11.27.98

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It eanc 0 VOL. 42, NO. 46 • Friday, November 27, 1998

FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

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Bishop's Advent message urges focus on God the Father Dearly beloved in Christ, With the begin ning of Advent, the Church opens a new year. Pope John Paul II has selected the theme of God the Father for this final year of preparation for the millen nium.

It is good for us to meditate on what it means that God is Father, especially we who live in an age where the very concept of fatherhood is shrinking. In spite of the fact that we celebrate a Father's Day in our secular world, more and more children grow up in homes with no father. To some, the con-

cept of father is a foreign one; thus, it is more important than ever for us to ponder the mystery of God the Father.

On Ascension Thursday in 1997, we observed a diocesan celebration commemorating God the Son. This past year, the Year ofthe Holy Spirit was celebrated in a beautiful Uturgy on the Vigil of Pentecost. Since the Church's liturgical calendar is void of a specific feast to celebrate God the Father, our Diocesan Pastoral Council and Jubilee Committee were faced with a challenge.

With emphasis on the Lenten call to be "Reconciled with our Heavenly Father," I invite all to a special diocesan Ut-

urgy of Reconciliation commemorating the Year of the Father which will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption on Friday, Feb. 19, 1999.

I would suggest that our anthem for this year be the familiar tune of Lucien Deiss: "Yes, Ishall arise and return to my Father." These are the words of the Prodigal Son in Luke's Gospel after he had spent all his money, lost all his friends, and felt such hunger that he was ready to eat what was being fed to the pigs.

He had forgotten that he had a father and wanted to make his own life without him. Somehow, he thought that freedom would bring happiness. It was a long exercise in self-deceit: but, when his life came crashing in, he remembered that he was not an orphan. In fact, for God there are no orphans in this world, only sons and daughters who have left home.

The Prodigal's return home can

be likened to a spiritual journey of conversion. It is a process and a struggle, but when we return to the Father's house, we are united with our brothers and sisters.

To be converted is to remember that we .:w.have a Father and that the Father has other children. When the Prodigal Son returned home, he returned not only to his father but also to his brother. In fact, the first thing the father does is to reconcile him with his estranged brother. Hence, the prayer we say is not, "my Father who art in heaven," but "our Father."

Too often, our modern world has l). . . . .

Tum to page five - Message

Cape Cod woman founds family scholarship to aid seminarians ~

theological studies.

Gleason Family Schol- of Mary Gleason of Sagamore and arship is founded on her sister Beatrice Gleason met recently with Bishop Sean P. the belief that priests O'Malley at his office in Fall River are vital to the life of to talk about the scholarship that the Church. will be given on behalf of their fam-

By JAMES N. DUNBAR EAST SANDWICH - The generous financial gift of a woman from Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich will found a scholarship enabling a seminarian from the Fall River Diocese to pursue four years

ily.

Father Craig A. Pregana, director of vocations for the Fall River diocese, explained that the Gleason Family Scholarship, initiated by Mary Gleason to educate a seminarian in his theology years has been awarded to Jeffrey Cabral.

"Bishop O'Malley presented Cabral with the scholarship that will provide his expenses during seminary training at St. John Seminary in Brighton for the next four years," reported Father Pregana.

"The Gleasons are part of the vocation team at Corpus Christi Parish entitled 'Seeking our Shepherds.' Their primary concern is promoting and fostering vocations," Father Pregana added. ''The Gleasons have been very kind in their prayers and support of semiTurn to page JJ - Scholarship

Diocesan priests enjoy pilgrimage to Assisi, Rome By

MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF

FALL RIVER - When Father Mark R. Hession, diocesan director of Education and Formation of the Clergy, was prepaling for his pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi .with other diocesan priests, things were very hectic.

As coordinator for the trip, Father Hession found himself taking care of last minute details and hardly had time to pack, but a brief phone call from a parishio-

ner at St. Joseph's,Church, Taunton, put things into perspective.

The call was a request for Father Hession to say a special prayer at Michelangelo's "Pieta" sculpture in Rome for a boy suffering from muscular dystrophy.

So with that request and a book of prayer petitions, the spiritual journey began.

More than 30, diocesan priests joined Father Hession and retreat master retired Bishop Joseph F. Maguire, former bishop of Springfield, for 10 days in Assisi and Rome where they shared

prayers, Mass with Bishop Sean P. O'Malley OFM Cap., friendship and a spiritual retreat.

"It was wonderful to be there," declared Father Hessiqn following his return. "There was a very strong sense of unity and we all came back inspired. It was more successful than I could have ever imagined," he added.

The pilgrims were joined in Rome by Bishop O'Malley who traveled with them to Assisi following his 'ad lima' visit with Pope John Paul II. Each day in Assisi they visited a different

place or church associated with St. Francis of Assisi including a retreat house in Carcere where he once prayed.

"Our visit to Carcere was very special," said Father Hession. "It is a place surrounded by nature and the air is very clear. It's very inspiring." At Carcere there is a place in the caves where 51.

Francis frequently walked and prayed. Visitors to the site have to crawl through stones to see it, but that didn't stop anyone. Outside of the main area, a statue of St. Francis lies on the ground

with its gaze on the sky.

At the retreat house, priests attended talks focusing on the priest as a man of prayer.

Themed "The Priest: Called to Rebuild the Church from Within," the sessions were led by Bishop Maguire who told participants that "the first sign that someone lives the life of the Holy Spirit is the sign ofjoy seen within them." Father Hession said thc priests enjoyed the many delightful storics and prayers lcd

by Bishop Maguirc. "Hc's a vcry Tum to page 8 - Pilgrimage

2

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall ~iver ------: Fri., Nov.. 27, 1998

GETIING TO KNOW OUR SEMINARIANS .William Rodrigues SOMERSET - As an altar server, lector and member of the youth group, Bill Rodrigues was actively involved in parish life at St. Thomas More Church prior to entering the seminary.

In 1990, he graduated from .Somerset High School and entered St. John Seminary in Brighton. He credits his involvement in parish. life as one of the influences toward his decision to enter the college seminary. There he was able to consider the priesthood with less distraction. Rodrigues had the opportunity to study Spanish during the summer of 1998 in Puebla, Mexico.

He has been involved in pastoral ministry during his time at St. John's College, \Vorki.ng at Children's Hospital in Boston and religious education in area parishes.

Following graduation from the seminary college, Rodrigues was asked to attend the North American College in Rome for his theological studies. There he attended the Gregorian University and was involved in pastoral field education at the Gesu Hospital in Rome. In 1996, he returned to the U.S. for a year of pastoral ministry at St. John Parish in New Bedford. There he integrated his theological studies with pastoral situations. He has continued his theological studies at St. John's and this fall began his third theology year.

Rodrigues says that his involvement in the parish youth group was instrumental in hearing God's call to ministry and service.

Pope John Paul II writes: "Every vocation is born, is nourished

NEW BEDFORD - Taking a note from Pope John Paul II's theme for Jubilee Year 2000, the decorations committee for the 1999 Bishop's Charity Ball will focus on the theme, "God the Father" in preparing for the event.

The ball, which generates significant revenues for the charitable endeavors of the Diocese of Fall River, will be ~eld Jan. 8, at the

®bituary Harold F. O'Hearn .

WILLIAM RODRIGUES and develops in the Church and is linked to the Church in its origin, growth, purpose and mission. For this reason, diocesan and parish communities . are called to strengthen their commitment to vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially with the proclamation of the Word, the celebration of the sacraments and the witness of charity."

For more information about how your parish can support vocations, contact Father Craig Pregana, Vocation Director, at (508) 990-0371 at the Vocation Office, 500 Slocum Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2930. Help to make your parish a place where young people may hear God's call to service!

Special service Nov. 30 will mark World AIDS Day observance FALL RIVER - World AIDS Day is Dec. 1, and the diocese will mark its observance at a specially written vespers service to be held Nov. 30 in St. Mary's Cathedral at 6 p.m.

The service was written by Dr. Krysten Winter-Green, director of the AIDS Ministry Office for the Fall River Diocese and put to music by well-known composer Glenn Giuttari of Rehoboth.

The Sine Nomine Choral Group, directed by Giuttari, will sing the vespers' piece.

Although the diocese usually marks the observance with a Mass, Dr. Winter-Green said she composed the vespers as something more' inclusive for people of different faith perspectives. She said she thought that people from an interfaith group would feel more of an involvement with the evening prayer service.

Saint Anne's to offer EMTprogram FALL RIVER - Saint Anne's Hospital, in collaboration with Safety Program Consultants, Inc., will sponsor a Basic Emergency Medical Technician program, beginning Jan. 5, 1999.

The course will' be held at Saint Anne's Hospital on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7-10 p.m. and selected Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The program, which focuses on trauma and medical emergencies, is designed to provide the neces~ary training to participants with an intetest in becoming a health care professional and enable them to enter the Emergency Medical Services field.

Decorations committee for annu:al Bishop's Charity Ball hard at work

The course of study includes respiratory systems/airway management, assessment and management of shock, epi-pen, fracture management, ambulance operations, EMS communication, patient-assisted medication administration, medical and legal issues, patient assessment, role and responsibilities of an EMT, medical emergencies, medical control procedures and semi-automatic defibrillation.

Class sizes are limited and reg~ istration is available on a first come, first serve basis. For an application or more information about the EMT Basic Education Program, call 1800-499-6428.

.

FALL RIVER - Harold Francis "Mickey" O'Hearn, 73, of Shawmut Street, died unexpectedly Monday at Charlton Memorial Hospital. He was the husband of Margaret T. (Mackey) O'Heam and father of Father Michael J.T. O'Hearn, chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital. , Mr. and Mrs. O'Hearn had cel~ ebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on June 28.

Born in Fall River, a son of the late Joseph and the late Mary (Hurley) O'Hearn, he was a lifelong resident of this city. Prior to retiring in 1983, he was a fire fighter for the City of Fall River for 20 years.

He was a 1943 graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School and a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. He'was a member of Sacred Heart Parish, the Fall River Fire Department Retiree Association and the Over the Hill Gang., Besides his wife and priest son, he leaves another son, Brian J. O'Hearn of Fall River; a daughter, Patricia O'Hearn-Cabral of this city; three brothers, Raymond O'Hearn of Swansea, James P. O'Hearn of Fall River, and John O'Hearn of Titusville, Fla.; four grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. He was the also the twin brother of the late Mary O'HearnDale.

His funeral was held Wednesday from the "Cherry Place" Home of Waring-SuHivan-AshtonCoughlin-Driscoll, 178 Winter St. His funeral Mass was celebrated in Sacred Heart Church and burial was in St. Patrick's Cemetery here.

Daily Readings Nov. 30 Rom 10:9-18; Ps 19: 2-5; Mt 4: 18-22 Dec. 1 1511:1-10; Ps 72:2, 7-8,12-13,17; Lk 10:21-24 Dec. 2 Is 25:6-1 Oa; Ps 23: 1-6; Mt 15:29-37 Dec.3 Is 26:1-6, Ps 118:1, 8-9,19-21,25-27a; Mt 7:21',24-27 Dec.4 Is 29:17-24, Ps 27: 1,4,13-14; Mt 9:27-31 Dec.5 Is 30:19-21,23-26; Ps 147:1-6; Mt 9:35-10:1,6-8 Dec.6 Is 11 :1-10; Ps 72:2, 7-8,12-13,17; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12 11II1111111111111111111111111 THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River. Mass. Published weekly except for the first two weeks in July am the week after Christmas at 887 Highlam Avenue. Fall River. Mass. 02720 by the Catholic Press ofthe Diocese ofFall River. Subscription price by mail. postpaid $14,00 per year.• Postmasters send address changes to The Aochor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA (12722.

Regional coordinators include: Venus de Milo ballroom in Attleboro Deanery - Fathe r Bruce Swansea.

Last year, ballgoers gathered un- Neylon at S1. Mary's Parish in der the theme of the Holy Spirit Seekonk; Taunton Deanery - Father ma,rking the year's identification by Manuel Ferreira of St. Anthony's the Holy Father of 1998 as the Parish, Taunton; New Bedford Deanery - Father John Peny of S1.

"Year of the Spirit."

Although the final de-, tai Is of the decorati ve effects planned by Dominican Sister Gertrude Gaudette and Mrs. Aubrey Armstrong of Somerset are still confidential, it is known that the hauntingly beautiful master'COLOR MINDED Dominican Sister piece of Gertrude Gaudette, John B. Caron of North

~~~~r'a~~~ Dartmouth and Doris Poisson of Fall River, mem-

piets the em- bers of'the decorations committee f~)r the brace given, Bishop's Charity Ball, have the same idea in mind: t.o .the Prodi- to make this year's event the most colorful. gal Son by , his father, will be woven into the John Neumann Parish, East Freeoverall decor, reported Msgr. Tho- town; Cape Cod and the Islands mas Harrington, diocesan director Deanery - Father Thomas L. Rita of of the ball.

Our Lady of the Assumption Par.' Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM ish, Osterville.

Cap., will preside at the festivities.

In greater Fall River, prospective Individuals and businesses in- donors are invited to call thl: Diocterested in supporting the ball are esan Office of Catholic Charities invited to subscribe to the souve- and Development at (508) 676J:lir program book currently being 8943. Wo.tten inquiries are invited prepared. Several levels' of giving at Post Oftl,ce Box 1470,Fal! River ', ... " .

MA 02722. . .. . are available. '.

In Y our 'Prayer~.

Please pray for the following priests during the coming week NECROLOGY December 1 1958, Rev. Phillipe, Ross, Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford 1964, Rev. Edward J. Gorman, 'Pastor Emeritus, St. Patrick, Somerset

December 2 1917, Rev. Arthur Savoie, Pastor, St. Hyacinth, New Bedforcl 1958, Rev. Dennie W. Harrington, Assistant, St. Mary, Taunlon ,"'--..'\

\\

1926, Rev. John River.

w:

December 3

McCarthy, P.R., Pastor, Sacred Heart, :Fall \ \ .

\ .\ December 4 1945, Rev. Charles Ouellette, Assistant, St. Jacques, Taunton 1994, Rev. Edward C. ptiffy, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis

\ \

/~ ~

\

December 5, / .....

1986, Rev. Eugene J. Boh,tin,~MaiJchesfer Diocese 1990, Rev. Coleman Conley, SS.CC., Chap'lain, Sacred Heart Home, New Be5!!0rd"~'=-'//\, \ ~./~ /~

December 6

1~~~ev;-foseph L. Cabral; Pastor, Our Lady of Angels, Fall River \ ~ 1966, Rt. Rev. Msgr. John H. Hackett, Chancellor of Fall River \ \ Diocse, June-De~ember, 1966 1971, Rev. Joseph K. Welsh, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville \ \ 1985, Rev. John T. Higgins, Pastor,Emeritus, St. Mary, Mansfield

PRIESTS CURRENt(;y SERVING November 30 December I December 2 Decem\:>er 3 December 4 December 5 December 6

Rev. Rev. Very Rev. Very Rev. Rev.

\ \

Msgr. Norman J.·Ferris James Ferry Rev. Edintird J. Fitzgerald, VF James M. Fitzpatrick Rev. Bento R. Fraga, VF Thomas A. Frechette Daniel L. Freitas

-

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

3

Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

Journey through Advent can often be confusing altars bare of flowers and decoracan be the roadmap for us.

From the first Sunday of Advent , tions clash with the red, green and FALL RIVER - A couple of until Dec. 16, the focus of this sea- glitter seen outside. But with its weeks ago I was heading for a con- son is upon Christ's glorious return many emotional overtones, Advent ference in Worcester on end-of-life in the end of time of a stored cre- ushers in a season of happy expecissues, and somehow missed the ation, the "Saint Andrew Bible Mis- tations. turnoff and became lost. I stopped 'sal" points out. From Dec., 17 to 24 At first, from the early 4th cenat a gas station along Route 9 and inclusive, the texts of the liturgy tury, the feast of the Nativity on' asked the young man pumping gas prepare us more directly for the cel- Dec. 25 began the Church year at ebration of Christmas.

Rome. When Advent evolved, it for directions.

"An essential component of took this position and since the "I can get you there," he said, confidently. "Now pay attention." Christian spirituality is a living 900s has been considered the beI chuckled to myself as he said that, sense of vigilance, a state of being ginning of the Church year. This but then, as he began giving direc- alert for the coming of Christ who does not mean that Advent is the tions, realized that he was helping is among us, yet who comes anew most important time of the year. The to get me out of the mess I had got- each day and who will come in a Easter cycle has always had this ten myself into and had better pay definitive end time," the St. Andrew honor. The distinction happened attention.

Missal says. "The Scriptures re- from the practice of placing the liIt reminded me of how confus- count humanity's longing, satisfied turgical texts for Advent at the being the journey through Advent can in the birth of Jesus" who went be- ginning of hand-copied books used sometime!\ be. yond all human hope in taking for Mass, Dues points out.

Advent blends together a peni- upon himself everything that is Once Christmas had become a tential spirit similar to Lent, a litur- truly human."

A spirit of expectation begins gical theme of preparation for the second and final coming of the to pick up momentum, says Greg Lord called the Parousia, and a joy- Dues in his "Catholic Customs and ful theme of getting ready for the Traditions." There is a different Bethlehem event. kind of music and song, and an avaThe word Advent, from the lanche of decorations. It is obvious Latin adventus, or "coming," origi- that something wonderful is about nally described the whole mystery to happen. of the Incarnation. The conception In the midst of this swelling exof Jesus was an Advent, but so was' citement throughout the contemhis birth and what will be his final porary society and culture, worcoming at the end-times. In a more shippers in churches are reminded popular sense, Advent was first as- to be watchful, to repent, to do pensociated with the time of the year ance. now called Christmastime and fi"The world around us will rush nally with the weeks of preparation the Christmas season and clothe itfor Christmas. self in tinsel while Christians find The "Order of Prayer," the offi- themselves wrapped in a deep spirit cial book that schedules the Lit- of hope restored," says the St. Anurgy of the Hours and the celebra- drew Missal. tion. of the Euchadst,' says that Ad"The world Will tum on twinvent has a two-fold character: as.a kling lights whi Ie C:hristians fling season to prepare for Christmas, the light of Christ into the teeth of when Christ's first coming to us is death. Christ has come among us. remembered; and as a season when Christ is among us. Christ will Brewster Thursday that remembrance directs our minds come again in a glory to be recogE. Falmouth Friday and hearts to await Christ's second nized only by those who keep W. Harwich Saturday coming at the end of time. So Ad- watch in the growing darkness and Carver Sunday vent is a period of devout and joy- cold." ful expectation.

The purple-blue of vestments Plymouth Thursday The Scriptures at Advent Masses worn by priests and deacons, and Fairhaven Friday Swansea Saturday Buzzards Bay Sunday

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popular feast throughout the world after the 4th century, Advent evolved as a distinct liturgical season and a time for fasting. before the feast. By the mid-6th century, says Dues, the Church in Rome had begun to focus on the December Ember Days that occurred on the Monday, Wednesday and Saturday after the feast of St. Lucy on Dec. 13. It seems that the Church set a penitential theme to offset the influence of the popular pagan harvest festival of Saturnalia from Dec. 17 to 23.

By the end of the 6th century, during the reign of Pope Gregory the Great, a brief preparatory season of four weeks had evolved to the joyful remembrance of Jesus's birth on Dec. 25.

The penitential theme during

Advent became less evident in rccent times. The tradition of fasting continued until the Code of Canon Law of 1917-1918 was instituted.

However, there came restrictions on musical instruments, decorations, the Glory to God, the Alleluia verse and weddings during Advent. With some modifications these traditions continue today during Advent, but without a predominant focus on a penitential spirit.

However, the spirit of expectation is reflected in churches and homes by the Advent wreath. Its four candles represent the tension between darkness and light. The candles recall the long time when people lived in spiritual darkness, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the light of the world.

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of FalI River - Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

themoorin~

the .living word

I

The pilgrim journey Of all the celebrations in the calendar year, Thanksgiving Day is most uniquely American. Everyone partakes in the spirit of the day and as a time to give thanks to God, it is perhaps the most meaningful ecumenical day in the nation. Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Islamics, Buddhists and every other member of the religious rainbow can sit down together, break bread and praise God for his goodness.

In a secular society that so often denies the existence of God, the Thanksgiving tradition is more than refreshing. It is a positive sign that all in this land can join in a celebration that is uniquely American and not be offensive to any religion. It is a common denominator that allows people to share and pray together. What was once the private celebration of the few has become the joy of the many. No longer just a festival day for American Protestants, it has evolved into a national celebration that includes all.

It is interesting to note how new immigrants to the United States adapt to the Thanksgiving celebration. These new faces are different from the old, but they just as eagerly participate in the national holiday. They might serve their own foods with turkey, but· the intent of their hearts is seen in their ad~ptability as they continue to revitalize both our land and the Thanksgiving feast.

The symbol of thi~ day is, of course, the Pilgrims who should no longer be viewed in their narrow historic context. . Rather, they should be se~n as symbolizing the perpetual journey of all mankind. Since humans' first appearance in the world, we have always walked in search of new goals, investigating horizons and tending always toward the infinite while moving through time, marking it with sacred dates. .

In our social order, which is characterized by the intense mobility of people, pilgrims in this sense are experiencing a new impetus. Immigrants, refugees and the victims of war are still on journeys toward new homes, new lands and new beginnings.

People are seeking new goals and moving in new directions.

Worldwide integration of global systems is balanced by a sens,itivity to pluralism and re~pect for differing historical and na-. tional identities.

We are experiencing a more 9pen interreligious dialogue, combined with diffused techniques in communications and sciences.

Nevertheless, the human person on this journey too often faces economic exploitation and abuse. Because of the times, no man is an island or an inactive spectator. The flow of mankind is changing the face of Earth, especially in these United States. No one should look on passively at the injustices and difficulties that today's pilgrims face on the journey to new and better lives.

It should be noted that the Church herself walks as a pilgrim with all men and women sincerely seeking truth, justice and peace.

It must also be noted that as the Church appreciates the poverty of the Buddhist pilgrim monk, the sacred itinerary of Hinduism, and the pillar of pilgrimage of the Muslim, she joins in the journey of brotherhood with all those who dedicate themselves to the service of the weak, the refugee, the eXIled and the oppressed.

In this sense, we are continuing the pilgrim journey of Abraham. Leaving his 'country, his family and his father's house, he journeyed with trust and hope. As reflected in the Letter to the Hebrews, "It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the call to set out for a country that was the inheritance given to him and his descendants. By faith he aITived as a foreigner in the proplised land and lived there as if in a strange land."

This is and will always be the journey of the pilgrim. In. our celebration of Thanksgiving and in the days that follow, we should look upon pilgrimage as it affects all new Americans and those whose ancestors journeyed to this land.. In this sense "pilgrim" takes on a ~eaning that leads us all to give thanks to Almighty God.

BISHOP PAUL ZIPFEL OF BISMARCK, N.D., PRAYS WITH FELLOW BISHOPS BEFORE A SESSION OF THEIR ANNUAL FALL MEETING. THE U.S. BISHOPS MET NOVEMBER 16-19 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lor~, whose hope is the Lord."

Jeremiah 17:7

Notes for to·d.ay·':s:.ca·techists

By FAlliER EUGENE HEMRICK CAlliOUC NEWS SERVICE Recently, for the first time in quite some time, I led a seminar for catechists who teach Catholic public-school children. But the problems the catechists surfaced were the same ones I'd heard years ago.

Some teachers spoke of parents "dumping" children on them. These parents don't check their child's homework, don~t show up for parent-teacher meetings, don't volunteer to help..

One teacher described a fourthgrader blatantly telling her he doesn't believe in God and that religion is a bore. Another teacher's parish encompassed 27 different cultural gtoups. Many of her students coming to the United States from certain cultural groups are very religious at first, but unfortunately lose this quality in their new culture. All

The Editor

theancho~

.*"

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Published weekly by' The Catholic Press of. the Diocese of Fall River 887 Highland Avenue' P.O. BOX 7 Fall River, MA 02720 Fall River, MA 02722-0007 TelephQne 508-675-7151 FAX (508) 675-7048 Send address changes' to P.O. BOll 7 or call telephone number above EDITOR Rev. Jo.hn F. Moore

GENERAL MANAGER Rosemary Dussault ~

.NEWS EDITOR James N. Dunbar

L!A'AY PRESS - FALL RIVER

W

'.§4j +MQi • • 0

the teachers I addressed felt that negative cultural influences were' their worst enemy.

My heart goes out to these teachers, who more than anything else want their students to make God a priority. It all has me wondering, though, what religious-educators can do to respond to current needs.

For on~ thing, I think that today's religious-education classes need to be supplemented in a significant way by creative, outside projects that place students in sacred spaces.

One of the best ways to respond to studentboredom and rebellion is to situate students in sacred settings. A weekly class solely confined to a classroom has a place, but is out of date if used as the sole location for teaching religion. .

One way to achieve this is by ree turning to the old practice ofencouraging as many students as possible to serve in ch urch.

Unfortunately, 'f Catholic publicschool children often are the last to be asked to be altar servt:rs, lectors or members of the parish choir.

The altar is a sacred ~~~-~---~. space un-

C:~~_..!!~_~~~

like any other for creating :reverence for God. I believe that the: more our young people enter this :;pace, the deeper will be their sense of religion. . Another means of introducing young people into sacred space is to encourage them to become members of the choir if they have the talent. Sacred music consists in sacred words and themes which a singer must appreciate to sing well.

Choirs also tend to share a real sense of parish spirit.

Consider also the value of retreats • as a way ~o create sacred spacl:. Retreats demand a lot of work, which is one reason they are underuti lired.

But studies have shown repeatedly that students who make a retreat are more likely to discuss religion with their parents and tend to feel c:loser to God. .As we move toward the new millennium, religious-education programs need to foster in a seriom: way the idea that Websites can creal:e sacred space. They can serve as an excellent quiet space for meditation.

Also, used judiciously -with discernment - Websites can be good sources of information on religion. Catechists need to re,alize how many homes now, or in the relatively near future, will have access to Websites that can lend support to the religious-education program's goals.

Teaching religion never has been easy. There always are outside influences that work against it. One ofthe best ways to counter these influences is by putting students i::t an environment that helps them realize they have dirl?ct access to God.

Message

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Nov, 27, 1998

5

Continuedfrom page one

rejected the Father with His power, His knowledge, His compassion, and His loving providence. The Father has been replaced by a mere shadow of God who is an 01'nament in people's lives, ' trotted out at a given moment to create the right at· mosphere or a little poetry.

We seek freedom from the constraints of the Father's Commandments, all the while enjoying the material things that the Father has given us. It is too easy to forget the Father, as long as we can enjoy His gifts.

In many ways, our lives are shaped by the concept of God that we hold. If we consider God as distant and indifferent, we will make' our lives without Him. Jesus, however, enters into our world to reveal to us an intimate God, a Good Shepherd, a.loving Father.

It is Christ who will lead us back to the Father and allow us to experience the love and mercy of our Creator. It is Christ who teaches us to call God, our Father, to address our God with trust and affection.

The evangelist, rather than offering a translation, quotes the exact Aramaic expression that Jesus uses in speaking of His Father: "Abba." It expresses fami!iarity, trust, and love. It is more like "Dad" than "Father." Formalit.y thus gives way to intimacy.

During this Year of the Father, I would ask you to study and reflect on the

prayer that our Savior has braced by the mercy of a taught us, the Our Father. Father who puts a ring on "The Catechism of the our finger and sandals on Catholic Church" contains our feet and then leads us a beautiful commentary on into the banquet of His love. this, the model of all prayer. Too often, we have lost not J would also ask our Catho- only a sense of sin, but also lic people to renew their the joy of having been fordevotion to the sacrament given. of penance. It is in this sacAdvent is the begin ning rament that we experience of the Year of God the Fathe forgiveness' of our sins ther. It is the season to reas prodigal sons and call that the Father so loved daughters and return home the world that He sent His to the joyful and loving only begotten Son into the embrace of our,Father. It is world at Christmas. With worrisome that so few Christmas, Christ becomes Catholics frequent the sac- our brother. It is a time of rament of confession; and, grace, a time to sing "Glory yet, so many draw near to to God," and to bring about receive holy Communion. peace and reconciliation in We need to experience the our lives, our families, our Father's pardon first so that communities. It is a time we might enter with joy into to return home, if we have t~ banquet of holy Com- drifted away .from the munion with God's grace in Father's house. For those oUf hearts. who have stayed close to It is my ardent hope that· home, it is time for us to this Year of the Father will receive those brothers and be a year of renewal in our sisters who wish to return to attitude toward the sacra· the practice of the faith and ment of confession. I ask make them feel welcomed that our priests and dea- into our parish families. cons preach on this sacraMay this holy season help ment and that our cat- all of us grow in our love for echists and teachers' God and for each other. present the Church's teaching on the relationshi p be- Devotedly yours in Christ, tween confession and Communion. Ukewise, our Catholic parents must 7~ I ~~ teach their children by ~ word and example the ) . importance of the sacrament of confession. Holy Bishop of Fall River Communion is for us sinners, but sinners who are repentant and forgiven. The feast is for us who are em-

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6

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese. of Fall River -

Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

A great anniversary; a sad report A great moment in hist9ry will be celebrated Dec. 10: the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This is one of the most remarkable documents ever written. It insists that unless everybody, in every country, recQgnizes the inherent dig- . nity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family, we'll never have freedom, justice and peace in this world. That's an aweBy some bottom line. .

Yet, this year there is a dark side to confront as we remember this event. Amnesty International, which monitors human rights in more than 170 countries, used

its annual report this fall to.J~cord human rights abuses in the United States. The report noted human rights violat.ions found in our crimi-

I shuddered when I rea<;l Amnesty International's report. It reminded me that we have the world's highest death-row population, and it isn't lacking for juveniles. The ISO-page document brought out forcefully that the United States may be the defender of human rights and the world's best example of democracy, but our house is not completely in order.

The report gave us much to concentrate on as we approach International Human Rights Day Dec. 10.

I've been pushing for people to celebrate this holiday since the '70s when I was a Human Rights Commissioner in Suffolk County on Long Island. I learned then how easy it is, even in our democratic society, to have basic rights taken away - even in our democratic society - for being the wrong color, the wrong sex or in the wrong economic bracket.

I can't imagine how dehumanizing it must be to live in a country whose domestic political system laughs at the very concept of human rig~ts.

'Americans should do more to get people to celebrate Dec. 10, 1948. It was historic, the first time that representatives of so many countries - most of the members of the newly formed United Nations - had recognized .the

The Bottom Line Antoinette Bosco

nal justice system, in jails and prisons, and in the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Is tuition part ofa tithe?

Dear Mary: I'm confused about tithing.

Our children go to Catholic elementary school. The cost, as you know, is quite high.

My father's opinion is their tuition counts as tithe.

Are there any guidelines? I know that 25 percent of the Sunday collection is allocated for the school at-my parish. - Kentucky

$900,000 for their own use.

Your family circumstances affect how much you give and to whom. Supp.orting many children in school, paying high medical expenses not covered by insurance, even assisting an' adult child or a friend during hard times might stretch you to the limit.

The amounts you give to those in need are

Tithing is one part of a much bigger picture, the call of Jesus to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are usually generous in taking care of ourselves. Jesus tells us to be equally generous toward our neighbor.

With Dr. James & Charity and the giving .of alms is an Mary Kenny' anc\ent religious practice with an enduring meaning.

-Giving from our material goods is an exercise in generosity. part of your generosity.

-Giving challenges our tendency toward Perhaps we need to think beyond money materialism: the desire to amass more and in our concept of generosity. What about :-Giving reminds us of generosity with our time? Many people tomore goods.

Jesus' directive to "lay up treasures in day are less willing to share their time than· heaven." Both the Old and New Testaments their money. If the average person allows exhort us over and over to give generously. eight hours for sleep, eight hours for work Within this big picture, which is to guide and four hours for personal care, there reus as Christians each day of our lives, tithing main four hours each weekday and more on is one practical suggestion or guideline for weekends of personal time. Each of us has at generosity. There is no single rule for deter- least 30 hours of personal time each week. mining when we are fulfilling Jesus' direc- Suppose, in following Jesus' directive of gentive to be generous. . erosity, we were to "tithe" our personal time.

Supporting your parish church and school Each of us would have at least three hours can be a very generous aat. Unfortunately, in per week to share with others. What would our country today, some people are support- we do? The corporal .works of mercy are a ing private Christian schools in' order to keep good place to start: Feed the hungry, clothe their children away from others of different the naked, shelter the· homeless, visit the sick race or ethnic background, hardly a gen~r­ and those in prison ---: basic expressions of ous motivation. concern for our neighbor.

The very wealthy may be able to tithe Determine how much to give your parish almost without difficulty. The family with a and your parish school according to your $1 million income might generously give means and your call to generosity. Jesus does $100,000 to charity while still having a hefty not ask for 10 percent ~ut for all we have.

Family Talk

need to elevate the relationships amDng ~he peoples of this earth to a-~igher level.

We had just come through a war that not only devastated life, but also devalued it in a monstrous way. The world was still ill shock over the Nazi Holocaust and the concentration camps, the worst example in world history of the potential for human inhu.manity toward other human beings. Collectively, the world had proclaimed it intolerable for one group of people in a so-called civili:~ed na· tion to deny humanity, deny human ri,ghts, to another group.

It was in this context that the nations wrote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, stating in 30 articles that all human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights.

Because the challenge. to move ur,iversal human rights from a statement to a reality worldwide keeps getting blurred, we must stay on guard or we'll lose the vision.

That's why Dec. 10 is so important. It is a · reminder each year that, on one great day, · world nations rose together to proclaim that everyone has the right to life and to thl~ nourishment, in a very broad s~nse, neces ,ary to sustain it; the right to freedom in conjunction with responsibility; the right to be treated fairly and justly by others and by the law; the right not to be exploited and diminished for the gain of others.

Communion for tube-fed 'patients Q. Eleven years ago, my mother, who the line somewhere. Communion for people had attended daily Mass for at least 40 in their circumstances in the form of wine is years, was paralyzed by a stroke. She could routine and should have been available.

Throug~ all my. years as a priest, [ have not walk or speak, was fed by a tube, but never known a person who could not receive was alert.

After more· than a year, our pastor came a few drops of the consecrated wine I)n the and told us he could not give her Commun- tongue, even though he or she was unable to ion under the species of bread. He could, however, give her Commun- _ - - - - - - - - - - - -....~::::::i ion under the species of wine,- but that would require saying Mass in our home. He did so, and mother died a month later.

Subsequently, my brother contracted Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was in a Catholic facility where

By Father Mass was offered daily. He too was John J. Dietzen denied Communion because he was _ tube fed. Yet medications W:ere given L.. by tube which were much coarser than the take the bread.

The wine could be from a Mass at home, host.

According to the rules of the Church, in a hospital or other institution, or it could food and water must be available to the ill be brought from the church in a small vial or until the end. But the spiritual food of the . bottie. Many priests and extraordinary eucharistic ministers have given Communion Eucharist is denied them.

Cannot some eucharistic ministers fill to the si<;k that way, sometimes for se:veral this gap without the priest needing to offer years, giving great spiritual consolation and Mass at the home or other facility? (New strength to the sick person and the family.

York) From your words, you apparently walize

Questions and Answers

very well that under the forms of either 'bread A. Even though you report a similar re- and wine our Lord's eucharistic presen.ce is sponse for both your mother and brother, I total and complete. It is worth reminding strongly suspect a misunderstanding along · ourselves of that doctrine here. Some Catholics speak and act as if Christ is present in the form of wine in only a vague secondary, less whole way, than in the bread......T hat i:. not true.

According to our Catholic faith, at least, . might occur when dinner is ready.

"Mulled cider": the answer men give when and the faith of others who believe as we do asked what they are drinking during foot- about the Eucharist, the Ii ving .Christ is no ball games. For example, "Yeah, Bud, snap more real; no· more present in the bread than me open another mulled cider if you come in the wine. Thus, ~s you say, we should exnear the ice chest." ert every effort to make the Eucharist avail"Gingerbread house": where you live from able to the sick in whichever form they are about Thanksgiving until the Epiphany if able to receive.

Finally, it seems you are suggesting as ......---:::~--~ one possibility that Communion could, like other food, be administered through some form of artificial feeding. That is not a proper option.

Receiving the Eucharist is not a phy:;ical event as is nourishment with other food. It is a spiritual reality, eating and .drinking the · eucharistic body and blood of Christ a:; an

By Dan Morris act of faith and communion with him. As I ..... explained above, that kind of receiving should be possible as long as the patient is your wife is a 'decorating zealot. able to act consciously.

By the way, lest some readers complain that "Leftovers": the deep sense of happiness that lingers after presents hav~een opened, one should not speak of bread and wine after meals have been shared and carols have been these elements have become the body and sung. Frequently occurs during a rite com- blood of Christ, I refer you to the Euchar.istic . monly known as "the Mass," not to be con- Prayers, where this happens several times. The meaning is quite clear in the context. fused with "Midnight Mass" above.

Uncle Dan's Family:Christmas Lexicon I know, I know. This holiday season will be different. You will keep up with the daily Scripture' readings during Advent.

As a matter of fact, you will remember it is Advent even before the middle of December.

You will mail your cards early. You will not gain 12 pounds. You will employ simplicity and thoughtfulness as the principles of gift-giving.

Thus, you will not necessarily need Uncle Dan's Family Christmas Lexicon: "Credit card": a funny person who says, "Don't worry. No payments and no interest until 1999."

"Christmas card": an even funnier person who says, "Let's do a Christmas newsletter this year and tell the truth about the past 12 months, even the IRS part."

"Midnight Mass": a large group of shoppers, 90 percent of whom are male, who roam . department stores at midnight on Dec. 23 and 24.

"Yule tide": a human tsunami wave that washes over parking lots and shopping malls during .December.

"Dasher and Blitzen": shoppers kno~n for their abilities to zip in and out of stores in

frantic quest for the last battery-powered Authentic Junior FBI Transformer Bionic Interplanetary Space Ranger Water Canon in town.

"Wise men": males who have learned that romantic gifts for their wives make their own Christmases much happier than appliances or a case of contact lens solution.

"Lump of coal": how one feels on I"' about Dec. 27 if one has been keeping up with the American dream of overeating, overspending and overwatching television.

"Ghost of Christmas past": the experience of tearing the house apart to find where you stored the cards and wrapping paper you bought for 50 percent off last January.

"Mistietoe": a foot injury caused L.. by forgetting to lift one's foot at the end of the escalator ride.

"Twelve Days of Christmas": a metaphorical term used to describe the four days and three nights your in-laws spend with you during the holidays. .

"Mrs. Claus": a legal term that allows wives veto rights over any football game that

The offbeat world of· Uncle Dan

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u.s. Bishops' meeting held in D.C.

By NANCY FRAZIER O'BRIEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - When the U.S. bishops met: in Washington Nov. 16-19 for the fall national meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and U.S. Catholic Conference, they: - heavily amended and then approved by a 217-30 vote a document challenging American Catholics to bettcr incorporate the Church's pro-life tea<;hing into public life; - sent an emergency $400,000 to hurricane-stricken areas of Central America, the Dominican Republic and Haiti and agreed to dedicate part of the annual collection for the church in Latin America to hurricane relief; - began a series of votes on restructuring· the NCCB-USCC that could havc a significant impact on the way they operatc as a conference as they enter the 21st century; - concurred in a statement from outgoing president Bishop 'Anthony M. Pilla of Clcvcland on the moral principles involved in the crisis in Iraq;

'*

begall what Coadjutor Bishop George V. Murry of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, called an "opening discussion" on racism; - ratified by voice vote revised guidelines for diocesan vocations offices that call for the appointment of a full-timc director; - approved a 12-point statement of principles on how the church should welcome and treat persons with disabilities; - overwhelmingly approved five proposed decrees setting national norms in such areas of canon law as clerical garb, priests' councils, baptism of an adopted child, engagements, and couples preparing for marriage; - OK'd on a unanimous voice vote a pastoral reflection on the obligations of Christian lay people in the 'world at the tum of the millennium; - took a first look, but no vote, on a set of nationwide standards for admitting seminary candidates who have left scmi~ariesin the past; - elcctcd Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston and Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., to threc-year terms

1998 Fall Meeting

Decisions at aGlance

as NCCB-USCC president and vice president, respectively; - began discussion on a new statement and U.S. norms for Catholic universities, which will bc voted on at a later meeting; - gave narrow approval to a rule under which each province of bishops can decide to transfer observance of Ascension from Thursday to the sevcnth Sunday of Easter; - authorizcd a budget of $46.8 million for 1999 and a diocesan assessment for 2000 of slightly over $11 mi Ilion; - heard a report from Archbishop Justin F. Rigali on the papal visit to St. Louis in January; - approved two Spanish-language liturgical tcxts for funeral rites; - discussed but did not votc on 'Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us," a proposed pastoral plan on adult faith formation being developed by the Committee on Education; - agreed to ask Rome for a three-year extcnsion of the current norm on the age of confirmation in the United States; - heard a renewed call from Bishop Pilla for unity among various Church factions; - said goodbye to Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan, papal representativc in the United States for eight years, who is leaving for a Vatican post.

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

7

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PRO-LIFE Approved 217·30 (I doc:ument mollenging Catholits to better intorporute pro· life teaching into public life.

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VOCATIONS Ratified rBVisedglJiQII1;neS lor diocesun yomtions offkes rolling for full-time diredofS.

DISABILITIES Approved astatelllent on how the (hurm should welcome and treat persons with disabilities.

CANON LAW NORMS Approved five dkre8S setting nlltional norms in oreGs ofalOon law deoliBa witll derieal garh, priests' councils/ bllp~sm of an lid~pttld mild/ engagements and couples prepl3rirrg lor marriage.

j

MILLENNIUM OK'd a postoral refledion on 100 obligations of Christian lay people in the world at the turn of the millennium.

NEW LEADERS Elected Bisftop Joseph A. FiorenlO and Bishop Wilton D. GregOI)' of Belleville, ilL, to three-year terms as M((B·USee president and vice president, respedively.

ASCENSION Approved a rule under whim each province of bistlop~ ron dll<ide to transfer observonm 01 Ascension from Thursday to the seventh SundllY of Easter.

BUDGET Authofi19d a 1999 budget of $46.8 million and a d~on assessment for 2000 of about $11 million.

SPANISH l'EXTS Approved two Sponish-longuage liturgical texIs for flllleral tilet

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8

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

Pilgrimage inspiring and gentle man," said Father Hession.

There路 were many, highlights during the trip and many special moments for each pilgrim, whether it was singing hymns of St. Francis at the retreat house, a handshake with the pope or a quiet moment of prayer. For Father Hession, it was celebrating a Mass quietly one m~mirig at the altar of St. Lawrence the Martyr in the basilica. "It was a very nice trip," reiterated Father Hession.

On the final day in Assisi diocesan priests and Bishop O'Malley celebrated a moving Mass at the tomb of St. Francis themed "Francis: Identity with the Cross of Christ." "It was. a very simple, but very beautiful altar," he said.

A bus trip then brought the' pilgrims to Rome where they attended a papal audience, celebrated Mass at the basilica and were guided around the city by diocesan seminarians studying in Rome.

"Most of the priests got to see the Vatican library and the Sistine Chapel as well as tour the exca- . vation of St. Peter's tomb in the basilica, a project which has been going on for close to 50 years," said Father Hession. The priests enjoyed tours of the Roman Coliseum and the many outdoor italian cafes.

Father Hession added that he and several other priests were able to take a walking tour of the Cuppula of the Dome which shelters the basilica. An amazing site, he reported.

"Beneath this tremendous dome which symbolizes the Church stretching out to the ends路 of the earth, is St. Peter, the rock of the Church. The living stone," said Father Hession.

When asked why it was im-

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Continued from page one

portant for priests to make such a spiritual journey, Father Hession said it was a wonderful chance to be inspired and rejuvenated. "Deacon Roger Landry gave a tour of'some statues that stood 40 to 50 feet high, another referencelo the idea of being living stones like St. Peter."

Near the end of their pilgrimage the priests celebrated Mass at the crypt of St. Peter in the basilica and attended a papal audience under the outside canopy.

"It was a special honor for all of us," said Father Hession. "Pope John Paul II is our direct connection to Christ and it was very touching to be there." The pilgrims from Fall River were among many delegations of priests visiting, but were able to sit in the sixth row for the audience.

"The pope came in his car, but went to the outer rim of people to greet all who were on hand," commented Father Hession.

The seeds for the trip were sown about two years ago when planning first got underway and the Knights of Columbus helped to fund the spiritual journey by giving Bishop O'Malley a $20,000 grant. The bishop offered a special prayer of thanks for thei~ generosity during the first night in Assisi.

While he was at St. Peter's Basilica, Father Hession took a moment to seek out Michelangelo's "Pieta" to fulfill his promise. "I remember walking through the basilica toward the front door and I saw it suddenly off away from the entrance," said Father Hession. At that famous statue Father Hession said a special prayer for a family and their son and completed his own spiritual journey through Rome.

AT lAST - One of the highlights of the pilgrimage was an audience with Pope John Paull! at the Vatican. Here, Father Pawel A. Swiercz, parochial vicar at St. Ann's Parish in Raynham, greets the pontiff. (Photo by L:Osservatore Romano)

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ON 'PILGRIMAGE - Fathers John M. Murray, John J. Perry, Daniel W. Lacroix and Marc H. Bergeron take a walking tour through the streets of Assisi, Italy. While on pilgrimage, diocesan priests visited the Vatican, attended a papal audience, celebrated Masses and made a spiritual retreat.

WHEN IN ROME - Father Paul E. Canuel of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Parish, New Bedford, enjoys a sunny afternoon at the Coliseum in Rome. He was one of many diocesan priests who participated in a 10 day pilgrimage to Assisi and the Vatican.

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY - Bishop Sean P. O'Malley OFM Cap., stands with retired bishop Joseph F. Maguire, diocesan priests and seminarians at the grotto chapel at Papa Santo Giovanni retreat house in Assisi. Bishop Maguire,.former bishop of Springfield, served clS retreat master for the group while on pilgrimage..

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Nov, 27, 1998

9

MASS AND DEVOTIONS to

ST. PEREGRINE FOR CANCER VICTIMS AND THEIR LOVED ONES

Every Thursday. 9:30 A.M. RETIRED BISHOP Joseph F. Maguire, center, poses with priests from the Fall River Diocese as they enjoy a pilgrimage in Italy. Bishop Maguire, former bishop of Springfield, was the retreat master for their spiritual journey. More than 30 priests made the trip to Assisi and Rome.

ST. LOUIS CHURCH 420 Bradford Avenue路 Fall River

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Marion pastor says priests need more tinte to 'cluster'

By FATHER WILUAM G. CAMPBELL MARION - Two days after returning from a retreat with 31 other priests in Rome and Assisi, Father William G. Campbell, pastor at St. Rita Parish, says he felt "compelled" to share his reflections with the readers of the Anchor who might ask: "What did all you priests do?"

"My desire to share these feelings flows from a deep desire to see a greater unity in the priesthood, which, for me, in the past, was minimal.

Perhaps this was partly my fault because I chose not to be more involved in priestly gatherings, unless mandated by the diocese. And it was partly because I experienced in the past so many negative criticisms of brother priests, the priesthood and even the Church that we priests serve and that I love, It has always been difficult for me to be a part of any group which openly criticizes the Church, the priesthood, no less the presbyterate, Negative路criticism we can do without. It only tears down the unity of the Church that I love and strive daily to be more faithful to.

"However, the priestly retreat this past week confirmed for me how important it is for priests to spend time together. It was the first time I did not hear any negatives, As a matter of fact, it was just the opposite. There was not only seriousness about who we are as priests, but with lively camaraderie, a lot of fun just being together. I know I speak not only for myself, but for the 'older priests' who did not know the younger priests.

Not only did we get to know them, but to realize they love the Church too, and are just as dedicated and loyal to the Holy Mother, the Church, and to their vocations as priests. This, coupled with the daily sung morning and evening prayers, the concelebrated Masses, the meals, and the informal gatherings of 'the brothers' brought a deep joy to my soul.

"Thanks are indeed in order to our ordinary, Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., for organizing this special retreat, and of course, to the Knights of Columbus for partially funding it. And to Bishop Joseph Maguire, the retired bishop of Springfield, who was our retreat master. His insight into the priesthood and sharing of his own priesthood with us opened a whole new area of understanding of my personal struggles over the past 35 years in looking at my weaknesses as a human being. His sense of humor and depth of understanding of the struggles we priests face each day gave me a new appreciation of my priesthood. St. Paul said it so well: 'In my weakness it is then that I am made strong.'

"Lastly, and by no means least, we need to thank Father Mark R. Hession for his astuteness in keeping everything moving and seeing to it that the 31 priests were always present. His sensitive handling of every situation and event, I lUll sure, is truly appreciated by all my brother priests.

"As we were flying from Milan to Boston, I could not help think that we need to 'cluster' together often, say monthly, to continue the sharing, . to pray a little for each other, and for the priesthood in general. We-need to pray for vocations, Perhaps we might some day have Marian Cenacles of prayer imploring Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, to intercede for our diocese. We will certa\nly be blessed by her powerful intercession.

"I have been to mcny retreats in the last 35 years ... from St. Benoit-duLac in Canada, the TrapDists in Spencer, to Medjugorje ... and a dozen places in between. Nothing has equaled this experience of the 10 days in Rome and Assisi with my brother priests. I have been energized by the Holy Spirit and would love to see this repeated.

"May we see more 'happenings' like this take place, and may Mary, Queen of the Clergy, bless us in our ministry every day of our lives."

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Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

'Waking Ned Devine' is quintessential Irish blarney ByGERRf PARE

them all iii to collect a more profitable 10 percent of the take as a NEW YORK - A sleepy seaside whistleblower.

Writer-director Kirk Jones hails village becomes the site of cunning communal chicanery in the wry from England, and the movie was black comedy, "Waking Ned shot not in Ireland but on the Isle 'of Man, but most viewers will enDevine" (Fox Searchlight).

His own hopes dashed by not joy this modest charmer as quint' winning the Irish National Lottery, essential Irish blarney.

The characters, rapscallions aging Jackie 0' Shea (Ian Bannen) feels he's been given a second though they are, are a lovable colchance when he reads that the win- lection of dreamer-schemers who ning ticket was sold to a resident of believe that what they are doing is his tiny village of Tully More, what their dear dead Ned would have wanted anyway. population 52.

Conveniently, a surprise solution Enlisting wife Annie (Fionnula Flanagan) and lifelong pal Michael assuages the moral complexities of O'Sullivan (David Kelly), they try the matter after the fact, so to speak.

As the primary perpetrators, to ferret out who won thejackpot in hopes of convincing the winner that Bannen and Kelly are game performers, portraying lively senior a little sharing is surely in order.

The trio goes as far as hosting a citizens still frisky enough to grand chicken dinner for the 187 skinny dip in the frigid Irish Sea. regular Lotto players, slyly cross- This turns into hilarious scene examining each diner to no avail when the Lotto man shows up and - until Annie notices one dinner scrawny Michael must dash to Ned's cottage on a motorbike, atleft over.

Off to elderly Ned Devine's cot- tired only in his birthday suit. It's a tage rushes Jackie in the pouring rare film that has the over-70 set in rain, only to discover that Ned is such compromising situations, but, dead, winning ticket in hand, it is not exploited. "We are two old boys who grew old but never grew shocked smile on his face.

An impersonation is called for, up," said actor Kelly of Michael and Jackie's wily characters.

Jackie decides.

Another scene in which Jackie However, the Dublin Lotto official (Brendan F. Dempsey) arrives delivers a trumped-up eulogy for unexpectedly to collect the ticket Michael at Ned's funeral turns out and a very nervous Michael is to be a touching tribute to the kind pressed into service as the divinely of treasured friendship that is rarely articulated between male friends. lucky winner.

Pleasingly plumping up the plot So far so good, until the official promises to return in a few days to is the pursuit of single mom Maggie have other villagers verify that (Susan Lynch) by prosperous Pat (Fintan McKeown) and poor Pig "Ned" is who he says he is.

Uh-oh, goodbye nearly 7 mil- Finn (James Nesbitt) whose earthy lion pounds and hello prison for odor drives Maggie to others' arms.

Various village eccentrics add Michaei and Jackie.

That is, unless the whole village color to the proceedings in a movie agrees to the perpetuate the scam that never loses sight of its characand share evenly in the windfall. ters' shortcomings - or of their Only witchy Lizzie Quinn (Eileen glorious surroundings - thatched Dromey) looks more likely to turn huts and rugged farms boasting CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ing to help each other out - by golden sunsets and inky nights.

There are only a few genuine . blissfully disregarding the letter of belly laughs, but the movie remains the law.

Because of mild alcohol abuse, consistently amusing and radiates the sense of a tiny community try- fleeting rear nudity and minor pro-

fanity, the U.S. CathoLic Conference classification is A-III -adults.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. '

a

'WAKING NED DEVINE' - James Ryland, Paddy Ward, David Kelly and Ian Bannen (left to right) star in the comedy 'Waking Ned Devine.' The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III - adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG - parental guidance suggested. (CNS photo from Fox Searchlight)

'Bishops give two thuDlbs up" way up, for 'Prince of Egypt~l

By MARK PATTISON CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

NEW YORK (CNS) - The fol- rupt government surveillance agent lowing are capsule reviews of mov- - (Jon Voight) unless a mysterious ies recently reviewed by the U.S. former agent (Gene Hackman) can Catholic Conference Office for Film outsmart the operative at its own game. Tony Scott directs a relentand Broadlessly high-tech chase film that, by casting. stressing elaborate surveillance gizmos and tracking satellites, fails "Central to become emotionally involving.

Station" Sporadic violence, sexual refer(Sony ences, some profanity and intermit~ Classics) tent rough language. The U.S. S tar k Brazilian drama in which a cynical Catholic Conference classification spinster (Fernanda Montenegro) re- is A-III - adults. The Motion Picluctantly'agrees to escort a 9-year- ture Association of America rating old boy (Vincius De Oliveira) is R - restricted. whose mother was killed at the Rio "I'll Be Home for Christmas" bus station to the disrep1.!table fa(Disney) ther he's never met in the remote Witless road movie in which a reaches of the country. Director Walter Salles' poignant road movie manipulative college student becomes a humanist voyage of dis- (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) must get covery as the woman's tender emo- cross-country by Christmas Eve to tions are rekindled by sacrificing claim a luxury car while worrying for the child. Subtitles. Fleeting a romantic rival will steal his girlviolence, petty thievery, minor pro- friend. As blandly directed by fanity and crude expressions, as Arlene Sanford, the comic situawell as a few instances of rough lan- tions are highly contrived and the guage. The U.S. Catholic Confer- student's transformation from smug ence classification is A-III - adults. to sweet is unconvincing. An indulThe Motion Picture Association of gent attitude toward lying, cheating and stealing as well as fleeting America rating is R - restricted. sexual innuendo. The U.S. Catho''Enemy ofthe State" (Touchstone) lic Conference classification is AGlossy political thriller in which III - adults. The Motion Picture, a Georgetown lawyer (Will Smith) Association ofAmerica rating is PG is being framed for murder by a cor- - parental' guidance suggested.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. bishops weren't trained to be movie critics, but they know what they like. And do they ever like "Prince of Egypt," the animated movie about the life of Moses coming to theaters in December.

About 60 bishops attended a , screening in Washington after the close of the day's business at t~eir fall general meeting. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles arranged the sneak preview. Auxiliary Bishop Emil A. Wcela of Rockville Centre, N.Y., served as an adviser to the film.

Waiting for the bishops at the theater was Jeffrey Katzenberg of Dreamworks SKG, the studio releasing the movie nationwide Dec., 18.

Katzenberg and three of the animated film's producers were on hand to lead the bishops in a halfhour discussion session following the film.

Katzenberg was the mastermind behind many of Disney's animated blockbusters in the early 1990;' before he split from Disney to form a multimedia firm with director Steven Spielberg and record company mogul David Geffen. ,Bishop Charles V. Grahmann of Dallas said he found "Prince of Egypt" to be "very refreshing."

"It was done in an understandable style. I saw it as a great teach-

ing tool for anyone - children to adults," he told Catholic News Service. "In a sense, the music was appealing, lively, and understandable." , During the discussion, Bishop Grahmann said one bishop asked the producers,"How did you choose the voice of God?" Most aural representations of Go'd, Bishop Grahmann noted, have the big, booming, echoing voice that rolls down like thunder.

The producers answered with a question: "How would God speak to you (personally)?" They reasoned that a deep, low and quiet voice would best convey that.

Another question was why the movie did not depict Moses building an altar and giving thanks to God for drowning Pharaoh's charioteers in the Red Sea. The movie shows Moses looking across the sea to find his stepbrother, Ramses, sitting on a rock crying. It was then, Bishop Grahmann said, that Moses "mourned for all the people who ,had been killed."

Auxiliary Bishop George O. Wirz of Pittsburgh said "Prince of Egypt" "struck a universal theme of mankind."

He added the movie was "an outstanding breakthrough both in theme and in technology of filming, animating the intistry of the score."

Bishop Wirz said those scenes in the film where there were no words "were as powerful, or more

powerful, than any score could be."

Bishop Andrew J. McDonald of Little Rock, Ark., though.t "Prince of Egypt" was "sensational," so much so that "I can't w,lit to get home so I can promote it."

He said he liked the music, the relationship between MDses and Ramses, and "particularly the opening of the Red Sea." He said he asked Katzenberg if it was going to play in Little Rock.

Bishop McDonald said Katzenberg, a friend and ally of Arkansas-born President Clinton, replied, "Am I being set up?"

No, Bishop McDonald told him.

"I want to be your John the Baptist," he said, "but if this thing isn't going to be in Little Rock in December, they're doing to declare me a false prophet."

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph' F. Naumann of St. Louis gave his stamp of approval to the r:lovie. "I think it will be an exceptio:lal film" and something that both Jews and Christians will greatly admire, he added. "It is essentially fa.ithful to the telling of the (biblical) story."

CNS asked the bishops how many stars they would give: "Prince of Egypt."

Bishop Grahmann: "Four stars."

Bishop Wirz: "Four stal路s."

Bishop Naumann: "Five stars, but I'm an easy critic."

Bishop McDonald: "Hc'w many stars can you give it? Can you put down a hundred stars?"

Scholarship narians for a'long time."

It was during his own seminary years that Father Pregana came to know the Gleason sisters. "I had been invited down as a seminarian to speak at the parish and met them then."

Mary Gleason, the pJincipal in the scholarship, said that: her longheld stock in an electrical firm will finance the effort: "My stock is what I am donating."

She was a longtime employer of the Graybar Company that was an outgrowth of the Western Electric Company. The latter firm used to manufacture and distribute electricity, but later opted only to manufacture and sel1 its distribution service "and employees bought the stock," Mary Gleason said. "When we employees bought the stock it was national and now it is international. The stock is not on the big board, but it is marketed and owned 100 percent by the employees. And those of us who now are retired still share in the profits."

Mr. Gray and Mr. Barton of

Continued from page one

Euclid Ohio, the Graybar owners, had many patents and inventions "but Marconi beat them to the patent office so they never became well known," Mary Gleason said laughing. "But I heard pan Rather talk about them the other night."

The Gleason sisters are natives of Milton. ''We had lived and worked there most of our lives," Mary Gleason noted. "Our parents were Irish, born in Boston and were dear friends of the late Cardinal William O'Connel1 and later of Cardinal Richard Cushing ... and my mother was an organist at the cathedral."

The family purchased a summer cottage at East Sandwich Beach in the early 1930s and "thereafter we spent al1 our summers on the Cape in the same parish, Corpus Christi, until we retired from our businesses."

Beatrice Gleason had been in estate planning for most of her life prior to her retirement. she said.

Mary Gleason said she was prompted to found the scholarship

because she has a sister who is an Ursuline nun, Sister Martha Gleason in New Rochelle, N.Y. "And I grew up with brothers who were altar servers and we were close to the Jesuits in the Campion Club.

We have always known how important, how vital is the work of a priest. And it is not an easy life. Our good home background made us appreciate vocations, to appreciate our priests."

Cabral, who is in his third year at the seminary, is just beginning the four years of theology studies leading to the priesthood. "I am very honored and appreciative to Miss Gleason and her family for the scholarship and wil1 keep her and her family in our prayers," Cabral said.

Cabral fits in with a growing trend of men entering the seminary at a later age to study for the priesthood. A native of New Bedford, he is the son of Antonio and Maria Cabral of Dartmouth and is a mem~ ber of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth. Educated in New Bedford and Dartmouth public. schools, he graduated summa

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

cum laude from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, with a bachelor's degree in accounting.

He received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. John Seminary.

Bishop O'Malley, who presented the sisters with rosary bea~s blessed by the Holy Father, -said, "This is one example of how our Catholic people need to feel a part

11

Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

of the task of promoting vocations with our prayers, our fwancial help, with our emotional support, and with encouragement to our seminarians and other young people to consider answering the call to serve God's people. We are truly grateful to the Gleasons for this gift and to ~I of the people of the diocese who have responded to help us educate future priests."

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EGAN'S CHURCH SUPPLY Tel. 1·800·235·0003· FAX 1·508·673·4268 VOCATION SCHOLARSHIP - Diocesan seminarian Jeffrey Cabral, left, receives a scholarship paying for his three years of theology studies from Bishop Sean P. O'Malley. The grant is the gift of Mary Gleason of Sagamore, second from right, a member of Corpus Christi Parish, Sandwich, and will be known as the Gleason Family Scholarship. Father Craig A. Pregana, right, director of vocations, looks on. .

THE IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT

'60 Minntes'profiles two women religions ~ho battle corporations

By CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON-A pair of nuns who use stockholder meetings to insist corporations act responsibly were profiled on the recent instal1ment of the CBS newsmagazine "60 Minutes."

The top-rated program also interviewed critics of the way the nuns inject their business into corporate business, including a CEO and a priest.

Sister Pat Marshall, a Sister of the Blessed Sacrament, and Dominican Sister Pat Daly take advantage of federal regulations that allow anyone with $2,000 worth of stock in a company to introduce resolutions at stockholder meetingsaffecting company policy and to make their case.

"Business people often get worried when we come around ... and what it means for them is that they may have to change what they're doing. And it may shake up their world a little bit," Sister Marshall told CBS reporter Lesley Stahl.

The nuns' efforts sometimes win what Sister Marshall called "smal1 steps." Those include getting a private meeting with CBS Corp. executives over stereotypical portrayals of minorities and women in commercials, or a concession from Anheuser-Busch Co., to modify its marketing in conjunction with the Cleveland Indians baseball team, which has an Indian caricature as an emblem that some find offensive.

Most, times, though, the nuns' proposals lose big because they are opposed by the firm's board of directors. Sister Marshall said she has been pushed, insulted and "called a communist and all kinds of things."

Among their foes is Bell Microproducts CEO pon Bell, who chafes at paying attention to the nuns' concerns. "It's management time and management money," he told CBS. "So you either spend money fighting them or accommodating them. An~ either one is wrong."

Another of their critics is Dominican Father Robert Sirico, who heads the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich. "I think many of them suspect that profit itself is intrinsical1y evil," he said of the nuns.

"I have a belief in the essential rightness of the American free market economy. I think it's raised more poor people from poverty than al1 of the redistribution schemes concocted by well-intentioned nuns and liberals comDin~d," Father Sirico added. "It seems clear to me that they're carrying out a liberal political agenda." . Sister Marshal1 disclaims the "liberal" tag. "I'm certainly not a liberal when it comes to abortion," she said, and on "concerns about the environment, I don't think that's a matter of liberal or conservative."

Sister Daly, who admits that "at times, I can be fiery," said their work plays into their vocation.

"We certainly take vows of poverty," she said. "It's not a vow of silence when we meet injustice in the system. That's clear."

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At helnt of doctrinal congregation, Cardinal Ratzinger ntakes wa'les

Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

Swtss Guardfaces changes ajterprobe

By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE BERN, Switzerland - The Swiss Guard commander announced changes to the corps to be made in light of an investigation into the May slaying of his predecessor.

At a recent news conference in Bern, Col. Pius Segmuller, 46,' said the killing and its investigation revealed a number of problems in the formation and training of the small army that guards the pope and the Vatican.'

Segmuller replaced Col. Alois Estermann, who was killed along with his wife in their Vatican home on the night of May 4. Vatican officials found that a disgruntled guard member, Cedric Tornay, in a "fit of madness" shot the pair with his service revolver, then turned the gun on himself.

Segmuller was sworn in on Aug. 1, the Swiss national holiday. Exactly 100 days later, he and Swiss defense ministry officials announced the reforms, which will be instituted in mid-1999.

Segmuller said that beginning now, military officials would conduct the guard's special training in Switzerland, rather than at the Vatican. He also said admission and promotion criteria would be modified.

Swiss Guard promotion proce-

dures are to be brought in line with that of the Swiss army, where seniority is not weighed as heavily as overall performance in deciding who will become officers..

All the members of the Swiss Guard are volunteers who have ful-, filled their Swiss military service.

Guard members are deliberately selected from all four of the major language groups represented in Switzerland - German, French, Italian and Romansch. Segmuller said German-speakers have traditionally held the top-ranking positions and two-thirds of the overall posts in the corps. . Meanwhile, additional public relations efforts in the Switzerland were planned, including the opening of an information andrecruiting station' in Neuhausen, Switzerland, Jan. I.

By JOHNTHAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - He has censured wayward theologians and banned their books. He has sharply defined the limits of dissent and the boundaries of ecumenical dialogue.

He has J;ewritten lituf.gical texts, pulled the reins .on bishops' .conferences and warned of "abuses~' in lay ministries. He has turned the Vatican's spotlight on evangelization problems in Asia, Oceania and elsewhere.

German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is not pope, but many people at the Vatican think his influence these days is second only to that of Pope John Paul II - and a close second. In recent months, his Congregation for the Doctrine

Swede heads Church iIi Sweden ~

A/though it is the first time in four centuries that a Swede has been , chosen, Bishop-(3/ect FatherAndersArbore/ius isnot native-born.

Consecration to,the Divine Will Oh adorable and Divine Will, behold me here before the immensity ofYour Light, that Your eternal goodness may open to me the doors and make me enter into It to form my life all in You, Divine Will. Therefore, oh adorable Will, prostrate before Your Light, I, the least of all creatures, put myself into the little group of the sons and daughters ofYour Supreme FIAT. Prostrate in my nothingness, I invoke Your Light and beg that it clothe me and eclipse all that does not pertain to You, Divine Will. It will be my Life, the center of my intelligence, the enrapturer of my heart and of my whole being. I do not want the human will to have life in this heart any longer. I will cast it away from me and thus form the new Eden of Peace, of happiness and of love. With It I shall be always happy. I shall have a singular strength and a holiness that sanctifies all things and conducts them to God. Here prostrate, I invoke the help of the Most Holy Trinity that They permit me to live in the cloister of the Divine Will and thus return in me the first order of creation, just as the creature was created. , .

Heavenly Mother, Sovereign and Queen of the Divine Fiat, take my hand and introduce me into the Light of the Divine Will. You will be my guide, my most tender Mother, and will teach me to live in and to maintain myself in the order and the bounds of the Divine Will. Heavenly Mother, I consecrate my whole being to Your Immaculate Heart. will teach me the doctrine of the Divine Will and I will listen most attentively to Your lessons. You will cover me with Your mantle so that the infernal serpent dare not penetrate into this sacred Eden to en:' tice me and make me fall into the maze of the human will.

Heart of my greatest Good, Jesus, You will give me Your flames that they may burn me, consume me, and feed me to form in me the Life of the Divine Will.

Saint Joseph" you will be my protector, the guardian of my heart,' and will keep the keys of my will in your hands: You will keep my heart jealously and shall never give it to me again, that I may be sure of never leaving the Will of God. My guardian Angel, guard me; defend me; help me in everything so that my Eden may flourish and be the instrument that draws all men into the Kingdom of the Divine Will. Amen.

you

( In Honor ofLuisa Piccarreta 1865-1947 Child of the Divine Will)

By LYNNE WElL CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY -=-- For the first路 time in more than 400 years, Catholic Swedes will have a Swedish bishop.

The elevation of Father Anders Arborelius as bishop of Stockholm "is bound to gladden the heart of every Catholic in Sweden," Jesuit Father Lars Rooth, head of Vatican Radio's Scandinavian service, said Nov. 18, the day after the event was announced.

Pope John Paul II named the 49year-old Carmelite.priest to head the country's only diocese on the day the current bishop, Bishop Hubertus Brandenburg, reached the retirement age of 75.

A long-standing shortage of native-born priests has meant that Sweden had to import its bishops: Bishop Brandenburg is German, and the bishop who preceded him - Bishop John E. Taylor ..:...- was from the United States. In fact, the last Swedish bishop of Sweden was named by a pope in 1522.

Father Rooth explained that King Gustav Vasa in the early 16th century "liked the idea of a ruler being the, head of everything" and tried to appoint his own bishops, who never were accepted as legitimate by the Vatican. ' In the late 16th century, the Protestant Reformati9n changed the structure of religion in Sweden, and its citizens were banned from being Catholic. The ban lasted until 1860 _ - meanwhile, anyone who converted to Catholicism was automatically exiled.

Social reforms in the late 19th century led to the creation of laws protecting religious freedom, but Father Rooth said that even as late as 1945 there were only about 7,000 Catholics in Sweden.

Father Rooth said Catholic Swedes "have now sort of come out o~ the woods" and have '-;-a reputation that is beyond our numbers. So it is very important that a Swede is the head of our church." , Bishop-designate Arborelius is not native-born, though: His Swedish mother and father were living in Switzerland at the time of his birth.

However, he was raised in Sweden, converted to Catholicism there and attended Swedish s<.:;1100Is. < , v

of the Faith has issued a stream of trol. And it would be very hard to documents, guidelines and com- say that Cardinal Ratzinger has an mentaries on some of the most sen- agenda that goes bt<yond the pope's," said one longtime Vatican sitive issues in church life.

A few years ago, Cardinal official.

Ratzinger spoke of retiring after 15 years at the helm of the doctrinal congregation. But today, the man who is sometimes called the "Panzer Kardinal" - after the German tank - is running in high gear.

When Australian church leaders were summoned to a "dialogue" with leading Vatican officials in mid-November, they didn't know what was on the agenda. They did hear that it was Cardinal Ratzinger's idea.

U.S. bishops experienced the reach of the Cardinal Ratzinger's doctrinal congregation during a review of English liturgical prayer translations, normally a question handled .by Vatican worship officials. But citing "doctrinal" issues CARDINAL RATZIINGER in translations, Cardinal Ratzinger took charge 'of the discussion, set ad hoc guidelines and made major Recently, the cardinal has been giving book-length speeches at changes to a proposed lectionary.

The cardinal's influence was Rome universities on the pope's evident in a wide range of docu- much-praised encyclical, "Fides et Ratio" ("Faith and Reason"), which ments issued over the past year.

In ecumenism, Cardinal Cardinal Ratzinger helped prepare Ratzinger's doctrinal evaluations for publication.

At age 71, the white-haired carcan arrive like arctic cold fronts. In October, with no forewarning to dinal has become even more visVatican ecumenists, he issued nine' ible in the universal chun:h. Those pages on papal primacy, one of the who see him iri action often remark most sensitive questions on the ecu- on his gentle manner, but beneath menical horizon, declaring that, in it is a steel-like sense of purpose. the end, only the pope has the au- Occasionally it surfaces.'

At a recent press conlerence to thority to make changes' in his universal ministry. It's a matter of faith, unveil "Fides et Ratio"" for exhe said. . . ample, Cardinal Ratzinger allowed Vatican officials speak of a sym- others on th~ podium to n~spond to metry and a complementary rela- several questions about biological 'tionship between Cardinal ethics. Then he quietly observed ,Ratzinger and Pope John Paul. The that this d.iscussion was really betwo meet nearly every week for pri- side the point. The effect was comvate talks that touch upon congre- pelling, and other panelists quickly dropped the topic: Cardinal gation affairs and other topics.

"The pope wouldn't let any- Ratzinger had spoken, and they thing like that,slip out of his con- knew he must be right.

I

Lutherans seek more dialo~lue onjustific'ation with Vatican'

By CATHOLIC

NEWS SERVICE

GENEVA - The Executive Committee of the Lutheran World FederationJtas calIed for further discussions with the Vatican to clear the way for a formal, signing of the Catholic-Lutheran declaration on ,justification.

The committee, meeting' in Geneva, said the signing "can take place only if there is a common understanding of what is being signed."

The committee asked the Lutheran federation's general secretary, Ishmael Noko, "to implement further discus.sion" with the Vatican ,and to look at the possibility of drafting a "supplementary statement" clarifying that both Lutherans and Catholics have no reservations about the declaration.

At an October meeting with Protestants in Rome, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the Vatican was open to the possibility of drafting a supplementary statement.

The "Joint Declaration on the 'Doctrine of Justification" was approved by both the Lutheran federation and the Vatican in June. A formal ceremonial signing of the

document was expected before Christmas.

However, when the.Vatican's official response was published with a series of "clari fication:;," some Lutheran leaders said it appeared that the Vatican stilI had serious reservations about the Lutheran 'understanding of justification.

Lutheran Bishop Christian Krause of Brunswick, Germany, president of the federation; told a recent press conference in Geneva that the supplementary statement would have to spell out whether or not the Vatican believes its 16thcentury condemnations of the, Lutheran position on justification apply to Lutheran beliefs today.

"We cannot live with such ambiguity, so it has to be clarified," he said.

Justification, an explanation of how people are saved, was the central doctrinal issue behind the Lutheran Reformation.

The Catholic-Lutheran joint declaratio'n says: "By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God an:! receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works."

THE ANCHOR -

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Diocese of Fall River -

13

Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

U.S. Vincentian chapters fund housing for elderly in Haiti houses provided through a joint effort of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States and the Florida-based international aid agency Food for the Poor.

In early November, Jeudi showed her new home to Joseph H. Mueller, .

By ROBERT DELANEY president of the St. Vincent de Paul CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE Society's U.S. council, and Ferdinand CROIX-DES-BOUQUETS, Haiti Mahfood, founder and president of - Ninety-year-old Tertulia Jeudi Food for the Poor, following a Mass showed off her new house in St. and dedication ceremony for St. Vincent de Paul Village to some visi- Vincent de Paul Village. tors from the United States.

The village, which is going up Her expression and manner con- in Beudet, two miles outside the city veyed her joy and excitement even of Croix-des-Bouquets, will evenbefore she could tell the visitors, tually number 336 houses like through an interpreter, of her grati- Jeudi's. The houses will all be built tude for the house their organiza- on concrete slabs and furnished with tions helped to fund. electricity.

In a country where even the workAddressing the new residents, ing poor may have only a tiny dirt- . Mueller said he felt privileged to floored shack to call home, some of represent the society's 65,000 U.S, Haiti's homeless elderly will now members, many of whose councils live out their days in neat little or parish conferences had contrib~

In one of the worst slum areas in the world, neat new homes offer a life . ofhope for many.

uted to build the project.

After the speeches, one elderly man rose to tell the U.S. visitors, through an interpreter, "Today is a big day for us, and even God is happy. God spoke to your hearts, and you responded. Thank you for that."

The man added, "You are not doing this on your own; this is • Christ's work."

Situated about a 45-rninute drive east of Port-au-Plince, Haiti's capital, Croix-des-Bouquets and its surrounding villages have a population of more than 150,000 people.

Phase I of the St. Vincent de Paul Village - 108 homes plus communal shower, gathering pavilion, and toilet and laundry facilities - was complete, and work well under way on Phase II, in time for the dedication ceremony.

When complete, the second phase will add another 108 houses plus service facilities, and Phase ill·

Vatican official raps U.S. film industry for pushing New Age

By CINDY WOODEN

tel' with Christ, the Son of God, who "Crystals take the place of the does not come down from a flying true rock, Jesus Christ," he said.

ROME - The New Age has saucer but from the heart of the Fa- "Mother Nature takes the place of found its niche in the U.S. film in- ther," Cardinal Poupard said. the Creator Father. , dustry, preaching salvation through "The god of California, easily "Faith in the resurrection of the self-discovery, through commun- dead and in the reunion with our approachable and innocuous in ing with nature or through an en- deceased loved ones in Paradise, every way, is a latent temptation counter with a space alien, a French where the Lord awaits us, is substi- which the cinema has amplified," tuted with a surprising faith in tech- he said. cardinal said.

Siniscalchi's book, Cardinal Cardinal Paul Poupard, presi- nology and science fiction which dent of the Pontifical Council for would allow us to enter into 'con- Poupard said, is a reminder to all Culturel·said movies with a New . tact' ... with our dearly departed in Christians that films can be powerAge theme offer viewers "an anes- a sort of parallel universe mirror- ful tools for influencing fashion, thesia for the soul, for spiritual en- ing earthly creation," he said. behavior and cultures and that if it ergy and for thought."

In the New Age, the cardinal said, can so easily spread the New Age The cardinal spoke Nov. 13 at the self, all of nature and the whole message, it also can be used proRome's Holy Cross University dur- cosmos become the divine. pose positive Christian values. ing the presentation of a Italian book on New Age in the cinema, "The god'ofCalifornia," by Claudio Siniscalchi.

Cardinal Poupard said New Age presents what it claims is a message of salvation: It pretends to be able to heal the deep causes of crises in the modern world and to put people in contact with an ultimate spiritual reality which is hidden within

By Lou BALDWIN, CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE themselves, in all beings and in the mysterious depths of creation."

PHILADELPHIA ' - "Christians should not blend in with everything With its big budgets, its exper- else," Bishop 1. Terry Steib of Memphis, Tenn., told a recent gathering of tise with special effe,cts and its black Catholics in Philadelphia. "imaginative genius," the U.S. film Rather, Christians should affect society "positively, just as seasoning industry "has become the model for brings out the best flavor in food," he said at the 5t. Martin de Porres Mass exporting" New Age ideas, which at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. mix some Judeo-Christian ideas In his talk, Bishop Steib expounded on Christ's meaning when he told .with Taoist, Buddhist and other his followers they were "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world."

Eastern religions, the cardinal said.

"Isn't salt supposed to be bad for us?" he asked. "Aren't we supposed "The New Age has found in the to cutback and avoid salt in our food altogether? Doesn't it cause us to cinema its niche, its preferred art have high blood pressure? form, its vehicle for certain propa"If seasoning has no flavor, it has no value," he said.. "If Christians gation and for unexpected and make no effort to have an effect on the world around them, they are of powerful earnings," he said. little value to God. If we are too much like the world, we are worthless."

Movies with a New Age theme, At the same time, he said, "light in and of itself is useless. Light is to be he said, lead spectators to a feeling shone on something else so that it may be seen." of "vague harmony" and serenity.

"Light enables us to see and to identify the real issues and concerns of Faced with the mushy sentimental- our world that were formerly hidden in the darkness," he added. "Light ity, viewers' desire to make a real chases away the deeds of darkness. Those things that were once done in difference in the world "weakens, the dark are now exposed to the light." , flowing into tears and laughter."

Bishop Steib, one of 13 African-American bishops active in the United The message of New Age mov- States, was addressing an audience that represented black congregations ies is that the meaning of life, the' in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. gi ft of salvation and the eternal joy It is time "to spea~ in the name of the God who offers compassion to held out by Christianity requires those whom the world defines as the helpless, the oppressed and the too much commitment and effort, dispossessed. Speak in the name of God who calls you to truth-telling he said. and truth-facing," BiShop Steib told his audience.

"The 'close encounter' with an "As the venerable old folks of our ancestors used to say, 'It's time to alien offers greater happiness and tell the truth and shame the devil,''' he added. "Don't worry about whether progress ... compared to an encoun- the world is ready for truth, because truth makes room for itself."

CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

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Christians must not 'blend in,' Tennessee Bishop Steib says

will add yet 120 more houses plus additional facilities. ·The II-acre site will also include a large community garden and areas, where residents can tend their own garden plots. Its agricultural program also envisions the· raising of chickens, rabbits and goats.

Besides food and shelter, residents will receive a clothing allowance and an on-site clinic will allows several volunteer doctors to . tend to their health, she continued.

Among those who attended the dedication ceremony was the priest who planted the seed from which the St. Vincent de Paul Village

sprang. Father Gus Gordon, a U.S.born priest of the Diocese of St. Lucia in the West Indies.

A Vincentian man, who wishes to remain anonymous, heard Father Gordon speaking in New Mexico of the plight of Haiti's poorest and how Food for the Poor was building sturdy houses for them. The man and family members agreed to contribute $100,000, which became a challenge grant for the U.S council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The society and Food for the Poor have each put close to $500,000 into the project, though more is needed for its completion.

Pop.e, Clinton tf! meet .-during St. Louis visit

By JOHN THAVIS, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN C:I:fY - Pope John Paul II will meet V.S. President Bill Clinton when he arrives in St. Louis Jan. 26, their first encounter :,im:c the pope's last visit to the United States in 1995.

The program also calls for the pope to attl~nd a youth rally and celebrate Mass and evening prayers in St. Louis. following five days of events in Mexico.

The Jan. 22-28 trip is the pope's 85th outside of Italy, and his overnight stop in St. Louis marks his seventh visit to the United States. He will spend about 30 hours in St. Louis before departing for Rome the evening of Jan. 27.

The private meeting with Clinton will take place in a room at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The pope has met the president three times before, once at the Vatican and twice during U.S. visits.

The pope is traveling to Mexico to present his apostolic exhortation on the Synod of Bishops for America, an assembly held at the Vatican in 1997. While there, he will say Mass for an estimated one million people, meet with the president, visit the sick and preside over several other events.

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Diocese (If Fall River -

Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

Catholic Schools •

HAVING FUN! Chelsey Roussel, a pre-K student at Notre Dame School, Fall River, isall smiles as'she participates in the school's award ceremony following its successful, magazine drive. Rous~el was the top fund raiser at the school and won a special prize. Physical education teacher Dustin Almeida looks on. ' ' '

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COMMENDED - Dennis Poyant, principal of Coyle and Cassidy High School, Tciunton, poses with stL!dents recently named Commended Students in the 1999 National Merit Scholarship Program. They placed among the top five percent of more than one million students.

They are: (from left) Erin Frykholm, Charles Berube! Jessica Smith and Andrea Perry.

ST. JEAN BAPTISTE SCHOOL observed Veteran's Day JUNIOR CLASS officers were recently elected at Bishop Stang High School, North wi~h a presentation from Edna McKenna, ~ retired Navy ~en!or Dartmouth, and they were officially commissioned at a ceremony following the jun'ior class chief storekeeper. She shared her expenences and paid tnb.;. 'celebration and Mass. Those elected were (from left) Kate Manning, secretary; Katie Crofford, ute to veterans. ,Students especially enjoyed hearing ~bout vice-president; Katie Burke, president; and Jeffrey Oliveira,treasurer. awards McKenna earned in her Navy career and work during , Operation Desert Storm. ~J,~)- _ j

EAGLE 'SCOUT!

Fath,er .Richard W.' Beaulieu of Notre Dame d~-J_ourdes 'p~rish, FaH River, , stands.with Matthew Stephen Soare's p~ior.to the start of his Eagle COUft of Hono"r ceremony..; :. The ,:.soph9more:~oriorroll ,student- from Bishop Stang Hign School is a m'embe'''' 'of. the pa~ish's troop 15 and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Soares of Fall River. For his Eagle Scout project, Soares sponsored a brunch for parish seniors and shut-ins.

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SEVENTH GRADERS Danielle Dupras, Erica Lourenco, Danny Beriedito, Jared Boulay and teacher Robert Hall of St. Francis Xavier School, Acushnet, prepare to leave for the "A World of. Difference" conference in Boston, Workshops focused on dealing with prejudice and racism and how to combat it in schools and neighborhoods. Free transportation was provided by Royal Coach Lim0L!sine.

THE ANCHOR -

Our Rock and Role No relationship feels good all the time

By CHARLIE

MARTIN

Back 2 Good It's nothing, it's so normal you Just stand therl~. I could say so much But I don't go there/ 'Cause I don't want to.'

I was thinking/lf you were lonely Maybe we could leave here/And no one would know At least not to the pointlThat we would think so.

Everyone here Knows everyone here Is thinking about Somebody else.

It's best if we all keep it/Under our hats.

I couldn't telVI. anyone here was feeling The way I do/But I'm lonely now, And I don't know howlTo get it back to good.

This don't mean that you own me.

This ain't no good, In fact it's phony.

But things worked out Just like you wanted to If you see me out You don't know me.

Try to turn youI' head, Try to give me some room To figure out just What I'm going to do.

And everyone here Hates everyone here For'doing just like they do.

It's best if we ali \.eel) This quiet insteud. ' And I couldn't tell, Why everyone here Was doing me like they do But I'm sorry now, And I don't know how To get it back t,o good.

Everyone here/Is wondering what it's like.

To be with somebody else.

Everyone here's to blame.

Everyone here/Gets caught up in The pleasure of the pain.

Everyone hides/Shades of shame, But looking inside we're the same, We're the same.

And we're all grown now/But we don't know how To get it back to good.

Everyone here, Knows everyone here Is thinking about somebody else.

It's best 'if we all keep this Under our hats.

I couldn't tell, If anyone here was feeling The way I do.

But it's over now, And I don't Imow how, It's over now, There's no getting back to good.

Written by Rob Thomas and Matt Serletic Sung by Matchbox 20 Copyright (c) 1996 by Atlantic Recording Corp. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States

LET'S SAY that you're in a good relationship, except that it just doesn't feel as good as it used to be. How do you get back to that feeling that everything is fine? .

Matchbox 20's "Back 2 Good" is the latest release off their "Yourself or Someone Like You" disc.

This CD established them as a name in today's pop/rock.

Apparently, the guy in the song thinks the way to get back on track is to consider a new romance: For him, "Everyone here is wonder.. ..ing what it's like to be with somebody else." .

He says to the girl he has been going with, "If you see me· out, you don't know me, try to turn your head, try to .give me some room. to figure out just what I'm going to do."Yet, he doesn't seem .to feel very positive about this approach. He believes that "everyone hides shades of shame."

He knows that "inside we're the same, and we're all grown now, but we don't know how to get it back to good."

Maybe he e:xpects too much from this relationship. There are ups and downs. No relationship feels good all the time.

Rather than thinking about someone else, perhaps he should talk with his girlfriend about what is bothering him. Addressing problems or difficult feelings can be invaluable, especially if we can speak about how we feel without blaming the other.

Of course, if he would rather just daydream about meeting someone else, perhaps he's not ready for a steady relationship. In high school, this could well be for the best.

In adult relationships, people need to learn how to resolve problems mutually. This calls for maturity, honesty and genuine concern for the other person's well-being.

It also may mean accepting that, at times, there is no way to "get it back to good." When we're young and dating, sometimes we . just need to let go of someone that we love and trust. But the lessons from this relationship will teach us more about how to build a healthy relationship. in the future.

When you're not feeling as close to the person you're dating as in the past, can you "get it back to good?" Possibly, but not if you're only seeking emotional highs. Enduring love demand" more than feeling good.

Your comments are always welcome. Please address: Charlie Martin, 7125 W 200S, Rockport, Ind. 47635..

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

15

Explaining your faith

By AMY WELBORN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE American teens live In a diverse, multicultural world where they're free to think, believe and say almost anything they please.

Such a world, rich with possibilities, is an exciting place. But in a culture that's essentially a megamall of ideas, chances are you'll be called upon more frequently than your grandparents were at your age to explain exactly what you happen to believe and why.

What do you say?

I want to give you some ideas - in this column and my next one -'- about explaining your Catholic faith to two audiences you're boiJnd to encounter at school, work and especially when you go to college: atheists and fundamentalists. : Let's talk about atheists first.

Their concerns are not going to be with Catholic teachings about the pope, Mary or the Eucharist, questions fundamentalists will ask. No, they want to engage you on a more basic issue: God. Yikes. Who, me? Defend God's existence?

But don't stress out or think that the future of the Catholic Church restS on your shoulders when you're conversing with your questioning friend about the existence of God. God can take care of himself.

All God wants you to do is witness to the extent you're able - a task that also is easier if you've thought about all this before you're asked the question.

Chances are, it will be put this way: "How can you prove that God exists?"

There are a lot of ways to answer this that are, believe it or not, based on the same rules of evidence you're learning in science class. But it might be a good thing to respond first by asking, "How can you prove he doesn't?"

Once the person has thought about it, he may answer, "I've never seen him."

Now your discussion is going to take what we call an epistemological turn. Ask: "How do we

know anything is true or real?"

Face it, there are many things we've never seen personally that we believe or even know are real.

There are even things we can't see

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that we affirm as real - love, for example.

The fact is, we affirm the reality of things, even those we haven't personally encountered, like Antarctica or the existence of a guy named Plato because we have evidence that is logical or agrees with our senses, or because we trust the authorities who convey the evidence to us.

And the evidence for God's existence is not far-fetched or irrational. Trying starting with one of the most basic arguments of all: from design .

Many scientists tell us that the window of opportunity for carbonbased life to have come into existence seems to have been so incredibly narrow that it couldn't have been an accident.

But you don't even have to go that far to see it. Is nature, the power of the human mind or 'creativity an accident? How often do you see "accidents" happen that produce perfectly functioning organisms?

It's important, too, to remember, even if you don't bring it up, that sometimes people's disbelief in God has nothing to do with God: They may be reacting against authority. They or someone in their family may have suffered at the hands of a religious institution.

They may fear a loss of their own autonomy. and freedom if they admit God's existence.

You never know. Which is why, then, it's so important to infuse your words to your atheist friend with the most important "Goel fact" of all: Gol's love.

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THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Nov. 27, 1998

Iteering pOintl Publicity Chairmen are asked . ·to submit news items for this col-

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umn to The Anchor, P.O. 'Box 7, FaURiver, 02722. Name of city or town should be included, as weD as fuD dates of aU activities. 'DEADLINE IS NOON ON MONDAYS.

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Events published must be of interestand open looor general read· ership.We do not normally carry notices of fund raising activities, which may be advertised at our regular rates, obtainable from our business office at (508) 675·7151.

NEW BEDFORD - The Serra Club ofNew Bedford will hold its Christmas Social on ·Dec. 14. at White's .of Westport. It begins at 6:30p.m. and dinner will be served 'at 7.p.m. 'Wives are invited. There will a guest speaker.

NORTH DIGHTON -The Par.ish.Nurse Program of St. Joseph's ChiJrch wilJ..present the seasonal program, "Angels," Dec. to from 7:30 to 8:30·p.m. 'Guest speaker 'will'be:Paulette 1. Normandin. All welcome. 'For more information :FA:LL·RIVER - Beginning on . call Kathy Scott at 822-9788.

WEST HARWICH -- Come celebrate Advent with Holy Trinity Parish Prayer Group Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Damien Hall. Come praise .and worsh\p the Lord in song, scriPture and teaching. Refreshments willbe served. All welcome.

·FALLRIVER - The Legion of Maryof,the 17all River Diocese will hold its.annual reunion on Dee. 6 at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph's 'Parish, Fairhaven. The program will include recitation of the rosary, Bene.diction of the Blessed Sacrament and'a social gathering. Refreshments'will be served. Family and friends are·welcome.

Pop.e ur:-g~s.Oceaniabisho~ps:FiJld new ways to announce the GOSltel .• Bishop Sean P. O'Ma'/ley.of Fall River is participating. in the 'nearly four-week assembly.

By JOHNTHAVIS VATICAN CITY (CNS) - In a liturgy that began with the heralding blare of a consh shell, Pope John Paul II opened the Synod of Bishops for Oceania and asked participants to find new ways to announce the Gospel in their multicultural region.

An initial session outlined the main issues facing the synod: proclaiming the Gospel in increasingly secularized cultures, invigorating the church's missionary role, healing divisions in society and .within the Catholic community, and restoring the' sacraments as central to the lives of the faithful.

The synod, which runs until Dec. 12, will end with the drawing together of proposals for the pope

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TAUNTON - An information night for people interested in learning more about the CursiLIo movement will be held Dec. 6 from 6:308 p.m. at the St. Joseph Parish CCD Center. For more information call Sue Peters at 824-3565.

WEST HARWICH -Christian Meditation and Mysticism Group facilitated' by TornO'Connell of the Secular Franciscan Order meets tonight at 7 p.m. in Damien Hall at Holy Trinity Parish. The purpose is to. encourage the practice of contemplative prayer and silent, sitting meditation. All welcome. For more information call '790-8485.

·FAIRHAVEN - A workshop entitled "Prayer: Listening to God's Voice" will be presented by Sister Madeleine TacyDec.lfrom 7-8:30 p.m. in the basement of S1. Mary's Church. All welcome.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

~.

Dec. 4, a new support group, People Addressing Cancer Together (PACT), will meet from 3:30-5 p.m. in room 128 of Saint Anne's Hospital's Clemence Hall. The meetings are open to all cancer patients and will regularly meet on the fIrst and third Friday of each month. For more in·formation call Mark Theodore at 674-5600 ext. 2270.

and a message to the world.

The inaugural Mass in ·St. Peter's:Basilica.Nov. 22.spiced up .the standard.Roman rite with.a variety of Pacific liturgical traditions, including bare-chested tribal chiefs - called "tulafale" - who carried the Gospel Book to the altar on a Samoan throne, The offertory procession featured a Samoan dance by a barefoot woman wearing a headdress of feathers and mirrors, who invoked the grace of heaven while - her tattooed male companion, clad in a short sarong, moved rhythmicallyin front of the pope.

If top Vatican officials sitting in the front row looked a bit bewildered, the pope -who has visited Oceania three times - took it all in stride. He accepted .a flowered garland, a model canoe representing the Church and.a cup symbolizing unity and blessing.

In a sermon, the pope welcomed the 154 synod participants and spoke briefly about the syno'd theme: "Jesus Christ and the Peoples of Oceania: Walking His

Way, Telling His Truth and Living His Life."

'Thepope said that.throughout the Church's history, the apostles and missionaries have done their best to extend the boundaries of the "eternal kingdom," which Christ announced. The Oceania synod is a continuation of this work, he said.

In the synod, the pope said, Oceania's pastors will try to give new vigor to the pr.oclamation of Christ "in the diversity of cultures and human, social and religious traditions, and in the admirable multitude of. their people."

The synod was one of five regional assemblies convened by the pope to help prepare for the year 2000. Unlike previous regional synods, all active bishqp5., auxil·iaries and administrators ofthe region were invited. The 88 bishops and administrators were joined by 16 Vatican officials, six religious superiors, six papally appointed bishops from outside the region, 14 experts, 19 auditors - including five lay people - and 1bur representatives of Christian churches.

All except the experts, auditors and non-Catholic delegates have voting rights.

The 78-year-old pope was to preside personally over the synod's general congregati.ons, setting aside .much of his other business ·during the three-wef:k-Iong assembly.

The Church ·in Oceania numbers nearly 8 million peo:?le out of a total population of28 million, with more than 5 million Catholies in Australia. Oceania is the .

Church region with the fewest members, but its huge geographical reach and multitude of cultures makes it one of the most colorful and important areas of evangelization,say church leaders.

Australian Archbishop Barry J. Hickey of Perth, the synod's recording secretary, outlin,ed the synod's main topics Nov. 23 in a lengthy report summarizi ng the agenda for debate. His spee,::h was to be followed by more than a week of individual speeches by participants.