10.02.87

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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSEnS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

VOL. 31, NO. 39

Friday, October 2, 1987

FALL RIVER, MASS.

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly

58 Per Year

New, old church movements seen top synod. issue

AT THE RELIGIOUS Education convention Mass, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin offers his homily, sign language interpreted by Kathleen Melanson. (Motta photo)

Religious education convention

Accepting the challenge By Joseph Motta Over 500 catechists gathered Saturday at Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, to attend the annual diocesan religious education convention. Highlights of the gathering, coordinated by the Diocesan Department of Education, were a Mass celebrated by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, a keynote address by pastoral theologian Father Edward K. Braxton and 27 workshops showcasing catechetical ideas and resources. Mass concelebrants included Fathers Richard W. Beaulieu and Robert A. Oliveira, respectively diocesan director ofeducation and director of continuing formation of clergy and laity. . Music ministry was coordinated by Father David A. Costa, pa-

rochial vicar at St. Thomas More parish. Somerset; Joanne Mercier was cantor. The Mass and Father Braxton's address were signed by Kathleen Melanson of the diocesan Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities. During his homily, Bishop Cronin spoke on the theme of the recent papal visit to the United States Unity in the Work of Service, and on how convention participants exemplified that theme. "You have no idea how comforting it is to see su~h a large group of you here," the bish~p said. "You came here to realtze your faith in Jesus Christ, you'll share thoughts about the message of the Gospel." Bishop Cronin complimented the catechists for "accepting the challenge ~o make Jesus better known.

"We do it [meet that challenge] by the way we live each day," the bishop said. "You do it additionally by the way you instruct the young ones before you." By living the words one teaches, the bishop said, "the kids will know that the Jesus you speak of is the Jesus you love." The bishop urged the catechists not to be bothered by the many little distractions which can complicate teaching and evangelizing. "Go to the heart of the matter," he advised: "Jesus Christ." Father Braxton spoke on the vocation ofthe religious educator. A priest of the Chicago archdiocese, he holds doctorates in religious studies and systematic theology. Chancellor for theological affairs Turn to Page Two

Respect Life programs listed Pro-life activities on the state and diocesan level are numerous in October, Respect Life Month. In the New Bedford area, the St. James Pro-Life Committee is continuing sponsorship of a pro-life billboard, rotated from site to site at two-month intervals. Since the project began in 1986, billboards have appeared at sites in Dartmouth, New Bedford and Westport, bringing the pro-life message to hundreds of thousands of passersby. .

The billboard carries a full-color photograph of a 19-week-old unborn baby. "This powerful image of the beauty of an unborn child can do so much: it can speak for the unborn and save their lives and it can spare girls and women the trauma of what they are told is only a simple surgical procedure," says Steven Massoud, director of the pro-life committee, head ~f a drive for funds to ensure contInUance of the billboard message, which includes a hotline number for aid in problem pregnancies.

Contributions can be sent to the committee at St. James Church, 233 County St., New Bedford 02740. MCFL Activities Tomorrow the annual state convention of Massachusetts Citizens for 'Life will be held at Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Beginning with registration at 9 a.m., the· daylong meeting will include major addresses by the Rev. E. W. Jackson, a pastor, atTurn to Page Six

VATICAN CITY (NC) - The relationship of "new" lay Catholic movements with local churches, bishops and traditional Cath~lic associations is one of the major issues facing delegates to the 1987 synod on the laity, which began yesterday in Vatican City. Several of the movements' founders, officers and critics will be among the delegates, observers and "experts" at the synod. The so-called "new movements" have been particularly active and controversial in Europe. They have provided spiritual formatio~ f~r their members and enthusIastIc workers for local parish projects. Exact membership figures are hard to pin down, but hundreds of thousands of Catholics are said to be affiliated with the ~ove\1lents worldwide. Because of their international character, extensive lay leadership and dedication to specific charisms or ideals of their founders, some movements have clashed with local church authority. The synod's general secretary, Archbishop Jan Schotte, said there are two concerns about the movements likely to attract the attention of the synod fathers: the "new models of Catholic apostolic associations" vs. the "traditional Catholic Action model"; and the relationship between lay associations and organizations and their pastors. Groups identified as "new movements" include charismatic renewal, Focolare, Cursillo, neo-catechumenate, Schonstatt and Communion and Liberation. They have emerged in the past few. decades with international follOWIngs. Traditional lay associations such as Catholic Action, sodalities and confraternities have official status and longstanding institutional ties with the church. The new movements often have looser organization, less clerical supervision and more lay leadership than traditional groups. While many bishops welcome the movements in their dioceses, there have also been clashes between local church authorities a.nd the groups in several cou~tries. The friction has been over Issues ranging from episcopal authority to church teachings. The situation is one aspect of a ·Iarger debate that has been running through nearly three y~a~s of preparation for the synod: IS It to focus more on lay roles inside the church or on lay influence in the world at large? Vatican officials and synod documents emphasize the laity's "mission" in the world. What is most

needed, they say, is "enthusiasm for a new evangelization" that ch~l­ lenges society and connects faIth to daily life. Debate over lay ministries, they say could overshadow this essential'theme. They also defend the distinction between the priest's..sacramental ministry and the varIOUS lay ministries that have evolved. But much pre-synod discussion in the United States and elsewhere has centered on these "collaborative" ministries. Many local churches urge a greater role f~r women within the church, pOSSIbly including the permanent diaconate' more lay input into church docu~ents; and more lay decisionmakers at local and diocesan levels. In areas experiencing a chronic shortage of priests, the. debate focuses on ways of openmg sacramental ministry to lay people. Also in this discussion, a warning is raised over strictly segregating the functions .of cler~ .and laity, and of draWIng a spIrItual line between the church and the world. The differences ofemphasis were capsulized during Pope John Paul II's Sept. 18 meeting wit.h U.S. lay people in San FranCISco. ~ay speakers described th~ grOWIng importance of professIOnal and volunteer lay ministers in the church: from teaching catechism to creating small faith communities.. The pope called this a "great flowering of gifts," but w~rned against" 'clericalizing' the laIty or 'laicizing' the clergy." An example of this concern was the announcement by a Vatican canon law commission the following day that bishops cannot allow lay people to give homilies at Mass. Turn to Page Two

1987 • ..n..i••••

' . ,eS, . a.pec'.'Mclon i.,"en.... of

Respect Life M• •


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