t eanc 0 VOL. 42, NO.27 •
Friday, July 17, 1998
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COO & THE ISLANOS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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Pope says Sunday prayer is a need and obligation By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY - Sunday prayer and rest is a human need and a religious obligation, Pope John Paul II said in a new apostolic letter. In the letter published at the Vatican, the pope focused on "the duty to keep Sunday holy, especially by sharing in the Eucharist and by relaxing in a spirit of Christian joy and fraternity."
and praise of God. Sundays are a very appropriate day for an after-Mass trip to the countryside, seaside or mountains, he said. Although the Church's teaching about Sundays "may merge naturally with the human need for rest, it is faith alone which gives access to its deeper meaning and ensures that it will not become banal and trivialized," the pope said.
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Pope John Paul said he wrote the let"Dies Domini" Sundays are a very appro- ter to encourage ("The Day of the priate day for an after-Mass trip people who make Lord") reaffirmed to the countryside, seaside or Sunday Mass the Church teaching that mountains, he said in a new center of their week Catholics must attend apostolic letter. and to exhort those Sunday Mass and who have given up that other Sunday ac- ..- - - - - - - - - - - - - -..... the practice. tivities should be in harmony with the sa"In the minds of many of the faithful, cred character of the day. not only the sense of the centrality of the While not criticizing store openings, en- Eucharist but even the sense of the duty to tertainment and sporting events on a Sun- give thanks to the Lord and to pray to him day, the pope said all people have a right with others in the community of the to a day of rest, and the Sunday rest should Church, seems to be diminishing," the pope be dedicated first of all to communal prayer said. Just as for the Jewish community, the pope said, the Catholic obligation to observe the Lord's day is "not just a matter of community religious discipline, but a defining and indelible expression of our relationship with God." Christians celebrate Sunday as the Lord's day, instead of marking the Saturday Sabbath, because they are remembering each wee~ the victory of Jesus on Easter Sunday, he said. FALL RIVER - In response to the "The festive character of the Sunday Euearthquake in the Azores on July 9, charist expresses the joy that Christ comBishop Sean P. O'Malley has issued municates to his Church through the gift the following statement: of the Spirit," he said. ''The earthquake that struckThurs. The pope called on pastors and those day (July 9) in the midst of the Azores involved in parish liturgies to give particuhas brought immense suffering to hunlar attention to the songs chosen for Sundreds of residents of Faial and Pico day Mass, "since singing is a particularly who have borne the loss of their apt way to express a joyful heart, accentuhomes and, in some cases, the loss ating the solemnity of the celebration and of their loved ones. I offer my prayers fostering the Sense of a common faith and for those who lost their lives in this a shared love." natural disaster and for their families The Second Vatican Council reaffirmed and friends both here in our diocese the importance of listening to Christ in the and in the Azores. Liturgy of the Word by allowing the read"I pray, too, that the Lord may comings to be proclaimed in the language of fort those who have lost their homes the local assembly, he said. and strengthen those engaged in While various groups and movements bringing relief to those afflicted by this present in a parish have their importance adversity. On Sunday, July 26, I shall and place, the Sunday Mass must be an celebrate the 10 a.m., Mass at the expression of the unity of the whole parChurch of Our Lady of Mount Carmel ish, he said. in New Bedford. At that Mass I shall "This is why on Sunday, the day of gathremember the victims of the earthering, small group Masses are not to be enquakes and their families. couraged," he said. "I have authorized that a special colWhile each Catholic has a serious oblilection be taken up in the Portuguese gation to attend Sunday Mass, bishops and parishes of our diocl3se to assist the priests must do all they can to make Masses Diocese of Angra (in the Azores) in its available, including on Saturday and Sunrelief efforts. Anyone wishing to conday evenings, the pope said. tribute to this effort may send a check When no priest is available, he said, to: Diocese of Fall River - Earthquake Catholics are encouraged to keep Sunday Relief, P.O. Box 2577, Fall River, MA as a day of prayer and gathering by par02722:' ticipating in a prayer service.
Parish collection will benefit Azoreanearthquake victims
LEGAL AGENDA - Judges George Jacobs and Elizabeth J. Dolan chat with chairman Father Mark R. Hession as they review plans for the Red Mass to be celebrated for the diocese's legal community Sept. 20 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River.
Red Mass celebra.tion for legal community planned •
Bishop Sean P. O'Malley will host the event and celebrate the Mass.
FALL RIVER - The second annual Red Mass celebration to be hosted by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley will be held Sept. 20 beginning with a concelebrated Mass in St. Mary's Cathedral at 3 p.m. A dinner will follow at White's of Westport at which the guest speaker will be Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Richard Ireland. The Red Mass is the popular name for the Mass of the Holy Spirit offered to invoke God's blessings on the judges, attorneys and others working to provide justice throughout the judicial system. . The Mass began in the 13th century in Europe and is today widely celebrated in dioceses throughout the United States. Its name is derived from the color of the vestments traditionally worn by the celebrants. Those working within the justice system, along with their staffs and families, are invited to attend. Father Mark R. Hession is chairman of the Red Mass planning committee, which is comprised of a diocesan cross section of judges, attorneys, court personnel and priests. He and several returning committee members said they heard many favorable comments on last year's celebration, the first in this diocese, and hope this year to build on its success. Tum to page five - Red Mass
Father Diaferio dies suddenly • Pastor of Holy Rosary Parish suffers heart attack. By JAMES N. DUNBAR FALL RIVER - Father Vincent F. Diaferio, 68, pastor of Holy Rosary Church since 1971, died Tuesday in Charlton Memorial Hospital after suffering a heart attack earlier in the rectory on Beattie Street. His funeral will be held Saturday at 11 a.m., in Holy Rosary Church, 120 Beattie St. Bishop Sean P. O'Malley will be the principal celebrant. Father John Perry, pastor of St. Joseph Church and a native of Holy Rosary Parish, will be the eulogist. The body will be transferred to the church Friday at 2 p.m., and a wake service will be held Friday at 8 p.m. Interment will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fall River. The Jeffrey E. Sullivan Funeral Home, 550 Locust St., is in charge of arrangements.
FATHER VINCENT F. DIAFERIO
Turn to page three - Diaferio