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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Fall River parish begins Vocation Prayer Cross Ministry urging families to pray for an increase in all vocations.

Story on page 15.

Photo by Dave Jolivet

The Anchor - November 11, 2016

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The Anchor - November 11, 2016

Education Task Force releases report on Catholic schools Diocese receives $1 million gift to begin implementation

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff kensouza@anchornews.org

a little over two years ago, one of the things I was informed of was the need FALL RIVER — After to really evaluate and plan a year-and-a-half of exten- for the future of our parishes and of our schools,” sive research and work, the Diocese of Fall River’s Bishop da Cunha said. “So I began to talk with school Task Force on Catholic leaders, with our education Education has issued its department, with diocesan final report, providing an assessment of the 22 dioc- officials, and with people interested in our mission esan schools and a range to begin a long process of of recommendations to putting together the task strengthen them and the force and then entrustdiocesan school system as ing the task force with the a whole.

Collectively, the recom- responsibility of evaluating mendations call for a more and making recommendacoordinated school system, tions for our schools. The enhanced professionalism, task force was formed in early 2015 and completed and an infusion of capital their work about two to ensure long-term susmonths ago.” tainability.

Intended to be the Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., announced starting point of a multithe recommendations dur- year comprehensive initiative, the report does not ing a press conference on November 4 in the library recommend the closure or merger of any schools at of Holy Trinity School in this time and the bishop Fall River.

“When I arrived here in said it would “provide a hope-filled pathway for the Diocese of Fall River

building a sustainable and viable school system” in the future.

“We need to share a collective responsibility for our schools. We need to be working together as one mission, one effort, one system — parishes, schools, priests, laity all working together,” Bishop da Cunha said. “And we need a strategic and comprehensive response to diocesan-wide enrollment issues (along with) assistance to schools in developing strategic tuition and financial aid policies to ensure that students from all social and economic backgrounds have access to a Catholic education.”

Stressing the importance of Catholic education not only to the future of the Church but also to the state and local communities, Bishop da Cunha said the cost to educate one child in Massachusetts is estimated to

be $14,936 — so the 6,367 million. students currently enrolled Catholic school students in diocesan schools are also score 1606 in aversaving taxpayers some $95 Turn to page 20

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., second from right, poses with members of the new team he has appointed to implement the recommendations of the Education Task Force.

They include, from left, Kevin R. Kiley, chancellor of the diocese; Father David A. Costa, pastor of St. Mary and Sacred Heart parishes in North Attleboro; Dr. Mary Pat Tranter, president of Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton; Stephen A. Perla, interim superintendent of schools; Kate Carney Larisa, president of the Carney Family Charitable Foundation; and Roger K. Sullivan, chairman of the St. Pius X School Advisory Board.

(Photo by Kenneth J. Souza) The Anchor - November 11, 2016

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Bereavement ministry offers prayer service during the holidays

study on how loss affects physical, psychological and social well-being), Saraiva used her parish as a place for FALL RIVER — The group meetings. Now more end of the calendar year than six years later, Saraiva signals tidings of joy and has a formal list on the thanksgiving, but when Office of Faith Formation’s you’re grieving the loss of a loved one — whether recent website of bereavement support groups (www. or longer — Santa brings FallRiverFaithFormation. with him a mixed bag of org/Bereavement). emotions.

“With Thanksgiving, Rose Mary Saraiva, Christmas and New Year the driving force behind around the corner — even the creation of a strong bereavement ministry in the Halloween, I had somebody Fall River Diocese, can relate bring up Halloween — all to those suffering from loss; major holidays,” said Saraiva, that often have significance her 23-year-old daughter passed away in a car accident to either those who have passed, those who are still in 2006, and by 2010, here, or both.

Saraiva was looking for a “When it comes to the way to channel her grief holidays and grief, it’s taking into something positive. your time,” she said. “It’s After earning a certificate not trying to rush or prefrom Bristol Community anticipate how you’re going College in thanatology (the to feel. Sometimes we go into this doomsday mentality, and [think] it’s going to

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff beckyaubut@anchornews.org

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The Anchor - November 11, 2016

be hell. And it may not even be the first holiday you felt that; sometimes the first holiday is a blur. My daughter died in September, and I basically coasted through Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some people coast because they’re still numb.

Sometimes the second one is when they realize they’ve gone a whole year without their loved one. All of the sudden it hits them, and it’s ‘what do I do now?’”

“People just need to take a step back and be in the moment, take it as it comes, and not worry about the day; you’ll get through it,” said Saraiva.

“We have so many misconceptions about holidays and grief, including the belief we need to be strong.

We have to contain our emotions. We can’t cry. We don’t want to ruin anybody else’s holiday,” said Saraiva, and that’s so far from the truth. “You can express your emotions, and you’re going to need to. If you don’t, you’re going to be a volcano ready to explode. You need to be allowed to feel. Someone you love is missing from your holidays. You need to

grieve.”

Then comes the dilemma for some: Do you follow through with your holiday plans?

“You do what you need to do,” said Saraiva. “You have to be good to yourself, even if some people say that sounds selfish. When you’re sick, you go to bed and take care of yourself. But when we’re grieving, we’re too busy saying ‘we’re OK,’ and we forget that we’re not OK.” The questions continue to roll in: Do I put up a tree?

Do I decorate? One rule is: don’t worry about what everyone else is thinking, worry about what would be important to you and your loved one.

“Was it a holiday that meant a lot to them?” asked Saraiva. “If it was, why would you not honor them with whatever tradition you did? Maybe make a new tradition? If this was someone you bought a gift for each Christmas, buy something for someone else in their name, or a charity that needs it. If you sent $20, donate $20. That type of thing.

“If baking is your forte, and you’ve made the [deceased] person’s favorite every year, make the favorite dish for someone else.

Things like that give the holidays meaning and keep the memory alive. You’re doing things to honor them, instead of [saying], ‘I’m not going to put up a tree.’”

Support groups meet all year, but wind down during the holidays; they will start back up again in January.

During the lull, Saraiva offers an annual prayer service.

In its sixth year, the prayer service offers individuals and families who attend bereavement support groups the chance to come back together again, or give sup-

port to those wishing to be surrounded by those who “get it,” said Saraiva. Open to everyone, you don’t have to come alone but can bring family members.

“I have a book that I’ve kept from year to year, and when they come in, they sign in it a loved one’s name,” said Saraiva. “What I do is, there’s a point in the service where there’s just instrumental music, and they’re invited to light a candle. While they’re doing that, the names they wrote down are recited.”

Saraiva also offers materials for people to help them create a smooth journey through the holidays while dealing with grief.

“Ritual is important when you’re grieving,” she said.

“You need something that ties in with your loss, plus it gives you the opportunity to be in an environment where people get it. They’re all missing someone they loved. They want people to remember them. One of the keys that people don’t realize is, people don’t mention the name because [they think] it will cause pain. It’s the reverse; if people don’t mention my loved one’s name, it will hurt, and you think everyone has forgotten them.

“It’s been 10 years since my daughter died, and still some people won’t bring up Rachel’s name. I talk about her, why shouldn’t you? The prayer service is an opportunity to hear their loved one’s name, to hear it read off and acknowledged by everyone present. That’s key.”

The prayer service will be held on December 6 at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Parish, 951 Stafford Road in Fall River.

Please RSVP by calling Saraiva at 508-678-2828.

After the service, refreshments will be offered at the church hall.

501(c)3, tax-exempt organization, “Little Children of Mary,” have been working in solidarity with the Daughters of Mary Queen Immaculate since 1998 and have helped finance the building of their school in Lilavois, outside of Portau-Prince through the Fish Farm Haiti initiative.

“We go regularly to Haiti and have visited all their schools,” said Pénicaud. “We know the dedi-

cation and diligence with which the Sisters work. We will wire directly the Haiti Relief Funds we receive and will follow up by visiting and documenting the progress of their work.”

Tax exempt donations can be sent to Fish Farm Haiti, P.O. Box 1803, Vineyard Haven, Mass., 02568, with “Haiti Relief ” in the memo.

The Little Children of Mary thank you for your generosity.

These pictures reveal a small sample of the devastation Hurricane Matthew caused in Haiti when it made landfall there in October as a category four storm.

Martha’s Vineyard charitable group seeks help for Haitian hurricane victims

VINEYARD HAVEN — In the wake of Hurricane Matthew the situation in Haiti is desperate and Sister Marie France Syldor, vicar-general of the Daughters of Mary Queen Immaculate and principal of a school in Port-auPrince wrote, to Margaret Pénicaud, a member of Little Children of Mary, and founder and president of Fish Farm Haiti in Vineyard Haven, explaining how desperate the need is for the people there to help communities rebuild.

The Daughters of Mary Queen Immaculate run 10 schools in the southern half of Haiti. Three of these schools and a medical dispensary located in the towns of Roche à Bateau, Damassin, and Coteaux were destroyed by the direct hit of the storm. Sister Marie France and her students quickly collected blankets, food, clothing, and other donations for the victims and she went to the coast to deliver these supplies and to assess the damages: “Everywhere there was desolation and consternation. The inhabitants of this

region who were already reduced to living in extreme poverty are living a precarious and difficult situation.

The Haitian government, powerless in front of the size of this catastrophe, turned to the international community which reacted immediately. These donor countries showed their profound empathy. Tons of medications, clothing, drinking water, sheet metal, wood for reconstructing the damaged houses were sent.

“Already the aid was being hijacked. The inhabitants were still waiting day and night for the Good Samaritan who could help them cope with their difficult everyday struggle.

We remember the earth-

quake of Jan. 12, 2010 and all the promises that were not kept. From this point of view and taking into account the needs of the hard-hit population, the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Queen Immaculate, being a native congregation which is often hit by these types of storms, is calling for help.”

For more than 40 years the Daughters of Mary Queen Immaculate have been working in these towns along the western coast of Haiti. More than 1,600 children were enrolled this year in these three schools that were destroyed. Their people turn to them in their time of need. The volunteers of the

The Anchor - November 11, 2016

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Anchor Editorial

Mercy in an interreligious context

On November 3, Pope Francis met with interreligious leaders to discuss with them the Year of Mercy. He said that during this year “the Catholic Church has pondered the heart of the Christian message from the viewpoint of mercy. For us, mercy reveals the name of God; it is ‘the very foundation of the Church’s life’ (Misericordiae Vultus, 10). It is also the key to understanding that humanity which, today too, is in great need of forgiveness and peace.”

Looking at the situation of our country and our world, it would be hard to argue with the Holy Father’s point. He then added, “The mystery of mercy is not to be celebrated in words alone, but above all by deeds, by a truly merciful way of life marked by disinterested love, fraternal service and sincere sharing.”

The leader of the Catholic Church then challenged his guests: “The religions are likewise called to this way of life, in order to be messengers of peace and builders of communion, and to proclaim, in opposition to all those who sow conflict, division and intolerance, that ours is a time of fraternity. That is why it is important for us to seek occasions of encounter, an encounter which, while avoiding a superficial syncretism, ‘makes us more open to dialogue, the better to know and understand one another; eliminates every form of closedmindedness and disrespect; and drives out every form of violence and discrimination’” (Misericordiae Vultus, 23).

Highlighting that “the theme of mercy is familiar to many religious and cultural traditions,” the pope admonished the other religious leaders, “to bow down with compassionate love before the weak and needy is part of the authentic Spirit of religion, which rejects the temptation to resort to force, refuses to barter human lives and sees others as brothers and sisters, and never mere statistics. To draw near to all those living in situations that call for our concern, such as sickness, disability, poverty, injustice and the aftermath of conflicts and migrations: this is a summons rising from the heart of every genuine religious tradition. It is the echo of the Divine voice heard in the conscience of every person, calling him or her to reject selfishness and to be open. Open to the Other above us, Who knocks on the door of our heart, and open to the other at our side, Who knocks at the door of our home, asking for attention and assistance.”

The pope then explained how the Latin word for mercy, misericordia, “evokes a heart — cor — sensitive to suffering, but especially to those who suffer, a heart that overcomes indifference because it shares in the sufferings of others. In the Semitic languages, like Arabic and Hebrew, the root RHM, which also expresses God’s mercy, has to do with a mother’s womb, the deepest source of human love, the feelings of a mother for the child to whom she will give birth.”

The Holy Father then shared with his listeners an image we Catholics have heard frequently at Mass: “Isaiah conveys a magnificent message, which, on God’s part, is both a promise of love and a challenge: ‘Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even though she may forget, yet I will never forget you’ (Is 49:15). All too often, sad to say, we forget, our hearts grow heedless and indifferent. We distance ourselves from God, our neighbor and even our historical memory, and we OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org

Vol. 60, No. 23

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service Published bi-weekly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $20.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

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The Anchor - November 11, 2016

end up repeating, in even more cruel forms, the tragic errors of other times.”

After the Holocaust, the motto “never again” was adopted by many, and yet the pope points out that we keep on repeating the same inhumanities, but he also offers hope in this darkness: “This is the drama of evil, of the grim depths to which our freedom can plunge when tempted by evil, everpresent, waiting to strike and bring us down. Yet precisely here, before the great riddle of evil that tests every religious experience, we find the most amazing aspect of merciful love. That love does not leave us prey to evil or to our own frailty; it does not ‘forget,’ but ‘remembers,’ and draws near to every human misery in order to relieve it. Like a mother. Whatever the evil done by her child, a mother always sees past the sin to recognize the face she bore in her womb.”

We often forget this mercy “in today’s ever more hectic and forgetful world, which leaves so many men and women behind as it races on, breathlessly and aimlessly. We thirst for mercy and no technology can quench that thirst. We seek a love that endures beyond momentary pleasures, a safe harbor where we can end our restless wanderings, an infinite embrace that forgives and reconciles.”

The devil often tries to get us to give up on any hope of reconciling with God — Pope Francis described this as “today’s widespread fear that it is impossible to be forgiven, rehabilitated and redeemed from our weaknesses.” In response, he said, “For us Catholics, among the most meaningful rites of the Holy Year is that of walking with humility and trust through the door — the Holy Door — to find ourselves fully reconciled by the mercy of God, Who forgives our trespasses. But this demands that we, too, forgive those who trespass against us (cf. Mt 6:12). We receive God’s forgiveness in order to share it with others. Forgiveness is surely the greatest gift we can give to others, because it is the most costly. Yet at the same time, it is what makes us most like God.” After discussing how this “mercy extends also to the world around us,” lived out “in a more simple and orderly way of life, in which the resources of Creation are used with wisdom and moderation, with concern for humanity as a whole and coming generations,” the pope urged collaboration with the other religious leaders. “May it never happen again that the religions, because of the conduct of some of their followers, convey a distorted message, out of tune with that of mercy. Sadly, not a day passes that we do not hear of acts of violence, conflict, kidnapping, terrorist attacks, killings and destruction. It is horrible that at times, to justify such barbarism, the name of a religion or the name of God Himself is invoked. These iniquitous attitudes profane the name of God and sully the religious quest of mankind. May there instead be fostered everywhere the peaceful encounter of believers and genuine religious freedom. Here, our responsibility before God, humanity and the future is great; it calls for unremitting effort, without dissimulation. May the religions be wombs of life, bearing the merciful love of God to a wounded and needy humanity; may they be doors of hope helping to penetrate the walls erected by pride and fear.”

Daily Readings Nov. 12 — Nov. 25

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Nov. 12, 3 Jn 5-8; Ps 112:1-6; Lk 18:1-8. Sun. Nov. 13, Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mal 3:19-20a; Ps 98:5-9; 2 Thes 3:7-12; Lk 21:5-19. Mon. Nov. 14, Rv 1:1-4; 2:1-5; Ps 1:1-4,6; Lk 18:35-43.

Tues. Nov. 15, Rv 3:1-6,14-22; Ps 15:2-4b,5; Lk 19:1-10. Wed. Nov. 16, Rv 4:111; Ps 150:1b-6; Lk 19:11-28. Thurs. Nov. 17, Rv 5:1-10; Ps 149:1b-6a,9b; Lk 19:41-44. Fri. Nov. 18, Rv 10:8-11; Ps 119:14,24,72,103,111, 131; Lk 19:45-48.

Proper readings for Peter & Paul: Acts 28:11-16,30-31; Ps 98:1,2-3ab,3cd-4,5-6; Mt 14:22-33.

Sat. Nov. 19, Rv 11:4-12; Ps 144:1-2,9-10; Lk 20:27-40. Sun. Nov. 20, Solemnity of Christ the King, 2 Sm 5:1-3; Ps 122 1-5; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43. Mon. Nov. 21, Rv 14:1-3,4b-5; Ps 24:1b-4b,5-6; Lk 21:1-4. Tues. Nov. 22, Rv 14:14-19; Ps 96:10-13; Lk 21:5-11. Wed. Nov. 23, Rv 15:1-4; Ps 98:1-3b,7-9; Lk 21:12-19.

Thurs. Nov. 24, Rv 18:1-2,21-23; 19:1-3,9a; Ps 100:1b-5; Lk 21:20-28. Proper Mass in Thanksgiving to God, esp. Sir 50:22-24; Ps 138:1-5; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Lk 17:11-19. Fri. Nov. 25, Rv 20:1-4,11—21:2; Ps 84:3 -6a,8a; Lk 21:29-33.

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Closing the Jubilee Door of Mercy and becoming living portals

he formal close of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy will take place on November 20 when Pope Francis, at the end of the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King in St. Peter’s Basilica, formally shuts and seals, until probably 2025, the basilica’s famous Jubilee Door. The other Doors of Mercy in cathedrals and privileged churches throughout the world, however, are all supposed to be Liturgically closed this Sunday.

During the rite entitled “The Closing Celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee in Local Churches,” prepared by the Vatican for this occasion, the bishop or his delegate will summarize the graces of the year before leading us to call on God’s mercy anew: “Dearly beloved brothers and sisters,” he will say at the beginning of the closing Mass, “we have reached the end of the Jubilee Year. It has been an extraordinary time of grace and mercy.

Let us invoke the soothing balm of His mercy acknowledging that we are sinners and forgiving one another from the bottom of our hearts.”

Next, in the prayers of the Kyrie prescribed for the occasion, we will be reminded of some of the aspects of mercy we’ve pondered throughout the year, namely God’s, the Church’s and our own mercy: “You command us to forgive one another before approaching Your altar: Lord, have mercy.

You invoked mercy upon sinners as You hung upon the cross: Christ, have mercy. You entrust the ministry of Reconciliation to Your Church, Lord,

have mercy.” cy — one of the 1,142 And during the pepriests given special facriod of Thanksgiving ulties by Pope Francis to after Holy Communion, absolve the censures due the bishop will lead to particular sins reserved the church in expressto the pope or to bishing gratitude to God for ops — I loved being able the gift of Divine mercy, to exercise the sweeping saying, “Let us joyfully privilege and responsibilthank God, the Father ity of the Church’s fullest of our Lord Jesus Christ. power to bind and loose.

Throughout this year As a columnist, I’ve really of grace, He has bestowed on us every Heavenly Putting Into blessing in Christ. the Deep He has given us this precious

By Father time of mercy Roger J. Landry and conversion.

Let us express our thanks and joy in the words of the enjoyed this 26-part seVirgin Mary, our Mother. ries focusing on the variAs we sing the Lord’s ous dimensions of how mercy extending to every we’re called to receive and generation, let us ask communicate mercy.

Him to pour out, like the Even though the year morning dew fall, that regrettably couldn’t last same mercy unceasingly forever, however, I am upon the entire world.” grateful to have had the And then he’ll lead us in doors of mercy opened chanting Mary’s Magniwide throughout this f icat so that our soul will 349-day jubilee and to exult and Spirit rejoice in experience it in all of God our Savior “Whose these ways. mercy is from age to age” The good news is that, and Who “has rememeven though the jubilee bered mercy according to will officially conclude the promise He made to when Pope Francis closes our fathers.” the Jubilee Door, God’s I have to admit that I’ll everlasting mercy will be sad to see the Jubilee endure. In some reDoors close. As a Catho- spects, every year we’re lic disciple, I thought still breathing is a year having doors of mercy of mercy, during which opened for the world is we’re called to celebrate, a fitting image for the recognize our need for, Church’s mission today, receive and share this and I loved how easy it great gift. St. John Paul was to seek plenary inII and Pope Francis have dulgences for myself and called our time a “kairos those who have died. As of mercy,” and that “aca Catholic priest, I know ceptable time” does not there were many this expire when the chronos year who crossed through hits November 21. those doors and continThe reason for which ued walking through the Pope Francis called this doors of a confessional.

Jubilee Year, moreover, As a Missionary of Merlikewise remains.

“Many question in their hearts, why a Jubilee of Mercy today?” Pope Francis asked the night before publishing his letter, “The Face of Mercy” that charted the path for this Jubilee Year. “Simply because the Church, in this time of great historical change, is called to offer more evident signs of God’s presence and closeness,” he replied. “This is a time for the Church to rediscover the meaning of the mission entrusted to her by the Lord on the day of Easter: to be a sign and an instrument of the Father’s mercy.”

He added that he was convening the year also in order “to welcome the numerous signs of the tenderness that God offers to the whole world and, above all, to those who suffer, who are alone and abandoned, without hope of being pardoned or feeling the Father’s love; to experience strongly within ourselves the joy of having been found by Jesus, the Good Shepherd Who has come in search of us because we were lost; to receive the warmth of His love when He bears us upon His shoulders and brings us back to the Father’s house; [and] to be touched by the Lord Jesus and to be transformed

by His mercy, so that we may become witnesses to mercy.”

The ultimate reason for the jubilee, he concluded, is “because this is the time for mercy, the favorable time to heal wounds, a time not to be weary of meeting all those who

are waiting to see and to touch with their hands the signs of the closeness of God, a time to offer everyone the way of forgiveness and Reconciliation.”

These stated reasons for the Jubilee of Mercy are perhaps the best way for us, on a personal and ecclesial level, to evaluate it as it comes to an end.

Have we perceived better God’s tender closeness and experienced the joy and warmth of merciful love? Have we been touched by that mercy in such a way to become convinced that our mission in life is to be a witness and instrument of that Divine gift? Have we been transformed to such an extent that we have almost been compelled to draw closer to those in greater need of God’s merciful love?

There’s a common Spiritual aphorism that God never closes a door without opening another (see Acts 16:6-12; 2 Cor 12:12-14). In this case, as the Doors of Mercy that led so many into our churches close throughout the world this Sunday and at St. Peter’s on Christ the King, the intention is not that we be locked inside our Sacred edifices. Rather, transformed by the graces of this year to be “merciful like the Father,” we are called to become living portals, taking God’s mercy more effectively, tenderly and joyfully out to those in need and drawing them into the heart of this inexhaustible mystery.

Anchor columnist Father Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

The Anchor - November 11, 2016

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Wednesday 2 November 2016 — St. Joseph Cemetery, Falmouth — All Souls’ Day et me tell you, dear readers, a story sad but true. It concerns my cousin Richie. He and I were about the same age.

Growing up, none of we cousins were allowed to wrestle with Richie, as young boys are want to do. Richie wore a full body brace due to a severe congenital spine deformity. Cousin Richie was not expected to live beyond the age of 18. That’s not the sad part. Turns out he lived well into his 60s — a full and productive life. The sad part was his death.

Richie didn’t have a funeral. His body was cremated (at his request). The urn containing his ashes was brought to the local tavern and plunked down on the bar for “a celebration of life.”

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Ashes to ashes

His clients toasted my late years of respect for the dead cousin until the wee hours among human beings and of the morning. At closing certainly among Catholics. time, everyone stumbled I read the document. I see home. I have no idea what an affirmation of a Corporal they did with poor Richie’s Work of Mercy — ­ burying ashes. He deserved better the dead. than that. Richie had dedicated his life to counseling alcoholics. The Ship’s Log The Congregation Reflections of a for the Doctrine of Parish Priest the Faith has recently

By Father Tim issued an instruction Goldrick pertaining to the burial of the deceased and the conservation of the ashes in the case of Have I ever told you, dear cremation. There have been readers, that I have a minop-ed pieces published in istry as a cemetery director? newspapers and man-onThere have been 25 interthe-street interviews on ments in my cemetery this television. The Vatican docu- year, all done with dignity. ment is spun as something Not all of the deceased were completely new and worthy parishioners. In fact, not all of debate. The brouhaha is were Catholic. Most were based on an abysmal ignofull-body burials, but some rance of the thousands of involved cremated remains.

We have even set aside a section of the cemetery for the interment of cremains.

Although the Church has always preferred to inter the body of the deceased, cremation has been allowed since 1969. In such a case, it’s

The Anchor - November 11, 2016

better for the cremation to take place after the funeral.

Further, even those who have been cremated before the funeral should be honored with dignified funeral rites.

Even this is falling by the wayside. More and more families are not having funerals for their loved ones: “just some prayers in the funeral parlor” or “maybe say a few words at the grave.”

Sometimes, not even that.

I’m seeing another trend: scheduling a “Memorial Mass’’ in lieu of a funeral when a funeral could very well be held. People pretend it’s a funeral, but it really isn’t. At a funeral the Church honors the physical remains of the deceased (even in the form of ashes).

In a nutshell: no human remains, no funeral.

The issue that precipitated a renewed emphasis by the Vatican on a dignified burial was not the growing popularity of cremation, but rather a world-view that human

remains don’t really matter.

In the case of cremation, what happens to the ashes?

The instruction makes specific mention of human remains being kept at home, flung to the four winds, cast upon the waters, or made into jewelry (my guess would be the congregation had lockets in mind).

As a priest, I have seen all this and more.

I suspect that many funeral parlors have unclaimed urns of human cremains stored in their garages. Some families place the funereal containers on the mantel or in a closet. I have seen, at the church door, an urn retrieved from the trunk of a car.

I’ve heard of cremains being divided into Ziploc bags and sent off with various family members to God knows where. I’ve celebrated a Funeral Mass with cremated remains present and gone down to the church hall afterwards only to find the dearly departed on the head table at the pot-luck.

I’ve come across cremated remains encased in a garden ornament. I’ve heard of a woman who bought a vase at a flea market only to find, once she got home, that there were cremains inside.

I know full well that when, while arranging a funeral, I ask the place of interment and get a vague answer that the ashes will probably be tossed somewhere over land or sea. Perhaps there are no plans at all.

“Both in life and in death, we belong to God,” St. Paul wrote. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith finds cause to remind us of this. I suppose that if a culture has so little respect for life, as does ours, it will have even less for death. It’s a sad situation.

Anchor columnist Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

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et me set the scene for you. A mother is shopping with her young son, who by the looks of him can’t be much older than four.

She stands in an aisle, her back to her son, assessing a row of non-perishables.

Meanwhile, the little boy spots an older gentleman across from them in the aisle, and calls out to him: “I like your face!” A moment passes between the two, a look of uncertainty passing between them, and then the older gentleman smiles, selects his product, and moves on.

Did I witness this on a recent shopping trip? No, but it is one of my favorite commercials running on television right now.

Because from the very moment I first saw it, I couldn’t help but think about how completely free from inhibition that small boy was. The only thing I could think of was how children don’t censor or conceal their true feelings; they simply tell you how it is. They have no concern for what others think of them and they see no shame in complimenting strangers with big mustaches in the same cereal aisle as them. General Mills might make the argument that this representation of a small boy is meant to mirror the fact that their cereals have no artificial flavors or coloring — that their cereal is in fact as real as that little boy — however, I would argue that there is a deeper message here.

In Matthew and Mark’s Gospels, in sections entitled, “The Greatest in the Kingdom,” a very telling message is shared about

I like your face children and their value. one was personal) — our In Mark’s Gospel, “Who- faith is aging us. We beever receives one child come tired and lose sight such as this in My Name, of the beauty in our ritureceives Me; and whoever als, we forget that dogma receives Me, receives not and doctrine are two Me but the One Who sent Me.” I’ll admit, there’s a lot Radiate of similar soundYour Faith ing and roundabout wordage in that

By Renee Bernier sentence, but the message is pretty clear. It is in the persona of children that different things, and we we find Christ. He conso distance ourselves from tinues, saying, “Let the God through layers of children come to Me; do sin that we no longer see not prevent them, for the value in reconciling. This Kingdom of God belongs is a very bleak picture of to such as these. Amen, I our Church. say to you, whoever does Instead, our faith not accept the Kingdom of should be the very thing God like a child will not that keeps us young. It’s enter it.” Well, that’s inter- the very thing that reesting, because in first Cor- stores us to our childlike inthians we read, “When I humility that prepares us was a child, I used to talk for the Kingdom of God. as a child, think as a child, It allows us to be real with reason as a child; when I God, nothing but our aubecame a man, I put aside thentic selves, which is all childish things.” Now, I’m He asks of us. But how? a little panicky. If I put What are the actual ways aside childish things as I we do this? Personally, got older, how the heck am I’ve found a passion projI getting to the Kingdom ect. I love, love, love youth of God? Clearly I need to and young adult ministry, do some backtracking. But and right now I’m workhow? ing in the Office of Faith The question of how Formation to develop a to remain young is also a retreat with Father David question of how to remain Frederici for high school pure of heart. I think the seniors that focuses on answer is sometimes so the transition from high simple we overlook it. In a school to college. The time when being Catholic goal is to provide these seems increasingly more seniors with informadifficult — whether we tion on how to successare grappling with the fully make that transiChurch’s stance on social tion, continue to develop issues, we’re discourtheir faith, and seek out aged because vocations campus ministry opporare down, we have a hard tunities no matter which time relating to the Mass, college campus they may we no longer see other find themselves on. young people sitting next From the very first to us in the pews (that planning meeting, to mar-

keting development, and now to team formation I find myself renewed and energized to work with and for a new generation of young Catholics who are no longer the future of the Church — but who are, instead, the present Church.

The short of it — find something in your faith life that brings you joy, the kind of joy a child feels, and do it. Because if through His Word, Jesus is telling me that I should

strive to stay a child for as long as possible, then to that I say, thank you Jesus, because adulthood is not as pretty as it looks. Now if only He would help me pay back my loans, balance my checkbook from time to time, and remind me to get an oil change every once in a while.

Anchor columnist Renee Bernier graduated from Stonehill College and is a graduate student in the College Student Personnel Program at James Madison University in Harrison, Va.

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Thanksgiving: A time of hope and opportunity

s we approach the uniquely American holiday of Thanksgiving, I would like to share some examples of how our diocese has benefitted from some extraordinary generosity. As many of you know, our bishop has accepted the recommendations of an Education Task Force which he created soon after his arrival. The Task Force was engaged for more than a year and reviewed reams of data on the current state of our elementary schools and high schools as well as comparative data from other Catholic school districts from around the country.

The Task Force was comprised of clergy and lay leaders from throughout the diocese. They are all to be commended for the many hours of work and study that went into their conclusions. The driving force behind this effort was a gift offered by the Carney Family Foundation to fund the cost of the study. Patrick and Lillian Carney are long-time

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benefactors of many Catholic causes in the New Bedford area. Upon the installation of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., they asked for and received a meeting with him to express their willingness to help in whatever ways he needed. Out It’s What of those conWe Do versations came a plan

By James A. to provide Campbell funding for the Education Task Force.

Fast forward to this past September. The Task Force report is completed and a road map for the future is agreed upon. Now comes the hard part, implementation of changes designed to improve curriculum, professional development and enrollment management issues.

Once again the Carney Family Foundation was there to assist. This

time with a visionary and dramatic offer to “jump-start” the implementation with an extraordinary gift and a challenge.

The Carney Family offered the diocese a gift of $1 million and asked the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education Board to match that amount from our foundation resources to create a pool of $2 million that would be earmarked for a three-year period to be used for two purposes. All of the Carney Family gift will be directed to fund full-need scholarships for poor children who could otherwise not afford a Catholic education. The rest of the money will be devoted to additional scholarships and to invigorate our ability to increase awareness and marketing so that more families will consider a Catholic school.

We are exceedingly grateful to the Carney Family for their foresight. We are calling this three-year effort our Hope and Opportunity Initiative. While we are certainly proud of the education we currently provide the more than 6,000 students attending our schools, we know there are obstacles that keep some from attending. Family resources are often stretched to the breaking point. We want to provide the hope and the opportunity of a solid Spiritually-based, value-laden education for all who wish it for their sons and daughters.

Pat and Lillian Carney have set a standard for their children to emulate based upon an unshakable ethic of gratitude for all they have achieved and a deep devotion to service. Lillian has served on many charitable organizations over the years and still serves her undergraduate college, the College of New Rochelle, as a board member. Pat has served on the board of Boston College and has devoted many hours to Bishop Stang and his elementary school, Holy Family in New Bedford.

When you ask Pat about his mo-

tivation to provide such substantial support he replies with genuine humility: “I am very grateful for my Catholic education and want poor children to have the same opportunity I was afforded.”

All five of the Carney siblings are involved in foundation decisions. Patrick, Kate, Coleen, Michael and Ned have all benefitted from the example their parents set of lifelong community service and devotion to their Catholic faith.

The Mission Statement of the foundation reads as follows: The Carney Family Charitable Foundation seeks to strengthen the communities and institutions that have nurtured our family members and touched our lives. Concentrating our efforts on Greater New Bedford, the foundation works to: — Promote and increase access to quality education with a special emphasis on Catholic education; — Promote positive change in people’s lives through community wellness; and — Invest in system-level change.

In the months and years to come I am certain that many others will join the Carney Family in helping Bishop da Cunha bring about a revitalization of our parishes and schools. For now we offer our thanks in this season of thanksgiving for their actions rooted in faith and animated by love to bring hope and opportunity to many. To their charitable spirit and that of everyone who donates to FACE, I commend this quote from Pope Francis: “The education of children is such an important task in forming them as free and responsible human beings. It affirms their dignity as an unalienable gift that follows from our original Creation as children made in the image and likeness of God. And because education truly forms human beings, it is especially the duty and responsibility of the Church, who is called to serve mankind from the heart of God and in such a way that no other institution can.”

Anchor columnist James Campbell is director of the diocesan Development Office; Catholic Charities Appeal; Foundation to Advance Catholic Education.

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@anchornews.org The Anchor - November 11, 2016

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The Knights of Columbus Council No. 86 recently held its annual scholarship awards dinner at White’s of Westport. Scholarships were awarded to five students attending Catholic high schools. Three scholarships were also awarded to area seminarians. Front, from left: Ray Duddy, Mary Mahoney-Pacheco (Bishop Stang), Evan O’Connor (Bishop Connolly), Jillian Aguiar (Bishop Stang), Nicholas Oliveira (Bishop Stang), Quinn Sullivan (Bishop Stang), Paul Sardinha, Grand Knight. Rear: Seminarian Ryan Healy, Richard Duddy, Moe Sirois. Not pictured are Seminarians Michael Santos and John Pietruska.

Jane Wilcox, a member of Our Lady’s Ambassadors, delivers the 100-year-old message of Our Lady of Fatima: “Rosary, sacrifice, Confession, Communion,” at a recent service at St. Bernard’s Church in Assonet.

Cape Cod Chapter members recently attended the annual Mass Citizens for Life Banquet in Norwood.

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Families in Fall River parish pray together for an increase in vocations home for one week, reminding them to pray daily, as a family, for an increase FALL RIVER — When in all vocations; the priesthe was pastor of Holy Fam- hood, religious life, Marily Parish in East Taunton, riage, and single life.

“We put together a book leading his parishioners of prayers for vocations into the new millennium, and then invited families to Father Jay T. Maddock’s sign up to take the vocaparish Vocation Committion prayer cross and prayer tee initiated a program to book home for one week allow families to become (one family per week) with more involved in fostering the commitment to offer and praying for vocations: the prayers each evening for the Vocation Prayer Cross vocations,” Father MadMinistry.

The purpose of the cross dock told The Anchor. “They then bring the cross and was to have a family welprayer booklet back with come the cross into their

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 November 13, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father John M. Sullivan, pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Wareham.

November 20, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Michael Racine, pastor of St. Bernard’s Parish in Assonet.

them to Mass the following week and the next family takes it home.”

At his current parish, Holy Name in Fall River, the Vocation Committee is initiating the same program, taking as its start date the beginning of National Vocations Awareness Week.

The cross, which stands about three-feet-tall, has “Pray ... For,” running horizontally, and “Vocations,” running along the vertical plank.

“In this effort we are trying to encourage parishioners to pray for a greater awareness of the Christian vocations of Matrimony, Holy Orders and consecrated religious life,” Father Maddock continued. “We must pray that more families talk about and pray for strength that young people especially (and older ones depending on their circumstances) reflect on what God is asking of them.

“We have far fewer priests and religious in our country because we have far fewer Catholic people receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony and building strong Catholic families where calls to Holy Orders and consecrated religious life can be discerned and chosen. This Vocation Prayer Cross effort is directed toward all the Christian vocations. The more people we have receiving these Sacraments the better we are able, as Church, to bring the Good News of Christ to more and more people.”

Donna Costa is the chairperson of the Holy Name Vocations Committee. She told The Anchor, that when the prayer cross was utilized at Holy Family in East Taunton, “it was very fruitful there. When it was presented to the Holy

The Vocation Prayer Cross, part of a new ministry at Holy Name Parish in Fall River, spent last week in the home of Adam and Sarah Morin and their six children, where they, as a family, prayed for vocations. The cross will spend each week at the home of a different family.

Name Parish Vocation Committee we thought it was a wonderful idea.

“I believe it is important for families to be involved in praying for vocations because families are the backbone, if you will, of a society and if you do things together as a family it strengthens the family unit and provides a welcoming environment for children to be able to dialogue with parents about what they might want to do with their lives, and that may include priesthood, religious life and Marriage.”

“We’ve been planning this since last spring, trying to decide when to start it and compiling the prayers for the book,” said Adam

Morin, a member of the Holy Name Vocations Committee.

He told The Anchor the committee decided on starting it on Vocations Sunday, November 5. “My family and I are blessed to be the first to take it home.

My wife, Sarah and I have six children, and we have always prayed with them for vocations as well as for our priests, deacons, and religious. We try to instill in them an understanding of how crucial they are and how important is the work they do.

“We also make it a point to invite priests that we know to our family functions, or just for a quick Turn to page 22

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O

h my God! Jesus Christ! How many times do we hear those phrases around us — but we’re not in church? Walking across campus, or in the high school hallways, these names, which we hold to be special and holy and “protected” by the Commandment, “Thou shalt not take the Lord’s Name in vain,” seem to have just become another exclamation phrase which means little to most. Sort of speech fill-ins like, “um” or “you know.”

My wife and I have taken to calling attention to that phrase in our everyday situations. Many a time when she or I hear the phrase, “Oh my God!” we’ll respond with “where!!!??” “Is He here?”

“Where is He?” Of course, our response will often garner a chuckle by those around us, but we hope to make the point.

As we prepare for Advent in just a few weeks, we are “looking for His coming this Christmas” are we not?

The season of Advent turns our minds and thoughts to the commemoration of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.

For and About Our Church Youth Christ with us is it that we don’t seem to But more importantly, the realize that at the Eucharist, season of Advent is given to Christ is truly present! us by the Church not only I recall, years ago, a memto prepare ourselves for this ber of a YES! retreat team, Christmas “coming,” but to prepare ourselves to let Jesus into our hearts and minds and to redirect our lives going forward.

I was thinking,

By Deacon however, that even Frank Lucca though we may use this season to better prepare ourselves for Christ’s that I was directing, gave a Eucharist talk during that coming, Christ is truly here particular YES! weekend. now and we often fail to What he said those many recognize that.

I recall a priest once speak- years ago has come flooding ing at Mass about the coming back to me as I thought about what I would write this week. of Christ at Christmas. He He mentioned in his talk, mentioned that we celebrate that a number of years back, at this time of year, the comthe president was going to be ing of Christ in history, the visiting the area. There was a coming of Christ in mystery great deal of excitement that (at Mass in the Eucharist) the President of the United and the coming of Christ in States would be nearby. Peomajesty (at the end of time). ple flocked from throughout It was Christ’s coming the region to attend this event in mystery that particuand the crowds were huge. larly struck me. As I looked He then mentioned that this around the church I wonmere human being was able dered why it wasn’t filled to overflow capacity with people to draw tremendous crowds of people to hear him speak. out the doors and into the But on any day, the Son of parking lot. After all, Christ God, our Lord Jesus Christ was here, was He not? Why is present in the Eucharist at Mass and few are present.

Students from preschool three through eighth-grade at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford enjoy quiet time in Adoration every First Friday of the month.

Pictured are kindergartners Avery and Mason.

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Be Not Afraid

Isn’t it odd that we all will rush to see the president or to see a celebrity or singer and yet, the Son of God draws few to daily Mass and to Sunday Masses?

He made the point then, and I hope to make it now, that we as a people may just not get it. Has the Eucharist become so commonplace that we have lost the excitement? Has the Eucharist become so ordinary that we just don’t think about it? Or do we forget or perhaps not believe that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist?

Think about it. God is present to us in the breaking of the bread. He is present to us in mystery. True. But those who call ourselves Catholic believe that He is truly present at the Eucharist. Why don’t we as a people flock to “see” Him each time we have an opportunity? It just got me thinking.

So perhaps, as we prepare during this upcoming Advent season, join me in remembering that we are so fortunate to have Christ so close to us.

He’s as close as our hearts, He’s as close as our friends and neighbors, but He’s also

physically close to us each time we take the opportunity to visit and receive Him in the Eucharist at Mass. That is truly our “Oh my God” moment and one we should take advantage of often.

Now each and every time I hear, “Oh my God,” I try to turn that into a little prayer, by giving additional thought to the presence of Christ in my life and pray that I, and those who are not in a close relationship with Christ, will have opportunities to be closer to Him in the Eucharist. I hope you, too, will consider these thoughts and that you, too, may be physically close to Christ now and at the end of time when our human bodies will be resurrected so that we can live in eternity when Christ comes again in majesty.

Please, in the next coming weeks, when you hear someone say “Oh my God!” — join me in thinking, “Where is He?” followed immediately by ‘“Oh yeah, He’s right here! Thank you Lord, Amen!” What could be greater than that?

Anchor columnist Frank Lucca is a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Fall River.

DeaconFrankLucca@comcast. net.

Members of the Sacred Heart Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society at St. Joseph School in Fairhaven organized a collection of used cell phones and supplies for the Fairhaven Animal Shelter. In addition, they are hand-making pillows for pediatric patients of local hospitals and for patients recovering from heart surgery.

For and About Our Church Youth

Pre-school students at Holy Trinity School in West Harwich recently had a fun day at the local fire station. Pastor Father Marc Tremblay is the chaplain of the Harwich Fire Department.

Faculty, staff, students and parents of St. James-St. John School in New Bedford recently participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk to end Type I Diabetes at Buttonwood Park.

Pre-kindergarten students at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton gathered around their class jack-o’-lantern.

Students in grades seven and eight from Holy Name School in Fall River recently held a field trip to the Freedom Trail in Boston.

Members of American Heritage Girls Troop MA3712 made flower pens for the moms at Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Attleboro at their last meeting. From left: Abi Eckerson, Lily McCormick, Zoe Kuczewski, and leader Trish Larkin.

Grades one and two from St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet were able to enjoy the local fall beauty on a recent trip to the newly-restored Acushnet Sawmill Nature Park. Students walked the trails and investigated local nature and wildlife together with the guides on this great adventure.

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For and About Our Church Youth

During the month of October, Father Jay Mello, pastor of St. Michael and St. Joseph parishes in Fall River, prays a decade of the Rosary each morning at St. Michael School, teaching the children the different mysteries.

The St. Pius X Youth Group recently hosted a Coffee House with singersong writer John Polce at St. Pius X, South Yarmouth. The next Youth Group function is Sunday at 6 p.m. — a movie night featuring “The Way” with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.

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Diocesan priests gather; share their joys, hopes for the future

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

EASTON — In September, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., sent a letter to his brother priests ministering in the Diocese of Fall River, inviting them to a day of reflection and prayer at the Martin Center on the campus of Stonehill College.

In his invitation, Bishop da Cunha asked his peers to set aside the entire day, “for the purposes of strengthening our sense of common ministry in service to Christ’s Church in the diocese. Please consider this an opportunity to step away from the busy details of pastoral ministry and an opportunity to gain fresh perspectives on the challenges we face and the graces the Lord promises us as shepherds of His people.”

The day was filled with prayer, reflection, discussion, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction, and two presentations by guest speaker Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti.

Msgr. Rossetti is a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse, N.Y. He is a licensed psychologist with a doctorate in psychology from Boston College and a doctor of ministry from the Catholic University of America.

Msgr. Rossetti has authored many articles and several books including, “Why Priests are Happy,” “Born of the Eucharist,” and “The Joy of Priesthood.”

He has also appeared on National Public Radio and “Meet the Press.”

Msgr. Rossetti’s presentations were: “Joys and challenges of the priesthood today,” and “Steps to priestly holiness.”

In his first presentation, “Joys and challenges of the

priesthood today,” he set out to debunk several myths about the priesthood and those who live it daily: that priests are isolated and psychologically dysfunctional; priests are burned out; and priests are unhappy.

In his extensive research, monsignor discovered several truths about the priesthood and shared them with his brothers. He told them that “priests measure slightly psychologically healthier than the general population and most have a network of sustaining relationships.”

He told the gathering that studies reveal that 61 percent of priests are very happy and 36 percent are pretty happy, with less than one percent being not happy at all.

He also told them that “Study after study definitely show that priests are among the happiest people in the U.S.” Father Michael A. Ciryak, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Swansea, told The Anchor, “Msgr. Rossetti was upbeat, charming and a brother priest — a man able to relate to and share our common joys and frustrations. Secondly, he pointed out the beauty and happiness which we already possess. I realize we are pretty happy and greatly blessed. I am grateful that we were able to step away from our regular business and objectively and reflectively look at our priestly lives.”

“I enjoyed the opportunity for priestly fraternity, prayer, and Msgr. Rossetti’s presentations,” said Father Jason Brilhante, chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and in residence at Santo Christo Parish there. “He dispelled the myth that priests are unhappy. This is an important

detail to know because we are all searching for happiness, and happiness can be found in our vocation. For any man who is called to the priesthood, there in their vocation is the inner peace and happiness they are seeking. By being faithful and nourishing through prayer the promises of a priestly vocation, one can find happiness.

“In his second presentation, ‘Steps to priestly holiness,’ Msgr. Rossetti validated Spiritual practices that help a priest to grow in holiness, which is also applicable to anyone in any vocation: religious, married, or ordained. These Spiritual practices are: cease any serious sin, renew the Sacrament of Penance, dive deeply into the Eucharist, practice gratitude, embrace your crosses, abandon yourself to God, love the Church, pray more, nourish good friendships, and trust God.” Father Daniel W. Lacroix, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Seekonk, echoed much of what his brother priests experienced and shared.

“Priests are generally happier as they are sustained by personal prayer, Eucharist and a fraternity that understands today’s challenges in parish ministry,” he told The Anchor. “Also, when parish communities are supportive of their clergy, it leads to a deeper sense of accomplishment and happiness.

“The opportunity to gather with so many of my brother priests from all five deaneries along with Bishop da Cunha to reflect, pray and socialize was personally rejuvenating.”

Father George E. Harrison, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich shared several thoughts with The Anchor. “The centerpiece

of this day of prayer and reflection was a Holy Hour of prayer and Adoration with priests united in prayer with our bishop, who is the sign and instrument of unity for his presbyterate,” he said.

“During this time of prayer, I was filled with gratitude to be on my knees in prayer with so many brother priests who toil tirelessly and heroically, day in and day out, to carry on the mission and ministry entrusted to us by our Eternal High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.

“In that moment, I realized that the prayer of Christ was being fulfilled, ‘Holy Father, keep them in Your Name that You have given me, so that they may be one just as We are’ ( Jn 23:11). I believe that this day of prayer and reflection for the priests of the diocese was fruitful in cultivating and nurturing unity among the priests of our diocese and was a source of great affirmation, hope and inspiration for those in attendance.”

At the conclusion of the day of reflection and prayer, Bishop da Cunha encouraged his brother priests to participate in a program

beginning next June, “Good Leaders, Good Shepherds.”

“I am very pleased Bishop da Cunha is in the process of bringing in the Catholic Leadership Institute’s “Good Leaders, Good Shepherds” enrichment program into the diocese,” added Father Lacroix. “It will help many men with enriching their priestly identity, ministry and fraternity.”

“Msgr. Rossetti ended our day of prayer and reflection with a quote from St. John Vianney to his bishop, ‘If you wish to convert your diocese, you must make saints of your priests,’”said Father Harrison. “There is no question in my mind that if we continue to build on the fundamental building blocks for priestly holiness shared with us by Msgr. Rossetti, our beloved diocese will be truly blessed and renewed.”

“I hope that the faithful of the Diocese of Fall River are inspired, encouraged, and affirmed that their parish priest is happy being a priest most likely because they are putting into practice good Spiritual practices,” added Father Brilhante.

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Diocesan Education Task Force releases report continued from page three

age combined SAT scores when compared with 1552 for students statewide and 100 percent of Catholic high school students graduate while 95 percent go on to higher education.

“Our teachers, administrators, students and parish communities have been remarkably successful with limited resources, and their commitment and passion is so evident in everyday life and in every school we walk into,” the bishop said.

Despite this success, however, diocesan schools have had to face many challenges of late — not least among them rising costs and declining enrollments.

“We have lost some (students) and we have closed some schools in the past, but what we want to do is to make sure this trend does not continue for too long — in fact, we want to reverse it,” Bishop da Cunha said.

“We must rally around a bold vision and embrace the changes that are necessary and essential to the future of our schools.”

Noting the Task Force on Catholic Education focused on four specific areas — academic excellence, enrollment, finance and governance — the bishop cited among its findings: — Teachers’ salaries are well below district and state levels; — There is a lack of consistent curriculum standards; — There are unfilled seats existing at many of the schools; — There has been a steady decline in enrollment for the past few years; — There are no significant endowments to fall back on; — There have never 20

been independent audits or rigorous financial reviews of the schools; — School advisory boards operate with a lack of clarity; and — There is an inconsistent presence of clergy in the schools.

“What we want to do is to reverse all these challenges to make our schools vibrant for the future,” Bishop da Cunha said. “(This) report is our official document for the new era of our (diocesan) schools, beginning now.

We need to have academically excellent, vibrant and financially-sustainable schools that are a cornerstone of our thriving Catholic communities.”

The bishop said the findings in the report suggest a “move from being a system of schools to a school system.”

“That would be very, very effective in fulfilling this mission,” he added.

“We need a uniform standard for academic and business practices and uniform tuition and financial aid policies. This is our new systemization of schools.”

To this end, some of the key recommendations in the report include: — Establish clear, consistent diocesan-wide standards for academic quality at each school level and uniform accountability measures; — Continue investing in the quality of each school on multiple levels (capital improvements, technology, curriculum and staff ); — Implement strategies to stabilize and grow enrollment in the schools; — Align demographic research and marketing activities to establish a

The Anchor - November 11, 2016

sources are out there,” he said. “Once we present a plan and once we let peosystem-wide process for ple know how important financial management; this is for the future of our — Pursue other sources Church and our communiof funding beyond existing ties, you’re going to have a institutions; and lot of good people joining — Expand the staff in this effort.” at the Catholic EducaAs if on cue, the first tion Center and establish to join the effort was the a centralized CathoCarney Family Charitable lic School Board to set Foundation, which gensystem-wide policies and erously contributed $1 practices. million toward the costs of Bishop da Cunha has implementing the recomalready appointed an mendations.

Implementation Team to “The Carney Family told begin to put in place those me they were going to give recommendations consid$1 million and the Founered a priority and foundation for the Advancedational to the overall sucment of Catholic Educacess of schools. This new tion has matched that $1 team will be led by Dr. million, so now we already Mary Pat Tranter, presihave $2 million to start dent of Coyle and Cassidy this process,” Bishop da High School in Taunton; Cunha said. “I never in my and Father David A. wildest dreams imagined Costa, pastor of St. Mary when I started this task and Sacred Heart parishes force that we would have in North Attleboro and such an incredible, positive director of St. Mary-Saresponse. So I’m so grateful cred Heart School. to the Carney Family and Once established, the I want to thank them for Central School Board will their extraordinarily generoversee the implementaous gift. So many children tion process, which will will benefit from it.” continue over the next “I was so honored to three years with costs pribe part of the task force oritized and budgeted. the bishop appointed,” “We need to have more said Kate Carney Larisa, resources to give out more executive director of the scholarships and establish Carney Family Charitable an endowment for scholFoundation. “As we conarships,” Bishop da Cunha cluded our work, it became said. “We need to upgrade clear that new investments our buildings and facilities. would be required to sucAll these things need a lot cessfully jump-start our of resources, a lot of talent, implementation. Therefore, and a lot of dedication to help grow enrollment from so many people.” and ensure accessibility for These things will also those children and families require money, as Bishop desiring a Catholic school da Cunha noted in his diseducation, we have made a cussions with the team. million-dollar investment “As we began discussin scholarships to the ing the implementation Foundation to Advance process, one of the things Catholic Education. It is I kept telling people was our hope that this early ‘How are we going to find investment will inspire the resources to do all others to participate in this?’ And many people this exciting renewal of were telling me the reour schools.”

“With this $2 million gift, by next year we expect our enrollment is going to go up because we’ll be able to offer more scholarships than we’ve been able to do at this point,” Bishop da Cunha said. “That’s really our ultimate goal: to increase enrollment. The reasons for enrollment going down are many — economics, demographics — and we can spend a lot of time analyzing that, but we know there are children out there and by providing them a way to come to our schools, we’ll increase enrollment.”

“We have already seen so many people telling us: ‘We want to be part of this mission,’ and they are beginning to respond to these recommendations in a very positive way,” he added.

Although the implementation team has just begun the process of responding to the task force recommendations, Bishop da Cunha is confident this marks the beginning of a “new era for our Catholic schools here in the Diocese of Fall River.”

“The process of renewing (our diocesan schools) may present some difficult choices, but we all have to work on these together,” the bishop said. “I am so grateful to everyone involved, and they know they have my commitment and my support because I firmly believe that all we do to maintain and keep our Catholic schools alive will, in the long run, benefit our communities, our families, our towns, our state, and our country. The benefits that a Catholic education offers to students cannot be matched anywhere, because we offer a faith-based education that will fully prepare these children for the next generation.”

Dead saints inspire students to live life at UMass Dartmouth

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff beckyaubut@anchornews.org

NORTH DARTMOUTH — The Dead Theologian Society (www. deadtheologiansociety.com) is breathing new Spiritual life into the students at UMass Dartmouth.

As stated on its website, the name is a take from the popular 1989 movie, “Dead Poets Society,” where in the film teens learn to appreciate the writings of poets and various authors who had gone before them. In 1997, Eddie Cotter and some of the teens from his youth group at Church of the Annunciation Parish in Altamonte Springs, Fla., were discussing how it would be very cool to help other young people appreciate the richness, beauty and truth of their Catholic faith by discovering the writings and lives of the saints. Since the saints are “dead” only by the world’s standards but are certainly alive with Jesus in Heaven, the name “Dead Theologians Society” seemed like a winner. Shortly thereafter Eddie moved to Newark, Ohio to work at St. Francis de Sales Parish, where the first DTS meeting was held.

Though many young people today may be unfamiliar with the movie, “Dead Poets Society,” the name still serves the group well. The Dead Theologians Society doesn’t dwell on death, and is certainly not a morbid or depressing program.

Addressing the reality that all individuals will face death and it will truly be one of the most important events in our lives, Sacred Scripture in Sirach 7:36 states: “In whatever you do, remember the end of your

life, and you will never sin.”

Catholics are taught not to fear death, but to fear sin and that individuals must live this life with a sense of responsibility and a direction that leads to Heaven.

The title of the apostolate indicates to young people that it is not some “soft” program, but rather appreciating the tough issues in life and through the examples of the saints, the Dead Theologians Society will inspire the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow.

Father David Frederici, director of Catholic Campus Ministry (www. umassdcatholics.com), heard about the national program a few years ago and thought “it was a unique approach to have high school or college students come together, because it’s important for any age group to come together. What’s neat about this is it’s unique because it’s connected right to our faith. We believe the fulfillment of our lives and the goal of our lives is eternal life with God.” DTS focuses on that goal, learning about the saints’ lives and his or her struggles. As it stresses on its website, at a DTS meeting, young people are inspired by the lives of saints, grow in their prayer life and deepen their knowledge of the Catholic faith in a way that engages them while allowing time to grow in community and socialize.

DTS is an apostolate for high school age teens grades nine through 12 and/or college age young adults ages 18-24, but is not a mix of the two; UMass Dartmouth does not mix the age groups, as well, said Father Frederici.

“Another important aspect of the group is it teaches us to pray for those who are in purgatory,” said Father Frederici. “It educates and at the same time there is important work [being done] praying for the souls in purgatory, as well as just nurturing our own Spiritual life.”

The DTS motto, “Mortuum Mundo — Vivum in Christo” is Latin for “Dead to the World — Alive in Christ.” This is inspired

by Romans 6:11 where St. Paul tells us to be dead to sin and alive in Christ Jesus. The saints studied are alive in Christ forever.

DTS members seek to always become more alive in Christ through their Catholic faith and “dead” to the negative influences of the world.

To officially become a member of the group, one has to participate in three meetings. Upon induction, a member receives a sweatshirt with the DTS logo, along with a ceremony welcoming them into the group.

“They recognize there’s a responsibility that comes with membership,” said Father Frederici. “It’s living our faith and a means for students to take responsibility for our faith and to learn more about what it means to be Catholic.”

The Dead Theologian Society is in transition this fall semester after losing its main core members last spring semester. There will be a new meeting area for the apostolate as Father Frederici will be shifting the meetings back over to the main campus from campus ministry’s Newman House: “We have a lot students who don’t have cars and [meetings] are dependent on whether they

can walk over. The university just put a new wireless access into the reflection room,” he said.

The new wireless setup will help Father Frederici continue to use videos by Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles: “It’s a multimedia approach so we’re not just talking to each other all the time,” explained Father Frederici. “Bishop Barron is great in his presentations.”

Pope Francis has thrown a spotlight back on saints and renewed an interest in learning more about them, especially in his namesake, St. Francis. It’s the simplicity of each saint’s life that speaks to each student be-

cause college students are dealing with complex issues in their own lives. Not only do they discover the human side to each saint, but they also find there’s a saint for everyone.

“I try to integrate saints into homilies on campus, as well, because there is a saint for everyone,” said Father Frederici. “That’s what inspires us and gives us help when we’re working our way through life.

It reminds them of where they are because there are some saints whose entire life was filled with virtue and others, um, not so much in the beginning of life. There’s a saint out there we can relate to, and it connects us to God in a way we didn’t think possible.”

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks

Nov. 12 Rev. James H. Looby, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1924 Rev. Bernard Boylan, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1925 Nov. 13 Rev. Louis J. Deady, Founder, St. Louis, Fall River, 1924 Rev. William H. O’Reilly, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Taunton, 1992 Rev. Clarence J. d’Entremont, Retired Chaplain, Our Lady’s Haven, Fairhaven, 1998 Nov. 14 Rev. Francis J. Duffy, Founder, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1940 Rev. William A. Galvin, JCD, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1977 Deacon John H. Schondek, 2001 Nov. 15 Rev. Thomas F. LaRoche, Assistant, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1939 Rev. Daniel E. Doran, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, North Easton, 1943 Nov. 16 Rev. John Brady, Former Pastor, Sandwich, New Bedford, Wareham, 1856 Nov. 17 Rev. Henry R. Canuel, Former Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Bedford, 1980 Nov. 18 Rev. William Beston, C.S.C., Chaplain, Paul Dever School, 2004 Nov. 19 Rev. Msgr. Lester L. Hull, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket, 1982 Rev. Philodore H. Lemay, M.S., La Salette Provincial House, Attleboro, 1990 Nov. 21 Rev. Stephen J. Downey, Retired Pastor, Holy Ghost, Attleboro, 1975 Rev. James F. Kenney, Retired Pastor, Corpus Christi, East Sandwich, 1994 Nov. 23 Rev. James E. Smith, Retired Chaplain, Bethlehem Home, Taunton, 1962 Rev. Msgr. Christopher L. Broderick, Retired Founder, St. Pius X, South Yarmouth, 1984 Nov. 24 Msgr. Daniel F. Shalloo, Retired Pastor, Holy Name, Fall River, 1991 Nov. 25 Rev. Philias Jalbert, Pastor, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, 1946 Rev. Dennis Spykers, SS.CC. Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Wellfleet, 1971

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Fall River parish enlists families to pray for vocations continued from page 15

meal. We also have a close friend who is a religious Sister and a cousin who is a priest in the Diocese of Providence. It’s important for children to be around them and have a relationship outside of just Sunday Mass.”

Morin said that the work the Vocations Committee has done so far has been well-received by the Holy Name parishioners. “We’ve had good reaction to what the committee has done thus far, such as our Holy Hour last July, so we’re hoping that this will further generate awareness,” he added.

Costa said that families who bring home the prayer cross aren’t only doing a service for Christ and His Church, but for themselves as well. “The other benefit as parishioners take home

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the vocation prayer cross for the week is that it also strengthens one’s own prayer life with God and doing good toward one’s neighbor. So it’s a blessing all the way around for those whom are prayed for and for those who are doing the praying.”

“This Vocation Prayer Cross effort is directed toward all the Christian Vocations,” said Father Maddock.

“The more people we have receiving these Sacraments the better we are able as Church to bring the Good News of Christ to more and more people.”

An appeal for families to become involved in the ministry appears in the weekly parish bulletin: “Each week we are asking one family (of any size) to volunteer to take home

The Anchor - November 11, 2016

the Vocation Prayer Cross and the prayer booklet and, as a family, to commit to saying prayers each night that week for people to be able to hear and respond to the vocation God is asking them to live. We all have a responsibility to pray for vocations if we want strong families, more priests and religious women and men and a stronger, more vibrant Church. Each must do his or her part in this effort.”

Elsie F. Madore, former diocesan bookkeeper

FALL RIVER — Elsie F. Madore, age 86, of Fall River, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, on November 4.

She was the beloved wife of the late Edmond O. Madore. Born in Fall River, she was the daughter of the late Antone J. and Mary (Arruda) Ferreira. Elsie was president of the Women’s Guild; a special minister of Holy Communion and lector at St. Louis and St. Mary’s parishes; and a member of St. Louis Secular Franciscans.

She was also a recipient of the Marian Medal. Madore was a diocesan bookkeeper from 1984 to 1995.

Elsie leaves behind her children Michael V. Madore of N.Y., Sandra Madore-Girouard of Wash., and Henrietta Silva of R.I. and Lisa Marie Reed of N.Y. She also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sister Elizabeth Victor.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated at the cathedral in Fall River on November 8.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Manuel Rogers & Son Funeral Home in Fall River.

Around the Diocese A Healing Mass will be celebrated on November 17 at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 19 Kilmer Avenue in Taunton, beginning with recitation of the Rosary at 6 p.m., including the Sacrament of Confession. Holy Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will conclude with healing prayers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

All are welcome. For more information call 508-824-5577 or email standrewtaunton@comcast.net.

Marian Manor, 33 Summer Street in Taunton, will host its Annual Snowflake Bazaar on November 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and November 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. including handmade craft items, along with a raffle auction and roll-up tables. Lunch and baked goods will also be available for purchase. To donate or for more information, call 508-822-4885, ext. 125 or email mblais@dhfo.org.

St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth will host its Christmas Fair on November 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be served at the Noel Cafe beginning at 11 a.m. There will also be a scratchticket Christmas tree raffle, an assortment of jewelry, gifts, crafts, knitted items, decorations, baked goods, jams and jellies, boxed knives, and more. The event is sponsored by the St. Pius X Women’s Society.

A meeting of the Fall River Council of Catholic Women will be held November 19 at St. George Parish Hall, 12 Highland Avenue in Westport. Refreshments will be served beginning at 9 a.m. and the meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. The guest speaker will be Detective Rebello from the Westport Police Department, who will discuss safety issues facing everyone today. All ladies from parishes in the diocese are welcome. For more information, call 508-824-5279.

Holy Family-Holy Name School, 91 Summer Street in New Bedford, will host its annual Holiday Fair on November 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Holiday Fair has become a tradition in New Bedford, and they expect another great year. In addition to fine gift items from some of the most talented crafts-people in the area, there will be a number of special things that add to the enjoyment of the day — a holiday auction, free gift wrapping, children’s game room, baked goods, a delicious lunch menu, and Santa’s Workshop with terrific stocking-stuffers for all ages. There will also be giveaways every hour and pictures with Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Corpus Christi Parish, 324 Quaker Meetinghouse Road in Sandwich, will host its Country Christmas Bazaar on November 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come see the many wonderful handmade creations by crafters, smell the aroma of homemade baked treats, and enjoy a delicious lunch at the café, all while taking a chance on the Noella raffle, and seeing favorite vendors. This day-long event will be taking place at the parish center, including classrooms.

St. Jude the Apostle Parish, 249 Whittenton Street in Taunton, will host its annual Penny Sale in the church hall on November 19 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. In addition to three regular series, there will be specials, roll-ups, refreshments, a raffle on 15 turkey dinner baskets, and a $1,000 first-prize money raffle.

Holy Family-Holy Name School, 91 Summer Street in New Bedford, will host a Breakfast with Santa on December 3 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Ticket price includes: breakfast (pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and coffee), a picture with Santa, face painting and admission to Santa’s Craft Area. Tickets are $8 for children and $10 for adults and can be purchased by calling 508-993-3547.

To submit an event for consideration in The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing, send the information by email to kensouza@anchornews.org

A new diocesan Marriage Prep team for the Spanish community was recently created in the diocese. It recently concluded its first session for Spanish couples from around the diocese. The next Marriage Prep session in Spanish will be in the spring: May 21 and 28, 2017.

Couples can register by calling Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford at 508-992-9408. Pictured is the team with Spiritual advisor Father Craig A. Pregana.

Visit the newly-designed Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese.org The site includes links to parishes, diocesan offices and national sites.

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This week’s column is one column

O

ften, “My View From the Stands” is the final piece placed in The Anchor biweekly jigsaw.

When I was the sports editor of the high school newspaper at Durfee as a teen, we had a saying, based loosely on the New York Times’ motto: “All the news that fits, we print.”

So, this column appears where there is space left over, and this week, my column, is in fact, one column.

Since that was the case, I researched where the term

My View From the Stands

By Dave Jolivet

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@anchornews.org 24

The Anchor - November 11, 2016

column and columnist originated, but nowhere could I find that a column was at one time, one column. So, with that being said, perhaps my peer columnists and I should be referred to as columnsnists. But as usual, I digress.

Today Americans go out and vote for a president.

With The Anchor press schedule, there is no way to know the result prior to press time, but I have a feeling we still won’t know by Friday. Just saying.

Also, I learned of the passing of Dominican Sister Gertrude Gaudette, late in our editorial process, so we will run the obituary of this incredible woman in the next Anchor edition. davejolivet@anchornews.org