t eanc 0 VOL. 38, NO. 4ti
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Friday, November 25, 1994
F ALL RIVER, MASS.
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
Results of bishops' meeting WASHINGTON (eNS) - When the U.S. bishops met in Washington Nov. 14-17 for the fall general meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, they: - Called for action to confront a violent culture, in a pastoral message approved on a voice vote that said fear of violience is "paralyzing and polarizing our communities." - Urged an expansion of women's roles in the church And dialogue with those who feel alienated, in a pastoral reflection that passed 228-10. - Received a detailed resource manual to help them deal with issues of sexual abuse of minors by church personnel, and heard a report from Bishop John F. Kinney of Bismarck, N.D., on the past and future work of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse. - Approved a new version of "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services," last revised in 1975, which looks at such questions as abortion,·euthanasia, care for the poor, medical research, and nutrition and hydration for the terminally
ill. - Extended their ad hoc committees, including the one on sexual abuse, for three more years, and created a new ad hoc committee to study the financially ailing Catholic Telecommunications Network of America. - Approved the first and second segments of a new Sacramentary, with the exception of 21 prayers to be returned to an international commission for revision. The bishops had been expected to consider three segments of the Sacramentary, but the third segment was withdrawn from consideration before the meeting, along with proposed American adaptations to the Mass. - Adopted the Swiss Synod's Eucharistic Prayer for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions and a provisional English translation
of the text, pending Vatican approval. - Elected Msgr. Dennis M. Schnurr, a priest of the diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, as general secretary for the next five years and chose Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston for a threeyear term as conference secretary. - Gave their outgoing general secretary, Msgr. Robert N. Lynch, a Miami archdiocesan priest, a standing ovation in gratitude for his work over the past six years. - Approved a $41.3 million budget for 1995, representing a $400,000 decrease from the 199( budget. - Agreed to a three-year continuation of the collection to aid the church in Central and Eastern Europe. - Expanded membership on the Tri-Conference Commission on Religious Life and Ministry to include the recently established Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious. - In light of California's Proposition 187, adopted a statement that said all people have the right to health care and education. Press Conference At a press conference following the meeting, Cardinal-designate William H. Keeler of Baltimore cited immigrants' rights, the plight of the poor and a need for values education in public schools among the bishops' chief public policy concerns. The president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops was optimistic about progress made during the meeting on a major project of developing a new Sacramentary and said the new ethical and medical directives the bishops adopted will be helpful. One ofthe bishops' most significant actions was their message on violence, he said. With regard to their statement emphasizing the educational and Turn to Page 13
BISHOP O'MALLEY studies papers prior to a session of last week's Washington meeting of the U.S. bishops. (Kearns photo)
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$11 Per Year
Three priests receive papal honors
DONALD BURTON, a member of St. Thomas More parish, Somerset, has donated his painting of a cross draped with a red ribbon to the Diocesan Office of HIV / AIDS Ministry for display at appropriate events. The ribbon symbolizes solidarity with and compassion for persons with AIDS. (Hickey photo)
Diocese, nation prepare for World AIDS Day Forthcoming activities announced by the Diocesan Office of HIV / AIDS Ministry include a Mass of Healing and Remembrance at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, at 12:05 p.m. Thursday, Dec. I, which is World AIDS Day; an HIV / AIDS Awareness Day at LaSalette Shrine Theater, Route 118, Attleboro, Saturday, Jan. 7; and ongoing meetings of support groups for professional caregivers of persons with HIV / AIDS and forfamilies, friends, loved ones and other persons affected by HIV / AIDS. The Cathedral Mass will have Bishop Sean O'Malley as principal celebrant and all priests of the diocese are invited to be concelebrants. Its theme will be "Redemptive People." Ms. Krysten WinterGreen, director of the Diocesan HIV / AIDS office, explained that redemptive people, depicted as dancing figures on many of the office's programs and flyers, are the "redeemed who can then redeem others." She said that many people have assisted in planning the Dec. I Mass. Among them is Father John Ozug, administrator of St. John Neumann parish, East Freetown, who is obtaining vestments adorned with the redemptive people for use at the liturgy. Assistance has also come from persons in the Diocesan Health Facilities and the Dioce-
san Department of Education, the Episcopal Representative for Religious, the Office of Communications and the Pastoral Care Department of St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River. Musicians for the Mass will be Jane Murray on oboe, Madeleine Grace as organist and Jackie Racine on flute. Students from Bishop Stang HighSchool will be leaders of song.· At LaSalette The Jan. 7 day at LaSalette will offer education, reflection and prayer and will be facilitated by Ms. Winter-Green, a licensed social worker and pastoral psychologist; and Rev. George Brennan, MS, clinical psychologist at the LaSalette Counseling Center. The day will begin at lOa. m. and end at 3 p.m. and registration is requested by Jan. 4. Participants may bring lunch or obtain it at the shrine cafeteria. Further information is available at the AIDS Ministry office, tel. 674-5600, ext. 2295. Support Groups All support group meetings are held in Room 128 of Clemence Hall at St. Anne's Hospital, 243 Forest St., Fall River. Professional caregivers will meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 5, Feb. 2, March 2, April 6, May 4 and June I. Families, friends and others will Turn to Page 13
Acceding to the request of Bishop Sean O'Malley, Pope John Paul II has named Msgr. HenryT. Munroe and Msgr. John J. Oliveira to the rank of Protonotary Apostolic; and Very Rev. George W. Coleman to the rank of Domestic Prelate with the title of Reverend Monsignor. The three honorees will be presented with papal diplomas formally conferring their new titles in the context of a vespers service at St. Mary's Cathedral at a date to be announced. Protonotaries may wear a floorlength purple cape known as a feriola and may use the letters I' A after their names. They form one of the chief colleges of prelates of the Roman Curia, dating from the third or fourth century. A Domestic Prelate is an honorary member of the papal household. He may wear a black cassock with red trim for everyday use and a purple cassock for liturgical ceremonies. Both are worn with a purple sash. Msgr. Munroe Msgr. Munroe, a Fall River native, was ordained to the priesthood Nov. 30,1953. After serving as parochial vicar at Holy Name parish, New Bedford, he was administrator of St. John the Evangelist parish, Attleboro, and pastor at St. Pius X, South Yarmouth. He has been pastor at St. Thomas More, Somerset, since 1989. On the diocesan level, he is a judge in the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal; Episcopal Vicar for Fall River; and a member of the College of Consultors and the Presbyteral Council. He served as Vicar General from 1989 to 1994. Msgr. Munroe was named a Prelate of Honor in 1974. Msgr. Oliveira Msgr. Oliveira is a native of New Bedford. He was ordained May 20, 1967, and has served at St. John of God parish, Somerset; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Seekonk; St. John the Baptist, New Bedford; St. Anthony, Taunton; and St. Mary's Cathedral. He was chaplain at the former Mt. St. Mary Academy, Fall River, and at Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton. He is now Diocesan Chancellor and Archivist, Episcopal Vicar for New Bedford, an advocate in the Marriage Tribunal, a member of the College of Consultors and the Presbyteral Council, Secretary for Education and Evangelization and director of the diocesan Mission Cooperative Plan and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He was named a Papal Chamberlain in 1977 and a Prelate of Honor in 1987. Turn to Page Three