t eanc 0 FALL RIVER, MASS.
VOL. 43, NO. 36 • Friday, September 17, 1999
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Bishop O'Malley leads march to seek help for East Timorese ~
Many Portuguese, some with relatives in East Timor, take part in Sunday's prayer vigil in New Bedford urging the world's democracies to help end the slaughter. By JAMES N. DUNBAR AND . CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE REPORTS
NEW BEDFORD - Nearly 500 people, led by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. and civic leaders, prayed and sang hymns in Portuguese during a candlelight march from the statue of Prince Henry the Navigator on Pope's Island to City Hall Sunday night to rally support for the suffering people in the former Portuguese colony of East Timor. The rally was organized by the Immigrants Assistance Center t~ bring awareness of the plight of those suffering terror and bloodshed, and to add their voices to those in the Church calling for international intervention and follow up on the Indonesian government's agreement to allow U.N. peacekeeping troops into .East Timor. Some carried signs reading: "The children of East Timor need our help." Bishop O'Malley, who led the assembly in prayer, said in an interview this week that the Portuguese immigrant community "has great feelings for those suffering there. For centuries the colony had been <;.., under Portuguese rule, its people Catholic and speaking Portuguese. It has been one of the worst genocides of our times, and the world has turned a blind eye on it EAST TIMOR Bishop until no~." Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo The bishop ~harged wi e hi f f . them to continue to p. S S ac~ a ~er tearing up raise their voices on bedUring Mass In Lisbon, Portu- half of those in East gal. He appealed for a spirit of Timor and continue forgiveness despite the killings their prayers. in East Timor. (CNS photo Bishop O'Malley from Reuters) noted that he has authorized parish collections to help Catholic Relief Services come to the aid of victims of violence in East Timor and those suffering from the earthquake in Turkey. Portugal had controlled Indonesia for 400 years and by 1975 had initiated a program to decolonize the territory. Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed it in 1976. After more than 78 percent of East Timorese voted for independence August 30, pro-Indonesian militias unleashed a campaign of terror against East Timorese. They attacked thousands of people who had taken refuge in Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo's compound, burned his home, forcing him to flee to the home of Bishop Basilio do Nascimento, apostolic administrator of Baukau. Bishop Belo was evacuated to Australia and Bishop Nascimento fled to the hills as his home was burned to the
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Turn to page J3 - East Timor
Red Mass update - page five
A MASS and luncheon were held at the Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River, marking its 60th anniversary recently. Helping to celebrate the day were, from left, Msgr. Edmund J. Fitzgerald, executive director of diocesan health facilities; Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap.; Mother Mary Suzanne, superior general of the Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirmed; Sister Mary Elias, seated, first administrator; Sister Nina Amaral, administrator; Father Arthur K. Wingate, chaplain; and Sister Margaret Therese Jackson, assistant administrator. (Anchor/Gordon photo)
Catholic Memorial Home marks 60 years of service By MIKE GORDON ANcHOR STAFF
FALL RIVER - The Catholic Memorial Home celebrated 60 years of loving care to sick and elderly Sept. 9 at a concelebrated Mass in its St. Margaret Mary Chapel. Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM
Cap. was the principal celebrant and concelebrants were Msgr. Edmund J. Fitzgerald, executive director of the Diocesan Health Facilities system and Father Arthur K. Wingate, chaplain. During his homily, Bishop O'Malley was thankful for the efforts of the staff and the Carmelite Sisters
who have worked at the home since it was established in 1939. He spoke of the call to service all Catholics have. "Today is a very joyous occasion as we celebrate 60 years of service at Catholic Memorial Home," said the bishop. "The call to service for care of Turn to page J3 - Service
Abuse policies revisited ~
Implementation of Fall River Diocese's policy on preventing child abuse is a vital ministry. By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
FALL RIVER - Aireligious education classes get under way and Catholic schools around the diocese open their doors to students, Susan E. Desrosiers, director of the Abuse Prevention Unit for the diocese and Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. spoke at length about havi~g policies
in place to protect children. It has been five years since Bishop O'Malley appointed a Sexual Abuse Review Board in Qrder to establish a comprehensive diocesan approach to child abuse. The work of the board and that of the Abuse Prevention Unit, established in May of 1994, in developing and implementing those policies continues to help prevent child sexual abuse within diocesan apostates and agencies and remains a vital ministry. Desrosiers, director of the Abuse Prevention Unit since its inception, said it's something that's important to Turn to page J3 - Policies
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SUSAN DESROSIERS