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anc VOL. 49, NO. 38 • Friday, October 7, 2005
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Diocesan faithful contribute a whopping $lM for Hurricane Katrina ict· s relief By DEACON JAMES N.
DUNBAR
FALL RIVER - Generous parishioners from across the Fall River diocese have given $1,004,757.92 thus far to assist the thousands of homeless and displaced residents of the Gulf Coast region devastated by August's Hurricane Katrina. Bishop George W. Coleman said, ''The faithful of the Diocese of Fall River once again have shown their love and compassion for their neighbors by their generous response to our collection to aid those affected by the recent hurricanes. The gift from our diocese will help those affected in so many ways. May God bless all who, with a loving heart, contributed so generously to relieve the afflictions of others. "Please continue to remember in your prayers those who have lost their homes and possessions and especially those who have lost members of their families and friends. Pray especially, too, for those who died as a result of these destructive storms." Bishop Coleman had authorized pastors in the diocese to take up a collection for relief efforts, the funds going to Catholic Charities USA. The collections were held on either of the weekends of September 4, 11, or 18. The deadline of returns to the Chancery Office was September 28. The Fall River diocese's response followed the call of Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops, who on August 30 called on all 195 Catholic dioceses in the United States to participate in a national relief collection. A random survey of parishes by The Anchor, showed that the giving traits ofeach parish were pretty much followed in the hurricane collection. Many parishes published the result of the special collection in their parish bulletins. An amazing $75,082 was raised in the collection at St. Anthony's Parish in East Falmouth. Father William M. Costello, the pastor, said the amount was about $9,000 less that what parishioners had given for tsunami relief efforts in January. St. Pius X in South Yarmouth collected $44,918. Several other Cape parishes received more than $30,000 - St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, $40,000; St. Elizabeth Seton, North Falmouth, $37,893; and Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, $36,929. Parishioners at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Attleboro, don'ated $13,000, according to Msgr. Daniel F. Hoye. The collection at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Seekonk came up with $20,000 from those in the pews. Following that another private donor added a check for $650, it.was reported. At Holy Name Parish in Fall River, the collection Turn to page 12 -Relief
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A STATUE of St. Therese of Lisieux is surrounded by branches and twigs in a pew at a chapel at Sacred Heart Church in Biloxi, Miss., in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. (CNS photo by Bob Roller)
.Inner-city parishes combine efforts for major food drive By DAVE JOLIVET, EDITOR
Michael's and Sacred Heart parishes rely solely on the genST. MICHAEL'S AND erosity of parishioners and othSACRED HEART PARISHES ers who give so willingly of FALL RIVER The their time, talent and treasure. Catholic soup kitchens at St. Neither soup kitchen is Michael's and Sacred Heart funded by other agencies of parishes are asking for assis- any kind, although local St. tance from parishioners Vincent de Paul conferences throughout the Greater Fall helped install dishwashers at River area and across the Dio- the Sacred Heart location and cese of Fall River. In their first- donated a freezer to the St. ever joint Food Drive, the par- Michael's site. ishes hope to stock the shelves Several parishes in the area of the respective soup kitchens have contributed to both soup for the fall and winter months. kitchens including St. The drive will take place at Bernard's in Assonet~ St. ThoSt. Michael's Parish Hall, 189 mas More, Somerset; and Sl Essex Street, Wednesday, Oc- George's in Westport. In additober 12 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. lion, the Knights of Columbus Everyone is invited to stop Father Boehr Council in by the north-end parish to drop Tiverton, R.I., has been a genoff non-perishable food items, erous supporter of the St. such as pasta and sauce, pea- Michael's endeavor. nut butter, canned fruits and': The Food Drive on Wednesvegetables, soups, juice, etc. day will assure that both kitchPersonal hygiene items, such ens will have what they need as soap, shampoo, shaving ma- to help area homeless individuterials, and toothpaste, are also als during a time of year when needed. the elements can be quite The soup kitchens at St. Turn to page 12 - Food WITH REPORTS FROM
THIS SCENE of men from Espirito Santo Parish, Fall River, canying a statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the annual Columbus Day Procession for Peace, will be rep~ated forthe 30th time this year. The idea for the march came from Beatriz Sanchez Angelo, who was concerned in 1974 about the Communists coming to power in Portugal. (File photo by John E. Keams Jr.)
Peace procession tradition is near and dear to Espirito Santo parishioners By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
FALL RIVER - For 90-yearold Beatriz Sanchez Angelo, the Columbus Day Procession for Peace holds a special place in her heart.
In 1975, tl!e Espirito Santoparishioner got the idea that she wanted to organize something for peace. Now some 30 years later, the annual event brings hundreds of people together each year. "I wanted to do a candlelight
procession to honor Our Lady of Fatima and talked to my friend Father Francis Mahoney about it. He thought it was a splendid idea and encouraged me to write a letter about it to the bishop." Turn to page 12 - Peace
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. Friday, October 7, 2005
Pro-Life group to host forum on morning after pill, related topics EAST SANDWICH - The Cape Cod Pro-Life Alliance will present, "Catholic Unity Rally II" October 16 at Corpus Christi Parish Center, 324 Quaker Meeting House Road at 3 p.m. The program will take the form of a three-person forum titled, "Who Will Teach YOUR· Child about Life and Love?" Guest speakers will be Maria Parker, associate director of Massachusetts Catholic Conference; Dr. John Diggs, and Kris Mineau, president of Massachusetts Family Institute. The moderator will be Larry Cirignano, executive director of Catholic Citizenship. Catholic parents, as well as those of other faiths, are concerned by the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseasei'n"'leens and the introduction to youngsters of birth control, abortion, alternate lifestyles and sexual practices and other subjects. The recent passage of legislation in
Massachusetts permits girls as young as 12 years of age to go to a pharmacy and purchase a "morning after pill' as frequently as they wish, without a prescription or parental knowledge. Parents recognize that this may be further encouragement to embark on sexually active behavior with no knowledge of potential harm to their maturing bodies by pills that can be 50 percent more powerful than one birth control pill. In addition, parents are increasingly troubled by the seeming erosion of their rights in making decisions for their children and in guiding their development. The forum will explore these topics and how they may be in .conflict with Catholic religious and moral beliefs as well as possible measures which might provide some protection. Parents and grandparents of all faiths who share an interest in these topics are invited.
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Sister Florence Denoncourt SUSC LOWELL - Holy Union Sister Florence Denoncourt, 81, also known as Sister Marie Bernadette, died September 28 at Wentworth Skilled Care Center here. She served her community as a religious for 67 years. Born in Cambridge, the daughter of the late Louis and the late Marie Louise (Tremblay) Denoncourt, she graduated from Our Lady of Pity High School in 1942 and entered the Holy Union Novitiate in Fall River. She pronounced her first religious vows in 1944 and her final vows in 1950. Sister Florence studied at the
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in Lowell. Due to failing health, she became· a resident at the Wentworth Skilled Care Center in 2004. Besides her Holy Union Sisters, she leaves two sisters, Theresa Heim of Wilmington and Rosemarie Audet o{Watertown; and nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Lorraine McCloskey, and Jeannette Keefe, a sister by adoption. Her funeral Mass was celebrated September 30 at St. Mary's Villa in Lowell. Burial was in St. Bernard's Cemetery in Concord.
Fall River native celebrates 50 years as Sister of St. Joseph DERIDDER, La. - Sister of St. Joseph and Fall River native Rita Deschenes recently marked her 50th anniversary as a nun with celebrations at the Mother House in Holyoke, Mass., and at St. Joseph's Parish in DeRidder where she has served for 27 years. Sister Rita is the oldest of 14 children born to Albert O.J. Deschenes and Bermonde (Lemieux) Deschenes. A member of the former St. Jean Baptiste Parish, Fall River, she entered the convent on September 15, 1955. Her fIrst assignment was at her home parish. From there Sister Rita had assignments at St. Michael's Parish, and St. Louis de France Parish, Swansea; St. Joseph's, Vinton, La.; St. Theresa's and St Matthew's, New "Bedford; St. Joseph's Parish, Conway, Ark.; and fInally to St. Joseph's Parish in DeRidder.
From her DeRidder home she was able to serve briefly in a mission in Nicaragua, and also attend a special retreat in La Salette,
SISTER OF ST. JOSEPH RITA DESCHENES
France. The DeRidder celebration, including a special Mass, was held September 8 and was attended by more than 500 people, including nine family members. The mayor of DeRidder presented Sister Rita with an honorary Key to the City and a Proclamation designating September 8 as Sister Rita Day in DeRidder. The Diocese of Lake Charles presented her with a Distinguished Service Medal and a 12day pilgrimage to Rome, fulfIlling a lifelong dream. The St. Joseph Mother House in Holyoke hosted a special Mass for Sister Rita celebrated by Bishop Joseph Maguire on September 18. Twenty family members attended the Massachusetts celebration. Sister Rita visited Fall River for a few days following the event before returning to Louisiana.
Former pastor pleads guilty to child pornography charges NEW BEDFORD - Sentencing for Father Stephen A. Fernandes, former pastor of Our
CATHOLIC Website: SOCIAL SERVICES cssdioc.org ATTLEBORO lOMAPLEST.
'Sacred Heart School of Education in Fall River and at Fordham University, N.Y., and received a bachelor's degree in education from Catholic Teachers' College in Providence, R.I. She received a master's degree in education as a reading specialist from Salem State College in 1971. During her teaching career she taught at schools in New York and Rhode Island, as well as in Lawrence, Cambridge, Chelsea, Groton and North Attleboro. After retirement she did secretarial work at Pepperell and Lowell, while in residence at Holy Union Retirement Home
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Lady of Fatima Parish, was tentatively put off until November 28 by Judge Robert Kane after a hearing in Superior Court here on September 26. Father Fernandes, 55; pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing child pornography, one count of distributing and disseminating, and one count of posing or exhib-
iting a child in the state of nudity. Father Fernandes was placed on administrative leave by Bishop George W. Coleman on Oct. 29, 2004, and arrested on November 5, that year. Since then, Father Fernandes has not been allowed to perform his ministerial duties or to act as a representative of the Catholic Church.
La Salette Retreat Center 947 Park Street Attleboro, MA 02703-5115 508-222-8530 Oct. 16 at 1:00 p.m. Fr. Dan Bradley, M.S. presents a Recollection: Finding Christ Through Friendship Oct. 21 - 23 John Poke's - Stay With Us! Retreat Oct. 30 at 1:00 p.m. Fr. Fern Cassista, M.S. presents a Recollection: Job: Man of Suffering. Man of Faith Grief Education Program - Sr. Judith Costa. SSD Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information, pleases call or write Retreat Secretary
'Brazilian faith community vibrant and growing in Fall River diocese By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR SOUTH YARMOUTH - As many as 500 Brazilian Catholics attend his Sunday night Mass and hundreds more gather at weekday Masses and prayer services and receive sacraments as they make time from unusual work schedules to profess their faith, says the priest who serves them. "These immigrants, many of them working towards obtaining their Green Card, are often unable to attend weekend Masses be,cause of their seasonal and ongoing work schedules at restaurants and in other service fields, and so we have Masses and liturgies at times they can be available," reported Father Jose Afonso Lima, director of the Brazilian Apostolate for the Fall River diocese. An immigrant himself, a member of the Brazilian missionary group Missio, he came to the' , United States in 1997 and worked for nine months in Bridgeport, Conn., before coming to the Fall River diocese. He works out of St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth, where he is, in residence. From there, he travels to Hyannis and Martha's Vineyard, and to Fall River, where statistics show thousands, of Brazilians have taken up residence and are striving to take an active part in parish life. "But when most other people are free to go to weekend Mass, these people are at jobs where tttey can't get away, and so it is not easy ,for them to gather when most parishioners do to meet faith obligations," Father Lima noted. "So they attend Mass at other times." To serve and minister to his widespread flock, the 47-year-old priest, has ~o travel to Falmouth and outto the Island of Martha's Vineyard to say Masses, and also to celebrate Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church for the immigrants
on Sunday nights. "We have Mass in S1. Augustine's on Martha's Vineyard on Friday nights at 7 p.m. There is a Mass at S1. Patrick's in Falmouth on Mondays at 7 p.m. And on Saturday nights there is Mass at the Cathedral in Fall River celebrated by Father Paulo Barboza at 7 p.m." he said. ' All are ''well attended," he reported. On Wednesday nights, it is not unusual to have 250 attend a prayer service, where the sacrament of reconciliation is also offered, and religious instructions given. Similar services in other areas of the diocese are held on Sunday nights and still others on Wednesday and TUesday evenings. These services are led by priests "sometimes including priests from the missionary group from Brazil that is residing in the Boston area," he said. While the arrival of the Brazilians to this diocese'seems recent, they will mark the 15th anniversary of their corning here 'on December 30, which is the feast of the Holy Family. "To celebrate the anniversary, we will have a Mass on December 11, at 7 p.m., in St. Mary's Cathedral," Father Lima said. "Bishop George W. Coleman will celebrate the Mass and give the homily." . Father Lima says the Brazilian community in the diocese has grown in leaps and bounds. "This is not a stopping place for them," Father Lima noted. ''They are not moving elsewhere. They are here to stay. They are also working to become citizens. They are trying to.buy homes and are raising children who go to the local schools. And they are increasing. Originally they came from the Boston area. They came to C~pe Cod because manual laborers are in demand in the ser-
vice areas. But it has become their home - the Cape and the Island, and they love it so much. Their families, many in San Paulo, Brazil, come to join them here." According to recent reports and statistics, Father Lima's statements are right on track. Official Massachusetts statistics list between 180,000 and 200,000 Brazilian immigrants currently living in the Bay State. More locally, 2000 reports list 1,272 people of Brazilian ancestry living in Bristol County. However, ,a separate survey indicated
5,000 were living in the New working to become a citizen, and Bedford Area, but there were no having spent some seven years iQ statistics for how many were re- the Fall River diocese, I hope to siding in 'Fall River. be incardinated here some day While the Brazilian commu- too." Father Lima said that no hisnity has largely resided in the Boston region, more specifically tory of the Brazilian community in Cambridge and Somerville, the "is complete without talking to its more recent exodus - since 1994 great friend, Thomas S. Loughlin, - from there finds the Brazilians of West Yarmouth. taking up residence in Hyannis. "While Tom doesn't speak a The survey also said the rea- single word in Portuguese, he son the Brazilians went to Cape .loves the Brazilians and has been Cod and Hyannis was because of the founder of the movement to the availability of jobs "linked to assist the Brazilian community tourism." It also noted that the here," Father Lima said. "He is immigration ~ere "is linked to indeed a wonderful man, and is at all the Masses." cultural and familial ties." Loughlin told The Anchor that Asked whether he will continue to serve his fellow'Brazil- while working with the S1. ians, Father Lima laughed and Vincent de Paul Conference at St said, "I hope so. Like them r am Tum to page 12 - Brazilian
Mark Forest appointed new administrator at Marian Manor FALL RIVER Msgr. , appointment of Mark Forest as Edmund J. Fitzgerald, executive administrator at Marian Manor in director of the Diocesan Health Taunton. Marian Manor is a member of Facilities, recently announced the the Diocesan Health Facilities system of skilled nursing, rehabilitative care and community programs that is sponsored by the Diocese of Fall River. Forest has been employed within the DioCesan Health Facilities system since 2001. He has been the admissions director at . Our Lady's Haven in Fairhaven and Sacred Heart Home in New Bedford, and most recently, was the assistant administrator at Marian Manor. His appointment as administrator followed the resignation of Laura M. Faria, administrator at Marian Manor since 2003. MARK FOREST
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Friday, October 7, 2005
T HE LANDING .The truly Christian life
the living word
Forty years ago, as the Second Vatican Council was coming. to a close, Pope Paul VI established the Synod ofBishops as a regular organ for the successors of the apostles to continue the work of the Council, examining the signs of ~e times and responding to them with the proclamation of the Gospel. Earlier this week, one of the most famous and influential ofthe theological experts at Vatican II inauIDffilted the 11th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod ofBishops. Pope Benedict XVI, with 256 bishops and various experts from around the world, began three solid weeks of study, prayer and discussion on the theme, 'The Euch~st: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church." The Second Vatican Council taught that the Eucharist is "the source and the summit of the Christian life" (Lumen Gentium 11). The source, because it is the reality from which everything in the Christian life should flow; the summit, because it is the reality toward which everything in the Christian life should go. The Eucharist is the beginning and the goal of the Christian life because the Eucharist is Jesus Christ,' who must be the "alpha and the omega," of any life that is authentically Christian. What is true for the Christian is true for. the Church as a whole. Pope John Paul II began the last ~ncyclical of his pontificate with the statement "Ecclesia de Eucaristia vivit," the Church draws her-life from the Eucharist. In his Angel~. message to inaugurate the synod, Pope Benedict confirmed and elaborated upon his predecessor's declaration, saying ''the Eucharist is the motor of the whole of the Church's evange~颅 ing actiOI)., as the heart is in the human body." Without the Eucharist as the "motor" and "heart" of everything the Church does and is, particular churches or parishes lose their identity. "Without the Eucharistic celebration where. they are nourished at the dual table of the Word and Body of Chris~," Benedict stressed, "Christian communities would lose their authentic nature. Only in the meas~ that they are 'Eucharistic' can they transmit Christ to men, and not just ideas or values regardless of how noble or important they are." For the Church to transmit Christ and not just "Catholic values" to others, the members of the Church 'must find in the Eucharistic Lord their root and center. The synod seeks to draw the attention of the whole Church to this fun~amental truth. Parishes and faithful disciples, like Martha, are often busy doing many good things for the Lord~ This Euof reconciliation offers us the Not long ago,a fallen-away charistic Year has been the time during which the Lord, through two of certainty of God's forgiveness; Catholic acquaintance was' his earthly vicars, has reminded us that really "only one thing is necesand, second, the sacrament sary." Christ, present fOf us under a Eucharistic appearance, is that inquiring with curiosity about fulfills Christ's right to apply his what exactly I do on a regular uniqueiy indispensable reality. mercy to each soul he has , The synod draws to a close the Year of the Eucharist, which.was basis as a priest. In 'the course of redeemed. These considerations my answer, when I mentioned announced by Pope John Paul II as a means by which every Catholic are among those set forth by that I also regularly hear confesdisciple and parish could grow in a "Eucharistic amazement" that would Pope John Paul II in his 1984 sions, she interrupted and asked, show itself in deeds. While there was room for many different types of ."Do they still have that?" I Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortainitiath'eS, he stated he was not askiilg for anything extraordinary. "If assured her that the Church had tion, "Reconciliatio et the only result ofthis Year were the revival in all Christian communities not reduced the number of ' Paenitentia" ('~Reconciliation of the celebration of Sunday Mass and an increase in Eucharistic wor- sacraments from seven to six, but and Penance"). ship outside of Mass, this year of grace would be abundantly success- this eye-opening ful." comment powerfully Those are'the two areas on which Catholic disciples and parishes confirmed for me the Putting Into within our diocese can examine whether it's been a fruitful or wasted sober observation of year: greater participation in quality and quantity in the "little Easter" of Cardinal Christoph the each Sunday; and such a practical recognition ofthe Lord's Eucharistic SchOribom, of Vienna, presence,that disciples make the effort to come spent time with him in Austria, who has S:y F~t,h!U Qavid . adoring love. . described confession as , '. A"~"Pignato These would be two concrete ways, Pope John Paul stated, that dis- the "forgotten sacraciples and parishes could determine whether they are marked by genu- ment." It is sadly true today ine Eucharistic amazement. They would be two indicators by which . While it is true that God is .they could evaluate whether Jesus in the Eucharist is truly the source that even many Catholics who able to absolve sins outside of and summit of their life and missi(;m. These would be the two signs by regularly attend Mass rarely consider receiving the sacrament the sacrament, it is no less true which they could verify if they're living a truly Christian life. reconciliation. The regular he has promised to do so of ,that The Synod's goal is to"lead the Church - both us and our parishes precisely in the sacrament of ' availing ourselves of practice of - from a Eucharistic year to a Eucharistic lifetime. God's mercy in the confessional is confession. One of the principles something that has almost of sacramental theology is that 路路~~1J1:_1 God'is not bound by the sacradisappearoo from our Catholic culture, at ieast here in the United ments, but he is bound to the States. And, while itis true that ' sacraments. God, of course, is confession is required or necesfree to work outside of the sary only for the'forgiveness of sacraments, but he has bound mortal sins, it is also true that the himself and promised to work Church strongly recommends the and be present within them. This regular reception of this sacrameans that when we ate in need ment for the purpose of growing of God's mercy, whether because in the perfection of virtue. of serious or venial sins, the To 'recover an appreciation of relief ofknowing we are forgiven this great sacrament,.it might be and back in friendsh~p with God helpful to emphasize two aspects can be found with certainty in the of confession that are often sacrarri.ent that Christ instituted qverlooked. First, the sacrament on the day of his resurrection (cf:
POPE BENEDICT
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Given this sacramental offer of certainty of forgiveness, Pope John Paul' argued, it would be "foolish, as well as presumptuous" for a person to disregard the, sacrament and claim that it is unnecessary (No. 31). Another truth abo'ut the sacrament of penance, offered for consideration by our late Holy Father, is that it provides and safeguards the right of Christ to meet each soul he has redeemed at the critical moment of conversion and to apply his mercy to that soul individually and intimately (No. 20). The . mercy of God, won for us by Christ's death on the cross, is extended and applied to each of us in the personal encounter with Christ that takes place in the format of individual confession. Instead of focusing on our own rights, the Holy Father encouraged us to consider the right of Christ the savior to encounter each of us in a moment of mercy. Emphasis on these oftenoverlooked aspects of the sacrament-of confession may, help to revive the reception of this sacrament throughout the Church. And a revival of the sacrament of confession should be a concern of us all; for, as Cardinal Schonborn has noted, "wherever in the Church today there are new signs of life, there is a rediscovery of the sacrament of penance.'"
Friday,
Octob~r
7,2005
A painful presumption note that infants around this age In the practice of medicine and medical ethics, we routinely do appear t6 feel pain and respond to noxious stimuli. Yet make certain presumptions in the authors of the JAMA article favor of patients and their wellattempt to argue that because being. When we see somebody bleeding, we presume we should certain connections in the developing brain of the unborn' stop the bleeding. When we see infant have not yet been estabsomebody in pain, we presume lished by 20 weeks of age, pain we should remedy the pain. When we see somebody sick, we presume we should heal the ailment. Medicine presumes to operate this way all the time. You might say that medicine is defined by By Father Tad a general presumption Pacholczyk of acting in favor of the goods of healing, comforting, and saving perception by the infant may not life. be possible. The authors also Sometimes these commonmake an concerted attempt to sense presumptions come to be discount or discredit a number challenged in unexpected and of the standard lines of evidence even disturbing ways within the suggesting that infants in utero medical field: Recently the may feel pain quite early during Journal of the American a pregnancy. . Medical Association published What are some examples of an article discussing whether this evidence suggesting that infants in the womb can feel fetuses feel pain early on? Those pain early in their development. who work full-time in neonatal The article ignited considerable intensive care units dedicated to controversy, as the question came to be discussed in terms of helping premature infants recognize how these "preemies" abortion procedures carried out readily respond to painful after 20 weeks of gestation. stimuli. Surgeons routinely Many neonatal specialists
Making Sense Out of Bioethics
their article to the editor of the Journal. The lead author is a former NARAL employee, and another is the director of an anaesthetize premature, babies abortion clinic in San Francisco before they undergo operations. Children delivered as early as 21 and also on the staff of the Center for Reproductive Health weeks can have an audible cry. Research and Policy, a prbSome doctors believe that such abortion advocacy center at the distress can be felt even as early University of California-San , as 12 weeks. If you stick a pin Francisco. into the palm. of a baby in utero The conclusions of the paper who is eight w€!eks old, she will are indeed troubling: "Because withdraw from this pain perception probably does painful stimulus. In not function before the third fact, such a baby will trimester, discussions of fetal open her mouth in pain for abortions petformed utero as though she before the end of the second were crying and carry trimester should be nonout initial exhalation compulsory. Fetal anesthesia or movements and other analgesia should not be recombreath-type movemended or routinely offered for ments. Recent imaging abortion because current studies have corroboexperimental techniques provide rated this "fetal unknown fetal benefit and may homologue" of an infant crying increase risks for the woman." in the womb following painful Pain,has traditionally been or noxious stimuli. understood a's an unpleasant What is perhaps most telling sensory and emotional experiabout the JAMA article is that ence associated with actual or the authors recommend that 'potential tissue damage. So mothers contemplating an although the infant may be abortion should not be given undergoing physical dismemberinformation about the pain that ment during a termination their child may experience during the procedure, because of procedure, the presumption somehow ends up being made uncertainty about when that by the authors that she is not child actually begins to experiexperiencing discomfort until ence pain. Two of the article's such· time as it can be absolutely authors, interestingly, failed to proven that she is. This amounts reveal important conflicts of ' to a "painful presumption" in interest when they submitte? the wrong direction. If there is uncertainty about when the infant in utero can begin to feel
Rooting for a three-legged frog Let's see if I remember how to As the late, great George Harrison once sang, "All things do this. It's been so very long, must pass." and I don't think it's quite like riding a bicycle when that skill It certainly was fun while it lasted, this dynasty thing. It's just comes back almost instantly providing one had the skill to that the word "dynasty," conjures begin with. up long-term images, and this In fact, I've had to make two vain attempts already in the past three weeks, and it's NOT coming back. As difficult as this task will be, it must succeed. Arid by the look of things, it best happen By Dave Jolivet soon. I'm willing to accept any and all recommendaride was but a mere four years. tions to help me accept the fact that the New England Patriots are Gone. Please don't get me wrong. I once again an average football, still, and always will, love my team. New England Patriots, but I think There, I've said it, and that's the glory days are through for a half the battle. But I really don't while. feel much better. How can they notbe?,No Now I must become reacteam can lose the likes of Tedy quainted with watching a team Bruschi, Ted Johnson, Ty Law, that may not be able to muster a Rodney Harrison, Kevin Faulk, miracle comeback in the fourth Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel quarter. and not be affected. That's like It's time to learn that the entering a three-legged frog in Patriots' defense may not come the JUIl)ping Contest of up with a backbreaking touchCalaveras County and expect to down against a team with all the win. momentum. There will be more wins this A game at The Razor? Not a season and hopefully a playoff given any more. I had better get used to finding spot, but I don't know if I can bear watching Peyton Manning the Patriots out of the top 10 in ride into town on his Colts and the weekly power rankings on cut us down, at home, and on the ESPN, FoxSports and Sports national television. Illustrated Websites.
My View From the Stands
But I think the largest adjustment I'll face this season will be hopping over the railing to my neighbor's house for his annual Super Bowl party without a care who wins or loses. So this is what football fans in the rest of the country felt like for most of this millennium. Yuck. But as a Pats fan from the mid 60s, I know I must accept the good 'with the bad. It's just that the good is much more fun. And the Red Sox? I don't dare touch that one in this column. By the time this Anchor graces your mailboxes, the Home Towne Team may be barely clinging to life. And I didn't have the courage to ask the pastor of Notre Dame for his take on the Battle of the Sox. Not only did he predict the Yanks would win the Eastern Division, but he had the darn score of the clinching game dead on! I surely don't want to know what he knows about the division series. The Patriots are enough of a horror story right now.
Dave Jolivet is a former , sports editor/writer who frequently gives his view ofthe unique world ofsports. Comments are welcome at dave;olivet@anchornews.org.
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pain, should we not err on the side of caution and presume that she is entitled to pain medication when being subjected to typically painful or noxious stimuli? If we had any inkling that a young dolphin or puppy might suffer because of the way we were euthanizing them, we would seek to redress their pain, rather than carry on an academic argument aimed at preventing pain management for these young animals. Yet a deeper concern remains. By offering pain control during.an abortion, we still would not succeed in redeeming or sanitizing the act itself. Painfree killing is still killing. But at least by encouraging abortion doctors and their pregnant patien~ to consider the pain the infant may experience, they may be prompted to consider a deeper dimension of what they are'doing. By challenging their highly suspect presumptions about fetal pain, they may ultimately be pushed to look not only at the discomfort implicit in the procedure, but to revisit the more basic question about the practice itself which brings the life of an innocent human being to an untimely and unjust end.
Father Tadeusz Pacholcl,Yk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest ofthe Diocese of Fall River, and serves as the director ofeducation at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.
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.What should I wear? be given a place - though it "My friend, how is it that seems not all. But notice who you came in here without a do~s the challenging. Notice wedding garment?" who tells the underdressed This is perhaps one of the guest that he is no longer most troubling scenes in the welcome. It is not the Gospels. After many attempts other guests; it is not at recruiting guests for his _ the trusted servants; son's wedding banquet, the it is not even the king fmally gives up and king's son. It is the invites anyone who comes king himself. along. But in the midst of all of this there is one person As disciples of 1esus we can,spend who just does not fit the bill. How can this be? What is the so much time trying pro~r attire for this wedding? to figure out who is We can be certain that in this welcome and who is , not that we forget passage Jesus is speaking about more than how one who we are in the context of looks and how one is dressed all of this. We are invited or not dfessed!' guests who are certainly most The Christian life, Jesus , welcome by our loving God. tells us, is like a weddlng But if we spend so much time banquet All will be invited.. trying to figure out who Many will say no. Those who _ belongs and who does n9t we say yes to the invitation will will miss out on the celebra-
tion. We will end up like the "faithful son~' in the story of the Prodigal-Son who refuses to enter the celebration. ' Our job is not to figure ~>ut
who is welcome and who is not. That responsibility seems - to belmig, according to Jesus, to someone who has much more-authoritY than we do. Then what is our responsibil, ity in all of this? To inake sure .we are properly attired! What to
does it get stained? Does it get wear to such a banquet! There removed completely? This is is a rather abundant wardrobe frOm which we can choose! Do the wedding garment. This is what we wear to the celebranot fret! At baptism we are given the tion. How do we keep it clean? , pledge of eternal life. , How do we make sure it fits As we pass through the pro~rly?Bymakingsurewe are,living as Christ c~s us; by waters of baptism we loving God and loving our share in the death of neighbor; especially the .Christ so that we may ,share in his resurrec.,. neighbor who is in-need or tion. In the course of , seemingly unlovable. The opportunities are endthe baptism ritual the less in how we are to celebrate one being baptized this life to which we are called. receives a white The challenge is ours, given to gamient and is told us by our Lord. We have all "See in this white . been invited and we are called garment the outward sign of to be properly attired for this our Christi;m dignity. Bring feast Don't forget to RSVP. I that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven." to see you there! Fqther John MUmlY is curThrough our life of disciplerently a parochial vicar at St. ship we have choices to make. Do we continue in our wearing Pius X Parish, South of this clean, white garment or Yarmouth.
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Speak Lord: For your s~rvant is lis,~ening One of the oldest elements of the Mass is the hoinily, an infonnal instruction on the spiritual life. Unlike a sermon, . which is a talk on any religious topic, a homily draws its inspii-ation froni the liturgical texts and ' especially from the Scripture readings. Long before Christ's time, commentary on the Scriptures was part of the Sabbath liturgy 'in the synagogue. We know too that S1. Paul preached at the Eucharist (Acts 20':7, 11). And S1. Justin Martyr, a second~ntury 'Church Father,reports in his description of the Mass: "When the reader has finished, the president," that is, the one who presides at the Eucharist, "warns and exhorts us in a speech to follow these glorious eXllmples" (l Apol. 67:4). Now, as then, the purpose of the homily is to help us gain more insight into God's Word and to live in accordance with the faith we profess. On Sundays and holy days a homily is mandatory; it is recommended on other days and espe<,:i3.J.ly during Ad~ent and Lent. Usually the homily relates to the Gospel passage just proclaimed. Yet the other readings also provide a very rich mine, and the preacher who consistently ignores them leaves that mine untapped. In the Scriptures, God speaks to us through one of his inspired messengers or, as in the case of , the Gospel, through his own divine Son. In the homily, God speaks through his ordained servant. By Church law, the homilist at Mass must be a bishop, priest, or deacon; moreover, only with the bishop's
permission maya priest or . She shielded the Bible from deacon preach. This is not , barbarian attacks and copied it in primarily because of the theoher monasteries centuries before logical training needed to preach the priDting press. And she, "the . sound doctrine. Mter all, many pillar and bulwark of the truth" laity and religious are well (l Tim. 3:15), infallibly interprets educated and more eloquent th~ God's revelation (2 Pt. 1:20-21, . 3:15-16). The Bible, then, is the Church's book, a fruit of her 2000-year tradition of preaching, teaching, and worship. The creeds also belong to tradition; next week we'll look at the Nicene Creed used at Mass on Sundays and holy days. , their clergy. Rather, as the A brief period ofsilence , . Catechism teaches (No. 1585), it should follow the homily, to is because the sacrament of holy allow time to meditate on the orders - the fullness of which is biblical and preached Word. . the office of bishop - confers a During that time, recall St. unique grace enabling the Augustine's famous remark: "I minister to teach, sanctify, and shepherd the faithful in a Daily Readings supernatural way. "Doyou understand what you Oct 9 Is 25:6-1 Oa; Ps are reading?" St. Philip asked the 23:1-6; Phil Ethiopian eunuch who was '. 4:12-14,19-20; reading the prophet Isaiah; and Mt 22:1-14 or . the eunuch replied, "How can I, 22:1-10 , unless someone guides me?" Oct 10 Rom 1:1-7; Ps (Acts 8:30-31). When Catholics 98:1-4; Lk 11:29read and hear Scripture, we 32 . accept the guidance of our Oct 11 Rom 1:16-25; 'ChUrch, whose God-given Ps 19:2-5; Lk teilchiQg authority (Mt. 28: 18-20; . 11:37-41 Mk. 16:15) is vested in the Oct 12 Rom 2:1-11; Ps Apostles and their successors,. 62:2-3,6-7,9; Lk the pope and the bishops united 11:42-46 with him (Mt. 16:19). The Holy Oct 13 Rom 3:21-30; Spirit guides the Church '~into all Ps 1'30:1-6;' Lk the truth" (In. 16:13) and 11:47-54 preserves her from teaching false . Oct 14 Rom 4:,1-8; Ps doctrine. Years before a word of 32:1-2,5,11; Lk the New Testament was written, 12:1-7 the Church was preaching and Oct 15 ,Rom 4:13,16teaching God's Word and 18;' Ps1 05:6celebrating the Eucharist. The . 9,42-43; Lk Church deciged which writings 12:8-12 were to be included in the Bible.
would not believe the Gospel were it not for.the authority of the Catholic Church." Then ask our Lord to help you be like Zacchaeus in Luke's Gospel, ftrmly resolving to put into practice the saving message you
have jUst received.
Father Kocik, an author of two books, one on the liturgy, is chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fan River, and resides at St Thomas More Parish, Somerset
In Your 'Prayers Please pray for the following priests during the coming weeks Oct. 10
1918, Rev. James C.J. Ry North Easton ' 1987, Rev. Boniface Jones, New Bedford 1990, Rev. JosephA. M Bedford
Assistant, Immaculate Conception,
Oct. 1
1999, Rev. Felician Plichta, OFM v., Parochial Vicar, Corpus Christi; East Sandwich, Former Pastor 'y Cross, Fall River Oct. 13
1999, Rev. David I. Walsh, M.M., Maryknoll Missioner 2002, Rev. James.J. Doyle, C.S.C., Holy Cross Residence, North Dartmouth . , , OcL 14
1918, Rev. Dennis M. Lowney, Assistant, Sacred Heart, Taunton 1972, Rev. Msgr. Edward B. Booth, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro ' . 1999 Rev: Frederick G. Furey, SS.CC. Former Pastor, Our Lady of Assumption, New Bedford 2003, Rev. Andre P. Jussaume, Pastor, St. 'Louis de France, Swansea . Oct. 15 1996, Rev. Msgr. Raymond T. Co~sidine, PA, Retired Pastor, St. William, Fall River
OcL16
1987, Rev. Raymond M. Drouin, O.P., Former Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River
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Friday, October 7, 2005
Going to the dogs 4 October 2005 Homeport - St. Francis of Assisi Day Priests are going to the dogs. This is nothing new. I remember the Irish setter Father Walter Sullivan kept at Cathedral Camp. Many the evening priests on retreat would gather on the porch and be entertained by Clancy. Father John Carroll had his lab "Sam." Father Maurice Lamontagne kept "Fifi" the poodle. And then there was "Dandy," Bishop James Connolly's portly poodle, so fond as he was of hors d'reuvres and Bishop Daniel Cronin's "Neagus." Who could forget Frisky One and Two, owned by Father Bill O'Reilly? Frisky One passed away from unknown causes. Thereafter, Bill looked at his gentle curate (Father Barry Wall) suspiciously. Years later, Father O'Reilly was leaving on vacation. I was his curate. He put me in charge of his dog. "Make sure nothing happens to my Frisky," he warned. Frisky didn't like me. I would sneak in the rectory by the back door. 'Iii seconds; Frisky would be chasing me around the kitchen table. Frisky more than lived up to his name. On my first pass, I would open the refrigerator door. On subsequent laps, I would grab food - hot dogs, hamburgers, whatever - and throw it in the dog's general direction. This bought me time
to run to my bedroom and bolt the door. The housekeeper, Mrs. Silvia, remarked: "I notice, Father, you eat little at mealtimes - but you sure do love those midnight snacks, don't you?" The morning after Bill O'Reilly left for Florida, I found Frisky "in extremis" in
the rectory front hallway. With the help of elderly Sister Gertrude Margaret, and using a bulletin board as a stretcher, we loaded the dying dog in the convent's car. Frisky was rushed to the vets. "Cure this dog at any cost," I told the vet. He did. After Father O'Reilly received the vet's bill, he never again asked me to dog sit. Frisky Two died peacefully in his sleep years later. Some anonymous person mailed me the obituary from the parish bulletin. Gone are !he days when several priests resided in the same rectory. Most priests now live alone. That's one reason priests have pets. Rectories can be big, dark, empty houses. It helps to have another life form sharing your living space. Besides, it's a proven scientific fact: pets are beneficial to your health. Dogs
are by far the pets of choice, although Pope Benedict prefers cats. One does feel silly talking to a goldfish. Msgr. Dan Hoye says the subject of rectory pets would make an interesting study. Maybe when I retire, Dan. 5 October 2005 - Chief Joseph Surrenders (1877) "From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." I like dogs. My tribal name is "Walks-With~ Hounds." Deacon Bill Martin of St. Elizabeth Seton parish, North Falmouth, and his wife Judy introduced me to greyhounds. I watched "Kali" playing with the children. I decided retired racers were the dogs for me. My first animal athlete was "Allstars Only." I called him Aaron after a priest who was visiting me at the time. "I hope you not name dog after me," Father Aaron Dirisina, founder of the National Marian Shrine of India, said on 'the drive home. "In my country, great insult to name dog after person." "Heaven's no, Father. I named this dog after the Arran Islands." That's when I changed the spelling of my dog's name. Besides Arran, I've adopted Miss Molly, Miss Piggy, and now Cleopatra (Miss Cleo for short). Msgr. John Murphy, rector of Washington's National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, gave me the "Miss" idea. He named his Kerry blue terrier "Miss Kerry." I now also have the Emperor Napoleon. Napoleon
7 holds court all day long, seated on his royal throne - the living room couch. Walking dogs is a great way to get fresh air and exercise. One day, my physician commented: "Father, you seem to have become, shall we say, 'more substantial.' Stopped taking walks?" My doctor is very discrete. I explained my dogs had grown old and arthritic. "Get younger dogs. Lose 10 pounds," the doctor prescribed. Discrete, yes, but also direct. Father Thomas Merton was asked how to be a good monk. His response: "When you're tired, sleep. When you are hungry, eat." When dogs grow tired, they
sleep. When they get hungry, they eat. When they need something, they tell us. I think of the day Jesus was stopped on the road by an obviously blind beggar. "What do you want?" Jesus asked. First things first: get the facts. How terrific it would be if we human beings would just eat when we were hungry, sleep when we were tired, and voice our needs to others instead of making everybody guess.
Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Bernard Parish, Assonet. Comments are welcome at StBernardAssonet@aol.com. Previous columns are Online at www.StBernardAssonet.org.
"WALKS-WiTH-HOUNDS," aka Father Tim Goldrick, (right), sits with greyhounds Cleopatra, left, and Napoleon, center. (Photo by Pastor Don Bliss)
Seek after joy I don't think of myself as a crabby person. As a matter a fact, when I was younger, I had more than a few coworkers tell me I was a little too happy. In particular, I remember working as a chef's assistant in college. After working the early shift for an entire semester, the chef, an older lady, requested that I be relocated as far away from her as possible. She mumbled something to our supervisor about my cheeriness giving her a headache at that time of the morning. She was my standing image of a really crabby. person ... until I aged a few years myself. Nowadays, it seems that I wake up my same cheery self, but before I even get out of bed something comes along to make me crabby. Like the alarm clock. It's really irritating to start the day behind schedule because it went off late ... again. And then, when it does go off on time, does it really have to be so loud? And what's the deal with the hot water heater not keeping up with several showers in a row? It's really irksome to be behind schedule because the alarm didn't go off, to have one of the kids jump in the shower before me, and then to have my shower run cold right in the middle. If all these irritating things would
stop happening to me, then my family , was long over due, even if the whole could see what a truly positive person I neighborhood heard about it. am. So what's a Catholic mom to do? I Oh, and how I behaved yesterday? don't get a minute to be cheery before That crabbiness was not my fault. I was something irritating happens to a rob me patient all day. I put the kids on time-outs of my joy. Lately, I've been a little afraid instead of yelling, even when one threw a that I may be turning into that crabby wooden block at another who was cafeteria lady. Well, the solution to my screaming dilemma came bloody on the lips of murder, but I a similarly won't mention overwhelmed any names Catholic here in print. I friend. While entertained chatting about hungry, kids and younger kids family life, ,By,Heidi ,Br~ttq,n in the car she mentioned during sports' that lately she practices for had been the older kids. trying to "seek I kept dinner warm for a certain someone after joy." I had never heard that phrase who arrived home late, no name menbefore, but it was as if Jesus himself had tioned. I didn't even hang-up on the whispered it from heaven. Sometimes joy comes naturally. handicapped telemarketer selling light . bulbs! Sometimes it does not. But real joy, In short, I bit my tongue, kept my like real love, is not found in the cool, and counted to 10 all day. But, absence of frustrations nor in ongoing, when I backed out of the driveway and happy events. The kind of joy Jesus heard that plastic crunch under my offers his followers is the fruit of much wheels, well, that was it. That crabbiness watering, pulling of weeds, fertilizing,
and maybe even some pruning. Real joy in rooted in knowing Jesus as Lord and savior, because compared to the joy of sharing eternal life with him, it is everything else that is truly temporary. Our joy in the Lord may not always be in full bloom, and that is okay, but we can choose to seek after and to cultivate it. St. Paul writes in Galatians, chapter five, that joy is one of the fruits of the humble desire to "live by the Spirit" and thereby to grow in all of the fruit of the Spirit, which he lists as "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Yup. That's the list of things my parenting could use a good dose of. I think I'll write my friend's words, "Seek after joy," in lipstick on my mirror so I'll be reminded of them first thing every morning, right after the sweet sound of my alarm clock.
Heidi Bratton is the at-home mother of five and the author and photographer of11 Christian children's books and one trade book on mothering called "Making Peace with Motherhood and Creating a Better You." Heidi and her husband, John, make their home andgrow theirfaith in Falmouth.
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Friday, October 7, 2005
Vatican Synod of Bishops reviews liturgical issues, emphasizes Sunday Mass
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VATICANCITY(CNS)-Pope Benedict XVI is presiding over the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist, an assembly reviewing liturgical issues, emphasizing the importance of Sunday Mass and marking the close of the "Year of the Eucharist." More than 250 bishops from every continent are attending the October 2-23 synod to discuss the theme 'The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the life and Mission of the Church." Earlier this year, Pope Benedict shortened the assembly and changed the format to include more group discussion and less speechgiving in response to long~standing criticism of the synod process. Ibe synod will take an in-depth look at many pastoral aspects of the Eucharist, then formulate conclusions that are passed on to the pope for possible use in a later document. The synod's function has always been advisory, and many observers will be watching to see if the new pope expands that role or gives the synod additional responsibilities. Pope John Paul II announced the synod on the Eucharist several roonths before his death. Pope Benedict has embraced the event, saying it will serve to highlight the Eucharist as "the true treasure of the Church." The potential topics ofconversation are many and varied, ranging fiom liturgical abuses to the real presenceofChrist in the Eucharist. Some bishops are expected to zero in on particular pastoral problems, such as the local shortages of priests to celebrate Sunday Mass or the Church's policy against reception of Communion by Catholics who have divorced and civilly remarried without an annulment. The working document for the synod, which will be used as a starting point for the synOd discussions, said that because .Christ is truly present in the Eucharist the sacrament must be treated with dignity and shared only by those who hold the Satre faith. It repeatedly called for balance in how the Eucharist is celebrated and for universal respect for liturgical n()l"lrn. The key problem, according to the working docutrent. is thatCather lics have a diminishing awareness of the obligation and benefits of attending Mass and receiving the Eu'cbarist every Sunday. In addition, it said, too few Catholics are aware that the Eucharist can only be received when they are in a "state of grace" - which means receiving the sacrament of penance if a serious sin has been committed. The topic of shared Communion is also expected to be discussed at the synod. The Catholic Church allows eucharistic sharing with some Eastern Christian churches, but not with Anglicans and Protestants under most circumstances. More than 12non-Catholicobservers have been invited to the synod to speak and take part in discussions, but will not have
voting rights. The Eucharist's connection with evangelization, charity and social justice are likely to be highlighted in synod speeches, too. These were important themes in a 2003 encyclical on the Eucharist written by Pope John Paul. Pope Benedict opened the synod with a Mass at the Vatican October 2. In the days that follow, bishops and other participants meet in morning and evening sessions in the synod hall, which is closed to outsiders. The Vatican press office provides summaries of individual speeches and briefmgs to describe the follow-up discussions. Pope Benedict is president of the synod, but three cardinals will take turns presiding over the synod's daily sessions: Cardinals rrancis Arinze of Nigeria, prefect ofthe Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, Juan, Sandoval Iniguez of Guadalajara, Mexico, and Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi, India. Midway through the proceedings, the synod's recording secretary, ItalianCardinal Angelo Scola ofVenice, will summarize the major and minor themes in the bishops' discussion. At the synod's close, the bishops are expected to vote on a number ofconcluding propositions, considered confidential and for the pope's eventual use, and issue a message to the world, which is published. Beyond the papers and speeches, Pope Benedict has already announced that he will also preside over a more simple event an Octer her 15 meeting with children who have made their first Communion in 2005. He said he plans to remind parents oftheirresponsibility to bring theirchildren to Sunday Mass, which should be considered a joy, not a burden. ''Without Sunday, we Christians cannot live," the pope said in June. That is likely to be his main message during the October synod, too.
路CARDINAL FRANCIS Arinze of Nigeria is one of three cardinals presiding over the Synod of Bishop's daily sessions. (CNS file photo)
ARCHBISHOP FRANC Rode, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, speaks during a recent conference at the Vatican marking the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's document, "Perfectae Caritatis." The archbishop said the decree "opened a new, creative, vivacious season" for men and women religious, but also a season of pain and fear. Salesian Sister Enrica Rosanna, undersecretary of the congregation, is seen at right. (CNS photo by Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo)
Vatican II decree opened 'vivacious season,' struggle for all religious By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
pastoral services to poor, workingclass immigrants is one of the most glorious pages in the history of the VATICAN CITY -'- The SecChurch," he said. ond Vatican Council's decree on Yet, the drop in numbers has consecrated life "opened a new, been dramatic since the midcreative, vivacious season" for 1960s, he said. men and women religious, but also The archbishop said cultural a season of struggle, pain and fear, changes - including cynicism, a Vatican official said. more educational and professional Archbishop Franc Rode, prefect opportunities for women and of the Congregation for Institutes smaller family size - have of Consecrated Life and Socontributed to the decline. cieties of Apostolic Life, Archbishop Sean O'Malley wrote Also, he said, "the sex opened a recent, two-day conference at the Vatican of a "critical need" to develop and abuse scandal no doubt has marking the 40th armiver- explain the idea of Christian femi- a negative effect on people's sary of the council's docu- nism, which the late Pope John Paul attitudes toward clergy and religious." ment, "Perfectae Caritatis. " Yet, the decline is not as The document, he said, . /I tried to promote. serious among contemplawas "the mature fruit of a Christian Brother Alvaro tive nuns or among orders that kept slow and gradual renewal" already under way among religious orders. Rodriguez Echeverria, presidentof their habits, a strong community More than any other segment of the路 Union of Superiors General, life and a clear, corporate sense of the Catholic population, he and and Divine Savior Sister apostolic activity, he said. "Many young Catholics in the other speakers said, men and Therezinha Joana Rasera, presiwomen in religious orders experi- dent of the International Union of United States today do oot have a enced great changes because of the Superiors General, spoke about the clear idea of what religious life is, "present reality" among conse- because it has become invisible to Second Vatican Council. such a degree," he said With the sometimes precipitous crated men and women. decline in the number of religious Archbishop 0' Malley said he Both noted the huge variety of order priests, Brothers and Sisters, religious orders, styles ofcommu- was ootdownplaying the important Archbishop Rode said, "some have ruillife and apostolic involvement worlc, sacrifice and commitmentof asked if (the council) brought the as well as the declining number of the majority ofwomen religious, but wind ofa storm or the wind of Pen- members in the most developed was trying to identify factors that tecost, a time of grace or of dis- countries, the relative stability of may make a difference. numbers in Latin America and the In addition, he said, the grace." , The biblical foundations ofcon- growth of religious orders in M- Church's failure to clearly articulate its teaching about the dignity secrated life were rediscovered, rica and Asia. religious drew closer than ever to Boston Archbishop Sean P. and equality of women "is resultthe poor and enlivened the liturgy O'Malley, a Capuchin who could ing in the alienation of many ofour and prayer life of their own com- not attend the meeting because of religious and laywomen and has munities and often of the local illness, sent a paper looking at been damaging to religious life." Archbishop O'Malley wrote of churches where they lived, he said. changes in religious life in North Jesuit Father Paolo Molinari, America. a "critical need" to develop and "'The legacy of the religious or- explain the idea of Christian femiwho served as an expert at the council and as a consultant to reli- ders in the United States in health nism, which the late Pope John gious orders rewriting their consti~ care, social services, education and Paul II tried to promote. tutions in the council's wake, said the document "gives a vision of religious life understood as an affective relationship with Christ and, therefore, as a total giving of self to him in order to share his life, his way of thinking, acting, loving, which explains why priority is given to the spiritual life and the spirit of prayer in the life of a religious."
9
Friday. October 7,2005 have a twice a week meeting for physical education. And in each home room, twice a week, they also take art, music and meet for a technology class." At a time when many parish schools are facing less enrollments and feeling an economic bite, "we're much afloat," Deburro reported. "Some of the early years were tricky. But now we're on a solid footing and have a $275,000 endowment that provides a cushion. It is an endowment principally built on the good graces of our parishioners and area friends of Catholic education." The school is also very clearly focused, the headmaster commented. "At every informational open house at St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School we pose the question: Why do we exist? The
answer is: first and foremost to help our students live lives ofholiness so they may gain heaven." He pointed out that the Second Vatican Council teaches that the parent is the primary educator. "And what is the goal of every parent? That they may one day be united with their child in heaven. So we want first to instill lives of holiness so that they can gain heaven, and secondly we want to prepare our students for a life of holiness and success in competitive secondary school environments." Deburro said "we would love for all of our students to continue in a Catholic education after they leave our school. Some do, some don't. But wherever they go, we want them to look around and say, 'I am prepared. I can be successful. I feel good about myself and my academic background.'''
ROBERT H. DEBURRO, center, is in his sixth year as headmaster at St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School, Hyannis. With Deburro are the 2004-2005 winners of the Light of Excellence Award, from left: Sabrina Jamie, Thomas Lomenzo, Alissa Bergeron, Deburro, Henry Mullen, Molly Rose Lomenzo, and Matthew Hartnett. Other award winners included Fallon Cassidy and Matthew Zahn.
St. Francis Xavier School prepares students for holiness - and success By
DEACON JAMES
N.
DUNBAR
HYANNIS - Students graduating from St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School in this Cape Cod community should be able to acknowledge they have what it takes to not only be a success in life, but also have a firm foundation in holiness, says Headmaster Robert H. Deburro. "One of the beauties of our school is that we are able to dedicate our program specifically to eat ly adolescents during a time of great tumult in their lives," he told The Anchor during an interview. "And to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, we kind of have the last, best chance," Deburro added. A parish-sponsored middle school with an enrollment of 240 students, St. Francis Xavier, which opened in the fall of 1996, has catered to grades five Lbrough eight during its nearly 10 years in existence. It was begun by Father Ed. ward J. Byington, who was pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish at that time. . "There had been a fire in one of the public schools in town and they asked permission to use the . building, which was used only for CCD classes, and they did use it," Deburro recalled. "One of the stipulations was that none of the religious artifacts in the school could be removed." "It was then that Father Byington saw the potential of a full school. His observation was that it worked well as a full fledged school and not just for religious education purposes," Deburro noted. "So it was Father Byington's vision that originally launched the school," Deburro said.
Following what he said was "an awful lot of work in the building," the school currently has three classes each in the grades five through eight, all housed in 12 regular classrooms. To accomplish that, St. Francis' has 20 teachers, as well as two full-time school nurses on the payroll. "Although some of the classrooms are bigger and others smaller, we shoot for 20 students in each classroom. We need all of those because for the last few years have we have had a full enrollment of 240 students," the headmaster said. "Unfortunately, we have had to turn away enrollments." Asked what headmasters do, Deburro laughed before giving a simple, easily understood answer. "Headmasters do the same tasks as principals do. The principal is the main teacher, and the head master is the head teacher, and so they are essentially the same," he said. "That's the derivation of the word headmaster." While Deburro leads the everyday workings of the parish middle school, it is the pastor, currently Father Thomas A. Frechette, who, as pastor, and by virtue of canon law, is the head of the school. In his sixth year as headmaster since coming to St. Francis Xavier, Deburro, 52, had been the principal of a middle school in West Hartford, Conn., for 12 years. A native of Springfield, Deburro is a product of the public education system, with a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts. His graduate degree, a master's in educational administration, was
earned at Westfield State College. His experience as a high school teacher and administrator has set a vision for what middle school students need. "So much of the high school environment kind of changes some of those views of youngsters that make them somewhat jaded," Deburro noted. "Here in middle school we get some of those youngsters in their formative time of life. They are able to understand things in a pretty high cognitive level, and they are open to listening and they are excited. Yet they are going through all those physical, emotional, social and cognitive changes. What's so great is to take a young person in those years and introduce them to the value of having faith in their lives, which is the sustaining measure to take them Lbrough those difficult years." What makes the middle school environment so different "is that we have departmentalized course offerings," said Deburro. At St. Francis Xavier, a student takes six different subjects each day: science, language arts, a separate literature class, a full religion class, math, and a social science. The social science topics change from year to year. "In addition, in our fifth-grade year, we offer a special studyskills class. We find fifth-graders are really not up to speed in academics yet," said Deburro. In the sixth grade, in place of study skills, students have the choice of studying either French or Spanish. In the eighth grade, they can also take Latin. "To give you a sense of the opportunity we offer, students
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DVD/video reviews
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NEW YORK (CNS) - The fol- world from the sinister machinalowing are capsule reviews of re- tions of Mr. Electric (George centDVD and video releases from Lopez). Directed by Robert the Office for Film & Broadcasting Rodriguez, this kid-friendly film is of the U.S. Conference of Catholic full of whimsical visuals but the Bishops. Theatrical movies on gimmicky 3-D effects distract from video have a USCCB Office for what is otherwise a genial tale Film & Broadcasting classification. about the importance of imagina"The Shirley Temple tion and fostering creativity. Some 'light comic book violence and Collection No.1" (2005) Three of the 1930s' box-office mildly rude humor. The USCCB champ's best films are released in Office for Film & Broadcasting DVD with little in the way of ex- classification is A-II - adults and tras, except the ability to view them adolescents. (Buena Vista) ''The Cardinal" (1963) in either digitally colorized versions (sometimes surprisingly Sprawling melodrama from good, other times poor), or the Henry Morton Robinson's novel good old original black-and-white, about the ecclesiastical rise of an which film buffs will prefer. Either Irish-American priest (Tom Tryon) way, you'll be impressed anew from 1917 Boston to a post in the with little Shirley's inimitable tal- Vatican in 1924, who then beent, and all make ideal family en- comes a bishop after tangling with CHARLIE RAY, left, and Josh Hutcherson star in a scene from the movie "Little Manhattertainment. the Ku Klux Klan in 1934 Georgia tan." For a brief review of this film see CNS MOVie Capsules below. (CNS photo from 20th "Curly Top" (1935) and is made a cardinal after tan- Century . ·r' <f. • ...Jr, Je.Fox) Lesser Shirley Temple vehicle' gling with the Nazis in 1938 Ausdirected by Irving Cummings in " tria. Directed by Otto Preminger, ening underworld kingpin (Ed (Fox Searchlight) which the little charm~r leaves the 'the movie makes good use of the Harris) who insists Stall had Cute but contrived coming-of orphanage behind after captivating religious backgrounds and clerical once been a gangster who age comedy set in Chicago dura millionaire (John Boles), then roles (dying pastor Burgess scarred him years before. Direc- ing the roller-disco craze of the helps him realize he's inlove with Meredith,. Boston cardinal John her older sister (Rochelle Hudson). Huston and Vatican prelate Raf tor David Cronenberg's master- 1970s about a roller-skating-ob" Contrived but still fun thanks to Vallone), but the central figure is fully crafted film, based on a sessed teen (Bow Wow) who, toShirley's zestful screen presence pure cardboard and his moral crigraphic novel, has overtones of gether with his buddies, enters those classic Westerns in which a .skating contest against their and playful way with such num- , ses unconvincing. Stylized viobers as "Animal Crackers in My lence, racial epithets and such the peaceable hero is forced to crosstown rivals, while dealing lC~S ~'I()viile Soup." The USCCB Office for moral issues as saving the life of resort to violence against impla- with unresolved emotions over Film & Broadcasting classification the infant rather than the mother cable evil, features first-rate per- the recent loss of his mother and ICalIV~Ulllle~ is A-I - general patronage. (Fox) in a troubled childbirth and the formances (including William strained relationship with his ''Heidi'' (1937) temptation to leave the priesthood NEW YORK '(CNS) -:;lJle " Hurt.>~tl~ ·Ash,tp~. Ho.I~~s),~ut, .da!JJC~i McBride), who is One of Shirley Temple's better for the love of a woman. The following are capsule reviews of . despIte a redemptIve endmg, the struggling to raise his children vehicles comes from the Johanna USCCB Office for Film & Broad- movies recently reviewed by the violence quotient won't be to alone. Directed by Malcolm D. Spyri children's classic about a casting classification is A-ill Office for Film & Broadcasting every taste. Much profanity, Lee, the movie has heart, but its Swiss orphan who brings cheer adults. (Warner Bros.) of the U. S. Conference of rough and crude language, vio- sentimental themes of paren~al ''No Direction Home: Bob into the morose life of her grandCatholic Bishops. lence with gore, including sev- loss and family love are saddled father (Jean Hersholt), then is Dylan" (2005) "Flightplan" (Touchstone) eral murders; two graphic hus- with a formulaic, albeit feeltaken from him to be the companFilmmaker Martin Scorsese's Smartly crafted Hitchcockian band-wife sexual encounters, good, narrative and occasional ion of a crippled rich girl in Frank- fascinating film about the singer- thriller set aboard ajumbo jet en one quite ~rutal; drug use; and - and most unnecessary ---:... furt where, after helping the child songwriter's early life. From his route from Berlin to New York full frontal female and rear male crassness. Some sexual humor, to walk again, she is spirited away bleakly norinal childhood in Min- in which a recently widowed nudity. The USCCB Office for as well as scattered crude lanby a hateful housekeeper. As di- nesota to the iconic symbol of the passenger (Jodie Foster) ques- Film & Broadcasting classifica- guage and gestures, making, it reeted by Allan Dwan, curly-haired early 1960s' folk scene, where he tions her sanity as she desper- tion is L - limited adult audi- most suitable for older adolesShirley smiles her way through was viewed as the natural succes- ately searches for her young ence, films whose problematic cents and up. The USCCB Ofconsiderable woes until rescued sor to Woody Guthrie to the more daughter who mysteriously dis- content many adults would find fice for Film & Broadcasting from near-tragedy on Christmas commercial but still venerated appeared midflight, leaving no troubling. The Motion Picture classification is A-III- adults. Eve. The USCCB Office for Film singer of the later decades, the ca- trace she was ever on board. Asso.ciation of America rating is The Motion Picture Association & Broadcasting classification is A- reer arc of this unprepossessing Directed by Robert Schwentke . R - restricted. .' ' of America rating is PG-13 I - general patronage. (Fox) young man is nothing short ofamaz- with a top-flight performance by " parents are strongly cautioned. . "Little Manhattan" ''Little Miss Broadway" (1938) ing. Songs like "Blowin' in the ," Foster, the tautly paced nail-(20th Century Fox) Some material maybe inapproShirley Temple stars as an or- Wmd" won the respect of the mu- biter maintains a high-suspense Warm and wonderful roman- priate for children under 13. phan adopted by the manager sic world at large. His upward path altitude, though the script expe- tic comedy set in New York City "Venom" (Miramax) (George Ellis) of a Manhattan ho- was momentarily derailed when he riences increasing turbulepce in about a 10-year-old '<Josh Brainless and bloody voodootel for vaudeville players (such as became more mainstream as foot- its story logic and plausibility Hutcherson) who thinks that themed horror movie set in a Jimmy Durante), but when the age of a controversial 1966 British leading to a more conventional ' girls are "gross" until he falls for backwater Louisiana town hotel's owner (Edna May Oliver) tour makes clear. Dylan's musical action climax. Several intense an apple-cheeked cutie (Charlie where a crowbar-wielding truck decides to evict them, Shirley teams output is well represented in this bio sequences, some violence in- Ray) and finds himself adrift in driver (Rick Cramer) becomes with the owner's nephew (George which covers the years 1961-66. cludiqg the bad guy meeting a a befuddling sea of newfound infested with evil spirits through Murphy) to save her friends. Di- Dylan himself speaks articulately fiery end, minimal crude lan- emotions. Tenderly directed by black magic gone awry and terreeted by Irving Cummings, the pre- about his evolution as an artist, and guage and profanity. The Mark Levin, with endearing per- rorizes a group of teen-agers. dictable plot doesn't get in the way there are telling interviews with USCCB Office for Film & formances by its young leads, High on body count and cliches of the cheerful proceedings includ- singers Joan Baez, Maria Muldaur Broadcasting classification is A~ the sweet story conveys both the and low on suspense, director ing Shirley's singing and several and Pete Seeger and beat poet Allen 11I- adults. The Motion Picture agony and ecstasy' of first love, Jim Gillespie's baYQu blunder is production numbers performed in Ginsberg. Rare archival footage and Association of America rating is as well as its accompanying con- little else than a series of shQckthe spirited courtroom finale. The stills are here. There are some pass- PG-13 -:- pareQts are strongly fusion, anxiety, awkwardness value slayings strung together by USCCB Office for Film & Broad- inginstancesofprofanityandrough cautioned. Some material may and, ultimately, its magic. Some a silly supernatural plot. Much casting classification is A-I - gen- and crude language, so this is prob- be inappropriate for children minor. thematic elements, graphic and gory violence, ini ably best for older adolescents and under 13. era! patronage. (Fox) . schoolyard fisticuffs, mild rude cluding impalings and dismem''The Adventures of SharkboY\\,iidults, and for them, this look back "A History of.Violence" language 'and an instance of berment, occult mumbo juinbo, & Lavagirl in 3-D" (2005) '. at an American cultural phenomvomit humor. The USCCB Of- brief sexual suggestiveness, re(New Line) Entertaining family fantasy ,enon is well worth the three and a Intensely suspenseful film fice for Film & Broadcasting curring rough and crude language about a picked-on lO-year-old halfhours. Thetwo-DVDsetisgen- about an upstanding family man, ' classification is A-II - adults and profanity. The USCCB Of(Cayden Boyd) with a fertile etously indexed and has extra foot- Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen), and adolescents. The Motion fice for Film & Broadcasting imagination who finds himself re-, age of several· complete musical who becomes a local hero after Picture Association of America classification is 0 - morally cruit~d b~ the superheroes he cre- nU~bers by Dylan and newly he stands up to vicious killers rating is PG - parental guid- offensive. The Motion Picture ated m his daydreams and blasts filmed numbers with Baez, who hold up his diner, but then ance suggested. Association of America rating is off on a mission to save a distant MultIaur "Roll Bounce" R - restricted. ,. and others. (paramount) becomes the target of a threat.
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JUDGE JOHN G. Roberts raises his hand as he is swom in as the 17th chief justice of the United State~ by Supreme Court Justice ~ohn Paul Stevens as Roberts' wife, Jane, watches during a ceremony In the East Room of the White House September 29. (eNS photO from Reuters)
Under new chief, court hears cases on religious rights', end of life' issues WASHINGTON (CNS) - As if having a new chief justice and soon one new associate justice on the Supreme Court weren't enough, the October term also will bring a busy session of cases that have implications for churches
and their interests. The justices were starting their flrst week with a case on the constitutionality of Oregon's law permitting assisted suicide. Farthest out on the court's calendar to date is a case just accepted for early
2006 that raises questions about a campaign finance law that restricted the type of ads Wisconsin Right to Life was allowed to ron during last year's congressional election campaign. In between, the docket in-
Secularism, materialism make vocations work a challenge By JEAN GONZALEZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE TAMPA, Fla. - The environment for breeding vocations is not what it used to be.' Catholic schools used to be feeder systems to the seminaries. Religious Sisters used to be prominent flxtures in schools and parishes to offer words of encouragement and to plant the seeds of priestly vocations. The rise of secularism, materialism and careerism and a lack of commitment among young people do not generate vocations. Those ideas are not lost on vocation directors or the U.S. bishops, who have made the promotion of vocations one of the top three priorities in the Catholic Church, according to Father Edward J. Burns, executive director for vocations and priestly forma~ tion for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "With today's secularization we don't have the feeder system we used to," Father Bums said recently at the 42nd annual convention of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocations Directors. ''The materialism of society fosters a lack of commitment among young people and a feeling to live life for one's self." The September 24-28 convention - with the theme "Called to Follow the Son" - drew about 200 vocations directors to Tampa. Father Burns said the "live-forself' agenda not only affects the
priesthood but other service jobs, such as teaching and nursing, which also are suffering shortages. But the priesthood, he said, has a double whammy - it is a life of service and a life of commitment. "As far as society is concerned, it is absurd to live a life of commitment and service," he said. "It might be noble,- but it doesn't flt in a materialistic society." Despite those issues, Father Burns said the number of young, people who attend World Youth Day and the millions of young people who were at the funeral of Pope John Paul II show that young people are in search of the troth and can be open to an invitation路 of commitment and service. ''The men in our seminaries are wholesome, healthy, holy, dedicated men/, he said. "I look forward to the day I can call them holy priests." Father Burns is amo'ng the priests and bishops from the United States appointed by Rome to participate in teams who will visit U.S. seminaries and houses of vocations within the next eight months. By May 1, 158 U.S. seminarians and houses of formations will be visited by one ofn t~ams of apostolic visitors - there are an average of three to four people per team - to evaluate various aspects of the houses. Although Father Burns would not go into what would be evaluated or whel1 a team would visit what seminary, he said the results
would be compiled into reports and sent to the Holy See. . During a workshop, a vocation director asked Father Burns about how to foster vocations when some see the Church's ban on married priests or its prohibition against ordaining women as a justice issue. "Vocation directors don't ignore those questions or thoughts, but they must perform their ministries within the context of what the Church teaches today," Father Bums said. "YQu can address those concerns in a charitable way and then move swiftly to continue your ministry within the teachings of the Church." Highly publiciZed sexual abuse scandals that have hit the Church and the media's negative perceptions of the priesthood have affected promotion of vocations, according to Steven Covington, executive director of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors. But for American young people, materialistic motivations are a bigger issue, he said., "We have a society that is . highly motivated by self-gratiflcation and the success of affluence. The concept of a vocation is lost . in a careerist mentality," said Covington. "It used to be families were proud to have a priest in the family," he added. "But now there are families who form their children within that careerism mentality."
cludes cases dealing with how the death penalty is applied in different states and laws affecting minors who want abortions and protesters outside abortion clinics. After opening Monday with new Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, the court'.s makeup will ch~ge again, perhaps as soon as this fall. When she announced her retirement in June, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said she would stay until her replacement is on the bench. When Chief Justice William Rehnquist died in early September, Roberts, who had be'en nominated to replace O'Connor; was renominated for the chief's post. . On the weekend, Harriet Miers, a Texas lawyer and current White House counsel, was nominated by President George W. Bush to be O'Connor's replacement. Assuming a smooth Senate conflrmation hearing, it remains unlikely that whoever is approved would not be seated until at least late November or early December. At a Supreme Court brieflng hosted by Georgetown University Law School September 19, panelists from the faculty discussed the ramiflcations of O'Connor's pending departure on the court's logistics. For in~tance, if early cases come down to a flve-four vote among the justices with O'Connor in the majority, "there is a reasonable'claim that they ought to hold off' on further action until after her replacement is seated, said Professor Viet Dinh. The last time a retiring justice's replacement was not in place, at the beginning of the 1991 term, Justice Thurgood Marshall announced at the beginning of October that rather than remain on the court, as he had offered, his resignation would be effective immediately, Dinh said. Should O'Connor do that, the court would be in the position of potentially having four-four splits on some cases and having to wait until the new justice is seated to reconsider how to rule, he explained. On Wedn~sday, in Gonzales v. Oregon, the court was to review a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said thenAttorney General John Ashcroft overstepped his authority and un~
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dermined Congress's intentions in passing the Controlled Substances Act when he attempted to prohibit doctors from prescribing lethal doses of medicine as laid out in Oregon's assisted suicide law. , In another case, the USCCB opposes the government's application of the Controlled Substances Act in Gonzales v. 0 Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao Do Vegetal. That case being argued November 1 reviews a ruling by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld 路the . right of members of the small Brazilian-based church to use hoasca in religious ceremonies. The Drug Enforcement Administration classifies the tea as a Schedule I drug because it contains the controlled substance dimethyltryptamine, known as
DMT. November 30 will bring an abortion law case and two dealing with abortion protesters. The court will hear for the third time arguments about the application of federal racketeering law against abortion clinic protesters in Scheidler v. National Organization for Women and Operation Rescue v. NOW. The cases, being heard together, ask the court to rule on whether the 7th U.S. Circwt Court of Appeals correctly applied the Supreme Court's 2003 ruling that protesters cannot be criminally prosecuted under the racketeering law. The same day, in Ayotte路 v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the court will consider the constitutionality of New Hampshire's law requiring parental notiflcation before a minor can obtain an abortion. At issue is whether the law is constitutional without a provision alloWing for minors to bypass the requirement if the pregnancy poses a health . risk to the mother. Another four cases throughout the term raise questions about the application of the death penalty under various state laws and procedures.
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Friday, October, 7, 2005
Food
Continu~dfrom
page one .
,Peace
Continued from page one
to see the good that's being done. According to' Angelo, .the harsh. . "The folks working at the idea to do a procession for The needs at both parish kitchpeace came about because Pore~s are constantly growing, and ,kitchens at St.Michael's and Sadonations from area parishioners cred Heart have become very tugal was having a difficult friendly' and helpful to each time in April of 1974 when路the are crucial. The joint effort from St. other." For that reason, the com- Coriununists came to power. AI-' Michael's' and Sacred Heart has bined Food Drive effort has been though they were removed from power 18 months later, the seed been very well recdved by all in- launched. Individuals who want to do-, was planted in the diocese. volved. "Teams work better," said Bill LeBlanc, a St. Michael's nate are asked to drop items off - "I thought we would have a Soup Kitchen volunteer from the at St. Michael's Parish Hall be- lot of people and we had more onset of the program. "There is a tween 8 路a.m. and 7 p.m. on Oc- than 40,000 people at Kennedy Park," stated the Fall River nabig hom~less problem in this city tober 12. Those who would like to make tive. "We had a procession from and we wanted to work together with the Sacred Heart folks and a financial donation should con- Espirito Santo Church and then leverage off assets and ideas. The tact Father Scott Ciosek at St.' they celebrated Mass outdoors. bottom line is to help people that Michael's Rectory at 508-672- It was such a pleasure to see the 6713, or Father Raymond 'little ones a'nd elderly with heed it most." "It's amazing what is being 'Cambra at Sacred Heart Parish at candles." In the earlt years an outdoor done by both parish soup kitch- 508-673-0852. Editor's note: An expanded stage was borrowed from the city. ens," said Don Duarte, a cook at ' the Sacred Heart Soup Kitchen. feature story on each ofthe Fall The altar for the celebration of "God always provides for us River parish Soup Kitchens will . Mass ..came from Bishop through the generosity of good . run in The Anchor in the next Connolly High School. Flowers to decorate the statue were dopeople in the area. It's magical few weeks. .nated .and when those donations didn't come a few years later, St. Anne's Prayer Angelo and her late husband John provided them. She still "Good St. Anne, Mother of Mary, and, purchases them every year from Grandmother of Jesus, Intercede for me and my her own pocket, and takes pride in arranging them 'around the petitions. Amen." statue of 'Our Lady of Fatima which will be carried thought the . streets by men from the parish. In honor of Sister Lucia dos Santos,
seer of Fatima, who died February 13,2005, age 97. Lucia pray for. us. ' PRACTICE THE DEVOTION OF. THE FIRST SATURDAYS~ AS REQUESTED BY OUR LADY OF FATIMA
, On December 10, 1925, Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucia (seer of Fatima) and spoke these words: "Announce in my name that I promise to assist at the hour ofdeath with the graces necessary for the salvation oftheir souls, aU those who on the first Saturday of five consecutive months shall: 1. Go to confession; 2. Receive Holy Communion; 3. Recite the Rosary (5 decades); and 4. Keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries ofthe Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me." In a spirit of reparation, the above conditions are each to be . preceded by the words: "In reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary." , Confessions may be made during 8 days before or after the first Saturday, and Holy Communion may be received at either the morning or evening Mass on the first Saturday.
,Catholic Newspapers' You turn to them for news about your ja.ith.... Now they're turning to you , for help.
EB. The Catholic Press Association has established the
Hurricane Katdna Publication Assistance Fund to help rebuild Catholic publications in ~he Gulf Coast that were devastated by the storm. - Contributions may be sent to: Catholic Press Association .3555 Veterans Memorial Highway, Unit 0 Ronkonkoma, N.Y. r 1779 For more information e-mail cathjourn@catholicpress.org
Brazilian , Francis Xavier Parish, he first noticed the presence of Brazilians in that area in 1983. One of the St. Vincent de Paul 'stores in Hyannis helped the immigrants transmit funds from their falT'Jlies.路 He followed up witQ food, beds, mattresses, tables and chairs. He would always leave a note reminding them about the upcoming Sunday Mass. . At the suggestion of former Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, and with the assistance of the late Father Edward Duffy, and Father John 1. Oliveira, currently the pastor of Our Lady ()f Mt. Carmel Parish in New Bedford, Loughlin was instrumental in scheduling a fIrst Mass for the immigrants on Dec. 30, 1990, the feast of the Holy Family. There were 135 in " attendance. Thereafter, Masses celebrated by Portuguese-speaking diocesan priests for, the Brazilian commu-'
Relief
The statue came from Portu- importaJ\t, Angelo replied that gal and is now a historic part world peace is important. "The world is in. a bad state of Espirito Santo Parish according to Pastor Father. James right now and there are a lot of Ferry. people in need." This year the flowers deco"It's always been a special occasion," said Father Ferry. "It rating the statue will be jumbo brings people together in prayer . mums and pink carnations. and they look forward,to it ev- Angelo said she is using baby's. ery year. We have a strong de- breath beneath the statue to votion to Our Lady here at the give the impression of clouds. "It's part of our parish tradiparish." Because of inclement tion," said Deacon Thomas J. weather the outdoor Mass Souza. "We pray the rosary and moved indoors and is now held sing Marian hymns in Portu- ' at St. Anne's Church, at guese as we walk. We have a Kennedy Park. The procession very active faith-filled commufrom Espirito Santo, Ald'en nity and members are enthused Street, kicks off at 5 p.m. and about the peace procession." ,arrives at St. Mary's Cathedral, The walk from Espirito Spring Street, around 6 p.m. ' Santo will be led by Father Marchers then process down to Ferry. He will be joined by paSt. Anne's where the rosary is rochial vicar Father Timothy recited in multiple languages Driscoll as well as Deacon John and Mass is celebrated. de Amaral Moniz. Archbishop Sean P. "Many people put this toO'Malley, OFM, Cap., will be gether," said Souza. "They principal celebrant at the bilin- come for faith" they come out gual Mass. of devotion and they come in "We have a good crowd each prayer. It's a wonderful testiyear and it's a beautiful experi- mony,to the faith of the ence," said Angelo, who will be people." out there on Columbus Day herParticipants can bring their self. "I get a lot out of doing it," own candles or purchase them shesaid. When asked why it's at the church.
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nity were on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Meanwhile, Loughlin enrolled many of the children in the CCD programs at St. Francis, St. Pius X, and at Our ~ady of the Assumption in Osterville. . Fathers John Ozug and Freddie Babiczuk also ministered t() the Bra~ilians in .the early 1990s, as did Father Oscar Clemente from Brazil. Father Lima succeeded him. Loughlin said that as the community became more self-sufficient -. many working two jobs - he noted, fewer calls for assistance came in. "I have found the Brazilians to be very kind and hospitable, always inviting me into their homes for coffee," Loughlin said.' "They' have been appreciative of my efforts in their behalf - they gave me a gold crucifIx and a Cross pen and pencil set."
Loughlin remembers how sympathetic the Brazilian community was in the aftermath of 9/11, and how the condolences and feeling of patriotism expressed by them were so strong. The Brazilian flag as well as the American flag, flanked the altar. ' In an article he wrote last year, Loughlin told about the Brazilian's faith. He wrote: "At Sunday night Mass there are four vocalists, three guitarists, a keyboarder and a drummer. Different members of the congregation are chosen for the reading and the three processions during Mass. There are currently six eucharistic ministers. During Mass about 12 youflgsters' are in the fIrst Communion class iri the lower church hall. On Wednesday they have a prayer service - with attendance ranging from 40 to 65. Close to 20,000 worship at St. Francis Xavier (Church) annually."
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amounted "to.nearly $9,500,'1 re- ish, the hurricane collection to, ported Father George Har:rison, talled $5,137. pastor. "It's not bad for an innerIn addition to the ~nds gathered city parish," Father Harrison com- by Catholic Charities USA, the U.S. ." mented. bishops' Committee on Home MisFather John J. Oliveira, pastor sions received approval from the ofOur Lady of Mount Carmel Par- bishops' Administrative Committee ish in New Bedford, reported that on September 14, to spend more his parishioners had given than $3 million from its reserve $10,000. "We were very pleased. funds to dioceses dealing with the The people were indeed very gen- . hurricane and its aftermath. erous," he said. Those funds will be spent in Christ the King Parish in both mission and nonmission dio- . Mashpee raised $16,522 as ofSep- ceses, a situation that required aptember 22, its bulletin reported. provalof the Administrative Com~ Taunton, at St. Mary's Parmittee, which handles the business
affairs of the U.S. bishops in between their general meetings. The approval allows for aid to .be distributed to nonmission dioceses such as New Orleans, Baton Route and Lafayette, La., and Mobile, Ala., as well as to mission dioceses in the hurricane area such as Biloxi, Miss., and HoumaThibodaux, La. The home mission funds would be used either for immediate relief for people, or for lessening the damage done to diocesan or parish infrastructure and to ministry programs.
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EUCHARISTIC ADORATION NEW BEDFORD - New adorers are welcome to attend eucharistic adoration at Our Lady's Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street. For more information call Laurie LarsenSilva at 508-888-7751.
HEALING MASSES ATTLEBORO - A Portuguese Healing Service will be held October 16 at 2 p.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salelte. It will include the music and the opportunity to be prayed over individually. Mass will be celebrated. For more information call 508-222-5410.
508-672-8174. FALL RIVER - Susan Conroy, author of "Mother Teresa's Lessons of Love and Secrets of Sanctity," will chronicle her experience working with Mother Teresa. The event will take place on October 17 at 7 p.m. at the parish cehter of Holy Trinity Church. For more information call Ron Correia at 508-679-5682.. MEDWAY - The Boston Catholic Men's group is hosting a Men's Morning on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Marian Center. Themed "Mary's Message to Men," it will include the celebration of Mass, two keynote speakers, breakfast and adoration. For more information call 617316-1098.
days following the celebration of morning Mass. For more information call 508679-0011.
Nogueira at 413-549-0300 ext. 24.
NEW BEDFORD - The Catholic Women's Club of New Bedford will meet October 12 at 7 p.m. at the Wamsutta ClUb, 427 County Street. Author Mary Kruger will be guest speaker.
NORTH DARTMOUTH The diocesan DivorcedSeparated Support Group will meet October 10 from 79 p.m. at the Family Life Center,500 Slocum Road. Guest speaker Barbara Pacheco will address the topic "Surviving Divorce." Refreshments
RETREATS ATTLEBORO - A Hispanic Pilgrimage Day will be held tomorrow at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette beginning at 1 p.m. It will include the recitation of the rosary, eucharistic adoration and reconciliation. For more information call 508222-5410.
will follow. For more information call Bob Menard at 508673-2997.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Montie Plumbing & Heating Co.
NORTH FALMOUTH - A cancer support group will meet October 19 at 7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, 481 Quaker Road; For more information call 508-563-7770.
....'....'PTH SHOE
Over 35 Years of Satisfied Services Reg. Master Plumber 7023 JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR. ,432 JEFFERSON STREET FALL RIVER 508-675-7496
FOR ALLDAY WALKING COMFORf JOHN'S SHOE STORE 295 Rhode Island Avenue Fall River, MA 02724
EAST FREETOWN Emmaus, a Catholic retreat program for young adults ages 20-40, will be held No'" .' Prompt 24 Hour Service • Automatic Deliveries vember 11-13 at Cathedral SHREWSBURY - Father • Call In Deliveries • Budget Terms Available Camp. The retreat is a cooed Ralph A. DiOrio will lead a . • Free Estimates weekend for those seeking to NORTH EASTON - The noon-time healing service at You Never Had Service the Calvary Retreat Center on program "Formation of Adults grow in their relationship with Until You Tried Charlie's October 25. For more infor- in Catholic Tradition" will be Christ. For more information presented this' month on call John Griffin at 781-341mation call 508-791-0233.. We're located at ... Wednesday mornings and' 1709. 46 Oak Grove Ave., Fall River STURBRIDGE - Father Thursday evenings by Brother orca" ... MASHPEE - A mini-reRalph A. DiOrio will celebrate Joseph Esparza, CSC, at 508-675-7426 • 508-674-0709 a noon Mass at the Sturbridge Holy Cross Family Ministries. . treat entitled "Life is Good, Choose Life!" will be held For more information call 508Host Hotel on October 16. A October 14 at the Brain Cenhealing service will follow. For 238-4095 ext. 2023. ter in New Seabury from 10 more information call 508SEEKONK-A Bible study, a.m. to noon. It will be re- r--------------------~ 791-0610. led by Pat P~sternak and spon- peated October 16 from 1-3 TAUNTON - A bilingual sored by the diocesan Office of p.m. For more information healing service, sponsored Adult Education, will be held contact Peggy Patenaude at by the Diocesan Service October 11, 18 and 25 at 7 p.m. 508-548-9149. I The Post Office charges The Anchor 70 cents for Committee, will be held on at Our Lady of Mount Carmel I notification of a subscriber's change of address. SOCIAL EVENTS October 17 beginning with parish. The study will focus on I Please help us reduce these expenses by notifyre:itation of the rosary at the Psalms. AMHERST - "An Evening I ing us immediately when you plan to move. 6:30 p.m. at St. Anthony's with Father Quigley," remem- I MISCELLANEOUS Parish, 126 School Street. bering the life of Father Joe I Please Print Your New Address Below Mass will be celebrated at 7 FALL RIVER The Quigley, past director of the p.m. and exposition of the ----:. _ Blessed Sacrament will follow. Catholic Memorial Home is Newman Center at UMass- : NAME: Prayers for healing will be led seeking. special ministers of .Amherst, will be held October by Father Edward A. Murphy holy Communion to distrib- 15 at the center. Mass will be . ' STREET ADD,RESS: and Debora Brum. For more ute Communion to residents celebrated at 4:30 p.m. For' information call Mary Leite at on Mondays and Wednes- more information call Marta CITY, STATE, ZIP: .--_ 508-822-2219. I NEW PARISH:. _ WESTPORT - Mass in honor of Mfl.ry is celebrated MOVING DATE: each Saturday moming at 9 at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 569 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 24,)05 Please attach your ~nchor address label below so Sanford Road. The rosary is we can update your record immediately. 10:00 A.M. TO 2 P.M. recite.d 20 minutes prior to Mass. For more information call Christ the King Parish, Mashp~ 508-674-6271.
Charlie's Oil Co., Inc.
!ARE YOU MOVING? -------------
RCIA SCHEDULE OF EVENTS' 2005·2006
LECTURES! PRESENTATIONS FALL RIVER - The Fall River Area Men's First Friday Club will meet tonight at St. Anne's Church, 818 Middle Street in honor of its centennial celebration. Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. by Father Marc R. Bergeron and a meal will follow in St. Anne's school hall, 240 Forest Street. A guided tour of the church will follow. For more. information call Normand Valiquette at
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TEAM FORMATION DAY: CELEBRATING THE SCRUTINIES PRESENTED BY FR. RICK CONWAY
Please cut and adhere address' label in this space
SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2006 3:00P.M. St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral Rite of Election - Call to Continuing Conversion Most Reverend George W. Coleman Bishop of Fall River '
CLIP THIS ENTIRE FORM AND MAIL TO:
SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2006 10:00 A.M. TO 3 P.M. Cathedral Camp, East Freetown Lenten Retreat Day for RCIA Teams and the Elect For more information call Deacon Lemay at 508-477-7700 x13
.theanch~ P.O. BOX 7 -
FALL RIVER, MA 02722
THANK YOU
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Friday, October 7,2005
Cape Cod parish to host benefit rock concert EAST SANDWICH- Corpus Christi Parish Center, 324 Quaker , Meeting House Road, will be the , site of a special concert by Crosspollen on November 5. Doors will open at 7 'p.m. Crosspollen is a nationally acclaimed Christian rock duo. All teens who attend this special show are asked' to bring a
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canned good ,and a donation 'of $5. All of the net proceeds will benefit victims of, Hurricane Katrina. This ori~e in a lifetime event promises a night of rock and good times. The door prize will. be an .. iPod Shuffle. For more information contact 508-888-0209.'
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.TWENTY BISHOP Feehan High School seniors have been named Commended Students by the 2006 National Merit Program. Nominees at the Attleboro school are: front, from left: Diksha Malik, Kelsey Stanton, Rebecca Melesciuc, Ann M~rie Landry, Julie McNulty, Carla DeSisto, Brittany Hogan, Tt:1eresa Dold, and Griffin Udelson. Back row: Christopher Rizzo, Andrew Noll, Kyle Grochmal, David Coyne, David Goad, David Larence, Daniel Altieri, Daniel Romero; Thomas Strott, and G.arrett Schromm. Missin~ from the, photo is Nicole Charlot.
Bishop Feehan lists record number of" '~ommendedstudents in merit program SEVERAL MEMBERS of the St. Margaret's, Buzzards Bay, youth group JAGUAR, present Father Henry Mair with food they collected in a drive to help area needy people.
ATTLEBORO - Brealcing all former school promise." . records, 20 Bishop Feehan High School seniors Their selection is based upon their scores on , were recently designated Commended Students .the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship by the 2006 National Merit Program and are Qualifying Test in which they placed among the recognized by the National Merit Scholarship top 5 percent of the more than one million stuCorporation for "their ~xce.ptional academic dents who took the test last year..
MATTHEW AND JENNA DiGiantamasso of St..John the MEMBERS OF THE Coyle and Cassidy Character路 Education Committee, National Honor Evangelist School in Attleboro, display a sign they created to ISociety, and Leadership Assembly recently organized路a "stuff a backpack" drive to help demonstrate their school pride and love of the Red Sox. Th~y victims of Hurricane Katrina. Students .collected 26 boxes of school supplies which were exhibited it during a recent game at Fenway Park. shipped to Holy Family of the Nazareth School in Irving, Texas. .
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Dioceses urged to help young people from Gulf Coast get to conference WASHINGTON (CNS) All dioceses and parishes planning to participate in the 2005 National Catholic Youth Conference in Atlanta in October are being asked to help young people from the Gulf Coast who now find they cannot attend because of economic hardship brought on by Hurricane Katrina. A news release issued by the U.S. bishops' conference in Washington said that originally about 600 participants from the region were slated to attend the October 27-30 conference, but nowonly a fraction of that number can attend. About 18,500 participants are expected at the conference. The foundation is working through the federation to ask dioceses and parishes to sponsor at least one person from the Gulf Coast. Sponsors are asked to give $500 to cover the cost of registration, housing and a portion of travel and/or meal money for a participant. Youth ministry directors from the dioceses affected by Katrina will distribute the financial resources to their conference delegations. These delegations include young people who have been relocated to other cities as a result of the hurricane. "We all want to help people whose lives have been turned upside down by Hurricane Katrina," said Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Duluth, Minn., chairman of the U.S. bishops' Subcommittee on Youth and Young Adults, who praised the sponsorship effort. "We especially want to help young people bring order back to their lives. Being able to attend the conference that these teenagers had planned on for many
months will help them get their lives back to normal," he said in a statement. "Being together with their fellow Catholic teens from all around the country will demonstrate dramatically how real the Catholic community is for them. It also lets the youth who contribute to helping their fellow youth in states far away know what solidarity can mean to everyone," the bishop said. Dioceses and parishes are asked to send an E-mail by October 8 to Katrina@nfcym.org with the number of young people they pledge to help. The federation will contact the Gulf Coast dioceses with the number of pledges available and distribute the finances. Checks should be made payable to CYFUSA, 415 Michigan Ave. NE, No. 40, Washington, DC 20017. Greg Miller, youth minister at St. Alphonsus Parish in Ocean Springs, Miss., in the Diocese of Biloxi, said he feels that the experience of attending at the Atlanta conference will help young people affected by Katrina cope with what has happened to them. Before the storm, Miller's parish had planned to send seven delegates. A week after losing everything because of Katrina, Miller walked into the diocesan youth ministry office and begged officials not to cancel their participation in the conference. His request led diocesan officials to seek financial assistance to send delegates. "By God, Mississippi will be in that (Georgia) Dome and we will have shoes on; we may not know whose shoes we will be wearing but we will have shoes on," Miller said.
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Don't be cold By CHARLIE MARTIN -
COLD Looking back at me I see that I never really got it right I never stopped to think of you I'm always wrapped up in things I cannot win You are the antidote that gets me by Something strong like a drug that gets me high Refrain: What I really meant to say Is I'm sorry for the way I am I never meant to be so cold Never meant to be so cold What I really meant to say Is I'm sorry for the way I am I never meant to be so cold Never meant to be so cold Cold to you, I'm sorry about all the lies Maybe in a different light You can see me stand on my own again 'cause now I can see You are the antidote that got me by Something strong like a drug that got me high I never really wanted you to see The screwed-up side of me that I keep Locked inside of me so deep it always seems to get to me I never wanted you to go So many things you should have known I guess for me there's • just no hope I never meant to be so cold Sung by Crossfade Album: Crossfade Copyright (c) 2004 by Sony Listeners have a choice with Crossfade's ''Cold'': a harder rock, alternative version of their 2004 self-titled disc or a softer, acoustic version. Either way the song encourages us to consider the effects that our actions have on
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
others. The song's character realizes he often acted solely out of his own needs. He says, "Looking back at me I see that I never really got it right; I never stopped to think of you." He apologizes for this insensitivity, saying, "I'm sorry for the way I am. I never meant to be so cold." We don't know how she
responds. Perhaps his recognition of the hurt he caused brought a new opportunity for them to start over. But perhaps not. Being "cold" sometimes leaves a chill that cannot be thawed through apologies. The character's style shows that he is not ready to be in a romantic relationship. He needs to back away from such connections and focus more on himself. He needs to identify what lies within him that fuels his hurtful behavior toward others. As disciples of Jesus, we aspire to bring the warmth of caring to others. We need to practice positive concern for all people, not just those we know well. We seek to heal the "coldness" in our world by being active pathways of God's love for every individual. That choice is put into action through acts of kindness. Try these gestures of warmth:
- Greet others with a friendly smile. For example, as you wind through school hallways; be friendly to all you meet, not just those who are your close friends. Stop to chat with others when possible. - Be ready to perform small acts of service for others. - Be generous with your money. Commit at least 10 percent of your income, no matter how small, to some cause or program that assists others with their lives. - Be generous with your prayer. Each day, pray for those in your family, your friends and those who serve your well-being, like teachers or other staff at school. Prayer is a powerful energy of connection that amplifies God's blessing. Draw upon this power to help heal the "coldness" in our world. - Be ready to forgive. Perhaps the one who was hurt by the behavior of the song's main character will decide she cannot be in a romantic relationship with him. But she can still support his life by continuing their friendship and being kind to him when they happen to meet. The readiness to forgive is enhanced by realizing that everyone is "in process." Like this girl, we may need to establish boundaries for the type of involvement we will allow with someone, while still being ready to forgive this other person's mistakes. Yes, "coldness" affects our world. But those who are disciples of Jesus are committed to practice the kind of respect for others that warms up the world. How many acts of personal warmth and kindness will you offer our world today?
Comments are always welcome. Please write to me at: chmartin@swindiana.netorat 7125W200S, Rockport, IN 47635.
Slow down! Here's how By KASE JOHNSTUN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
to come up with 10, but why be typical. Here are my top seven. 1. Smile first thing in the morning: Sometimes by just forcing a smile, my mood will change. Some days I just don't want to get out of bed, especially on a day like ..
With fall on our doorstep and winter lingering behind fallen leaves, we're much closer to the end of 2005 than to its start. In the next few months Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas will come and go. It's easy today when cloudy to get excited over these special days, skies darken the to smile about them. During these morning, making it months the hustle and bustle of feel like mid-winter. planning, decorating, gift buying and 2. Do first the thing gift giving can encircle us, contributyou don't want to do ing to time's disappearance. most. I am a chamSlow down, everyone! pion at putting things There are so many good days off if I don't want to do them, but between each of these holidays. Enjoy when I do them first they usually each and everyone. Through years of aren't as bad as I thought they would experimentation, I have thought of a be, and I get a sense of accomplishfew ways to enjoy each day as it . ment early in the day that carries me comes that have worked for me. I tried the rest of the way.
3. Forget yesterday: Thinking about yesterday will just bring you down. If you hurt someone; apologize, and if you were hurt, forgive. We all have had horrible yesterdays, but try to make today different. • 4. Exercise: Doing exercise is such a mental break for me. If you don't have time in the morning, plan some exercise for later that day, and do it. 5. Play that favorite song. With Mp3 and CD players so common these days, find that favorite song and play it. Sometimes you may have to admit that a pick-me-up song .may be a cheesy song. It took a while for me to admit this, but now my pick-
Coming of Age
me-up song is really cheesy, but it works. 6. Look up: Be it a tree, a bird, the blue sky or the rain falling on you, you will see something beautiful. 7. Pray: My morning prayers are so short. I have prayed in the moments between leaving the house to getting in the car, Sign of the Cross included. Yeah, they're quick, but they help. My all-time short prayers are: "Give me strength to make it through this day." (This tends to come on days when forcing the smile doesn't do the trick.) "Help me treat others as you would." "Help me reach my potential today." And my all-time shortest morning prayer is: "Thank you for today,"
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FATHER DAVID A. Costa, left photo, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, North Attleboro, blesses beagles Jed and Nancy owned by Carol and Alfred Hannigan. (AnchorfGordon photo) At right, Father John C. Ozug, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, New Bedford, is surrounded by pets waiting to be blessed. (Photo courtesy of Ron and Rose Cabral) The weekend ceremonies were in honor of the feast of St. Francis October 4. The following blessing is one of several used for the event: "Blessed are you, Lord God, maker ofaI/living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St~ Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen. "
M.O.M.S. launches third
season. at Attleboro parish ATILEBORO - The Ministry of Mothers Sharing (M.O.M.S.) began its third season September 25 at the Hospitality Center atSt John the EvangelistChurch in Attleboro. To conclude Season III, M.O.M.S. will be hosting the Celebration of New Beginnings on November 16 from 6-9 p.rn. at the Hospitality Center. M.O.M.S., a ministry for women by women, was developed by Sister Paula of the Sisters of St. Benedict, and has been active throughout the United States since 1992. The program has touched more than 500,000 women and their families in more than 135 dioceses nationwide. More than 3,200 parishes have initiated this ministry to strengthen women on their spiritualjourney. In the spring 0[2004, a group of women from St. John the Evangelist and St. Mark's parishes participated in a pilot program. This Core Committee also received training from the National . Office in St. Paul, Minn. The women gather around a table with other moms, share insights and build friendships and reflect upon the call to motherhood. M.O.M.S. is a unique, warm, group experience and is for mothers of all ages. Each season consists of sessions meeting once a week for eight consecutive weeks. In a typical session, mothers come together to share readings and reflections from their journal, pray and discuss issues affecting their lives. "M.O.M.S. has been a blessing for our
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parish," said路 Msgr. Daniel Hoye, pastor of St John's. "Mothers of all ages have told me how much they benefited from the experience. The opportunity to share with others in a small group was a positive experience. I recommend this program to other parishes as a gift they could give themselves." More than 40 women have participated in the M.O.M.S. ministry at St. John's. Women who have "graduated" from M.O.M.S. continually stay in touch, support each other and enjoy events such as walks at La Salette Shrine, socials with the spouses, coffee hour with the children and book reviews. 'The Ministry of Mothers Sharing is all that I expected and so much more," stated Sharon Banner, a Session I participant and Session IT facilitator. ''I've had the privilege to meet awesome groups.of women, create friendship bonds that will last a lifetime, and most importantly, increase my awanmess of how God's grace touches my life daily." For more information on how to join M.O.M.S. at St. John's, contact Erin Corso at 508-431-8070 or at corsothree@yahoo.com. Those interested in bringing M.O.M.S. to their parish, are asked to contact Teresa DevUn, M.O.M.S. Outreach Coordinator, at 508-735-0507 or at blinkysm@yahoo.com. For more information on the"nationalorganization, visit
www.osb.orglspmlmoms.html.
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WOMEN PARTICIPATING in the Ministry of Mothers Sharing (M.O.M.S.) program at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Attleboro recently kicked-off. their third season.
BISHOP GEORGE W. Coleman, center, was the principal celebrant of a Mass at St. Julie Billiart's Chapel in North Dartmouth last weekend, part the annual Day of Recollection for Religious. The bishop recognized area religious celebrating jubilee years, including, from left, front row: Sacred Hearts Father Ambrose Forgit, 50 years; Sister of St. Joan of Arc"Rita Teasdale, 50 years; the bishop; Dominican Sisters Irene Brodeur, 50 years, and Gertrude Gaudette, 60 years; Sacred Hearts Father Leo King, 60 years; and Mercy Sister Alminda Diniz, 60 years. Back row: Mercy Sister Doris Rondeau, 50 years; Sister of St. Joseph Rita Pelletier, 60 years; Dominican Sister Karen Champagne, 25 years; and Mercy Sisters Margretta Sol, Nathan Doherty and Theresa Sparrow, each 60 years. At right, Bishop Coleman presents Mercy Sister Nathan Doherty with a gift during the Mass. The Day of Recollection also included a conference led by Sacred Hearts Father David Reid, who spoke on "The Eucharist, Sacrament and Unity." (Photos by Eric Rodrigues) "
