09.07.12

Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

F riday , September 7, 2012

Rainbows: Offering compassion, support to grieving children B y B ecky Aubut A nchor Staff

TAUNTON — As the school year commences, some children will be carrying more than just the weight of their backpacks on their shoulders.

Young children who have experienced a death in the family, the separation or divorce of parents, or possible abuse or abandonment by parents have an advocate on their side in the Rainbows program, currently run out of Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton.

A non-profit support group for children, Rainbows is not a formal counseling or therapy program, but a peer support group run by an adult facilitator with the sole purpose of providing a safe and caring environment that allows children to open up and share their thoughts and feelings.

Arleen Booker, coordinator of the program and former principal of Our Lady of

Lourdes School, heard about the program when she attended a presentation given by Sister Eugenia Brady at a Catholic education convention.

“I read the description and wanted to hear about it. In my own family, my children had to deal with divorce. I had just seen so much of it while teaching; the family would be together when a child entered kindergarten and divorced by third grade,” said Booker. “I thought, there’s a real need for this.”

The first facilitators were handpicked to match certain criteria. They weren’t looking for those employed as counselors or teachers; the main criteria, said Booker, was to have a group of facilitators who would open their hearts and ears, not their mouth.

“We were looking for good people and for people who would not talk outside the Turn to page 14

thanks and welcome — A Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church in New Bedford was recently celebrated to thank Father Richard D. Wilson for his 12 years as diocesan director of the Hispanic Apostolate and to welcome Father Craig A. Pregana as the new director. Faithful from New Bedford, Fall River, Attleboro, Cape Cod, and Taunton attended the Mass and subsequent reception. From left: Father Carlos Patino, regional director of the Hispanic Apostolate for Cape Cod and Nantucket; Father Wilson, regional director for Attleboro; Father Marc Fallon, CSC, regional director for Taunton; Father German Correa, regional director for Fall River; and Father Pregana.

Chorbishop Kaddo, parishioners hopeful, concerned for pope’s trip to Lebanon B y D ave Jolivet, Editor

FALL RIVER — Pope Benedict XVI’s upcoming trip to Lebanon is coming at a good and a bad time. The Middle Eastern country is situated in the middle of a hotbed of political and religious unrest that is “spilling into Lebanon,” Chorbishop Joseph F. Kaddo, pastor of St. Anthony of the Desert Parish in Fall River told The

Anchor. “The situation in the area is very much bothersome.

Pope Benedict’s trip there is a blessing for the people there, and my parishioners and I are looking forward to his presence there.”

The Maronite parish is home to more than 300 Lebanese families in the Fall River area.

The pope is scheduled to

visit Lebanon from September 14-16. Currently a violent civil war is raging in neighboring Syria following aggressive regime changes in nearby Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. “It’s a volatile situation in the region and our family and friends in Lebanon are painfully reminded of the civil war in their own country,” said Turn to page 14

New Bedford pastor headed to South America

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

NOT MONKEYING AROUND — They may look all soft and fuzzy, but the puppets “Stanley” and “Sally” offer the children participating in the Rainbows program an outlet for their grief, says Arleen Booker, coordinator of the program. Heading into its 17th year, the non-profit support group offers a safe and caring environment for children to talk to peers about his or her feelings as they deal with abuse, death or divorce.

NEW BEDFORD — Even though he’s been ordained for less than a decade, Father Hugo Cardenas, IVE, has already had four pastoral assignments.

And he’s about to embark on his fifth when he leaves next month to become the pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Charity, a small town in Guyana, South America.

“We have two parishes there and a minor seminary,” Father Cardenas said, referring to his religious order, the Institute of the Incarnate Word. “There are a lot of members from my order there — they are putting a lot of emphasis on Guyana. I guess in that kind of mission, you need the help of someone and it’s always encourag-

ing to be together with your religious community.”

While he expressed great joy at the prospect of being able to work alongside his brother priests in Guyana, Father Cardenas said it won’t be easy to leave behind the parishioners of St. Kilian Parish in New Bedford, where he’s served as pastor for more than four years.

“I have found many good people at St. Kilian Parish,” he said. “I will miss the people and my work here. New Bedford is in a beautiful spot — we’re so close to Cape Cod, to Boston, to Providence, to Newport.”

Father Cardenas’ pastorship in New Bedford has been his longest assignment to date, and he said it has been a rewarding and fruitful

learning experience.

“It has been great to work in this diocese,” he said. “One of the characteristics of this diocese is you Turn to page 18

Father Hugo Cardenas, IVE

News From the Vatican

2

September 7, 2012

Pope says Christians must not compromise Christ’s truth

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) — Marking the feast of the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, Pope Benedict XVI said Christians must not bow to the pressure of the powerful who demand a denial of Christ or of the truth He taught.

“The truth is the truth and there is no compromise,” the pope said at his weekly general audience August 29, the day the Church remembers St. John the Baptist’s beheading.

An estimated 2,500 people gathered in the town square just outside the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo for the main part of the pope’s audience.

Walking with a cane, the pope then held a second, mini-audience in the courtyard of the papal villa with 2,600 French altar servers — boys and girls — who were on a pilgrimage to Rome.

Pope Benedict told the young people they were blessed to be “particularly close to Christ Jesus in the Eucharist. You have the enormous privilege of being close to the altar, close to the Lord.”

The pope prayed that being an altar server would help the young people deepen their friendship with Christ and enthusiastically share God’s love with their friends and families.

“And, if one day you feel called to follow the path to the priesthood or religious life, re-

The Anchor www.anchornews.org

spond generously,” he told the youngsters.

In his main audience talk, the pope said St. John the Baptist, “out of love for the truth, would not compromise with the powerful” who wanted him to deny Christ.

Celebrating the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist is a reminder that “we cannot accept compromises about the love of Christ, His word, His truth,” he said.

Pope Benedict said St. John’s strength to preach conversion, to lead people to Jesus and to face martyrdom flowed from prayer and a total reliance on God. The periods St. John spent in the desert were part of his preparation. The desert is a place “where man experiences his own poverty because, deprived of support and material security, he understands that the only solid point of reference remaining is God,” the pope said.

The Baptist’s example of prayer, he said, teaches believers that “prayer isn’t time wasted, it does not steal time away from work — even apostolic work.”

Rather, he said, St. John the Baptist’s life is a reminder that “only if we have a faithful, constant, trusting prayer life, God Himself will give us the ability and strength to live happily and serenely, to overcome difficulty and witness to Him courageously.”

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 56, No. 34

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service

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

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

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

PUBLISHER - Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Richard D. Wilson fatherwilson@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza k ensouza@anchornews.org REPORTER Rebecca Aubut beckyaubut@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherwilson@anchornews.org

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

THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.

field trip — Altar servers from Malta arrive to attend Pope Benedict XVI’s general audience in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, recently. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

For pope in Lebanon, the pastoral is political

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Pope Benedict XVI travels to Lebanon September 14-16 — assuming spillover from the civil war in neighboring Syria doesn’t force a last-minute cancellation of the trip — his purpose will be above all pastoral; and, as usual for papal trips, most of his remarks will focus on the spiritual.

Yet as the Syrian conflict exemplifies, the concerns of Christians in the Middle East are in many respects inseparable from politics; and however diplomatically the pope may word his statements, some will inevitably touch on the region’s political struggles and tensions.

Pope Benedict’s primary reason for visiting Lebanon is to deliver his document of reflections on the 2010 special Synod of Bishops, which was dedicated to Christians in the Middle East. At that gathering, bishops spoke out on a range of issues that included the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, dialogue with Islam and Judaism, and the emigration of Christians driven by persecution, military conflict and economic hardship.

Bishops at the synod also affirmed the value of “positive secularism” and of an idea of citizenship that recognized a person’s full rights and responsibilities in society without reference to religious affiliation.

According to Michael La Civita of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, these are strikingly new concepts for the region, where sectarianism still dominates public as well as private life.

Pope Benedict may draw on the bishops’ vocabulary of secular citizenship when he addresses Lebanon’s political, religious and cultural leaders in the presidential palace September 15. He is also likely to renew his earlier calls for the protection of religious minorities. That cause has become an increasingly urgent one for Christians in the Middle East since the start of the Arab Spring, a revolutionary wave that started in December 2010, leading to the fall of dictatorships in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and

Yemen, and currently threatening the government of Syria.

Though they profess no love for the old regimes, many Middle Eastern Christians fear that revolution has furthered empowered Islamist extremism in the region, increasing the danger of attacks and persecution of the sort that Iraq’s Christians have suffered since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

According to Habib Malik, a professor of history at Lebanese American University, the pope in Lebanon will find an especially receptive audience for any talk of minority rights, since the country’s Muslim and Christian populations are both composed of a variety of smaller communities, and moderate Muslims there are also “scared of the radical elements in their midst.”

Yet, Pope Benedict knows from experience how sensitive a topic this is. In January 2011, after the pope denounced killings of Christians in Egypt and called for the protection of religious minorities, the Egyptian government recalled its ambassador to the Holy See, and the most prestigious university in the Sunni Muslim world, Cairo’s al-Azhar University, suspended its interreligious dialogue with the Vatican.

An even more delicate topic for the pope during his visit will be the Syrian civil war. Some Christian leaders have opposed the fall of President Bashar Assad, and the Vatican has yet to take a stand on proposals for outside military intervention to end the fighting.

In Lebanon, the pope will also confront the sensitivities and complexities of local church politics. Historically a refuge for Christians in the Middle East (with a Christian population today of nearly 40 percent, the largest proportion in the region), the country is home to at least a dozen major Christian churches, including Eastern Catholics in communion with Rome, Orthodox and Protestants.

At the 2010 synod on the Middle East, bishops affirmed the importance of preserving the variety

of ancient traditions of Eastern Catholicism, whose survival is especially threatened by emigration; but the bishops also warned against the dangers of confessionalism: an attachment to distinct identities in a spirit of tribalism that undermines Christian unity.

As Father Guillaume de Brute Remur, rector of Beirut’s Redemptoris Mater seminary, told Vatican Radio in August, Pope Benedict’s unifying message is urgently needed in Lebanon, “especially in the midst of Middle Eastern revolution, where Islam also arises with some force and a certain radicalism threatens the unity.”

Even as he addresses Christians who are now a minority in a country where they once predominated, Pope Benedict will also be speaking to a global audience. So he may choose to draw or suggest parallels between the Church’s situation in the Middle East and that in other parts of the world.

The trip comes less than a month before the pope opens the world Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization, a project aimed particularly at revitalizing the Church in an increasingly secular West. For Bishop Gregory J. Mansour, who leads Maronite Catholics in 16 states on the East Coast of the United States, the Christian minority in the Middle East sets an example for the New Evangelization through its network of social services, including schools and health care facilities.

Such services are extensively used and highly valued by the region’s Muslim majority, Bishop Mansour notes, and thus constitute a powerful though nonconfrontational form of witness. Yet the bishop says that the long and arduous experience of Middle Eastern Christians also holds another lesson for Christians in the West, and particularly in the United States: “Don’t be silenced by anybody.”

“We deserve a robust freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, freedom in the city square,” Bishop Mansour said. “The message of Christians in the Middle East is not to be silent.”

September 7, 2012

The International Church

3

Congo’s religious leaders collect signatures seeking end to conflict

disturbing trend — A policeman stands guard inside the Presbyterian Church of East Africa that was recently attacked by rioting youths in Mombasa, Kenya. Kenya’s prime minister said enemies of the country were behind the killing of a Muslim cleric that triggered the violence. (CNS photo/Thomas Mukoya, Reuters)

Thousands of Christians trapped in village

Damascus, Syria (CNA) — Syrian rebel forces have trapped more than 12,000 Greek Catholics in a village near the Lebanese border, causing shortages of food, medicine and other urgent supplies.

For more than 10 days the village of Rableh in the area of Homs has suffered under a strict blockade from armed opposition forces that have surrounded it, Fides news agency says. Snipers have killed at least three men of the village, including a married father of four.

Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gergorios III Laham has appealed to men of good will to ensure that “Rableh is saved and all other villages affected in Syria.” He has asked “for peace to be reached in our beloved country.”

Archbishop Mario Zenari, the apostolic nuncio to Syria, has asked both sides of the conflict to adhere to “the strict observance of the in-

ternational humanitarian law.”

Rebels began an armed revolt against Syrian president Bashar alAssad in March 2011. Since then, more than 200,000 people have fled the country. Government forces drove out rebels from a Damascus suburb of Daraya recently.

The international pastoral charity Aid to the Church in Need is helping an unnamed Syrian village in a situation similar to Rableh’s.

The destruction of bridges, the cutting of power lines and road obstacles have cut off the village from food and other basic necessities, the charity reports.

“We have organized ourselves so we could stand by each other and we are sharing everything so we could survive,” a local priest said.

“We need every help we could get.

Please help us.”

Those who have fled to Lebanon say that residents are suffering hun-

ger and milk for children is running out. The village lacks canned goods and children’s diapers as well.

Motorcyclists trying to carry bread into the village have been shot at.

Aid to the Church in Need has made an emergency grant of $62,000 for food, medicine and baby milk.

“The fighting is reported to be fierce between the Free Syrian Army and official armed forces loyal to Assad,” Aid to the Church in Need journalist John Pontifex told CNA. A government helicopter intending to attack rebel groups recently bombed the Greek Catholic monastery of St. James the Mutilated in Qara, which dates back to the sixth century. None of its 25 residents and 20 refugees were hurt but parts of the building were damaged.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CNS) — New Zealand’s Catholic bishops expressed disappointment over Parliament’s approval during first reading of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.

The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill passed, 80-40, August 29; it moves on for consideration by a parliamentary select committee, which observers consider a formality.

The bill amends New Zealand’s Marriage Act 1955 to redefine marriage as the union of two people, regardless of “their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The bishops, representing New Zealand’s six dioceses, voiced their concerns about fundamentally changing the family structure on which New Zealand society is built.

Archbishop John A. Dew of Wellington, president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, said the Catholic Church affirms love, fidelity and commitment in all relationships, “but believes that marriage should be defined as being between a man and a woman.”

“To propose any alternative definition will have implications

in law, and in society, but also for education and the family structure which, throughout history, has been seen as the fundamental unit in every society,” Archbishop Dew said in a statement after the vote.

“Society doesn’t have the right to deprive a child of both its father and mother, both equally significant in their upbringing. We’re concerned about children growing up without one or both parents as part of the primary parenting partnership. We also understand that, as humans, we have a real need to get to know both of our biological parents,” he said.

“While there are families that include single parents and same-sex couples raising children, there is a question to be asked about whether we want to legislate for a new norm for the family unit,” he added.

The bishops had appealed to members of Parliament to keep marriage defined as between a man and a woman. They pointed out that other legal avenues, such as the country’s civil union law, exist for same-sex couples to publicly declare their love and lifelong commitment to each other.

The bishops said they will con-

tinue to voice their concerns as the bill moves through Parliament.

Bishops opposed bill that would change marriage definition

KINSHASA, Congo (CNS) — Congo’s Catholic bishops helped other religious leaders circulate a petition asking U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon and the international community to end the continuing conflict in eastern Congo.

The U.N.-run Radio Okapi reported that the petition had about 10 million signatures; Congo has a population of 65 million.

At a late-August ecumenical service in the Protestant Centenary Cathedral, the petition, launched July 12, was formally closed.

Church leaders announced that the next stage will be to take it to New York to present to the United Nations. It has already been presented to the Congolese minister of foreign affairs, Raymond Tshibanda.

Father Donatien Shole, deputy secretary-general of the Congolese bishops’ conference and spokesman for the heads of religious groups represented, said the Congolese churches are demanding that the Rwandan government stop “once and for all the invasion of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the looting of its wealth, and rapes of Congolese women.”

Echoing the Catholic bishops’ call in July against the “balkanization” of Congo, Imam Cheikh Abdallah Mangala Luaba said, “All we want is an end to divisions in the country and for the Congolese people to remain united.”

The petition also calls on the international community not to negotiate with the “eternal criminals” in Congo, including M23, a group of soldiers who rebelled and broke off from the army in May this year and are responsible for continuing conflict in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. A

U.N. report has pointed a finger at Rwanda for allegedly funding and supporting this group, and several countries — including the United States — have suspended military aid to Rwanda over this charge.

The petition said Congo’s other neighbors — Central African Republic, Uganda, Rwanda, Angola and Zambia — should also stop interfering in Congolese affairs and end all acts of aggression. It also asks for justice for all war criminals sought by the International Criminal Court and other international bodies.

The Church leaders noted that more than six million people had been killed in 20 years of conflict.

The Kivus are not the only region in Congo where violence continues. Parts of Orientale province are still plagued by violence from the Uganda-based Lord’s Resistance Army, known for its tactics of terrorizing and mutilating civilian victims.

In mid-August, the lobby group Human Rights Watch awarded one of its Alison Des Forges Awards for Extraordinary Activism to Father Benoit Kinalegu, who works with the justice and peace commission of the Doruma-Dungu Diocese, in Orientale province.

On several occasions, Father Kinalegu has urged the international community to take all measures possible to ensure the arrest of LRA leader Joseph Kony. The priest’s work in remote areas has involved setting up an early warning system to alert the Congolese army of the presence of LRA rebels.

The priest also has led the justice and peace commission in a rehabilitation project designed for those abducted or maimed by the Lord’s Resistance Army.

4

The Church in the U.S.

September 7, 2012

Glendon: economic, cultural concerns make 2012 election historic

Rimini, Italy (CNA/EWTN News) — Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, believes that the 2012 presidential election will be a historic crossroads for the United States.

“I think this may be the most important election in many, many years, and the reasons for saying that are both economic and cultural,” she told CNA recently.

Glendon says American voters face a choice between a Democratic Party that is “very devoted to and willing to give priority to what I would call the ‘lifestyle liberties,’” and a Republican Party that is more supportive of “the family and the small institutions of civil society and religion.”

As a grandmother of six, she also worries that the current level of government debt “is going to impose a burden on the next generation and the generation after that,” such that, “contrary to the American dream our children will not have a better life than we have had.”

Her analysis has led the respected professor at Harvard Law School to accept the co-chairmanship of the Catholics for Romney group.

And yet, when it comes to the American electorate, she rejects the concept of a Catholic voting bloc.

“There is nobody here but us Americans, including the Catholics, and this election is going to be a very close election. The population is divided, families are divided; it’s like the Civil War when some wore blue and some wore grey and (they) were often brothers.”

A former Democrat who left the party over its stance on life issues, Glendon is now a registered Independent. She explained that

she has never joined the Republican Party because some sections within it have failed to “place a high enough priority on our need to be responsive to the needs of the poorest people in our society.”

With this in mind, she welcomes the addition of Catholic Congressman Paul Ryan to the Republican presidential ticket.

“Ryan is best known in the United States for his ability to articulate complex economic issues in a clear, understandable and, here is where Catholic social thought comes in, a humane way.”

Her greatest fears, however, are about what another four years of President Obama being in office will do to both the economy and culture of the United States.

“The current administration will regularly subordinate rights relating to human life, rights relating to religious freedom, to their agenda items on the gay rights agenda and the abortion rights agenda,” she stated.

The issue of religious liberty is of particular interest to Glendon.

She was recently appointed vicechair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

She is concerned that the Obama Administration has down played “its statutory commitment towards promoting international religious freedom” because it comes into conflict “with a major foreign policy priority of the U.S. State Department, which is the promotion of the gay rights agenda.”

Given that a second-term president “would not be concerned about being re-elected,” Glendon fears that “these trends might become stronger” if Obama is returned to the White House in November.

power supply — Conventioneers pause in the prayer room during the second session of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., August 28. (CNS photo/Rick Wilking, Reuters)

Courts urged not to dismiss Catholic lawsuits against HHS mandate

WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a dozen courts around the country, attorneys representing more than 40 Catholic dioceses or institutions have filed briefs arguing against the federal government’s call to dismiss lawsuits against its contraceptive mandate.

The Catholic entities are seeking to overturn a requirement that most religious employers provide contraceptives and sterilization to their employees.

The simultaneous filings August 27 were in response to an August 6 brief in which the Obama Administration asked the courts to summarily dismiss the suits, saying they were premature and that the plaintiffs had no standing to challenge the Department of Health and Human Services’ mandate.

“This case is about important rights to religious freedom protected by our founders under the First Amendment, assured by Congress under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, but trampled by defendants under haphazard rulemaking,” says the 36-page brief filed on behalf of the University of Notre Dame.

Forty-three Catholic dioceses, schools, hospitals, social service agencies and other institutions initially filed suit in federal court May 21 to stop three government agencies from implementing a mandate that would require them to cover contraceptives and sterilization in their health plans. The Diocese of Peoria, Ill., and Catholic Charities of Chicago have since joined the lawsuits.

Catholic organizations have

objected to the contraceptive mandate since it was announced Aug. 1, 2011, by Kathleen Sebelius, HHS secretary. Unless they are subject to a narrow religious exemption or have a grandfathered health plan, employers will be required to pay for sterilizations and contraceptives, including some abortioninducing drugs, as part of their health coverage.

In the briefs, filed by Jones Day, an international law firm with more than 2,400 attorneys on five continents, the dioceses and Catholic institutions rebut arguments that the courts should not hear the cases because a “temporary enforcement safe harbor” protects them from immediate government action against them if they fail to comply with the mandate.

In addition, the government argues that the final rule on the mandate will likely be amended before it takes effect in August 2013.

The University of Notre Dame argues in its brief that the federal government’s “plans to make some as-yet-undefined amendment to the U.S. government mandate does not deprive Notre Dame of its ability to challenge the law as it exists now, particularly where, as here, it is imposing both imminent and current harms.”

Included with the Notre Dame brief was a sworn deposition by John Affleck-Graves, executive vice president of the university, who said the school’s budget for fiscal year 2013 had to be finalized by October 2012.

“Before its next budget is finalized in the coming months, Notre Dame will have to make

difficult decisions about whether to budget for the potential of significant fines if it cannot, for any number of reasons, comply with the mandate’s requirement that it provide the objectionable services in the next plan years,” the deposition said.

With about 4,500 full-time employees, the university could face approximately $9 million in fines annually, Affleck-Graves said. The school has already placed $1 million in reserve to pay costs and fines associated with the mandate, he said.

Notre Dame also estimates that it will spend up to $50,000 in the next two months alone for actuarial services to determine the impact of the contraceptive mandate.

In a similar brief, the Archdiocese of Washington said it could incur penalties of nearly $145 million a year, “simply for practicing our faith,” or could be forced to cancel health insurance benefits for its 4,000 archdiocesan employees and their dependents.

“Either scenario is unthinkable, and planning for such action is itself a grave burden, but in either case the mandate’s impact would be so severe that the archdiocese must begin to prepare now,” the archdiocese said in a news release.

“More important than the mandate’s financial burden, though, is the blow it strikes to the fundamental issue of religious freedom,” it added.

“The Constitution allows for the full exercise of faith in the public square by ministries that translate belief into action, serving millions of people every day.”

September 7, 2012

The Church in the U.S.

5

Latino Catholic leaders exhorted to ‘lead society to conversion’

MIAMI (CNS) — Hispanic business leaders from across the country were repeatedly called to “be different from the world around us” during the seventh annual meeting of CALL — the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders — held August 24-26 in Miami.

The high-powered group, with 148 members and 10 chapters nationwide, was joined by an equally high-powered roster of bishops and speakers, including Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, papal nuncio to the U.S.; Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston; Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles; Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia; Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami; and Carl Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus.

Archbishop Gomez, who serves as the group’s episcopal moderator and was among the founders of CALL when he was auxiliary bishop of Denver, set the tone for the meeting with

his opening remarks, when he said “America is becoming a society where religious conviction is a cause for suspicion.”

He cited the “real threat” posed by the Department of Health and Human Services’ mandate that all employers, regardless of religious beliefs, pay for birth control and sterilization coverage for their employees; and the threat posed to the institution of marriage and the family by “powerful people” who want to redefine the “natural realities” of marriage, motherhood and fatherhood as “arbitrary social constructs.”

“We have a duty as Catholics and as Americans to lead our society to conversion,” Archbishop Gomez said, referring to the New Evangelization called for by both Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. “This is a time for Catholic voices and Catholic action.”

He urged CALL members to reflect on “Who are we? What do we believe in? What do we stand for? Being a Catholic is

more than a private devotion or a philosophy of life,” he noted.

It means living in community with Jesus, carrying out His commandments and “building up this earthly city.”

“Each of us has a part to play in the Church’s mission,” Archbishop Gomez said. “It is a job for every single Catholic.”

A few hours later, while celebrating Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity on Biscayne Bay, Archbishop Chaput reiterated that to be Church means to be “a clear sign,” or a Sacrament, to the world. “We need to be identified as a Church that is different from the world around us,” he said.

CALL’s conference this year encompassed topics such as the New Evangelization, the challenges facing today’s families, teaching the faith and civic responsibility in Catholic schools, and publicly witnessing to the faith.

“We’re really the only Catholic Hispanic business and pro-

New Christian group created to celebrate, defend marriage

Tampa Bay, Fla. (CNA) — Pastors from across the country have come together to form an organization celebrating the important role of marriage and encouraging Christians to take action in support of it.

“For us to remain silent is for us to give consent to the belief that traditional marriage can be redefined,” said William Owens Jr., founder of We Celebrate Marriage.

“This is not a time in our generation to be silent.”

We Celebrate Marriage welcomes families and organizations who want to witness to the truth of marriage as being an important and timeless institution founded by God rather than government.

The group is seeking to “defend the family union” by establishing scientific and social evidence that fathers and mothers each make unique contributions to their children and that marriage is important in transmitting cultural and moral values to future generations.

Warning that without immediate action, marriage will be drastically reshaped, the organization is attempting to promote the truths about marriage to elected officials and to encourage Christians to speak out in defense of it.

Three generations of Owens men spoke about the importance of marriage at an August 29 press conference during the Re-

publican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. Rev. Bill Owens Sr., founder of the Coalition of African American Pastors, explained that the organization opposes a redefinition of marriage for reasons of faith and family.

“It will be many years before we know the profound effects of what same-sex marriage will bring,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s any issue more important in our society today than same-sex marriage,” Rev. Owens emphasized.

He encouraged Christians to align themselves “with leaders who stand for marriage,” regardless of their political party.

“We should stand together on the issue of marriage,” he said.

David Owens, the son of William and grandson of Bill, also spoke at the press conference, offering his personal testimony about the value of being raised by a mother and a father.

“It wasn’t always perfect,” he acknowledged. “We had our arguments. There were rough times.”

“But at the end of the day, everyone came together,” he explained, adding that his parents were critical in forming him with strong moral standards.

The contribution of both a mother and a father showed him “how to carry myself, how to be a gentleman, how to treat a young lady, how to be around my peers and make a difference

in the world,” he said.

The press conference also included comments from pastors from across the country, along with former NFL player Burgess Owens. The speakers explained that the family is the most basic entity of society, and the success of a culture is dependent upon the health of the families within it.

Marriage is a covenant of love and part of the natural order, they said, and it cannot be remade into something that it was not intended to be.

We Celebrate Marriage is now working to launch a nationwide initiative to celebrate marriage and raise awareness about its importance.

The organization recently launched a website, www. wecelebratemarriage.com, to offer information and gain support for its efforts. In addition to a petition recognizing the importance of marriage, it is planning a national tour, radio ads, cultural outreach efforts, concerts and live streaming events to support marriage in the coming months.

Owens Jr., cautioned that the legalization of “gay marriage” could lead churches and pastors to face heavy fines, jail time and the loss of nonprofit privileges.

If Christians do not speak up now in defense of marriage, he warned, “this very well could play out in the not so distant future.”

fessional organization in the country,” said Robert Aguirre, CALL’s national president.

He said the group’s internal goal is “to grow in faith through prayer, service and leadership,” and its external goal is “to support our local bishops in efforts of evangelization.”

“As business people we’re used to fighting political battles. We’re used to speaking out in the public square. That’s part of our ministry,” Aguirre said.

He noted that the HHS mandate “is certainly way up there” in terms of importance this year, as are attempts to redefine marriage as something other than a permanent union between one man and one woman.

“One of the missions of CALL is to basically work with the Church for the common good,” especially among Hispanic communities in the U.S., said Manny Garcia-Tunon, president of the Miami chapter of CALL. He cited immigration as another issue that concerns CALL members.

“It doesn’t have much to do with political party at all,” Garcia-Tunon said. “The Church is looking to form conscience.

It’s never about voting for a specific political party.”

“It’s about control of the culture,” said another conference speaker, Robert Destro, professor of law and founding director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Law and Religion at the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America.

He blamed “secular fundamentalism” for the current battles over the limits of religious freedom and the definition of

marriage.

“Those who control the media and the government define not only the culture but morality itself,” Destro said. And their current definition of religious freedom is that of a place where people go to worship, to “preach to the choir” and to serve only those who believe the same way they do.

“We are in for a long battle over our culture,” Destro said.

“If you want there to be a next generation of Latino leaders you have to start now. People like you need to get involved.”

In welcoming CALL to Miami, Archbishop Wenski called it “the city of the future” and “the answer to anyone who has a problem with immigration in this country,” because its vitality is living proof that “the immigrants themselves come bearing gifts.”

In his homily at the closing Mass, the archbishop also noted that although Catholics, estimated at 70 million, are the largest religious group in the U.S., most of them do not attend Mass every Sunday. In fact, people who identify themselves as “former Catholics” are “the next largest religious demographic in America.”

He noted that the religious landscape of the U.S. is filled with people who define themselves as “spiritual” but not “religious,” along with a “new phenomenon”: people “who claim to be ‘believers’ but who do not belong to any church” and “belongers who do not believe.”

“Thus the urgency of the New Evangelization,” Archbishop Wenski said, citing the words of Blessed John Paul II: “We are called to reach out to them with new methods and a new enthusiasm.”

6

The Anchor Putting faith into action

The topic of faith is on a lot of minds. We thank God for this, for without faith, we would only have what is readily available to us through our senses.

As we grow older, our bodily senses gradually fail us, but oftentimes the grace of faith actually expands, filling the gaps in our physical realm.

Sept. 14, 1998 (the feast day of the Triumph of the Cross) Blessed John Paul II released an encyclical letter entitled, Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason), in which he wished to remind believers and non-believers that faith is not irrational, it is not in conflict with other forms of knowledge which come from what is “demonstrable” to the senses or to the human intellect. Rather, faith and reason are both in pursuit of the truth. The Holy Father wrote, “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth — in a word, to know Himself — so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.”

As Msgr. Oliveira writes on the page facing this one, we will begin the Year of Faith on October 11 and will live it out through to November 2013. Our faith is tested constantly, since it is a matter of believing things that are not provable. As Christians, we are not called to believe in a series of truths (we are called to believe in these things, but they are an “outgrowth” of something much bigger), as much as we are called to believe in Jesus Christ, Who is True God and True man.

It is our love relationship with Christ which enables us to be able to come to understand and embrace the truths of the Christian faith. We look for “witnesses,” who make credible the Christian message. Among our fellow Christians, the witnesses par excellance are the martyrs (the English word “martyr” comes from the Greek word for “witness”). Pope John Paul wrote of them, “The martyrs know that they have found the truth about life in the encounter with Jesus Christ, and nothing and no-one could ever take this certainty from them. Neither suffering nor violent death could ever lead them to abandon the truth which they have discovered in the encounter with Christ. This is why to this day the witness of the martyrs continues to arouse such interest, to draw agreement, to win such a hearing and to invite emulation. This is why their word inspires such confidence: from the moment they speak to us of what we perceive deep down as the truth we have sought for so long, the martyrs provide evidence of a love that has no need of lengthy arguments in order to convince” (Fides et Ratio, 32).

We pray for our fellow Christians throughout the world who have in the last decade offered the witness of martyrdom. In this edition of The Anchor we read about Christians suffering persecution (or threats of it) in Syria, Egypt, the Congo, and Lebanon. We also read about the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, who was killed due to his unwillingness to call sexual immorality something good. One wonders how St. John would be received in the Western world of today.

As Deacon Beckel writes on page eight, we need to have our ears open to hear the Word of God — and then use our mouths to proclaim His Word. Father Landry, just to the right of this editorial, speaks about the intrepid Mormon missionaries spreading their word throughout the world. What a world it would be if we Catholics had such faith as to do similar things! As Jesus said, such faith would move mountains.

Frank Lucca later in the paper issues a challenge to all of us to put our faith into action, quoting from the Letter of James. Pope Benedict will be putting his faith into action later this month, visiting Lebanon, encouraging our fellow Christians there to continue to trust that Jesus is with them in their challenges and witnessing to non-Christians (especially Muslims) the love that Christ has placed in our hearts for all of humanity.

At present there are many other voices echoing in our ears, saying that the Christian faith is something moribund, something which is not believable to modern folk. Reading the various articles in this edition gives us a very different impression. Here we see that faith helps us to face challenges with grace, love and courage. Grace is having the inner-life of the Holy Trinity within us. When we live in grace, love for our neighbor automatically flows through us. This grace also helps us to have courage, because we know that God is always with us, either to defend us or to help us pick up the cross of suffering.

Tomorrow we celebrate the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is our greatest witness of faith. Although she was never murdered, she is the Queen of Martyrs, since a sword pierced her heart (as Simeon predicted to her) on Calvary’s hill, as she watched her Son die for us. Her faith allowed her to be sorrowful (since she truly loved her Son and she witnessed all the suffering He endured because of our sins) and hopeful, trusting in His future resurrection. We ask Mary to pray for us, that we might be open to the increase of faith that God wishes to work in our souls. Like the man who asked for healing for his son in Mark 9:24, we say to Jesus, “Lord, I do believe. Help my unbelief.”

And with that prayer, we also ask Mary to pray for us to put our faith into action. Just as she didn’t sit around Nazareth for the nine months of her pregnancy, but instead went to help her cousin Elizabeth, may our faith lived out help other people grow closer to God.

I

September 7, 2012

Mormon commitment and ours

n the days leading up to Republican Writings (the King James Bible plus the Book of Convention, there were various television Mormon and a Book of Doctrines and Covspecials and articles about Mormonism, since enant). When Mormons reach high school, they Mitt Romney is the first Mormon ever to be sacrifice sleep and comfort to leave home early nominated for president and very few Americans in the morning before school each day for 45 outside of those parts of the United States where minutes of “seminary,” focusing on one of these Mormons are concentrated know much about it four books each year. By the time they graduate beyond its polygamous history. high school, most have a systematic understandThe programs and articles touched a little on ing of their faith, capable not only of going on the founding of Mormonism, when, according to mission but also in defending his or her faith legend, Joseph Smith Jr., found in Manchester, when challenged. The results are impressive.

N.Y. in the 1820s a group of golden plates bound Seventy-four percent of Mormon teens say their by rings and inscribed on both sides with text in religious beliefs are very similar to their parents, “reformed Egyptian.” The texts contained the compared to 32 percent of Catholic teens, who, writings left by indigenous Americans, members if they’re lucky, have one 45-minute catechetical of the lost tribes of Israel, centuries before class a week until Confirmation in eighth, ninth Christ’s birth, which Smith translated into a tome or 10th grade. The much greater commitment that became the Book of Mormon. to the formation of the young creates a situation Some programs took up the question of in which young Mormons are able much more whether “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter easily to find role models and friends who supDay Saints” is actually Christian. The Catholic port their faith in the face of secularizing peer Church doesn’t consider Mormons Christians, pressure in public schools and wider society as or accept Mormon baptism, because, among a whole. other things, Joseph Smith claimed that God the The commitment of Mormons is also seen Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit were not in their generosity and charity. Mormons tithe, three persons in One God but three separate begiving 10 percent of their income after expenses ings or “personto the needs of ages.” the Church and A few her charitable touched on some outreach, caring of the peculiarifor those who are ties of Mormon struggling with theology and food, rent and practice, such other necessities.

By Father as baptizing the In one television dead, the rejecspecial there Roger J. Landry tion of original was a feature sin, the belief on the giant that man, like God, is uncreated and eternal and warehouses Mormons have built that distribute that the world was formed, not out of nothing food wherever there’s need as well as the “retail” but of pre-existing matter, and the idea that God places where all the food and goods are free for reestablished the Christian Church through Jothose referred by the lay leaders — “bishops” seph Smith, having Peter, James, John and John — of the various congregations. The quantity of the Baptist appeared to him giving him priestly Mormon charity is dwarfed by all the work done authority.

by Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services, But most focused on what makes Mormonthe St. Vincent de Paul Society and so many ism a compelling reality rather than a curiosity: parish food pantries, but the per capita Morthat despite its historical and theological oddities, mon involvement in Mormon charities is very Mormonism is the fastest growing religion in the impressive nonetheless. The average Mormon United States. This should bring all those of readult in the United States sacrifices nine hours ligious faith to ask why. It’s especially important a week for charity, compared to the national for Catholics to consider what we can learn from average of one hour a week. The impact of this the growth of Mormonism, because many of its charity is that, in addition to addressing material most alluring attributes are things for which the needs, it forms friendships, fosters widespread Catholic Church was once famous. cooperation and concern for those in need and The first thing that is striking about Morhelps all Mormons realize that living the faith mons is their commitment to their faith. Soon means more than coming together for worship. after high school graduation or the first couple We can also applaud the Mormons for of years of college, most Mormon young men their commitment to marriage and family. The voluntarily serve two years in a mission, often Mormons are serious about helping the young far away from home, supporting themselves to understand the beauty of chastity before marwith money they’ve saved during their teen-age riage and young Mormons by and large look at years. Many young Mormon women willingly it not as a burden but as part of their sacred comdo the same on 18-month missionary tours. Mitt mitment to their future husband or wife. They Romney, even though his French was not very are likewise serious enough about living a holy good, spent two years in France. Dressed in dark marriage that they almost always seek to marry pants, a white shirt, tie and a name tag, these someone of their own faith, asking potential Mormon young people crisscross neighborhoods spouses to convert once the relationship gets trying to engage people in conversation about serious. This not only lessens the potential of fulife, faith, and Mormonism. ture conflicts over the education of children but During my time as a priest in this diocese, brings a greater harmony to the bond. Monday I’ve admired the Mormon apostolic pairs gonights are generally dedicated to family time, to ing door-to-door in the neighborhoods of Fall praying, talking and playing together. Catholics River and New Bedford, no matter the weather. were once distinguished by similar practices Many times their knocks are ignored. On other flowing from our Catholic faith, but whereas occasions, doors are slammed in their faces. many Catholic parents, kids and sometimes It’s not easy work. During the summer of 1995, catechists have lost confidence in the beauty of with three other diocesan seminarians, I sought these priorities and practices, the Mormons hapto bring the Gospel to the housing projects of pily maintain them.

Fall River and I can testify personally to how As we prepare for and participate in the New demanding this work is. Most Mormon young Evangelization, it’s important for Catholics to people, however, look forward to it despite the ponder the recent spiritual fruitfulness of Morroutine setbacks. It’s an example for all Catholics mons in America and recover a similar com— young and old — who by Baptism and mitment to family, sacrificial giving in tithing, Confirmation have been called and strengthened time, and talent, to the formation of the young,

by God to be missionaries. The Mormon comand to the missionary commitment of all the mitment to bringing their faith to others is clearly baptized. These have characterized the Church’s bearing fruit. The more one gives, the more one evangelical expansions in the past — and receives. despite pusillanimous and pessimistic prophets This period of missionary work is not the preaching accommodation to opposed “modern” only commitment that Mormons make. It’s trends — they’re all crucial to the reproposal of really the fruit of a tremendous earlier dedicathe Gospel in the modern age. tion. Every day in most Mormon homes, the Father Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette’s family gets up early to study the Mormon Sacred Parish in Fall River.

Putting Into the Deep

I

7

The Anchor

September 7, 2012

Preparing for finals

t is hard to believe that summer is over. I know you are thinking we still have a few weeks to go until the fall season begins. You are correct.

Fall does begin later in the month and there are those who will attest to September being the better weeks of summer since the weather can be excellent and the summer crowds and exorbitant prices are somewhat attenuated.

Realistically, however, with the beginning of school, summer is over.

Many schools opened last week and the remainder will open this week. Our opening Mass at All Saints Catholic School, which is connected to our parish, but a diocesan school, was recently celebrated.

The routine has begun.

Pastors will begin to see many of their parishioners return with the beginning of school and Religious Education classes.

Although it is not stated by Moses, there seems to be an 11th commandment — no class, no Mass.

I kid my parishioners that I am happy to see them back after their vacations in their summer villas. Not actually true for most of them. Although pastors on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard will tell you that the island rises four inches on Labor Day. As the academic year com-

mences, Pope Benedict XVI has ing and reading current matericalled for what I might suggest als. is an academic Church year.

Perhaps each of us in this The pope wrote an Apostolic Year of Faith should examine Letter on Oct. 11, 2011. It is how we have grown in our faith. called “Porta Fidei” — or “Door How current are we with the of Faith.” He declared that this teachings of the Church? For year would begin on Oct. 11, many, the last class they at2012 and conclude on Nov. 24, tended was for Confirmation.

2013. The first day of the Year Perhaps a class in preparation of Faith (October 11) is the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

By Msgr.

During this Year of Faith, Catholics are John J. Oliveira asked to study and reflect on the documents of the council and the “Catechism” so they can deepen for Marriage, or a mandatory their knowledge of the faith. class when their child made First I can recall a seminary proCommunion or Confirmation is fessor, actually a well-known the last formal education they biblical scholar, Father Rayhad in the Church. mond Brown, SS, counseling We do try to provide adults young priests about the future. catechesis when they approach He told us, much to my surprise, the Church to get married; when that when we got to our first they bring a baby to be Bapassignments, we should throw tized; and when their children away all our books and notes. are preparing to receive First In fact, there is a joke that states Communion and Confirmation. you can tell the ordination date These mandatory, brief instrucof a priest by the books on his tion sessions cannot fulfill the shelf. need to grow in our understandHis point was that to keep ing of our faith. up-to-date on developments in There are not many of us who Scripture, theology, morality would want to go to a doctor etc., we need to continue studyor dentist who was not familiar

with current treatments or drugs.

We update our lives with the latest in communication instruments like phones and iPads.

Few have a small screen TV any more. In fact, we look forward to the newest arrival. Just note the rumors and expectations for the newest iPhone that is supposedly to be released later this month.

This Year of Faith will not mean anything unless we ourselves are committed to growing in our understanding and love of God. Any programs at the diocesan or parish level will not be successful unless we desire to participate.

On the bishops’ website we read that: “In the Acts of the Apostles, we learn that God has opened the door of faith for the early Church.

But did you know that God has opened the door of faith for each one and He invites us to step through the threshold into a deeper relationship with Him? The upcoming Year of Faith is an opportunity for every Catholic to turn towards Jesus Christ, encounter Him in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and rediscover for faith and the Church.”

The site — www.usccb.org — which has much information and guidance for all, continues:

“The Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion — to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with Him. The ‘door of faith’ is opened at one’s Baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and His Church.”

As a new academic year begins, I hope it will be a year of learning for all of us. May we come to know Christ better as a person and thereby bring Him through our lives into the lives of others.

We will not be examined at the end of the Year of Faith, as students will be in school. But I am reminded of the young grandson who was looking at his grandmother reading the Bible.

He turned to his older sister and asked what the grandmother was doing. She answered, she is preparing for finals.

Let’s all prepare for finals as we enjoy these final days of summer.

God bless.

Msgr. Oliveira is pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford and director of the diocesan Propagation of the Faith Office.

The Anchor would like to welcome Msgr. Oliveira back on board. His column will appear monthly beginning with this edition.

Tampa, Fla. (CNA/EWTN News) — A law professor at George Mason University believes that in the upcoming election women will focus on more than abortion and contraception, and will consider issues that pertain to the family, the economy and the condition of the American culture when they vote.

Women’s concerns are varied and include issues of “justice at home and justice in the workplace,” said Helen M. Alvaré, who also serves as a consultant to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Laity.

Alvaré told CNA on August 29 that her experience has shown her women have broad interests and are not solely concerned with reproductive issues.

In seeking the women’s vote, President Barack Obama is “staking almost his entire message to women on abortion and free contraception,” she observed.

“The pitch he’s making is so narrow,” Alvaré remarked, noting that Obama’s approach is also surprising because polls indicate women are generally slightly more Pro-Life than men are.

The president’s decision to focus on abortion has the additional effect of drawing extreme followers and attracting criticism that he might not otherwise have to face, the law professor observed.

Highlighting abortion draws attention to Obama’s own extreme record, she said, including his vote as an Illinois senator to permit the infanticide of children who survived an abortion and his failure to condemn late-term and sex-selective abortions.

In February, Alvaré helped initiate an open letter to the Obama Administration on behalf of women who wanted to speak for themselves about the controversial HHS mandate that requires employers to offer health insurance covering contraception, sterilization and early abortion-inducing drugs.

The mandate has drawn strong criticism for forcing religious organizations and individuals to violate their sincerely held beliefs.

In the letter, Alvaré said that the Obama Administration should not assume that all women support the mandate.

impact on families, and this is a serious concern for many Americans.

Furthermore, Alvaré added, “women are really concerned about the toxic culture.”

She pointed to negative influences in the media, a push against abstinence education and the close relationship between the federal government and Planned Parenthood.

“I hear a ton about that,” she said.

By limiting his scope on women’s issues to abortion and contraception, President Obama is sending the message that “all women need is the right to have uncommitted sex and the right to not have babies,” she said.

But not all women agree with this point of view, she observed, and many find it problematic.

Living the Faith

Obama’s pitch to women misses important issues, Alvaré says Within weeks, the letter was signed by thousands of women of different political and religious backgrounds, including lawyers, teachers, doctors, mothers, business owners and community volunteers.

Alvaré said that the letter has turned into an ongoing “conversation” with 33,000 women expressing their concerns and discussing their experiences with the various issues facing them.

Based on her many discussions with these women, Alvaré said that there are other issues at home and in the workplace that are on women’s minds.

One important issue facing modern women is the need to “balance” a job and family, she explained.

Women do not earn Social Security for their work in the home, she observed, and there are no strong governmental efforts to encourage companies to help women achieve the balance they are seeking.

Another important issue for women is “economic security for families,” Alvaré said. High unemployment rates for men and women can have a negative

8

September 7, 2012

The Anchor

H

ow often are our ears closed? In our own homes we often do not listen to each other. We close our ears to a spouse’s conversation when something supposedly more important is occurring, like watching the Patriots. We ask a question and then don’t listen to the answer, or even forget that we asked the question in the first place. Parents don’t take time to listen to their children when they come home from school because Dr. Phil is on the TV. Or are kids not listening because they are more involved in their Tweets than the person standing next to them. Similar situations often occur at work when we ask a coworker how they are doing and then don’t really listen to their response. When in Church have we heard the readings but not really listened to their message?

In this week’s Gospel,

Be opened

Jesus cures a deaf man who first opened and the process has a speech impediment of hearing and speaking by “putting His finger in God’s Word began. Christ the man’s ears and spitting, has touched our ears and touched his tongue; then He opened them to hear the looked up to Heaven and Gospel and having heard it, groaned, and said to him ‘Ephphatha!’ – that is, ‘Be Homily of the Week opened!’” (Mk 7: 33-34). The people Twenty-third Sunday were astonished at in Ordinary Time this miracle and

By Deacon declared, “He has done all things well” Gregory J. Beckel (Mk 7: 37). But what is the message for us? How are our ears opened? How does Jesus we receive a whole new way remove our “speech impediof hearing and acting. When ment?” deacons receive the Book of There was a time when the Gospels from the bishop the priest actually used at ordination, he speaks the “Ephphatha” in the bapwords “Receive the Gospel tismal rite when touching of Christ, Whose herald you the ears and mouth. Even now are. Believe what you though those words are read, teach what you beno longer used, this Goslieve, and practice what you pel miracle links us to our teach.” Jesus cures the deaf Baptism when our ears were man which allows him to

speak plainly and so should we speak and act plainly as witnesses to the message of the Gospel. We must keep our ears opened to our own families to hear what we are saying to each other. We need to give attention to our teen-agers who need good listeners and to our spouses who deserve to be listened to. There are unborn babies who have no voice who require us to speak for them. We have to listen to ourselves, the inner voice that speaks to us in the silence of our prayers and quiet moments, the voice that guides and encourages us to be Jesus’ disciples in a world that has selective deafness.

Sometimes we need to pay special attention to hear the voices of the poor, the very young, the

elderly, the abused and neglected, the disenfranchised outsiders. In the second reading James says, “My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ” (Jas 2:1). There can be no outsiders for we are all part of the Body of Christ. When one part hurts, all the parts hurt. If someone does not have a voice, we are called to be that voice. But first our ears have to be opened so we can hear the voices of those in need and, more importantly, listen to the Word of God and what He is asking of us. We must hear before we can speak.

“Speak Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:10).

Deacon Beckel serves at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee and as a chaplain at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Sept. 8, Mi 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30; Ps 13:6; Mt 1:1-16,18-23 or 1:18-23. Sun. Sept. 9, Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Is 35:4-7a; Ps 146:7-10; Jas 2:1-5; Mk 7:31-37. Mon. Sept. 10, 1 Cor 5:1-8; Ps 5:5-6,7,12; Lk 6:6-11. Tues. Sept. 11, 1 Cor 6:1-11; Ps 149:1-6,9; Lk 6:1219. Wed. Sept. 12, 1 Cor 7:25-31; Ps 45:11-12,14-17; Lk 6:20-26. Thurs. Sept. 13, 1 Cor 8:1b-7,11-13; Ps 139:1b-3,13-14b,23-24; Lk 6:27-38. Fri. Sept. 14, Nm 21:4b-9; Ps 78:1-2,34-38; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17.

Y

ou likely think, gentle reader, that the 2012 presidential race is a contest between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. That, of course, is true, insofar as the names on our November 6 ballots go. But the 2012 race for the White House is something more, something more profound — something with deeper historical roots in modernity’s wrestling with political power and how that power contributes to the common good.

This is a contest, to take symbolic reference points, between Thomas Hobbes (15881679) and Edmund Burke (1729-1797).

Both were British subjects.

Both had a profound impact on modern political theory.

Both knew that religion and politics — church and state — had been thickly interwoven into the history of the West, although here the deep dif-

CAMPAIGN 2012: Burke vs. Hobbes?

ferences between these two and influential work — moparadigmatic figures begin to nopolizes power for the sake sharpen: Hobbes tried to drive of protecting individuals from religious conviction out of the the vicissitudes of a life that modern public square, while is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutBurke fashioned a vision of ish and short.” In a Burkean political modernity that drew world, civil society provides in part on the rich social pluralism of the Catholic Middle Ages.

In a Hobbesian world, the only actors of consequence are the state and the individuBy George Weigel al. In a Burkean world, the institutions of civil society — family, religious congregation, voluntary a thick layer of mediation — association, business, trade protection, if you will — that union and so forth — “medicushions the interactions ate” between the individual between individuals and life’s and the state, and the just challenges. state takes care to provide an A Hobbesian world is a appropriate legal framework world of contracts and lein which those civil-society gal relationships, period. A institutions can flourish.

Burkean world is a world in In a Hobbesian world, the which there are both contracts state — “Leviathan,” in the — the rule of law — and title of Hobbes’s most famous covenants: those more subtly textured human associations (beginning with marriage) by which men and women form bonds of affection, allegiance and mutual responsibility.

Catholic political theorists have always had major difficulties with Hobbes, and not simply for his promotion of what we would call, today, the

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

The Catholic Difference

“naked public square”: a public space shorn of religious conviction. Hobbes’s vision of the state is far too cold for the social sensibilities of Catholics, who habitually think of society as organic, not artificial or contrived.

By contrast, Burke’s defense of society’s “small platoons” has numerous affinities with Catholic social doctrine, from Leo XIII through Benedict XVI. John Paul II, for example, was particularly forceful in his defense of the mediating institutions of civil society, describing them in the 1991 encyclical Centesimus Annus as schools of freedom: those natural human associations, beginning with the family, where beautiful, willful little tyrants (which is a precise description of every two-year-old ever born) are transformed into the kind of civil, tolerant adult citizens who can participate in public life through their minds, not just their muscles.

No American presidential candidate is going to run on an explicitly Hobbesian platform. And the complexities of life in a post-modern world are such that a purely Burkean

republic is unlikely anytime soon. The issue here is one of tendencies, orientations, visions of possibility. And at that level, 2012 really is shaping up as a contest between “Hobbes” and “Burke.”

For as the candidates have presented themselves to the country over the past months, and most recently at their conventions, it has become ever more clear that America will choose in 2012 between two paths into the future. Along one path, there is, finally, room for only the individual and the state. Along the other path, the flourishing institutions of civil society empower individuals and contribute to real problem-solving. In the former, the state defines responsibilities and awards benefits (and penalties). In the latter, individuals and free, voluntary associations assume responsibility and thereby thus make their contribution to the common good.

Hobbes vs. Burke. It’s an old argument. It’s also the argument we shall have between now and November 6.

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

September 7, 2012

Not with a whimper but a bang

29 August 2012 — Falare still lots of visitors in mouth Inner Harbor — The town. It’s true there are fewer Passion of St. John the Baptist cars inching their way through s I write this, it’s not yet Labor Day, but a commonly held opinion Reflections of a around here is that, Parish Priest once the Falmouth Road Race has been

By Father Tim run, the summer Goldrick population sharply decreases. The road race was held more than two weeks ago. I suppose Falmouth Village. True, also, there has been some decrease that there are not as many in numbers, but not to the pedestrians strolling in and out extent I had expected. There of the shops and restaurants

A

L

9

The Anchor

The Ship’s Log

that line Main Street. Many vacations have already ended and some children and college students are back in school. Here in the parish, however, the weekend past saw not decreased but heightened levels of activity.

It seems the summer season ends not with a whimper but a bang.

More priests passed through the door of the rectory this past weekend than I have seen here all summer long. I counted 12 priests and one deacon, but I may

Walking with faith

faith that we can reach beyond ife — where does one ourselves in good or bad times. begin? Well, I suppose, It is this faith that helps us move you could start at the very beginforward, that strengthens and ning of it all, but then again you graces us with acceptance and and I don’t have the kind of time fortitude. it would require; nor would you Through the lens of faith, want to listen to every detail. we come to see and recognize Besides many a debate could the hand of God working in our stem from this very topic. It lives — reaching out to us as begins at conception; it begins at we begin anew, holding us up the age of reason; no, it begins when we can no longer carry when you are teen-agers; still ourselves, and walking beside us others would venture to say it when we need companionship. starts when you embrace your life goals.

Yet, when I draw upon my own experiences, I would have to agree with every argument. Life begins anew

By Rose Mary every time we choose Saraiva another path. We venture forward as an entirely new person. Think back Often I refer to God as “Dad” to the first time you started or “Daddy,” because I trust that school, what a whole new world like any father, He truly wants that was. Then later as you faced only the best for me. Jesus, Himyour high school years; wonderself, chose the very same way ing where life was leading you, of speaking to God, the Father. deciding on maybe a career In Mark 14:36, Jesus calls out path or higher education. And if to Abba, Father; allowing and you chose a vocation, entering gifting us with a relationship that into the prospect of becoming speaks of love, that reminds us someone new; for me, it was that we can reach out to God at the vocation of married life, and all times. Giving us a very perbecoming Mrs. Saraiva; losing sonable God, a God Who for me one identity to gain another. knows and understands me, and As I look back on my life, like my own father, waits paintertwined throughout my jourtiently for me to get it; intervenney, is my faith. A faith that has ing when necessary, answering changed and renewed itself, as my prayers, and always giving I have; a faith that I believe has me what I truly need, even if the continued to mature (as hopeoutcome was not of my choosfully I have). This faith, this trust ing. This is my experience of that I am being guided and cared faith, my take on what it truly for has helped me take the first means to live each day knowing step in many of my life’s travels. that I am held gently in the palm What is faith? Faith, for me, of His hand (Is 49:16); that each is the knowledge that no matday is a new beginning, a new ter where I am headed, God is chance to get it right, another taking great strides to place me opportunity to allow myself where I need to be. Dictionary. to grow, to become who God com describes faith as “conwants me to be. fidence or trust in a person or God often directs our steps thing; belief that is not based on and leads us to new beginnings. proof.” We as faith-filled people This column is just that — a understand that it is through our

In the Palm of His Hands

“new beginning,” an opportunity to share my faith journey with each and every one of you, as I move toward a deeper relationship with God and all He has planned for me. I look forward to imparting my insights on day-to-day challenges of being Catholic, of walking in faith, and of often having to take that leap of faith with my eyes shut; fully trusting that I will land where I need to be. Through this column, my hope is that you too will recognize God’s handiwork in your own lives and begin to see through the “lens of faith.” A lens that allows you to see God’s grace and mercy working throughout every aspect of your life, be it good or bad times; to identify God in your own walk of faith, and to know that you too are “held in the palm of His hand.”

Life is quite an interesting journey, and the twists and turns it takes us on can be uplifting and daunting at times.

But to know we do not walk it alone, that God is there beside us, that our faith can lead us to our fullest potential is awesome. Just look around you, look at the calm in a newborn’s face, the peace of a life welllived etched in an old person’s wrinkles, the unconditional love and trust of a child and the wonder and beauty of nature and you can see God’s hand surrounding us. This is faith!

This is truly understanding that we are all children of God. Rose Mary Saraiva lives in Fall River and is a parishioner of St. Michael’s Parish, and she is the Events Coordinator and Bereavement Ministry for the diocesan Office of Faith Formation. She is married with three children and two grandchildren. rmsaraiva@dfrcec.com.

The Anchor welcomes Rose Mary as a monthly contributor.

have missed a couple. It was difficult keeping up with all the comings and goings.

In addition to the four priests who live in the house (including the Brazilian-born priest who left on Saturday to ferry over to celebrate Mass on Martha’s Vineyard), one retired priest came in to do three Weddings and two more priests came in to concelebrate a fourth Wedding. Three retired priests (two from the Archdiocese of Boston and one from the Diocese of Fall River) arrived to celebrate their customary weekend Masses, and one of those was accompanied by a visiting priest-friend whose pastoral responsibility includes the South Atlantic — the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and the Islands of St. Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha.

Then there was the Africanborn priest (from the Diocese of Musoma, Tanzania) who was here through the Mission Cooperative Plan. The latter celebrated two Masses in the main church and preached at a total of five more Masses between the main church and the chapel. He was shuttled from one site to the other, all the while wearing Mass vestments in order to save time. Meanwhile, one of the deacons headed over to the chapel to perform the Baptisms scheduled to take place after the last Sunday Mass. There were also the routine visits to the area nursing homes and one emergency sick call. I would definitely not, dear readers, describe the situation as a sharp drop-off in activity. The day will come, I’m sure, but it has not yet arrived.

There were four of us at table in St. Patrick Rectory last Saturday night. The oncea-year evening meal shared with a visiting missionary is always a highlight for me. The visit of the missionary is one of the markers in the parish year. One of the priests in the house had thoughtfully placed at each place setting a list of basic facts about Tanzania, should there happen to be a lull in the conversation.

It turned out that there was plenty to talk about.

Father Raphael Makori spoke of the heightened tensions between Christians and Muslims in Africa and of the need for us priests to spend time together. He stressed the value of retreats shared in common, and the importance of study and prayer. No matter where in the world we minister, diocesan priests have similar needs.

The next day, Father Makori was back in Chicago, where he is studying for a degree in justice ministry at the Catholic Theological Union. He phoned from the Windy City to thank the priests here for extending hospitality to him. The pleasure was ours. The rhythm of the Church year once again shifts forward.

The feasts and seasons of the Church year are often very much connected to the turning of the wheel of the natural year.

“St. Bartholomew brings the cold dew,” is an old weather saying. The feast of St. Bartholomew occurred on August 24. Sure enough, as I walked my greyhound Transit just after dawn that day, I noticed that the grass was wet with dew — and so were my shoes. It wasn’t “cold dew” this year, but a few days later, the cold dew did arrive. The days are growing noticeably shorter and the season of darkness encroaches.

Another liturgical observance connected to the turning of the natural year is today’s Passion of St. John the Baptist. We celebrated his nativity in June, during the longest days of the year. The hours of daylight have been growing fewer ever since. Today is the remembrance of John the Baptist’s execution. “I must decrease so that the Lord may increase,” said he. Eventually, during the time of the longest nights, we will celebrate the Nativity of the Lord and with that the hours of daylight once again begin to grow.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Carpe diem.

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

10

Q

uestion: When are sports like a bakery? Answer: When everyone wants a piece of the pie, or always. The problem is, the pie isn’t big enough for all parties to enjoy the same sized slice.

When that happens, the result is often a food fight.

Two such fights are going on right now, and both will impact the third party in these tête à têtes — the baker, the fans who supply all the dough to make the pies in the first place.

Yet, the baker doesn’t have a say. All the baker is requested to do is bake, and bake, and bake, and bake.­Make the pies.

The upcoming National Football League season that began Wednesday night began with replacement referees.

The regular men in stripes are currently locked out by the NFL owners.

The Anchor

The upper crust

It’s a pie thing. continue, the pressure on these zebras is So that means the integrity and the enormous. The stakes are very high, and outcome of NFL games is in serious in my opinion, football is the most diffiquestion. Besides earning the title of cult of the major sports to officiate (water scabs, these polo, an nonreplacement major sport, refs have been holds that thrown into the honor). The caldron of 22 only good crazed indithat will viduals whose come out of sole purpose this lockout

By Dave Jolivet is to get their will be that a hands on an woman was odd-shaped ball allowed to and carry it across a white-chalked line. referee an NFL game.

These crazies are given huge pieces of The pie-eating contest doesn’t end the pie for doing this. there though. The upcoming National While the presence of the replaceHockey League season is in serious jeopments will insure the gridiron battles will ardy of being delayed and, who knows, maybe cancelled outright.

The combatants in this food fight are the players and the owners. It’s a pie thing.

Professional hockey has long struggled to gain a share of the TV market and even the of fan base of professional sports in

My View From the Stands

September 7, 2012

the U.S. Our Canadian brothers and sisters to the north still eat, sleep and breathe it.

The last time the NHL had a work stoppage in 2004, the bakers had finally had enough and many of them stopped making pies for the rich and famous.

When will the pie-chompers learn? Or perhaps more appropriately when will we bakers learn?

Last year, the National Football League players and owners went down to the wire before hashing out a deal to get the most out of us. And the National Basketball League had a shortened season.

Yet in both instances, the bakers just kept on baking.

Will there ever come a day when the kitchen closes? So many of us struggle in an economy that’s as stable as a thirdstring quarterback’s pass. I guess there are still plenty of bakers who can still afford to bake the pies that will ultimately be fought over.

It’s the American way. Keep shoveling in the pie while there’s still someone to bake it.

11

The Anchor

September 7, 2012

Cardinal Martini, biblical scholar, former archbishop of Milan, dies

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, a renowned biblical scholar and former archbishop of Milan, died August 31 at the age of 85 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Pope Benedict XVI met privately with the cardinal during a visit to Milan in June, and was informed of his ailing health August 30, the Vatican press office said.

In a telegram to Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, Pope Benedict praised Cardinal Martini’s generous service to the Gospel and the Church and his “intense apostolic work” as a Jesuit, a professor and “authoritative biblicist.”

As archbishop of Milan, the pope said, Cardinal Martini helped open for the Church community “the treasures of the sacred Scriptures.” The pope prayed that God would welcome the cardinal into “the Heavenly Jerusalem.”

The cardinal was a prolific author whose books were best-sellers in Italy and included everything from scholarly biblical exegesis to poetry and prayer guides.

He retired as archbishop of Milan in 2002, where he was known as a strong pastor and administrator, and as a very careful, thoughtful advocate of wider discussion and dialogue on some delicate and controversial Church positions.

At various times, he expressed openness to the possibility of allowing married Latin-rite priests under certain circumstances, ordaining women as deacons and allowing Communion for some divorced Catholics in subsequent marriages not approved by the Church.

During a special Synod of Bishops for Europe in 1999, he made waves when he proposed a new Churchwide council or assembly to unravel “doctrinal and disciplinary knots” such as the shortage of priests, the role of women, the role of laity and the discipline of Marriage. His carefully worded remarks reflected his belief that the Church would benefit from a wider exercise of collegiality, or the shared responsibility of bishops for the governance of the Church.

The idea of a new council was not taken up formally by the synod.

Following his retirement, his interests focused on biblical studies, Catholic-Jewish dialogue and praying for peace in the Middle East.

In a September 2004 message to a symposium on the Holy Land and interreligious dialogue, the cardinal wrote that Christians who visit Jerusalem should suspend judgment on the political situation there and simply pray for both sides. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict had become so complicated and painful that even an expert

would have trouble sorting it out, he said.

In a November 2004 speech at Rome’s Gregorian University, he told Catholics they could not understand their faith unless they understood the Jewish faith practiced

by Jesus and His disciples.

“It is vital for the Church not only to understand the ancient covenant (between God and the Jewish people) which has endured for centuries in order to launch a fruitful dialogue, but also to deepen our own understanding of who we are as the Church,” he said.

Even in retirement, the cardinal kept up with issues of importance in the life of the Church. He was sought after for interviews and frequently published opinion pieces in Italian newspapers.

After Pope Benedict eased restrictions on the celebration of the pre-Vatican II Liturgy in 2007, Cardinal Martini wrote a newspaper column explaining why, even though he loved the Latin language and could even preach in Latin, he would not celebrate the old Mass.

He said he admired Pope Benedict’s “benevolence” in allowing Catholics “to praise God with ancient and new forms” by permitting wider use of the 1962 form of the Mass, but his experience as a bishop had convinced him of the importance of a common liturgical prayer to express Catholics’ unity of belief.

The cardinal also said the reformed Liturgy that came out of the Second Vatican Council marked “a real step forward” in nourishing Catholics “with the Word of God, offered in a much more abundant way than before,” with a much larger selection of Scripture readings.

In a 2008 b o o k - len g th interview titled “Nighttime Conversations in Jerusalem,” Cardinal Martini said Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical “Humanae Vitae” (“Of Human Life”), which taught that artificial birth control was morally wrong, led many Catholics to distance themselves from the Church and from listening to and being challenged by the Catholic vi-

sion of human sexuality.

While not specifically addressing the morality of contraception, the cardinal said the Church needed to take a more pastoral approach to questions of sexuality. “The Church should always treat questions of sexuality and the family in such a way that a leading and decisive role is up to the responsibility of the person who loves,” he said.

Born in Orbassano, near Turin, Italy, Feb. 15, 1927, Carlo Maria Martini entered the Society of Jesus in 1944, was ordained a priest July 13, 1952, and took his final vows as a Jesuit in 1962.

The cardinal, a biblical scholar, never held a parish post. With doctorates in theology and biblical studies, he was a seminary professor in Chieri, Italy, 19581961; professor and later rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, 1969-1978; and rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University from July 1978 until his December 1979 appointment to Milan.

After his retirement in 2002, he moved to Jerusalem and purchased a burial plot there but returned to Milan after his health worsened in 2008. He died in a Jesuit retirement home near Milan, surrounded by his Jesuit confreres and members of his family.

When he was named archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Martini was the first Jesuit in 35 years to head an Italian archdiocese. Pope John Paul II ordained him an archbishop Jan. 6, 1980, in St. Peter’s Basilica and named him a cardinal in 1983.

A well-known speaker and retreat master, he served as spiritual director of the U.S. bishops’ spring meeting in Collegeville, Minn., in 1986. In that role, he conducted

a day of recollection on the first day and presented a series of reflections during morning prayers throughout the meeting.

Cardinal Martini’s death leaves

the College of Cardinals with 206 members, 118 of whom are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope.

12

September 7, 2012

The Anchor

Pontifical website aims to help lay Catholics worldwide

Vatican City (CNA/ homepage focuses on “the latest EWTN News) — The Vatican’s news and events” involving the Pontifical Council for the Laity council including video reports. is positioning its website as a re- It will also include statements by source for lay men and women Pope Benedict XVI on the vocaahead of Pope Benedict’s Year tion of the laity such as “little of Faith, which will kick-off in references that he makes in his October. speeches or in documents to the “It is directed to all the lay vocation of the laity.” There is faithful who want to know more also a message from the Presiabout their vocation, about their dent of the Council, Cardinal role within the Church,” Ana Stanislaw Rylko, “which also Cristina Betancourt of the Pon- changes continually.” tifical Council’s Women’s SecThe site also carries links to tion told CNA its four secin Rome. tions — “Asts stated aim is to as- sociations and “So, it is a way of besist the pope “in all Movements,” ing in contact matters concerning the “ Wo m e n , ” with what we and contribution the lay faith- “Church do day-to-day Sport,” and and that was ful make to the life and “Youth.” our aim in hav- mission of the Church, In recent ing it, to make whether as individuals or decades one of more known most signifthrough the various forms its the things that icant tasks of we do, the re- of association that have the council has flections that arisen and constantly been the orwe have, the arise within the Church.” ganization of things that we the Church’s are thinking World Youth about and also Day, a global the guidelines that the pope is encounter between young people giving the laity to better live their and the Roman pontiff. vocations.”

The next such event will The Pontifical Council for the take place next summer in Rio Laity was created by Pope Paul de Janeiro when more than two VI in 1967 and re-founded by the million young pilgrims are exsame pontiff in 1976 to include pected to make the journey to it as a permanent dicastery with- the Brazilian metropolis. It is in the Roman Curia. For many hoped the website can be a key years one of its key consulters tool in helping to organize the was Poland’s Archbishop Karol meeting.

Wojtyla of Krakow, later Pope “We want to give information, John Paul II. first of all about the next World Its stated aim is to assist the Youth Day,” said Father Eric Jacpope “in all matters concerning quinet of the Pontifical Council’s the contribution the lay faithful Youth Section of his hopes for make to the life and mission of the website. the Church, whether as individu“But also want to reflect on als or through the various forms youth ministry because Pope of association that have arisen Benedict is very attentive to eduand constantly arise within the cation, to the formation of young Church.” people, so we try to give them The website was unveiled for some materials to think about Blessed John Paul II’s beatifica- this.” tion in Spring 2011 but is conThe Pontifical Council for Lastantly updated. ity website can be found at www.

Betancourt explained that the laici.va.

I

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, September 9, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Michael A. Ciryak, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Swansea

flower power — Animated characters are seen in the movie “The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Kenn Viselman Presents Inc.)

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed

by CNS. “The Apparition” (Warner Bros.)

Mostly bloodless, in both a good and bad sense, writerdirector Todd Lincoln’s derivative house of horrors tale — his feature debut — avoids offending but fails to engage. An otherworldly entity unleashed in a parapsychology experiment returns to haunt one of the participants (Sebastian Stan) and his live-in girlfriend (Ashley Greene) who knows nothing of her partner’s past dabbling in the occult. Grownups will easily dismiss metaphysical gobbledygook of the H.P. Lovecraft variety spouted by another survivor of the seance (Tom Felton). But sometimes inept dialogue and generic characters behaving in unlikely ways blunt any potential impact.

Minimal violence and gore, cohabitation, a brief, nongraphic bedroom scene, blurred upper female and partial nudity, a couple of crude words, at least one crass term and fleeting innuendo. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“Lawless” (Weinstein) Morally tangled period piece, set in Prohibition-era Virginia, charts the violent adventures of three bootlegging brothers (Shia LaBeouf, Jason Clarke and Tom Hardy) as they battle a corrupt and sadistic special deputy (Guy Pearce) who’s out to lay down his own version of the law — by any means necessary. Though the siblings resort to force only in retaliation, and eventually cease and desist, director John Hillcoat’s adaptation of Matt Bondurant’s 2008 fact-based novel “The Wettest County in the World” tends to glamorize the mayhem they wreak. As scripted by Nick Cave, the film does the same for a premarital bedroom encounter. Unsuitable for all but the most mature and discerning viewers.

Strong, often gory violence, including torture, mutilation and beatings, semi-graphic premarital sexual activity, upper female nudity, numerous uses of profanity, many rough and crude terms, some crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is L —

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

“The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure” (Kenn Viselman Presents) This interactive film featuring full-bodied puppets that prompt children to dance and sing is the vision of producer Kenn Viselman, creator of the “Teletubbies” TV series; it’s directed by Matthew Diamond.

Three friends (voices of Stephanie Renz, Misty Miller and Malerie Grady) plan a surprise birthday party. But the presents — five magical balloons — go missing. The pals must work together to find the lost items before the party starts.

Harmless and wholesome fun, suitable for the very youngest of moviegoers. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I — general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G — general audiences. All ages admitted.

September 7, 2012

13

The Anchor

Doctrine committee adopts protocol to respond to theological questions

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. bishops’ Committee on Doctrine has developed a protocol to respond to questions raised about the work of theologians.

Approved provisionally in September 2011, the protocol outlines various steps that committee members and the staff of the Secretariat for Doctrine at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops can take when evaluating the work of theologians to ensure that the material in question conforms to Church teaching.

The six-page protocol states that the committee reserves the right to “seek authorization to publish its statements without the prior consultation” with a theologian or the theologian’s representative “if it judges that intervention is needed for the pastoral guidance of the Catholic faithful.

Publication of any comment, however, must be approved by the bishops’ Administrative Committee.

The protocol was approved after the Committee on Doctrine is-

sued a critique of the book “Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God” by Sister Elizabeth A. Johnson, a Sister of St. Joseph who is a professor of theology at Fordham University.

After a yearlong review, the committee in March 2011 criticized the 2007 book for having “misrepresentations, ambiguities and errors” related to the Catholic faith.

The committee did not meet with Sister Elizabeth prior to issuing the critique.

In subsequent written responses in 2011, Sister Elizabeth defended the book, saying her work was “thoroughly misunderstood and consistently misrepresented” by the committee.

A statement from the Secretariat for Doctrine introducing the protocol in Origins, the Catholic News Service documentary service, said the Committee on Doctrine does not consider the protocol as a replacement for the 1989 document “Doctrinal Responsibilities: Approaches to Promoting Coop-

eration and Resolving Misunderstandings Between Bishops and Theologians.” That document calls for a bishop to seek an informal conversation to discuss concerns with a theologian during any review of work.

However, Capuchin Franciscan Father Thomas G. Weinandy, executive director of the bishops’ Secretariat for Doctrine, maintained in December that the doctrinal responsibilities document was never intended to apply to the Committee on Doctrine and instead was written for diocesan bishops who wanted to talk with theologians in their respective dioceses.

The new protocol was developed to explain the various options available to the Committee on Doctrine “when diverse requests and issues arise,” according to the introductory statement.

“This protocol is a working tool for the Committee on Doctrine, one that the committee is free to update, modify or elaborate at any time, and one that gives only a gen-

Knights encouraged by Cardinal Dolan backing civility pledge

Washington D.C. (CNA/ EWTN News) — The Knights of Columbus are “very encouraged”

by Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s request that U.S. presidential and vice presidential candidates sign a civility pledge developed by the Catholic charitable fraternity.

“I think it’s great. I think that this is the kind of issue that religious leaders should be speaking out on,” Supreme Knight Carl Anderson told CNA. “These are the kinds of religious values, like respect for each other, that our religious leaders ought to be furthering in society.”

“We’re grateful for Cardinal Dolan’s leadership.”

Cardinal Dolan of New York, the president of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference, in an August 27 letter to President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan asked the political rivals to support the Knights of Columbus initiative Civility in America.

“Civility in America is giving voice to the desire of Americans of all backgrounds and political parties for more civil discourse during this election season,” the cardinal said.

Support for the effort means that the upcoming campaign will “remain focused on the critical issues facing our nation, and not on personal attacks,” he added.

The civility campaign includes a pledge for citizens who ask that candidates, the media and other public commentators “employ a more civil tone in public discourse on political and social issues” and

focus on policies rather than “individual personalities.”

“We hope that candidates around the country will listen,” Anderson stated.

He said the campaign aims to encourage people to “raise their voice about the need for greater civility.” Many Americans are “fed up with the incivility of this campaign season.”

The Civility in America effort drew inspiration from a July 2012 Marist Institute poll which found that 78 percent of American adults are mostly frustrated by the tone of political campaigns. Almost as many think that the tone has grown more negative than in past election years. Two thirds of respondents believe that candidates are spending more time attacking opponents than talking about issues.

Anderson said he hopes the civility campaign will also raise awareness among members of the news media about many Americans’ beliefs that “things need to get better.”

“We hope it has an effect,” he said. “It’s not just a Catholic issue. I think it goes across denominational lines. I think every religious leader ought to step up and say, ‘Look, we can do a better job in our national public debate of these issues than to focus on personalities and namecalling.’”

He said Evangelical pastor Rick Warren has taken a “very strong position” by canceling plans for his civil forum for the presidential nominees because of the uncivil political climate.

Anderson added that while Americans relish “verbal com-

petitiveness in the marketplace of ideas,” a line is crossed when prominent politicians impugn their rivals’ motives and engage in name-calling.

“I think that Americans expect that if a candidate is running away from his record or hiding his record or misrepresenting his record, the other candidate will step up and say it’s not so. And that’s a good thing,” he observed.

“But we need to be able to do that in a civil and respectful way.”

He suggested Americans should emulate the customs of the U.S. Senate’s “civil, respectful debate” despite senators’ wide variety of viewpoints.

The Civility in America website is www.civilityinamerica.org.

eral description of the steps that the committee might take in the process of investigating a theological work,” the statement said.

The protocol calls for the executive director of the Secretariat for Doctrine to begin proceedings by preparing for the committee chairman a written preliminary analysis of a work in question that considers the origin of the request; the “nature and gravity” of the doctrinal issues in question; whether the committee is able to take action; the intended audience of the writing or statement in question; distribution of the writing or statement; pastoral implications of the writing or statement; prior attempts by ecclesiastical authority to address any concerns; and published scholarly reviews of the writing or statement.

After the preliminary analysis, the committee may decide that a more thorough evaluation of a writing or statement is necessary and could then ask two or more experts to submit written evaluations of the work in question.

The protocol includes a series of options for response including: — Offering its own evaluation or an evaluation prepared by the Secretariat for Doctrine staff to the appropriate diocesan bishop, who can issue the statement in his own name.

— Referring the matter to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican if the concerns are serious enough or if the impact of the theologian’s writing or statement extends beyond the territorial boundaries of the USCCB. — Referring the matter to another USCCB committee that may be better able to handle the concern.

The committee also may respond by: — Engaging the theologian or a representative in dialogue that

leads to the publication of clarifications or corrections.

— Encouraging other scholars to publish a critique of the writing or statement in question in a journal or magazine.

— Disseminating a published scholarly review of the writing or statement to fellow bishops.

— Authorizing for publication a critique of the writing or statement in the name of the executive director of the secretariat, with approval from the USCCB general secretary, or a critique published in the name of one or more committee consultants.

— Issuing a statement in the committee’s name following authorization by the bishops’ Administrative Committee.

The protocol also encourages collaboration with other bishops’ committees and the bishops’ Communications Office to develop a strategy for promoting and distributing any committee statement.

Finally, the protocol concluded, the bishop or competent major superior where the theologian or their representative is located should be notified of the committee’s actions.

“The committee’s actions, moreover, ought always be conducted with respect for the natural rights to a good reputation and to the lawful freedom of inquiry,” in accordance with Canons 218 and 220 in the Code of Canon Law. Canon 218 reads: “Those engaged in the sacred disciplines have a just freedom of inquiry and of expressing their opinion prudently on those matters in which they possess expertise, while observing the submission due to the Magisterium of the Church.”

Canon 220 reads: “No one is permitted to harm illegitimately the good reputation which a person possesses nor to injure the right of any person to protect his or her own privacy.”

catholic social services FALL RIVER 1600 BAY ST. P.O. BOX M SO. STA. 508-674-4681

Website: cssdioc.org

NEW BEDFORD 238 BONNEY ST. 508-997-7337

TAUNTON 79 BROADWAY 508-824-3624

• OFFICE FOR CHILD PROTECTION • ADOPTIONS: INFANT INTERNATIONAL PREGNANCY COUNSELING • ADVOCACY FOR: SPANISH & PORTUGUESE SPEAKING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES • BASIC ENGLISH FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING • CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT • EMERGENCY SHELTERS: SAMARITAN HOUSE SISTER ROSE’S HOUSE H.O.U.S.E. FOR FAMILIES SPONSORSHIP: SOUP KITCHEN COMMUNITY ACTION FOR BETTER HOUSING

CAPE COD 261 SOUTH ST. HYANNIS 508-771-6771

TIVERTON, R.I. REACHING OUT 311 HOOPER ST. 401-624-9270

• COUNSELING • HOUSING COUNSELING • IMMIGRATION, LEGAL EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROJECT • INFORMATION/REFERRAL • PARENT/SCHOOL CRISIS INTERVENTION • REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT • HOUSING FOR WOMEN: ST. MATHIEU’S DONOVAN HOUSE ST. CLARE’S/ST. FRANCES’ • BASIC NEEDS SAMARITAN HOUSE SPECIAL APOSTOLATES: APOSTOLATE FOR SPANISH SPEAKING SUPPORTIVE PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAMS

14

The Anchor

September 7, 2012

Area faithful hopeful for Lebanon trip

Rainbows: Offering compassion, support to grieving children

Chorbishop Kaddo. “In addition to some of the violence spilling into Lebanon, many poor refugees are crossing into the country. Caritas Lebanon is doing its best to help. We’re concerned for our families’ safety, and also the country is being negatively affected economically as well. One of Lebanon’s greatest industries is tourism, and it’s down a great deal because of the unrest. Pope Benedict’s visit will raise the spirits there.

“It is the sign of a true leader not to be afraid. It’s a blessing for all people in Lebanon, of all faiths, to have the Vicar of Christ walking the same grounds as Christ Himself once did.”

Chorbishop Kaddo told The Anchor that Pope Benedict has always had “a great respect for the people of Lebanon and the Maronite Church.

When Blessed John Paul II died, then-Cardinal Ratzinger celebrated his funeral, and to his left was the Maronite Patriarch. And when he was elected pope, at the installment Mass, the Patriarch was to his left at the main altar.”

Pope Benedict reassured that his visit is still on despite the violence in and around the region. Catholic News Agency reported a recent assassination plot in northern Lebanon against Patriarch Bechara Peter Rai, the Maronite Church’s highest ranking dignitary. Patriarch Rai visited St. Anthony’s Parish in Fall River last October.

According to CNA, plans were in motion to detonate explosives along a route the Patriarch was scheduled to take. One of the conspirators informed Lebanon’s domes-

program,” said Booker. “Confidentiality is the most important thing about Rainbows. The children have to feel that what they say at that meeting — and [facilitators and students] sign a confidentiality agreement — will not be talked about outside of the meeting.”

Booker added, “That’s what Rainbows tells you. You are not counselors but are simply there to facilitate the discussion. I feel that no one can do this unless they’ve had something happen to themselves.

Hopefully the life experiences you’ve had will help you in this work.”

Now going into its 17th year, the Rainbows program doesn’t cater just to the students of Our Lady of Lourdes School, but also public school students who have been brought to the once-a-week, six-week sessions that meet after school from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Though using a religious curriculum provided by Rainbows, Booker stressed there’s no preaching involved, just a safe environment that opens with prayer.

She has no idea how many children have passed through the program as every year is different. “One year I had 17 while the next year I had 13 students,” she said. “But there is one challenge that always stays the same.

“Parents think it will let some secret out,” said Booker of the biggest misconception that parents have over their child participating in the program. “The child is acting that way for a reason and somebody needs to find out what it is. We could have a lot more kids, but some parents refuse to admit there’s a problem.”

continued from page one

tic secret service of the plot.

A former minister and current supporter of Hezbollah was arrested.

“Of course the visit will go ahead,” Patriarch Rai told CNA. “The Christians in Lebanon are looking forward to the Holy Father’s visit with great joy.”

Christians make up about one-third of Lebanon’s four million people. For years they have lived in peace with neighbors of other religions. But during the recent upheavals in the Middle East, there have been a growing number of attacks on Christians. “There’s nothing worse than a radical fundamentalist,” said Chorbishop Kaddo. “They have clouded minds and tunnel vision. There’s no compromise.”

Chorbishop Kaddo said he witnessed how the Muslims and Christians live in harmony in Lebanon. “I was there in 2004 and visiting some Marian shrines,” he continued. “I was very surprised how many people of the Muslim faith were praying in the shrines.

They have a great respect for our Blessed Mother.”

The chorbishop said that the St. Anthony’s parishioners are fearful for Pope Benedict, but “are very grateful and encouraged he has not backed down.”

Chorbishop Kaddo said they will offer special prayers for the Holy Father at Masses. “I am prayerfully confident that his trip will be fruitful and successful,” he said. He also mentioned that the parish will soon be having a special collection, at the request of Bishop John Mansour, Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, for the Catholic churches in war-torn Syria.

This week in

continued from page one

Diocesan history

50 years ago — A new $1 million addition to Sacred Hearts Academy on Prospect Street in Fall River was blessed and dedicated by Bishop James L. Connolly. Also present for the occasion was Father Patrick J. O’Neill, then-superintendent of Catholic schools for the Fall River Diocese.

10 years ago — It was announced that Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., was being assigned to the Diocese of Palm Beach in Florida after leading the Fall River Diocese for a decade.

Bishop O’Malley was to succeed Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell, who resigned in March of that year.

25 years ago — Representatives of the Fall River Diocese attended various dates on Pope John Paul II’s tour of the United States. Among them were Msgr. Daniel F. Hoye, general secretary to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, who traveled with the papal party throughout the visit, and Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, who joined the pope in Los Angeles.

One year ago — “Eucharistic Miracles of the World,” a Vatican International Exhibition that featured 126 miracles from 17 countries, was displayed in the education center at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet. The parish used the exhibit as a teaching tool for the St. Francis Xavier School students, who worked on projects to research one or two miracles.

The program is designed to allow the children a place to expound what they’re feeling and to talk among those of their own age group. The facilitators help the children work through their feelings through age-appropriate activities. Booker has helped all of the age groups, but is currently working with the youngest of the program. Her first-graders can’t journal like the older students, so Booker helps them open up by bringing puppets.

“This is why I believe puppets work so well. They talk to the puppet. They know I’m doing it,” she said of the voice that seems to come from the puppet but is clearly being projected from her mouth. “I have loads of puppets at home and I’ll bring enough in so that they all have their own puppet.”

Children try to rationalize what’s happening in their lives, and often act out their feelings instead of talking about it. As a former principal and teacher, Booker saw quite a few students who could only express themselves through anger, either physically or verbally. As a facilitator, your job is just to listen, said Booker. “I think that’s what the children want, somebody to sit and listen to them. Rainbows helps them to be able to talk.”

Sometimes, though, the situations that the children find themselves dealing with at home make their way into the program itself, as was the case when a facilitator, who was ill, suddenly passed away.

A young student expressed his desire to attend her funeral, and the mother reluctantly gave her permission. The boy became part of the school honor guard that stood vigil outside of the church during the funeral.

Then there was a student diagnosed with a terminal illness, “which was my greatest nightmare,” said Booker.

“Rainbows helped the friends of this girl; it was so sad. It was very tough watching her from fourth grade, when she was diagnosed, until she died. It was the hardest thing we ever did.

The kids did say it helped being in Rainbows because they were able to talk.”

This is life, said Booker.

Family dynamics have dramatically changed throughout the years and the Rainbows program has risen to the challenge by helping children learn

to cope. When each six-week session ends, the children of all the age groups come together to celebrate “Me Day.” The older ones will finish up their journals while the younger ones participate in different activities. During this final meeting, all of the children join together for the forgiveness session, “where they think about something that is really troubling them and they want to get rid of that bad feeling,” explained Booker. “So they’ll blow bubbles and say, ‘OK, there goes our troubles.’”

It’s so important for parents to understand that children are not as resilient as they may seem. Stop saying the children are doing fine when there’s been a family separation or turmoil within the household; help those children while they’re young, said Booker.

“This is why I say, ‘little people, little problems — big people, big problems,’” said Booker. “Help them before they get to be big. If a puppet or balloons or bubbles can help them, then do it.”

During the summer, students who were under Booker’s care last year were already contacting her, telling her they couldn’t wait to see her and “Stanley” and “Sally,” two monkey puppets that accompany Booker to each session. Booker already knows she’ll hear about summer events that may seem exciting to a six-year-old but not so much to an adult. Not that she cares, said Booker; just knowing she’s making a difference in the tumultuous life of a child is enough of a reward.

“I think the ultimate goal for these kids is to help them to find peace in their life, and to be normal little kids and not worrying,” said Booker. “For those who have lost a parent, they worry about the other one dying. In a divorce situation, they worry about the other parent leaving. They’re not secure and I want them to be secure. I think Rainbows is a safe place for them and that the people who are there love them, care about them and want to help them.”

For more information about the Rainbows program, go to www.rainbows.org or the bereavement page (under the Caritas bereavement group) on the Fall River Faith Formation Office website at www. fallriverfaithformation.org or contact Booker at 508-8225869.

September 7, 2012

storm surge — Rescued residents from Plaquemines Parish sit in the back of a pickup truck as rains from Hurricane Isaac flood the area August 29 in Braithwaite, La. (CNS photo/Lee Celano, Reuters)

Archbishop calls hurricane’s timing, on Katrina’s anniversary, ‘eerie’

NEW ORLEANS (CNS) — On the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina August 29, Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond offered prayers for people in the Archdiocese of New Orleans impacted by slow-moving Hurricane Isaac.

The storm dumped more than 15 inches of rain on southeast Louisiana and caused widespread flooding but spared New Orleans from major damage.

In a conference call with the leadership team of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans the archbishop acknowledged the suffering of thousands of people in south Louisiana from flooding.

“We consciously place ourselves in God’s presence and ask Him to give us His protection,” he said in an opening prayer.

“God has always promised to protect us in challenging times, and we ask that God does that now, especially with those who are struggling.”

Retired New Orleans Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes, who was archbishop of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, rode out Isaac at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

He called the timing of Isaac, on the same day, seven years later, from Hurricane Katrina, “rather eerie.”

“We have to be grateful that it was only a Category 1,” Archbishop Hughes told The Clarion Herald, archdiocesan newspaper of New Orleans. “The pumps seem to be working, although we’ve had some flash flooding.

But there’s no serious flooding (in the city) that I’m aware of.”

Seven years ago on August 29, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans by blowing holes in the city’s levee system, filling

15

The Anchor

more than 80 percent of the city with water.

This time, the more than $10 billion in high-tech hurricane defenses and massive pumps installed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the wake of Katrina kept New Orleans mostly unscathed. But surrounding areas sustained massive flooding from the creeping storm, which took 36 hours to clear. On August 30, areas of St. Tammany civil parish north of New Orleans reported rising water.

Archbishop Aymond could not confirm immediate damages to archdiocesan property, but parishioners of Assumption of Our Lady Mission in Braithwaite, south of New Orleans, said their parish sustained heavy flooding.

Archbishop Aymond visited first responders in the affected area on the afternoon of August 30.

Father Joseph M. Tran, pastor of St. Thomas Parish in Pointe a la Hache and Assumption Mission, said the small Braithwaite church, spiritual home to about 100 families, was on high ground and had never flooded before. He received reports of six to seven feet of flooding from parishioners.

“That really surprised me,” said the priest, who was on his way back to Louisiana after having evacuated to Birmingham, Ala. “Assumption was never flooded, not for (hurricanes) Betsy, Camille or Katrina.”

Catholic Charities moved 22 family members who were residing at a homeless family shelter program to a nearby hotel after leaks to the residence made it unsafe for them to remain there, said Martin Gutierrez, vice president of Catholic Charities.

Another program, Padua Pediatrics for children and teens

with severe developmental difficulties, had only emergency power, but not enough to power the air conditioning.

“We have some industrialsized fans to circulate the air,” said Samantha Pichon, a Catholic Charities vice president.

The archdiocese also received reports of flooding at Ascension of Our Lord Church in LaPlace, St. Anthony rectory in Lafitte, St. Patrick Church and rectory in Port Sulphur, Our Lady of the Lake Church in Mandeville and St. Anselm Church in Madisonville.

Schools in the archdiocese were expected to remain closed through Labor Day. The archdiocese was also making plans to get direct financial assistance to those most impacted by the storm though a donation page at www.ccano.org.

Catholic Charities USA also established a Hurricane Isaac Fund August 29 to help meet the immediate and longterm needs and was accepting donations at https://www. catholiccharitiesusa.org/sslpage. aspx?pid=2357.

Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, said the agency’s “experience with Katrina puts us in a strong position to know what needs to be done and to deliver our disaster case management services over an extended period of time.”

Catholic Charities USA has been receiving regular reports and updates from its agencies in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas — all of whom have been prepared for Isaac and were ready to partner with other responding agencies and local authorities to provide immediate relief and shelter.

Currently, the agencies are

relying on monetary donations to help those impacted by the storm.

“Financial donations are always our first preference if people far away want to help,” said David Aguillard, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, La. “In the first few weeks, we rely 100 percent on donations and grants to purchase relief supplies, buy gas cards and fill the gaps in services.”

Carol Spruell, communications coordinator for the agency, said often after a disaster, people’s first instinct is to “clean out their closets and send us their used clothing.”

“Those donations consume volunteer time and precious warehouse space,” she said.

During the immediate aftermath, Catholic Charities accepts some donations for specific

items such as toiletries and new clothing, particularly socks and underwear.

“For a man who has lost everything,” said Spruell, “an unopened package of new socks could be treasured.”

When a disaster leaves the frontpage news, offers to help subside and donations slow to a trickle.

“When the national news crews leave, that’s really when the hard work begins,” said Aguillard. “The needs are often greater months after a disaster.

FEMA and insurance settlements can only go so far for people who have lost everything.”

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge offers specific tips for best ways to donate for disaster relief. It suggests checking first with local agencies to find out the needs and donating new clothes, household goods or gift cards.

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

Revised and updated ...

2012-2013 Diocese of Fall River Catholic Directory ... NOW SHIPPING !!

Published by The Anchor Publishing Company P.O. Box 7, Fall River, Massachusetts 02722 Please ship _____ directories x $18 each, including shipping and handling. Total Enclosed $_____ NAME ____________________________________________ ADDRESS _________________________________________ CITY _____________________ STATE _______ ZIP _____ Please make checks payable to “Anchor Publishing” For more information, email theanchor@anchonews.org, call 508-675-7151, or order online at www.anchornews.org

Youth Pages

16

September 7, 2012

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools or parish Religious Education programs, have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews. org

fresh start — Second-graders at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School assembled for a prayer service on the first day of school. It marks the 40th year anniversary of when St. Mary’s School and Sacred Heart School merged to form St. Mary-Sacred Heart School, a tradition in Catholic school excellence in North Attleboro since 1923. As the children gathered Father David Costa welcomed the 270 students along with the faculty and staff back to school. He spoke of the changes to the school including the brand new library to help accommodate the growing student body, new laptops in the computer lab and a new iPad pilot program enabling classroom access to digital resources as part of the daily curriculum.

ready to soar — Despite muggy and rainy weather, students at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro were excited to return to school last week.

Johnny, the eagle mascot, was happy to welcome back Meghan, Josh and Katie Lancaster. In addition to a full enrollment, St. John’s is excited to welcome its pre-K students for the first time. Also new this year to St. John’s is an outdoor pavilion, reception area, nurses’ station and three new classrooms for learning. Students, faculty, parents, parishioners and alumni will celebrate the ribbon cutting for the new wing on September 16 at a Mass at 11:30 a.m. with Bishop George W. Coleman.

Youth Pages

September 7, 2012

A

Just one day

17

s I was working on our parish website last week, I noticed that Catechetical Sunday was coming along soon and with that announcement came a bulletin request notice for teachers to serve on our Religious Education teams for the coming year. It seems like such a perennial problem that many parishes seem to have to tackle each year — to find teachers to teach in our Religious Education programs or to serve in other ministries.

When I was in that position a number of years ago, I recall asking a group of parents, “Would you be willing to give one day to the parish and to Christ?” I really wasn’t trying to be a wise guy that day, but I was trying to get these parents to understand that Christ, our Church, our parish and I weren’t really asking much of them. We were simply asking for a day. Seems reasonable … right?

Well, I did have a little trick up my sleeve. When I asked if they would be willing to give a day, nearly every hand in the room went up. Of course they would be willing to give a day to help out around the parish or in our Religious Education program — that wasn’t much to ask, was it? So I went on to

explain that I was thankful that itself, if it is not accompanied by they were all willing to give 24 action, is dead.” hours to our program and to the I do not mean to be preachy. parish, and boy did the faces I simply want to challenge all change! After all, 24 hours is a of us to ponder these words of day isn’t it? I continued by addJames. My pastor once indicated ing that we could do much with in a sermon that St. James must 24 hours from each and every be from Missouri, since it is the one of them. We could make a real difference in the parish. I sent around a sign-up sheet and nary a one signed up to give the 24 hours!

I was disappointed

By Frank Lucca but not surprised. I did back off on my request as it was only to make a point. I did get a few parents to “Show Me” state and St. James give a few hours here and there is basically saying “show me” over the first years, but as the — that as Christians we need to years passed fewer and fewer not only talk the talk but walk participated. the walk. St. James is challengNext Sunday, September 16, ing Christians to a life of action. is Catechetical Sunday. The One in which we go out and act second reading for Catechetias Christ would act in this world cal Sunday from James 2:14-26 today. One in which we are is especially apropos. “What Christ to others. good is it, my brothers, if a man Imagine what it would be like claims to have faith but has no in our parishes, our towns, our deeds? Can such faith save him? diocese, our world if each and Suppose a brother or sister is every one of us took the call to without clothes and daily food. action seriously? Not a year worth If one of you says to him, ‘Go, of volunteering, not even a week.

I wish you well; keep warm and Just one little day. Twenty-four well fed,’ but does nothing about hours. Imagine the transformation his physical needs, what good that could take place if we each is it? In the same way, faith by gave 24 hours a year in service to

our fellow man!

The theme for Catechetical Sunday this year is “Catechists and Teachers as Agents of the New Evangelization.” The USCCB website states, “Those whom the community has designated to serve as catechists will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith.”

On Catechetical Sunday we especially pray for those that teach our young. However, as we prepare to celebrate those who will come forward to offer their service, the bulletins may still have an announcement asking for teachers to assist in the education of our young. I ask what could be more important than the role of teacher of the faith? I’m not sure, but whatever it is, it seems to be difficult to find such volunteers. I’m sure my parish is not much different than any other parish and

many good people of our parish are there to assist in the various ministries that make my parish such a faith-filled community — but I have to ask what would it be like if everyone who calls themselves a Catholic gave of themselves in the same way as our perennial volunteers? Our parishes would be happenin’ places, wouldn’t they?

I know that I may be preaching to the choir in this newspaper, but I hope that these thoughts might provoke us enough to call others to action — especially our teens and young adults whom I hope will give of their time in the weeks and months ahead. Your diocese and your parishes need you.

Now imagine it is Christ Who is asking, “Would you be willing to give just one day to the parish, to others and to Me?” Your answer?

Frank Lucca is a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea. He is chairman and a director of the YES! Retreat and director of the Christian Leadership Institute. He is a husband and a father of two daughters and a son-in-law.

Comments, ideas or suggestions? Please email him at StDominicYouthMinistry@ comcast.net.

BEIRUT (CNS) — Lebanon’s younger generation of Catholics sees Pope Benedict XVI’s September 14-16 visit to their country as a sign of hope in a region embroiled with violence.

Marielle Boutros, a 25-yearold Maronite Catholic from Jbeil who teaches science at a Catholic school, said the pope’s visit “means that even though we are suffering and don’t have stability, there is someone in this world who cares for us and wants us to stay here.”

“That’s why he’s coming here, to tell us to stay here and not to quit our cause,” she said.

Firas Wehbe, a 34-year-old Maronite Catholic who heads up the sales unit of a bank, said the pope’s visit “is a sign of hope for the youth, a support for them to stay in their country and the Middle East, especially with the turbulent situation around us.”

Wehbe said that when Pope John Paul visited Lebanon in 1997 and the country was under Syrian occupation, it was “a bad situation.”

“But now, it’s all the region,” Wehbe said. “So I think that this visit is a sign from God, a message for us to re-

sist in a Christian way: through our beliefs, to stay here in the holy lands and to live our lives according to the Bible. Otherwise, we can go everywhere in the world. But here, we have a message to live all together with other religions, especially Muslims.”

“I’m talking from personal experience, because I live in Tripoli, which is 90 percent Muslim,” Wehbe said. “In fact, we don’t have problems as Christians, but the city is experiencing political problems related to the situation in Syria. The conflict in Syria is affecting the city, but we hope it will end soon.”

Clashes between pro- and anti-Syrian groups in Tripoli in May and June killed up to 25 people.

The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said despite instability from Syria that has spilled across Lebanese borders, preparations for the trip “are proceeding without any uncertainties on the Vatican’s part.” In fact, he said, the popemobile has already been shipped to Lebanon.

During his visit, Pope Benedict will present a major document addressing concerns expressed at the 2010 Synod of

when he visited in 1997, “that Lebanon is more than a country, it’s a message of peace and coexistence between the East and the West.”

Of Lebanon’s population of nearly four million, approximately one-third is Christian.

The country’s population belongs to 18 different religions, 12 of which are Christian.

Joe Zoulikian, a 33-year-old Armenian Catholic who works at the American University of Beirut, described Pope Benedict’s visit as “very emotional, because the head of Catholic Church is coming to Lebanon while the region is full of war and revolutions.”

“For us it’s a (sign of) hope to stay,” Zoulikian said.

Joseph Semaan, a 36-yearold Maronite from Beirut who works as a technology manager and represents the Scouts of Lebanon on the youth meeting planning committee, said the pope’s visit “will give us empowerment and hope.”

About 500 of Lebanon’s some 10,000 Scouts will be assisting during the entire weekend of the pope’s visit to Lebanon, mostly serving as ushers.

“I think he is here also to deliver a message of peace and to

reinforce the diversity of Lebanese society, especially with what is happening in countries near us. There is a lot of war.

So he is here to tell us not to be afraid. I am sure he will ask us to build the peace, to have faith,” Semaan said.

Saher Dawood, a 30-yearold Chaldean Catholic refugee from Baghdad who has been in Lebanon for two years, said the pope’s visit “will give the youth a push in their faith and hope because they (the youth) don’t have this strong hope now.” Dawood is one of some 30,000 Christian refugees from Iraq now living in Lebanon.

Samieh Traboulsi, a Chaldean Catholic deacon, added that Lebanon is “in big danger now, because all the young people are immigrating to Europe, the Gulf and other countries.”

Father Bou Hadir said not only logistical preparations are under way for the pope’s visit: “We also have to prepare our hearts.”

For the nine days before the visit, Catholic churches will conduct a Novena of prayer.

“We are waiting with love, enthusiasm and prayer for this visit of the father to his children,” Father Bou Hadir said.

Be Not Afraid

Young Lebanese see papal visit as sign of hope, encouragement to stay Bishops on the Middle East, but on September 15 he is expected to meet with about 30,000 young people at Bkerke, the patriarchal seat of the Maronite Catholic Church, north of Beirut.

Father Toufic Bou Hadir, president of the Maronite Patriarchate’s Youth Department, has been planning the visit with a team of youth representatives from Lebanon’s Catholic rites — Maronite, Syriac, Armenian, Chaldean, Melkite, Coptic and Latin — as well as representatives of Scout associations, apostolic movements, students, nongovernment organizations, youths with special needs, religious and seminarians, and representatives of other Mideast countries.

“The Middle Eastern countries are now living a so-called ‘spring.’ But a lot of places are seeing that spring turning into winter and fall because we see blood and terror around us,” said Father Bou Hadir, referring to the instability in the region.

“But we have faith that the real spring is our youth having real faith in God,” he added.

The priest said Pope Benedict’s visit would reinforce what Pope John Paul II said

18

Around the Diocese 9/8

St. Mark’s Parish on Stanley Street in Attleboro Falls will host its annual fair tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will include a wide variety of activities, music and food, with DJ Nate Adams providing lively music.

Food will include hot dogs and hamburgers, doughboys, chowder and clam cakes, pizza, pastries, and ice cream sundaes. There will also be outdoor game booths, a moon walk and train ride. All are welcome to this traditional “end of summer” event.

9/9

The Twentieth Century Catholic Club will begin its new year with a Mass celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, West Street, Brockton Sunday at 10 a.m. It will be followed by brunch at the Red Mill Meeting House, Route 123 in Norton at 11:30 a.m. The speaker for the brunch will be M.C. Sullivan, nurse-bioethicist-attorney and director of ethics at Covenant Health Systems. The topic will focus on the proposed legislation appearing on the November ballot concerning end-of-life issues. All are welcome. For more information contact Rosemary Burke at 508-285-4101 or email rosemaryburke5@comcast.net.

9/10

Christ the King Parish, The Commons, Mashpee, will host a “Beginning Again” parish mission on September 10-13. Morning sessions will include Mass with instruction from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and evening sessions will be from 7 to 8 p.m., with social time to follow in the parish hall.

The mission will be presented by Father Kevin MacDonald, C.SS.R., a Redemptorist priest from Woburn. Ordained in 1991, Father MacDonald celebrated his first Mass at Christ the King Parish. He is currently assigned to the Redemptorist Community in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Transportation and baby-sitting are available. For more information call the parish office at 508-477-7700, extension 10.

9/11

The next meeting of the Catholic Cancer Support Group will be at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville on September 11. The session will begin with Mass and Anointing of the Sick at 6 p.m. in the church. Following Mass the group will go the parish center for coffee and conversation. The support group is faith-based, but all are welcome — cancer patients, survivors, family and friends. Reservations are not needed. For more information call Mary Lees at 508-771-1106 or email maryplees@comcast.net.

9/12

Catholic Social Services, 261 South Street in Hyannis, will host a Naturalization Workshop September 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Legal staff from Catholic Social Services will assist with the N400 Application for Naturalization and provide information about the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen. For information call Ashlee Reed at 508-674-4681 or areed@cssdioc.org.

9/12

Rob Grant, a marathoner who runs for the Christian Foundation A for Children & Aging is hosting a Cosi Benefit Night September 12 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wareham Crossing 2421 Cranberry Highway in Wareham that includes a CFCA tabletop-display with information on how to sponsor a child from a developing country, providing clothing, food and shelter, and/or make a one-time donation for a child’s educational needs. There will be CFCA brochures and pens, and also show photos, videos and finisher medal from Quebec City Marathon and others. For more information call Rob Grant at 508-758-2476 or Sonjon Devine at 508-295-1035.

9/13

The diocesan Divorced and Separated Support Group will continue its Divorce Care Series on September 13 in the parish center of St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road in North Dartmouth, with a screening of “New Relationships.” This video offers ways to deal with new relationships and how they effect people’s lives — positively and negatively. After the presentation will be a group discussion. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. For more information call 508-678-2823, 508-993-0589 or 508-673-2997.

A Naturalization Workshop will be held on September 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 230 Bonney Street in New Bedford. Legal staff from Catholic Social Services will assist with the N400 Application for Naturalization and provide information about the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen. For more information contact Ashlee Reed at 508-674-4681 or areed@cssdioc.org.

9/19 9/20

A Healing Mass will be held on September 20 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford. The Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include Benediction and healing prayers.

At 5:15 p.m. there will also be a holy hour, including the Rosary. For more information visit www.stanthonyofpaduanewbedford.com or call 508-993-1691.

9/22

A Life in the Spirit Weekend is being offered at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, 385 Central Avenue (Route 152) in Seekonk, on September 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and September 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attendance is required on both days. All are welcome to be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit. A small registration fee is requested to help defray the cost of materials and a Sunday dinner. Sign-up deadline is September 13. For information call Rita Beaudet at 508-399-7519 or Beverly Foley at 508-399-7076.

9/22

The 13th Annual St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School Golf Tournament and Social will be held on September 22 at The Golf Club at Yarmouth Port. Shot gun start will be at 1 p.m., with boxed lunch, raffles and prizes. A silent auction and BBQ dinner at Ardeo’s Grille begins at 5 p.m.

Put a foursome together or register as an individual golfer. All funds provide aid to children seeking quality, Catholic education to early adolescents at a school solely dedicated to meeting the needs of that special age group. For more information contact Jenn Canzano at jlcanzano@comcast.net, 781-589-5531 or Byron Lafferty at byron.lafferty@verizon.net. To learn more about St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School visit www.sfxp.org.

9/23

Bishop George W. Coleman will celebrate a special Mass of Thanksgiving for couples observing significant anniversaries (including the first year) during 2012. This celebration will take place on September 23 at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. If you would like an invitation, please consult with your pastor.

The Anchor New Bedford pastor headed to South America continued from page one

get a lot of help from your brother priests here. Even though we don’t have a surplus of priests, they are always willing to help. I’ve heard from priests in other dioceses that that’s not always the case.”

Ordained June 12, 2004 in Washington, D.C. by Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick, Father Cardenas was first assigned to serve a small parish in Maryland where his Spanish-speaking skills were put to good use.

“Most of the parishioners were from El Salvador,” he said.

From there, he was transferred to a parish in Toronto, Canada that was comprised of English-, Italianand Spanish-speaking parishioners.

“At the time we only had one parish there, now I think we have three,” Father Cardenas said. “I was in Toronto for two years and three months. Toronto is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.”

Father Cardenas’ next assignment was in a decidedly more prosperous place — a parish in Santa Clara, Calif.

“We had the Google and Yahoo buildings across the street from the parish in Silicon Valley,” he said, noting he was only there for two months before being sent to St. Kilian Parish in New Bedford.

“Religious order priests move a bit more than diocesan priests,” he said. “You can be 10 years in one place, and one year in another — it really varies. Our life is always changing. You can be assigned in the United States and then get transferred to Australia.”

But Father Cardenas said he’s ready and willing to go wherever God sends him.

“There’s a great adventure in following God,” he said. “We just have to let Him bring us wherever He wants in our life. There’s a tendency to think ‘This place is nice, I’ve adjusted to the people here, and I know where they have the best fish and chips.’ But God

knows better than us.”

Having visited Guyana a few years ago to preach a couple of retreats, Father Cardenas said he’s somewhat familiar with his new parish and its surroundings.

“I’ll be doing the usual ministries — celebrating Masses, retreats and everything else that goes on in a parish,” he said, “but there’s also a program that feeds 200 to 300 children several times a week.”

Noting that his new assignment is more akin to a mission than a diocesan parish, Father Cardenas said the people there are very poor and in great need.

“We’re not in the jungle, but it’s very close to the jungle,” he said.

“My parish is in a pretty civilized place for Guyana. We have stores close by the church. But you basically travel to many places by boat — there are a lot of rivers. When you go to a certain community by boat, you might end up celebrating Mass, you might baptize a baby or celebrate a wedding — everything is done as a package.”

Father Cardenas said there is also a dorm next to the parish where about 30 kids from the outlying villages come to stay for the week while attending school in Charity.

“We have Sisters there from my order who work on different apostolates,” he said. “The Sisters have a convent close by — probably within walking distance to the parish — where five or six of them live. They are Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará.”

Despite being essentially a Protestant country with a mixture of Catholics and Muslims, Father Cardenas said the parishioners there are vibrant and faith-filled.

“There is a good amount of people who are active in the parish,” he said. “I’m going to be with another priest and a seminarian and the other nearest parish, Santa Rosa,

IT’S EXPENSIVE!!

The Post Office charges The Anchor 70 cents for notification of a subscriber’s change of address. Please help us reduce these expenses by notifying us immediately when you plan to move.

Please Print Your New Address Below

NAME:

9/26

Father Roger Landry will present a special night of education and action against Doctor-Prescribed Suicide in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on September 26 at St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River beginning at 7 p.m. in preparation for November ballot question number 2. The presentation is free and all are welcome.

STREET ADDRESS:

10/6

NEW PARISH:

Father Stan Fortuna, CFR, will be at St. Lawrence Martyr Church in New Bedford on October 6 for a concert night of rapping, praise and jamming that will touch your heart and your spirit. Father Fortuna’s message is about “Youth spreading the Gospel.” He will be the main celebrant at the 4 p.m. Mass and his concert will begin at 7 p.m. An international artist, Father Fortuna is noted for his evangelical musical contributions of various genres, primarily Catholic-based jazz and hip hop.

He has been a featured speaker at Franciscan University’s High School Age Youth Conferences and Youth 2000 events for several years and has appeared numerous times on EWTN’s “Life on the Rock.” Tickets for the concert will be available at the door. For more information, call 508-992-4251 or visit www. francescoproductions.com.

September 7, 2012

CITY, STATE, ZIP:

MOVING DATE: Please attach your Anchor address label so we can update your record immediately.

Clip and mail form to: The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722

which is in the jungle, will also have two priests and one seminarian. At the minor seminary, which is close to the capital of Georgetown, they have a priest and a seminarian from the Institute of the Incarnate Word there also.”

Father Cardenas said the contrast between life here in the United States and life in Guyana will be readily obvious.

“Here in the United States we have so many comforts, but that can also be a danger to our souls,” he said. “You can pick up the phone and get whatever you want here.

You can control the temperature of your Jaguar with your cellphone.

Things are good, but they can also become an obstacle between us and God. We have a natural tendency to possess things and think that if we have something it will make us happy.

“I think things stop satisfying us when they don’t help us get to God. And the problem is things can sometimes not only not satisfy us, they can make us feel empty.”

While he characterized Guyana as a poor country, Father Cardenas also said “poor” can be a relative term.

“We have to be careful how we use the word ‘poor,’ because I remember one priest telling me the reason Mother Teresa decided to visit New Bedford was because it was a poor place,” he said. “I don’t think she was talking about money, I think she meant spiritually poor.”

Having worked for the past four years tending his flock in New Bedford, Father Cardenas is ready to shepherd a new group of souls to God’s Kingdom.

“People in Guyana might not have money, but they know about the existence of God and I’m sure they thank Him for life and what little things they have,” he said.

“Poverty can sometimes be a blessing. If you go to countries that are poor, people tend to be a little more inclined to the things of God. Here, we sometimes think we don’t need God. But you can have everything you want and still not be happy.”

A native of Mexico, Father Cardenas will be returning to his home country this week to spend some time with his family before leaving for his new parochial assignment in Guyana on October 12.

His successor, Father Eduardo Coll, IVE, was appointed the new pastor of St. Kilian Parish, effective September 1.

“For us priests, it’s not the physical place that is important in a mission, but the souls … and there are souls everywhere,” Father Cardenas said. “God thinks we are worthy of being there and He wants to do great things. He knows what’s best for us, even in spite of us.”

September 7, 2012

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FALL RIVER — St. Bernadette’s Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has eucharistic adoration on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the chapel.

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

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

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

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

HYANNIS — A Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration will take place each First Friday at St. Francis Xavier Church, 347 South Street, beginning immediately after the 12:10 p.m. Mass and ending with adoration at 4 p.m.

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

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

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and Confessions offered during the evening. 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 every Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

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

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has eucharistic adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508336-5549.

Taunton — Eucharistic adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

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

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

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

19

The Anchor Holy Cross Father Thomas L. Campbell

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Father Thomas L. Campbell, C.S.C., 90, died August 28 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind. He was born on Nov. 21, 1921, in Salem, to the late Thomas and Delia (Labbe) Campbell. Father Campbell is survived by his nieces and nephews, grandnephews and grandnieces; and great-grandnephews and greatgrandnieces. He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert J., and a sister, Ellen Lynah.

He entered Our Lady of Holy Cross Seminary in North Easton, the next fall. He was approved for the Novitiate at North Dartmouth, in August, 1941. He professed First Vows on Aug. 16, 1942. He took Final Vows on June 9, 1946, and was ordained a priest on June 2, 1948, by Archbishop O’Boyle in the Holy Cross College Chapel.

Father Campbell’s first assignment was with the Easton Mission Band in Massachusetts.

He also served on weekends at a Catholic parish on Cape Cod. He earned both licentiate and doctoral degrees in sacred theology from the Catholic University of America, while simultaneously serving as an instructor in philosophy and theology at fledgling Stonehill College between 1951 and 1956.

Father Campbell moved to King’s College in Wilkes-Barre,

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Sept. 8 Rev. Thomas Sheehan, Founder, Holy Trinity, Harwich Center, 1868 Sept. 10 Rev. Hugo Dylla, Pastor, St. Stanislaus, Fall River, 1966 Rt. Rev. Felix S. Childs, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1969 Sept. 11 Rev. Joachim Shults, SS.CC., Our Lady of Assumption, New Bedford, 1987 Rev. Cyril Augustyn, OFM Conv., Pastor, Holy Rosary, Taunton, 1997 Rev. Francis E. Grogan, CSC, Superior, Holy Cross Residence, North Dartmouth, 2001 Sept. 12 Rev. John J. Galvin, STD, Assistant, SS. Peter and Paul, Fall River, 1962 Most Rev. James L. Connolly, Sc.H D, Fourth Bishop of Fall River, 1951-70, 1986 Rev. John R. Folster, Pastor, St. Louis de France, Swansea, 1995 Sept. 13 Rev. Charles A.J. Donovan, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, North Easton, 1949 Rev. Isadore Kowalski, OFM Conv., Our Lady’s Haven, Fairhaven, 2003 Sept. 14 Rev. Stanislaus J. Ryczek, USA Retired Chaplain, Former Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford, 1982

Pa., in 1956, where he became full professor and eventually chairman of the theology department. In 1971, he served as a visiting scholar at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He also served as instructor for catechists for the Diocese of Scranton, Pa. For 15 years, he assisted in a parish on Park Avenue and at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and spent an additional four years at St. Ann’s Church in North Bronx. After 31 years of teaching, Father Campbell began to serve full time at parishes in the Diocese of Fall

River. He lived for many years in the Holy Cross Community at Stonehill. Father Campbell moved to Holy Cross House at Notre Dame in 2011.

The funeral Mass was celebrated September 1 at the Chapel of Mary at Stonehill College.

Memorial contributions to support the mission and ministries of the United States Province of Priests and Brothers can be made to: Priests of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, Ind. 46556.

CUMBERLAND, R.I. — Sister Theresa Mary Sparrow (formerly Sister Mary Columban), 85, a Sister of Mercy and a retired teacher, Religious Education coordinator, and minister to the sick and homebound passed away August 27 at Mount St. Rita Health Centre, in Cumberland, R.I. Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Dominic and Jane (Foley) Sparrow. She entered the Sisters of Mercy on Sept. 8, 1945 and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 16, 1951.

She graduated from Holy Family High School in New Bedford, class of 1945, and earned a bachelor degree in education from the former Catholic Teachers College in Providence, R.I. Sister Sparrow received a master’s degree in sacred science from St. Bonaventure University in New York and did post graduate study at Bridgewater State College and at St. Bonaventure University.

She began her teaching ministry in 1948 at SS. Peter and Paul School in Fall River. She then was assigned to St. Mary School, North Attleboro; St. Patrick School, Fall River; and St. Mary and Holy Family Elementary Schools, both in New Bedford. In

1973 she was appointed coordinator of Religious Education for Youth in Fall River.

In 1978, she began parish ministry as a director of Religious Education at St. Michael Parish, Swansea, and then in 1997 at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth. During her retirement, she volunteered at Sacred Heart Home in New Bedford, visiting the sick and infirm.

In addition to her religious family, the Sisters of Mercy, she leaves her sisters, Dorothy Hahn of Swampscott, Jane Magnant of Dartmouth, and Patricia Champagne of Venice, Fla,; nieces Carol Alfonse and Ellen Pimentel of Dartmouth, and other nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated August 31 at St. Julie Billiart Church, North Dartmouth. Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery, New Bedford.

Donations in Sister Theresa’s memory to Mount St. Rita Health Centre, 15 Sumner Brown Road, Cumberland, R.I. 02864 or to the Sisters of Mercy, 15 Highland View Road, Cumberland, R.I. 02864. For online tributes and directions please visit: www. waring-sullivan.com.

Sister of Mercy Theresa Mary Sparrow

20

The Anchor

September 7, 2012

Priest apologizes for comments on sexual abuse

NEW YORK (CNS) — Father Benedict Groeschel, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal who has long been a popular speaker and television personality, apologized August 30 for interview comments he made that were published online two days earlier, saying that “in a lot of cases” the victim of child sexual abuse is “the seducer.”

Father Groeschel also had said priests who have committed abuse just one time should not go to jail.

In the interview, Father Groeschel referred to Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach who was convicted in June on 45 charges relating to the sexual abuse of 10 different boys, as a “poor guy.”

“I apologize for my comments.

I did not intend to blame the victim,” said Father Groeschel, 78, in a statement. “A priest — or anyone else — who abuses a minor is always wrong and is always responsible. My mind and my way of expressing myself are not as clear as they used to be.”

Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, said in a statement before Father Groeschel’s apology that the priest’s comments were “simply wrong.”

Zwilling added, “Although he is not a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, what Father Groeschel said cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged. The sexual abuse of a minor is a crime, and whoever commits that crime deserves to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

He also took exception to Father Groeschel’s characterization of sexual abuse victims as seducers.

“The harm that was done by

these remarks was compounded by the assertion that the victim of abuse is responsible for the abuse, or somehow caused the abuse to occur. This is not only terribly wrong. It is also extremely painful for victims,” Zwilling said.

“The Archdiocese of New York completely disassociates itself from these comments,” he added.

“They do not reflect our beliefs or our practice.”

The interview had been posted August 28 on the website of the National Catholic Register, which is owned by Eternal Word Television Network; Father Groeschel has appeared frequently on EWTN over the years. National Catholic Register editor-in-chief Jeanette R. De Melo issued an apology August 30.

“Child sexual abuse is never excusable. The editors of the National Catholic Register apologize for publishing without clarification or challenge Father Benedict Groeschel’s comments that seem to suggest that the child is somehow responsible for abuse.

Nothing could be further from the truth,” she said.

De Melo added, “Our publication of that comment was an editorial mistake, for which we sincerely apologize. Given Father Benedict’s stellar history over many years, we released his interview without our usual screening and oversight.”

The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, which Father Groeschel helped found 25 years ago, also apologized.

“Father Benedict made comments that were inappropriate and untrue,” the order said in a statement. “These comments were completely out of character. He never intended to excuse abuse or implicate the victims.”

The order cited Father Groeschel’s worsening health: “In recent months his health, memory and cognitive ability have been failing. He has been in and out of the hospital. Due to his declining health and inability to care for himself, Father Benedict had moved to a location where he could rest and be relieved of his responsibilities. Although these factors do not excuse his comments, they help us understand how such a compassionate man could have said something so wrong, so insensitive and so out of character.”

In the interview, Father Groeschel talked about his work with priests involved in sexual abuse.

He said, “Suppose you have a man having a nervous breakdown, and a youngster comes after him. A lot of the cases, the youngster, 14, 15, 16 — is the seducer.”

Asked why this would be the case, Father Groeschel spoke of “a kid looking for a father and didn’t have his own” before he brought up Sandusky. “Here’s this poor guy — Sandusky — it went on for years.

Interesting. Why didn’t anyone say anything? Apparently, a number of kids knew about it and didn’t break the ice. ... It was a moral failure, scandalous; but they didn’t think of it in terms of legal things.”

Father Groeschel then talked of priests accused of child sexual abuse. “At this point, (when) any priest, any clergyman, any social worker, any teacher, any responsible person in society would become involved in a single sexual act — not necessarily intercourse — they’re done. And I’m inclined to think, on their first offense, they should not go to jail because their intention was not committing a crime.”

a job well done — Elaine Alves, left, Catholic Memorial Home Employee of the Quarter, is presented with an award by Jocelyn Cunha, food service director at the Fall River skilled nursing and rehab care facility. Alves works in the dietary department.

She received a monetary gift, a reserved parking spot, and a reception in her honor.

welcome aboard — Madonna Manor, North Attleboro, recently announced that Halina Malec has joined the staff as the director of Spiritual Care at the skilled nursing and rehabilitative care facility. A resident of North Providence, R.I., her previous experience includes working as a chaplain at Rhode Island Hospital, Miriam Hospital, and as a Hospice chaplain for VNA of Rhode Island. She received her bachelor of theology at St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo., and her clinical pastoral education certificate at the Chaplaincy Center at Rhode Island Hospital. Catholic Memorial Home and Madonna Manor are members of the Diocesan Health Facilities system that provides care to more than 800 men and women throughout southeastern Massachusetts, and sponsored by the Diocese of Fall River.

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-6757151 or Email waynepowers@ anchornews.org