16
THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thurs.-Nov. 21, 1974
Missioner Runs Boys' Town With Hel,p of Armless Young Man is cooked with the boys. Before eating they all recite some prayers, Catholics and non-Catholics together. "They are accepted regardless of their religion or lack of it," Father McCabe said. "A minority is Catholic. The others have really had no religious training of any sort and they're happy to join in our prayers." There is no pressure or even suggestion that the boys become Catholic. Father McCabe hopes that the Christian charity permeating Boys Town will lead them, as they get older, to" understand it is the love of Christ that has made possible the joyful atmo.. sphere of the home.
SAN YI (NC)-The first Boys Town in Taiwan is being operated by an American priest with the help of a disabled young man with rio arms and only one leg. Only one year ago, Father Edwin J. McCabe. 64 year-old Maryknoller from Providence, R. I., opened his home for boys in need of special care because of family circumstances. The veteran missioner's loyal assistant is Huang Chao-chien, generally known as John-Jack, who as II young house painter was almost fatally burned when he came in contact with high tension electric wires. Father McCabe met him when he came out of the hospital. The priest raised money to fly him to the United States, where he was fitted with an artificial leg and arms.
Self·Less Love
Providence MaryknolHer Today, three years later, JohnJack and a cook comprise Father McCabe's entire staff at Boystown. There are 16 boys ranging in age from seven to 13 living in a warm famiy'atmosphere in modest church bui'ldings in this little town of San Vi, some 60 miles south of Taipei. Boys Town is not a reformatory, the slightly built Father McCabe, who spent time in a Chinese communist jail, emphasized. "We try to get boys who, because of home circumstances,
Urg~s
Continued Aid for Victims
I
-'.
MOUNT VERNON (NC)--Bishop James Brufau, whose diocese of Sail. Pedros Sula in northern Honduras was hit hard by Hurricane Fifi, has denied reports that disaster aid is being siphoned off by the goveranment. The bishop defended relief efforts during a press conference at the headquarters of the Franciscan Mission Associates, a major relief source for hurricane victims. While urging relief organizations and ordinary citizens to continue their assistance to his homeland, Bishop Brufau. a native of Spain, denounced widely published reports that mu.ch of the relief supplies sent to his country 'wind up in the hands of the military government or other officials instead of going to the victims of the hurricane. "Those stories simply are not true," said Bishop Brufau, adding that he feared such adverse pub. licity will jeopardize further relief shipments. "I would say that over 90 per cent of the relief supplies are getting through to the' right people. If our government was doing such a thing it would be political suicide." The bishop, who has headed his diocese for the past eight years, predicts that it will take at least three to five years for his country "to get back on its feet," and -he sternly warned that any termination of aid at this point "would be a tragedy worse than the hurricane itself. Many people will die; they have absoJutely nothing left."
:t
H
'
ii . .,f,t> IN T~WAN BOYS' TOWN: Maryknoll Father Edwin J. McCabe works with his.,. assistant, Huang Chao-chien (John-Jack) at what has become a Taiwanese Boys' Town. Despite haVing two artificial arms and an artificial leg, John-Jack helps care for 16 boys at church b~ildings in San Yi, a town 60 miles south of Taipei. NC Photo. ,!
I
might easily become problem children. Th~t, remember, was Father Edward Flanagan's idea when lie foJnded the original l Boys Town in Omaha." 'Father Flahagan, founder of the original Boys Town in NeI braska, wouldl never permit more than 20 per c~nt of his boys with police records. Father McCabe has no bPY~ yet with police records but he said that eventually he ~iIl accept them, though they must always make up less than 20 per cent of the total. Family Spirit Father'McCkbe has started in a small way irt order to build up the family spirit which is essen~ II tial. Boys are irecommended by p~iests and ~isters in various
i
parts of Taiwan. Father McCabe: interviews the parents or parent or guardian, if any, before accepNng the boy. The boys are enrolled at local schools. Father McCabe takes a personal interest in their grades and congratulates, encourages or admonishes depending on circumstances. It's easy to' see how the boys feel about Father McCabe, as one watches their faces light up when the~ meet him on returning from school. He is always' available, chatting with them, listening to their problems. The boys obviously love being with him, but they never lose respect, 'and anything he says, goes. The boys also respect JohnJack, who, among many other
things, helps them with their homework. They are very impressed when they see John-Jack tapping away in his room at a typewriter, a gift from a f:atholic family of San Jose, Calif., with 'whom he stayed for three months during rehabilitation after being fitted with artificial Ii.mbs. Twenty year-old John-Jack is an exceedingly bright young man, with a ready smile. Of All Religions' Life at Boys Town is very happy when the boys have bathed and cleaned up after coming back from school, and the evening meal is ready, Father McCabe cries out "Hao hsiao-hsi, hsiao-hsi (Good news, good news)" As they take ,their places for supper. Father McCabe's simple meal
Father McCabe pointed out one 12 year old boy. "His father died and his mother became mentally deranged. He has one . older brother who is working." Two bright-eyed little boys, about seven and nine years old, run by. "They are aborigine children from the mountains, and brothers. Their father walked out on their mother, who is in no position to care for them properly." Boys keep coming to Boys· town. "When the number reaches 30, we'll be capacity filled." Father McCabe would like to see a young priest, preferably Chinese, take over. He considers his 'little Boys Town at San Yi just a pilot project, merely a start. . In the 'meantime the people of, San Yi have great admiration for -Father McCabe and his work with the boys. Typically, a nonChristian medical doctor down the street treats the boys free of charge. He knows how simply Father McCabe lives and what selfless love he lavishes on the boys.
lively Anniversary-Holiday Parties
6 Orchestras Available whispering trumpet of ART PERRY w·Stroliers-Dixle & Polka Band
Matt Perry-Gus & Tony Rapp Band of
I
thousand melodies
WINDSOR MUSIC 993-6263 PACKAGE DEAL -
WHY PAY MORE
Our Experience Is Your Guarantee
Santa Has Taken To Tile Air to Proclaim:
)~~~
~~ise savers who began a 1974 Christmas Club Ac.' count with us are out shopping with big Taunton Co·op checks in their pockets. This year, their Christmas will be bill-free as well as charge account· free. Start a 1975
I
I ,l ALL DEPOSI~S INSURED IN FULL Th .. HANK Ih .. 1
p'"
ill U.clVEHl
' IiIIIO Iii . .
-.-:-:~-
pillS
Christmas Club Account with us ,n~w, You won't be sorry when next Christmas season arrives. The 5 1/4% interest you'll earn will make Christmas '75 even brighter.
41 TAUNTON GREEN TAUNTON 823-6501
~'I~~
~'YIU
1400 FALL RIVER AVE, HOUTE6 SEEKONK 336·6766
~·UOH·
,.
~aA
. •'
...
"~
.==
21 NORTH MAIN ST, ATILEBORO 222·0396