THE ANCHORThurs., May 24, 1973
Bobbie' Prov,es Ha·ppiness P,ossibl,e' wit,h Handicaps
Install First LPN As Nurses' Head
Roberta, the youngest of my eight children, is retarded. Shortly after she was born, there were different reactions . from friends. When told Bobbie was a Mongoloid, a wellmeaning business associate of my husband's said, "Well, fortunately they usually , don't live long. It's just as as the priest started to read the well. They can't amount to Gospel. She wrapped herself around much." It's true that many me,-snuggled her head into the Mongoloids are born with physical defects that can shorten their lives. Some doctors recommend leaving such disorpers un-
By
MARY CARSON
treated and allowing the child to die. Tihese, doctors, anj my husband's well' meaning associate, equate happiness in life with achievement. ,\chieving wealth, social position, or professional status. Mongoloids have Jittle capacity for achievement. Because Bobbie will not achieve these things, they think she cannot be a happy person. As it happens, ,Bobbie has proved these !predictions to be wrong! A birth defect which thrzat, ened her survival when she was an infant, (an opening in the wall of 'her heart) has healed spontaneously, without surgery. As far as any doctor can predict now, she will live a normal lifespan. 'But even more incredible, as a lively six-year-old, Bobbie is the happiest -person I know! Not Cluttered Bobbie's mind is not cluttered ,with problems, or fears. She doesn't worry what others will think; she never considers "what's ,in it for me?" Lf she's -angry, she lets you know ... and gets it out of her system. If someone teases her, she gives him a frown, and says, "Aw, come on ... CUT IT OUT!" That's as much grudge as she is capable of holding; minutes later her sunny smile returns. Much of the time she over- flows with happiness and affection. At Mass last Sunday she was a bit weary. I picked her up,
Newspaper Publishes Abortion Supplement JEFFERSON CITY (NC)-The Catholic Missourian has offered to diocesan newspapers' and interested groups a four-page supplement on abortion entitled "How Far Did the Supreme Court Go?" ' "The .supplement is designed to be educational and to have the widest possible readership appeal," said Father Hugh Behan, editor of the Jefferson City diocesan weekly. "The legal and medical facts are presented and moral viewpoints of Jewish, Protestant and Catholic leaders are included. Many people are not aware of even the legal and legislative implications of the Supreme Court decision," he said.
crook of my neck, completely relaxed. As Father finished the Gospel, Bobbie reaohed over my shoulder, extended her littlc hand to the man in back of me, and whispered, "Peace." She may not understand the word, but she conveys the message. Bobbie comes home from school' eX/uberant. "Yc'u know what, Mommy? We had a birthday Iparty!" Her elation is infectious. The other day, one of our neighbors called to her, "Hi, Bobbie. How are you?" The neighbor rather expected to be i'gnored. ,Bobbie caJled back, "I'm FINE! How are you?" She not only delights in being ... .but sincerely cares how other people are! Bobbie -Loves She's only six years old, yet she's brought deep love to our family, joy t,o the neighborhood, and, I believe, a greater understanding of life to aU who have come in contact with her. Bobbie loves. Bobbie is uninhibited. Her excitement over a dish of ice cream gives more instruction in living than some of the deepest thoughts from the most learned professors. Granted, she grows slowly"develops slowly ... and ,in so doing has given me a greater awareness of a child's growth process, a better education than I could get from a\'l the textbooks in the world. Thus, Bobbie is a teacher. She',)) probably never be a fellow of a great university, yet she has already taught more philosophy, psychology and theology than the world is ready to accept. Possibly this is why some people are afraid qf ret,arded chil~ dren. The message they teach is too powerful, too poignant, too profound for some to face. Next week I'll tell you why I think Bobbie is such a happy person, and how I believe we can all ,learn to ,be happy ... from her.
Catholic Black, White Schools to Merge PINE BLUFF. (NC)-:The student bodies of St. Joseph's School, now predominantly white, and of St .Peter's School here, now predominantly black, will be merged next fall. Auxiliary Bishop Lawrence P. Graves of Little Rock, pastor of St. Joseph's parish, said tentative plans call for pupils in the first four grades to study at St. Joseph's School and for those in grades five - through eight to study at St. Peter's School. Bishop Graves said in a Sunday pulpit letter that Bishop Andrew J. McDonald of Little Rock had ordered the merger. Bishop Graves said "it's obvious that the relationship between black and white is a problem of our whole nation. And this might possibly give some help to solve that problem in the future."
9
AWARD CEREMONIES: Philip L. Hemingway of St. James Parish, New Bedford, is congratulated by the Rev. Ernest J. Bartell, president of StonehiU College, after presenting Mr. Hemingway with the college's Outstanding Achievement Award. ,Mrs. Hemingway looks on during ceremonies at the Americana Hotel, New York.
Stressed Northwest Bishops Told Church Must Create 'Christ-Centered. Environment' SPOKANE (NC)-The Church's task in family life is "t6 create a Christ-centered environment," a lay representative told the region XII meeting here of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. . Mrs. Doris Gilmore was keynote speaker on the topic, "Christian Marriage and Family Life" at the meeting, wh:ich drew 80 partkipants, including lay men and women, Religious, priests and bishops of the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. It was one of 12 such regional "consultations" being held in place of former national spring meetings of the National Conference of Catholk Bishops. Recommendations from these meetings will be brought to the annual national meeting of U. S. bishops in November, for decision-making and implementation. Mrs. Gilmore of Kennewick, Wash., observed that the role of the Church is not so much in the area of structures as in building a "Chr>ist-centered environment and fostering community interaction and sharing." Human beings "don't change independently," she said, "but in ' groups." Hence the importance of concentrating on the development of a Christian environment ,in the family, and of fostering strong values there. "But just being a family is not enough," Mrs. Gilmore said. 1II11IItllllltllllltlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIIIUUllllllll""""""1II1t1111I1IIIIUllllIIIIIIIlUlIll1IUl"""
Hyannis ST. FRANCIS XAVIER $100 Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Bourque $80 John Vetorino $75 James F. Pendergast. ,. $50 Mr. & Mrs. E. Deveney Mrs. Anna F. Vetorino Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. Riley Mr. & Mrs. John L. Marchildon $25 Mr. & Mrs. Jose;:>h Gelinas, John F. Dempsey, M. J. Coute Virgil M, Casey, Charles H. McGrath, Mr. & Mrs. M. Frucci J Thomas J. Moore Mr. & Mrs. M. Lovelette Mr. & Mrs. Leo Gregoire
"Interaction is ne'eded-praying together, group discussions together, go'ing to Mass together. Young people need to become aware of family values "so that these will be clear when challenges come from their high school and coIlege environments. Mrs. Gilmore, who represents the laity of Region XII on the U. S. bishops' AdV'isory Council, also called on Church leaders to make information available on the risks of physical and emotional damage to younger girls and women who use contraceptive pills' over a long period of time, and she asked for support of the "biHings Method" of natural family planning developed by two Australian doctors and cla'imed by them to be 100 per cent efficient. IOlmmIllIlIlIlIIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHl"lltttumnmm'"'UII'"1111111111111111'1t1,,,,,mU'"111111
Brewster OUR LADY OF THE CAPE $50 • Dr. & Mrs. John D. Seehan Mrs. Thomas G. Freeley Mr. & Mrs. P. C. Baty Paul W. Sullivan • $40 Mr. & Mrs. Louis R. Carr,ier $35 Mary E. Besso $25 Mr. & Mrs. Peter L. McDowell, Mary R. Nolan, Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas J. Mazzoni, Elizabeth Sheehy Mr. & Mrs. Gerald T.. O'Connell Margaret Blake, Gertrude E. Moody, Angela G. Sullivan, Mr. & Mrs. W. Shannahan, Mr. & Mrs. George Johnson Mary E. Neal, Mary F. Nolan & Helen M. Mullen, WIi1I,iam F. Kenney
Miss Leslie McNulty has been installed as president of the Taunton Council of Catholic Nurses. She is the first licensed practical nurse to hold the office since inception of the organization in 1953. A graduate of Taunton High School and the Taunton Vocational School of Pract.ical Nursing, she has been on the nursing staff of Morton Hospital since 1964. She is at present stationed on the pediatric service. Installed with Miss McNulty were Diane Cote, vice-president; Sister Mary Margaret and Olive Gagne, secretaries; and Lois Achtelek, treasurer. Activities of the council for the past year have included presentation of gift baskets to needy families; a Christmas party for Marian Manor residents; a whist party for senior citizens and a dance with proceeds benefiting a scholarship fund.
Buzzards Bay ST. MARGARET $50 MI". & Mrs. Columbo J. Cristofori $32 In Memory of James Tamagini $30 Mr. & Mrs. John McManus $28 A Friend $25 Mr. & Mrs. Raymond O. Boucher, Mr. & Mrs. John Burke, Betty Doherty, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Gagnon & Tom, Mrs. George Gibson Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Keleher, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Loonie, Thomas Masterson, Mr. & Mrs. John P. McGi1\iicuddy, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Tedesco, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Was~burn Mr. & Mrs. James Duggan, Mr. & Mrs. Louis Houdelette, Mr. & Mrs. Jose..,h Labretto, Catherine E. Marrison & Mrs. Mary M. McDeVlitt Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Puorro, Mr. & Mrs. Romeo Verrier, Mrs. Stacia Williams
Pocasset st.
JOHN THE EVANGELIST $25 Mr. & Mrs. G. Stanley Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. George Henrikus, Capt. & Mrs. John O'Connor
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