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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., overlooks the beach at Richmond Pond in Westport with Westport Land Conservation Trust president Trip Milliken after the Diocese of Fall River recently sold the property to the trust, which will create a wildlife sanctuary there. Story on page four. (Photo by Deacon Alan Thadeau)

Diocese works with Westport Land Conservation Trust on sale of property slated for conservation efforts The Anchor - November 25, 2016

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La Salette Shrine shines a light on Our Lady’s words, ‘Make It Known’

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff beckyaubut@anchornews.org

ATTLEBORO — La Salette Father Ted Brown, director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, wants everyone to know that the shrine is gearing up for its 63rd Festival of Lights regardless of what anyone has said or heard.

“Please come,” he stated.

“We are hearing reports that because people know about the court [tax-exemption issue], they think we’re not doing [the lights] this year. We are open seven days a week, just as always.”

Starting on November 24 and running until Jan. 1, 2017, there will be illuminations daily from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This year’s theme, “Make It Known,”

may seem aptly named considering Father Brown’s concerns about getting the word out, but the theme actually hearkens to Jesus and His mother.

“It refers to two things: where Jesus sends everyone out, and it’s from the words from the apparition of Mary at La Salette,” explained Father Brown. “At the end of her message, she says, ‘Well, my children, make this known to all my children.’ We’re bouncing off of those two.”

Every year the shrine tries to bring something new, and this year among the more than 400,000 lights will be Spiritual guardians: “What we’ve done this year is we have these new angels that surround each Station of the Cross. There are these huge angels that will be lit up

at each station around the site of the apparition facsimile,” said Father Brown.

For families, visiting La Salette is an annual tradition and for good reason, said Father Brown.

“There’s a certain wholesomeness to it,” he said.

“We certainly try to be family friendly. A lot of it is family tradition; I hear people say, ‘I came here with my parents and now I bring my kids.’ Sometimes it’s like three or four generations, who say that without coming to La Salette, it just wouldn’t be Christmas for us.

“It’s a place among all the commercialism. It’s a place where the center is still on the basic message of Christ born among us.

It’s a message of the Word taking Flesh. It’s still about the manger scene being at the center of it all. Not that we don’t have other things going on, but it’s primarily a religious display of Christmas lights.”

Father Brown noted

that there are small signs among commercialized businesses showing they are against celebrating Christmas too early.

While Christmas candy and displays may already be present in some stores, Nordstrom does not put up their Christmas displays until the day after Thanksgiving.

“Of all stores, you wouldn’t think Nordstrom, so maybe there’s a push back coming,” he said.

“Certainly there’s a secularization going on in our society. I’m not one to pit one against the other, but certainly we remain one of the few places where that religious theme is still very, very evident.”

Along with the outdoor lights and activities, inside the shrine the Holy Family can be found in many devotional forms.

Father Brown said he has lost count of the number of displays there are in the International Crèche Museum: “I’ve been told

there are more than 2,000 crèches. Those are fascinating. They’re from all over the world. Some are made from matchsticks, from Coke bottle tops, very beautiful carved wood, blown glass — if it’s possible to make one out of something, it’s there. It’s the devotion. Some of it’s high art and some of them are folk art.”

This year, on December 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, there will be a visit not from Santa Claus but from St. Nicholas in full bishop regalia, after the 4 p.m. Mass, and he will talk about the legend of St. Nicholas.

Other events of note are Father André “Pat” Patenaude concerts Tuesday — Friday 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., with concerts on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Known at the “The Troubadour Priest” and “The Music Man,” Father Pat began singing in his Turn to page 21

More than 2,000 crèches make up the International Crèche Museum at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro. “Those are fascinating,” said shrine director La Salette Father Ted Brown. “They’re from all over the world. Some are made from matchsticks, from Coke bottle tops, very beautiful carved wood, blown glass — if it’s possible to make one out of something, it’s there.” (Anchor file photo)

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The Anchor - November 25, 2016

The familiar sight of Sister Gertrude Gaudette, O.P., in wood-carving mode. The 94-yearold Sister died November 3 at Catholic Memorial Home. (Anchor file photo)

Sister Gertrude Gaudette, O.P. was a model of faith, service, artistry and hard work

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

FALL RIVER — Dominican Sister Gertrude Gaudette passed away on November 3 at Catholic Memorial Home. The humble 94-year-old woman of great faith, who was born in Acushnet, leaves behind a legacy that is second-tonone.

Seventy-one of those wonder-filled years were spent in deep devotion to the God she loved dearly and the Blessed Mother, as a Dominican Sister serving others in myriad ways.

Chronicling the life of Sister Gertrude Gaudette would take far more pages than this publication offers, and to set a number on the lives she touched is outright impossible.

She was a daughter, sister, aunt, friend, teacher, instructor, painter, wood-carver, carpenter, photographer, designer, custodian, builder, and most importantly, a woman of God. She could as easily pour out her heart and soul for others with carving knives, chisels, paint brushes and a camera, as she could with a set of precious well-worn

Rosary beads.

The Holy Family is easily the greatest example of love and service, and Sister Gertrude was a living testament of that example.

As tradesmen, St. Joseph and the young Christ worked

Sister Gertrude Gaudette, when she was known as Sister Louis Bertrand, in a classroom she built at Dominican Academy in Fall River in 1963. (Anchor file photo)

with the Father’s great gift of wood, while Blessed Mary took on the far more difficult role of mother, caring for and tending to her husband and Son, all the while raising Jesus in the ways of God. Sister Gertrude, too, could take an inanimate slab of wood and breathe life into it with tools and patience.

Sister Gertrude, too, mentored countless students in the Catholic faith at the elementary and secondary levels, thus allowing them to bring it to others.

She was as comfortable with a group of young minds as she was carving intricate coats of arms for five Catholic bishops.

“During my years as a priest and bishop, I came to know Sister Gertrude Gaudette as a faith-filled religious and extraordinary artist who donated much of her time and talent to expressing that faith with beauty and meaning,” Bishop Emeritus George W. Coleman told The Anchor.

“I was deeply grateful to her for preparing my coat of arms when I was named Bishop of Fall River. Shortly thereafter she designed a logo to highlight the celebration of the 100th anniversary

of the Fall River Diocese in 2014. The logo, expressing the centennial theme ‘The Spirit Gives Life,’ was incorporated in the stationery, publications, and programs of diocesan parishes, ministries and apostolates.”

Sister Gertrude was the youngest of five children of the late Louis and Augustine (Gauthier) Gaudette. A Rochester farm was the site of her childhood, where she, as a 12-year-old, along with an accomplice, built a 20-by12-foot log cabin for area youth to enjoy.

She attended St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet, graduating just as the Great Depression cast a pall over the U.S. It was a Dominican Sister who encouraged the young Gertrude to attend Domini-

can Academy in Fall River.

She graduated from the allgirl boarding school in 1941.

She entered the Dominican Sisters of Fall River novitiate in August of 1945, made her first profession in 1947 on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8. She made her final profession three years later to the day.

She earned a bachelor of arts degree in Art History and Social Studies from Regis College and a masters of fine arts from Catholic University.

She pursued more art studies at Plattsburgh State University, taking on photography, ceramics, sculpture, and jewelry-making.

Sister Gertrude spent most of her time in the Turn to page 20

The Anchor - November 25, 2016

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Diocese, Town of Westport partner to create seashore wildlife sanctuary

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Just delightful

runs thick enough to be able his summer I was to enjoy and actually look blessed to be able to our contribution to conservBy Dave Jolivet ing, nature observation and forward to winter’s imminent spend a handful of days in Anchor Editor ing various species of nature leashed dog walking with an arrival.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, drivdavejolivet@anchornews.org for years to come.” eye on protecting the fragile I’ve lately gained an affinity ing around the scenic Bay The diocese had been WESTPORT — Richwildlife habitat. The property of Fundy and strolling the for taking my daily walk on looking for a good way to use can be entered on by foot but mond Pond in Westport is the boardwalk that runs along boardwalk along Halifax just a stone’s throw away from the land when approached by parking is unavailable.” the Taunton River in Fall Harbor.

The temperatures the WLCT with its proposal the mouth of Buzzards Bay Bishop da Cunha told The were in the high 70s and the River. The recent cold snap where it meets Rhode Island to use the site strictly for Anchor, “It is a good feeling didn’t change that. Last weekweather was just delightful. conservation purposes. “It Sound, both leading to the to know that generations end I continued to stroll the A month or so later I was a win-win situation,” the from now will be able to enAtlantic Ocean. was equally bishop added, “a no-brainer.

The beach area on the joy the land, the wildlife, the blessed to be pond’s south side was the spot The neighbors, the town and birds and the sea-life there My View able to spend the wildlife benefit from this.” and that the diocese had a where youngsters attending a handful of From Bishop da Cunha, WLCT part in that.

St. Vincent’s Camp, a few days on a tiny president Trip Milliken miles to the north, would the Stands “It shows a sign of our island in the and others recently met at enjoy its pristine waters and own commitment to protect- middle of

By Dave Jolivet Attorney Dorothy Tongue’s sand. ing God’s Creation, as Pope the Atlantic office in Westport to sign the Francis has asked us all to do.”

With the closing of St. Ocean just papers transferring ownerVincent’s Camp, the 24-acre “Each community can about 850 miles due south of boardwalk, despite gale-force beach site was not being used, ship. take from the bounty of the winds and sub-freezing wind Halifax, Bermuda. I enjoyed A joint statement released earth whatever it needs for except by local birds, fish chills. relaxing on a beach of the tiny by the WLCT and the and wildlife, specifically the subsistence, but it also has the paradise where the horizon I donned my Halifax Diocese of Fall River stated, threatened ploving piper. duty to protect the earth and Mooseheads (ice hockey revealed nothing but ocean “Richmond Pond Wildlife In the spirit of Pope to ensure its fruitfulness for team) beanie, and set out. I waters, inspiring sun rises Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, Sanctuary will be managed coming generations” (Laudato and majestic sunsets. The was literally nudged by the Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, to protect this ecologically Si’ No. 67). winds every now and again, temperatures were in the mid significant coastal wildlife S.D.V., recently finalized the The release also stated that 80s and the weather was just was sprayed with mist off the habitat. [It] is a haven for sale of the property to the WLCT has also secured the whitecaps, and marveled as delightful.

Westport Land Conservation the globally-threatened and right to purchase the camp. the river churned its way into In between those wonderendangered piping plover. A Trust, that they may create The property is 82 acres the breakers protecting the ful excursions was time spent the Richmond Pond Wildlife variety of significant shoreon Adamsville Road with boardwalk. on my own deck, enjoying Sanctuary. The pond is one of birds are seasonal residents of wooded uplands and just Just as a gorgeous sunset is time after work relaxing in only two coastal salt ponds in the property including: com- over 10 acres with buildings a piece of God’s artwork, so, the warm summer breezes. mons terns, semipalmated Westport. that constitute the camp too, is the strength and might Again, the temperatures were sandpipers, and American “This land has such a core. “WLCT is excited to of an autumn/winter gale. At in the 80s and the weather unique environment,” Bishop oystercatchers. be working closely with the least for me it is. was just delightful.

“The sanctuary will limit da Cunha told The Anchor. diocese, the town and the I look forward to what the After reading the last few public access to walking, “We felt it would be a good community to preserve an next five months or so has in paragraphs, one may think use for the property. I see it as beach-combing, bird-watch- icon of Adamsville.” store for us in southeastern that the cold snap we all awoke to last weekend would New England. I’m willing to signal the end of my delight- bet the weather will be just delightful. At least for me. ful weather experiences. But davejolivet@anchornews. those who know me, know org. my French-Canadian blood

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The Anchor - November 25, 2016

Diocesan charities join global ‘Giving Tuesday’ effort

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

FALL RIVER — While some eager shoppers will be shaking off the remnants of a Tryptophaninduced slumber to grab the hottest Christmas deals on Black Friday and still others will wait for the more leisurely benefits of surfing online during the subsequent Cyber Monday, ministries and apostolates in the Fall River Diocese are hoping to get some early gifts this year in the form of donations during a global effort known as “Giving Tuesday,” or #GivingTuesday in cyberspeak.

The diocesan Catholic Charities Appeal, Foundation to Advance Catholic Education, and The Anchor have all joined Giving Tuesday this year, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide.

“I learned about Giving Tuesday at an international stewardship conference,” explained James Campbell, director of Development for the Fall River Diocese and head of the Catholic Charities Appeal and FACE. “The Diocese of New Orleans has spearheaded an effort they call ‘#IGiveCatholic,’ which has had enormous success. This year we are experimenting with this concept and we hope it catches on.”

Falling this year on November 29, Giving Tuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the widely-recognized shopping events of Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick-off the holiday giving season and inspire

people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

“While the Catholic Charities Appeal is conducted over two months in May and June, we thought this concept of eschewing the materialism that seems to overwhelm the Christmas season with an opportunity to think about our neighbors’ needs was an appropriate measure,” Campbell told The Anchor. “As for FACE, we have been fortunate to receive many gifts recently to ‘jump start’ our revitalization efforts (and) we hope many of our faithful will choose to join us in helping all our (diocesan) schools thrive.”

“At Christmas we often think about giving gifts to other people; sometimes we give a gift subscription to a friend or relative,” added Father Richard D. Wilson, executive editor of The Anchor. “By giving a charitable donation to The Anchor you are helping to defray the costs of putting together our paper, which helps thousands of people to receive it.

“So, your charitable donation is a gift of news and information to someone you may not even

know. When we die we will find out how our prayers, sacrifices and good deeds affected other people, even people in other lands or other times. By making a donation to The Anchor you are helping someone else here locally.”

Launched by 92Y — a cultural center in New York City that, since 1874, has been bringing people together around its core values of community service and giving back — Giving Tuesday was created as a new way of linking individuals and causes to strengthen communities and encourage charitable giving.

Last year, more than 45,000 organizations in 71 countries came together to celebrate Giving Tuesday, helping to raise nearly $117 million online in the U.S. alone. Since its founding in 2012, Giving Tuesday has inspired giving around the world, resulting in greater donations, volunteer hours, and activities that bring about real change in communities.

“We have been incredibly inspired by the generosity in time, efforts and ideas that have brought our concept for a worldwide movement into reality,” said Henry Timms, founder of Giving Tuesday and

executive director of 92Y. “As we embark on our fifth year of Giving Tuesday, we are encouraged by the early response from partners eager to continue making an impact in this global conversation.”

Giving Tuesday is a movement to celebrate and provide incentives to give and harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners — nonprofits, businesses and corporations as well as families and individuals — to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.

More importantly, Giving Tuesday inspires people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they celebrate and help create a better world. Giving Tuesday also harnesses the power of social media to create a global moment dedicated to giving around the world.

“The Anchor is a great resource to the people of our diocese, as well as for its readership even beyond

the diocesan boundaries,” Father Wilson said. “We often hear back at our offices about how a particular article in the paper generated a lot of interest in some event going on in the diocese. Organizers often thank us for helping to ‘spread the word’ so that their program might be a success.

“We also hear from other people about how much they enjoyed our coverage of some event which already happened in the diocese. Our coverage of Mother Dolores Hart’s visit to Holy Cross Family Ministries a while ago generated so much interest that Mother Dolores was invited back to the diocese to be the keynote speaker at the FACE dinner on November 17 in Westport.

As editor, I was proud to hear our reporter’s article quoted at length at the dinner.

“People also enjoy the profiles we do of interesting people here in the diocese. I also get a lot of comments about how much people enjoy our Turn to page 11

The Anchor - November 25, 2016

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Anchor Editorial

Misericordia et misera

This Monday the Holy See released to the public an apostolic letter Pope Francis signed the day beforehand (the closing day of the Year of Mercy) entitled Misericordia et misera (Mercy and misery). He explained that he took the title from St. Augustine’s summation of the encounter of Jesus with the woman caught in adultery — Jesus is Mercy itself and the woman was in the misery of sin. “It would be difficult to imagine a more beautiful or apt way of expressing the mystery of God’s love when it touches the sinner: ‘the two of them alone remained: Mercy with misery’ (St. Augustine). This narrative serves not only to throw light on the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, but also to point out the path that we are called to follow in the future.”

The media in reporting on this letter just focused on the pope’s permanent bestowal upon all priests with faculties to hear Confessions the power to remove the excommunication incurred for procuring an abortion. This document does do that, but also so much more.

The Year of Mercy was “a time rich in mercy [but] mercy cannot become a mere parenthesis in the life of the Church,” the pope warns. Mercy “constitutes her very existence, through which the profound truths of the Gospel are made manifest and tangible. Everything is revealed in mercy; everything is resolved in the merciful love of the Father.”

Returning to the scene from John’s Gospel regarding the adulteress, Pope Francis wrote, “This is not an encounter of sin and judgment in the abstract, but of a sinner and her Savior. Jesus looked that woman in the eye and read in her heart a desire to be understood, forgiven and set free. The misery of sin was clothed with the mercy of love. To those who wished to judge and condemn her to death, Jesus replies with a lengthy silence. His purpose was to let God’s voice be heard in the conscience not only of the woman, but also in those of her accusers, who drop their stones and one by one leave the scene (cf. Jn 8:9). Jesus then says: ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you. Go your way and from now on do not sin again’ (vv. 10-11). Once clothed in mercy, even if the inclination to sin remains, it is overcome by the love that makes it possible for her to look ahead and to live her life differently.”

The Holy Father then brings up another occasion involving a female sinner — when Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee and the host was shocked because Jesus allowed a sinful woman to bathe His feet with her tears (cf. Lk 7:36-50). Jesus tells the Pharisee, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little” (v. 47).

At Christmas we celebrate how God became visible for us. In this letter the pope wrote, “Forgiveness is the most visible sign of the Father’s love, which Jesus sought to reveal by His entire life. Every page of the Gospel is marked by this imperative of a love that loves to the point of forgiveness. Even at the last moment of His earthly life, as He was beOFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org

Vol. 60, No. 24

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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PUBLISHER - Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Richard D. Wilson fatherwilson@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza k ensouza@anchornews.org REPORTER Rebecca Aubut beckyaubut@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherwilson@anchornews.org

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The Anchor - November 25, 2016

ing nailed to the cross, Jesus spoke words of forgiveness: ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ (Lk 23:34).”

Returning to the two forgiven women, Pope Francis noted, “What great joy welled up in [their] heart[s]. Forgiveness made them feel free at last and happy as never before. Their tears of shame and pain turned into the smile of a person who knows that he or she is loved. Mercy gives rise to joy, because our hearts are opened to the hope of a new life. The joy of forgiveness is inexpressible, yet it radiates all around us whenever we experience forgiveness.”

There is a Spanish hymn entitled “La Alegria en el perdon” (The joy of pardoning), which states, “the most beautiful joy is the joy of pardoning, in Heaven there is a lot of celebrating (‘f iesta’) when a sinner returns.”

Touching on this joy, the pope wrote, “The experience of mercy brings joy. May we never allow this joy to be robbed from us by our troubles and concerns. We need to acknowledge the joy that rises up in a heart touched by mercy.”

In a timely note for us Americans celebrating Thanksgiving this week, Pope Francis called upon everyone to thank God for His mercy. “We feel the need above all to thank the Lord and to tell Him: ‘Lord, You have been favorable to Your land. You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people’ (Ps 85:1-2). So it is. God has subdued our iniquities and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (cf. Mic 7:19). He no longer remembers them, since He has cast them behind His back (cf. Is 38:17). As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (cf. Ps 103:12).”

Pointing forward, the pontiff wrote, “It is time to look to the future and to understand how best to continue, with joy, fidelity and enthusiasm, experiencing the richness of God’s mercy. Our communities can remain alive and active in the work of the New Evangelization, shaped daily by the renewing force of mercy.”

In terms of what to do, the pope said that we should “celebrate mercy.” After discussing myriad references to mercy in the Mass prayers, he noted, “In a word, each moment of the Eucharistic celebration refers to God’s mercy.”

Next, looking at the two Sacraments of Healing (Penance and Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick), we see that both of those have prayers mentioning God’s mercy. “In the Church’s prayer, then, references to mercy, far from being merely exhortative, are highly performative, which is to say that as we invoke mercy with faith, it is granted to us, and as we confess it to be vital and real, it transforms us. This is a fundamental element of our faith, and we must keep it constantly in mind.”

We will return to this topic again, but as we enter Advent, it would be good to avail ourselves of the opportunities to receive mercy in the confessional and to give mercy to those who long for our pardon. Thus, we will be a greater sign of God’s joyful presence.

Daily Readings Nov. 26 — Dec. 9

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Nov. 26, Rv 22:1-7; Ps 95:1-7b; Lk 21:34-36. Sun. Nov. 27, First Sunday of Advent, Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:19; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:37-44. Mon. Nov. 28, Is 4:2-6; Mt 8:5-11.

Tues. Nov. 29, Is 11:1-10; Lk 10:21-24. Wed. Nov. 30, Rom 10:9-18; Mt 4:18-22. Thurs. Dec. 1, Is 26:1-6; Mt 7:21,24-27. Fri. Dec. 2, Is 29:17-24; Mt 9:27-31.

Sat. Dec. 3, Is 30:19-21.23-26; Mt 9:35—10:1,5a,6-8. Sun. Dec. 4, Second Sunday of Advent, Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12. Mon. Dec. 5, Is 35:1-10; Lk 5:17-26. Tues. Dec. 6, Is 40:1-11; Mt 18:12-14. Wed. Dec. 7, Is 40:25-31; Mt 11:28-30.

Thurs. Dec. 8, The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Gn 3:9-15,20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6,11-12; Lk 1:26-38. Fri. Dec. 9, Is 48:17-19; Mt 11:16-19.

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t every Mass, one of the most significant dialogues in human life occurs. The priest says, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God,” the faithful respond, “It is right and just,” and the priest replies with a saying of great theological depth: “It is truly right and just, our duty and our Salvation, always and everywhere to give You thanks, Lord, Holy Father, almighty and everliving God.” It’s fitting to give God thanks, “always and everywhere.” It’s appropriate for us to do so on sunny days or rainy ones, when we feel like a million bucks and or are in the hospital, when we’re attending weddings or the funerals of loved ones, when we get promotions at work or pink slips, when we win or when we lose. It’s right and just to thank God at all times and places because everything that happens — what the world considers good or what it considers bad — God either wills or allows, seeking to bring Spiritual good out of each (Rom 8:28).

Our Salvation, we boldly proclaim, rests in our gratitude, which opens us up to receive God’s grace. Thanking God in response to all God has done, therefore, is our sweet duty.

This is a lesson we ponder this week from the pilgrims as we near the 400th anniversary of their first Thanksgiving. Of the 103 who disembarked from the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor in December 1620, more than half died before winter was

Truly right and just about what we don’t have over, including the govrather than thank God ernor, 10 of the 17 husand others for what we bands and 14 of the 17 wives. Those who avoid- do. Another is consumered the grave remained in ism, which trains us to believe that we’re never grave danger because of fevers, famine and freez- going to be happy unless we get the latest smarting temperatures. The phone, car, clothing, or 51 survivors easily could wonder drugs — and have looked at the preunless we get our own vious 11 months as the way — in everything — worst year of their life; they had buried almost as many bodies in the Putting Into ground as bushels the Deep of food they had taken from the

By Father soil, and accordRoger J. Landry ing to human logic, probably the last thing that immediately. It encourthey should have been ages us to relate to the doing would have been throwing a feast to thank world not with appreciaGod. They convened full tion but with a sense of of gratitude, however, be- entitlement, resentment and envy. It is forming cause they realized that legions of never-satisfied everything — adverse spoiled brats across the or propitious, life and even death — was part of generations who, rather than expressing gratitude God’s plans for them on for what they’ve already their journey not merely to the new world but to a received while asking how they can use their New Jerusalem. That final destination, and their blessings for those less fortunate, instead take faith in the God Who awaited them, were what past generosity for grantgave meaning to all their ed and query, “What sufferings and joys along have you done for me lately?” the way.

The Mass is a school This week is a time for of Thanksgiving, which us, like them, to count is what the Greek word our blessings — faith, “Eucharist” means, and life, family, friends, health, home, food, work, one of the things for studies, talents, our coun- which I’m particularly grateful this week is the try, and also the gift of gift by which we are able, our crosses — and turn literally, to give God to God and to others to thanks better and more say thanks. beautifully whenever and It’s also a time to wherever Mass is prayed focus on eradicating in English. This Sunday the cancers that poison we celebrate the fifth our capacity for gratianniversary of the new tude. One is complainEnglish translation of ing, which leads us to the Roman Missal, and criticize situations and it’s truly right and just people rather than find for us all to give God good in them, to obsess

thanks for what this more accurate and reverent rendering has added to the greatest prayer of gratitude.

No translation will ever be perfect and some have found particular phrases in the new translation a little hard to get used to, but it’s nevertheless a vast improvement over what priests needed to use prior to the afternoon of Nov. 26, 2011.

I see the extraordinary difference every day as I pray the Liturgy of the Hours on iBreviary. At the end of the Office of Readings, the program puts one collect prayer right after the other the old translation from the as-yet-unrevised Liturgy of the Hours as well as the new one taken from the Missal, giving us a chance to pray either.

This makes clear that in many cases the old version wasn’t even a translation of the Latin original, but rather a paraphrase, one that routinely misses much or all of the theological depth and beauty of what it is now found in the new and improved edition.

The difference for me is similar to what happens when one contrasts the text of the Revised Standard Version of Sacred Scripture with a children’s Bible.

Prior to 2011, whenever I prayed Mass in English, I always felt somewhat Liturgically impoverished. Celebrating the Mass in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, German or Latin the prayers were obviously so

much richer than what was supposed to be their English equivalent (In French, sadly, the stripping of beauty and depth remains worse than it was in English prior to the revisions). Over the last five years, praying the Mass in English has been like diving into the deep rather than the shallow end of the font of living water.

Moreover, there are so many improvements for which to be grateful: various restored feasts, new saints, new votive Masses and Masses for various needs and occasions and the incorporation of the Eucharistic Prayers for various needs, much better musical notations for the priests to sing, and in almost every publication much more beautiful Sacred art.

It’s a far more demanding text, with complex sentences and a much larger vocabulary, requiring more work for priests and people, because there’s been the Liturgical equivalent of a switch from USA Today to the New York Times. But that extra work ought to be another source of thanksgiving, because it repays the effort and redounds to Spiritual growth.

And so as we worship throughout the days of Thanksgiving toward beginning of the Church’s new Liturgical year, let us be grateful for the new and improved way we fulfill our happy, saving duty to thank God supremely for everything, in every place and at every time.

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

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M

uch has been written in the aftermath of this historic election, and it is hard to deny that most of what one reads is rife with anxiety.

Throughout the season of this very contentious election the focus has been on the candidates and how they contributed to the discord.

Now that the votes are counted there has been a close look at who voted for whom. It is said that this election was a referendum for the unheard. The silent majority of middle class, mostly white male voters came out in force for Trump. Their concerns about jobs and security were presumably not enough of a priority in the past 16 years of a gridlocked government.

Anxieties over a stagnant economy, racial discord, the rising costs and problems with the Affordable Care Act

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An opportunity to unite as Catholics all contributed to the Crux, the Catholic mechoices made in this dia outlet that strives to election. take the Catholic pulse Unfortunately, the offered this insight Alt-Right movement, into the Catholic vote: with its agenda of rac“Out of sight of most ism and xenophobia, media reports, religious hitched a ride on this Trojan horse filled with the promise of seThe Great cure borders, job Commission creation and tax

By Claire McManus cuts. Yet Trump decisively won a majority among those who self-identify concerns also seem to as Catholic by a margin have played an imporof 52 to 45 percent, and tant role in Trump’s Evangelical Christians win. Whether religious overwhelmingly voted voters were embrac81 to 16 percent in ing Trump or blocking his favor. This may be Clinton, there seems more than a referento be a clear political dum against a governmessage in the result, ment that cares more which is that people of for party ideology than faith cannot be ignored, it does for the needs of disparaged or taken for the people. The silent granted.” majority that hid in the This is going to be reeds away from the a challenge for the pollsters were people Catholic Church going who want their reliforward. In voting in a gious beliefs to matter. Trump presidency for the good of promoting a Pro-Life agenda on the Supreme Court or religious freedom in healthcare issues, they may have traded one evil for another. Those anxieties about jobs and healthcare costs can now be coupled with the palpable fear that is sweeping through immigrant communities throughout the country. People who have been traveling for decades on the confusing and expensive path to citizenship are living in fear that Trump will make good on his promise to send deportation squads to their door. This promise is

The Anchor - November 25, 2016

not being dismissed as mere campaign hyperbole, for even the bishops are concerned about the virulence of Trump’s tirade against immigrants. Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, chairman of the USCCB committee on migration, asked for the protection of the family unit as the “cornerstone of society,” and asked that the new administration recognize the contributions of refugees and immigrants “to the overall prosperity and well-being of our nation.”

The Catholic Church is far greater than a collection of disparate political parties, and there is hope that we are united by our core belief in love and respect for all people. The protection of life at all stages is a cornerstone of our Catholic identity.

This takes many forms, as Pope Francis reminds us. “Serving and welcoming people fleeing violence and conflict in various regions of the world is part of our identity as Catholics.

The Church will continue this life-saving tradition.” This is good news for the American Catholic Church, for we are much more united than what the election has revealed. The path of history is paved by the unintended consequences, and some believe that the Trump election will shape the Catholic Church into a united front.

Crux columnist Aus-

ten Ivereigh notes that “the pope has continually framed immigration as a tragedy, a source of human suffering, which is not resolved by tightening borders but requires confronting on many different levels.

The question cannot be, ‘How does a nation protect itself against the threat of outsiders?’ but ‘How do we reduce the suffering and death involved?”

This is where the work must begin in our parishes. Communities most impacted by the fear-mongering of the campaign are preparing for the potential of a humanitarian crisis.

Families are preparing packets and instructions for their legally-born family left behind in the event of a sudden round up of undocumented workers. Regardless of the make-up of our parish community, their crisis belongs to all of us.

The closing of the Year of Mercy coincides with our national celebration of Thanksgiving. This is a great opportunity to stand united as Catholics and bring prophetic witness against injustice. Pope Francis said, “Mercy is the best antidote against fear” and that it “is much more effective than walls, than barbed-wire fences, than alarms and arms, and it is free. It is the gift of God.” Anchor columnist Claire McManus is the director of the Diocesan Off ice of Faith Formation.

Sunday 20 November — St. Joseph Cemetery, Falmouth — “Totensonntag” (All Souls Day among German Protestants) uring November (the month to prayerfully remember our dead) I have been pondering matters of life and death. This November, as you know, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its instruction on respect for cremated human remains.

I’ve seen a lot of cremation funerals. I was curious as to what exactly was involved in the process. I took the time to find out. I wish I hadn’t.

Before the body can be cremated, jewelry, body piercings, and certain medical devices must be removed. Pacemakers, for example, can explode during the process of cremation. Gold and silver melt.

The body is then placed in a combustible wooden cremation coffin or, more often, a reinforced cardboard box.

The cremation chamber (called a “retort”) must be pre-heated. It has thick brick walls made to withstand temperatures that often reach 2,000 degrees.

The process takes about two hours. Cool-down takes 30 minutes.

D

Dust to dust

Then what is left is edge trends, he assured me. removed from the retort I replied that he must have to a workbench. Artificial the wrong number. This joints, surgical pins, and ti- was technically not a lie. tanium screws and rods, are I’m a cemetery director, not picked out. Smaller metal a funeral director. scraps are retrieved with a I have, however, some magnet.

Next the bone fragments are meThe Ship’s Log chanically blended Reflections of a into powder.

Parish Priest The cremains are

By Father Tim placed in a plastic Goldrick bag (or in an urn if provided) and returned to the family for burial, display, storage, basic knowledge of the or disposal as they see fit. history of the undertaker’s And there’s the rub. craft. It developed during Seems to me the prothe Civil War around the cess itself is brutal. Who urgent need for caskets and knew? One can see why the necessity for embalmthe Church has always ing the war dead in prepapreferred interment of a ration for long-distance deceased human body. We transport. Embalming, will all return to ashes soon previously quite rare, evenenough, but what’s the big tually became culturally rush? I think burial is more normative. Today the need natural. Nevertheless, in for caskets and embalming most circumstances, the is rapidly declining.

Church no longer disalBy the year 2030, 70 lows cremation. percent of deaths will reVeterans’ Day was quiet sult in cremation. Back in here at St. Patrick. Being the year 2000, the funeral on-call for hospital emerindustry sold $1.2 billion gencies, I stayed by the worth of caskets. By 2020, phone. There was only one it is expected to be only call. It was from a maga$456 million. The writing zine salesman. He wanted is on the wall. There’s need to sell me a subscription to to rebrand.

Modern Undertakers Trade I’ve heard of a trend to Magazine. It would keep reimagine funeral parlors me informed of cuttingas “community multi-

purpose centers.” Why not rent out the facility for weddings, corporate meetings, or family birthday parties? Some newer funeral homes, I read, have introduced restaurantgrade kitchens, dining rooms, wait staff, lounges, and even bars. It’s full-service and convenient. Forget Victorian-patterned carpeting, maroon velvet drapes, and dim lighting. In with oversized aquariums, comforting hearths, gigantic Palladian windows, and plush lobbies.

Funeral preparations themselves are morphing into something else, with thoughts of the reality of death and the necessity for grieving suppressed.

In the future, there will no longer be “wakes,” but “gatherings.” The funeral home of the future will have a large state-of-the art “multi-sensory room” in which pleasant landscapes can be projected on all four walls. How about an ocean scene, or a golf course, or the Cape Cod Canal?

Cue the pre-recorded pan pipes. Aromas appropriate to the projections can be concocted and pumped in, just as at Disney World. By the way, I read in the Wall

Street Journal that a former top Disney executive now runs funeral homes.

He previously oversaw EPCOT theme park.

Almost everyone these days leaves some sort of technological footprint.

Your words and images remain on the web after your death. The words, photos, and films of the deceased can be retrieved, edited, and projected. Think of it as an immersive experience of sound, sight, and smell.

How about a hologram of the dearly departed? Think interactive. How about a virtual presentation on the accomplishments of the deceased? How about webcasting for those unable to attend? Now here’s a thought: a kind of genealogical research room dedicated to preserving family ancestry, complete with individual life stories.

With the ever-growing popularity of cremation, the funeral industry is reinventing itself. Call me old-fashioned, but I still think inside the box.

Now you know the future, dear readers. Knowledge is power. Be sure to write down your funeral plans and pray your wishes are respected.

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

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Orphans in liquid nitrogen

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ome humanitarian tragedies occur quietly and “in the background,” only gradually coming to light years or decades after serious harm has already occurred, like nerve damage in infants exposed to lead paint, or cancers in patients who were exposed to asbestos. More recently, the humanitarian tragedy of hundreds of thousands of embryonic human beings frozen and abandoned in fertility clinics has come to light — “orphans in ice” arising from the decades-long practice of in vitro fertilization.

As a priest and ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, I have seen an increasing number of Catholics who regret having engendered human life in this way, and regret that they ignored or weren’t informed about the teachings of the Church on IVF and infertil-

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ity. They are perplexed and even children should be kept frozen tormented about what to do with as a way of protecting them and these “spare” human embryos who respecting their life and integrity. really are their cryogenic children. As the discussion continues, I may When I am approached with also recommend that they consider this question, I stress that there setting up a trust fund, so that are no easy after they answers. pass on, Human their frozen Making Sense embryos children Out of can never will be Bioethics just be provided thawed and for. These

By Father Tad discarded, children, Pacholczyk as that clearly, would be cannot be morally indistinguishable from the educated, clothed or fed, but they case of discarding a newborn or an can be afforded a measure of proinfant in a dumpster to die. In fact, tection in their frozen state, with the step of merely thawing out fresh liquid nitrogen continuing human embryos exposes them to to be provided, at least for a time. great risk, with as many as half not Arranging to cover this expense of being able to survive the process. a few hundred dollars a year is one I usually suggest to parents that, of the few ways that parents can for the time being, embryonic concretely indicate their concern for their orphaned children.

The suggestion to set up a trust fund sometimes results in an awkward moment of surprise where parents may ask: “Well, how long would I do that for? Obviously, I can’t do it forever.” Parents will have to decide for themselves whether setting up a trust fund in the first place makes sense as a kind of good-faith sign of their love and care for their own offspring, and if so, for how long to maintain the arrangement. If they make provisions for a more extended period, say several decades, there is a greater likelihood that their embryonic children might be “rescued” if new scientific technologies for growing embryos outside the body end up being developed in the future.

This may indeed become possible one day, even though there are real questions about whether such an “artificial womb” or “baby in a bottle” approach to gestation would be ethical, even with the praiseworthy intentions of saving lives and releasing orphaned embryos from their perpetual hibernation.

Others hope that one day “embryo adoption” — the transfer of “spare” embryos to another woman who implants, gestates, and

raises them as her own — might end up being recognized as morally allowable by the Church. This unusual form of adoption is still morally debated, and Dignitas Personae, the most recent Church document addressing the matter, raises serious concerns about the idea, as have a number of philosophers and bioethicists, myself included. When confronted with the absurd fate of having embryos trapped in a state of suspended animation indefinitely, few or no alternatives really seem to exist.

The future Pope Benedict XVI, in another important Church document called Donum Vitae, referenced this “absurd fate” when he summarized how there was “no possibility of their being offered safe means of survival that can be licitly pursued.” Certain sinful acts like IVF, sadly, can provoke irrevocable and irresolvable consequences.

A few years ago, I had a conversation with a divorced woman who had seven frozen children in storage. She described how she agonized daily over the plight of her babies, and how it felt like an open wound that could never quite heal. She shared how each year, on the anniversary of the embryos’ creation — their “birthday” of sorts — she would place a call to the fertility clinic and inquire about their status. She would ask the staff to look up and verify how many were stored at the facility.

Fearful that something might have happened to her children, or that they might end up being abandoned or forgotten, her annual call served as a reminder to herself and to those at the clinic that they were still there, that somebody still cared, despite the callousness of a world that seemed only too ready to ignore this ongoing humanitarian tragedy.

Anchor columnist Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard.

He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, and serves as the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

See www.ncbcenter.org.

Area ministries join ‘Giving Tuesday’ effort continued from page five

various columnists. Some folks tell me that they cut out and save some columns to help remember what they learned from them.”

“The direct benefit of Giving Tuesday is to build awareness of all the good that is being done in the name of the Lord through our diocesan ministries and apostolates,” Campbell said. “We hope our schools and parishes will join us in spreading the word and encouraging charitable giving either through Catholic Charities, FACE or direct support to schools and parishes.”

Noting that 80 percent of the donations received on Giving Tuesday go to religious organizations, Campbell said he hopes the Fall River Diocese can likewise benefit from this global effort.

“I hope we can turn away from pure materialism this Christmas and replace it with charitable giving rooted in the celebration of Jesus’ birth,” he added.

So this year, instead of buying into the promotional trappings of retail marketing, why not consider translating those three inspirational gifts of the magi — gold, frankincense and myrrh — into donations earmarked for the diocesan Catholic

Charities Appeal, Foundation to Advance Catholic Education, and The Anchor?

They don’t require giftwrapping and they will help keep vibrant services alive and well within the local Church throughout the year.

To learn more about Giving Tuesday participants or to join the celebration of giving, visit www. givingtuesday.org.

To make donations to diocesan ministries online, visit the following links: — Catholic Charities

Appeal: www. fallriverdiocesedonate.org/ catholic-charities/ — FACE: www. fallriverdiocesedonate.org/ foundation-to-advancecatholic-education-face/ — The Anchor: www. anchornews.org.

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No justification for killing innocent people, pope says

VATICAN CITY — (CNA/EWTN News) — In a recent meeting with the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Pope Francis criticized ongoing violence in Iraq and Syria, saying no motive can justify or allow the killing of innocent people, especially children.

Asking the Lord for the “gift of peace,” the pope said he was “dismayed by what continues to happen in the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Syria.”

“There, upon hundreds of

thousands of innocent children, women and men is poured the terrible violence of bloody conflicts, which no motive can justify or allow,” he said.

In Iraq and Syria, he said, “our Christian brothers and sisters, as well as various religious and ethnic minorities, are unfortunately accustomed to suffer great trials every day.”

“In the midst of so much pain, of which I implore the end, every day we see Christians who walk the way of the cross meekly following the

footsteps of Jesus.”

His comments came as a three-week halt in airstrikes, declared by the government’s ally Russia, ended November 15. With government air-strikes over Aleppo raining down again, at least 32 people, including several children, have been killed recently, the BBC reports.

A children’s hospital, blood bank, and ambulance in rebel-held eastern Aleppo have been reported hit, with at least 21 people, five children and one emergency worker killed.

Online at anchornews.org

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The Anchor - November 25, 2016

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., meets with Jane Robin of the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education’s Cape Cod Office; Sandra L. Sevigney, chairperson of the Fall Scholarship Dinner; and James A. Campbell, diocesan director of Development at the recent event held at White’s of Westport. Below, Bishop da Cunha greets Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B., guest speaker at this year’s dinner. The event raised $352,000. (Photos by John E. Kearns Jr.)

The Anchor - November 25, 2016

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The Anchor - November 25, 2016

Connolly High School celebrates a half-century of Catholic education

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

FALL RIVER — In the fall of 1965, Bishop James L. Connolly broke ground for the construction of his namesake boys’ Catholic high school. With his shovel planted firmly in the earth off Elsbree Street, the Fall River bishop was carrying out a deeply Spiritual mission: seeking to ensure a quality Catholic educaA sign at the entrance to Bishop Connolly High School in tion for more students Fall River proudly announces 50 years of serving the Fall within the diocese and River area. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza) beyond.

Since that first shovel of dirt was turned over 50 years ago, Bishop Connolly High School has gained a stellar reputation for providing students with a strong academic and Spiritual foundation that inspires lives of purpose, achievement, leadership and service.

“The vision was to have an all-boys school and, at the same time, we had Msgr. Prevost High School here in Fall River,” said E. Christopher Myron, president and principal of BishNovember 27, 11:00 a.m. op Connolly High School, referring to the boys high school that was under the auspices of nearby Notre Dame Parish. “Prevost was Celebrant is Msgr. Gerard P. O’Connor, putting an addition onto pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in their school and there was Acushnet. a terrible fire — so they

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6

were invited by the bishop to come here.”

That fateful fire in May 1968 just shortly after Connolly opened its doors would bring together two important groups of educators that would ultimately staff and run the high school for the next four decades — the Jesuits and the Brothers of Christian Instruction.

Now, a half-century later, the ideals and methods jointly introduced by the Society of Jesus and the Brothers of Christian Instruction have continued to guide the school and drive its students to success — best exemplified in the motto: “Not only hearers, but doers of the Word” ( Js 1:22).

“There were two different charisms which are really melded into who we are today,” Myron recently told The Anchor. “If you look at the Jesuit outlook — simply stated, ‘finding God in all things’ — and then the Brothers of Christian Instruction who really wanted to offer a Catholic education to all, regardless of their socio-economic background, the merger of those two (ideas) is the reality we live in today and we’re really proud of that, because both traditions are strong here and we really

hold onto the same view of how to educate students.”

Ever rooted in Christ and the values of the Catholic Church, Bishop Connolly High School Cougars, past and present, will proudly celebrate the school’s golden anniversary this week with a variety of events, culminating with a 50th anniversary Grand Reunion on November 26 beginning at 6 p.m. at White’s of Westport.

“The first class began in 1966, although they weren’t here in September, because the school was still being built,” explained Anthony Ciampanelli, director of admissions and alumni relations at Connolly. “For a couple of months they attended classes in a different location.”

According to a frontpage article in the Sept. 8, 1966 edition of The Anchor, that first group of 122 freshmen boys representing 40 parishes from across the diocese temporarily attended classes at the new CCD center at St. William’s Turn to page 19

December 4, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father David C. Frederici, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Pocasset and chaplain of UMass Dartmouth and BCC.

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For and About Our Church Youth Time to renew our baptismal promises commitment

ecently the Church celebrated a unique feast. It is not a person we honored or asked prayers for, but rather a feast that commemorated the dedication of St. John Lateran in Rome, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, the pope.

We took time to celebrate that occasion because it reminds us of an important characteristic of our Catholic faith: unity. We are the people of God, united by the faith we profess each Sunday, united in our love of God and one another. It is a unity that is taught by our patron and one of the patrons of the Lateran, St. John the Evangelist.

The words from St. Paul that were read at Mass are particularly important for us to hear, not just the recent elections, but each day of our lives: “Do you not know

that you are a temple of the Resurrection and of God, and that the Spirit His love for us and presof God dwells in you?” ence with us. Our faith (1Cor 3:16). This recent must be in God and not campaign can be deultimately in humanity. scribed as vicious. Many Human beings, even the people had strong feelings about their candidate.

Many people had a sense of disenfranchisement as

By Father well. The great David C. Frederici thing is that we live in a country where we can participate in the process greatest ones, will disapand that our government point. In faith, hope and changes peacefully. love of God we work There was one thing to build a world of love known for sure going and justice. We gather at into this election day: Sunday Mass to renew that many people would our commitment to this be disappointed and even work, to strengthen our hurt with the results loving bond with God — regardless of which and one another so that candidate won. That’s we may live life throughwhy St. Paul’s words are out the week true to ourso important to us. As selves. The joy and hapCatholics, our hope is piness we seek cannot be in Jesus Christ and His given to us by this world, promises. Our joy comes but is found only in Jesus from the knowledge of Christ. This relationship

Be Not Afraid

allows us to live in peace and joy, regardless of the outcome of an election.

I pray for presidentelect Trump, that he will be open to God’s graces and, like Solomon of old, seek to have an understanding heart so that he may govern in wisdom. I pray for healing in our country, that we may recognize our fellow citizens not as problems or subhuman, but as beloved children of God. I pray for each of you — your concerns and your loved ones each day.

Please pray for me.

This is not a time for us as Catholics to shake our heads and to circle the wagons. This is rather the time for us to renew our commitment to our baptismal promises. We need to engage the culture and seek to share the Gospel as the solution to our social

ills. We need to encourage our young people to not be afraid to go into politics, medicine, education, etc., but rather to go into these fields armed with the Gospel and work for a world that respects the life and dignity of each human person, born and unborn, rich and poor, sick and healthy, citizen and immigrant, etc.

Above all, to engage all those we encounter. The very same graces that led the early Church to spread the Gospel throughout the world are available to us, and we have much better means of communication.

We know the problems.

Let’s do something about them.

Anchor columnist Father Frederici is pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Pocasset and diocesan director of Campus Ministry and Chaplain at UMass Dartmouth and Bristol Community College.

Students from St. James-St. John School in New Bedford recently prayed the Rosary in memory of family members who have passed.

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The Anchor - November 25, 2016

For and About Our Church Youth

Every month the youth of Holy Family Parish in East Taunton challenge their pastor Father Kevin Cook and the adults of the parish to a soccer match. Game over and everyone is still smiling.

The students in grades one through eight at the Religious Education Program at Holy Trinity Church in West Harwich made palanca letters and cards for two groups who were on retreat. One was the Residents Encounter Christ Retreat at the Barnstable House of Correction. The students hand-made cards and then prayed over them before being given to Patti Hall, a Holy Trinity parishioner who is also a volunteer on that retreat weekend. The second group of palanca cards were made for the Encountering Christ in Others No. 305 retreat weekend for high school students in grades 10-12.

In the spirit of the season, third-grade students at Holy Name School in Fall River recently took time to reflect on their gratitude for friends and family. Each student created a colorful cornucopia complete with a picture of themselves.

On All Saints Day, St. Stanislaus School kindergartners dressed as the saint whose virtues they would most like to imitate.

They received a special blessing from Father Andrew Johnson, pastor of the Fall River parish.

Three Cadette Girl Scouts were recently presented Marian Medals by pastor Father Michael McManus at St. Mary’s Church in Mansfield. The Marian Medal program is written for young Catholics, grades seven to 10, to enable them to proclaim the greatness of the Lord. This is accomplished by actively involving the participants in an understanding of Mary as a model of openness and Spirituality — a woman of the Church. From left: adult moderators Mary Powers and Karen Petty are Lifetime Girl Scouts.

Emblems were awarded to Kathryn Jassen, Emma Garrahy and Isabelle Conway.

The Anchor - November 25, 2016

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For and About Our Church Youth

Bishop Connolly High School student volunteers recently teamed up to beautify the Fall River campus in preparation for Connolly’s 50th Anniversary Weekend celebration November 23-26. The clean-up kicked off the Fall River school’s “Lead With Your Heart” Service Campaign spotlighting service projects conducted across the community by alumni, students and families during the 2016 holiday season.

The seventh- and eighth-graders of the Greater New Bedford Catholic schools (All Saints Catholic School; Holy Family-Holy Name; St. Francis Xavier; St. James-St. John; St. Joseph School) recently attended the annual Rosary Rally at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. The day started with Mass at St. Julie Billiart Church, followed by praise, worship music, and guest speakers at Bishop Stang. This year’s speakers were Stang seniors Kaelin Andrews, Annie DiGiammo, and Kailee Peixoto. The rally concluded with the Rosary, which included a set of Rosary beads that extended around half the gym. Students from the five elementary schools along with Stang students held the beads and led the prayers of the Rosary.

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The Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women recently held a walk for Domestic Violence Awareness at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro. There were 80 individuals who participated in the walk. They included members of the track team, the two track team coaches Robert L’Homme and Kendra Bower, parents, and other individuals. The track team members collected personal toiletries for a battered women’s shelter within the diocese. The coaches, as well as the track team members ran three miles for this cause. Handouts were given to all on teen dating and domestic violence. Working with the coaches and the members of the track team was a great experience and very inspiring for the workers from the Fall River DCCW.

Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth announced that four students from the senior class have been commended in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended students place among the top five percent of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Assistant principal of academics Kathleen Ruginis stands with the commended students, from left: Victoria Pajak, Emily Brigham, Francesca Marini, and Sarah Hamel.

Connolly High School celebrates 50 years of Catholic education continued from page 15

Parish in Fall River, until work was completed at the Elsbree Street campus.

Although Bishop Connolly would encounter such speed bumps and unexpected detours throughout its 50-year history, it never wavered in its mission to provide the best, faith-based education to students. In the fall of 1969, when the Brothers of Christian Instruction formally joined the staff, they brought with them a rich tradition of educational excellence that had marked Msgr. Prevost High School since 1927.

Ten years later, with the closing of the all-girls Bishop Gerrard High School in Fall River in 1980, Connolly became one of the nation’s first co-educational Jesuit high schools.

“I know I’ve talked to the (Gerrard) girls over the years, and when they first came in they were such a minority, but they all said they had a great experience here,” Myron said. “And it’s not easy coming from an all-girls school to an all-boys school.”

Bishop Gerrard High School, which operated on the campus of the former Mount Saint Mary Academy (and staffed by the Sisters of Mercy), was itself the product of a 1973 merger between that school, the former Jesus Mary Academy, Sacred Hearts Academy and the high school of Dominican Academy.

“What we really want to impress on everyone is we’ve absorbed all those histories — Connolly, Prevost and Gerrard,” Myron said. “They are all a part of Bishop Connolly now; that’s why we honor them when we have our legacy

awards every year. Their history is our history.”

Known alternately as Bishop Connolly Jesuit College Preparatory School from 1987 through 1995, the school and its more than 70-acre campus has, throughout its history, been consistently owned by the Diocese of Fall River; although it is now completely staffed with lay people. The Jesuits withdrew in 1995 and the last remaining Brothers of Christian Instruction left in 2012.

“The Jesuits really loved it here,” Myron said.

“When I talk to a lot of them, they say their time here was really among their happiest days.”

And yet, Connolly continues its proud tradition of Catholic education, with nearly 300 students currently enrolled from more than 30 cities and towns in southeastern Massachusetts and neighboring Rhode Island.

“Our enrollment is growing, and we’re excited about that,” Myron said.

“But we don’t want to get too large, either. I think you lose out that way. You really want to be able to deal with all the students (on a more personal level).

As we move forward, I

would say 100 in a class would be enough. To me, that’s small enough where you can still feel like a family.”

“The school’s diversity has been growing over the years, too,” added Ciampanelli. “Now we even have international students.

We’ve graduated about 20 international students over the years, and wherever they may be, they’re still Connolly graduates. I think that’s great.”

Ciampanelli said there’s been a concerted effort of late to reach out to Connolly’s alumni more and more, “just to let them know: ‘We know you’re out there,’” he said.

Having them all come back to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary this week is something that’s been in the works for more than a year.

“We really started a while ago, planning various events,” Myron said. “Last year we had a Memorial Mass and many of the Jesuits and the Brothers of Christian Instruction came back to really honor all those who have passed.

We also had a tree-planting back in the spring to recognize various graduating classes. Really, the key is to get (all our alumni)

together to celebrate. It’s a wonderful history and we have so many fabulous people who have been a part of this school.”

Hitting the 50-year milestone is an achievement worth celebrating, but Myron also looks forward to Bishop Connolly High School surviving and thriving for many years to come.

“When you think about the history of Fall River and how many Catholic high schools there were, Bishop Connolly is the only one left,” he said. “As we all know, this is a special place; and we have strong sister schools as well — we have five sending schools (here in the diocese).”

Thankfully, through the school’s own financial aid initiatives and the recently-announced diocesan scholarships that will be available courtesy of donations from the Carney Family and the Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Education, more students will now be able to attend Connolly.

“More than 50 percent of our students receive some form of financial aid, and we’re proud of that,” Myron said. “And now, with the additional scholarships (from the diocese), that’s going to open the door to students even more who need to be in this

school; and that’s going to change their lives. There are so many times I talk to wonderful families and the only thing that stops them from (sending) their kids to Connolly is the cost.

Many of them have been in our Catholic schools for years, but going from grammar school to here it’s a jump (in tuition), but now that gap is going to close.”

Now in his seventh year at the helm of Bishop Connolly, Myron is not an alumnus of the school himself, but admitted he’s a bit envious of those who are, and he is just as proud of Connolly as his own alma mater. “I wouldn’t even mind telling my fellow (graduates) how great this school is,” he added.

To him, Bishop Connolly is more than just a Catholic school, it’s a family rooted in faith.

“I had a senior recently tell me he was looking to find a college that was just like Bishop Connolly where it felt like a family where he could just be himself,” Myron said. “That really touched me and it was so nice to hear.”

For more information about the 50th Anniversary Grand Reunion this weekend or to buy tickets online, visit www.bishopconnolly. com and click on the “Celebrate Connolly” link.

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Sister Gertrude Gaudette was a woman of faith, talent, service continued from page three

Fall River Diocese, teaching at Dominican Academy Elementary School in Fall River, home to St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet, St. Anne’s School in Fall River, and back to Dominican Academy, first at the elementary level, then the secondary.

She spent time as moderator of the D.A. alumni association; its yearbook, Dominilog; and the sodality.

Sister Gertrude also served her order as local treasurer, secretary general, and as a member of the general council.

While living in Fall River, Sister Gertrude was often enlisted to take pictures for The Anchor.

Through most of the 1970s into the early 80s, she was an art teacher at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, remaining there until 1983 when she opened the Creativity Center at the motherhouse on Park Street in Fall River. Countless men, women and children received gentle, knowledgeable instruction there from Sister Gertrude until the convent closed and she moved to The Landmark in Fall River, where she also offered art classes.

In Luke’s Gospel 12:48, Jesus said that much will be required of those to whom much is given. Sister Gertrude was blessed with a plethora of talents, and she wasn’t afraid to use them. It didn’t seem to faze her, and if it did, it wouldn’t show.

In a 1978 Anchor feature on Sister Gertrude, her dear friend and Anchor mainstay and future Landmark fellow resident, the late Pat McGowan wrote of her: “Want an elevator repaired? A furnace fixed?

Maybe an auditorium constructed? Or pictures taken?

A few signs painted?

“You only need one person — providing that she’s Sister 20

Gertrude Gaudette.

“The diminutive dynamo has, over the years, completely renovated the interior of the huge Dominican Academy and convent on Park Street, Fall River, where she lives.

“Her projects have included elevator and furnace maintenance, conversion of an enormous dormitory into several regulation size classrooms, building the academy’s auditorium, renovating its refectory and constructing a portable altar.

“The work involved erecting walls, installing windows, attaching blackboards, making and installing bulletin boards and building platforms for teachers’ desks.”

No small feat for a burly 250-pound contractor, yet even more incredible for a petite Dominican Sister.

A prime example of her spunk, was her taking a 15week wood-carving course at Burns Tool Company in Fall River, where her classmates were 20 men, including laborers and executives.

Sister Gertrude honed her wood craft studying in St. Jean-Port-Joli, in southern Quebec, Canada — a village renown for its many artisan wood-carvers and events.

Sister Gertrude explained her affinity for working with wood to the Dominican Sisters’ magazine, Windows on Hope: “God gave me talents, and I feel His pleasure when I use them and share them with my students. My reverence for wood dates back to the Great Depression, when the family was forced to move to the country, where beautiful, tall pine trees surrounded us.

“My long affection and friendship with trees is one of my finest experiences.

Carvers and sculptors enjoy giving the tree a new lease on life. It’s a wonderful feeling to give new life to a block of wood. I think my students

The Anchor - November 25, 2016

feel it, too, as they chip away and enjoy the grain, texture, and strength, and discover that, as William Penn said, ‘Wood is a substance with a soul.’”

In 1981, she was enlisted by the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro to create murals, billboards and displays for the shrine’s annual Christmas Festival of Lights, most notably, the “Alphabet Books,” displayed about the circumference of the Rosary Pond.

Her works of art are far too numerous to mention, but suffice it to say, they enhance the interiors and exteriors of many diocesan buildings and some secular ones as well.

Sister Gertrude was as humble as she was talented.

Sister of St. Joan of Arc Rita Teasdale was secretary at the bishop’s office for 20 years and recalls asking for Sister Gertrude’s assistance for a project.

“We had a beautiful Infant of Prague statue at the house and through the years it had become damaged in need of repair,” she told The Anchor. “We asked Sister Gert if she could restore it, and she doubted if she could.

‘I don’t usually do things like this,’ she said. But Sister Gert took on the project anyway.

“Well, it came out beautifully. Around the holidays we invited Sister Gert to come to the bishop’s house to see where her efforts went. We had the statue on display in the parlor, and Sister Gert was so happy and honored to know it was there and that she was invited to the house.

“It struck me that she didn’t feel worthy to be there.

She was such a humble and sincere person as well as a talented artist.”

As well-known as Sister Gertrude was for her great works of art, it was her voca-

As if painting, sculpting, carving, building and teaching weren’t enough, here Sister Gertrude Gaudette is at the wheel of the HMS Bounty replica during its visit to Fall River in 1993. (Anchor file photo)

tion as a Dominican Sister of Hope that was her great passion.

About her calling to become a Sister, she once told a local publication, “The generosity of the Sisters had a tremendous impact on my life as a teen-ager.

“In my eagerness to repay their kindness, I attempted projects of which I knew next to nothing and, to my surprise, succeeded. I began to realize that Spiritual life is not apart from the rest of existence but an important dimension of everything one does. I will never know why God chose such an ordinary person to live this witness called religious life, but I do know that I have found a mysterious richness here.”

“Pope Paul VI, at the closing of Vatican Council II, expressed a message to artists: ‘Beauty, like truth, brings joy to the human heart, and is that precious

fruit which resists the erosion of time, which unites generations and enables them to be one in admiration. And all this through the work of your hands’,” added Bishop Coleman. “Sister Gertrude’s life fulfilled that description.

May she rest in peace.”

Sister Gertrude is survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and members of her congregation.

She is predeceased by siblings Bernard and Ruby Gaudette, Theresa Charest and Pauline Criteau.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral on November 7. Interment was at Notre Dame Cemetery in Fall River. Auclair Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Donations in Sister Gertrude’s memory may be made to the Development Office of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, 299 North Highland Avenue, Ossining, N.Y. 10562.

Fund-raiser to benefit Sister Rose House shelter

NEW BEDFORD — On December 11 from noon to 5 p.m., an indoor yard sale will be held at the Centro Luzo Club at 34 Beetle Street in New Bedford to benefit the Sister Rose

House, also in New Bedford.

The yard sale will offer household items and other assorted goods for sale. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Sister Rose House. The latter is a home-

less shelter for single adult homeless males located at 73 Division Street in New Bedford.

The event is being led and coordinated by local resident Lisa Smith.

he estimates that in a good season, like last year when it was warm and there wasn’t much rain, roughly 500,000 people visit the shrine during the Festival of Lights.

“When I think about Christmas,” said Father Brown, “I think about the manger scene, and I think most of us think about, ‘Silent Night, Holy Night.’

You really think about a barn and the animals in there, and it’s noisy.

It’s smelly. [Shortly after Christ is born] there’s a movement of violence towards the Christ Child.

Here we have a God Who comes into the midst of chaotic violence that we have, right in the middle of it, and God is not afraid of our chaos, not afraid of our violence, but comes right into the middle of it as a vulnerable Child.

“The message of La Salette is Reconciliation; come back to Me. Mary came to these two children; they were not daily Mass-goers, if they went to Mass at all. Mary comes to these children with her message that God wants to be with the people on the periphery, like Pope Francis has said.”

Photos with St. Nicholas will be offered every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5-9 p.m. in the Welcome Center, along with a trolley, hayrides and a carousel.

The International Crèche Museum will be open every day, Monday through

Friday from 5-9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 2-9 p.m.

Christmas Craft Fair Weekend will be held November 25-27 from 12-9 p.m. in the Welcome Center. There is also a store at the shrine open daily, as well as a food court/snack bar area.

Regular Mass times will be Monday through Friday 12:10 p.m. and 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday Mass times will be 12:10 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Holiday Mass times will be as follows: Christmas Eve Masses at 12:10 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Midnight Mass on December 25 at 12 a.m.; Christmas Day Mass at 12:10 p.m.; New Year’s Eve Masses on December 31 at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. (Haitian); New Year’s Day Masses at 12:10 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Reconciliation will be offered daily (except on December 25 and January 1) from 1-5 p.m.

Special events also include December 10 at 9 a.m. in the Welcome Center, Deacon Greg Kandra and Christopher Kenney of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association and ONE Magazine will be talking about peace in the Middle East.

To see the full schedule of featured speakers, activities and Mass schedule, visit La Salette’s regularly updated website: www. lasaletteattleboroshrine.org.

La Salette Shrine shines a light on Our Lady’s words continued from page two

childhood years in Fall River, making his musical debut at the age of nine on a Fall River radio station.

He continued to develop his singing, and learned to play the guitar during his preparation for the priesthood with the La Salette Missionaries. During his time of study in Canada at the University of Ottawa and St. Paul, he and a few Brothers began singing as a group and delighted audiences with their Spiritfilled music.

As a young priest, he was assigned to a parish on Cape Cod. Father Pat became more involved in singing and writing Liturgical music, realizing this was a direct way of reaching people. His next assignment was as director of The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette.

Here, he continued to develop his music and has recorded a number of albums, and a powerful DVD on Our Lady of La Salette which aired on several television stations in the U.S and Middle East.

More information on Father Pat and his music can be found on his website: www.FatherPat.org.

“It’s amazing how many people come just for him,” said Father Brown. “They know of his concerts; all sorts of people come just for that. He has a recording of the ‘Serenity Prayer,’ which he puts into almost all of his concerts. A lot of people find solace in it.”

Father Brown said that

“I am doing this because I want to help pay it forward,” Smith said. “Last year I went through a major medical problem that put me out of work for an extended period of time. I was only able to get through that difficult period in my life through the financial support of family, friends and the community.

I feel it is my time to step up during this holiday season.”

Those wishing to help contribute to the event can do so by donating items, volunteering and, most importantly, by coming by on the day of the event to shop.

Donations of items can be delivered to the Centro Luzo Club on December 9 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again on December 10, from noon to

8 p.m.

The event will take place on the second floor of the club on December 11.

Cash donations can also be made by going to the Catholic Social Services website at www.cssdioc.org.

Once there click on “Donations,” then click “Online Donations” and then select the Sister Rose House tab at the middle of the page.

For those individuals who wish to donate items, but lack transportation, please call 774-202-0743 and arrangements will be made to pick up your donation.

For more information regarding the Sister Rose House fund-raiser, contact Lisa Smith at 774-2020743.

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

Nov. 26 Rev. James R. Burns, P.R., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1945 Rev. Charles Porada, O.F.M. Conv., 2000 Nov. 27 Rt. Rev. Patrick E. McGee, Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1948 Nov. 28 Rev. Adrien A. Gauthier, Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River, 1959 Nov. 29 Rev. Thomas H. Shahan, Former Pastor, St. Mary,Taunton, 1902 Rev. Francis A. McCarthy, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset, 1965 Nov. 30 Rev, William J McCoomb, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, North Easton, 1895 Dec. 1 Rev. Phillipe Ross, Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 1958 Rev. Edward J. Gorman, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset, 1964 Dec. 2 Rev. Arthur Savoie, Pastor, St. Hyacinth, New Bedford, 1917 Rev. Dennis W. Harrington, Assistant, St. Mary, Taunton, 1958 Rev. Stanislaus Basinski, Former Pastor, Holy Rosary,Taunton, 1970 Dec. 3 Rev. John W. McCarthy, P.R., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1926 Dec. 4 Rev. Patrick Byrne, Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1844 Rev. Charles Ouellette, Assistant, St. Jacques, Taunton, 1945 Rev. Edward C. Duffy, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1994 Dec. 5 Rev. Eugene J. Boutin, Manchester Diocese, 1986 Rev. Coleman Conley, SS.CC., Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 1990 Dec. 6 Rev. Joseph L. Cabral, Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 1959 Rt. Rev. Msgr. John H. Hackett, JCD, Chancellor, June-December 1966, 1966 Rev. Joseph K. Welsh, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, 1971 Rev. John T. Higgins, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1985 Dec. 7 Rev. Thomas F. Daly, Retired Pastor, St. James, New Bedford, 1976 Rev. Ambrose Bowen, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Taunton, 1977 Rev. James W. Clark, Retired Pastor, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, 2000 Dec. 8 Rev. John F. Broderick, Pastor, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1940 Dec. 9 Rev. Rene Patenaude, O.P., Retired Associate Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River, 1983

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Deacon Richard M. Dresser, 95

HYANNIS — Deacon Richard M. Dresser, 95, of Hyannis, died November 15. He was born Sept. 2, 1921 in Winchendon. He graduated from Turners Falls High School in 1939 and from Penn State University, Ogontz Campus, in 1962.

He started his work life at the Paper Mill, then worked for the Greenfield Tap and Die before entering the Navy on Oct. 23, 1942, where he served on the LST457 in the Pacific during World War II. He received an honorable discharge on Dec. 2, 1945 as a chief boatswain’s mate.

He married his sweetheart, Margaret M. (Peggy) Kelleher, on Feb. 23, 1946.

He is predeceased by Peggy after 65 years of marriage, and their son, Dr. Richard Daniel Dresser; siblings Helen Long, Gertrude Napolitano, Mary Martin, Jane Kimball, Carl Dresser, and Alvin (Bub) Dresser.

He leaves behind his children Margaret Lawler, Gerrie Dresser, Lynn Kern, William Dresser, Nancy Leska, Michael Dresser, Jeanne Dresser, Eileen Sardinha, Kellie Farrenkopf, and Timmy Dresser; 17 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two brothers Roger Dresser and Donald Dresser; and many nieces and nephews.

He was ordained a deacon of the Catholic Church on June 20, 1987 and was assigned to St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis where he actively served with faith and love until his death.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Church November 19. Burial was at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

Donations in his name may be made to Special Olympics of Cape Cod, Parkinson Association, or Greater New England Chapter of Multiple Sclerosis Society.

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The Anchor - November 25, 2016

Around the Diocese Our Lady of Grace Parish, 569 Sanford Road in Westport, will host its 30th annual Christmas Bazaar on November 26 and 27 in the parish center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., both days. Santa will arrive via the North Pole Express at 11 a.m. (bring your camera) and the bazaar will also include Christmas music, children’s sing-along, raffles, craft tables, and more! The kitchen will be open and there is free parking and admission.

A Christmas Fair will be held December 3 and 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, at St. Francis Xavier Parish’s Prep School Hall on Cross Street in Hyannis. The fair will feature local crafters, religious articles and books, a tool shop, kids’ corner, bake shop, silent auction, raffles, snack bar, pizza and more. On December 4, a live Nativity featuring students at St. Francis Prep plus the annual Pancake Breakfast with St. Nicholas will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Catholic Women’s Club of Christ the King Parish, 5 Jobs Fishing Road in Mashpee, will sponsor its Annual Christmas Fair on December 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parish center. Featured will be a variety of crafters selling handmade items like nautical ornaments, jewelry, knitted hats and scarves, gel candles and more. There will also be handcrafted live Christmas wreaths and seasonal arrangements, raffles, boutique items, gift baskets, baked goods and a shopping room for children with face-painting and games. Hungry shoppers can relax over lunch at the popular Holly Café.

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.

The Cathedral Choir at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River will present an Advent-Christmas Concert on December 4 beginning at 3 p.m. featuring Advent carols for all to sing, handbell selections and a contemporary American Christmas cantata entitled “Go Sing it on the Mountain.” All are invited to the cathedral (corner of Spring and Second Streets) to spend an hour with joyful music as we prepare our minds and hearts for the celebration of our Savior’s birth.

St. John the Evangelist Parish’s Family Christmas Celebration will be held December 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the SJE Welcome Center, 841 Shore Road at Barlow’s Landing Road in Pocasset. Enjoy crafters, vendors, cookie decorating, face-painting, raffles, stocking stuffers, gifts, and bake sale, along with lunch and a visit from Santa! For more information, call Jane at 508-759-3566.

St. John Neumann Parish, 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown, will host a Taizé Advent Service on December 4 beginning at 7 p.m. All are cordially invited to join in to watch, prepare, rejoice and wait for the coming of the Messiah!

Holy Name School, 850 Pearce Street in Fall River, is running a donations drive as part of its Leaders in Training program on December 13 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the school to collect items for Gifts to Give, an organization that helps poor families throughout southeastern Massachusetts. They are seeking gently-used items including: clothing (adult and children); shoes (adult and children); baby clothes; housewares; books; school and art supplies; toys, puzzles and games. You can also drop-off donations at the school prior to December 13, or contact Dorothy Mahoney-Pacheco at 401-556-9729 or dmahoneypacheco@ gmail.com to make alternate arrangements.

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

Peace program to be held at La Salette

ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, 947 Park Street in Attleboro, will welcome Deacon Greg Kandra and Christopher Kennedy of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association and ONE Magazine to the shrine to speak about peace in the Middle East.

Deacon Kandra and Kennedy will present “Let There Be Light: Bringing Healing and Hope to the Middle East,” a talk about life in the Middle East, their longing for healing and how they hang onto hope everyday.

In the season where we remember Jesus, Mary and Joseph living in a strange place and then as refugees, we should learn all we can about our brothers and sisters now suffering.

Deacon Greg Kandra is a Roman Catholic deacon serving the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. In February 2011, he was named the executive editor of ONE.

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The Anchor - November 25, 2016

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The Anchor - November 25, 2016