06.08.12

Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

F riday , June 8, 2012

Diocese celebrates ordination of new priest tomorrow at St. Mary’s Cathedral

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

Rev. Mr. Jason Brilhante

FALL RIVER — For transitional deacon and Fall River native Jason Brilhante, his ordination to the priesthood is the fulfillment of a “great desire and joy” to become a priest.

“I’m very excited,” Rev. Mr. Brilhante recently told The Anchor. “It’s a great grace and a privilege to be called to be a priest.”

Rev. Mr. Brilhante will be ordained tomorrow by Bishop George W. Coleman

inside the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption at 11 a.m.

A parishioner of St. Michael’s Parish in Fall River, Rev. Mr. Brilhante graduated from BMC Durfee High School in Fall River and later attended Bristol Community College and Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., where he studied accounting, before enrolling at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton six years ago.

“My vocation really came about when I was in my junior year at Bryant University,”

he said. “I kept asking myself what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I wanted to know what would make me the happiest and what would fulfill me for the rest of my life. I certainly thought about family life, marriage, and possibly a career in accounting; while those are all good things in themselves, it wasn’t what the Lord was calling me to do with my life.”

Having always been an active participant in his home parish of St. Michael’s, where Turn to page 14

Bishop announces five first-time pastors and several reassignments

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

Fortnight for Freedom: Let religious freedom ring

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

WASHINGTON D. C. — From June 21 through July 4, dioceses across the nation will be engaging in a “Fortnight for Freedom,” a 14-day period of prayer, education and action in support of religious freedom proposed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

On April 12, the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty of the USCCB issued a document, “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty.” Beginning, “We are Catholics. We are Americans.

We are proud to be both, grateful for the gift of faith which is ours

as Christian disciples, and grateful for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens,” the document outlined the bishops’ concerns over threats to religious freedom at home and abroad.

Ending symbolically on Independence Day, the 14 days chosen are significant to the liturgical calendar, celebrating a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power, from the feasts of SS. Thomas More and John Fisher, to St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, the first martyrs of the Church of Rome, and St. Thomas the Apostle. The Turn to page 18

FALL RIVER — Five diocesan priests are becoming pastors for the first time, and 16 other priests were reassigned, it was announced by Bishop George W. Coleman this week. Becoming pastors will be Father Thomas E. Costa Jr., Father Paul C. Fedak, Father Andrew Johnson, Father Edward A. Murphy, and Father Rodney E. Thibault. Father Thomas C. Kocik will become a parochial administrator.

Receiving new pastoral assignments are Fathers David M. Andrade, Freddie Babiczuk, Marc H. Bergeron, Paul Bernier, Richard E. Degagne, Timothy J. Goldrick, Mark R. Hession, Roger J. Landry, Gregory A. Mathias, John M. Murray, Bruce M. Neylon, John C. Ozug, Craig A. Pregana, Richard M. Roy, and Richard D. Wilson.

Father Costa will become pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Taunton. “I’m looking forward to taking my experiences in different

Father Thomas E. Costa Jr.

Father Paul C. Fedak

ministries to the parish,” he told The Anchor. “I look forward to meeting the people, and continuing what’s already been established there.”

A native of Providence, R.I., Father Costa was ordained a priest of the Fall River Diocese on July 9, 2005 by Bishop Coleman, after attending Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass. He has served as a parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield, and as a chaplain at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro and at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.

“All my assignments have helped me in different ways,” he said. “Working with students helped me keep a youthful spirit as did working on retreats, bereavement counseling and Religious Education.

“My hospital ministry taught me there is nothing to be afraid of spiritually. It allowed me to be compassionate and be a good listener. I saw the healing hand of God at work. I look forward to Turn to page 15

Father Andrew Johnson

Father Edward A. Murphy

New vicar general, moderator of the curia appointed

B y Dave Jolivet, Editor

FALL RIVER — For the last nine years, Msgr. John A. Perry has served as the diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia. With Msgr.

Perry’s retirement rapidly approaching this month, Bishop George W. Coleman has an-

nounced that Father Gregory A. Mathias, pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth, will become the new vicar general, and Father Michael K. McManus, the diocesan chancellor and pastor of St. Ann’s Parish in Raynham, will assume the role of mod-

Father Rodney E. Thibault

erator of the curia. The appointments become effective June 27.

Father Mathias will become pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown as well as assuming the responsibilities of the vicar general.

Turn to page 14

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News From the Vatican

June 8, 2012

Pope Benedict saddened by ‘Vatileaks’ case but trusts God

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — In a rare statement after today’s general audience, Pope Benedict XVI said that while he is distressed by the “Vatileaks” case, the Church will not lack God’s help for the trials it encounters.

The series of events has included the arrest and prosecution of his butler for stealing and passing on to the press sensitive papal documents and the ongoing police hunt to find any accomplices.

“The events which have occurred during these days regarding the curia and my collaborators have caused sadness in my heart, but they have never clouded a firm certainty that despite human weakness, difficulties and trials, the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit and the Lord will never be lacking in His help to sustain it in its journey,” the pope said May 30.

In an unusual step, the pope read a prepared statement at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

Paolo Gabriele, 46, was charged on May 26, with the “aggravated theft” of confidential Vatican documents found in his apartment. His arrest followed several months of so-called “Vatileaks” in which numerous confidential documents about the internal workings of the Vatican were passed on to the Italian media.

In recent days the same media outlets have speculated that

Gabriele is only a minor figure in a much larger conspiracy that includes a member of the Sacred College of Cardinals. They have also theorized that the leaks are aimed at dislodging the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

“There has been a multitude of speculation boosted by some of the media which is wholly gratuitous and goes well beyond the facts, giving an image of the Holy See which is not true to reality,” the pope said in response to the media conjecture.

Paolo Gabriele is an Italian father of three who has worked in the Papal Household under both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. He is one of very few individuals who have daily access to the pope. Within the close-knit family atmosphere of the Papal Apartments, Gabriele is affectionately nicknamed “Paoletto” or “little Paul.”

In a statement, Pope Benedict moved to calm the situation.

“I wish, therefore, to renew my trust in and my encouragement of my closest collaborators and all those who with faith, a spirit of sacrifice and in silence, day by day assist me in carrying out my ministry,” he said.

Meanwhile, the hunt continues for those responsible for the leaks. That task has been given to both the Vatican police and a special commission of three cardinals chaired by Spanish Cardinal Julian Herranz.

waiting patiently — Children prepare their cameras as Pope Benedict XVI begins his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Our ‘Amen’ expresses trust in Christ, pope teaches

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — When Christians say “Amen,” they are expressing their trust in the loving promise of God manifested in Jesus Christ, Pope Benedict said during a recent general audience.

“The Spirit, poured forth into our hearts, leads us to the Father, constantly making present God’s ‘Yes’ to us in Christ and in turn enabling us to say our ‘Yes’ — Amen! — to God,” the pope told tens of thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square.

“Our use of the word ‘Amen,’ rooted in the ancient liturgical prayer of Israel and then taken up by the early Church, expresses our firm faith in God’s Word and our hope in His promises.”

Pope Benedict’s remarks continued his catechesis on Christian prayer with a particular focus in recent weeks upon the interior life of St. Paul. This week the pope explored the Apostle’s Second Letter to the Corinthians where he writes: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” This promise of comfort is not an exemption from suffering, said the pope, but a plea not to let ourselves “be overcome by tribulations and difficulties.”

“We are invited to experience every situation in unity with Christ, who takes all the suffering and sin of the world upon Himself in order to bring light, hope and redemption.”

Either by providence or plan-

ning, Pope Benedict seemed to touch upon with his own present suffering following the recent prosecution of his personal butler for stealing confidential documents.

“Our life and our Christian journey are often marked by difficulty, misunderstandings and pain,” he said, adding that “in a faithful relationship with the Lord, in constant daily prayer, we are able to feel the consolation that comes from God.” The source of this strength, he explained, is a relationship of mutual love between God and man. This is the thrust of St. Paul’s proposition to the Christians in Corinth — that the incarnation of Jesus Christ “is God’s ‘Yes’ to mankind and the fulfillment of all His promises” and that “through Jesus we say our ‘Amen,’ to the glory of God.” “For Paul, prayer is above all God’s gift, grounded in His faithful love which was fully revealed in the sending of His Son and the gift of the Holy Spirit,” observed the pope.

Sadly, however, this faithful

The Anchor www.anchornews.org

love of God is not always returned by man. Despite this, said the pope, the “entire history of salvation is a progressive revelation of this fidelity of God’s, despite our own infidelity and our constant denials.”

The difference between human and Divine love, he explained, is that when we are “faced with conflict in human relationships, often even within the family, we tend not to persevere in gratuitous love, which requires commitment and sacrifice.”

God on the other hand “never loses patience with us and, in His immense mercy, precedes us always and comes out to meet us.”

It is important, therefore, for humans to “enter into Christ’s ‘yes’ by following God’s will.”

In this way we will be like St. Paul in being able to affirm that “it is not we who live, but Christ Himself who lives in us,” Pope Benedict said.

The “Amen” of our personal and community prayer “will embrace and transform all of our lives.”

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 56, No. 23

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service

Published weekly except for two weeks in the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org.

Subscription price by mail, postpaid $20.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address

PUBLISHER - Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase m arychase@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza kensouza@anchornews.org REPORTER Rebecca Aubut beckyaubut@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org

PoStmaSters send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

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The International Church At World Meeting of Families, pope opens possibility of U.S. visit

June 8, 2012

MILAN (CNS) — As Pope Benedict XVI closed the World Meeting of Families in Italy’s capital of finance and fashion, he opened the possibility of his heading to the United States when he named the Archdiocese of Philadelphia the next venue of the world gathering.

“God willing,” he said, he would attend in 2015 as he greeted Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia and “the Catholics of that great city,” saying he looked forward to meeting U.S. Catholics and other families from around the world there.

The surprise announcement

came as the 85-year-old pope wrapped up the May 30 to June 3 world meeting, which gathers every three years to celebrate and help families live out their Christian values.

About one million people from 153 countries braved dawn wakeup calls, shouldered supply-laden backpacks and prodded along sleepy kids to descend on Milan’s Bresso Park June 3 to take part in the event’s closing Mass.

In his homily, the pope called for Church unity, emphasized marriage as between a man and a woman, urged parents to keep the transcendent alive in a world that

Diocese of Fall River

OFFICIAL

His Excellency, the Most Reverend George W. Coleman, Bishop of Fall River, has announced the following appointments: Rev. David M. Andrade, Pastor, St. Louis de France Parish, Swansea Rev. Freddie Babiczuk, Pastor, St. John of God Parish, Somerset Rev. Marc H. Bergeron, Pastor, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, New Bedford Rev. Paul Bernier, Pastor, St. Patrick Parish, Somerset Rev. Thomas E. Costa Jr., Pastor, Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Taunton Rev. Timothy P. Driscoll, Leave of Absence Rev. Paul C. Fedak, Pastor, St. Nicholas of Myra Parish, North Dighton Rev. Timothy J. Goldrick, Pastor, St. Patrick Parish, Falmouth Rev. Mark R. Hession, Pastor, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Osterville, while remaining Pastor, Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville Rev. Andrew Johnson, Pastor, Good Shepherd Parish, Fall River, and Pastor, St. Stanislaus Parish, Fall River Rev. Thomas M. Kocik, Administrator, St. Anne Parish, Fall River Rev. Roger J. Landry, Pastor, St. Bernadette Parish, Fall River Rev. Edward A. Murphy, Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Bedford Rev. John M. Murray, Pastor, St. Ann Parish, Raynham Rev. Bruce M. Neylon, Pastor, Holy Trinity Parish, Fall River Rev. John C. Ozug, Rector, Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption Rev. Richard M. Roy, Pastor, St. Julie Billiart Parish, North Dartmouth Rev. Rodney E. Thibault, Pastor, St. Mary Parish, South Dartmouth, and Diocesan Director Pastoral Care of the Sick, while remaining Chaplain, St. Luke’s Hospital, New Bedford Rev. Marek Tuptynski, Leave of Absence Rev. Richard D. Wilson, Pastor, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Attleboro, Pastor, Holy Ghost Parish, Attleboro, Pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Attleboro, and Executive Editor of The Anchor Effective, June 27, 2012 Rev. Richard E. Degagne, Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, North Easton Effective, July 3, 2012 Rev. Craig A. Pregana, Pastor, Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish, New Bedford, and Diocesan Director Hispanic Apostolate Effective, August 1, 2012

adores the high-tech over high ideals, and urged kids to respect and love their family.

Because the five-day meeting’s theme was how to balance work demands, family needs and religious celebration, the pope upbraided economic theories that advocate that the best policies, markets and work ethics are those that push the most product and reap the most profit.

“The one-sided logic of sheer utility and maximum profit are not conducive to harmonious development, to the good of the family or to building of a more just society, because it brings in its wake ferocious competition, strong inequalities, degradation of the environment, the race for consumer goods and family ten-

sions,” he said.

Such a “utilitarian mentality” takes a toll on the family and social relationships “reducing them to a fragile convergence of individual interests and undermining the solidity of the social fabric,” he added.

The pope spent nearly three full days at a variety of events: meeting local citizens, religious, government and business leaders and Catholic young people and families from around the world.

Despite the jubilant and festive air among participants, the pope and archdiocesan leaders peppered their speeches with reminders of the thousands of people rendered homeless or destitute by a recent series of earthquakes in northern Italy.

Diocese of Fall River

OFFICIAL

His Excellency, the Most Reverend George W. Coleman, Bishop of Fall River, has announced the following appointments: Rev. Gregory A. Mathias, Diocesan Vicar General, and Pastor, St. John Neumann Parish, East Freetown Rev. Michael K. McManus, Moderator of the Curia, while remaining Diocesan Chancellor Effective June 27, 2012

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The pope called for concrete aid to those in need, assuring victims of his prayers.

The archdiocese announced that a half-billion euro had been collected during the papal visit and would be given in the pope’s name to those hardest hit. The pope’s own charity recently donated a large sum and the pope met personally with a couple who lost their home and were living in tents.

Pope Benedict also hosted a lunch for 100 poor families — about 300 people — who live in Milan, but come from a variety of countries.

God, who suffered with humanity and for humanity, made people capable of sharing the suffering of others and of turning that pain into love, he said at La Scala June 1.

He urged faith communities and secular governments at events June 1-2 to work together for the common good by having people of faith live their values in all areas of life.

The Church offers its teaching and input as a service to society, he said, as he urged governments to be just and guarantee liberty, based on natural law, for everyone “beginning with the right to life of which its deliberate suppression can never be allowed.”

In Milan’s San Siro soccer stadium, the pope told some 80,000 boys and girls who were or would be recently confirmed that they, too, can be saints as they let the Holy Spirit guide them to use their talents for the good of the community.

“You are called to great things,” he said, so keep one’s aims high.

Study and work hard, obey one’s parents, help others and be selfless “because egoism is the enemy of joy.”

At an evening vigil marked by testimonies from families all over the world and international music by well-known artists, the pope shared the joys and sufferings of the world’s families.

Five couples and families went up on stage one group at a time to ask the pope a personal question or appeal for advice.

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The Church in the U.S.

June 8, 2012

Archbishop Sartain stresses dedication to addressing religious Sisters’ issues

Washington D.C. (CNA/ EWTN News) — Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle says he is dedicated to addressing concerns regarding the Leadership Conference of Women Religious “in an atmosphere of openness, honesty, integrity and fidelity to the Church’s faith.”

The archbishop said that both he and the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “are wholeheartedly committed to dealing with the important issues” raised by both the recent doctrinal assessment and the LCWR’s national board.

He added that both the Vatican and the U.S. bishops are “deeply proud of the historic and continuing

contribution of women religious,” a sentiment he said “has been echoed by many in recent weeks.”

“Dramatic examples of this can be witnessed in the school system and in the network of Catholic hospitals established by sisters across America,” he said, describing these institutions as “lasting contributions to the wellbeing of our country.”

The archbishop’s statement was released on June 1, hours after the national board of the LCWR accused the Vatican’s recent investigation of being “based on unsubstantiated accusations” and resulting from “a flawed process that lacked transparency.”

Board members also argued

that “the sanctions imposed were disproportionate to the concerns raised” and might compromise the sisters’ “ability to fulfill their mission.”

Archbishop Sartain has been mandated to work with the LCWR’s leadership for up to five years, after a four-year doctrinal assessment of the organization revealed “serious doctrinal problems” and a need for reform.

The findings of the assessment were released on April 18 by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. They noted that some presentations sponsored by the LCWR exhibited “certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith.”

These presentations, which included one address about “moving beyond the Church” and beyond Jesus, risk distorting Church teaching, the report said, adding that they constitute “a rejection of faith” and a “serious source of scandal.”

The assessment document said that the group failed to offer adequate doctrinal formation to its members. It also voiced concern over letters from LCWR officers suggesting “corporate dissent” from Church teaching on topics such as the sacramental male priesthood and homosexuality.

The investigation also found that the organization speaks out strongly on social justice issues but is largely silent on matters of life, marriage and sexuality, which have been prominent topics of public discourse in recent debates over abortion, euthanasia and “gay marriage.”

In leading renewal efforts, Archbishop Sartain will work with the conference to revise its statues and review its connections to affiliated organizations. In addition, he will help create a new formation program to offer a deeper understanding of Church teaching and will be responsible for approving future speakers and presentations at the organization’s assemblies.

He will also review the application of liturgical norms and texts, in order to ensure that the Eucharist and Liturgy of the Hours are given proper priority in the conference’s events.

In carrying out these tasks, the

archbishop will be aided by an advisory group of clergy, experts and women religious, as well as with Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield and Bishop Leonard P. Blair of Toledo, Ohio, who was responsible for conducting the assessment of the LCWR. Composed of some 1,500 members, the LCWR consists of about three percent of the 57,000 women religious in the U.S. Because its members are leaders of their religious communities, the group says that it represents 80 percent of American sisters. The average age of its members is 74.

In its recent statement, the national board of the LCWR criticized “both the content of the doctrinal assessment and the process by which it was prepared.”

The board members argued that the Vatican’s report on the organization has “caused scandal and pain throughout the Church community, and created greater polarization.”

The group plans to issue a response to the Vatican’s report after conducting several internal discussions and meeting with CDF head Cardinal William Levada and Archbishop Sartain in Rome later this month.

Archbishop Sartain said that he looks forward to meeting with the leaders of the organization as part of ongoing efforts “to collaborate in promoting the important work of the LCWR for consecrated life in the United States.”

Polish Fest

ENTIRELY UNDER TENTS

“Summertime”

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

235 North Front Street, New Bedford, MA

2 DAYS - SAT. & SUN. JUNE 16 & 17 ... CONTINUOUS LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ...

SATURDAY JUNE 16 . 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. & 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push”

Returning to the Greater New Bedford and South Coast area

SUNDAY JUNE 17 . *Fest* Noon - 5:00 PM 11 a.m. - POLKA MASS in the O.L.P.H. Church People of all Faiths are invited to join us.

Noon to 5 p.m. - The “EDDIE FORMAN” Orchestra from Hadley Falls, MA

Our Famous “POLISH KITCHEN”

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“Pierogi” “Golambki” Booths & Games Fun for the Entire Family BRING YOUR OWN CHAIRS FREE PARKING

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5 The Church in the U.S. Federal court overturns Defense of Marriage Act; appeal presumed

June 8, 2012

BOSTON (CNS) — With a ruling that acknowledged the final decision will be up to the Supreme Court, a federal appeals court declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional May 31.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the provision of the 1996 federal law, known as DOMA, that defines marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.”

The three-judge panel cited previous Supreme Court rulings that struck down laws determined to be discriminatory against a class of people as being among the keys to their ruling.

The case was brought against the federal government by a group of same-sex married couples and several widowed spouses, all from Massachusetts. They seek access to federal benefits such as Social Security that would be available to heterosexual married couples but are blocked under DOMA. The law was passed soon after Hawaii’s Supreme Court held that

it might violate the state constitution to deny marriage to same-sex couples. Amid concern that states would soon begin to allow samesex marriages, Congress passed and President Bill Clinton signed the 230-word law, which the appeals court described as “one of the shortest major enactments in recent history.”

Since then, 30 states have passed constitutional prohibitions on same-sex marriage while six states and the District of Columbia have passed laws permitting it. Another dozen states, including Hawaii, have laws recognizing civil unions between people of the same sex.

The 1st Circuit was reviewing only the provision of DOMA that defines “marriage” and “spouse,” not its provision guaranteeing that no state or territory is required to recognize a marriage recognized by another state or territory.

The court said the case was difficult, “because it couples issues of equal protection and federalism with the need to assess the ratio-

nale for a congressional statute.”

That rationale is “open to interpretation,” the judges said, adding: “We have done our best to discern the direction of these precedents, but only the Supreme Court can finally decide this unique case.”

In summarizing some of its conclusions, the court noted: “Many Americans believe that marriage is the union of a man and a woman, and most Americans live in states where that is the law today.

“One virtue of federalism is that it permits this diversity of governance based on local choice, but this applies as well to the states that have chosen to legalize same-sex marriage. Under current Supreme Court authority, Congress’s denial of federal benefits to same-sex couples lawfully married in Massachusetts has not been adequately supported by any permissible federal interest.”

The ruling noted that under DOMA, federal funding to Massachusetts could be revoked for

Sex-selection abortion ban draws majority support but fails in House

Washington D.C. (CNA) — Despite gaining the support of more than half of the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill to prohibit abortions based on the sex of the unborn child was defeated on May 31.

“Sex-selection is violence against women, and it is the truest kind of war against women,” said Rep. Trent Franks on May 30, one day before the vote took place.

Franks, who had introduced the bill, said that it is an act of “extreme violence” to have an abortion solely “based on the sex of the child.”

“In 2007, the United States spearheaded a U.N. resolution to condemn sex-selection abortion worldwide,” he said. Yet America is “the only advanced country left in the world that still doesn’t restrict sex-selection abortion in any way.”

The Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act was defeated in the House despite a 246-168 vote in its favor.

Normally, this majority would be enough for the bill to pass.

However, the legislation was brought up under a suspension of normal rules. As a result, it would have required the support of twothirds of the lawmakers in order to pass.

Republicans supported the bill by a 226-7 margin. Among those who voted against it was Ron Paul (R-Texas), a former hopeful for Republican presidential candidate.

Democrats opposed the bill by a vote of 161-20.

The legislation would not have prosecuted women who seek abortions. Rather, it would have held accountable those who knowingly coerce, fund or perform sex-selection abortions.

The bill’s advocates noted that it would not in any way affect women seeking an abortion for health reasons. By definition, sexselection abortions are performed solely due to the gender of the baby.

During debate over the bill on the House floor, supporters pointed to multiple academic studies showing that sex-selection abortion is happening in the United States.

They also referenced a recent poll indicating that the vast majority of American women support a ban on abortions that are based solely on the child’s gender.

Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (RN.Y.) said that she supported the legislation “as a woman, as a mother of four daughters and as a grandmother of three granddaughters.”

She explained that “there can be no rights for women if we don’t allow them the right to life.”

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (RTenn.) argued that the bill is necessary to “give baby girls the same chance at life as baby boys.”

She said that it is “hypocrisy” to call oneself “pro-woman” while supporting the abortion of a girl based on her gender.

“Since when did America subscribe to the idea that males are

worth more than females?” she asked.

The May 31 vote came amid the release of several videos showing Planned Parenthood workers helping women asking for an abortion because their children were girls rather than boys.

The videos were posted online

by Live Action, a Pro-Life group that produces undercover films of abortion clinics violating laws and internal standards.

On May 29, the organization posted a video from an Austin, Texas Planned Parenthood clinic in April. The video showed a counselor encouraging the possibility of a late term abortion after the female gender had been confirmed, while at the same time admitting that the baby’s “brain is already developed” and “pretty much everything’s already developed.”

Two days later, Live Action posted a similar video from a New York Planned Parenthood clinic, where a clinic worker condoned and helped to schedule a sex-selection abortion, saying that “here at Planned Parenthood, we believe that it’s not up to us to decide what is a good or a bad reason” to have an abortion.

As public awareness of the videos grew, Pro-Life leaders vowed to keep fighting.

“For most of us ‘it’s a girl’ is cause for enormous joy, happiness, and celebration,” said Rep, Chris Smith (R-N.J.). “But in many countries, including our own, it can be a death sentence.”

programs tied to the law’s definition of marriage, such as Medicare and Medicaid or burial in a veterans’ cemetery as a spouse.

“By combining the income of individuals in same-sex marriages, Massachusetts’ Medicaid program is noncompliant with DOMA, and the Department of Health and Human Services, through its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has discretion to rescind Medicaid funding to noncomplying states,” the judges said. “Burying a veteran with his or her same-sex spouse removes federal ‘veterans’ cemetery’ status and gives the Department of Veterans’ Affairs discretion to recapture all federal funding for the cemetery.”

Among the organizations that urged the court to uphold DOMA were the Massachusetts Catholic

Conference, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and other Christian and Jewish religious groups.

They filed a friend-of-thecourt brief saying that “social science, common sense and the vast experience (of the organizations) in family matters support Congress’s conclusion that marriage, defined as the union of one man and one woman, is closely tied to the welfare of children, the wellbeing of the family and the health of the nation.”

“Our understanding is based not only on the teachings of our respective faith traditions, but on carefully reasoned judgments about the nature and needs of individuals (especially children) and society, and on literally millions of hours of counseling and ministry,” they said.

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The Anchor Vigorously defending freedom of religion

On May 21, 43 Catholic institutions— dioceses, hospitals and health care chains, universities, elementary and high schools, Catholic Charities offices, peace centers, newspapers and cemetery associations — filed suit in 12 different federal jurisdictions against the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury and their respective Secretaries over the HHS mandate forcing all employers, including most religious employers, to pay for, provide or facilitate abortion- causing pills, sterilizations and contraception. It is asking the federal courts to overturn the HHS mandate on the basis of its violating the First Amendment, the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act; as it awaits trial, it also asked the courts to grant an injunction prohibiting the U.S. government from enforcing the mandate.

In a February 22 letter to his brother bishops, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference, detailed the work the Church had tried to do with the administration and Congress to remedy the HHS mandate’s violation of religious freedom, but, despite the enormous efforts of the bishops and their staffs, they proved ineffectual. Cardinal Dolan confided in them, “Perhaps the courts offer the most light,” and told them why: “In the recent Hosanna-Tabor ruling, the Supreme Court unanimously defended the right of a Church to define its own ministry and services, a dramatic rebuff to the administration, apparently unheeded by the White House,” which nine days later published the final rule of the HHS mandate. “Thus, our bishops’ conference, many individual religious entities, and other people of good will are working with some top-notch law firms who feel so strongly about this that they will represent us pro-bono. In the upcoming days,” he said, “you will hear much more about this encouraging and welcome development.”

It took three months, but that’s what we heard about on May 21 with this vast array of lawsuits filed across the country by Jones Day, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious law firms. Cardinal Dolan summarized, “We have tried negotiation with the administration and legislation with the Congress — and we’ll keep at it — but there’s still no fix. Time is running out, and our valuable ministries and fundamental rights hang in the balance, so we have to resort to the courts now.” Since the mandate — unchanged — became law on February 15 when the Obama Administration entered it into the Federal Register and since it goes into effect on August 1 of this year, Church institutions couldn’t risk waiting around to see whether the Supreme Court will vacate the Affordable Care Act as a whole later this month on the basis of the alleged unconstitutionality of the individual mandate. Hence, in case the act is upheld, the parties sued for an injunction against and overturning of the attacks on religious freedom. The wide variety of parties to the suit all across the country, Cardinal Dolan said, is a “compelling display of the unity of the Church in defense of religious liberty. It’s also a great show of the diversity of the Church’s ministries that serve the common good and that are jeopardized by the mandate — ministries to the poor, the sick, and the uneducated, to people of any faith or no faith at all.”

Of the 43 parties to the suit, the one that has gained the most attention is the University of Notre Dame. Three years ago, Notre Dame controversially invited President Obama to give its commencement address and receive an honorary degree. The president, within the context of speaking about health care reforms, declared, “Let’s honor the conscience of those who disagree … and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded not only in sound science, but also in clear ethics.” That Notre Dame would now be suing precisely because the president did not honor these commitments is noteworthy, to say the least. In a statement announcing its participation in the lawsuit, the president of Notre Dame, Father John Jenkins, described what it was all about and why every Catholic institution — including those, like Notre Dame, that sympathize with President Obama on a wide range of public policy items — needs to be concerned about what the HHS mandate actually means.

The HHS mandate, President Jenkins said, “requires Notre Dame and similar religious organizations to provide in their insurance plans abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives and sterilization procedures, which are contrary to Catholic teaching. The decision to file this lawsuit came after much deliberation, discussion and efforts to find a solution acceptable to the various parties. Let me say very clearly what this lawsuit is not about: it is not about preventing women from having access to contraception, nor even about preventing the government from providing such services. If the government wishes to provide such services, means are available that do not compel religious organizations to serve as its agents. We do not seek to impose our religious beliefs on others; we simply ask that the government not impose its values on the university when those values conflict with our religious teachings. We have engaged in conversations to find a resolution that respects the consciences of all and we will continue to do so.

This filing is about the freedom of a religious organization to live its mission, and its significance goes well beyond any debate about contraceptives. For if we concede that the government can decide which religious organizations are sufficiently religious to be awarded the freedom to follow the principles that define their mission, then we have begun to walk down a path that ultimately leads to the undermining of those institutions. For if one presidential administration can override our religious purpose and use religious organizations to advance policies that undercut our values, then surely another administration will do the same for another very different set of policies, each time invoking some concept of popular will or the public good, with the result these religious organizations become mere tools for the exercise of government power, morally subservient to the state, and not free from its infringements. If that happens, it will be the end of genuinely religious organizations in all but name.”

The statement from the Diocese of Pittsburgh, its Catholic Charities and Catholic Cemeteries about their joint lawsuit was the feistiest of all. After mentioning that the breadth of the lawsuits against federal agencies have “no doubt raised some eyebrows,” it went on to say, “Under the new HHS mandate, our Church-sponsored organizations — everything from hospitals for the sick to soup kitchens that feed the hungry — are required to let the federal government be the final arbiter in determining which of our beliefs we can follow and not follow as we carry out our ministries of service to the community.” Turning to President Obama’s February 10 announcement of an “accommodation,” it replied, “No accommodation exists. The mandate was made final February 15. It is the law and will go into effect for some institutions this August, for others next August. The mandate remains in place exactly as first written, as the president proudly stated in his commencement address at Barnard College May 14. The fact is that talk of accommodation is smoke and mirrors. The mandate holds as originally written. Nothing has changed to expand in any way the very narrow so-called religious exemption. Nothing has changed in the federal government forcing faith-based institutions to provide access to services our Church considers morally and religiously objectionable. Nothing has changed in the federal government forcing virtually every Catholic social service agency, university or hospital in the United States to violate their religious beliefs.” They concluded, “The filing of these lawsuits has nothing to do with politics. We did not pick this fight or this timing. The federal government chose to impose this on us now. In fact, this lawsuit takes the issue out of politics and places it in front of the courts, which exist to protect our constitutional principles and freedoms. The issue is simple. Can the federal government ignore religious freedom guaranteed in the Constitution and force the Church to do what it considers morally and religiously objectionable? We will not give to the federal government the power to make us choose between our sacred beliefs or shutting our doors because we cannot violate our conscience. That is why we have filed this lawsuit.”

All Catholics should be grateful for the staunch leadership of the bishops and Catholics institutions across the country in defending our constitutional freedoms and core religious beliefs. As we get ready for the Fortnight for Freedom, beginning June 21, all Catholics should pray not only for the lawsuits’ successful outcome but for a renewed respect for religious freedom and freedom of conscience among all citizens and especially among those who serve us in public office.

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June 8, 2012

Discerning the call — Part II

proposed last week that there are friends to be with Him and worship three main elements involved in Him. The Mass is the most perfect our establishing a relationship with prayer and the most concrete way in God: prayer, the Eucharist and frequent which we live out that friendship with Confession. Having already addressed Jesus Christ that is essential in our the fundamental importance of prayer, lives. this week I would like to turn to the Going to Mass every Sunday may importance of the Eucharist in our lives. seem like a lot to some people. Some Obviously, our attendance at Mass and may even be surprised that Mass is adoration of the Blessed Sacrament are actually celebrated every day of the year indispensable in discernment. (except for Good Friday, of course).

Our participation at Sunday Mass is When we are able to attend, daily Mass something that is central and essential allows us the opportunity to receive in our developing this friendship with the Lord each day and to be daily Christ. That is no secret! It is no huge transformed by His loving presence in revelation either, however, that in recent the Eucharist. years the number of people attending The Eucharist is “the source and Mass each Sunday is in a steady decline. summit of the Christian life.” The Clearly, this could be part of the reason Eucharist is the “efficacious sign and that vocations have also been down. sublime cause of that communion in the Recent statistics show that only Divine life and that unity of the people of about 30-35 percent of those who God by which the Church is kept in being. identify themselves as Catholic attend It is the culmination both of God’s action Sunday sanctifying the Mass. Older world in Christ generations and of the may fondly Putting Into worship men recall the days offer to Christ the Deep when Sunday and through was a day Him to the for God and Father in the

By Father family, when Holy Spirit” Jay Mello stores were (CCC, 1323 not open, or -1324). when there were no sporting events In the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is interfering with morning Mass as a truly present — Body, Blood, Soul family. Things seem to have changed a and Divinity! In the Eucharist, we are lot over the years. Now it is clear that able to speak to God “face to face.” for many folks Sunday has become just Whether it be going to daily Mass or another day of the week. just stopping by the church each day to One can spend a lot of time trying to “make a visit,” our time in the presence figure out why this has happened, but of our eucharistic Lord allows us to be what is more important, however, is that transformed daily by Him. Just like our we ask ourselves the question: Is Sunday personality is shaped by the people we Mass important to me? As people hang out with, so too are we formed by seeking to enter into a friendship with Him and into Him when we spend time Christ we must reclaim the sanctity and with Him. importance of Eucharist as the central The principal fruit of receiving the event in our life each week.

Eucharist in Holy Communion is an Pope John Paul II highlighted the fact intimate union with Christ Jesus. Indeed, that there are “many who wish to live in the Lord said: “He who eats My Flesh accord with the demands of their faith and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and who are being faced with surroundings I in him” (CCC 1391). which are sometimes indifferent and Eucharistic adoration or worship is unresponsive to the Gospel message” what we engage in when we kneel in (Dies Domini, 48). quiet prayer before our eucharistic Lord.

The pope recognized that there are It is certainly one of the most intimate things that present themselves as more and powerful forms of prayer. In this exciting, engaging or entertaining than traditional and solemn style of prayer we our worship at Mass every Sunday come face to face with our eucharistic morning which to some seems to be Lord who speaks to the silence of our repetitive or boring or un-engaging. hearts.

But that is the case only when we fail In Sacramentum Caritatis, Pope to see what really happens at each Benedict beautifully explained that Mass, namely, our Lord Jesus Christ’s “receiving the Eucharist means adoring becoming truly present in the Eucharist! Him Whom we receive. Only in this “Today more than ever, the Church way do we become one with Him, and is unwilling to settle for minimalism are given, as it were, a foretaste of the and mediocrity at the level of faith. beauty of the heavenly Liturgy. The act She wants to help Christians to do of adoration outside Mass prolongs and what is most correct and pleasing to intensifies all that takes place during the the Lord” (Dies Domini, 52). Many liturgical celebration itself. Indeed, only of us may have gone astray from our in adoration can a profound and genuine faith or grew up with it not being an reception mature. And it is precisely important part of our lives. Some may this personal encounter with the Lord even think that it is no big deal to that then strengthens the social mission consciously skip Mass on Sundays or contained in the Eucharist, which seeks on Holy Days, even when the Church to break down not only the walls that is clear that those who “deliberately separate the Lord and ourselves, but also fail in this obligation commit a grave and especially the walls that separate us sin” (“Catechism,” 2181). from one another” (SC, 66).

The Holy Mass is where we come Father Mello is a parochial vicar at together as God’s children and as His St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

June 8, 2012

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The Anchor

What about ventilators?

he use of ventilators can pose particularly challenging problems during end of life situations for families.

When should we place a loved one on a ventilator? If somebody is on a ventilator, can we ever “pull the plug?” Understanding our moral duty depends upon whether the use of a ventilator in a particular case can be considered “ordinary” or “extraordinary.”

Ordinary interventions can be understood as those medicines, operations and treatments that offer a reasonable hope of benefit for the patient and that can be obtained and used without excessive pain, expense, or other significant burden. Use of a ventilator will sometimes satisfy these criteria, and other times it will not, depending on the specifics of the patient’s situation.

Consider a young woman with serious pneumonia who is having difficulty breathing and is placed on a ventilator.

The physicians treating her believe the pneumonia eventually can be controlled so that she can be weaned off the ventilator and breathe on her own in a few days or a week. They believe the device will be needed mostly as a temporary “bridge to healing,” that it will be effective while in use, and that it will not impose much burden on her. In such circumstances, the use of the ventilator could reasonably be considered “ordinary” and thus morally obligatory.

Whenever there is a considerable hope of recovery from the illness by making use of a particular means (a ventilator,

in this case), and when the patient can employ the means without much difficulty or burden, it is likely to be “ordinary” treatment. Thus, in the experienced hands of a well-trained physician, in a developed country with access to proper medication and equipment, intubation and ventilation of a patient can be a low-burden intervention.

By Father Tad The difficulPacholczyk ties associated with using a ventilator, however, can become notable depending on the details of a patient’s situation.

Dr. Stephen Hannan, a pulmonary and critical care specialist in Fort Myers, Fla., recently summarized some of the burdens associated with ventilation, noting particularly “the physical discomfort of the endotracheal tube going from the mouth, traversing the oropharynx, crossing the larynx, and reaching the trachea. Sedation, analgesics, and physical restraints are often necessary. The patient cannot talk while ventilator support is in use.

The ventilator exposes the patient to greater risks of infection and barotrauma [damage to the lung tissue from the pressure of ventilation]. Even an untrained observer will recognize that the burden imposed by a ventilator with a standard endotracheal tube is much greater than the burden of a feeding tube.”

We can consider an example that highlights these burdens: an 85-year-old grandfather is placed on a ventilator after suffering several serious strokes that damaged his brainstem so that he cannot breathe on his own. The physicians treating him are convinced that the damage from his most recent stroke will continue to get worse, with the nearly-certain outcome that he will die in a few hours or days. Assuming that he is unconscious, and that other matters have been taken care of (last Sacraments, opportunities for loved ones to say goodbye, etc.), the family could reasonably conclude that continued ventilation would be “extraordinary” and decide to have the ventilator disconnected, even though it would mean their grandfather would be expected to die in a matter of minutes without it. Such an act of withdrawing the ventilator would not be an act of euthanasia, because he would be dying due to the underlying condition. It would be a recognition of the burdensomeness of continued ventilation and an acknowledgement that heroics are not required, especially when death is imminent.

Occasionally ventilators may end up being part of a long-term solution for a

patient. Christopher Reeve, who played Clark Kent in the movie “Superman,” for example, was able to live for several years with a tracheostomy and a ventilator following an equestrian accident that severely damaged his spinal cord.

The ventilator, while clearly a burden, offered many benefits to his situation as well, and in the final analysis, seemed to be a reasonable and proportionate intervention for his particular set of circumstances.

Other cases with ventilators can be more difficult to decide, because a prognosis may be uncertain or debated. Sometimes the expense of providing long-term ventilation and critical care may need to be factored into the judgment about whether ventilation is ordinary or extraordinary. Determining whether there will be a “reasonable hope of benefit” to a particular patient by using a ventilator can be challenging. Each case must be considered on its own merits, as we seek to make a good prudential judgment, and to provide for our loved ones in a way that corresponds to their real medical needs, so that we neither neglect nor overburden them in the face of powerful medical technology.

Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, and serves as the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www. ncbcenter.org.

FALL RIVER — Having eclipsed the $3 million mark with three weeks to go in the 71st Catholic Charities Appeal, workers in the office are cautiously optimistic, but still have questions before the appeal draws to a close on June 21. Will it be more than last year? Will parishes continue to work right up to the final bell as they have a history of doing, even if they have already exceeded last year’s amount?

These questions arise every Appeal, as the finish line rapidly approaches.

“Last year’s figure of more than $4.2 million is obviously the benchmark we aspire to exceed,” stated Mike Donly of the Appeal office. “Our goal is always to increase our revenues to new highs each and every year, especially when the numbers of those seeking assistance continue to increase each year as well. Actually it is a necessity that we show an increase each year if we are to minister to so many who turn to us for help. That is exactly why our goal each year is simply to exceed, by as much as we can, the previous year’s total. There is no special mathematical formula as to how much more each parish should collect. Simply work to increase the amount of revenue raised by increasing the number of donors and the average gift level of those who give so loyally.”

The Appeal-funded agencies of the Diocese of Fall River minister to such a broad spectrum of men, women, and children, either as individuals or families. It is important to keep in mind always that these are individual human beings with

varied needs and wants, stressed Donly.

Examples include: Laurie, who had to ask Catholic Social Services for fuel to keep her and her daughter warm this winter, and pushed her pride aside again and went to a food pantry for the first time.

David, a resident of Samaritan House, a residence for homeless men and women, who said “When you don’t have a job after working at the same place for 23 years, and you’re 59 years old; when it finally hits home; when you finally experience something you had only heard about but never experienced yourself, you look on life in general very differently”; and Kathy and Kevin Clark, parents who adopted their little girl Sophie through Catholic Social Services, saying, “If Catholic Social Services had not existed for Sophie’s birth mother to rely on she most likely would have taken the option of abortion that is taken by so many unwed young women who find themselves overwhelmed with an unplanned pregnancy. Sophie is with us today because of Catholic Social Services.”

Catholic Social Services is a vital ministry today because of the annual Catholic Charities Appeal and the generosity of thousands of unselfish parishioners and friends of those in need throughout all of southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands.

“Keeping people warm, providing food for them to eat, providing shelter and job counseling for them, and literally saving the life of an unborn child are just a few of the wonderful things

that are accomplished due to the generous spirit of those who give to the Appeal,” remarked Mike Donly. “How can acts of unselfish kindness be any more personally fulfilling than these for those who donate?”

Donations to the Appeal can be sent to the Catholic Charities Appeal Of-

fice, P.O. Box 1470, Fall River, Mass.

02722; dropped off at any parish in the Diocese of Fall River; or made on the Appeal website: www.frdioc-catholiccharities.org.

For information visit the website or contact the Appeal Office at 508-6751311.

Making Sense Out of Bioethics

Charities Appeal hopes for a strong finish in the final three weeks of the campaign

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June 8, 2012

The Anchor

“T

he Eucharist is alive!” is the title of chapter one of the “Seven Secrets of the Eucharist,” written

by Vinny Flynn.

“That may seem obvious to you. I guess it was to me, at some intellectual level, but somehow, I never really thought very deeply about what that actually meant. How many times have we forgotten that the Eucharist is alive?,” wrote Flynn. It’s a good question for all of us to ask: How many times have we forgotten that the Eucharist is alive?

From the beginning, the Church has taught that “under the consecrated species of bread and wine, Christ Himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real and substantial manner” (“Cathechism of the Catholic Church” 1415).

The words of the hymn, “Panis Angelicum,” written by doctor of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas, sums up for us the truth of the Eucharist: that it is the greatest gift we could possibly ask for and receive.

“Jesus, our living Bread,

The Eucharist is alive!

great gift from Heaven sent, their former way and no longer fulfill the signs of old accompanied Him (Jn 6:66). and be our nourishment.”

The Eucharist is the The feast of the Most Holy Bread of Life, the heavenly Body and Blood of Christ banquet. When we come to commemorates Christ’s Holy Communion we not institution of the Holy Eucharist during the Passover meal on the Homily of the Week night before He died for us. We recall the Corpus Christi words Jesus spoke to Sunday His disciples during

By Deacon the meal: “Take, eat.

Steven F. Minninger This is My Body. Then taking the cup, He gave thanks and gave it to them saying, this is My Blood only receive the living Body, of the covenant which will be Blood, Soul and Divinity of shed for many.” the living Son of God, and St. John in his Gospel through Him with the Father recounts how these words and the Holy Spirit, we also sounded repugnant to Jesus’s become part of the Mystical early followers and how so Body of Christ. many refused to accept Jesus This transformation of the at His word. And yet Jesus substance of bread and wine repeated His command using into the Body and Blood of Jeeven stronger words. “Amen, sus, which St. Thomas referred Amen, I say to you, unless you to as “transubstantiation,” is a eat the Flesh of the Son of Man supernatural event. Because it and drink His Blood, you do is a supernatural event, it is an not have life within you” (Jn inexhaustible mystery that we 6:53). As a result of this, many will never fully comprehend. of His disciples returned to As such, we are sometimes

prone to doubt and confusion.

There have been many times in the history of the Church when God has intervened to reaffirm our faith in the Real Presence of our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist.

One such occasion occurred in the year 1263 in Bolsena, Italy.

A Czech priest, Peter of Prague, who had lost faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, while on a pilgrimage to Rome, Peter of Prague was saying Mass at Bolsena. Once again, during the consecration he began doubting. At that moment, the consecrated host began seeping blood on his hands and the blood dripped onto the linen corporeal on the altar. Startled by this visible miracle, Father Peter rushed to nearby Orvieto to confess his sin of doubt to Pope Urban IV, where the pope was residing and tell the pope of what had happened during the sacrifice of the Mass. The pope had the incident investigated and determined that it was in fact real

blood and a genuine miracle.

This helped pave the way for the feast we celebrate: The feast of Corpus Christi, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Clearly, this was a loving affirmation from God to Fr. Peter and to the whole Church that although our human senses cannot detect the substantial change to the bread and wine that it is really and truly Jesus’ Body and Blood that is present, living and glorious the Eucharist.

St. Thomas’ hymn, Pange Lingua reminds us: “Word made Flesh, the bread of nature by His word to Flesh He turns, wine into His Blood He changes.”

Yes, the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist is a mystery but we can believe it because Jesus said it and therefore it is. It is truly the source and summit of our Catholic faith.

Deacon Minninger serves at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Provincetown and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Wellfleet.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. June 9, ­­2 Tm 4:1-8; Ps 71:8-9,14-17,22; Mk 12:38-44. Sun. June 10, Corpus Christi Sunday, Ex 24:3-8; Ps 116:12-13,15-18; Heb 9:11-15; Mk 14:12-16,22-26. Mon. June 11, Acts 11:21b-26;13:1-3; Ps 98:1-6; Mt 5:1-12. Tues. June 12, 1 Kgs 17:7-16; Ps 4:2-5,7-8; Mt 5:13-16. Wed. June 13, 1 Kgs 18:2039; Ps 16:1-2,4-5,8,11; Mt 5:17-19. Thurs. June 14, 1 Kgs 18:41-46; Ps 65:10-13; Mt 5:20-26. Fri. June 15, Hos 11:1,3-4,8c-9; (Ps) Is 12:2-6; Eph 3:8-12,14-19; Jn 19:31-37.

M

ost Americans haven’t the foggiest idea that a quasi-Stalinist, violently anti-Catholic regime once existed on our southern borders. Those who don’t know how bad Mexico was in the late 1920s are about to learn, though: at least those who see “For Greater Glory,” a recently-released movie about the Cristero War, a passionate (and bloody) defense of Catholicism that’s remembered today, if at all, because of Graham Greene’s novel, “The Power and the Glory.”

There’s been a strange silence about all this for almost a century. Even Catholics aware of the extent of 20th century martyrdom seem to have little sense of the modern Mexican martyrs — although the addition of the memorial of St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions to the universal liturgical calendar (May 21) ought to remind

CATHOLIC WEBSITE www.pamphletstoinspire.com

The Cristeros and us

North American Catholics example, happened in somejust what was going on south what different circumstances of the Rio Grande during the than those described in the years when the brutal govfilm. But taken as a whole, ernment of Plutarco Elias Calles tried to destroy the Catholic Church in Mexico. It was a terrible time, and the example of the Cristeros, who included both underBy George Weigel ground priests like Blessed Miguel Pro, S.J. (perhaps the first martyr in two millennia to be the movie conveys both the photographed at the moment hard truth about the Calles of his death) and fighters like regime and the often noble, General Enrique Gorostieta but sometimes conflicted, (well-played by Academy story of Calles’s Cristero Award nominee Andy Garopponents. The most moving cia in the new film) ought to subplot in the movie involves inspire 21st-century Catholics José Luis Sanchez de Rio, a to stand firm in defense of teen-ager converted to serious religious freedom.

Catholicism by Christopher “For Greater Glory” takes Magallanes (as the film tells some artistic liberties with it) and “adopted,” in spirit, history; the martyrdom of

by General Gorostieta when Christopher Magallanes, for the lad asks to join the Cristeros. Whatever the artistic license taken with the details of these relationships, it will be a hard heart indeed that is not moved by the depiction of the boy’s martyrdom, as he defies torture and blandish-

The Catholic Difference

ments, all intended to get him to apostasize, and cries “Viva Cristo Rey!” just before the bullets strike him down. José Luis Sanchez del Rio was beatified on Nov. 20, 2005; his liturgical commemoration (February 10, the day of his death) should shape the rhythm of liturgical life in U.S. parishes, like those of Blessed Miguel Pro (November 23) and St. Christopher Magallanes.

In his Chrism Mass homily in April, Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington urged his priests and seminarians to see “For Greater Glory.”

Cardinal Wuerl is not given to dramatic gestures; his suggestion that the film might help form the self-understanding of Washington’s priests and future priests was all the more powerful for that. Barack Obama is not Plutarco Elias Calles, and the United States in 2012 is not Mexico in 1926-29. But anyone who doubts that there are grave threats to religious freedom in North America today has only to consider the HHS “contra-

ceptive mandate,” the administration’s refusal to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, the administration’s efforts to void the “ministerial exemption” in U.S. employment law, and the bad habit of Canadian human rights “tribunals” to levy serious financial penalties against Christian ministers who preach biblical truth.

Threats to religious freedom come in many forms — some hard, like during the Cristero War; some softer, if no less lethal to the first freedom. One way to blunt the hard threats is to stand firmly against the softer threats and to name those threats for what they are. “For Greater Glory” will inspire and encourage those already committed to defending religious freedom today. It is even more important, though, that those who haven’t yet seen the threat, or who deny that it exists, ponder this powerful depiction of the nearby and not-so-distant past, for the sake of the present and future.

George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

June 8, 2012

Setting sail

Monday 4 June 2012 — at in his 80s, told me that he and the church on Three Mile River his wife are now living in their — night of the Full Strawberry 17th home. We priests, too, must Moon learn to live it. find myself, dear readers, When it comes to the cleripreparing to set sail for another port of call. My name is listed on the ship’s manifest Reflections of a — the roster of those Parish Priest diocesan priests who

By Father Tim have received notice of transfer. I’ll be shipping Goldrick out from the church on Three Mile River and sailing for Falmouth (the town cal life, transfers fall under in Massachusetts, not the one in the promise of obedience each Jamaica). From: St. Nicholas of priest makes on the day of his Myra Church, North Dighton. ordination. Simply put, we are To: St. Patrick Church, Falexpected to go where we are mouth. sent. “I am ready and willing,” Relocation is a fact of life we solemnly attest as we stand for many people these days. before the bishop during the One friend, a retired physician ordination ceremony.

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The Anchor

The Ship’s Log

People ask me how I feel about this turn of events. The truth is, dear readers, I find that the older I get the more difficult moving becomes. I am no longer a young man out to conquer the world.

Unlike Julius Caesar, I came; I saw; and then I just wanted to take a nice afternoon nap. In other words, I have mixed emotions. There is anxiety and grief involved, but hopeful expectations as well.

On one hand, I’m sad to leave behind the people, ministries, and projects of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish. There was so much more I had hoped to accomplish, but it is not to be. I leave that to the next pastor, and he in turn will one day leave it to his suc-

Cherish and maintain

but really, how was I supposed to have been doing some know that refrigerators have heat routine maintenance around exchange coils much less that the house. Nothing big, just little they have to be vacuumed? things like restaining the picnic Not only do I struggle with the table, cleaning the gas grill, and routine maintenance of my house backing up my computer. Well, and possessions, but also with the OK, that’s not quite true. The routine maintenance of more imcomputer project is enormous, portant things, like my marriage. incomplete, and less appealing to I don’t know what survey could me than weeding an entire acre be done to back up this claim, of flower beds. If I were outside I’d at least be getting a tan!

The problem with routine maintenance is that I rarely ever “feel” the need. More often it feels like a waste of

By Heidi Bratton precious resources with so many more pressing things going on in my but I would bet that failure to do life. I mean it’s not like I couldn’t routine marriage maintenance is a have thrown a table cloth over primary cause of many divorces. the picnic table and used my Is it possible that some couples greasy grill a few more times, nor don’t even know that regular that my computer was in danger maintenance is necessary for a of crashing just because my files fully functioning and satisfying were not backed up. Most of us marriage? It is very possible, just would probably agree on the imlike with my fridge. Therefore, portance of routine maintenance if before now you simply did in principle, but putting it into not know … now you know. practice? Now that is a whole Successful, satisfying marriages different thing. require regular maintenance.

Eventually, however, deBut then there is still that diffiferred maintenance does have a culty of putting the principle into way of catching up with us. For practice. Amid such busy days, example, three weeks ago my what motivation can we find to cell phone accidently went for a routinely maintain a meaningswim and not having backed up ful relationship with the one we my contact list, I now have the promised to cherish all the days time-consuming job of reconof our lives? Here are three quick structing a phone list for perhaps suggestions.

150 phone numbers. For another Watch a respectable romance example, a few years ago, our movie (“Life is Beautiful” is refrigerator catastrophically died a great one) to recall that true one exceedingly hot July day. love is anything but practical.

The autopsy from the repairman In a very general sense, regular suggested that a contributing facmarriage maintenance means tor in its untimely death was that spending some passionate and I had neglected to periodically playful time with our spouses. vacuum its heat exchange coils,

Homegrown Faith

Get creative and specific to your marriage in what activities you do together, but focus less on the practicalities (the time, energy, or cost needed to enjoy one another) and more on the importance of keeping your marriage as a top priority.

Get to know a couple who has been happily married for 40 or more years. Listen to their stories. Ask them for advice.

(Think of how much easier my life would be right now if I had followed the advice of the cell phone clerk and backed up my contact list over a year ago.)

Also, listen to and ask advice from friends who are divorced. Every time I do this I am thoroughly convinced that the thing for which I really do not have enough time, energy, money, or emotion is divorce.

Although it can feel unnecessary or like a wasteful use of precious resources in the midst of a hectic family schedule, it is far better for us couples to routinely tackle pesky differences than to have them catch up with us all at once during a catastrophically heated argument. It is also more beneficial to continue intentionally to cultivate common interests than apathetically to “grow apart.”

Let’s construct and commit to a plan of routine marriage maintenance starting today, and not because we necessarily “feel” the need, but because we desire the positive, long-term results.

Heidi is an author, photographer, and mother of six children.

Her newest book, “Homegrown Faith; Nurturing Your Catholic Family,” is available from Servant Books.

cessor. During whatever time a priest has in his assigned parish, he just does the best he can to build on what has been accomplished before him, always utilizing his own particular talents and insights.

I’m reminded of the story of an outgoing pastor. On his way out the door, he told the arriving pastor that he had placed three sealed envelopes in the top drawer of the desk. These were to be opened, one at a time, when the first three crisis situations arose in the parish. A year later, there came the first situation. The new pastor opened the first envelope. It read, “Blame me, your predecessor.” This he did and the crisis passed.

A couple of years later, there came a second crisis. The pastor opened the second envelope. It read: “Blame the bishop.” This he did and the crisis passed. In a few more years, there came a third crisis. The pastor opened the final envelope. It read, “Now, Father, it’s your turn to prepare three envelopes.”

So I am sad that I must leave this parish assignment but, on the other hand, I look forward to meeting new people and starting new projects. Actually, I already know many people on Cape Cod, having spent 20 years of priestly ministry there.

As it turns out, the five men who stood before the bishop that ordination day in 1972 are now all pastors on Cape Cod and the Islands. My ordination classmate Father George Bellenoit is in South Yarmouth, not far from Falmouth. My classmate Msgr. Dan Hoye is in Mashpee, just a short drive up the road. My classmate Father

Mike Nagle is only five miles away. These are, however, nautical miles. It involves taking the Martha’s Vineyard ferry.

My classmate Father Marcel Bouchard is the farthest from Falmouth. He is the priest from Nantucket. The five of us have a tradition of meeting annually for lunch during Holy Week; otherwise, we are rarely all together in the same room at the same time. Perhaps we will now see each other more frequently.

After I received official word allowing me to tell people about my transfer, I immediately informed the parish staff, announced it at morning Mass, and published it in the parish bulletin. But what was the most efficient way to tell my friends and acquaintances? Then it occurred to me — the Internet, of course!

Late at night, I posted a brief notice on Facebook. Responses from friends and acquaintances began arriving within seconds — some from half way around the world.

One young man, a parishioner, posted his reaction in an area of Facebook that could be read by the general public.

He wrote cryptically, “I can’t believe the sad news. So sudden; too soon. Our dear pastor Father Tim will truly be missed by all.” People assumed I was dead. I had to quickly post a clarification. As Mark Twain once remarked, “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

Alive and well, I’ll soon be off on another adventure. I’ll keep you in the loop.

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

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10

The Anchor

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

NEW BEDFORD — Edward Mello has an affable nature but when it comes to protecting the children of his parish, his painstaking attention to detail to ensure their safety comes shining through.

The New Bedford native spent years traveling the United States and abroad as a member of a military family; his father served 23 years in the service. Regardless of what state or country he was living in, Mello said that his family shaped his Faith Formation by adhering to the weekly ritual of attending Sunday Mass.

“It was very important. When I was very young, our Sunday would be going to St. John the Baptist Church in New Bedford; every Sunday, we had to go there,” said Mello.

Mello was baptized at St. John the Baptist, received First Communion at Holy Name Parish in New Bedford and was confirmed at the chapel at Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod. Mello entered the Air Force right out of high school in 1969, and spent the bulk of his time in San Antonio, Texas.

He spent 16 months in Okinawa, Japan, but being the only son of his family, said Mello, saw him stay put instead of being sent into the Vietnam war zone.

“God, country and family — in that order,” said Mello, of his innate belief system.

“I served my country but I was serving God at the same time, and my family was important. Being in the service for four years was important to me. I believe in the Constitution and I believe in Americans being free, so it

Parishioner puts children first

was worth every minute while serving.” past 28 years, and is currently the chartered Upon his return to New Bedford, he organization representative for his parish. joined the Immaculate Conception Parish He oversees the Cub and Boy Scouts and the in New Bedford — his wife’s parish — and venturing crew, making sure all the papertaught seventh- and eighth-grade Faith For- work is in order and everything is “staying mation classes. on a steady course,” said Mello.

“You needed to believe in God and Je“I find that Scouting is a good basis for sus,” said Mello, of the lessons he taught his kids because the Scouts also use religion,” students, “because even though it may not said Mello. “You can’t say they’re a Catholic seem important to unit because Scoutyou at a young age, ing is non-denomit’s when you start inational, but it’s to get older, [your there for everyone. faith] will have They have religious more meaning.” awards in Boy and He soon joined Cub Scouts, even St. Joseph’s Parleaders can get reliish in New Bedford gious awards. And (now St. Josephkids learn the right St. Therese Parish) way to do things, not only teaching not the wrong way, classes but for the and you hope they past 10 years has keep those values.” been the program’s Being director of unpaid director. He the Faith Formation explained the nuprogram as well as merous duties his the Scouting cranks position entails, inMello into overcluding purchasing drive when it comes books and coordito paperwork, espenating the teachers’ cially when staying schedules and curon top of the crimiriculums. nal offender record He also has held information forms. numerous positions Anchor Person of the week Every adult having in the Boy Scouts of — Edward Mello (Photo by Becky “more than five or America during the Aubut) 10 minutes” of contact with a child has to be CORI-checked, and this includes not just Scout leaders and teachers, but also extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, choir members and adult volunteers.

Mello has even instituted a one-door policy during scout meetings. Leaders are posted at the only entrance/exit allowed open during the meetings and Mello has created a tangible safeguard for those seeking entrance.

“I’m the only one that I know of, that got approved for a card through Catholic Social Services, and I give it to them with their name on it, the date they did the CORI, and with the date that it’s due [to be resubmitted] so that we know ahead of time,” said Mello.

Initially done by hand, the CORI statuses of all those involved are now entered into a program that Mello set up through his computer.

“I have all the names of those who have had CORIs done, which is 115 to 120 names,” explained Mello. “I have it set up so that every month anybody who needs to

June 8, 2012

be CORI checked for that month will come up on the first of the month. I send them the CORI forms to their house and they send them back with a copy of their license, and I fill out all the rest of the paperwork and file it with Catholic Social Services.”

Mello stays up-to-date with the annual color changes to certain forms. He is also a certified abuse prevention trainer and teaches classes to adults who need to begin the CORI-checking process.

Mello’s diligence has paid off in spades; when it came time for an audit to see if the Fall River Diocese was in compliance with the Dallas Charter, a set of policies established by the U.S. bishops to create a safe environment for children and young people, St. Joseph-St. Therese Parish was selected as the audit site.

“Someone from Oklahoma came down, and I had all my paperwork there. I showed them exactly what I do, how I process it and the paperwork I keep,” said Mello.

“They picked my parish because I’m very meticulous with my paperwork. I have records from when I started up until now, and if there’s anything they need to see, I have it.”

Mello is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, delivering the Eucharist to patients at Sacred Heart Nursing Home in New Bedford every Monday.

“That’s really nice. I love working with patients there. The time that you spend with them,” said Mello, “I don’t know how to put it. You get repaid many times over when you spend time with them. Some don’t have a family, some have family but not a big family: when I go there, they want to talk.

It’s really nice and a good feeling to help out over there.”

Retired from the postal service after 24 years, the father of three and grandfather to nine has been married for 38 years. Mello passed on his devotion to his children, and every grandchild has been baptized, received First Communion and, depending if they are of age, received Confirmation. Mello wishes all parents had the same commitment he and his wife did to raising children to appreciate their Catholic faith.

“I wish parents would take their children to church,” said Mello. “It really drives me crazy as a director because as soon as CCD is over, they’re gone. That isn’t the way it should be. God doesn’t take a day off and neither should they; in life, you can always work around it. I would like to see more parents and children come to church.”

To submit a Person of the Week nominee, send an email with information to fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org.

11

The Anchor

June 8, 2012

Area priest and native of Ireland leads trip to Eucharistic Congress

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

TAUNTON — For several years, Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Fall River had asked Father Edward A. Murphy, a native of Cork, Ireland, when he was going to lead a pilgrimage to his home land. “I told them I was waiting for an important event to happen there to do so,” he told The Anchor. “The 50th International Eucharistic Congress turns out to be that event.”

Father Murphy, chaplain of Morton Hospital in Taunton, will accompany 20 area pilgrims from various parishes on a journey to the Emerald Island to attend the congress and absorb the charisms of some of the many holy sites in the Dublin area.

“I’m proud and happy to bring so many people to my home country, especially in this economy, for such an important event as the Eucharistic Congress,” he continued.

A Eucharistic Congress is a gathering of Catholic faithful from around the world whose goal it is to draw an awareness of the centrality of the holy Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church, in addition to helping the attendees better understand the celebration of the Liturgy.

The first-ever Eucharistic Congress was initiated by Pope Leo in Lille, France in June of 1881. The event is held every four years at a different location. The last time the congress was held in Ireland was in 1932, the 1,500th anniversary of St. Patrick. The last gathering was in 2008 in Quebec, Canada. It was there, at the final Mass, where Pope Benedict XVI announced, via a live television feed from the Vatican, that Ireland would host the

next congress. “I take this opportunity to greet warmly the people of Ireland as they prepare to host this ecclesial gathering,” he said. “I am confident that they, together with all the participants at the next congress, will find it a source of lasting spiritual renewal.”

It turns out that the timing of

Father Edward A. Murphy

the congress in Ireland is very important. Over the last several years, the Church in Ireland has been rocked by clergy-sex abuse scandals, and like many of its neighboring European nations and has been experiencing a decline in Mass attendance and reverence for the Eucharist.

“Ireland is at a crossroads right now,” said Father Murphy. “It’s my great hope that this Eucharistic Congress will develop an enthusiasm for the Mass again. Ireland has always been a very religious country and Mass has always been dear to the Irish people.” His prayer is that those traits, through the congress, will spread to more people.

The congress, themed “The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another,” runs from June 10-17, beginning on the feast of Corpus Christi. “As a child growing up in Cork, I remember my family would always fly a flag on Corpus Christi Sunday,” recalled Father Murphy. “Back then it didn’t mean that much to me, but now it does. It was the flag of the Vatican. I also remember many people taking part in the Corpus Christi processions.”

The week-long congress is filled with speakers, liturgical celebrations, Reconciliation sessions, and eucharistic adoration and processions. There are special sessions for young adults and children, music, and various exhibitions and prayer venues.

Patron saints for the 2012 International Eucharistic Congress are St. Columbanus, a European missionary during the middle ages, St. Mary MacKillop, the daughter of Scottish immigrants to Australia and foundress of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and Blessed Margaret Ball, an Irish woman known for her great devotion to the Eucharist who was imprisoned for providing a place to celebrate Mass in her home.

The 50th celebration of the congress coincides with the 50th anniversary of Vatican II and also the 70th anniversary of Family Rosary, a part of Holy Cross Family Ministries, headquartered in Easton. Family Rosary was founded by Servant of God Patrick Peyton, a Holy Cross priest born in Ireland.

Family Rosary will take part in the congress, hosting the House of Mary Chapel. On its

website at www.familyrosary. org, the ministry invites area pilgrims to visit the chapel, “a place for you to feel at home as you pray, reflect, share, and have a cup of tea with us in an inviting atmosphere.”

Its Rosary Chapel will host a multimedia meditation on the Mysteries of Light, as well as a presentation on Father Peyton’s life and mission to encourage world peace and family unity through praying the Rosary.

The Family Rosary venue will be located on Haddington Road, Dublin 4 Ireland.

This will be the first time Father Murphy has attended an International Eucharistic Congress. “I look forward to this occasion very much,” he said. “People in many countries around the world don’t go to Mass anymore. I hope this congress can rejuvenate it.”

For more information on the 2012 International Eucharistic Congress, visit www.iec2012.ie.

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@ anchornews.org

12

June 8, 2012

The Anchor

There’s just something

S

ometimes you just have a feeling about someone. You can’t explain it, you just know.

That happened when I met Denise at a New Year’s Eve party some 35 years ago. I knew she was the one.

She didn’t share that feeling at the time, but I knew.

There are other feelings as well, and I had the chance this week to think back on two of those instances.

Deacon Jason Brilhante came into The Anchor office this week for an interview just prior to his ordination to the priesthood

My View From the Stands

By Dave Jolivet tomorrow. I wasn’t conducting the interview, but he stopped by my office to say hello.

Jason and I go back a few years, having first met while teammates on an Emmaus retreat weekend in 2004 or 2005.

At the time, he was still a student at Bryant University and hadn’t yet discerned his calling to the priesthood.

But there was something about Jason. While going through the team formation process and throughout the weekend, I watched as he blossomed. He was so comfortable in an environment centered around Christ. His interaction with the candidates was seamless.

He was their peer, yet he had so much to offer as well.

He had a peace about him.

We bonded as brothers on that weekend. Not the type of brothers together all the time, but the type of brothers that when you do interact, it’s a real treat.

When Jason visited this week, we reminisced about our first meeting. He also shared how excited and grateful he was that his day of ordination was nearly here.

Jason had more than just a peace about him this week. He was filled with a joy that he just couldn’t hide ... not that he would want to. There was a great big smile on his face the whole time he

talked about his priestly formation and his hopes for the future.

His eyes literally were filled with life, and that’s a great gift to bring to those he will be serving as a priest in this diocese. I knew there was something about Jason.

And there still is.

I also had the pleasure of hooking up with another Emmaus teammate, who, when I met him, had something about him.

Father Tom Costa just received his first pastorate since his 2005 ordination as a priest of the Fall River Diocese.

Tom and I met during formation for an Emmaus weekend in the late 1990s. In addition to his great sense of humor, I truly admired his faith. It wasn’t an evangelistic type of faith, but one that shined forth through his good times and his bad times.

I think he may have been discerning his calling when we met, but I knew there was something about him.

We got the chance to talk this week, when I called him for an interview for this week’s Anchor.

Since this wasn’t a Skype call, I couldn’t read his countenance, but I could sense the joy in voice.

He is eager to take on the responsibilities of being a new pastor. I could tell he is also very grateful for the blessings he’s received as a parochial vicar and school chaplain and hospital chaplain. One of his comments greatly touched my heart and soul. When talking about his priestly experiences to date, he said he’s learned “there’s nothing to be afraid of spiritually.” His ministry is truly in God’s hands.

It was great talking with Tom, as is always the case. There was something about Tom. Still is.

I’m certain we all meet that person who has that “something” we can’t quite explain. Pay attention to it. He or she may end up being your spouse, or they may be on the road to a life of service to God and His children. In that case a few prayers sent their way would be in order.

Be sure to visit the Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese.org The site includes links to parishes, diocesan offices and national sites.

uneasy reading — Nathan Phillips, Ingrid Bolso Berdal and Jonathan Sadowski star in a scene from the movie “Chernobyl Diaries.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below.

(CNS photo/Warner Bros.)

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.

“Chernobyl Diaries” (Warner Bros.)

Grueling horror exercise in which a quartet of young Americans abroad (Jonathan Sadowski, Devin Kelley, Jesse McCartney and Olivia Taylor Dudley) get more than they bargained for when they hire an extreme-tourism travel guide (Dimitri Diatchenko) to take them to a Ukrainian city that had to be instantly evacuated in the wake of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and that has remained ostensibly deserted ever since. When their vehicle is mysteriously sabotaged, they, their dodgy docent and two of his other clients (Ingrid Bolso Berdal and Nathan Phillips) find themselves stranded amid radiation, predatory wild animals and an even more sinister source of danger the embattled ensemble only gradually come to understand. In his feature debut, director Brad Parker conjures up the occasional jolt. But unlikely plot elements and largely unsympathetic — and shallow — characters work against audience involvement. Gruesome scenes of the wounded and the dead, moreover, together with a barrage of foul language from the jittery and the doomed, make this morally unsuitable for most. Intermittent but intense violence with gore, a few uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language, occasional sexual references, an obscene gesture. The Catholic News

Service classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

“Crooked Arrows” (Peck) Lacrosse returns to its Native American roots in this spirited drama about a ragtag high school team and its flawed manager — who must somehow chart a path to victory and redemption. The boss (Brandon Routh) of a sleazy casino on an Indian reservation wants to expand the business, but requires the approval of the tribal council, led by his estranged fa-

ther (Gil Birmingham). Seeing an opportunity for his worldly son to reconnect with his heritage, dad demands that he return home to coach the lacrosse team and “restore pride to our game.”

Directed by Steve Rash, the film includes some thrilling moments on the lacrosse pitch as it builds to a David-vs.-Goliath climax.

Intense contact-sports violence, brief rear locker-room nudity, some sexual innuendo, a few crude terms. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG13 — parents strongly cautioned.

Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, June 10, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father John A. Gomes, Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in South Dartmouth

June 8, 2012

13

The Anchor

Abby Johnson launching ministry focused on abortion workers

Screen shot of the Becket Fund’s HHS mandate website at www.becketfund.org/hhsinformationcentral/.

Religious liberty group launches massive HHS mandate site

Washington D.C. (CNA/ EWTN News) — A legal group that aims to defend religious freedom has launched a new website offering a wealth of resources on the HHS mandate, and the various lawsuits that have been filed against it.

“There was a lot of misinformation out there on the mandate,” said Emily Hardman, attorney and communications director for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a D.C.-based organization.

Hardman told CNA that the Becket Fund “wanted to provide an accurate, concise and useful resource for reporters and the general public.”

She explained that when the information “is laid out clearly in one place,” it is evident that the mandate’s requirements violate the First Amendment’s protections of religious freedom.

On May 22, the Becket Fund launched a webpage to serve as a centralized resource for information surrounding the contraception mandate. The webpage tracks the lawsuits that have been filed against the mandate by plaintiffs ranging from EWTN to seven U.S. states to two private business owners.

A total of 23 lawsuits have been filed by 55 plaintiffs to challenge a federal mandate that will require employers and colleges to offer health insurance plans covering contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, even if doing so violates their consciences.

The regulation has received widespread criticism from indi-

viduals and groups from a variety of religious and political backgrounds.

Bishops from every diocese in the U.S. have spoken out against the mandate, warning that it violates religious freedom and could force Catholic hospitals, schools and charitable agencies to shut down in order to adhere to their beliefs.

The Becket Fund’s webpage lists the date that each lawsuit was filed, as well as the identity of the plaintiffs, the district where it was filed and the law firm that is handling the case. It also includes links to legal documents, press releases and additional information related to each case.

In addition, the webpage offers an interactive map to illustrate the distribution of the lawsuits throughout the country, as well as a timeline tracking developments regarding the mandate.

Belmont Abbey College filed the first lawsuit challenging the mandate in November 2011. In the months that followed, lawsuits were also filed by several other colleges, including Colorado Christian University, Louisiana College and Ave Maria University.

In February, the mandate was further challenged by the states of Nebraska, South Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Florida, Ohio and Oklahoma.

Private business owners have also joined in objecting to the mandate, arguing that religious freedom extends not only to religious organizations but also to religious individuals seeking to run non-religious companies in

accordance with their faith.

Frank O’Brien of O’Brien Industrial Holdings, LLC, has filed a lawsuit against the mandate, along with the owners of Hercules Industries, Inc., a heating, ventilation and air conditioning manufacturer based in Colorado.

On May 21, a new wave of lawsuits was announced by 43 dioceses and Catholic organizations in 12 districts throughout the country.

Among the latest plaintiffs are the archdioceses of New York, St. Louis and Washington D.C., the Catholic publishing group Our Sunday Visitor and several Catholic Charities organization from around the U.S. The Catholic University of America, Franciscan University of Steubenville and the University of Notre Dame also filed May 21 lawsuits, along with the dioceses of Pittsburgh, Dallas and Springfield.

Detailed information about the lawsuits can be found at the Becket Fund’s mandate resource webpage at: http://www.becketfund.org/ hhsinformationcentral/.

Denver, Colo.

(CNA/ EWTN News) — Abortion clinic director turned Pro-Life activist Abby Johnson has announced she will launch of a new ministry to help people trying to leave the abortion industry.

“We have hundreds of ministries for post-abortive women and men. There is literally nothing for these former clinic workers,” Johnson said. “We are going to change that.”

The new outreach, which is called “And Then There Were None,” will focus on providing emotional, spiritual, financial and legal support to clinic workers as they transition out of the abortion industry.

“Our goal is to proactively reach out to workers in the abortion industry to try to help them find other non-abortion related employment,” Johnson said in a recent statement.

Johnson felt prompted to create “And Then There Were None” after having helped several clinic employees transition out of the abortion industry over the past several months.

Aside from prayer, the “most crucial aspect” of the organization is raising money “so these clinic workers can literally afford to leave the abortion industry.”

The organization will allow supporters to donate funds to help workers continue to provide for their families while seeking other employment.

The group will also provide counseling, spiritual guidance for any religious denomination, and free legal support when necessary.

Johnson experienced a conversion and left the abortion industry after having worked at Planned Parenthood for eight years, two of which were spent as the clinic’s director.

After assisting in an ultrasoundguided abortion, Johnson had a “massive change of heart,” but was also influenced by the prayers of the Texas-based Pro-Life group, Coalition for Life.

Planned Parenthood attempted to file a restraining order against Johnson, citing their concern that she would share confidential information about the clinic and patients. The request was denied by a Texas judge on Nov. 9, 2009.

After much prayer and researching Blessed John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body,” Johnson entered the Catholic Church in 2011.

More information on the Johnson’s new ministry is available at the websites www.attwn.org and www.exposingthelie.com.

14

The Anchor

New vicar general, moderator of the curia appointed continued from page one

“I have the utmost confidence in Father Mathias and look forward to his advice and help,” wrote the bishop. The vicar general is an appointment made by a diocesan bishop that deputizes an individual to exercise episcopal jurisdiction in the name of the bishop.

“I remain shocked and surprised that I was chosen for this role in the diocese,” Father Mathias told The Anchor.

“I never envisioned myself serving in this capacity. It was never on my ‘radar.’

“Generally speaking, I understand that I will be something of a liaison between the bishop and the presbyterate as well as an advisor to the bishop, in collaboration with the deans, Presbyteral Council and the college of consultors.”

Bishop Coleman, in his announcement of Father Mathias’ appointment, also stated, “In this capacity he Father Gregory A. will also overMathias see the area of priestly personnel. I am grateful to Father Mathias for his acceptance of these additional and weighty responsibilities.”

“I imagine that oversight of priestly personnel will entail an awareness of the needs of the priests along with the needs of the parishes in the diocese,” added Father Mathias. “In a time when our ranks have become very thin, I assume it will be important to provide whatever support I can to the priests in the form of listening to their concerns and, hopefully, providing concrete assistance in whatever ways that are available. Notwithstanding the fancysounding title, I think this role has to be understood in terms of service. I hope that I can be of service.”

Father Mathias was born in Providence, R.I., and attended St. John’s School of Theology in Brighton. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Fall River on June 29, 1991 by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin.

He has served at Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich, St. Mark’s in Attleboro Falls, St. Mary’s in Norton, and as pastor at St. Julie Billiart in North Dartmouth.

His diocesan appointments include chaplain at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, chaplain at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, and as diocesan director of the Office of Family Ministry. He has also earned a licentiate in Sacred Theology and Marriage and Family at the Pope John Paul II Institute in Washington, D.C. Regarding his pastoral change, Father Mathias noted, “It is painful to leave a parish assignment wherein you’ve bonded with people and become part of the family. I suspect most priests experience a sense of sadness at having to leave combined with uncertainty about the future. There re-

mains the daunting task of gaining the trust of a new parish, and adapting to a new environment. But, this is where the rubber hits the road in terms of faith.”

Father McManus will give up his pastoral duties at St. Ann’s, where he has served for the last 12 years. “This has been a significant sacrifice on his part,” wrote Bishop Coleman in a letter announcing the appointments. “I believe that his responsibilities as moderator of the curia and chancellor require his full-time attention and energies and I thank him for his generous response to my request.”

“It is difficult to leave parish ministry,” Father McManus told The Anchor.

“I have had the good fortune of serving as the pastor of St. Ann’s in Raynham. It is a vibrant community of faith — filled Father Michael K. with wonderMcManus ful people and a good mix of young families and older folks. I reminded them that not many men have the good fortune of serving in one place for 12 years. As priests we are to undertake whatever assignment that the bishop feels will help him in fulfilling his responsibility of caring for the pastoral care of the people.”

As moderator of the curia, Bishop Coleman wrote that Father McManus will “serve as the director of operations, coordinating the many departments of the diocesan curia.”

“I have had some administrative responsibilities since June of 1986 having served as diocesan Finance Officer, Vice Chancellor, and Chancellor for three of our bishops,” Father McManus told The Anchor. “During that time I have had the opportunity to closely observe how the Bishop’s Office is to interact with the pastors, various apostolates and agencies. As Moderator it will be my responsibility to make sure that that interaction is as coordinated as possible.”

Father McManus was born in Taunton and attended Coyle and Cassidy High School and Holy Cross College. He went to St. John’s Seminary in Brighton and was ordained a priest of the Fall River Diocese on June 22, 1985 by Bishop Cronin at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

He served at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River and was appointed vice chancellor and later diocesan finance officer in 1986.

Bishop Sean O’Malley appointed him secretary for temporalities in 1994 and in 1995 Father McManus was named chancellor.

Father McManus has also served as administrator of St. Thomas More Parish in Somerset, as well as his current position as pastor of St. Ann’s in Raynham.

June 8, 2012

Jason Brilhante to be ordained a priest continued from page one

he served as a member of the youth group, an instructor in Religious Education, and an altar boy, Rev. Mr. Brilhante said he remembers being told by several diocesan priests that he would be a good priest.

“I just dismissed it and thought they were trying to meet their quotas,” Rev. Mr. Brilhante said. “I never really gave it any serious consideration until having gone on several retreats — one of them being an Emmaus retreat where I met a seminarian. That’s when I first began to see the opportunity to ask questions about seminarian life and the priesthood. I wanted to know more about the timing and formation involved.”

After further reflection and prayer, Rev. Mr. Brilhante said the Holy Spirit helped him discern his true calling.

After completing his studies at Bryant University, he attended the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, Neb. during the summer of 2007 and was assigned to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville for the summer of 2009. He has also been assigned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in New Bedford both during Portuguese language studies as well as in pastoral preparation for ordination.

Rev. Mr. Brilhante earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. John’s Seminary in 2008 and received his master’s degree in divinity last month.

With 10 years of education now behind him, Rev. Mr. Brilhante said it was all an important part of his formation.

“That’s one of the four pillars of priestly formation,” he said. “It’s really necessary when you think about everything involved in a priestly ministry. We need to preach and promote the faith in an intelligent manner.”

In addition to his academic studies, Rev. Mr. Brilhante said he has taken the initiative to speak to many priests and pastors in the Fall River Diocese to learn as much as he can about their ministry.

“Essentially it comes down to the fact that you’re configured to Christ and you’re a mediator between God and the people and you have to be holy — that’s what the Sacraments are there for,” he said. “All of the priests in the diocese have been good examples of the priesthood to me, and they’ve all given me some priestly counsel that has been effective. I’ve learned a lot from them.”

One of his priestly mentors, Father Edward Correia, pastor of St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s parishes in Fall River, will be vesting him during his ordination tomorrow.

Rev. Mr. Brilhante will also be celebrating his first Mass on Sunday at 2 p.m. at St. Michael’s Church, during which Father Gastão Oliveira, pastor of Santo

Christo Parish in Fall River, will be giving the principal homily in Portuguese.

“I had been assigned to work with Father Oliveira at Santo Christo Parish in 2010,” Rev. Mr. Brilhante said. “I admire his conviction for the Lord and his eloquence in explaining the Gospel and communicating that effectively to the people.”

Father Casey Beaumier, S.J., a Jesuit priest from Boston College, will also offer a brief post-Communion reflection in English during Rev. Mr. Brilhante’s first Mass.

“He was my spiritual advisor during the past year and he’s been a great help in my formation process,” he said.

The youngest of five children and the son of parents who emigrated from the Azores in 1978, Rev. Mr. Brilhante said he is pleased that his first Mass will be bilingual, since he’s studied Portuguese in preparation for his ministry.

“I enjoy speaking Portuguese, but it’s different when you’re preaching and celebrating Mass,” he said. “There’s a different vocabulary involved and you want to give dignity to the Word of God.” He’s also very excited that his family will be present at his ordination tomorrow to share in the Sacrament.

“My parents and siblings are all very proud and happy,” he said. “They’ve all been very supportive of my vocation to the priesthood. It certainly has made the process of my formation much easier. I’m also very thankful to all the parishioners at St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s who have been very supportive to me as well. I appreciate everyone’s support and prayers during my priestly formation. It has given me a great deal of encouragement.”

Although he doesn’t yet know where his first parochial assignment will be, Rev. Mr. Brilhante is excited to begin his ministry.

“I’m just praying that the Holy Spirit will put me where I’m most needed,” he said. “I look forward to getting assigned to a parish and begin serving the people.

I’m anxious to get to know them and become a parish priest — that’s what being a diocesan priest is all about. As a transitional deacon I enjoyed baptizing children, but now I’m looking forward to administering the other Sacraments after being ordained.”

As the sole new priest to be ordained in the diocese this year, Rev. Mr. Brilhante urged everyone to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood.

“Keep praying for priestly vocations for the Diocese of Fall River,” he said.

“There are certainly many good young men being called to the priesthood — they should not be ashamed of it, they should be proud to answer God’s calling.”

Visit The Anchor online at http://www.anchornews.org

June 8, 2012

15

The Anchor

Five new pastors named, several priests reassigned continued from page one

my first Mass with the people at Annunciation of the Lord Parish and praying with them.”

Father Fedak is becoming pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dartmouth.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to leading the Parish of St. Nicholas of Myra,” he told The Anchor. “I come with a lot of energy and excitement, and I’m ready to take on any challenges that may await.

Father David M. Andrade

Father Freddie Babiczuk

“I feel I’ve learned a lot over the years, especially at my assignment at Immaculate Conception in North Easton, and I hope to bring those experiences to St. Nicholas where we can work together as one flock. My prayer is that the parish continues to grow and that I can lead people to Christ through holy Mass, visiting the sick and bringing people together.”

He is a Connecticut native, attended

Father Richard E. Degagne

Father Timothy J. Goldrick

St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, and was ordained a priest of the Fall River Diocese on June 13, 1998 by then-Bishop Sean P. O’Malley.

He has served as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk, at St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford, and at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth, and as a parochial administrator at Immaculate Conception Parish in North Easton. Father Fedak has also been chaplain at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth.

Father Johnson will take over pastor duties at Good Shepherd and St. Stanislaus parishes in Fall River. “I’m very grateful to Bishop Coleman for giving me this opportunity,” he said. “I’m overwhelmed and humbled by getting two parishes. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Father Johnson was born in Boston.

He was ordained as a Cistercian Father in Spencer, Mass. on Aug. 24, 1991 at St. Joseph’s Abbey. He was a Trappist Monk for 37 years. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Fall River in August of 2011. “My Cistercian experiences gave me a great appreciation and love

for the Catholic faith and Liturgy.”

He was assigned to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville in 2006 while serving as chaplain at Cape Cod Hospital. After two years there he was assigned to St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis for one year while continuing at the hospital. Then he was assigned to his most recent position as chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.

“My years in hospital ministry were

Father Marc H. Bergeron

Father Paul Bernier

rich and rewarding,” he told The Anchor. “It was a blessing to receive the pastoral energy it entails.

“I’m looking forward to working with the students at St. Stanislaus School. It’s a whole new world for me.”

“Twenty-two years ago I received a calling to the priesthood while I was at Medjugorje,” Father Murphy told The Anchor. “I was there in May, and after telling my vocation story to the congre-

Father Mark R. Hession

Father Thomas M. Kocik

gation at St. James Church there, I received a phone call from Bishop Coleman. He asked me to be pastor at St. Anthony’s Parish in New Bedford. I received the news at the same place I received my calling. I told the bishop that the Apostles waited nine days to hear the Holy Spirit, and I waited nine years to hear the Holy Spirit through him.”

Father Murphy was born in Cork, Ireland. He attended St. Charles’ Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fall River by Bishop O’Malley on June 13, 1998 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

He has served as a parochial vicar at Holy Name Parish in Fall River, and as a chaplain at Morton Hospital in Taunton.

“I am very happy to take on the pastorate at St. Anthony’s in New Bedford,” he said. “I look forward to administering to God’s people there. Everybody is welcome. I have been leader of prayer groups in the Diocese of Fall River and I hope to be able to continue that as well. And I have ministered to the sick in Taunton and I’ll be able to do so in New Bedford now.

“St. Anthony’s is such a beautiful

Father Roger J. Landry

Father Gregory A. Mathias

church and I admire the commitment of the people who built it. St. Anthony is my patron saint and I was ordained as a deacon on his feast day, and I was ordained as a deacon at St. Anthony’s Church in New Bedford.”

Father Thibault will become pastor at St. Mary’s Parish in South Dartmouth.

“I’m just getting started as pastor at a very vibrant parish,” he told The Anchor. “It has 2,400 families and 500 children in the Religious Education program. I hope to bring the various experiences I’ve had as a priest and I hope they help me to become a good pastor.”

Father John C. Ozug

Father Craig A. Pregana

Father Thibault was born in Fall River and his seminary training was at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

He was ordained as a priest of the Fall River Diocese on July 14, 2001 by Bishop O’Malley at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

He served as a parochial vicar at Holy Family Parish in East Taunton, before returning to Rome to attend Angelicum University to earn a licentiate in Canon Law. He became a judge for the diocesan Tribunal Office in 2005.

He has also served at St. John the Baptist Parish in New Bedford, Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich, and St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown.

In addition to his new pastoral duties, Father Thibault will continue as a judge for the Tribunal, and will become the diocesan director of Pastoral Care of the Sick, and remaining chaplain at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford.

“I have to pinch myself everyday since Bishop Coleman told me of the pastoral assignment,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it and I pray I will be able to balance all the responsibilities I have.”

Father Kocik will take over as administrator at St. Anne’s Parish in Fall River.

He was born in Binghamton, N.Y. and was ordained a priest of the Fall River Diocese

by Bishop O’Malley at St. Mary’s Cathedral on June 14, 1997.

He has served as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk, St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, St. Joseph’s Parish in Taunton, and at Santo Christo Parish in Fall River.

Father Kocik has also served as a

Father John M. Murray

Father Bruce M. Neylon

chaplain at Morton Hospital in Taunton and Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.

The following pastors have been given new assignments: Father David M. Andrade to St. Louis de France in Swansea, from Holy Trinity in Fall River.

Father Freddie Babiczuk to St. John of God in Somerset, from Good Shepherd in Fall River.

Father Marc H. Bergeron to Our Lady of Fatima in New Bedford, from St. Anne’s in Fall River.

Father Paul Bernier to St. Patrick’s

Father Richard M. Roy

Father Richard D. Wilson

in Somerset, from rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.

Father Timothy J. Goldrick to St. Patrick’s in Falmouth, from St. Nicholas of Myra in North Dighton.

Father Mark R. Hession to Our Lady of the Assumption in Osterville, while remaining pastor of Our Lady of Victory in Centerville.

Father Roger J. Landry to St. Bernadette’s in Fall River, from St. Anthony’s in New Bedford.

Father John M. Murray to St. Ann in Raynham, from Holy Ghost and St. Joseph’s in Attleboro.

Father Bruce M. Neylon to Holy Trinity in Fall River, from St. Stanislaus in Fall River.

Father John C. Ozug to rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River, from Our Lady of Fatima in New Bedford.

Father Richard M. Roy to St. Julie Billiart in North Dartmouth, from St. John the Evangelist in Attleboro.

Father Richard D. Wilson to St. John the Evangelist, Holy Ghost, and St. Joseph’s in Attleboro, from Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford.

All of these changes are effective June 27.

Father Richard E. Degagne to Immaculate Conception in North Easton, from St. John Neumann in East Freetown, effective July 3.

Father Craig C. Pregana to Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford, and Diocesan Director of the Hispanic Apostolate, from St. Rose of Lima, Guaimaca, Honduras, effective August 1.

16

Youth Pages

drum roll please — Bishop Connolly High School senior Nate Goncalo, rear, gave drumming lessons to three Holy Name School students this past school year. The students had lessons Mondays and Fridays after school as part of a community service project created by Goncalo involving the two Fall River schools.

June 8, 2012

right on track — The New Bedford Deanery Catholic Schools Advisory Board recently conducted its second annual track meet. Four Catholic schools from the deanery participated; Holy Family-Holy Name and All Saints Catholic schools from New Bedford, St. Francis Xavier of Acushnet, and St. Joseph’s of Fairhaven. The meet was held at Cushman Park in Fairhaven. More than 300 took part in the event.

The track/running clubs have become part of each of the New Bedford area’s Catholic schools promoting good health, exercise, and good sportsmanship.

a new beginning — Second-grade students at St. John the Evangelist School and parish recently celebrated receiving their First Communion.

his majesty — Connor Riley, back row, center, an eighthgrade student at SS. Peter and Paul School in Fall River, was recently crowned king at the annual King of Spring contest.

this is a test — St. Mary’s Catholic School in Mansfield placed second in this year’s Quizbowl Tournament, hosted by St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School in Hyannis.

An exercise in charity — Msgr. Gerard O’Connor, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish, presents a check for $20,000 to Donald Pelletier, principal of St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet joined by pupils Thomas Marcotte, Hanah Hebert, Jarrick Camara and Skyler Samanica. Starting January 1, Msgr. O’Connor and 19 parishioners-parents participated in the 100-Day Burpee Challenge to raise money for the school technology program. During that period the athletes progressively executed burpees (a physical exercise) and asked people to sponsor their participation. The goal of $20,000 was achieved. The money is being used to replace the school’s technology infrastructure and to provide “smart-boards” for each classroom. Athletes who took part were: Beth Reis, Corey Cardoza, Dan Moniz, Derek Vieira, Jay Hamel, Jayme Duff, Dan Duff, Kevin Boyar, Lester Wilkinson, Michael Correia, Mike Russo, Mike Manzi, Msgr. Gerard O’Connor, Pat Correia, Phil Batista, Ray Concannon, Sarah Reis, Scott Botelho, Steven Booth, and Tony Pimentel.

June 8, 2012

C

ould someone please tell me where on earth 2012 has gone? It seems like yesterday that I was taking down the Christmas tree and we are already into the graduation season. Momma always said that time goes by faster as we get older. I just didn’t have any idea that it would be this fast.

Now that June is upon us, most of us are itching to take a break from the hum-drum of our September-to-May lives. For those who can, the workday will become a little shorter or the number of days off per month will increase.

We will spend more time outdoors. The new bathing suit we purchased two sizes

Youth Pages

17

The May-September romance

smaller three months ago in or youth). Unfortunately, the hopes that we would fit the summer months mean into it by Memorial Day is fewer people at Mass and in screaming to be taken to the particular fewer youth at the beach. parish.

But as we make our plans for the annual-and-muchneeded-respite, there is one thing that we should not be seeking respite from and that

By Crystal Medeiros is our faith. Our faith and Mass attendance is a life long, yearround January to December As Catholics in the United commitment. The May-toStates, so much of our Faith September vacation should Formation year hinders on not apply to God, our faith, whether or not the children the corporal works of mercy, and teen-agers are in school. social justice, or our Faith Yet, our faith is so much more Formation (whether for adults than that. It is an everyday

Be Not Afraid

lived experience that does not end when the school doors are locked for summer vacation.

The doors to our parishes never close. Every day they are opened to welcome us to the table and to become nourished in the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Our parishes welcome us to continue our faith and be enriched by it every day.

So here is a challenge for you whether you are an adult or a youth reading this article. Take some time this summer to reflect on your own spirituality and relationship with Jesus. When you are sitting at the beach or the park or participating in the summer activity of your choice, reflect on the beauty of nature. Take five minutes and say a simple prayer to God — it does not matter if it is one that you make up in conversation with Him or one of our tried and true

favorites like the Our Father or Hail Mary. But spend a few minutes each day in the Lord’s presence. Perhaps even open the Bible that may be collecting dust on the coffee table or book shelf and read a few passages from Scripture.

Then ask yourself, “What is God trying to tell me in this passage?”

We often hear about those summer romances. Why not make this summer one in which you start to develop a deeper relationship with our Risen Lord? Talk about your faith in the household, with family and friends. Let’s take the summer to spread the seeds of the Gospel message instead of pulling up the roots before packing the car.

Are you up for the challenge?

Crystal is assistant director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the diocese. She can be contacted at cmedeiros@dfrcec.com.

Cooking is ‘feeding souls’ continued from page 20

never forget — The students of St. Stanislaus School in Fall River gathered with veterans from the parish and school community for a Memorial Day service held at the World War II monument on the parish grounds. The service was led by Walter Wisniewski, rear, second from left, a parishioner who served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot evacuating the wounded from the front lines during the Vietnam War. He spoke of the meaning of freedom and the sacrifices required to maintain it. Students were reminded that no one hates war more than the warrior because he has seen the reality of that sacrifice. Quoting St. Augustine, Wisniewski reflected that “the end of all war is peace.” Later, eighth-grade students placed flags at the monument, one for each soldier whose name is recorded there. David Fontaine, a U.S. Army veteran played “Taps” as students laid a memorial wreath. Fourth-grade students presented the veterans at the service with flowers and a card thanking them for their service.

fitting tribute — Peter Thompson SFC, U.S. Army Retired, Veterans Graves Officer, organized the fifth-graders at St. Mary’s School in Taunton to place flags on the veterans’ graves at the old St. Mary’s Cemetery. Thompson explained to the children that he fought to keep this country safe and returned safe but many other soldiers died in combat defending the United States. Every year he remembers the fallen veterans by placing flags at their graves in remembrance for what they have done. From left: Laila Olegario, Matthew Fox, Shannon McGrady, Mark McMahon, Melissa Johnson, Hannah Cahill, Nicholas Habib, and Drew Arpin.

hearty laugh.

“I guess it helps people who don’t know me to understand me a little better,” she said. “Maybe it’s because I’m chubby and have a crazy laugh! I do love Paula Deen, but I have to confess that my favorite chef of all time, besides my grandmother, is another Fall River native — Emeril Lagasse. I’ve often said if you want an accurate depiction of who I am, if Emeril Lagasse and Paula Deen had a kid, that would be me.”

While she never had any formal culinary training, Johnson said she learned everything about cooking from her grandmother.

“Anybody can be a chef — because you’re taught how to be one — but not everyone can be a good cook,” she said. “That takes love. It’s a God-given gift.”

When she decided to publish her first cookbook earlier this year, Johnson said she had always hoped to launch it in her hometown of Fall River.

“I decided I wanted to come and launch my cookbook there and try to give back to the school that gave so much to me,” she said. “I’m hoping people will come out and support it. I also think coming home and meeting people will be amazing. It will be a blessing and a lift to me.”

Elise Johnson will be at SS. Peter and Paul School, 240 Dover Street in Fall River, on June 15 at 6 p.m. for a special booksigning event. A large portion of all book sales will benefit SS. Peter and Paul School.

Books can also be ordered online at www.cookingwithelise. com.

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth.

If schools or parish Religious Education programs, have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org

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The Anchor

Fortnight for Freedom: Let religious freedom ring continued from page one

fortnight begins June 21 with the vigil of the feast of SS. Thomas More and John Fisher.

St. Thomas More was born in London, England and was Chancellor of King Henry VIII. As a family man and a public servant, his life was a rare mix of human sensitivity and Christian wisdom. His belief that no lay ruler has jurisdiction over the Church of Christ cost Thomas More his life.

Interestingly, lay rulers are once again trying to exercise jurisdiction over the Church, as noted by the USCCB in their document, “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty,” when addressing the HHS mandate for contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs.

“The mandate of the Department of Health and Human Services has received wide attention and has been met with our vigorous and united opposition,” the document stated. “In an unprecedented way, the federal government will both force religious institutions to facilitate and fund a product contrary to their own moral teaching and purport to define which religious institutions are ‘religious enough’ to merit protection of their religious liberty. These features of the ‘preventive services’ mandate amount to an unjust law.”

At the beginning of this year Bishop George W. Coleman remarked on the negative impact the mandate had on the people of faith, writing that the mandate “strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens.”

In ruling that all employers, including Catholic employers, are going to be forced to offer sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception — all of which are in direct violation of the Catholic faith — in employees’ health coverage, the Obama Administration “has cast aside the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States,” wrote Bishop Coleman, “denying to Catholics and other faithfilled people our nation’s first and most fundamental freedom — that of religious liberty.”

Additional attacks on religious freedom include driving Catholic foster care and adoption services practically into extinction over the refusal to place children with same-sex couples or unmarried opposite-sex couples who cohabitate; passing laws to punish charity given to undocumented immigrants; altering Church structure and governance with a proposed bill by the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut Legislature that would force Catholic parishes to conform to

a congregational model; and discriminating against small church congregations, as evidenced by New York City enacting a rule that barred 61 churches from renting public schools on weekends for worship services, even though non-religious groups could rent the same space for their own functions.

Faithful in dioceses across the nation are being asked to recite the Prayer for Religious Liberty at Masses during the Fortnight for Freedom as well as at home.

Parishes are encouraged to create bulletin messages alerting parishioners of events during the Fortnight, and making available the prayer and statement “Our First, Most Cherished Freedom,” which can be found online at fortnight4freedom.org. Dioceses are already rising to the occasion and planning events outside of the suggest parameters.

The Archdiocese of Boston will be joining together as an expression of unity on religious freedom, encouraging the recitation of the “Prayer for Religious Liberty” at Masses during the Fortnight for Freedom, and asking parishioners to pray it at home. Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap., will be taking questions from the viewing audience during a live Town Hall Meeting on June 25 at 8 p.m.

The Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Kan., will hold a Fortnight Mass on June 21 followed by a rally led by Bishop Michael O.

Jackels to the U.S. Courthouse.

The fourth Friday of every month will renew the rallying cry every week as diocesan members will continue to gather at noon on the courthouse steps until the HHS mandate is overturned.

Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer is requesting all Catholics within the Diocese of Savannah, Ga., to join in and celebrate a special Mass to be held in a public square. The “Faith and Freedom Mass” will be held on July 1: “As bishops, we encourage the faithful to bring the light of the Gospel to our public life and focus ‘all the energies the Catholic community can muster’ to demonstrate the importance of continued protection of religious liberty in a free society,” said Bishop Hartmayer.

The Diocese of Allentown, Pa., has created a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation to highlight the principles of “Our First, Most Cherished Freedom” to be used in educational outreach.

Two public seminars are scheduled for the Saturday mornings of the Fortnight, to be held at the Alvernia University and DeSales University, both institutions of Catholic higher education within the diocese. The format includes a common presentation on the USCCB document, a panel discussion, an open forum, the prayer for liberty, and an opportunity to participate in the petition/letter-signing drive.

Panelists for these seminars will

June 8, 2012 include academic experts.

On June 21, a Mass in Baltimore, Md., will be offered at 7 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, to be celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, to open the Fortnight for Freedom.

On July 4, a Mass in Washington, D.C. will be nationally

televised from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, to be celebrated

by Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington and homilist Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM, Cap., of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The Mass will be televised nationwide on the EWTN cable network. (Check your local listings.)

June 8, 2012

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese

Acushnet — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds eucharistic adoration in the Shrine Church every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. through November 17.

ATTLEBORO — St. Joseph Church holds eucharistic adoration in the Adoration Chapel located at the (south) side entrance at 208 South Main Street, Sunday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Brewster — Eucharistic adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m. Mass.

East Freetown — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. John Neumann Church every Monday (excluding legal holidays) 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady, Mother of All Nations Chapel. (The base of the bell tower).

East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place in the chapel at Holy Family Parish Center, 438 Middleboro Avenue, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. On First Fridays, eucharistic adoration takes place at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. until 7:45 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has eucharistic adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at noon. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration. Refreshments follow.

Fall River — SS. Peter and Paul Parish will have eucharistic adoration on March 30 in the parish chapel, 240 Dover Street, from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

Fall River — Espirito Santo Parish, 311 Alden Street, Fall River. Eucharistic adoration on Mondays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

Father Thomas F. Murray

SOUTH BOSTON — Father Thomas F. Murray passed away May 26 at Marion Manor in South Boston. He was 81 years old.

Born in Dorchester on Sept.

23, 1930 to Thomas and Grace (McGee) Murray, he was one of four of their five children who would go on to enter priestly or religious life. Father Murray is the brother of Sister Frances Murray CSJ of Framingham and the late Sister Aileen Murray CSJ, Msgr. Robert Murray and Grace Sexton.

He attended Boston College High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston College before entering St. John’s Seminary. He was ordained by Bishop Jeremiah F. Minihan on Feb. 2, 1957 at Holy Name Church in West Roxbury.

His first assignment following ordination was as parochial vicar at St. Anne Parish in Pea-

In Your Prayers

FALL RIVER — Notre Dame Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has eucharistic adoration on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the chapel.

Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has eucharistic adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

June 9 Rev. Timothy J. Calnen, Pastor, St. Joseph, Woods Hole, 1945 Rev. Joseph S. Larue, Pastor, Sacred Heart, North Attleboro, 1966

FALL RIVER — Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, has eucharistic adoration Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has eucharistic adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass until 6 p.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel. There is a bilingual Holy Hour in English and Portuguese from 5-6 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has eucharistic adoration each First Friday, following the 9 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 4:30 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

HYANNIS — A Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration will take place each First Friday at St. Francis Xavier Church, 347 South Street, beginning immediately after the 12:10 p.m.

Mass and ending with adoration at 4 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m.

Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of eucharistic adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and Confessions offered during the evening.

NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Rosary, and the opportunity for Confession.

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds eucharistic adoration in the side chapel every Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and every Friday from noon to 5 p.m., with Benediction at 5 p.m.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has eucharistic adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

Taunton — Eucharistic adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction.

Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

WAREHAM — Every First Friday, eucharistic adoration takes place from 8:30 a.m. through Benediction at 5:30 p.m. Morning prayer is prayed at 9; the Angelus at noon; the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m.; and Evening Prayer at 5 p.m.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual eucharistic adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All from other parishes are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

WOODS HOLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Joseph’s Church, 33 Millfield Street, year-round on weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No adoration on Sundays, Wednesdays, and holidays. For information call 508-274-5435.

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The Anchor

June 10 Rev. William H. Curley, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1915 Rev. George A. Meade, Chaplain, St. Mary’s Home, New Bedford, 1949 June 11 Rev. Msgr. Augusto L. Furtado, Retired Pastor, St. John of God, Somerset, 1973 Rev. Richard J. Wolf, S.J., Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, 1986 June 12 Rev. Thomas H. Taylor, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Taunton, 1966 June 13 Rev. Edward F. Donahue, S.J., Boston College High School, Dorchester, 1974 Rev. Henry F. Bourgeois, CSC, 2004 Rev. Roland Bousquet, Catholic Memorial Home, Former Pastor, St. Theresa, New Bedford, 2010 June 14 Rev. Msgr. George E. Sullivan, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1980 Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. Cournoyer, Retired Pastor, St. Michael, Swansea, 1982 Rev. James H. Coughlin, S.J., Fairfield University, Fairfield, Conn., 1992 Rev. Justin J. Quinn, Chaplain, Madonna Manor, North Attleboro, Former Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1996 Rev. Ambrose Forgit, SS.CC., Damien Residence, Fairhaven, Former Pastor, St. Joseph, Fairhaven, 2010

body, where he served for almost two years. In February 1959 he was assigned as parochial vicar at Corpus Christi Parish in the Newton village of Auburndale.

In September 1966 he was named parochial vicar of St. Pius V Parish in Father Thomas Lynn and F. Murray in June 1974 he was named associate pastor of Most Precious Blood Parish in Hyde Park. In July 1985 he was made pastor of Sacred Heart Par-

ish in South Natick where he remained until he was granted senior priest/retirement status on Sept. 23, 2000.

As a senior priest, Father Murray resided in Mashpee and continued to assist at parishes in the Cape Cod area, including, for the last 10 years St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth and St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis.

He is survived by his sister, as well as his nephews Robert Sexton of Chelmsford and Thomas Sexton of Taunton and his niece Mary Grace Sexton of Mamaroneck, N.Y. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church in Canton on May 31. Interment was at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline.

Obituary and photo courtesy of the Boston Pilot.

Around the Diocese 6/10

La Salette Father Andre “Pat” Patenaude will perform a concert Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m. at St. Anne’s Shrine, 818 Middle Street, Fall River. The concert, sponsored by St. Anne’s Credit Union, will benefit the St. Anne’s Shrine Restoration Fund. Tickets are available at any St. Anne’s Credit Union, or at the door the day of the show.

6/14

“Strong Catholic Families: Strong Catholic Youth,” an evening designed for parents and children of all ages, especially those preparing for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation, will be held June 14 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Parish in South Dartmouth. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. To register or for more information, contact your pastor, parish youth minister, or Crystal-Lynn Medeiros, assistant director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Fall River Diocese, at 508-678-2828 or email cmedeiros@dfrcec.com.

6/19

The Daughter’s of Isabella Hyacinth Circle will hold its monthly meeting in the Holy Name of the Sacred Heart Parish Center located at 121 Mt. Pleasant Street in New Bedford at 7 p.m. on June 19. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. The theme is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. There will also be entertainment with a card game called Geronimo. Past and present members are invited for business, fellowship, and fun. If you are a Catholic woman looking for a group to belong to that shares in your faith and has a devotion to community service contact regent Terry Lewis at 508-993-5085.

6/24 6/30

The annual Italian Mass will be celebrated by Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk on June 24 at 2 p.m. at St. Thomas Chapel, Falmouth Heights Road in Falmouth. All are welcome to attend.

Courage, a welcoming support group for Catholics wounded by same-sex attraction who gather to seek God’s wisdom, mercy and love, will next meet on June 30 beginning at 6 p.m. For location information, call Father Richard Wilson at 508-992-9408.

7/7

A Day with Mary will be held on July 7 at St. John the Evangelist Parish, 841 Shore Road in Pocasset. It will include a video presentation, procession and crowning of the Blessed Mother along with Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and an opportunity for Reconciliation. There is a bookstore available during breaks. For more information call 508-996-8274.

7/11

St. Elizabeth Seton Church in North Falmouth will host its Summer Family Picnic on the grounds on July 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The menu created by Chef Paul will include summer salad, cole slaw, his famous BBQ baby back ribs, chicken, cheeseburgers and hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, chips, pickles, watermelon and soft beverages. The sponsoring Mens’ Club will sell tickets after the Masses starting June 23 and also at the rectory. For more information call 508-5632488 or 508-548-1228.

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The Anchor

June 8, 2012

For Catholic school alum, cooking is all about ‘feeding souls’

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — When chef and author Elise Johnson recently attempted to replicate her beloved grandmother’s Portuguese recipe for folar da Pascoa, or Easter bread, the true meaning of the sweet delicacy embedded with a hardboiled egg finally hit her.

“I recalled my grandmother cutting a sign of the cross in the top of the dough, covering the pan with a large clean dish towel, laying her Rosary beads over the top and then setting the pan in a draft-free place to rise for a second time,” Johnson wrote in her new book “You Never Cook Alone: Stirring Memories, Feeding Souls and Building Legacies — A Cook Book for the Well-Fed Family.” “Like my grandmother, I too cut a cross in the top of my dough and carefully set it aside to rise.

“When I checked on the dough hours later, I noticed that once it rose, the cross had disappeared. While my boys looked on, I began to weep. I suddenly realized what the bread signified — the death and resurrection of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“The large pan was like the tomb Jesus’ body was laid in. The dish towel that covered and protected the dough was like the shroud Jesus was wrapped in after His death.

“The disappearance of the cross showed the victory of life over death that

we can all share through the resurrection of Jesus.”

Johnson, a native of Fall River and graduate of SS. Peter and Paul School in the city and Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, firmly believes that cooking and feeding a family is not just about physical nourishment, it’s also a means to “feed souls” and lift spirits.

“That story resonates the most with me,” she said. “When I finally got the recipe right, this whole emotion came over me and the Holy Spirit showed me the reason my vavo did what she did. It all started to come back and make sense to me.

I never knew the tradition behind it before and I felt like my eyes had been opened.

Thirty-some years later, I finally got it.”

It’s clear that cooking is more than just a hobby for Johnson — it has a deep, emotional connection to her family, both past and present.

When young Elise Arruda was growing up in a Portuguese immigrant family in Fall River, a speech impediment kept her from talking until she was 16 years old.

Embarrassed, she retreated to her Portuguese grandmother’s kitchen, which soon became her place of refuge and comfort.

Her vavo spoke little English, but was still able to teach her granddaughter the secret of cooking with the most important ingredient of all — love.

“I couldn’t say ‘I love you,’ I couldn’t answer the phone, I couldn’t even say my own name,” Johnson told The Anchor. “My grandmother became a substitute for the language itself.”

Although she couldn’t communicate verbally, Johnson soon discovered she had a knack for writing while attending SS. Peter and Paul School.

“Not being able to speak causes a lot of anxiety,” she said. “But there were many teachers at St. Pete’s like Sister Eleanor, Sister Gilbert and Sister Albertus who all helped me tremendously — particularly Sister Eleanor.”

Johnson said Sister Eleanor thankfully refrained from making her read aloud in class and also encouraged her to become a writer, which helped boost her confidence.

“One day after school she called me over — I thought I was in trouble at first — but she had a letter I had written to my dad for Father’s Day,” Johnson said.

“She told me: ‘Elise, I want you to know something. You may not be able to speak, but you can write.’ I never forgot that. She probably doesn’t even remember that, but it’s one of those moments where a teacher really shines. I’m getting choked up just thinking about it.”

Johnson specifically thanks Sister Eleanor in the book’s acknowledgements.

“She probably had no idea that for the rest of my life I would cling to that comment,” Johnson said. “My education at St. Pete’s was a big deal for me. I always remembered the love and care that those nuns provided to me; that’s what got me through my eight years there.”

With encouragement from her teachers and the love and support of her grandmother, Johnson was able to overcome her speech problem and was talking by the time she attended Bishop Stang High School, although she said she still “struggled in school.”

“My big thing was going home and spending time with my grandmother,” she said. “And my parents’ commitment to sit-down dinners was a big thing, too —

there was a lot of power in that hour.”

Those family traditions would carry over to her own family after Johnson married and had two children. And her penchant for making home-cooked family meals would soon lead to her becoming a chef and author.

“My boys grew up cooking with me,” she said. “I home-schooled them and while they were home people started asking me how to cook. I told them I wasn’t necessarily interested in teaching people how to cook, I’d rather teach them that the secret ingredient was love.”

To that end, Johnson began teaching culinary classes as a ministry where she now lives in Raleigh, N.C. “People would come in and pay for the food and that was it,” she said. “I did that for several years and then I wrote my boys a cookbook, which was originally titled ‘Tales of a Well-Fed Family.’ I wrote it just for my kids and it was very similar to ‘You Never Cook Alone,’ but I changed it for the public. I wanted it to resonate in their hearts.”

As part of her ministry, Johnson said she was sad to learn that many families today don’t even take the time to enjoy meals together.

“I have children at my house all the time … and they are always thanking me for cooking for them,” she said. “I ask them what they had for dinner last night, and they tell me they stopped at Arby’s.

That tears me up knowing these kids aren’t going to grow up with the same foundation that I had. I’m on a mission to correct that. Most kids don’t even know where their food comes from anymore.

It’s very, very sad.”

Johnson said the publication of “You Never Cook Alone” was never about making money or promoting herself — she wanted to share the importance of that bond she had with her own family growing up around the dinner table.

“I think it’s a great emotional story; not so much about myself, but about the power of cooking and eating,” she said.

“Today, everyone’s so busy that they stop at every fast food place and they’re not spending that time together and it’s sad, because for a kid who couldn’t talk, I know the power and importance of that time together.”

When her kids went to college, Johnson found herself with a little more time on her hands and she decided to embark on a full-time cooking career that began with her establishing her own company and setting up a weblog online at her website, www.cookingwithelise.com.

“I also did cooking segments on the local NBC affiliate here in North Carolina for about a year; it was called ‘Cooking With Elise,’” she said.

“Then BJ’s Wholesale Club called me and asked if I would be their chef spokesperson and they hired me last year. I’m doing a lot of traveling for them now in North Carolina.”

As her popularity grew, people began referring to Johnson as “the Portuguese Paula Deen,” a moniker that always elicits a Turn to page 17