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VOL. 44, NO. 43 • Friday, November 10, 2000
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Christians, Jews revisit kristallnacht ~
Interfaith service recalls horrors of the Holocaust; urges unity in faith and justice.
Bishop O'Malley: Holocaust must not happen again
By JAMES N. DUNBAR
FALL RIVER - In prayer, song, reflections - and the sounds of breaking glass that gave the 1938 Nazi pogrom against German Jews Its kristallnachtname - representatives of Catholic, Jewish and other Christian communities of faith gathered Sunday night in St. Stanislaus Church to remember the Holocaust, heed its warnings, and shape the future. Bathed in the glow from menorahs, the candelabrum used in Jewish worship, set at each side of the crucifix in the sanctuary, nearly 400 people, including clergy, prayed and sang in English and Hebrew. They were led by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., Rabbi William Kaufman and Cantor Richard Wolberg of Temple Beth El in this city, and Father Marc H. Bergeron, ecumenical officer for the Fall River diocese, during the emotional and memorable service. St. Stanislaus' Choir also sang in Hebrew and English. And at the service's end, the shofar, a ram's horn trumpet used in Jewish religious observances and in synagogues, was solemnly sounded by William Chebot of Temple Beth El. Turn to page J3 - Kristallnacht
FALL RIVER - Calling for vigilance and courage, Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., told Christians and Jews at Sunday's memorial service that they must be in solidarity to ensure the Shoah won't ever reoccur. His talk follows:
RETURN OF the dead of the House of Israel, prophesied in the Book of Ezekiel, is read by Cantor Richard Wolberg of Temple Beth EI, Fall River, at last Sunday's interfaith memorial prayer service. (Anchor photo)
Sheriff's Office honors Father Matthew Sullivan ~
FATHER MATTHEW Sullivan, SS.CC, acknOWledges the ovation he received at a testimonial in his honor.
Prison chaplain cited for his years of selfless work and accomplishments.
WESTPORT - More than 300 friends and family of Sacred Hearts Father Matthew J. Sullivan hosted a testimonial dinner recently at White's of Westport, honoring his 12 years of compassionate and dedicated service in prison ministry at the House of Correction and Jail in New Bedford and in Dartmouth. "Father Sullivan was more than a chaplain to the inmates," said Sheriff Thomas Hodgson. "He was a friend and confident to everyone at the sheriff's office. Staff members at every level love this man of God who was comfortable being a man of the people." Describing Father Sullivan's ministry, Hodgson said that "who among us has watched this humble priest whisper forgiveness to a criminal through the bars of a cell at Ash Street and not felt the presence of Christ the Priest? Who has heard Father Sullivan's compassionate message
at a thousand Masses and not felt inspired and closer to God? Who has watched this tiny man hug a hulking and sobbing inmate and not felt that they were at a sneak preview of the last judgment?" Hodgson, who deputized Father Sullivan, making him an official deputy sheriff, also announced that the chapel at the Dartmouth Jail would be named after him and be known thereon as "The Father Matthew J. Sullivan Chapel." Father Sullivan, moved by the whole evening and plaque honoring his service, gave a heartwarming talk at the end of the evening. "I never expected anything like this," the 76-year-old priest said. "You are truly my friends and I love each and every one of you." Among those attending besides the sheriff were Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., who gave the benediction; Retired Judge John J. Markey, Sacred Hearts Father David Reid, provincial, who gave the invocation; and County Commissioner Turn to page 12 - Honor
"Pope John Paul II called the 20 th century, 'the century of the Shoah.' He sees the Holocaust as something more than yet another atrocity. The Holy Father has stated that Catholics are called to stand with the Jewish people in preserving the memory of the Holocaust. Speaking to Jewish leaders in Warsaw, the Pope said: 'Today the people of Israel, perhaps more than ever before, find themselves at the center of the attention of the nations of the world, above all because of this terrible experience, through which you have become a warning voice for all humanity, for all nations, all the powers of the world, all systems, and every person. More than anyone else, it is precisely you who have become this saving warning.' Tonight we gather here, Christians Turn to page eight - Bishop
Diocesan deacons attend conference NEWPORT, R.I. - A group of permanent deacons and their wives from the Fall River diocese heard what the future has in store for them at the Regional Assembly of the National Association of Diaconate Directors from Region One held last weekend at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. "Those of us already ordained as deacons can consider ourselves 'experiments' according to what the Vatican has been saying," said Deacon William Ditewig of the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa, the presenter at talks during the morning and afternoon. "The needed, new directory on deacons has a lot to say about the formation of deacons and it is surely going Turn to page J3 - Deacons