10.16.87

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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER

t eanc 0 VOL. 31, NO. 41

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Friday, October 16, 1987

FALL RIVER, MASS.

FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSEnS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly

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58 Per Year

People of action instruments of mission The following message is from Msgr. John J. Oliveira, diocesan director ofthe Society for the Propagation of the Faith, who states that he is relying not only on the generosity of parishioners but on their prayers for the success of Mission Sunday, Oct. 18. Jesus was a man of action. He healed the sick, cured the lepers, brought sight to the blind, made the lame walk, freed the captives, cast out demons Well, you get the picture. Jesus also demanded action from his followers. Take for example the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. The disciples were ready to turn the hungry crowd away, but Jesus asked them to bring him the few loaves of bread and the fish that they had. He broke and blessed the food, but he gave it to the disciples to distribute. They fed the multitudes through his power. They became the instruments Jesus used to work that miracle. In St. Matthew's Gospel, we read another call to action from Jesus. To His disciples he says: "Full authority has been given to me in both heaven and on earth; go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of the world!" Today we celebrate World Mission Sunday, annually promulgated by Pope John Paul II for the entire Catholic world to support mission churches and

missionaries: to support those who daily are Jesus' "instruments," bringing his message of hope to all people. They carry out the command Jesus gave his disciples and through them many come to know and love Christ. The church in the missions is growing. It is daily becoming more widely served by its own people, with more and more vocations to the priesthood and religious life coming from among those living in those nations. In Africa, for example, most dioceses are now headed by a native-born bishop. A short time ago, such was not the case. Vocations, then, are growing. In 1986, in fact, some 20 seminaries were opened on the continents of Africa and Asia to handle the increase in those who have heard and accepted the call to follow Jesus as priest. Throughout the missions, there are currently 1,500 more young men studying for the priesthood than there were one year ago. This growth in faith brings with it new hopes, new dreams for those living that faith. In a barrio in Caracas, Venezuela, lay missionaries help bring better telephone lines into the area. In Kenya, we hear from a bishTurn to Page Six

PARTICIPANTS in the 13th annual diocesan peace procession, held Monday in Fall River, move toward St. Anne's Church. See story page 9. (Torchia photo)

3 honored by pope His Holiness Pope John Paull! named a Papal Chamberlain in 1977, and Very Rev. JohnJ. Smith has bestowed papal honors on three priests of the Fall River have been named papal Prelates of Honor. They are entitled to wear diocese. red cassocks or red piping on Rev. Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, black cassocks. Father Smith, like named a Domestic Prelate in 1964, Msgr. Oliveira and Msgr. Gomes, has been raised to the rank of Prowill have the title of Reverend tonotary Apostolic. As such, he is Monsignor. entitled to wear a purple ferraioBishop Daniel A. Cronin will lone or full-length cloak on nonliturgical occasions calling for full ' present papal diplomas attesting to their new ranks to the honored ecclesiastical dress and may use priests at an Advent vespers cerethe letters PA after his name. Protonotary apostolics form one of mony to be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at S1. Mary's Cathedral. the chief colleges of prelates of the Roman Curia, dating from the 3rd Msgr. Gomes or 4th century. Msgr. Gomes, born Dec. 16, Rev. Msgr. John J. Oliveira, 1914, in Taunton, graduated from

Notre Dame University in 1938. His relationship with his alma mater has continued through the years. A chaplain to the Fighting Irish football team, he rarely misses a game, whether at home or away. In 1982, in honor of his 40th anniversary in the priesthood, a game was dedicated to him. Ordained June 4, 1942 after studies at S1. Bernard's Seminary, Rochester, N.Y., and the Seminary of Angra, Terceira, Azores, he served at St. John the Baptist parish, New Bedford, and at St. Anthony of Padua and Santo Turn to Page Six

Synod gets to nitty-gritty

"MISSIONARIES have always seen their principal tasks as preaching the Gospel to those who have not heard it. ..caring for their physical well-being and forming Christian communities." - U.S. Bishops' Statement on World Mission.

VATICAN CITY (NC) - The monthlong world Synod of Bishops on the role of the laity moved into its second phase - thrashing out concrete proposals for adoption - after hearing divergent viewpoints on core lay issues facing the contemporary Catholic Church. Delegates aired differences on themes including: - Whether to emphasize the laity's role in the world or in the church. - The concept of lay ministries and the specific tasks open to the laity, especially women, within the church. - The relationship between the local bishop and international lay movements working in his diocese.

- The development of a lay spirituality. The debate began Wednesday when the more than 210 delegates broke into small working groups, organized by languages, to draft proposals for adoption by the entire synod. The synod is only consultative but in the past, popes have used its resolutions as the basis for documents on issues discussed. During its first two weeks, participants carved out an agenda of issues ne~ding church action or clarification. Splits developed over whether the synod should put more emphasis on the lay role in Christianizing the temporal world or on

opening up more church activities and decision-making power to the laity. Many delegates who stressed the lay role in the world tied this to the need for the church to be highly active in the political and social lives of their countries. The laity in Tanzania "find no time to fight their way into the sacristy either to seek employment or to express their Catholic identity," said Bishop Polycarp Pengo of Tunduru-Masasi, Tanzania. "They are happy to find time for the evangelization of politics, economy and society," he added. A cardinal from communistruled Czechoslovakia said strong Turn to Page Six


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10.16.87 by The Anchor - Issuu