46th Catholic Charities Appeal begins On Wednesday evening at Fall River's Bishop Connolly High School, over 800 priests, religious and laity from every corner of southeastern Massachusetts heard keynote speaker Bishop Daniel A. Cronin at the kickoff meeting launching the 46th annual Catholic Charities Appeal of the Fall River diocese. Bishop Cronin's address follows: "Tonight, as I look about this auditorium filled with so many good people, I am reminded of one ofthe powerful messages of Easter,
that Jesus came on earth not to be served but to serve. We gather tonight, in the name of Jesus Christ, to serve one another, and above all the neediest among us. "It is a great joy for me to stand before you, recognizing how similar our enthusiasm is to that of Jesus' apostles and disciples following the Resurrection. Like them, we have been witnesses to the love of Christ - for us and for all people. In much the same way as they, we have a message to share with people of good will, that the love
of Christ is now made manifest in cern to those in need. Through a the Church, the People of God. In campaign that raised the conimitation ofthem, we come together sciousness of our people we were tonight to share our talents and able to raise the net sum of gifts by translating our faith into $1,736,462. These funds were apcharitable deeds. Following this plied to diocesan works of charity: age-old tradition we kick off the our social service apostolates, our educational endeavors, Our pro1987 Catholic Charities Appeal. "The need is great and imme- grams for the young and for family diate, and is reflected in this year's . life, and to other pastoral activities. theme, People Helping People, "The. generosity and kindness, Won't You! Recall for a Qrief the concern and effort manifested moment that last year we reached by the people of this great diocese out in love in an unprecedented were a singular expression of Easter example of generosity and con- love in service to our needy broth-
ers and sisters. This week's Anchor contains a concise report of the expenditures made and allocated as a result of last year's Appeal. It suggests, in summary fashion, what was accomplished in your name and in the name of all who contributed so generously as a result of 'reachin~ out in love.' "This generosity of our people was manifested in an increase of over $102,000 from the previous year, resulting in a record $1,736,462 being collected. HowTurn to Page Six
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN ,NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
VOL. 31, NO. 17
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Friday, April 24, 1987
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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58 Per Year
Parents discuss adoption issues By Pat McGowan When should you tell a child he or she is adopted? Suppose a family has both adopted and biological children? What if my child wants to meet his or her natural parents? These were among questions posed by parents at the ninth annual adoption education conference sponsored by Catholic Social Services of the Fall River diocese. Held April 12 at St. Vincent's Home, Fall River, the conference was conducted by Dr. Harry M. Leichtman, a clinical psychologist with offices in Needham. Working with children, adolescents and families, he specializes in developmental issues and decision-making strategies. Pointing out that "there are no simple solutions to complex problems," Dr. Leichtman noted that adoptive parents must realize that their child comes to them with a genetic background derived from his or her birth parents.
"People often wonder 'What comes from me? What comes from them?'," he said, admitting that the interrelationship of heredity and environment is not fully understood and saying that intelligence, temperament and physical predispositions of a child are among characteristics bequeathed by the birth parents. When to tell a child he's adopted? There are really no clear guidelines, said Dr. Leichtman, noting that children develop on differing timetables and that there are some "45-year-old adolescents." Telling is really a continual process, but it's better to "underwhelm" than overwhelm, he said, adding that little children have difficulty understanding abstract concepts such as adoption and that readiness involves the parents' state as well as the child's. "If parents can't be ready to tell when the child's ready to hear, Turn to Page Six
OUTSIDE SMU's busy Religious Resource Center are, from left, Bill Barrera, Sister Tacy, len Chromy and Father Degagne. (Motta photo)
Providing the link By Joseph Motta Father Richard E. Degagne and Sister Madeleine Tacy, OP, look at their work as campus ministers and Newman Club moderators at North Dartmouth's Southeastern Massachusetts University as an enjoyable challenge. "Sister Tacy and I see our roles here as to provide the information students need to make correct moral decisions," Father Degagne said. "Campus ministry," said Sister Tacy, "is important because it provides a link with church between high school and whatever our students are going to do with the rest of their lives." She notes that the ELAINE ABDOW (left), Dr. Harry Leichtman and ministry is funded by the Catholic Appeal. . Mary-Lou Mancini at adoption education conference. (Gaud:- . Charities The Dominican Sister ofSt. Cathette photo) erine of Siena began her SMU
work on a parttime basis in 1976, and became a fulltime campus minister the following year. Father Degagne became a halftime campus minister at SMU last June; he is also parochial vicar at New Bedford's St. Anthony of Padua parish. In 1968, the late Father John F. Hogan was named SMU's first priest minister. Other former ministers include Very Rev. John J. Smith and Fathers John A. Perry, George E. Harrison and Richard R. Gendreau. Newman clubs are organizations of Catholic students at secular colleges and universities in the United States. They exist to offer programs of religious, intellectual and social activities to members. In 1873, a group of five medical students formed the first club at
the University of Pennsylvania, naming it for John Henry Cardinal Newman(180l-1890), regarded as the patron of church work among students on secular campuses. SMU's Newman Club is part of the school's Catholic Campus Ministry. Father Degagne said that its membership "fluctuates." There are only to active club members now, he said, since a large number of participants graduated last year. "We're in the process of building up membership again," he said. "Continuity can be a real problem. It's like losing a quarter of your parish each year." The club meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the campus chapel. Members engage in Scripture study and Turn to Page Eight