12.11.09

Diocese of Fall River

Third Sunday of Advent

The Anchor

F riday , December 11, 2009

December 13

Businesses find many ways to keep Christ in Christmas

B y Deacon James N. Dunbar

Immaculate Conception Parish, New Bedford marks 100 years

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

NEW BEDFORD — In the early 1800s, the Azores and the city of New Bedford had much in common. Resting in the Atlantic Ocean, nearly 1,000 miles off the Iberian Peninsula, which includes Portugal and Spain, the series of nine tiny islands was quite active in the whaling industry, as was the city in Massachusetts nearly 2,300 miles to the east.

It was during this period in history that waves of Portuguese immigrants came to the Whaling City to make a better life for themselves and their families.

In 1875, St. John the Baptist Parish was established in the city’s south end to meet the spiritual and social needs of the Portuguese people.

During the mid-1800s, the whaling industry dwindled, but the textile industry was beginning to boom. As their population continued to swell in New Bedford, the need for another Portuguese parish became evident.

Roughly four miles to the north, Portuguese families began

gathering for services in a hall at Acushnet Avenue and Holly Street.

Under the direction of Father Augusto J. Taveira, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish blossomed from a mission of St. John the Baptist Parish to become its own entity in 1909.

On Sunday, December 6, Bishop George W. Coleman joined with pastor, Father Daniel O. Reis, and the family of Immaculate Conception Parish for a special Mass at 2 p.m., commemorating 100 years of unwavering service to the Portuguese community and beyond.

“This is a wonderful occasion,” Father Reis told The Anchor. “We wished to gather to thank God for the many blessings he sent on the immigrants 100 years ago through today.

This parish helped them maintain their faith against all kinds of struggles.

“When the parish first started the people were blessed with a parish of their own that maintained their traditions and social life, much like today.”

Turn to page 18

NEW BEDFORD — Business owners and professionals who have personally made Christ a vital part of their Christian lives say dealing with their customers and clients at Christmas “often normally” reflects their faith beliefs.

That was the common take as The Anchor did a quick poll of several advertisers to ask “How do you keep Christ in Christmas?”

Here are some of their answers: “Christ is in our lives every day and why should he not be there too in one’s business?” said Rita Petitjean, bookkeeper at Lemieux Heating in New Bedford.

While the firm, owned by Gerard Lemieux, services business and commercial heating units, “oftentimes we take on a job for someone who can’t afford it, because Gerard Lemieux is a very compassionate man and not just at Christmas,” she added.

“And when I find … that a job has been done

for far less than the usual price … as the bookkeeper I’m the unfortunate one who has to do the chastising.”

The firm also makes a point of keeping Christ in Christmas by having a crèche set prominently in the office for customers to see when they come in.

“The Nativity set is one reminder, and we make sure we spread the news of Christ’s birth by saying ‘Merry Christmas’ and not ‘Happy Holidays’ to all our customers, because it is a holy day we’re celebrating,” Petitjean asserted.

Tom Pasternak, owner of Walsh Pharmacy in Fall River, said his first priority and practice in keeping Christ in Christmas “is to use the word and spell out ‘Christmas,’ and not ‘Xmas’ throughout the season’s advertising and in greetings.”

He said that in his professional talks with clients who ask him about side effects of preTurn to page 18

ST. MARY’S FUND DINNER A BIG SOXCESS — Boston Red Sox President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Lucchino was the guest speaker at the 15th annual St. Mary’s Education Fund Fall Scholarship Dinner held at White’s of Westport December 1. Lucchino spoke of the importance of Catholic education and prospective player recruits for the 2010 baseball season. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino pitches support to diocesan education fund

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

WESTPORT — Although he never attended a parochial school, Boston Red Sox President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Lucchino still appreciates the value and importance of a Catholic education.

“My older brother and I went to public schools, but my mother has been very active in our local church and the Catholic school associated with our church, and

she’s still the number one salesman for raffle tickets there,” Lucchino said. “It’s a record that goes back probably as long as our sellout streak at Fenway Park.”

Noting that many members of his family have since attended Catholic schools, Lucchino has seen first-hand how the faithbased values of a Catholic education have informed his relatives.

“I’m kind of the black sheep of the family — maybe that’s why I’m here, to atone for my

sins,” Lucchino mused.

With the gleaming 2004 and 2007 Red Sox World Series Trophies in tow, Lucchino was the guest speaker at the 15th annual St. Mary’s Education Fund Fall Scholarship Dinner held at White’s of Westport December 1.

Proceeds from the dinner and three other fund-raisers held earlier this year added $592,176.34 to the fund’s coffers which will Turn to page 14

News From the Vatican

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December 11, 2009

Pope appeals for rights of migrant and refugee children

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI urged governments and international organizations to give special attention to the rights of child immigrants, who often are victims of exploitation and abandonment.

Minors forced to immigrate for reasons of poverty, violence or hunger are the most vulnerable, he said.

The pope made the comments in his annual message for the World Day for Migrants and Refugees, which will be celebrated January 17 in most countries.

The pope said host countries must create policies that protect child immigrants and help them integrate into society. These children should enjoy basic rights such as going to school and being able to work legally, he added.

“I warmly hope that proper attention will be given to minor migrants who need a social environment that permits and fosters their physical, cultural, spiritual and moral development,” he said.

Despite increased awareness of the need to help child immigrants, the pope said, “many are left to fend for themselves and, in various ways, face the risk of exploitation.”

Pope Benedict referred to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognizes children’s “fundamental rights as equal to the rights of adults.” But “unfortunately this does not always happen in practice,” he said.

The pope’s message was presented at a Vatican press conference by Archbishop Antonio

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Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers; Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, secretary of the council; and Msgr. Novatus Rugambwa, undersecretary of the council.

Archbishop Veglio said children come to be migrants in different ways: the lucky ones are accompanied by their parents or a guardian. Others are sent alone, either to save them from a desperate situation in their home countries or to work to send money back to their families.

“This becomes a heavy psychological burden for a child who doesn’t want to disappoint them,” he said. The child is then “willing to suffer injustice, violence and mistreatment to obtain a worker’s permit.”

Archbishop Veglio pointed out that international convention prohibits the repatriation of minors, “but we know that that right, like many others, is not respected.”

Archbishop Marchetto said internationally established rights for migrant minors to have access to school, health care, a home and food are often not respected in the host countries. Many children live isolated lives, staying in refugee camps or immigration centers. Often they have no money, he said.

Msgr. Rugambwa emphasized the need for real educational opportunities for the children of immigrants, or minors who migrate alone, and the obligation to reject policies that segregate these children or don’t encourage realistic integration into the school system.

Speaking November 25 to the International Organization for Migration, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said data from the United Nations and individual governments show that 15 to 20 percent of all immigration is illegal, amounting to 30 million to 40 million people.

Countries on every continent are trying to deal with illegal immigration. He called it “a reality that will remain with us as long as insecurity due to environmental degradation, violations of human rights, wars and lack of opportunity persist.”

Illegal and legal immigration are closely linked by the same root causes, he said. The difference is that some people are diverted to irregular channels because no legal channels are effectively available.

He said governments have the right to regulate immigration, but should work for solutions that are positive for everyone.

CROSS EXAMINATION — A Catholic group named “Militia Christi” protests the EU ban on crucifixes in classrooms, after Pope Benedict XVI’s Angelus prayer at the Vatican recently. The Vatican said it experienced “surprise and sorrow” when a European court ruled that the crucifixes hanging in Italian public schools violate religious freedom. (CNS photo/Chris Helgren, Reuters)

Love of God, fellow man is driving force of human spirit, pope says

By Sarah Delaney Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Choosing to love God and fellow human beings is the only choice that gives meaning to peoples’ lives, Pope Benedict XVI said in reviewing the teachings of a 12th-century monk.

At his weekly general audience December 2 in a sunny St. Peter’s Square, the pope explained the writings of William of St.-Thierry, a monastic theologian who believed that love of God is “the ultimate vocation and driving force of the human spirit.”

Pope Benedict has been analyzing the lives and works of important church figures from Europe in the Middle Ages during his weekly catechesis, drawing out ideas that can be relevant to contemporary men and women.

The pope called William “a singer of love and truth,” whose writings “teach us to make the fundamental choice of our lives, that which gives sense and value to all the other choices: the love of God and our neighbor.” Only by making this choice, the pope said, “can we have true joy and beatitude.”

For William, the pope explained, “this innate human drive finds perfection in the love of the triune God, the source and goal of all love.”

William, born in present day Belgium around 1075, served as abbot of the Benedictine monastery of St.-Thierry near Reims, France, where he attempted to undertake reforms, the pope said.

He found much resistance to change, and eventually gave up his position for a more contem-

plative and studious life at the Cistercian abbey of Signy, where he died in 1148.

He was a good friend of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, another important medieval thinker whose works were reviewed by the pope in a recent weekly audience. St. Bernard opposed William’s choice to leave the St.-Thierry monastery; with this move, however, William was able to dedicate himself to the many theological treatises that were important for the history of monastic theology, Pope Benedict said.

William believed that man has only one real task to perform during his life, that of “learning to love sincerely, authentically, freely,” the pope said.

The theologian wrote that this education in loving was an arduous undertaking that lasts a lifetime but brings serenity and the knowledge that “all the faculties of man — intelligence, will and affection — lie with God who is known and loved through Christ,” the pope said.

The Anchor

William taught that true love is possible through reciprocity or an exchange of affection, which permits a deeper knowledge of God and of other people, the pope said.

“Isn’t it like this in our own lives?” he asked. “Isn’t it perhaps true that we really only know the things and people we love? Without a certain feeling of sympathy we don’t know anyone, and this is true also for the love of God. We can’t know God if we don’t love him,” he said.

William also taught that people seeking union with God must pass through three phases that begin with obedience and trust, progress to a reasoned and convinced acceptance of faith, and culminate in a faith in communion with the most intimate parts of the soul, intellect and sentiments, the pope said.

“May the example and teaching of William of St.-Thierry strengthen our desire to love God above all things and to let that love overflow in love of our neighbor,” the pope concluded.

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December 11, 2009

The International Church

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Catholics hopeful, dejected by Obama plan to add troops in Afghanistan

OUR LADY ON HIGH — Firefighters wait their turn to climb a fire truck ladder to place roses on a statue of Mary high atop a column at the Spanish Steps in Rome December 8. In 1857, Vatican firefighters placed the statue on the pedestal, beginning the tradition of firefighters honoring Mary on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope calls Irish Church leaders to Vatican to discuss abuse report

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has asked the president of the Irish bishops’ conference and the archbishop of Dublin to come to the Vatican to discuss “the painful situation of the Church in Ireland” following a report detailing the Church’s failures in addressing clerical sexual abuse.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the pope’s meeting with Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, Northern Ireland, president of the Irish bishops’ conference, and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin would take place December 11.

The spokesman said the meeting would include the nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, and the heads of several Vatican offices dealing with sex abuse and related issues.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, led by U.S. Cardinal William J. Levada, has a special section that deals with priests accused of sexual abuse. The promoter of justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Msgr. Charles Scicluna, handles the cases brought against allegedly abusive priests. Officials of the congregations for Bishops and for Clergy also were expected to participate.

Father Lombardi said the pope wanted to discuss and have Vatican officials evaluate the findings of the so-called Murphy Report, which was released November 26.

The report by the independent Commission of Investigation, headed by Judge Yvonne Murphy, looked specifically at the handling of some 325 abuse claims in the Archdiocese of Dublin during the period from January 1975 to May 2004.

“The Dublin Archdiocese’s preoccupations in dealing with cases of child sexual abuse, at least until the mid-1990s, were the maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance

of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the Church and the preservation of its assets,” said the report. “All other considerations, including the welfare of children and justice for victims, were subordinated to these priorities. The archdiocese did not implement its own canon law rules and did its best to avoid any application of the law of the state.”

The report said Church officials and police colluded in covering up instances of child sexual abuse by clergy.

The release of the report resulted in calls for the resignations of bishops who were serving during the period covered by the report and for further investigations and prosecution.

Bishop Donal Murray of Limerick, the only still-active bishop listed in the Murphy Report, was said by several sources to be already in Rome to meet with Vatican officials.

Irish press reports said Bishop Murray was expected to resign in the wake of the Dublin report’s criticism of his “inexcusable” handling of an investigation of a pedophile priest.

On December 8, Archbishop Leanza met with Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin and described the 45-minute meeting as serious and meaningful.

RTE News reported that Martin requested the meeting in the wake of the Murphy Report. Speaking after the meeting, Martin said he expected a “substantive response” from the Church as inquiries into the abuse continue.

Archbishop Leanza acknowledged that mistakes were made, but said the Church has condemned clerical child abuse and the Vatican had already apologized to victims and their families.

The nuncio said he expected a response from the Vatican following Pope Benedict’s upcoming meeting with Cardinal Brady and Archbishop Martin.

In a related action, Bishop Der-

mot O’Mahony, a retired auxiliary bishop of Dublin, resigned as president of the Irish Pilgrimage Trust — which takes sick children to Lourdes, France, and runs a respite care center in Galway, Ireland — as a result of findings in the Murphy Report.

The report found that the bishop “dealt particularly badly with complaints” while serving as an auxiliary between 1975 and 1996 and that he failed to properly alert Archbishop Dermot Ryan, now deceased, and then-Archbishop Desmond Connell as well as other Church authorities.

In a case involving a priest given the pseudonym “Father Vidal,” Bishop O’Mahony provided the priest with a reference in 1985 for a post in the Diocese of Sacramento, Calif., without alerting the bishop there that the priest had previously had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl, the report said. In 2001, Bishop O’Mahony destroyed documents relating to accusations against the priest, according to the report.

It said Bishop O’Mahony knew of abuse complaints or suspicions against 13 priests, but reported none of them to civil authorities.

In the case of Father Ivan Payne, he allowed Archbishops Ryan and Connell to be misled by a psychiatric report based on information that the auxiliary knew to be false, the report said.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic groups with a stake in matters of war and peace were alternately hopeful and dejected by President Barack Obama’s plan to add 30,000 troops to the war effort in Afghanistan.

“I think he’s making a tragic and horrible mistake,” David Robinson, head of Pax Christi USA, said of Obama during a December 2 telephone interview with Catholic News Service from Pax Christi headquarters in Erie, Pa. “The irony of him announcing this fateful escalation the week before (Obama accepts) the Nobel Peace Prize, this is Greek tragedy.”

“We hope and pray for his success, that his strategy works,” said Maryknoll Sister Mary Ellen Gallagher, who is on the staff of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns in Maryknoll, N.Y. “But after eight years of this war, with the toll it takes on our own soldiers, the toll it takes on the people in Afghanistan, the lack of training in these eight years for the Afghani soldiers: Where have they been in all these eight years?

Why have they not been trained to protect their own people? These are the questions that we have,” Sister Mary Ellen said.

Obama outlined his war plans in an address at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. Broadcast across the nation, Obama said he would add 30,000 soldiers to the effort, but also announced the withdrawal of troops beginning in July 2011 in the expectation that the Afghan government would be able to accept the added responsibility.

“It appears to me that our military is in need of that help there,” said Jose Garcia, national executive director of Catholic War Veterans of the USA. Talking to CNS during a telephone interview from Austin, Texas, Garcia said, “My biggest concern at this point is that I don’t want it to become another Vietnam.

Being a Vietnam veteran, I know what happened. Over there, we kept sending in more military and it became a never-ending situation.”

Garcia served a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam that ended in 1973, when the last U.S. fighting forces

were withdrawn.

A 35-year Army veteran, now retired, Garcia said, “We started it.

We need to finish what we start.”

“I was very glad to hear the president give an exit timeline for Afghanistan,” Pax Christi’s Robinson said. “I just don’t agree that we’re going to be able to make enough of a difference on the ground in the next 18 months that will put us in a better position to leave then than we are now.”

Robinson added, “War is not going to change the dynamic.

They’re not going to be able to ... in the 12-month time frame that the president gave them ... create a corrupt-free Afghan government, double the size of the Afghan military and engage Pakistan in a productive manner when none of that had been accomplished in the last eight years.”

Robinson told CNS he had attended a program at the invitation of the National Security Council which solicited several groups’ views on the war, but heard little of the government’s plans in the region, war or no, citing “the struggle of trying to establish a central democratic government that is not tied to the drug trafficking trade and that respects all the stakeholders in Afghan.”

“Even if there were no war going on, the tasks of establishing a central government with authority over the whole country that’s effective, just and equitable and allowing the economic base to move out of abject poverty — those goals would be monumental,” he said.

He added, “Until a viable diplomatic and political strategy is articulated and emerges, I can’t see how any military involvement can be justified.”

Garcia, of the Catholic War Veterans, was of two minds about Obama’s announced timeline.

“His timetable for accomplishing things are fine. I think it’s going in the right direction,” Garcia told CNS. “My biggest concern is when he set a deadline of the year 2011.

If I was an insurgent at that time, I would personally sit on the sideline waiting for 2011 to come, wait for the military to go home, and start all over again.”

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December 11, 2009 The Church in the U.S. Play about St. John Vianney is touring U.S. in Year for Priests

By Ed Langlois Catholic News Service

PORTLAND, Ore. — On a recent evening in Chicago, Leonardo Defilippis felt more edgy than usual.

The veteran actor stood ready to perform a one-man play for future pastors, confessors, chaplains and bishops. His task was to bring one of the Church’s most ardent parish priests to life for an auditorium packed with seminarians: St. John Vianney.

The next day, he did the same for more than 400 Chicago priests.

A trained Shakespearean actor who has taken the stage for more than 30 years, Defilippis falls to his knees frequently these days as he tours the nation.

It’s all for his portrayal in “Vianney,” in which he plays the French country priest who in the early 19th century instilled an apathetic town with the desire to live the Gospel.

Before the Year for Priests ends in mid-2010, Defilippis will have performed his new play all over the nation. In November, he staged it for the U.S. bishops gathered in Baltimore for their annual fall general assembly and he might do the play at the Vatican for Pope Benedict XVI. It was the pope who proclaimed the Year for Priests in part because 2009 marks 150 years since St. John Vianney’s death. He also proclaimed St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests, as patron of all the world’s priests.

In an interview with the Catholic Sentinel, newspaper of the Portland Archdiocese, Defilippis said he finds himself praying to the saint for aid on the stage.

“You want to do this right because it’s kind of an awesome responsibility,” said the actor, a 57-year-old member of Holy Rosary Parish in Portland. Defilippis is known locally for plays and films in which he has played Jesus as well as saints Francis of Assisi, John of the Cross, Augustine and Maximilian Kolbe.

After years as a Shakespearean actor in the Colorado

Shakespeare Festival, San Diego’s Old Globe Theater and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Defilippis embarked on a spiritual journey that led him to found St. Luke Productions in 1980, producing plays, films and television shows on the

SAINTLY PERFORMANCE — Leonardo Defilippis portrays St. John Vianney in a new one-man play about the saint’s life. The drama is touring the nation during the Year for Priests. (CNS photo/courtesy St. Luke Productions)

Scriptures and the lives of the saints.

In 2005, he released a major film on the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. The movie spent 70 weeks in theaters. Now there is talk of a Vianney film.

The saint is known simply as the Cure of Ars, meaning “the parish priest from Ars,” the rural village where he spent his priestly life.

Born in 1786, John Vianney overcame many obstacles to become a priest. His father objected to his vocation, wanting him to stay and work on the family farm. His parish priest at first considered him too dimwitted for ministry. When he finally got to the seminary, he was expelled after five months because he could not get a handle on Latin.

In 1818, the bishop decided to send him to Ars in central France to minister to the parish’s 230 people, who were disinterested in the faith. The new pastor began diligently visiting families and fasting and praying for them, a practice he would keep up through his life.

The Cure of Ars wore a ragged cassock. Eating only a potato or two a day, he led a life of poverty that earned him the respect of many, including his bishop.

The pastor sold off the rectory’s fine furniture, giving the money to the poor. He opened a free school and an orphanage.

St. John Vianney, who was canonized in 1925, “is one of the most incredible saints in the Church, but not that well known,” Defilippis said. The actor hopes to change that and perhaps help open some people to a vocation along the way.

The drama is frightening in parts, suitable for those nine and older. Defilippis includes scenes, some violent, that illustrate how Satan tired to attack him almost nightly.

Steven Lichtman, who helped get the play organized in Oregon, said he thinks people “will be brought into the story and will come away inspired to pursue their faith with a new — or renewed — zeal.”

Fairbanks Diocese, abuse victims reach settlement of $9.8 million

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The Diocese of Fairbanks and representatives of about 300 people who claim to have been sexually abused by clergy and Church workers in the diocese agreed on a settlement of $9.8 million during a late November federal bankruptcy court hearing.

Final terms of the agreement were to be heard by Judge Donald McDonald of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Alaska and were expected to be finalized in January.

“This agreement achieves an important milestone,” Fairbanks Bishop Donald J. Kettler said in a November 24 statement.

“More importantly it starts us down a road of healing and the restoration of trust.”

The diocese said it will lead to “a consensual resolution” of the diocese’s Chapter 11 reorganization filed in 2008 under bankruptcy law.

Under the terms of the agreement, the diocese said, a trust will be formed to com-

pensate claimants, with most of the funding coming from an exchange of diocesan property for cash from an endowment trust.

Additional contributions will come from the parishes and a foundation that supports the Catholic schools of Fairbanks, the diocese said. Alaska National Insurance is to pay $1.4 million of the total.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Ken Roosa, told The Associated Press that some of the funds would be put aside to pursue lawsuits against diocesan insurance companies that he said have been reluctant to participate in settlement discussions. The rest will be divided among alleged victims, with the amounts dependent on the severity of the abuse claim.

Filing for bankruptcy was “the best way to bring all parties together and to provide for fair and equitable treatment of all who have been harmed,” Bishop Kettler said when he announced the decision in February 2008.

DEPOSIT DEADLINE JANUARY 15, 2010! For further information, please call Eliesa at CARMEL TOURS 978-977-3062 ~ Email: carmeltour@aol.com

5

The Anchor

December 11, 2009

U.S. bishops urge Senators to support Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment

ANSWERED PRAYERS — Joey Schwartz, 14, of Savage, Minn., poses in late September with mother Melinda, twin brother Derek and father Paul. Joey’s family says prayers to Blessed Francis X. Seelos led to the cure of his cancer. (CNS photo/Jim Boven, Catholic Spirit)

Minnesota family says prayers to Blessed Seelos cured teen’s cancer

By Julie Pfitzinger Catholic News Service

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Not too long ago, 14-year-old Joey Schwartz had never heard of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.

He could not have imagined making a pilgrimage with his family from Savage, Minn., to the New Orleans shrine of the Redemptorist priest, especially since he was extremely ill with a rare form of cancer that had returned after a short remission.

Even less expected was the life-changing outcome of that visit to the National Seelos Shrine — a testimony to the power of prayer and the possible intercession of Blessed Seelos. According to his doctor, Joey is now cancer-free and his family is eager to share the story of the apparent miracle.

In March 2008, Joey was diagnosed with midline carcinoma after having a walnut-size tumor removed from his chest.

“This kind of cancer is so rare that, by all accounts, Joey’s was the 14th case worldwide,” said his father, Paul Schwartz. “It has been classified as highly lethal and aggressive. Most cases don’t respond well to treatment.”

But after multiple rounds of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation, a CT scan showed that his cancer was gone. “We really thought all our prayers had been answered and that Joey had cheated death,” his father said in an interview with The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

However, in early July, the family, members of St. John the Baptist in Savage, received devastating news. Joey’s cancer had not only returned, but he now had a quarter-inch tumor on his chest

wall and more than a dozen small tumors in his lungs.

“In some ways, it was even harder to hear that than it was to receive the original cancer diagnosis,” said his mother, Melinda Schwartz.

Not long after, they first learned about Blessed Seelos from a family friend who had recently read about two cancer patients who said they had been cured of their disease after praying novenas to the priest.

Born in 1819, Francis Seelos was considered responsible for several episodes of healing during his priesthood. He served in Pittsburgh and New Orleans, where he died in 1867 from yellow fever.

He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

Paul Schwartz decided to order some material from the national shrine as well as a first-class relic from the Redemptorist priest — a medallion with a small bone fragment that Joey wears daily.

“After watching a DVD about Father Seelos, we all felt spiritually called to travel to New Orleans to visit the shrine,” Paul Schwartz said.

Soon after getting the go-ahead from Joey’s doctor, the family

— which includes Joey’s twin brother, Derek — drove to New Orleans. Melinda Schwartz had called ahead and spoken to Joyce Bourgeois, the Seelos Center administrator.

During Mass at the shrine, Bourgeois laid her hands on Joey’s shoulders in prayer. Each member of the family felt “spiritually overwhelmed” by the experience, according to Paul Schwartz.

Added Joey: “I don’t know how to explain it, but I did feel different.”

After a new CT scan in September, doctors were unable to detect any cancer in Joey’s lungs and said they believed the larger tumor spotted in July was likely scar tissue.

For now, Joey is continuing with his course of chemotherapy.

“Nothing is telling us to stop that, and we’re going to go by what our doctor is saying,” said Melinda Schwartz.

At the same time, Paul and Melinda Schwartz truly believe Joey is cured. “It’s time for us to start talking about it,” she said.

“God didn’t do this for our family for us to keep it a secret. We want to get the word out about Blessed Father Seelos.”

WASHINGTON — The U.S. bishops have voiced support for the Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment to the Senate health reform bill and have asked voters to back it.

The bishops took the position in a December 7 letter to all U.S. senators, after Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Robert Casey (D-PA) proposed an amendment to prevent the health reform bill from using federal funds to pay for health plans that include elective abortions. The ban would be similar to the Hyde Amendment, passed in 1976, to ban federal funds in the Health and Human Services’ appropriations bill from paying for coverage that includes most abortions.

Similar bans are part of other federal programs, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, and included in the House-passed “Affordable Health Care for America Act.” “We urgently ask you to support an essential amendment to be offered by Senators Ben Nelson (DNE), Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Robert Casey (D-PA) to keep in place the long-standing and widely supported federal policy against government funding of health coverage that includes elective abortions,” the letter said.

The bishops also sent to the senators two fact sheets: Abortion and Conscience Problems in the Senate Health Care Reform: http://www.usccb.org/healthcare/ hatch-nelson120409.pdf and the one on What the Nelson-HatchCasey Amendment Does: http:// www.usccb.org/healthcare/nelsondo.pdf.

The letter was signed by Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., chair of the bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of GalvestonHouston, chair of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop John Wester of Salt

Lake City, chair of the bishops’ Committee on Migration.

“This amendment will have the same effect as the Stupak-SmithEllsworth-Kaptur-DahlkemperPitts Amendment already accepted in the House by an overwhelming bipartisan majority,” the letter said.

“Like that amendment, it does not change the current situation in our country: Abortion is legal and available, but no federal dollars can be used to pay for elective abortions or plans that include elective abortions. This amendment does not restrict abortion, or prevent people from buying insurance covering abortion with their own funds. It simply ensures that where federal funds are involved, people are not required to pay for other people’s abortions.”

The letter said that the bill currently before the Senate “allows the HHS Secretary to mandate abortion coverage throughout the government-run ‘community health insurance option.’ It also provides funding for other plans that cover unlimited abortions, and creates an unprecedented mandatory ‘abortion surcharge’ in such plans that will require Pro-Life purchasers to pay directly and explicitly for other people’s abortions. The bill does not maintain essential nondiscrimination protections for providers who decline involvement in abortion. The Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment simply corrects these grave departures from current federal policy.”

“We urge the Senate to support the Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment keeping the health care bill abortion-neutral. As other amendments are offered to the bill that address our priorities on affordability and fair treatment of immigrants, we will continue to communicate our positions on these issues to the Senate,” the bishops said.

In supporting the amendment the bishops urged Catholics to work for passage by contacting their senators. One vehicle to do this is through www.usccb.org/action.

6

The Anchor

Understanding the full context and causes of the scandals

On the day American Catholics celebrated Thanksgiving, Catholics in Ireland marked what should be called Ash Thursday, the first day of what portends to be a long ecclesial Lent.

On November 26, a commission headed by Judge Yvonne Murphy published its exhaustive report on the Archdiocese of Dublin’s response to allegations of the sexual abuse of minors between 1975-2004. It investigated how the archdiocese handled 320 claims of abuse against 46 priests and gave this appalling conclusion: “The Dublin Archdiocese’s preoccupations in dealing with cases of child sexual abuse, at least until the mid-1990s, were the maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the Church, and the preservation of its assets. All other considerations, including the welfare of children and justice for victims, were subordinated to these priorities. The archdiocese did not implement its own canon law rules and did its best to avoid any application of the law of the state.” When one reads the 720-page report, it is impossible to argue with those conclusions.

Although restricted to the three decades of abuse complaints in the Archdiocese of Dublin, the report details many of the same failures of ecclesiastical leadership that have been exposed elsewhere, especially in the United States, and its conclusions are just as applicable here as in Ireland.

The report also raises important questions that have not yet been adequately addressed on either side of the Atlantic.

Here, the bishops in 2002 published a “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” which, with its accompanying norms, has established firm protocols to prevent the sexual abuse of minors and, should it occur, to respond to it effectively, by providing direct help to those who have suffered the abuse and by facilitating the removal from the priesthood of those who would use their office to desecrate rather than sanctify those entrusted to their care. The Charter and Norms are not perfect, but they have dramatically changed the operative culture of the Church to ensure that the protection of children is prioritized above consideration of the individual rights of priests and the reputation of the institutional Church.

The bishops have also dedicated a lot of resources and time to investigating what went wrong.

The bishops hired the John Jay College of Criminal Justice to do a detailed scientific report of the number of allegations of sexual abuse of minors by priests, the nature of the allegations of abuse, the responses of Church leaders to the allegations, the amount of money paid to victims or alleged victims and other items from 1950-2002. This took courage and leadership to see just how bad the problem was. The 2004 report gave data from the dioceses throughout the United States.

It was accompanied by an analysis of the data and a formulation of recommendations by a lay board chaired by Attorney Robert Bennett called the “Report on the Crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States.” It sought to answer why individuals with a disposition to prey sexually upon minors gained admission to the priesthood and remained in the priesthood even after allegations and evidence of such abuse became known to their bishops and other Church leaders. It gave compelling, provisional answers to those questions. It recommended further study and analysis of the context and causes of the abuse, enhanced screening, formation and oversight of seminarians and priests, increased sensitivity and effectiveness in responding to allegations of abuse, greater accountability of bishops and other Church leaders, improved interaction with civil authorities, and meaningful participation by the Christian faithful in dealing with the protection of children and in Church life overall. In November of this year, the John Jay Study gave a presentation to the bishops on the far deeper scientific study of the causes and context of why priests abused. There is now much greater screening of candidates for the priesthood and deeper formation in chastity.

There is greater cooperation with civil authorities and increased participation by laity not only on diocesan and national Sexual Abuse Allegation Review Boards but also in providing administrative assistance and training to priests and to dioceses. While it’s clear that there is still a lot of room for improvement in each of these areas, it’s also obvious that progress is being made.

There’s one area, however, in which more focus needs to be given for the Church to regain the trust necessary to carry out her mission. It’s the issue of accountability of bishops and Church leaders. This is why the Murphy Commission report is so important. It studied and brought to light just how inadequate was the response of Church leaders — specifically within the Archdiocese of Dublin, but its analysis also applies elsewhere — to the allegations of abuse brought to their attention.

Knowing how bad the problem was, and what specifically the failures were, is a crucial first step in fixing what’s broken. The second step, however, is to figure out why those failures happened. Just as the U.S. bishops recognized it wasn’t enough merely to study the incidence of the sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy without investigating the context and the causes of that abuse, so also it’s not enough to describe the failures of Church leaders to respond adequately without examining the context and the causes of that misfeasance.

Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, in his exemplary public statement in response to the publication of the Murphy Report, asked, “How did those with responsibility dramatically misread the risk that a priest who had hurt one of those whom Jesus calls ‘the little ones’ might go on to abuse another child if decisive action was not taken? … Efforts made to ‘protect the Church’ and to ‘avoid scandal’ have had the ironic result of bringing this horrendous scandal on the Church today.”

How is it that so many of those in responsibility equated “protecting the Church” more with guarding the reputation and assets of the institution than defending Christ’s innocent lambs? Why did they respond like lawyers instead of fathers to families whose sole motivation was to prevent abusive priests from hurting other children? With all their direct contact with recidivism in the confessional, how could they be so naïve in accepting psychological evaluations that claimed a minimal risk for abusers’ abusing again? How could Church leaders seem so blind and insensitive to the reality of what it would mean for a child to be molested by a figure representing God? How could representatives of the one who promised millstones to those who harm the young (Lk 17:2) not have made preventing that horror the foremost consideration in their decision-making? Why is it that they didn’t apply the canonical processes set forth by the Church to punish and remove the abusers?

These are questions that not only need to be asked, but answered.

Archbishop Martin has been crusading to try to help the Church in Ireland behave as the Church should. He opened his archdiocesan archives to the Murphy Commission soon after he became archbishop and fought off a civil lawsuit by his predecessor trying to prevent the release of those files. He has spoken repeatedly with candor, shame, sorrow and holy indignation about the “revolting story of the sexual assault and rape of so many young children and teen-agers.” He has publicly called on those leaders who failed to stand before the Catholics of the archdiocese to try to defend their actions, and he has openly suggested that they examine their conscience and resign their episcopal duties.

He’s responding, in short, like a true leader of the Church should.

In order for the Church to recover from the tremendous destruction of the scandals — both the abuse and the failure to stop it — it is crucial for the Church to understand why Archbishop Martin’s example has been so uncommon. It’s also urgent that we get more leaders like him.

December 11, 2009

Practical tips

Within this year-long series of articles on love the sacrament more and experience more St. John Vianney, the 150th of whose birth into of its fruits. eternal life provided the occasion for Pope Fourth, St. John Vianney tried to get his Benedict to declare the Year for Priests, it has parishioners and penitents to pray for their been fitting to dedicate a mini-series on what confessors. “The penitent should pray,” he sugcontemporaries and historians call his greatest gested repeatedly, “that the good God give to his miracle of all: his confessional, besieged day confessor the necessary light and grace.” Just as and night. he was praying and fasting for penitents, so he In the last 10 columns, we have seen how was asking them to do the same for him and his the Curé of Ars spent the vast majority of brother confessors. He knew, perhaps more than his priestly life, as much as 18 hours a day, any other priest in Church history, how much reconciling sinners to God. Throughout the day priests are in need of prayer to act effectively he prayed without ceasing — at the altar, in his in the person of the Divine Physician with each meditation, and in his fasts and penances — penitent who comes. They need God’s grace that sinners would be given the grace of repen- to understand not just the sins but the sinners tance and conversion. He would preach routine- who come before him, to remain patient with ly about the greatness of God’s mercy and then those who try their patience, to be gentle with would go out in search of the lost sheep, trying those who are particularly sensitive, to be firm to invite, persuade, or gently pull them to come with those who need a good spiritual kick in to receive it. After he had helped people return the pants, to cry with those who lack contrition, to the sacrament, he would then work to help to give hope to those in despair, to guide with them become ever better penitents, teaching clarity those who are lost and confused, and to and assisting them to examine their consciences know what to say and what not to say in order better, to grow in sorrow, and make firmer and to help the penitent turn away from sin and be wiser purposes of amendment. While the Mass faithful to the Gospel. always remained the source and the summit of In this Year for Priests, it is especially fitting his priestly life, the confessional became in a for all the faithful to pray for priest confessors sense his altar, as St. John Vianhis cross, on ney suggests. which he sacriIt is hard for ficed himself in those who are union with Christ not priests truly for the redempto imagine the tion of the world. difficulties Today I’d like and incredibly

By Father to conclude this delicate balances Roger J. Landry mini-series on between justice the Curé of Ars and mercy when and the sacraconfessing, ment of penance by focusing briefly on a few for example, those who are guilty of heinous other aspects of his confessional ministry. crimes. It’s hard to grasp the pain a priest The first concerns the practical tips he gave experiences when he is incapable of giving on how to go to confession. He encouraged absolution to someone who refuses to abandon penitents to be candid, clear, concise and cona near occasion of sin. It’s difficult to conceive trite. With proper preparation, he said, the con- the angst in a priest’s paternal heart when a fession even of someone who had been away child penitent totally freezes up and won’t say for years should be able to be done within a few anything at all. It’s surreal to envisage what minutes. He tried to help those who were prone it’s like when a penitent is totally unintelligible to loquacity, especially in giving non-essential yet seems to be asking you moral advice about details, to prune their confession and give just whether something he or she did was sinful. those circumstances that were directly relevant And it’s almost unfathomable when penitents to committing the sin. This was not so much to ask for your help in resolving moral difficulties save time, but because he generally saw that the at work or at home that, if put into case studies, greater the details, the less sorrowful the peniwould challenge the greatest moral theologians tent; rather than identifying the root causes of in the world. Not to mention when any of these sins, the extra details were normally employed occur five minutes before Mass is supposed to to “explain” or “excuse” them. That’s why start. For all of these reasons and more, please he counseled from the pulpit, “Avoid all the pray for confessors. useless accusations. They waste the confessor’s Fifth, the patron saint of priests always time, fatigue those who are waiting to confess reminded his penitents that, if they wanted to reand extinguish devotion.” ceive God’s mercy, they had to be merciful with Second, he sought to remove whatever fears others. “Unless you forgive others their sins,” people might have in coming to confession.

Jesus said in the Gospel, “your Heavenly Father He knew that many were reluctant to confess will not forgive yours” (Mt 6:15). St. John because they worried what the priest might Vianney helped them to see that their absolution think of them. He sought to reassure them, first, required forgiving others 70 times seven times. by telling them that there was nothing that they “The good God will pardon only those who could say that would surprise the priest. “Is it pardon,” he said. “That’s the law.” He helped his really humiliating to accuse yourself of your parishioners to live by it. sins?” he asked. “The priest knows well what Finally, he not only sought to help them you’re capable of.” Then he told them what forgive others but to bring others to receive the the priest’s reaction would be to their humble same forgiveness they had received from God. self-accusation and trust in God’s mercy. “The He tried to make them cheerful apostles of the priest will have mercy on you. He will cry with sacrament of reconciliation, spreading the joy you,” as often St. John Vianney did. of being forgiven to their family members, Third, he sought to help them to receive friends and neighbors. Far more effective than sacramental absolution prayerfully, by getting 100 homilies on confession is the witness of a them to grasp what it really meant. “When the satisfied customer. The geometric explosion in priest gives absolution, it’s necessary to think the number of penitents in the tiny, barely acof only one thing: that the Blood of the good cessible hamlet of Ars, was ascribable not only God is flowing through our soul to wash it, to God’s grace and the Curé’s prayers but to the purify it and make it as beautiful as it was after testimonies of so many penitents whose joyful baptism.” Absolution is a great miracle, just personal tales were compelling advertisements. like the miracle of baptism, when the soul that It’s a great lesson for all of us today with was deadened by sin experiences the miracle of regard to those we know who are in great need the resurrection. It is not uncommon in some of God’s mercy. The most effective means in places, especially where confessional lines are getting them to return is, in most cases, not to long, for priests to have penitents to say their point the finger at them and tell them that they act of contrition simultaneously with the prayer need to go to confession. It’s to go to confesof absolution, or for penitents to begin praying sion ourselves and then to share with them the their penance while the absolution is being incredible joy we have in being reconciled with given. The Curé of Ars wanted no such multithe Father. Advent is a great time to experience tasking. He tried to help his penitents slow personally this wisdom of the Curé of Ars. down to reflect on what was occurring, which Father Landry is pastor of St. Anthony of he was convinced would help them grow to Padua Parish in New Bedford.

Putting Into the Deep

I

am writing this article about my call to be a priest on June 7, the very day that I was ordained some 42 years ago.

There are many ingredients that lead to my call to the priesthood. It is almost like God’s great recipe to follow him.

I was blessed to have a mom and dad who encouraged me and all my siblings to follow the path that would lead us to serving others. The best example was their example. They believed in their faith and the nourishing of it. We had family prayer every night and my dad was a daily communicant. I often went with him to early morning Mass and I began to have such a love of that mystery that I wanted somehow to be a part of it.

Our folks used to leave books out for us to read and one book caught my eye. I

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7

The Anchor

December 11, 2009

God’s vocational recipe

grew up in a Dominican parish I serve into being a commuand got to meet many mission- nity. Priestly life has taught aries. Their lives intrigued me. me the need for inclusiveness of the people in presenting the One day I picked up a book Lord’s message to the world. on Father Damien, the leprosy The involvement of the laity priest, who this year, on October 11, was canonized a saint. When I read his fantastic story, I wanted Year For Priests to experience the Vocational Reflection Congregation to which he belonged. Little did I know that the East

By Father Thomas Coast Province of the McElroy, SS.CC Congregation was in Fairhaven, Mass. has taught me that all of us are The rest is a beautiful responsible to bring Jesus to adventure that has made me a the world through our giftedreligious of the Sacred Hearts ness. by serving as a missionary I have been a retreat master priest. for the past 30 years. I have I became a priest to serve traveled extensively and, I the poor, to preach and to have to say, this is one of the teach the love of God as expemost rewarding experiences rienced in the hearts of Jesus of my life. I marvel at the way and Mary. The priesthood that the Gospel changes people of I enjoy has made me a person every color, creed, and nationwho works to draw the people

ality. This year alone I had two people attend retreats I gave in parishes; one had been away from the Church for 50 years and the other for 55 years.

It is often during the sacraments of Eucharist, healing and reconciliation when I feel closest to Christ. I can remember many moments when I have experienced the presence of the Lord. This entire adventure with Christ has taught me the need to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus and to give hope to those whom Christ puts in my way.

People have always shown me the way to Christ. They have done it by forgiving my brokenness, encouraging my gifts used for the Lord, and by supporting me in the times I needed strength to go on.

People have also helped me by encouraging the good things

that help me grow and also by letting me know the negative things I do that disturb. All of this makes me feel appreciated and a part of the community.

Trying to give a reflection about the priesthood in a few words has really made me think of thousands of ways I have been blessed, but all my experiences of growing, learning, sadness, joy and disappointment wouldn’t fit on this page. I can say for sure that I would not trade my life as a religious priest of the Sacred Hearts for anything. It has been a joy to have been given this gift by Almighty God. I am the richest man in the world because I belong to Jesus Christ. Thanks for letting me share. Think about joining us. I’ll be praying for you.

Sacred Hearts Father McElroy is pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Fairhaven.

For example, such research is announcing a dramatic “sucsure to be valuable for gaincess,” perhaps an embryonic ing further insight into the stem cell transplant allowing cellular mechanisms underchildhood diabetics to give up lying the development of their insulin injections or paran organism and is already alyzed patients to walk. That providing important clues about how an animal builds itself up from a single starting cell called the zygote.

Scientific research using non-human (e.g.

By Father Tad mouse, rat, or monkey) Pacholczyk embryonic stem cells can address these kinds of questions in a responsible “success,” however, would way and clearly deserves not change the ethical objecto be funded and promoted. tions to embryo destruction Such non-human embryonic or make an evil act a morally stem-cell research is, in fact, acceptable one — though it a praiseworthy and ethically might increase the temptation uncontentious kind of scienfor some to cross the objective tific investigation. ethical line.

Second, the argument that To put it more simply: even adult stem cells are helping if it were possible to cure all sick patients while embryonic diseases known to mankind are not — and thus the adult by harvesting (and therefore stem cells are “more ethical” killing) a single human em— seems to reduce the stem bryo, it would never become cell ethics debate to a discus- ethical to do so. We cannot sion about what works best, choose evil that good might or what is most effective. come, nor can we ever afford In fact, however, the ethical to pay the steep ethical price concerns have very little to do of ignoring the sacrosanct with scientific efficiency and humanity of the embryo, that everything to do with the fact tiny creature that each of us that researchers violate and once was ourselves. Treating destroy young humans (who a fellow human being, albeit are still embryos) in order to a very small one, as a means acquire their stem cells. rather than an end, violates Furthermore, it may be his or her most basic human strictly a matter of time before rights. the embryonic stem cells beIn fact, the direct killing gin providing cures for human of other humans, whether patients. At any point in the young and embryonic or old future, we could be greeted and in their dotage, is propby a front page news story erly referred to as an intrinsic

evil, meaning it is in every instance wrong, and ought never be chosen as a human act. Intrinsic evils do not admit of any legitimate exceptions. Once we concretely recognize the immoral character of an action prohibited by an exceptionless norm, the only ethically acceptable act is to follow the requirements of the moral law and turn away from the action which it forbids.

Bioethicist Paul Ramsey put it well in suggesting that any man of serious conscience, when discussing ethics, will have to conclude that, “there may be some things that men should never do. The good things that men do can be made complete only by the things they refuse to do.”

Refusing to destroy human embryos as a scientist does not imply any opposition

to science itself, but only to unethical science, which, like unethical investment practices or unethical medicine, is invariably harmful to society.

Good science is necessarily ethical science; it cannot ever be reduced merely to “efficient” science, that which might work or “solve my problems” at the expense of others. In arguing for ethical science, those of us working to safeguard human life would do well to examine our premises carefully, so as to avoid weak or questionable assumptions that could undermine the thrust of our arguments.

Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, and serves as the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org.

Stem cell ethics and the things we refuse to do

any well-intentioned Pro-Lifers have inadvertently adopted flawed or incomplete arguments while trying to defend the noblest of causes: the plight of the vulnerable and the unborn. In the debate over stem cells, for example, a common argument runs like this: Human embryonic stemcell research is wrong because we are witnessing new medical treatments for sick patients exclusively with adult, not embryonic stem cells. Every disease that has been successfully treated thus far with stem cells has relied on adult stem cells, while embryonic stem cells haven’t produced any cures yet. Adult stem cells work, while embryonic don’t, and it’s basically a waste of resources to pursue something that is not working. Therefore scientists should stop beating their drums about human embryonic stem cells since all the real-life treatments for patients are occurring exclusively with adult stem cells.

This argument, often employed by those of a Pro-Life persuasion, is flawed on a number of counts.

First, it seems to presume that the only yardstick for determining embryonic stem cell “success” will be in terms of benefits to patients who are struggling with various ailments and diseases. Yet researchers themselves would argue that there are many other reasons to pursue embryonic stem-cell research.

Making Sense Out of Bioethics

8

The Anchor

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aybe Scarlett O’Hara has more in common with us during this season of Advent than we think?

The antebellum “before war” South was destined to change by the effects of the American Civil War — the captives (slaves) would be set free and as a result, Scarlett’s home plantation of Tara would never be the same, it would be forever … “Gone with the Wind.” We too are destined to change for the better by the effects of God our savior coming into the world, to set us free and to make sure that we will never again be the same, for God is indeed with us. He is Emmanuel.

Advent is our special time of the year, to change our status quo, to free ourselves from whatever captivates us to sin, to lay our anxieties before the hope of the Christ Child and rejoice in the Lord. This time of hope, renewal and joy are described so beautifully in the first reading from the prophet Zephaniah, “Fear not O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing

December 11, 2009

‘Gone with the Wind’

joyfully because of you, as one us from seeking the freedom that sings at festivals.”

God offers us? Most often, it is Since the beginning of Adour fear of the unknown and our vent, we’ve heard much about anxiety about taking risks (espethe Lord’s coming as judge of cially with ourselves) that keeps all at the end of time in this world as we know it.

The priests and deacons Homily of the Week wear penitential purple Third Sunday (or rose) vestments durof Advent ing this season to help us to recognize our need

By Deacon to repent and prepare; Thomas P. Palanza to help us to overcome our human tendencies to wander away from God’s great covenant of love for his us enslaved to our old ways and children and to fall into moments habits and prevents us from expeof sin through darkness, despair riencing a new person in the Lord and the many anxieties we face in and a better life as a result. this world.

Our natural “human” inclinaAs it is with life itself, the tion to “hold on and have more” readings for this season of things of this world (money, Advent are intermingled with power, control, authority, etc.) images of light and darkness — keeps us from letting go and joy and sorrow. We are renewed actualizing our supernatural and by the expectation of the Lord’s “holy” formation received at coming and sometimes overbaptism, so that God can shape whelmed with the inner sense to us into what he created us to be. prepare ourselves even better this To coin an all-to-familiar phrase, year than we have in the past. we really must find a way to “let So what is it that keeps us go and let God” inside to guide from fulfillment in this time of us, especially during this special preparation? What is it that keeps season of Advent.

The Church refers to today as Gaudete Sunday, the halfway point of Advent and we mark this event by lighting the rose colored candle on the advent wreath. It means to rejoice, and comes to us from the Latin translation of Philippians, “Gaudete in Domino Semper” “Rejoice in the Lord Always.”

Saint Paul urges us to do just that in the second reading, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Wow. What more could we ask for in a world filled with so many daily trials and tribulations? What greater gift could we seek this Advent and find on Christmas day, with so many heartaches, unknowns and anxieties to distract us, than the “peace of God to guard our hearts and minds.”

What better way to prepare

ourselves to receive the true gift of Christmas in a new and lasting way.

At the end of today’s Gospel passage, we hear John the Baptist make reference to the ancient practice of farmers who would toss broken grain stocks into the air so the “winnowing fan” could blow the (lighter and useless) chaff away and the (heavier and good) grain would fall to the “threshing floor” and be gathered.

So why not take a chance this Advent and make a change for the better. Bring the chaff of whatever is holding you back and weighing you down to God in the sacrament of reconciliation, toss it all up to the Lord and let it forever be … “Gone with the Wind.”

You’ll be amazed at what God can do with you (and for you) once you give him something to work with. Make it a special gift to yourself this Christmas and give thanks for the blessings that will surely follow.

Deacon Palanza is assigned to St. Mary Parish in Mansfield and also serves as the Facility Consultant to the Diocese of Fall River.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Dec. 12, feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a;12:1-6a,10ab; (Ps) Jdt 13:18bcde,19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47. Sun. Dec. 13, Third Sunday of Advent, Zep 3:14-18a; (Ps) Is 12:2-6; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18. Mon. Dec. 14, Nm 24:2-7,15-17a; Ps 25:4-9; Mt. 21:23-27. Tues. Dec. 15, Zep 3:1-2,913; Ps 34:2-3,6-7, 17-19,23; Mt 21:28-32. Wed. Dec. 16, Is 45:6c-8,18,21c-25; Ps 85:9-14; Lk 7:18b-23. Thur. Dec. 17, Gn 49:2,8-10; Ps 72:1-4,7-8,17; Mt 1:1-17. Fri. Dec. 18, Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2,12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25.

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cal, and interreligious issues with tional book. deep insight. Especially useful Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., for students attending colleges “Church and Society: The Lawand universities “in the Jesuit and rence J. McGinley Lectures,” 1988-2007 (Fordham University Press). In a year replete with the deaths of irreplaceable Catholic intellectuals, the loss of Cardinal Dulles, a model of theological

By George Weigel precision and fairness, was especially grievous.

In this collection, the late, Catholic tradition.” great theologian takes up imporAndrzej Paczkowski, “The tant social and political questions Spring Will Be Ours: Poland and (including the death penalty the Poles from Occupation to and the nature of human rights), Freedom” (Pennsylvania State explicates the thought of Popes University Press). On this 20th John Paul II and Benedict XVI, anniversary of the Revolution of and treats sacramental, ecumeni1989, in which Poland and the Poles played the pivotal role, this six-year-old book remains the gold standard for understanding the experience that produced John Paul II, the revolution of conscience he ignited in 1979, and the difficulties Poles encountered on ~ New Year’s Eve the hard road to freedom. Histori~ Peggy Patenaude Couples an Paczkowski has a sharp eye for ~ Christian Yoga Retreat the telling detail, and, in a serious ~ Women’s Retreat work of the historian’s art, none~ Peggy Patenaude Women’s theless offers several side-splitting ~ Sunday Recollection examples of the mordant humor ~ Winter Spa Retreat that was one tool of Poland’s ~ Men’s Retreat cultural resistance to communism.

Paczkowski is judicious, fair, and thorough in his assessment of the

hey’re not all new, the books that follow, but they’re all well worth reading, and giving.

David Bentley Hart, “Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and its Fashionable Enemies” (Yale University Press). You’ll need the dental records to identify what’s left of the “new atheists”— Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, Hitchens — after David Hart turns his lucid mind and brilliant pen on them. “Atheist Delusions” is not only a devastating critique of the intellectually vacuous, however; it’s an important reminder of how much the civilization of the West owes to Christianity. Any college student on your gift list would be well served by reading this excep-

Dec. 31 - Jan. 1 Jan. 10, 2010 Jan. 15 - 17, 2010 Jan. 22 - 24, 2010 Jan. 22 - 24, 2010 Feb. 7, 2010 Feb. 19 - 21, 2010 Feb. 26 - 28, 2010

Books for Christmas

The Catholic Difference

Church’s complex role under Polish communism; those who are only familiar with that part of the story will find their appreciation of the Catholic human rights resistance enhanced

by Paczkowski’s account of the rest of the tale.

Daniel Walker Howe, “What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848” (Oxford University Press). In a season of widespread historical ignorance, this splendid volume, the sixth in the Oxford History of the United States, takes up a period of our national story that even the historically literate often miss — the time between the War of 1812 and the conclusion of the Mexican War (which, as Howe shows, made the Civil War virtually inevitable). It was a time of technological innovation; mass migration; genocidal abuse of Native Americans; culture-shaping spiritual convulsions; the beginnings of a national literature; the annexation of Texas; the ongoing debate over America’s original sin, slavery — a political moment defined by such large-scale figures as Andrew Jackson, John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John Quincy Adams, to whose memory the book is dedicated. Daniel Walker Howe

is especially effective at cutting Jackson down to size, thus reversing the hagiography that began when Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., tried to turn Old Hickory into a protoFranklin Delano Roosevelt.

Charles McCarry, “The Tears of Autumn” (Overlook Duckworth).

Once an underground cult novelist, McCarry, a former intelligence operative, has now been mainstreamed. And rightly so, for “The Tears of Autumn,” which explores the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy, is arguably the greatest espionage novel ever written — and a powerful meditation on unintended consequences in history.

Richard John Neuhaus, “American Babylon: Notes of a Christian Exile” (Basic Books). He didn’t write it as a valedictory, but that’s what American Babylon turned out to be — RJN’s last literary testament. The year he didn’t live to see, 2009, has made many of us miss his insight and his witness (not to mention his company) more than we could have imagined. It’s also made “American Babylon” even more important: not simply as a farewell, but as a penetrating analysis of our current public discontents and the ways in which Christians should address them.

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

Icons-R-Us

Sunday 6 December 2009 — in part by ornamental metalwork Three Mile River — feast of St. plated in silver and gold. It has Nicholas, Bishop of Myra been in the sanctuary since that he Church of St. Nichoopening day. People have grown las of Myra has, dear fond of it. readers, been receiving gifts of Our second icon arrived icons. All are created by human hand, through God’s inspiration. St. Nicholas was a bishop Reflections of a in Asia Minor, where Parish Priest icons are routinely used both in public worship

By Father Tim and private prayer. It’s Goldrick most appropriate that the representations of our parish patron be iconographic in a few weeks ago. I received style. an email from a friend that a The first icon of St. Nicholas mysterious Russian woman to be donated arrived in time named “Madame O” wished to for the opening of the parish meet with me in order to present in September of last year. That the church with an icon of St. icon had the place of honor in Nicholas. I refer to her only as the procession as we entered “Madame O” not because I have the Church of St. Nicholas for forgotten her name. To name the first time. This icon is a an iconographer is a serious hand-painted copy from Poland, breach of etiquette. “Madame reproducing the 18th-century O’s” identity will remain forever Ukrainian original. It is covered unknown.

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The Ship’s Log

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December 11, 2009

“Madame O” arrived, accompanied by her husband and our two mutual friends, a husband and wife. I invited my guests into the Ministry Room. “Madame O” immediately made her presentation. She explained that she had studied with a Russian nun, a master iconographer. “Madame O” had learned the proper spiritual techniques required in writing an icon — prayer and fasting (one does not “paint” an icon). She had also learned what she described as the “canons.” Eastern Church rules on writing an icon are both numerous and strict.

“Madame O” explained that she had happened to be at one of the parish events marking the opening of the parish. When she heard what name had been chosen, she was inspired to prepare an icon in honor of our patron. St. Nicholas is also the patron saint of her homeland.

Make straight the path

er-walk to a leisurely stroll. he usual seasonal anxiI know that you think that eties are wafting to the the ideal advice would be to surface as December progressfind a moment and think about es, and we need to assess them God and his impending arrival, in light of our faith. There are but instead I would suggest the school events, the parthat you take a moment and ish activities, the job-related think of yourself. Not just stresses (for those with work) “Why me?” or “I’m going and the nearly insurmountnuts” but “For some incomable family expectations. This prehensible reason, I am.” Not year adds “icing to the cake” only here, but now. Not only with concerns about germs and facing the holidays with so recession, so that the price tag many demands, but without the attached to each responsibility flashes neon in the dusky madness.

Is this what Our Lord wants for his birthday? Certainly not, but he’s not driving it. Our culture —

By Genevieve Kineke steeped in materialism — has led us down a dark alley with no seeming escape. But escape we usual resources.

And consider this. “[God] must. prepared for the possibility A great event looms conof my existence through the cerning our salvation — the unthinkably long evolution stunning arrival of God amidst of the world. He desired that his creatures all those centuthe world find its meaning in ries ago and his promise to me as in no other. He laid the return. A single event straddles foundations of the motives and both and we’re sandwiched in capacities of my being through between, fussing and fretting long series of generations.” about what to get the teachers Romano Guardini may never before school lets out. have imagined how meaningful No one would suggest lethis words could be to frantic ting the teachers (or the boss) mothers in a swirl of wrappings go without, but at some point and ribbons, but helpful they the frantic gym enthusiast on are — and laden with truth. the treadmill needs to slow the Over the course of Advent, machine down, and she may we will hear about the generaeven need to get off. It’s OK. tions that led to Jesus’ birth in Actually a recession offers us the stable. We will wonder at the perfect time to crank things his family tree. We will be told down from the perpetual pow-

The Feminine Genius

what the various circumstances of his arrival mean in spiritual terms. But the same applies to everyone. This needs to be turned around so that an important truth can be recognized about your existence as well.

All the circumstances of this madcap season and the uncertain year to follow were known from all ages. It is not for us to beg that money and time be multiplied like fishes and loaves, but that the resources we have be used with love. Now of all times people will understand gently used and recycled gifts — treasures from heart to heart and wrapped in memories.

Now of all times, a favorite prayer card and a beloved rosary will be not only gratefully received — but probably used. Now of all times will small bags of coffee and a promised visit resonate in lonely and equally anxious hearts. And the visit will quell both.

We can look at our uncertain finances as just an added stress to distract us from finding the elusive joys, or we can recognize in these conditions a gentle corrective to help us find the narrow path. And rather than a treadmill of woe, our new focus will reveal a path straight to the crib.

Mrs. Kineke is the author of “The Authentic Catholic Woman” (Servant Books). She can be found online at www. feminine-genius.com.

She was holding that icon in her hand. “Will you accept it? “she asked. “Madame O” said that in her country, many priests are, shall we say, persnickety. They will not accept a gift until, after careful inspection, it is deemed worthy. If not, the gift is refused. Of course, I accepted. I will create a shrine for it at the front entry of St. Nicholas rectory.

Shortly after that meeting, another iconographer, “Monsieur B,” phoned to invite me to his home for supper. I had met him and his wife briefly some 20 years ago. He told me that he had been following St. Nicholas Parish in The Anchor and had also been inspired to write an icon. Just one of his icon inspiration sessions lasted 17 hours, he said. Icon writing, it seems, requires a person who is not only talented, but spiritually and physically strong.

As soon as I arrived at his home, “Monsieur B,” who is a formally-trained artist and also a man of deep faith, took off the wrappings and there it was — an icon of St. Nicholas.

“You do not have to accept this gift,” advised “Monsieur B.” “You have the right to refuse. It is done in a didactic style, with simplified lines. It is most suitable as a teaching tool. I have included traditional scenes from the life of St. Nicholas.” One scene is an exorcism; another

is a calming of a storm at sea; a third is the presentation of bags of gold to each of three young women in dire straits. The fourth scene is centered on the legend of how St. Nicholas got fed up with a raving heretic and ended up in prison as a result. It portrays Nicholas losing control and slapping the heretic bishop Arius at the Council of Nicaea.

But this particular interpretation is quite unique. St. Nicholas is shown giving the heretic Arius a left hook to the jaw. “Not only am I an iconographer,” explained “Monsieur B,” “I’m also a boxing coach.”

“Monsieur B” and his wife were incognito in the worshipping assembly today as the icon was prayerfully anointed with perfumed olive oil and carried out in procession by our high school students. The icon will hang in the main lobby of our Parish Life Center, where another shrine has been created. There it will be seen and admired by our parishioners and our many guests.

Fine religious art has the capacity to raise the human heart to thoughts of God. A parish has a responsibility to provide the assembly with the finest religious art it is able to obtain.

Here at St. Nicholas of Myra parish, icons are us.

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

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By Michael Pare Anchor Correspondent

FALL RIVER — The line continues to form on Monday afternoons. In fact, these days it seems to form earlier and earlier.

But there it is, outside of Sacred Heart Church on Seabury Street.

Young and old, single folks and whole families, wait to file into the basement of the church where countless volunteers have prepared a warm meal, from soup to dessert.

Bill and Joan Lynch, members of nearby Holy Name Parish, are among those countless volun-

The Anchor

December 11, 2009

Christmas spirit found in helping others

teers. A retired nurse and Fall River native, Joan Lynch sees the soup kitchen as an opportunity to live her faith and just maybe, give thanks to God for all that she has.

“We have been so blessed, so fortunate,” she said. “It’s time to give back.”

They raised three boys and now enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. That’s not something they take for granted.

They feel that God blessed them with such fortune. As Catholics, they see giving back as a real responsibility.

A retired teacher and administrator, Bill Lynch sees volunteer work as a natural extension of his faith. He recognizes that we are called not only to listen to God’s word, but to get out and live it.

“When you go to church every day, you have to give of yourself,” he said. “That’s the bottom line.”

And so in addition to working at the soup kitchen, Bill is among those from Holy Name Parish who dutifully collect food, organize it, and see that it gets to Sacred Heart. That’s the beauty of the soup kitchen. There are

so many hands involved. VolunAsked why she does it, why teers come from throughout the she takes the time to help, Joan diocese, from other parishes, Lynch suggests that she gets schools, and social service agen- something beautiful in return. cies. They collectively make it In working beside other volunhappen, because it has to happen. teers, she said, she gets to see The need is that great. and feel the true spirit of selflessIn Bill and Joan Lynch, Father ness. Throughout the diocese, George E. Harrison, pastor at examples abound of selfless acts Holy Name Parish, sees a couple of Catholic faith. Putting yourthat is living the Gospel. self in the midst of them is truly “They are both involved in moving. so many things,” he said. “They Joan Lynch loves this time are grounded in their faith. And of year in part because there are they never ask for anything in more opportunities to help othreturn.” ers. In addition to their work at “Grounded” is a fitting word. the soup kitchen, Bill and Joan Those Monday evening meals Lynch volunteer at Catholic Sokeep everyone involved in them cial Services, where the Giving grounded. They are a powerful Tree program is well underway. reminder that people are struggling to put food on their tables. The economy is showing no mercy. Unemployment continues to hit record levels. Necessities like food and fuel seem to cost more with each passing week.

“The weather is lousy, it’s raining outside and there is the line,” said Bill Lynch. “There are mothers and fathers with babies….”

Joan Lynch said she is just glad to be able to help.

“The people who come there are so grateful,” ANCHOR PERSONS OF THE WEEK — Jean and William Lynch. she said.

She is grateful too, to be able to see and feel the Joan looks forward to a Sunday true spirit of Christmas in vol- afternoon spent organizing and unteering for others and in be- wrapping gifts for others. Imagine ing around so many other people the joy in filling simple Christmas who so readily give of their time wish lists for families that might and talents. otherwise go without?

In the Sacred Heart Parish “It is just amazing when you Soup Kitchen, the volunteers see the number of people who have found a special place in help out down there,” she said. which to demonstrate their faith. “We like doing it and we have a The volunteers are devoted, re- lot of fun. Everyone is so joyful.” turning week after week, year The Christmas season, of after year. The soup kitchen has course, will pass. The winter been running for five years, ever temperatures will undoubtedly since Father Raymond Cambra, plummet. The need for warm pastor at Sacred Heart, created meals at the Sacred Heart Soup it because he saw a deep need in Kitchen will not decline. Not in the community. today’s economy. Like clockBut as deep as the need is, and work, those lines will form on as the economy drives it even Monday afternoons. deeper, there is always food and But inside, even on the coldest there are always people to serve of nights, there will be an army it. Father Cambra sees it as noth- of volunteers and there will be ing less than a miracle. When the food to prepare. Because that’s numbers of visitors to the soup what Catholics do. kitchen rise, so too do the donaTo nominate a person, send tions of food. an email message to FatherAs Father Cambra likes to say, RogerLandry@AnchorNews.

“God always provides.” org.

December 11, 2009

The Anchor

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The Anchor

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, December 13 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Thomas M. Kocik, a parochial vicar at Santo Christo Parish in Fall River

Cardinal Foley will step down as Vatican’s ‘voice of Christmas’

VATICAN CITY — After 25 years doing the English-language commentary for the pope’s Christmas midnight Mass, U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley is stepping away from the microphone and hanging up the headphones.

“I guess I’m truly the Ghost of Christmas Past now,” he told Vatican Radio November 24.

The cardinal, grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, was first asked by the U.S. television network NBC to do the broadcast in 1984. He continued guiding U.S. audiences through the service and, eventually, other media outlets began getting his commentary as well.

His voice was heard in the Philippines, Nigeria, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana and occasionally some Scandinavian countries, he told Catholic News Service December 2.

“For a while, the Australians would not take me because I had an American accent,” he said, but eventually his commentaries were broadcast there as well.

Cardinal Foley noted that his absence is not the biggest change broadcasters and viewers will notice with Pope Benedict’s Christmas Eve Mass this year. The Vatican announced in late November that the pope would begin his “midnight” Mass at 10 p.m. Rome time.

Looking back on 25 years of

midnight commentary, the cardinal said, “It was quite an honor and a thrill to bring so many people around the world together in prayer.”

Doing the commentary was not a matter of taking a cushy, frontrow seat in St. Peter’s Basilica and telling people what was happening. In fact, during the Mass the cardinal wasn’t in the basilica at all.

The various commentators watch a closed-circuit video feed of the Mass from the Braccio Carlo Magno, an unheated exhibition space at the end of the colonnade in St. Peter’s Square. But Cardinal Foley, who trained as a journalist and for years edited the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Catholic newspaper, would go into the basilica before Mass and find any English-speakers who were serving, reading or receiving Communion from the pope.

He’d share their names and stories with viewers during the broadcast.

Instead of doing the commentary this year, the 74-year-old cardinal plans to spend Christmas in Philadelphia, he said.

“I thought 25 years was a good time to round it out,” Cardinal Foley said.

As he told Vatican Radio, and repeated to CNS, “It’s better to be able to walk away than to be carried away from the job.”

December 11, 2009

Marian devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to bloom in America and beyond

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — Since the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego in Mexico in December 1531, devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe has continued to flourish in the Americas and beyond. One of the earliest documented Marian apparitions, Our Lady of Guadalupe, remains one of the most popular and wellrecognized iconic images of the Blessed Mother alongside her subsequent appearances in La Salette, France (1846); Lourdes, France (1858); and Fatima, Portugal (1917).

Although her name might sug-

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Ninja Assassin” (Warner Bros.)

Hyperactive, contrived and excessively violent comeback for the martial-arts genre with a thin plot, a heavily ramped-up spatter factor and soulful Korean pop star Rain (aka Jeong Ji Hoon) playing a stone-cold ninja fighter, trained from childhood to become an assassin, who breaks with his gang in time to stop a string of murders in Germany, save the agent (Naomie Harris) investigating them and wreak revenge on his former comrades. Pervasive violence, with mutilation, stabbings and gunplay, frequent bloody and grisly images and some rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

“Old Dogs” (Disney) Passable comedy in which a sports marketing executive (Robin Williams) learns, seven years after the fact, that his quickly annulled second marriage produced fraternal twins (Conner Rayburn and Ella Bleu Travolta) whose mother (Kelly Preston), on the eve of being imprisoned briefly for an environmental protest, entrusts the kids to his care, distracting

gest the series of apparitions between December 9 and 12 took place in “Guadalupe,” they actually occurred on a hillside in Tepeyac, northwest of present-day Mexico City. It was the Blessed Mother herself who asked to be identified as the “Virgin of Guadalupe,” the latter word thought to be a misinterpretation or incorrect translation of the original Aztec phrase for “(she) who crushes the serpent.”

After requesting that a church be erected in her honor, Our Lady instructed Juan Diego to collect an assortment of roses that were growing nearby despite the cold winter weather and take them

to Bishop Juan de Zumarraga as proof of her presence and intentions. Juan Diego dutifully gathered the roses in his tilma, a coarse cloak woven from cactus fibers, and took them to Bishop Zumarraga.

But when he opened his tilma to reveal the roses, the iconic image we’ve come to know as Our Lady of Guadalupe miraculously appeared on the cloak itself.

Our Lady’s message to this humble Native American and recent Christian convert was a simple mission of evangelization — a call to bring the inhabitants of the then-New World to the Catholic Turn to page 14

him from work on a major business deal, much to the annoyance of his longtime partner and best friend (John Travolta). Its morally murky back story aside, director Walt Becker’s dizzy dad escapade is mostly harmless, though a talented cast can do little with David Diamond and David Weissman’s thin, derivative script. A drunken wedding, a few instances of vaguely sexual and mildly scatological humor, some rough slapstick. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II — adults and adolescents.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

“The Princess and the Frog” (Disney) Enchanting animated musical, set in 1920s New Orleans, in which a voodoo sorcerer (voice of Keith David) casts a spell that complicates the lives of a visiting prince (voice of Bruno Campos), the headstrong heiress he hopes to marry (voice of Jennifer Cody) and her industrious working-class best friend (voice of Anika Noni Rose). As directed and co-written

by John Musker and Ron Clements, the lavish hand-drawn romance, which also features delightful voice work by MichaelLeon Wooley as a jazz-loving alligator and Jim Cummings as a Cajun firefly, emphasizes the value of love over material wealth and provides quality entertainment for all ages, though images of fire-breathing masks and evil sprites may scare some tots.

The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I

— general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G — general audiences.

All ages admitted.

“The Road” (Dimension) This moving but relentlessly grim drama, set in the wake of an unspecified apocalypse, follows the desperate journey of a father (Viggo Mortensen, mesmerizing) and son (fine newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee) as they travel through a devastated America encountering cannibals, thieves and shell-shocked survivors (notably Robert Duvall) on their way to what they hope will be a marginally better life along the coast. Occupying the pitted no-man’s-land between a Samuel Beckett play and “The Road Warrior,” director John Hillcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a stark examination of one man’s efforts to preserve, and pass on, humane values, refreshed only by the instinctive goodness of his youthful companion, though his quasi-idolatrous view of the boy, like the borderline-blasphemous sentiments expressed by other characters, would be unacceptable in a less extreme context.

Complex moral and theological issues, grisly images, cannibalism and suicide themes, rear and brief partial nudity, a few uses of profanity, occasional rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted.

Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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The Anchor

December 11, 2009

U.S. bishops issue action alert on Health Care Reform Bill in Senate

On December 7, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released the following legislative alert requiring immediate action.

Support the Hatch-Nelson Amendment to Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform.

The full United States Senate in Washington, D.C. is considering their health care reform bill.

The bishops are strongly urging the Senate to incorporate essential changes to the Senate’s health care reform bill to ensure that needed health care reform legislation truly protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all. The amendment to maintain the prohibition on federal funding of abortion could be voted on as early as this week. Please contact your Senators today.

Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) have

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the U.S. Senate, the U.S. bishops urged essential changes in the Senate bill: to retain federal policy on abortion funding and conscience protection; to protect access to health care for immigrants; and to provide for adequate affordability and coverage standards. The bishops said: “Sadly, the legislative proposal recently unveiled in the Senate does not meet these moral criteria.” The bishops specifically said that if the bill’s serious defects on abortion are not corrected, “the current legislation should be opposed.”

ACTION: Contact Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and Massachusetts Senator Paul Kirk ASAP through emails or phone calls or FAX letters.

MESSAGE: Please support the Hatch-Nelson Amendment to uphold longstanding policies

against abortion funding, and please protect conscience rights in health care reform.”

WHEN: Senate floor debate on the amendment began this week.

HOW TO REACH SENATORS KERRY AND KIRK: 1) Send an email by going to: http://www.usccb.org/action, complete the letter form (there is text already there to include) and make sure to fill in your home address in the address form at the bottom of the page, so that the email messages will automatically and simultaneously be forwarded to Senators Kerry and Kirk; OR 2) Call their local offices at: Senator Kerry: Boston — (617) 565-8519; Fall River — (413) 7854610; Springfield — (508) 6770522.

Senator Kirk: Boston — (617) 565-3170; Massachusetts Toll Free — (877) 472-9014.

For more information, please visit www.usccb.org/healthcare — Thank you for your advocacy.

United States Conference of Bishops Justice, Peace and Human Development 3211 Fourth St. NE Washington, DC 20017 JPHDmail@usccb.org

ment to Christ. Once, when some- successfully than any other religion. one protested that outdoor services From a constituency of a few thouwere unbecoming an Anglican sand at the time of the war, Methclergyman, Wesley responded: “To odists grew to constitute the largest save souls is my vocation; all the religious group in the United States world is my parish.” Britain alone by 1800. Catholics and Baptists would prove enough of a challenge: would later outnumber them, but Wesley covered 250,000 miles on the United Methodist Church, with foot and horseback throughout the eight million members, is the third nation, preaching no fewer than largest communion in this country.

40,000 sermons.

Relations between Wesley and the AngliThe Fullness can hierarchs (many of whom dismissed the of the Truth Methodists as sanctimoBy Father nious zealots) were often strained, and by the Thomas M. Kocik end of his days a break with his beloved Church The key to Methodism’s success of England seemed inevitable. Inin America, as in Britain, was its deed, Wesley himself provoked missionary core.

Circuit riders carthe split (which took place only ried the Gospel to the edges of the after his death) when on his own frontier, while in the growing cities authority he ordained missionarof the East, Methodist chapels were ies for America. That move, which crowded with factory-workers, arbrother Charles denounced, meant tisans, slum-dwellers, and slaves. a de facto break. Wesley justified his actions by claiming that bish- Methodism welcomed blacks and ops and priests were identical in the women into its ranks, and even elevated some to leadership positions. primitive Church.

Again acting on his own author- It sought out people with little or ity, Wesley dropped fifteen of An- no religious upbringing and offered glicanism’s “Thirty-Nine Articles,” them a warm, emotional message. most of which pertained to justifi- And unlike the earlier Puritans, cation. Other sources of Method- Methodists didn’t spend much time ist belief are Wesley’s “Notes on in brooding self-examination. Their the New Testament” and collected emphasis on free will appealed to sermons. Wesley’s rejection of pre- optimistic, upward-aspiring Ameridestination in the Calvinist sense, cans at a time when self-improvehis insistence on good works, his ment was itself becoming a reliencouragement of devotional prac- gion. Today Methodists in the U.S. tices and frequent Communion – run more hospitals and institutions all these distinguished Methodism of higher learning than any other from Calvinist traditions found in Protestant group. Among the one hundred colleges and universities the Reformed churches.

Although Methodism had a affiliated, or once affiliated, with slow start in the American colonies, Methodism are Boston (Universiwithin ten years after the close of ty), Drew, Duke, Emory, Southern the Revolutionary War it had adapt- Methodist, and Syracuse.

Although Wesley prescribed ed itself to the new nation more

weekly Communion, few Methodist churches today observe the Lord’s Supper more often than quarterly or monthly. The optional “Service of Word and Table,” as outlined in the United Methodist Book of Worship, is set in a fourfold movement of Entrance, Proclamation and Response, Thanksgiving and Communion, and Sending Forth.

The World Methodist Council, founded in 1881 and headquartered at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, represents 70 million members of Methodist and related United churches “in the Wesleyan tradition.” Church authority rests with the General Conference. This body, consisting of equal numbers of locally elected laypersons and ministers, meets every four years; its decisions are incorporated into the “Book of Discipline.” Church polity in the U.S. is

episcopal, although the difference between bishops and other ministers is purely one of administrative responsibility. United Methodism’s executive branch is the Council of Bishops; its chief legislative branch, the General Conference; and its highest court, the Judicial Council.

The lines of division within Methodism track the liberal/conservative divide within the Protestant mainline. In recent decades the United Methodist Church has repeatedly turned back the advocates of legitimizing homosexuality. Delegates at the 2008 General Conference affirmed sexual relations “only within the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage.” At stake, as ever, is the role of Scripture and Christian tradition in the formation of conscience.

Father Kocik is a parochial vicar at Santo Christo Parish in Fall River.

submitted an amendment that like the Stupak Amendment that was included in the final House bill, prevents this legislation from mandating abortion coverage or providing federal funds for coverage that includes elective abortions. Those wishing to purchase abortion coverage may continue to do so with their own private funds, but not in the governmentrun health care plan (“community health insurance option”) or with the help of federal subsidies.

Senate: On November 18, Senate leadership unveiled its health care reform bill, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This bill has been brought to the floor by inserting its text into H.R. 3590, an unrelated Housepassed tax measure. Debate and votes have begun and may continue until the Christmas recess.

In a November 20 letter to

Directory notice Please note that the 2009-2010 Diocesan Catholic Directory has sold out and there will not be a second printing. Those who have submitted payment in the hopes of a second printing will be reimbursed shortly.

The Methodists: Heirs of a revival movement

he Methodists trace their roots to the dynamic ministry of John Wesley (1703-1791), a devout Anglican priest aided by his brother Charles (1707-1788), also an Anglican priest and a talented hymn-writer (“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” and “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” to name just two gems). While young students at Oxford, the brothers organized a “Holy Club” whose rules included fasting on Fridays, Bible reading, weekly Communion, almsgiving, and visiting the sick and imprisoned. Because of the group’s methodical approach to prayer and temperance, scoffers dubbed them “Methodists.”

In his student days John Wesley didn’t like the excessive emphasis placed on justification by faith. As biographer Stephen Tomkins explains, Wesley “had an evangelical horror of trying to satisfy God by good works, but an even greater horror of trying to satisfy God without good works.” While admitting that salvation is pure gift, he also knew that faith is valueless without charity; and so he came to advocate his most distinctive doctrine, claiming – against St. Augustine, Luther, and Calvin – that perfect holiness can be attained in this life. Wesley’s insistence that holiness is the substance of religion (with faith but its portal) soon gave rise to the various “Holiness churches,” and these later gave birth to Pentecostalism, now the fastest-growing form of Christianity in the world.

In 1735 Wesley was sent to Georgia to head a missionary society. Things went badly, and after two years he returned to England.

Preaching in private homes, fields, barns, public squares, and wherever a crowd assembled to hear him, Wesley inspired people of all social classes to make a personal commit-

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The Anchor

December 11, 2009

Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to bloom continued from page 12

faith. Her timely appearance at the end of Spain’s conquest of Mexico and before the fledgling country fought to win its independence would lead to her first being proclaimed the patroness of “New Spain” by Pope Benedict XIV in 1754 and then as “Queen of Mexico” by Pope Pius XII in 1946.

But it was Pope John Paul II, with his well-known personal devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who more recently named Our Lady of Guadalupe “Empress of America” in his “Ecclesia in America” on Jan. 22, 1999 and personally dedicated a chapel within St. Peter’s Basilica in her honor.

“Pope John Paul II declared her ‘Empress of America’ — America without the ‘s,’ suggesting there is one America including north, south and central — and the Blessed Mother is the protector of it all,” said Father Richard D. Wilson, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford.

Pope John Paul II also presided over the beatification and subsequent canonization of the sole witness to the apparition, St. Juan Diego, establishing his liturgical feast day as December 9 and the celebration of Our Lady of Gua-

dalupe’s feast day on December 12 — the two dates bookending the span of Our Lady’s 1531 apparitions.

“Traditionally a saint’s feast day will be on the day that they died, but his feast day and her

Our Lady of Guadalupe

feast day are the first and last dates of the apparitions,” Father Wilson explained.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, built near the site of the 1531 apparitions, still draws millions of pilgrims each year and is cited as the most visited Catholic shrine in the world. Reproductions of her iconic image — based on the miraculous image that appeared on St. Juan Diego’s tilma, which

itself remains housed within the basilica and hasn’t shown any signs of deterioration in 478 years — have been adopted by ProLife supporters in recent years in response to Pope John Paul II’s entrusting of the innocent lives of children, especially the unborn, to her maternal care.

“She became the protector of the unborn in the way she appears as a pregnant woman, with the black belt tied around her waist,” Father Wilson said, referring to the traditional Aztec maternity symbol.

In commemoration of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s December 12 feast day, Bishop George W. Coleman will celebrate Mass tomorrow beginning at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, on Spring Street.

According to Father Wilson, the celebration will begin with the singing of little mañanitas, or “traditional morning songs,” that are sung to the Blessed Mother on her feast day. “They are sweet songs, performed as if Juan Diego were speaking to her,” he said.

Following Mass, an ethnic meal and entertainment will be provided in St. Mary’s Cathedral’s school hall, including traditional folkloric music and dance.

St. Mary’s Fund Fall Dinner a big Soxcess continued from page one

be used to provide need-based partial tuition scholarships to students attending Catholic elementary and middle schools in the diocese.

Expressing pride in being invited to a forum that previously hosted such distinguished speakers as the late NBC News journalist Tim Russert and New England Patriot Mike Vrabel, Lucchino said he was only too happy to lend his support to a “necessary mechanism that provides affordability for private education.”

“The Red Sox Foundation spends a fair amount of time, effort and money each year helping public schools throughout New England, but we’re just as pleased to help the Catholic schools of the diocese here,” Lucchino said. “The St. Mary’s Education Fund is an organization that turns out the people — it’s clearly a cause that people care about.”

Having been invited to speak at the urging of Pawtucket Red Sox President Michael Tamburro — who also participated in a one-on-one question-andanswer session with Lucchino during the dinner — Lucchino said he not only wanted to help a worthwhile cause but also give

back to a community that for him has always been “a hotbed of Red Sox loyalty, passion and support.”

“If there were an overall message tonight, it would be to express our gratitude for the loyalty and support that we’ve gotten from the people of the South Coast area,” Lucchino said. “Fenway Park is certainly the world headquarters of Red Sox Nation, but if you look for the heart of Red Sox Nation you’d probably find it somewhere around this area.”

Those loyal Red Sox fans were certainly among the 550 guests at the fund-raiser, proudly posing with the pair of World Series trophies and even offering pointed suggestions to Lucchino for the 2010 baseball season — a year which, according to master of ceremonies and former Channel 10 meteorologist John Ghiorse, is destined to bring another championship to Boston given the team’s obvious “three-year plan” after winning in 2004 and 2007.

Lucchino expertly fielded every question and suggestion with a knowing smile.

Yes, they are committed to maintaining and preserving Fenway Park and have been assured

the beloved baseball icon will endure for another 30 to 50 years.

Yes, they are in the process of seeking out new talent for the 2010 roster, with a key emphasis on pitching.

And yes, Dustin Pedroia is reportedly excited about the “possibility of playing shortstop.”

“He played shortstop for most of his minor league career and most of his college career, so that gives us additional options,” Lucchino said. “I’m sure there will be an internal debate, especially during spring training, as to what happens to him in the off-season.”

Even Bishop George W. Coleman temporarily donned his Red Sox cap after expressing thanks to Lucchino for being key to the success of the evening.

“As I was sitting here, Larry turned to me and said, ‘I understand bishop that you’re an avid Red Sox fan,’” Bishop Coleman said. “I thought to myself, ‘I think it’s time for a confession.’

I said ‘I am, Larry, but I wasn’t from the very beginning. In elementary school I was a fan of the Boston Braves.’

“And then Larry said, ‘That’s all right, bishop. We’re like the Catholic Church — we accept converts with open arms.’”

T

Christmas, through the eyes of Igor

here isn’t a canine alive scenery, lest it become munthat actually thinks it’s a dane. Since the tree rests in dog. They’re just humans with front of the sliding doors to the four legs, and often, with more deck, her usual hangout dursmarts than we Homo sapiens. ing the other 11 months of the Igor Jolivet is no exception. year, she nestles under the tree Iggy’s existence consists to maintain her constant vigil on of more than just requesting a the neighborhood, particularly five-minute belly-rub, although the dogs in the units flanking us. that does take up 75 percent of She must always know where her time. No, there’s more to her they go and what they do. That’s than that. When guests arrive a dog thing. at the door, it’s her job to greet When she moves to and fro them, either with an exaggerat the deck doors, Igor rotates ated tail-wag, or with a volley of the tree, much like those old barks, depending on the visitor. silver Christmas trees from the Anyone who drives a truck, or 60s that used to revolve while wears a uniform, like the UPS, a circulating light disk of red, FedEx, or Stop & Shop Peapod blue, green and yellow changed delivery people receives the the aura of the gaudy decoranoisy welcome and the cold tion. We can leave for school shoulder (all four of them) from and work in the morning with Igor. Others are greeted with a the angel perched atop the tree frenetic, warm welcome. facing north and come home to She also knows when it’s her facing south. We never have bedtime for her human counterparts, barking and waiting at the bottom of the stairs for us to stir into

By Dave Jolivet action and head to our rooms.

Only the first week of the two annual time to gaze at the same tree decorachanges messes up her routine, tions two days in a row. and ours for that matter.

The best is Christmas mornWhen it comes time to bring ing, though. That’s when Igor the trash to the dumpster, it’s truly shines. She loves openIgor that leads the way, as if we ing her presents, and does so can’t remember the route. It’s gently and carefully, so not to very conscientious of her, but destroy the toy inside she’ll later with her stopping to check out mutilate. The problem is that she every tree and shrub along the thinks every gift under the tree way, she turns a five-minute task is hers. After six Christmases, into a 15-minute marathon. she still doesn’t grasp the conShe also feels the need to cept of everyone receiving gifts. help us prepare meals. When But a well-timed treat every now the oven, stove or microwave and again keeps her in line. is fired up, Iggy immediately I must admit that Igor makes heads behind the sofa, knowing an already special time of year at any moment the smoke alarm a bit more fun … for the most may let loose its piercing whine part.

— a sound of which Igor is not I would venture to guess she very fond. It’s then she knows would have been right at home what the delivery people feel in the manger with the Holy like. It’s much easier cooking Family and the other animals without her looking for scraps, on the very first Christmas. She so her behind-the-sofa escape would have been a big help comes in handy. to the Baby Jesus, Mary and But it’s at Christmas time Joseph. I do wonder, however, that Igor is at her human best. what her reaction would have She loves to help decorate the been when the Magi brought the house. While we put up the tree gifts of gold, frankincense and and adorn it with ornaments, myrrh. Would she have thought she keeps us entertained with a they were for her? Or even musical interlude consisting of worse, would she have considpopping bubble wrap. She gets ered their garb a uniform and hold of the wrap used to protect their camels, trucks? If so, the precious, fragile keepsakes, and trio never would have made it either tap dances on it or pops close enough to the Christ Child it with her chops, much like a to make the delivery. mouthful of Pop Rocks.

For history’s sake, it’s best She also feels it’s her duty that Igor is with the Jolivet Famto keep changing the Christmas ily and not the Holy Family.

My View From the Stands

15

December 11, 2009

By Christine Williams Anchor Correspondent

Marriage supporter fired for voicing beliefs

BOSTON — Accused of harassment and hatred, a Massachusetts native was fired for voicing his Christian views on same-sex marriage in the workplace this summer.

Peter Vadala, 24, worked as a second assistant manager at the Brookstone in Logan Airport’s Terminal C for two weeks in August before a superior repeatedly spoke about her upcoming wedding to another woman.

Vadala told The Anchor that at first he felt pressured not to say anything but then believed he should speak the truth in love.

“I expressed that I believe that homosexuality is wrong,” he said. “It cost me my job. If I could get fired for my religious beliefs, it could happen to anyone.”

Traditional marriage advocates told The Anchor that they expect Christians to continue to face increased intimidation at their places of employment.

“There’s no doubt that there’s more and more clashes happening in the workplace as proponents of same-sex marriage become bolder and bolder,” said Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute.

Two similar cases have been reported to MFI — a Truro firefighter was removed from his volunteer position in 2006 for signing the marriage petition and a woman was demoted from her position for refusing to conduct pro-homosexual training.

Mineau declined to give details about the second situation, as litigation is pending.

A recent telephone poll, commissioned by the National Organization for Marriage and two local organizations, found that more than one-third of registered voters in the state know someone who is reluctant to say they oppose same-sex marriage because they “worry about the consequences for them or their children.”

Mineau said of traditional marriage supporters, “A lot of people are just afraid to say anything.”

More than 200,000 American Christians have voiced their support of life and traditional marriage by signing the Manhattan Declaration. Included in that number are 18 Catholic bishops. The declaration reads in part, “No power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and

out of season. May God help us “HR buddy, keep your opinions view of the law is instead that “there’s no difference between to yourself. Get over it.” not to fail in that duty.”

A few hours later a represen- same-sex and opposite-sex couTom Crouse, a pastor at Holland Congregational Church tative from human resources ples, and only hate-filled bigots who has a weekly radio show notified Vadala that he was sus- think otherwise.”

NOM, founded in 2007, is on WVNE in Worcester, said pended from work without pay. more people need to stand up in Two days later, on August 12, a national grassroots organizadefense of traditional marriage he received his formal letter of tion that supports traditional marriage. even though there may be nega- termination.

Brookstone, headquartered The letter stated that Vadala tive consequences. In 2005, in Merrimack, N.H., Crouse organized a “Mr. e said, “God gave me a sense of boasts “fair, equal treatHeterosexual” contest peace about it. I knew, like al- ment to all” employees in response to a “Mr. Homosexual” event and ways, I would be in his care no matter on its website.

The company rereceived death threats what happened and that his opinion is leased a statement to from gay activists, he what mattered most to me.”

The Anchor which said. stated that Brookstone He warned that unless the citizens of Massachu- was found to violate Brook- does not comment on specific setts speak up in defense of stone’s zero-tolerance harass- personnel issues, adding about traditional marriage, the pres- ment policy. His comments Vadala’s termination, “We are sure to stay silent will only in- were “inappropriate and un- satisfied that a thorough and fair professional” and an attempt investigation was completed in crease.

“You are not allowed to say to impose his beliefs on others, this case, and we never take the termination of an associate’s same-sex marriage is wrong in the letter said.

“In the state of Massachu- employment lightly.” a place where it is the law,” he Vadala, who describes himsaid. “You loose your freedom setts, same-sex marriage is legal,” the letter said, adding that self as a Christian, graduated of speech.”

Vadala said that in Brook- the store manager’s “statement stone’s training video, the that her fiancée is female was subject of homosexuality was factual in nature and was not an addressed. The presentation expression of opinion or reliimplied that saying anything gious belief.”

MassResistance, a grassnegative about homosexuality would be a problem in the work roots pro-family activist group in the Commonwealth, publienvironment, he said.

On August 10, a visiting cized Vadala’s termination on manager from another Brook- its website and informed its stone location mentioned to supporters by email.

“This is a chilling example Vadala that she was getting married. He responded by say- of the ultimate consequences of ing, “Congratulations. Where is imposing the concept of samehe taking you for your honey- sex ‘marriage’ through force moon?” When the manager told of law,” the email said. “What him her fiancée was a woman, happened to Peter is actually what was intended by the hohe changed the subject.

The manager brought up the mosexual movement. It’s about topic again a couple of times making people accept what throughout the day, and Vadala they normally would not acsaid he felt pressed to give her cept and punishing those who his approval and offer his con- resist. And when these laws are in place, they pursue it with as gratulations.

“As a Christian who knows much force as they feel necesthe truth about homosexuality, sary.”

Maggie Gallagher, president it was a sentiment I could not of National Organization for share,” he said.

Vadala felt called to respond Marriage (NOM), made a simiwith the truth about marriage lar statement in 2006 when the but did not know how to ap- Truro volunteer firefighter was proach the subject. He spent let go. She said that same-sex part of his afternoon break marriage advocates want to praying in the airport chapel, deny that there is “something special about the unions of husseeking God’s guidance.

He said, “God gave me a bands and wives.”

In Massachusetts, the official sense of peace about it. I knew, like always, I would be in his care no matter what happened and that his opinion is what mattered most to me.”

When the manager brought up the subject with Vadala again and both were out of earshot of customers and other employees, Vadala said he told her, “Regarding your homosexuality, I think it’s bad stuff.” Before he had a chance to continue, Vadala said the manager responded,

H

from a Catholic college — Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio — in 2008. He used his degree in communications at a New Hampshire radio station before returning to his native state, Massachusetts.

Since he was fired by Brookstone in August, he has found a job at another retail store.

Vadala said that God calls Christians to love those leading a homosexual lifestyle without accepting homosexual behavior.

“I’m very fortunate that God gave me the grace to make the decision not to back down that day and use me to speak the word of truth,” he said.

“Christians aren’t haters.

Christians love people. God is love, and that’s the essence of what we’re about,” he said.

Vadala added about the manager, “God loves her very much and she is very precious in his eyes.”

16

Youth Pages

SHARING THEIR BOUNTY — Eighth-grade class officers at St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth, William Campbell, Mackenzie Johnson, Marissa Stone, and Sean Donahue help deliver Thanksgiving baskets for deserving families in the community.

IN BOSTON FOR SHELLFISH REASONS — Students in Bill Ruggerio’s seventhgrade social studies class at Taunton Catholic Middle School recently got a small taste of what it takes to be a lobbyist. They travelled to the State House and Freedom Trail to learn about Revolutionary sites they have been learning about in the classroom.

In addition to their studies, students took time to create and deliver posters in support of Senate bill No. 1877 — legislation which would declare the quahog our state shellfish.

YOUTH NOT BEING WASTED BY THESE YOUNG — A large crowd gathered for the annual diocesan Youth Convention, sponsored by the diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry, held recently at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth.

December 11, 2009

AUTUMN OUTING — Recently, the two kindergarten classes from St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro visited Ward’s Berry Farm in Sharon as a complement to their science curriculum. Accompanied by their teachers, Elizabeth Moura and Maria Stathakis, the students took a hayride tour of the farm with a guide who explained the fall harvest. During the interactive tour students encountered a variety of vegetables from corn to gourds. Each item was placed in a harvest basket and given to the teachers to bring back to the classroom in order to reinforce the concepts addressed on the tour. At the conclusion of the tour, each student picked a sugar pumpkin to take home. From left: Avery Woodworth, Will Brewer, Alec Certuse, and Jack Mooney.

BECOMING AWARE — The students and faculty at Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton, recently recognized Hunger Awareness Day worldwide and were invited to fast on behalf of hunger relief. A simple rice and water meal was served during all lunches to simulate world conditions where hunger is a daily reality. A donation was to provide hunger relief through Catholic Relief Services. Here Armaly Albert collects donations during lunch.

NO PANE, NO GAIN — The confirmation class at St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth recently washed windows and raised $1,088 to provide Christmas gifts for needy children.

Youth Pages

December 11, 2009

W

The meaning of the twelve

hile searching for an Twelve drummers drumming Jesus. idea for this article, I = the points of doctrine in the But the start of the song is not was chatting (online, of course) Apostle’s Creed. without its religious symbolism with a friend of mine. I asked her Eleven pipers piping = the either: “On the ___ day of Christif she had an idea I could borrow faithful Apostles. mas my true love gave to me …” as my well had gone dry and I did Ten lords a-leaping = The Ten where my true love refers to God not want to write a typical Advent Commandments. and me is representative of all the article as I have done in the past.

Nine ladies dancing = the fruits baptized.

She asked if I knew that the of the Holy Spirit.

I wish I could say for certain if “Twelve Days of Christthis legend were true or mas” was actually code not. Personally, I would for our Catholic Christian like to think it’s true but faith. So that started me there is little factual supwondering. port of this theory. But in Now I am no Dan my telling of this legend, Brown who makes a livperhaps the next time

By Crystal Medeiros ing writing about secret we’re standing in line at codes and their meanings Best Buy or JCPenney within the Church. But shopping for those lastcould there be some truth to this?

Eight maids a-milking = the minute Christmas gifts, we will reIs there more to the song than five Beatitudes. member that the reason for Christgolden rings? There is perhaps Seven swans a-swimming = the mas is not the number of presents no way to know for certain if this gifts of the Holy Spirit. under the tree on December 25 or pithy holiday song has hidden Six geese a-laying = the days the numerous Christmas carols we religious meaning behind it but it of creation. will hear and sing. Instead it is the could be fun to explore it a little.

Five gold rings = the Pencelebration of the birth of our Lord Before we do that, here is what we tateuch (first five books of the Jesus Christ, who was sent by God know for certain about the song.

Bible). the Father to bring us to a closer The 12 days of the song represents Four calling birds = the Gosrelationship with God. the 12 days between Christmas pels.

Isn’t that the true meaning of Day and the January 6 celebration Three French hens = faith, Christmas? of the feast of the Epiphany (so hope and love.

Crystal is assistant director for why we only sing it before ChristTwo turtledoves = Old and Youth & Young Adult Ministry for mas instead of after is beyond my New Testaments. the diocese. She can be contacted comprehension).

A partridge in a pear tree = at cmedeiros@dfrcec.com.

After a careful Google search (as careful as a Google search can be), I discovered the story behind this much-parodied Christmas song. Supposedly, during the time of the Catholic persecution in England (1558-1829), “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was written as a children’s catechism song to help teach some basic tenets of the faith. Rooted in religious symbolism, the author masked an understanding of the Gospels, creation, and the Ten Commandments with calling birds, geese a-laying, and lords a-leaping. This song allowed for an expression of our Catholic faith during a time where it was a crime to be an open and practicing Catholic.

So what happens if we delve FOOD FACTORY — During the Thanksgiving Day Mass at St. a little deeper into this theory — John the Evangelist School in Attleboro, students took part in the what other rich symbolism can be offertory procession filling baskets of non-perishable items for the found? Let’s work backwards in St. Vincent de Paul Society. Shown are the students filling baskets the song: with the items they brought to school.

Be Not Afraid

17

18

The Anchor

New Bedford parish celebrates 100 years continued from page one

Joining the bishop and Father Reis were 13 priests and five deacons including parish Deacon Albertino F. Pires. Father Manuel Ferreira, a former pastor of the parish, was the homilist for the solemn centennial Mass.

A banquet followed at 5 p.m. in the parish center and was attended by more than 400 people.

Celia Pires is one of 12 parishioners, along with Father Reis and Deacon Pires, who was a member of the parish’s Centennial Anniversary Committee.

“When the parish began in 1909, it welcomed so many Portuguese immigrants,” Pires reflected. “In 1990, after coming to New Bedford from Portugal, I joined Immaculate Conception Parish, and just like those before me, I felt welcome and at home.

“After becoming a parishioner here, my faith became alive.

I feel great joy being here. This is family.”

Delia Silva is another committee member. Her family has been involved with the parish since 1960.

“I love it here,” Silva told The Anchor. “My parents brought me up in Immaculate Conception Parish, and it has always been family. I’m excited to be alive at this 100th anniversary. I wish my parents could see this. I’m amazed that the unity that began in this parish in 1909 is still very much alive today.”

The Anchor provides a weekly wealth of Catholic information.

What better gift to give this Christmas?

Silva recalls, as a child walking nearly a mile to attend Mass at the Earle Street site. “My father didn’t have a car, so we would walk here because we loved the parish. Later on the community got a parish bus and we would wait at the corner on Sunday mornings to get a ride to church. It’s always been about family.”

Silva mentioned that the celebration has been intentionally toned down. “The banquet will be in the parish center instead of at a large restaurant because we wanted to keep the feel of family.

“As you know, the Portuguese community loves to cook and many wanted to bring food items for the banquet, but we chose to have it catered so that everyone could just sit back, relax and enjoy the celebration together. The parish has always been about family-oriented activities. We just want to keep it family.”

Prior to Sunday’s Mass there was a simple procession with a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception to the church. As a memento to all parishioners, a simple Mass program was prepared, maintaining the parish’s humble beginnings.

“On the cover was a picture of Our Lady and on the back a picture of the church,” said Silva. “Something simple for us to

December 11, 2009

Area businesses keep Christ in Christmas remember this occasion.”

In recent years, the waves of Portuguese immigrants to southeastern Mass. have ebbed, but there remains a strong Portuguese faith community in New Bedford, Fall River and throughout the diocese.

“I know the numbers may be dwindling a bit,” said Father Reis, “but this faith community of Immaculate Conception will continue as long as people feel that this is their parish, their home.”

“We’ve seen a decrease in our numbers somewhat,” added Pires. “Some of the younger people are going to other parishes, but no matter what our numbers, everyone who comes to Immaculate Conception Parish will feel welcome and will be embraced as part of our family. The same hospitality shown to the immigrants in 1909 is offered to anyone at Immaculate Conception.”

Silva sees the Immaculate Conception future as remaining strong, traditional and vibrant.

“But,” she added, “we need to get more youth involved in the parish. They are the ones who can keep this parish what it’s been.”

Through the years, the city of New Bedford has experienced many changes, good and bad — from one of the world’s greatest whaling ports, to a textile giant, to high unemployment, and a worrisome crime rate. But one of the few things that has remained constant — at least over the last 100 years — has been the focus on faith, family, and community at Immaculate Conception Parish.

continued from page one

scribed drugs and medications, he makes it clear “that while we are all human beings created by God, we are not all the same when it comes to how those drugs can affect us, and we have to be vigilant for ourselves and for one another and our families.”

One of Pasternak’s practical ways of following Christ’s command to love God and neighbor — which for many is realized by celebrating Christ’s birth with giving — is being accomplished in his instructional talks he offers groups debating whether to receive the vaccine against the H1N1 or swine flu pandemic.

“This vaccine is only the best guess we have, and so I inform them professionally of the risks some of them face. I always try to keep God’s willing and generous care of them in the experience, especially as it is seen as we approach Christmas,” he added.

For Paul Charest, owner of Eastern TV with stores in New Bedford and Fall River, “it’s not easy in today’s crazy and busy world to talk about Christ and Christmas to customers you know nothing about, and who, for the most part are busy studying price tags. But later, when your head hits the pillow, you frequently find yourself praying for some (of them) and their families you’ve seen need prayers … and your help.”

“Business owners have to make sacrifices. It’s part of doing business. Offering help and kindliness is part of the job too, and perhaps seeing us do that, the customers will

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see Christ reflected in what we do,” he said.

“I grew up in a strong Catholic family with many religious vocations, and it keeps one solid and on track,” he said.

“For instance, I take good care of the nuns in Dighton when they call for my help.”

Acting out his faith beliefs “comes at many times, but especially at Christmas in the cold of winter, for me,” reported Mark Veloza, president of Charlie’s Oil Company in Fall River.

“We’ve been dealing with hundreds of customers for more than 50 years and it includes those who for one reason or another don’t have the money to buy heating oil, especially the elderly and those on fixed incomes … as well as those who can’t meet their bills, and we are called on to be as charitable as we can, as we Catholics have been taught,” Veloza said.

“These are the struggling needy people, who especially in this poor economy expect us to be understanding and giving and we do our best, and give them a break,” he added.

Because of its affiliation with local, charitable funding agencies such as Citizens for Citizens, Self-Help, the Joe Kennedy Program, as well as PACE in Rhode Island, Charlie’s Oil is called on to deliver oil to marginalized families.

“Because the problem for many families comes in winter and at Christmas, what we do reflects on the giving that is what our faith is all about,” Veloza said.

That is also seen all year long, “especially as we help out our parishes and schools” allowing them to better educate, serve and minister, he added.

At Whaler’s Cove Assisted Living in New Bedford, although its residents represent many denominations, keeping Christ in Christmas for its Christian residents is currently ongoing, reported Jeannine Pacheco, activities director.

“We have Nativity sets in several areas, recite the rosary, have a special program including the singing of ‘O Holy Night’ in addition to Masses, as well as by services conducted by other Christian clergy,” said Pacheco.

“Christ’s birth has been celebrated by our residents throughout their lives, and we consider ourselves blessed in helping them to continue to practice their faith beliefs,” Pacheco noted.

Miss Mary A. Andrews; was sister of Father John Andrews

BERKLEY — Mary A. Andrews, 70, a retired member of the U.S. Foreign Service, and sister of Father John F. Andrews, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Wellfleet, died November 26, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton following a brief illness.

Born in North Dighton, the daughter of the late Francis F.G. Andrews and the late Julia (Trond) Andrews, she was a graduate of Berkley Grammar School and Dighton High School Class of 1956.

Her Foreign Service assignments took her to Japan, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, El Salvador, the Soviet Union, Sweden, Canada and Washington, D.C. She also was assigned to special projects at the United Nations, as well as President Ronald Reagan’s trip to Ireland, and his summit in Geneva with Soviet President Gorbachev.

Following retirement in 1989, Andrews returned home to Berkley and served her community as a member and past president of the Council of Aging, the board of directors of Bristol Elder Services, as president of the Berkley

Historical Society, as a trustee of the Berkley Public Library, and a member of the Public Safety Building Committee.

She also was State Regent of the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution, was on the board of trustees of Hillside School in Marlboro; a member of the Old Colony Historical Society, Pilgrim Mary A. Hall Museum, Andrews Scituate and Freetown Historical societies; and was a past president of District I of the Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.

Andrews attended St. Bernard’s Church in Assonet and was a past president of its Women’s Guild.

Besides her priest brother, she leaves two other brothers, Robert V. Andrews of Naples, Fla., and Louis O. Andrews of Providence, R.I.; two sisters, Ann K. McGurk of Sarasota, Fla., and Carol I. Mills of Berkley; nieces

Around the Diocese 12/12

An Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration will be held tomorrow starting at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Spring Street, Fall River. Bishop George W. Coleman will celebrate Mass. The event is sponsored by the Hispanic Apostolate of the Diocese of Fall River. All are welcome.

12/13

Vespers will be sung at St. John the Baptist Church, 945 Main Road, Westport, every Sunday during Advent at 7 p.m.

12/13

Holy Family Parish, 370 Middleboro Avenue, East Taunton, will host Advent Lessons and Carols on Sunday at 4 p.m. featuring The Amari String Quartet, whose members perform with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. Refreshments will be served in the new parish center following the service.

12/15

The Daughters of Isabella will meet December 15 at 7 p.m. in the Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish center, 121 Mount Pleasant Street, New Bedford.

12/15

“An Advent Retreat: The Journey to Christmas” will be held on December 15 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Sacred Hearts Retreat Center, 226 Great Neck Road, Wareham. Pre-registration deadline is December 12. For more information, call 508-295-0100.

12/16

During the diocesan priest convocation, Mass will be celebrated at Stonehill College, 320 Washington Street, Easton, on December 16 and 17 at 8 a.m. in the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows in Donahue Hall (administration building) and at 12:05 p.m. in the Chapel of Mary on the main campus.

12/26

Courage, a welcoming support group for Catholics wounded by same-sex attraction who gather to seek God’s wisdom, mercy and love, will next meet on December 26 at 7 p.m. For location information, call Father Richard Wilson at 508-992-9408.

12/17

A Healing Mass will be celebrated at St. Anne’s Church, 818 Middle Street, Fall River, December 17 at 6:30 p.m. The rosary is recited at 6 p.m., and Benediction and healing prayers follow the Mass.

12/27

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On December 27 at 3 p.m., the Cathedral Adult and Youth Choirs will present the 14th Annual Christmas Carol Sing at Holy Rosary Church, 120 Beattie Street in Fall River. The choirs will offer a few selections but most of the one-hour program is intended as a sing-along for all present. There is no admission charge and all are welcome to bring family and friends.

and nephews, and great nieces and great nephews.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated December 1 in St. Bernard’s Church in Assonet. Interment was in St. Francis Cemetery in Taunton.

Mass times and locations for December 16-17

Fall River Deanery — St. Anne’s Church at South Main and Middle streets in Fall River, 11:30 a.m.

New Bedford Deanery — Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street in New Bedford, 6:45 a.m., and 12:10 p.m.; and Sacred Hearts Retreat Center, 226 Great Neck Road in Wareham, 8 a.m.

Taunton Deanery — Holy Rosary Church, 80 Bay Street in Taunton, 7:30 a.m.; and Stonehill College Chapel, 320 Washington Street in North Easton, 8 a.m., and 12 noon; Stonehill College, 8 a.m. in the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows in Donahue Hall, and 12:05 p.m. in the Chapel of Mary (Wed. and Thur.)

Attleboro Deanery — National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, 947 Park Street in Attleboro, 12:10 and 5:30 p.m.

Cape Cod Deanery — St. Francis Xavier Church, 21 Cross Street in Hyannis, 12:10 p.m.

(Wed. and Thur.); St. Anthony’s Church, 167 East Falmouth Highway in East Falmouth, 8 a.m. (Wed.); St. Patrick’s Church, 511 Main Street in Falmouth, 9 a.m. (Thur.); Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue in Osterville, 5:30 p.m.

(Thur.); Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, 8 and 11 a.m. (Wed. and Thur.)

Note: There will be no funeral Masses all day Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Funerals can be celebrated Thursday afternoon.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Dec. 14 Rev. Msgr. John J. Hayes, Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford, 1970 Dec. 15 Rev. Mortimer Downing, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1942 Rev. John F. O’Keefe, Assistant, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1955 Dec. 19 Permanent Deacon Eugene L. Orosz, 1988 Permanent Deacon Maurice LaValle, 2007 Dec. 20 Rev. Manuel S. Travassos, Pastor, Espirito Santo, Fall River, 1953 Rev. John A. Janson, OFM, Missionary in Brazil, 1996

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese ACUSHNET — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Fridays 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays end with Evening Prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays end with Benediction at 2:45 p.m.

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 following the 11 a.m. Mass until 7:45 a.m. on the First Saturday of the month, concluding with Benediction and Mass.

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 TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place First Fridays at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 8 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration. Refreshments follow.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has eucharistic adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on the first Sunday of the month from noon to 4 p.m.

HYANNIS — A Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration will take place each First Friday at St. Francis Xavier Church beginning at 4 p.m.

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.

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.

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 508336-5549.

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 at the church 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 following the 8 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 5 p.m. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed at 4:45 p.m.; on the third Friday of the month from 1 p.m. to Benediction at 5 p.m.; and for the Year For Priests, the second Thursday of the month from 1 p.m. to Benediction at 5 p.m.

TAUNTON — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord Church, 31 First Street, immediately following the 8 a.m.

Mass and continues throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., concluding with recitation of the rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

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.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street, holds perpetual eucharistic adoration. 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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