05.22.98

Page 1

I OIOCSSAN~WSPAPER

VOL. 42, NO. 21 •

Friday, May 22, 1998

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HEAST MAS~CHUSETTS 000& THE ISLANDS FALL RIVER, MASS.

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly

$14 Per Year

Cuba's Church undergoing change, says visiting cardinal •

Cardinal Ortega visits with Bishop O'Malley and offers update on progress in the wake of January's papal visit to the island nation.

ago. It was at the invitation of the cardinal that Bishop O'Malley joined the U.S. clergy that accompanied the pope during his Jan. 21-25 trek of evangeli2(ation. After receiving an honorary degree at Provi.dence College Sunday, the cardinal, accompanied by Providence Bi$hop Robert E. Mulvee, who had also participated in bringing the Gospel message to Cuba in January, met with Bishop O'Malley. During an informal interview with The Anchor at the bishop's residence, Cardinal Ortega .stressed that since the pope's visit, "There have been many favorable changes on the international level with other countries. The Holy Father had issued a call to the world to. be open to Cuba and many countries have responded to that and .initiated diplomatic relations. For example, Spain, and different Latin American countries have come forward and entered into new diplomacies, some of then actually renewing relations with Cuba.'~ The cardinal said that the rela-

tionship between the Church and the government in Cuba that existed even before . the Holy Father's arrival, has shown a progressive improvement. "However, By JAMES N. DUNBAR since the pope's visit, the state of affairs has FALL RIVER-As the Cathocontinued to grow lic Church on the island nation of better. We can say Cuba continues to advance folthat it is without lowing the January pastoral visit great advances but is of Pope John Paul II, the nation's at least making increasing interplay with other progress." governments across the world is Cardinal Otega crucial to the humanitarian needs described as "posiof all its people, says its spiritual tive" the connection leader. between Cuba and Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega the United States. y Alamino, archbishop of San Cristobal de La Habana, Cuba, "The measures CUBAN ISSUES-Cardinal Jaime Ortega and Bishop O'Malley talked visited with Bishop Sean P. President Clinton has about the world's impact on the Church in Cuba during a meeting SunO'Malley here Sunday, and with made to allow direct day . flights to Cuba as . enthusiasm offered an optimistic well as allowing Cubans in the report on today's Cuba in the United States to send money pewake of last winter's five-day pariodically in certain amounts to pal visit. their relatives in Cuba and also The cardinal and the bishop providing for the purchase of have been friends since Bishop Tum to page 11 - Ortega O'Malley visited Cuba 10 years FALL RIVER-Returns from the ing anecdotes which pastors have 1998 Catholic Charities Appeal in the shared with him as they visit the headdiocese are approaching the $2 million quarters office to make reports and remark, according to campaign officials. turns. "One pastor told me about a "We're in the middle stages of the drive," reported Msgr. frail man in a nursing home, who, after attending Mass, ofThomas 1. Harrington, director of the· Appeal, as the figfered the priest a crumpled dolmala has pledged that a full inves- .after release of a report that the ures totaled $1.92 million. lar bill. 'This is for Ca.tholic • The president and tigation into the heinol!s murder of Guatemalan bishop had coordiRecalling the images Charities,' the patient said. It other government Guatemalan Auxiliary Bishop Juan nated on atrocities committed dur- drawn from the world of colwas added to the parish total." officials slip quietly into Gerardi Conedara, will not jeop- ing that country's 40-year civil lege and professional athletics that Donly said that contributions have city for meeting with ardize that country's peace pro- war. The 1,400 page report named were commonly used by the late been presented to Bishop Sean P. cess, reports Bishop Sean· military officials and guerrilla Msgr. Anthony "Tony" Gomes, who O'Malley py students at the regional Bishop O'Malley on commanders responsible for hu- guided the Appeal for many years, diocesan high schools, by confirmalocal refugee situation O'Malley. Msgr. Harrington said: "Right about tion candidates and by religious inArzu, a longtime friend of man rights violations. and report on probe Bishop O'Malley, visited with him Bishop Gerardi was slain as he now, if Msgr. Gomes was referring struction classes throughout the diointo murder of here on May 13 under tight secu- arrived back at his rectory and was to baseball he would probably say cese. "There are many poignant sto;rity conditions and without public bludgoned by someone using cin- we're entering the sixth inning. If he ries," Donly noted. Guatemalan bishop was talking about football, he would , Contributions to the 1998 Appeal, notice. der blocks, according to CNS rebe telling us in the Appeal that we which provides the funds needed to By JAMES N. DUNBAR Bishop Gerardi, 75, who was ports. He died instantly. were about midway into the third maintain and improve the many in"I have known President Arzu's quarter." FALL RIVER - President also a friend of Bishop O'Malley, . stitutions, apostolates and ministries Alvaro Arzu Irigoyen of Guate- was murdered April 26, two days family for more than 30 years, and While returns to date are encour- serving the southeastern Massachulong before he was presi- aging, Msgr. Harrington cautioned setts area, are still welcome. dent," the bishop said in that efforts must continue in order to Prospective donors may approach an interview with The bring the campaign to a successful any of the 111 parishes of the diocese Anchor. "He was in the conclusion. "I believe it was Yogi or communicate directly with Diocarea for the graduation Berra who said, 'It ain't over until it's esan Headquarters, 344 Highland of a son from Notre over.' I think [Msgr.] Tony Gomes Ave., P,O. Box 1470, Fall River, MA Dame and a daughter would approve of that observation." 02722. The office may be contacted Micliael Donly, diocesan director by calling (508) 676-8943 or by FAX from Bentley. He also gave me the opportunity of development, ·who is assisting at (508) 676-6591. The following returns have been to discuss with him the . closely in coordinating this year's Applight of Guatemalan peal, alluded to the many heartwarrn- registered: immmigrants in the LEADING PARISHES U.S., and particularly in Attleboro Area the Fall River Diocese - Our Lady of MI. Carmel, Seekonk , $58,159 in the New Bedford SI. Mary, Mansfield 40,025 area." SI. John the Evangelist, Attleboro 27,745 , , 15,1B5 A number of Guate- SI. Mark, Attleboro Falls 13,899 malans have fallen on SI. Theresa, South Attleboro Cape Cod Area hard times and are inQUICK UPDATE-Bishop O'Malley chats with Guatemalan Presi- volved in deportation SI. Pius X, South Yarmouth , $118,232 51,656 dent Alvaro Arzu Irigoyen in the bishop's residence in Fall River. The and citizenship. issues, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville Corpus Christi, East Sandwich 46,455 talks focused on the probe into the recent murder of Archbishop Juan Turn to page 6 Turn to page 11 - Anu Gerardi Conedara. (Anchor/Kearns photo)

Guatemalan President Arzu meets with Bishop 0 'Malley

Charities Appeal Drive spirals to nearly $2M


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05.22.98 by The Anchor - Issuu