08.23.19

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August 23, 2019 â€

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Enthusiasm and optimism are the key words for upcoming academic year for Catholic schools in the Fall River Diocese

By Dave Jolivet

JolivetDB@comcast.net

FALL RIVER — During a recent interview with The Anchor, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Fall River, Steve Perla, could hardly contain his excitement regarding the upcoming academic year — nor did he try.

“We have multiple initiatives planned to strengthen and enhance the programs offered in schools across the diocese,” said Perla. “The cooperation between ministries and schools and outside organizations has been outstanding. Together we have what promises to be a stellar year for our students, their families, our faculties and staff, all of which brightens the future of Catholic education in the diocese and offers the benefits of having students who will grow up with strong faith-based academic backgrounds.”

The two supernovas in the galaxy of bright stars that make up Fall River diocesan schools are arguably the creation of the new Preparatory Academy created to provide an improved curriculum to students at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River and Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton; and the focus and expansion of the need for a strong special education program in diocesan schools.

Another shining star in the Diocese of Fall River’s 2019-2020 school year is the creation of the Little 2

to the schools’ faculty; Stonehill College in Easton which will offer students STEM-related college level courses that carry college credits; and Regis College in Weston, Mass., which will offer students STEMrelated college courses, also carrying college credits.

Some students may be able to opt for the college’s three-year college program using their high school junior and senior years as Flower Early Learning Lakeside in Dartmouth. the first year of college.

Center in Attleboro primed “We invited Dr. Matt Perla told The Anchor to open on Monday, AuKloser, director of the Cen- that the diocese continugust 26. ter for STEM Education at ally seeks to improve and “We have been gearing Notre Dame University in expand assisting students up all summer for all of South Bend, Ind.,” added who learn at different these initiatives and more,” Perla. “We invited, from levels. “We are focusing said Perla. “With regards the diocese, the Central on ways to provide for to the Preparatory AcadCatholic Schools Board, emy, Kathleen St. Laurent leaders from our Catholic at Coyle and Cassidy and schools and the faculties of Chris Myron at Bishop Bishop Connolly and Coyle Connolly have done a great and Cassidy High Schools, job pulling this together. and some parents. The iniSt. Laurent is the principal tial focus was concentrated and instructional leader of on STEM activities. It was the Academy, with Myron a visioning session, aimed remaining president at at making the connection Connolly and Bernie Auwith STEM education and dette remaining president Catholic schools. Faith and at Coyle and Cassidy. reason and science do go “With regards to the together.” physical changes at Coyle, The diocese has also enfolks may not recognize listed the help of some elite the place. The school has a academic partners. In adnew layout and this coudition to input from Notre pled with the joint venture Dame, the diocese is rewith Connolly has us all ceiving recommendations excited and optimistic.” and training from Boston A large part of the College’s Lynch Leadership Academy’s preparation Academy, which will coach has focused on the STEM the Academy principals (Science, Technology, and school leaders to help Engineering and Math) realize the Academy’s goal; program.

Worcester Polytechnic This summer the diInstitute’s STEM Educaocesan Catholic schools tion Center, to provide arranged a “Meet the hands-on, applied STEM Partners” event at Rachel’s professional development

† August 23, 2019

students in our Catholic schools who may need special assistance in some areas,” he said. “We have really focused on securing federal funds to help such students.” In the past the monies may have gone more to public schools, but private schools are also eligible under federal law.

“We have received some government funding,” said Perla, “and we are utilizing them in areas that have the most need. With it we’re providing professional development for Fall River diocesan elementary school teachers to work with students with learn8 Turn to page 12

Kellie Kickham named ‘Novena for Our Nation’ prayer campaign ongoing through October new principal of St. John the Evangelist School

NEW BEDFORD — A nationwide prayer campaign, “Novena for Our Nation,” began on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, and is ongoing through Monday, October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The 54-Day Rosary Novena originated during an apparition of Our Lady of Pompeii in 1884 in Naples. In the house of Commander Agrelli, the Heavenly Mother deigned to make known the manner in which she desired to be invoked.

The 54-Day Rosary Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for 54 Days straight. Begin with the first 27 days in petition; then immediately five decades each day for 27 days in thanksgiving,

whether or not the request has been granted.

The meditations vary from day to day, according to the traditional distribution of mysteries (Sunday: Glorious; Monday: Joyful; Tuesday: Sorrowful; Wednesday: Glorious; Thursday: Luminous; Friday: Sorrowful; and Saturday: Joyful) and so on throughout the 54 days.

The 2019 Rosary Coast to Coast will take place on Sunday, October 13, the 102nd anniversary of the Fatima Miracle of the Sun, at Fort Taber in New Bedford.

Also ongoing throughout the Fall River Diocese are a series of public Rosary gatherings at the following days and locations: — Every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in front of Our Lady of

Guadalupe at St. James Church, 233 County Street in New Bedford; — Every Thursday at 7:15 p.m. in front of St. Mary’s Church, 114 St. Mary’s Square in Taunton; — Every other Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the New Bedford Public Library, 613 Pleasant Street, across from Our Lady’s Chapel; — Every Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. in front of St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford.

If anyone else feels called to respond to Our Lady’s call to pray the Rosary in a public place — be it your parish, home or any other site — email Edwin Aldarondo at catholicfootprints@ comcast.net, so the information may be spread to others.

in Elementary Education ATTLEBORO — Kellie Kickham has been appoint- from Boston College, and a Master of Education degree ed the new principal of St. John the Evangelist School from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She in Attleboro, effective July is also active1. ly involved This anin the Bosnouncement ton College was made by Lynch Leadthe Fall River ership AcadeDiocesan my where she School Suwas a Cohort perintendent, VI Fellow Stephen A. and particiPerla. Kellie pated in the Kickham reRoche Center places Sister Kellie Kickham for Catholic Mary Jane Leadership Emmaus Series Holden who has retired after having been principal program.

“The opportunity to for the past 15 years. leverage my experiences Most recently, Kickwith the MAP growth ham was the principal program as well as a STEM at St. Mary’s School in curriculum is one I could Winchester, where she not pass up,” said Kickham. launched a foreign lan“God has blessed me with a guage program to include strong foundation to grow Italian and Mandarin the St. John the Evangelist Chinese. Kickham also community. This school’s oversaw the expansion of history is so entrenched in the STREAM curriculum the Attleboro community (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and I am so excited to meet the families and truly know and Mathematics) while the students!” nurturing the students’ Father Dariusz KalinSpiritual paths to incorpoowski, pastor of St. John rate God and community the Evangelist Parish, said: into their daily lives.

Previously, Kickham was “Our Catholic schools play the assistant principal at St. a crucial role in teaching the Catholic faith to Agatha’s in Milton, where the next generation. Kelshe fostered a professional lie Kickham is the right learning culture across all grades and disciplines. Pri- person to lead this very or to moving into a leader- important ministry.”

Superintendent Perla ship position, she taught added: “Kellie has demonELA at the eighth-grade strated very strong leaderlevel, preparing students for the rigorous academics ship skills and we are so fortunate to have her as a of a Catholic high school. new school leader in the Kickham received her Diocese of Fall River.” bachelor of arts degree August 23, 2019 †

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Bishop da Cunha offers support to inmates of ‘Getting Ahead While Getting Out’ program

By Jonathan Darling Bristol County Sheriff’s Office

DARTMOUTH— Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., not only came to support the inmates completing the “Getting Ahead While Getting Out” program at the Bristol County House of Corrections, he also challenged them to be better.

“Who hasn’t made mistakes in life?” Bishop da Cunha asked the 15 inmates at the program’s graduation ceremony inside the Dartmouth jail recently. “The important thing is that you are going to get the chance to repair that mistake. You are getting a second chance.

What will you do with it?”

Bishop da Cunha was one of several guests from the community to attend the recent graduation ceremony of the “Getting Ahead While Getting Out” program, which is administered by volunteers from the Attleboro District Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

This summer the program was led by SVdP facilitators Diana Reeves, Peter Kortright and Tammy Deppe, who met with inmates twice a week throughout the summer to develop plans and identify resources in the community which can help inmates after release. The classes are structured around discussions, similar to a family around a kitchen table at supper time.

Being as specific as possible, the facilitators and inmates developed a plan 4

This year’s graduates of the “Getting Ahead While Getting Out” program pose with, from left, facilitators Diana Reeves, Peter Kortright and Tammy Deppe; State Representative Chris Hendricks; and Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. (Photo courtesy of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office) for the first 72 hours after release. Where will they go? Do they need clothing, food or housing? The plans then extend out one week, two weeks, and even years down the line as inmates begin to think about the next chapter of their lives.

“I just want to thank the facilitators,” a Bristol County inmate named Barry said at the graduation ceremony. “Because of them and this class, I have the tools and motivation to reach goals I didn’t think were possible.”

Barry wasn’t alone in his praise of the program of the SVdP volunteers.

“A lot of guys, when they get released, they have nothing,” an inmate named Ryan said. “This program gives us the strength and courage to succeed.”

“This program helps us realize that there are people out there who really do care about us,” an inmate named Lenny said.

A new wrinkle to the program this semester was

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the development of a oneto-three-minute elevator pitch, or a quick speech an inmate can give once released to let employers know the mistakes they made and how they moved past them.

Guests included several folks from the SVdP, including past and future program facilitators, as well as State Representatives Paul Schmid and Chris Hendricks.

“You sincerely want to

do well when you get out,” Representative Schmid told them. “We’re all so thankful for your commitment. There are a lot of people rooting for you.”

Representative Hendricks listened to the inmates as they expressed gratitude to the volunteers and some read their elevator pitches. He said it hit close to home as he is a recovering alcoholic.

“Draw strength from one another,” he told them.

“It’s not you against the world, it’s us against the world.”

The “Getting Ahead While Getting Out” program will start up again in the fall, but before that, Reeves and others are presenting about it at an SVdP national conference in Denver in late August.

“We’ve been asked to share it as a model program for others,” she told the crowd. “We’re excited for the opportunity.”

Seeking updates from parishes, diocesan offices for directory Requests for updates, corrections and additions to the 2019-2020 Catholic Directory for the Diocese of Fall River have been sent to all parishes, diocesan offices and apostolates. The deadline for submitting this information is Friday, August 30. The new directory will be published in early October.

If you are responsible for a diocesan entity and have not yet been contacted for an update, please submit your updated information via email to kensouza@anchornews.org.

You may also find convenient online forms to submit this information electronically at the following links ...

• Parishes — www.anchornews.org/parish.html • All Others — www.anchornews.org/ministry.html

Dioceses in four New England states launch independent third-party system to report misconduct by bishops

FALL RIVER — Dioceses of the Boston Province, including the Diocese of Fall River, have collectively launched a third party, independent system to report abuse by Catholic bishops.

The bishops of the province have agreed to make a reporting system available now in the wake of Pope Francis’ landmark Vos estis letter and the nearly unanimous response to that letter by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in June 2019.

To file and track a submission, please visit www.bishopreporting. ethicspoint.com.

On May 9, 2019, Pope Francis promulgated a Motu Proprio, entitled Vos estis lux mundi, that identi-

fies substantive measures to respond to the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Church. This includes requiring all dioceses in every country to establish a public, accessible and reliable system for reporting crimes of clergy sexual abuse and any coverup of abuse by May 31, 2020.

It also requires the establishment of new procedural norms for investigating crimes by bishops and supreme moderators of religious institutes, including both allegations of sexual abuse and any cover-up by way of actions or omissions intended to conceal information or to interfere with investigations.

At the June 2019 meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, a measure was approved to establish a third-party national reporting system for allegations or complaints involving bishops in the United States. The system will be designed to receive, via phone or email, confidential information reporting possible violations by bishops. This vote was taken following guidance articulated in Pope Francis’ Vos estis lux mundi.

Vos estis lux mundi allows until May 31, 2020, for the development of local systems to receive such reports. With the understanding that the implementation of the national system is months away, the bishops of the Boston Province agreed to join a program already established by the Archdiocese of Boston through an independent EthicsPoint website.

The province includes the Archdiocese of Boston; the Diocese of Fall River; the Diocese of Worcester; the Diocese of Springfield; the Diocese of Burlington, Vt.; the Diocese of Manchester, N.H.; and the Diocese of Portland, Maine.

Much has been accomplished over nearly two decades to address the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, including instituting mandatory reporting to civil au-

thorities, protection and prevention training, and pastoral support and outreach for survivors, among other steps. However, more is required to ensure that there is an effective and independent system in place to report misconduct by bishops.

In a statement, the seven bishops of the province said the following about the launch: “Those who were sexually abused by clergy, along with their families and loved ones, must always be the central focus of the ongoing response to the sexual abuse of minors. There is no doubt that they have suffered greatly.

“In order for the Catholic Church to continue to restore trust and credibility, leadership must be committed to transparency and accountability. We hope and pray that this effort will further strengthen the work begun nearly two decades ago to offer healing.”

The new reporting system has been endorsed by the bishops of the Dioceses of the Boston Province: † Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap. Archbishop of Boston † Most Reverend Robert J. McManus Bishop of Worcester † Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski Bishop of Springfield † Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. Bishop of Fall River † Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci Bishop of Manchester † Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne Bishop of Burlington † Most Reverend Robert P. Deeley, J.C.D. Bishop of Portland

August 23, 2019 †

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Editorial

All one America

Today (Friday, August 23) is the feast of St. Rose of Lima, patroness of America, the first person born here to be canonized a saint. In his 1999 apostolic exhortation, Ecclesia in America (the Church in America), St. John Paul II explained that he “asked that … the Synod of Bishops reflect on America as a single entity, by reason of all that is common to the peoples of the continent, including their shared Christian identity and their genuine attempt to strengthen the bonds of solidarity and communion between the different forms of the continent’s rich cultural heritage. The decision to speak of ‘America’ in the singular was an attempt to express not only the unity which in some way already exists, but also to point to that closer bond which the peoples of the continent seek and which the Church wishes to foster as part of her own mission, as she works to promote the communion of all in the Lord” (EA 5).

Thus, St. Rose is patroness of America, of which the United States is a part. Later in the document, the Polish pontiff brought up the topic of immigration. “In its history, America has experienced many immigrations.

The phenomenon continues even today, especially with many people and families from Latin-American countries who have moved to the northern parts of the continent, to the point where in some cases they constitute a substantial part of the population. They often bring with them a cultural and religious heritage which is rich in Christian elements. The Church is well aware of the problems created by this situation and is committed to spare no effort in developing her own pastoral strategy among these immigrant people, in order to help them settle in their new land and to foster a welcoming attitude among the local population, in the belief that a mutual openness will bring enrichment to all” (EA 65). What was true in 1999 is also true in 2019.

He continued, “Church communities will not fail to see in this phenomenon a specific call to live an evangelical fraternity and at the same time a summons to strengthen their own religious spirit with a view to a more penetrating evangelization. The Synod Fathers recalled that ‘the Church in America must be a vigilant advocate, defending against any unjust restriction the natural right of individual persons to move freely within their own nation and from one nation to another. Attention must be called to the rights of migrants and their families and to respect for their human dignity, even in cases of non-legal immigration’” (ibid.).

The saint then exhorted us. “Migrants should be met with a hospitable and welcoming attitude which can encourage them to become part of the Church’s life, always with due regard for their freedom and their specific cultural identity. Cooperation between the dioceses from which they come and those in which they settle, also through specific pastoral structures provided for in the legislation and praxis of the Church, has proved extremely beneficial to this end. In this way the most adequate and complete pastoral care possible can be ensured” (ibid.). We do strive to do that in the Fall River Diocese, but always more can be done.

At present many of the immigrants who live in our diocese, undocuOFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 63, No. 17

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Published biweekly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720, Tel. 508-675-7151; FAX 508-675-7048; email: office@anchornews.org.

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† August 23, 2019

mented and documented, non-citizens and naturalized citizens, along with their U.S. born children, are experiencing a lot of apprehension, due to the climate of fear which many of them experience. The massacre in El Paso exposed the violent length to which a tiny minority might go to rid our country of their presence, but it reflects a larger minority’s negativity towards them. This minority is vocal — and also can be found amongst Catholics.

Some ask, “Well, if these people are afraid to be here, why don’t they just go home?” On page B3 of The Boston Globe on August 15 (“A demand to maintain migrants’ protected status”), several people who have Temporary Protective Status (TPS) discussed their fear of being forced to return to Central America (they were discussing this since the federal government would like to end TPS for people from several countries).

Karla Morales Vallalobo, who was born in El Salvador, said about her country of origin, “It’s just not safe for people living there, but definitely not people who are going to be new to the community,” because of being deported from the U.S. She added, “The gang members know people from the United States have more money, we would be a target.”

Jose Reina, also a Salvadoran native, concurred. “They know that you are there from the United States, so the first thing … when you return there is to extort you. And if you resist paying that, they can kill you or kill a family member.”

Do we want to send people back to the high likelihood of being killed?

Some of these people worship with us right now.

This is not to say that the United States has to take in every person on earth whose life is being threatened. Other countries can also help. It is the teaching of the Church that each country has the right to control its borders, while also affirming freedom of movement for people, especially so as to be able to avoid violence or to be able to provide food and shelter for themselves and their families.

Part of the solution comes from working together, poorer countries and wealthier countries, to deal with the causes of migration — the violence and poverty in the countries from which people are trying to escape. Again, this has been a constant in Church teaching.

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican’s ambassador to the U.N. offices in Geneva, warned secular leaders in 2005, “Experience has shown that control alone is not the answer. In fact, an exclusive focus on control brings about lack of appreciation for the root causes of migration and a real risk of reducing the migrant to his or her service function, forgetting the human fundamental dimension.”

St. Rose wrote that she would love to go around “the whole world” pointing out to people “the riches” of “Divine grace ... How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights.” Instead of thinking about how we can keep everything in our own possession, if we instead shared our goods and each other’s burdens, we’d be progressing along the way that Christ trod out for us.

Daily Readings † August 24 - September 6 Sat. Aug. 24, Rv 21:9b-14; Ps 145:10-13ab, 17-18; Jn 1:45-51. Sun. Aug. 25, Is 66:18-21; Ps 117:1-2; Heb 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13:22-30. Mon. Aug. 26, 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10; Ps 149:1b-6a, 9b; Mt 23:13-22. Tue. Aug. 27, 1 Thes 2:1-8; Ps 139:1-3, 4-6; Mt 23:23-26. Wed. Aug. 28, 1 Thes 2:9-13; Ps 139:7-12b; Mt 23:27-32. Thu. Aug. 29, 1 Thes 3:7-13; Ps 90:3-5a, 12-14, 17; Mk 6:17-29. Fri. Aug. 30, 1 Thes 4:1-8; Ps 97:1, 2b, 5-6, 10-12; Mt 25:1-13.

Sat. Aug. 31, 1 Thes 4:9-11; Ps 98:1, 7-9; Mt 25:14-30. Sun. Sept. 1, Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Ps 68:4-7, 10-11; Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a; Lk 14:1, 7-14. Mon. Sept. 2, 1 Thes 4:13-18; Ps 96:1, 3-5, 11-13; Lk 4:16-30. Tue. Sept. 3, 1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Lk 4:31-37. Wed. Sept. 4, Col 1:1-8; Ps 52:10-11; Lk 4:38-44. Thu. Sept. 5, Col 1:9-14; Ps 98:2-6; Lk 5:1-11. Fri. Sept. 6, Col 1:15-20; Ps 100:1-5; Lk 5:33-39.

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Eucharistic faith and Eucharistic lives

n Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked who people said He was, and His two polls showed that only one person said he believed Jesus was Who He truly was, the Messiah and Son of God (Mt 16:13-20).

Recently the Pew Research Center asked U.S. Catholics who or what they understood the Eucharist to be. The response, like in Caesarea, was sobering.

Only 50 percent of U.S. Catholics said that they knew the Church’s teaching that after the consecration, the bread and wine are totally changed into Jesus’ Body and Blood; 45 percent said that the Church teaches that the “bread” and “wine” are only symbols, and five percent didn’t know what the Church teaches.

Even among the 50 percent of those who were aware of the Church’s teaching, a third said that they still regarded the Eucharist as a symbol, leaving a total of only 31 percent who actually believed the Church’s teaching. Sixty-nine percent of Catholics said that they believe that the Eucharist was just a symbol — that Jesus is not on the altar after the consecration, or in the Tabernacle, or in us after Holy Communion.

Rather than news, the report was a confirmation of what had long been known and inferred: there is a grave crisis in Eucharistic faith.

That crisis is ultimately at the root of many others: low Mass attendance, shuttered parishes, closed schools, insufficient priestly vocations, waning Catholic influence in society, growing secularism, and, as Pope Emeritus Benedict incisively wrote in April, even the clerical sexual

abuse of minors.

That’s why the results have justly been occupying the attention of bishops, priests, commentators, and all those who care about the Church and the Lord.

Many have focused on the need for much better catechesis across the board.

That’s absolutely true, but inadequate and shortsighted.

Christianity is not a classroom trying to help people pass a standardized test, but a way of life. Even if the results came back and 100 percent of surveyed Catholics identified the Church’s teaching with precision and affirmed faith in it, the larger question would remain: are they living Eucharistic lives, with Jesus in the Eucharist as the source, summit, root and center of their existence?

Knowing and believing are indispensable steps, but the goal is Eucharistic living. This is something that goes far beyond mere Sunday Mass attendance.

It’s whether we live in Holy Communion with the Risen Lord incarnate in the Eucharist, whether we draw our life from Him, whether we permit Him from within to make our life a commentary on the words of consecration.

Knowing how we got here is key to knowing how to respond adequately.

After the Second Vatican Council, there were many ideas and practices that undermined knowledge and faith in the Real Presence. Some priests, religious and theologians advanced a desacralizing ideology that, falsely claiming to be the “Spirit of Vatican II,” attacked Eucharistic piety,

destroyed high altars and altar rails, banished Tabernacles to side altars or chapels, and basically sought to effect a Copernican shift in Eucharistic focus away from worshipping God and onto idolatry of the community. Many of these iconoclasts taught in seminaries and Catholic universities, where, with impunity, they diabolically derided

Eucharistic Adoration as the superstitious “worship of a breadbox” and persecuted seminarians who wanted to make holy hours or have exposition. This sadly wasn’t isolated. And it certainly impacted those future priests who didn’t know the faith well enough to recognize the voice of false prophets.

But that’s not the principal explanation. The bigger one is a series of practices with regard to the Eucharist that, regardless of the intentions in inaugurating them, impacted what the faithful know and believe. The ancient aphorism lex orandi, lex credendi reminds us that how we pray impacts what we believe. The way we have spoken about the Eucharist in word and body language, in music and architecture, over the last half century has unquestionably impacted what people understand and believe.

The location and beauty of the Tabernacle, the posture with which we receive Holy Communion, the pace at which Holy Communion is distributed, the direction

of our worship, the Liturgical vocabulary we use, the widespread encouragement and allowance of almost everyone to receive, the accessibility of Churches for prayer, the frequency of Eucharistic Adoration, and the Eucharistic piety of the priests and others who lead the Church’s prayer all matter.

How do we increase knowledge and faith of the reality of Jesus in the Eucharist? It begins with taking seriously what the Church believes and courageously living it, so that others might come to believe. Faith is not just taught but caught, and everything the Church does ought to help people catch it.

I’d like to mention 10 practices for consideration.

I hope in doing so that we can get beyond the “Liturgical wars,” beyond even our preferences, to concentrate on what is truly conducive to communicating clearly and effectively the Church’s Eucharistic faith.

First, priestly Eucharistic piety. Priests have the greatest role and responsibility for turning the situation right-side-up. There’s a difference between priests who live truly Eucharist lives and those who don’t. It’s manifested in the way they pray rather than recite the Mass, handle the Eucharist in their hands and distribute, put reverence into genuflections, celebrate Mass on their days off, pray before the Blessed Sacrament, promote Eucharistic Adoration and take the inconvenient hours, refer in their preaching to Jesus in the Eucharist, and sit in the confessional so that people can be worthy to receive

Him. Eucharistic priests form Eucharistic parishes, and Eucharistic parishes not only survive but thrive and renew the Church.

Second, Tabernacles in the center of our Sanctuaries.

If we know the Eucharist is truly the King of Kings, why would we put Him anywhere else than in the most important place? Moreover, wouldn’t our Tabernacles be the most exquisite item in the whole Church, to convey this truth and love?

Third, prayer before the Eucharistic Jesus. If we believe that in the Eucharist, Jesus fulfills His promise to be with us always until the end of time (Mt 28:20), and we recognize that people need Jesus, then we must provide access to Him. Locked churches, however common, are a scandal. They’re shut, of course, out of safety, lest the church suffer vandalism, but the remedy is vigorously promoting prayer and Adoration with a sense of shared responsibility. Eucharistic Adoration may be itself the most important element in the turnaround, for no one worships bread.

Fourth, daily Mass. If the Eucharist is really Jesus, then is there anything more important we can do on Mondays, or Thursdays, or any day than receive Him? Daily Mass changes a believer from someone who fulfills a Sunday duty to someone who treats the Eucharistic Lord with generous love.

Fifth, not rushing Holy Communion. Catholics believe receiving Jesus Christ is the most incredible moment in human life. Why would we ever hurry it? In many parishes, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion 8 Turn to page 16

August 23, 2019 †

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T

Moving in the right direction

here is always considerable movement around us, and as we transition from the relative quiet of summer to a new school year, that movement intensifies — even to the point of agitation and stress. So much to do! We cannot escape set schedules and concrete obligations, but surely we can find occasional quiet moments to assess the scope and underlying intentions of our actions.

These intentions, however directed, are key to our disposition and critical to our plans. God willing, the relaxing moments of the past couple of months allowed some reflection and perhaps even resolutions to make this year’s transition less frenetic, but as long lists claw at our finite time and resources, it’s so easy to lose one’s calm. What would Our Lady do?

Surely, we think, she lived so long ago and so far away. There is virtually no practical overlap between her life and our own! Or is there? A wise Biblical scholar — much devoted to the Blessed Mother — once reminded a group of us at a conference that some images can be lost in translation, for example the account of the Nativity.

As the newborn Child slept on her lap, the awe-struck shepherds had departed, and the jubilant rejoicing of the angels was replaced by a reverent hush, it was written: “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” (Lk 2:19). That word “reflect8

ing,” sometimes rendered “pondering,” we were told, is better understood in the Greek, which likens it to the actions one uses with a hot potato, which must be thrown from hand to hand. This doesn’t necessarily assume frustration (for it can be done with joy and the anticipation of eating) but it does reflect intense action. The difference is that, in the case of Our Lady, the action is entirely unseen.

There must have been other times of deep “reflection,” such as the loss of Jesus in the temple, the implications of His teaching during His public ministry, and the growing agitation and anger His words elicited. Despite Mary’s purity and docility to God’s will, unfold-

† August 23, 2019

ing events still allowed for considerable mental scrambling and inner motion. Unfortunately, in our fallen state, the motion can get out of control and lose its focus.

That is why we must exercise discipline, ensuring that our movements always bear a vertical scope. Strictly horizontal activities — appointments, carpools, commutes, assignments, deadlines, celebrations, and the like — cannot be avoided, but they can be repackaged to a considerable degree, baptized if you wish.

Cardinal Newman offers a

helpful analogy, reminding us: “When we read a book of fiction, we are much excited with the course of the narrative, until we know how things will turn out.” Our lives — dull, overworked, or otherwise — are not fiction, and yet, despite an inability to know in advance the details of each page, we do know how the story ends. There will be an individual judgement upon death, and later the marvelous drama at the consummation of the world, when the actions of all will be brought to light — not only every movement but the motivations.

Our motivations must be considered, even (especially!) amidst the most frantic activities. We are made for Heaven and

these actions certainly matter, but they must safeguard Divine priorities if they are to help us on our proper trajectory.

A morning offering is key — offering everything to God and begging for His help — and then we must keep in mind that this is our proving ground for something greater than excellent grades, wellplanned events, or successful careers.

For all the hot potatoes thrown our way, knowing they are allowed by God and manageable through His grace should help us move Heavenward despite the daunting events of the most trying chapters.

Anchor columnist Genevieve Kineke is the author of “The Authentic Catholic Woman.” She blogs at feminine-genius. typepad.com.

LCWR calls upon president to end ‘divisive and polarizing rhetoric’ SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The following is a letter sent by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious during its annual 2019 conference to President Trump on August 14. The letter, affirmed by the 663 LCWR members gathered in assembly in Scottsdale, Ariz, calls upon the president to end all divisive rhetoric.

The letter states in part, “We implore you to never use language that disrespects, dehumanizes, or demonizes others. We expect our president, and all who serve this nation as leaders, to be always mindful of the common good and the dignity of each and every person. You hold a position that has the potential to inspire the best of every one of us and

we ask you to use this unique status to bring about healing and never seek to create division.”

In a press release, the Sisters mentioned how they make an examination of conscience each day and said, “We urge the president to adopt a similar practice in regards to the use of his moral authority.”

The letter reads as follows: Mr. President, We live in a world increasingly marked by hatred, brutality, and violent conflict. We see our own country threatened by increasing disparities in economic, political, and social power. We are caught in a political culture paralyzed by ideological extremism and hyper-partisanship.

These are times that require exceptional insight and courageous leadership.

In the face of these unprecedented challenges, we are outraged and heart-broken when our political leaders appeal to our basest instincts and stoke the fires of fear that threaten to tear the fabric of our nation apart.

We cannot, we will not, let the voices of hatred and fear carry the day.

Mr. President, we beseech you to end all divisive and polarizing rhetoric.

We implore you to never use language that disrespects, dehumanizes, or demonizes others. We expect our president, and all who serve this nation as leaders, to be always mindful of the common good and the dignity of each and every person. You hold a position that has the potential to inspire the best of every one of us and we ask you to use this unique status to bring about healing and never seek to create division.

The people of this pluralistic nation form a diverse polity characterized by a wide variety of beliefs, experiences, and interests.

Disagreements and differences have the potential to challenge all of us to abandon easy certainty and seek a fuller truth. The problem is not our many differences or passionate disagreements. Those differences are our greatest strength; those disagreements are opportunities for growth.

It is how we handle those inevitable conflicts that spells the difference between building the common good and destroying the bonds that bind this nation.

In his address to the U.S. Congress in 2015, Pope Francis invited our political leaders to promote respect for the dignity of every human person and to renew their commitment to a spirit of cooperation. He also addressed each of us and all who seek to lead this nation when he said, “Each son or daughter of a given country has a mission, a personal

and social responsibility. You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics. A political society endures when it seeks, as a vocation, to satisfy common needs by stimulating the growth of all its members, especially those in situations of greater vulnerability or risk. Building a future of freedom requires love of the common good and cooperation in a spirit of subsidiarity and solidarity.”

As Catholic Sisters, our ministries frequently require us to be in the heart of situations of discord and division, and thus we understand the great complexities and challenges that are inherent in the work of reconciliation. We too have to reach deep within ourselves to bring forth the grace and strength that are needed to not give in to the temptation of labeling or judging those who are different from us. We share with you, Mr. President, that maintaining this fundamental stance in life requires discipline and fortitude and a constant examination of our daily thoughts and deeds in light of our beliefs. We sometimes come up short, but pledge to do better each day because we are aware of the moral authority we, as Sisters, bear. We ask you, Mr. President, if you would consider a similar examination of the practice of your own moral authority.

We send this letter to you as 663 Catholic Sister leaders gathered in assembly in Arizona. We and approximately 700 other Catholic Sisters are members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and represent approximately 35,000 Sisters who minister throughout this nation.

We promise to never cease raising our voices on behalf of the common good and praying for the healing of this country.

Sincerely, The Members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

www.anchornews.org August 23, 2019 †

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T

Barefoot in the park(ing lot)

he old adage claims, “That which does not kill me only makes me stronger.” For me, I say, “That which does not kill me gives me fodder for my next column.” So be it.

Earlier this month, Denise and I accompanied my sister-in-law, Diane, to a conference in Burlington, Vt. We were put up in the Hotel Vermont, on the fourth floor of a six-floor building. We knew this was a great place to stay, having done the same thing last August.

Day one was a do-nothing day, since the ride took nearly five hours (thanks to Boston). Then again, every day there was a do-nothing day for Denise and me, since we had no responsibilities there, unlike our hostess. We arrived around dinner time, settled into our room and ordered delivery while unwinding from sitting down for the last several hours. For those who travel, you get this.

Day two proved to be a bit more interesting. Diane had some conference stuff to attend to in the morning and when she returned, we went out to a nice restaurant sitting but yards from the magnificent Lake Chaplain.

One of our primary goals was to get a platter of poutine, a French-Canadian delicacy; and much like most French-Canadian eats, it was far from health food — consisting of French Fries and melted cheese curds smothered in gravy. We got two large plates to share, and we did order one with vegetable gravy, thus allowing ourselves to feel only half guilty for the indulgences.

After a nice day by the lake, we headed back to our home base where Diane got ready for a dinner with a client that evening. Again, Denise and I hunkered down, ordered out and rested from our taxing day of eating and sitting around.

About 8:30 we decided to call it a day and watch some television and flake out. No sooner had we done this when we were shaken to 10

the core by blaring alarms.

At first I thought it was just our room and immediately thought, “What could I have done to set off the alarms?”

But I sensed ours wasn’t the only room with the earpiercing blasts. I quickly looked out the window and saw the street filled with smoke — and people outside looking up toward where we were situated.

Then we started to smell the smoke, and it was acrid.

I said to Denise, “We have to get out of here, now!” She told me to grab the room key and we both scooped up our phones (go figure) and made our way into the hall, where the smell of the smoke worsened.

We headed for the stairway along with other guests who had the same look of concern on their faces as we did, but there was no panic.

It should be noted that Denise has MS so she has to take her time on stairways.

It was a bit unnerving for both of us as we watched others race past us on the way down. Denise would periodically step aside to let others go by.

The smoke smell was worsening and it was then when I started to truly wonder what we were heading into. At the second floor I reached out and touched the door praying it wasn’t hot. It wasn’t. “At least,” I thought, “we weren’t heading into trouble.” It should also be noted that leaving the room so quickly, we didn’t have shoes on.

As Denise later put it, “We were one of the first to reach the stairs, and the last ones out the building.” Once outside we were quickly ushered from the building by the staff of a nearby restaurant, telling us, “move, the fire is right above us.” We moved.

Once in the street, the smoke was starting to billow out of hotel roof and I could detect a glow on the roof in the waning moments of

† August 23, 2019

daylight. That glow became full-fledged flames within seconds. Again we were ushered further away, this time by the Burlington PD who told us the smoke was toxic.

In all nearly 200 of us watched the flames on the roof from a safe distance in a parking lot across the street. The Burlington Fire Department was there in no time and knocked the flames down within a half hour. It turns out that a pizza oven in a restaurant on the

first floor of the hotel (not part of the hotel), directly below our room, ignited a fire in the vent system and flames traveled through the vent and up to the roof where they literally spewed out onto the roof.

Fortunately it was a mild evening because the parking lot was to be our home for the next four-plus hours. The Marriott Hotel next door did provide a ballroom for us to go and sit and have water and snacks, but Denise and I felt awkward being shoeless and in T-shirts and shorts.

As soon as we got out, I called Diane. She, knowing I never call her, answered and asked hesitantly, “Is everything OK?” I said, “Nope, the hotel is on fire, we’ve all been evacuated.” Her hesitancy became surprise. “What?” she shouted. “I’ll be there in a few.” I texted pictures to her to prove I hadn’t lost it.

A few minutes later Diane arrived thanks to her client and we watched the surreal scene unfold before us.

As I mentioned the fire was quickly knocked down, but the post-fire protocol of searching for hot spots and maintenance continued. And the FD went into each room to open the windows to vent the building.

When we first evacuated the hotel and I saw the flames I thought to myself, “We are not going back in there tonight.” But slowly word came to us that most of the guests would be allowed back in, but it would be hours. The rooms directly below the fire, one on each floor from six to three, were not inhabitable. We were four rooms from them and two floors from the fire.

Again, as I mentioned, it was a mild evening so we stayed outside, but unbeknown to me, my feet were being attacked by mosquitoes. Allow me to digress here (you knew it was coming). I am mosquito bait. Ten people could be outside and only one would be bitten — me. No one else around me was chomped upon.

Once I started to feel the itch, I told Denise we should go into the Marriott, despite our lack of footwear. We did, and we were given blankets and water and made as comfortable as possible. I should have asked for calamine lotion as well.

At 1 a.m. we were finally allowed to return to our room, which was quite surprisingly not smokeysmelling at all. It took a while for us to settle down after the episode, but we eventually

fell asleep. The hotel offered a free breakfast the next morning, but we all slept in and missed it.

While it was happening, especially the evacuation and the not knowing the extent of the danger, it was quite nerve-racking. But everyone kept their cool when things got hot.

I have nothing but praise for the women and men of the Burlington Fire Department on the scene and I sent them a Facebook message the next day letting them know. Kudos also to the PD and the hotel staff and the kind folks from the nextdoor Marriott.

Aside from my mosquito bites and the three days of itching that followed, no one was hurt and the displaced guests were relocated.

Looking back, it was an experience and left us with a story to tell and a column to write. But if I never go through it again, it will be too soon.

The next night we were shuttled to a dinner at the beautiful Shelburne Farms.

While boarding the bus to return, the driver asked us all which hotel we were going back to. I told him, “I’m going to the hottest spot in town, the Hotel Vermont,” evoking chuckles from those within earshot. That which does not kill me … jolivetdb@comcast.net

Flames shoot from a vent and onto the roof of the Hotel Vermont in Burlington, Vt. on August 6. Denise, her sister Diane and I were staying at the hotel at the time, just four rooms and two floors away (see inset) from the fire. We were evacuated and everyone was safe. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)

August 7, 2019 † C orpus Christi Parish, E ast Sandwich

(Photos courtesy of Deacon Alan Thadeu)

August 23, 2019 †

11

CTION!

Enthusiasm and optimism are key for upcoming school year

PRODU NOW IN

continued from page two

ing difficulties. This development process is truly providing support for our teachers.

“Three years ago we only had resources for special education in two of our schools. This year that number increases to 11, and by 2021 we hope to have all of our schools with access to such assistance.”

Perla also enthusiastically touted the newlyformed Little Flower Early Learning Center located on Palm Street in Attleboro.

“We will be working with children from six weeks old to 3.9 years old. We are very excited about this new project,” he said.

Christine Barrett is the center’s inaugural director. Barrett has a bachelor’s degree in English and an associate’s degree in Early

Childhood Education. She has 24 years of experience as a center director and preschool teacher. Married and the mother of two, she grew up in a very Catholic household, attended Catholic schools from K-12, taught Religious Education for 25 years and is very active at her home parish of St. Basil the Great in Lincoln, R.I. “We felt a great need to assist families’ needs in our diocese, families who are looking for infant and childcare that they feel safe with and that they can trust,” added Perla. “In a prime example of other ministries stepping up to help our school children, Susan Mazzarella, of the diocesan Catholic Social Services, has donated a load of brand new toys for

the center, still in the packaging. It’s so nice to see the synergy between the different diocesan units.

“We’re hoping that the Little Flower Early Learning Center will become a feeder school in the future for our other Catholic Schools.”

For more information on what is happening in the Diocese of Fall River’s Catholic schools, visit catholicschoolsalliance.org or visit the Diocese of Fall River’s Catholic School Alliance Facebook page.

The Little Flower Early Learning Center will accept child care vouchers. For more information, including tuition rates, please call Christine Barrett at 508455-0145. The center also has a charming website at littleflowerelc.org.

DIOCESAN DIRECTORY

2020

Available to pre-order online at

www.anchornews.org or by sending a check for $30 per copy (includes shipping) to:

The Anchor 887 Highland Avenue Fall River, Mass. 02720 Limited press run!

Directories will ship in early October

A subscription to The Anchor would make a wonderful gift for a loved one, a friend, or yourself. It’s a publication that provides a Spiritual uplift and keeps Catholics connected to our Church — locally and beyond.

One-year subscription — $25 Two-year subscription — $45 Name: _____________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________ City: ____________________ State: _____ Zip: ___________ if given as a gift, the card should read: From: _____________________________________________ Street: ____________________________________________ City-State: _________________________________________ Enclose check or money order and mail to: The Anchor, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720

12

† August 23, 2019

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, August 25 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Matt Fase, C.S.C., athletic chaplain at Stonehill College in Easton

Sunday, September 1 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Bryan Williams, C.S.C., campus minister for faith formation at Stonehill College in Easton

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass

on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, August 25 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass

on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, September 1 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in New Bedford

St. Joseph School takes fund-raising ‘to the mats’ FAIRHAVEN — If you or someone you know is looking to replace a bed in your home, now is the time.

St. Joseph School in Fairhaven is excited to announce they will be hosting a one-day Mattress Fundraiser on Sunday, September 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For one day only, the school’s gym will be transformed into a mattress showroom. For information about the sale, go to bit.ly/ beds4stjoseph19.

There will be 25 different mattress styles on display in all sizes and styles for customers to try, priced below retail.

the company first introduced The Mattress Fundraiser to the Cleveland, Ohio market in 2005.

The company now has more than 100 locaAdjustable power bases, tions and works with premium pillows, bed more than 2,000 schools frames, and mattress nationwide. This unique protectors will be availbusiness model helps able as well. schools raise thousands Name brands like of dollars in just one day.

Simmons Beautyrest, To date, the company come with full factory has given back more warranties, are made to than $40 million. order, and will be availYou can view a short able two to three weeks video that explains how after the fund-raiser. the Mattress Fundraiser Delivery is also available. works at https://youtu.

Best of all, St. Joseph be/dtWPNME9W2w, School benefits from call 401-601-6052, or every purchase. Sponvisit them online at sored by Custom Fundcustomfundraisingsolutions. raising Solutions (CFS), com.

Annual diocesan Red Mass to be celebrated September 28 FALL RIVER — The annual Red Mass for the Fall River Diocese will be celebrated on Saturday, September 28 at 4 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, 327 Second Street in Fall River.

A long-standing tradition in the Church, the Red Mass is celebrated each year in the diocese to ask for God’s guidance and strength on those who work to promote justice in the legal system.

Judges, attorneys and

others working in the justice system throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands are invited to attend.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V, will be principal celebrant of the Mass. It will conclude with the annual presentation of the St. Thomas More Awards to members of the area legal community in recognition of dedicated service.

The Red Mass is so named because of the

color of the vestments worn during the Liturgy, which is the Mass of the Holy Spirit, Who will be invoked upon those in attendance.

All are welcome at the Red Mass. A reception and dinner will follow for which a ticket is required.

For more information about the Red Mass and reception, please contact Attorney Michael J. Harrington at 508-994-5900 or email Harringtonpc@ aol.com.

August 23, 2019 †

13

W

The journey of life

hat to write?

What to write?

What to write? Over the last several days these words have swirled through my mind knowing that this article would soon be due.

Well, my buddy Ken Souza, the editor, sent me a note last night reminding me about the article due date — sending me into a panic. What to write???

It’s been a busy several months. Time is tight.

Many highs and some lows: travel, visiting family and baby-sitting grandkids. A move to a new parish. A new deacon class getting underway and developing plans to move the deacon office.

Visitors. Fun. Happy.

Tired. Preparing for the start of classes and a move of offices at UMass D. A good friend suffering and in need of support. Praying. Mom in the nursing home. Visiting. Crying. Praying.

Nervous.

Another grandchild on the way. Proud. Joy. Amazement. Singing.

Laughing. Praying. Sending off a youth council member to college. Sad. Happy. Praying. A major work project behind schedule. Oh-oh. Gotta get it done. Gotta get this done!

Praying! Garage door falling apart. Life happening. Trying to see the road ahead. Foggy. Curvy.

Hilly. Where am I going?

Time to get out and clear the mind. Take a drive.

Swirling thoughts. Open road.

14

God, please give me a sign. Swerve. A sign, literally, in the middle of the road — flat on the road. Blown off its stand.

Caution its color. “Bump in the Road” its message.

Not the sign I was expecting God, but a sign nonetheless. I didn’t hit it ... but it then it hit me.

For some reason I started reading every sign I saw.

“Stop.” “Keep Out.” “Bump.” “Merge.”

“One Way.” There was a message there. Like a highway journey, so goes life. We’re on the road.

We’re on the way. Signs guide the way. One quote I recall seeing recently summarized it well. “Life is a journey, not a destination.”

For many of you reading this, you are embarking on another part of your journey of life.

Some are heading to high school, others off to college. Perhaps others are

heading to a new city or starting a new job.

As you will soon learn or may have already learned, the road of life is a sometimes flat, easy ride and other times a twisting, turning, pothole-filled path with hills and valleys. In all cases, on the road there

are road signs along the way to guide us through.

“Bump ahead.” Time to slow down and hold on.

“Construction ahead,” time to be cautious.

“Curve,” slow down! Still on the journey. A way to go before our final destination.

We’re all on this journey called life. We can read the signs or move blindly on, hoping to somehow get to our

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

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

† August 23, 2019

destination. Sometimes we’ll make good time and other times we’ll get bogged down. Moving ahead too quickly, doing things we’re not supposed to — we’ll get stopped, hopefully, before we do something to hurt someone else or ourselves. And of course, sometimes getting to that deadend and having to turn around and find our way back.

As you move on to the next phase of your journey, I encourage you to heed the signs that are there to get you to your destination. In life we call those signs parents, teachers, priests, and good friends. They’ll help you steer your way and to stay on the road to your final destination.

But don’t be fooled by some signs that may lure you to somewhere you don’t want to go, especially those bright neon signs off the side of the

road that try to make you take the exit. Those signs that try to make the evil and bad look good and attractive. Pay attention and you’ll know which signs to look for and to pay attention to. In all cases, stay on the road.

Article is finished.

Thank you, Lord, for the road sign. Thank God for the signs in my life that have brought me to this time and place.

Reading the next sign: “Slow down — Rest Stop Ahead.” Think I’ll take a short break before the next phase of the journey begins. Travel safely. See you along the way.

Frank Lucca is a deacon in the Diocese of Fall River assigned to St. Mary’s Parish in Dartmouth and a campus minister at UMass Dartmouth. He is married to his wife of 42 years, Kristine, and the father of two daughters and their husbands, and three grandsons with another on the way!

F ocus

on

C hurch Y outh

Left and below, the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light Sisters at St. Anthony of the Desert Parish in Fall River recently organized a Bible Camp for young children. The camp drew more than 50 youth to learn about this year’s theme, “In the Footsteps of St. Joseph.”

(Photos courtesy of Sister Therese Maria)

The garden at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford is bountiful and the produce is picked and donated to the St. Lawrence Food Pantry. Recently containers of fresh kale were picked by students Avangeline and Franchesca, above, who are also attending summer camp.

Tony, a volunteer at the pantry, is pictured with them. (Photo courtesy of Margaret McCormick) August 23, 2019 †

15

Father Landry continued from page seven

have become quasi-ordinary, contrary to Church norms, lest the distribution of Holy Communion, and therefore, Mass, “take too long.” But emphasizing “efficiency” or a desire for Liturgical “inclusivity” over this encounter between God and His beloved is unwise and counterproductive.

Sixth, receiving with greater reverence. It is certainly possible for people to receive the Lord devoutly in their hands while standing. We shouldn’t forget, however, that when Cranmer, with Machiavellian discernment, was seeking to destroy Eucharistic piety in post-Reformation England, he did it principally through promoting Communion in the hands while standing. If men drop to their knees to propose to beloved future brides, can’t we kneel out of love to receive the Lord?

Doesn’t Holy Communion on the tongue far better communicate the sense of receiving the Eucharist as a gift? Since we seldom kneel except for God, and almost never allow others to put things into our mouths, such a gesture would communicate the uniqueness of what we’re doing.

Seventh, orienting our worship more conspicuously toward God. A priest who devoutly prays the Mass can convey the theocentrism of the Church’s Liturgy no matter what direction he is facing. But the potential for priests to become the center of attention, and for faithful to think that the Church’s worship is self-referential, is much greater when priests face the people. One of the reasons why many young Catholics are gravitating toward the traditional Latin 16

Mass, I’m convinced, is because they believe ad orientem worship more easily and effectively communicates a sense of the Sacred, and facilitates prayerfully preparing for the most sacred moment in human life.

Especially in those circumstances when priests are not the most graceful celebrants, orienting the new order of the Mass more exclusively and explicitly toward the real presence of the God-man would help ameliorate the crisis.

Eighth, living the Church’s teaching about worthy reception. We do not transmit faith in the Real Presence when we permit anyone and everyone, regardless of their conditions, to receive the Eucharist. This concerns not just those who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, like Catholic politicians with scandalous public or private lives, but also Catholics who have committed serious sins yet to be absolved and nonCatholics who are not yet in communion. People notice whether we take the holiness of Jesus in the Eucharist seriously or treat the Eucharist like a piece of cake at a birthday party. Our example instructs.

Ninth, terminology. Our vocabulary must communicate our faith. We should boldly use the terms “Sacred Body” and “precious Blood.”

Mention of “bread” and “wine” at all — even “Eucharistic bread” or “consecrated wine” — confuses the faithful and doesn’t communicate the truth. This is particularly important for catechists and Liturgical ministers. We also need to be particularly careful about what is taught through Liturgical music.

“Look beyond the bread you eat” is heretical. Singing a catchy mantra, “Eat this bread, drink this cup,”

† August 23, 2019

teaches something far different than “Eat My Flesh, drink My Blood.”

Tenth, pulling out all the stops. If we really believe the Eucharist is Jesus, and we love Him, then it should show, lavishly. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote in one of his Eucharistic hymns, “quantum potes, tantum aude,” “Dare to do all you can.” The more we do — with Corpus Christi processions, 40-hour devotions, starting perpetual Adoration, Eucharistic conventions, Eucharistic healing services and more — the more we will convey our Eucharistic faith.

As I make these suggestions, I’d like to emphasize that not only are none of them “against Vatican II,” or against the authentic Liturgical reforms of the last 50 years, but each is meant to bring about the central Liturgical aim of the Council: the “full and active participation by all the people,” and not just in the Liturgy but in what the Liturgy is meant to accomplish: bring us into communion with Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I’d also like to underline that none of the ideas are new or original. In fact, many are already being implemented in various parishes, dioceses, religious communities, schools, and movements — and in general have led to flourishing counter-indications to the Pew Research Center’s troubling report.

Putting Jesus in the Holy Eucharist in His proper place leads to great vitality. Not doing so leads to decline and death. That’s the choice the Church faces.

Who do we say that the Eucharist is?

Anchor columnist Father Roger Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks:

Aug. 23 Rev. Thomas F. Clinton, Pastor, St. Peter, Sandwich, 1895 Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, PA, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 1992 Aug. 24 Rev. Peter J.B. Bedard, Founder, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, 1884 Very Rev. James F. Gilchrist, C.P.M., VG., Vicar General of the Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy, 1962 Rev. Msgr. James E. Gleason, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Falmouth, 1987 Aug. 25 Rev. Joseph F. Hanna, C.S.C, Founder, Holy Cross, South Easton, 1974 Rev. Thomas E. Lawton, C.S.C., 2002 Aug. 27 Rev. Francisco C. Bettencourt, Pastor, Santo Christo, Fall River, 1960 Rev. Msgr. Hugh A. Gallagher, P.A., Retired Pastor , St. James, New Bedford, 1978 Aug. 29 Rev. Joseph DeVillandre, D.D., Founder, Sacred Heart, North Attleboro, 1921 Msgr. William H. Harrington, Retired Pastor, Holy Name, Fall River, 1975 Aug. 30 Rev. Frederick Meyers, SS.CC., Former Pastor, Our Lady of the Assumption, New Bedford, 2008 Aug. 31 Msgr. Armando A. Annunziato, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1993 Rev. Thomas M. Landry, O.P., Former Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River, 1996 Sept. 1 Rev. Jorge J. de Sousa, Pastor, St. Elizabeth, Fall River, 1985 Rev. James F. Lyons, Former Pastor, St. Patrick, Wareham, 2008 Sept. 2 Rev. Paul Robinson, O. Carm., Former Diocesan Judicial Vicar, 2018 Sept. 3 Rev. Thomas J. McGee, D.D., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1912 Sept. 4 Rev. Joseph P. Tallon, Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1864 Rev. John J. Maguire, Founder, St. Peter the Apostle, Provincetown, 1894 Sept. 5 Rev. Napoleon, A. Messier, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1948

Our Readers Respond Troubled Gentlemen, I am 74 years of age and attended Catholic grammar school, high school and college.

Our four children did as well.

I am a Pro-Life Catholic.

I am very troubled by your editorial and the connection you made up. You note Archbishop Sheen made a connection between two features of American History. He said: “And I think we lost all of these boundaries at 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 6, 1945, when we dropped the bomb on Hiroshima.”

You then opine “That bomb blotted out boundaries of life and death, civilian and the military, and trust among nations.”

Trust among nations?

What in God’s name are you talking about? The Japanese bombed us at Pearl Harbor and killed thousands of Americans. Trust among nations?? That is laughable.

You then conclude, “And so abortion from that point on is defended on the ground

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

by editorial blaming abortion on bombing

that one may do whatever he pleases.”

The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941.

They proceeded to kill many more thousands of American military in the Pacific. They killed more than one million Chinese peasants who did nothing to them. Actions have consequences. Drop the bomb to save lives!!

One man — President Harry S. Truman — decided to end the war and the murderous rage of the Japanese. One man decided to not bomb Tokyo, too many people would have died. One man decided to end the war by bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

That one man’s actions actions saved the lives of what is estimated to have been 350,000 Americans and thousands of soldiers and citizens of Japanese ancestry.

I have a different take on the matter as to the cheapening of life in this country.

My explanation involves

the actions of thousands so called “Catholic priests” sexually molesting hundreds of thousands of young boys and girls, not only in this country, but all over the world. The Church knew about these sexual predators and condoned their actions, routinely transferring them from parish to parish.

Not one man’s decision (Truman’s) to end a war and save lives, but decisions made by thousands of Catholic priests to sexually assault young boys for their

own gratification — decisions that were supported by the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church.

I conclude that when these thousands of socalled “priests” made their hundreds of thousands of decisions to sexually assault children, abortion from that point became acceptable.

If the Catholic priests were and are allowed to sexually assault children, “one may do whatever one pleases” — not one man, Harry S. Truman making a

Executive Editor Contrary to what you thought, I will print your rebuttal to the editorial I wrote in the July 12 edition of The Anchor.

I do have to admit that we do not print all responses, since some criticize particular employees of the diocese.

You did not do that, and I appreciate that.

Firstly, you ascribe to me the following comment: “That bomb blotted out boundaries of life and death, civilian and the military, and trust among nations.”

That sentence was written by Archbishop Fulton Sheen, not by me, although I did quote it.

I do agree with you that Imperial Japan’s actions were heinous. I am not trying to apologize for it at all. I think that Archbishop Sheen was not looking at trust between the dictatorship in Japan and the United States, but between countries after 1945. As it is, that was not the central point of the editorial, nor of that paragraph.

decision which ultimately saved lives. But thousands of priests, bishops and cardinals making individual decisions and ultimately ruining hundreds of thousands of lives, (that’s when) abortion became OK. I have no “festering sin” about Truman’s actions. I would have made the same decision to save lives.

You have my authority to print this rebuttal in The Anchor, but you never will.

— Richard S. Farley Harwich

replies

In terms of whether we needed to use the atom bomb or not, I did reply on that issue in the July 26 edition of The Anchor. So, I will not reargue that point now.

I also agree with your analysis that the depths of evil to which a minority of priests sunk in committing such crimes against our youth, together with the more widespread acquiescence of the hierarchy to take true action against these crimes, did contribute to the abortion culture which we have in the United States and in much of the world.

With some clergy acting like Jack the Ripper, they were not going to work to promote morality. My response in the July 26 edition also makes reference to the failures of the clergy to preach the entire truth about human reproduction from Christ’s standpoint, although it did not mention the evil “hidden under the carpet,” which you discuss, that also had a devastating

...

impact upon Catholicism.

I would have to admit that I believe that President Truman will have a much easier time at the final judgement than these clerics. As I wrote before, I personally like him and think he was a good man, put in a very difficult quandary.

That is not to say that the Catholic Church is all powerful in the United States and that everything evil here happened because of us.

We are a minority in this country (declining in our percentage of the population due to our own failures).

The sins of other Americans also do have a long-term effect on the country, too.

Although you were annoyed, you have shown me a lot more respect than many other people who email me and I thank you for that.

Actually, I can share with the readers that you and I have had a very good dialogue via email since you first wrote, and it has been a pleasure to share ideas (and faith) with you.

August 23, 2019 †

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Around the Diocese Our Lady of the Cape Parish, 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster, invites all to join them for a very special Healing Mass to be celebrated by Father André Patenaude, M.S. of the La Salette Shrine in Attleboro on Wednesday, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. “Father Pat” will enhance the experience with some of his original recordings as we ask for and give thanks for God’s healing. For more information, contact Kathy at adultfaithformation2@ gmail.com or 508-385-3252, extension 14.

A BBQ Fundraiser to support the Maronite Servant Sisters will be held Saturday, September 7 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., hosted by St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue in Fall River at the St. Sharbel Maronite Center. Menu will include BBQ chicken and ribs, corn on the cob, baked beans, corn bread, cole slaw, lemonade, and iced tea, watermelon and entertainment. You can either dinein or take-out. Beer, wine, and soda will also be for sale along with a 50/50 Raffle. For tickets or more information, call the Maronite Sisters’ Convent at 508-996-1753 or email sister@maroniteservants.org. You can also contact the parish office at 508-672-7653, or email saotd@ verizon.net.

There will be a Healing Mass at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 19 Kilmer Avenue in Taunton, on Thursday, September 12. The Holy Rosary begins at 6 p.m. and will include the Sacrament of Confession.

Holy Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include praying over people individually and conclude with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

A Retreat for Deacons’ Wives entitled “Growing in the Fruits of the Spirit” will be presented by Father Flavio Gillio and Dottie Levesque at the La Salette Retreat Center, 947 Park Street in Attleboro from Friday, September 13 through Sunday, September 15. Most dioceses have retreats for their deacons, but what about their wives? Theirs is a ministry of its own, for as a couple they serve the Church together. Walking through the Fruits of the Spirit enumerated by St. Paul in Galatians 5:22-23, the retreat will examine what each fruit means through a close reading of selected Biblical texts. How does Western culture inhibit the development of these fruits? If nurturing Godliness, growing in inner beauty, and letting Jesus live through you are relevant goals in your life and faith journey, this retreat is for you! The retreat starts on Friday, September 13 at 7 p.m. (registration begins at 6:30 p.m.) and the retreat ends on Sunday after lunch. Suggested donation is $225 per person. Visit www.lasaletteretreatcenter.com or call 508-222-8530 for more information.

A Family Healing Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, September 15 at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Chapel near the Father Peyton Center, 500 Washington Street in North Easton. Many families carry heavy burdens and wounds in their hearts. The celebration will include Adoration, Reconciliation, Mass and enriching music to help you and your family discover prayerful peace together. This event is free and is handicapaccessible. For more information, call Family Rosary at 508-238-4095, ext. 2038.

Those curious about becoming a lay Carmelite are invited to join members of St. John of the Cross Lay Carmelite Community for a “Come and See Day” on Sunday, September 15. The meeting will be held in classroom A of Christ The King Parish Center in Mashpee at 11:30 a.m.

They will begin by praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and a presentation on being a Lay Carmelite will follow. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Pam at 508-681-8299.

The 12th annual Walk for the Poor sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Fall River district will be held at Bishop Connolly High School, 373 Elsbree Street in Fall River, on Saturday, September 28.

The rain date will be October 6. All are invited to support and participate in this event to make it a grand success so that the poor and the needy of Fall River can benefit. For more information, please contact coordinator Victor Alves at vctr_alves@yahoo.com.

To submit an event for consideration in The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing, please send the information by email to kensouza@anchornews.org.

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† August 23, 2019

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ASSONET — St. Bernard’s Parish will have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar at the conclusion of 9 a.m. Mass and the church will be open all day, concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds 6:30 p.m. Mass followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Adoration at 7:15 p.m. every Wednesday evening.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John the Evangelist Church, North Main Street, Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m.

Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every First Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending at 5 p.m.

DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Mary’s Church, 783 Dartmouth Street, every First Monday of the month, following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with evening prayers and Benediction at 5 p.m.

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 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 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of Padua Church, on the corner of Bedford and Sixteenth streets, has Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by music and prayer every first Wednesday of the month from 6-7 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has Eucharistic Adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursdays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Friday at 8 a.m.

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 and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

FALL RIVER — St. Joseph’s Church has a Holy Hour every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m., with Benediction at 6:45 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Michael’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Benediction at 5:30 p.m.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday following the 7 a.m. Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m.

HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, 347 South Street, Hyannis, has Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 3 p.m., daily Monday through Friday.

MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Benediction at 5:30 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Each First Friday Mass ends with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Adoration continues until Benediction at 5 p.m.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration is held every Thursday, with Confessions, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church. Please use the side entrance.

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 Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 4 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 4 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

NORTH EASTON — A Holy Hour for Families including Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday from 3-4 p.m. at The Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street.

NORTH EASTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Immaculate Conception Church Chapel on the first Wednesday of the month beginning after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, until 6:40 p.m. Those wishing to make a monthly commitment can sign up on the parish website at www.icceaston.org or call the parish office at 508-238-3232.

ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m.

Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m.

Mass.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has perpetual 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.

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass until 9 a.m.

Taunton — The Chapel of St. Andrew the Apostle, 19 Kilmer Avenue, Taunton, will host Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Taunton — St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Taunton will host Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 9 a.m. Mass and the St. Jude Novena, until 11:30, ending with Benediction. It will take place at Holy Rosary Chapel during the summer months.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church takes place 9 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall.

† PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION † ATTLEBORO — Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street in Attleboro.

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.

NEW BEDFORD — Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street, offers Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day. For information call 508-996-8274.

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

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 are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

St. Anthony of Padua Relics Tour Schedule FALL RIVER — From Monday, August 26 to Saturday, August 31, two first-class and precious relics of the Portuguese-born St. Anthony of Padua will tour the Diocese of Fall River.

The two reliquaries, one of which contains layers of skin of the saint’s cheek and the other a fragment of his floating rib, will be on display for veneration at the following parishes: — Monday, August 26, at St. Anthony Church, 167 East Falmouth Highway, East Falmouth; Veneration begins at 5 p.m., with Mass at 7 p.m.

— Tuesday, August 27, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, 327 Second Street, Fall River; Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon to welcome the two relics and veneration begins after the midday Mass, with a concluding Mass at 7 p.m.

— Wednesday, August 28, at St. Anthony Church, 22 Barstow Street, Mattapoisett; Mass at 8 a.m., Veneration after the Mass until 1:30 p.m.

— Wednesday, August 28, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 235 North Front Street, New Bedford; Veneration at 5 p.m., Mass at 7 p.m.

— Thursday, August 29, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 125 Main Street, Acushnet; Mass at 9 a.m., followed by Veneration until 12 noon.

— Thursday, August 29, at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford; Veneration begins at 6 p.m., with Mass at 7 p.m.

— Friday, August 30, at St. Anthony Chapel, 35 Gault Road, West Wareham; Veneration at 4 p.m., Mass at 7 p.m.

— Saturday, August 31, at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, Taunton; Veneration begins at 2 p.m., Vigil Mass at 4 p.m.

August 23, 2019 †

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†August 23, 2019