12.10.82

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Sunday law the

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Urging Governor Edward J. King to veto the new Sun­ day work law, the bishops of Massachusetts have issued the following statement: We take this opportunity to speak lest there be any misunderstanding about the position of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference regarding the relaxation of the Com­ monwealth's Sunday rest law. We keenly regret and firmly oppose any repeal of these laws. Whatever the intention, tire effect of such action will be to "make Sunday like any other day." We argue from a rich religious heritage as well as a biblical commandment when we plead for a time set aside for worship and prayer, rest and peace as well as family and friends. In fact, we see a greater need now for such a day of rest than in the past. The proponents of repeal argue from an economic study and some future boon to employment, commerce and state taxes. We respectfully suggest that the issue'is much more important than mere economics. The four bishops of the Roman Catholic dioceses of Massachusetts: Humberto Cardinal Medeiros, archdiocese of Boston; Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan, diocese of Worces­ ter; Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, diocese of Fall River; and Bishop Joseph J. Maguire, diocese of Springfield, strongly urge the Governor 6f Massachusetts, in the interests of its. citizens, to veto this legislation. We wish to take this occasion to emphasize again the sacred character of the Sabbath obligation of worship and to stress the need of all citizens to come apart from their daily toil and enter into a restful atmosphere of God, friends and family.

Holy Year

VATICAN CITY (NC) - Pope John Paul II's proclamation of 1983 as a Holy Year "came as a tremendous surprise to all of us, including the cardinals," said a prominent Vatican official. "He may have been thinking of the idea himself for a while." said the official, who chose to speak anonymously to NC News Service, "but he certainly didn't discuss it with many people around here." The pontiff picked his c1o~ing address Nov. 26 at a four-day meeting of 97 cardinals to break the news that 1983 would be celebrated by the church through­ out the world as a Holy Year of jubilee to mark the 1,950th anni­ versary of the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ. In a city of 3 million people where traffi<: paralysis is routine, Rome's administration worried that the Holy Year would further complicate the city's problems. Said Rome's Deputy Mayor Pierluigl Severi, "Rome already handles unforeseen events badly, so it should not surprise the church that the papal announce­ ment was not met with a round of applaase." But within days of the papal announcement, city officials had met with Vat~an representatives to assess what needs to be done to prepare for the Holy Year. The prominent Vatican official compareq the pope's announce­

Vol. 26, No. 48

ment of the Holy Year to that of Pope John XXIII's calling of the Second Vatican Council in 1962. "John XXIII decided he'd have a meeting of ,the world's bish­ ops," said the Vatican official "His aides started asking him questions like, 'Who's going to organize it?' And 'What will the agenda be?' Only then did he begin to realize that there were some complexities to the arrange­ ments." The proclamation of a Holy Year has its biblical roots in the years of jubilee observed at 50­ year intervals by Jews, prior to their exile to Egypt, when debts were pardoned and slaves were freed. The first Christian Holy Year was proclaimed by Pope Boni­ face VIII in 1300, when thou­ sands of Christians, including Italian poet Dante Aligheri, came on pilgrimage to Rome. 'During the Holy Year of 1975, tourists to Rome increased by 7.4 percent, and lodgings at Rome's 1,200 hotels were up 4.9 percent. But many hotel owners foresee no great increase in 1983 bookings, some of them holding that the present pope's penchant for international travel has made Rome less magnetic as a destina­ tion for pilgrimages. The pope's announcement of the Holy Year came at the close of a talk in which he also dis­ cussed Vatican finan<:es. A few Italian newspapers interpreted Turn to Page Six

Fall River, Mass., Friday, December 10, 1982

20c, $6 Per Year

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Was surprise

By Father Kenneth J. Doyle.

DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSI, CAPE & ISLANDS

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IN ST. ANNE'S HOSPITAL LOBBY, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin blesses crucifixes held by Ralph DiPisa, assistant administrator, and Peggy Ethier, RN, emergency room super­ visor, prior to dedicating new areas of the complex. Aiding the bishop are, from left, Father Edmund J. Fitzgerald, diocesan director of pastoral ministry to the sick; Father John R. FoIster, pastor of 81. Anne's Church; and Msgr. John J. Oliveira, diocesan vice­ chancellor. (Sr. Gertrude Gaudette Photo)

.Hospital dedication

A day of joy

"Behold the joy that comes to you!" read the banner above the altar of St. Anne's Church, Fall River. It was fOf Advent but it was equally appropriate for the Dec. 2 Mass of thanksgiving held at the church to celebrate comple­ tion of the multimillion dollar renovation add reconstruction project of its across-the-street neighbor, .St. Anne's Hospital. Before a crowd of well over 1,000, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin celebrated the Mass and in his homily noted "that there liter­ ally arises in the community a prayerful hymn of thanks for the dedication and love and mani­ fest competence displayed by the sisters, the board of trustees, medical staff, nursing staff, ad­ ministrative staff, clergy and all the employees who are joined in the common effort of curing the ill, relieving pain and giving solace and comfort to those who otherwise might find no en­ couragement in their difficult cir­ cumstances. "The hurting have found re­ lief here, the poo~ have found care here,_ the depressed have

found courage here. Everyone has found here the comforting hand of the saving Lord, mani­ fested through the dedication of all connected with the healing

ADVENT

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. INCUNE THINE ear to our prayers, we beseech thee, 0 Lord, and enlighI ten the darkness of our minds by the grace of thy visitation, who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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apostolate of St. Anne's Hos­ pital." Following the Mass, the con­ gregation moved across Middle Street to the hospital where the Dominican sisters of St. Anne's, red and white corsages pinned to their white. habits, gathered in their new main lobby to greet the bishop in joyous song with "This Is the Day that the Lord Has Made." The Ordinary then blessed the new hospital building and cruci­ fixes to be placed in the emer­ gency room, administrative offices and cafeteria. The rite of blessing took place in each of the latter areas. Concluding the liturgical part of the celebration, the bishop spoke informally to the St. Anne's sisters, gathered in the hospital chapel for the singing of the traditional Dominican "Salve Regina." Noting that "many a heart has been poured out to thl'! Lord in this chapel," he thanked the sis­ ters for bringing "th~ir vowed lives to the service of pthers." The prelate lamented "lack of Turn to Page Two


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12.10.82 by The Anchor - Issuu