I!
t eanc 0 VOL. 37, NO. 29
•
Friday, July 30,1993
F ALL RIVER, MASS.
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN N~NSPAPER FOR SOUTI-iIEAST MASSACBUSETTS CAPE 'COD " THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
•
$111 Per Year
New Hispanic parish to be e~.tablished tomorrow "Listen, 1 brinl~ you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people...." With these words of the angel of the Lord, as quoted by Luke (2: 10), Rev. Paul E. Canuel, director of the Diocesan Apostolate to Hispanics, announced to the congregation gathered for Sunday Mass at Regina Pacis Center in New Bedford the decision of Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, O.F.M., Cap. to establish a new parish for all Spanish-speaking people in New Bedford. This is the first such parish to be establishf:d, and the news was received with great joy and expectation from the whole Hispanic community. Bishop 0' Malley will install Father Canuel as the first pastor of the new Spanish parish during a 5:30 p.m. Mass tomorrow at St. Hedwig's Church. At that time, Bishop O'Malley will publicly announce the name of the new parish. Reflecting on the U.S. Catholic bishops' pastoral letter that proclaimed the Hispanic people a blessing for the Catholic Church in the United States, Father Canuel spoke of the unique advantages that enable the Hispanic community to realize that blessing when they perceive themselves as a parish family. Seeing oneself as a blessing is difficult to do when relegated to the basements of buildings and
served by clergy who know little of the language and culture of the multinational community of Hispanics who have emigrated to our area, Father Canuel said. He added that here in the diocese of Fall River, Hispanics are richly blessed to have Bishop O'Malley as their ordinary, for he walks among them as their brother, speaking their language and knowing their needs. Father Canuel, who is fluent in Spanish and spent six years as a missionary in Peru, coordinates the Hispanic Apostolate in the five areas ofthe diocese: St. Joseph's in Attleboro (Father Kevin J. Harrington, director); St. Mary's in Taunton (Father William M. Costello, director); SS. Peter and Paul in Fall River (Father Peter N. Graziano, director); St. Pius X, South Yarmouth (Father Edward J. Healy, director); and now at the new parish. The Hispanics of the diocese are also fortunate to have the love and service of four religious women from the Congregation of the Guadalupana Missionaries of the Holy Spirit from Mexico: Sisters M. Theresa Pacheco, Gloria Rodrigues, Teresa M. Aguinaga and Manuela de Jesus Gutierrez, MGSp.S. In a move to implement a plan for evangelization, Bishop O'Malley has begun by moving the Hispanic people "from a place to a home. "This new home is located at the corner of Purchase and Di-
vision Streets, utilizing the samf: structure as does St. Hedwig's par·· ish. In this unique relationship. Father Canuel is named pastor of St. Hedwig's and pastor of the new Spanish parish. "I am thrilled and excited at the prospect of the new assignments," said Father Canuel. "St. ·Hedwig's is a beautiful church, and the entire Hispanic family is happy ·to be invited to make our home with the Lord there. I look forward to serving the people ofSt. Hedwig's parish, and the people who attend Mass there because of convenience of a neighborhood church." Father Canuel believes that the experience of the Polish people who founded St. Hedwig's parish as a haven for Polish-speaking Catholics can serve as a bridge between the two parishes. Only someone who has lived through the experience of coming to a different land with another language and different customs can fully understand the fears, the struggles and the frustrations of an immi- . grant people, he said. "At the same' time," Father Canuel added, "I think the new parish will enrich and bless the parish of St. Hed.. wig's with our presence, our pray·· ers and our love. After all, we wiI: be remembering the Lord in the breaking of the bread at the same altar ea.ch in our own way." Father Canuel is quick to men...
i~ [~
•
[." .. ~
1 "'
"1
....•.....
HISPANIC PARISH: During a March retreat day for the Hispanic community of the diocese, Bishop O'Malley celebrates Mass at St. Hedwig's Church with (from left) Father Roman Chwaliszewski, OFM Conv., then parish administrator; Msgr. John J. Oliveira:. and Father Paul Canuel, new pastor of St. Hedwig's, which is to be established tomorrow as a new parish for Hispanics. (Hickey photo) tion the delight of his Aunt Mary (Wnenta) Canuel, a resident ofthe Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River and the only Polish membe:' of his family. "I remember my aunt was always working at he:parish church [Holy Cross, Fall River]. I remember the blessing of the three kings we would write with chalk over the doorways, a ~radition which I incorporated ill our Epiphany Liturgies at St. Jo.. seph's in Attleboro - in both English-speaking and Spanishspeaking communities," said th(~ priest.
"I remember the tables of delicious foods prepared at Easter which the priest would bless and we would eat. I remember the polkas, the receptions at the Polish National Home, thl~ Polish picnics at Stafford Pond. I also remember the oplatki (the blessed bread we would bring home to share). I don't speak their language, but I feel their spirit, and I make the meanest golabki [Polish stuffed cabbage] this side of Attleboro!" Niech bedzie pochwalony JezusChrystus... Ahora y para siempre. Amen!
Abolrtion key factor in opposition to Clinton nominlees Elders called extremist WASHINGTON (CNS) Catholic opposition to the nomination of Dr. Joycelyn Elders as U.S. surgeon general continued to mount as her Senate confirmation hearings began. In a letter to Sen. Edward M. Kel)nedy, D-Mass., Bishop James
eNS/ Reuters photo
D.R,;JOCELYN ELDERS
T. McHugh of Camden, N.J., criticized President Clinton's nominee for "bigoted and contemptuous remarks about Catholics and other Christians" and for her support of legal abortion. The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights also spoke out against the nomination, accusing Ms. Elders of showing "a disposition toward the Catholic Church, and to Catholics in general, that is inimical at best and downright hostile at worst." The anti-Catholic charges did not come up during Ms. Elders' July 23 appearance before the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee. Kennedy, who chairs the committee, said the panel would vote on the nomination today. Ms. Elders, who resigned in mid-July as director of the Arkansas Department of Health, said at the. hearing that she has "never been about abortion" but wants young people to avoid unwanted pregnancy. "The only thing that Turn to Page 11·
Ginsberg says abortion "central" right Vincentian founder declared venerable VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society was declared 'venerable by Pope John Paul II in early July. The papal declaration was a recognition of the "heroic virtues" of Frederic Ozanam, a 19th-century layman who founded the charitable organization in France in 1833. A miracle attributed to the intercession of Ozanam is needed before he can be beatified. Ozanam died in Marseilles in 1853. The society now has more than 60,000 members in the United States and more than 850,000 in 120 nations. Father Daniel L. Freitas directs the Vincentians in the Fall River diocese.
WASHINGTON (CNS) - During the last day of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nom·· inee Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. a group of witnesses criticized the: nominee's support for laws favor·· ing abortion. "Although Judge Ginsburg may possess the credentials to sit on the: Supreme Court, we are concerned that neither the process by which she was nominated nor her view~; on abortion are fairly understood by the nation," said Paige Cun.. ningham, president of the Chi.. cago-based Americans United for Life. Ms. Cunningham and the hand·· ful of witnesses opposing the: nominee spoke July 23 in direct contrast to the other legal profes.. sionals and colleagues who hailed the 60-year-old federal appellate: judge as someone more than quali.. fied to sit on the U.S. Supreme: Court. The praise had been so glowing at times that Sen. Dianne Fein.. stein. D-Calif. commen~f;d that if
the nominee had been from "another religion, she could be canonized." Critics of Mrs. Ginsburg primarily took offense with comments the nominee made during the second day of her hearings when Turn to Page II
. RUT.H.BADER·GINSB.URG