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ANCHOR
Vol. 14, No. 39, Sept. 24, 1970 Price 10c
$4.00 per year
Parishes Set Programs For CCD In all parishes throughout the Diocese, a great flurry of activity is currently taking place as pastors, assistants, religious and. lay coordinators embark on their programs for the formation of mature Christians through their endeavors in the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine programs. For some, it is the continuation of last year's program with few changes in personnel and in others it is a' totally new approach with in-servive teacher training programs taking precedent. Ever mindful of their obligation to impart the message of Christ to all entrusted to their care, pastors are providing the best possible materials and personnel to fulfill that goal. With the closing of four parochial schools in the Diocese the increase of the number of students involved was evident in both Fall River and New Bedford. We have now approximlltely 47,150 schOOl age children under instruction in the· DIocese with well over 2000 catechists, both religious and lay, working to
Diocese Supports Project Equality In an effort to maintain 'and promote employment practices fair to minority group members, the Fall River Diocese has joined the sees of Boston, Worcester and Springfield in participation in Project Equality of Massachusetts. In a two-pronged program, .the project seeks to improve hiring and promotion practices on the part of employers and to encourage religious organizations to purchase materials and services only from cooperating firms. "This program, an ecumenical venture involving all of the major religious groups. in the state, puts the Church's material resources to work in the fight against discriminatory employment practices," notes Rev. John F. Hogan, appointed Diocesan coordinator of- Project Equality by Bishop James L. Connolly. Diocesan institutions and parishes have been asked to sign a "Religious Institution's Commitment," pledging specific support of Project Equality. Requested actions i.nclude maintenance of "employment
bring the Gospel in its total life situation to all. In addition to the instructions taking place at the elementary and the secondary levels, there is a new thrust taking place at the adult level. Along with Parish In-service training courses, the Dioce$an Office is currently arranging series of courses to take place in all areas of the Diocese beginning the week of October 12th. Turn to Page Twenty.
Mother Pierre Marie Mourned. by Area Most Rev. James L.' Connolly, Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River, lauded the late Mother Pierre Marie, O.P., president of the Corporation of St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, for a life that influenced not only her own community of sisters but the
Mother Pieue Marie, O.P.
area served by the only Catholic. hospital in the diocese. Speaking at a Pontifical Concelebrated Mass offered in St. Anne's Church, Fall River at 10 on Tuesday morning, Bishop Connolly stressed the manner in which the basic goodness of Mother Pierre Marie was so extraordinary that it verily emanated to influence the lives of every individual with whom she came in contact. Her love for her own community was tremendous but not 'so parochial that it hindered her love of people everywhere as was evidenced by her sustaining the missionjin Baghdad and the permission granted to sisters to assist in the work in Brownsville. Bishop Connolly stated that "if Archbishop Medeiros was able to be present he would have personally thanked Mother Pierre Marie for the spirit of sacrifice that she exemplified by allowing three members of her order to serve in the Texas diocese." "Her devotion to her sisters Turn to Page Six
CCD SUNDAY
LEADERS MEET: Launbural W. Spriggs, exective director, seated; standing: William C. Middlebrooks, director of compliance and Rev. John F. Hogan, director of the New Bedford Catholic Welfare Bureau, Diocesan coordinator of th~ Project.
policies that affirmatively promote equality of opportunity for minority group persons at all job levels and in all aspects of employment"; and cooperation with Project Equality in discussion of ,policies, practices. and the make-up of total labor forces with respect to ethnic groups, race, and job category," Probably most important for Diocesan institutions is a commitment to use a Project Equality Buyer's Guide in selection of firms providing the same service is available. Buyer's Guide firms, explain Project Equality officials, have pledged to end discriminatory employment practices. Use of the guide, they say, provides "a workable formula for spending religious money in a moraA manner." Or, as the U. S. Presbyterian Church. expressed it in a formal statement endorsing Project Equality: "It is the responsibility cf the church * (, '" to put the power of its· dollar on the side of . right," Turn to Page Thirteen
Bishop Has High Praise For Dedicated Laity In a pastoral letter sent to all parishies and missions of the Diocese of Fall River, Bishop James L. Connolly had high praise for the dedicates laity in the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and he proclaimed Sunday, Sept. 27, as CCD Day. The text of the letter follows: "Let us proclaim the Mystery of Faith!" Beloved in Christ: In September, we salute the hundreds of men and women, young and old, who support our Religious Education programme in all 'parishes and missions of the Fall River Diocese. Their spirit of dedication to prepare our youth, in mind and heart, to give the best of themselves in service to God and Society, carries its own reward, indeed. But we owe them an expression of gratitude. Part of the trouble in our world is that the spirit of thanks has grown weak. Too much is taken for granted. Too many are prone to face the future, as though they were all alone. It has become a custom, of experts particularly, to emphasize the dark side of life. They write and talk of sordid things. They are prophets of gloom, blind in their inability to recQgnize and count blessings that abound all about them. Where real faith functions there can be no frustration. We know in whom we have believed. "Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again," No more important nor more veri-
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fied fact do we have than this. The very continuation of Christianity, over nineteen hundred years, despite defections,-infidelities, from the ranks, - and harassment from without, makes a miracle before our eyes. Saint Augustine commented on such a fact in the Fifth Century to men asking why there were no more miracles. If he was right in his judgment, and he was, - what shall we say of a Church still growing, with visible proof that the Charity of Christ still abounds, providing care for the
poor, the sick, homeless, orphan, aged, and mal-instructed, out of her rich resources in personnel; out of the material means provided in annual Charity-Appeal. We are deeply thankful for all works of concern, but especially in this confused time, to those giving of time and talent to prepare the youth of today to make a better tomorrow. Wishing will not make it so. Sitting around complaining, and criticizing gets one nowhere. We all need to make and keep contact, and Turn to Page Eleven
President Nixon to Visit Pope on European Tour WASHINGTON (NC) - President Nixon is scheduled to leave here Sunday for a fast-paced eight-day European tour that will take him to the Vatican for his second official visit with Pope Paul VI. Their initial meeting was in March, 1969. The Vatican announced that Nixon will visit the Pope on Sept. 28. In Italy, Nixon will be the guest of President Giuseppe Saragat. A U. S. embassy source in Rome said the President's visit to the Vatican will take place about 3 P.M. It is not yet known if the President will be accompanied by Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Nixon's special envoy to the Vatican who began his mission in July. Lodge was not scheduled
to return to Rome and the Vatican until November. Although subject matter in the conversation between the Pope and the president was not disclosed, there are indications it will concern world problems, particularly the problem of peace. There is also speculation that the Pope and Nixon will discuss the crisis in the Middle East and the war in Southeast Asia as well as such topics as common efforts to assist prisoners of war and means of combatting drug traffic. These are the subjects previously discussed by the president's special representative to the Vatican, Henry Cabot Lodge, during his first three-week mission to the Vatican last July. Turn to Page Six ,
SaipTEMBrtt '1.7, 1970 •