Diocese of Fall River
The Anchor
F riday , September 18, 2009
Forty Days for Life begins September 23
Academics team up with online studies By Deacon James N. Dunbar
By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent
ATTLEBORO — Gearing up for another 40 days of prayer outside an Attleboro abortion clinic, volunteers hope their peaceful witness will awaken the consciences of all who pass by. Last month, the group had the first report of a canceled abortion since 40 Days for Life came to Attleboro one year ago. A young woman drove up to those in vigil and told them she had been scheduled for an abortion but their witness caused her to change her mind and keep her child. She reportedly told those gathered, “Your prayers are very powerful. Don’t stop praying. They work.” Steve Marcotte and Ron Larose, the campaign’s co-coordinators, said they hope their petitions will continue to change hearts and that ultimately there will be no need for an abortion clinic in Attleboro. The nation-wide 40 Days for Life will be held from September 23 to October 1. In Attleboro, the campaign will kickoff with a prayer service at Angel Park across the street from the clinic September 26 at 3 p.m. Those gathered will then process to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, less than a mile away, where they will worship at the shrine’s monthly Pro-Life Mass at 4:30 p.m. Marcotte stressed that 40 Days for Life takes a Christ-like approach to women entering abortion clinics, giving them love and encouragement. While some at the vigil hold signs, no graphic images are used at the prayer gatherings. The campaign is built on a foundation of prayer, fasting and peaceful vigil. “We can’t judge these women. We don’t know their stories,” he Turn to page 18
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS — James Sabra, left, senior class president and member of the class of 2010, places the new 2009 time capsule inside the cornerstone at Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, during the school’s recent rededication and 50th anniversary celebration. Looking on, from left: two altar servers, Father Karl C. Bissinger, Bishop George W. Coleman, who presided over the ceremony, and Stang president and class of 1963 alumna, Theresa E. Dougall. Story on page 16. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)
Diocesan Teams of Our Lady celebrate 25 years of empowering marriage, family By Dave Jolivet, Editor
NEW BEDFORD — “Father, if it weren’t for this, I don’t know where my marriage would be today.” That was a statement made to Father Edward E. Correia of the significance of the Teams of Our Lady movement, a Christcentered international organization of married couples, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the Fall River Diocese this year. Father Correia, pastor of St. Michael’s Parish in Fall River and one of several priest and deacon spiritual advisors to the Teams, has been involved with the movement for 20 years. “The Teams of Our Lady is such a wonderful organization that brings spirituality and Christ into the vocation of marriage,” he told The Anchor. “The couples grow day-to-day with
each other, with other couples, and with the Lord. It helps make marriages stronger, and the fact that it’s been alive and well here for 25 years is evidenced by the fact that faithful couples continue to meet
each month, year after year.” The Teams of Our Lady movement was informally initiated in France in the late 1930s when a number of married couples began to meet under the watchful eye and loving direction of Father Henri Caffarel. The purpose was for the couples to support one another in the struggles and successes of married life. Eventually more couples became involved and on Dec. 8, 1947, the movement was formalized and recognized by the Vatican. According to the Teams of Our Lady USA website, the teams are made up of five to seven couples and a spiritual advisor, who “agree
to practice a spiritual direction that includes: daily, individual, couple and family prayer; regular reading and reflection on sacred Scripture; a monthly husband and wife discussion of family and spiritual matters; and an individual ‘rule of life’ for personal improvement.” The movement encourages spiritual growth of the couple and the family through prayer and study; open and growing communication between husband and wife; and developing a way of life to make their faith a “daily living experience.” The movement became very popular in Portugal in the ’50s, and spread to parts of the U.S. in the late ’50s. It was in Portugal where Father Gastão Oliveira, then parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in New Bedford, was introduced to the movement. Father Victor Pinto enlightened Father Oliveira of the benefits couples were enjoying, and the New Bedford priest brought the idea home to his parish. Through Father Oliveira’s efforts, the Teams of Our Lady became a reality in the Fall River Diocese in 1984, with several teams established in New Bedford and Fall River. Turn to page 12
FALL RIVER — When Superintendent of Catholic Schools George A. Milot read an article in The Anchor about students in Worcester integrating online research with language studies, he telephoned the diocesan paper and said, “We’ve been doing that for a while in our diocesan schools, too.” As a matter of fact, Milot reported, “Students at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro have been studying Arabic and Chinese Mandarin using online technology for five years.” In a recent, sit-down interview, Milot and Dr. Donna Boyle, assistant superintendent for curriculum, talked about the priority of using technology, including use of the Internet, in all studies in curriculums in the diocesan high schools and elementary schools. “Technology is a tool and it must be viewed as such,” said Milot. “Its use is effective only if it increases learning. That’s its purpose,” he added. He said there is a common misunderstanding that going online alone will increase knowledge. “But it has no practical educational value unless it is integrated into what is being taught in the classroom and where directing the research skills of the students takes place, Milot explained. “We’re very much aware that most of our students are well versed in modern day technology and its communication systems, and use it for entertainment and so many things,” he said. “Some 15 to 20 years ago as part of the curriculum we were teaching students even in the elementary grades the basics of how to use computers and the programs they offered. We don’t need to teach those skills anymore. Most of our students have already mastered those. Watch a young student today and you’ll find him or her multitasking: studying, the iPod going, the TV on, using the laptop and texting at the same time,” Milot added. “Today, the role of our teachers is to help direct the computer skills the students already posTurn to page 18