09.25.09

Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

F riday , September 25, 2009

N.B. clergy taking vigorous stand against violence, guns Bishop George W. Coleman to join Sunday’s walk for peace

By Deacon James N. Dunbar

NEW BEDFORD — A resurgence in gun violence and homicides following a relatively twoyear calm has prompted clergy in this city’s faith communities to join with law enforcement officials to run anti-gun seminars, offer churches as “safe havens” where people can turn in illegal firearms with no questions asked, and hold a Peace Walk and covenant signing. The interreligious anti-violence action plan had local priests, ministers and rab-

bis preaching a message on the weekend of September 19 and 20 to halt violence and strive for peace in the community.

The clergy “have a great role to play in leading dialogue of never resorting to violence and encouraging people to turn away from activities that lead to violence.

The end result is a safer and more nurturing city,” said Mayor Scott Lang.

Among the Scripture texts used by preachers was from St. James (3:16-4:3): “The harvest of

justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace,” which was found in last Sunday’s second reading.

The sermon weekend was followed by a public seminar held Thursday to educate residents on the illegal trafficking of firearms.

On Sunday at 2 p.m., Bishop Coleman will join with other clergy and faith leaders at the New Bedford Public Schools’ administration building on County Street and walk down William Street to sign the peace covenant

on the steps of City Hall.

The goals of the covenant include a call for congregations to work and pray for peace yearround, to establish safe havens for local youth, and to rally against illegal firearm trafficking and gun violence.

The gun turn-in program is slated for October 3 and 4.

In the coming months faith leaders hope to organize other events that will focus on similar anti-violence goals and community-building activities.

“All this came about after New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang last spring called attention to the nine murders in the city and asked clergy to participate in delivering a strong anti-violence message in the hopes of a renewed peace,” reported Father John J. Oliveira, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.

Father Oliveira has been working on the initiative in collaboration with Father Richard D. Wilson, pastor of Our Lady of Turn to page 19

Boston’s CatholicTV working to become ‘parish of the airwaves’

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — CatholicTV director and frequent show host Father Robert P. Reed has often referred to regular viewers of his broadcast ministry as “parishioners,” a term which led to the Boston-based television station

becoming known as the “parish of the airwaves.”

And like all parishes, CatholicTV also relies on the volunteer support — spiritual and financial — of the many parishioners it serves. In an effort to garner some of this much-needed supTurn to page 10

PRAYERS FOR A GOOD YEAR — Holy Family-Holy Name School students, faculty, staff, and families recently gathered at St. Lawrence Church in New Bedford to celebrate the first Mass of the school year.

MODERN EVANGELIZATION — From left, CatholicTV’s general manager Jay Fadden and director Father Robert P. Reed will appear on the Boston-based channel’s 19th annual live telethon this weekend to help raise funds and awareness for the “parish of the airwaves.” (Photo courtesy of Chris Pham, CatholicTV)

Parents protest school’s distribution of contraceptives

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

REVERE — Parents of Revere High School students are working to educate the general public about contraception and abstinence in schools. They are preparing for a vote on a ballot initiative that would temporarily suspend the distribution of contraceptives at the school’s on-campus health center. Some say other communities can learn a les-

son from their situation.

On February 24, the Revere High School committee voted fourto-two in favor of the distribution of contraceptives — including condoms, hormonal birth control and the morning after pill — on campus. One committee member was not present at the meeting.

The morning after pill, also called Plan B or emergency contraception, is a high dose of hormones

administered after a woman has sex without contraception. The pill can cause health problems and even an early abortion.

Although the contraceptive issue was previously discussed at two subcommittee meetings, the Revere school board voted without notifying parents or even placing the item on their agenda.

“They made that decision in seTurn to page 18

News From the Vatican

2

September 25, 2009

God is present in those who respond to hatred with love, pope says

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — When one’s love for others is so great that he or she can respond to hatred with love and forgiveness, God is truly present in that person’s heart, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“Without a certain openness to love, Christ cannot come inside us,” he said at his weekly general audience September 16.

In fact, this is a handy indicator for knowing whether or not “we are really close to God, if God exists and lives inside us,” he said.

“Only divine love can open our hearts to other people and make us sensitive to their needs, make us think of them as brothers and sisters, and invite us to respond to hatred with love and to offense with forgiveness,” the pope said.

The pope focused his catechesis on the life and teachings of Symeon, a mystic and monk born in the 10th century.

He is known as the “New Theologian” and is a saint of the Orthodox church.

Symeon said the life of a

Christian is marked by an intimate and personal communion with God, said the pope.

Getting to truly know God doesn’t happen from reading books, the pope said, “but from spiritual experience and a spiritual life.”

To know God, the faithful must first start a journey of “inner purification that begins with a conversion of heart which comes from the strength of faith and love,” he said.

Then the faithful must experience “deep repentance and sincere regret for one’s sins in order to reach union with Christ, who is the source of joy and peace,” he said. With this inner purification and conversion, “the Holy Spirit can really become present in us and guide us,” he added.

For Symeon, union with Christ is not something extraordinary, but the fruit of the baptism common to all Christians, the pope said.

“Inspired by Symeon’s life, let us pay greater attention to our spiritual life, seeking the guidance we need to grow in the love of God,” he said.

Vatican says Christians, Muslims should unite to battle poverty

By Sarah Delaney Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Christians and Muslims share concern and compassion for those suffering in poverty and can find common ground to work toward eradicating both the causes and the problems it creates, the Vatican said.

In its traditional message to Muslims at the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue called attention to poverty as “a subject at the heart of the precepts that, under different beliefs, we all hold dear.”

As “brothers and sisters in humanity,” the letter said, people of both faiths can help the poor “establish their place in the fabric of society.”

The letter was signed by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the pontifical council, and Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, council secretary. It emphasized that in addition to the suffering endured by the poor the consequences of poverty on society as a whole are dire and require the attention of all people of faith.

“We all know that poverty has the power to humiliate and to engender intolerable suffer-

ings,” the letter said. “It can provoke hostile actions using any available means, even seeking to justify them on religious grounds.”

This is why “confronting the phenomenon of extremism and violence necessarily implies tackling poverty through the promotion of integral human development,” the letter said, citing a concept promoted by Pope Paul VI in his 1967 encyclical, “Populorum Progressio.”

The origin of poverty lies in “the lack of respect for the innate dignity of solidarity and calls us to a global solidarity,” the letter said.

As believers, it continued, Muslims and Christians can work together “for a just and durable solution to the scourge of poverty,” while also “reflecting on the grave problems of our times.”

The letter acknowledged that steps had been made in improving Christian-Muslim relations and that in many parts of the world “we have passed from tolerance to a meeting together, beginning with common lived experience and real shared concerns.”

This year’s Ramadan period began in late August and finished last week.

MEET AND GREET — Newly-ordained Archbishop Pietro Parolin greets people at the conclusion of an episcopal ordination led by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican recently. Archbishop Parolin was named in August as the apostolic nuncio to Venezuela. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope ordains five bishops, urges spirit of service against careerism

By John Thavis Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Ordaining five new bishops, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged a spirit of service and warned against careerism in the Church.

“We know how life in society and not infrequently even in the Church suffers because many of those called to a position of responsibility work for themselves and not for the community,” the pope said at a September 12 Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

He said the Church is not something that belongs to its highest officials.

“The Church is not our Church, but (the Lord’s) Church, the Church of God,” he said. “We do not bind men to ourselves; we do not seek power, prestige or admiration for ourselves. We lead people to Jesus Christ and thus toward the living God.” The pope said being faithful to the ordained ministry should be an experience of self-sacrifice, and therefore “liberating for the minister himself and for those entrusted to him.”

In addition to fidelity, Christ asks prudence and goodness from his ministers, he said. The essential virtue of any priest is to be imprinted by the truth of Christ, which requires an open mentality and a setting aside of prejudices, he said.

“We should not allow ourselves to be guided by the little window of our personal cleverness, but by the great window that Christ has opened on the

whole truth,” he said.

During the two and a half-hour liturgy, the pope ordained five Vatican officials who have recently been promoted to new positions. The group included three relatively young Italian prelates who will serve as the pope’s diplomatic representatives:

— Archbishop Pietro Parolin, 55, the new apostolic nuncio to Venezuela; — Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, 51, the new apostolic nuncio to Lebanon; — Archbishop Franco Coppola, 52, the new apostolic nuncio to Burundi.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI plans to visit Malta next April to commemorate the 1,950th anniversary of St. Paul’s shipwreck on the Mediterranean island.

The trip will give the pope a chance to highlight once again the figure of St. Paul, who according to tradition shipwrecked on Malta in the year A.D. 60 while on his way to Rome to stand trial. Scriptures recount that the inhabitants showed “extraordinary hospitality” to St. Paul, who healed

sick people on the island.

Pope Benedict presided over a special jubilee year for St. Paul in 2008-2009, to underline the saint as a model of missionary energy in the Church.

The visit also will spotlight a chronic problem in modern Malta, the arrival of thousands of illegal immigrants from Africa, who often wash up on Malta on their way to other European countries. What to do with the arrivals has become a hot political issue on the island.

Pope to visit Malta in spring of 2010

The Anchor

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 53, No. 36

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service

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September 25, 2009

The International Church

3

U.N. should adopt common voice of dignity, decency, Archbishop Dolan says

By Beth Griffin Catholic News Service

NEW YORK — The biblical Tower of Babel could serve as an apt metaphor for the challenges faced by the United Nations, but New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan said the organization would be better served if it used as an official language “a voice, a tongue common to all of us” that recognizes the human person as the heart of all institutions, laws and works of society.”

Archbishop Dolan spoke September 14 at a prayer service on the eve of the opening of the 64th session of the U.N. General Assembly.

The interreligious service is an annual event sponsored by the Archdiocese of New York, the permanent observer mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and the Church of the Holy Family, where it was held.

An overflow crowd of more than 400 clergy, diplomats, parishioners, U.N. representatives and staff associates spilled out of the church into a warm late summer evening on East 47th Street near the U.N. headquarters. They sang, prayed, listened to Scripture and heard reflections from Arch-

bishop Celestino Migliore, papal nuncio to the United Nations; U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon; and Archbishop Dolan.

Archbishop Dolan said the voice he envisions for the United Nations is often best detected through a smile, a song or an embrace and speaks a language that does not require a dictionary or grammar. He said it “is often not so much heard but rather sensed, groaned at times, prayed at its best.”

“This tongue speaks of help and hope, mercy and tenderness, of fatigue over war, of longing for simple decency and dignity,” he added. “This language wonders at times if anyone else can hear it, but at least God can, and it trusts that when all is said and done, many others can, too.”

Archbishop Dolan said the language, which expresses itself as tears, smiles, sighs and sobs, is as old as Babel and as new as Pentecost, “when all understood God’s word of salvation and mercy in a common language.”

Archbishop Migliore said Archbishop Dolan’s “heart is as big as your broad shoulders to include the endeavors and concerns of the United Nations.”

“As we prepare to focus our new session on effective responses to the global crisis, we acknowledge that our efforts, our personal and communal resources, our wisdom and determination, need an evermore link with the transcendent: light, clarity and strength which come from above,” the papal nuncio said.

“This is the sense of our gathering in this temple of prayer this evening.”

Archbishop Migliore read a message from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, which said Pope Benedict XVI hoped “that in the coming session a strengthened sense of ethical responsibility will inspire and direct policies and decisions marked by solidarity and respect for the dignity and rights of all.”

The pope also encouraged U.N. member-states to “persevere in their efforts to advance a global political culture marked by integrity, honesty and accountability to the world’s people, especially our brothers and sisters suffering from poverty, hunger, disease and the scourge of violence and war.”

Ban lauded the tradition of the prayer service and said, “It

is always heartening to join with you in prayer for peace and prosperity just before leaders from around the world come to the United Nations to discuss how to achieve these goals.”

“I trust you all understand we are not getting together just for the sake of meeting,” he added.

“We are gathering to tackle the major problems confronting our world.”

He said Holy Family’s altar, made from black granite that comes from near the Arctic Circle, reminded him of a recent visit to that region. “The glaciers are melting at a frightening pace.

I was alarmed by the destruction and what it means for our common future,” he said.

“All countries are affected,” Ban added. “That means we can overcome these problems only when all countries are united and join forces in response. Not just governments, but civil society organizations, including religious groups and people of faith.”

The U.N. official said solutions to problems including climate change, energy and financial crisis, environmental disasters and rampant hunger are suggested by the multicultural features of Holy

Family’s sanctuary.

“The unity we seek is in evidence here in this church,” he said, pointing to Brazilian granite and Italian statuary. The multicultural features “remind us that faith is a universal longing that can bring people together for peace and progress.”

Ban appealed for support for a new U.N. disarmament campaign called WMD, which he said stands not for weapons of mass destruction, but We Must Disarm.

“All of you can have an impact on disarmament, on climate and across our agenda,” he said.

“The power of prayer is immeasurable. The power of prayer for the United Nations is invaluable.

And your collective support is deeply inspiring.”

Father Robert J. Robbins, pastor of Church of the Holy Family and director of the archdiocesan commission on ecumenical and interreligious affairs, said the prayer service this year was larger than in some other years.

“There is a renewed enthusiasm,” he said. “We finally have all realized we’re in this together and, without one another, there are no answers.”

The Church in the U.S.

4

September 25, 2009

Priesthood an ‘adventure’ worth celebrating, bishop says in letter

By Joseph Ryan Catholic News Service

TALKING TURKEY — Celebrity chef Bobby Flay shows up to challenge Father Leo Patalinghug to a fajita cooking contest in Emmitsburg, Md. (CNS photo/courtesy of Renegade Productions)

Maryland priest takes on celebrity chef in cooking ‘throwdown’

BALTIMORE (CNS) — Father Leo Patalinghug is not the kind of guy who steps down from a challenge. The 39-year-old priest is a former national full-contact stick fighting champion, a black belt in tae kwon do and an ’80s break dancer who can still bust the moves with the best of them. So when Bobby Flay, a world-class celebrity chef, recently showed up in Emmitsburg and challenged the well-known cooking priest to a “throwdown” on the Food Network, Father Patalinghug’s response was simple: Bring it on.

Father Patalinghug, a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, is director of pastoral field education at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg. He had been invited to film a cooking

segment for the Food Network based on “Grace Before Meals,” his popular cooking show that airs on the Internet and Bostonbased CatholicTV. While Father Patalinghug was preparing a steak “fusion fajita” during a taping at the seminary, he noticed that his 100-member audience started rustling around. “I glanced up and the producer pointed to Bobby Flay,” said Father Patalinghug, a self-described “huge fan” of Flay and his fusion style of cooking. Flay hosts several Food Network programs. The two chefs went to work on their dishes as a team of cameras filmed their every move. A panel of judges evaluated their work and announced Father Patalinghug’s steak fajitas as the winner.

The bishop included a short summary of the responsibilities priests take on by consecrating their lives to God, things he calls essential to a priest’s holiness: “They take the state of their own souls — as well as those of their people — very seriously.

They are faithful to the Liturgy of the Hours and to the practice of personal prayer, especially prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

They make time for devotion to Mary, the mother of God. They nourish their minds with spiritual reading and avoid reading and other media that takes their minds away from the things of the Lord.

They protect their promise of celibacy like the precious jewel that it is. They engage in good spiri-

this ideal is being lived out with God’s grace, and I am grateful for WILMINGTON, Del. — In a the witness and example they give pastoral letter released September me,” he said.

10, Bishop W. Francis Malooly Bishop Malooly also called on lays out his hopes and vision for the faithful of the diocese to supthe spiritual renewal of priests in port priests in prayer and “by lovthe Diocese of Wilmington during ing them with holy affection, by the Church’s Year for Priests. walking with them in their times The letter marks the start of of difficulty, by rejoicing with nine months of activity in the them in their successes and by endiocese to observe the Year for couraging them to grow more and Priests, which Pope Benedict more in the likeness of Christ.”

XVI opened June 19.

Supporting the gift of priestThe bishop’s letter asks priests hood begins in each family, the to nurture their vocation through bishop said. personal prayer, retreat time, “Parents do their children an spiritual reading, continuing forunparalleled service by helping mation, fidelity to ministry and them learn how to listen to the priestly fraternity. many ways God might be callA priest, Bishop Malooly said, ing them,” he said. “Teaching our “experiences Christ’s children to pray, to savor call to follow him in this priest who is welcoming, who quiet time, to reflect, to unique way, and in anis available, who is depend- listen: these are keys to swering that call he is them become able, who is trustworthy, who is joyful helping called to live, to work, to aware of and to fulfill stand — to be present — — a priest who knows he is loved by God their lives’ true purpose.” in the person of Christ. and who radiates that love in his presence To young men considHe doesn’t ‘stand in’ for and demeanor — such a priest can bring ering the priesthood but Christ; by his presence, away from its difthe light of Christ and the consolation of shying he makes Christ presficulties, Bishop Malooly the Holy Spirit into the darkest corners of advises, “If God is callent.”

Parishioners’ images human suffering though his gentle and ing you, he will provide of God are influenced steady presence.” the grace you need to find by their encounters with joy in priesthood; if he is their priests, he added. calling you, you will find “A priest who is welcoming, who tual direction and seek out wise in this vocation fulfillment beis available, who is dependable, confessors and counselors. They yond your wildest dreams. who is trustworthy, who is joyful nourish their people, shelter them, “Priesthood is not without its — a priest who knows he is loved protect them: they know their challenges — but what worthy

by God and who radiates that love sheep1s names and their sheep adventure is without challenges?” in his presence and demeanor — recognize their voices.” he added. such a priest can bring the light of If the bar seems high, the bishPope Benedict XVI opened the Christ and the consolation of the op wrote, it’s because a priest is to Year for Priests June 19 by calling Holy Spirit into the darkest cor- live and act in the person of Jesus the ordained ministry indispensners of human suffering though Christ. able for the Church and the world his gentle and steady presence.”

“At the same time, as I get to and saying the church needs holy Such priestly service “requires know the priests of our diocese ministers who “help the faithful selflessness, humility and an ever- and the religious priests who experience the merciful love of increasing intimacy with Christ,” work alongside them, I become the Lord and who are convinced Bishop Malooly said. more and more convinced that witnesses of that love.”

“A

September 25, 2009

The Church in the U.S.

5

Phoenix bishop offers document on artificial nutrition, hydration

FROM GOOD STOCK — Laura Molla and her husband, Giuseppe Pannuti, attend the opening Mass of the eucharistic congress sponsored by the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington recently. Molla, daughter of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, was in Washington to speak about her mother, an Italian doctor who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2004. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

Saint’s daughter hopes to follow her mother’s example of loving life

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON — Many people might say their mothers are saints but very few have an official Church declaration to back it up.

Fifty-year-old Laura Molla, daughter of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, is one of those people.

St. Gianna, often called the “Pro-Life saint,” was canonized in 2004 by Pope John Paul II for having put her unborn child’s life before her own. In 1962, when she was pregnant with her fourth child, doctors discovered a large ovarian tumor that required surgery. Although surgical procedures at the time called for removal of her entire uterus, Gianna Molla, 39, insisted surgeons only remove what was necessary and allow her baby to live.

She pleaded with family and doctors: “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate. Choose the child, I insist on it, save the baby.”

When she died of an infection — a week after giving birth to Gianna Emanuela — the Italian saint left behind not only her newborn, but her husband, Pietro, and three other children including Laura, who was just shy of her third birthday.

Molla, who now works in the furniture business in Italy, said that even through she didn’t know her mother, she has learned a lot about her in recent years.

What particularly stands out is how much her mother loved

life. She enjoyed skiing, hiking, going to the theater and wearing the latest fashions. She juggled a career as a medical doctor with being a wife and mother.

Through reading her mother’s letters and notes on spirituality, Molla has also come to understand the depth of her mother’s faith.

“We had to work through the shock of losing our mother to find the joy in knowing she is a mother for all,” Molla told Catholic News Service September 11, the day before she addressed participants at a eucharistic congress at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington sponsored by the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious.

The theme of the September 1112 congress was “Sacrifice of Enduring Love.”

Molla’s mother, born in 1922 near Milan, Italy, was described

by Pope John Paul at her canonization ceremony as a model of virtue, holiness, motherhood, professionalism and devotion to the faith. He said she followed Christ’s example of loving one’s “own in the world and loving them to the end.”

She was beatified in 1994 during the International Year of the Family, and 10 years later, one week after Mother’s Day, she was named a saint.

During the May 16 canonization ceremony at St. Peter’s Square, the crowd of 40,000 also included Pietro Molla and three of the couple’s children.

One of the children, Mariolina,

died in childhood. The Molla children live in Italy; Pierluigi, the oldest, is an engineer and Gianna Emanuela, the youngest, is a physician.

Molla described the canonization ceremony as beautiful and full of “a lot of happiness.”

But what pleased her most about it was that her father, who had been sick, was able to attend.

She has self-proclaimed her 97-year-old father as a saint, saying through an interpreter: “Faith overflows in my father.”

Molla said her mother was convinced of her call to the vocation of marriage and “lived that until the end” — a commitment that Molla hopes will be an example to others.

“I asked my mother to give me light,” she said and then smiled and looked at Giuseppe Pannuti, her husband of seven years.

As she sees it, her mother’s decision nearly 50 years ago was not an isolated choice. She told participants at the eucharistic congress that her mother’s action was “the crowning of a whole life of virtue, a life lived constantly in the light of the Gospel as a young woman, physician, spouse and mother.”

When she hears people question the choice to leave behind three children in order to give birth to a fourth, Molla insists her mother was convinced her unborn child had the same right to live as her other children.

“She did not choose death” but “at that moment she chose the life of her child.”

PHOENIX (CNS) — Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix issued a new document in September to help Catholics make tough decisions concerning artificially administered nutrition and hydration that are consistent with Church teaching.

Titled “Directives for Catholics Concerning Artificially Administered Nutrition and Hydration,” the document specifically addresses providing artificial hydration and nutrition for those facing illness who require artificial assistance.

It comes at a time when the faithful have questions about their obligations vis-a-vis end-of-life issues, said Father John Ehrich, an expert in bioethics who serves on the ethics committee at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.

“People have a desire to be faithful to the teachings of the Church and are not always sure if medical institutions are able to help them toward this goal,” he said, adding that priests get a lot of calls from parishioners about such matters.

“Medical professionals are sometimes not well educated in ethics and, more specifically, they are often unsure of the specific ethical teachings of the Church,” Father Ehrich said.

Bishop Olmsted’s document addresses questions and confusion about artificial hydration and nutrition that surfaced after the controversial death of Terry Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman whose husband successfully fought for the right to discontinue her feeding tube. Schiavo died March 31, 2005, 13 days after doctors withdrew nutrition and hydration.

A wide array of critics and ProLife activists decried Schiavo’s demise as murder. Bishop Olmsted describes the death as “tragic” in an introductory letter to priests, deacons and religious of the Diocese of Phoenix.

“Etched in our memories are the photos and video images of Terri Schiavo as well as the knowledge of the horrible way in which her life ended,” the bishop wrote.

“Terri was not dying and the ultimate reason her life ended was because she was not provided with food and water. She died of dehydration.”

The letter states that Catholics are not obligated to prolong their lives, but they are obligated to preserve them. A person is not to do anything — or omit anything — that may hasten death.

“If a person is able to continue living but merely needs the basic necessities of life, then they should be provided to them,” the bishop wrote. “Food and water, nutrition and hydration — even if administered artificially — are basic necessities of life.”

People have a duty to “avail themselves of the ordinary care which preserves their life,” he said.

“Nutrition and hydration is this kind of care, even if administered artificially.”

But that doesn’t mean prolonging life when it’s clear that death is imminent.

“Most people don’t desire to either starve to death or die because of dehydration, but they also do not desire to submit to every possible medical intervention as they approach death,” Father Ehrich said.

The directives state that “Catholics are to be provided nutrition and hydration so long as that nutrition and hydration continue to be assimilated into the person’s body and do not contribute to further grave complications or burdens.”

In cases in which a person is actively dying or death is imminent, artificial nutrition and hydration “would be unnecessary and unduly burdensome” and not obligatory.

“The faithful should seek to have a well-formed conscience which can only be attained if they know the definitive teaching of the Church. This is the starting point,” Father Ehrich said, suggesting that people could give a copy of the bishop’s directives to their doctor or nurse and tell them that they want to make sure that their loved one is treated according to those principles.

“The only way to be sure of doing the right thing is to follow the teachings of the Church in this area. Most people act in good faith, but often decisions of this kind are made based upon emotions or upon a desire to end a loved one’s suffering,” Father Ehrich said. “This reality is understandable, but it also can lead to errors of judgment.”

6

The Anchor Goal posts of acceptable health care reform

The debate about health care reform continues to occupy much of the nation’s attention, as well it should, considering the gravity of the need for reform and the magnitude of the proposed changes presently being proposed by members of Congress.

It is obviously important for Catholics to look at the proposed reforms through the light of the Catholic faith. We continue today a series of editorials in which we will try to provide that light.

We give the floor today to the thoughts of Bishop R. Walker Nickless of the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa. On August 17, he wrote an article — quoted and referenced by many other bishops in their own comments on the matter — in which he described four “goal-posts” to mark out what is acceptable and unacceptable reform. Bishop Nickless admits at the outset that not only is there much confusion about what is in the various interminable bills put forth in the House and Senate, but that there’s been a befuddling imprecision on the perspective of the Catholic Church with regard to various parts of health care reform. He wrote to clarify what the Church teaches and doesn’t teach with respect to health care reform.

The first goal-post he described is the one that has gotten most attention because Bishop Nickless says it is the “most important”: “The Church will not accept any legislation that mandates coverage, public or private, for abortion, euthanasia, or embryonic stem-cell research. We refuse to be made complicit in these evils, which frankly contradict what ‘health care’ should mean. We refuse to allow our own parish, school, and diocesan health insurance plans to be forced to include these evils. As a corollary of this, we insist equally on adequate protection of individual rights of conscience for patients and health care providers not to be made complicit in these evils. A socalled reform that imposes these evils on us would be far worse than keeping the health care system we now have.”

This first goal-post is what Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia has stressed on several occasions in his statements on behalf of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference. It’s also what our August 7 and 28 editorials emphasized. President Obama’s September 9 declaration in his address to Congress that “under our plan no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions and federal conscience laws will remain in place” seemed to be a sign that he has clearly heard what Cardinal Rigali has written and Cardinal Sean O’Malley said to him in private at Senator Edward Kennedy’s August 29 funeral: that if the president wishes to have the support of the Catholic Church for his health care reforms, abortions must not be funded and the rights of consciences must be protected.

There are still serious concerns about whether the president will make good on these promises.

Bishop Nickless says, in words that are still valid after the president’s address: “The current House reform bill, HR 3200, does not meet the first … standard. As Cardinal Justin Rigali has written for the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-life Activities, this bill circumvents the Hyde amendment (which prohibits federal funds from being used to pay for abortions) by drawing funding from new sources not covered by the Hyde amendment, and by creatively manipulating how federal funds covered by the Hyde amendment are accounted.” We will leave more in-depth analysis of this point in a later editorial.

It bears stating, though, that for months various political strategists have been alleging that the administration’s health care game-plan has been to get Pro-Lifers, Catholics, and other conservatives so focused on abortion, conscience protections, public options and the like that, when the administration pulls these unpopular political cyanide pills from the eventual bill, their main opponents will be mollified enough to claim victory and accept various other radical reforms that change the whole culture of health care. Whether or not that accusation is true, Bishop Nickless’s analysis of the health care reform proposals does not stop with only the first goal-post.

His second point of clarification focuses on the “right” to health care. In various places, both secular and Catholic, the stipulation has been made, without any reference to magisterial documents, that the Church believes everyone has an absolute right to health care. Bishop Nickless makes clear that this is a misunderstanding and misstatement of Church teaching. “The Catholic Church does not teach,” he stresses, “that ‘health care’ as such, without distinction, is a natural right.

The ‘natural right’ of health care is the divine bounty of food, water, and air without which all of us quickly die. This bounty comes from God directly. None of us owns it, and none of us can morally withhold it from others. The remainder of health care is a political, not a natural, right, because it comes from our human efforts, creativity, and compassion. As a political right, health care should be apportioned according to need, not ability to pay or to benefit from the care. We reject the rationing of care. Those who are sickest should get the most care, regardless of age, status, or wealth.

But how to do this is not self-evident. The decisions that we must collectively make about how to administer health care therefore fall under ‘prudential judgment.’”

That leads directly to the third goal-post or clarification. When some hear certain Church members speaking about a putative “right” to health care, they conclude that the Church teaches that the government has the duty to provide it. But the Church does not prejudice the “prudential judgment” in that way. “The Catholic Church does not teach,” Bishop Nickless underlines, “that government should directly provide health care.” Then he provides a prudential analysis of his own: “Unlike a prudential concern like national defense, for which government monopolization is objectively good — it both limits violence overall and prevents the obvious abuses to which private armies are susceptible — health care should not be subject to federal monopolization. Preserving patient choice (through a flourishing private sector) is the only way to prevent a health care monopoly from denying care arbitrarily, as we learned from HMOs in the recent past. While a government monopoly would not be motivated by profit, it would be motivated by such bureaucratic standards as quotas and defined ‘best procedures,’ which are equally beyond the influence of most citizens.

The proper role of the government is to regulate the private sector, in order to foster healthy competition and to curtail abuses. Therefore any legislation that undermines the viability of the private sector is suspect. Private, religious hospitals and nursing homes, in particular, should be protected, because these are the ones most vigorously offering actual health care to the poorest of the poor.”

The fourth and final goal-post concerns the personal duty each one has to stay healthy. Members in society are not obligation to cover for others’ own preventable unhealthy choices, the Sioux City prelate implies, and before one looks to government for entitlements one must fulfill his own responsibilities to God and others. “Preventative care,” Bishop Nickless says, “is a moral obligation of the individual to God and to his or her family and loved ones, not a right to be demanded from society. The gift of life comes only from God; to spurn that gift by seriously mistreating our own health is morally wrong. The most effective preventative care for most people is essentially free — good diet, moderate exercise, and sufficient sleep.” We need to be stewards of our own health and many Americans are not as responsible as they ought to be.

Bishop Nickless concludes his letter by encouraging all Catholic citizens “to make your voice heard to our representatives in Congress. Tell them what they need to hear from us: no health care reform is better than the wrong sort of health care reform. Insist that they not permit themselves to be railroaded into the current too-costly and pro-abortion health care proposals. Insist on their support for proposals that respect the life and dignity of every human person, especially the unborn.

And above all, pray for them, and for our country.”

We will continue next week with other thoughts from leading bishops.

September 25, 2009

Prayer made practical

Two weeks ago, we looked at how St. John prayer.” Drawing on his experience as a farmer Vianney’s whole life was transformed into and the Lord’s parable of the Sower and the a prayer. Last Friday, we examined what he Seed, he added, “Prayer is to our soul what rain taught his parishioners about prayer in general, is to the soil. We need to fertilize the soil ever correcting their false or incomplete notions and so richly, for it will remain barren unless fed by providing them the proper global orientations frequent rains.” The various practices of piety, to pray in a way that this dialogue with God like “daily meditation, visits to the Blessed Sacwould begin to encompass their entire life. To- rament, recitation of the holy rosary and careful day I want to turn to the concrete tips he gave examinations of our conscience” are opportuthem to pray well. His sound advice remains nities for daily divine irrigation that helps our just as useful today as it was to the people of prayer and life become more spiritually fertile.

Ars 150 years ago.

What should we pray about? “The CatOur prayer should begin, he taught, with echism of the Catholic Church” specifies four what has traditionally been called the “morn- general “forms” or subject matters of prayer: ing offering.” As soon as we get up , we should praising God, which includes adoration, blessthank the Lord for the gift of another day and ing and acts of love; thanking him; asking him offer him that gift back in prayer. “In the morn- for forgiveness; and petitioning him for what ing, upon waking,” St. John Vianney counseled others or we need. Sometimes people can think his parishioners, “we need to offer God our prayer involves only the fourth category, but heart, our spirit, our thoughts, our words, our St. John Vianney strongly and unsurprisingly actions, our self, to use them for his glory. We encouraged his parishioners strongly to emphaneed to renew the promises of our baptism, size the first three as well. to thank our guardian angel, to ask his proAbout praising God, the patron saint of tection to remain at our side during the day.” priests reminded his people about how easy it He said that we should also petition God for should be. “Looking at the rivers, the mountains, all the graces we’ll need to make the day holy the birds, the fish, the movement of creation, and fruitful. “We should never forget that it is above all the beauty of the sky, the multitude at the beginning of the stars,” he of each day that prayed aloud, God has the nec“all of this, just essary grace for like each part of the day ready it, animates, exfor us. He knows alts and fills us exactly what opwith praise and portunities we blessing.”

By Father shall have to sin, With regard Roger J. Landry and will give us to prayers of everything we gratitude, he need if we ask never wanted him then.” Like with almost anything in life, them to become like the nine healed lepers in getting off to a good start is key, and the morn- the Gospel who never returned to show Jesus ing offering is the means St. John Vianney and their appreciation for their cure. We should so many saints have used to begin each day never deem, he said, that “it’s too much to give well.

God five minutes to thank him for the graces he In order for our lives to become a continu- accords us in every minute.” ous prayer, the Curé of Ars continued, it is In terms of praying for conversion, he told important that we have fixed times for prayer. them confidently, “If you ask God from all your Just as once you get a wood stove in a house heart for your conversion, you will surely obtain burning, it’s easy to keep the fire going and the it.” He also stressed that such prayers for conhouse warm, so fixed times of prayer allow us version are crucial for growth in prayer because to be lit on fire with the slow burn of the love of we need a pure heart to pray well: “Prayer is God so that it’s easier to keep that love burning like a fragrant rose, but it’s necessary to pray through the rest of the day. with a pure heart to smell the rose.”

For this fixed time of prayer, St. John VianAbout praying for others, he urged us not ney gave practical advice. He taught, first, that to pray principally for their physical health and we need to seek solitude, for “it’s in solitude earthly happiness but above all that they unite that God speaks.” The solitude he describes is themselves to God. “What souls you can bring not just exterior solitude — getting away from to God through prayer!,” he constantly remindthe noise, from crowds and distractions — but ed his people, drawing, no doubt, on his own interior solitude, where we can hear the voice personal experience of prayer. of God. Second, we need to be humble. “It’s He gave other tips as well: to pray with necessary to pray simply and to say, ‘My God, confidence and without hesitation, because before you is a very poor soul that has nothing, “the good God likes to be interrupted and imthat can do nothing; give me the grace to love portuned”; to pray in the name of Jesus, for you, to serve you and to know that I am noth- then “it’s no longer we who pray but Jesus ing.’” Third, we need to prepare. “Every prayer who prays to his Father for us”; to pray with done without preparation,” he declared, “is a the help our guardian angels, whom we should badly done prayer.” This preparation means “charge to pray in our place” whenever we not that we go into prayer with a “game-plan” find prayer difficult; and to persevere in prayer of what we want to discuss with the Lord, but through dryness, uniting ourselves to the God that we look forward to our time of prayer with of consolations instead of to the consolations longing, avoid useless distractions or frivolities of God. in the time immediately preceding prayer, and Taken together, those who followed St. John in general seek the Lord’s face in life. If we are Vianney’s advice started to experience, with like Martha in worrying about many things in their pastor, what Pope Benedict called “an exour work, we’re in general not going to be able istence made prayer.” to pray like her sister Mary at Jesus’ feet. “The We finish with the holy Curé’s words about thing that keeps us from gaining sanctity,” St. the connection between prayer and life.

John Vianney warned, “is thoughtlessness.

“Go, my soul, you are going to converse What we need is deep reflection, together with with the good God, to work with him, to walk prayer and an intimate union with our Lord.” with him, to fight and suffer with him. You will The more scattered and superficial one’s life, work, but he will bless your labor. You will the worse generally one will pray. The more walk, but he will bless your steps. You will sufwe reflect on and unite the occurrences of the fer, but he will bless your tears. How great, how day with God, the more focused and fruitful noble, how consoling it is, to do everything in will be our prayer. the company and under the eyes of the good If we want to pray better, we should try God, to think that he sees everything, that he to pray more. “The more we pray,” he said, takes everything into account.” “the more we wish to pray. Like a fish that May St. John Vianney intercede for us that at first swims on the surface of the water and each of us through a prayerful life may experiafterwards plunges down and is always going ence this great, noble and consoling reality! deeper, the soul plunges, dives and loses itself Father Landry is pastor of St. Anthony of in the sweetness of conversing with our Lord in Padua Parish in New Bedford.

Putting Into the Deep

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hroughout my seminary formation, as I discerned whether Christ Jesus was calling me to be a priest, I recall fantasizing about all the wonderful things I wanted to do as a priest.

I vividly remember wanting to model my life after the many great saintly priests — Pope John Paul II, St. John Vianney, St. John Bosco, all of whom were men who dedicated their entire lives to Christ and his Church. While I still strive for such sanctity, and realize now how very difficult it is, I didn’t recognize the trap into which I had fallen. Throughout my time of preparation for the priesthood, my focus had been on me, on what I wanted to do, on what I thought was best, and on what I was going to do once I was ordained.

The realization of this came on the day of my ordination to the priesthood. Moments after the bishop and my brother priests laid hands upon my head, I was greeted with the sign of peace by the other priests who were present there to celebrate that day. At that moment, I became acutely aware that this

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The Anchor

September 25, 2009

What a life!

ordination day was not about me me, that it was not a popularity contest, that it was not about at all; it was totally about Jesus what I could do there, but about Christ and his priesthood. As I continuing the mission of Christ, was greeted by priests, young trying to make him present in and old, it all became clear: I every encounter, in every classam just one among the many room, in every sporting event priests throughout the generaand in the life of every student. tions whom Christ has called to I love being a high school continue his mission.

A deep sense of gratitude filled my heart in knowing that I was now Year For Priests taking part in something Vocational Reflection much greater than myself, something that was not about my gifts or talBy Father ents or desires, but about Jay Mello the mission of Christ to bring his Gospel to all those I would be sent to chaplain. I love watching the serve. students grow in their underI am continuing to learn that standing not only in academic the priesthood is never about areas, but also as individuals me, but always about Christ. and in their relationship with Being chaplain at Bishop Stang High School has been one of the our Lord. Like the first disgreatest blessings and one of the ciples, they make their share of greatest challenges of my priest- mistakes, but with such powerful energy they rebound with a hood. Following a priest who greater awareness of who they was beloved by students and are and who Jesus Christ has teachers made the assignment a called them to be. bit intimidating right from the One such experience was start. I had to keep reminding in welcoming four senior boys myself that this was not about

into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Each week, these young men would skip practice from their respective sports to study the faith and prepare for entrance into the Church. Their search for truth and meaning in life, as well as their dedication and commitment was a tremendous witness to me of the Holy Spirit working in their lives.

Another blessed experience was in taking almost 100 students to the annual “March for Life” pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. The witness of these young men and women served to provide me with a great sense of hope in the future of our nation and in particular the Pro-Life movement. Without complaining about the rigor of a long bus ride, little sleep and lots of prayer, they reminded me of how fulfilling our lives become through the sacrifices we make and in our witnessing to the Gospel.

It is often a temptation to think that all these great things happen because of something

Who we are willing to become

should be the patron saint of parn Monday we celebrated ish ministry. the feast of St. Matthew.

Pastors often call the Office Though we’ve heard the story of the call of Matthew the tax collec- of Faith Formation in search of resumes so that they can have tor, we may not be as scandalized by his call as were the people who well-trained people to help them serve the people of their parishes. followed Jesus. After all, unless They are usually disappointed to you have been dodging taxes, or find that there isn’t a glut of qualihave sat through a grueling audit, fied people waiting to be hired.

IRS workers may be a nuisance There are, however, many people but not the marginalized scoundrels of first-century Israel. The call of Matthew the tax collector was quintessential Jesus: audacious yet significant.

The call of Matthew was audacious because

By Claire McManus Jesus called a man against whom the Jewish authority had placed a religious waiting to be called. The story of ban. Tax collectors colluded with the call of Matthew exemplifies the Romans to impose hefty taxes the old adage, “Jesus doesn’t call on hard working Jewish people, the qualified, but qualifies those and skimmed off a healthy piece whom he calls.” St. Paul explained of profit and other perks. There the call to ministry in his letter to was great significance to Jesus’ the Ephesians. “Grace was given choice of Matthew. Though this to each of us according to the was clearly an act of mercy on measure of Christ’s gift. And he Jesus part, he also inspired Matgave some as Apostles, others as thew to become a key contributor prophets, others as evangelists, to the building of the Kingdom others as pastors, and teachers, to of God. We are told that Matthew equip the holy ones for the work left behind his pursuit of material of ministry, for building up the riches and went on to become a body of Christ.” Equipping the preacher of the word and one of holy ones to serve in ministry is the four evangelists who gave us the principal task of the Church. the Gospels. In response to Jesus’ Any pastor will tell you that the offer of mercy and friendship, work of the parish can not be done Matthew gave himself up to the by one person. Even Moses had service of the Church. Matthew

The Great Commission

to ask for help when he became overwhelmed by the demands of leadership. He complained in the Book of Numbers, “This people is a burden too heavy for me. I cannot carry it alone. If that is your purpose for me, then kill me outright.” This is a little dramatic, but I know a few pastors who feel like Moses did. God answered Moses’ plea by telling him to assemble 70 elders to share the burden of taking care of the people. It may be a stretch to say that this was the origin of lay ministry, but the parallel with today’s Church is worth noting. The people are out there in the parishes, they need only to be called, and then qualified.

Sadly, many of our people answer the call to serve, but receive very little formation. Some people view ministry as yet another volunteer activity to which they devote their time. Others want to know more, but have neither the time nor the resources to pursue training. We cannot build the Kingdom of God with untrained hands. Fall is the traditional beginning of the learning year, and we have many opportunities for adult formation available to the people of the Diocese. Formation in the faith is not a privilege for the few, but the responsibility for all who serve the Church.

The mission of the Office of

Faith Formation is to serve the needs of all those whom Christ has called. On November 7 we are inviting all people who serve in ministry in their parishes to come to the Faith Formation Ministry Convention at the Holiday Inn in Mansfield. Parishioners in every ministry deserve a day of formation and enrichment. This includes catechists, special ministers of holy Communion, lectors, social justice outreach ministers, choir members, youth ministers, sacramental preparation teams; all who have answered Christ’s call to serve.

that I did; the truth remains, however, that it is not about me or any of us for that matter. It is always about what Christ is doing and has done through his priesthood, which I am so blessed and so humbled to share in.

I am constantly reminded of the awesomeness of the priesthood every time I reflect on the prayer of Jean-Baptiste Lacordaire, OP, which is a fitting way to end this reflection: “To live in the midst of the world with no desire for its pleasures; to be a member of every family, yet belong to none; to share all sufferings; to penetrate all secrets, to heal all wounds; to daily go from men to God to offer him their homage and petitions; to return from God to men to bring them his pardon and hope; to have a heart of fire for charity and heart of bronze for chastity; to bless and to be blest forever. O God, what a life, and it is yours O Priest of Jesus Christ!”

Father Mello was ordained in 2007 and is chaplain at Bishop Stang High School and parochial vicar at St. Julie Billiart Parish in N. Dartmouth.

Information and registration material have been sent to all pastors and other contact people in your parishes. You can find this information, as well as descriptions of our other opportunities for formation, on our website: www.fallriverfaithformation.org.

Matthew was a work in progress when Jesus called him. People who serve in ministry know that Jesus didn’t call us into service because of who we are, but because of who we are willing to become.

Claire McManus is the director of the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation.

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The Anchor

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arlier this year we observed a noteworthy event that occurred in our nation’s history. On April 9, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Mercury 7, the first astronaut class, that would pave the way for further human space flight.

It is said they had “the right stuff,” which would be documented in Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book entitled the same. They used their God-given talents to go and do things that no human had done before. That’s what we teach our children, isn’t it? That we all have gifts and talents that have been given to us by God, the right stuff if you will, and it is to be used for the betterment of society and to build the Kingdom of God.

The right stuff

But in today’s first readthose outside the group of ing and Gospel story, we Apostles were driving out hear something different. demons in Jesus’ name.

In the first reading from the Therein lies the rub of Book of Numbers, we hear Joshua and John. Who is of the jealousy of Joshua because two people outside of the Homily of the Week camp had received Twenty-Sixth Sunday the Spirit and were in Ordinary Time prophesying. He was upset because they

By Deacon weren’t present under Joe Regali the tent when the Spirit was bestowed on 70 of the group. He it that gets to determine pleads to Moses, “My Lord, who receives the Spirit or stop them.” where the Spirit goes? Who The same is true in our is it that gets to determine Gospel story from Mark. who has the right stuff? We John says to Jesus, “Teachshould remember that for so er, we saw someone driving many years many Catholics out demons in your name, thought as Joshua and John and we tried to prevent him in that if you were outside because he does not follow the visible Church, there us.” John doesn’t like it that was no salvation — that a

September 25, 2009

selected group of people had a monopoly on the Spirit.

But we know that the Holy Spirit cannot be monopolized because it is the Spirit that is a creative, dynamic energy breathing new life into all of humanity. By virtue of our baptism we received that Spirit, and now have the responsibility to avoid sin at all times.

Thus, Jesus makes a powerful statement: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off … if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off … and if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.” Rather than worrying about how others are spreading the word of God,

I think Jesus’ point is that we really should be looking at ourselves, paying attention to our own weaknesses and to use caution in those situations and circumstances that could lead us into sinful action. Jesus points out to us that those sinful situations are a serious matter and we should take all precautions to avoid them because of the harm they cause others and us. It is not up to us to determine who has the right stuff, or where the Spirit goes. It is up to us to look at our own lives, avoid sin, and do what we can to be in right relationship with God. Deacon Regali is married with three children and one grandchild and is assigned to Sacred Heart Parish in North Attleboro.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Sept. 26, Zec 2:5-9,14-15a; (Ps) Jer 31:10-13; Lk 9:43b-45. Sun. Sept. 27, Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nm 11:25-29; Ps 19:8,10,12-14; Jas 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-43,45,47-48. Mon. Sept. 28, Zec 8:1-8; Ps 102:2,16-23;Lk 9:46-50. Tues. Sept. 29, feast of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels, Dn 7:9-10,13-14 or Rv 12:7-12ab; Ps 138:1-5; Jn 1:47-51. Wed. Sept. 30, Neh 2:1-8; Ps 137:1-6; Lk 9:57-62. Thur. Oct. 1, Neh 8:1-4a,5-6, 7b-12; Ps 19:8-11; Lk 10:1-12. Fri. Oct. 2, Bar 1:15-22; Ps 79:1-5,8-9; Mt 18:1-5,10.

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The death of Edward Kennedy and the end of an era

he public accomplishments of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who died on August 25, will be discussed and debated for years, and perhaps decades. He was the only one of the Kennedy brothers who took the United States Senate seriously, and if one is hard put to name specific pieces of major legislation on which his imprint was writ large, he was nonetheless a “Senate man” in a way that neither Jack nor Bobby ever was — and thus a popular figure in insider Washington. As for his shift from critic of Roe v. Wade

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to pro-choice paladin, that has with big-government-funded been commented on sufficiently and big-government-managed by others. Let me only add to welfare programs. That the the public record that the late well-intentioned initiatives of Henry Hyde, a Pro-Lifer to the the Great Society, which Ted core, told me that he had once said to Kennedy, “Ted, if you’d take leadership of our movement, we’d sweep the country.” Given the confusions of our moral

By George Weigel culture and our law, that might have been too optimistic. But we’ll never know, as Kennedy took a Kennedy supported, ended up different path, and among other destroying urban neighborhoods things, ended up committing and families while creating mascalumny against Robert Bork. sive welfare dependency was Ted Kennedy’s death does, acknowledged by many, includhowever, mark the end of an era, ing liberals, during the welfare and in several ways. reform debates of the mid-1990s It marks — or should mark — but not by the senior sena— the end of an era in which tor from Massachusetts, who Catholics in the United States was, to put it gently, nowhere identity “concern for the poor” near the forefront of the reform

The Catholic Difference

movement.

John Paul II’s critique of welfare dependency in the 1991 encyclical, Centesimus Annus, and the late pope’s proposal that true care for the poor means the empowerment of poor people through their incorporation into networks of productivity and exchange, never made much of a dent on Ted Kennedy, who was not very helpful in helping poor children to obtain vouchers that allowed them to attend Catholic schools that worked rather than public schools that didn’t. In the aftermath of Kennedy’s death, many of those critical of the late senator’s record on the life issues nevertheless praised him as an advocate for the poor. Surely, though, it’s past time to consider just what advocacy for the poor means, in a Catholic context. No one does the urban poor a favor by supporting programs that maintain the welfare plantation.

Ted Kennedy’s death also marks the symbolic end of an era of tribal Irish Catholicism in America, although perhaps not in the way some eulogists imagined. Kennedy was said by one commentator to have been the pivotal figure in transforming rote Catholic obedience to hierarchical authority into critical Catholic discernment of one’s moral obligations, especially in terms of contraception, abortion, and euthanasia. It’s arguably much more faithful to

the truth of that transformation, however, to describe it as one from a culturally-transmitted Catholicism, in which the teaching authority of the Church was given the benefit of the doubt, to a do-it-yourself Catholicism in which claims of conscience, however ill-formed, trump all.

Ted Kennedy was no theologian, but the role played by dissident theologians like Fathers Robert Drinan and Charles Curran in Kennedy’s becoming the public embodiment of the latter Catholic style will bear close examination by historians of theology in late-20th century America.

Finally, the death of Senator Kennedy ought to end the infatuation of many American Catholics (and others) with the Kennedy family. Camelot’s last living major figure has died.

The successor generation is simply not of the same heft as Jack, Bobby, and Ted. From Jack Kennedy’s election to the House of Representatives in 1946 until Ted Kennedy’s death in 2009 was a 63-year run — 13 years longer than that of the Virginia dynasty among the founders (figured from Washington’s taking command of the Continental Army in 1775 to Monroe’s leaving the presidency in 1825). It’s over. We would do the next generation of Kennedys a favor by acknowledging that.

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

Yellow journalism

Friday 25 September 2009 a very strange kid. The Mer— Segregansett River — first cury says cod liver oil is for the American newspaper published Grippe. All along, I thought my on this date in 1690 at Boston mother was telling me to “get a (it closed down after only one edition) ound in the basement of the Reflections of a County Street rectory Parish Priest was a couple of brittle

By Father Tim pages from The Newport Goldrick Mercury, dated Sept. 9, 1893. I spread the remnants out on the kitchen table and pieced them together. grip” when I felt sick. Here in I was curious to learn about the newspaper are also plenty of daily life 116 years ago. dubious remedies for “lethargy The advertisements are a and the nervous condition.” hoot. I had forgotten all about There must have been a pancod liver oil. My mother demic of despondency in 1893. sometimes spoon-fed it to me.

According to the paper, if I thought it was yummy. I was you happen to be a malaria-

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The Ship’s Log

stricken chocolate addict, you’re in luck. You can satisfy your candy cravings and restore your health at the same time by wolfing down quininelaced chocolates. Since winter is coming, you will surely want to “cleanse your blood” to acclimate your system.

Iodized blood purifier is available. Let’s not overlook Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound. It says it cures “women’s complaints.” There’s nothing mentioned about curing complaining men.

If it’s recipes you’re seeking, here they are — sweet tomato pickles, chow chow (made from green tomatoes, cabbage and

The benefits of big

six sisters. She says they’re her hen I asked my friend best friends.

Lori, mother of nine, They kept her from making if she gets a lot of negative some bad choices when she comments about the size of her reached college. She rememfamily, I imagined she would bers calling her sister, appalled say yes. But she surprised me at the high number of students by her answer. Though she who were doing drugs. “Mulcertainly gets the odd rude lans don’t do drugs, right?” remark, she definitely hears a Her sister answered firmly: lot more positive than negative “Right, Margaret, Mullans responses from people when don’t do drugs.” That affirthey meet her family. Usumation of who she was, that ally the first reaction is shock.

“Wow!” But that’s often followed by Lavishly something supportive like: “OK … Good for Generous you.”

Love The Milligans experienced the warmest

By Joan Kingsland reaction to their big family during their vacation to Quebec, family-identity was enough to Canada. All kinds of people keep her on the right track. stopped them in the street with People from big families exuberant exclamations of dealso have singular opportunilight at the sight of their dozen ties to learn how to get along kids. “You don’t see families this big anymore, but I grew up with others. They experience first-hand how different are in one just like yours.” guys from girls, something that In today’s high-powered will serve them well in future world, large families seem to relationships and their own be something of the past: immarriage. And there’s usually practical both financially and the whole gamut of temperaorganizationally. Yet even now ment types: passionate, chothere are a number of couraleric, phlegmatic and sanguine. geous couples who are choosAdditionally, someone with an ing to be lavishly generous in artistic personality will often the number of children they show up in big families. bring into the world as sons Misunderstanding, fiery and daughters of God. They want to cooperate with disagreements and fist-fights are often part and parcel of that God’s creative hand. They’re learning to understand, accept also convinced of the perennial and get-along with the others. value of large families, which But so is saying you’re sorry transcends times and cultures. and experiencing forgiveness.

For one, big families often The love that bonds brothers experience a strong identity and sisters together helps them that binds the members togethget over their multiple differer and helps them rise above ences. the temptation to give into a A sign of that is the fierce wayward lifestyle. Margaret loyalty someone will show Mullan has three brothers and

9

The Anchor

September 25, 2009

for a sibling. There’s the odd sense that you have the full right to trounce on him or her, but heaven help anyone from outside the family who dares to attack them.

“Survival skills” are another talent gained from growing up in a large family. You learn quickly that you’re not number one. Most of the time you have to wait your turn and let others go first. You learn that losing a fight or a game isn’t the end of the world.

Neither is it the end of the world to end up with the smallest piece of cake. You can dish it out and you can take a lot, thanks to all those poundings and merciless teasing you received from your siblings.

Parenting skills are also a plus. You learn how to hold a baby, cajole it to stop crying, change a diaper and play with kids — not bad when the time comes to start your own family.

As the children grow older, they often value their family ties even more. It’s wonderful to have so many people you can turn to for support and fun.

They’ll still let you know when they think you’re making a bad choice and be there when you fall.

A sign of the worth of large families comes from the testimony of many people who grew up in them: though surely they can recall difficulties and sacrifices coming from being so many, they wouldn’t trade their families for anything.

Joan Kingsland, a consecrated woman of Regnum Christi, teaches theology at Mater Ecclesiae College in Greenville, R.I.

onions,) preserved citron melons, and quince jelly.

Thinking about redecorating your piazza? You can buy canvas awnings for $4 and bamboo shades (“porch curtains”) at $1.50. As a finishing touch, consider a hammock for your sleeping porch at $1.49. I notice the phrases “end of season sale,” “midnight madness” and “giant blowout” appear nowhere in the ads. Perhaps “sales events” had not yet been invented.

Want a new hobby? Learn to tat “shell lace.” What, pray tell, is shell lace? The printed instructions are as complicated as quantum physics.

For the guys, there’s the inspiring story of how a young man, visiting a distant city, went for an idle afternoon stroll to an old soldier’s cemetery and accidentally found a wooden marker bearing the name of his father. He was but an infant when his father was killed in the Civil War. Until then, he had no idea where his father was interred. The young man brought his father’s body home for burial.

Here’s a piece about the “heathen men of Mashonpa.” I have no idea where Mashonpa is located, but it seems some missionary there was constantly complaining that the house of God had fallen into dilapidation. The Mashonpa men responded to the bothersome minister, “Well then, let God fix-up his own house.”

I presume that was the end of the mission to Mashonpa.

Those heathens can be incorrigible.

Fond of pets? The Mercury has it covered. How about a multi-lingual parrot? He speaks fluently in English and Spanish but swears in Chinese. No? Well, how about the allegedly domesticated ocelot named Juanita who has been hanging around the trading post. Still not interested? Think rattlesnakes.

According to The Mercury, you could buy a live one for $1.

One last try — catch yourself a

brown mouse. According to The Mercury, a mouse is “not only winsome, but also as trainable as a rat.” Who knew?

Want to invest in real estate?

There’s 10 acres next to the Middleboro Methodist Church available for $2,700. No? Are you interested in the 45 acres of waterfront property (with house and farm buildings) in Newport for $6,500?

The local physician accused of murder has committed suicide. The minister who killed his five-year-old daughter at Rocky Point has been committed to the insane asylum. A three-year-old, who jumped too close to a bonfire while spectators stood idle, died as a result.

A thrashing man suffering from “hydrophobia” (fear of water?) had to be strapped to his bed.

Good thing waterbeds had not yet been invented.

You need to know that President Grover Cleveland has returned by train to Washington from the summer White House, Grey Gables. A new road now connects Bourne (site of the summer White House) and Falmouth. Catholics are convening in Cleveland. An emissary from Rome has arrived with “very important letters” (from Pope Leo XIII?) for James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore. There’s a controversial new law requiring public schools to provide textbooks.

Politicians seem to be getting nowhere in debating the designation of an official national flower. Prince Bismarck is down with rheumatism again.

What’s this? An old man from Lynn has died of “sudden nostalgia of the heart.” That’s it. I’m throwing away this old newspaper. Who wants to come down with a terminal case of nostalgia? Not me.

Our world seems perfectly normal to us, but I wonder what people will think looking back at it from the vantage point of Sept. 9, 2125.

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

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September 25, 2009

Boston CatholicTV working to become ‘parish of the airwaves’ continued from page one

NOV. 19th: Father Pat will celebrate Mass

at La Salette Shrine before

departure. Enjoy dinner and

the show “42nd Street” at the

Westchester Broadway Theater.

NOV. 20th: Breakfast and Mass. Visit the

Statue of Liberty. Dinner at the

famous 21 Club in New York City

and the show “Mary Poppins.”

NOV. 21st: Father Pat will celebrate Mass in

St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Tour the

city and then it’s on to the world famous Radio City Music Hall to

see the “Christmas Spectacular.”

PREFERRED SEATING FOR EACH SHOW!

$795 per person, double occupancy ($995 single) Please fill out the form below today and mail with your non-refundable deposit of $250 - balance due Oct. 19th

port, the station will host its 19th annual CatholicTV Telethon, to be broadcast live during two 12-hour periods this weekend.

“Father Reed always says that CatholicTV is ‘all for you,’ and that couldn’t be more true, because CatholicTV, unlike other stations, tries to form a community,” said station general manager Jay Fadden.

“It can be very impersonal looking into a piece of glass, but every staff member here at CatholicTV realizes that on the other end of that glass is someone who might be in a challenging situation or might be yearning to hear the word of God. So we put great effort and care into everything we put on CatholicTV so they can feel like they are part of the Church.”

CatholicTV’s history dates back to more than a half-century when it began simply as a vehicle to broadcast Mass to homebound Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston. With the advent of cable television in the early 1980s, the station expanded to offering a few hours a day to Boston-area Catholics; and within the past decade the channel has expanded its outreach even further to points throughout and beyond New England.

“Within the past five years we’ve continued to grow outside New England — we’re now in Louisiana and Tennessee and other parts of the country,” Fadden said.

Acknowledging there are other nationwide inspirational and faithbased television outlets available, Fadden said he sees CatholicTV as serving a decidedly different demographic.

“Stations like EWTN do a wonderful job, but I think we come at it at a little different angle,” he said. “We try to reach just your average working people who love their faith, and we also try to reach those who have left their faith to welcome them back.”

To that end, Fadden said CatholicTV’s 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week programming tries to reach out to Catholics of all ages with original shows like “WOW: The CatholicTV Chal-

lenge,” a game show akin to “Jeopardy” which tests young Catholics’ knowledge of their faith; “This is the Day,” a live talk show aired twice a week with guests from all over the world; and a new series beginning next month called “Spotlight,” with Father Chip Hines and Father Bill Kelly discussing movies and their Catholicrelated themes in a format reminiscent of the “Siskel and Ebert” movie review show.

“It should be a lot of fun — they’re a great team,” Fadden said.

In this Year for Priests, there are also plenty of shows focusing on the clergy such as “Going My Way” with Father Chris Hickey and Father Paul Rouse; a weekly program with Cardinal Seán O’Malley; and a planned program with New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan.

“It’s great showing priests in a little bit different light, showing what priests like to do and what their interests are,” Fadden said.

“We have devotional programs, we also have entertaining programs and educational programs, which is very important to us.”

Local priests such as Father Roger J. Landry, executive editor of The Anchor and pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Bedford, is also currently hosting a series on Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” on CatholicTV titled “Body Matters,” and Anchor columnist Father Tad Pacholczyk will be hosting a similar series slated to begin next month titled “Making Sense Out of Bioethics.”

Fadden said he hopes that such diverse programming will help alleviate the misconception that CatholicTV’s target audience is strictly comprised of those within the Archdiocese of Boston.

“We view CatholicTV as a partnership with other dioceses, so if they have good programming, we like to show the universal Church,” Fadden said. “CatholicTV is not Boston CatholicTV — and by getting programming from around the United States from other dioceses that are working very hard, we can

see the many different aspects of our Catholic faith.”

For Deborah Furtado, a parishioner at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth and a devoted watcher of CatholicTV, the channel is a “hidden treasure” and has become an important component in her ongoing faith formation.

“I watch it everyday and I say the daily rosary with Father Reed,” Furtado said. “I like it when he goes to the different basilicas in Rome and prays in different locations. What’s really special about CatholicTV is that we have it in this country on our TVs but other people in other parts of the world can get it on their computer, so it’s really a global treasure. It’s really a wonderful channel.”

Adding that they receive no financial support from the Archdiocese of Boston, Fadden stressed how important this weekend’s fund-raising telethon is to continuing their year-long, aroundthe-clock mission of proclaiming the Gospel and message of Jesus Christ.

“We are funded four ways: through donations, through licenses that we have, through bequests and through fund-raisers,” Fadden said. “So this telethon is extremely important to us.”

While raising funds and awareness about CatholicTV is a key objective, Fadden also noted the telethon gives them a unique opportunity to hear back from viewers and thank them for their ongoing support.

“It’s also our opportunity to hear from so many people who call in and leave comments, so we know what they like and what they’re looking for,” he said. “And it’s a chance for us to say ‘thank you’ to them for supporting us.”

CatholicTV’s live telethon will air today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day with rebroadcasts overnight. CatholicTV is available on channel 268 for Comcast cable subscribers, channel 296 for Verizon customers, and is also streamed live online, 24-hours-aday, at www.catholictv.com.

Pope says we should never become habituated to violence and death

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI gave assurance of his prayers for civilians caught in the world’s conflicts and foreign troops working to promote peace and development.

After praying the Angelus September 20 from the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the pope said he was deeply saddened to hear news of the deadly roadside bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed 10 Afghan civilians and six Italian soldiers September 17.

The deaths and injuries resulting from violence around the world “are facts we can never grow accustomed to and that incur strong reprimand and dismay in communities that hold peace

11

The Anchor

September 25, 2009

and civil coexistence close to heart,” he said.

While he had special prayers for the families and friends of the Italian causalities, the pope said he was just as pained over the deaths of other international contingents “who work to promote peace and the development of institutions necessary for human coexistence.”

He said he also prayed to God “with a special thought for the dear civilian population.”

The pope appealed to everyone to help promote solidarity between nations and oppose “the logic of violence and death by fos-

tering justice, reconciliation and peace and supporting the development of people, starting with love and mutual understanding.”

The pope sent a telegram that

was read during the state funeral for the six dead Italian soldiers at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls September 21.

The telegram, written on behalf of the pope by Vatican sec-

retary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said the pope “supported all those who are committed to building solidarity, reconciliation and peace in the world every day.”

12

The Anchor

September 25, 2009

Catholic group launches website to promote peace in Africa

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Catholic Task Force on Africa has launched a new website, www.yesafricamatters.org, to spread the word on conditions in Africa prior to the October 4-25 Synod of Bishops for Africa at the Vatican.

The theme of the synod is “The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace.”

In March, during a visit to Yaounde, Cameroon, Pope Benedict XVI released the synod’s working document, which called for a united effort among Catholics to help end the rampant injustices fueling conflicts on the continent and to usher in an era of peace.

The new website provides

background on the connections between the Catholic Church in the United States and Africa. It lists many of the partnerships and twinning relationships as well as the missionary communities from the United States in Africa.

The site also contains a section specifically on the synod with resources and links to universities and other advocacy groups that can help readers better understand Africa’s current challenges.

The Catholic Task Force on Africa is a Washington-based group of advocates that meets monthly to share their work, passion and perspective with each other on behalf of their many constituents who are working for justice and peace in Africa.

By John Thavis Catholic News Service

summer vacations. When he broke his right wrist at the start of his vacation in July, he was said to have been particularly disappointed because it meant he couldn’t write for several weeks.

The 448-page first volume, “Jesus of Nazareth,” covered the life of Christ from the time of his baptism in the Jordan River to the transfiguration before his disciples. In it, Pope Benedict said Christ must be understood as the Son of God on a divine mission, not as a mere moralist or social reformer.

The book said that while Christ did not bring a blueprint for social progress, he did bring a new vision based on love that challenges the evils of today’s world — from the brutality of totalitarian regimes to the “cruelty of capitalism.”

Second volume of ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ expected next spring

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI’s second volume on the life of Jesus is likely to be completed sometime next spring, a Vatican spokesman said.

The book is expected to cover Christ’s childhood, passion, death and resurrection. The first volume, the best-selling “Jesus of Nazareth,” was published in 2007.

The spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, told Catholic News Service that next spring was a “realistic” target date for completion. He added that readying the manuscript for publication and translating it into other languages could add to the timeline, however.

The pope has been working on the volume over the last two years, especially during his

WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES WITH THIS? — A character named Flint Lockwood, voiced by Bill Hader, is seen in the animated movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Columbia)

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” (Columbia) Loosely based on the 1978 children’s book, this animated fantasy concerns a previously ridiculed young inventor (voice of Bill Hader) who fashions a machine that makes food fall from the sky, and who finds a kindred spirit in a rookie weather reporter (voice of Anna Faris) assigned to cover the bizarre climactic phenomenon. Serving to warn against overindulgence and extol the virtues of persistence and ingenuity, the film boasts dazzling 3-D visuals deployed to entertaining, if not always appetizing, effect by co-writers and directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord. Considerable cartoon violence, some rude expressions, a scatological reference and a few

Movies Online

SISTER ACT — Dominican Sister Nancy Murray performs in her one-woman play, “St. Catherine of Siena: A Woman for Our Times” recently at Cascia Hall Preparatory School’s Performing Arts Center in Tulsa, Okla. Sister Nancy is actor/comedian Bill Murray’s sibling. (CNS photo/Dave Crenshaw, Eastern Oklahoma Catholic)

Can’t remember how a recent film was classified by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops? Want to know whether to let the kids go see it? You can look up film reviews on the Catholic News Service website.

Visit catholicnews.com and click on “Movies,” under the “News Item” menu.

moderately scary action sequences. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II — adults and adolescents.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

“Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself” (Lionsgate) A selfish club singer (Taraji P. Henson) learns the redemptive power of unselfish love when she finds herself caring for her dead sister’s three children (Hope Olaide Wilson, Kwesi Boakye and Frederick Siglar). Writerdirector Tyler Perry’s adaptation of his own stage drama is a harddriving, if entirely predictable, morality play with music in which his trademark comic character, “Madea” Simmons, has only a brief supporting role. Implied adultery, a brief scene of sexual menace, a fleeting glimpse of a male backside and a bit of crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II — adults and adolescents.

The Motion Picture Association

of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“Whiteout” (Warner Bros.)

Lackluster thriller in which a federal marshal (Kate Beckinsale) and a U.N. official (Gabriel Macht) investigate a series of murders in Antarctica, assisted by a government medic (Tom Skerritt). Though there are some suspenseful snow-blinded confrontations with the killer, logic is among the casualties in director Dominic Sena’s often grisly adaptation of Greg Rucka’s graphic novel. Frequent gory images, brief streaking scene with full male nudity, partial female shower nudity, suicide, a few uses of profanity, and occasional rough and crude language.

The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting 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.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, September 27 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Edward A. Murphy, chaplain at Morton Hospital in Taunton

The Anchor

13

The Anchor

September 25, 2009

news briefs

Pope hopes visit will encourage Czech nation to pursue charity, truth CASTEL GANDOLFO (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI said he hoped his upcoming visit to the Czech Republic would encourage people to pursue charity and truth and rediscover faith in God and hope for the future. The September 26-28 trip will pay homage to the country’s “ancient and modern heroic witnesses to the Gospel,” he said recently after praying the Angelus with pilgrims in the courtyard of the papal summer residence. The pope asked the faithful to pray for him and for a fruitful trip. The three-day visit was to take him to Prague, Brno, and Stara Boleslav, where he was to celebrate the September 28 feast day of St. Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech nation. The pope said the Czech Republic, which lies at the heart of Europe, has endured many “dramas of the past century and, like all of Europe, needs to rediscover the reasons for faith and hope.” He said he hoped the visit would “encourage everyone to move forward in charity and truth.”

Apostolic visitation questionnaire sent to U.S. religious orders WASHINGTON (CNS) — Questions about membership, living arrangements, the ministries in which members participate and spiritual life, including the practice of prayer and the frequency of Mass, are included in a questionnaire sent recently to 341 congregations of women religious in the U.S. Distribution of the questionnaire opens the second phase of a comprehensive study of U.S. institutes of women religious ordered by Cardinal Franc Rode as prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Divided into three parts, the questionnaire reveals more about the depth of the study, known as an apostolic visitation. One part of the questionnaire, designated “Part A” and encompassing eight pages, seeks data about membership, living arrangements, governance and ministries of the members of the religious orders. A second section, designated “Part B” and encompassing six pages, seeks information related to the operation of a religious order including its origins, identity and charism; governance; vocation promotion, admission and formation policies; spiritual life and common life; mission and ministry; and finances. The third part, designated “Part C” and one page in length, asks for contact information for the major superior responsible for completing the questionnaire.

Pope announces synod on Middle East for 2010 VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI announced that he was convening a Synod of Bishops for the Middle East to be held in October of 2010, to address the trials and tribulations of the Christian population in the region. The pope said the synod would look at the various problems faced by the minority Christian communities in Middle Eastern countries, from migration to interreligious dialogue. He announced the initiative at a recent meeting with patriarchs and other Church leaders from the region. After the encounter at the papal residence outside Rome, the pope hosted the prelates at a working lunch. The synod will be held Oct. 10-24, 2010, on the theme “The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness: ‘The community of believers was of one heart and mind.’” The quotation is a description of the unity of the early Church from the Acts of the Apostles. “During this brotherly meeting, from your speeches will surely emerge the issues that beset you and the orientations toward their proper resolution,” the pope said. He told the Church leaders that he was praying for them and their communities daily. A Vatican statement said the informal discussion between the pontiff and the Eastern church representatives focused in particular on problems related to migration, ecumenical relations and interreligious dialogue, and highlighted the Church’s efforts to promote peace in the region. As he often does during synods, the pope gave an impromptu talk at the end of the encounter to summarize the various points that were made.

Vietnamese officials use force on Catholics trying to save building HUE, Vietnam (CNS) — Government authorities in central Vietnam are building a wall around a former parish-run catechetical building, and police have used force to prevent hundreds of Catholic protesters from reaching the site. The Asian church news agency UCA News reported that local Church sources said the workers, under orders from government authorities, started to build a brick wall around Lang Co elementary school, near Loan Ly Church in Thua Thien-Hue province’s Phu Loc district. The sources said approximately 400 parishioners tried to stop the construction, but police and security officers hit them and dragged them out of the school compound. Police also blocked the road outside the church and other paths leading to the school building. In an interview published on the website of Hue Archdiocese, Father Paul Ngo Thanh Son, pastor of Loan Ly Parish, said local Catholics built the three-room school building in 1956. The parish used it for basic education and catechesis of local children. In 1975, when the country was reunified under communist rule, the government confiscated the building. The government has used the building as an elementary school on weekdays but allowed the parish to continue teaching catechism there to children on Sundays, said Father Son, 57. He said that on September 9 and again September 12, local officials asked the parish to stop catechism classes. They prevented children from attending the classes September 13, when the parish started a new catechism course. Rooms were locked and plainclothes police officers videotaped and took photos of students, he said.

Celebrity funerals and prayers for the dead

D

a million times, to remember me eath eventually comes now at the hour of my death.” for all of us — no one Evelyn Ryan, the subject of the actually gets out of here alive. wonderful biographical film “The Samuel Johnson aptly noted that Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio,” our fear of death is so natural was a housewife who supported “that the whole of life is but her large family by entering and keeping away the thoughts of winning jingle contests in the it.” As a baby boomer, born to 1950s. She wrote a 25-word poem parents of the great generation on prayer: “Every time I pass the that experienced the Depression church I stop and make a visit. So and the Second World War, I when I’m carried in feet first God have long been attending more funerals than weddings, and now won’t say, ‘Who is it?’”

November, which is just read the obituary pages to belatedly catch up with my contempo- around the corner, is dedicated to prayer for the holy souls in raries, or bid good-bye to icons purgatory, those of us who die in of my youth.

The recent deaths of Michael need of purification before we are Jackson, Ted Kennedy, Farrah ready to see God face-to-face in Fawcett, Walter Cronkite and other celebrities serve as a reminder of Samuel Johnson’s observation: “To neglect at any time preparation for death, is to sleep at

By Dwight Duncan our post at a siege, but to omit it in old age, is to sleep at an attack.” We don’t want to think about it, but the glories of heavenly rapture. we need to prepare. Death is like Which gets us to the main point of a Catholic funeral: prayer for taxes in that regard.

As Catholics, we believe that the dead.

One of the things that struck life is changed, not ended, and that after death comes judgment, me at Senator Kennedy’s futhen heaven, hell or purgatory. neral at Mission Church was the God is our all-merciful Father, prayers of the faithful that were and so we can hope; but he is also offered by the senator’s grandall-just, and so we should be right- children. There were prayers ofly fearful. The season of autumn, fered for the senator’s vision, for with its falling leaves, is nature’s his program and the like, but nary reminder of the inevitable fact of a prayer for the happy repose of his immortal soul. Fortunately, death.

October, the month dedicated the rubrics of the liturgy provided to the rosary, reminds us how that at other junctures.

Of course, though the senator frequently we pray in the “Hail Mary” that our Mother Mary did some good in his life of public “pray for us sinners, now and at service, which it was proper to acthe hour of our death.” Father Sal knowledge, he was not always a Ferigle used to say that when we paragon of virtue who was bound come to die, if we were in the hab- to already be in heaven, which it of praying the rosary, we should would make such prayers usebe able to say to our Mother, “If less. Nor, in spite of his sins and I’ve told you once, I’ve told you misdeeds, at least some of which

Judge For Yourself

he was sorry for, was he certifiably in hell, which would also make prayer useless. The Church doesn’t make such certifications in any case.

Prayers were still needed, offered with hope. Praise from presidents and relatives and churchmen would do him no good, if, like the rich man in the Gospel parable, he were consigned to Sheol, or faced with a huge bill of temporal punishment due to sin in purgatory.

Prayer more than praise is what the situation calls for, regardless of who it is.

I remember when Dr. Joseph Stanton died a number of years back. This saintly father of a large family was a founding father of the Pro-Life movement in Massachusetts and the country, and had done an amazing amount of good in his life, in spite of his disability from polio. He asked that there not be eulogies at his funeral, and that his priest son just preach on the resurrection of Christ as grounds for our hope.

St. Josemaria Escriva, canonized in 2002, had asked at one point that his gravestone be inscribed “Sinner,” as a reminder for people to pray for him. Though his successor as prelate of Opus Dei had the stone say “Father” because “sinner” did not fairly sum up what this saint was and stood for, the saint’s own humility in soliciting prayers was apparent at every juncture of his life. We pray in the Our Father, “Forgive us our trespasses,” and ask Mary to “pray for us sinners.” With prayer, and only with prayer, can sinners become saints. May Ted Kennedy and the rest requiescant in pace.

Dwight Duncan is a professor at Southern New England School of Law in North Dartmouth. He holds degrees in civil and canon law.

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September 25, 2009

Knights’ motorcycle ministry joins spirituality, fund raising B y C hris D onahue C atholic N ews S ervice

RARITAN BOROUGH, N.J. — When about 15 men on motorcycles wearing “colors” or leather vests arrived at St. Ann Church, they weren’t looking for trouble.

Rather, as members of the Knights of Columbus Motorcycle Ministry, they came to their monthly meeting to help spread the Gospel through the order’s principles of charity, unity and fraternity.

George Muniz, a member of Council 9199, Our Lady of Peace Parish in Fords, said the motorcycle ministry gives him an opportunity to help others and enjoy the outdoors at the same time.

Riding can also be a “spiritual” experience because it provides time to pray, he said.

“I wanted to join because I have been riding a motorcycle most of my life,” said Muniz, a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Piscataway, who serves as a maintenance employee at three parishes in Perth Amboy.

“Last weekend, I went to the Delaware Water Gap by myself. I stopped by a little stream and sat there for 20

minutes, listening to the water ripple,” Muniz said. “I am also one of those guys who make the sign of the cross whenever I ride by a church.”

don said. Another fund-raiser in September benefited Our Lady of Mount Virgin Parish in Middlesex.

After ending the meeting

KNIGHT RIDERS — Members of the Knights of Columbus Motorcycle Ministry arrive for the organization’s monthly meeting at St. Ann Parish in Raritan Borough, N.J., recently. (CNS photo/Chris Donahue, The Catholic Spirit)

With Father Edmund A. Luciano III, parochial vicar at St. Ann Parish, serving as

St. Bernard Church

30 S. Main St., Assonet, MA Saturday, 3 October 2009• 508-644-5585

8:30 am

Church: Procession of Our Lady. Angelus. Crowning Cere- mony. Sung Litany of Loreto. The Five Joyous Mysteries.

9:30 am

Sermon on Our Lady by Fr. Dominic, FI.

9:55 am

Break.

10:20 am

The Five Glorious Mysteries.

10:45 am

Mass of Our Lady: Main Celebrant: Fr. Racine, Homilist: Fr. Raphael, FI.

11:50 am

Lunch break (please bring a bag lunch).

12:50 pm

Exposition and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament.

1:15 pm

Meditations on the Passion of Our Lord. Silent Adoration.

Act of Consecration.

2:05 pm

Benediction.

2:25 pm

chaplain, the ministry’s meeting began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

John Brandon, founder and president, then led the

Enrollment in the Brown Scapular and Conferment of Miraculous Medal. Procession of Our Lady.

- Confessions available throughout the day - Finish approx 2:50 pm SELECTION OF VENUES FOR 2009: Saturday, 7 Nov Holy Name Church, Fall River, MA Saturday, 5 Dec Holy Rosary Church, Fall River, MA Saturday, 2 Jan 2010 Open Saturday, 6 Feb 2010 Open

90-minute session in businesslike fashion interspersed with humorous anecdotes and some mild ribbing from members.

Minutes of the previous meeting were reviewed, old and new business was taken care of, finances were disclosed and plans were made for future charity events.

The organization’s first fund-raiser, the Alzheimer’s Disease Respite Care Motorcycle Run in late spring, raised more than $400, Bran-

with a prayer, Father Luciano said he is happy to see anyone trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, even a group as unique as the motorcycle ministry.

“The Gospel comes to us in our everyday lives and riding is part of their everyday lives,” he said. “Pope John Paul II encouraged us to go for the new evangelization. I don’t know if this is what he had in mind but it is certainly the spirit of it.

“And as Knights it is some-

thing that these gentlemen were doing anyway, so it makes perfect sense to put the two together.”

For Brandon, the organization also offers an opportunity to change the negative image some people have of motorcyclists.

“It is not 800 guys living in a house all carrying guns,” Brandon said. “Nobody is here to knock over a grocery store or sell drugs.”

The motorcycle ministry’s roots go back about three years when Brandon, a member of St. Mary Parish in Middletown, started it with members from local councils.

With the approval of Thomas Ciborski, immediate past state deputy, the ministry was given the green light to go statewide, Brandon said.

“I told him there are a lot of guys that would join the Knights if they knew there was a motorcycle ministry,” Brandon said.

Since registration began at the Knights’ annual state convention in Wildwood in May, more than 100 members have joined, including 30 from the Diocese of Metuchen, Brandon said.

New members are welcome from any of the five dioceses in New Jersey whether they own a motorcycle or not. Meetings are held once a month and rotate from council to council.

The goal of the ministry is to eventually split into chapters by diocese once it gets large enough, said Douglas Myslinski, grand knight of Sgt. Frank Basilone Council 13264 in Raritan Borough.

September 25, 2009

New look at curé’s prayer life I have just read the September 11 issue of The Anchor. I would just like to say how inspiring I found the article on St. John Vianney about “an existence made prayer.” This is a new goal.

Mary Langton Pocasset Priests are key to our salvation Praise to The Anchor for publishing Pope Benedict’s letter to the clergy for the Year For Priests on June 26. In it the pope quotes St. John Mary Vianney: “O, how great is the priest … if he realized what he is, he would die ... God obeys him ... he utters a few words and the Lord descends from heaven at his voice, to be contained within a small host … without the sacrament of holy orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put him in there in that tabernacle? The priest….”

Every duly ordained Catholic priest has a special character imprinted on his soul, the awesome power to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ during the celebration of Mass.

This power was given to him by the sacrament of holy orders when the bishop performs the laying on of hands. This has taken place in unbroken succession since the time of Christ, to the Apostles, who were given this power by Christ himself.

When Christ said “I will be with you until the end of time,” he implemented this by establishing his own real presence under the form of bread and wine. This takes place through the act of consecration by the priest at Mass, thus perpetuating Christ through time. This is the lifeblood of our salvation. Thus each and every priest performs an essential function, enabling us to survive this temporal passage leading to eternal life with God. We must always be conscious of this role of the priest in our own redemption.

Raymond V. Picard Fall River Pro-choicers give Church no option Your excellent September 11 editorial on the “Education-alone strategy” is so true; this strategy has been a total failure and I applaud The Anchor for putting this issue out in the open for a vigorous public debate. In point of fact, almost all pro-choice Catholic politicians have moved from being quietly pro-choicers to proudly and loudly embracing the doctrine of death that now prevails in this country.

The question now is whether mother Church will decide to move in a different direction than up until now and publicly announce from this day forward that the Church no longer embraces the educationalone strategy. Will the Church really embrace its own first principle,

15

The Anchor

Our readers respond

the fundamental teaching that those who obstinately embrace the doctrine of death should suffer very serious consequences? From this day forward, will the Church reject the education-alone approach and embrace Jesus’ teaching that when an offender fails repeatedly to heed the fundamental teachings of Jesus and his Church, then he or she no longer is a Catholic in good standing? This courageous new approach may sound radical, but have the unrepentant pro-choice politicians left mother Church with any other option?

Bill Flynn Sandwich

Praying for Kennedy I watched with much interest the memorials to Senator Kennedy and, especially, the beautiful Mass of burial. I became emotional at the testimony of his children. He was a man who believed in social justice and championed the common person.

But my heart breaks that, before his death, he was not able to changes his views, at least articulated by himself or his survivors, on the greatest social injustice, abortion. I pray that in his last moments he received that redemptive grace. Sadly, for the cause of the unborn, it will never be known if that occurred. That opportunity, in itself, could have reversed the culture of death, which has gripped our nation.

Doris Toohill Orleans Editorial on Kennedy was inspirational Thank you. Your editorial on Senator Kennedy’s legacy meant so much to me, and I’m sure to many other Catholics I was beginning to feel unChristian, judgmental, and noncaring, etc., for feeling let down

by Senator Kennedy’s actions, especially regarding abortion.

Your editorial made me more determined than ever to stand up for my faith beliefs and express them vocally, and work to be a Catholic who “talks the talk and walks the walk.”

Senator Kennedy did so much good, but how very much more he could have done for the quintessential “voiceless.”

Barbara L. Murphy Centerville Reflecting on the good moments Your September 4 editorial, “Senator Kennedy’s legacy” reminded me of the parable about the Pharisee and the publican praying in the temple (Lk 18:9-14). How like the Pharisee you sounded, full of self-righteousness over how much more faithful you were than was the senator.

You launched into your usual rant about abortion, same-sex marriage, etc., and events that might have happened. We, your readers, know and understand that abortion is evil. Your weekly Jeremiads seem to focus on little else, seldom, however, do they include any love or forgiveness for the sinner.

You presumed to instruct most of the Church’s pastors that they were to blame for not condemning Kennedy and other liberal politicians for not being as stalwart in the faith as you.

Your advice to the pastors was totally devoid of the Christian love and charity employed by Cardinal Sean O’Malley when he had to defend his presence at the funeral Mass for Kennedy with … “Catholics are people of faith and we believe in a loving and forgiving God from whom we seek mercy.”

In your final paragraph you wrote, “I pray with sincerity that the Lord will remember what the good Senator Kennedy had done and forgive him his sins….” Forgive me, but after the previous paragraphs, your words smack of stunning hypocrisy.

Unlike so many other politicians, past and present — the senator, with legislation and deeds, helped veterans, the handicapped, immigrants, women, the poor, minorities, etc., Former Senator Robert Dole said of him, “He was proud of what he did, but he didn’t wear it on his sleeve and remind you every day what a great guy he was. He was doing things that should have been done: Social Security reform, the Americans with Disabilities Act and civil rights reform. He was not helping the rich.

He was helping the disabled and seniors and children who didn’t have enough to eat. Who can fault that?”

Perhaps, while you are “sincerely praying” for the senator, you might remember that a man’s worst moments are not the sum of his life.

Len D’Orlando Sr. South Yarmouth Response to promulgating errors lacking I read with great interest your two most recent editorials (9/4 and 9/11), which spoke of the legacy of the late Senator Edward Kennedy and the inability of the bishops and clergy of the American Catholic Church to respond to that legacy in any way other than ambiguity, which perpetuates a perception of scandal and confusion.

We live in an age when too many Catholic politicians, openly and notoriously, embrace such evils as abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research, and a myriad of other issues, which the Church has taught, repeatedly and consistently, are

anathema to being a Catholic. As your editorials correctly pointed out, the response of the clergy to these Catholics-in-name-only has been to “do little or nothing … beyond general teaching statements,” which has produced “no real consequences.” These politicians have therefore continued to promulgate their errors upon fellow Catholics, and fellow Americans of all persuasions, alike.

Those who ignore the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them. Edmund Burke warned two centuries ago that “all that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.” More recently, in the most cultured of European countries, the Rev. Martin Niemoller lamented, “They came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew. They came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.”

When history looks back at this time and place, what will be the judgment on “the fruits” our Church produced? More importantly, how will God judge, what we did, as Catholics?

Sal Ferraioli East Sandwich Preaching Pro-Life is an obligation In recent letters to the editor on the funeral of Senator Kennedy, I am disappointed that not a single one was from the clergy. Is the cler-

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gy afraid of stepping on toes? Is it afraid of speaking out on abortion, or on Kennedy’s role is elevating it to the social norm? Saying nothing actually says something, namely, acquiescence. As Catholics, it seems the only way we are made aware of these issues is to join a group. Why isn’t this discussed from the pulpit? People today, even youngsters, need to hear that abortion never is about pro-choice.

It’s about pro-death, that is, if what our Church’s teachings mean anything at all.

Take the handling of Senator Kennedy’s death. In spite of all the “good” he allegedly did, Kennedy rabidly supported even partialbirth abortion. And he was more than influential in denying citizens in our Commonwealth their vote on same-sex marriage. Why was Kennedy treated with such deference? Our holy Catholic Church could have left Kennedy’s service to his local parish, as it should have been. Let the politicians eulogize him however they wanted, but not at the altar. Instead our Church elevated him, and in doing so undercut its most fundamental teachings. Why are our priests so silent in the face of such obvious hypocrisy? I think our clergy have an obligation to address this glaring double standard, in particular as it relates to abortion. It seems that the laity is outspoken but not the clergy. Why? Vicki Formato Brewster

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Youth Pages

16

September 25, 2009

Respected author to speak at John Paul II High School

OFF TO A GOOD START — Students at Espirito Santo School in Fall River prepared for their upcoming 100th school year by coming together for a special Mass with Father James Ferry and Deacon Thomas Souza.

HYANNIS — Dr. Christopher de Vinck, author of “The Power of the Powerless,” will discuss his book during two separate presentations at John Paul II High School.

De Vinck will conduct a presentation Sunday at 6 p.m. in the school’s library. The event is free and open to the public. The following day, he will address students in the school’s Performing Arts Center.

The book was part of the students’ reading portion of their Summer Learning Project.

De Vinck is a well-respected author of numerous books. He has twice been awarded the prestigious Christopher Award, established to salute media that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit.”

“The Power of the Powerless” is de Vinck’s moving account of his life with his brother Oliver who was born severely handicapped — blind, mute, crippled, and helpless. The book vividly conveys the enormous impact his brother had on him and his family during his 32 years of life.

MOUTHS TO FEED — Thirty-two freshmen from Bishop Feehan High School who attended this year’s Summer Academic Academy collected four large crates of non-perishable food items to help local families in need. The 10-day Summer Academic Academy offered new students a prelude to Feehan life. “I was very pleased at how the rising freshmen responded to the challenge.

I know that our local food pantries were low on supplies. Feehan is known for its service. We raised over 400 items in only three days.” From left: Freshmen Evelyn Chacon and Robert Harris display some of the donations received by the Attleboro school.

St. Vincent’s receives bicycle helmet award

PLAYING IT COOL — “Buddies” at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro met for popsicles after classes began. The buddy program is a mentoring program at the school. Pictured are eighth-grader Hailey Irwin (center) with her first-grade buddies, Abigail Smith, left, and Emi Omolo, right.

FALL RIVER — St. Vincent’s has been awarded 75 bicycle helmets as part of the 2009 Statewide Bicycle Safety Program of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

The program has provided more than 8,000 helmets to 86 communities and organizations for distribution this year. “We are pleased to receive these helmets to enhance our bicycle safety efforts,” said Jack Weldon, St. Vincent’s executive director. “The helmets will be distributed to the children and youth served by St. Vincent’s.”

Massachusetts law requires children 16 years of age or younger who operate a bicycle, or who ride as a passenger on a bicycle, on a public way or bike path to wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet. A bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of serious head and brain injury by as much as 90 percent.

For more information on the bicycle helmet law and bicycle safety tips, visit www. mass.gov/highwaysafety. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security is also distributing its current bicycle safety poster throughout the communities and organizations that have received bicycle helmet awards.

Established in 1885, St. Vincent’s is a multi-service agency providing a broad range of services — residential and community-based — to more than 100 children between the ages of four and 21 — and their families who are coping with life-altering events, challenges to learning, and the effects of trauma.

St. Vincent’s gives children and families in need what they need most. For more information, contact Melissa Dick at 508235-3228 or visit www.stvincentshome. org.

September 25, 2009

T

his morning I heard that familiar honking sound that we expect at this time of year. Looking up into the morning sun, I saw the geese in that familiar “V” formation as they start to head south, I presume.

Isn’t that where birds fly in the winter?

Whenever I see a formation of geese, it is always a bit inspiring for me as it helps me recall a special moment in my life. It reminds me of a time when I had just lived a Cursillo retreat. Prior to this life-changing event, I was very much fixated on success and wealth. I recall sitting in my group that weekend and talking about this and I was very anxious that I would be unable to reconcile this desire for success and this new call

by God to serve. Where would the time come from to work in ways the Lord might call me to work but also to be able to build and run successful companies?

I barely had time enough to run the companies now. A very wise team leader that weekend told me that it wasn’t success that was

Youth Pages The birds of the air

17

evil. Success was only a problem it has served me well. Many times over the years since I heard if it became the focus of my life.

Unfortunately, until that moment that passage (Matt. 6:26) I have seen the formation of geese fly it was.

I left that weekend determined overhead. Every time I do they to live this new life of prayer, study and action but nonetheless was still anxious about it. Several weeks later, I was at a Cursillo prayer evening and a particular reading

By Frank Lucca was proclaimed. In this story Jesus pointed to the birds of the air to teach his Apostles something about anxiousness. Jesus assured point the way forward for me.

They remind me of that lesson I them there was no need to be learned so many years ago. anxious. The birds of the air are The “V” formation of the not anxious because they know geese can also teach us other lesthat God cares for them and sons of life. I did a little research feeds them. If he does that for and found these lessons of flying birds he would certainly do that geese all over the Internet espefor us. For some reason that pascially on teambuilding websites, sage struck me like a lightning but I think we can all learn bolt. Things became much more clear. My anxiety diminished and something far deeper and more spiritual from these creatures of my life took on a richer dimenGod. I share those ideas here. sion from that point on. Why I learned that by flying in worry? What’s the worse that can formation, as each bird flaps happen? That became my new its wings, it creates lift for the mantra and for the last 22 years

bird following. By flying in the “V” formation the whole flock adds 71 percent greater flying range than if one bird flew alone.

Doesn’t that teach us that working together in a common direction can get us where we are going quicker and easier?

I also learned that when a goose falls out of formation they immediately feel the resistance and drag of trying to fly alone and get back into formation quickly. Doesn’t that teach us that we need to stay with others that are ahead of us on the journey and accept help and give help along the way? Young people … that could be those adults out there who you might turn to or stay in formation with.

I also learned that when a lead goose gets tired, they rotate back and another takes its place at the lead. Lesson learned? It’s important to share leadership and give each other a chance to regroup in life.

I also learned that geese honk

to help each other orient themselves and to encourage each other. We all need to use positive “honking” to encourage each other to keep going.

Finally, I learned that when a goose gets sick or wounded, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down and protect it until it is able to fly again or dies. They then join another group or catch up with their formation. This is a great lesson for us also. We need to stand by each other and support each other through life.

So, these simple birds can teach us powerful lessons. The same lesson that I learned so long ago. The birds of the air work together, care for each other and most importantly trust God … do you?

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 (CLI). He is a husband and a father of two daughters. He can be reached at stdominicyouthministry@ comcast.net.

help youth ministers and catechists find film scenes that dramatize moments of grace and inspiration.

As his book, published by St. Mary’s Press, demonstrates, movie scenes can help reveal the story of the Christian faith to the book’s target audience — sixththrough 12th-graders — in a variety of ways.

The dark comedy “Throw Momma From the Train,” for example, might not sound like

ter, another quarter, three nickels and a penny.

“Why do you have these?”

Crystal’s character asks. “The reason people collect coins is because they’re worth something.”

“Oh, they are worth something,” DeVito responds. “This is the quarter my daddy let me keep when we went to see Peter, Paul and Mary. This is a nickel he let me keep when we got a hot dog at Coney Island.”

The scene is not unlike the way the Church prepares young people for confirmation, Donovan says. Just as the coin collection means little without its context, to someone outside the confirmation experience “the water, the flame, the laying on of hands means absolutely nothing. But once you’re invited into the experience, it changes everything.”

That is why movies can be so powerful with teen-agers, Donovan told The Dialog, Wilmington diocesan newspaper. “If you invite them into the experience it can change their perspective.”

For each film clip mentioned in the book, Donovan includes conversation starters for teachers on the scene’s subject, along with prayer services and activities for a class.

The shortest movie clip he recommends is about prayer.

The 1993 film “Shadowlands” is about writer (“The Chronicles

of Narnia”) and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis. It includes a moment in which a friend tells Lewis, played by Anthony Hopkins, that because his ailing wife is getting better, “I know how hard you’ve been praying. Now God is hearing your prayer.”

Lewis’ response is, “That’s not why I pray. I pray because I can’t help myself. ... I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God; it changes me.”

“Boom, there’s 13 seconds about the power of prayer,” Donovan said.

Donovan does not include any scenes from R-rated films in his book. All the clips he mentions come from movies rated either A-I (general patronage), A-II (adults and adolescents) or A-III (adults) by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office for Film & Broadcasting, and the selected scenes are appropriate for their grade level, he said.

“We don’t have the kids’ attention span for that long,” he said. “So use the scene and make sure you’re using a scene that will invite them into the experience.”

Donovan, 39, took care that his selections of teachable movie scenes come from films that are appropriate, “so if students go home and watch the movie, great, because they’re going to get a positive experience.”

Be Not Afraid

Youth minister uses film scenes to teach the faith

By Joseph Ryan Catholic News Service

BEAR, Del. — Patrick Donovan enjoys using memorable moments from movies to engage young people in conversations about their faith.

The head of Catholic Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Wilmington is so interested in the movie-faith connection that he’s written a book, “Using the Remote to Channel Jesus: 50 Movie Clips for Ministry,” to

an obvious film for a teachable moment, but Donovan included it for a scene he recommends for students preparing for confirmation.

In the film, Danny DeVito’s character invites Billy Crystal’s character to see his coin collection.

“I don’t want to see it,” Crystal says.

“Come on,” DeVito urges, “I’ve never shown it to anyone.”

He then shows his friend a quar-

GETTING TO KNOW YOU — Coyle and Cassidy High School freshman recently participated in a day-long orientation program that included numerous team building and get acquainted activities.

The Leadership Assembly ran the day’s events at the Taunton school, welcoming the Class of 2013 in grand style.

18

The Anchor

Parents protest school’s distribution of contraceptives continued from page one

cret,” said Father George Szal, pastor of Immaculate Conception in Revere.

Father Szal added that the new policy places a stamp of approval

on irresponsible behavior by normalizing teen-age sex.

“We don’t allow kids to smoke, we don’t allow kids to drink — even with their parents’ permission.

So why would we allow this?” he asked.

Kathy Magno, a life-long resident of Revere who has a nephew at the high school, said she does not like the message the new policy sends to teens.

“I just don’t think it belongs directly in the school,” she said. “It’s not as if the clinic can act in a vacuum. It’s inside the school.”

The new policy also erodes parental rights, especially because the decision was made without a public hearing — a mistake Magno is intent on righting.

The school committee held a meeting with the public on April 16, almost two months after the vote but refused to reconsider the issue. As a result, Magno got together with others and gathered signatures for a ballot initiative. The question will ask voters to temporarily suspend distribution of contraceptives at the school while an advisory council studies the measure and makes a recommendation to the school committee.

On September 8, the city clerk certified the nearly 2,000 signatures needed to move the question to the ballot. The school board now has 20 days to implement the question or leave it up to voters on November 3.

“It’s silly that you have to have a ballot question to do what the school committee should have done in the first place,” Magno said.

An advisory committee might not recommend the reversal of the school board’s decision. According to a 2007 Associated Press-Ipsos poll, 67 percent of adults in the United States favor making contraceptives available to public school students. That figure includes 30 percent who are in favor of providing them without parental consent.

Opponents of contraception in schools assert that there is no compelling evidence that the distribution of contraceptives have lowered instances of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Each year, one in four teens contract a

September 25, 2009 sexually transmitted disease and one-third of all teen girls become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20, according to a 2005 report by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Ann Raponi, a Catholic and one of the two committee members who voted against the measure, said schools should teach students about the dangers of early sex, not dispense contraceptives.

“I felt that it was out of the realm of what should be happening in schools,” she said of the new policy.

“We do not need to be parents. We are educators, and that’s the bottom line.”

Teaching children about the risks associated with sexual behavior and the benefits of abstinence is more difficult now that President Barack Obama has eliminated most money for abstinence-only education.

The decision to provide contraceptives to high school students has already been made at other local public schools. Last year, Gloucester High School made the same decision as the Revere school committee. The school received national attention for an increase in teen-age pregnancies in 2008. Although some of the teens reportedly became pregnant intentionally, the school board voted unanimously Oct. 8, 2008 to allow contraceptives to be distributed by the high school’s clinic.

The National Assembly on School-Based Health Care, based in Washington, D.C., conducts surveys of school-based health centers. The most recent report from the 2004-2005 school year shows that 30 percent of school-based health centers provide contraception. Two-thirds of centers that do not dispense contraception to students are prohibited from doing so by school district policy.

According to the report, there are health centers at 57 schools in Massachusetts.

The Revere High School clinic, run by a branch of Massachusetts General Hospital, requires that patients who go there must have a physician from the hospital. Previously, students who sought contra-

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ception were referred to an off-site clinic about two blocks away.

Revere mayor and chairman of the school committee, Tom Ambrosino, said that many students — about 80 percent — never followed up on their referrals and in least one instance a student who was “in need of contraceptive services” tested positive for pregnancy a week later.

Ambrosino asserts that the new policy allows students to receive necessary services while protecting parental rights. Consent forms are sent home with students and enable parents to opt their children in to all, some or none of the contraceptive methods available. Someone at the clinic confirms the information by calling the parent, he said.

Proponents of the Revere measure also cited a 50 percent increase in the teen pregnancy rate — a claim they say applies to students who attend the school clinic.

The Revere Journal reported that teen pregnancy in Revere has remained stable for the last 16 years, based on statistics from the state Department of Public Health’s annual report on births in Massachusetts.

Victor Pap, executive director of Boston-based Catholic Citizenship, said the distribution of contraceptives at schools in Massachusetts is a “widespread” problem. Schools are undermining the role of parents as their children’s primary educators, he said.

Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, said the new phenomenon of school-based health clinics only compounds the problem.

“They are wolves in sheep’s clothing,” he said of the clinics.

Mineau added that concerned citizens need to attend school board meetings on a regular basis. Hopefully, a watchful eye will allow parents to head off “dubious agenda items,” he said.

“School committees are the gatekeepers to the majority of our children,” he said. “It is more vital than ever to be involved.”

Evensong event is Sunday at Stonehill

EASTON — An Anglican and Anglican-use Roman Catholic solemn choral Evensong with Te Deum, will take place at the Chapel of Mary at Stonehill College Sunday at 3 p.m. Retired Episcopal Bishop Edward MacBurney will preside, and Father Peter Stravinskas will preach.

A panel discussion will take place tomorrow at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 701 Pleasant Street, Brockton. Scheduled panelists and speakers include Anglican Bishops John Rodgers and Paul Hewett, Anglican Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, Father Stravinskas, Rev. Amos Fagbamiye, Bishop MacBurney, and Anglican Bishop Brian Marsh.

For information call 508-5887285.

September 25, 2009

Around the Diocese 9/26

“40 Days for Life” will hold an official kick-off on tomorrow at 3 p.m. starting at Angel Park, across the street from 152 Emory Street, Attleboro, and will culminate at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. The event is open to the public. For information, visit www.40DaysforLife.com/Attleboro or email 40dflattleboro@comcast.net.

9/26 9/26 9/26

will be available.

9/26 9/28

Courage, a support group for Catholics with same-sex attraction who gather to seek God’s wisdom, mercy and love, will meet tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

For location information contact Father Richard Wilson at 508-992-9408.

The Women’s Guild of Immaculate Conception Parish in Fall River, is holding a yard sale in the church hall on County Street tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The proceeds will buy linens for the altar.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, Attleboro, is holding a St. Padre Pio pilgrimage/retreat day tomorrow from 10:30 a.m to noon. There will be talks, Mass, adoration and veneration of a St. Padre Pio relic. Lunch The St. Vincent de Paul Society walk-a-thon to help the poor of Fall River will take place tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at Bristol Community College on Elsbree Street. All are invited to participate.

A Holy Hour sponsored by the Pro-Life Prayer Groups of Holy Trinity and Holy Redeemer parishes will take place at Holy Trinity Church, Route 28, West Harwich, September 28 at 1 p.m. The rosary will be followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

9/30 10/2

A Taunton area Ultreya for all cursillistas will take place September 30 at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, East Taunton beginning with a 7 p.m. Mass, followed by a witness talk, sharing and refreshments.

The Fall River Area Men’s First Friday Club will meet October 2 at Good Shepherd Parish, 1598 South Main Street, Fall River, This is the first meeting of the season of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Father Freddie Babiczuk will celebrate a 6 p.m. Mass, followed by guest speaker, Father Roger J. Landry. For information call 508-672-8174.

10/3 10/3

A Day With Mary will take place October 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. at St. Bernard’s Church, 30 South Main Street, Assonet. For information call 508-984-1823.

Holy Name Parish at 850 Pearce Street, Fall River, will host a yard sale October 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The food court will open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be a bake sale, blood drive, crafters, entertainment, games, pony rides, face painting, a bubble bouncer, raffle, Chinese auction and more.

10/4

The annual Respect Life Walk to aid mothers and children will kick off from the Boston Common October 4 at 2:30 p.m. A bus sponsored by the Greater Fall River MCFL chapter will be available. Call 508-674-8695 or 508-678-3351 by September 30 to reserve a seat. Pickup will be at the Taunton Galleria Park and Ride at 12:15 p.m.

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese

ACUSHNET — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Mondays 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Fridays 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Mondays end with Evening Prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays end with Benediction at 2:45 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 following the 11 a.m. Mass until 7:45 a.m. on the First Saturday of the month, concluding with Benediction and Mass.

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 TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place First Fridays at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 8 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration. Refreshments follow.

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.

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.

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.

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 5 p.m. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed at 4:45 p.m.; on the third Friday of the month from 1 p.m. to Benediction at 5 p.m.; and for the Year For Priests, the second Thursday of the month from 1 p.m. to Benediction at 5 p.m.

TAUNTON — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord Church, 31 First Street, immediately following the 8 a.m.

Mass and continues throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., concluding with recitation of the rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

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.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street, holds perpetual eucharistic adoration. 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

New Bedford clergy takes vigorous stand against guns, violence continued from page one

Guadalupe at St. James Parish, and Seminarian Riley Williams alongside other Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy, as well as city, and county law enforcement agencies.

“Bishop Coleman has shown an extreme interest in spreading the message of non-violence and will join in the walk to City Hall, will be among those signing the peace covenant, and be among the speakers,” Father Oliveira noted.

The covenant document will remain for a time at City Hall offering the opportunity for other interested members of the community to come in and sign.

For the gun turn-in event, “aimed at getting as many guns as possible off the streets,” it is anticipated that several churches of various denominations will be taking part. “Statistics show that the fewer guns on the street brings a decrease in crimes of violence,” Father Oliveira indicated.

“It is illegal firearms that are specifically being sought, including those for which no permit has been issued,” he added.

Our Lady of the Assumption Church on South Sixth Street has been designated as a turn-in site.

While it is unrealistic today to think that any gang member is willing to give up his illegal gun,

“perhaps a member of his family for many good reasons would want to turn in the gun, and this will be done with no questions asked,” Father Oliveira explained.

Father Wilson told The Anchor, “This action is important because most of the ongoing domestic violence is gang-related, involving either gang versus gang or within the gangs themselves. It isn’t new — we had a revenge murder some years back involving a woman who was a parishioner at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, and whose son was involved in a gang. We began an anti-violence campaign then, but over time it faded out.”

This time the action involving the churches “will be ongoing, and not just a one-shot deal,” Father Wilson asserted.

He said the preaching effort will continue on a more regular basis, including a homily on violence scheduled monthly in the various churches.

“And we will have more Peace Walks regularly held as well as other events including Block Parties in various neighborhoods, all of which will be detailed in the covenant for peace Bishop Coleman and others will sign,” Father Wilson reported.

He said a letter to all Catholic

clergy in New Bedford, informing them of the action plan, has been mailed out.

“The faith community is coming together to say, ‘No more violence” said the Rev. David Lima, executive minister of the Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford.

He said the spike in shootings and homicides this year in the city led local faith leaders to discuss what they could do to help in addition to their current outreach programs.

The message from clergy has the unanimous support of many.

“We’ve seen a strong showing of force from the faith community,” said Gregg Miliote, spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, which has been working with the clergy to organize the initiative.

“We’re hoping it not only brings more attention to the issues of violence in our community, but most important, that it spurs the citizenry to become involved,” Miliote added.

Welcoming the faith community’s efforts, New Bedford Police Department spokesman Lt. Jeffrey P. Silva said, “Creating a safe community is more like a marathon than a sprint, because it takes time, patience and commitment rather than a single burst of energy.”

NORTH ATTLEBORO — Mrs. Helen Ann Waterson, 63, of Cape Coral, Fla., wife of Robert J. Waterson, and sister of Father Robert F. Kirby of Cotuit, a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese, died September 4.

Born in North Attleboro, the daughter of the late Robert and Aurore (Boutin) Kirby, she had resided in Florida since 1991.

She was nurse, and a member of St. Katherine Drexel Parish in Cape Coral.

Besides her husband and priest

brother, she leaves two daughters, Stacey Ann Waterson and Debra Bingham; a son, James R. Waterson; another brother, Donald Kirby; two sisters, Lois and

Irene Champagne; and grandchildren.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated September 23 in Sacred Heart Church in North Attleboro.

TAUNTON — The Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Nurses has recently announced its scholarship award winners for 2009.

Recipients were: Kathryn J. Bond, Taunton; Joanne Leary,

Mansfield; Patricia Medeiros, Somerset; Nicole Silvia, East Falmouth; and Mary NooneWhittenhall, Walpole.

For scholarship information, contact Betty Novacek at 508678-2373.

Mrs. Helen A. Waterson; was sister of Father Robert Kirby

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Sept. 29 Rev. J.A. Payan, Founder, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1899 Sept. 30 Rev. John J. Griffin, Pastor, St. Paul, Taunton, 1963 Rev. George Taraska, OFM Conv., Parochial Vicar, Holy Rosary, Taunton, 1993 Oct. 1 Most. Rev. William O. Brady, S.T.D. Archbishop of St. Paul, 1961 Oct. 2 Rev. Joseph E. Sutula, Pastor, St. Casimir, New Bedford, 1961 Rev. Rene R. Levesque, Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1999 Oct. 3 Rev. Msgr. Arthur G. Considine, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1991

Diocesan nurses award scholarships

20

The Anchor

The new Tom Brady piñata

A

re you ready for some football? New England Patriot fans are — and we may be waiting for quite a while.

Many national sports publications, pundits, sports gurus, and know-it-all TV analysts predicted the Patriots would be the team to beat in the NFL this season. For a good number of them the coronation as the gridiron’s best was a foregone conclusion. By and large, Pats fans concurred.

That was until the season began. On opening night, the Pats snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. In reality, the Buffalo Bills

My View From the Stands

By Dave Jolivet lost the game more than the Pats won it.

Last week the New Jersey Jets shot their mouths off, and then picked off the Pats before a delighted throng of frenzied J-E-T-S spectators.

For a team so highly regarded by so-called pigskin experts, including we unbiased New England fans, the level of play for the first two games has been one step above high school varsity football.

In fact, through my skewed vision (the glass is not just half empty, but cracked and leaking), I would pick the Pats to finish fourth in the Big Three Division I high school football league in Eastern Mass., with Brockton, New Bedford, and Durfee all a notch above.

I know it’s only two games into the season, and I know there are those who will say I’m unfairly bashing the Home Towne Team, but to quote coach Belichick, “It is what it is.”

Tom Brady, arguably the best quarterback in the game, has spent more time picking himself up off the faux grass than he has completing passes.

For two games Brady has faced an onslaught of defenders in his face. There are two images of Brady that come to my mind as he faces such adversity. Much like Super Bowl XLII. One, that of a salmon swimming upstream, leaping and dodging the oncoming rapids; and two, a piñata at a 10-year-old’s birthday party — just hanging there taking a relentless beating.

I just hope we don’t get to see the candy spill out some time this season.

Granted the Pats have suffered some devastating losses this season ... again. Most of those coming on the defensive side of the football, but even without those losses, the Pats are not among football’s elite any more. Not yet anyway.

Will I still watch them? Of course I will. A fair weather fan I’m not. But I do reserve my right to complain. It’s what New Englanders do, and do well. I will hope they win more than they lose, but most importantly, I hope our Brady piñata remains intact for the whole season.

HOPING FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE — Father Joseph F. Viveiros of St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea blesses a monument to unborn children. Also attending are Honor Guard members of Bishop Stang Assembly No. 392 Knights of Columbus from Fall River, and members of the parish’s Right to Life committee.

September 25, 2009