11.30.12

The Anchor Diocese of Fall River

F riday , November 30, 2012

Harvard event highlights bad Roe decision

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

CAMBRIDGE — Poor legal footing will ultimately bring down Roe v. Wade, the United States Supreme Court decision that federalized abortion nearly 40 years ago, according to speakers at a recent Harvard University forum.

Steve Aden, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, called Roe the “single worst constitutional decision of all time.” He asserted that Roe was not a constitutional decision at all but a “socio-political manifesto.”

Arden spoke to a couple

dozen students at Harvard Hall while about 150 more viewed a simulcast online. The event was sponsored by Harvard Right to Life and Law Students for Life.

In the Roe decision, the majority found a right to abortion as part of a right to privacy found in the 14th Amendment, adopted in 1868 to abolish slavery. They justified the decision with bad history and bad medicine, Arden said.

The majority attempted to find a historical basis for abortion as a fundamental right. Even their best examples show only that abortion has sometimes been Turn to page 18

SINGING HIS PRAISE — John Polce offered reflection and music during his morning and afternoon presentations at this year’s Faith Formation Ministry Convention. There was a wide array of topics covered during this year’s convention, including the newly-launched format of offering workshops conducted solely in Spanish. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

Spanish-speaking workshops welcome additions to Faith Formation Convention

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

TAUNTON — The turnout may have been smaller than last year, but there were big ideas brewing at this year’s Faith Formation Ministry Convention held at the Holiday Inn in Taunton.

Workshop topics ranged from working with children with special needs to the music of John Polce filling the halls; this year also included the convention’s first foray in many years into workshops presented solely in Spanish.

A REAL TROOPER — Sgt. Daniel M. Clark, better known as “The Singing Trooper,” recently paid a visit to Madonna Manor, the diocesan health facility in North Attleboro, to honor veterans there with a rousing performance of patriotic songs. A retired member of the Massachusetts State Police and former Marine, Sgt. Clark has performed more than 2,500 events for federal, state, local and military functions. He has performed with the legendary Boston Pops for the nationally-televised Fourth of July concert from the Charles River Esplanade and has been invited to sing the National Anthem at all the key sporting events in New England. (Photo

by Kenneth J. Souza)

First Sunday of Advent December 2, 2012

“The big draw was John Polce,” said Rose Mary Saraiva, events coordinator for the Faith Formation Office of the Diocese of Fall River, who added the afternoon’s biggest draw was how to engage teen-agers, a workshop by Lisa Rose Bucci, a return presenter from last year who once again pulled in quite a few people to attend her workshop.

Polce brought a fresh take to the music ministry while across the hall, Sister Christina Wegendt, FSP, and Sister Hosea

Rupprecht, FSP, presented “Ten Media Survival Tips for Elementary Catechists,” offering their insight in helping catechists to teach students to discern and understand the messages presented by the media.

Steve Connor and Nikki Doherty presented “Connect, Awaken, Share,” showcasing creative ways to engage parents through a sense of activities, interactions, stories, reflections and prayers. Doherty shared Turn to page 18

Christmas Day.) The concert brochure for this year’s “Descending Dove” Festival of Lights running through

Jan. 6, 2013, displays the full schedule as well as a photo of the beloved Father Pat with the message, “Please pray for Father Pat’s speedy recovery!”

Father Pat was rushed to a hospital in Grenoble, France on August 10 because of a severe infection of the pancreas. He is currently at the Rehab Center in Annecy, France. He is gaining strength but still has a long road to a full recovery. The date of his return to the United States is still not known.

Last year marked the 40th anniversary of Father Pat’s mission of bringing the message of Our Lady of La Salette to the lost and broken. In an Anchor interview last Christmas season he said, “I never thought music would be so part of my ministry. But Our LaTurn to page 15

Host of Christian musicians fill the void left by Father Pat’s illness

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

ATTLEBORO — The brochure listing the Christmas concerts at this year’s Festival of Lights at La Salette Shrine displays a full schedule. That’s not an unusual thing except for the fact that a large piece of the seasonal puzzle is missing this year with the illness of La Salette Father Andre “Pat” Patenaude.

Despite the notable void left by Father Pat’s absence, the shrine will not lack the spiritual sounds of the Advent and Christmas season because other talented Christian musicians have stepped up to carry on the tradition.

As in the past, the Shrine this season offers concerts at 3 and 7 p.m. each Friday and at 3 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 6, 2013. (There are no concerts December 1 and

sounds of the season — Despite Father Pat’s absence this season at La Salette Shrine, there is a full slate of concerts scheduled.

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Vatican memo aims to boost priestly identity

News From the Vatican

Vatican City (CNA/ Cardinal Bertone’s letter, EWTN News) — In an ef- written at Pope Benedict’s bidfort to promote priestly iden- ding, recalls a 1982 letter of tity, the Vatican Secretary of Pope John Paul II to his vicar State has issued a letter ask- general encouraging him to ing clerics and religious at the “study opportune initiatives Vatican to dress as befits their destined to foster the use of identity as priests conformed ecclesiastical and religious to Christ. dress.”

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Bertone said that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said bishops should faithfully wear in an October 15 letter that it the cassock every day during is a “time in which everyone office hours at the Vatican as is specially called to renew his an example to the clerics who awareness of and consistency visit the Holy See. with his own identity.”

He reminded clerics that at This call inofficial and pacludes priests he priest pal events, they and religious should be are to wear the who work at more formal the Vatican, he identifiable primarily “abito piano.” wrote, remind- through his conduct, For bishops ing them that but also by his man- and cardinals, they have “the ner of dressing, which this is a casduty of wearsock with an ing regularly makes visible to all the embroidered and with dig- faithful, indeed and to cape; for monnity the proper all men, his identity signors, a black habit, in every and his belonging to cassock with season.” piping of RoThe text of God and the Church,” man purple; the letter, sent it said. and for priests, to all the ofa cassock with fices of the Rocape. man Curia, was made available This new memo from the November 19 by the Vatican Secretary of State goes hand observer and journalist Sandro in hand with a 1994 docuMagister. ment on the ministry and life Andrea Tornielli of La of priests from the CongregaStampa suggested November tion for Clergy. The congrega16 that it was also a message tion’s document said that in a for the wider Church. “secularised and materialistic Tornielli said the letter was society it is particularly imaimed at refreshing the minds portant that the community be of those who work at the Vati- able to recognise the priest, can but also to say that this man of God and dispenser of extends beyond the walls of His mysteries, by his attire as the Holy See. He added, “it is well, which is an unequivocal very rare for priests in the Ap- sign of his dedication and His ostolic Palace not to dress like identity as a public minister.” priests.”

“The priest should be iden“The call for priests to be tifiable primarily through his more law-abiding and look im- conduct, but also by his manner peccable is meant to be a subtle of dressing, which makes visexample for those who come ible to all the faithful, indeed to the Vatican from outside and to all men, his identity and and are just passing through his belonging to God and the Rome,” Tornielli said.

Church,” it said.

“T

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OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 56, No. 46

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November 30, 2012

circle of friends — Pope Benedict XVI attends a meeting with French prelates at the Vatican recently. Catholics are called to serve the common good of society, including by protecting traditional Marriage and defending human life, Pope Benedict told the bishops. (CNS photo/L‘Osservatore Romano via Reuters)

Nativity story’s significance continues to unfold today, pope writes

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Nativity story, like the whole story of Christ, is not merely an event in the past, but has unfolding significance for people today, with implications for such issues as the limits of political power and the purpose of human freedom, Pope Benedict writes in his third and final volume on the life and teachings of Jesus.

“Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives” is only 132 pages long, yet it includes wide-ranging reflections on such matters as the significance of the Virgin Birth and the distinctive views of nature in ancient pagan and Judeo-Christian cultures.

The book was published in English and eight other languages in 50 countries November 21.

In the book, Pope Benedict examines Jesus’ birth and childhood as recounted in the Gospels of SS. Matthew and Luke. His interpretation of the biblical texts refers frequently to the work of other scholars and draws on a variety of academic fields, including linguistics, political science, art history and the history of science.

The book’s publication completes the three-volume “Jesus of Nazareth” series, which also includes “From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration” (2007) and “Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection” (2011).

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said at the book launch that the three books are the “fruit of a long inner journey” by Joseph Ratzinger, whose personal views they represent. While much of what the pope says is accepted Catholic dogma, the texts themselves are not part of the Church’s magisterium and their arguments are free to be disputed, Father Lombardi said.

In his new book, the pope argues that Matthew and Luke, in their Gospel accounts, set out to “write history, real history that had actual-

ly happened, admittedly interpreted and understood in the context of the Word of God.” The pope calls the virgin birth and the resurrection “cornerstones” of Christian faith, since they show God acting directly and decisively in the material world.

“These two moments are a scandal to the modern spirit,” which expects and allows God to act only in ideas, thoughts and the spiritual world, not the material, he writes.

Yet it is not illogical or irrational to suppose that God possesses creative powers and power over matter, otherwise “then He is simply not God.” The pope enriches the Gospel accounts with personal reflections as well as questions and challenges for his readers.

For example, considering the angel’s appearance to the shepherds, who then “went with haste” to meet the child Savior, the pope asked “How many Christians make haste today, where the things of God are concerned?”

Pope Benedict examines the political context of the time of Jesus’ birth, which featured both the so-called “Pax Romana” — the widespread peace brought by the Roman ruler Caesar Augustus — and King Herod’s thirst for power, which led to the slaughter of the innocents.

“Pax Christi is not necessarily opposed to Pax Augusti,” he writes.

“Yet the peace of Christ surpasses the peace of Augustus as Heaven surpasses earth.”

The political realm has “its own sphere of competence and responsibility”; it oversteps those bounds when it “claims divine status and divine attributes” and makes promises it cannot deliver.

The other extreme comes with forms of religious persecution when rulers “tolerate no other kingdom but their own,” he writes.

Any sign God announces “is given not for a specific political

situation, but concerns the whole history of humanity,” he writes.

The pope writes that the Three Wise Men symbolize the purification of science, philosophy and rationality.

“They represent the inner dynamic of religion toward selftranscendence, which involves the search for truth, the search for the true God,” the pope writes.

The pope also argues that the star of Bethlehem was a true celestial event.

It “seems to be an established fact,” he writes, that the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn happened in 7-6 B.C., which “as we have seen is now thought likely to have been when Jesus was born.”

A key topic in the book is the role of human freedom in God’s Divine plan for humanity.

“The only way (God) can redeem man, who was created free, is by means of a free ‘yes’ to His will,” the pope writes. It is precisely “the moment of free, humble yet magnanimous obedience,” such as Mary and Joseph showed when listening to God, “in which the loftiest choice of human freedom is made.”

Jesus, too, in His human freedom, understood He was bound to obedience to His Heavenly Father, even at the cost of His earthly life.

The missing 12-year-old, rediscovered by an anxious Mary and Joseph in the Temple, was not there “as a rebel against His parents, but precisely as an obedient (Son), acting out the same obedience that leads to the cross and the resurrection,” the pope writes.

Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection is a story filled with contradiction, paradox and mystery, the pope writes, and “remains a sign of contradiction today.”

“What proves Jesus to be the true sign of God is He takes upon Himself the contradiction of God,” Pope Benedict writes, “He draws it to Himself all the way to the contradiction of the cross.”

3 The International Church Catholics on both side of the Gaza border pray for hostilities to end

November 30, 2012

JERUSALEM (CNS) — As diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel November 20, Catholics on both sides of the Gaza border prayed for peace.

“When we pray for peace, we pray for peace for everyone,” said Father Yoel Salvaterra, who serves the Hebrew-speaking Catholic community in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, after a morning in which more than 20 rockets landed in the city. “Our prayers have no borders. We know we are suffering here and they are suffering there. It is just suffering.”

Egypt brokered a cease fire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli government the day before Thanksgiving.

The parish celebrated Mass November 18 in the church bomb shelter, Father Salvaterra said, and only 15 people came to pray, about half the normal number. The community has about 150 members.

“People live in fear,” he said.

“Everybody is staying home.

Sometimes they call me for assurance, sometimes I call them. The situation has not been easy as even before the Israeli operation we suffered from rockets once or twice a month. The uncertainty was difficult.”

Though several homes in Beersheba took direct hits from the rockets, no one from the community has been injured, he said.

Going to Sunday Mass is a way of supporting one another and finding strength through prayer, said Rafoul Assy, 50, who hails from the northern all-Melkite village of Fassuta and has lived in Beersheba for more than 20 years. Although Assy was unable to attend Mass because of his work, he said his wife and four children found comfort in the familiar routine of the prayers.

“The Mass itself took only three-

quarters of an hour but they stayed there for over an hour talking to the other people,” said Assy, whose four children range from four to 14 years old. “It is difficult for the children. They spend their days in the bomb shelter. Every time there is a siren the little one grabs the iPad and runs to the shelter. They are afraid.”

In Gaza, George Antone, 31, project manager for the Pontifical Mission for Palestine and father of a six-month old daughter, told Catholic News Service that people are staying home because it is too risky to leave. No one knows where Israel’s bombs may land next, he said.

“It can be anywhere, between houses, in government institutions, schools, universities, a football field,” he said. “The situation here is terrible. Last night it was as if we were living in hell. Every 15 minutes you could hear an explosion.”

One member of Holy Family Parish in Gaza died of a heart attack during a bombing and had just been buried at the church cemetery, he said. Otherwise, people leave their homes only to get essentials.

Supplies such as fuel and bread are running low because flour can’t be delivered to the bakeries, he said.

“I don’t like the killing on either side. I respect life,” Antone said.

“This is not the way in which we can find a solution. Peace never comes with blood. That is what we say to the people in church. This will lead to nothing only a very bad scenario on both sides and the people will pay the price.”

He added that he sees the conflict between Hamas and the Israeli government as not only political but also one stemming from religious fanaticism from both Muslims and Jews.

“We Christians are not political, we call for peace and to save

Quarter million people in France march for Marriage

Paris, France (CNA) — Nearly 250,000 people across France recently took to the streets to voice their support for Marriage against ongoing efforts by political leaders to legalize samesex unions.

Supporters held marches in Paris, Toulouse, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Rennes, Metz, Dijon and Bordeaux, to protest proposals by French President Francois Hollande to make same-sex unions equal to Marriage.

The thousands of protestors also voice disagreement with measures to replace “father” and “mother” on official birth certificates with “parent A” and “parent B.” Many carried banners with slogans such as, “Nothing better for a child than mom and dad,” “No to parent A and B: father and mother

are equal and complementary,” and “Children are born with a right to a father and mother.”

Protestors in Lyon were joined

by Cardinal Philippe Barbarin and the rector of the Muslim Mosque of Lyon, Kamel Kabtane, who said, “We share the same fundamental values and we should defend them together.”

“Gay marriage” supporters held their own counter protest in Lyon, which became violent and led to the arrest of 50 by police. Some also marched semi-naked, donning religious veils with anti-Catholic slogans painted on their bodies.

During his campaign, President Francois Hollande promised to support “same-sex marriage,” and on November 7 he sent a proposal to his cabinet members to legalize the practice.

lives,” Antone said. “This conflict will lead to nothing. We pray a real truce will be reached and then afterward they have to start negotiating for peace. That is the only way to solve the problem. They have to sit and speak and find a way where there will be no war for our children and the coming generations.”

One Catholic Gazan, who asked not to be identified, said he and his family had not left their home for almost a week.

“The explosions are terrible for

us,” he said. Although the family’s pantry was well-stocked, he said family members have little appetite under the dangerous circumstances.

Though some people may disagree with Hamas’ tactics “nobody can say anything against Hamas,” he said.

“They are in control. You have to say yes, whoever says ‘no’ will end up saying ‘yes’ later,” he said.

“You have to walk with your back very close to the wall. You have to be careful.”

In a recent report Sami ElYousef, regional director for the Catholic Near East Welfare Association’s office in Jerusalem, noted widespread destruction in Gaza and said almost all of the Christian institutions have sustained some damage from the shelling in the form of broken glass and doors.

He said children and the elderly are paying the heaviest price and called for prayers that the hostilities would end as soon as possible.

4

November 30, 2012 The Church in the U.S. Boston ‘parish collaboratives’ seen as best use for limited resources

BRAINTREE (CNS) — A pastoral plan approved by Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley calls for the Boston Archdiocese to organize its 288 parishes into approximately 135 groups called “parish collaboratives.”

Led by one pastor, a group of priests, deacons and lay ecclesial ministers, called a pastoral team, would provide pastoral services to parishes in the collaborative. Under the plan, each parish in the collaborative group will maintain its separate identity and retain control of its own property and assets.

Cardinal O’Malley said the new pastoral plan comes in response to current challenges faced by the Catholic Church in Boston, and could change if those realities improve. He approved the plan November 15.

“The plan to implement a new model of leadership at the collaboratives does not mean that we are leaving behind the model of a priest being assigned as the pastor of one parish,” he said. “It is my fervent hope, encouraged by a significant increase in seminary enrollment during recent years, that a greater number of ordinations to the priesthood will allow us to again assign priests as pastors of individual parishes.”

Called “Disciples in Mission,” the plan identified parishes’ main challenges: declining Mass attendance, shrinking numbers of priests and trained laity, and an increasing number of parishes unable to sustain themselves financially.

Published in September, the plan contains the final recommendations of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission based on research and information gathered through 40 consultations held from December 2011 through March 2012 throughout the archdiocese with priests, Church staff and volunteers.

“Though the challenge of renewing the Church will call for significant effort and a new way of staffing our parishes, we are committed to re-engaging the culture, the current generation of Catholics and providing a strong foundation for those who will follow us. Our Catholic faith is our most precious gift,” the cardinal said.

His prepared remarks were made available to The Pilot, Boston’s archdiocesan newspaper, before he announced his acceptance of the plan at a press conference.

“Parishes are the heart of the New Evangelization; they must be well-staffed and financially sound so as to be effective in this mission,” the cardinal said.

The new collaboratives will be made up “usually of two or three parishes, but sometimes only one, and, in rare occasions four parishes.”

Though the composition of teams would be different from collaborative to collaborative, reflecting the needs of each parish, team members would follow the pastor in serving all parishes in the collaborative.

Each collaborative, the plan says, is a means for fostering common pastoral action and a common vision, not a structure “above” the parish, or coming between the parish and the diocesan bishop. The collaboratives will take shape in four phases over the course of five years.

The archdiocese has not determined all collaborative groupings yet, according to Father Paul Soper, interim director of the Office of Pastoral Planning.

Father Soper told The Pilot that parishes would soon receive a letter letting them know if their collaborative grouping has been determined.

Parishes will be asked to respond to those letters, and those that want it will have a chance to be in the first

phase of collaboratives.

That first phase will be comprised of about a dozen collaboratives. Their experiences will be studied to hone the process as the phase-in continues.

The proposal also calls for parish pastoral and finance councils to be consolidated to allow each to serve the collaborative as a whole, with subcommittees capable of acting on behalf of each parish.

The pastoral plan also outlines training objectives to prepare pastoral teams and archdiocesan staff in theology, practices, management and leadership skills integral to the Catholic Church’s efforts for the New Evangelization.

The commission proposed that the Office of the Episcopal Vicar for the New Evangelization, the Catholic Leadership Institute and the Pastoral Planning Office form a

partnership to promote training objectives in each collaborative.

Training will take place in six stages geared to each level of participation in the archdiocese, from Pastoral Center staff to the pastors and the teams supporting them in the parishes. The Theological Institute for the New Evangelization will grant certificates to participants upon completion of training.

Father Soper said a new website, www.DisciplesInMission. com, will provide blogs, information and daily updates to keep laity informed on developments as the process continues.

In January 2006, Cardinal O’Malley established committees to explore Faith Formation, Marriage, and pastoral planning.

The 15-member Pastoral Planning Committee — made up of priests, religious and lay leaders

— was charged with suggesting ways for the archdiocese to use its resources to continue Christ’s mission.

After 18 meetings over the course of 15 months, the committee in 2007 recommended a commission be formed to develop and implement a specific pastoral plan for Boston. The archdiocese created the Office of Pastoral Planning in 2008.

In 2010 the archdiocese began a series of consultations with priests and laity that identified essential elements of a comprehensive pastoral plan.

In 2011 the cardinal formed the 18-member Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission — made up of priests, deacons, religious Sisters and lay people from around the archdiocese — to come up with final recommendations.

CHESTNUT HILL (CNS) — Leadership and creativity are crucial to a university establishing and maintaining a distinct identity, and hiring and developing faculty in line with that identity must be a priority, the president of Wake Forest University told participants at a Boston College symposium.

“Leadership is critical. To develop anything like a distinct identity will take formative leaders and great creativity. It will not be a natural evolution. It will not just happen,” said Nathan Hatch in an opening keynote.

A group of 15 scholars, writers, university presidents and former university presidents gathered recently for a symposium on “Religion and the Liberal Aims of Higher Education,” held as part of the university’s sesquicentennial celebration.

It addressed the question of what sets religious colleges and universities apart from secular institutions, even though they pursue very similar educational goals and methods.

In his address, Hatch outlined five points for establishing an institution’s distinct religious identity while at the same time addressing the educational needs of a student body that does not always share that identity.

He said that will be more difficult for Catholic universities and colleges because of the short supply of priests and religious who, in the past, established and upheld the identities of Catholic institutions.

Hatch said hiring and developing faculty in line with the identity of religiously affiliated colleges and universities must take priority. He pointed out that new funding can also be used to establish programs that underscore the religious iden-

tity of the institution.

He encouraged dedication to real diversity on campuses, including tolerance toward conservativeminded individuals.

“Some of the sharpest divisions in our society involve things that most American Catholics have a heavy stake in: the rights of women and the rights of the unborn, the nature of Marriage, the priority of free enterprise and of individual rights, and the priority of solidarity in the common good,” Hatch said.

Finally, he said religiously affiliated colleges and universities must give students something in which to believe.

“In a world that is cynical about political leadership, we need to show models of lively and compelling civic engagement,” Hatch said.

“In a world that is cynical about the Church and its leadership, we need to show patterns of worship and service that are winsome and lifegiving.

“In a world that preaches that the self is the center of life, we need to show compelling examples that the purpose of life is not to find yourself, but to lose yourself in education, in health reform, in thirdworld development, in building businesses and professions that are genuinely for the common good,” he said.

In remarks to symposium participants, Jesuit Father William P. Leahy, Boston College president, said one of the areas in which “we deeply want to engage as part of that sesquicentennial is our heritage and to reflect on our mission so that we can have another 150 years and more of being this vibrant university that is Jesuit and Catholic.”

Presidents of six universities also attended the November 8-9

symposium to explore the challenges and distinctive contributions of religiously affiliated colleges and universities to higher education in the United States.

A panel discussion featured Holy Cross Father John I. Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana; Jesuit Father Mark Massa, dean of the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry; Jane McAuliffe, president of Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania; and Philip G. Ryken, president of Wheaton College in Illinois.

Educational leaders from Columbia, Harvard and Yale universities and the University of Richmond also participated. New York Times columnist Mark Oppenheimer and Vanity Fair magazine editor-at-large Cullen Murphy moderated the discussion.

Panelist Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago, told The Pilot, Boston’s archdiocesan newspaper, that he strongly values and supports Catholic education.

“I just want to say as an American Muslim, I am very grateful for Catholic institutions — universities, hospitals and schools. My mom went to Catholic schools in India. My dad came to America because of Notre Dame. We sent my son to a Catholic preschool,” he said.

He said he appreciates that universities and colleges can promote sets of ideals while running concrete programs which articulate Catholic identity and moral character.

“There is a ‘there’ there. There is a heritage. There is an identity and it is clear, but it is one that articulates a bridge and not a barrier,” he said.

Leadership critical to developing university’s identity, speaker says

November 30, 2012

The Church in the U.S.

5

Vatican dismisses priest from Maryknoll order

storm damage — A Bible is seen amid flood-damaged family belongings cleared out of Shawn McKeon’s house after clearing it out in the Midland Beach area of Staten Island, N.Y. McKeon has been told his damage claims have been denied by his homeowners insurance, flood insurers and FEMA because of loop holes in the different policies. The federal government’s flood insurance program may not have enough funding to cover anticipated claims from Hurricane Sandy victims, a top official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency said. (CNS photo/Brendan McDermid, Reuters)

Archbishop Chaput says Year of Faith holds solution to relativism

Baltimore, Md. (CNA/ EWTN News) — The current Year of Faith is an opportunity to counter the cultural relativism that plagues modern society and that has led many in the Church to deny Catholic teaching on important topics, said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia.

“The appropriate response to relativism is faith, where you no longer are the center of the universe, you are no longer the one who decides what’s true, but you commit yourself in faith to God’s truth,” he told CNA. Among the biggest current challenges for the Church in the U.S. is addressing those “who say they’re Catholic but don’t believe what the Catholic Church teaches,” the archbishop stated. “The hardest thing is to convince them that they need to change.”

“So many people just think they’re Catholic already and think that they have a right to decide for themselves what’s Catholic and what’s not,” he observed, adding that “we’re just not getting through to them because they don’t think they need to be gotten through to.”

“It’s true about all of us,” he said. “Those who most need conversion are the ones who don’t think they need conversion.”

That means “it’s easier for the Church to convince people who are not Catholics of the truth of Catholicism than to convince Catholics who aren’t true believers that they ought to change,” he said.

Archbishop Chaput thinks that the root of the problem “is the cultural relativism that Pope Benedict speaks about all the time.” And it has “deeply infected” the life of the country

and many of the people in the Church.

“I think that’s the result of poor catechesis for a couple of generations,” he said, explaining that people genuinely think that they can “decide for themselves what it means to be Catholic.”

However, the archbishop said that he also sees opportunities amidst the challenges.

“I think the Holy Father has given us an extraordinary framework in which to evangelize – the Year of Faith,” he said. “It’s an act of God’s providence that he declared this period of time for that purpose.”

Announced by Pope Benedict XVI, the Year of Faith began on Oct. 11, 2012 and runs through Nov. 24, 2013. During this year, the pope is asking Catholics to study and reflect on the “Catechism” and documents of the Second Vatican Council to grow deeper in their faith, so that they can be witnesses to others.

Archbishop Chaput described the Year of Faith as a tremendous blessing for the Church in the U.S. as it faces the challenges of the culture.

He is also hopeful because the American bishops are increasingly becoming more aware of the problem of cultural relativism and the need to address it.

“For a long time, we weren’t even talking about this as an issue,” he said. “And you could see it creeping into the Church everywhere.”

This new awareness on the part of the bishops, coupled with the call to conversion and witness that is part of the Year of Faith, offers an opportunity for the Church in America to be renewed and grow stronger, he said.

Lay Catholics who are sincere about participating in the Year

of Faith should encourage their pastors “to develop programs in the parish to promote the New Evangelization,” the archbishop advised.

“Because sometimes, priests might not think that anybody’s interested in that.”

“Lay people generally think that if the bishop pushes priests, it will get done,” he said. “My experience is that it also takes the people in the pews to push from the other direction to get the priests’ attention.”

This involves not only asking the priest to do things, but the laity volunteering to do things themselves, Archbishop Chaput said.

“If they do that, I think there are going to be great changes.”

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Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) — The Vatican canonically dismissed Roy Bourgeois from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers on October 4, for disobedience and preaching against Church teaching on women’s ordination.

The decision, made by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, dispenses him from the bonds of priesthood and religious life.

On Aug. 8, 2008, Bourgeois preached a homily at the simulated ordination of a woman to the Catholic priesthood. His participation in the simulated Mass led him to be automatically excommunicated.

“With patience, the Holy See and the Maryknoll Society have encouraged his reconciliation with the Catholic Church,” said a recent statement from the Maryknoll Society.

“Instead, Mr. Bourgeois chose to campaign against the teachings of the Catholic Church in secular and non-Catholic venues. This was done without the permission of the local U.S. Catholic Bishops and while ignoring the sensitivities of the faithful across the country.”

“Disobedience and preaching against the teaching of the Catholic Church about women’s ordination led to his excommunication, dismissal and laicization.”

Bourgeois was told in July 2011 that he would be dismissed from the Maryknoll order unless

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he renounced his “defiant stance” against Catholic teaching on the possibility of women’s ordination.

Maryknoll superior general Father Edward M. Dougherty in a July 27, 2011 letter warned Bourgeois of his imminent dismissal on the grounds that he had shown “obstinate disobedience” to his superiors in violation of his oath about a “grave matter.”

The letter also cited his “diffusion of teachings” opposed to the “definitive teaching of John Paul II and the magisterium of the Catholic Church as well as the “grave scandal” he has caused to the people of God, to the Church, and to many Maryknoll priests and Brothers.

Bourgeois replied soon after that the Catholic teaching on male priesthood “defies both faith and reason” and is “rooted in sexism.”

“I will not recant,” he said in his Aug. 8, 2011 reply.

Following that exchange, his case proceeded to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which more than a year later dismissed and laicized Bourgeois.

“Mr. Bourgeois freely chose his views and actions, and all the members of the Maryknoll Society are saddened at the failure of reconciliation,” the order stated.

“With this parting, the Maryknoll Society warmly thanks Roy Bourgeois for his service to mission and all members wish him well in his personal life.”

6

The Anchor The date doesn’t matter; Who the guest is does

If you were watching the “CBS Evening News” on Thanksgiving Day (as opposed to sitting with family at the table, watching a football game on another channel, or standing outside of a store that would open at midnight), you would have heard about a supposed controversy regarding Pope Benedict XVI denying some traditional beliefs about Christmas. “Teased” before a commercial, eventually the viewing public heard that the Holy Father said that there were no animals present at the birth of Jesus and that the angels did not sing to the shepherds on that first Christmas night.

As we can read on page 19 of this edition of The Anchor this supposed controversy for a slow news day came from the pope’s newly-released book, “Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives.” The Holy Father pointed out that the Gospels of Luke and Matthew do not mention animals being present at the birth of Jesus, but that the ox and donkey came to be a part of the Church’s art representing the Nativity due to Old Testament predictions of the coming of the Messiah, in particular Isaiah 1:3, which states, “The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel has not known Me.” Pope Benedict explained in an earlier (2007) book the significance of the ox and donkey for us. In “The Blessing of Christmas” (Ignatius Press, 2007), he wrote: “The fathers of the Church saw in these words a prophecy that pointed ahead to the new people of God, the Church consisting of both Jews and Gentiles.

Before God, all men, Jews and Gentiles, were like the ox and ass, without reason or knowledge. But the Child in the crib has opened their eyes so that they now recognize the voice of their Master, the voice of their Lord. It is striking to note in the medieval pictures of Christmas how the artists give the two animals almost human faces and how they stand before the mystery of the child and bow down in awareness and reverence. But after all, this was only logical, since the two animals were considered the prophetical symbol for the mystery of the Church — our own mystery, since we are but oxen and asses vis-à-vis the Eternal God, oxen and asses whose eyes are opened on Christmas night, so that they can recognize their Lord in the crib.”

Another “controversial” element of the pope’s new book was his writing that Jesus was not born in the year 1 A.D. (Anno Domini – “In The Year of Our Lord”).

While uninformed secular news sources, such as CBS or “Time” magazine may be “shocked” that the pope could say such a thing, educated Catholics have long known that Jesus would have had to have been born between 6 and 4 B.C. (Before Christ — ironic given that He would have been born in the time “Before Christ”), since King Herod the Great (great in his power, incredibly evil in his style of governance) died approximately in 4 B.C. Jesus would have had to have been born in B.C. for Herod to have tried to kill him (which is why St. Joseph took Mary and the Baby Jesus into Egypt to protect the Boy from the Slaughter of the Holy Innocents in Bethlehem).

As we can read on page 12 of this paper, Deacon Greg Kandra, a former CBS news employee said, “They (the general public) have probably heard the greatest story ever told,” the story of Jesus, but have closed their hearts to the story. “The New Evangelization seeks to make them aware of how great that story is.” Part of the New Evangelization involves engaging modern society which oftentimes is still looking for truth, even if unwittingly. We cannot treat adults like small children to whom explaining the minor mistake about Jesus’ date of birth might be jarring. However, when speaking with adults, they can appreciate our desire to be more precise about the date of Jesus’ birth.

The actual day and year of the Nativity of the Lord and the question of whom (human or animal) was actually present is irrelevant to our salvation. As Father Landry writes to the right of this editorial, the “final exam” from God will not be a quiz regarding dates and data. It will be whether we recognized Jesus’ manifold presence in this world — in the Blessed Sacrament, in the poor, in our enemies, in the unborn, in the uncatechized, in ourselves. These questions might not come up as exciting headlines on a slow news day, but they are key to Jesus’ coming to be one with us, so that we might be one with Him and His heavenly Father for all eternity.

In the weekly English edition of the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, Giovanni Maria Vian explained what is the key question of the Nativity — and it is a question which Pontius Pilate posed to Jesus at His trial on Good Friday approximately 33 years later (the actual number of years is not important). Vian wrote, “The fundamental question with which Part Three (the pope’s new book is the third part of a series he was writing on the life of Christ) begins is the one that Pilate addresses to Jesus ‘Where are You from?’

(Jn 19:9); the pope’s entire work pivots on this: ‘Where are You from?’ It is a question that prompts the journey of the Magi, in whom the pontiff sees ‘the inner expectation of the human spirit, the movement of religions and of human reason towards Christ.’ The Magi knocking at the door of the disbelieving exegete (interpreter of the Bible) thus calls to mind the One who is described in the Book of Revelation: ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me’” (Jn 3:20).

May the door of our hearts be opened during this Advent so as to welcome Christ is the many forms He comes to us each day.

T

November 30, 2012

Definitive self-exclusion or communion?

oday we finish November, the month will say, “Depart from Me, you accursed, in which the Church annually reflects into the eternal fire prepared for the devil on the last things of death, judgment, Heaven and his angels,” will be startled to recognize and hell. Last week I mentioned that this that every time they neglected to nourish, meditation is happening less frequently dress, welcome and care for others — every today because, even though death remains time they failed to love their neighbor — a certainty, many have begun to believe that they were failing to love Jesus Himself in Heaven is just as certain for almost everyone disguise. And those choices matter. who dies. Judgment and hell are irrelevant, In talking about hell, Jesus was not they think, because how could Jesus — Who an ancient Stephen King entertaining the desires all to be saved and died on the cross multitudes with fictional horror stories. to make salvation possible — ever flunk He was communicating that hell is a real someone on the final exam of life? possibility of human freedom. Hell is not Theoretically, of course, we can fathom part of the Gospel Jesus proclaimed — hell that Judas, Hitler, Osama Bin Laden, serial is not “Good News” — but it is a reality for killers, and all the people who don’t like us those who freely decide not to believe and might end up in hell, if there is a hell; but live the Gospel. we can’t envisage ourselves, any of those But the question remains: How is hell we care about, or a sizable chunk of ordiconsistent with Divine love? If God calls us nary people ever ending up in Gehenna. to forgive 70 times seven times, doesn’t hell How could a God Who is full of commean that there’s a limit to His mercy? passion, slow to anger, and rich in kindness Hell was not part of God’s original ever set up an eternal, infernal dungeon in plans, for everything He created was good. which He mercilessly punishes people for He formed us in His image and likeness in disobedience? How could God Who is love order to share His life and love, but He took ever establish a tremendous an everlasting risk in creatAbu Ghraib ing us free: Putting Into for anyone, He made it not to mention possible for the Deep His beloved us to misuse children? our freedom

By Father And if it’s against Him, the case that others, and Roger J. Landry only those with ourselves. Sin, post-doctoral suffering, death degrees in Satanic wickedness are candiand hell are all the creation not of God but dates for the eternal hall of shame, then, at of those who refuse Him, the consequences a practical level, we can all just calm down, of a disordered self-love so strong that it because very little now matters to our or excludes the love of God. others’ eternal destiny. It doesn’t matter if Jesus said that He had come into the we spread the faith, because everyone gets world not to condemn the world but to save to Heaven whether or not they know Jesus it, but He added, “The one who rejects Me Christ. The Sacraments don’t matter. The and does not receive My word has a judge, Word of God doesn’t matter. It doesn’t mat- and on the last day the Word that I have ter if we pray or play, if we keep or break spoken will serve as judge” (Jn 12:47). promises, if we steal or sacrifice, if we Those who reject Jesus’ words of eternal come to Mass or sleep in, if we’re faithful life, who prefer to walk in the darkness into our spouse or cheat, if we provide for or stead of the light, become their own judges neglect our family, if we forgive or settle by the way they respond to the truth God scores, if we love or abuse the poor, or if has revealed. “There are only two kinds we welcome or abort the littlest of Jesus’ of people in the end,” C.S. Lewis once brethren. None of this matters — or at famously wrote. “Those who say to God, least none of it matters much. Since almost ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God everyone in the class is going to make the says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that eternal honor roll no matter what they do, are in hell choose it.” while we may still admire those who study Hell exists not despite God’s love but hard, the really wise ones are those who eat, precisely because of it, in order to honor the drink and be merry and still get their easy A. desires of those who don’t want to live in But this way of believing and behavloving communion with Him and others. It ing is not Christian. Contrary to the idea is the state, as the “Catechism” calls it, of that the final judgment is a cake walk and “definitive self-exclusion from communion that everyone is with Led Zeppelin on the with God and the blessed.” It is the tragic “Stairway to Heaven,” Jesus, as we saw possibility of human freedom for those last week, taught that “many” are on the who, in voluntarily choosing sin, separate wide, easy road leading to destruction and themselves from God and others. relatively “few” are entering through the When we ponder all God has done to narrow door leading to life (Mt 7:13-14). make salvation possible, including Jesus’ Jesus came from Heaven to show us the brutal crucifixion to pay the full price for way to Heaven and indicated quite emphati- our sins, our response should not be to take cally that not all roads lead there. To get Heaven for granted, but to say, with emoto Heaven, we need to follow Him. If we tion, “So much mercy, so much love, and tragically refuse to follow Him on that path, still some people choose against God!” that choice has consequences.

Jesus on the cross paid the price not Just as much as Jesus discoursed on so that we could sin as much as we want the beauty of Heaven, he spoke about the and presumptuously still think we’ll get to reality of hell. He compared hell to a blazHeaven, but so that we, moved by the horing furnace, an unquenchable fire, a worm ror of sin and by the immensity of His love, that doesn’t die. We can make choices, He might choose to live in His light, lovingly said, that cause us to lose body and soul in unite our whole lives with Him, follow Him hell, that exclude us from the banquet of home to Heaven, and help others to join us the Kingdom, that lead God to say to us, “I on the narrow path to His eternal right side. never knew you.”

It’s the choice between life and death, Those who end up in this state, Jesus light and darkness, Heaven and hell. Jesus said, may be shocked because they had did everything necessary to enable us to dined with Him, heard His sermons, even choose well. But we have to choose Him worked miracles in His name, but they had lovingly in return, in each moral decision. never really developed an intimate commuFather Landry is Pastor of St. Bernanion of life with Him. Those to whom Jesus dette Parish in Fall River.

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The Anchor

November 30, 2012

Celebrating Church’s universality, pope creates new cardinals

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Recalling that Christ’s mission transcends “all ethnic, national and religious particularities,” Pope Benedict XVI created six new cardinals from four different continents, representing the Latin rite of the Catholic Church as well as two Eastern Catholic Churches.

The churchmen who joined the College of Cardinals November 24 were U.S. Archbishop James M. Harvey, 63, former prefect of the papal household; Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, 72; Indian Archbishop Baselio Cleemis Thottunkal, 53, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church; Nigerian Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, 68, of Abuja; Colombian Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez, 70, of Bogota; and Philippine Archbishop Luis Tagle, 55, of Manila.

“I want to highlight in particular the fact that the Church is the Church of all peoples, so she speaks in the various cultures of the different continents,” the pope said during the hour-long service in St. Peter’s Basilica.

“Amid the polyphony of the var-

ious voices, she raises a single harmonious song to the living God.” The six new cardinals later stepped up to the pope, who was seated before the basilica’s main altar, to receive symbols of their office: a ring, the “zucchetto” skull cap and the three-cornered hat called a biretta. The headwear was colored scarlet, like the cardinals’ robes, to symbolize the blood they risk shedding in service to the Church.

The new Eastern Catholic cardinals received modified versions of the biretta, consistent with the distinctive clerical garb of their churches. Cardinal Rai received the turban-like Maronite tabieh, and Cardinal Cleemis a head covering in a shape reminiscent of an onion dome.

Pope Benedict also assigned each of the new cardinals a “titular church” in Rome, making them full members of the Rome clergy and closer collaborators of the pope in governing the universal Church.

Cardinal Harvey’s titular church is the Church of Saint Pius V a Villa Carpegna, a post-

war church about a mile southwest of Vatican City. The pope has also named Cardinal Harvey to serve as archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas.

The November 24 ceremony was a much quieter affair than the last consistory in February, when Pope Benedict created 22 cardinals, including three from the United States and Canada.

This time, there was no overflow crowd in St. Peter’s Square, and only 99 of the 211 members of the College of Cardinals were in attendance.

Yet the congregation was spirited, with pilgrims applauding enthusiastically as the new cardinals’ names were called.

Cardinal Tagle seemed especially moved as he knelt before the pope, and afterwards was seen wiping a tear from his eye.

At the end of the ceremony, the College of Cardinals had 211 members, 120 of whom were under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope.

The new consistory raises

the percentage of Asian electors from seven percent to nine percent. Catholics in Asia account for just over 10 percent of the worldwide Catholic population.

At the same time, the percent-

age of European electors dropped slightly, to just over 51 percent.

But the continent remains statistically overrepresented, since the Vatican reports that fewer than 24 percent of the world’s Catholics live in Europe.

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Amount: Starting from $2,365.00 per person Double Occupancy capping off a great day — New U.S. Cardinal James M. Harvey lets John Stollenwerk, eight, of Mequon, Wis., try on his red zucchetto following a consistory at the Vatican. Cardinal Harvey, a native of Milwaukee who has spent the last 30 years at the Vatican, was among six new cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Diocesan Episcopal Representative for Religious asks for support for retired men and women religious this weekend

FALL RIVER — The annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious will take place in parishes across the Diocese of Fall River at Masses this weekend.

“This is an opportunity for all to emulate the generosity exemplified by religious who served the Church so faithfully in the past,” said Mercy Sister Catherine Donovan, Episcopal Representative for Religious for the diocese. “These senior men and women received little, if any, recompense for their ministries.

These sacrifices now leave reli-

gious communities without adequate savings for their retirement needs.”

Last year parishioners across the Fall River Diocese donated a total of $138,897 to support these faithful and faith-filled men and women of the Church.

“Please join with Bishop George W. Coleman and the diocesan parishes to support the National Retirement Fund and to pray for God’s continued blessing on our senior religious,” Sister Donovan continued.

Sister Donovan will be speaking at the end of the diocesan TV

Mass on Channel 6 on Sunday at 11 a.m.

Sister Donovan said that the retired men and women religious remember the diocesan faithful in their daily prayers, and that they extend their sincere gratitude for all the generous support they have received over the years.

“I know many of you bear financial difficulties of your own.”

Sister Donovan expressed to the diocesan faithful, “I ask simply that you honor the service of retired religious by giving as a gift whatever you can. God bless you.”

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November 30, 2012

The Anchor

I

t’s always quite proper and sensible to try to understand the meaning of our readings and the Gospel in the context of when they were written and what was happening at the time. After all, whenever we write a letter to a friend or write in our diary (for those who keep one), we are greatly affected and influenced by what troubles us in our personal life, in our community, or about our nation.

In fact, this November the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a document on preaching that emphasized: “Homilies should connect Scripture to daily life; the preacher should be in touch with contemporary culture; and sermons should enhance the hearer’s relationship with Jesus.” Therefore, what has happened recently connecting us to the prophet Jeremiah who said, “He shall do what is right and just in the land”; to St. Paul who said, “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one an-

Westward leading, still proceeding

other”; and to Luke who said, compassion are doing what is “Be vigilant at all times and right and just. We are practicpray that you have the strength ing what we preach by folto escape the tribulations that lowing our bishop’s lead and are imminent”? The answer is responding to the great need “Hurricane Sandy.” in New Jersey and New York, This First Sunday of as well as in Cuba, Haiti and Advent our Gospel begins with Jesus warning His disciples: Homily of the Week “Nations will be in dismay, perplexed by First Sunday the roaring of the sea of Advent and waves.” Indeed, as Hurricane Sandy

By Deacon moved up the coast David E. Pierce our forecasters warned us that Frankenstorm was approaching. To the dismay of everyone, when Jamaica. it hit with rain and wind, its Special collections throughdevastation was almost beout the diocese are being sent yond description with the high to Catholic Charities USA and sea and waves roaring across Catholic Relief Services to the land to “frighten, destroy, bring relief and assistance to and shake the powers” of those without shelter and in major cities suffering billions need of aid. As we now say in of dollars in damage and many the Preface Dialogue to our deaths.

Eucharistic Prayer, “Lift up Now, our Church and so your hearts. We lift them up to many volunteers of other the Lord. Let us give thanks faiths filled with care and to the Lord our God. It is right

and just.” This is a fitting change and call to heartfelt compassion and action during this or any other time of suffering.

There is no better way to follow Jesus than to have our love for one another increase and abound through good works and charity. The hurricane’s victims are our neighbors in Jets and Giants territory. Those children and parents, like Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, now need warm and safe places to lay their heads.

What trials and tribulations will the future bring for those trampled in Sandy’s path, or for us? Climate change, threats of terrorism, economic woes, and warnings of more to come bring to mind Jesus’ words given to us by Luke: “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations [and hurricanes] that are imminent.”

In other words, during

this Advent season when we prepare for the coming of the Lord and we light the “Hope” candle on our wreath, our prayers give us hope. They help us anticipate and then deal with any “hurricanes” in our personal lives — adversity of all sorts or terrible losses.

This First Sunday of Advent, like Jesus, we look for the “signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars.” But we look in the wrong places.

Unlike for the Three Kings of Orient, skyward signs will serve no good purpose. The signs we seek during our journey from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day are the ones along highway 95 westward leading, still proceeding, guiding us by the perfect light — Christ — to bring relief to those many victims still crying out for help and looking for hope.

Deacon Pierce serves at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Pocasset and St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in North Falmouth.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Dec. 1, Rv 22:1-7; Ps 95:1-7; Lk 21:34-36. Sun. Dec. 2, First Sunday of Advent, Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5,8-9,10,14; 1 Thes 3:12—4:2; Lk 21:25-28,34-36. Mon. Dec. 3, Is 2:1-5; Mt 8:5-11. Tues. Dec. 4, Is 11:1-10; Lk 10:21-24. Wed. Dec. 5, Is 25:6-10a; Mt 15:29-37.

Thurs. Dec. 6, Is 26:1-6; Mt 7:21,24-27. Fri. Dec. 7, Is 29:17-24; Mt 9:27-31.

I

t was just about a year ago that U.S. parishes began using the new translations of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal — an implementation process that seems to have gone far more smoothly than some anticipated. Wrinkles remain to be ironed out: there are precious few decent musical settings for the revised Ordinary of the Mass; the occasional celebrant (not infrequently with “S.J.” after his name) feels compelled to share his winsome personality with the congregation by free-lancing the priestly greetings and prayers of Mass.

Some of the new texts themselves could have used another editorial rinsing, in my judgment. But in the main, the new translations are an immense improvement and seem to have been received as such.

Sacred language for sacred acts

Why that’s the case is exgrasp the truths embodied in plained with clarity and scholtheir prayers. arly insight in a new book by It is a language of delight, Oratorian Father Uwe Michael attracting us to those truths Lang, “The Voice of the Church through the beauty, even charm, at Prayer: Reflections on of the prayed words and their Liturgy and Language” (Ignatius Press).

From the days of Christian antiquity, Father Lang explains, liturgical language — the language of the

By George Weigel Church at its formal public prayer — has always been understood to be different: different from arrangement. the language of the marketIt is a language of persuaplace or public square; different sion and encouragement, urging from the language of the home. us to conform our lives to the Liturgical language, at its best, truths we lift up in prayer and is multivalent; it does many spurring us to greater efforts to things at once. imitate Christ and the saints.

It is a language of instrucIt is not, to illustrate the tion, teaching Christians to point along the via negativa, the kind of language found in the old Collect for the TwentyFirst Sunday of the Year (“Father, help us to seek the values that will bring us lasting joy in this changing world”) or in the old Post-Communion prayer for the Thirtieth Sunday of the Year (“May our celebration have an effect in our lives”).

The language of the Liturgy is also a language meant to

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The Catholic Difference

elevate us, to lift us out of the quotidian and the ordinary. We don’t “speak” at Holy Mass the way we talk at the local mall, and for a good reason: the Liturgy is our privileged participation in the Liturgy of saints and angels around the Throne of Grace, and the way we address the Lord, and each other, in those circumstances ought to reflect the awesome character of our baptismal dignity. The Latin used in shaping the Canon, the Prefaces, and the Collects of the Roman Rite in the classic period of its formation was not, Father Lang writes, “The ordinary idiom of the people.”

Rather, it was “a highly stylized language” consciously intended to give expression to a unique religious experience — an experience of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

In the post-Vatican II period, Polish translators followed the classic understanding of liturgical Latin and deliberately adopted a high, literary Polish for rendering the Missal of 1970 into their native language.

English translators did exactly the opposite, stripping the Latin

of its distinctive sacral vocabulary and images, and flattening out the rhythms of liturgical Latin. The results were not happy: Collects that informed God of what God presumably already knew (about God’s doings or our needs), and then made anodyne requisites of the Most High; eucharistic prayers that eliminated sacral words and biblical images; post-Communion prayers that, like the nonsense cited above, sounded like requests made to a therapist or dentist.

The Poles made the right choice, and whatever else can be said about post-conciliar Catholicism in Poland, it never slogged through the worst of the liturgical translation wars.

The bad choices made by English translators decades ago, often for reasons of populist ideology and dumbed-down theology, have now been largely rectified by the new translations, which take seriously the modern scholarship about Liturgy and rhetoric Father Lang so helpfully summarizes in his book.

George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

November 30, 2012

T

he scenes played out all over the country last week, and will again with the coming of the celebration of Christmas.

Good-hearted people of all ages gathered to collect and prepare food baskets, cook and package turkey dinners, and solicit funds and goods for people in need. More than likely these very same souls will repeat the process in a few weeks.

A few hours to our south, many poor folks in New York, New Jersey and other mid-Atlantic states are still in a state of

F

Know what you have, and what others don’t shock with some of them having their heads. And that’s not just lost absolutely every possession, at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

That’s 24/7-365. including their homes.

We can expand on that as Again, hundreds of people stepped up to help these victims have something for which to be thankful last week. And again, they will be there come Christmas as

By Dave Jolivet well.

Add to that the countless number of well and consider the millions Americans who have no jobs, of our brothers and sisters across no income, no means to support the globe who have even less. themselves, and no roof over

My View From the Stands

There is always room at the table

amily gatherings, celebrations and special events almost always are centered around the table; generally food or refreshments are a mainstay. As we finish off the leftovers from our Thanksgiving meals and ready ourselves for Advent and Christmas, we find ourselves warmed by those blessed moments we spend with family and friends.

Looking at my own life, it is these very moments that I feel a connectedness to the altar. Too often we miss the simple fact that the table of the altar and our own dinner table are in fact very similar.

Like the altar, which we prepare for the very special celebration of the Eucharist, we too prepare our own tables in anticipation of those precious moments we will spend with our guests. In both celebrations, we ready the table, we make sure that all the necessary items are cleaned and polished, and the table linens are freshly pressed.

We add accessories, light the candles and await the arrival of family and friends, adding an extra plate or two for unexpected guests.

The Mass for me is no different than a gathering of family; we may not all be blood relatives, but we are in fact “blood relatives” through the sacrifice of Christ. We are welcomed and embraced, strengthened and encouraged, nourished and fed, all elements that hopefully we take home to our own families and gatherings. Too often we are all so wrapped up in the events of the day that we overlook this simple act of love: the act of sitting together, gathered around the table, enjoying the meal and each other’s companionship.

As a child, dinner was a

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time to sit together, dad at the head of the table, mom sitting at the other end and my brothers and I in between. We would begin with a simple prayer of thanks, and then the food would get passed around as the conversations would begin. We would each share the events of our day, and my parents would counter our stories with stories of their own youth. Today daily meals are a bit more rushed at times, but Sunday meals

In the Palm of His Hands

By Rose Mary Saraiva are still very important in my household. These meals afford us an opportunity to catch up on family events and stories, to come together, and to quiet our lives enough to enjoy each other’s company.

When we gather for the Eucharist on Sunday, we too begin with prayer. As we await the feast, we listen to the stories, that even old, seem new again as we relate them to our daily lives. We take from the readings the hope, the courage and the fortitude to get up and try, try again, even in the face of adversity and tribulation.

Like our own gatherings, we take away some comfort and knowledge as we listen to the words that the Father and Son spoke to others so many years ago, and continues to speak to us today. As one family gathered we share the meal, the bread and wine, the Body and Blood of Christ, and take our fill of the promises made and the sacrifice for our salvation.

As we partake of the feast, we are no longer individuals seeking shelter, but one big fam-

ily embraced in the love and comfort that is found in family gatherings. We sit back and take in all that has been given to us and allow ourselves to be a part of the Mass, leaving all our cares aside while we sit and visit with the Lord.

For me, there is something wonderful about sitting around the altar, knowing that every Sunday I get to spend some time visiting with the Father and Son, and my extended family. It is for me no different than the excitement I feel when I know I am going to visit relatives and friends.

Each and every weekend I am given the opportunity to sit, listen and be nourished in such a way that makes a difference in my life.

It is my oasis in an often barren world, a place of refuge and solace, a place to be who I am regardless of the cracks on the exterior. And like our own families, we are accepted just as we are, and loved for the uniqueness we bring to the table.

So as you gather around your tables during this sacred season, remember the gifts we are to one another, what each of us brings to the gathering, and how our celebrations are a reflection of the Mass and the table of the altar. And always remember that everyone is welcome, everyone makes the celebration more memorable, and that there is always room at the table.

Rose Mary Saraiva lives in Fall River and is a parishioner of St. Michael’s Parish, and she is the Events Coordinator and Bereavement Ministry for the diocesan Office of Faith Formation. She is married with three children and two grandchildren. rmsaraiva@dfrcec.com.

With that being said, someone please explain to me how the players in the National Hockey League can continue to dig in their heels and refuse to accept the offers of the NHL owners.

Sometimes I open myself up to criticism and ridicule based on my opinion in this column, but on this topic I don’t care. This is the players’ fault pure and simple.

The owners, who are trying to make as much as they can, are the ones who take the risks with signing a player. What they and all sports owners do, is basically pay the players what they hope the player will achieve. A total gamble.

At this time it’s important to remember the opening paragraphs of this column. The minimum amount an NHL player can receive as pay is $525,000, not counting bonuses. That’s more than one-half a million dollars.

To play a game.

The average salary of an NHL player is $2.4 million. Believe it or not, that’s more than the average for a player in the National Football League.

Yet, that’s not enough. Did I mention that this is to play a game?

This hold-my-breath-until-Iturn-blue behavior is nothing, I repeat the nothing part, short of sinful.

I can’t even fathom what

earning a half a million dollars a year would be like. Can you imagine how that makes the poor souls at the beginning of this column feel?

I’ve mentioned this more than once in this column, but these athletes have been coddled and spoiled since they were pups.

They don’t live by the same rules as normal people. Many receive free passes in high school and free tuition in college.

It’s time these athleticallytalented brothers of ours realize just what they have, and more importantly, what others do not have.

It’s time for these boys/men to put on the pads, lace up the skates, grab their sticks and get back in the game. It’s time for them to realize how blessed by God they truly are.

It’s time for them to join the real world. Two shortened or cancelled seasons in five years is a sin.

The minimum an NHL player can make per GAME is $6,400.

That could feed and clothe scores of people with nothing ... for quite a while.

If that doesn’t make someone’s blood boil, I don’t know what will.

This Christmas we’ll see people helping people, as they usually do, while ice hockey players will see themselves as victims. That sends a chill up my spine. How about yours?

Revised and updated ...

2012-2013 Diocese of Fall River Catholic Directory ... NOW SHIPPING !!

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The Anchor

November 30, 2012

Family Rosary offers free mobile app for Advent and Christmas

EASTON — With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be difficult keeping Christ in Christmas. This year, though, it will be a lot easier, thanks to a free mobile app for Advent from Family Rosary.

Featuring meditative music with Scripture and reflections, this new app for iPhone, iPads, and smartphones is the perfect

spiritual aid while standing in line to buy presents or trekking to stores in the wee hours for that midnight madness sale.

When Advent begins on Sunday, the mobile app will feature a new prayer each day to help keep the focus right where it needs to be.

Best of all, the Advent mobile app from Family Rosary is free.

It can be downloaded on iTunes or by going to m.FamilyRosary. org/Xmas or familyrosary.org.

It’s a great way to start each day during Advent with a moment of reflection on the spiritual significance of the season.

This is the second mobile app offered by Family Rosary. The first — Pray the Rosary — has already topped 20,000 in downloads at iTunes.

Family Rosary, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, is a member ministry of Holy Cross Family Ministries, which was founded by Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, in 1942. A candidate for sainthood, Father Peyton was one of the most influential American Catholic priests of the 20th century. Known as the “Rosary Priest,” he encouraged millions of people to pray the Rosary daily.

In the spirit of its founder, Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, Holy Cross Family Ministries encourages family prayer, especially the Rosary, to support the spiritual well-being of the family.

For more information, call 800-299-7729 or visit www.

FamilyRosary.org.

advent app — This is a screen shot of the new free mobile app for Advent from Family Rosary, featuring meditative music with Scripture and reflections for iPhone, iPads, and smartphones.

The Anchor

November 30, 2012

11

social action — Bono speaks at the recent International Herald Tribune’s Luxury Business Conference in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images)

Bono thanks Vatican for helping with debt forgiveness

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — The famous U2 vocalist Bono recently traveled to the Vatican to thank the Church for its work to free the world’s least developed countries from their foreign debt, enabling them to invest in education.

Bono recently spent nearly an hour speaking with Cardinal Peter K. Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, according to Vatican Radio.

In 2000, the Church was an important backer of the “Drop the Debt” campaign, which coincided with the Church’s jubilee year. Bono was one of the leading figures in the campaign, and is known for his activism for world’s poorest people.

Drop the Debt was an effort to persuade first-world nations to forgive the debt owed them by the poorest countries.

The success of that effort has

made possible “an extra 52 million children going to school,” Bono told Vatican Radio, since governments were able to use the money they would have had to pay back for investment in schools.

Bono said the Church deserves “incredible credit” for their role in securing debt forgiveness, and that Catholics should be made aware of how their faith was central in the efforts.

Jubilee years are celebrations of God’s mercy, the forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation, and are rooted in Jewish tradition.

The Jewish tradition of jubilee years was that every 50th year, slaves and prisoners were freed. Debts were also forgiven, which is why the Great Jubilee of 2000 was an opportune time for the Church to advocate forgiveness of foreign debt.

Pope John Paul II met with

Bono on the eve of the jubilee year to discuss the debt campaign, and shortly after his death, Bono recalled that “we would never have gotten the debts of 23 countries completely canceled without him.”

The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace promotes the Church’s social teaching to advance justice and harmony the world over. Bono and Cardinal Turkson were looking forward to further collaboration on development and foreign aid.

Bono told Vatican Radio that “I just think the Church hasn’t done a good job yet of telling people what they’ve achieved and we were just trying to figure out how best to do that.”

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@anchornews.org

12

November 30, 2012

The Anchor

New social media tools can help tell age-old Gospel story, speakers say

easy as pi — Suraj Sharma and a fierce Bengal tiger named Richard Parker are seen in the movie “Life of Pi.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Fox)

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.

“Life of Pi” (Fox) Exotic 3-D fable in which an Indian teen (Suraj Sharma), whose family (led by parents Adil Hussain and Tabu) is emigrating to Canada, and transporting some of the animals from the zoo they owned in their home country, becomes the lone human survivor when the freighter on which they and their menagerie are traveling sinks. But his endurance is put to a further test when he finds himself forced to share a small lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. Religious themes are central to director Ang Lee’s screen version of Yann Martel’s best-selling novel. But, while it features a positive treatment of Catholicism and a sympathetic priest, this visually artful psychological parable — told in flashbacks by its now-adult protagonist (Irrfan Khan) — upholds its main character’s view that he can be, simultaneously, a Hindu, a Christian and a Muslim. Not for the impressionable or the poorly-catechized, Lee’s film also becomes somewhat taxing as the rigors of the

lad’s unusual ordeal begin to rub off on viewers. Complex treatment of religious faith requiring mature interpretation, potentially upsetting scenes of life-threatening danger and animal aggression, some mildly vulgar wordplay, fleeting scatological humor. The Catholic News Service classification is AIII — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suit “Anna Karenina” (Focus) Keira Knightley stars in this lush adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s 1877 novel about a once happily married mother in the high society of imperial Russia who forsakes her upright husband (Jude Law) in favor of an aristocrat (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) with whom she falls obsessively in love. Director Joe Wright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard cover nearly all the elements from the novel, but they present about half of it in a highly stylized manner, using a theater as both a framing device and a setting. This creates the unpleasant sensation that the audience is completing an assignment for English class. Morally, though, Tolstoy’s message, that “sin has a price,” remains front and center. Nongraphic adulterous sexual activity, fleeting rear male nudity, a scene of breastfeeding.

The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CNS) — Modern social media tools can make the centuries-old Gospel message new again for Catholics as they renew their faith and for those who have been baptized but have never embraced the faith.

That was the view of a group of workshop presenters, most of them Catholic bloggers, who examined the role of the new media efforts to proclaim the Gospel anew in various sessions during the conference of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists.

Hundreds of participants and scores of scholars, activists and others gathered recently in the Diocese of Rockville Centre for the conference, which marked the society’s 20th anniversary.

Workshops and talks addressed everything from politics to labor and economics, art, literature, and film, law and crime, and theology.

Proclaimed by Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, the New Evangelization was considered at several workshops, including one titled “And God said ‘Tweet.”

Presenters said the New Evangelization is not new in its content — the Gospel — but using modern methods of communication can reach many who have heard the Gospel and even been baptized and catechized but who have not embraced it.

“They have probably heard the greatest story ever told,” the story of Jesus, but have closed their hearts to the story, said Deacon Greg Kandra, former CBS News writer and producer, and author of “The Deacon’s Bench,” a wellknown Catholic blog.

“The New Evangelization seeks to make them aware of how great that story is,” he said.

Being online, whether through blogs, websites, or Twitter, “does nothing original for your work” of proclaiming the Gospel, said Marc Barnes, creator of “Bad Catholic,” another Catholic blog, “but it helps you reach a ton of people.”

Part of the problem with evangelization today, Barnes said, is that much of the world “isn’t interested in hearing the word ‘God.’” So the challenge is to focus on such “transcendental” realities as goodness, truth and beauty, which can help people find God, he said.

Gary Jansen, senior editor of Image/Random House book publishing, suggested caution and discernment. “A lot of people are putting out a lot of garbage.” He urged bloggers to “be the best Catholic you can be,” and to “understand your Catholicism.”

“Most evangelization happens in the everyday moments of life,” said Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, author and host on Eternal World Television Network. She uses her programs to offer support to mothers and help them find God in their struggles and joys.

“God gave each of us a voice,” said Patricia Gohn, columnist and host of “Among Women” a podcast, and encourage everyone to use that voice to touch people’s hearts “for God.” In a plenary session, legal scholar and ethicist Robert George talked about religious freedom and current threats to conscience protection.

He said such threats did not start with the Obama Administration’s contraceptive mandate requiring most religious employers to cover contraceptives for employees despite their moral objections. The mandate has a narrow religious exemption and no exemption for reasons of conscience.

George said the mandate’s proponents “reflect and manifest attitudes and ideologies that are now deeply entrenched in the intellectual world and in the elite sector of the culture more generally.”

A professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University, George is a former member of the President’s Council on Bioethics.

According to him, President Barack Obama, members of his administration, and many other federal and state officials “are advancing and supporting policies trampling conscience rights,” because “they have deeply absorbed me-generation dogmas that make nonsense of the very idea of conscience rights.”

He cited a 2008 report of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Limits of Conscience,” which he said proposed that “physicians in the field of women’s health be required as a matter of ethical duty to refer patients for abortion and sometimes even perform abor-

tions themselves.”

He said he found the report shocking and frightening not only for its disregard for the sincere conscience claims of Catholics, evangelical Protestants, Orthodox Jewish and other opponents of abortion, but also in its treatment of abortion “as if it were a matter of health care.”

“If they had their way, the field of medical practice would be cleansed of Pro-Life physicians whose convictions required them to refrain from performing or referring for abortions,” he said.

“Enemies of conscience in” the medical establishment “now have powerful friends in the highest realms of government,” he said.

“So it falls to us to resist,” George said, “not only for the sake of defending the lives of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters — children in the womb — but also in defense of what James Madison called ‘the sacred rights of conscience’ ... For all of us, standing up for conscience means defending principles on which our nation was founded.”

Integrating faith with social sciences was the focus of a plenary session by Paul Vitz, professor emeritus of psychology at New York University, who teaches at the Institute for Psychological Sciences in Arlington, Va. In the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s, Vitz said, the prevailing mode in social science was secular humanism, which saw the role of religion as declining and being replaced by a more rational, Enlightenment-based perspective.

Yet postmodernist thinkers — even secularists — Vitz said, have offered a critique of Western Enlightenment secular thought which have “greatly undermined the secular humanist assumption of its dominant future.”

“The other major critique and surprise for the secular vision has been the obvious growth and energy of religion around the world,” he said.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, December 2, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father David C. Frederici, Chaplain at UMass-Dartmouth and an Anchor columnist.

November 30, 2012

13

The Anchor

Naming of Maronite patriarch as a cardinal buoys Lebanese Catholics BEIRUT (CNS) — Catholics in Lebanon said Pope Benedict XVI’s naming of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai as a cardinal reinforces the Church’s support for Christians in the Middle East.

The appointment is “a sign of support and affirmation for the Christians of the Middle East and a support for the Christian presence in the region,” Archbishop Paul Sayah, vicar general of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke, told Catholic News Service.

“It is a sign of support and affirmation for Lebanon in the present situation the country

is going through,” Archbishop Sayah said. “Last but not least, the elevation of Patriarch Rai to the rank of cardinal is a sign of the confidence the Holy See has in the person of His Beatitude and the clear support for his vision and the style of ministry he has been exercising.”

The patriarch is one of six new cardinals who were elevated in a consistory at the Vatican November 24.

Maronite Father Camille Mubarak, president of Sagesse University in Beirut, said Cardinal-designate Rai’s elevation “is good for the peace for all the people of the Middle East —

Muslims and Christians.”

He, too, emphasized that the appointment confirmed that the plight of Christians in the Middle East “that was ignored is now included in the political geography of the world.”

When he was elected patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church in March 2011, Cardinal-designate Rai was seen as someone who could unite Maronite Catholics, who had been divided among political party lines.

“He has a deep spirituality, and he is very sociable and open to the others, and he has great courage. He says the truth even

Lahore, Pakistan (CNA) — The Islamabad High Court has dismissed all charges leveled against a disabled Christian girl accused of violating Pakistan’s blasphemy law.

Although 14-year-old Rimsha Masih was said to have deliberately burned pages of the Quran, a 15-page court ruling released November 20 found no witnesses able to verify the accusation.

Bishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore told Aid to the Church in Need that the ruling is “very good news” for Catholics in Pakistan.

“It is also good for Pakistan — the whole of Pakistan — as it shows that there is justice, that where there are good people then justice can prevail,” he added.

While details were still emerging, a local deputy imam came forward saying that Imam Khalid Jadoon Chishti, Rimsha’s accuser, stuffed pages from the Quran into a bag with burnt pages of a religious textbook that a young man brought to him. The young man claimed that Rimsha had burnt the book.

As a result, Rimsha was arrested August 16 and spent three weeks in high security prison.

She was released in September on a bail of 100,000 rupees or $10,500.

Police investigating the case found no evidence in support of Chishti’s claims and said he framed the girl.

An official medical board that examined the girl confirmed her physical age as 14 years, but said her mental age is below that due to learning disabilities. Early reports described Rimsha as having Down’s syndrome and being only 10 or 11 years old.

Prior to her August 28 court appearance, rallies in support of the teen were held in Pakistan and throughout Europe.

Archbishop Shaw said Pakistani Catholics are thankful for those who voiced support for Rimsha.

“We appreciate their efforts and we pray that people like this may continue their efforts so that many, many other people may get justice and live a dignified life,” he said.

The Vatican voiced support for the girl when Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, head of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, defended Rimsha and said that “the more the situation worsens and intensifies, the more dialogue is needed,” Vatican Radio reported.

Paul Bhatti, leader of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance and brother to slain Catholic government official, Sahbaz Bhatti, called the ruling an “historic step for Pakistan” that sends “two clear messages” of justice and of warning for those who have misused the blasphemy law, Fides News reported.

Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which strictly prohibits defamation of the prophet Muhammad or the Quran, has received sharp criticism for its vague wording and arbitrary enforcement in recent years.

Bhatti said that although the law has been used pit Muslims and Christians against one another, Rimsha’s case received “the support of many Muslim leaders.”

“This was very important for the final outcome,” Bhatti said.

In 2010, Asia Bibi, a 45-yearold Christian mother, was sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of blasphemy against Muhammad for defending her Christian faith at work.

Muslim Governor Salman Taseer was the first to lose his life for his support of Asia Bibi when he was shot in 2011 by a member

of his own security team, who afterward said he was proud that he had killed him because of his comments criticizing Pakistan’s blasphemy law.

The same year, a group of extremists killed the only Catholic in the Pakistani government, Shabaz Bhatti, who opposed the law on blasphemy and spoke out publicly in defense of Bibi.

Court dismisses blasphemy case against Christian teen

if someone doesn’t want to listen to it,” said Father Joseph Mouawad, patriarchal vicar at the Maronite Patriarchate.

Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan called the new patriarch “a good friend, an outstanding leader and wellgifted bishop” and spoke of his “intense spirituality, solid formation and openness of heart.”

Two months after he was elected, the patriarch held his first Muslim-Christian summit.

In September 2011, at his suggestion, spiritual leaders of Lebanon’s 18 religious sects met at Dar al-Fatwa, the official seat of the grand Sunni mufti, who has religious authority over the Sunni Muslims in Lebanon.

Cardinal-designate Rai also has gathered Lebanese political leaders in an effort to dissipate divisions among them.

He was born Feb. 25, 1940, in Himlaya, Lebanon. He attended high school at the Jesuits’ College of Notre Dame of Jamhour College. In 1962 he joined the Maronite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and he studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.

He earned a license in theology and a doctorate in canon and civil law, and he was ordained to the priesthood Sept. 3, 1967.

For many years, was director of the scholasticate of his order in Rome.

He founded the Institute of Foreign Languages at Louaize, was principal of St. Rita’s School in Dbaye and served as a judge on the Maronite patriarchal tribunal.

In May 1986, the Maronite synod elected him a patriarchal vicar, similar to an auxiliary bishop. In June 1990, he was transferred as the bishop of the new Eparchy of Jbeil.

He has been a member of a number of Synods of Bishops at the Vatican, including the synods on the Middle East and on the New Evangelization.

He also had been a member of the permanent Synod of the Maronite Church and, in 2009, became president of the communications commission of the Synod of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon.

In 2010, Pope Benedict named him a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

14

The Anchor

November 30, 2012

Catholic advocates monitoring several issues facing lame-duck Congress

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The 2010 lame-duck session of Congress handled a huge workload two years ago, but it may seem like a trifle compared to what’s on the agenda for the 2012 lame-duck session.

Foremost on many people’s minds is the impending expiration of several tax cuts and tax breaks — which, when coupled with budget deficits and the need to raise the nation’s debt ceiling yet again, has led to the popularization of the term “fiscal cliff” to describe the situation.

Catholic advocates have joined a multifaith effort calling for a “circle of protection” around the poorest and most vulnerable Americans.

The effort started in 2011, even before last year’s midsummer debt showdown between the Democratic-occupied White House, the Republican-dominated House, and a Democratic-led Senate that had a large Republican minority threatening to invoke filibusters. At the same time the House-Senate “Gang of Six” and the “supercommittee” bids to present palatable debt-relief options after the 2010 SimpsonBowles debt reduction commission’s recommendations went largely ignored by lawmakers.

During a conference call with reporters, “circle of protection” advocates pointed out that during debate on last year’s Budget Control Act, they were able to take off the table programs benefiting the poor, and were hopeful they could repeat that success in the month ahead.

Any fiscal deal “must be comprehensive and balanced,” said Kathy Saile, director of domestic social development for the U.S. bishops. “It must involve deficit reduction. It must require tax in-

creases. It must protect the poor from the Senate version, Gronski tion,” said Bishop John C. Westand vulnerable.” And to accom- told Catholic News Service. er of Salt Lake City, chairman plish all that, she added, “it must The farm bill’s scope is of the bishops’ Communications be bipartisan.” wide-ranging, covering not only Committee, in a May 15 letter to The Rev. Gabriel Salguero, American farms, big and small, House members backing the bill. president of the National Latino but also the nation’s school lunch While there is bipartisan supEvangelical Coalition, port and no organized wanted to debunk the Katherine ow do we get the right people opposition, notion that government Grincewich, an attorto the table who are affected ney who monitors meprograms that help the poor promote depen- by the issue? We haven’t had the key dia issues in the bishdency. players at the same table whether it’s the ops’ Office of General “My father was a noted that the poor people or the ‘occupiers’ and the Counsel, hardworking man. He two main sponsors, had two jobs. He was a strong business leaders that are there. Reps. Tammy Baldwin, One of the core concepts (of Catholic D-Wis., and Steven Lapastor,” he said.

“My mother was social teaching) is getting closest to the Tourette, R-Ohio, are working. We were on headed respectively to people who are affected.” food stamps. It helped the Senate and to retireus,” Rev. Salguero ment. added. “If it didn’t help So how does the us, we’d go hungry. It’s not an- programs and the Supplemental 112th Congress address these isecdotal, it’s straight from human Nutritional and Assistance Pro- sues in the remaining time it has experience.” gram, the renamed food stamp left?

But deficit cutting isn’t the program, which benefits families “Is there a willingness, which only item on the agenda. in need. Conservation and trade is always the first thing to look For one thing, there’s still a are among the farm bill’s other at? Is it in each party’s benefit to farm bill to approve. The mea- components. do that?” said Paul Alexander, sure is a reauthorization bill that “There’s a game of chicken director of the Institute for the comes up every five years or so. that’s being played here,” GronThe National Catholic Rural ski said. “Most likely there’s goLife Conference is a member of ing to be an extension but what the Sustainable Agriculture Co- kind of extension I can’t say.” alition. “There’s a lot of groups He outlined the options: a three-, out there, sustain agriculture six-, or 12-month extension, eiWASHINGTON (CNS) — groups, farm groups, conserva- ther “clean” with no changes or Jeanne Monahan is the new fulltion groups, even the administra- modified with disaster relief for time president of the March for Life tion and folks in the Democratic livestock producers who suf- Education and Defense Fund, which wing saying we need a 2012 farm fered from the spring and sum- organizes and runs the March for bill in the current year,” said ru- mer drought, the restoration of Life in Washington each January. ral life conference policy adviser a dairy insurance that expired, The organization’s board of diBob Gronski. “But the reality is and/or funds for a conservation rectors unanimously voted to aphow do we get it done?” security program backed by the point Monahan to the post.

There’s not a lot of time left rural life conference.

She succeeds the late Nellie on the calendar, he added, even if If any debt deal is struck, all Gray, founder and president, who Congress were to meet between of that will likely have to be died in August at age 86. Monahan, Christmas and New Year’s Day done with less money. And that a former board member, had been to attend to the nation’s business. doesn’t even address food and serving as interim president since The House has not yet had nutrition programs, whose out- Gray’s death. floor debate on the bill its Agri- lays spiked since the recession culture Committee approved and hit nearly five years ago. which looks markedly different In another arena, the U.S. bishops are behind the CAP Act. CAP stands for Community Access Programming, which would safeguard the public, educational and governmental access channels that were established when cities and counties first awarded franchises to cable operators.

One change the bill promotes is the use of funds set aside for October 25, 2012 access channels to be used for Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina operational expenses. Currently, the money can be used only for “Dear children! In this time of grace, I call all of you to capital expenses; most cable sysrenew prayer. Open yourselves to Holy Confession so that tems built their community aceach of you may accept my call with the whole heart. I am cess studios long ago. It also will with you and I protect you from the ruin of sin, but you must keep some channels from going MARCHING FORTH —Jeanne open yourselves to the way of conversion and holiness, that dark, a byproduct of statewide Monahan, pictured in a 2010 your heart may burn out of love for God. Give Him time and franchising laws that took cable photo, has been elected the He will give Himself to you and thus, in the will of God you new president of the March for TV out of municipalities’ juris- Life Education and Defense will discover the love and the joy of living. diction.

“Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Fund. She succeeds Nellie “The Catholic bishops sup- Gray, a Pro-Life leader who Spiritual Life Center of Marian Community port (public) access television. founded the March for Life in One Marian Way These local channels are the 1974 and died August 13 at Medway, MA 02053 • Tel. 508-533-5377 voice of the community in an era age 86. (CNS photo/courtesy Paid advertisement of increased media consolida- Family Research Council)

Our Lady’s Monthly Message From Medjugorje

“H

Common Good at Jesuit-run Regis University in Denver. “And I don’t think they see a benefit to do that.”

Now, however, “there’s a window, at least right now, that there might be a shift. That’s still to be seen and heard. Is it real or just rhetoric?” Alexander added.

“What are the core values at stake here? There’s this tension between responsibility and compassion and how you really deal with it,” he said.

“The other key thing, and this gets back to Catholic social teaching, is this whole thing of subsidiarity,” Alexander told CNS. “How do we get the right people to the table who are affected by the issue? We haven’t had the key players at the same table whether it’s the poor people or the ‘occupiers’ and the strong business leaders that are there.

One of the core concepts (of Catholic social teaching) is getting closest to the people who are affected.”

March for Life board of directors elects successor to late Nellie Gray

“Jeanne is a strong Pro-Life advocate who will continue the strong leadership of Nellie Gray and bring us closer to a culture of life,” said Patrick Kelly, chairman of the board, in a statement announcing the appointment. “The board and I are very much looking forward to working with Jeanne in this new full-time capacity and are looking forward to our largest march in history this January.”

The 40th annual March for Life will be held January 25 on the National Mall.

Prior to her new appointment, Monahan was director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council in Washington, serving as a spokeswoman on life issues and as a regular media contributor on topics related to the dignity of human life. Before working for the council, she served in various capacities at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Monahan has a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., and a master’s of theological studies from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at The Catholic University of America in Washington.

The March for Life has grown into one of the signature events of the Pro-Life movement. Gray started it to protest the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion nationwide. After the first march in 1974, she established the March for Life Education and Defense Fund to sustain it.

15

The Anchor

November 30, 2012

Musicians fill the void of Father Pat’s illness continued from page one

POTATO A-PEEL — Members of the Student Council and National Honor Society at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth spent the day before Thanksgiving preparing and packing meals and food items that would be distributed to area soup kitchens and facilities. Here students peel potatoes for the prepared meals. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

Stang students continue annual Thanksgiving tradition

NORTH DARTMOUTH — On the morning before Thanksgiving, the cafeteria at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth was bustling with activity as members of the school’s Student Council and National Honor Society were busy peeling potatoes, carving freshly-cooked turkeys and packing dinners to be sent to local food pantries.

“This is the biggest event we do all year,” said Sarah Oliveira, advisor to the Student Council, who has been involved with Stang’s Thanksgiving food drive for the past four years.

“We feed hundreds of people through Market Ministries and the Sister Rose House in New Bedford. The soup kitchen gets stuffing, light and dark turkey meat, along with bread rolls, pies that are donated, and all the rest of our canned goods.”

In addition to the more than 100 students who were involved in preparing and packing the dinners for delivery, Oliveira said there were another 30 volunteers behind the scenes — mostly parents, faculty members and staff — who pitched in by taking home the turkeys and cooking them the night before.

“They cook them overnight and bring them back this morning,” she said. “It’s a process that has a lot of different hands helping, but together we pull

off a pretty amazing accomplishment.”

For more than 30 years now, the Student Council at Bishop Stang High School has been giving back to the community by organizing the annual Thanksgiving food drive. In addition to the pre-cooked meals, they also filled 20 baskets that were given to families identified by St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River.

“We give them all the fixings for their Thanksgiving meals,” Oliveira said of the large laundry baskets brimming with groceries.

All the food items were gathered from the faculty, staff, and students participating in homeroom collections who gave either food donations or funds for the purchase of turkeys, pies and all the fixings necessary for a typical Thanksgiving feast.

The pre-cooked turkeys were purchased with gift certificates to Market Basket donated by Lockheed Martin Sippican, Inc. and the students began carving the steaming birds by 8 a.m. that morning.

Inside the kitchen a group of students stirred up batches of aromatic stuffing while another assembly line in the cafeteria peeled potatoes that would later be cooked and served at the soup kitchen run by Market Ministries in New Bedford.

“Everyone is assigned a job — whether it be a potato peeler

or turkey carver — and they get started right away,” Oliveira said. “When they’re done here, they’ll finish the day with a prayer service.”

By 9:30 a.m. school buses parked outside the high school cafeteria were loaded with the prepared Thanksgiving meals to be delivered and served later that day.

“Some of the seniors will go with us on the buses down to Market Ministries to unload the meals and stock the food pantries so they get to see some of the people they’ll be helping as well,” Oliveira said.

Although she’s been on the Student Council for four years, this was the first time that treasurer Gina DeLeo was involved with planning and organizing the event.

“It’s different when you’re walking around and overseeing everything,” she said. “I think it’s great that everyone is participating and giving back to the community. We have so much at Bishop Stang — we’re so blessed — that I think it’s good to share with others.”

“I think we take a lot for granted,” agreed vice president Patrick Rogers. “We don’t really think about where our Thanksgiving dinner comes from — we know it will be there on Thursday. But some people wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving unless we helped them.”

dy’s message of reconciliation is the one her Son brought to earth.

It’s not known well enough. I want to change that in my small way.”

A great part of that way was through his spiritual music. Last year’s Festival of Lights also marked the 30th anniversary of his evangelizing with his Christmas concerts at the shrine.

During the same interview, Father Pat discussed his most recent CD release, “Serenity.”

The title track utilizes the Serenity Prayer often associated with 12-step recovery programs. “The prayer is used by A.A. and others, but it can be prayed by anyone,” he said. In part, the song teaches, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.”

As Father Pat is now living that message in his recovery, many others have stepped in to continue the La Salette Christmas concert tradition.

The musicians and groups will enhance the “Descending Dove” message in a number of styles and languages.

Among the many performers are Los Hijos De Maria Santa Ana from New Jersey; the North American Chorus Association; the Our Lady of the Rosary Band from Providence, R.I.; the Community College of R.I. Chorus; the Claremont Academy Bell Choir; the URI Symphony Orchestra and Choir; Dionisio Da Costa e Compahheiros; Francisco Tavares; Steve LeMay; Jim Antonelli; Ayla Brown; Krisanthi Pappas and Her Band; and many others.

La Salette Brother Robert Russell, shrine director, said this year’s festival will contain more than 350,000 lights. “Words are inadequate to describe how the 350,000 lights will develop this year’s theme, ‘Descending Dove.’

“We affirm that Christmas is a time to reflect upon the birth of Jesus. Jesus is the reason for all these lights because He is our

‘Descending Dove’ in good times and bad. Jesus is always the One in Whom we trust.”

And it was no doubt that through trust in Christ, the Christmas concert series will again touch many hearts and souls.

As usual, the festival has a full Mass schedule; Mondays through Fridays at 12:10 and 4 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 12:10, 4 and 6:30 p.m.

Masses on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day will celebrated at 4 and 6:30 p.m., and on Christmas Day at 12:10, 4 and 6 p.m.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available daily from 2 to 8 p.m.

The lights are illuminated daily from 5 to 9 p.m. In addition, guests can see the international crèche museum, the Faces of Jesus exhibit, and the new Icon museum, which help visitors “see Jesus through the eyes of our brothers and sisters from around the world.”

Other attractions include the outdoor Crèche of Bethlehem; Clopper the Christmas donkey; trolley and hay rides; a carousel; and the opportunity for children to make a birthday card for Jesus.

The cafeteria will continue to offer great foods and drink, and the book store offers spiritual gifts that lift the heart and soul, including recordings by Father Pat. In The Anchor article last year, the concluding paragraph said, “2012 promises to be a continuation of the journey started as a lad (Father Pat) on a Fall River radio program. A message of reconciliation and peace across the globe in a world in desperate need of it.”

Unfortunately for Father Pat, that journey hit a road block. But through the grace of God, others have filled his shoes and the message of reconciliation and peace continues at La Salette Shrine’s Festival of Lights this season.

Nothing can stop the “Descending Dove.”

For a complete list of events and times for this year’s Festival of Lights, visit www.lasaletteshrine.org, or call 508-222-5410.

Be sure to visit the Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese.org The site includes links to parishes, diocesan offices and national sites.

Youth Pages

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world-class effort — Recently, Ebele Okafor, a seventhgrader at All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford, competed in the 26th Annual Geography Fair at Bridgewater State University.

This year’s theme was “Global Interdependence.” Okafor won an award for Best Oral Presentation in the seventh- and eighth-grade individuals competition.

on the same page — Students recently enjoyed their time at the School Book Fair at St. James-St. John School in New Bedford.

core of engineers — The fifth-grade students of Holy Name School in Fall River recently had fun while learning about apples. After the students weighed the apples, they converted the total amount of ounces of the group’s apples to pounds and ounces. They also measured the circumference of the apple. The class brain-stormed nouns, verbs, and adjectives related to apples and wrote poems. But the best part was eating the apples.

November 30, 2012

good eats — The spirit of Thanksgiving was in full swing at Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton. Food pantry volunteers prepared Thanksgiving gift baskets which will be distributed to more than 70 families in the greater Taunton area. From left: Nick Abreau, Kelsey Gracia, Kelsey Almeda, and Mike Cote director of Community Service and Outreach.

mass appeal — Students in Paula Bedard’s third-grade class at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro recently got a special lesson about two parts of the Catholic Mass: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Father Riley Williams, parish parochial vicar, presented the lessons. After explaining the various events that occur during each part of the Mass, the students completed an assignment where they had to place each event under the proper part of the Mass.

voters’ guides — Second-grade students at St. Mary’s School, Mansfield recently took time out of their regular routine to discuss what qualities they look for in a president.

November 30, 2012

A

re you your complete self? That’s the question that Michelle Kelley, Campus Ministry director at Notre Dame Academy, asked herself before presenting and sharing her talk at a “La Salette eXtreme” youth rally held earlier this month.

About 100 youths listened to Michelle’s story of her faith, sang along with a Christian band, celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation and, in adoration, prayed in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

Michelle’s theme was on the Year of Faith, and her intent was to get the youth to recognize their authentic faith and become living saints. With Michelle’s permission I share parts of her talk and faith with you!

We all, at one time or another, experience change in our lives — some more than others.

How many times, for example,

Youth Pages

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Be wholly holy in a holey world

have you moved from one home Michelle, can learn to be wholly to another in the last 10 years? holy in a holey world.

How many different schools We know we live in an have you attended during your imperfect world. We hear about elementary, middle, and high people being unhappy, broken school years? With all these families, poverty of body and changes in your life, what has been the one constant you could look to for balance, the place to be accepted, the place you could be yourself?

Michelle found this

By Ozzie Pacheco constant in her faith and in her Church; participating at Mass, going to youth group, helping out at local spirit. Each of us has a story that soup kitchens. In these, Mihas challenging times. It’s so chelle knew she was loved and easy to focus on what is missaccepted by God simply because ing — the holes, the gaps, the of who she was — her real, imperfections of our life. But in authentic self. With so much spite of these we are all called change in life we sometimes to be wholly holy in this holey think of ourselves as incomworld. Now that’s a challenge, plete. But, finding that constant and one that the saints accepted in the faith and Church, we, like unconditionally. But, you need to be complete, know who you are and why you’re here on this planet.

Does the thought of living a “saintly life” make you look strange or weird to your friends and family? If you’re being your true self, don’t let that bother you. Trappist monk Father Thomas Merton, once said, “For me, to be a saint means to be myself.” You can’t get more authentic than that.

This Year of Faith, as proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI, is “a summons to an authentic warm gesture — The Father Michael J. McGivney Council of and renewed conversion to the the Knights of Columbus at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Lord, the One Savior of the Bedford, recently held its second annual Coats for Kids program. world” (Porta Fidei 6). Have The council purchased nearly 90 winter coats for distribution to chil- you given this Year of Faith any dren of parents who signed up through either the St. Anthony Food thought? Do you know what Pantry or St. Kilian’s Parish of New Bedford. The council extendis being asked of you and the ed its thanks to KMart of Fairhaven and its manager Jim Okolski who assisted in the coordination of a generous store discount for Church during the coming year? the purchase of the coats. From left: John Martin Jr., John Martin Michelle reworded that “sum(Grand Knight), George Martin, Joe Amaral (Deputy Grand Knight), mons” in this way: A calling to a real change or shift toward the David Abgrab, and Steven Pollard. (Photo by Gary Marshall)

Be Not Afraid

the halo effect — Students from grades six to eight at St. Joseph School in Fairhaven recently completed research projects about different saints. Each student reflected on their saint’s life as a role model of faith and holiness, wrote a prayer asking for the saint’s intercession, and created an icon of their saint.

Lord, God. “Wait!” you must be asking yourself now, “it’s a constant that I’m looking for, not another change!” This “calling to a real change or shift toward the Lord, God” is a constant. It’s called evangelization.

It’s turning back to Jesus and entering into a deeper relationship with Him. It’s opening your “door of faith” and sharing your love and belief in the Trinity, no matter the consequences.

This constant should be a daily calling.

This “door of faith” was first opened at your Baptism. The Holy Father now asks us to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew your relationship with Christ and His Church. If you’re not sure where to start, then look to the saints of the Church. Choose your favorite saint. Learn what your saint did that made him or her a saint.

Model yourself after that saint.

Michelle has done that and I want to thank her for it and for her work in ministry and love

for God and the Church.

St. Andrew, whose feast we celebrate today, became a disciple of St. John the Baptist.

But, when John pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Andrew understood and left John to follow the Divine Master. Jesus knew that Andrew was walking behind Him, and turning back, He asked, “What do you seek?” When Andrew answered that he would like to know where Jesus lived, Our Lord replied, “Come and see” (John 1:39). Andrew had been only a little time with Jesus when he realized that He was truly the Messiah. From then on, he chose to follow Jesus. St. Andrew’s “door of faith” was opened on that day. He knew himself completely and put his real faith in Jesus.

During this Year of Faith try to listen to Jesus saying to you, “Come and see.” Then you will know how to become wholly holy in this holey world. St. Andrew, pray for us!

Ozzie Pacheco is Faith Formation director at Santo Christo Parish, Fall River.

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools or parish Religious Education programs, have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews. org

saints for a day — Third-graders at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in North Falmouth recently had a Saint Parade to celebrate All Saints’ Day. The students chose whatever saint they wanted, learned when the feast day was and a little bit about the saint. They also had fun dressing as that saint.

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The Anchor

Harvard event highlights bad Roe decision continued from page one

tolerated.

On the medical front, the justices established a trimester framework. At the time of the decision, viability was considered to be at 28 weeks, the start of the third trimester. Now, children born at 22 weeks of gestation routinely survive.

The decision struck down laws that limited abortion in 49 states — with New York being the only state with unfettered access.

“The unprecedented scope of Roe’s overreaching, unrestrained ruling forced the Supreme Court to backpedal for 10 years,” he said.

For a decade, the Supreme Court clarified Roe with decisions in subsequent cases where they ruled that states can criminalize forced abortion, live birth abortion and death by abortion through gross negligence. They also ruled in favor of laws protecting conscientious objectors and taxpayers’ right not to subsi-

dize abortion.

In a 1992 decision, Planned Parenthood vs. Casey, the Supreme Court ditched the trimester framework and clarified that the right to abortion is based in the liberty interest in the 14th Amendment, rather than the right to privacy. The PartialBirth Abortion Ban was upheld in Carhart vs. Gonzalez in 2007, and for the first time, an abortion procedure was banned without an exception for the life and health of the mother.

“Roe is a shell of its former self,” Aden said. “It would be an act of mercy to put it under.”

He added that the Casey decision contained “post hoc rationalization.” In it, the justices stated that women’s reliance on abortion now makes the procedure necessary.

They wrote, “The Roe rule’s limitation on state power could not be repudiated without serious inequity to people who, for two decades of economic and

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This week in

social developments, have organized intimate relationships and made choices that define their views of themselves and their places in society, in reliance on the availability of abortion in the event that contraception should fail. The ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the nation has been facilitated by their ability to control their reproductive lives.”

Aden said that from the court’s perspective, “Abortion is the best thing that ever happened to women.” He added that such a view sells women short.

Teresa Collett, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis,

November 30, 2012 Minn., spoke to the Harvard students and called Roe a “failure of imagination about women’s place in society.”

“True women’s equality is grounded in the concept that women should not have to become little men,” she said. “We don’t need abortion to succeed.

What we need is a fair chance.”

In the workplace, women’s fertility and maternity should be accommodated. She said that the number one question she gets from female law students is “How can I use my training and still have a family?” Roe provides no solution.

Collett, a Catholic, added that her faith and Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body show that the sexes are equal but different. Each has their own gifts that should be val-

ued. Additionally, everyone who has a child — mothers and fathers — should be supported in fulfilling their responsibility to their offspring.

James McGlone, vice president of Harvard Right to Life, told The Anchor that in hosting the event, the group wanted to show where the Supreme Court went wrong in making the Roe decision. He said it is a scandal that abortion is the law of the land, adding that Roe should be overturned.

“The underpinning legal reasoning is off the rails,” he said.

McGlone added that he learned about the dignity of human life at Catholic school in the Diocese of Patterson in New Jersey and hoped the event would be an opportunity to reach out to his Harvard peers.

“What we’re trying to do is have this convention focus on all the ministries, not just for catechetical ministries,” explained Claire McManus, director of the Faith Formation Office of the Diocese of Fall River, of the wide range of topics covered throughout the daylong convention.

McManus acknowledged that while money has become increasingly tight over the years, parishes still need to recognize that “this is how we help parishes form their catechists but because of lack of funds, parishes will not send a whole group of catechists and they’re missing our workshops,” said McManus. “It’s unfortunate.”

Workshops that focus on media and technology have become extremely important, said McManus; “This generation is on the web so if you’re going to reach beyond the walls of the parish, you have to have some understanding of what’s out there. It’s not necessarily what you’re using in the classroom, it’s how you’re reaching the parents of the kids in your class or engaging those people who are not coming to Mass but you are still sending out your mission. This is a very hot topic; it was on the agenda for the USCCB this fall.”

Another draw was the presentation given by Dr. Erin McLoughlin entitled, “Working with Children with Special Needs: Strategies to Promote Positive Behavior.”

“It’s a big thing now,” said Saraiva. “A lot of kids are being incorporated into the regular program at churches; how do you work with these children?

My own parish has eight or nine children. The strategies help make them feel they’re part of the community without making them feel like, because of their

special needs, they don’t belong.”

Saraiva spoke of a fifth-grader in her program who has cerebral palsy; “She has someone who sits with her, but her big question is ‘Why did God make me different?’ That’s what you try to do, make them feel that they’re not different, they’re special; it also deals with the child who begins to realize they are different.”

Though the number of attendees dipped below last year’s turnout of more than 200 (credited to the scheduling of the convention the weekend before Thanksgiving, usually a time when numerous parishes put together donated food items for Thanksgiving baskets), this year’s convention added new bilingual workshops in an effort to motivate the Spanish Catholic community to come and learn.

The idea came from the realization that the convention could be an opportunity to address the pockets of Hispanic parishioners within the diocese and help Spanish-speaking catechists learn about “topics that are important to them, like Matrimony and Baptism,” said Saraiva, adding additional Spanish-speaking workshops included presentations on Catholic apologetics, immigration and the Virgin Mary.

A few Spanish-speaking individuals attended and though small in number, McManus will continue to get the word out for next year’s convention to make sure “this is part of their expectation,” she said.

“We have a small number but it’s the first year,” continued McManus. “If they know this is going to continue, they will come.

If they know something is there, they’ll spread the word. We have to stick with it.”

New Spanish-speaking workshops highlight convention continued from page one

basic ideas of getting parents through the door by utilizing the persons who mean the most to them — their children. Having a parish host an art gallery created by the children of the parish, hosting an open-mike night or offering a creative door prize for those who do attend childrenbased events, such as a reserved pew for Christmas or Easter services, would help promote a community aspect for the youngest members of the Faith Formation program within a parish, said Doherty.

There are teachable moments for parents that exist outside of the parish and Faith Formation program too, added Connor.

When your child is tempted to feel worthless and unloved, let your unconditional love reveal your child’s true identity as a beloved son or daughter of God; when your child is acting selfishly, demonstrate that followers of Jesus give of themselves freely, he said.

Diocesan history

50 years ago — Spanish-speaking residents of Taunton found friends at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, a welcoming haven that was established by Father Gerald Shovelton, then-curate at St. Mary’s Parish in the city.

10 years ago — Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich unveiled its newly-restored 1899 Hook and Hastings pipe organ. The organ once adorned the former St. Peter’s Church in Lowell and consisted of 3,400 pipes.

25 years ago — Papal honors were presented to Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, P.A., Msgr. John J. Oliveira, V.E., and Msgr.

John J. Smith, V.E., inside a packed St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin. The diplomas were read to the congregation by Father Michael K. McManus.

One year ago — A series of Bible sharing sessions, sponsored by the Fall River Diocese, were offered at three locations: St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown, St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth and the Catholic Education Center in Fall River. The six-week sessions were open to all, including adults, young adults and teens.

November 30, 2012

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese

Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel at Holy Ghost Church, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds Eucharistic Adoration in the Shrine Church every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. through November 17.

Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m. Mass.

East Freetown — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John Neumann Church every Monday (excluding legal holidays) 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady, Mother of All Nations Chapel. (The base of the bell tower).

East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich.

Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the chapel at Holy Family Parish Center, 438 Middleboro Avenue, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. On First Fridays, Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. until 7:45 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at noon. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration. Refreshments follow.

Fall River — Espirito Santo Parish, 311 Alden Street, Fall River. Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Bernadette’s Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the chapel.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has Eucharistic Adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

FALL RIVER — Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, has Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass until 6 p.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel. There is a bilingual Holy Hour in English and Portuguese from 5-6 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday, following the 9 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 4:30 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and Confessions offered during the evening. Please use the side entrance.

NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Rosary, and the opportunity for Confession.

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel every Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction.

Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass. taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Expostition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass.

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day.

Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

WAREHAM — Every First Friday, Eucharistic Adoration takes place from 8:30 a.m. through Benediction at 5:30 p.m. Morning prayer is prayed at 9; the Angelus at noon; the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m.; and Evening Prayer at 5 p.m.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All from other parishes are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

WOODS HOLE — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Joseph’s Church, 33 Millfield Street, year-round on weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No Adoration on Sundays, Wednesdays, and holidays. For information call 508-274-5435.

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The Anchor Vatican Nativity set may have animals not at Jesus’ birth

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — The Vatican has started construction on its annual Nativity set in St. Peter’s Square, and the display is expected to include a few animals that may not have been at Jesus’ birth.

The pope said in his third book on the life of Christ, “Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives,” that the ox and the donkey, regularly included in Nativity scenes, are not mentioned in the Gospels.

But they are included in other parts of the Bible, which could have inspired Christians to use them in representations of the birth of Jesus.

“No Nativity scene will give up its ox and donkey,” Pope Benedict says in his new book, which will eventually be translated into 20 languages.

The Nativity will likely include life-size figures of Jesus, Joseph, Mary, shepherds, the Magi and some animals.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Dec. 1 Rev. Phillipe Ross, Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 1958 Rev. Edward J. Gorman, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset, 1964 Dec. 2 Rev. Arthur Savoie, Pastor, St. Hyacinth, New Bedford, 1917 Rev. Dennis W. Harrington, Assistant, St. Mary, Taunton, 1958 Rev. Stanislaus Basinski, Former Pastor, Holy Rosary, Taunton, 1970 Dec. 3 Rev. John W. McCarthy, P.R., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1926 Dec. 4 Rev. Patrick Byrne, Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1844 Rev. Charles Ouellette, Assistant, St. Jacques, Taunton, 1945 Rev. Edward C. Duffy, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1994 Dec. 5 Rev. Eugene J. Boutin, Manchester Diocese, 1986 Rev. Coleman Conley, SS.CC., Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 1990 Dec. 6 Rev. Joseph L. Cabral, Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 1959 Rt. Rev. Msgr. John H. Hackett, JCD, Chancellor, June-December 1966, 1966 Rev. Joseph K. Welsh, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, 1971 Rev. John T. Higgins, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1985 Dec. 7 Rev. Thomas F. Daley, Retired Pastor, St. James, New Bedford, 1976 Rev. Ambrose Bowen, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Taunton, 1977 Rev. James W. Clark, Retired Pastor, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, 2000

Around the Diocese 12/1

A Day with Mary will be held tomorrow at St. George Church, 12 Highland Avenue in Westport from 8 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. It will include a video presentation, procession and crowning of the Blessed Mother, with Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and an opportunity for Reconciliation. There is a bookstore available during breaks. Please bring a bag lunch. For more information call 508-996-8274.

12/1

The Catholic Women’s Club of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee will sponsor its annual Christmas Bazaar tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held in the parish hall adjacent to the church located on Jobs Fishing Road at the Mashpee Commons. Featured will be a raffle table, jewelry table, bakery and treats table, white elephant table, children’s shopping room, boutique and exquisite crafts, original holiday green arrangements, face painting and games for children, and the Holly Café.

12/7

The Fall River Area Men’s First Friday Club will meet on December 7 in the Chapel of St. Mary’s Cathedral, 327 Second Street in Fall River, continuing its 65th year of activity. Following the 6 p.m. Mass celebrated by Father Karl Bissinger, secretary to Bishop George W. Coleman, there will be a hot meal served in the school hall across the street.

Several members will talk briefly about their conversion to Catholicism. Attendance at the meal and the brief talks is open to any gentleman interested, or any special guest of a club member. Guests or their member sponsors should notify Norman Valiquette at 508-672-8174 for seat reservations or with any questions.

12/8

A Mass of Remembrance for Pre-Born Children will be held at St. Joseph Church, 208 South Main Street in Attleboro, on December 8 at 9 a.m. The homilist will be Father Riley Williams.

All are welcome to attend this Liturgy and experience the profound peace, love and mercy of Christ. A special invitation is extended to parents, grandparents and siblings who grieve the death of children as a result of miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion. A “Book of Names” will be available at St. John the Evangelist, Holy Ghost and St. Joseph parishes in Attleboro until the evening of December 7 and names will be read at the December 8 Mass. Light refreshments will be available in the parish hall immediately following.

12/8

The Cape Cod Chapter of Friends of the Crèche will be holding an “All Things Christmas” Sale on December 8 at Christ the King Parish, 3 Job’s Road in Mashpee from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Come and find a unique Nativity set that will take center stage among your Christmas decorations and reflect on the real meaning of this holy season in your home. New, gently-used, modern, and vintage pieces along with complete sets will be offered. For more information call 508-394-7141.

12/9

The annual Deacon Joseph Stanley Mass of Hope and Remembrance for bereaved parents who have experienced the loss of a child in pregnancy, infancy, sudden death, illness, accident, murder or suicide will be held on December 9 at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville. Refreshments will be served in the parish center immediately following the Mass. Please bring the whole family to share the memory. It will be a spiritual Christmas gift to your child and yourselves. All are welcome. For more information contact jeanmarie.fraser@gmail.com or the parish office at 508-775-5744.

12/13

On December 13 legal staff from Catholic Social Services will assist with the N400 Application for Naturalization and provide information about the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen. The Naturalization Workshop will be held at the offices of Catholic Social Services, 261 South Street in Hyannis. For more information contact Alanna Keane at 508-674-4681 or email akeane@cssdioc.org.

12/20

A Healing Mass will be held on December 20 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford.

The Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include Benediction and healing prayers. At 5:15 p.m. there will also be a holy hour including the Rosary. For directions or more information, call 508-993-1691 or visit www. saintanthonyofnewbedford.com.

1/24

Adoption by Choice, an adoption and pregnancy counseling program of Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Fall River, will hold an information session for individuals interested in domestic newborn or international adoptions on January 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Catholic Social Services central office, 1600 Bay Street in Fall River. For more information or directions, call 508-674-4681 or visit www.cssdioc.org. Handouts and refreshments will be available and there is no charge for the session.

20

November 30, 2012

The Anchor

Family is the first seminary, says Archbishop Gomez

Los Angeles, Calif. (CNA) — Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles said this week that Catholics need to encourage vocations to the priesthood especially in their home life.

“In this Year of Faith, we need to refocus ourselves, especially in our families, on helping men to hear this beautiful and noble calling from Jesus, the family is always the ‘first seminary,’” he wrote in a recent column for The Tidings.

The archbishop’s reflections were marked by the U.S. bishops’ annual fall assembly last week and by his own pastoral letter of last month, “Witness to the New World of Faith.”

Since the family is the “domestic Church,” Archbishop Gomez said that is where children first learn about the Holy Family and Christ’s commandment of love.

Children learn from their parents the habit of going to Mass and Confession regularly.

“Ordinary family life teaches them that their faith should make a difference in how they live.”

Archbishop Gomez encouraged his parishioners to use daily family prayer to pray for priests and seminarians, thus teaching their children the beauty and value of the ordained priesthood.

He also called for practical measures of appreciation for priests, suggesting inviting priests over to spend time with one’s family and thanking them after Mass for the gift of the Eucharist.

In turn, he urged priests to be good examples who will encourage young men to follow in their footsteps.

“The greatest thing a priest can do is to simply live his vocation with enthusiasm. The example of happy priests, who have strong friendships with their brother priests and good relationships with their parishioners — this is immensely inspiring and attractive.”

Archbishop Gomez also reflected on the noise of modern culture, which he said can keep young

people from hearing God’s call to a religious or priestly vocation.

“We need to help our children develop habits of prayer and meditation. And this begins by simply getting them to be comfortable without distractions, so they can listen to the silent voice of God in their hearts.”

“So maybe in this Year of Faith, we can ask our children to make some time each day to turn off their smart phones and their electronic games and devices. To just be quiet with God.” The archbishop concluded by promoting Eucharistic adoration and by looking forward to Thanksgiving.

“Through our Blessed Mother Mary, let’s remember to give thanks for our priests — who bring us the most beautiful thanksgiving of all, the Holy Eucharist.”

a mother’s influence — Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles speaks near a large image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in this CNS file photo.