VOL. 45, NO. 16 • Friday, April 20, 2001
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Catholic Charities Appeal opens Looking. back
-:andahead •
•••.•
t
By JAMES N. DUNBAR AND JOHN E. KEARNS JR. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
OF '-
COMMUNICATIONS
FALL RIVER - It was March of 1942 and meat, butter, sugar and gasoline were available· only with ration stamps as World War II took its toll on life in America. Allied forces were just beginning to make some small headway in the war in Europe and for those at home in the Fall River diocese, employment was at an all time high to meet defense contracts demands. Air raid wardens wearing white helmets and Civilian Defense armbands assisted their American neighborhoods prac- . tice nightly blackouts against the possibility of raids by enemy planes. Artillery bunkers and gun batteries were being built into serene looking facades along the area's shorelines. Among those with 'gathering concerns was Fall River's Bishop James E. Cassidy. In a "confidential" letter to his priests on March 16 of that
Continued on page eight
NEW CHRISTIAN - Zachary Comstock is baptized by pastor Father Marcel H. Bouchard in Corpus' Christi Church in East Sandwich at the Easter Vigil Mass. Later, clothed in a White, tunic, he received first Communion and the'sacrament of confirmation. (Photo by Bruce McDaniel)
Bishop stresses urgency ofpreaching FALL RIVER - The following is the at Puebla, visited him in San Salvador, arid . that I do not believe I have earned.... You text of Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM recei~ed the priests he sent me because can tell them, if they succeed in killing IDe, that I pardon them, and bless those who ' Cap.'s homily given at the April 10 Chrism their liVes were in danger. "-AJew: days ,before his death he said: "I may carry out the killing. But, I wish theyMass at St. Mary's Cathedral: This year, the English College in Rome 'have 'frequently been threatened with , could realize that they are wasting their was' closed due to an outbreak of death. I must say that as a Christian I do time. A Bishop will die, but the Church of ' Legionnaire) disease. About seven or not believe in death, but in the resurrec- , God will never di~." eight British priests who had visited the tion.... Martyrdom is a grace from God Tum to page 12 - Preaching college, died upon -returning to England. Fear and sorrow gripped the'venerable English college. The students were moved to 'the North American College and the Beda. _ This tragic state of affairs contrasts starkly', with the situation of the college during the . days 'of persecution. Each time an English priest was martyred (drawn and quartered), the students and the faculty of the English· College would assemble in their chapel to chant a Te Deum in Thanksgiving. They were praising God for the courageous witness and selfless ministry of their former classmates and companions who bravely faced torture and death for their love of Christ and His Church. During the Jubilee Year, the Holy Father stressed the role of the martyrs in the life of the Church. With their suffering they witness to ,the Church's faith in Jesus Christ, ~.' crucified and risen. The Faith is not spread by pundits, or even by teachers, but by BISHOP SEAN P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., blesses holy oils that will be used teachers who are at the same time witnesses. in baptisms, confirmations, ordinations and anointings at the Chrism Mass As a young priest it was for me an honor on April 10 in St. Mary's Cathedral. Seminarian Jeffrey, Cabral served as to know Mons. Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador. I spent a month with him book bearer. (AnchodGordon photo) !