Diocese of Fall River
The Anchor
F riday , August 26, 2011
Priest continues to nurture ‘ministry of consolation’ By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff
BOSTON — Losing a loved one is never easy. But as Catholics we have not only our faith to console and sustain us, but also the supportive community of the Church to remind us that death is not the end, but a new beginning. One who perhaps knows this better than most is Father Terence P. Curley, a retired priest of the Boston Archdiocese and author of several books on bereavement including “Planning the Catholic Funeral” and “Peace Beyond Understanding: Consoling One Another.” For nearly 30 years, Father
Curley has been, as he puts it, “trying to help people place loss into the context of faith.” “Many families are often confused about what to do when a loved one dies,” Father Curley told The Anchor. “How do we try to plan these things? In this day and age, the more we catechize and try to instruct people, the better it will be.” Noting that grief counseling or the more aptly named “ministry of consolation” is aimed not so much at celebrating the deceased person’s life, but rather praying for the person and giving hope to the family members and friends left behind, Turn to page 14
Bishops instruct Catholic politicians on real meaning and importance of marriage By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent
BOSTON — Recently efforts to defend marriage have received serious blows from two Catholic governors — Andrew M. Cuomo of New York and Martin O’Malley of Maryland. The first signed same-sex marriage into state law in June and the second hopes to follow the same path during the next legislative session. Both elected officials have caught the attention of their local bishops. This month, Governor O’Malley released private letters exchanged between himself and Baltimore Archbishop Edwin O’Brien. Catholic public figures, including politicians, who dissent
from Church teaching certainly come from both ends of the political spectrum, but those who seem to catch the most attention from their bishops oppose Church teaching on abortion and same-sex marriage — two issues that the Church unambiguously opposes for the good of society. David Franks, a professor of Catholic social doctrine at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, told The Anchor that the bishops have an obligation to respond when a Catholic politician takes a stand against the common good, particularly if that politician is Catholic. “A bishop has a special responsibility, in charity and gentleness, to remind that politician Turn to page 14
Pilgrims’ Progress — The members of the World Youth Day pilgrimage group from St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford stop in Toledo, Spain, on their way to Madrid. Thirty pilgrims traveled with Father Roger Landry. Seen in the background in the center is Toledo’s famous cathedral and to the right the Alcazar.
Wind, rain can’t dampen the spirit of diocesan pilgrims at World Youth Day By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff
MADRID – This year’s World Youth Day held in Madrid, Spain, drew 1.4 million pilgrims into the city, and even gusty winds and a torrential downpour during a Saturday Mass did little to dampen the spirits of those in attendance. “I leave Spain very happy and grateful to everyone,” said Pope Benedict XVI in his farewell speech
Sunday evening at the Madrid airport. “But above all I am grateful to God, our Lord, who allowed me to celebrate these days so filled with enthusiasm and grace, so charged with dynamism and hope. The feast of faith, which we have shared, enables us to look forward with great confidence in providence, which guides the Church across the seas of history. That is why she continues to be young and Turn to page five
Despite intense hardships, hopes are high for people, Church of South Sudan By Dave Jolivet, Editor
chor, Father Peter said, “We are the U.S. for the past month-andFALL RIVER — Father Pe- so very happy to have gained a-half to help raise awareness of ter Loro Bambu, a priest of the independence, and despite in- the plight of the people of South Archdiocese of Juba in the newly- credible suffering, the people of Sudan, and to solicit prayers and garner financial supestablished country of port from American South Sudan in east Catholics. “We are a central Africa, is 40 new country, but we years old, and for all have to start everybut one month of his thing from scratch,” life, he has known the he said. “The counhardships and pains of try and the Church his people’s struggle there.” for independence. Because of nearly That joyous occa40 years of warfare, sion occurred but four the infrastructure of weeks ago on July 9, when the new repub- the birth of a nation — Father Peter Loro Bam- the government and lic of South Sudan bu, right, a priest in the Archdiocese of Juba in South the Church was degained independence. Sudan, has been in the area telling the story the newly- stroyed. “Even our For the past 50 years, established country of South Sudan’s struggles for in- houses of worship, our churches have the South Sudanese dependence. been destroyed, but people have lived through war, extreme poverty and South Sudan are very hopeful for our faith remains our greatest consolation.” oppression in their efforts to be a brighter future.” Father Peter has been in eastern Father Peter told The Anchor free. In an interview with The An- Massachusetts and other parts of Turn to page 19