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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., May I, 1987
By Charlie Martin
20 YEARS AGO
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It's been a long time since I walked through this old town But 0, how the memories start to flow And there's the old movie house, they finally closed it down, You could find me there every Friday night, 20 years ago. I worked the counter at the drugstore down the street But nobody's left there I would kilow On Saturday mornings that's where all my friends would meet You'd be surprised what a dime would buy 20 years ago. All my memories from those days come gather round me What I'd give if they could take me back in time 0, it almost seems like yesterday Where do the good times go Life was so much easier, 20 years ago. . I guess I should stop by Mr. Johnson's hardware store His only son was my friend Joe But he joined the Army back in 1964 How could we know that he would never come back 20 years ago? It almost seems like yesterday 20 years ago. Written byM. Spriggs, W. Newton, D. Tyler and M. Noble. Sung by Kenny Rogers. (c) 1986, RCA-Ariola International SUPPOSE you could be mag- you judge the actions, goals and ically transported 20 years into behavior of your teen and young the future. As you look back adult years? from this future vantage point, I thought about that as I liswhat would you see? How would tened to Kenny Rogers' new re-
lease, "Twenty Years Ago." Even though the song is a reflection on moving back rather than forward in time, it reminded me how -tomorrow's memories are being formed today. As we reflect back 20 years from now, we will remember today's events, what we learned and the relationships that now are important to us. So what kind of person will each of us find? Will we see a teen who enjoy.ed life and who helped others find happiness? Will we remember an individual who generously shared his or her time and abilities with those in need? Will we discover a person who used any mistakes or setbacks as means of learning to do better in the future? The song also talks about Mr. Johnson'ssonJoe, who died while in the Army. This reminds us that we should not take the gift of life for granted. We do not know when death will come to us. Facing this uncertainty helps us realize the importance of life at any age. Sometimes we forget this and live only for the future. We imagine that real life begins only after our teen years when we are out on our own. Indeed, there will be changes and new opportunities will emerge for teens as they grow older. However, many aspects of life are important and filled with meaning no matter what our age. The love, courage and generosity that each of us shows today always remain important. Memories are significant for us. Use today to make sure that your memories of your teen years will be good ones. Your comments are always welcome. Address Charlie Martin, 1218 S. Rothetwood Ave., Evansville, Ind. 47714.
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THESE WINNING SMILES belong to Cindy Campos, left, who took second place at a' recent regional science fair for a project on aerobics, and Daniel Oliveira, in third place for his study of the ear. Both are eighth graders at Espirito Santo School, Fall River, and will enter Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, in September.
Our mission is within his. By Cecilia Belanger Some of the people I meet seem to forget that we worship a living God, not someone out ofthe world but a presence within it. We too often institutionalize God, leaving him at the door of the church as we depart and not taking him with us into the world. The spiritual realm can be anywhere. Some Christians almost make their religion into a form of paganism, seeing the spiritual realm as a separate reality which passes by the world instead of engaging in it. It's a form of separatism.
But we can and should witness路 everywhere, bringing the presence of Christ to where we work, interact and go to school. In reading the Bible, one meets a people on the move. Then, as now, the world held glory and shame, beauty and squalor, agony and ecstasy, triumph and disaster. On every page of the Book we meet the one sublime and sovereign God. Belief in him can be an experience or an encounter. He's not found at the end of a chain of reasoning. He meets us, just as he met Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Peter and Paul.
He speaks to us in our joys and sorrows. It is an encounter of faith, and we either respond or we don't. How deep is our faith? Are we still tied to a search for scientific proofs and mathematical certainties?
If we wish to be true Christians, we must see our mission in the world as set within God's mission. "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." The mystery of his will for us is often known by us alone. We must answer that call. Otherwise we make a mockery ofthe Holy Spirit.
What's on your mind? Q. I would like you to write something about how rock 'n' roll influences us. (Maine) At the health club I go to, the air is filled these days with the sound of rock. Many younger patrons had complained that the "easy listening" music formerly used made them sleepy and sluggish during their workout. The weight lifters wanted music that would fire them up and release their energies. Rock, which overflows with pep and energy, filled their need and stirred them to greater efforts. Because rock is filled with such driving energy, some wonder whether it ultimately leaves the steady listener restless and incapable of finding inner peace. Can this be harmful in the long run? What do you think? Some also complain that the restless driving energy and the raw emotion of this music is chaotic. They maintain that rock music is totally devoid of beauty. They fear that some or many teens may never be able to appreciate music.
By TOM LENNON
that is genuinely beautiful. What do you think? A number of music lovers have pointed critically to the lyrics of rock music and branded them generally unimaginative, lacking literacy, dumb, too repetitive and devoid of intelligence. Such critics fear that teenagers are being deprived of something very valuable and are being fed instead with something shabby. What do you think? And what about Satanism in the contemporary rock scene? It has alarmed several teenagers. But is Satanism a mere publicity gimmick, a sensational ploy to sell more records and perhaps drive still another wedge between teens and adults? I find myself wondering if any ofthe perpetrators even believe in a real devil. What do you think? So much for speculation and possibilities. If you care to express your ideas, please send them to Tom Lennon, 1312 Mass. Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.
As CYO ends'basketball, it winds 路up. for baseball As Fall River area CYO basketball winds down, the baseball season is getting underway. - Area director Father Jay Maddock said the first Baseball League meeting took place Tuesday. Rules and policies were discussed and team practice times were scheduled by associate director Albert Vaillancourt. Some 10 to 12 teams are expected to participate in play beginning the first week of June. To be eligible, players must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1966, and not be eligible for senior Little League, Babe Ruth, Twilight or Pony League teams. . All Fall River deanery parishes may field teams, Father Maddock said. Further information is avail~ able from him at 675-7503. Basketball Results Results ofthe recently completed basketball season have been released by Vaillancourt. Noting that three Fall River teams won diocesan championship honors in their respective divisions, he noted .that more than 750 young people participated in the program. In the Senior A division, St. Joseph's took both the regular season and playoff championships, defeating Espirito Santo in the playoff finals. They won the diocesan championship by defeating Our Lady of the Assumption from New Bedford in the best two out of three series and by winning the Fall River championship they captured the coveted Tony Medeiros Trophy named after the longtime cy 0 custodian who died two years ago. In the Senior B division, St. William's won the championship and St. Patrick's took the honors in the
highly popular post-season double elimination Sam Priestly Memorial Tournament. In the Prep Division, Santo Christo went undefeated during the regular season to take first place and then went on to win the Fall River championship by defeating St. William's in the playoffs. They capped a tremendous season by winning the diocesan championship over Taunton. In the Junior A Girls' division, Holy Name of Fall River took the regular season crown and then nipped St. George of Westport in the playoffs to win the Fall River championship. In the Junior A Boys' division, St. Joseph of Fall River won the regular season and then in an exciting playoff defeated St. Louis de France of Swansea in two out of three games to win the Fall River championship. In the diocesan playoffs, St. Joseph took that crOwn by defeating St. Anthony's of New Bedford two out of three times. In the Junior B Girls' division, St. Jean the Baptisftook the regular season crown only to lose a heartbreaker in the playoffs to St. Mary's Cathedral, the playoff champions. In the Boys' Junior B Division, St. Stanislaus took both the regular season and playoff titles and SS. Peter and Paul did the same in the Junior C Boys' Division. Vaillancourt was assisted by John Medeiros, Matt Burke and Tom Coute.
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GOO'S ANCHOR HOLDS
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