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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

F riday , December 11, 2015

Holy Union Sister with diocesan ties receives papal honor

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff kensouza@anchornews.org FALL RIVER — Sister Alice Michael, SUSC, a native of Tiverton, R.I. who did much of her novitiate training in the Fall River Diocese, recently received the Pro Ecclesia and Pontifice medal during a solemn vespers ceremony at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Brooklyn, N.Y. This distinguished award, literally translated from Latin to mean “For the Church and pope,” is the highest honor that the Catholic Church can bestow on laity. It is sometimes referred to as the Cross of Honor.

“It’s like receiving a medal

of honor from the pope and it’s very humbling,” Sister Alice recently told The Anchor. “To think this is the highest award given to laity and religious is just incredible. I never thought I’d receive an honor like this. It never entered my mind.”

Sister Alice received the award from Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y., where she has ministered since 1976.

She currently serves in the Office of Faith Formation for the diocese as coordinator of Children’s Catechesis and the Catechumenate, as well as a member of the School of Evangelization Advisory Board and a member of the Special Turn to page 18

The interior of the recently-renovated St. Hedwig’s Church is taking shape to become the new location of the Sister Rose House, a homeless shelter for men. The basement will serve as a soup kitchen, doubling as a training ground for residents of the homeless shelter and the adjoining Grace House. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

New homeless hotline launched as former St. Hedwig Parish transforms

Holy Union Sister Alice Michael, who did much of her novitiate training in the Fall River Diocese, receives the Pro Ecclesia and Pontifice medal from Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio during a solemn vespers ceremony at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Brooklyn, N.Y. recently.

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff beckyaubut@anchornews.org NEW BEDFORD — As its rectory has been reborn as transitional housing for women, St. Hedwig’s Church is seeing the finishing touches being put on its building to become the new location of the Sister Rose House, a homeless shelter for men.

“It was supposed to be [opened] sooner but we had a couple of things that delayed us,” said Karen Ready, program manager of the Sister Rose House

that can currently be found in downtown New Bedford. “Some things you can’t foresee.”

There were 437 homeless, including 50 unsheltered people in New Bedford last winter, according to the city’s annual homeless count in February. The Sister Rose Home can shelter 25 but it’s very inadequate, said Ready. The new shelter will also house 25 and will be handicapaccessible with a lift being installed that will go down to the basement and first floor, which will host 25 beds in cubicles, and office space.

In the rear of the building will be bathrooms and showers, and in the basement will be the kitchen and program area, with an additional bathroom. There will also be a vegetable garden on the premises, and a courtyard linking the transitional home and shelter where the residents can enjoy the outdoors in a more private setting.

The total development construction cost for the Sister Rose House was more than $1.8 million dollars with financing coming from the city of New Turn to page 18

From nine to 900: 25th annual Gratitude Mass grows a hundredfold

By Dave Jolivet Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org EASTON — Twenty-five years ago, the fledgling mission to assist area poor and needy, My Brother’s Keeper, founded by James and Terry Orcutt, initiated its Christmas Assistance Program which then took away some of the seasonal stress from 14 area families who could not provide Christmas gifts to their children.

“That same year, 1990, the tiny My Brother’s Keeper staff, six lay men and women, two Holy Cross priests and a newly-ordained deacon, celebrated the first Gratitude Mass around a makeTurn to page 15

Nine-hundred volunteers and supporters of My Brother’s Keeper recently gathered at its facility in Easton for the 25th annual Gratitude Mass, celebrated by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, asking for God’s blessings on their mission. (Photo by J. Kiely/ Lightchaser Photography)

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News From the Vatican

December 11, 2015

It’s time to rediscover God’s mercy, pope says at Jubilee launch

VATICAN CITY (CNA/ EWTN News) — Pope Francis began the Jubilee of Mercy, calling those who pass through the newly-opened Holy Door to rediscover God’s mercy and love.

“To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father Who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them,” Pope Francis said in his homily for Mass on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, just before opening the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Mercy, he said, must be placed before judgment, though “God’s judgment will always be in the light of His mercy.”

“In passing through the Holy Door, then, may we feel that we ourselves are part of this mystery of love,” he said.

“Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not befit men and women who are loved.

Instead, let us experience the joy of encountering that grace which transforms all things.”

Pilgrims who pass through the door — which is only opened during Jubilee years — can receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions.

Pope Francis passed through the Holy Door followed by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who attended the rite in one of his rare public appearances.

Pope Francis connected the Holy Door to the day’s Gospel, which recounts the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary she would be the mother of God. “We carry out this act in the light of the Word of God which we have just heard. That word highlights the primacy of grace. God’s grace enfolded her and made her worthy of becoming the Mother of Christ.”

Pope Francis said that the

Immaculate Conception shows us that “the fullness of grace can transform the human heart and enable it to do something so great as to change the course of human history,” he said.

Discussing the first reading, the account of humanity’s fall in Eden, the pope said, “The words of Genesis reflect our own daily experience: we are constantly tempted to disobedience, a disobedience expressed in wanting to go about our lives without regard for God’s Will.”

Recalling the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s closing, which was also commemorated December 8, the pope stressed that the Jubilee of Mercy is a challenge for us to the “openness” inspired by the council.

The council was “a genuine encounter between the Church and the men and women of our time,” in which the Holy Spirit “impelled the Church to emerge from the shoals which for years had kept her selfenclosed so as to set out once again, with enthusiasm, on her missionary journey.”

“The Jubilee challenges us to this openness, and demands that we not neglect the Spirit which emerged from Vatican II, the Spirit of the Samaritan, as Blessed Paul VI expressed it at the conclusion of the council.”

In his Angelus address after Mass, Pope Francis called the faithful to look on the Immaculate Conception as a reminder that, “in our life, everything is a gift. Everything is mercy.”

“In the Immaculate Conception we are invited to recognize the dawn of the new world, transformed from the saving work of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Pilgrims gather in St. Peter’s Square for a recent general audience with Pope Francis. (CNA photo)

Make the mercy jubilee a ‘revolution of tenderness,’ pope urges

Vatican City, (CNA/ EWTN News) — Pope Francis has granted an interview to the official website for the Jubilee of Mercy, in which he expresses his intention that the year be an occasion to encounter God’s tenderness in a world rife with cruelty and atrocities.

“The revolution of tenderness is that which, today, we must cultivate as a fruit of this Year of Mercy: the tenderness of God toward each one of us,” the pope told the official Jubilee publication ‘Credere’ in a recently released interview.

The Roman Pontiff gave the example of an employer who manages the contracts of their employees in such a way as to deprive them of benefits and pensions. Such an employer does not show tenderness, but rather treats his workers as objects, he said.

In today’s world, where we have grown accustomed to hearing about cruelty and atrocities, it is clear that there is need for mercy, he added.

Pope Francis listed some of the atrocities taking place in the world: arms trafficking and production, the brutal murder of the innocent, the exploitation of minors and children.

These atrocities constitute “a sacrilege against humanity, since man is Sacred. He is the image of the living God,” he said.

“I believe that this is the moment of mercy,” he said.

“We are all sinners. All of us carry weight within.”

“It is the year of forgiveness, the year of reconciliation.”

Pope Francis stressed the need to recognize God the Father as merciful, and to focus on healing rather than condemnation.

“The world needs to discover that God is Father, that there is mercy, that cruelty is not the

way, that condemnation is not the way, because the Church itself at times follows a strict line, (yields) to the temptation to follow a strict line, the temptation to only stress moral norms, yet how many people are left out.”

He reiterated the image of the Church as a field hospital, a theme he has touched on in the past. “The wounded are cared for, helped to heal, not subjected to tests to analyze their cholesterol.”

Pope Francis said it was his intention to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors in stressing the theme of mercy in the life of the Church. He cited in particular St. John Paul II, with his 1980 encyclical on Divine Mercy, Dives in misericordia; the canonization of St. Faustina; and the establishment of the feast of Divine Mercy on the octave day of Easter.

“I realized it that it was necessary to do something and continue this tradition.”

The pope said mercy has been a theme of his pontificate since the very beginning, centering his first Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square and his first homily in the Vatican parish Sant’Anna on mercy.

“It is not a strategy, but came from within: the Holy Spirit wants something.”

Pope Francis was asked about the significance of Divine Mercy for priests and bishops, and the working of mercy in his own life.

“I am a sinner. I feel sinful.

I am sure of it,” he said, while adding: “I am a forgiven man.

God has looked on me with mercy and forgiven me.”

Pope Francis said he still sins, and goes to Confession every 15 or 20 days, “because I need to feel that God’s mercy is still upon me.”

The Roman Pontiff recount-

ed a particular moment in his life where he felt God’s mercy.

It was Sept. 21, 1953, during Argentina’s Springtime celebrations. At the age of 17, he was “just a practicing Catholic”: He went to Mass on Sundays and took part in Catholic Action, but nothing beyond this.

Passing by a church, he felt the need to go to Confession.

“And I don’t know what happened. I walked out different, changed. I returned home with the certainty that I must consecrate myself to the Lord.”

The priest who heard his Confession accompanied him for a year, before succumbing to leukemia. Pope Francis said his death caused him to think that God had abandoned him.

“This was the moment in which I came upon God’s mercy,” he said, recalling that September 21 — the day he was called into the Church as a teen-ager — is the feast of St. Matthew. He therefore drew his episcopal motto from an account by St. Bede of Christ’s call of St. Matthew: “miserando atque eligendo,” or, “By having mercy, by choosing Him.” The journalist asked the pope how the Jubilee of Mercy will bring about a conversion among families, citing St. John XXIII’s famous line in which he told families to return home and “give a caress to your children.”

“When I see the sick, the elderly, I spontaneously caress them,” Pope Francis said. The first gesture made by a mother and father toward their newborn baby, he said, it communicates “I love you.”

Asked what he would do over the course of the Jubilee to give witness to God’s mercy, the pope said he would make a “different gesture” on one Friday of each month during the Holy Year.

December 11, 2015

The International Church

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Jesuit foundation works to train community leaders in Honduras

TELA, Honduras (CNS) — A constantly shifting sandpit divides the pounding blue-gray surf of the Bay of Tela from a freshwater mangrove-lined lagoon, home to pelicans, herons and crocodiles. A yellow banner flutters in the wind: “Todas y todos somos Barra Vieja,” “We are all Barra Vieja,” it reads, announcing the entrance to the Afro-Caribbean Garifuna village.

The same sign inspired a name for a late-November refresher course for 60 young leaders from across northern Honduras; they were trained by the Jesuit-run Reflection, Research and Communications Team, known by its Spanish acronym as the ERIC foundation. Welcomed by pulsating Garifuna drums, the young people strung up a hammock in the straw shack of the family to which they had been assigned.

Braving voracious mosquitoes and sandflies, they spent the weekend developing skits on current affairs, learning how to protect activists whose actions have brought anonymous death threats, and mingling with the Garifuna people, whom the Honduran government is trying to chase from this pristine island paradise.

“We bring the young people — who are leaders of community struggles against corruption, hydroelectric projects, or mines across the region — to the persecuted Garifuna community of Barra Vieja so they can understand that they share the same struggle,” said Pedro Landa of the ERIC foundation. Landa was one of the organizers of eight weekend courses where young people learn how to be leaders in confronting the complexities of a country known for extreme poverty, one of the highest murder rates in the world and state economic policies that many have said amount to selling the country’s natural resources to the highest bidder.

“At the same time, we want to show our solidarity with the Garifuna people of Barra Vieja, so that they feel less alone,” he said.

The image of the exotic Garifuna people, their punta dance rhythms and their legendary “sopa de caracol” (conch soup), is used to attract tourists to the north coast. About 600,000 Garifuna live along the Caribbean coast of Central

America; they are the descendants of a ship that brought slaves from Central and West Africa.

Today, the Garifuna of Barra Vieja live in fear and extreme poverty. After two violent evictions by the army in 2014 to make way for an extension to a luxury beach hotel nearby, the population of this community has dwindled to about 250.

Armando Gamboa, Barra Vieja leader, said when people first heard about the resort, they thought it would bring jobs and opportunity, but when

A Garifuna woman prepares coconut bread for visitors on an open fire in Tela, Honduras.

(CNS photo)

they saw the neighboring Garifuna village evicted and no jobs for their people, they realized they were about to lose out.

The people of Barra Vieja eke out a living from fishing.

There is no electricity, running or drinking water on the island; for health facilities and schools, they have to travel to nearby villages, resulting in low school attendance. Some of the people, including children, have visible leg deformities, suggesting a past polio epidemic, and HIV and AIDS remain prevalent.

Their extreme ostracism has brought with it a host of social problems. Women accuse the men of machismo, and cases of rape and incest are common, said Calixta Martinez of the Free Butterflies Women’s Network, a Garifuna women’s organization.

“Young boys here are told that they must become real men and that women are the weaker sex,” said Martinez, whose group tries to teach women that they have rights and must complain when these are violated.

The women and children

here have been hardest hit by the evictions and repression, residents said.

“We have lived in peace on these lands since 1887,” said community president Carlos Castillo. “Yet the Port of Tela, who claim these lands as theirs to develop, has existed only since 1962. How can they say we are invaders?” He said the state has offered them no alternative lands for resettlement.

The Honduran government claims the Garifuna of Barra Vieja are foreigners and filed charges of encroachment against 66 community members. The Garifuna claim they have right to the land, by virtue of having lived on it for more than a century.

However, in June, the Garifuna won a legal victory, as the court in Tela ruled that the state could not prove its ownership of Barra Vieja, and dropped charges. The courthouse was unable to accommodate the 66 accused, and hearings had to be held on the former grounds of the nowdefunct Tela Railroad Company, the fruit company whose activities dominated the local economy and whose alleged exploitation of workers on company plantations became legendary.

Community leader Armando Gamboa said the resort developers will appeal the Tela decision. He told the young community leaders: “Your presence makes us feel less alone — we feel our lives are in danger.”

The people are so fearful that during role-play presentations, where youth leaders acted out government persecution of activists who oppose mining, a Garifuna child ran screaming from the area, thinking that the actors were really government representatives.

The experience is something the youth leaders will take home with them.

“This weekend has been like stepping into a different country,” said Osman Orellana, a worker at Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Arizona, 40 minutes east of Barra Vieja.

“Those of us who live nearby want to offer a special commitment to the Garifuna of Barra Vieja. We are already thinking of how we can come here regularly, and pass on to them some of the leadership skills we have learned. They need our solidarity.”

To subscribe to The Anchor, or give it as a gift, contact Mary Chase at 508-675-7151 or Email marychase@anchornews.org

December 11, 2015 The Church in the U.S. Pro-Life groups condemn Planned Parenthood shooting, pray for victims

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Colorado Springs (CNA/EWTN News) — After the recent shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic killed three but with an official motive for the act not determined, Pro-Life groups have condemned any act of violence against abortion clinics.

“We condemn violence of any kind against Planned Parenthood, abortionists, or any abortion industry workers,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, in a statement issued hours after the shootings. “People using violence to promote their views should be held criminally liable for their actions. Period. We pray for the victims and their families of this senseless act.”

The Pro-Life advocacy group Susan B. Anthony List also offered prayers for the shooting victims and their families. “Violence is never justified. The actions of the shooter are in complete con-

tradiction to the aims of the Pro-Life movement,” stated Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List.

They also praised police officer Garrett Swasey, who was killed in the line of duty responding to the shooting.

“Officer Garrett Swasey embodies the spirit of the Pro-Life movement in this tragedy,” Dannenfelser said, adding that he “charged headfirst into danger to protect lives inside their [Planned Parenthood’s] clinic. He believed, as we do, that all lives are equally valuable and worthy of protection.”

The alleged shooter, 57 year-old Robert Lewis Dear, killed three and injured nine at the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic, and surrendered himself to police after a five-hour standoff. He injured five police officers who responded to the shooting, and killed one.

Dear is from North Carolina

but lived in an RV in Hartsel, 65 miles west of Colorado Springs.

According to law enforcement sources, he allegedly said “no more baby parts” while in police custody as just one of many remarks, NBC reported. Officials have not confirmed Dear’s motive for the shooting.

That alleged phrase may have been made in reference to a series of videos released by a citizen journalist group Center for Medical Progress detailing Planned Parenthood’s role in offering fetal body parts of babies aborted at their clinics to tissue harvesters for compensation.

Planned Parenthood’s advocacy arm has already circulated a petition connecting the shooting to larger “opposition to Planned Parenthood and access to abortion,” adding that “acts of domestic terrorism do not exist in a vacuum.”

Their petition was addressed to “those who go to unimaginable extremes to close our doors.”

“We fight your legislation to limit reproductive rights and health care in every corner of our country,” the petition stated. “We believe your actions and words hurt women — whether by making it impossible to seek health care or by creating a climate

of disrespect and hostility that fosters extremist violence.”

The Center for Medical Progress responded to the shooting with a statement condemning the “barbaric” act “by a violent madman.”

“We applaud the heroic efforts of law enforcement to stop the violence quickly and rescue the victims, and our thoughts and prayers are with the wounded, the lost, and their families,” the statement added.

Ultimately, “it’s just a little unclear” what, if anything, is behind the shooting, said Jon A. Shields, professor of government at Claremont McKenna College, in an interview with CNA. Shields’ areas of expertise include abortion and American culture and politics.

Police have not established an official motive, he insisted, and from the current information Dear’s shooting appears more like other mass shootings perpetrated by a mentally ill lone-wolf gunman than a religiously-motivated act of violence against an abortion clinic.

Dear’s history, which includes arrests for domestic violence and being a “peeping tom,” testimony from a neighbor to the AP that he was incoherent in his conversations, and an alleged interest in BDSM, would not fit with the typical profile of an anti-

abortion radical attacking an abortion clinic, Shields added.

“The police officers, as far as I can tell, haven’t established a motive,” he said.

“Precisely because [Dear’s] conversations with them seemed utterly incoherent. So I think that too suggests that he’s a schizophrenic or he’s truly disturbed and crazy.”

In contrast, radicals who attacked abortion clinics in the 1980s and 90s, like assassin Paul Hill, “were sort of coldly rational” in their violent agenda, he added, “while Mr. Dear, whatever else he is, he’s not a sober, rational mind. So he does seem different to me.”

Organized acts of violence against abortion clinics, as part of a fringe faction of the Pro-Life movement, peaked and then fell in the 1980s and 90s, Shields explained in an op-ed for the Washington Post, with an “exception” being the assassination of late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller in 2009 which was probably an anomaly and not part of any violent trend.

“The shootings in Colorado Springs give us little reason to suspect that a renewed network of violent radicals is targeting abortion providers as they once did in the 1990s,” he concluded.

Dear was charged with first degree murder.

Utah diocese investigates ‘bleeding’ Host

Salt Lake City, Utah (CNA/EWTN News) — Some Catholic parishioners in Utah have said a consecrated Host appears to be bleeding, but the Diocese of Salt Lake City is considering whether the change may be due to natural causes.

“The Church does not presume supernatural causes for things that can have a natural explanation. While recognizing that God can work in extraordinary ways, the Church presumes that God ordinarily works through the ministry of the Church and through natural laws,” diocese spokeswoman Susan Dennin recently told CNA. Msgr. M. Francis Mannion, who heads the diocese’s investigating committee for the claimed miracle, acknowledged reports of “a bleeding Host” at St. Francis Xavier Church in Kearns, a Salt Lake City suburb.

During Holy Communion at the church November 8, a member of the congregation returned to the celebrant a consecrated Host that was not consumed because it had been given to a child who had not received her first Holy Communion. The priest then placed the Host in an ablution bowl for it to dissolve.

“It stayed there for several days and did not dissolve,” Dennin said. “By the end of the week, the pastor noted a change in the appearance and had notified others in the parish.”

It had developed a red color, and parishioners said the Host appeared to be bleeding.

Dennin said there have been similar documented instances where a Host was dropped on the floor and placed in an ablution bowl. Microscopic analysis of the hosts discovered them “to have been contaminated with wheat mold or fun-

gus — either Neurospora crassa or the red bacterium Serratia marcescens.”

The diocesan administrator, Msgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw, appointed an ad hoc committee chaired by Msgr. Mannion to investigate.

Msgr. Mannion in a recent statement rejected rumors that there are current plans for public exposition or adoration of the Host. He said the Host is now in the custody of Msgr.

Bircumshaw. The results of the committee investigation will be made public.

“Whatever the outcome of the investigation, we can use this time to renew our faith and devotion in the greatest miracle — the Real Presence of Jesus Christ that takes place at every Mass,” Msgr. Mannion said.

Dennin said the committee has completed its interviews and is now undertaking a scientific investigation.

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December 11, 2015

San Bernardino bishop urges prayers for unity, healing after shootings

OXNARD, Calif. (CNS) — Arriving in the late morning December 2 at the San Bernardino diocesan pastoral center for his job in the diocese’s Office of Worship, Chris Estrella knew something was very wrong.

“I could see a police blockade of Waterman Avenue, which is where the Inland Regional Center is located,” said Estrella, music and Liturgy assistant. “That’s less than two

miles from the pastoral center.

Then I saw a lot of law enforcement in the area — and I needed to use my key to get in the building, which is unusual.”

Once at his desk, Estrella turned on his computer and saw the reason for the blockade and increased security: The Inland Regional Center had become a murder scene, with 14 people killed and 17 more wounded.

“At that time, realistically,

I felt safe,” Estrella, 27, told Catholic News Service. “But I worried about my family — my parents, my siblings including my little brother who attends Our Lady of the Assumption School not that far away. Fortunately they were all safe.”

But the pastoral center — and Catholic schools in the city — remained on lockdown for several hours until about 2 p.m., “when they began shuf-

fling us out and told us, ‘Go home, be with your families,’” said Estrella. The office remained closed December 3.

The Office of Worship canceled a December 3 formation class for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program at the pastoral center. In a statement, the office expressed its sorrow at the killings and its solidarity in prayer with families and victims of the tragedy, saying, “Let us pray for peace and mutual tolerance, moving forward.”

“Like Bishop Barnes said (in a December 2 statement), this is a time for prayer, a time to pray for peace,” said Estrella. “I know there are many people all over who are praying for us here in such a terrible time, and I want to extend my thanks to all of them. We don’t need any more violence.”

Bishop Barnes attended a candlelight vigil at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino to remember those who died in the shooting. During the service, the names of the 14 people who were killed were read aloud.

The bishop, in a tweet sent December 3, said it was a “blessing to come together with leaders of our community tonight” to pray for peace and healing.

In a statement the previous day, Bishop Barnes urged people to pray for unity and healing after the mass shooting.

“For those who lost their lives, we pray for their eternal rest and God’s strength to their loved ones left behind; for those who are wounded, we pray for their health and healing,” he said.

The bishop called on people to pray for “all of the victims of this horrific incident and their families” and also asked for prayers for law enforcement officers who at the time were still “pursuing the suspects in this case.”

“Our community of San Bernardino has faced great challenges through the years.

Let us come together now in unity to bring light to the darkness of this day,” Bishop Barnes said.

The shooting took place at the Inland Regional Center, a state-run facility for individuals with developmental disabilities where county health officials were having an employee holiday party.

Two armed suspects — later

identified as Syed Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 27 — were killed by police four hours later in a shootout about two miles from the social services center.

Farook, a county environmental inspector, had attended the holiday party and left, returning with Malik, wearing “assault-style clothing” with ammunition attached, according to news reports.

Federal law enforcement officials told The New York Times that Farook’s wife, Malik, had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a Facebook posting. The FBI announced that it was officially investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism.

“Today, yet another American community is reeling from the horror of gun violence,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said in a statement.

“As the families of the victims grieve and the survivors focus on healing, the entire American family mourns,” she added.

Pelosi noted that gun violence is “a crisis of epidemic proportions in our nation” and said Congress has a moral responsibility to vote on common sense measures to prevent the daily agony of gun violence in communities across America. Enough is enough.”

Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said in a statement that it is “hard to understand this kind of violence and the hatred that motivates it. We ask how people can do such things, what is in their hearts? In these times, we need to trust in the providence of God and rely on His mercy.”

“Our Christian faith tells us that we must overcome evil with good and respond to hatred with love. So this is our challenge in the days ahead,” he added.

The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reported on an Interfaith service which was held on December 7 at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in San Bernardino.

There Bishop Barnes said that we need to pray because “we do not want evil to win over our hearts.”

The Bulletin also reported that Iman Aslam Abdullah said that the violent couple had failed to reach their goal. “You wanted us to be hateful with each other, but we are here in peace,” Abdullah said.

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December 11, 2015

Anchor Editorial

San Bernardino and mercy

The San Bernardino Press Enterprise reports that the Diocese of San Bernardino, in the wake of the terrorist shootings of government employees, sent out to parishes a series of prayers. One of them was, “Give us sympathetic hearts to reach out to those around us who are in deep grief — especially the children of our diocese who are suffering from fear, confusion and profound loss.”

The diocese also encouraged people to ask Jesus to “grant us the grace to join with our law enforcement and public officials to be sources of change, of healing and of love.”

Thinking of the victims themselves, the perpetrators and the community, the faithful of San Bernardino prayed, “For the recent victims of terror and violence in our city and diocese, that they be freed from pain and fear. That all of us may be protected from the violence of others, be safe from weapons of hate and restored to tranquility and peace. For those who harm and oppress others, that they may receive the grace to change their lives and to learn to live in peace, we pray to the Lord.”

Father Manuel Cardoza, pastoral administrator of Our Lady of Hope Parish in San Bernardino, wrote to his parishioners in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, according to the Press Enterprise, and reminded them, “As Christians, we are called to love; loving those who hate us; loving those who curse us; loving those who attack us. That through us, hatred will turn to love; fear will be transformed to friendship; violence will be turned to peace; and all will know that God continues and will always walk with us. Let us pray for the city and that all anger and hatred be expelled from our hearts through the medicine of forgiveness and mercy.”

Having begun the Year of Mercy less than a week after the murders in San Bernardino, Father Cardoza’s words remind us that God’s mercy requires us to seek God’s forgiveness for ourselves and then to be agents of God’s mercy to other people.

Considering the seven Spiritual works of mercy, we can see how they apply to the present situation. The seventh one, praying for the living and the dead, we are already doing, although many have felt the need to say that “thoughts and prayers are not enough,” in response to these recurring situations of violence. The whole debate about what we should do as a country might, in part, fall under the work of admonishing sinners. At times the Holy Spirit demands that we speak out against injustice (although God would want us always to be self-critical, too).

We are also instructed to bear wrongs patiently and to forgive offenses will-

ingly. Given the context of the work about correcting sinners, these two works are not about just letting evil run amok, but they do remind us that we cannot control everything and that even God the Son did both of these works.

Another Spiritual work is to comfort the afflicted (afflicting the comfortable is not from this list, although admonishing sinners might do that). There are plenty of victims of violence, in this country and around the world, to whom we can do this work.

The remaining two Spiritual works of mercy, instructing the ignorant and counseling the doubtful, can be carried out in various manners in this circumstance. People might be asking again, “Where was God?” Our teaching and our personal witness to the faith must help provide the answer, “He was with us, suffering with us and now helping us in our prayer and through good people.”

The seven corporal (bodily) works of mercy also come into play. Burying the dead is already being done. Visiting the sick is being done by the Church’s ministers to the injured in the hospitals. Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked and giving shelter to the homeless might not seem relevant here, but actually they are, given the number of “breadwinners” who were killed at that Christmas party. Again, the Church and other charitable institutions, as well as individuals, will step into the breech.

The last of the corporal works to be mentioned here, visiting the imprisoned, might be the hardest one for us to swallow. Of course, the San Bernardino killers are dead, but there are plenty of other jihadists and American-born killers who are in jail. This is not an easy work, but that’s why it is a work of mercy. Mercy is not always easy — it wasn’t easy for Jesus on Good Friday.

Thanks be to God that there are Catholic ministers and volunteers who carry out this valuable work.

St. Bernardine of Siena, for whom the city in California was named, decided to give his entire life over to Christ and doing the Spiritual and corporal works of mercy after Jesus spoke to him from a crucifix. Jesus said, “My son Bernardine, you see Me hanging on the cross, in a state of total denudation.

If you love Me and want to walk in My footsteps, fasten yourself also to the cross, divested of everything.”

Each of us, according to our states in life, are called to do this. We’ll give up everything, but get so much more back in return. Jesus promises us! If we live the works of mercy, they will be done for us, too. True, there will be disappointments at times (as there were and are for Jesus), but what good company we will have on that road.

Pope Francis’ Angelus message of December 8

Today, the feast of the Immaculate leads us to contemplate the Madonna who, through a unique privilege, was preserved from original sin from the moment of conception. Although living in the world marked by sin, she is not touched: Mary is our sister in suffering, but not in evil and sin. Indeed, in her evil was defeated before even touching it, because God filled her with grace (cf. Lk 1:28). The Immaculate Conception means that Mary is the first person saved by the

infinite mercy of God, as the first fruits of Salvation that God wants to give to every man and woman, in Christ. Consequently the Immaculate Virgin has become the sublime icon of Divine mercy, that has won over sin. And we, today, at the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy, we want to look at this icon with trusting love and contemplate it in all its splendor, imitating her faith.

In the Immaculate Conception of Mary, we are invited to recognize the dawn of a new world, OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

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transformed by the saving work of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, the dawn of the new creation implemented

by Divine mercy. This is why the Virgin Mary was never infected by sin and is always full of God, she is the mother of a new humanity and mother of the recreated world.

Celebrating this festival involves two things. First to accept fully God and His merciful grace in our lives. Second: to become authors of mercy, through the evangelical road. The feast of the Immaculate becomes the feast of us all if we, with our daily “yes,” can overcome our selfishness and make the lives of our brothers happier, to give them hope, wiping a few tears and giving a little joy. In imitation of Mary, we are called to become bearers of Christ and witnesses of His love, looking first at those who are privileged in Jesus’ eyes. They are the ones about whom that He Himself has stated: “I was hungry and you gave Me to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, a stranger and you welcomed Me, naked and you clothed Me,

sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me”(Mt 25: 35-36).

Today’s feast of the Immaculate Conception has a specific message to communicate to us: it reminds us that in our life everything is a gift, everything is mercy. May the Blessed Virgin, the first fruits of the saved, the model of the Church, the holy and immaculate bride, loved by the Lord, help us to rediscover the mercy of God more and more, that it is the distinctive thing of the Christian. One cannot understand a true Christian who is not merciful, as we can not understand God without mercy. It is the word-synthesis of the Gospel: mercy. And it is the fundamental feature of Christ’s Face: the Face we recognize in the various aspects of His life: when He goes out to everyone, when He heals the sick, when He sits at the table with sinners, and especially when, nailed to the cross, He forgives; there we see the Face of God’s mercy. We have no fear: let us embrace the mercy of God that awaits us and

forgives everything. Nothing is sweeter than His mercy. Let us allow ourselves to be caressed by God, Who is so good, the Lord, and Who forgives everything.

Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, may mercy take possession of our hearts and transform our whole life.

This afternoon I will go to the Spanish Steps, to pray at the foot of the monument to the Immaculate. And then I’ll go to Santa Mary Major. I ask you to join me in this Spiritual pilgrimage, which is an act of filial devotion to Mary, Mother of Mercy. To her I entrust the Church and all humanity, and especially the city of Rome. Today Pope Benedict has crossed the Door of Mercy.

We send greetings from here, all of us, to Pope Benedict! I wish everyone a good feast and a fruitful Holy Year, with the guidance and the intercession of our Mother. May it be a Holy Year full of mercy, for you and by you for others. Please ask this of the Lord for me, since I need it so much! Good lunch and goodbye.

December 11, 2015

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n Tuesday, Pope Francis and the Church inaugurated the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. It was begun on the Solemnity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, which can be considered the beginning of the Redemption, when God responded to sin with the grace of His mercy and filled Mary’s soul with it from the first moment of her life.

This 349-day jubilee, like every ecclesiastical holy year, is meant not to remain at the periphery of the Church’s life but rather to transform — sometimes subtly, sometimes profoundly and conspicuously — everything we do as Catholics. It is supposed to flavor our personal, familial and communal prayer, the way we celebrate Baptisms, weddings and funerals, the way we mark Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter and all of the feasts of faith, as well as the way we go about our day to day life. It’s meant to be a key by which we unlock anew the mystery of Who God is, how He loves us, who we are, and how we’re called to love Him and others.

Why did Pope Francis think the Church and world needed a Jubilee of Mercy now? Because we’re living, he has said, in a “kairos of mercy,” a special time in which mercy is needed. He’s given St. John Paul II credit for this intuition and John Paul II believed it was a special time of mercy because he thought that one of the greatest crises the human race faces is unexpiated guilt.

After two World Wars and the Cold War, after the Holocaust, after the genocides in Armenia, the Ukraine, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, after so many atrocities from tyrannical governments, after the waterfalls of blood flowing from more than two billion abortions worldwide,

Anchor Columnist Why a Jubilee Year of Mercy? after the sins that have this year, Pope Francis exdestroyed so many families, plained the reason why he after so much physical and decided to call for a Jubilee sexual abuse, after lengthy of Mercy now. crime logs in newspapers “Many question in their every day, after the scourge hearts,” he said, “why a Juof terrorism, after so much bilee of Mercy today? Simhurt and pain, the terrible ply because the Church, in weight of collective guilt crushes not only individuals but Putting Into burdens structures and whole societies. the Deep The modern world is like one

By Father big Lady Macbeth, Roger J. Landry compulsively washing our hands to remove the blood from them, but there is no this time of great historical earthly detergent powerchange, is called to offul enough to take the fer more evident signs of blemishes away. We can God’s presence and closeconverse with psychiatrists ness. This is a time for the and psychologists, but their Church to rediscover the words and prescriptions meaning of the mission encan only help us deal with trusted to her by the Lord our guilt, not eliminate it. on the day of Easter: to be We can confess ourselves a sign and an instrument to bartenders, but they of the Father’s mercy.” can only dispense Absolut He was calling for a vodka, not absolution, and Holy Year, he continued, inebriation never brings “to welcome the numerexpiation. We can escape ous signs of the tenderreality through distractions ness that God offers to the and addictions — drugs, whole world and, above all, sports, entertainment, ma- to those who suffer, who terialism, food, power, lust, are alone and abandoned, and others — but none can without hope of being adequately anesthetize the pardoned or feeling the pain in our soul from the Father’s love; to experience suffering we’ve caused or strongly within ourselves witnessed. the joy of having been Whether we admit it, found by Jesus, the Good whether we realize it or Shepherd Who has come not, we’re longing for in search of us because we redemption. We’re yearnwere lost; to receive the ing for a second, third or warmth of His love when 70-times-seventh chance.

He bears us upon His We’re pining for forgiveshoulders and brings us ness, reconciliation, and a back to the Father’s house; restoration of goodness. [and] to be touched by We’re hankering for a giant the Lord Jesus and to be reset button for ourselves transformed by His mercy, and for the world. And if so that we may become we can’t have that personal witnesses to mercy.” and collective do over, then The reason for the jubiat least we ache for libera- lee, he said in short, is “betion from the past and, like cause this is the time for Zacchaeus or Ebenezer mercy, the favorable time Scrooge, for a chance to to heal wounds, a time not make up for what has been to be weary of meeting done. We want atonement. all those who are waiting And God responds to to see and to touch with our age’s great desire and their hands the signs of the need for expiation with closeness of God, a time to His mercy. offer everyone the way of In a homily on the eve forgiveness and reconciliof Divine Mercy Sunday ation.”

The Church is like a “field hospital in battle,” to use Pope Francis’ famous image, and he’s called a Year of Mercy to open up this worldwide Spiritual MASH unit, to nurse and help heal ours and the world’s deepest wounds.

How are we to live it well? I will write in answer to that question throughout this jubilee.

But to help get it off to a good start, I’d like to propose briefly four pillars: First, come frequently to receive God’s mercy in the Sacrament Jesus founded on Easter Sunday evening to forgive us of our sins and give us the joy of experiencing Resurrection through Reconciliation.

Second, take seriously and practice what Jesus Himself revealed to St.

7 Faustina Kowalska in the Divine Mercy Devotion as the means to grow in His mercy and share that same mercy with others.

Third, deepen our understanding of God’s mercy through prayerfully reading Pope Francis’ “The Face of Mercy,” St. John Paul II’s “God Who Is Rich in Mercy” and “Reconciliation and Penance,” and other great resources I’ll mention later in this series.

And finally, make a resolution to practice each of the corporal and Spiritual works of mercy at least once this year, to grow in our capacity to receive the fullness of God’s mercy by opening our hearts in mercy in all these ways toward others.

This is a kairos of mercy.

We need it. Let’s seize it!

Anchor columnist Father Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

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S

carlett O’Hara has more in common with us during this season of Advent than we may think.

The antebellum “before war” South was destined to change by the affects 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 affects 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 re-

December 11, 2015

Make a change for the better

time of preparation? What new you in His love, He will is it that keeps us from sing joyfully because of you, seeking the freedom that as one sings at festivals.”

God offers us? Most often, Since the beginning of it is our fear of the unknown Advent, we’ve heard much and our anxiety about takabout the Lord’s coming ing risks (especially with as Judge of all at the end ourselves) that keeps us of time in this world as we know it. The priests and deacons wear Homily of the Week penitential purple (or rose) vestments Third Sunday during this season to of Advent help us to recognize

By Deacon our need to repent Thomas P. Palanza and prepare; to help us to overcome our human tendencies to enslaved to our old ways and wander away from God’s habits and prevents us from great covenant of love for experiencing a new person His children and to fall into in the Lord and a better life moments of sin through as a result. darkness, despair and the Our natural “human” many anxieties we face in inclination to “hold on and this world. have more” things of this As it is with life itself, world (money, power, conthe readings for this season trol, authority, etc.) keeps us of Advent are intermingled from letting go and actualwith images of light and izing our supernatural and darkness — joy and sor“holy” formation received at row. We are renewed by the Baptism, so that God can expectation of the Lord’s shape us into what He crecoming and sometimes ated us to be. To coin an alloverwhelmed with the inner too-familiar phrase, we really sense to prepare ourselves must find a way to “let go even better this year than we and let God” inside to guide have in the past. us, especially during this So what is it that keeps special season of Advent. us from fulfillment in this

The Church refers to this Sunday 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.”

St. 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 the 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 Mansf ield and also serves as the Facility Consultant to the Diocese of Fall River.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Dec. 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a;12:1-6a,10ab; Lk 1:26-38 or 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; Mt 21:23-27. Tues. Dec. 15, Zep 3:1-2,913; Mt 21:28-32. Wed. Dec. 16, Is 45:6b-8,18,21b-25; Lk 7:18b-23. Thurs. Dec. 17, Gn 49:2,8-10; Mt 1:1-17. Fri. Dec. 18, Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1:18-25.

I

f one reads the local online newspapers, or even the not-so-local newspapers, many of the comments about Fall River are pretty derogatory. Some are valid, some just seem to be folks who have to complain about something.

I’ve lived in Fall River all my life, more than half a century (I’ll leave it at that).

And yes, this town has its fair share of violent crimes and nasty inhabitants. Most places do.

I have never remotely thought about packing up family and belongings and moving elsewhere. Fall River is in my blood, and I suspect will be until my heart doesn’t pump that blood any longer.

At this time of year, that heart is warmed by great memories of growing up under the shadows of the twin

Christmas time in the city caps, that then were about steeples adorning St. Anne’s four-feet long. Then the chase Church near midtown. was on. Great fun in simpler Maybe it’s the more than times. half century of existence, or I recall at the top of the maybe it’s just rememberpark, directly across from the ing things the way I prefer, but December in Fall River was colder and snowier.

Many of my recollections of Christmas time in the “Riv,” revolve around South/

By Dave Jolivet Kennedy/South/Kennedy Park (its name alternated so many church, the city would erect a times it was hard to keep Nativity scene, complete with track) right across the street live animals (at least that’s from good old St. Anne’s. what my mind tells me).

This was a time to spend On Friday nights, I would Saturdays playing tackle footwalk to downtown Fall River, ball in the upper part of the park, and Sundays ice skating just a few blocks from home, with my mom. Back then on the outdoor rink midpark. It was great fun to skate downtown Fall River, on Friday night, no matter what past our girl classmates and the season, was a beehive of abscond with their stocking

My View From the Stands

activity with shoppers filling the street. But at Christmas, the lights on the street lamps and in the plethora of shops, stores, restaurants and movie theaters was mesmerizing.

The “gigantic” Cherry & Webb store always had a four- or five-story garland Christmas tree on its facade. It was magnificent, but not so much fun to enter — all women’s clothes.

Next door was McWhirr’s which was more my speed. It would be great to duck into that store, fully decorated, maybe grab a hot cocoa at the counter and make a quick stop at the Cub and Boy Scout section.

But the real treat was heading just a bit more north of McWhirr’s to Woolworth’s and Newberry’s, a pair of

true “five-and-dime” stores, with two floors of great stuff.

There were toys, models (to build, not today’s definition), candy, and comic books, all accompanied by lights, tinsel, garland and Christmas music.

I loved downtown Fall River at Christmas time. I loved the sights, the sounds, the smells, the people and the cold.

It was so much simpler then. The retailers weren’t hawking video game boxes costing hundreds of dollars, or smart phones costing even more.

It was about coloring books; water paints; car, plane and ship models; board games; and sweets. But most of all it was about that warm feeling on the inside and cold bite on the outside. That was Christmas time in my city. davejolivet@anchornews.org

December 11, 2015

Wednesday 9 December 2015 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — First human cremation in the USA (Henry Laurens, 1792) noticed, dear readers, a recent news report that a Jewish synagogue in New Jersey held a religious ceremony to bury nine Torah scrolls. The Sacred texts were no longer usable due to a devastating fire.

So, you ask, what is one to do with Catholic religious objects that are no longer usable?

We priests get asked this question all the time. The answer is to bury or burn them. It seems simple enough, but it can get complicated.

This has nothing to do with that strange fad of burying a plastic statue of St. Joseph upside-down in your yard in the hope of selling your house.

It’s much more effective to monitor the housing market in your area.

If the religious object in question isn’t flammable, then just make sure it’s rendered unrecognizable before burial. A plaster statue, for example, can properly be placed in a bag and crushed with a hammer before burial. This is not iconoclastic, since this is done out of respect.

Here on Cape Cod, a priest

I

“J

oy to the world, the Lord has come,” we all know the words to this Christmas carol so very well, a classic that was written in 1719

by Isaac Watts. This and so many other well-known carols play continually while we are driving, shopping or watching television, all reminding us to be joyful, as well as what this season is all about.

This weekend’s readings, both from the Old and New Testament, remind us to rejoice and to share our joy with others. To not be afraid, for all that has bound us has been removed. We are also reminded to ask God for what we need through prayer and petition, and in His mercy and love, we will be taken care of and a peace will surround and guard our hearts in Christ Jesus.

What great news!

We are being offered and given the greatest gift of all, love! A love that goes beyond any explanation, a love that puts all else aside for our greater good; a love that dares us to love one another, to reach beyond ourselves and see oth-

Anchor Columnists Burying the Torah one can go overboard in these once could suggest burial of the object, if not in the ground, matters. Do not dig up your pastor’s lawn. Your own backthen in the sea. These days, yard is as good a place as any. the latter option is no longer In one parish to which I politically correct. It may vioreported for duty, I opened a late local anti-pollution laws.

Sacristy cabinet to find a cache You don’t want to be fined or, of holy oils. Each vial was Heaven forbid, arrested by the carefully marked with the type environmental police on account of your piety.

One priest I know was approached by a The Ship’s Log family that was in the Reflections of a process of moving to Parish Priest another residence. They inquired what they

By Father Tim might do with noGoldrick longer-usable religious objects. The pastor rightly recommended of holy oil contained therein burial of the objects. Problem (there are three types: Sacred solved.

Chrism, Oil of the Sick, and A few days later, at dusk, Oil of the Catechumens) and the priest happened to glance with the year of its blessing. out his rectory window and The vials were lined up in saw a mysterious figure in the chronological order stretching shadows behind the building. back several decades. It was Instead of calling the police, like a cellar for fine wines. the priest rushed outside and That spring, I burned the challenged the intruder. “What blessed oil in the Easter fire. are you doing?” the priest Unfortunately, it proved to be a boldly demanded. “I’m folbit too much of an accelerant. lowing your recommendation.

The flames leapt up and singed I’m burying religious objects.” the deacon’s robe.

“In my backyard?” the priest At another time, in another shot back. “Why here?” “Well, Sacristy cabinet, I found baby because this is holy ground,” came the response. Sometimes food jars of blessed ashes lined

up in the same way. They were leftovers from years of Ash Wednesdays. I went outside and sprinkled them around the church grounds.

Traditionally, the ashes for Ash Wednesday are made from burning the previous year’s palm branches. They are thus double-blessed.

It’s much safer and more convenient to order the Lenten ashes from a religious supply company. They’re very inexpensive and come in neatly sealed Ziplock bags.

Every year, I find a few wizened old palm branches stashed in the Missalette racks. People have returned them for recycling. The warranty, it seems, has expired.

What to do with holy water that is no longer usable? Every Sacristy has a sacrarium, a special sink that leads directly to the ground. Just pour the holy water in the sacrarium.

Here, a keen-eyed deacon noticed that the plumbing under the sacrarium led not to the ground but to the sewer system, as any normal sink.

Seems some contractor had cut corners. As a result, we can’t use our sacrarium for the pur-

The wonders of His love

who were considered outcasts ers as Christ sees them. God and everyone else in between. knew we would need a visible sign of this unconditional love He instructs them all to share and He sent us the Baby Jesus, what they have — if you have two coats give one to a neighWhose simple birth reminds bor who has none; share your us that God is a loving and meal with the hungry; be kind gentle Father. Through the to your enemies; reach out to Baby Jesus, He reminds us to be trusting, allowing ourselves to be gathered into His loving arms, knowing that our needs will be taken care of. What a beautiful image of a

By Rose Mary loving Father. Just the Saraiva thought of a love so profound fills me with immeasurable joy, the the afflicted, be love itself. The joy that the readings and the message is a simple one, and Gospel are imploring us to one that has not changed at embody and spread.

What should we do? This is all over the years; look around, see beyond all the bustle of the very question that is asked over and over again of John the the season, and acknowledge Baptist in the Gospel. You hear and help those who are in need. John the Baptist was this question coming from the and is instructing us to love crowd that has gathered to be baptized. A crowd that includ- our neighbor in ways that may be foreign to us. To love our ed individuals from all walks neighbor as we ourselves would of life; from tax collectors to want to be loved; to serve othsoldiers who were despised ers with dignity and respect, to and feared; to people who be the very gift of love to one felt oppressed as well as those

In the Palm of His Hands

another.

The Gospel tells us that the crowd was filled with expectation: could He be the One? On this third Sunday of Advent, we begin to feel that same sense of expectation. As the 25th of December draws near, we too are filled with excitement and anticipation, as we prepare to celebrate the Birth of Christ. Even if we are burdened with life’s uncertainties and sadness, our hearts still hold a flicker of joy, and sometimes the gentlest of breezes is enough to fan it into a flame.

That day at the river John baptized with water, we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire, and it is this very flame that lights the way for others. We are asked to help keep that flame alive.

This is the joy that is being spoken of; this is the cause for celebrating and rejoicing. We have been filled with love, and with open hearts glowing with the love that burns brightly

9 pose for which it was intended.

We must go outside to pour the holy water into the ground.

Even in Falmouth, it still gets pretty cold out there in January. We just grin and bear it.

People who make donations to various religious foundations sometimes get on a list that’s passed around. As a result, these generous souls are bombarded with solicitations. Often, there’s a token gift involved — a prayer card, a calendar, a medal. What to do with these things? Some parishioners slip into church and stash the objects in the pews, on a table, or in any one of a dozen hiding places.

They think the objects must be already blessed. They’re not.

I’ve even found past editions of The Anchor left anonymously in the church for proper disposal. Although it’s a fine Catholic paper, The Anchor is definitely not a Sacred text. I know because I write for it.

I feel no compunction whatsoever to inter my outdated copies of The Anchor in the backyard. My column certainly doesn’t require burial — well, not usually.

Anchor columnist Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

within, we are asked to help others step into the light of God’s love. As we hear in the song, “Let every heart, prepare Him room and let Heaven and nature sing.” In opening our hearts to the love and joy that was promised in the words of the prophet Zephaniah, in St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, and through the words and actions of John the Baptist, we too are spreading the Good News, the love that God shared with us through Jesus Christ. The final stanza of the song is what this season is all about, the “wonders of His love.”

May the joy and happiness of this holy season fill your hearts and homes with love, and may God continue to bless you and your families throughout the coming new year.

Merry Christmas!

Anchor columnist Rose Mary Saraiva is a parishioner of St. Michael’s Parish, and she is the Events Coordinator and Bereavement Ministry for the diocesan Office of Faith Formation. rsaraiva@dfrcs. com.

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December 11, 2015

Action plan offers Catholics down-to-earth ideas to implement encyclical CONYERS, Ga. (CNS) — Mimi Soileau goes nearly weekly to see what vegetables are ripe to be plucked from garden beds beside her parish church, St. Pius X. Time spent with her hands in the dirt is nothing new for this 85-yearold master gardener. She’s currently harvesting hearty kale, eggplant and broccoli from the raised beds, a new initiative of the parish garden ministry.

These vegetables go to the parish’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, which has given the fresh produce to families in need since the growing season began.

The recent strong environmental message from Pope Francis boosts her spirits.

“It’s an obligation for us to preserve our earth, to keep it healthy. (Pope Francis) is my kind of man,” Soileau told The Georgia Bulletin, Atlanta’s archdiocesan newspaper.

Ray Supple, who modeled the project after a garden he saw at St. Brendan the Navigator Parish in Cumming, Ga., said church members embraced it.

“We went to different organizations and everybody thought it was a great idea,” he said. “(St. Vincent de Paul) is thrilled to be able to give fresh vegetables.”

This resourcefulness is what a new

guidebook hopes to inspire in individual Catholics and parishes in the Atlanta Archdiocese. It’s encouraging the faith community to better care for the earth, from forming a parish “green team” and using rain barrels to conserve water to saying grace before meals and sharing rides to Sunday Mass.

Spurred by Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” this 38-page action plan offers a menu of initiatives for parishes and families.

“It’s not theology, it’s down-toearth,” said Rob McDowell, a geologist and co-author of the report. “We didn’t really invent anything.”

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta commissioned the action plan a year ago upon learning that Pope Francis planned to issue an encyclical on the environment. It was developed by a team of scientists from University of Georgia and other scientists after the release of the encyclical in June.

McDowell said his Catholic faith has been formed by the Church’s rich heritage of special care for the planet, going back more than 1,000 years to St. Augustine and creation Spirituality.

The three most recent pontiffs built on each other’s teachings: St. John Paul II critiqued consumerism; Pope Benedict XVI had solar panels installed at the

The community garden at St. Pius X Church in Conyers, Ga., which was started in March, is seen recently. The produce raised goes to families in need and the garden is an example of ways the Atlanta Archdiocese hopes Catholics and parishes can implement Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment. (CNS photo/Michael Alexander, Georgia Bulletin)

Vatican and was dubbed the “green pope”; and Pope Francis has written the first encyclical dedicated to environmental concerns.

McDowell called the papal document a high mark in the Church’s teaching.

A professor at Georgia Perimeter College and a member of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Atlanta, he said no area of Georgia is immune from the changing environment.

Georgia’s seacoast cities, such as Tybee Island and St. Marys, are now planning to deal with rising sea levels.

Farmers face disrupted planting seasons with hotter temperatures and fewer cool days. The Atlanta area faces more severe flooding as heavy rain is forecast to replace moderate rainfall.

Georgia is “blessed with abundant natural resources,” the report says, including “rich biodiversity” in the north Georgia mountains and one-third of all of the remaining salt marshes on the U.S. East Coast.

The report lists categories of concern including: energy efficiency and conservation; recycling; transportation; water use; buying and sharing food; sustainable landscapes; helping those in the congregation most impacted by extreme weather changes; practical ways to inform and engage young people in the message of the encyclical; and political action.

Within each category are a series of suggested actions, ranked from the easiest, such as shopping with reusable bags, to moderate and advanced changes, such as installing an electric car charging station on parish or school grounds.

The plan proposes that churches or schools ask for an energy audit by the nonprofit Georgia Interfaith Power & Light to help them find energy savings.

It recommends faith communities serve

their vulnerable members by helping those likely to be most hurt by severe weather. It also advises helping enlist them in appropriate services, such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or cooling stations in the summer.

Staff from the Atlanta archdiocesan Justice & Peace Ministries have visited parishes to educate Catholics about the encyclical, from its purpose to the details. Director Kat Doyle said many people come with biased notions about it, so she tells people “what it says and what it doesn’t say.”

Its key point calls for “integral ecology” where human activity and the natural environment are balanced, she said. The pope looks at the world through a faith-based lens, not politics or science, she said, although he praises both. The goal is to create dialogue on the issue and encourage people to take action on behalf of the environment, she said.

Steve Valk, communications director for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, who belongs to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Parish, said the pope’s message is changing minds.

As a Catholic, he said, “I try to follow the teachings of Christ. The biggest thing He imparted to us was to take care of each other. The people who will be hurt the most will be the poor. From a faith perspective, it’s two things: us taking care of each other and also us being good stewards of the world.”

Archbishop Gregory said the environment requires personal stewardship

by Catholics.

“What will it take to protect our world and its societies for future generations? Living a life dedicated to simplicity in the spirit of St. Francis while always looking out for our most vulnerable brothers and sisters,” he wrote in the report.

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December 11, 2015

Faith Formation students learn about Father Christmas by giving to needy

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff kensouza@anchornews.org

NORTH DARTMOUTH — While images of the redand-white bedecked Santa Claus — often referred to as “jolly, old St. Nick” — are omnipresent in the days leading up to Christmas, students enrolled in the Faith

Formation program at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth were recently introduced to the more traditional version of “Father Christmas.”

To celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas on December 6, Faith Formation co-directors Gene and Kathy Kosinski enlisted Bill Duchemin to portray the

Bill Duchemin portrayed the more traditional St. Nicholas during a celebration of Father Christmas’ feast last weekend for students in the Faith Formation program at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth. Students were encouraged to bring in gifts to be distributed by the St. Vincent de Paul Society in exchange for a candy cane.

(Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

famous saint for a program inside the chapel at nearby Bishop Stang High School.

Instead of a bulging, furlined costume, however, this St. Nick was dressed in robes more appropriate to a man who served as Bishop of Myra in the fourth century, including a long red cape that likely inspired the contemporary interpretation of Santa Claus.

Kathy Kosinski helped created the costume for Duchemin, while Gene Kosinski explained the origins of “Father Christmas” to the

students from a book about the famous saint.

“Nicholas was filled with Jesus’ love, so much so that tales of his kindness and generosity spread throughout the land,” Kosinski explained.

“He became known as ‘Father Christmas,’ and to this day people continue to give out gifts at Christmas like Nicholas did as a way to share God’s love and kindness with others.”

In order to demonstrate St. Nicholas’ generosity and penchant for giving gifts

to the less fortunate, the Faith Formation students were encouraged to bring in stocking-stuffer items that will be given to families with children in temporary placements, at a parish dinner sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society later in the month.

In exchange for these donations, students were given something that’s more closely associated with St. Nick’s “ho-ho-hoing” alter ego — a red-and-white striped candy cane.

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December 11, 2015

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following is a capsule review of a movie recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.

“The Letters” (Freestyle) Appreciative but poorly handled biography of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata ( Juliet Stevenson) focuses on her decision to leave the cloistered teaching order (led locally by Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal) in which she began religious life and dedicate herself instead to the work of serving the most afflicted of her adopted city’s slum dwellers. As narrated through a retrospective conversation between the famed

nun’s Spiritual director (Max von Sydow) and the Church official (Rutger Hauer) charged with investigating her life with a view to her possible canonization, the facts surrounding her courageous ministry — and the tenacious Spiritual struggle that resulted from her decades-long sense of God’s complete absence — are alternately spoonfed to the audience through dialogue and dramatized in a way that fails to spark interest.

Writer-director William Riead successfully conveys the obedience with which his subject submitted her personal convictions about her vocation to the judgment of the Church, but otherwise fails to delve below the surface. Some tense scenes of conflict and potentially disturbing medical situations. The Catholic News Service 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.

Juliet Stevenson stars in a scene from the movie “The Letters.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules above.(CNS photo/ MPRM Communications)

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

Celebrant is Father Daniel W. Lacroix, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Seekonk

A demonstration against the blasphemous exhibit in Pamplona was held recently. (CNA photo by Carlos Beltramo)

Spain’s Catholics protest blasphemous art exhibit, but city council won’t act

Pamplona, Spain (CNA/EWTN News) — Despite protests from thousands of Spaniards opposed to the desecration of the Eucharist, the Pamplona city council has failed to pass a proposal to remove a sacrilegious art exhibit from a publicly funded exhibition hall.

The exhibit involved the theft of more than 240 consecrated Hosts from Mass.

Artist Abel Azcona stole the Hosts by pretending to receive Holy Communion at Mass, and then placed the Hosts on the ground to form the word “pederasty” in Spanish.

“The council has insisted the author remove his work, but the council itself is not going to do it,” Polonia Castellanos, spokeswoman for the Christian Lawyers Association, told CNA. This was the second time the city council has asked Azcona to remove his exhibit, but they have received no response from him so far.

Photos of the theft of the Hosts and their placement on the ground are shown in Pamplona’s publicly funded Conde Rodezno exhibition hall. The Hosts were laid out on display until a private citizen removed them.

The Pamplona city council is governed by a Basque separatist coalition called Bildu.

Maider Beloki, a councilwoman for the city’s Department for Culture, had helped unveil the exhibit.

A recent plenary session of the city council did not pass

a proposal to remove the exhibit. The proposal came from members of the Unión del Pueblo Navarro, a center-right regional political party.

Enrique Maya, a UPN spokesman, said there was debate over who should pull the exhibit as offensive. In his view, a city government team from the Department of Culture should remove the exhibit photos.

Beloki commented on the debate on behalf of Bildu.

She charged that “extreme right wing and fundamentalist religious groups have taken the opportunity to launch a political campaign against the council and its mayor” in order to “limit freedom of speech and to hide the harsh realities that lie behind the controversy.”

Castellanos, however, said the exhibit’s opponents wanted to know what will happen if Ancona doesn’t remove his work.

“What’s the point if the city council says something has to be done, they don’t do anything about it, and nothing happens?” Castellanos asked.

The Christian Lawyers Association had filed suit against the artist for violating Spanish laws related to religious freedom and respect for religious sentiments. The group said its lawsuit could be expanded to include Beloki.

“If the exhibit continues, after the decision by the full session of the city council, we’re going to expand the lawsuit,” Castellanos said.

“The city council has an obvious responsibility.”

Masses of reparation were said at the cathedrals in Pamplona and Tudela, a municipality about 50 miles south of the city.

Mass attendees were explicitly told that Holy Communion would only be distributed on the tongue and had to be consumed in front of the priest. However, Azcona claimed on Twitter that some attendees stole 32 consecrated Hosts, though there was no way to confirm his claims.

Some 2,000 people recently demonstrated in front of the city council building against the art exhibit and called on Mayor Joseba Asirón to remove it. The crowd shouted “Blasphemy isn’t culture!” and “Asirón, pull the display!”

More than 100,000 people have signed an internet petition against the blasphemous exhibit. Meanwhile, the Diocese of Alcala de Henares (near Madrid) is currently having 248 hours of Eucharistic Adoration (from December 5 to 15) in reparation for the desecration in Pamplona.

However, Azcona remains defiant. He claimed on social media that these demonstrations and acts of reparation are “a marvelous continuation of my performance art.

Amen.”

Amid the controversy, vandals have sprayed insulting graffiti on several churches in Pamplona, including “hypocritical Church” and “Away with Opus (Dei).”

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December 11, 2015

In Rome or at home, Catholics urged to take part in Year of Mercy VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Whether in Rome or at home, Catholics will have a variety of ways to take part in the Year of Mercy.

The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of New Evangelization, the office organizing events for the Holy Year, presented details about some of the events planned at the Vatican and the services available for pilgrims.

Pope Francis used a “very simple” ceremony to open the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica December 8, said Archbishop Rino Fisichella, council president, who spoke at a Vatican news conference.

After reciting verses from the Psalms, the pope opened the door and led a procession of cardinals, bishops, priests, religious and lay people through the door, arriving at the tomb of St. Peter.

That evening a coalition of production companies and charitable foundations, including the World Bank’s “Connect4Climate” group, presented “a gift of contemporary public art” to Pope Francis by illuminating the facade and dome of St. Peter’s with high resolution images by world-class photographers and filmmakers, according to a coalition press release.

The images of people and nature were meant to show the interdependency of creation and “to educate and inspire

change about the climate crisis,” it said.

The pope will also carry out a “symbolic gesture” related to one of the works of mercy on one Friday of every month during the Holy Year. He will begin with a “strictly private” visit December 18 to a shelter run by the Rome diocesan Caritas.

Other details Archbishop Fisichella offered: — Until the year ends Nov. 20, 2016, every evening in front of the statue of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Square, groups will take turns leading the recitation of the Rosary.

— In addition to the pope’s Wednesday general audience, he will hold a special general audience one Saturday a month.

— Special confessionals with wheelchair access will be available in St. Peter’s Basilica and other Rome churches.

Audio, video and “tactile-book” resources will be available for people with a visual or hearing impairment.

— Pilgrims who wish to walk through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s or take part in other major jubilee events in Rome will have to preregister in order to receive the free tickets. It can be done online at www.im.va or in person at the official pilgrim information center at Via della Conciliazione 7, which is the wide boulevard leading to St. Peter’s.

— Tourists wanting only to visit St. Peter’s Basilica will be in a separate line from pilgrims who are registered to go through the Holy Door.

Everyone entering the basilica will have to pass through a metal detector.

— Pilgrims who come to Rome, especially those traveling on foot, will receive an official “testimonium” from the pilgrim information center.

Organizers warned against “inauthentic” certificates that may be in circulation.

— Pilgrims should look for the Year of Mercy trademarked logo as a kind of “seal of approval” that also will guarantee fair prices for food and lodging at participating businesses.

Archbishop Jose Octavio Ruiz Arenas, secretary of the New Evangelization council, said a pilgrimage to Rome for a Holy Year has always been a sign of the journey of conversion and renewing one’s faith before the tomb of St. Peter.

However, despite the large numbers of pilgrims making the journey over the centuries, the time or expenses connected to a voyage to Rome also meant “the great majority of Church members could not go through the Holy Door,” he said at the news conference.

Pope Francis asked that Doors of Mercy be opened December 13 in every cathedral, major church or Sanctuary in the world so that people

A worker repairs an area in front of the Vatican recently. Rome is bracing for the arrival of millions of pilgrims for the Year of Mercy. The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of New Evangelization, the office organizing events for the Holy Year, presented details about some of the events planned at the Vatican and the services available for pilgrims. (CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters)

can experience a pilgrimage near their own homes.

The pope also has “granted all the bishops of the world the power to give the papal blessing at the holy Mass for the opening of the Holy Door and for the closure of the door at the end of the Holy Year,” Archbishop Fisichella said.

More than 800 priests will be appointed by Pope Francis to be “missionaries of mercy” and will go to different parts of the world to be “preachers and confessors of mercy,” the archbishop said.

While all Catholic priests have been granted the faculty of lifting the penalties for the sin of abortion during the Year of Mercy, the “missionaries of mercy” have been given special authority to lift even those penalties reserved to the Holy See. A series of eight Holy Year books on themes such as mercy, Confession, the saints and Mary, are available in 10 languages. Ordering information is at www.im.va or from the U.S. distributor, Our Sunday Visitor at www. osv.com.

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December 11, 2015

We know how to reform Islam — it’s time to actually do it, Muslims say

Washington D.C. (CNA) — Islam needs a “reformation” that can only be achieved by Muslims speaking out against extremism and promoting human rights, a panel of Muslim public figures said recently.

“If Muslim minorities in non-Muslim countries are to be protected, we must demand the protection of non-Muslims within Muslim-majority countries,” said Farahnaz Ispahani, former member of the Pakistani Parliament, at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. Ispahani was part of a panel of Muslims speaking out against ISIS and Islamist extremism. The panel agreed that Muslims and Western democratic countries must not deny that Islamist

advocate for reform in Islam, any mention of Islam in extremism is behind acts of he explained. condemning such acts. terrorism and human rights “We cannot say that the “Too much deflection abuses worldwide, but rather Islamic State are not Mushas been happening on this work to counter that ideollims. That is what they call issue,” said Dr. M. Zuhdi ogy.

Jasser, founder and president themselves,” he said. ISIS “As Islamic extremists of the American Islamic Fo- has a state built on a “jihadgain power and rule, hurum for Democracy. Muslims ist vision of Islam,” he said, man rights abuses includmurdering and enslaving must acknowledge the fact ing oppression of women, other people “with the Koran that radical Islam has fueled homosexuals, and religious in their hands.” human rights abuses and minorities, as well as gov“If we the Musernmental tyranny, lims do not face the sectarian warfare, f we the Muslims do not face the problem of violence and bigotry inherent problem of violence that links to Is- that links to Islam in Sharia law come lam in our time, how will we ever succeed in our time, how will to the fore,” Ispahani in ripping Islam out of the hands of these we ever succeed in said.

Muslims should destructive powers and lift our religion ripping Islam out of the hands of these promote “modern into the 21st century?” destructive powers pluralistic values” and lift our religion and “human rights” into the 21st cenas established by the tury?” he asked. must push for a reformation United Nations Declaration The rights of women and of Human Rights, she added. that involves a “separation of religious minorities in parmosque and state” with reli“Right now there is no ticular should be central to gious pluralism and respect clear ideological campaign an Islamic reformation, the for human rights, he said. to fight ISIS and to fight panel insisted.

When Islamist extremIslamism.”

Many Islamists, includists commit acts of violence, “We have all heard ing ISIS, hold centuries-old Muslims must resist the ‘Where are the Muslim temptation to simply say the standards for women that voices?’” that are speaking extremists “are not Muslims,” ignore “progressive changes” out against ISIS, she noted, that have happened since adding that “here we are, and emphasized Naser Khader, a then, the panelists said. member of the Parliament in we have others like us.”

They argued that misogyny While some have wrongly Denmark of the Conservais rampant in these Islamist tive People’s Party. Simply blamed all Muslims for Issects, which insist upon lamist terrorism, members of denying that the extremists are true believers excuses the segregation of women at the D.C. panel said, others mosques and schools and the moderates from having to have wrongly failed to make

“I

role of a woman being only to fulfill a man’s needs.

Islamist literature is “full of statements” against women’s rights, Ispahani said.

The Islamist concept of jihad also needs to be refuted, said journalist Asra Nomani.

Chapter nine, verse five of the Koran instructs to “kill the Mushrikun,” or those who equate someone else with God, she explained.

ISIS members used this word when they beheaded 21 Coptic Christians in Libya in February.

“Common sense prevails that that is unethical, immoral, and illegal,” she insisted, adding that critical thinking will show that verse was from the seventh century when Mohammed was surrounded by enemies intent upon destroying him.

“It is not a timeless verse that exists forever until today,” she said. “We now reject this literal reading so that it cannot be used any more as a sanction for murder.”

“Our jihad is a struggle for reformation,” she continued. “We are in a struggle for the future of our world — it is a struggle of ideology.”

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

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December 11, 2015

My Brother’s Keeper celebrates 25th annual Gratitude Mass continued from page one

shift altar, in a three-car garage to thank God for granting us the privilege of serving others in His name,” Erich E. Miller, president of My Brother’s Keeper, told The Anchor. “We prayed for Christ’s blessings on our efforts to spread His love and hope.”

Recently the mission of service celebrated its 25th annual Gratitude Mass in the warehouse portion of its 15,000-square-foot operation center in Easton located next to Stonehill College.

“Our service is a gift to God so we symbolically make the altar out of a dresser and box spring, things we deliver

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., delivers a homily at the recent Gratitude Mass at the My Brother’s Keeper facility in Easton. (Photo by J. Kiely/ Lightchaser Photography)

to families in need,” explained Miller.

An overwhelming 900 volunteers and supporters attended this year’s Mass, celebrated

by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. “My Brother’s Keeper did not have parking capacity for the full crowd,” said Miller.

“Our neighbors at Holy Cross Family Ministries kindly let us use their parking lot. Two of our volunteers, Sean and Karen O’Sullivan, own a transportation company called ALimo4U. They donated trolley and shuttle buses to transport our guests to and from overflow parking. They are an example of the Body of Christ which St. Paul speaks of — many parts, one body — each person participating in God’s work in their own special way.”

This year’s concelebrants included priests from the Congregation of Holy Cross: Father John Denning, presi-

dent of Stonehill College and My Brother’s Keeper board member; Father Willy Raymond, president of Holy Cross Family Ministries; Father Tony Szakaly, local superior; and Father Joe Callahan, Spiritual director of the Holy Cross Retreat House. Priests and deacons from the Fall River Diocese and the Boston Archdiocese also assisted.

Readers at the Mass included student volunteers from some of the 1,000 students from 100 schools who help My Brother’s Keeper each year: Alec Mauk, a senior at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth; Shannon Grady, a sophomore at Providence College; and Owen Tuite, a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame.

In his homily, Bishop da Cunha told the large gathering, “All of us have been given many gifts and talents and we acknowledge them and are grateful for them. These gifts and talents we have received are not only for our personal use, but are given for the common good, to be shared with those less fortunate.

“We see in our society today many people who are gifted and talented and who use those gifts for self-promotion, for power and self-aggrandizement. We see others using all that they have for the common good, to lift others up, to bring happiness to others and in doing so they find happiness and fulfilment. Love ‘does not seek its own’, said the Apostle Paul (I Cor. 13:5). We all need to discover that the happiest and most fulfilling moments of our lives are those when we are being loving, generous and serving each other.”

The Orcutts told The Anchor, “It was deeply gratifying to have more than 900 people join us for the 25th annual Gratitude Mass. Looking back at the first My Brother’s Keeper Gratitude Mass in 1990, when only nine people were present, makes us so aware of the ability of God to increase by tenfold whatever little we bring to Him. The growth of My Brother’s Keeper is living testimony of God’s ability to multiply our small effort just as He did with the five loaves and two small fish in order to feed the 5,000.”

As part of this year’s Christmas Assistance Program, as at past Gratitude Masses, each

family attending was asked to bring one toy for a child in need. “All of the children present brought the Christmas gifts forward to the altar during the preparation of the gifts,” Deacon Alan Thadeau told The Anchor. “Such a sight at the Mass, the presentation of the Christmas gifts, the huge congregation, just took my breath away. It was a tremendous display of celebrating God’s gift of sharing with others.

“The bishop’s homily was so heartfelt and it touched the people there, and the bishop was touched by the number of people at the Mass. They each energized the other.”

Miller told The Anchor that the Christmas Assistance

Program now serves more than 3,000 families annually — about 12,000 children and adults — living in more than 90 communities across eastern Massachusetts.

Founded by the Orcutts in Taunton in 1988, My Brother’s Keeper provides those in need with clothes, linens, gentlyused and refurbished furniture, food and toys. As a gift at each furniture delivery they offer a crucifix with the message, “We’re just the delivery people — this is the Man Who sent you the furniture.”

In 2013 My Brother’s Keeper opened a second facility, in North Dartmouth. Today, the mission has more than 3,000 volunteers.

Since its founding in 1988, My Brother’s Keeper has completed approximately 115,000 deliveries to families in need.

This week in 50 years ago — Bishop James L. Connolly approved the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity for eight days on Jan. 18-25, 1966. The recommendations were prepared by the Committee for the Prayer Week of Christian Unity.

25 years ago — Bishop Daniel A. Cronin dedicated a new parish life center at St. Pius X Church in South Yarmouth. It included a large meeting room and two small rooms for family-oriented activities as well as a youth ministry office.

For more information on My Brother’s Keeper, visit mybrotherskeeper.org.

The contact for the Easton office facility is P.O. Box 338, Easton, Mass., 02356-0338.

For donations, volunteering, and general business, call 508238-7512.

The contact for the North Dartmouth office facility is P.O. Box 70273, North Dartmouth, Mass., 02747-0273. For donations, volunteering, and general business call 774-305-4577.

To request furniture and food assistance from the Easton office, call 508-238-4416; for Christmas assistance, call 508238-2562.

To request furniture assistance from the North Dartmouth location, call 774-3054590. For Christmas assistance call 508-238-2562.

Diocesan history

10 years ago — Carmelite Father Paul Denault celebrated the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in New Bedford. The New Bedford native was serving as a missionary in Vietnam at the time.

One year ago — Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., celebrated Mass with students from the Catholic schools of the Attleboro deanery in the auditorium of Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro.

Supply is nearly sold out!

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Youth Pages

American Heritage Girls Troop MA3712 from Seekonk participated in Operation Gratitude (www.operationgratitude.com). Siera Larkin, Pioneer Scout, adopted Operation Gratitude for her service level award project this year. Her goal is to make and collect 100 paracords, 7.5-foot long parachute cords twisted into survival bracelets, and 100 letters! Siera also enlisted the help of the third- and fourth-graders in Faith Formation classes at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk with the letter-writing campaign. Operation Gratitude sends more than 150,000 care packages a year to new recruits, deployed troops, veterans, and wounded warriors. The younger scouts wrote letters and the older scouts made the paracord survival bracelets to be donated to current servicemen and women. From left: Avy Conti, Ella Briggs, Ashlyn McCormick, Kriszel Dabi, and Lily McCorminck.

December 11, 2015

In commemoration of Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S., the students and staff at Espirito Santo School in Fall River celebrated what they called “Pope Francis Day.” During the day students took part in many projects and activities to learn more about Pope Francis and his mission. They also kicked off a month-long community service project to show what Pope Francis proclaimed, that the coming year will be based on compassion and mercy. The students decided to have a collection of goods to donate to Marie’s Place, a non-profit organization in Fall River. The items the students collected were ones that sometimes are difficult to get as donations, including baby diapers, baby wipes, adult diapers, underwear for children and adults, socks, canned goods, cereal, other non-perishable items and gift cards to Walmart. Some of the students who helped to organize the items were Kara, Diego, Tiago, and Savannah.

Kindergarten students at Holy Name School in Fall River created gingerbread people and they are being sent as an exchange with students in Albuquerque N.M., and St. Louis, Mo. They will include stories about the gingerbread people, and await the arrival of theirs from their gingerbread “pals.”

Pre-kindergarten students at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton recently made crafts with Brendan, their classroom volunteer from Coyle and Cassidy High School.

The children and staff at St. Mary’s School in Taunton celebrated Thanksgiving by pairing the older children with the younger children to give thanks for all their blessings. The children filled out a thankful chain, decorated place-mats and ended the festive day with a feast fit for a king.

Students in grades pre-k through second at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro recently received a lesson in money from Ms. Money & the Coins, a musical educational program sponsored by the Blue Hills Bank Charitable Foundation. Julie Beckham, financial educator with BHBCE, also know as “Ms. Money,” along with her colleagues Chris “Nickles” Doherty and Carol “Penny” Smolinsky entertained and taught the kids about making, saving, sharing and spending money. Pictured are Tripp Pierce, Madeleine Neary, Maya Patel and Allie Peterson participating in one of the songs along with Penny and Ms. Money.

December 11, 2015

A

re you thankful for the person that you are? You should be! Don’t be afraid to show your love for yourself and to be thankful for all that you are and want to become.

It’s no surprise that the most written about Person in all of human history is Jesus Christ.

After all, He shook the world to its core by His Words and actions and we have never been the same since. His coming, as the Messiah, Savior and King, was foretold centuries before. Yet, He was born in humility with straw and hay for His bed. His mission was to find the lost, heal the sick, forgive the sinner, feed the hungry, love His enemy, serve and not be served. He shook humanity to the bone, for His ways were not man’s ways. Man’s thinking would never be the same. He lit a fire on the earth that still burns today — the light of His love that shines in the hearts of all who believe in Him. Centuries later we remain in awe of the Man Who said, “Come, follow Me” (Mk 1:17). This is His simple message and heart of the Gospel; come to Christ and see.

How has Jesus said this to you? Are you focused on shining His light for all to see? Are you willing and ready to shake up the world as Jesus did? Doing Christ’s work begins with love for God and yourself. From there, everyone benefits.

Today, many people still look for the reassurance that Christ is the Messiah. They may not see Him, but they do see you. Your witness to Christ is how you can begin to shake up the world. Your

Youth Pages Now is the time

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greater love; no matter how much faith in God gave us Emmanuel. witness can reawaken people’s beauty we attain, we sense there Joseph’s faith in God gave us faith. This, in and of itself, is a is a perfect beauty that we haven’t understanding, reassurance and miracle. This miracle may not be seen. This attitude of longing is hope. Their love for God teaches so dramatic as Jesus’, but all who ingredient in the structure of our us that we need to listen to God witness your faith will see Christ consciousness.” in everyone in you. You Now is the time. Be ever and in love God watchful!

Be ever alert! Be always everything. because you ready! God has chosen you It is in that love yourself because of your special gift to listening and your others — yourself. Let the fire of that we can neighbor.

By Ozzie Pacheco Jesus’ love burn in your heart so respond to There is God’s call, as that you may go out and shake up no other His children, your world with ever-increasing reason why God’s love lives in you. Yet, in our to love as He loves and to forgive knowledge of Him, a growing as He forgives. We need to always love for Him and the beauty humility we say we don’t deserve of Him that reflects from you.

God’s love, and rightfully so. But, be conscious of this.

Thank you for doing that!

Bishop Robert Barron, in one He still gives it to us and we take Happy Advent and God bless! of his Advent reflections, writes: care to receive it and do good Anchor columnist Ozzie Pache“No matter how much we know, with it. we want to know more; no matter co is Faith Formation director at Each Advent season I am Santo Christo Parish, Fall River. how much we love, we want reminded of two special people whose lives were changed forever and today are models of faith for Through thick and thin: Pope our Church: Mary and Joseph. In urges youths to read the Bible her young teen-age years Mary was asked to be the mother of them not to hide it on a bookshelf VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope God’s Son. She was afraid at first. where it will gather dust “until one day Francis said his Bible is old, beat up But then she listened and was no and worth more to him than anything your own children sell it at a used book longer afraid. Mary’s “Yes” shook stall. No! Don’t let that happen.” money can buy. the world. She became Christ’s The Bible is not just a piece of litera“If you saw my Bible, you would first witness. Joseph, betrothed to not be impressed,” he wrote to young ture, he said. There are Christians in the Mary, became very disturbed at world today being persecuted just for people. “You’d say, ‘What? This is the Mary’s pregnancy. He, too, was having a Bible; “evidently, the Bible is pope’s Bible? A book so old, so beat afraid. But, the angel of the Lord up?’ You might even want to give me a an extremely dangerous book.” dispelled Joseph’s fear: “Joseph, The pope quoted Mahatma Gandhi, gift of a new one, something that costs son of David, do not fear to take a Hindu, who said, “You Christians 1,000 euro. But I don’t want it.”

Mary your wife, for that Which look after a document containing Pope Francis wrote about his Bible enough dynamite to blow all civilizais conceived in her is of the Holy and his Bible-reading habits in the tion to pieces, turn the world upside Spirit; she will bear a Son, and preface to the German-language study down and bring peace to a battle-torn guide, “Youth Bible for the Catholic you shall call His name Jesus, planet. But you treat it as though it is Church.” It was released in late Octofor He will save His people from ber by the Germany-based Katholisch- nothing more than a piece of literatheir sins” (Mt 1:20-21). And ture.” es Bibelwerk and the YouCat Founby his faith and actions, Joseph God speaks through the Bible, the dation.

Other language versions are shook the world because he pope wrote. It is not a book designed expected in 2016. listened to God. for the shelves, but for the hands.

The Jesuit journal, La Civilta CatWhat awesome faith we find Pope Francis asked young people to tolica, published an Italian translation in Mary and Joseph. Mary’s

Be Not Afraid

Students from the EDGE program at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth recently sponsored the sixth annual Thanksgiving for Seniors dinner. Students were involved in the kitchen with peeling and preparing the veggies, decorating and setup, waiting on tables, and delivering the meals with their parents to the homebound.

Altogether 185 meals were enjoyed.

of the preface in early December.

The well-worn Bible has been with Pope Francis for half his life, wrote the pope, who will turn 79 December 17.

“It has seen my joy and has been bathed by my tears: it is my priceless treasure,” the pope wrote, and “nothing in the world would make me give it up.”

Youths and young adults in Germany and Austria worked with three Catholic Biblical scholars to compile the new introduction to reading and understanding the Bible. The illustrated guide, designed for teens and young adults, contains selections from every book of the Bible with an introductory note, as well as commentary on the chosen passages, reflections by the young people and related citations from saints and popes.

In the preface, Pope Francis urges young people to use the study guide and to read their Bibles daily. He asks

read from the Bible each day and with attention.

“Ask ‘What does this say to my heart? What is God saying to me through these words?’” the pope counseled.

“I want to tell you how I read my old Bible. Often I pick it up, read a bit, then set it down and let myself be seen by the Lord. I am not the one looking at Him, but He looks at me. God is truly there, present.”

Pope Francis reassured the young people that it is not uncommon at all to feel like God is not saying anything.

“But, patiently, I stay there and I wait, reading and praying.”

“I pray seated,” he said, “because it hurts when I kneel. Sometimes when I’m praying I even fall asleep, but that’s OK because I’m like a son near his father and that’s what counts.”

“Do you want to make me happy?” the pope asked the youths. “Then read the Bible.”

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December 11, 2015

Holy Union Sister with local ties receives papal honor continued from page one

Need Religious Education Advisory Council.

“The bishop called me into his office at the end of July (to let me know), but I couldn’t say anything,” Sister Alice said.

“He told me that I was going to receive the medal and I was so stunned, but he asked me not to say anything — I had to keep it to myself for a long time, and that wasn’t easy!”

Sister Alice thought it was appropriate that Bishop DiMarzio presented her with the award since he was responsible for her being chosen.

“I believe Bishop DiMarzio wrote to Rome and gave some explanation of what my apostolate involves,” she said. “I’m sure he also consulted with my order, the Holy Union Sisters.”

In a press release issued

by Sister Mary Lou Simcoe, SUSC, communications director for the Holy Union Sisters, located at 550 Rock Street in Fall River, it noted how Sister Alice has an amazing ability to identify mostly everyone by name and parish or school or academy — an impressive feat and something that is also very necessary when trying to serve a large number of people.

“Hardly a weekend goes by that she is not leading a workshop or event, or even teaching young children as a catechist,” Sister Mary Lou wrote. “On the national level, she served as a member of the North American Forum for the Catechumenate, and participated in the National Conference of Catechetical Leaders. Sister Alice serves as a model for all invested in the work of catechesis and evangelization.”

Many of Sister Alice’s colleagues and friends who have worked with her over the years were on hand to witness the award presentation. Among them: Sister Mary Lou Simcoe, Sister Patricia Heath, and her cousin, Father John J. Oliveira, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in New Bedford.

“I was very happy he was there — I was thrilled,” Sister Alice said.

“She’s dedicated the better part of her 55 years of religious life to working with the Hispanic and Latino community (in New York) and I was very happy that Bishop DiMarzio wanted to recognize her very long and dedicated service to the Diocese of Brooklyn,” Father Oliveira told The Anchor.

“It was a very nice ceremony

and I was proud to be there.”

Like many Holy Union Sisters, Sister Alice began her ministry as a teacher.

“We all served as volunteer catechists in a number of parishes (in the Fall River Diocese),” she said. “But once I left for New York, I’ve been mostly involved with Faith Formation. I loved teaching — I also taught in East Harlem for years — but there was something in me that lent itself to catechesis and evangelization.”

Sister Alice can recall first learning about evangelization from one of her theology teachers, Sister Gretchen Margaret.

“I felt like I wanted to be involved with that, although I never expressed it at the time,” she said. “But God had it in His plan and all aspects of my mission, my life, have been involved in one way or another with catechesis and evangelization. Even my outreach to the poor — it’s still intertwined with evangelization.”

In fact, Sister Alice’s first encounter with her future order was through weekly CCD — or Faith Formation — classes at her parish.

“Actually, I was a public school student all my life,” she said. “But I did faithfully go to what in those days was called catechism classes. And the Holy Union Sisters used to be brought in on Sundays and Wednesdays to help teach. I became very close to them and I felt called to this life. That’s how I got to know the Holy Union Sisters.”

That’s why she maintains that it’s important to reach out to students in all schools about potential vocations.

“We need to encourage not just students in Catholic schools, but those in public schools as well,” she said. “I’m a product of a public school and, thanks be to God, here I am.

We need to encourage them through our parish programs and our parents need to be more encouraging, too.”

Although it may seem that vocations are on the wane, Sister Alice said “there are young girls out there who are interested, we just need to keep encouraging them and they need to see that those of us who are still around are very happy and we’d do it all over again. I think that’s important.”

“I would say to any young woman who is considering a vocation: try it, you’ll like it,”

she added. “It’s a wonderful life and it’s a blessing. There may be challenges, as any life would have, but it is also a wonderful opportunity to grow in your own faith and be instruments in helping others to grow, too.

And especially now, where there are a variety of ministries and different ways in which you can serve, I just think it’s wonderful.”

Looking back on her more than half-century of service, Sister Alice said there have been so many highlights, “it’s hard to pick just one” that would be her favorite.

“One of my missions is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults and I was on the national team for many years and that took me all over the United States, teaching and preparing teams, and that was very joyful because I got to meet so many people,” she said.

Being able to speak multiple languages — Sister Alice is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish — doesn’t hurt either.

“I was chosen to be part of the Holy Union Sisters’ chapters to be a translator for our Sisters, and that has also brought me to many countries where I never would have gone otherwise,” she said.

Of course, there are few who can claim to have received a medal of honor from the pope, so Sister Alice can now count that among her lifetime accomplishments as well.

“I just think Pope Francis is God’s gift to us at the right time,” Sister Alice said. “I think he embodies the message of the Gospel. He is so sincere and I love his openness and inclusivity. And our charism is ‘to foster unity and reconciliation,’ which I think speaks to his message.”

Sister Alice also appreciates the fact that Pope Francis appreciates the work that those in religious life do for the Church, as evidenced during his recent visit to the United States.

“I was at St. Patrick’s Cathedral when he celebrated Mass here (in New York),” Sister Alice said. “At one point the pope specifically mentioned us and, because the cathedral was jammed, when he said that there was a spontaneous round of applause and people started making circles around us. It was very beautiful and it almost brought me to tears.”

New homeless hotline launched continued from page one

Bedford’s Community Development Block Grant, the state housing program’s Housing Initiative Fund, private donations and BayCoast Bank.

The basement of the shelter will be the new home to the Catholic Social Services’ soup kitchen, currently located on Purchase Street. The soup kitchen will also double as a training facility for those looking to work in the restaurant industry.

“We want to look to do things that will make them employable, teach them those skills,” said Ready. “We’re also thinking about those wanting to be a waitress or waiter, to serve the food, to come into the soup kitchen and get themselves that training; that you have to be nice to people, the customer is always right — different things they’re not used to. They’ll feel more comfortable [when looking for a job] having that experience.”

Making the most of the space in the building, the soup kitchen area will host the emergency overflow. All the tables will be put aside and stackable cots will be placed in rows to help temporarily shelter up to 30 individuals from the cold, a blizzard or hurricane.

“Last year was horrific,” said Ready. “I had the shelter open the most since I’ve been there.

It was so bitter cold. People do what they have to do. We’re just looking to make things better.

Regardless if you’re homeless, you still deserve to be warm, have a meal and some dignity.”

Even if their stay is temporary, Ready said she will still try to reach out and help individuals seek resources and services: “We’ll try to plant the seed so we can try to get others. For some, they’ve been in that lifestyle for so long, it’s just a way of life.”

As construction winds down at the newly-renovated church, an innovative project is winding up with the launching of a new initiative named “The Call,” a collaboration of more than 40 social service agencies in the area.

Organized by the New Bedford Homeless Service Providers Network (www.nbhspn.com), when someone calls the hotline at 1-800-HOMELESS, they will be put in touch with Catholic Social Services, who will have direct access to the inventory of all available beds in the Taunton, Attleboro, New Bedford or Fall River area. The program is part of a push by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for nonprofits that receive grants to create stream-

lined, coordinated services.

“We have somebody on the phone 24/7, and they will know just by looking at the board what the availability is and where,” explained Ready. “All the supportive housing, transitional, shelter — we know where everything is and who has it. They’ve been working on this for 18 months; it’s a big project. I think once it’s really up and running, it’s going to be so much easier.”

Ready hopes the new shelter will be open after the first of the year. In the meantime, it’s business as usual at the downtown location of the Sister Rose House and other shelters, even during the difficult and emotional holiday season.

“As crazy as it sounds, God always provides,” said Ready.

“Right before Thanksgiving, I thought I would have to run out and buy turkeys and suddenly 14 turkeys showed up at the door.

We did 128 meals at the soup kitchen and all the shelters had their own turkey dinners with all the fixings. We try to go the extra mile.”

Holidays are often the hardest times of the year, with some churches and agencies helping out, calling and asking what is needed. Many of the homeless just come into shelter with literally just the clothes on his or her back. The goal is always to house them, said Ready, but “money is always good. People stop and think it’s our job to get them a home and that’s nice, but when you have no sheets or towels — nothing but the apartment. It’s four empty walls. That’s not a home. It would be nice to have some extra funding to go and buy a used refrigerator for $50; things we don’t think about. You can’t go into an empty apartment and lie down on the floor with blankets; that’s not a home. It would be nice to have that resource.”

“I think that sometimes people forget when they’re at home with family, warm and laughing, there are people who have either burnt their bridges, have nowhere to go, so we make it a point to keep shelter open at the most vulnerable times at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year,” said Ready. “Those are the three most important and we find people missing their family. It’s nice to be at home and enjoying family, but it’s the compassionate thing to think about those who have less and aren’t as lucky.”

Volunteers are always welcome; for those interested, call the CSS office: 508-997-7337.

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December 11, 2015

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ASSONET — Beginning September 14, St. Bernard’s Parish will have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar at the conclusion of 9 a.m. Mass and the church will be open all day, concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Adoration Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

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

ATTLEBORO — There is a weekly time of Eucharistic Adoration Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church on North Main Street.

Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, Monday through Saturday, from 6:30 to 8 a.m.; and every first Friday from noon to 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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

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

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration. Refreshments follow.

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

FALL RIVER — St. Bernadette’s Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has continuous Eucharistic Adoration from 8 a.m. on Thursday until 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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

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

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel.

A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday following the 7 a.m. Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m.

HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, 347 South Street, Hyannis, has Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 3 p.m., daily Monday through Friday.

MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Benediction at 5:45 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m.

Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass.

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

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

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

NORTH EASTON — A Holy Hour for Families including Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday from 3-4 p.m. at The Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street.

ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m. Mass.

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

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

Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m.

Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church begins each Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. and ends on Friday night at midnight. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall. ~ PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ~ East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

NEW BEDFORD — Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street, offers Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day. For information call 508-996-8274.

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

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

RAYNHAM – Suzanne M. (George) Milot, wife of George A. Milot (former superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Fall River), died at her Raynham home on December 1.

She was 64.

Born in Brockton, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Jeannette (Abdu) George.

A resident of the area since the age of five, she was a 1969 graduate of Bishop Cassidy High School in Taunton and received a bachelor of arts degree from Roger Williams College in 1973.

Milot worked as a kindergarten teacher in the Taunton Public School System and was named Teacher of the Year.

She then raised her family, and for the past four years, she found a new home at St. Margaret’s Regional School in Buzzards Bay, where she loved her students and fellow co-workers.

A communicant of Raynham’s St. Ann Church, her passion was always her family and helping young children.

In addition to her husband, she leaves two daughters, Alyssa Milot of Newton and Alexandra Milot of Jamaica Plain; two brothers, Michael George and his wife Betty and Robert George and his wife Pamela, all of Raynham; her brothers-inlaw, Edmund Milot and his wife Bernadette and William Milot and his wife Jill, all of Taunton, her sister-in-law, Suzanne Camac and her husband William of Taunton; 13 nieces and nephews; and five grand nieces and nephews.

Her funeral Mass was held at St. Ann’s Church in Rayn-

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Dec. 12 Rev. Paul F. McCarrick, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1996 Dec. 13 Rev. Reginald Theriault, O.P., St. Anne, Dominican Priory, Fall River, 1972 Rev. Adrien L. Francoeur, M.S., La Salette Shrine, North Attleboro, 1991 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

Suzanne M. Milot

ham on December 4.

Burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery, Taunton.

Memorials may be made to St. Margaret’s Regional

School, 143 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, Mass. 02532.

Arrangements were handled by Silva Funeral Home in Taunton.

Around the Diocese

com.

A Healing Mass will be celebrated on December 17 at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford. The Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include Benediction and healing prayers.

At 5:15 p.m. there will also be a holy hour, including the Rosary. For directions or more information, call 508-993-1691 or visit www.saintanthonynewbedford.

All are invited to pray the Culture of Life Chaplet on December 17 beginning at 1 p.m. in St. Jude’s Chapel of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee. Recitation is on ordinary Rosary beads and will include a brief meditation preceding each of the five decades.

There will be a Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome on April 13-23, 2016 which Father Kevin Cook will be helping lead. It is open to anyone, but space is limited. Trip will include two days in the beautiful and prayerful Assisi (where St. Francis and St. Claire are buried). After that they will travel to Orvieto (where one of the Eucharistic miracles occurred), and the rest of the days will be spent in Rome, including stops at the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and other sites, and hopefully a papal audience with Pope Francis and a tour of where St. Peter’s remains are buried. The cost is $2,450 per person double occupancy; $2,750 per person single occupancy; and the airfare from Boston to Rome round trip is $1,168.

The $500 deposit is due by October 13. If you are interested, please contact Stoppini Group Travel at stoppinigrouptravel@ charter.net, or contact Father Cook at Holy Family Parish at 508-824-5707.

Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River is searching for missing alumni as the school plans for its 50th anniversary to take place during the 2015-2016 school year. If you or someone you know is an alumnus of Bishop Connolly High School and is not receiving communications from the school, please send your contact information by email to Anthony Ciampanelli in the Alumni Office by phone at 508-676-1071 extension 333; at aciampanelli@bishopconnolly.com; via the school’s website at www.bishopconnolly.com; or mail the school at 373 Elsbree Street, Fall River, Mass. 02720. Please provide the graduate’s name (including maiden name if appropriate), complete mailing address, telephone number, email address, and the year of graduation.

The Diocesan Marriage Preparation Program is looking for married couples who would like to enrich their Marriage while helping engaged couples prepare for their lifetime together.

There is also a Re-Marriage Prep Program for couples entering their second Marriages. If you are interested in sharing the joys and challenges of married life, please contact your pastor or the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation at 508-678-2828 or email cmcmanus@dfrcs.org.

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December 11, 2015