teanc 0 VOL. 43, NO. 49 .• Friday, December 17, 1999
FALL RIVER, MASS.
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Recent tragedy doesn't darken La Salette's spirits ~ '7he fire could have affected
the ministry we do here, but it didn't." - Father Pat. . By MIKE GORDON ANcHOR STAFF
ATILEBORO - La Salette's grand, 47th annual, nightly Christmas Festival of Lights continues to attract thousands of people from across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. La Salette Father Andre "Pat" Patenaude, director of the Shrine, took time recently from his busy, daily concert schedule to talk with The Anchor about what keeps visitors coming back and what the future holds. The chat with the popular priest, whose music ministry is heralded across the region, came just five weeks after a tragic, Nov. 5 fire destroyed the Shrine's historic centuryold provincial house. killing a visiting priest. - Despite that loss, the traditional lights display was readied and La Salette's diverse service ministry is still full-speed ahead. ''We're happy we're open and happy we're still capable to minister to people," said Fa-
THE PEACE and beauty of the first Christmas is evident at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro, despite the tragic fire that claimed the life of a visiting priest and destroyed the provincial house last month. (AnchodGordon photo)
ther Pat. ·"Everyone here has experienced a great loss, but we are moving forward and look to the future. Through tragedy one can still have hope," he declared. Father Pat said it is that spirit which brings many families and pilgrims to the Shine's grounds year round, but especially so during the Christmas season. "A lot of people find hope here and for many it's a haven of prayer," he said. On any day during its Festival of Lights one can find thousands of visitors touring the outd09r lights display, looking at the indoor display of nativity sets or listening to a Christmas concert performed by Father Pat himself. Last Sunday even the cold weather couldn't keep people away. "I feel the lights are more beautiful than they've ever been," said Father Pat. Families who were visiting the Shrine last weekend agreed with his sentiment. Brenda Darcy of Dorchester was visiting the Shrine for the first time with her son, Declan, who was enthralled with the fountains near the Rosary Walk. "It's really wonderful," she declared. Sharon Foley of Raynham was touring some of the large displays from the "I Am Tum to page 13 - Lights
The Anchor will not be printed on Dec. 31. It will return to your door Jan. 7, 2000. The Anchor office will be open for business December 20-22 and 27-29.
Holy Union Sisters assume new province, leadership look ahead By JAMES N. DUNBAR
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FALL RIVER - The Holy Union Sisters in the United States have chosen a threemember governance team to lead a united province into the new millennium, a time when their mission to "be at the heart of the world, reveali~g God's love," becomes more important than every before. The triad includes Sister Mary Catherine Duerr, Sister Mary Lou Sullivan and Sister Theresa Horvath. . They will lead the new, entire U.S. Prov-
ince of the International Congregation of the Holy Union Sisters that includes approximately 185 religious sisters residing mostly on the East Coast. They are involved in a vast range of ministries including health care, Catholic Relief Services, teaching, administrative positions, chaplaincies and pastoral ministries including that to prisoners. While finances and fewer members were part of the considerations, the principal reason for the merger·and new leadership was to allow the sisters a better and more effective manner of working together and living their religious mission in the United States, the trio said. Because the province has three key areas, each member of the team will reside in one of them. Sister Horvath, who will oversee sisters in Fall River and Rhode Island, will reside in Fall River. Sister Sullivan, whose territory includes Brockton, Randolph, Groton, Lowell and Boston, will reside in Mattapan. Sister Duerr, who will reside in Baltimore, Md., will oversee sisters in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Tum to page 13 - Sisters
FAMILY MEMBERS explain the Manger scene to pre-schoolers in front of St. Mary's/Our Lady of the Isle Church in Nantucket recently. In his Christmas message to the Fall River Diocese, Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., stresses the importance of family for the upcoming new millennium. (AnchodJolivet photo)
Bishop O'Malley's Christmas Message Pages Eight and Nine