as St. Stephen prayed for his persecutors (a reading many of us heard proclaimed at Mass the day after the attack) (the reading does skip over the harsh speech that Stephen delivered, criticizing the Sanhedrin — not doing so to provoke them to violence, but to provoke them to convert). Stephen’s prayers were successful in at least one notable case — his oppressor Saul is now with Stephen in Heaven, now known as St. Paul. We are mindful that the attack occurred on Patriots’ Day, the day commemorating the first bloodshed by Americans and British in 1775 as the Revolutionary War began at Lexington and Concord. The actual day of the battle was April 19 (today, Friday), but the holiday has been moved (like most of them) to Monday. Although there was much bitter feeling between the United States and the United Kingdom in the early days of our republic, now we are the best of friends. This also gives us hope for peace. The sadness on Marathon Monday was compounded for the people of Newtown, Conn., who had a group of people running in memory of the 20 children and six adults gunned down at the Sandy Hook Elementary School back in December. Thanks be to God, they had completed the race before the bombing occurred, but they still had to deal with this spectre of evil hanging over their lives. What we residents of Massachusetts experienced on Monday is, unfortunately, a daily occurrence for people in many countries. Thirty-one people were killed and over 200 injured the same day in bombings in three Iraqi cities that same day. Twenty-nine people died the previous day in suicide bombings in Mogadishu, Somalia, with dozens injured. Meanwhile, civil wars continue in many countries, with our troops involved in Afghanistan. All of these people were created in the image and likeness of God. For all of these people Christ offered His life on the Cross. For all of the perpetrators, Christ prayed, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” As the Vatican telegram stated, we need to respond to this situation not just with security solutions (although they are needed), but also with love. This love does involve justice (for example, what loving parent has never punished a child?), but also mercy. Only when Christ’s love truly reigns in all of our hearts will violence like this truly be a thing of the past. We pray for all involved — the dead, the injured, the first responders and hospital personnel (who will probably be marked by this terrible experience for the rest of their lives), the attacker(s), and ourselves. May Christ’s love truly find a receptive home in our hearts, where He wants to bring true healing and peace.

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April 19, 2013

The art of preaching

very Easter Week since 2005 I’ve been limit of most Americans’ attention span today. organizing a Seminar for Priests at the But such advice presumes that Catholic lay beautiful Arnold Hall Conference and Retreat people are, well, dumb. Center in Pembroke. It presumes that they don’t have the intelligence It’s a great opportunity for priests to escape that evangelical Protestants have, who — even after the exhausting and exhilarating work of Holy though they generally go to many of the same Week, to rejoice in the Resurrection with brother schools growing up, listen to the same music, priests, to review important aspects of priestly life, watch the same television programs as most to rejuvenate, rest, relax and recreate. Catholics —somehow are able to listen to their Normally I email out fliers in January and ministers on Sunday for 45 minutes or more. over the next couple of months 40 or 50 priests It presumes that Catholic lay people today gradually sign up to participate. This year, however, don’t have the same intelligence as Catholics did I was in for an enormous surprise. in the early Church, when they would listen to I sent out the fliers on January 2 and within preachers for more than an hour. two weeks we had already exceeded our capacity It presumes that typical Catholic lay people of 63 and soon had a waiting list of almost 20 today, many of whom have been able to go on others, including not only from the northeast who to college and have listened to lengthy lectures regularly attend but also many first-timers from for years, are not as capable of concentration Texas, Michigan, Kentucky, and various parts of as recent immigrants who didn’t have the Canada, including an archbishop. Many of the privilege of attending high school but who are regulars who were accustomed to inscribe casually nevertheless able to listen to untrained preachers in in February or March found themselves on the uncomfortable chairs in store front churches for far outside looking in. longer than a half hour. I would love to say that the draw was the fruit I, personally, am convinced that all these of a growing reputation of the seminar for faithpresumptions are false. Catholic lay people filled fun and fraternity, but that seemed to play have a short attention span only for uninspiring, only a minor role. The major reason is something unchallenging, insufficiently prepared homilies that I think will hearten many lay people: it that can’t rivet and ignite them the way typical was the theme of this year’s seminar, “The Ars Evangelical, Patristic and Pentecostal homilies Praedicandi: have gripped Learning from their respective the Masters the auditors. Art of Faithfully There are and Effectively many other such Preaching Christ.” common practices Priests were that aren’t “best” coming to try to or even good. learn how they The seminar By Father could preach was entitled “The better by studying Art of Preaching,” Roger J. Landry some of the because greatest homilists homiletics is an who have art — involving ever preached: St. Augustine, Blessed Cardinal some God-given talent, hard work, and inspiration Newman, Father Henri-Dominique Lacordaire, from above — and not merely a method or a Msgr. Ronald Knox, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, technique. and Pope Benedict XVI. Just as in the training of any other art, like It’s clear that Catholic preaching needs work. painting or playing the piano, it’s key to learn from A recent survey by the National Opinion Research the masters. Center showed that only 18 percent of Catholic We won’t learn much about painting if we just lay people rated preaching by Catholic clergy study what the other kids are doing in kindergarten as “excellent,” half the rate at which Protestants finger-painting class. We won’t be booking dates evaluate their own ministers. at Symphony Hall if our musical instruction just The Church universal recognizes that there’s a involves listening to the noise the other students are problem. Pope Benedict, in his exhortations on the making on colored xylophones. We need to study Eucharist in 2006 and on the Word of God in 2010, Murillo and Mozart. wrote, “Given the importance of the word of God, So to learn the art of preaching, it’s important the quality of homilies needs to be improved.” He for homilists to learn from the masters, those who went on to emphasize, “The art of preaching… show how this integration of inspiration, hard work needs to be cultivated.” and talent ought to work. Benedict’s call for a renewal of Catholic We examined St. Augustine, the great homiletics led the U.S. Bishops to publish last classical rhetorician who not only remains one November a document entitled “Preaching the of the greatest ever to enter the pulpit but whose Mystery of Faith,” to try to bring about that “On Christian Doctrine” trained not just his improvement in bishops, priests and deacons contemporaries but centuries of preachers on how across the country. to preach well. “In survey after survey over the past years,” the We studied Newman, because he instructs how bishops wrote, “the People of God have called for to profit from, and incorporate, the wisdom, images more powerful and inspiring preaching. A steady and Scriptural insights of the Church Fathers. diet of tepid or poorly prepared homilies is often We pondered Lacordaire, because his preaching cited as a cause for discouragement on the part not only packed Notre Dame in Paris and helped to of laity and even leading some to turn away from restore the faith throughout France after the terror the Church ... at a time when living an authentic and programming of the French Revolution, but Christian life leads to complex challenges, people gives us a paradigm to preach powerfully about need to be nourished all the more by the truth and sensitive political areas, like religious freedom. guidance of their Catholic faith.” We chose Knox, the famous translator of the They emphasized that acquiring the art of good Vulgate Bible into English, because he shows preaching is a “life-long and demanding process,” all preachers how to translate the Word of God involving not only the remote preparation of effectively into the lives of their people. prayer, study of the Scriptures, getting to know the We considered Sheen, the most famous people they serve and the development of good Catholic preacher in U.S. history, both because he public speaking skills, but also workshops and models for American bishops, priests and deacons opportunities for supervised practice and training. how to integrate the fonts of the faith with the daily We hoped in the seminar to provide a workshop newspaper, but shows indisputably the possibility along the lines of what the bishops were asking. and impact of great Catholic preachers in our The immediate turnout gave evidence that many country. priests are hungry to improve. And we contemplated Benedict XVI, whose Most priests admit that we have not received brilliant, deep, and accessible homilies have been adequate formation in the art of preaching. Many justly compared to those of St. Leo the Great and of us were trained in what I’d describe as “most which likely will continue to be read and bear fruit common practices” rather than “best practices.” in centuries. We were told what most priests do, rather than The priest’s fundamental duty, the Second schooled in what the great preachers do. That has Vatican Council taught, is “to proclaim the Gospel in general led to lower expectations that, even of God to all.” For the renewal of the Church, one when they’re met, leave people undernourished of the most important requirements is to improve and uninspired. preachers’ fulfillment of this responsibility. One of the most common examples of this This is something on which the popes, U.S. confusion between “most common” and “best” bishops, and Catholic laity all strongly agree. practices is about the length of homilies. Catholic And this is something for which last week’s priests and deacons in the U.S. have generally seminar was hopefully a step in the right direction. been trained to keep a homily to no more than 12 Father Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette minutes, … or 10, … or seven, … or even shorter Parish in Fall River. His email address is — with the supposed justification that that’s the fatherlandry@catholicpreaching.com.

Putting Into the Deep

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he last time I wrote this column, we did not know much about our new Pope Francis. His election had been announced and we awaited his first public appearance and his first public Mass. He was elected on March 13, a little over a month ago as you read these humble words. Photos of the new pope have been distributed and books are already available to allow us to get to know him better. His work as a Jesuit provincial and as an archbishop has been examined. There is almost an innate desire to know more about the man who is the Successor of St. Peter, head of the Roman Catholic Church and leader of Catholic followers throughout the world. There are firsts. He is the first pope from the Americas. He is the first Jesuit to be elected pope and he is the first to choose the name Francis. I find it interesting and I believe, that without many talks, interviews, blogs, etc., he has revealed who he is, what moves him in his ministry and perhaps even gives a hint of what is to come. His first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s basilica at the Vatican spoke volumes to me. He humbly announced that the cardinals had gone far to get

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April 19, 2013

The way of Christian living

a bishop for Rome. He spoke of these early days of his pontifibeing a bishop, not a pope. The cate. pope is the Bishop of Rome, He took a normal car for which is what makes him pope, his first visit to the Basilica of but he stressed being a bishop. St. Mary Major to pray to the Before giving his first blessBlessed Mother on his first day ing as our Holy Father, he asked as pope. On the way back, he for the prayers and blessing of stopped at the hotel where he the thousands who had gathstayed before he was elected to ered at St. Peter’s Square that collect his personal belongings evening to greet him. He then and pay his bill. He called his bowed his head and, in the newspaper carrier in Argentina silence of the thousands gathered there and throughout the world, received their prayers and blessings. He had earlier announced he would not By Msgr. delay his presence on John J. Oliveira the balcony because it was raining and many people were waiting. Caring for them, he moved the and cancelled his subscription. schedule along. Being sensitive to non-CathWe later learned that, in a olics among the media, at their change of custom, he received audience following his election, the greetings of those who he told them he was praying for elected him at his desk in the them in his heart and for those Sistine Chapel and not at a they love. “throne, a specific chair set up He brings simplicity of for him. When he met his prede- vesture and earnest prayer to cessor, Benedict XVI at Castel ceremonies. During the VenGandolfo, he also eschewed the eration of the Cross on Good separate kneeler in the chaFriday, he embraced the cross pel and knelt in the first pew and tenderly touched the Corpus with Benedict. He said, we are as if touching the dead body of a “brothers.” good friend. His personality and desires Perhaps, among the most continued to be illustrated in viewed and discussed poignant

Living the Faith

moment of Pope Francis, was his embrace of Dominic Gandreau. As he circled St. Peter’s Square in the Popemobile, he missed Dominic the first time. The usher had placed him in the front of the line to have a good view of the pope. The second time around, the usher named Antonio got the attention of his colleagues and had the Popemobile stop where Dominic was. His mother and usher presented him to the pope. The pope embraced him and kissed him and spoke with him. Dominic, who has cerebral palsy, embraced Pope Francis. His father explained in a local newspaper that his eight-year-old son’s cognitive abilities are fine and would have understood the meaning of the gesture of the Holy Father. This moment has played over and over in the media and showed the love of Christ, in the person of Pope Francis, for those with disabilities. It also showed, not a perfunctory action of the pope, but one made sincerely with compassion and love. Without many words, without long lectures, without books, Pope Francis, in his simple ways, has taught us a lot about

Christ and Christ’s love for us, about humility, about love. It makes me wonder, isn’t that the challenge of each of us to reach out to others as brothers and sisters? We are to reach out in caring and compassionate love. We are called to care for and respect one another, especially the neediest among us. As St. Francis of Assisi said: preach always and, if necessary, use words. Bishop George Lozano, who worked with Pope Francis as his auxiliary bishop for six years, has said the pope would say, “We have to reach out to people, not being content to wait for them to come to us.” Bishop Luca Brandolini, who has accompanied Pope Francis recently, has said that he is, in the words of St. Augustine — “Pastor Bonus in populo”, the good pastor in the midst of his people. Pope Francis has shown us the way of Christian living in these few days. The Holy Spirit has sent him to us; let us follow his example in loving and caring for others as Christ would. God bless you. Msgr. Oliveira is pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford and director of the diocesan Propagation of the Faith Office.

Pope names international panel of cardinals to advise on Vatican reform

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Amid rising concerns about corruption and mismanagement in the central administration of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis named an international panel of cardinals to advise him on the latest reform of the Vatican bureaucracy. The Vatican Secretariat of State announced April 13 that the pope had established the group — which includes Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley and Sydney Cardinal George Pell — to “advise him in the government of the Universal Church and to study a plan for revising the apostolic constitution on the Roman Curia, ‘Pastor Bonus.’” “Pastor Bonus,” published in 1988, was the last major set of changes in the Roman Curia, the Church’s central administration at the Vatican. It was largely an effort at streamlining by reassigning responsibilities among various offices, rather than an extensive reform. Complaints about the shortcomings of Vatican governance increased markedly during 2012 following the “VatiLeaks” of confidential corre-

spondence providing evidence of corruption and mismanagement in various offices of the Holy See and Vatican City State. That affair prompted a detailed internal report, which Pope Benedict XVI designated exclusively for the eyes of his successor. The College of Cardinals extensively discussed the problems in meetings preceding the conclave that elected Pope Francis last month. According to the April 13 Vatican statement, the suggestion for an advisory panel on reform arose during those meetings. Only one member of the new panel is a full-time Vatican official: Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the commission governing Vatican City State. All of the others currently serve as diocesan bishops. The group’s coordinator is Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, who is also president of Caritas Internationalis, a Vatican-based umbrella organization for national Catholic charities around the globe. The other members are Cardinal Francisco Javier Erra-

zuriz Ossa, retired archbishop of Santiago, Chile; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, India; Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany; and Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Congo. They will meet for the first time Oct. 1-3, 2013, the Vatican statement said, but are “currently in contact” with Pope Francis. The panel’s membership represents five continents, with the largest number — three members — coming from the Americas. Three members, more than any other linguistic group, hail from Englishspeaking countries (counting India). Two members are native speakers of Spanish. Only one member shares the Italian nationality of the majority of Vatican employees. Both Pope Paul VI and Blessed John Paul II also named international panels of cardinals to advise them on curial reform. A 1986 commission of six cardinals, whose recommendations contributed to “Pastor Bonus,” included two Ital-

ians, an Austrian, a Canadian, a Venezuelan and a Nigerian. All were serving as Vatican officials at the time. The 15-member Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See, established in 1981, also contributed to the process that produced “Pastor Bonus.” It has continued to meet twice a year, among other reasons to review the consolidated financial statements of the Holy See and Vatican City State. The council’s members hail from five continents, where they all serve as diocesan bishops.

The Holy See — whose major organs consist of the Secretariat of State, nine congregations, 12 councils and three tribunals — employed 2,832 employees as of the end of 2011. Its financial statements for 2011 showed a deficit equivalent to about $19.4 million at current exchange rates. The commission governing Vatican City State, which is not part of the curia, employed another 1,887 persons at the end of 2011 and reported a surplus of the equivalent of $28.4 million, largely owing to revenues from the Vatican Museums.

Be sure to visit the Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese.org The site includes links to parishes, diocesan offices and national sites.

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April 19, 2013

The Anchor

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early 50 years have elapsed now since the World’s Fair thrilled visitors to Flushing Meadows on Long Island adjacent to the two major airports serving New York City. Throngs passed through the Vatican Pavilion. Today it’s almost impossible to imagine, but for the World’s Fair, Michaelangelo’s masterful sculpture portraying the Sorrowful Mother of God, “The Pieta,” had been brought across the ocean and (very carefully, you may be sure!) displayed as the centerpiece of the Vatican Pavilion, bringing cultural and spiritual enrichment to all who viewed this precious work of art. Less heralded was another precious Vatican treasure

Supporting our shepherds

on display, another sculpwell each and every memture, dating from the very ber of the flock which He first century of the Christian defends to His very death. era, a portrayal of Jesus as The “pastoral office” is the “Good Shepherd,” with exercised by all those to the lamb, once lost but now safe, draped Homily of the Week on His shoulders. Jesus is seen as a Fourth Sunday beardless, handsome of Easter youth, representing By Msgr. in a most poignant Thomas J. Harrington fashion the theme of this Fourth Sunday of the Easter Season. For in our tradiwhom, in the Providence of tion, this Sunday is observed Almighty God, the mission as Good Shepherd Sunday, of leading, guiding, protectidentifying the Risen Savior ing and healing the faithful, with the office often used by men and women, young and Jesus in teaching and preachold, devoted and of casual ing about the Kingdom, the affiliation with the Church. Shepherd of a flock, wise We have a new Chief Shepand courageous, knowing herd, Pope Francis, and he

has already exhibited the devotion of a prototypical “good shepherd.” Bishops, including our own here in the Diocese of Fall River, share in the pastoral office and in parishes, where the proverbial “tire hits the road,” it is our priests and deacons who, assisted by so many devoted lay women and men, make real in our own times the love and sacrifice modeled by Jesus. This weekend, then, is a special occasion when faithful Catholics are encouraged to pray for the pastors, the shepherds, who have assumed the challenge of being shepherds, responding to

the invitation of the Lord. Bishops, priests and deacons are so dependent upon the prayers and the active cooperation of those entrusted to their care. Pray for your shepherds, and encourage others to accept the invitation of Almighty God to become shepherds. The need is great. The rewards of accepting the challenge are better than one can imagine. What better time than the beautiful season of the Risen Savior to meditate upon His presence in our Church as the ultimate Good Shepherd? Msgr. Harrington is a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese residing at the Cardinal Medeiros Residence in Fall River.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. April 20, Acts 9:31-42; Ps 116:12-17; Jn 6:60-69. Sun. April 21, Fourth Sunday of Easter, Acts 13:14,43-52; Ps 100:12,3,5; Rv 7:9,14b-17; Jn 10:27-30. Mon. Apr. 22, Acts 11:1-18; Pss 42:2-3;43:3-4; Jn 10:1-10. Tues. Apr. 23, Acts 11:19-26; Ps 87:1-7; Jn 10:22-30. Wed. Apr. 24,Acts 12:24—13:5a; Ps 67:2-3,5-6,8; Jn 12:44-50. Thurs. Apr. 25, 1 Pt 5:5b-14; Ps 89:2-3,6-7,16-17; Mk 16:15-20. Fri. Apr. 26, Acts 13:26-33; Ps 2:6-11; Jn 14:1-6.

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A reformed (and re-reformed) College of Cardinals

he recent papal interregnum and conclave underscored the importance of re-forming, and reforming, the College of Cardinals. As configured on Feb. 28, 2013 (when Benedict XVI’s abdication took effect), the college was a somewhat strange electorate, albeit one that produced a striking result. Almost 20 percent of its members were retired. Only eight cardinalelectors were under 65 (and half of the youngsters were Americans-Cardinals Burke, DiNardo, Dolan and Harvey). Neither the dean nor vice-dean of the college was eligible to

vote, the dean being 85 and Catholic Church, missed the the vice-dean being 90; yet the conclave by two days, having 85-year-old dean presided over turned 80 on February 26; the the daily General Congregaretired president of the Pontions of cardinals that assessed tifical Council for Promoting the state of the world Church Christian Unity, Walter Kasper, before the conclave was enclosed. There were other curiosities. India had more cardinal-electors than France (5-4) or Great Britain (5-nil, as they’d By George Weigel say in the Barclays Premier League). Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, emeritus major-archbishop of the got in under the wire, for he largest of the Eastern Catholic turned 80 five days after BeneChurches, the Ukrainian Greek dict’s abdication took effect. And while no one imagines that the College of Cardinals should “represent” the world Church the way the U.S. House of Representatives “represents” the population of the United States, it did seem odd that Latin America, where more than half the world’s Catholics live, sent 19 cardinal-electors into the Sistine Chapel, while Italy, where Catholic practice is not exactly robust these days, with about four percent of the global Catholic population, had 28 electors. What to do about these anomalies? Some practical suggestions, several drawn from my new book, “Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st-Century Church” (Basic Books): 1) Eliminate “automatic” red

The Catholic Difference

hats for archdioceses where the practice of the faith is moribund. If seven percent of the local Catholic population is attending Mass on Sunday, as is sadly the case in some ancient European sees, why should the bishop or archbishop of that see be guaranteed membership in the College of Cardinals? Let the bishops in these dead zones show that they can re-evangelize Catholic wastelands; then return the red hat to those locales. 2) Amend the relevant apostolic constitution so that most of the “pontifical councils” in the Roman Curia become inhouse research institutes led, not by cardinals, but by qualified priests, religious or laity. 3) Change the custom by which the heads of various Vatican administrative officesthe Government of Vatican City State, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See-are automatically cardinals: a reform that would also speak to Pope Francis’s strictures against clerical careerism. 4) Use the “slots” in the papal electorate made possible by these reforms to reorganize the college geographically and demographically. I would also consider expanding the college to a maxi-

mum of 144 cardinal-electors (a nice biblical number: 12 Tribes x 12 Apostles), while changing the conclave rules so that all cardinals lose their vote on retirement from daily diocesan or curial service, not when they turn 80. There is wisdom in age; but an electorate in which almost one in five voters is a pensioner is not a welldesigned electorate. Neither the dean nor the vice-dean of the college should be a cardinal-withouta-vote; it makes little sense for the man who presides over the cardinals’ meetings during a papal interregnum (in which all cardinals participate, irrespective of age), or the man who would fill that leadership role in an emergency, to be someone who will not have the responsibility of casting a ballot. And since the Church cannot count on humility to impel the dean and vice-dean to retire when each loses his vote, the interregnum rules should be changed. Finally, the cardinal-electors should meet regularly-perhaps once every 18 months, for a global review of the New Evangelization-so that they can get to know each other better, and thus be a more well-informed electorate. George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

“I

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The Anchor

April 19, 2013

Second chances: What will you do with yours?

n the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Although these words were spoken in the late 20th century by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, the phrase “silence of our friends” is applicable to the disciples throughout Our Lord’s Passion. Can you imagine their despair and trepidation as they huddled alone, tortured by their consciences and awaiting the knock of the Roman soldiers upon the door? When confronted with the stark reality of personal failure and the subsequent “that’s not who I want to be” reflection, high school students of today have a phrase seemingly coined from computer games. Namely, “I want a redo.” I can imagine each of those disciples having that same wish to roll back the clock and to have been able to say or do something for Our Lord in His time of need. Sadly for them and for all of us, life does not allow such “redos.” After the resurrection, Jesus’ first words to His disciples are a quiet, “Peace be with you.” Needless to say, the disciples are stunned and rendered speechless by Jesus’ forgiveness and love. Their hearts turn fully back to God. With God’s love comes a challenge or commission for an upcoming job. Jesus’ very next words to the disciples are “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.” With this, Jesus grants the disciples and each of us something better than a redo and that is quite simply a second chance. He gave them and He gives us the freedom to choose how to go forward. Even more importantly, God grants us the gift of the Holy Spirit to embolden and fortify us for action in that second chance. Peter leads the way for the disciples. He is off in an instant evangelizing and healing in Jesus’ name. There is no holding him back. God used the work from St. Peter’s second chance as the foundation for His Church. However, in Peter’s day, perhaps not surprisingly, there is still intense resistance from the authorities. That resistance is in the form of harassment and persecution. Briefly, one key leader in this persecution is a man named Saul. Saul isn’t known today solely as a man who persecuted Jesus’ followers. In fact, he is known throughout the world as St. Paul. This is because God had something else in mind for him and Saul eagerly gave everything he had to that second chance. In fact, Saul’s wake-up call or moment of conversion is rather

dramatic. In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke reports that Saul was on his way to Damascus to continue his torture of Christians when suddenly Saul was blinded and knocked to the ground, startled by a great light shining around him. He hears a Voice demand “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me?” Saul asks, “Who are You Sir?” The Voice answers, “I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting.” As he suddenly realizes “this is not who I wish to be,” Saul does a good amount of prayerful reflection. After that, Saul accepts God’s challenge and proceeds with the task of that second chance. His blindness is healed and he becomes a new person inside and out — aptly symbolized by his name change to Paul. St. Paul then carries Jesus’ message to the gentiles — to all the peoples of the world — to each of us today at Mass (usually in that Second Reading). Reflections on Saul’s persecutions through to Peter and Paul’s teamwork in witnessing and evangelizing for Jesus provide us an opportunity to reflect and examine how we act today with those who cross our paths. Jesus’ cross first brought Paul and Peter together as opponents, but then later as teammates. How? Based upon the standards of the world, each man saw the cross as a dividing line — a chasm. Saul was a Roman citizen who knew the brutal torture of the cross was reserved for enemies of the state. He zealously continued to hunt down such enemies (followers of Jesus). Peter, as he faithfully continued preaching the Good News, was well aware of Saul’s opinions and actions. Further, Peter accepted the fact that his actions made him a target. He continued all the more. In a way, the die was cast for a colossal battle. Which man would win? However, contrary to what these men thought, God had a different vision of what would be accomplished through Jesus’ cross. Jesus did not build His Father’s Kingdom with Peter or Paul alone, nor did He let their perceived divisions stand. As Calvin Miller reflects in the book “Every Day With Jesus,” “no greater paradox exists than Jesus’ cross; love birthed in hate.” The hate which led to the cross in the first place continued to the chasm dividing Saul and Peter. Jesus spoke to the heart

of each of them. When Saul and Peter were ready to listen, Jesus whispered a suggestion to their hearts. Each man then found and chose to live their second chance with a better understanding of what is important in this life. Jesus asked which way they chose. Next, when Paul and Peter had made their decision, Jesus provided each of them that precious second chance with a job to do together which was built first and foremost upon their enlightenment and change of heart. Can you imagine the love it took for Paul to sacrifice and say, “Oops,

I was wrong,” and for Peter to say, “I’ll trust you, Paul”? One nice thing about a second chance well-lived is that either the work itself, or the example set by those who did that work for God, carries on long after the workers themselves have passed home to Our Lord. In this way, Peter and Paul have something to say to us today about the problem of bullying. As you may know, bullying, including the latest versions of cyber bullying, is a problem in America today for children and for adults. The bully seeks to marginalize the target. Many well intentioned anti-bullying efforts seek to frighten bullies into backing off certain targets. The line is drawn and mankind’s division is once again in place. Society waits to see who will win the battle. However, God has a much higher standard than victory for either side. Right from the start, Jesus set the example for us by choosing to build a team from a persecutor (bully) in Saul and one of his targets (Peter). Let us reflect today upon the words God spoke to Saul in Saul’s wake-up call. “Why are you persecuting Me?” God did not say, “Saul, why are you persecuting Christians?” God’s message is clear — by choosing to victimize others one directly attacks God. We know that God chooses to reside within each of us. Each time we are mean, rude or mistreat others in any way we are doing this directly to Jesus. If we took a moment when scared or angry with a person to imagine Jesus there before us (as He truly is before us in that person

in front of us), how many of us would choose to act differently? How many of us would say “I will not add another nail to the cross nor add another thorn to His crown”? With this image, how hard would it truly be to find something positive to say to that person? Jesus’ words “Peace be with you” and His call for each of us to imitate Him in this are echoed in the golden rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” However, such thoughts lie in stark contrast to the secular world’s messages on the Internet and TV that in order to succeed one needs to knock another down before he/she gets us. In addition, there is a great temptation in the immediate, yet false power of berating another. Adolescents are caught in the middle ground (chasm) in the clash of these two ideologies. As a teacher, so many times when I have had that “teachable moment” discussion with students who have misbehaved and hurt another student, they say to me, “This wasn’t really so bad, so what’s the big deal if I did it to so-andso?” They honestly sometimes seem to have no idea that such phrasing and thinking is not synonymous with care of one’s neighbor. For many, all it takes is the “how would you feel?” to prompt them to their “This isn’t who I wish to be” moment of reflection which precedes any second chance. Conversion begins with a change of heart and a heart turned once again towards and centered upon God. That heart is open to God’s guidance and call to a better job — a fulfilling second chance. At the 2012 National Catholic Educators Association meeting, Ken Gaughan presented a talk on Christ-Centered Cyberbullying Prevention. Ken’s model of preventing bullying was based upon bystanders taking an active role in immediately bringing back both the bully and the target to the love of the community. A key idea in the

plan was the idea of converting bystanders to “upstanders.” Upstanders support the target and/ or report in some way to stop the abuse. Upstanders are created when adults model and also teach children Christ-Centered Interventions: building the Kingdom of God; modeling Christ; and being one another’s keeper. In this way, each member of the community is called to educate, engage and evangelize. Do you recognize Paul and Peter as role models for each of us in this job? Mother Teresa said, “It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.” Just for today, let’s follow Mother Teresa’s words and example. Let us make it a point to find the patience and courage to live out our ministry of encouragement. Let us always remember that we are called as a team to help each other reach our goal of Heaven. Helen Flavin is a Catholic scientist, educator and writer born and raised in Fall River. She will be joining The Anchor as monthly contributor. She is a member of St. Bernadette’s Parish. She received her Ph.D. in Neurochemistry from Boston College and teaches in the Chemistry Department at Rhode Island College. She is also a science instructor at Bishop Connolly High School. She can be reached at hflavin@ bishopconnolly.com.

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April 19, 2013

Local woman brings Mother Teresa to life By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — On Sunday, April 21 at 9:30 a.m., Fall River native Christin Jezak will be performing her Mother Teresa Project at St. Lawrence Martyr Parish in New Bedford. Born from a love of her Catholic faith and of theater, Jezak has found a way to combine her passions that began in her youth. Active in her parish in Fall River, formerly Our Lady of the Angels Parish, but now known as Good Shepherd Parish, Jezak’s mother was a youth minister and director of Religious Education, and Jezak followed in her footsteps by becoming a Faith Formation teacher right after her ninth grade Confirmation. She also got bit by the proverbial acting bug. “When I was really little, my father and grandmother were involved in community theater at Little Theatre in Fall River,” recalled Jezak. “When I was in second grade I was in my first production with them in ‘Annie.’ That was just an awesome experience. I also did ‘Music Man’ with them when I was in fourth grade. That was a good thing for

me because I was actually a quiet kid in school and it got me out of my shell.” “So my faith and theater have been a very, very large part of my life,” said Jezak. She majored in theater while attending Bridgewater State University. In 2002 she had just finished her freshman year at BSU and decided to chaperone a trip to Toronto, Canada for World Youth Day. Seeing John Paul II was an incredible experience, she said: “Here is the pope. He’s Polish, I’m Polish. On top of that, he wanted to be an actor before becoming a priest. I really had this connection to him. He talked about this idea of the New Evangelization and how we’re going to need new ways of reaching out to people, and that really resonated with me because he related it to the arts. That really caught my interest.” When she returned from the trip, she gathered a group to-

gether and created a ministry program, the Immaculate Art Ministry, which did performances throughout the diocese. She graduated from BSU and attended graduate school at Villanova University in Philadelphia. While working on her final thesis, her idea of a one-woman show began to take shape with the reasoning “if it was worth something after I graduate, then great,” said Jezak. “If not, then it was just a school project that would stay there.” She began to explore ideas with the desire to make the performance a teaching tool for those who saw it. “I wanted it to be something that could reach out to a secular audience. I feel like our faith is so rich and can be shared on so many levels. I want to share my faith because it’s a large part of who I am. As an artist that’s what you want to do, you don’t want to be in a large vacuum,” said Jezak. “The first person that popped into my mind was Mother Teresa.” Mother Teresa was a figure for the world — the secular and religious — and so connected to Jesus, that Jezak knew that “Mother Teresa could bridge that gap. I began to think about what we need as a society, and I

thought of human dignity. Our society does not value human dignity the way that it should. It was the heart of her spirituality, the seeing of Christ in others, that was her charism and what a beautiful teaching of human dignity.” Jezak immersed herself with the Sisters of Missionaries of Charity in Philadelphia during her last semester of school, wanting to do justice for Mother Teresa and her message; “I really wanted to honor her,” Jezak explained, “because I felt that was really important. What impressed me the most was every Sister would spend time with whoever came to the door. The love and the joy — they always answered the door with love; that impression and how they would relate on that level, that’s how Mother Teresa set out to do her job. It stuck with me and it’s something I try to incorporate in my life.” She first performed the play on May 22, 2007 for her graduate thesis, a performance based on Mother Teresa’s interviews, where she often reflected the interviewer’s focus away from her and towards her work with the poor and infirm. “Mother Teresa opens up the play and she steps aside and disappears,” said Jezak, “and then I go into a series of monologues of different people in society. I play a homeless man, a disabled woman, a prostitute — all characters that Mother Teresa could encounter Christ in, and the characters are funny and they’re light. I start off with a stereotype

and then I get to the heart of who each of them are.” When she graduated from Villanova in 2007, Jezak submitted her Mother Teresa Project to festivals, including World Youth Day being held in 2008 in Australia. Out of the more than 600 submissions made to WYD organizers, only 200 were chosen and Jezak’s submission was one of them. “I was like, I just started performing this — there’s no way,” she said. “I was at home on the family computer and I got this email and my brother was the only one at home, and I remember running to him and telling him that he needed to read it. I really was beside myself, I just couldn’t believe it.” Not wanting to be thought of as only a “religious actor,” she moved to Los Angeles two years ago to begin to explore different acting roles, including performing with a local theater every other month. She has continued to bring her Mother Teresa Project to parishes and other venues, including secular venues. People often ask if she’s become bored by playing the same roles more than five years, and Jezak has a quick response. “I’m in awe that it can touch someone who has no faith background. I feel that it was God’s inspiration,” she said. “I feel that it’s timeless. When I created it in 2007, it’s as important now as it was then. Even with the characters, it’s a long run but there’s this richness when I’m performing them. I always ask God to reveal something different or for me to experience something different about each of the characters when I perform them, and it’s the love of the message that really energizes me. It’s a beautiful thing.”

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April 19, 2013

St. Paul’s Basilica: monument to a Church of evangelization

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a short speech just a few days before the conclave that elected him pope, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio told his fellow cardinals that the next pontiff “must be a man who, from the contemplation and adoration of Jesus Christ, helps the Church to go out to the existential peripheries, helps her to be the fruitful mother who gains life from ‘the sweet and

comforting joy of evangelizing.’” The Church should not live “within herself, of herself, for herself,” the future Pope Francis said. Rather, its evangelization should extend “to the peripheries, not only geographically, but also the existential peripheries: the mystery of sin, of pain, of injustice, of ignorance and indifference to religion, of intellectual currents, and of all misery.”

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In light of those remarks, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where Pope Francis celebrated Mass April 14, holds special significance for his pontificate. The Apostle Paul, whose tomb lies under the basilica’s main altar, brought the Gospel to peoples across the central and eastern Mediterranean, and even more consequentially, translated the Christian faith into the philosophical terms of ancient GrecoRoman culture. The so-called “Apostle to the Gentiles” thus exemplifies the missionary spirit invoked by the new pope. St. Paul also embodies the charismatic (or prophetic) side

of the Church, in much the way that his fellow patron of Rome, St. Peter, the first pope, stands for the Church’s hierarchical (or institutional) dimension. As the first member of a religious order to be elected pope in nearly two centuries, Pope Francis is in a sense a successor to both Apostles, since the charismatic side of the Church has traditionally been the particular domain of religious life. St. Paul’s is today the only one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas entrusted to the care of a religious order. Benedictine monks have resided there since the time of Pope Gregory I (590604), who was himself a former monk, and one of the legacies of that tradition is the basilica’s ex-

tensive library, whose collection includes some 10,000 volumes dating from before the 18th century. The dynamic evangelizing spirit of its patron saint made the basilica a fitting site for the Jan. 25, 1959, announcement by Blessed John XXIII that he would call an ecumenical council known to history as Vatican II. The basilica’s current role as a center of ecumenism draws inspiration from St. Paul, who did so much to bind the early Church together. A chapel is set aside for worship by non-Catholic Christians, and the pope leads an ecumenical service in the basilica every year at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

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April 19, 2013

WYD organizers expect bump in attendance with Argentine pope

SAO PAULO (CNS) — Members of the local organizing committee for World Youth Day say that, with the recent election of an Argentine pope, they expect up to 2.5 million young people at the international event in Rio de Janeiro. “We currently have 200,000 pilgrims already registered, but registrations go on until the last day of the event,” said Carol de Castro, press coordinator for the local organizing committee. She said the committee expects 800,000 pilgrims to have registered by the start of the event, which runs July 23-28. The Vatican has not announced the exact dates Pope Francis will attend but has indicated it will be his first international trip. Castro said that although registration is not required for most of the events planned for World Youth Day, is it recommended, since with the registration pilgrims will have access to free transportation to many of the events, help in finding accommodations and will receive a pilgrim’s kit with important information about the event and the city. If the pilgrim has opted for the packages that include meals, a list of accredited restaurants will be included. Argentines make up the largest group of foreign nationals chosen to be volunteers during the six-day event, although volunteer registration had already closed when the name of the new pope was announced in late March. Approximately 15 percent of the 60,000 volunteers chosen are from Pope Francis’ birth nation. Organizers say they expect that, by July 23, more than one million beds will be made available for

pilgrims in family homes, schools, recreational centers and churches. The pilgrims will be able to stay free of charge in these locations from July 21-31, said Vinicius Arouca, volunteer on the hosting committee. Officials say security in Rio de Janeiro should be tighter than normal in June and July, since the city is also hosting the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 at the end of June. For security, Brazil’s Ministry of Defense has made available 8,500 armed forces members. The ministry said these and an expected 4,000-5,000 police officers — will patrol areas where pilgrims will visit. During the vigil July 27, the Brazilian army will patrol Rio’s air space. The Brazilian government is easing visa requirements and exempting pilgrims from paying visa taxes for those who can prove they have registered for World Youth Day. According to press officials at the Ministry of Foreign Relations, pilgrims will only have to submit their valid passport, passport-size photo and proof of registration — such as a letter from their diocesan group stating they are going — to obtain a special visa to attend the event. There will be no need to show a return ticket, proof of income and other information usually requested by Brazilian authorities to obtain a normal visa. Although most European and Latin America nationals do not require a visa to enter Brazil, pilgrims with passports from countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan will require visas.

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ground-breaker —Lucas Black and Chadwick Boseman star in a scene from the movie “42.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Warner Bros.)

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service. “Evil Dead” (TriStar) Repulsive reboot of Sam Raimi’s horror trilogy that began with 1981’s “The Evil Dead.” A group of young adults (most prominently Jane Levy and Shiloh Fernandez as siblings) gathered in a remote cabin have a devil of a time after one of them (Lou Taylor Pucci) unwittingly summons a demon by reciting an ancient hex out of a book of necromancy they’ve stumbled across. The threadbare plot of director and co-writer Fede Alvarez’s bloodbath is merely an excuse for serial dismemberment as the revived helldweller finds creative uses for an electric carving knife, a nail gun and (how did you guess?) a chainsaw. Pervasive gory and sometimes gruesome violence, an occult theme, drug references, flashes of partial nudity, brief sexual imagery, constant rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. “42” (Warner Bros.) Uplifting, if sometimes heavy-handed, historical

drama recounting the 1947 reintegration of professional baseball after decades of segregated play. This racial breakthrough was made possible by the collaborative efforts of Brooklyn Dodgers manager Branch Rickey (a splendid Harrison Ford) and Negro League star Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman). Though writer-director Brian Helgeland’s film is occasionally too convinced of its own importance, the proceedings are buoyed by Rickey’s feisty righteousness and by the inspiring example of Robinson’s forbearance in the face of hate. Helgeland’s script attributes both Rickey’s vision and Robinson’s courage — at least in part — to their shared Christian faith, while the loving support of Robinson’s wife Rachel (Nicole Beharie) is also shown to be crucial to his struggle. Possibly acceptable for older teens. An adultery theme, racial slurs, fleeting humor implicitly referencing homosexuality, a few uses of profanity, at least one crude term, occasional crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III

— adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. “Jurassic Park” (Universal) A bizarre theme park featuring genetically re-created dinosaurs becomes a potential deathtrap when the carnivorous monsters break loose, endangering some visiting scientists (Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum) and two very frightened young children (Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards). Director Steven Spielberg’s monster fantasy downplays plot and characterization in favor of spectacle and horrific special effects, now in 3-D, in which the realistic-looking creatures hunt down their human prey. Much intense menace to children and several stylized scenes of violent death. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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Celebrant is Father Karl C. Bissinger, Secretary to Bishop George W. Coleman, and director of the diocesan Vocations Office.

April 19, 2013

O

ne of the first public displays of the compassion of Pope Francis was his embrace of a paralyzed man held up to him by friends. Days later the world was captivated by yet another gesture of love when the pope cradled a child with cerebral palsy. The message is being proclaimed throughout the Church that unless we welcome the most vulnerable then our faith is an empty vessel. The simple truth is that we cannot welcome unless the building is accessible. Parishes usually make sure that there is a way into the building for a person with a disability, but once inside the accessibility ends. There are parishes without bathrooms that accommodate a wheelchair, there are places within the church building that are off limits to a person who is challenged by stairs. Some parishes respond a few beats after the need arises. This became an issue in my own parish several years ago. Our parish center is in the basement of the church and there was no

The Church is for everyone

elevator access. When one of upon others, and it is our duty our families had a child with to provide ministry to them, a physical disability we were never with them. forced to address this lack of Many people in parish access. It was extremely exleadership would disagree with pensive to insert an elevator so this sentiment, but many will the compromise was to install a stair lift that requires a key to operate. This worked great as the child grew because she eventually was given her own key and learned to run the By Claire McManus lift herself. You would think that everybody would be on board with this, but some Libertaripoint to a lack of resources as an-minded person questioned their reason for not including why the parish should have the disabled as equal members been saddled with such an within their communities. They expense for one child. He sug- may even feel like the man gested that the truly Christian from my parish and think that response was to schedule expending resources for the ocstrong people to be available casional need is a foolish waste. to carry the child down the We should remember, however, stairs as their Corporal Work that disability is not limited to of Mercy. Although this may those born with a condition, sound absolutely ridiculous, it or who have met with a terreveals the underlying sentirible accident. Disability is the ment that many in our culture outcome for many as they age. have toward the disabled. Parishioners who once were They are weak, needy indipart of the vibrant life of the viduals who depend so much parish may one day not be able

The Great Commission

North American College breaks ground for $7 million expansion

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Fresh soil on compact dirt, a small pile of rubble, incense, gold-trimmed Liturgical vestments and the sound of dozens of young men singing “Holy God We Praise They Name” meant it was ground-breaking day at the Pontifical North American College. The seminary, sponsored by the U.S. bishops, officially embarked April 12 on a $7 million project to build a 10-story, 36,000-square-foot tower to house high-tech classrooms, practice chapels where the students will learn to preach and celebrate the Sacraments, administrative offices and more. Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark, N.J., president of the North American College board of governors, presided over the ground-breaking. He described the new building as a gift of God’s generosity and the generosity of “those who hold dear our Catholic faith and the priesthood.” James and Miriam Mulva of Bartlesville, Okla., made an $8.5 million gift to the seminary to fund the new building, technology updates throughout the existing facility and other improvements. The Mulvas told Catholic

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News Service they became familiar with the college more than 20 years ago when their newly-ordained assistant pastor arrived from his studies in Rome. The priest, now-Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg, later served as the vice rector for administration of the North American College and introduced the Mulvas to the rector, Msgr. James F. Checchio. “First we started to support a number of seminarians with scholarships and that led to some other small projects,” Mulva said. “What’s important to us is the Church, education and youth — it’s all tied together here.” His wife said, “We saw the great need,” because students were using classrooms in a basement with no windows. “We wanted to give back something, and the caliber of seminarians required that caliber of building.” Her husband said, “The development of seminarians and priests is what makes the Church grow and develop.” The main campus of the North American College is on Vatican property on the Janiculum Hill overlooking St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. The new building will rise

on the south side of the existing building and be connected to it. The Mulvas’ son, Jonathan, joined his parents, Msgr. Checchio, Archbishop Myers and Cardinal Edwin F. O’Brien, a former rector of the college, in wielding shovels at the ground-breaking. Afterward, Archbishop Myers told CNS, “It’s astounding and very moving for us to find people who love the Church so much and believe in the mission of the North American College that they will make this kind of gift.” The archbishop said the requirements of preparing for the priesthood have changed, “for the better,” since he started his studies at the NAC 50 years ago and the building, inaugurated by Pope Pius XII in 1953, could not keep up. Archbishop Myers also noted that among the close to 250 seminarians and young priests at the college, there are several from Australia and Canada — “we’re cousins.” The parishes where the students end up will have pastors who are “very well trained, with love for Lord, first of all — for His way and for proclaiming His love — love for the Church and love for the Holy Father.”

to hear the Gospel proclaimed. Those who once brought Communion to the home-bound may not be able to drive themselves to Mass. They may not be able to walk up the stairs into the sanctuary to serve as lectors or distribute Communion. The same parishes that lament the lack of participation by families may be cutting off the very people that wish to take part. Making our churches more accessible to people with disabilities is not just an act of welcome, but is necessary for us to truly understand the reason for Christ’s mission. When Pope Francis embraced the child with cerebral palsy it touched hearts, but it also allowed the child’s parents to give expression to what this child has done for their lives. The father wrote about his son, Dominic, “But how can a disabled person show us how to love in a way that only a disabled person can? Because the Cross of Christ is sweet and is of a higher order. Christ’s Resurrection from the Cross proclaims that the love He offers us, the love that we, in our turn, are to show others, is the real reason He endured the Cross in the first place. Our stony hearts are trans-

formed into this Christ-like love, and thereby empowered to change hatred into love, only through the cross. And no one shares in the cross more intimately than the disabled. And so the disabled become our models and our inspiration. Yes, I give much to my son, Dominic. But he gives me more, way more. I help him stand and walk, but he shows me how to love. I feed him, but he shows me how to love. I bring him to physical therapy, but he shows me how to love. I stretch his muscles and joke around with him, but he shows me how to love. I lift him in and out of his chair, I wheel him all over the place, but he shows me how to love. I give up my time, so much time, for him, but he shows me how to love.” We will resolve the question of how to welcome people with disabilities if it is addressed from the perspective of mission, not resources. We can begin by remembering the story of the men who removed the roof of the building to give their paralyzed friend access to Jesus. The answer will come if we begin with the question, “What must we do to give everyone access to Jesus?” Claire McManus is the director of the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation.

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Communion in hand or on tongue At Mass, my Good Shepherd is there waiting to feed me with His holiness. For this reason, I invite Him to put His living presence on my tongue. After I’ve been fed, I unite myself with all the receivers in this particular chapel or church. Then I encircle together as one all believers of the Church throughout the whole world. As humans, we are all brothers and sisters of the same human race created by the same Father. As baptized children of God, we are all related spiritually and we receive the same Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Who else but God could have “invented” such an everlasting gift of love? My Lord and my God, thank You for coming to me in the Eucharist via my hand or my tongue. Your Sister in Christ, Sister Adrienne de Champlain, SUSC Fall River Executive Editor Responds: Thank you for your beautiful meditation on receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist. In these sad days, it is He who gives us strength, knowing that He is with us, walking with us through this valley of tears, helping us to see His blessings even on dark days. More Communion comments Regarding Father Andrew Johnson’s letter of March 15, 2013: Father, I agree with all of your comments regarding the reception of Holy Communion in the hand. That manner of receiving

April 19, 2013

Our readers respond

our Christ has certainly become irreverent and, in many instances, disrespectful. Regardless of unbalanced requests by certain episcopal conferences to receive our Christ in the hand and despite what was done centuries ago, it is another example of the need to revisit Vatican II. Why did we ever allow the Communion rail to be removed from in front of the altar of the Church? Prior, as we all recall, everyone (unless disabled) came to the altar railing and knelt to receive with the ordained priest distributing the host. Further, we now have Eucharistic ministers distributing the host, extending blessings to children and others who do not receive as if these ministers are providing absolution, which we know they cannot do! Incidentally, The Anchor had a question-and-answer column on this improper practice approximately 16 months ago, which I believe was supported by Canon Law. I firmly believe bringing back the Communion rail would go a long way in returning reverence to this extraordinary Sacrament. Sincerely, Richard B. O’Neill East Sandwich

Executive Editor Responds: Thank you for your comments. Firstly, it is hard for me to judge whether the requests of national bishops conferences were “unbalanced” or not. As I stated last week in my response, the Second Vatican Council did not mandate Communion in the hand, so I do not think that we need to “revisit” the council in a negative fashion. It is the teaching of the Church that the council was inspired

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by the Holy Spirit (which is not to say that everything done “in the spirit of Vatican II” was really inspired by the Holy Spirit). The popes since the council have been working for decades to help us all truly implement the council as the Holy Spirit intended for us to do. As Cardinal Walter Kasper says on page two of this edition, it is normal in the history of the Church for it to take decades, or even centuries, for a council to be totally implemented. In terms of the Communion rail, in the third edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, we are told at #295, “The sanctuary is the place where the altar stands, the Word of God is proclaimed, and the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their functions. It should be appropriately marked off from the body of the church either by its being somewhat elevated or by a particular

structure and ornamentation.” Whether or not there should be an altar rail is not addressed, leaving the decision to the diocesan bishop (who has the ultimate say in the churches of his diocese). Regarding Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, I did quote Blessed John Paul II on their usage a few weeks ago. I did mention that there have been abuses, but also that many ministers are quite good examples of holiness for all of us (clergy and laity). It is true that they do not have the power of blessing people in the Communion line. This practice has come about in recent decades, since everyone gets in the line to come to the altar (in English Masses — at Masses in Spanish many people do not come forward, and not just for irregular marital situations). Many priests debate whether we should give these blessings or

not. Some think that we should deny the blessings, so as to inspire people to correct their lives and then come to Communion (which, ultimately, people do need to do before dying). At the other end of the spectrum would be priests who say that everyone should receive Communion. This is against Church teaching (I discussed this last Fall, quoting St. Paul’s account of the Last Supper). In the middle are priests (myself amongst them), who do give a blessing, trying to both protect the Blessed Sacrament from improper reception (and the people in line from committing a sin, even if unwittingly) and help people feel welcome back (often times this occurs at a wedding or funeral) to the Catholic Church. In offering these blessings, I am not absolving any sins, although I had not considered the possibility that people could interpret them that way.

Boston mourns victims of Marathon bombing continued from page one

memorates the first battles of the American Revolution. Cardinal O’Malley commended the leadership efforts of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and the city’s police commissioner, Ed Davis. “(They) are providing the leadership that will see us through this most difficult time and ensure that proper procedures are followed to protect the public safety,” Cardinal O’Malley said. The cardinal also commended those who rushed to help at the scene of the tragedy. “In the midst of the darkness of this tragedy we turn to the light of Jesus Christ, the light that was evident in the lives of people who immediately turned to help those in need today,” he said. Cardinal O’Malley promised the Catholic Church’s support for other faith communities, promoting a message of hope in response to the tragedy. “We stand in solidarity with our ecumenical and interfaith colleagues in the commitment to witness the greater power of good in our society and to work together for healing,” the cardinal said. Pope Francis responded to the bombings in Boston by invoking peace for the souls of the departed, consolation for the suffering and strength for emergency and medical personnel. In a message sent to Cardinal O’Malley, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said Pope Francis was “deeply grieved by the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of violence perpetrated” near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Cardinal Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, sent the message on behalf of the pope. The text was released by the Vatican April 16. “In the aftermath of this senseless tragedy, His Holiness invokes God’s peace upon the dead, His consolation upon the suffering and His strength upon all those engaged in the continuing work of relief and response,” the message said.

MARATHON MOURNING — Boston Marathon runner Megan Cloke pauses after leaving flowers on the doorstep of eight-year-old Martin Richard’s home in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston April 16. The boy, a former student at Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy, was one of three people killed when two bombs exploded in the crowded streets near the finish line of the marathon the previous day. (CNS photo/Brian Snyder, Reuters)

“At this time of mourning, the Holy Father prays that all Bostonians will be united in a resolve not to be overcome by evil, but to combat evil with good, working together to build an ever more just, free and secure society for generations yet to come,” the message said. New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, as president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, urged all “to pray for the souls of those killed, the healing of those injured and the restoration of peace for all of us unsettled by the bombings at a world renowned sporting event.” “Our special prayers are with the Archdiocese of Boston and the people there who are working in the aftermath of this crisis to address those wounded in so many ways by these events,” he added in a statement issued a few hours after the explosions. The “tragic end” to the marathon “reminds us all that evil exists and that life is fragile,” Cardinal Dolan said.

“The growing culture of violence in our world and even in our country calls for both wise security measures by government officials and an examination by all of us to see what we can personally do to enhance peace and respect for one another in our world,” he said. In a press briefing President Barack Obama offered the nation’s condolences to the victims and their families, saying he was confident residents of the “resilient town” that Boston is would pull together to take care of one another. “And as they do, the American people will be with them every single step of the way,” he said. Obama urged people not to “jump to conclusions” as to the reason for the bombings and said a full investigation was well under way. “We will get to the bottom of this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice,” the president said.

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The Anchor

April 19, 2013

On the farm or battlefield, Kansas priest gave ‘totally of himself’

Bringing christ to the world — U.S. Army chaplain Father Emil Joseph Kapaun, who died May 23, 1951, in a North Korean prisoner of war camp, is pictured in an undated photo celebrating Mass in South Korea. The Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for bravery, was awarded to the priest posthumously at the White House April 11. (CNS photo/courtesy The Catholic Advance)

Shepherd in combat boots’ awarded Medal of Honor for Korean service

WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Catholic Korean War chaplain who selflessly pulled wounded men from enemy fire and helped his fellow prisoners of war keep a sense of hope was honored posthumously with the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor, in an April 11 White House ceremony. In paying tribute to Father Emil J. Kapaun, an Army captain, President Barack Obama told multiple stories of the “shepherd in combat boots” from Kansas who voluntarily stayed behind with the wounded to face certain capture, rather than evacuate when his division was overrun at Unsan, Korea, in November 1950. “This is the valor we honor today — an American soldier who didn’t fire a gun, but who wielded the mightiest weapon of all, a love for his brothers so pure that he was willing to die so that they might live,” said Obama. Father Kapaun received the Bronze Star before his capture and the Distinguished Service Cross after he died. Within the Catholic Church, he has an active cause for sainthood, having been recognized by the Vatican as a “servant of God,” a first step in the investigation of someone who is being considered for sainthood. Some of Father Kapaun’s fellow prisoners, who walked out of their prison camp carrying a crucifix they’d fashioned to honor their deceased chaplain, were in attendance at the ceremony. The medal, given to members of the armed forces for distinguished gallantry above and beyond the

call of duty in active service, was presented to Ray Kapaun, a nephew of the priest, who never knew his uncle. Guests for the ceremony in the East Room of the White House included Father Kapaun’s extended family, military chaplains and other officers, people from his hometown parish, St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Pilsen, Kan.; and various members of the Archdiocese for Military Services including Auxiliary Bishop Richard B. Higgins, vicar for Veterans Affairs. Also in attendance was Herb Miller, who as a sergeant in 1951, was injured when a grenade exploded near him. As Obama told the story, a Chinese soldier was about to execute Miller, when Father Kapaun stepped in to stop him. The priest then carried Miller and assisted other wounded prisoners on a lengthy march to a prison camp at Pyoktong. “He carried that injured American, for miles, as their captors forced them on a death march,” said Obama. “When Father Kapaun grew tired, he’d help the wounded soldier hop on one leg. When other prisoners stumbled, he picked them up. When they wanted to quit — knowing that stragglers would be shot — he begged them to keep walking.” Father Kapaun’s actions that day are what was being recognized with the Medal of Honor, Obama said, but he continued with stories of the priest’s selfless actions in the prison camp — helping smuggle in more food; giving away his clothes to freezing men; fashioning pots to

boil water to battle dysentery; praying with the men in their huts; celebrating Easter Mass. Obama said Father Kapaun’s background reminded him of his own grandfather’s. “Now, I obviously never met Father Kapaun,” Obama said. “But I have a sense of the man he was, because in his story I see reflections of my own grandparents and their values, the people who helped to raise me. Emil and my grandfather were both born in Kansas about the same time, both were raised in small towns outside of Wichita. “They were part of that Greatest Generation — surviving the Depression, joining the Army, serving in World War II. And they embodied those heartland values of honesty and hard work, decency and humility — quiet heroes determined to do their part.” For the priest, he continued, that meant joining the Army in World War II and returning to military service after a two-year hiatus during which Father Kapaun earned a master’s in education at The Catholic University of America. “After the Communist invasion of South Korea, he was among the first American troops that hit the beaches and pushed their way north through hard mountains and bitter cold,” Obama said. “In his understated Midwestern way, he wrote home, saying, ‘this outdoor life is quite the thing’ and ‘I prefer to live in a house once in a while.’ Suffering from an assortment of ailments, Father Kapaun died in that prison camp in Pyoktong on May 23, 1951.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The legacy of Army chaplain Father Emil Kapaun endures because of the men who knew him on the battlefield and in a prison camp during the Korean War, said the spokesman for the Army Office of the Chief of Chaplains. “The legacy is kept alive by the stories of the soldiers,” Chaplain Kenneth W. Stice, a colonel, told Catholic News Service at a media round-table at the Pentagon April 10. “That legacy goes on whether recognized ... or not.” With Stice were the priest’s nephew Ray Kapaun and Father John Hotze, judicial vicar for the Diocese of Wichita, Kan., the home diocese of Father Kapaun. They spoke to CNS the day before President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor posthumously to the war-hero priest in a White House ceremony. It is the nation’s highest military award for bravery. Ray accepted the honor on behalf of his uncle, who died May 23, 1951, in a North Korean prisoner of war camp. Many of those who had served with the priest looked on from their seats. In presenting the award, Obama said: “That faith ... that even in such hell, there could be a touch of the Divine ... was perhaps the greatest gift to those men. I’m told that in their darkest hours in the camp in that valley, these men turned to a psalm ... ‘Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.’” The record shows that the 35-year-old chaplain had the chance to fall back to safety during a battle between U.S. and Chinese forces but instead chose to stay and was captured along with dozens of men. He ministered to his fellow soldiers even in the prison camp. “I did not know my uncle ... he died before I was born,” Ray told CNS at the Pentagon. Born six years after the priest’s death, Ray came to know his uncle through the many stories told by his father and mother and the soldiers who knew him in his final days. The POWs who knew the priest continued to talk about him after their liberation, noted Stice. “I do believe that he is a saint after all that I’ve found out about him,” Father Hotze said about the late priest, who is a candidate for sainthood. Father Hotze has investigating the chaplain’s life for his cause since 2001. “I think what sets him apart is that he was willing to give totally of himself,” he said. “If you look at his life, growing up he was a typical Kansas farm boy, (whose)

family did not have much.” He had to be creative with what tools he had, the priest said. The nephew recalled a story about his uncle that he said has been passed down for generations. The grandparents of the future priest were going into town, and they entrusted the boy with caring for the farm while they were gone. Young Emil accepted the responsibility with eagerness but encountered an obstacle when it came time to milk the cow, because “Grandma was the only one who could milk that cow,” Ray said. “The cow wouldn’t (even) let him get close.” Emil went back into the house and found his grandmother’s work garments and bonnet. He dressed himself up just the way she would have done, and then waddled out to the barn in just the way “that Grandma would always do ... (and) had no problem whatsoever milking the cow,” Ray continued. “He was a very smart person growing up,” he explained. His uncle as a youngster would always help his classmates, tutoring them, and investing the time to make sure they could complete their assignments. Years later in the POW camp that was his home in his final days, Father Kapaun used his wits to steal food from the guarded warehouse to supply the starving soldiers with food, Father Hotze told CNS. “He gave his life for his sheep,” Army Chief of Chaplains Father Donald Rutherford told a Pentagon Channel reporter during the media round-table. Father Rutherford, a Catholic priest who holds the rank of major general, said he encourages his young chaplains to look at Father Kapaun as an example of the “Army values: of being soldiers, of loyalty, of respect, of dignity, of selfless service, of honor, (and) of personal courage.” In his homily on Palm Sunday, April 6, 1941, Father Kapaun said: “Men find it easy to follow One Who has endeared Himself to them. A man finds it a pleasure to serve One Who has saved his life.” When soldiers fall wounded on the battlefield, they need someone there to give them encouragement and hope. “(Father) Kapaun did that,” said Stice. He used every opportunity to encourage the troops, gave them a will to live, a meaning and a purpose to keep going, the chaplain said. He trained soldiers to be loyal to their country and their values, and to never let go of that thing that holds all of humanity together: life.

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Youth Pages

science smarts — Students at All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford recently received recognition awards for their projects in the Regional Science Fair held at Bristol Community College in Fall River. The winners here are Alyssa Pereira, Ebele Okafor and Jenna Hebert.

April 19, 2013

PASSION PLAY — Students in Mrs. Burr’s fifth-grade class at All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford performed the Stations of the Cross with pure emotion and deep spirit for the whole school recently. The entire class took part, worked together and put on an amazing performance.

art attack — Bishop Feehan High School’s Doran Art Center displayed an impressive collection of hundreds of works art by students from the past year. The collection included a variety of mediums from paper sculptures and painted chairs to acrylic paintings and digital art. As is tradition, teachers and staff at the Attleboro school were asked to tag their favorites. “This extra recognition is always significant for the students,” said Art Department chairman, Brenda Loiselle, “Those little tags are like gold to them.” Grace Valley, above left, presents her acrylic painting of flowers scattered outside a log cabin. William Holt, above right, stands next to his acrylic painting of a Venetian bridge.

Life lessons — Fourth-grade students at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro, taught by Molly Smith and Diane McKenna, had a special guest come to speak to them. Karen Dugan, the illustrator of many children’s books including “Fly Away Home,” “Above My Head Beneath My Feet,” and many others came to teach them how to go about writing and illustrating their own children’s book.

BIRTHDAY BASH — Students at St. James-St. John School in New Bedford recently celebrated the birthday of their principal, Christina Raposo.

Youth Pages

April 19, 2013

P

ope Francis has generated a lot of excitement this past month. There have been students here at the university who have been inspired to either return to faith, make more of an effort to live faith and some inquiries about Catholicism. The Holy Father’s simplicity, humility and kindness are inspiring. Cardinal Dolan said before the conclave that the cardinals would choose the one who reminds them most of Christ. Those words keep coming back to me when I watch Pope Francis or read his words. One of the most powerful scenes so far came just before the Mass of Installation. He got out of the vehicle he was riding to bless and kiss a disabled man being held by family members. The Holy Father spoke some words to the man’s family, blessed them before returning to the procession. It was a scene that played out again on Easter Sunday when he embraced the young boy from Providence, R.I. If the Gospels were written in 2013, clearly these

EAST FREETOWN — A member of Troop 333, Anthony Perry wanted to build an Eagle Scout Project that reflected his love of God and his faith. He approached the pastor of St. John Neumann Church, which sponsors his troop in East Freetown, with the thought that he could create a project which was a significant benefit to the parish and provide a place for meditation and reflection overlooking Long Pond. Anthony, a New Bedford native, designed and built a Rosary Garden which now serves as a memorial for members of the parish family,

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A living reminder of Christ

would be the scenes described municates which has allowed in them. an image of the Church as There was another signifibeing out of touch, irrelevant cant action that most are not and concerned with itself to familiar with. Benedict XVI emerge Yet, if you were to had set up a Twitter account last December with the handle, Pontifex. When his resignation took effect, Pontifex was changed to Sede Vacante. About 10 minutes before the By Father words Habemus PaDavid C. Frederici pam were announced, Pontifex returned, supposedly on orders from the new pope. read the homilies, messages I find this very significant. and letters of Benedict XVI, Why? Because it shows the you would find the overpope understands how comwhelming majority of them munication works in the 21st concerned with fighting injuscentury. Now, Benedict XVI tice, peace, care and concern accomplished a lot during his for the least of our brothers pontificate, many things that and sisters, and living in the most people don’t realize and joy that comes from loving I believe he will rank pretty God and neighbor. Right or high in history as many of his wrong, the reality is that in a reforms and decisions continsocial media world, percepue to unfold (particularly his tion can block or help your reforms of the episcopacy). message. However, there seems to Pope Benedict is a theolohave been a failure to undergian and a professor and his stand how the world comgift is teaching. He has done

Be Not Afraid

a lot to teach us. Francis is a pastor, a “practitioner of faith.” He will lead and teach by doing. The Holy Father is a scientist by training, as well as advanced studies in theology and it is obvious he has a deep prayer life as well. His challenge to us this past month is really Jesus’ challenge to all of us: It is necessary for us to take time to learn about God, to utilize our intellect in that process and it is necessary to nurture an intimate, loving relationship with God. But, it is incomplete if this faith and love is not lived, if we do not live as Christ in our everyday lives. At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper a couple of weeks ago we heard Jesus tell us, “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (Jn 13:15). This model involves humility, service to our brothers and sisters: the rich and the poor, the healthy and the

sick, the intellectuals and the uneducated, etc., etc., etc. Like Pope Francis we all need to be examples of Christ in the world. We need to communicate the Gospel to others, not just with the words we speak, but the words we post on Facebook, Twitter or text. Most importantly, we need to communicate to the world Christ’s presence and love through our actions. Just think of the number of people we could inspire to return to the faith or to explore Catholicism for themselves! In the words of St. Teresa of Avila: Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours, Yours are the eyes through which is to look out Christ’s compassion to the world; Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; Yours are the hands with which He is to bless men now. Father Frederici is chaplain at UMass Dartmouth.

Eagle Scout projects reflect faith, history

living and deceased. The garden, immediately behind the church, consists of 87 bluestone slate stepping stones, two granite benches, a 28inch fiberglass plaque of Madonna and Child, a handmade granite cross and a custommade Mira etched with the Holy Mother and Jesus. Over a period of nine months, utilizing the talents and experience of numerous volunteers and business leaders in the community, Anthony designed, laid-out and constructed the garden so that it would benefit the parishioners for many years to come. Anthony commented: “We

CIRCLE OF LOVE — A member of Troop 333, Anthony Perry wanted to build an Eagle Scout Project that reflected his love of God and his Faith. He created a project which was a significant benefit to the parish and provides a place for meditation and reflection overlooking Long Pond.

don’t have to wait until we are adults to make a difference in the world. Scouting showed me that even a young person could make a difference — that anyone can have an impact on life — but it is our choice to make the best of it. Go out there and make a difference. You are the only one who can.” When New Bedford Boy Scout Daniel Perry worked on his Eagle Scout Project, it meant putting on his hiking boots and insect repellent and heading out to the woods of Great Quitticas Pond. In 2012, during a hike with Troop 333 of East Freetown, Daniel noted that the maps available dated from the early 1940s and did not agree with the actual trails. Talking to the operators of New Bedford’s Water Treatment facilities he realized that no one really had mapped the trails in more than 70 years. Daniel decided that this would make an excellent Eagle Scout Project and spent the next 10 months tracing and plotting out the existing trails which are now listed and named in a document available for the outdoor enthusiast to use in exploring the area. Daniel took it a few steps further by, with the

MAP QUEST — In 2012, during a hike with Troop 333 of East Freetown, Boy Scout Daniel Perry noted that the maps available dated from the early 1940s and did not agree with the actual trails. He helped update the maps which hadn’t been refined in more than 70 years.

city’s permission, repainting and re-labeling the fire-trail markers as well as erecting signs and markers for each of the trials. Charlie Kennedy, assistant superintendent of Public Infrastructure for the City of New Bedford noted: “He (Daniel) did an excellent job of mapping, even giving the trails Native American names. He gained much knowledge through contacts that he acquired along the way. Nancy Yeatts, of Lakeville, helped him with Native American history of the area and the Engineering Division of the Department of Public

Infrastructure trained him in Geospatial Information Systems mapping. He also had his share of hands-on physical work, clearing brush from laneways, restoring fire lane identification posts and erecting trail signposts which hold the map and a brief summary of the historical significance of the immediate area.” Anthony and Daniel successfully passed their Eagle Scout Board of Review on Mar. 27, 2013 and will be awarded their Eagle Badges on May 18 at a 6:15 p.m. Eagle Scout Court of Honor to be held at St. John Neumann Church in East Freetown.

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The Anchor

MCFL walk comes to Fall River Diocese continued from page 20

they can go at their own pace, taking breaks if necessary, which should make it easier for young families to participate, she said. As always, one young family will lead off the walk. The MCFL’s walk baby this year is Julia Kiley of Dedham, who will be two next month. “She’s precious, of course. She really is,” Fox said. “She has a gorgeous smile. It’s infectious.” Julia brings with her an important aspect of the Pro-Life debate. She has Down syndrome, and studies show that when parents receive the prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, 90 percent of them choose to abort that child. Speaking with The Anchor, Julia’s mom, Katie Kiley, called the termination of children with special needs a “very pressing issue.” She hopes Julia’s participation will “bring awareness to the staggering statistics.” Helen Cross, chair of the MCFL walk, said the shrine is a prayerful location that will add to the spiritual dimension of the event. “I think there will be a lot of

graces,” she said. “It’s really going to add that element of prayer and contemplation and that spiritual nourishment.” Catholics who are looking to be spiritually fed will have the opportunity to attend Sunday Mass at the shrine at 12:10 p.m. before the walk begins. Cross added that the walk is an invitation to joyfully witness and to put Pro-Life views into action. Helping women in crisis pregnancies allows them to choose life for their children. “If somebody doesn’t have the means, how can they choose life?” she asked. MCFL requests that all participants register before the walk and raise money for the many Pro-Life organizations that will benefit this year. Every modest sum helps, and participants can set up online fund-raising on the MCFL website, Cross said. “It’s really important for people to go out and raise money,” she said. “The point of the walk is to raise money for the beneficiaries.” To sign up for the walk or to sponsor a participant, visit http://respectlifewalk.org.

Cape mission to focus on God’s creation continued from page one

tered in Albuquerque, N.M. He has served in Pueblo and Navajo Indian missions, among Hispanics and in the formation of men becoming Franciscan friars. He now lives in San Antonio, Texas where he teaches at the Oblate School of Theology, as well as working extensively with the Academy of American Franciscan History and on other provincial and inter-provincial projects for Franciscans throughout the United States. The topics slated for discussion during the mission include “From God, to God through Christ” (April 22), which will focus on when we come to see where we came from and where

we are headed, life becomes a pilgrimage; “Penance, not Punishment or Payment, but Promise” (April 23), which is about learning to act in response to God’s love requires first learning to realize and incarnate God’s love, to be followed by the Sacrament of Reconciliation during which several priests will be available; and “C-ing the World as a Franciscan” (April 24), to focus on how Creation, Crib, Cross, Communion, Contemplation, sCripture and Conversion all lead us to God. For more information about the mission, contact Our Lady of the Cape Parish at 508-385-3252 or visit www.ourladyofthecape.org.

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April 19, 2013

Diocesan CSS helps group become U.S. citizens continued from page one

long time. It was a very good class.” Like DaSilva, Marissa Cline of West Yarmouth said CSS was instrumental in helping her become a U.S. citizen. In fact, 13 of the 25 naturalized citizens were assisted and supported by Catholic Social Services in this endeavor. “They helped me a lot … they helped me with my application,” Cline said. “I took the citizenship classes over three months. The teacher was very good — she made me feel very comfortable and she has a lot of patience, too.” Having moved from Mexico 12 years ago, Cline now lives with her husband, Wayne, and their two children on Cape Cod. “I’m very proud of her,” Wayne said as he looked at his wife’s citizenship documentation after the ceremony. “This brought back some good memories of when I was in the service.” “I’m very proud to become a U.S. citizen today,” Cline added. “I’ve accomplished something in my life that I’ve always wanted.” Honorable Robert C. Rufo, Associate Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, who had the privilege of swearing in the 25 new U.S. citizens, stressed how important immigrants are to the fabric of America. “Our successes would simply not be possible without the generations of immigrants who have come to our shores from every corner of our globe,” Rufo said. “We say it so often, but we sometimes forget what it means: we are a nation of immigrants. “Immigrants signed their names to our Declaration of Independence. They helped us win our freedom from the grips of British rule. Immigrants helped lay the railroads, build our cities and bridges. Immigrants took up arms to preserve our union, to defeat fascism, to end the Cold War. Immigrants helped pioneer new industries and fuel our information age, from the invention of the Internet to the iPhone. So the story of immigrants in America isn’t a story of ‘them’ — it’s a story of ‘us.’” With the exception of the Native Americans who were living here before the Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower, Rufo noted that we are all proud descendants of immigrants. “You all did something profound today: you chose to become citizens of this great country,” Rufo added. “The

lesson of the last 236 years is clear: immigration makes America stronger … and you are living proof of that. You are the reason that America remains an exceptional place to live, to grow and to nurture our families.” Arlene A. McNamee, executive director of Catholic Social Services, expressed great joy at having helped usher in a new class of U.S. citizens through CSS. “This is really quite a proud moment for us at Catholic Social Services,” she said. “Some of you I know came to our classes. Welcome, fellow citizens.” It was a proud and emotional day not only for the 25 new Americans, but also for Lemuel Skidmore, project manager of Citizenship Services for CSS. “I see all the smiles on your faces … that’s why it’s my incredible honor and privilege to be involved in this program,” Skidmore said, noting that the Naturalization Ceremony was planned to coincide with the Patriots’ Day holiday commemorated on the following Monday. “Patriots’ Day … commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, following Paul Revere’s ride on April 18,” he said. “Those were the initial battles of the American war for independence. And some 60 years later, the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson would write: ‘By the rude bridge that

PATRIOT’S DAY — José Francisco DaSilva looks over the program before taking the Oath of Allegiance during a Naturalization Ceremony held in Hyannis last week. DaSilva moved here from Brazil in 1989 and recently went through citizenship classes sponsored by Catholic Social Services to prepare to become a U.S. citizen. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

arched the flood; Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled; Here once the embattled farmers stood; And fired the shot heard round the world.’ “And that phrase, ‘the shot heard round the world,’ has been emblematic of the inspiration of our American experiment in self-government and democracy. It was the beginning of America. Today we celebrate a new beginning. We have 25 new patriots here and, as Judge Rufo pointed out, this isn’t the end of a process — it’s a beginning.” Noting there have been countless success stories since he began working with CSS in October 2011, Skidmore recounted two of his most recent examples. The first involved a woman named Sirlene who signed up for the first CSS citizenship class back in 2011. After a few fits and starts and struggling through 18 weeks of studies, Skidmore said Sirlene became discouraged and they lost track of her for a few months. “She came back in and said she was ready to work on her application,” Skidmore said. “Then, one day in February, as we were registering students for our fourth citizenship preparation class, in walks Sirlene with a big smile and two boxes of Brazilian candy. She told us she passed her interview that day and we were all very proud.” Then Skidmore spoke about Romeo, an immigrant from El Salvador living on Nantucket. “He submitted his application last fall and we started a citizenship class on Nantucket and he came to our class,” he said. “I knew that his interview was coming up, so I called him to ask if there was anything we could do to help. He said: ‘My interview is next week. Pray for me.’ So, being a full service organization, we were able to do that. The next week when I called him up, I could hear the smile over the phone line and across Nantucket Sound. He did it.” Sirlene and Romeo were among the 25 U.S. citizens sworn in that day. “Everybody here has a story like that,” Skidmore said, smiling. Hyannis resident and newlynaturalized Edvaldo Gonçalves would heartily agree. “Today I feel happy and free — everything has come together,” he said, as he embraced his teacher after the ceremony. “It was a wonderful experience. It’s a very special day for me.”

April 19, 2013

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese

Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel at Holy Ghost Church, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds Eucharistic Adoration in the Shrine Church every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. through November 17. Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m. Mass. 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 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. 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 a.m. to noon in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at noon. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration. Refreshments follow. Fall River — Espirito Santo Parish, 311 Alden Street, Fall River. Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m. FALL RIVER — St. Bernadette’s Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the chapel. 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. 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. Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday, following the 9 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 4:30 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass. NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and Confessions offered during the evening. 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 every Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time. NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration 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. OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has 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. Expostition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m. WAREHAM — Every First Friday, Eucharistic Adoration takes place from 8:30 a.m. through Benediction at 5:30 p.m. Morning prayer is prayed at 9; the Angelus at noon; the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m.; and Evening Prayer at 5 p.m. 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 from other parishes are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716. WOODS HOLE — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Joseph’s Church, 33 Millfield Street, year-round on weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No Adoration on Sundays, Wednesdays, and holidays. For information call 508-274-5435.

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The Anchor

Pope appoints top Franciscan to religious life department

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Pope Francis made his first appointment within the Roman Curia April 6, choosing his friend, Franciscan Father José Rodríguez Carballo, to help run the Vatican’s congregation for consecrated religious. The Vatican announced that Pope Francis appointed Father Carballo to serve as secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, simultaneously raising him to the level of archbishop and giving him the titular see of Belcastro. Until his appointment, Father Carballo was the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, the 119th successor of St. Francis of Assisi. He was elected to that position on June 5, 2003 and re-elected for another six years on June 4, 2009. Besides being the head of one of the largest international religious orders, Father Carballo also personally knows Pope Francis. In a March 14, 2013 video greeting to the new Pope, Father Carballo explained that he received the news of Francis’ election with joy because “I know him personally” and because of the name he chose. “In 2004 he came to visit me at our Franciscan General Curia in Rome. He wanted to ask about some things referring to the Church of Argentina and the Order,” he recalled. The meeting lasted for an hour, and during that time Father Carballo said that “it seemed to me that I had before me a Franciscan brother, a companion, a friend as if we had known each other all our lives.”

In Your Prayers Please pray for these deceased priests during the coming week April 20 Rev. Edward F. Coyle, S.S., St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, Md., 1954 Rev. James E. O’Reilly, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Seekonk, 1970 Rev. James P. Dalzell, Retired Pastor St Joseph , Woods Hole, 1999 April 21 Rev. John O’Beirne, Pastor St. Mary, Taunton April 22 Rev. James L. Smith, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1910 Rev. Thomas F. Fitzgerald, Pastor, St. Mary, Nantucket, 1954 April 25 Rev. John J. Wade, Assistant, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1940 Rev. Raymond J. Lynch, Chaplain, Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River, 1955 April 26 Rev. Ubalde Deneault, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Attleboro, 1982 Rev. James F. Greene, Pastor, Our Lady of Fatima, New Bedford, 2002

That Pope Francis would choose someone he knows as the second in command for the congregation makes sense, given that his familiarity with the personnel in the Church’s central administration is not extensive. Father Carballo succeeds American Archbishop Joseph Tobin, who was appointed to lead the Indianapolis archdiocese in October 2012.

Father Carballo was born in 1953 in Lodoselo, Spain. He speaks Spanish, Galician, Italian, French, English and Portuguese, and also knows Latin, Biblical Greek and Biblical Hebrew. He has published numerous articles in Journals on Consecrated and Religious Life, on Pastoral Theology, Sacred Scripture, Biblical Theology, and Franciscan spirituality.

Around the Diocese 4/21

An antique road show will be held on April 21 at 1 p.m. at St Anthony Church in East Falmouth to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. A donation for each item will be requested to have it valued by professional antique dealers. Complimentary light refreshments will be served. For more information call 508-457-0085.

4/26

Come discover how a closer walk with Jesus and the Holy Spirit can help you in your everyday life. Experience the “Life in the Spirit Seminar” to be held at St. John the Evangelist Parish Hall, 841 Shore Road in Pocasset on April 26 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and April 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The seminar, which will include talks and discussions, is being presented by the Cape and the Islands Prayer Group Deanery. Bring a bag lunch on Saturday. Refreshments will be served. Please register with Pam Wood at 508-759-2737 so a booklet can be mailed to you prior to the event.

4/27

Good Shepherd Parish, 1598 South Main Street in Fall River will be holding its annual Penny Sale on April 27. The kitchen will open at 5 p.m. and drawings will begin at 6 p.m. Admission is free with hundreds of prizes, along with a children’s table and a money rose table. Menu items include linguiça, meatball and chow mein sandwiches, stuffed cabbage, clam cakes, meat pie, stuffed quahogs and much more.

4/28

Massachusetts Citizens for Life is sponsoring the annual “Respect Life Walk to Aid Mothers and Children” which will be held on April 28 at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro beginning at 2:30 p.m., with registration at 1:30 p.m. Please note: the location has been changed from Boston. In addition to the new location, there is a website where you can register and set up a sponsor page so people can sponsor you online. The new site is located at http://respectlifewalk.org/. If you cannot walk, you can log onto the website to sponsor someone who is walking for your favorite beneficiary. For more information call 508-673-9757 or 508-415-2599.

5/4

A Day with Mary will be held May 4 at St. Margaret’s Church, 141 Main Street in Buzzards Bay from 7:50 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. It will include a video presentation, procession and crowning of the Blessed Mother with Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. There will also be an opportunity for Reconciliation. A bookstore is available. Please bring a bag lunch. For more information call 508-996-8274.

5/8

St. Philomena School, 324 Cory’s Lane in Portsmouth, R.I., will host an open house for grades pre-k to eight, on May 8. An opening presentation begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and another at 1 p.m. in the Student Activity Center followed by tours of the school. There are currently openings in grades one, two, four and pre-K day for the 20132014 school year. For more information, visit the school’s website at www. saintphilomena.org or call the admissons/development office at 401-6830268, extension 114.

Misc.

Attention: All priest alumni of UMass Amherst — The Newman Catholic Center at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and they will be having a Mass of Thanksgiving followed by a formal dinner. If you are an alum of UMass Amherst, and you would like to receive an invitation to this event, please notify the Newman Center’s Director, Father Gary M. Dailey at g.dailey@diospringfield.org.

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April 19, 2013

The Anchor

MCFL Walk to Aid Mothers comes to Fall River Diocese

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

ATTLEBORO —­ Attleboro residents attending the annual Walk to Aid Mothers and Children have canceled their bus reservation because, this year, the walk is coming to them. The event, sponsored by Massachusetts Citizens for Life, will be held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro on April 28 at 2 p.m. In previous years, the walk has taken place in the fall in downtown Boston, starting at the Common. The date of the walk was moved to the spring this year to set the event apart from other Pro-Life activities that happen in October, including MCFL’s fund-raising banquet. Organizers decided to change the location as well in order to make the walk more family friendly. Activities for children will include face painting, balloon animals and ice cream. LIFT Ministries will provide music. The main function of the walk

is to raise money for pregnancy resource centers and other ProLife groups. Beneficiaries count on the funds received from the walk each year. Anne Fox, president of MCFL, said the new location should attract more participants and raise greater funds. She acknowledged that the shrine will be less convenient for some participants and will not offer the same opportunity for public witness. Fox added that the shrine has many advantages. Organizers called the shrine’s property “charming.” A popular destination in the winter because of its Christmas

lights, the shrine is beautiful in the spring as well. Now, everything is green, and the trees are ready to blossom. The shrine’s land has gardens, statues and fountains, and there is a Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Oak Knoll, adjacent to the property. The walk will start at the monument to the unborn, dedicated in 2010, that features a large statue of hands holding an unborn child. The parking in Attleboro is ample and free, and the site will certainly be more convenient for some people, including the many participants from the diocese. “We always get a huge number of people from the Fall River Diocese,” she said. The shrine will also facilitate a shorter and more relaxed walk. Participants will not need to keep up with the group or risk getting caught in Boston traffic. Instead, Turn to page 18