theMe FALL RIVER, MASS.
VOL. 50, NO. 38 • Friday, October 6, 2006
Diocesan priests find Pastoral Planning Days helpful, encouraging DAVE JOLIVET, EDITOR
NORTH DARTMOUTH - Approximately 75 diocesan priests convened at St. Julie Billiart Parish to learn more about Pastoral Planning, and to share ideas and concerns. "We were delighted with the turnout and the sharing of positive energies," said Father David A. Andrade, director of the diocesan Pastoral Planning Office. "There was a great deal of open and honest dialogue. Many of us left the two-day session very optimistic."
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The priests watched a PowerPoint presentation from diocesan consultant Doug Rodrigues, outlining what Pastoral Planning is and isn't. "Doug's presentation was very informative and helpful," Msgr. Steven J. Avila, pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Mansfield, told The Anchor. Msgr. Avila, dean of the Attleboro Area Deanery said, "the planning days were invigorating for many of us. It brought new life Turn to page 20 - Planning
81. Thomas More Award recipients announced - Story on page 18
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MEET THE SISTERS - NBC's Tim Russert shares a moment with his former elementary school teacher Mercy Sister t.ucille Socciarelli during the 12th annual St. Mary's Education Fund Fall Dinner held at White's of Westport. From left: Mercy Sisters Elaine Heffernan, Ellen Martin, Socciarelli, Russert and friend Margaret Mary Wagner. (Anchor/Gordon photo) I;
NBC's Russert salutes success of St. Mary's ~ducation Fund "
Record $690,328 raised for scholarships By
MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
PRAYERFUL PRESENCE - Nationally-known speaker and author Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Father Benedict Groeshel preached at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette October 2. The evening included the celebration of Mass and a eucharistic holy hour at which a relic of St. Theresa was venerated. (Anchor/Gordon photo)
WESTPORT - Tim Russert, editor and moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," has not forgotten his humble beginnings as a Catholic student at St. Bonaventure grade school. He shared that with a record crowd of more than 650, at the 12th annual Fall Dinner to benefit the St. Mary's Education Fund, September 28 at White's of Westport. At the end of the evening, a check for $690, 328, the largest in the fund's history, was presented to Bishop George W. Coleman to benefit needy and deserving Catholic children. , "I'm convinced I could not be doing whAt
I am today without the help I received from the most important teacher I ever met," said Russert regarding Mercy Sister Lucille Socciarelli, his seventh- and eighth-grade teacher in Buffalo, N.Y., who is currently a member of the Pastoral Care Team at Charlton Memorial Hospital. "In Catholic schools students have the opportunity to learn to read and write and learn right from wrong," said Russert. "It's essential that young people understand that they can have the same opportunities and achieve anything. One of them could be the next moderator of 'Meet the Press,'" declared the network's chief political analyst Turn to page 14 - Scholarships
New chaplain keeping spiritual flame lighted for Catholic Citizenship teams By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR NEW BEDFORD - Seeking the kingdom of God doesn't rule out Catholics' responsibility to make sure government stays on a good moral track, says the chaplain to Catholic Citizenship in the diocese. Incarnate Word Father Samuel H. Leonard, who is the pastor of St. Kilian's Parish in New Bedford, was named chaplain for the diocese-sponsored elections. issues group two weeks ago by Bishop George W. Coleman. Catholic Citizenship - led in the Diocese of Fall River by its public policy director, Bea Martins - encourages Catholic voters to be more active in the democratic process in an unbiased, non-partisan manner, in line with the statement from the Catholic
Bishops' on Faithful Citizenship. for those involved in election issues, esp~~ "As spiritual advisor I'm to help the team cially the non-partisan voter registration members keep their perspective on the spiri- drives that are currently underway in partual dimensions of what they're doing," Fa- ishes throughout the diocese to get-out th ther Leonard told The Anchor. Catholic vote in the upcoming November y "Otherwise they'll be caught up in what General Elections., Jesus called 'render to Caesar what is "My being named chaplain comes about Caesar's and to God what is because I have been active with God's'" he added. "And it's Bea Martins and we have easy for that to get out held talks," Father Leonarli of balance." noted. He said he sees his He said "we need to job "as assisting indi.I see the entire picture: that vidual people to keep a ?~., we are Church, and its job focus on our calling to b e . is to preach the Gospel. followers of Jesus." . Anchor graphic But its job is also to assist In an unofficial capacity. in. ~oc:r . ~,4 c ~ the secular government the past he led a retreat pnmanly ~ ~ to keep a focus on what
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is morally correct. If I understand the original Constitution, it is based on a concept of morality ... that there is a God - name him whatever you want - that comes with a sense that we are creatures and are totally dependent on a 'higher power' to use the contemporary term. "I think we have lost that sense," he asserted. "Some Catholics vote just according to the party line because their family has always done that. So we get caught up in the politics, neglecting what St. Paul says: 'We do not here have, a lasting city ... we are simply pilgrims. Our citizenship is in heaven.'" But that does not mean we tum our back on the government, Father Leonard exTurn to page 14 - Chaplain
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