FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSEnS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS VOL. 39, NO. 41
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Friday, October 20,1995
21 men begin journey to permanent diaconate By Pat McGowan St. Mary's Cathl~dral in Fall River was crowded to the doors last Sunday as relatives and friends gathered to witness the admission to candidacy for the permanent diaconate of 21 men from 19 diocesan parishes. Also a class member is subdeacon Jean E. MattaI' of the Maronite diocese of St. Maron. Speaking to Iht: candidates, before the ceremony of admission, Bishop Sean O'Malley discussed the day's reading from the Old Testament, the story of the cleansing of Naaman, a leper who expected the prophet Elisha to
FALL RIVE:R, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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, Bill denying aid to . unwed teen moms 'I deplored by cardinal, bishop
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perform an impressive ritual in curing him. Instead, he was simply I~ told to wash"himself seven times in !~I the waters of the Jordan River. I~I "We look for God to do great !I~i things but he chose a simple and ,;, quiet way of working a miracle," :'1 ' said the bishop. "In,the same way," 'II he added, "the quiet miracle of our'j own baptism changes us into a ~:I new creation." I' , The Franciscan bishop cited St.;I' Francis' encounter with a leper: ~ .. He kissed a leper and at that I;:~ i moment his life changed-every- IC'; thing that seemed bitter and dis- i~ Turn to Page II
Bernard Cardinal Law of Boston and Fall River Bishop Sean O'Malley have spoken out against a bill proposed by Massachusetts , Governor William Weld that would eliminate welfare benefits to children born to unwed teens. Cardinal Law's statement of Oct. 12 follows: ,I I Profound disappointment is my I immediate reaction to learning of the Governor's bill to eliminate welfare benefits to children born to unwed teens. This is a step that goes far beyond the legislation that was enacted by the Massachusetts General Court last winter. , In a statement earlier today, the Governor expresses understandable concern about the high rate of illegitimacy, paternal irresponsibility, and undue reliance on government. The Governor sees the problem, but he offers no adequate solution. At both the state and national levels, there must be a consistent message urging and supSISTER LEONORA Tucker with two young friends, " porting chastity among teenagers. Illegitimacy is not a problem that refugees of the devastating civil wafin Liberia. World Mission can be morally addressed at the Sunday proceeds support nearly 1,000 mission dioceses' expense of the lives of children. throughout the world. (Photo courtesy of Sister Leonora) No group in American society has done more to stregthen mar!·I riage, to prevent illegitimacy, and 1i to provide care for children born to parents who are not married than the Catholic Church. This we do out of concern for the wellbeing of defenseless children -litIn the West African country of another woman came in, and tIe girls and boys who have not Ghana, Sister Leonora Tucker, a another. Soon there were eight. It 0', chosen into which households they are born. School Sister of Notre Dame from was wonderful. We talked about The Commonwealth of MassaBrooklyn, is helping to heal wounds reconciliation and healing. And of the spirit among refugees from the tears came. For some, the pain chusetts simply cannot afford to Liberia. , turn its back on thousands of these burst for the first time. From this, That country, devastated by civil we began reconciliation and heal-: children every year, simply because war, is where she began her mis- ing workshops." they were b~rn to teenaged parents. sionary work in 1985 after years of There were nearly two thousand In an interview with the Propaservice in the Wilton, Connecticut, gation ofthe Faith, Sister Leonora. abortions to teens under eighteen province of her community. in Massachusetts last year. There said, "The refugees could never . Describing her missionary voca- survive unless they had hope, and : are slightly more than four thoution as "a gentle nudging from the many of them do. They get this sand AFDC recipients who are in Lord," Sister Leonora has been in only from God. I have heard: 'Sis- . ' that age bracket. and out of Liberia several times as tel', it's like God has smiled on me In taking away subsistence supthe civil war waned and waxed. and brought me to this day; he port to a child for whatever reaShe arrived in the West African wouldn't abandon me now.'" son, while providing the means to country of Ghana in 1992 and From Nigeria comes another . abort that child, our Commonfound the opportunity to work story. From the time young Mary wealth is forcing some cruel choices. with Liberian refugees. She recalls Ann McRae was a IO-year-old in Last week I heard the Holy Fameeting many of her former stuSeattle, she wanted to be a doctor. ther suggest that we Catholics need dents of her first visit to the refuLater, introduced to the work of a I to raise our voices in the public gee camp. Their stories were so medical missionary community, she ~: debate - especially in those areas , tragic that "we sat and cried thought, "If I ever - but I'm not! which touch the dignity of the together. It was wonderful to know - but if I ever became a sister, : i human person: care for the poor, they had made it, but heartbreakthose are the people... the Medical the vulnerable, the unborn, weling to know what they had sufMissiona~ies of Mary." . I, fare dependents, immigrants, elfered in the death of their parents Now, Sister Mary Ann, Medical deI'S, families and children-at-risk. I' or in losing contact with them." I am raising my voice this afterMissionary of Mar~, is.t he doc~or AT ADMISSION to Candidacy ceremQny for future, Sister Leonora remembers the in charge of a hospital 111 the 010- I noon to tell you that no mother, permanent deacons held last Sunday at S1. Mary's Cathedral, 'day a local catechist told her of a cese of Abakaliki in Nigeria, West however poor, however young, from top, Permanent Deacon Lawrence S1. Onge and Father woman in the camp who needed Africa. should be forced to choose between her. "Mary is sick," he said. "I'll John F. Moore . diocesan director ofthe Permanent Diaconate a poor child and a dead child. The particular scope of her work take you to her." And so she went Commenting on the cardinal's program; deacon candidates enter the cathedral; Edmond and i and sat with Mary in her little is a program to control leprosy statement, Bishop O:Malley said: Catherine Audt:tte watch the ceremony. She is secretary for the ,mud-block house. "We just talked and tuberculosis, both of which ,
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World Mission Sunday aids nearly 1,000 dioceses
diaconate program. (McGowan photos)
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about Liberia...about home. Then
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