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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
t ean VOL. 29, NO. 44
FALL RIVER, MASS.., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1985
$8 Per Year
NCCC res.olution:s
SAN FRANCISCO (NC) - ' ops' proposed pastoral letter on the economy. Resolutions on a farmworker He recommended that the led boycott of Campbel1 Soup Co., housing and AIDS were voice of Catholic Charities be high priorities for delegates at heard on behalf of the poor and the 7lst annual convention of suggested the proposed pastoral be translated into advocacy, es the National Conference of Cath olic Charities Oct. 25-30 in San pecially in the current debate. on tax reform. Francisco. By endorsing a farmworker Representing the Fall River diocese at the convention was led boycott pf Campbel1 Soup Co. products, NCCC said it was Father Peter N. Graziano, execu recognizing the basic right of tive director of the Diocesan De partment of Social Services and farmworkers to organize and pastor of St. James Church, New bargain collectively. The resolution called for NCCC Bedford. Father Graziano attend ed a meeting of the Standing to urge Campbell officials to Committee of The Directors of enter into "good faith negotia the National Conference as the tions" with the farmworkers collective bargaining agent and· representative of Catholic Chari the growers.' The boycott was ties directors in New England. Keynote speakers addressed organized in 1979. A major policy statement on the issues of a just tax reform policy, a "new agenda" for the housing was also approved, and Catholic Church, and the chureh the NCCC established' a national commission on housing as a first and public policy. In his address Jesuit Father step ·to implement it. Goals of the commission in~ William Byron said Catholics clude: improving -advoc~cy on should campa'ign for a tax re public policy Issues related to form plan that serves the "pref erential option for the poor" housing; pooling resources and even if that means higher taxes sharing expertise in the field of housing and delivery of services; for the middle class. Father Byron, an economist and educating people about who is president of The Catholic housing issues. The policy statement said the University of America, -linked advocacy for tax reform that private sector should make . favors the poor to the U.S. bish Turn to Page Fifteen
Church meets obstacles
in Middle East
AMMAN, Jordan (NC) .:... For Bishop Selim Sayegh, vicar gen eral for the Jerusalem Patri-ar chate, maintaining the Christian faith in the predominantly Mos lem Middle East dsn't easy. He cites differences in' reli gious thinking between Mos lems and Christians, a dwind ling Christian population and limited financial resources as hampering his efforts to reach Christians living in the patriar chate, which dncludes Israel, Jor dan and Cyprus.
'!We do our best," he said. "It takes a lot of time, energy and money. But it is our duty." He said the Moslem call to public prayer' five times a day is a constant reminder to Chris tians that they are a minority. He also said that Christian at tendance at Sunday Mass in cities is low because Friday is the official day of rest in the Moslem country and Sunday is a workday. . "In the ·cities, maybe between Turn to Page Fifteen
AMONG 113 COUPLES celebrating wedding anniversaries at the sixth annual Jubilee Mass were Mr. and Mrs. John Ferry Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert A. Wall. The Ferrys, to the left of Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, principal celebrant, with their son Father James Ferry, parochial vicar at Our LadYd of Mt. Carmel parish, New Bedford, celebrated a 50th anniversary, as did the Walls, the parents of Father Barry W. Wall, pastor of. Sacred Heart parish, Fall River. Couples from over 50 parishes representing every diocesan dean ery were present at the celebration, held last Sunday at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River. (Gaudette photo)
Pope cites goal for Synod
VATICAN CITY (NC) - The Nov. 24-Dec. 8 extraordinary Sy nod. of Bishops shoti.ld empha~ size that saintliness is not the "privilege of a few" but a call to all believers, ,Pope John Paul -II said recently.
Bearing witness Beginning on page 2 and throughout this Vo cations Issue of The An chor, members of the Fall River diocese who have dedicated their lives to Christ tell you why they made their decision and Why they stay with it. Don't miss their moving personal stories.
The pope said "authentic re newal" should be sought in this idea of sanctity, "and not else where."He spoke to some 10,000 .people . in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus on All Saints Day. The pope has spoken during ·recent Angelus talks about the upcoming synod, which he con vened to evaluate the results of the Second Vatican Council.· He said the council stated clearly that sanctity is "a caU made to all the members of the people of God, without exception.'; _ Sanctity is "the concrete dem onstration of believers' consis-· tency with their own vocation," the pope said. "Here, and not elsewhere, is where to search for the basis of authentic renewal, which we 'are ali obliged to do in the current season.
"The upcoming synod assem bly will certainly not fail to justly emphasize these pressing appeals, in the light of the teach ings that ·result from the 20 years' experience after the coun cil," the pope said. While sanctity is working in .the earthly lives of believers, the pope salid, the ·real goal IOf Christians is the eternal one, the '''celestial Jerusalem." "The church looks and moves . constantly toward .this final view," he said. Only in the.glory of heaven, he quoted the coun cil as saying, will the church re ceive its perfection. In another area' of preparation for the synod, Canada's bishops say collegiality and the role of bishops' conferences should be key topics at the synod. The bishops of Ontario said Turn to Page Fifteen
ANCHOR VOCATIONS ISSUE
Today: the first day of the rest of
your life: What will you do with it?