Diocese of Fall River
The Anchor
F riday , October 3, 2008
October: A time to venerate Mary as Queen of the Rosary
By Deacon James N. Dunbar
NORTH EASTON — The rosary is making a comeback says one family ministry official, who reports various indications of a revival of this traditional Catholic devotion. “I think the ideas in the 2002 Apostolic Letter “Rosarium Virginis Mariae” (Rosary of the Virgin Mary) by our late Pope John Paul II as well as the fact that the rosary can be recited by those with limited reading skills and even young children, are playing significant parts in what we are now witnessing,”
FROM REQUIEM TO JOY — Dr. David MacKenzie conducts the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra during last October’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford. The NBSO will return to St. Anthony’s on October 26 to perform Franck’s Psalm 150 and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with its famous “Ode to Joy.” (Photo: Mare Studios)
NBSO to bring Beethoven’s Ninth up to speed at St. Anthony’s By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff
NEW BEDFORD — The secret to Ludwig van Beethoven’s enduring Ninth Symphony, according to Dr. David MacKenzie, conductor of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, is tempo. While countless performers and arrangers have agonized over whether to use period or contemporary instruments, or trying to find just the right balance between the brass and string sections, MacKenzie said Beethoven was a stickler when it came to the tempo of his work. “Beethoven was very specific about his tempos,” MacKenzie said. “It was so important that literally when he would hear of a performance of his work, the first thing he would ask was not
if the audience liked it or if it was well-played, but how were the tempos?” MacKenzie hopes to return to the composer’s original intention when he conducts the NBSO along with members of the Rhode Island College Chorus in a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony within the confines of St. Anthony’s Church on October 26 at 3 p.m. The concert is being performed in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Quebec, with proceeds also going to help restore St. Anthony’s 1912 Casavant Frères Organ in anticipation of the centennial of its dedication in 2012. Noting that the longest recorded version of the Ninth Symphony runs about 75 minutes, MacKenTurn to page 18
reported Congregation of Holy Cross Father John P. Phalen. Father Phalen is president of Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton, “which is a continuation of the ministry of our famous Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton, popularly known internationally as the “rosary priest.” The cause for the canonization of Father Peyton is in process and at the current stage he is called “Servant of God.” “What John Paul II made clear was that the rosary ‘is not a pious practice banished to the
past, like prayers of other times thought of with nostalgia.’ Instead, the Holy Father said, ‘this prayer helps to put Christ at the center, as the Virgin did.’ It is not just a prayer to Mary, as we often thought as young people, to the mother of God, but rather a Christocentric prayer and meditation on the life of Christ himself,” he added. “When we pray and meditate on all the 20 decades of the full rosary, we realize that what we’re finding is Mary gazing on her Son, and conforming to Turn to page 14
Worcester bishop recognizes group seeking canonization of Audrey Santo By Gail Besse Anchor Correspondent
taged, she still managed to help so many people,” said Robert Keane, a Worcester attorney and WORCESTER — A severely disabled young clerk of the Foundation of the Promotion of the woman who drew thousands to pray at her bed- Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Little side after paranormal events occurred nearby Audrey Santo. could become a saint for the culture of life. Audrey’s story was featured on ABC-TV’s Worcester Bishop Robert J. McManus re- “20/20” and in The New York Times. Two bishops cently gave official recognition to a group seek- and a dozen priests were in the sanctuary at Worcesing canonization for “Little Audrey,” who died ter’s St. Paul’s Cathedral for her funeral Mass. in 2007. After nearly drowning “She’s had global impact, this at age three, Audrey Marie Santo child who didn’t say a word,” said lived her next 20 years unable to her mother, Linda Santo. “She speak or move, being cared for by would be a Pro-Life saint, as she her family. was a statement for life in culture Unusual happenings that ocof death.” She predicted that Aucurred around the child brought the drey’s canonization would draw devout and the curious to the famiyoung people especially back to ly’s modest home for years. Statues the Church. and religious pictures inexplicaTwo authenticated posthumous bly dripped oil and blood. During miracles are needed for canonizaMasses celebrated at the home, tion, according to Church law. Mrs. blood, which was tested and found Santo said she believes one miracle Audrey Santo to be human, appeared on five conhas already occurred and it will be secrated Communion hosts. submitted for authentication. Although the Catholic Church does not use The impetus to get the canonization process such occurrences as verifications of miraculous going actually “came from Rome, not from us,” claims, many people saw these events as a sign she said. that Audrey was especially close to God, and so After her daughter’s death from cardio-respiprayed for her intercession. ratory failure, Mrs. Santo was contacted by Dr. “Although Audrey was physically disadvanTurn to page 18
Father John C. Martins; former pastor at St. Anthony of Padua By Deacon James N. Dunbar
FALL RIVER — Father John C. Martins, 77, who retired in June 2007 after 13 years as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish here, and who had served the Fall River Diocese as a priest for 52 years, died September 26 after a Father John long illness. C. Martins
“The parishioners here at St. Anthony’s are very saddened … and also shocked by Father Martin’s death, which came so suddenly,” said Father Brian Albino, who succeeded Father Martins as pastor. “He was very well liked by the parishTurn to page five