diocese of fall river
t eanco VOL. 23, NO. 46
FALL RIVER, MASS., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1979
Secret Meeting Called Fruitful
Racism, Budget Concer~ Bishops WASHINGTON (NC) - The U.S. visit of Pope John Paul II in October as well as concerns about racism, liturgical language, the training of seminarians and a budget for 1980 dominated early· discussion during the fall meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops which ended today in Washington. Both the president of the NCCB, Archbishop John R. Quinn of San Francisco, and the pope's representative to the U.S. bishops, Archbishop Jean Jadot, spoke at length on the impact of the papal visit. Archbishop Quinn said Pope John Paul came to the United States challenging labels such, as "liberal" and "conservative" and proclaimed truth. On racism, the bishops were urged by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Francis of Newark, N.J. to adopt a proposed pastoral letter called "Brothers and Sisters' to Me" which strongly condemns the "sin" of racism. "I have felt the sting of racism in my own life," said Bishop Francis, one of only a handful of '!black U.S. Catholic bishops. Also given preliminary discussion was a proposal to make language changes in the liturgy that would avoid purely male references. "No O~e can say that all women are sensitive to this question, but we do believe that a sufficient number of good, de,:rurn to Page Seven
Youth Rally Set By 7 Parishes . Who is Jesus? That will be the theme of a seven-parish youth rally, open also to members of other parishes, to be held from 2 to 4 Sunday afternoon at St. Anthony of Padua parish hall at 16th and Bedford Streets, Fall River. John Ghiorse, Channel 10 meteorologist, will be master of ceremonies for the rally, which will feature music by the glee club of Holy Family High School, New Bedford, brief witness talks by six teenagers and a keynote address by' Sister Patricia Harrington, RSM. Sister Patricia, a faculty member at Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro, was awarded the Father Barry Award earlier this week for her work with Rhode 'Island parish youth groups. The day will conclude with a Turn to Page Seven
20c, $6 Per Year
AREA SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTORS discuss decentralization with Father Peter N. Graziano, diocesan director. From left, Patrick C. McCarthy, New Bedford area; James B. Carson, Cape and Islands; Mrs. Mary Lou !\'Iancini, Fall River area. (Rosa Photo)
Soci~1
Se·rvices Are Decentralized
Catholic Social ServiCeS is entering a new phase in its ministry of caring and justice throughout the Diocese of Fall River. With the encouragement and support of Bishop Cronin, three directors are now supervising a decentralized dutreach within the Deaneries of Cape Cod, New Bedford and Fall River. This new thrust is geared to place diocesan social service programs more visibly and efficiently at the service of parishes and local communities. Catholic Social Services of Cape Cod is operating under the direction of Mr. James B. Carsori, MSW, AGSW. This agency presently has a staff of four workers. It is located off the Mid-eape Highway at 1441 Route 132, Centerville; telephone 771-6771. Catholic Social Services of New Bedford· is functioning under the direction of Mr. Patrick C. McCarthy, MSW, AGSW. This agency has a staff of three
Clear Galileo VATIOAN CITY ~NC) - Pope John Paul II called for a reversal of the church's condemnation of scientist Galileo Galilei' (15641642) in an address Nov. 1 to scientists from throughout the world. The French-language talk was given in the Vatican's Regia Hall during a special session of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, an advisory body composed of 60 internationally known mathematicians and scientists. Tum to Page Seven
workers and is located at 628 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, telephone 997-7337. Catholic 'Social Services of Fall River continues its operation at 783 Slade Street, Fall River, telephone 674-4681. Mrs. Mary L. Mancini, M.Ed., directs the agency. Its current staff numbers eight workers. All three agencies are multiservice. Present programs include: Unmarried Parents' Services, Adoption, Foster Care for Newborns, Marriage, Family and Individual Counseling, Refugee
A New Look Beginning next week, The Anchor will introduce some iJi:novations and changes. In the area of design, oUr masthead has received many compliments since its introduction in 1977. The theme that this masthead represents, our nautical heritage as a seaeoast diocese, will now be carried out in various columns heads. Sports watch, Know Your Faith, Question Corner, Focus on Youth, Steering Points, NC News Briefs and even Necrology will follow· through on the design of· the masthead. Perhaps the most dramatic change will be in the new heading of- our letters to the editor section, now to be known as The Mail Packet. In the area of columnists, new faces and names will appear as we begin earryi~ the writings of two nationally known writers, . Dolores. Curran and Mary McGrory. On the local level, a new Tum ~o Page Three
Resettlement, Information/Referral. According to available resources, expansion of these programs and initiation of new ones is expected. Each area will develop individually as needs are brought to the attention of the church on both deanery and diocesan levels. The work of the agencies. is supported through the Catholic Charities A:ppeal. In the near future a fourth office will be opened in the Attleboro neanery and plans call for an eventual office in the Taunton .area. In the meantime, - residents of the Taunton Deanery will continue to. be served through the New Bedford and Fall River agencies and will soon have the opportunity for service in Attleboro. All three offices are' almost equidistant from downtown Taunton. Catholic Social Services is un•der the overall diocesan directorship of Rev. Peter N. GraZiano,. STL, MA, MSW.
Retardation Aid TORONTO (NC) - A cure for mental retardation may be very close at hand, according to Dr. Jerome Lejeune, chairman of the genetics department at the University of Paris. "We're on the verge of a breakthrough in science, you can feel it ripening," said Lejeune at an international conference on unborn children. "It would take hours to describe the research being done, but I can assure you the disTum to Page Seven
VATICAN CI1Y (NC)-In an historic five days last week Pope John 'Paul II revitalized the College of CardinalS and the Holy - See for the first time revealed its yearly financial deficit $20,240,000 in 1979. The two actions were closely linked. The deficit was a chief topic that the pope requested advice about from the cardinals. It was the first time in more than four centuries that the cardinals-though defined in church law as the "principal advisers and assistants" of the pope were summoned as a group to advise the pope on current church issues. Of 129 cardinals, 123 attended. The meeting was held in strictest secrecy. Only the pope's opening and closing talks and a. final, carefully drafted communique revealed anything of substance about the meeting which participant!! termed positive and fruitful. In addition to finances, ~he cardinals were asked to share their views with the pope on the structure and functioning of the Roman Curia (the church's central administration) and on the relationship of the church to modem culture. Regarding Holy See finances, this year's deficit (the excess of expenditlires over income from property investments and other institutional sources) is· being made up by "voluntary offe-rings" from Catholics, particularly by the annual Peter's Pence collecTum to Page Fifteen
CH DCollection This Weekend The annual Campaign for Human Development collection will be taken up in all parishes of the diocese this weekend. In this connection Father Peter N. Graziano, diocesan director. of social services, has issued the following statement: Tragic but nonetheleSs true, the Federal Government has estimated that there are presently over 25 million of our people living in poverty. Not only do they suffe!; daily want, but they· also are immersed in a culture of poverty with its accompanying psychological harm. It is sad to reflect that poverty is not decreasing in the United States, but is on the rise. . Last year, through the generosity of American Catholics, the Campaign For Human Development distribute~ more than $6 million in grants and loans Tum to Page Fourteen