Vocation Appeal on Anniversary
The ANCHOR An Anchor of the Soul, Sure and Firm-St. Paul
Fall River, Mass., Thursday, Dec. 13, 1973 $4.00 per year Vol. 17,. No. 50 © 1973 The Anchor PRICE 10¢
Respect for Learning Basis of Attraction CLEVELAND (NC) - "The Church must find ways to capitalize on young people's respect for knowledge rather than the last generation's respect for posilion or role," according to Dr. Robert F. Vizza, dean of the School of Business at Manhattan College in N~w York City. Dr. Vizza made his remarks in an address to the First National Conference on Pastoral Planning here. Changes are necessary, he said, because polls indicate a tremendous credibility problem for all big institutions, including the Church, and a growing lack of confidence in them among peop'1e. Formal education, Dr. Vizza noted, is a continuing process today. "The day is gone when just getting a degree was enough," he said. "Education has replaced experience as the force of change in our society ... Y{lUng people today are saying don't give me yesterday's experience for to-
Set Scouter Night I n Attleboro On Saturday, January 5th from 2:00 to 9:00 P.M., the AttleboroTaunton Catholic Scouting Committee will offer a "Scouter Development Program" at St. Joseph's School, Attleboro. This is a special program for adult scouters, both men and women, designed to help them better serve boys in a Catholic way. Talks will be presented by three laymen 'and two priests and Mass, a dinner and a presentation of ct:!rtificates will conclude the evening. Speakers will include James Melloni; Al Manson; Frederick Govain, chie.f executive of Anawon Boy Scout Council; Rev. Thomas Rita, assistant pastor of St. Mary's parish, Mansfield; and Rev. Roger Leduc, assistant pastor of St. Joseph's, New Bedford. Father Leduc is also area Scout chaplain for the New Bedford area. Turn to Page Three
day's answers to tomorrow's problems." The Church, whose influence on today's young people is not as great as it was a generation ago: Dr. Vizza added, must find ways to pull together the zeal and enthusiasm of young people who are searching and grasping for ways to be productive. Planners should focus -on opportunities and not on problems, he explained. Problems are never solved, only replaced by other problems. Only opportunities, he concluded, can bring results. Turn to 'Page Six
Lapsed Catholics Problem Cited By Cardinal LONDON (NC) - In some things young people today have even higher standards than their parents had when they were young, Cardinal John Heenan of Westminster said in his Advent pastoral letter. "They are more unselfish," the cardinal said. "They really do care about the poor and the old. They worry about the hungry in Asia and Africa, the immigrants. -at home, the victims of war and persecution. "Many young Catholics are as keen as ever on the Church and they grieve for friends who have given up their religion." Cardinal Heenan devoted his pastoral principally to the problem of lapsed Catholics. He said that the reconciliation of lapsed Catholics with the Church "must he one of the great aims of the Holy Year." Admitting that "there has heen a great decline in church-going in England," the cardinal said that many young Catholicssome still at school-have given up the practice of their faith. . "There is .nothing new about young people lapsing for a time after they leave school," he said. "What is new is that boys and girls of magnificent Catholic families are missing Mass while still at school. Turn to Page Six
On Saturday, Dec. 15, Most Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, S.T.D., will celebrate his third anniversary as Bishop of Fall River with a concelebrated Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. . Youths from all of the diocese's schools and parishes have been invited by the Bishop to participate in the Mass which will be offered that Almighty God will bless the Diocese with a rich harvest of vocations to the Priesthood and to the Religious Life. Originally scheduled for the 16th, the actual date of the anniversary, the Mass was rescheduled to Saturday to cOllform to the urgings of less travel during the energy crisis. To underscore the theme of prayer for vocations which will characterize the Mass, the school chaplains, daily associated with the diocese's young men and women, will concelebrate with the Bishop together with the Diocesan Director of Vocations, Rev. John J. Smith, assistant pastor at St. James Parish in New Bedford.
Representing the diocesan endeavors in the educational and vocational field by their concelebration will be: Very Rev. Luiz G. Mendonca, V.G., pastor of St. John of God Parish in Somerset; Rev. Patrick J. O'Neill, Diocesan Director of Education; Rev. John J. Steakem, Bishop Stang High School Chaplain; Rev. Brian J. Harrington, Bishop Feehan High School Chaplain; Rev.· Maurice H. Jeffrey, Bishop Gerrard High School Chaplain; Rev. Richard W. Beaulieu, CoyleCassidy High School Chaplain; Rev. Francis McManus, S.J., Bishop Connolly High School Chaplain. Bishop James J. Gerrard, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of Fall River, and Bishop James L. Connolly, Former Bishop of Fall River, will also participate in the Cathedral Mass. In announcing the anniversary Mass, the Most Reverend Bishop wrote to the clergy: "Increasingly throughout the Universal Church, attention is being given to the all-important question of fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
"Pastoral action for vocations is much needed, and only recently an International Congress for planning such action was convened in Rome under the auspices of the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education. . "In Washington, at the Bishops' meeting last month, the Committee on Vocations gave a report of its work to the assembled Bishops. Just last week, the Bishops of New England met together with Vocation Directors of the various New England dioceses in an all-day session to review the current situation and formulate plans for increasing vocations. An outgrowth of that meeting was the formation of a Conference of Vocation Directors in order to coordinate efforts to foster vocations. "As you well know, our Diocese is greatly blessed with young men and women who, with great generosity of heart and courage of spirit, respond willingly to the grace of a vocation given them by Almighty God. "Our priests have an enviable Turn to Page Three
Ready January 11 ,Charity Ball The Souvenir Booklet for the 19th annual Bishop's Charity Ball of the diocese of FaH River is rapidly being filled. The Ball will be held on Fr.iday, January 11 at the Lincoln Park Ballroom in North Dartmouth with music by Lester Lanin. The Booklet lists six categories. Persons applying for categories receive tickets for the .social event. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Council of Catholic Women, co-sponsors of the Ball ask that each conference and affiliate submit their names to the Booklet as soon as possible. Rev. Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, diocesan director of the Ball, requests that all member.s of the Ball committee report their final listings
of names for the Booklet as soon as possible. Most Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, S.T.D., Bishop of Fall River, i!! the honored guest and the Ball is dedicated to Bishop Cronoin for his efforts and support in behalf of the exceptional and underprivileged children in the southeastern area of Massachusetts of every race, color and creed. The four schools for the exceptional children and the four summer camps for the underprivileged and exceptional children are the recipient of the funds from the Charity Ball. Msgr. Gomes requests that pastors of parishes having presentees for the Ball submit the names of the representatives to
the presentation chairman, Mrs. James A. O'Brien, Jr. of 37 Forest St., F'all River, by December 18. Thirty-eight parishes are eligible for the honor of presenting a young lady to Bishop Cronin in a colorful presentation ceremony on the night of the Ball. Fathers accompany their daughters in this outstandJ~ event. Names for the Hall Booklet may be submitted to the Ball Headquarters, 410 Highland Ave., Fall River. Tickets may be obtained at all Cathollc Church rectories. Members of the Ball Committee and members of the sponsoring ol'ganizatons are to meet 'on Sunday, January 6 at. 1 P.M. at Lincoln Pa-rk for the setting up of decorations.
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PLANNING BALL: Among the many planning the Bishop's Annual Charity Ball to be held Friday, January 11, at Lincoln Park Ballroom, are these from Taunton area: Left to right, Mrs. Richard PaUlson, Immaculate Conception Parish, honorary co-chaiirman of Ball; Camille Denis, St. Jacques Parish, decorations; Rev. Walter A. Sullivan, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, area director of Ball; Edward Kennedy, St. Joseph Pafish, diocesan president of St. Vincent de Paul Society; and Mrs. William Grover, St. Peter Parish, Dighton, Taunton District president of Council of Catholic Women.