12.19.86

' / , > /,

-"-

/'-.."

-

VOL. 30, NO. 50 •

Friday, December 19, 1986

,

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly •

"'ALL RIVER, MASS.

58 Per Year

.

';~

Alison Shaw photo courtesy of Vineyard Galette

ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD, they know how to celebrate Christmas. Ready for a sleigh ride are Father George F. Almeida, pastor of 81. Elizabeth's parish, Edgartown, sleigh-owner Ralph Condlin and 81. Elizabeth altar boys, from left, Michael Vaughan, Eric Hathaway, John Goodwin, Timothy DeFelice, Kevin Donovan, Todd Goodwin. Heather Goodwin holds Peg, the horse, owned by Debbie David. It's all taking place on Great Pond Farm, owned by Richard Brown and Joan Condlin. /-,

/'\

..... -'

~

,

(.

' ..

,

~

',,-"~ ,,';l, l',--\;:?_

/,

'> (

Ir-

"

~(

Christmas 1986 Dearly Beloved in Christ, Each year the feast of Christmas challenges us to ask ourselves what we are celebrating.

The attractive decorations, the bright, colorful lights and the exchange of gifts create a holiday atmosphere which children and adults enjoy. Most have time off from work, school children are on vaction and families gather together. The mood is festive; season's greetings are expressed.

It is necessary that we, once again, return the religious significance of the feast of Christmas to its proper place. On this feast, we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. The Son of God eternally begotten of the Father was born the Son of the Virgin Mary. Jesus, the Messiah, was born .in humble circumstances in Bethlehem. Our salvation was at hand. No wonder the angels sang, "Glory to God in high heaven and peace on earth to those on whom His favor rests."

If there is meaning to the colorful lights at Christmas, it is because the Light of the World has been born. .If there is meaning to the exchange of gifts, it is because God, the author ofthe gift of life, has come in the person ofJesus that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

On Christmas this year, we must not let the secular and commercial trappings surrounding the holiday distract us from the true significance of the

;"//

/r "- / '), '\

-

1"""\

'--../

;/

commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. We should use the feast to deepen our faith in the salvific role Jesus has in our lives.

We must reflect His love in our lives and in our relationship with others.

Christmas is a time when it is necessary to remember that not everyone is happy. There are our brothers and sisters who, because of material lack or illness, are sa~ and depressed. There are the lonely, the forgotten, and those who for many .reasons feel rejected and unwanted.

The true ~hristian recalls at Christmas that Jesus came into this world for everyone an.d .t!lat His peace and consolation should be shared with all brothers and sisters in the Lord. We must foster the conditions of peace which He c,ame to bring. Then our celebration will be genuine and complete.

I express to everyone sincere greetings of love and good wishes for Christmas. May the Infant Savior bless you all.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Bishop of Fall River :/;-''.r;'' ",/,

.",

/r·

The Anchor

Archbishop Hunthausen top religious newsmaker

Friday, Dec. 19, 1986 2 Over 80 bishops endorse NFD WASHINGTON (NC) - More than 80 Catholic prelates are among 222 U.S. Christian leaders who have public\yendorsed the National Federation for Decency.

The federation, headed by Rev. Donald Wildmon, a Methodist minister in Tupelo, Miss., campaigns against distribution of obscene and pornographic material and led an effort to convince the 7-Eleven convenience store chain to stop selling Playboy and Penthouse magazines.

Signers, including Archbishop John L. May of St. Louis, president ofthe National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Cardinal John Krol of Philadelphia, backed "the organization's overall ministry," the endorsement noted. Signers also recommended the organization "to those who are concerned and want to do something about the problem of pornography in America."

Signing the brief endorsement did not necessarily mean support for all federation activities, the endorsement noted.

Mr. Wildmon, who founded the federation in 1977, said in a telepho'ne interview that the endorsement by the Christian leaders "shows an appreciation for what we have been trying to do for the past 10 years."

In October Mr. Wildmon announced that the federation will identify companies and products sponsoring programs portraying drug use positively. He promised to oppose such programs by means of threatening actions against their sponsors.

EVELYN MURPHY of the diocesan office of the Propagation of the Faith takes pride in the office's Christmas decorations. The nativity figurines were hand-carved at African missions and at missions in other countries including Bangladesh and India. Msgr. John J. Oliveira is the office's director.

(Motta photo)

Papal authority a stumbling block

r~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Keep Christ in Christmas ~~ >;.tJ,~

••

"

LONDON (NC) - The nature of papal authority, treated in an Anglican-Roman Catholic report, needs further exploration, the Church of England's general synod said in November. . The Anglican synod gave final approval to statements on the Eucharist, ministry and ordination drawn up by the first AnglicanRoman Catholic International Commission, but withheld approval of the commission's statement on authority. However, it said there is enough "convergence" on the question between the churches to warrant further study.

The so-called ARCIC I report, the result of 12 years of discussion and research, recommended recognizing the pope as universal primate with authority over bishops in some cases, but w{thout the degree of authority in matters of

-

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

Christmas Vigil Manes: Wednesday at 4:00 and 6:30 p,m.

Midnight Ma•• preceded by a concert at 11:30 p.m. presented by St. Anne Chorale

Christmas Day Masses: Thursday at 8:00, 10:00, 12 noon and 6:30 p.m.

0\<

0\<

0\< 0\< 0\<

The Parish Staff and the Dominican Fathers join in wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

faith that he currently holds.

The synod, composed of bishops, clergy and laity, called for future Angl.ican-Catholic dialogue to give priority to recognition of the role of laity in the church's decisionmaking process and ministry; a more adequate treatment of the Marian Dogmas and infallibility; and the case for a universal primacy necessarily based in Rome.

"We Anglicans find the papacy the most difficult thing about the Roman Catholic Church," said Anglican Bishop Mark Santer, the Anglican chairman of ARCIC I. However, Archbishop Robert Runcie of Canterbury, head of the world's Anglicans, said the leadership shown by the pope at the recent "peace summit" in Assisi could forecast a new papal style of "an ARCIC primacy rather than a papal monarchy."

"Whether we like it or not," he said, "there is only one Christian church, one bishop, who could have effectively convoked such an ecumenical spectrum of Christian leaders, Baptists and Orthodox, Reformed and Quakers, Methodists and Lutherans, Orientals and Anglicans, as well as· the Roman Catholic Church itself."

The Anglican archbishop said the Vatican had "a certain historical role which cannot be ignored, however we wish to .evaluate it theologically. "

0\<

0\< 0\<

0\<

Saint Anne Parish and Shrine South Main and Middle Streets Fall River, Massachusetts

ADVENT WREATH PRAYER FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT

Dialogue urged VATICAN CITY (NC) - Catholic-Marxist dialogue could bring two powerful world forces together in good works, despite some'irreconcilable differences, says Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Vatican Secretariat for Non-Believers. In an interview with MTI, a Hungarian news agency, the cardinal said, "According to church teachings it is possible, and even a necessity, to cooperate in a common commitment in favor of human betterment and world peace."

'111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

0\<

WASHINGTON (NC) - Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen of Seattle took clear first place as both religious personality and news event of 1986 intheannual National Catholic News Service poll of Catholic editors.

It was the first year since Pope John Paul II's election as pope in 1978 that the pontiff was not voted the leading religious newsmaker.

He finished third.

In the vote for top story, the 44 U.S. and Canadian editors who answered the poll gave the H unthausen case 20 first-place votes and 335 of a possible 440 points overall, using a scale of 10 points for first place to one point for 10th.

In the vote for religious newsmaker the Seattle archbishop received 16 first-place votes and 151.5 points out of a possible 220. The newsmaker point scale runs I to 5, since editors are asked to rank only the top five personalities.

Archbishop H unthausen has been in the national news since early September when he revealed that under Vatican instructions he was ceding full authority over certain archdiocesan affairs to his auxiliary, Bishop Oonald Wuerl.

H is situation was the topic of an intense five-hour closed-door meeting of the whole U.S. Catholic hierarchy in November.

A clear second in editors' votes, both as news personality and news story of 1986, was moral theologian Father Charles E. Curran and the controversy over the Vatican decision that he can no longer teach as a Catholic theologian.

The Catholic University of America professor contends that his dissent from some church teachings on morality is legitimate, and he is fighting to keep his teaching post.

THE ANCHOR (USPS-S4S-Q20). Second Class Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.

Published weekly except the week of July 4 and the week after Christmas at 410 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720 by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $8.00 per year. Postmasters send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

snit UP thypo~r and come, we pray thee, o Lj)td, and withareat might succorus; that our deliverance, which our sins impede. may be has.. tened by the help of thy grace and the forgiveness of thy mercy, who livest and· reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.

Amen.

Only six of the 44 editors gave the Curran case their top vote as story ofthe year, but second-place votes abounded. In the separate voting for top newsmaker, Father Curran received 124.5 points, 27 fewer than Archbishop Hunthausen but 24.5 more than the pope.

Among other news stories, the U.S. Catholic bishops' national pastoral letter on the economy, which called U.S. treatment of the poor a scandal, finished third and was the only other religious event that received a vote count even close to those of the H unthausen and Curran controversies.'

For the 1986 poll editors were given a list of 25 news events and 14 news makers to choose from, with responses due by Dec. 10.

Some editors voted ties or added write-in entries.

Here are the results on the top 10 stories and top five gersonalities, with the number offirst-pl.ace votes added in parentheses: NEWS STORIES OF 1986: I. Hunthausen controversy, 335 points (20 first-place votes).

2. Curran controversy, 319 (6).

3. Bishops' pastoral on the economy, 294 (6).

4. Philippines' church-aided peaceful overthrow of Marcos regime, 184 (6). .

5. Nicaragua's church-state conflict and religious criticism of U.S. backing for anti-government guerrillas there, 159.5 (0).

6. Interfaith prayer summit for peace convened by pope in Assisi, 137 (I).

7. Vatican's homosexuality document draws controversy, 122 (0).

8. Aging religious, facing financial crisis, receive national attention, 118 (I).

9. Papal travels to nine countries, 88.5 (3).

10. Farm crisis brings national, local efforts from churches, 88 (I).

The only other event that got over 50 points in the voting was the battle over racial injustice in South Africa, which came in 11th with 71 points.

NEWSMAKERS OF 1986: I. Archbishop Hunthausen, 151.5 (16 first-place votes).

2. Father Curran, 124.5 (3).

3. Pope John Paul, 100 (9).

4. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Vatican official who oversaw the Curran and Hunthausen investigations, as well as homosexuality document and several other controversial church actions, 91 (5).

5. Corazon Aquino, new president of the Philippines, 62 (6).

Among other religious newsmakers, only Archbishop Rembert Weakland of Milwaukee, who shepherded the economy pastoral to approval by the bishops, received a substantial vote. He was sixth with 42 points, including two firstplace votes.

President Reagan, involved in many actions that drew responses from religious leaders, received first-place votes from two editors but a total of only 14 points. That put him eighth in overall balloting, behind Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila, who was seventh with 18 points.

Potential Potential: It cannot be defined or standardized, or predicated in advance. Potential is the best that each of us can be. And it begins at the moment of conception.

It's Time To Say

Happy HoUdays To All! BISHOP Daniel A. Cronin is joined by Jacqueline Porta-Serra, left, and Sister Mary Rose de Lima Clarke, RSM, of St. Vincent's Home, Fall River, before a "liturgy ofthanksgiving and remembrance" to mark the end of the home's centennial year. Sister Clarke is St. Vincent's administrator; Mrs. Porta-Serra was chairman of centennial celebrations. (Motta photo)

What is a Christmas tree?

By Hilda Young A Christmas tree is something you see with your heart as much as you see with your eyes.

A Christmas tree is a fir or a pine that people used to find in the woods and decorate for Christ-

Scholarship fund The Rev. John F. Hogan Scholarship Fund at Providence College has been initiated in memory of the late pastor of St. Julie Billiart Church, North Dartmouth.

Father Hogan served the parish from its formation in 1969 until his death last Aug. 7.

The scholarship committee established the fund at Providence College because Father Hogan was an alumnus. It is hoped that an initial amount of $1 00,000 will be raised, making it possible to grant substantial aid to many students, with preference given to entering freshmen from the greater New Bedford/ Fall River area. The scholarship fund is set up so that gifts and testamentary bequests may continue to be made to it.

Father Hogan, a priest for 41 years, is remembered "as a true priest of the people and especially for his youthful energy, love for young people, and generosity to those of all faiths," say fund organizers.

Donations may be sent to: The Rev. John F. Hogan Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box F-62, New Bedford, MA02740. Furtherinformation: Bill Synnott, 999-4351.

mas. Now they only grow on vacant A Christmas tree is dad lying on lots one month a year and can cost . his stomach turning the trunk until more than the limit left on your everyone is satisfied the bare spot credit card. faces the wall and the lights are all A Christmas tree is maybe the on even. most beautiful thing in the world A Christmas tree is a song of to a 3- or 4-year-old. happiness, a clarion to joy, a symA Christmas tree is a place to bol of rejoicing, a monument to hang old friends - the memories hope. brought back by the bright treaA Christmas tree can symbolize the tension between the sacredness sures we call ornaments.

A Christmas tree is an annual and the selfishness of the Christfamily fight over buying a real one mas season. or converting to the imitation ones A Christmas tree could be that look more real than the real thought of as the candle on Jesus' ones. birthday cake.

A Christmas tree can be a good Inconceivable theater under which to stage a "There is no conceivable com- ceramic drama of the Nativity bination of circumstances in which complete with stable, wise men, camels, Mary and Joseph and the it is not possible to show love." Baby Jesus.

William Temple

It's a very special time of year.

A time of joy and peace and good will. A time to rekindle old friendships, relive old memories, renew old traditions.

A time to gather in celebration.

To you and your family, from each member of the Stop & Shop Family, warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and good health and prosperity in the New Year.

The Stop & Shop Companies, Inc.

000 STOP & SHOP SUPERMARKETS ~80 BRADLEES DEPARTMENT STORES C ~ ALMYS/EDGARS 01\0 THE STOP & SHOP MANUFACTURING.CO.

II I

BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY HOLIDAY from tile MaJUlgemeZit and Staff of

Fall River Chair-Car Service, Inc.

Roland G. Blleau, President Prompt, Courteous, Professional Transportation for the Elderly and Handicapped To: • Physician's Office • Clinics • Dialysis Centers • Radiation Centers

• Prosthesis Centers • Physical Therapy Centers • Hospitals • Nursing Homes

• Airports • Private Functions .• Weddings . • High Rise Apartments

MEDICAID AND COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND APPROVED 24 HOUR ADVANCE NOTICE FOR SCHEDULING REQUIRED.

1680 North Main St. FATHER HOGAN

675-1956

Fall River

the moorins.-, A Christmas Reflection Christ is the heart of Christmas. The more that attempts are made to remove him from the celebration, the more will peace, joy and goodwill fade into the confusion of world madness.

We Christians should not be expected to fade into some sort of spiritual twilight zone while our secular friends work overtime to reduce the feast to a mere pagan orgy.

And that is just the case at hand. The legal assaults of the American Civil Liberties Union on local nativity scenes exemplify the inordinate zeal that is expended to nullify the religious implications of Christmas.

When one observes the reaction of so-called intelligent people to the sight ofa Christmas manger on public property, one is forced to conclude that the spirit of bias and bigotry is much alive in many hearts. When such fanaticism is coupled with the overpowering forces urging us to all but bankrupt ourselves in the·effort to keep everyone happy by means of extravagant gifts, the battle to keep our priorities in focus becomes even more difficult. The commercialism that dominates the Christmas scene places a heavy burden on those wishing to make the holiday people centered rather than gift oriented.

Putting people in hock may be good for business but it is pernicious for the spender. Such diversions detour us from.

Bethlehem, causing us to lose our way, often our very selves.

It is obvious that the agents of darkness are successfully leading many away from the light. As the Prince of Peace is distanced more and more from Christmas, warfare permeates the land of his birth. Pilgrims may go to Bethlehem this year only under armed guard; and this is but one example of the turmoil accompanying this Christmas season. Iran, Iraq, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and Lebanon are but a few of the places where peace has little chance because too many have given up too much to those who have no hope.

Hate also has a field day in other areas of life where crass NC photo materialism is the measure of success. The haves and have-nots "The angel of the Lord appeared to them as the glory of wage an insidious warfare that rips apart heart and minds, families and friends, neighbors and neighborhoods. When life the Lord shone around them." Luke 2:9 is reduced to the accumulation of things, no matter what the cost, people are crushed.

By contrast, the whole motivating force of the U.S. bishops' pastoral letter on the economy flows from a beatitudinal premise. It is a statement of restoration, of putting matters in

By Kenneth Guentert of Santa Claus sitting with two a dandy day to celebrate the birthperspective, of lifting men from the darkness of economic children in his lap and others waitday of the "sun of righteousness." of those trick questions One slavery to the light of justice. ing their turn? that Catholic teachers like to spring Christmas was born - and a As the letter so well points out, the immigrant, the unem- on their charges is, "What is the strategy.

Rather than complaining about ployed, the wetback and the refugee have little hope of self- greatest Christian feast?" The kids the excessive paganism of the seaAs Christians moved north, they fulfillment when they are made to be the oppressed, the bur- fall for it because everybody knows son, Christians would do well to coopted the pagan Teutonic cusdened and the persecuted. The forces that reward some with Christmas is the greatest feast. toms of yuletide (also a winter sol- examine the ways in which the economic and material success are plunging their brothers and And then the teacher, with barely stice festival) with other smart original "pagan"customs are more suppressed glee, announces that replacements. St. Boniface, for ex- "Christian" than modern customs. sisters throughout this land into an abyss of bondage. Indeed, the correct answer is Easter. ample, chopped down the sacred Romans started the custom of the message of the bishops, writing as pastors and moral Reality and good theology are exchanging gifts, usually small canteachers to point out the human and ethical dimensions' of sometimes two different stories. In oak of the Teutonic god Odin and dIes and figurines, which, if you put up in its stead a fir tree dedivery real ways, the kids are right. economic life, is much needed by Americans. cated to the Holy Child. Voila, the think about it, is simpler than our exchanges of Cuisinarts, Great Hot It is wel} at this time of year especially that we recall the Christmas is the greatest feast.

Christmas tree.

Easter has a better claim on Air Poppers, and designer jeans. scriptural and church teachings that the justice of a society is theology and the popular imaginaIt is impossible to separate Romans closed their shops during tested by its treatment of the poor and the neglected. The tion. The death-and-resurrection Christmas from its pagan origins, the Saturnalia festivities, something justice that was the sign of God's convenant with Israel was cycle is pretty fundamental to but why try? The season ends, people today don't do until Christmeasured by the care shown the poor, the unprotected and the Christians, after all. And the Lent- appropriately, with the Epiphany, mas Day (and sometimes not even en buildup whets the appetite for a which commemorates the mani- then). stranger. bit of a celebration at the end. If festation of Christ to the pagan And really, the theology of In this spirit we must help the Church to practice in its own liturgy is the test of the best feast, world. Christmas, far from being Christmas is not that weak. The life what it preaches to others. We must become a people after Easter wins hands down. Christ- an esoteric cultic feast like Pente- season, in all its Christian and mas midnight Mass can't hold a cost, is a world feast. In a sense, pagan manifestations, speaks of God's own heart, sustaining each other in our difficulties and candle to Holy Week services.

Christmas is bigger than Chris- the irrepressibility of the human committing ourselves to the task of working for peace and In contrast, Christmas is a social justice. We must be a sign of his love, inspired in our efforts by orgy. Sometimes literally. People tianity. Christians didn't invent it, spirit. Animals with any sense after all; Christ just showed up in choose to hibernate in the dead of the feast of Christmas. renew relationships with friends, the middle of it. winter. Humans choose to light

-Easter vs. Christmas

The Editor

the

QF..ClAtNIWS.A'ER 0' TMEOlOCESS Of FA"" IlV.

"vbli$h~ weekly

Foll Rivtt Mo... 02122 £DltU

Rev.

)ofm

,

by The CotholicPress of thtt Diocese of FoUliver 410 Hi.hlond Avttnvtt

615-71 51

fU8U$Ifd Most RIlv. Daniel A. Cronin, 0.0.• $.T.O. fttllHCfAl ADMINISTRATOR

Rev.M$gr•. )4M tRIgan

F. Moor$ ~

teary I'fess-f.U River

however loosely, via cards and letters. They visit relatives, even when they don't want to. They exchange gifts, which takes thought as well as bucks. They worry about the best way to greet their Jewish friends. And they try to share their exuberance with the widows, the orphans, and the poor.

The Romans' favorite festival was Saturnalia, which began on December 17 and ended with the "birthday of the unconquered sun" (Natalis solis invicti) on December 25. Somewhere in the second quarter of the fourth century, savvy officials of the church of Rome decided December 25 would make ...-.. _-

Obviously the Christchild has a place at Christmas, but somehow it seems that the grown-up Jesus of Luke's Gospel would be more at home in the midst of all this special food, mulled wine, and carolling than in the dour discipline of Lent.

If folks get a bit tipsy and boisterous during the yuletide, perhaps they are only doing a poor imitation of a man whose exuberance earned him a reputation as ;t"glutton and a drunkard" (Luke 7:34).

Surely he would be at home with the children. Is not the image of Jesus surrounded by little children (Luke 18: 16) similar to the picture

candles, put out fresh greenery, gather around fireplaces, sing, and spill eggnog all over themselves.

This is the abiding faith of the common people - that light shines in the midst of darkness, fires burn in the midst of cold, green things live in the dead of winter. The sun moves across the sky. A child is born. A year begins.

It is time to celebrate. We can't help it.

Reprinted by permission from U.S. CATHOLIC, published by Claretian Publications, 221W. Madison, Chicago, III. 60606; (312) 236-7782.

PUTTING the finishing touches on their Christmas tree, from left, are Chancery office staffers Msgr. John J. Oliveira, Linda Kennedy, Gertrude O'Brien, Elsie Madore and Peggy Vezina. Not.present: Elizabeth Hall. (Motta photo)

12 days of Christmas?

By Sister Patricia Knopp, SND Last December 26, I turned on the radio to li~ten to some Christmas music. The station was playing popular tunes. I tried one station after another, but not one was playing Christmas music. It was December 26. Christmas was over.

It is ironic that from Thanksgiving to Christmas the air waves bombard us with every kind of Christmas cadence from rock to traditional, but by some secret pact not one station provides music of the season once it has officially begun.

For years Christians have been working to "put Christ back into Christmas." We have campaigned to restore Advent as a time of preparation for; rather than celebration of, the birth of Jesus Christ.

Most of us have long since despaired of having any effect against the Madison Avenue decree. Many of us have eveiljoined the advance.

Writer Helen McLoughlin described it accurately some years ago: "Families who would not dream of eating their Thanksgiving turkey a week in advance or of having their Fourth of July picnic in June, give no thought to the fact that, when they awake on December 26, there is not a shred of Christmas left. Every present has been opened. Every carol has been sung. The tree has dried out."

If you have ever awakened on December 26 with the feeling that you missed Christmas, that somewhere it got lost in the shuffle - or that you got lost - you might consider joining a new movement.

Celebrate the 12 days of Christmas.

For centuries Christians all over the world began the celebration of the birth of Jesus on December 25 and continued for 12 days until the Feast of the Three Kings. The entire time was given to religious celebrations, family and community parties and gift giving.

One of the simplest and most overlooked ways to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas is to extend the gift-giving time. Why do all gifts have to be given by Christmas Day? More leisurely gift giving

allows both giver and receiver to enjoy the occasion more.

I once watched a four-year-old open her packages on Christmas morning. She unwrapped the first package, carefully examined the box (the gift was a game), opened the box, and proceeded to take out each piece. Finally she opened the game board and studied it.

At this point both her older brothers and parents told her to put the game aside for later and open her other presents. J en, though, had the right idea. A gift is to be enjoyed, and what better time for enjoyment than at the time we receive it?

Have you ever watched a small child ignore a mountain of costly Christmas gifts to play with a box or a favorite old toy? Perhaps the child is saying, ."This is too much too fast." And all of us are child enough to enjoy a gift. Why not prolong the joy,? There are several days during the 12 of Christmas that are appropriate. for gift giving:Holy Innocents (December 28) for children; the feast of the Holy Family (the Sunday after Christmas), New Year's Eve and New Year's Day all could be giftgiving occasions. The best of all is Epiphany or the Feast ofthe Kings.

They are the ones who started the tradition of gift giving.

You might want to spend an evening enjoying the decorations and Christmas mood of your own house. Light the tree, window wreaths, candles. Read or retell the Christmas story, take time to look at all the Christmas cards and letters, sing your own favorite Christmas carols. One of my discoveries last December 26, when the radio stations would not accommodate my wish for Christmas music, was that my own off-key caroling was more fun than listening to Perry Como or Bing Crosby.

Long ago I learned to ignore the dire warnings of the U.S. Post Office about what would happen to Christmas cards not accurately segregated and deposited in their boxes at least two weeks before Christmas. My pre-Christmas post-

al panic vanished one year when I realized that the cards I gave the most attention to were the stragglers that arrived in ones or twos after the deluge. Now I leisurely write my cards, include lengthy notes to friends and send them without posthaste.

The Christmas celebrations that take place in business, church, school, and social clubs vie with family parties for a time slot before Christmas. Most people have nothing to say about the schedule of events in their place of work or worship, but gatherings of family and friends could be arranged for Christmas week.

An advantage to prolonging the Christmas celebration is the time to reflect. We need to take time periodically to reflect upon our lives, our faith, our future. Unless we build in time for reflection, the important times of our lives slip away and we find we have lived years without really knowing what has happened to the time or to us.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Roy Larson once shared with readers a tradition referred to in his family as The Eve of Christmas Eve. On that night children were sent to bed early and husband and wife shared a quiet dinner and , exchanged gifts.

It is an idea that could be carried out after Christmas as well as before. Many parents do not spend enough time with each other at Christmas. Just think how much more gracious parents could be in the frenzy of their children's excitement if they knew that their day or night to celebrate was coming.

The idea of extending the celebration of Christmas is stronger in European countries than in the United States. For many Europeans, gifts come on the feast of the Epiphany. I once spent Christ- ' mas with a family in Italy. Although' the entire family gathered for Christmas Day, gifts were not exchanged. There was a strong feeling that the real gift ofthe day was

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

the gift of each one to the other members of the family.

If Christmas in the past has seemed to lack something, sit down and think about what would be your 'ideal Christmas. You might find 12 things you would like to do: you might think ofjust three or four. Why not space them over the days after Christmas? You might

Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

5

find that celebrating 12 days of Christmas not only helps you enjoy the holiday more, but leaves you feeling genuinely renewed rather than done in.

Reprinted by permission from U.S. CATHOLIC, published by Claretian Publications, 221 W. Madison, Chicago, Ill. 60606;(312) 236-7782.

It's always a pleasure to say, "Season's best!"

NEW BEDFORD ROOFING & SHEET METAL, INC. 169 Mt. Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA

PEACE Wis~yous~

an4 happiness this christmas and afwa.ys. we're tIiankfuÂŁ for your Patrol1age and we

hope you'(( continue . to

refy on us.

FALL ~ RIVER GAS CO 155 NORTH MAIN ST_

6 THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

Caritas raises $32.5 million VATICAN CITY (NC) - Caritas International has raised more than $32.5 million in the first nine months of 1986 to help people in underdeveloped countries, the organization said.

The money is being !Jsed to help victims of natural disasters, refugees and displaced people in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Caritas International is a confederation of 120 independent national Catholic welfare agencies.

Its U.S. members are Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services.

A Christmas Wish! That you and those you love will en· joy the best Christmas ever!

In November, Caritas also announced the appointment of two U.S. priests to top posts.

Jesuit Father Thomas Fitzpatrick was named chief of operations. Previously, he had worked for three years as CRS program director in Ethiopia.

Salesian Father Larry Lorenzoni was named head of the information and press office. Previously, he worked for 15 years as development director for the U.S. western province of the Salesians.

O'NEIL TIRE SERVICE 111 Durfee Street

Fall River

.............................................

Confessional bugged?

GnnbDbhtgB

YOUNGSTERS AT Espirito Santo School, Fall River, participate in a Giving Tree project to benefit People, Inc. (top picture) and Santa's Workshop (bottom), prepared by upper grade "elves." Both undertakings were coordinated by Mr.s.

Barbara Toni.

BUFFINTON FLORIST, INC. In the spirit of the season, may we wish you a blessed Christmas. .

•

D & D SALES AND SERVICE

490 ROBESON .

STREET , " FALL RIVER,

MASS.

INCORPORATED

Tel. 678-5651

363 SECOND STREET, FALL RIVER

Member F.T.D.A.

.......................................

After Mass Sunday Brunch At

POCASSET GOLF CLUB

NEW YORK (NC) - Catholic officials and civil rights advocates are concerned about a report that law enforcement agents might have "bugged" a Catholic confessional during an organized crime investigation. Some government officials say they doubt the validity of the report, part of a recent Time magazine story. But they have not totally ruled out the possibility that a "bugging" may have occurred, or that confessionals might legally be tapped in the future. The Time story cited an increase of court-approved buggings and said "agents even admit to dropping snooping devices into a confessional at a Roman Catholic church frequented by mobsters, as well as a church candlestick holder and a church men's room. All this, agents insist, was done with court permission."

lunches • Sandwiches • Cocktails Tennis Courts Available Now County Road, Pocasset 563·7171 Private Function Room

~

BEFORE YOU

DRINK The mourning after could end the laughter

Rome and the United States was off the mark.

Recent events within the U.S. church must be understood within the context not only of the media coverage, but also Western culture's "hostility to the faith" and American pride in its democratic system, he said.

Americans are proud of their democratic system, Cardinal Law said, but he added that problems arise when the rules of a political system are applied to the church.

"The church is a society that does not function according to the rules of democratic consensus," he said.

Because polls show a divergence between the practices of U.S. Catholics and church teachings it does not follow that the church must change its teachings, the cardinal said.

-.

FRANK CROFTON of the diocesan chancery maintenance staff is one of our unsung heroes and among the reasons diocesan employees don't slip on the ice. Thanks, Frank, and Merry Christmas! (Motta photo)

Cardinal criticizes meeting coverage ROME (NC) - Boston Cardinal Bernard Law has criticized news media for inaccurately portrayingthe November U.S. bishops' meeting as a struggle between two factions.

In a recent interview with the Italian magazine 30 Giorni (30 Days), the cardinal also said he did not see himself as the Vatican's spokesman in the U.S. church, but only as "a simple bishop in com~union with my brothers and with

Rome, without any pretense of putting my personal stamp on the church that is in the United States."

In the interview, the cardinal said media coverage ofthe bishops' meeting in Washington painted a polarized picture of recent church events.

"The mass media are interested in sensation," the cardinal said.

"In other words they transform reality into polarities."

Specifically he cited coverage

1ALKTo ME

which portrayed him and St. Louis Archbishop John Mayas leaders of two opposing factions within the church. Archbishop May was elected president of the bishops' conference, a post for which Cardinal Law also was nominated.

The cardinal also said press interpretation of Bishop James MaIone's proposal that U.S. bishops meet with the pope before his visit next year as a sign of a rift between

- During the interview Cardinal Law expressed his dislike for the expression"American church" because it can imply a church "separate from the churches of other continents."

"The 'American' church in its essence is not the sum of the pr'esent communities on American soil," he said, but a part of the "universal church willed by Christ and spread throughout the world."

From this it follows that a national bishops' conference" is simply an instrument to help the single bishop," he added, "a most useful instrument, but with powers well defined by the Holy See and absolutely unable to deprive the bishop of his prerogatives."

Cardinal Law said that while some may see the new center of theological study he is opening in his archdiocese - the Pope John Paul II Institute - as a conserva-

The Anchor Friday, Dec. 19, 1986

7

tive think tank, he has no such ideological intention.

He said the center's purpose is to study contemporary culture's hostility to the faith, to reflect upon a Christian anthropology and to help bishops restate church teaching "in a way that is more compelling to the contemporary mind."

Diocese among 64 serving disabled WASHINGTON (NC) - Less than half the dioceses in the United States have established ministry offices to work with people who have handicaps, according to the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities.

Msgr. Thomas Cribbin, chairman of the national office, said a survey of the church in the United States found only 64 out of 170 dioceses with such offices.

Among the 64 dioceses is Fall River, where Rev. Joseph Viveiros heads the Diocesan Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities, aided by Alfred Arruda.

"We believe that efforts to bring persons with disabilities into parish community life are likely to be more effective if the parishes are supported by offices operating at the diocesan level," Msgr. Cribbin said at a meeting of the board of directors in Washington.

There are an estimated 8 million Catholics with disabilities in the United States, he said, and "all of them should be welcome to full membership in our church."

ABoUT

LIFE INSURANCE Our Registered Representative will be available at the:

MAIN OFFICE: 79 North Main St••.•••• Daily . ..•to discuss and evaluate your life insurance needs.

A Full Line of Term, Whole Life, Limited Payment Life Policies, and Term Riders Available Now at -Standard and Non-Smokers Rates.

Mary M. Santos Savings Bank Life Insurance Registered Representative

MAIN OFFICE • FLINT OFFICE. GLOBE OFFICE. NORTH END OFFICE PRESIDENT AVENUE OFFICE. SWANSEA MALL OFFICE • SMU OFFICE

Norris H. Tripp

LEMIEUX

SHEET METAL J. TESER, Prop.

RESIDENTIAL INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL 253 Cedar St., New Bedford 993-3222

HEATING, INC.

HALLETT Funeral Home Inc.

Sales and Service ~ for Domestic ~ and Industrial . ;.:;

283 Station Avenue

995-1631 2283 ACUSHNET AVENUE NEW BEDFORD

South Yarmouth, Moss.

Tel. 398-2285

NAZARETH FARM

NC photo

An austere Christmas CENTER POINT, W. Va.(NC) - In austerity reminiscent of that of the first Christmas, the 13member family of Dave and Mary Nelson is celebrating the holiday in Appalachia.

The decision to move hundreds of miles was not easy, nor was the decision to exchange a financially secure future for one of considerable risk.

But in the summer of 1985, the Nelsons took the plunge. Dave quit his job as an airline mechanic in Kansas City, Mo., and the couple moved to Center Point in the Appalachian Mountains to work at Nazareth Farm.

And, as if that weren't enough, they were joined by chil4ren and grandchildren. Thirteen members of the family now live and work at Nazareth Farm.

The farm was founded in 1979

by Father David Pichette, a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse, N.Y., .who brought groups of volunteers to the area to experience working with the poor.

The farm has helped meet the area's housing needs, developing a 120-acre site to provide new housing for low-income persons.

Hundreds of high school and college students visit the farm annually for a week of work and prayer.

The spiritual journey which led the Nelsons to Nazareth Farm began more than a decade ago at a Marriage Encounter weekend. Nelson recalled being challenged during a presentation by Father J. Francis Stafford - now Bishop J. Francis Stafford of Memphis, Tenn. - to work among the innercity poor.

"It seemed like I was the only one in the room when he said that," Nelson said. "I heard, 'Dave, you are called to do this.' " Some time later the couple and their children moved from Independence, Mo., to inner-city Kansas City. They volunteered at a Catholic Worker house.

"It taught us how to do with less and let go of possessions we had," Nelson said.

The Parish of Christ The King COTUIT/ MASHPEE REV. RONALD A. TOSTI, PASTOR

It was daughter Melana, whc had worked at Nazareth Farm fOI a week each summer while in col路 lege, who brought the Nelsons tc the farm for a visit in 1984.

The couple immediately began to discuss what they felt was a "calling" to live and work in the Appalachian community.

They also sent their oldest son Mike, and his wife Carolyn, tc visit the farm.

Married in 1982, Mike and Carolyn "always had the sense that the Lord was calling us to missionary work," Mike said. What they saw and felt in West Virginia convinced them that Nazareth Farm was where they belonged.

"When we got home, we told mom and dad, 'We're going. When are you going?' " said Mike.

After a few months of mulling it over, Dave and Mary decided to make the move.

In the meantime their daughter Missy's fiance, Tim O'Connell, went to Nazareth Farm on his college spring break. When he returned, he and Missy agreed to move with her family to the farm. They were married there last December.

In addition to the three couples, an "adopted" member of the family is 24-year-old Teri Cox. There are also six children - Mike and Carolyn's daugl:tters Laura, 2, and Amy, I, and Dave's and Mary's children Mark, Matthew, Moses and Monica.

Each member of the family has developed a special work at the farm.

Dave and Mike work on the housing projects, while the women work on food deliveries to the poor, home visits and calling food banks to fill orders.

The adjustment has not been all smooth but the family feels the move has been worth it.

The beauty and quiet of the mountains are much enjoyed, Carolyn said.

"The surroundings make you more aware of God," said Mary.

Missions affirmed MARYKNOLL, N.Y. (NC) The U.S. Catholic bishops' new statement on the missions gave needed support to sometimes controversial missionaries "who stand up for oppressed Third World people," said Maryknoll superior general Father William Boteler, leader of some 800 Maryknoll priests and brothers. He said the missions statement, approved by the U.S. bishops in November, was a "strong affirmation of the work our missioners are doing around the world. We really needed that." He said missioners who champion Third World people are sometimes "criticized for becoming too socially or politically involved."

Lanterns pass on Star of Ilope LAS PIN AS, Philippines (NC) - Poor Filipinos in Manila and the nearby town of Las Pinas have made Christmas lanterns for sale in the United States during Christmas time.

The project is sponsored by the Las Pinas parish church, whose pastor sees the work as the beginning of a cottage industry.

Father Mark Lesage, a member of the Missionaries of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Las Pinas' pastor for the past 17 years, said he hoped the program would develop technology appropriate to local resources and build management skills while pursuing traditional crafts.

"We shared our job orders for lanterns with other poor communities, and we taught them how to organize and work in small work units, the best way to make the lantern," he said.

The lanterns are made by 2,000 people living in three Manila squatter areas and in Las Pinas.

They make about (U.S.) $2.50 a day, approximately the legal minimum wage.

Each paper-and-bamboo lantern is a five-pointed star, with arms about t~o feet long. A message from President Corazon Aquino accompanies each of the lanterns, called "stars of hope."

"Filipinos pass on the Star of Hope to their brothers and sisters around the world, to those who cherish peace and freedom in their lives." the message says.

..

• "'IClC'IIClC'I_lClClCICIClCICIClClCtI

Keep Christ in Christmas ;~

~

~.~

~

The Anchor Friday, Dec. 19, 1986

9 A Vin@yard first

FATHER PETER N. Graziano, right, executive director of the Diocesan Department of Social Services, joins department staffers Vincent H. Eagles and Pauline DeGagne in wishing Anchor readers a very merry Christmas. (Motta photo)

"History was made the evening of Dec. 3 at Sacred Heart rectory, Oak Bluffs," Viola J. Lopes of Vineyard Haven recently wrote The Anchor.

That night Martha's Vineyard Cursillistas held the island's firstever Ultreya, with a Mass concelebrated by Father John A. Gomes, Sacred Heart parish pastor, and Father George F. Almeida, pastor of S1. Elizabeth parish, Edgartown.

Witness was offered by John Camacho. Also present were Sue Camacho, Lois De Bettencourt, Jacqueline Pimental and Ms. Lopes: All invite their island neighbors to contact them for information about the Cursillo movement.

No more Lone Ranger ALEXANDRIA, Va. (NC) The time of the "lone ranger" when Sister singlehandedly ran "her" school and Father did everything else - is over, said the vice president of the National Conference of Catholic bishops.

Addressing priests and nuns of the Diocese of Arlington, Va., Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk of Cincinnati said recently that church ministry "has expanded beyond the vocation of priesthood and religious life. It is no longer the case that priests and religious do it al\."

Despite the decline in religious

vocations in recent years, Archbishop Pilarczyk said he remains optimistic. "Some people see our contemporary situation as the beginning of the end," he said. "I am inclined to see it as a sign of the parousia (s~cond coming)."

While Catholics should continue to be concerned about fostering vocations, the prelate predicted that growth of lay ministry would lead to a better understanding of the role of priests and religious in the church .

He attributed the decline in voca- . tions to: - the rise in the social standing of Catholics

\:\:' //''':.--

- The changing social position of women - the "ferment" in the church over the past two decades.

Archbishop Pilarczyk said that the religious vocations decline has opened up a new "collaborative ministry" between laity and religious.

Due to such collaboration, the average Catholic is "more effectively ministered to a better served" today than ever before, the prelate said. He emphasized the need to introduce seminarians to collaborative ministry as part oftheir training.

<>~"'/

.~\'

/f'<'

• • , . ' , ••; .

In keeping with our SO • week publishing schedule, The Anchor will not appear next Friday, Dec. 26. Our next issue will be dated Jan. 2, 1987.

1/ vv'

J

'-

.

. . ,/

'"

...

,/

St. Mary's Parish Family New Bedford Rev. John F. Moore, Pastor

..

~

10

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

"Moral disaster" TRENTON, N.J. (NC) - Surrogate motherhood is "a legal outrage and a moral disaster," the bishops of New Jersey have told a state legislative committee studying bills that would legalize and regulate the practice. The bishops' position was outlined in a letter from Elmer M. Matthews, an at-

torney for the New Jersey Catholic Conference, who said the senate committee had sought the Catholic conference's views. A surrogate mother is artifically inseminated and gives any resulting child to the father and his spouse, sometimes on a paid basis.

ilt..·•

~y the Spirit of this Holiday Season fill you with Peace and Joy. The Directors, Officers and Staff

u.

- ·0 FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK OF AMERICA ATTLEBORO

FALL RIVER

NEW BEDFORD

TAUNTON

SOMERSET

MSGR. JOHN J. Regan, director of the Diocesan Health Facilities off.ice, a~d staff members Mrs. Michael J. McMahon, center, and Mrs. Maria Soares, extend hohda~ wishes to all. They note that the figurines of elderly persons visible in th: photo are appropnate to the office, which directs the four diocesan homes for the aged and Infirm.

Turkey, cranberries and dignity

By Dolores Curran

Why do we do this to the less fortunate - invite them to a feast It's as predictable as the turkey.

At Christmas time, newspapers and then insist upon displaying and TV cameras descend upon the their hunger, misfortune and faces soup kitchens, sh~lters and the to the comfortable sitting in our Salvation Army to photograph. living rooms?

At Thanksgiving one year, the the down-and-out eating their holpractice came to a head at the Saliday dinner.

Inevitably, there is one guest vation Army in Albuquerque. Apwho shields his face. Others turn parently some of the guests refused away. Once I glimpsed one who to cooperate with cameramen and ducked under the table just as the reporters because the Albuquerque camera moved in to focus on her Journal ran big headlines the next day: "Guests Shun Media at Saland her three young children. vation Army Thanksgiving Meal."

Early in the story a woman was quoted as saying, "Do those cameras have to be in here? We're like animals in a zoo, getting our pic.tures taken."

102 Shawomet Avenue The mission's public relations Somerset, Mass. director was angry. "It really galls me," he said. "In the first place, I Tel. 674-4881 said that the television cameras 3Vz room Apartment and the reporters would be here. I 4Vz room Apartment said if you didn't want to see yourIncludes heat, hot water, stove reo selves on TV, then turn your heads." frillrator and maintenance service.

Some choice: you get your turkey, you forfeit your dignity. . I suspect there are several reasons for our unfeelingness in photographing the unfortunates who take advantage of our charity. The only one that can be justified, in my opinion, is that of calling attention to viewers who might be moved to donate food or monies to the charitable organization.

Even then, it doesn't have to be photos of the guests, does it? Co~ld it not be of the volunteers cookmg or the tables laden with food?

I think the main reason cameras pan in on sorry-looking indivi.duals is a macabre one. There IS a fascination in many of us when we drive down skid row and see peo-

SHAWOMET GARDENS

pIe huddled in doorways and sleeping on grates. While we may feel pity for them, there's an accompanying feeling of smugness because we aren't there.

Jesus told us clearly that when we give we should not proclaim it to the world but give because it makes us better persons, more God-like, and more caring about our neighbors. And where in scripture do we find Jesus not treating those who come to him in need with dignity?

On the happier side, I know a bishop who serves and eats with the less fortunate in his diocese on holidays and he refuses to allow cameras, even from the diocesan paper.

"These people are entitled to their dignity," he says simply. "They give me more than I can ever give them. I hear their stories and their pain, and I am humbled." What a beautiful way of giving thanks sharing with others, not just our food but our respect.

This holiday season, I invite readers to consider writing a letter protesting the photos they see on TV and in newspapers, photos which illustrate God's people whose bodies are being nourished while their dignity is being violated. If enough of us react on behalf of them, perhaps the after-Christmas stories won't inflict the same humiliation.

For some reason, God has not chosen us to be guests at the charity banquet. For that, we can give thanks. But he has chosen us to care about those who are the guests and writing a letter or making a call is one way we can show that care.

~~.~

f'·

;',@:,'~.

St. Elizabeth Parish Family Edgartown

. '

.

...

THE MANGER SCENE, relocated to the outdoor chapel of the Garden of Worship at LaSalette S~rine, Attl~­ boro, is the focal point of the shrine's famous Chnst~as FestIval of Lights. The festival is open through Jan. I, untIl 10 p.m. weekends, 9 p.m. weekdays.

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

The Dominican'Creativity Center

"Sister Gertrude s.ets the tone"

By Joseph Motta

The Dominican nun teaches carving, painting and drawing.

As the Friday morning students "Whatever they want to know at Fall River's Dominican Creativity Center filtered into the class- that I know," she said, "I'll teach it room, each received a warm wel- to them. That's the kind of place I want the center to be." come from her teacher.

Until she opened the facility The center is housed in Park Street's Dominican Academy, a Sister Gaudette was art depart~ girls' school operated by the Do- ment chairman at Bishop Stang minican Sisters ofSt. Catherine of High School, North Dartmouth.

Siena. The center has been open . S~e is a gifted photographer, whose since fall, 1982; about two-thirds pIctures are often in The Anchor. of its approximately 90 students She also helps coordinate the annual Christmas display at LaSalette are adults.

Shrine, Attleboro.

The teacher is Sister Gertrude Gaudette, OP, well known in the While The Anchor was at the Fall River diocese for her lovable Creativity Center, Sister Gaudette personality and incredible artistic was instructing three adult stutalents. dents: Mrs. Evelyn Pelletier, St. When you enter the center, its Louis de France parish, Swansea; walls are the first thing you notice.

Donna Conroy, a registered nurse There isn't much open space in at Fall River's St. Anne's Hospital the big-but-never-big-enough and a candidate for membership in room. Students' paintings line the the Dominican Sisters of the Prewalls; there are landscapes, slate sentation who operate the hospipaintings and even a student's extraordinary interpretation of Renoir's "Le Bal a Bougival."

The room is much like its manager: interesting, happy and colorful. Works in progress are everywhere. Not far from the Renoir copy rests a broken lawn ornament, beloved by its owner and placed in the trustworthy hands of Sister Gaudette.

tal; and Mrs. Jane Mounce, a Westport resident and volunteer with Hospice Outreach.

Mrs. Mounce's husband, Larry, is also a Gaudette student.

"I find Sister Gertrude to be very encouraging and very 'freeing,' .. said Miss Conroy, who's had no previous art training. "She has a special way of teaching."

Like Mrs. Pelletier, Miss Conroy is a stude.nt of carving. "\t's something different for me to do," says Mrs. Pelletier, a homemaker. "\t's relaxing and I enjoy all of it."

Sister Gaudette is instructing Mrs. Mounce in perspective for use in her painting and sketching.

Mrs. M ounce calls her teacher "extremely well qualified."

"I find myself really looking forward to coming here," said Miss Conroy. "\t's invigorating and enlivening here. Sister Gertrude really sets the tone."

ONLY FUll·lINE RELIGIOUS GIFT STORE ON THE CAPE • OPEN MON·SAT: 9·5:30 SUMMER SCHEDULE OPEN 7 DA

11

OUR LADY'S RELIGIOUS STORE Daily 11:00 . 5:30

GIFTS CARDS

~-

';a;;

Sullivan's Religious Goods

BOOKS

428 Main St. Hyannis

673-4262

775·4180 John & Mary lees, Props.

936 So. Main St., Fall River

CAPE COD SANDWICH ... VERY PRETTY 3 BEDROOM RANCH, 1'12 BATHS, AN OVERSIZED 1 CAR GARAGE. $147,500.

WINTERS REAL ESTATE 78

Route 6A • Sandwich, MA 02563 .

(617)888-7661

Member: National Association of REALTORS'" Member: Cape Cod Multiple Listing Service

JOYOUS NOEL

SISTER Gaudette, second from left, instructs students, from left, Donna Conroy, Evelyn Pelletier and Jane Mounce.

(Motta photo)

St. John of God Church A CHRISTMAS addition to the grounds ofSt. Patrick's parish, Fall River, this sign is an example of Sister Gaudette's talents. (Motta photo)

Esprit apologizes MILWAUKEE (NC) - Officials of Esprit de Corp, a women's clothing firm, have apologized for an advertisement termed anti-Catholic by the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.

The advertisement, which was published in an Esprit catalogue mailed to department store customers and on posters in New York City bus shelters, featured a model who said, "When I was little, I wanted to be a nun. I think all children who go to Catholic school are brainwashed."

Doug Tompkins, company president, said the company never intended to offend anyone and pledged to pull the ad from future campaigns.

"Please accept our sincere apologies. In the future we will certainly take care to watch for any comments...that could be construed as defamatory or prejudicial, and exclude such from our copy," wrote Tompkins,

Somerset CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE Confessions: Monday, Dec. 22nd and Tuesday, Dec. 23rd from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 24th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Vigil Mass: Wednesday, Dec. 24th 7:00 p.m.

Christmas Concert: Wednesday, Dec. 24th 11:30 p.m.

Midnight Mass Christmas Day Masses: 8:30 a.m. (Portuguese), 9:45 and 11:00 a.m.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS! FR. DANIEL L. FREITAS __-'_ FR. JOSEPH COSTA

Ring out, 0 Christmas bells, across the countryside. Our wishes to all for a Happy Yuletide.

r:J riiI Southeastern Contracting 1::1 E:I & Engineering, Inc. rAJ riiI P.O. Box 736, 428 Washington Street 1!J !.=!I Fairhaven, Mass. 02719 Telephone (617) 993-8596

12

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

Count Galeazzi ROME (NC) - Count Enrico Galeazzi - diplomat, architect and confidant of popes - has died in Rome at age 90. Although awarded his title by the king of Italy for his diplomatic service, Galeazzi spent most of his life in

service of the church. New York Cardinal John O'Connor called him "one of the finest examples of dedicated lay persons in the history of the Church. "For more than 62 years he was Vatican representative of the Knights of Columbus.

JOY TO ALL

The bells ring out the happiness of the season. May you share in all its joys. -

~

O.F. HACKETT JR. ASSOCIATES/ARCH ITECTS 105 WILLIAM ST.lP.O. BOX B-945 NEW BEDFORD, MASS. 02741 617- 996-2011

OWEN F. HACKETT, JR. A.I.A.

SllJEnG

nlGflG Sending warmest thoughts for the brightest of happy holidays to one and alii

Iteering pOlntl CHRIST THE KING, COTUIT/MASHPEE Prayer and praise 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, St. Jude the Apostle chapel, Rt. 28, Cotuit. First Friday (Jan. 2) exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after 8 a.m. Mass until 4 p.m. Benediction; novena to St. Jude after 8 a.m. Masses Thursdays, St. Jude's Chapel.

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, NB Recently baptized were the new additions to the family of parishioners Norma and Raymond Belli, triplets Karla Jean, Kevin James and Kerri Judith. The parish family extends a welcome to convert Thomas McGowan. Religious education students' Christmas Celebration 7 tonight; all welcome. Men's League coffee and donuts after both Masses this Sunday.

BLUE ARMY The World Apostolate of Fatima (Blue Army). Fall River diocesan division, is resuming monthly Holy hours/ meetings: next session Dec. 28, Sacred Hearts Seminary chapel.

Great Neck Road, Wareham. with 2 p.m. Holy hour, 3 p.m. meeting; chaplain: Father Jeremiah Casey.

SS.CC.: information: Ann C. Levasseur, 822-6866.

ST. ANNE, FR Parishioners knowing of needy parish families are asked to contact the parish office, 674-5651. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after II :30 a.m. Mass today; hour of adoration 2 p.m. today. Cub Scout pack meeting 7 tonight, school. Cub Scout caroling noon tomorrow; Christmas party follows'at 2 p.m. Two anonymous donors have contributed a total of$350 to the parish to help the needy.

HOLY NAME, FR Retreat renewal 7 p.m. Sunday, school; program includes Mass; all past retreatants and their families welcome. Advent penance service 7 p.m. Monday. church; rectory open house follows, all welcome.

ST. STANISLAUS, FR Advent penitential service 4:30 p.m. Sunday, with guest preacher Father Arthur T. DeMello, pastor of St. Elizabeth parish, Fall River; after the service, confirmation students will visit LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro. Christmas unleavened bread (oplatek) will be shared after all Masses this weekend; also, weekend bulletins will include leaflets for use at Christmas celebrations. Mass for permanent deacons and deacon candidates 4:30 p.m. Dec. 26 (St. Stephen's Day).

ST. PATRICK, FR Boston's "A Touch of Brass" will be heard before 4:30 p.m. Mass Christmas Eve. Blessing of the Crib 7 p. m. Dec. 23; all welcome for "song. sermon and silence. " ST. GEORGE, WESTPORT A generous donation was made to parish Vincentians in memory of Albert Brown, a recently deceased member, by his wife. School flagpole dedication ceremony 2 p.m.

Monday, school grounds; alumni and parishioners welcome.

HOLY GHOST, ATTLEBORO Free Advent literature available in the church.

ST. DOMINIC, SWANSEA Advent penance service 7 p.m.

Sunday, parish center. Children's liturgy 10 a.m. Sunday. Women interested in joining the parish altar guild may contact the rectory, 675-7206.

YOUNG ADULTS, TAUNTON Taunton area young adult Catholics welcome at an evening of music, socializing, food and dancing 7 p.m.

Dec. 28, St. Jacques church hall, Whittenton Street. Taunton.

HOLY ROSARY, TAUNTON Vincentians thank parishioners for their response to the annual Thanksgiving clothing drive and a call to aid the poor in Poland. Oplatek dinner follows 4:45 p.m. Mass Jan. 10.

ST. MARY, NB Father John F. Moore, pastor, permanent deacon Lawrence A. St. Onge and parishioners will join parish Scouts in caroling around the church and school area after 7 p.m.

Mass Sunday.

ST. THOMAS MORE, SOMERSET Christmas penance service 2 to 4 p.m. tomorrow. Advent lessons and carols 3 p.m. Sunday. church.

ST. JOSEPH, FAIRHAVEN Parishioners are asked to note the new Mass schedule. Advent penance service 2 p.m. tomorrow. Cub Scout Christmas party 5:30 p.m. tomorrow, church hall. Vespers 7 p.m. tomorrow.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, TAUNTON Canned fruit juices may be brought to all Masses this weekend to benefit Our Daily Bread program.

ST. JAMES, NB CYO Christmas party 6:30 p.m..

Dec. 29, church hall.

O.L. MT. CARMEL, SEEKONK The second-year Confirmation class has "adopted" a H mong family with nine children for the Christmas holiday; anyone wishing to support the project may call Phyllis LaPorte, 336-6479. Youth ministry meeting 5:30 p.m. Sunday, parish center, features trip to LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro, and pizza party. Parishioner Kenneth Nason, a youth ministry program member, recently attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

SEPARATED/DIVORCED, CAPE Ministry for Divorced and Separated Catholics of Cape Cod and the Islands meeting 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 28, Our Lady of Victory church. Centerville. Father Richard G. Andrade. chaplain, will lead an afternoon of prayer and reflection. Information: Patti Mackey. 771-4438.

Eastern Television Sales And SerVice

Fall River's Largest Display of TVs RCA· ZENITH· SYLVANIA 1196 BEDFORD STREET

673-9721

WALL«ALL

A COLLECTION OF HELPFUL FLooa HINTS BY 'AL' GARANT

GARANT

FLOOR COVERING CO. FAll RIVER 1801 SO. MAIN ST. IShowroom) 30 CRAWFORD ST. lWarehouse) Carpet & Vinyl Floors • Mannington • Congo~eunl • Ceramic Ti:e • Armstronl

674·5410

MElLI KWONG, 4, can't wait to share in a for the infant Jesus. (NC photo)

birthday cake

Advent break Are you looking for a break from all the controversial church news we are hearing these days? During this Advent season, would you like to get into a more philosophical spirit, to be rejuvenated? Then 1 recommend that you pick up Hilaire Belloc's classic book, "The Path to Rome," and relish its pages.

On one level "The Path to Rome" is what its name suggests: a description of a journey on foot to Rome. Belloc, at the turn of the century, made a vow to make a pilgrimage from northeastern France down through the Moselle Valley, through part of Switzerland and across the Lombard plain to Rome.

But the book is more than a travelogue. The country and people along Belloc's route, described by him in exquisite prose, often afford the opportunity for brilliant reflections on the Christian tradition of late 19th-century Europe.

For example, one day during the early part of his pilgrimage Belloc is unable to get to Mass.

Annoyed he asks: "What is a pilgrimage in which a person cannot hear Mass every morning?"

He then philosophizes on the beauty of going to daily morning Mass: "For half an hour just at the opening of the day you are silent and recollected and have to put off cares, interests and passions in the repetition of a familiar action.

This must certainly be a great benefit to the body and give it tone."

Then too, Belloc continues, "the Mass is a careful and rapid ritual.

Now it is the function of all rituals (as we see it in games, social arrangements and so forth) to relieve the mind" for a time from responsibility and initiative. This provides people with a singular repose.

The surroundings also contribute to the effect of Mass, Belloc says. They "incline a person to good and reasonable thoughts and for the moment deaden the rasp and jar of that busy wickedness which both working in one's self and received from others is the true source of all human miseries."

Belloc's reflection on the comfort he receives from daily Mass is

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986 By

13

Welcoming strangers

FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK

of Southern California School of LOS ANGELES (NC) - ChalSocial Work. lenges created by growing numbers "Having been aliens and exiles, of immigrants must be met "with the people of God are mandated to the greatness of our human spirit," . welcome strangers and extend hossaid Los Angeles Archbishop Roger pitality to them. Strangers may M. Mahony in an address to stunot be oppressed or in any way dents and alumni of the University taken advantage of," he said.

only one of many beautiful insights into the Catholic tradition he gives us. 1 think the time has come to turn our thoughts in this direction.

During the last few months divisions in the church as well as scandal in the government have dominated many minds. But people are human and so can easily lose their faith in other people if they are overloaded oil controversy and confronted with one disillusionment after another.

The season of Advent is upon us. It is time to raise our thoughts and spirits, to celebrate, to allow ourselves to become caught up in rituals that relieve and nourish us.

From such repose the spirit becomes refreshed and it is better able once again to cope with the foolishness of our ways while reamining strong in faith.

Church mounts Haitian literacy drive WASHINGTON(NC)- Working with such concepts as "democracy" and "how to recognize a dictator," 7,000 Haitians are learning to read, write and analyze social issues as they participate in a Catholic Church literacy program.

The students are part of a major church initiative, said Eddy LouisJacques, administrator of Radio Soleil, a Catholic radio station active in the campaign.

The church began the literacy campaign in 1985, but the government of ousted dictator JeanClaude Duvalier resisted the effort.

After Duvalier's overthrow in February a full-scale campaign be-

gan, with the goal of educating 3 million of Haiti's 6 million people in five years, using the "key word" method. The method centers around Creole words meaningful to peasants.

Lessons also include consciou&ness raising and analyzing reflecting the recognition that to solve problems, people must be able to analyze them.

Radio Soleil sends tapes of lessons to literacy centers to facilitate discussion, said Louis-Jacques.

He said that 1,000 new teachers are being trained and with them the church will be able to open 1,000 new literacy centers.

Radio Soleil also is involved in continuing education for those who have completed the literacy program, working with members of basic Christian communities to teach homemaking and agricultural skills.

Categorical Rejection "I categorically reject the evasion: 'I am personally opposed to abortion but this is a pluralistic society and 1 must respect the rights of those who disagree with me.' It is imperative that everyone of us take the pro-life movement seriously." - Cardinal John J. O'Connor

GIBMAR ELECTRIC 54. Henri Street Somerset, MA 02726

Mayall the joys and special memories of the Christmas Season be with you and your family.

At Lafayette Federal Savings Bank, we would like to say thank you for your patronage and hope you celebrate Christmas in the warm and loving embrace of your family.

In Observance of Christmas, Lafayette will close Wednesday, December 24th at 12 Noon. We will open Friday, December 26th at 9:00 a.m.

Happy Holidays.

LAFAYETTE FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK SANTA'S A SURFER in Australia, where Christmas comes at the height of summer, with

temperatures often hitting 100 degrees. This Santa, appropriately enough, is known as Max Christmas in real life. (NC photo/ Australian Information Service)

MAIN OFFICE: 60 Bedford Street, FALL RIVER 165 State Road, WESTPORT 1236 County Street (Route 138), SOMERSET 201 G. A. R. Highway, Route 6, SWANSEA OFFICE HOURS: MOnday' Thursday 9:00 a.m.·4:00 p.m. (All Branches) Saturday 9:00 a.m.• 12:00 Noon (Branches Only) TELEPHONE: 679·1961

J, . .

14

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

Vietnamese vocations flourish in U.s.

DALLAS (NC) - When Father Joseph Bang Doan opened a priestly vocations house for Vietnamese in Houston six years ago, he had three students. This year he has 23 and awaiting list double that number.

"If I advertised in (Catholic) magazines, I could easily have 100," Father Bang said. "But as it is, we have moved six times, each time to a bigger house, and I still don't have enough room for every-, one."

The growth in Vietnamese vocations to the priesthood contrasts with the national trend, which has seen the number of U.S. Catholic seminarians dropping 4 percent from the 1985-86 to the 1986-87 school year.

Father Peter Phan, theology professor at the University of Dallas, said that the upsurge in Vietnamese vocations is nationwide, flourishing most in cities where the Vietnamese community is tightly knit, as in Houston and New Orleans.

Msgr. Charles Elm~r, rector of Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas, attributes the steady Vietnamese vocation influx to the traditional family values held by the Vietnamese.

The one U.S. seminary that serves Vietnamese solely, Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix, in Carthage, Mo., has 100 seminarians and a large waiting list because of limited space.

..........

Theresa Dougall

Motta photo

Stang teacher-coach honored her teaching with being a student; she has just completed requireTheresa E. Dougall has a lot to ments for a master's degree in ho-ho-ho about this holiday seasecondary school administration son. The Bishop Stang High School at Bridgewater State College. alumna, teacher and coach was "I enjoy working in a diocesan recently named the Boston Globe's Division One All-Scholastic Girls' school," Mrs. Dougall said. "I like the philosophy and the communField Hockey Coach of the Year.

And Southeastern Massachusetts ity aspect that we have. It's not just University, North Dartmouth, a job, it's part of my life.

"I love working with kids," she chose her as this year's recipient of its Sigma Xi award, recognizing continued, "and I love my subject area. Those are the reasons I've excellence in science instruction.

But Mrs. Dougall is a team stayed with it for so long."

Mrs. Dougall chairs Stang's player. The Marion resident, a member of St. Rita's parish, is science and physical education departments. As a student, she played modest.

"She perhaps epitomizes what field hockey, basketball, volleyball Stang is all about," says Thomas and softball. When she joined the B. Donahue, principal ofthe North' faculty in 1968, she coached all Dartmouth high school. "Whether women's sports; now she concenit's in the sdence lab, the class- trates exclusively on field hockey room or on the playing field, she as the team's head coach.

Under her direction the Stang cares about fairness, and she's inteam has won nine championships, tensely loyal to Stang." four of them State and All State.

Terry Dougall graduated from "I think they learn how to work Stang in 1964, earned a biology degree at North Easton's Stonehill together to get a job done," she College, then returned to Stang as says of the young women she a biology teacher, a career now in coaches. "A lot of people can work its 19th year. And she's combined individually, but I think it's impor-

By Joseph Motta

t, 路4'路 ,

".

Bouquets of best Christmas wishes to all our loyal friends.

It's been a pleasure doing business with you. Come visit us again soon.

BONNER FLOWERS 2082 ROBESON STREeT Telephone 675路7804

FALL RIVER

To All The Cl~rgy and Religious of the Diocese and Sincere

Best Wishes for a Happy, Holy New Year.

tant to Jearn to work as a member of a group.

"They also, I would hope, learn that if they put their hearts, minds and time into something, it can be successful. It does payoff. And I think they've made a lot offriends, too, by playing the sport."

Mrs. Dougall also received the Globe's Coach of the Year award in 1980; she was a nominee for it in '82 and '85.

In being named Science Teacher of the Year by SMU's Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society club at a surprise ceremony at Stang, Mrs. Dougall was praised for teaching methods which have resulted in such measurable achievements by her students as these, according to SMU: - The average biology achievement test scores of students after taking her freshman biology course are between 600-620 each year; - in the past five years, four of her students have been accepted to Brown University's seven year medical program.

Mrs. Dougall was selected from a large number of social and natural science teachers nominated throughout southeastern Massachusetts. Sigma Xi clubs nationwide are honoring science teachers, hoping in this way to raise the level and quality of scientific research.

Of her classroom technique, a colleague, Sister M. Josepha, RSM, observed that "the slow student is gently prodded to perform better than expected. The gifted students are driven to greater performance in a manner that challenges them and is self-rewarding."

Although she notes that many science instructors have left the field, Mrs. Dougall stresses her "firm belief that good people have to stay and get younger people excited about science and research.

In time, that's going to send more people into research."

Just before her Anchor interview, Mrs. Dougall received a congratulatory note from 1976 Stang graduate Joanne M. Dykas, a. second year resident at North Carolina Medical Hospital who had heard ofSMU's recognition of her former teacher.

"Thank you for being such an interesting, inspiring and effective teacher," the card read.

Theresa Dougall looked at it and smiled. "It makes it all worthwhile," she said.

•

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

tv, movie news Symbols following film reviews indicate both general and Catholic Film Office ratings, which do not always coincide.

• General ratings: G-suitable for gen· eral viewing; PG·I3-parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13; PG-parental guidance suggested; R-restricted, unsuitable for children or younger teens.

Catholic ratings: AI-approved. for children and adults; A2-approved for adults and adolescents; A3-approved for adults only; A4-separate classification (given to films not morally offensive which, however, require some analysis and explanation); O-morally offensive.

NOTE Please check dates and times of television and radio programs against local list· Ings, which may differ from the New York network schedules supplied to The Anchor.

New Films "Lady and the Tramp" (Buena Vista) - Reissue of the animated musical story about Lady, the cute but snobbish spaniel who loses then regains the affections of her Victorian family after the birth of a baby. She learns some valuable lessons in friendship and compassion via a walk on the wildly romantic side with Tramp, a freedom-loving mongrel. A I, G "Heartbreak Ridge" (Warners) - Clint Eastwood directs and stars as a decorated Marine veteran nearing retirement whose last assignment is to make a reconnaissance troop combat ready. His outdated beliefs that might makes right and that the end justifies the means unfortunately win out. Excessive profanity, vulgar language and violent combat scenes. 0, R "Miss Mary" (New World) Julie Christie is a British governess who inspires not changed hearts but only changed manners in the members ofa wealthy, fragmented Spanish family living in Argentina in 1938 before the Juan Peron era.

The politically confused and complex climate is mirrored in the fla wed and demoralized family spotlighted in this emotionallycharged reminiscence of post-eolonial social sterility. Mature themes and a simulated sex scene make the film suitable for adults only.

A3, R "The Golden Child"(Paramount) - Eddie Murphy is a private eye specializing in cases involving youngsters. He is assigned to save the life ofa Tibetan ~oddler revered as the world's savior. This battIe of almost good against extreme evil is spotted with harsh language and satanic imagery, including the remains ofa gruesome cultist murder.

Murphy is more irreverent than funny and his romantic fling with costar Charlotte Lewis adds to the unwholesomeness and crudity of the film. 0; PG 13.

"Crimes of the Heart" (De Laurentiis) - Mutual love and acceptance keep three sisters together and help them survive their weaknesses in this portrait based on Beth Henley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. Diane Keaten, Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek display insight, tenderness and forgiveness despite a casual attitude toward infidelity. A3, PG 13

TV Film Sunday, Dec. 28, 9-11:30 p.m.

EST(ABC)"For Your Eyes Only" (1981). - Spectacular stunt sequences, disposable women, violence and sophomoric cynicism are the basic elements in this spy fantasy in which James Bond (Roger Moore) is trapped in a helicopter, stalked in the snow and flung to the sharks. Violence and underwater nudity made the theatrical version unsuitable. It was rated 0, PG Religious TV Sunday, Dec. 21 (CBS) - "For Our Times" Rebroadcast of God Rest Ye Merry...." Christmas carols from the past sung by the Camerata Singers and introduced by actress Aline MacMahon.

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 11:30 p.m.

- midnight EST (CBS) - "Mercy and Truth Meet Together: Assisi, Town of Peace" - The focus is on Pope John Paul II's October visit to Assisi for the world day of prayer for peace. Also recalled are the life of St. Francis and other significant events in the history of the Assisi shrine.

Wednesday, Dec. 24, (NBC) "Christmas Rome 1986" - Christmas midnight Mass from St. Peter's Basilica with Pope John Paul II as celebrant and homilist, music by the Sistine Choir, and commentary by Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications and a Philadelphian.

Sunday, Dec. 28 (CBS) - "For Our Times" - A program in celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish feast of Lights.

Religious Radio Sunday, Dec. 21 (NBC) "Guideline" - Rabbi Philip Hiat discusses the meaning of Hanukkah.

Sunday, Dec. 28 (NBC) "Guideline" - Jesuit Father M ichael Hilbert discusses canon law and marriage annulments.

:.0: FRIENDS of St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, sponsor the annual tree-lighting ceremony, with each light on the outdoor tree symbolizing a hospital patient or a loved one unable to be home for Christmas. Top, Marion Barrette, left, and Phyllis Chrupcala, observance chairpersons, with the list of persons honored; right, Paul Allard leads Allegro Glee Club in traditional carols.

1iiilllillil~~:= ,

Sending warm wishes for a bright and

beautiful Holiday Season.

Star of the Sea Candle Company VOTIVE CANDLE MANUFACTURERS

951 SLADE STREET FALL RIVER, MA 02724 TEL. 1-674-5512 (617) DENNIS, ROBERT and JAMES EGAN

*~·.~·~t~~

15

16

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

Catholic-Communist dialogue PARIS (NC) - Catholics and Communists meeting in Paris discussed ways of working together on social issues, but emphasized that no ideological compromise was sought. In the first CatholicCommunist dialogue since 1978, about tOO people sought to iden-

h

tify "concrete solidarities" i~ the are~s ofemployment, human nghts, Thlr.d Wo~ld development and medlc~1 ethics. The confere~cewas ~rga.OIzed by two ~ommuOist pub- .

hcatlOns, RevolutIon and Thoug~t.

Membe.rs of. several Cathohc groups, l~cludlOgan ~~ency ofthe French bIShops, partIcipated.

-

'~-~~#~~'{ ~~~~:-/~'~ / . ) : . ~)>C~'"~ "'---.'.'¥._ ".".~:s-.~~.<'\....

L) ~"';,fY'lj;;~~:~';3J'r""' t~, )\ ~.&~.<4/.".".·.,,,1;~.$.j1£.y?";:-{.

'~

.,,-:''Y-t;/Qi :':'l~0:;~Z-'~ ~~'~~~. "~~--=----~t-:' ~J ~ ..

-.-...

,'.

"/,< . " ' {

::-..."

.

,

(,j

.

'.i'C....'.. .

~~~-"

-1'

.

I

ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH'FI" I ' j, I OF ';' I ;, SOMERSET, M A S S . : :

! :,

if,

I

I;;

I

:!!

I

'I.,

\~l."''''.lj

. I /;'

.-r>j

IF;\\'f.! '

~Pl~ 1

(t~lVJ

T~I~ ) ?,\I.,£/'\ . ,, f(~-\~"'/J J!: ;<~'-i+t:~

/J; I~

0

<tl<

'~~'f~. ,',

'.~

~~.

.

CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES 4:00 & 5:30 P.M., 12:00 Midnight

,0

.cHRISTMAS DAY 9:00,10:15,11:30 A.M. REV.MSGR. JOHN J. REGAN, V.E. REV. DAVID COSTA

.' D

.

•

· 4 ..

. .:..... . \. .

A running study of the Bible DAYTON, Ohio (NC) - To experience the story of Elijah running away from the Lord's call, lace up a pair of running shoes and go for a brisk workout.

That's one suggestion Conrad L'Heureux, a religious studies professor at the University of Dayton, , offers in his new book, "Life J ourney and the Old Testament," recently published by Paulist Press.

L'Heureux believes "the key to making the Old Testament signifi~ cant for us today lies in establishing connections between the stories of ancient Israel and our own personal stories. " A biblical scholar, L'Heureux is trained in the "historico-critical" approach to Scripture, an academic and objective method.

But the method has its limitations, he said. He discovered when teaching Scripture that "no matter how insightful and interesting the scholarship was, it did not relate in a significant way to people's lives."

These days in L'Heureux's classroom, students wearing sneakers emulate Elijah running away from the Lord's call to the cave at Mount Horeb. They crouch down in an imaginary cave, listening to background music that conjures up feelings of wind, earthquake and fire.

L'Heureux then plays gentle flute music and instructs students to listen for the still, small voice of the Lord. He says, "Listen very carefully and expect to hear what you need to hear and it will come to you."

His students, according to the college professor, report that such exercises bring the God of the Old Testament out of the pages of Scripture and into their own lives.

In his book L'Heureux said this "experiential approach'; can unlock the Bible's power to transform human lives. Many of his ideas

()

0

•

.

'.'

stem from his interest in selfexploration and psychological growth.

Several years ago he began to attend workshops in communications, self-esteem, dream interpretation, healing and holistic spirituality. He took graduate courses in counseling and made meditation, prayer and physical exercise regular parts of his life.

"Myoid predominantly rational approach to life was balanced by making more room for feeling and intuition. I found renewed trust in my own spiritual experience," he

wrote in the book's introduction.

One chapter offers ways modern readers can use Old Testament lamentations to promote healing and resolve conflict in their lives.

The psalms that deal with illness portray people who not only have physical pain but also feel emotionally troubled, abandoned by friends and cut off from God, he said.

The psalms' holistic approach to healing and wellness matches recent developments in modern health care, L'Heureux said.

Goals matter, says study

~.

- 'lttJ

AUXILIARY Bishop Eugene A. Marino of Washington, D.C., would do just fine if he chose to follow L'Heureux's scholarly advice. He's been a jogger since the late 50s.

(NCj Reni photo)

-*

WHITE'S OFWFSfPORT

\

WEDDINGS. ANNIVDSAalES. n:snMONIALS· SEMINAIIS

66 State Road, WestpOrt, MA 02190

.7¥:\

WASHINGTON (NC) - Clear goals and shared responsibilities are chief factors in making parish religious education programs effective, according to a National Catholic Educational Association study.

The study found that having "clear vision, a written statement of goals and sharing responsibility with a wide group in the parish" emerge as important characteristics of programs that succeed, said Father Francis Kelly, NCEA religious education director.

The study found other important factors include a paid director of religious education, an average of one catechist for 10 students and a high degree of diocesan support for catechists.

The tOO-page, four-year study was the first of its kind, Father Kelly said. . "The study reinforces other research saying that the family's religious orientation, family prayer and discussion" are key factors in a child's religious growth, especially in high school, Father Kelly said.

There is an apparent connection between good adult programs and

good programs for younger students, according to the study.

The study revealed some problem areas, chiefly in the area of "religious literacy" - how well students understand and know church teachings, Father Kelly said.

"We have to work harder" at preparing students to explain their faith.

The study showed that most doctrinal education is done in grade school programs while high school classes emphasize helping students apply their faith to life.

Moral catechesis is another "disturbing area," according to Father Kelly. Though student's values are strong, their "acceptance of moral behavior is very much at variance with what the church teaches," he said. For example, the study found that 65 percent to 70 percent say "why not" to premarital sex, Father Kelly said.

"My feeling is that it's not so much they are rejecting what the church teaches," he said. "I don't think adolescents are given any extensive moral education on church teachings. These need to be explained in depth."

/"

,

'\

I

VATICAN CITY (NC) - Pope John Paul II said disarmament imd economic development are ~ssential to world peace and urged nations to reduce weaponry "to the minimum necessary for legitimate defense. " In his 1987 World Day of Peace message, the pope said the world should end its reliance on "a security based on arms. " Disarmament and development are "two of the most crucial problems facing the world today," he said.

Tensions resulting from the failure to resolve these issues "present serious threats to world peace," the pope said in his message.

"States have a responsibility for world peace and this peace cannot be insured until a security based on arms is gradually replaced with a security based on the solidarity of the human family," said the pope.

The pope also urged "those who practice violence and terrorism" to end their activities "even if the goals themselves are just. " "I beg you to turn away from killing and harming the innocent. I beg you to stop undermining the very fabric of society. The way of violence cannot obtain true justice for you," he said.

Pope John Paul asked governments to strengthen family life and protect family values. He said a healthy family life is a building

block of national peace. He also criticized foreign aid programs "that virtually force communities or countries to accept contraception programs and abortion schemes as the price of economic growth.

These programs "violate the solidarity ofthe human family because they deny the values of human dignity and human freedom," he added.

Other obstacles to peace needing solutions, according to the papal message, include: - The growing foreign debt of poor countries.

- A growing economic, scientific and technological gap between the developed and underdeveloped nations. . .

- Ide.ologies that foster hatred and racial and religious intolerance.

- Arbitrary border closings that deprive people "of the ability to move and to better their lot, to be reunited with their loved ones, or simply to visit their family."

The 5,OOO-word papal message is titled "Development and Solidarity: Two Keys to Peace." It was dated Dec. 8 and released at the Vatican Dec. II. World Peace Day is celebrated in the Catholic Church Jan. I. It was inaugurated in 1967 by Pope Paul VI. Pope John Paul said that social and political problems must be faced with "an attitude of social Turn To Page 26

. CA~DLES SPELL PEACE i.n German, English ~nd Russian on a sign overhanging the Rhme RIver as congress ofInternatlOnal Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War opens in Cologne, West Germany. Cologne Cathedral is in the background. (NCjUPI-Reuter photo)

Wishing all a blessed Christmas with gifts of love and laughter and peace unending.

DELolD

CONTRACTORS

ASSOCIATES, INC. 822 MT. PLEASANT STREET

P.O. BOX L-5!7

ENGINEERS

NEW BEDFORD, MASS. 02745-4979

18

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

It's not enough to be a messenger

By Rita Zwicker Mrs. Zwicker is a member of St. Pius X parish, South Yarmouth, and is secretary for the West Yarmouth Congregational Church. Her message - and example - are interdenominational. Editor DONTFORGETTHENEEDY FUND! REMEMBER OUR MONTHLY FOOD COLLECTION! PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEACONS'· DISCRETIONARY FUND! As church secretary, I added such a notation to the Sunday bulletin almost weekly. I considered it not only part of my job but also my civic and moral duty to remind others of the less fortunate people right in their own backyards. I took pride in including an attention-grabbing heading or striking illustration to attract notice to these worthwhile projects. Once completed, I felt satisfied that I had again done my part to alleviate hardship in the community.

One Friday I finished the bulletin, left work and headed for the local post office. It was a week before Christmas and I had a bundle of greeting cards to post. At 22 cents a whack, this was no inexpensive undertaking - or ritual.

As I began stamping my cards, a good friend came in.

"Merry Christmas, Connie!" I said.

"Hi, Rita. Merry Christmas to you, too!"

After a short conversation, we resumed our holiday tasks.

Suddenly I stared at the card in my' hand. It was to Connie. L thou£ht how redundant it was to send her a card when I had just greeted her in person.

As I looked at the rest of my cards, I realized that many were to friends and relatives I see every

week. Somethingdidn'tseem right, but I wasn't sure what.

Then I saw the "wishing well," the familiar Needy Fund Christmas symbol. A poster was asking me for my help. MY help?! But I help them every week, don't I? I always mention their causes in our church newsletters, on our bulletin boards and in the weekly bulletin.

I certainly do my part! Or do I? I began to wonder. I wondered why I thought I was immune to this plea for help. I wondered why I considered I was doing enough by being a messenger, a communicator. I wondered why I detached myself from the message. I wondered why I never gave a dime to these causes myself, but made sure others were aware of THEIR duty to help.

I put' down my cards. I knew what I had to do, wanted to do. I

figured out the cost of mailing my cards. I then wrote a check for that amount to the Needy Fund, put it in an envelope, addressed it, stuck on a stamp and dropped it in the mail slot. I felt wonderful!

Oh, I still send a Christmas card to Aunt Lucy who lives out of state and whom I don't see much. I send one to Dorothy, who resides in a nursing home and looks forward to her daily mail. I send one to my godchild who lives out west.

But the others, those who I see all the time? No, they didn't receive a Christmas card from me. Instead I helped, if only in a small way, some needy family or some lonely person to have a little merrier Christmas.

I know my Christmas was happier the year I realized that it's not enough to be a messenger.

Catholic Scholars lauded NEW YORK (NC) - New York Cardinal John J. O;Connor has described the Fellowship ofCatholic Scholars as a "superp" organization committed to "dynamic orthodoxy. " At a time when Pope John Paul II is being "vilified" by some as "an authoritarian dictator," the fellowship is a "counterbalance" and a "great consolation" to the church, the cardinal said.

Cardinal O'Connor spoke at a Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral closing the fellowship's recent 10th annual convention in New York.

In a keynote address, New York Auxiliary Bishop Edward Egan. declared American Catholics have become disillusioned with intellectual shallowness and "religious novelty" in the church and are returning to "the riches of authentically Catholic traditions."

And Msgr. George A. Kelly of St. John's University, New York, the fellowship's president, said at an opening press conference that "heresies and semi-heresies" are "fairly widespread" in today's church.

He said the fellowship, committed to defending and promoting church teaching, was formed in 1976 in response to a plea from Cardinal Gabriel-Marie Garrone, then head of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, for an alternative voice to American Catholic educators fostering independence from church authority. , Cardinal' O'Connor, in a' hom~' ily, noted the obligation of Christians to the poor. While it is heinous to deprive the poor of material needs, he said, it is "more heinous" to deprive them of truth.

Cheery holiday greetings to all our good friends and patrons. It's been a pleasure serving yOU.

.. ~

•• :

'

to":

. . ......

0.

GEORGE O'HARA Chevrolet - Cadillac 1001 KINGS HIGHWAY - NEW BEDFORD

.:.

,

.

MOTHER TERESA and Pope John Paul II last February at her House of the Dying in Calcutta. (NCj UPI-Reuter photo)

Being hitched to saint's Whirlwin.d, says producer DENVI;:R (NC) - Making a When you think of Mother you documentary film on Mother think of India, but her order is Teresa of Calcutta is an exhaust- active in 70 countries on all five ing but unforgettable experience, continents. said one of the new film's co"She works with the sisters and producers. brothers of her order in the slums "When you are hitched to a of New York, Chicago and Detroit. saint, it's a whirlwind," Ann Petrie She is in rich countries as well as said in a telephone interview from poor. She doesn't discriminate. her New York office. "I haven't She has a great sense of humanity," Ms. Petrie said. taken a break in five years."

Ms. Petrie said Mother Teresa Ms. Petrie, with her sister Jeanette, coproduced the film, "Mother does not make much of her celebTeresa," which opened in more rity status although she "recogthan two dozen U.S. cities in late nizes that part of her work is to speak not only to the materially November. poor, but also to the spiritually In an interview, with The Denver poorest of the poor."

Catholic Register, Ms. Petrie said "She is speaking to everybody, she and her sister "wanted to give people who may be desperately audiences an experience" of the lonely even though they are very nun. rich," Ms. Petrie said. "She has They also wanted audiences to extended her ministry to reach out see "what it would be like if you in different ways to touch the poor could travel with her, know Mother of another kind. and what she is about. With "She doesn't evangelize or try to Mother, what you see is what you convert," Ms. Petrie added. "She get. " only talks of the importance of Ms. Petrie, who has spent the God's love. I think in her heart she last two years editing the film on still prefers working directly with the founder of the Missionaries of people. The last time we saw her in Charity, said she and her sister met New York, the first place she visited Mother Teresa in 1976 through was her new AIDS house. She had their brother, Father William to see her people. In Calcutta, the Petrie, a Sacred Hearts priest who first place she goes is the House of has frequently been in the Fall the Dying."

River diocese and who works with Mother Teresa surmounts obstaMother Teresa in India. In 1982 cles "fearlessly," Ms. Petrie said. the sisters obtained Mother Tere"She has tremendous instincts sa's permission to film her at loca- for dealing with problems and tions including the House of the crises. She has the ability to be Dying in Calcutta and as she . secretary general of the United rescued orphans under fire in Nations or to run General Motors. " Beirut.

Ms. Petrie said Mother Teresa's "We found Mother very differ- "strength is her spirituality and ent from our original concept of faith." She spends four hours of her," said Ms. Petrie. "The first big her average l8-hourdays in prayer, shock was the breadth of her work. said the film maker.

Illegal Christmas Christmas, the high festival of our culture, is the one time during the year when we Puritan work ethic heirs take time out to celebrate. We don't have the joyous Oktoberfests, Mardi Gras and other festivals our Europea~ relatives enjoy. We package everything into December.

But I was surprised to learn that it was not always thus. Back in 1643, England's Roundhead Parliament banned all observance of saints' days and sternly forbade observance of Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide. And it stated determination to enforce the ban with troops.

In our own Puritan Massachusetts, it was likewise against the law to celebrate Christmas. The Great Court here decreed in 1651 "Anyb~dy who is found observing by abstmence from labor, feasting or any other way, any such day as Christmas day shall pay for every such offence five shillings." The law remained in effect for 30 years.

Why such restrictive laws and punitive attitudes toward a celebration of Jesus' birth? Part was due to the Reformation, of course. <;h.ristm~s celebrations, largely rehglOus m nature, were popish, <;atholic and unacceptable at a time when Catholicism was considered one ofthe great evils in society.

A second reason stemmed from the belief that to be sacred religion had to be grim and foreboding.

One did not smile in church nor proclaim joy in experiencing God's presence.

God was imaged as a stern and punitive taskmaster who kept a caref~l log of .our wrongdoings and Virtues, totmg them up daily to keep us aware of our eventual fate on that fearful day we would meet and answer to him. Celebrations were considered work of the devil, not of Christ.

We see vestiges of this still today - people who cannot smile at the exchange of peace because they are in church, parents who frown at c.hil~ren who frolic in the pew, panshlOners who won't chuckle ~ver a homily joke. But we're gettmg better as we discover a less forbidding God in our lives.

Some of the charismatic and evangelistic congregations discomfit us because they are so spontaneous and joyous. A few years ago, when I delivered a lecture on family before a large interfaith group, someone in the audience shouted out enthusiastically, "Amen, Sister," and two or three others echoed him. .1 was nonplused, stopped in mid-sentence and laughed. "You have to forgive me," I said. "I'm a ~atholic and this doesn't happen m our church. But I think it's wonderful." They reacted with applause.

The Puritan law makes me reflect on how we would observe Christ's birth today if it were illegal t~ do so. Let's pretend a totalitarian regime ruled our country, as it does others, and severely punished any open celebration ofthe holiday.

Gone would be department store materialism, parties, trees, trap-

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

By

19

Maronite editor retires

DOLORES CURRAN

pings that have subsumed the real celebration of Jesus' birth. In its p~ace w~ w~)Uld be furtively planmng qUiet hturgies and get-togethers to mark the religious meaning of the holiday.

If we were putting our lives or rep~tationson the line by acknowledgmg the significance of Christmas in our beliefs and ~aily lives, I wonder how precious the nativity scene would be and how meaningless the tinsel and gifts would become.

Would we be courageous enough to defy the law? What would we do in the secrecy of our homes to celebrate? Would we, like earlier Christian forebears, develop secret codes and meeting places? Would we risk our lives and jobs to celebrate an illicit Christmas liturgy?

I pray we will never have to face such decisions but thinking about it might help us put the real celebration of Christmas in perspective.

I?ETROIT(NC)-Msgr.Joseph Abl-Nader has retired for health reasons as editor of The Challenge, a semimonthly newspaper he .founded in 1978 for U.S. Maromte Catholics.

The newspaper's office will be transferred from St. Maron's Church in Detroit to Dover, N.H., where the new editor, Father Thomas Coover, resides.

A priest for 38 years, Msgr. AbiNader was vice chancellor of the U.S. Maronite Apostolic Exarchate

New Car? New Boat?

Personal loan?

Try us for prompt, pleasant service!

Can't Do It "You can give without loving ~ut ,rou cannot love without givmg. - Amy Carmichael

Now 11 convenient offices including Seekonk &: Taunton.

MACEDO ~n.61~"UYU 4 ACCREDITED ORTHOPEDIC APPL ANCE FITIERS ~~

r~1

L::

,

Frustrated HONG KONG - Many middle class Catholics are leaving Pakistan, frustrated in their efforts to gain upper-class economic and social status in an overwhelmingly Moslem nation after rejecting their lower-class origins, said a Pakistani priest.

and later chancellor when the exarchate was made a diocese in 1971.

PRESCRIPTION PICK路UP & DELIVERY 117

RO;:L~~E

AVE.

-Complete Ostomy Supplies -Private Fitting Room .

"Wheelchair~ For Sale Or Rent -Complete Line Of Convalescent Aids -Surgical Garments -Medicare路 Medicaid

ff!\!I

COMPLETE FAMILY SERVICE PHARMACY .

996-6768

DARTMOUTH STREET, NEW BEDFORD, MA

A letter to Santa

Proposed convent protested NEW YORK (NC) - Cardinal John Krol of Philadelphia has backed the American Jewish Committee's cal1 to postpone completion of a controversial Carmelite convent at the site of a former Nazi death camp in Auschwitz, Poland, said a Jewish official. Cardinal

K!ol plan!1ed to dis.cuss the issue wIth Cardinal Fran.ClSzek M.acharski of Krakow, saId Ra~bl Marc ~. Tan~nbaum, ~JC dIrector. of

Cornwell Memorial Chapel, 'nco

3000 GOVERNMENT JOBS List $16,040 - $59,230/yr.

InternatlOn~l.relatlOns. Ausch~ltz,

where 3 mlilton Jews. were kll1~d during World War. II, IS located In the Krakow archdIOcese.

5 CENTER STREET WAREHAM, MASS.

~ow

DIGNIFIED FUNERAL SERVICE DIRECTORS CEOICE E. CORNWELL EYEREn Eo IlAHIlIWI

Hiring

Call 805-687-6000 Ext. R-4240

295·1810

Remind us of Jesus and Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., who nonviolently gave their lives for justice and in so doing exerted a power greater than that of any nuclear weapon.

PROVIDING FINANCIAL GUIDANCE &

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IN SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SINCE 1825.

CD BANKOF NEW ENGLAND~ -

BRISTOL COUNTY

By Dr. James and Mary Kenny Dear Dr. Kenny: I haven't had a letter from you in more than 40 years. What would you like for Christmas? Santa (North Pole) Dear Santa: More than anything I would like peace on earth. I don't understand why, with life so short, we have to threaten and fight and kill one another.

Please help men and women to find other ways to settle their arguments. Let us share our arts and sciences. Give us courage to exchange our sons and daughters so they can meet one another in ordinar: am;~y Perltaps you can deSign an h •. r:lctiv·. ad for peace that we car. . JW on television during footbal1 games. Come up with something new, Santa.

And while you are at it, keep our 12 children safe. I can be happy as long as I know they are enjoying their lives, celebrating their existence with a hungry desire to know and touch the many wonders of this world.

I want to see an end to racism.

Not simply for my own biracial children but for all those innocent youngsters in South Africa and South America, minorities everywhere who because of their color face a life of prejudice and limited opportunities.

Member F.D.I.C.

Here is an easy one, Santa. I would like more hours in my days.

You can wrap them separately but I think about six extra would do. I . want time to be with my loved ones, to wander in the woods and

sometimes just to sit on the front porch and watch the world go by.

commercial greed out of Christmas.

Along with my extra time don't forget to give me good health to enjoy it. You see, I'm getting a little rickety, Santa. My shoulder aches with the weather. I tire more easily.

While you're at it, see if you can find the gift of a cure for all those suffering from AIDS, cancer and other such terrifying diseases.

Love, love, love. Bring us love, Santa, love for one another in the spirit of the baby Jesus, whose total giving and unconditional love you express so well. Teach us that it is in giving that we receive and' that the best gift of all is to give ourselves, our time and our hearts.

For "the gift without the giver is bare."

Most important, please do something to wake us up to the evils of materialism and greed. I know that we must be concerned about drugs and irresponsible sex, but I believe greed to be more dangerous. How many people waste their lives in pursuit of money. How many people commit grave uncharities buying·and selling, competing for promotions or selling drugs and weapons.

Tell us what to do to take the

Finally, Santa, I want more hugs. As a parent, as a psychologist, as a teacher and writer, I feel I am always reaching out to care for others. Sometimes I get weatherworn and feel put upon. Please take time to hug me before you disappear up our chimney.

Jimmy Reader questions on family living and child care are invited.

Address The Kennys; Box 872; St. Joseph's College, Rensselaer, Ind. A7978.

A letter to the future

By Hilda Young Dear kids: Your mom and dad - that's us - had our annual Christmas discussion tonight and decided to write you a letter to be opened some Christmas when you have families of your own.

We pray you are blessed like us with those special mornings of being awakened by pudgy fingers and candy cane whispers, excited little voices gasping out descriptions of the wonders Santa worked during the night. We wonder if you are groggy because you attended midnight Mass, then stayed up till 3 a.m. assembling a new bicycle.

We hope so.

Do you worry that your Christmas actions are teaching values different from your Christmas convictions?

We hope so.

Have you extended yourself beyond the limits of good sense and the budget to get "the present" for a child? Another time did you decide against "the present''?

We have done both, regretted both, rejoiced in both and learned from both. Both speak love and a lesson for both giver and receiver.

Will you experience this?

We hope so.

How will you feel when you realize you invested more in your Christmas tree than you gave at Christmas Mass? Did you forget to schedule Christ-centered activities for Advent until a week after it started and become convinced you are rotten examples to your children? Do you look for Jesus in the faces you see at shopping malls?

Are questions like these important to you? We hope so. .

We suspect you have continued the tradition of making designer cookies and graham cracker gingerbread houses for special friends. We are pretty sure you are discovering that gifts like crayons, coloring books and simple clay figures endure better than expe~­ sive, battery-powered plastic fantastics.

We hope so.

Will you combat your teens' shyness and awkwardness, putting together times to sing carols together, to pray together?

We hope so.

Love, Mom and Dad.

Let us all rejoice in the glow of a warm and loving Christmas season. We thank you for your patronage.

Mr. and Mrs. Monsour J. Ferris and Family

Venus de Milo Restaurant Route 6, Swansea, Mass.

Dec. 20 Dec. 27 Rev. Manuel S. Travassos, PasRev. Thomas J. Stapleton, Pastor, 1953, Espirito Santo, Fall River tor, 1956, Corpus Christi, Sandwich Rev. Msgr. Armand Levasseur, Dec. 21 Pastor Emeritus, 1970, St. Anne, Rev. Henri J. Charest, Pastor, New Bedford 1968, St. Mathieu, Fall River Dec. 28 Dec. 23 Rev. Charles R. Smith, Pastor, Rev. Owen J. Kiernan, Pastor, 1955, Immaculate Conception, Fall 190 I, Immaculate Conception, Fall RiveJ: River Rev. Charles P. Trainor, SS., Jan. 1 1947, St. Edward Seminary, SeatRev. Jose Valeiro, Pastor, 1955, tle, WA St. Elizabeth, Fall River Rev. Msgr. John A. Silvia, Pas- .

Rev. Antonio M. Fortuna, Pastor Emeritus, 1970, St. John Bap- tor, 1956, Immaculate Conception, tist, New Bedford New Bedford Rev. Francis R. Connerton, Dec. 24 Rev. James K. Beaven, Pastor, SS.STD., 1968, St. John's Seminary, Plymouth, Michigan 1886, Sacred Heart, Taunton Rev. Leo T. Sullivan, Pastor, Rev. Timothy J. Duff, Assistant, 1914, St. Joseph, Woods Hole 1975, Holy Name, New Bedford

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

21

Youth need understanding, not disapproval, says nun KANSAS CITY, Kan. (NC)Though teenagers are often viewed as bored or lacking faith, they have a deep faith and need understanding, not condemnation. said Sister Mary Beth Minges, a parish vouth minister. , Sister Minges surveyed 266 teenagers in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, then gave priests the same questions during a fan continuing education workshop for clergy.

"Youth carry around a lot of guilt and don't know how to get rid of it," the nun said. "The world tea-ches one thing and the church teaches another -- kids get caught in the middle. They need rules but they also need understanding."

Many adults think teens who don't goto Mass have no faith. ~he said, but young people are "not bored or unbelieving, but rathC.r· backing off from authority and struggling for independence."

Sister Minges said hers was nol a sociological study but an attempt

to present some views of teenagers to priests to help them bctter understand youth ministry.

"Not everyone has the gifts to work with young people," she said at the workshop. "Priests should not expect too much ot'themselves. ~ Survey results for both groups showed companionship. guidance and good examples as priorities.

Olher needs youths indicated were understanding, trust, responsibility 3"nd someone to listen to them. Needs the priests added were compassion, ownership, involvement and self--discipline. .

"Unresponsive" was how most of the youths and priests surveyed described the general attitude of young people towards parish involvement. Other descriptions were "'aid back," "unc'oncerned," "bored" and "in the dark."

Wh'en asked about the attitude ofadults in the parish toward teenagers, 41 percent of the youth said adults were "encouraging"

THESE SELF-EXPLANATORY T-shirts were the brainstorm of Helin Cristobal, left, and her husband Carlos. The gentleman in the center needs no introduction; Helincita. right, is the couple's daughter. The shirts are appropriate Christmas wear for sunny Miami, where the family lives. (NC photo)

Christmas cards: nuisance or blessing?

By Antoinette BOSt'o

~ For day~ I nsteried~' co~orier's and friends bemo'aned thefact'ihat they hadn't 'yet sent out their Christmas cards. Their comments come ac;:ross like complaints about an annual chore.

Certainly it is a big preoccupation for people in December and a big business too. The U.S. card manufacturers agree that Christmas cards are the most popular of all the 7 billion cards they produce each year.

This year alone, the prediction is that about 300 million Christmas cards will be sold over the counter and 1.7billion boxed cards sold for a value of about $700 million.

BJJt all this activity is certainly not just for the sake of business.

Christmas cards do have a meaning. If they didn't, busy people would soon break tbe-babit.

Most of,us send cards precisely

because they do have meaning.

They a.re a w8y.ofsbadng YoIith OUi friends and·loved ones the essence of what Christmas really means to

u,"

Spokespersons for the major card companies I interviewed said [hat Christmas as reflected in people's choice of cards is warmth, family, caring, giving, hearth, home, fireplace. holly, Santa, nostalgic scenes and religious feelings.

One said. "There's definitely a revival of religious cards."

Indeed, in researching the history of Christmas cards, I found that the Very first cards reflected the basic religious values of caring for others and sharing with them.

Back ·in 1843, Henry Cole. a British busine.ssman, started the idea of sending Chr·istmas cards. ,He had a three-panel car-ddesigned with a main illustration showing the elders a.t a family party raising wine- glasses in a toast.

The panels ondther side showed

two of the oldest Christmas traditions: feeding the hongryand clothing the needy.

When we send Christmas cards, we are sharing our belief that the world should be a place of peace where we care about one another.

Card~ reflect our relationship to each other, not only by saying "I'm thinking of you," but also by expressing basic Christian values.

As Christians we should see our holiday cards as a chance to spread the joy and peace ofthe lord from one person to another.

It appears that the card-buying public does have that intention since traditional themes b{lld priority position inChris~mas cardi year after year.

That original98rd whiChstal1ed the lovely tfal!itiorl of sendittg a caring message inside a small work of art bore the same greeting I send you today: "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!" .

Shelter funding changes concern groups WASHINGTON (NG) The gUidelines precede forthcomChurch officials are concerned that ing HUD regulations which Moran their programs for the homeless . said "would explicitly treal for the could be severely curtailed under fiT!lt time the Establishment Clause new Department of Housing and of the First Amendment" in block Urban Development guidelines for grant relulations. The luidelines distribution of Community Devel- limit the amount offunds an agency opment Block Grant funds. can receive if it is owned by D "per- .

The new guidelillC$, sent by HUD -1'uively sectarian" organization, assistant secretary Alfred Moran regardless of the nonsectarian to HU D regional offices, will have nature of the agency's work or a "dramatic" impact on services. clients served. said Father David Cousineau, exec"Pervasively sectarian" has been utive director of Catholic Charities defined to include such groups as forthe Archdiocese of Los Angdes. "churches, the Salvation Army, Block Grant funds are a major B'nai B'nth, the Young Men's funding source for shelters for Christian Association." troubled youths, drop-in centers, Moran said that an exception and emergency housing for battered can be made only if the funds in women and alcoholics. In. 1986, question a-re a minor part of tlJ,e the government bUdgeted $2.9 bil- expenditure for Ihe services as well lion for the grants. as relate directly to these services_

and are spent for a strllclure used exclusively for nonreligious purposes.

Mathew Ahmann, associate director for government relations at Catholic Charities USA, said Catholic Charities has "serious problems with the guidelines, which, he said, "go further than necessary~ in keeping church and state separate.

"They reach into an area where there has never been a problem," he said.

William Lightbourne, director of Catholic Chariti.es for the archdiocese of San Francisco, called the guidelines ironic, "at a time when the presidenlis calling on the private sector to assume a'larger respoDribilitffotthe poor;'

As we celebrate the Saviours birth, we . pray that Hi. blessings may abide with "you at Christmas an~ In the" day. to come.

The Officers & Employees of

Duro Industries, Inc. • Duro Finishing

• Duro Textile Printers

• Pionef'r Fin~shing

.....',

• Stret,ch YamB

• <GrayTe:xt,~.I~~, .,:

~~

TlIf AMCIIOR-Dioce~ of Fall River-Fri, Dec. /9, 1986

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River~Fri .. Do<. 19, 1986

Let's hear it from the kids Photos by Joseph Motta SHOREWAY ACRES IS ~~SOLD OUT"

St. Saviour Day Nursery, New Bedford

for our ULTIMATE VALUE • NEW YEAR'S GETAWAY

Question WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?

23

'2'\\ ,~ ~'" '~!~: ,I,)

.~

Christmas ,*..~:. Blessings

BUT

,•

We 8\ill have a few excellent accommodations, all with water-view,

at our nearby Green Harbor Motor Lodge.

.*

•.,*

•

•• •

* • • '*

OUR 2·NIGHT, 3·DAY CELEBRATION INCLUDES: .2 OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TWO • 2 ALL-YOU-CAN·EAT BREAKFAST BUFFETS

• 2 PREMIUM· ENTREE, FULL·COURSE DINNER5.

• 2 NIGHTS Of LIVE ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDING DANCE BAND AND NEW YEAR'S EVE

• •

•~

•

••

'*'

FLOOR SHOW • B.Y.O.B. LOUNGE • COMPLIMENTARY CHAMPAGNE, HATS, STREAMERS AND NOISEMAKERS AT MIDNIGHT

• RELAXING INDOOR POOL AND SAUNAS

The simple pleasures of Christmal!l!

~~O~~)o 'I, '

(PerPerwn, Per Day; Tt;uu & Gralultw Notlm:lulhd)

1;'

SPACE IS LIMITED. CALL TODAY

May you and your family share in all its wondrous joys. It'. been a pleasure , ~ serving you throughout the year.

ALL FOR JUST '56 50 In Ma8s. ealiloll·free 1.800-352·7100 or 617·540·3000 Shoreway Acree Resort/Green Harbor Motor Lodge Falmouth. Cape Cod, Ma8s.

LYNSEY GRACE: "Jesus was born in a stable with straw and hay, and when He was bisser He worked for His father.

He wanted to help His father bang the hammer and do the work helpins the people."

THE THREE to five-yearMoldsat 51. Saviour Day Nursery can hardly wait for their favorite holiday. Sisters of the Resurrection, from left, Sisters Mary Krystyna Kobielus, director; Casimira and Mary Bertha have told the kids all about the magic of Christmas. Moms and dads, be sure to tell Santa that Barbie and talking teddy bears are very much in~ogue among the preschool set!

LISA BETH COUTURE: "It's·Jesus' birthday, He had to come to open the gates of heaven so all the people can ~t in. Jesus had to live in the stable 'cause there was no room in any houses.

There was a little star in the sky and there were angels."

COLLINS CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. 55 Highland Avenue, Fall River

..

GOOD TIDINGS

t Hope you are surrounded with joy

LISA MORGAN: "It's Jesus' birthday. Christmas is a very nice day to go to church.

It's God's day."

May peace dwell within your heart.. bringing bauntlluljoy to you and yours this most beaulilut olseasons..,ChrlstmaL

- ~/~t<

GILBERT C. OLIVEIRA INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. L

""~,,

RICHARD MACHNOWSKI: "Santa Claus comes because he likes tacome on Christmas, because ies Jesus' birthday. He wu born in a stable; maybe He wanted to be born there. There were animals there. Maybe they liked Him to be born there!"

VICTORIA MOTA: "It's when Jesus was born. Sister Bertha toldme everything about Christmas. He wu born in Bethlehem. The angels !Aid to the shepherds that Baby Jesus was going to be born in Bethlehem and then they went to Bethlehem,"

and happiness this Christmas season..

Our best wishes to you and your family. \Th thank you fur your support throu8hOllt \he Y"'U".

IlMOTHY ZAJAC "It·s Jesus' birthday. Jews was born in Bethlehem; it's a little town. Joseph and Mary were poor people; they had to go in the\table witn sheeps and cows,"

Ctl4RIE"S OILCO..INC.

Happy holiday wishes from all the kids!

46 OAK GROVE AVE,

""~-''''''FALL RIVER wo!~MlW~'\~~~ ".. \'"\"';;.:,,;.i~"'>"i~:.~. -."'.~.,.)..~-.,.,."-.,(":,.,,.,,,,.,,_~ .*_"'\,.:."".,"'.'."',.~. ...,.,.i"·>.',.:"'.' ' '"' ':,,,,,.:,'' ',::'' ' ' ' ' ' ' , _-~ _ _~"."i.) ,.,,"II"' t,.J,1 ,"'..' .i .' , ,..'. '..6t.FZ. 44..rc 4C.t$ . ,..,.,,.;; ,_.v~j,J.""J:lII.. o:;:m.=_"=""I;l:;;:=",::::"",x:::::;;;~;;;~;;::tz:::::::

.e

=

c::::2

, 24

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

Bishop Feehan North AttlcboroscniorPaul L,.mbert has been selected by the faculty

and senior class as Feehan's recip. ient of the Massachusetts Daughters oftbe American Revolution Good Citi1en Award.

Recipients must exemplify leadership, dependability, service and patriotism. By hi5 selectiun, Paul becomes eligible to become a semifinalist in Massachuselts high

lect urgenll)' needed educational supplies and tools for students, farmers and war-displaced perlions Students deflated and solicited

materials for the drive.

First Place "lfa person's right to life is violated at the moment in which he is first conceived in his mother's womb, an indirect blow is struck also at the whole of the moral order which serves to ensure the inviolable l!oods of mankind.

AmoDll those goods, life occupies frrst place. ~ - Pope John Paull!

schools of comparable size, and from there to become a state finalist.

Feehanites recently completed an Advent project, "Gifts for Centrat America," a campaign to coL-

THE GIFT THAT SAYS,

"I LOVE YOU" THE HOLY FATHER'S

I'IlISSIO~ ArD

TO THE EASTERN CHURCHES

WHAT Cr"lS[llIas is Chris!"s Birthday

YOU 00 FOR OTHERS To show HIm

yeur love, ple<l5€ sacrifice something fm

YOU 00 HIS pOOl, In the Adelabad District, niba: villagers count

FOR HIM

o~ the ph.ysieaI and spiritu<l) support given by F;"lher M<llhai and ::;isters of Charily of TTichur. The!€ rl ..di· cated missioners ~ave given their Jives tothe trib<lls at India. The\! quiel woTk {or Ihe Church is done noll.vilh ser· mons. but with a lovinQ witness toChrL~ Will you help them? Refugee families live in m~Table camp.. in Ihe Gaza anc in Jordan. we can supply them with milk. cheese, MdflC>UT:or $20 amonth Thew,",unrl.,.danrl"T phaned children in Leoo.non can be eared for wi~h your of~ering Th0ago-d ilond homeless are ~hehe,ed, their Joneline~scomforted.by YOIJC kindneu. So m"nyneed$. so large the heartsof IMi! Calholk Mighbors! YOUI gift 10 tht missiOrls says. "I love you."

BUI what are mis.>lons? They afe people, no! numbers nO<" di5tanl places. They are cane~r and leprosy vil:lims. the blind. th.,. agpd. orphans "nd ob"nd"neLi d,;Ju,,,,,,, ho,"eless re{ugoles. Theyare lhe peoplefQ' whomOuis.\. became tin infant. What you do for the hungry, the shiv· ering. Ih....ba"don"d, you do I". Iii", How to <;elebrdte Christ's Birthda'p Gille Him thegifl of your s<ocrilic.... Give him your belt.",- ,;.elf, We'll ~nd your gffts to Ihe Holy Father's mission aid ,. and they .....ill be used eKactJy as you requ~st.

MISSION 0 $10.000 will help pUlchase a mDbiJe medical van "nd

GIFT

CHECK UST 0

put it on the road to bring IJeatment and diagnostic equipmenl 10 remole ,..eas of the Near East. can be b\dl {o, M,OOO. a stho~llor $5,000. The Bishop in Ihe diocese where construe· lion lilkeS place will \liTil.,. to you of the ptigJeSl; made.

A

cha~l

o

The Holy Fath.... uws ",ringle~ gifts- ill any amount ,1$500. $100, S50, $1.5, $1O} wheril asslS1anoe'js .n eeded most by the peoplw served.

-

o

It cosrs

S15 a month (:Ii'IBO a year} to train a nalive

pries\. FOJ the same amount, you can trilln a Sisler.

Paymen;s can be made at yOUT convenience when you choose to spanWI' a wm.imlrian or novice.

•

....

M..... ~

EnclosedlS$

-'--

~_ _

Please NAME _ _ ",,,,,.

STREET

o~

c.n

O'Shea and Roser Roy; juniors Ril;hard LaMothe and Peter Pre-

court; sophomores Michelle Boivin. Christine Couture.

Andrea

Greene., Duid Melanson and Mel-· ina Vil!lilIo and {rnhmen Daniel AlveS", Nitole' Dotthe' and ebliStina~"'e1Ie,

r,'" .'.

.

~

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE Graduale Program.

In Rell9loua Studl•• Spring Cqurses

.._ _...........

(Sts"s January 26, 1987)

Biblical Studies HI8kNy Of ,

In

_........

Terence Keegan. O.P. ._Monday 7 to 9 p.rn.

T.A. CoIllRe. G.P. 'H

TueaOaY 7 to 8 p.m._

Helen O'Neill, OP.

...Wednwelay 7to 9 p.m.

Pn:rpbIItIC: F.

Or. Patrick V. AfHd _.Thursday 7to 9 p.rn.

CIIuIoh Sf. Mary Ann FOllmer

...Monday 3:45 to 5:45 p.m.

Ctvttt:WordenclRI ' •• _ MattheW F. Motry,O.P. , _.Tt*day 3:45105;45 p.m.

IobeL.lllE>dfo"

GOt/POn IYit!l your

138 students at Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton, are listed on the first quarter honor roll. 41 seniors, 37 juntors, 33 sophomores and 'IT freshmen made the grade, with 16 earning high c' honers, "Fhey' are sertjt'l'rs..char~' BartGn, Jodi Boudreaurt; LaU:he Houghton. Amy Larocque. Mary

Religious Studies

co

38

Coyle and Cassidy

_

PrIncIpIM of ..... DecHIon 'STATo;

,,,,,

_

La~ 00nQhQ0. O.P.

...Wednesday ~45lo 5:45 p.m. " •• r .If Chwdt HIatcMy

----

Thomas McConIgle,O.P. _.ThtI....y 3:45 to 5:045 p.m.

CATHOLIC NEAR EAST JOtiH CARDINAL O'CONNOR. Pre""'t MSGR. JOHN G, NOLAN, NllIkMal $ecrettlry

CATHOUC NEAR EAST WElF-'RE ASSOCI,6,TION 1011 ,Finrt AV8(Ille .. New York. N.Y. 10022 Telephone: 212/826-1480

.......

_p~,~ n..... .....1gIo... StudIeIi

PnftlldlNlce CaIIege .PnwIdIr-. R.I. 02e1.

or ClIIt (401) 186-2274 _ _ ...../Hl

FATHER Rene G. Gauthier, second from left, pastor of St Jean Baptiste parish, -Fall River, models his new parish school jack.et, pn:::sented to him by St. Jean Baptiste School students in appreciation for his support of the school. The jackets. in several styles, bear the school's name and logo.

Presenters of the gift were, from left, fourth-grader Christopher Rego. sixth-grade class president Melissa Costa and principal John F. Brown. (Motta photo)

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

DENMARK'S Pharmacy

25

.ElllS~~~Rr~~~::CISTS

. @) ·

Invalid Equipment For Rent or Sale Surlical Garments - Bird· IPPB Machines - Jobst • Hollister - Crutches - [Iastic Stockinls Surlical & OrthopedIc Appliances • Trusses - Ol'len - ' OIYlen Masks, Tents & Relulators . Approved For Medicare

~

i

"Hit'

(HA.O,

~j~ 24 :~.H~~:E~~~:~~.I~::~~:VIC( IlOS

~

r.

673 Main St., Oennllport - 398·2219

7

nO~~1810

~'~

rjJJJ

550 McArthur IIYd., Rte. 28, Pocasset 30 Main St., Orleanl - 255-0132

509 Kempton St., Ne. Bedford - 113-0492

~(""MOOf'

FOLLOWING Midnight Mass at 51. Peter's Basilica, Pope John Paul II places a figure of the Infant Jesus in a manger. (NC/UPI photo)

scattered. Unjust witnesses, rising up, have asked me things I knew not."

His death and resurrection: "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

"They divided my garments amongst them and upon my vesture they cast lots."

Clearly, this Child was expected and anticipated. The Old Testament paints a picture of a people who felt helpless until their Redeemer came. They needed help from on high and they were waiting. And we wait today for that sanctifying grace which only the Lord can give.

The Child had humble beginnings. ,"Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he. that shall humble himself shall be exalted." This is his law of humility. It is a law, of "reverse effort," showing us that we achieve precisely the opposite of what we seek when our spirit is wrong. He believed that if you keep yourself off the center of the stage, others will put you there. In a day of selfinflation, this is good to remember.

The Child came for all man-

(PARAMOUNT PHARMACY)

"Russia will spread her errors throughout the world causing wars and persecution of the church."

Mary at Fatima

A brother, a Redeemer

By Cecilia Belanger His birthplace was foretold by Micheas: "And thou, Bethlehem, art a little one among the thousands of Judah: out of thee shall he come forth to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning." And "Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel."

The Child came into the world bearing its responsibility. His public life was prophesied: "Behold, I send My angel, and he shall prepare the way before My face." And how familiar are the words "The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord."

The entrance into Jerusalem was envisioned: "Rejoice greatly, 0 daughter of Sion; shout for joy, 0 daughter of Jerusalem: Behold thy king will come to thee, the Just and Saviour."

The betrayal and passion were seen: "And they weighed for my wages 30 pieces of silver." Our Lord's abandonment by his apostles and the false witnesses who swore against him: "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be

July 13, 1917

kind, the humble, the high,' the weak, the strong. Whoever honors him finds a brother and a Redeemer.

BISHOP CONNOLLY HIGH SCHOOL 373 ELSBREE STREET FALL RIVER

MAKE

•

UP EXAM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1986 8:00 A.M. FEE: $5.00

Christmas statement DURBAN, South Africa (NC) - Seven South African religious leaders said the country's state of emergency contradicts the meaning of Christmas.

The clergymen, including Catholic Archbishop Denis Hurley of Durban and Anglican and Protestant leaders, also called on the government to take steps toward "lasting peace. "The steps included negotiations with organizations currently banned.

The leaders urged church members to pray and fast more intens~ly than ever for peace.

They said that "sensitive Christians" would be disturbed by Christmas parties, presents, carols. and religious services because of

the thought that "almost 500 children will spend Christmas in detention, that thousands more have been detained since the emergency was declared" and "when we think ofthose who have been tortured or who have lost their lives in various ways, the millions without jobs, the chaos in black schooling."

"How can we ignore the presence of thousands of troops in the townships, the severe restrictions on news and information, the curbs on the right of people to meet and make their views known, the fear in the hearts of so many?" the churchmen asked.

"True peace is impossible without justice," they said.

563-2203

This Message Sponsored by the FollowIng Business Concerns in the Diocese of Fall River DURO FINISHING CORP. FALL RIVER TRAVEL BUREAU GILBERTC. OLIVEIRA THE EXTERMINATOR CO. GLOBE MANUFACTURING CO. INS. AGENCY

....

..

26

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 19, 1986

piping s)'stems

inc~

X·RAY QUALITY PIPE FABRICATION SPRIN~lERS • PROCESS PIPING PLUMBING. GAS FITTING. HEATING

32 Mill Street (Route 79) P.O. Box 409 Assonet, MA 02702 644-2221

We're

Better Together Falmouth~

Durfee ~ Attleboro

dicI

National

dicI

Members Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

;r;~~--:;;;<f.:

POSITION AVAILABLE MIDDLE - JUNIOR HIGH GRADE TEACHER

MATH/RELIGION ST. GEORGE SCHOOL AMERICAN LEGION HIGHWAY WESTPORT, MASS.

CONTACT: SR. LEA 636-2644

Something Different For Christmas?

GIVE A GIFT WEEKEND AT

LaSALETTE RETREAT HOUSE ATTLEBORO, MASS. FOR

"MIDDLE-AGED CRAZIES" FOR COUPLES MARRIED 15-25 YEARS!!

JANUARY 23·25, 1987 $90.00 per couple CALL RETREAT HOUSE FOR CERTIFICATE

222-8530

::.:"':',1<",.,.

::~: ....:

}:~ __ ,<;~

THE TRANQUILLITY"o{ at least one part ofthe world that coastal New England scene. (NC/ UPI photo) 'c

.A<-.

""",

t':%M:"';"'-·:~~_L~:;.'-

•

-'::,'"''

at peace is reflected in this

Papal message calls for peace Continued From Page 17 solidarity with the whole human .., family."

"Seeking economiC, military or political superiority at the exp~nse of the rights of other natIOns places in jeopardy any prospect~ for true development or true peace, he added.

"I appeal for further efforts to reduce arms to the minimum necessary for legitimate defen~e, and for increased measures to aid the developing countries .become selfreliant," the pope said.

"All states are inevitably affected by the poverty of other states; all states inevitably suffer from the lack of results of disarmament," he added.

Regarding the foreign debt of poor countries, the pope asked greater cooperati?n amon~ lender and borrower nations and mternational financial institutions.

"Ma~y aspects of this issue protectionism, pric~s of raw materials, priorities in mvestment, respect for obligatio~s contrac~ed as well as consideratIOn of the mternal condition of the debtor countries - would benefit from s~ek­ ing in solidarity those solutlOn~ that promote stable development, he said.

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of th~ Pontifical Co~­ mission on Justice and Peace, said Dec. II that the Vatican is planning to issue a separate document soon on the world foreign debt situation.

In his peace message, the pope also said that "new and powerful divisions are appearing between the technological haves and havenots." . " Because of this inequall.ty a more open sharing of ap~lIcable technological advances With I~ss techologically advanced cou.n tnes becomes an ethical imperative of solidarity," he said.

"The sharing of technology or information to avert disasters or to improve the quality of life of

people in a par.ticu~ar area ~i!1 contribute to solldanty and faCIlitate further measures on a wider level," he said.

At the same time, the pope opposed scientifically advanc~d countries making other countnes "the testing area for doubtful experiments or a dumping ground for questionable products."

Another threat to peace is the breakdown of the family because it is the basic unit of society, Pope John Paul said.

"Conditions that are beneficial to families promote the harmony of the society and nation, and this in turn fosters peace at home and in the world," he said.

"In too many societies, the family has become a secondary element," he said. "It is relativized by various forms of interference and it often fails to find in the state the protection and support that it needs."

The pope cited "the phenomena of broken families, offamily members forced to separate for survival, or unable even to find shelter."

The harmful effects of such phenomena are seen in "the frightening spectre of young children who are abandoned or forced into the marketplace," the pope said.

"We find children and young people in shanty towns and in the large impersonal cities where they find meager sustenance and little or no hope for the future," he said.

Such youths become victims of "drug abuse, alcoholism, transient and meaningless sexual relations, exploitation by others," the pope said.

What Message Is The Peace Day message is more than a plea to world leaders to resolve the main threats to world peace. . .

It is also an urgent call for mdlviduals and nations to see that lasting peace cannot be achieved unless "we truly grasp that we are brothers imd sisters in a common humanity."

The pope defines this as pr~b­ lem-solving from the perspective of human solidarity.

Unless problems are examined from this viewpoint, chances of lasting solutions are limited, the pope warns.

"The underlying challenge to all of us is to adopt an attitude of social solidarity with the whole human family and to face all social and political situations with this attitude," says the Peace Day message, released Dec. II. World Peace Day is celebrated Jan. I. "What unites us is so much more than what separates and divides us: It is our common humanity," it says.

"To look into the eyes of another person and to see the h~pes .and .anxieties of a brother or sister IS to discover the meaning of solidar.ity," the pope says. .

Applied to governments thiS means that policies must be based on "the radical equality of all men and women." States should foster "policies and programs that build open and honest relations~ips among peoples, that forge Just alliances, that unite people in honorable cooperation."

In international relationships it means nations must deal with each other "as equal partners."

"Seeking economic, military or political superiority at the exp~nse of the rights of other natIOns places in jeopardy any prospects for true development or true peace," the message says.

The peace message expresses optimism that such an approach will work. .

"We are witnessing a growing collective desire..-- to help the less fortunate members of the human family," it says.

The message cites the international aid response to the millions of drought victims in sub-Saharan Africa.

"The human spirit can and does respond with great generosity to the suffering of others," it says.

THERE'S NO DOUBT about 2-year-old Sheli Thompson's belief in Santa Claus. (NC/UPI photo)

Does Jesus believe in Santa Claus?

By Father John Shea For the average Christian, the question of faith and culture is never clearer than' when the first Salv~tion Army Santa Claus stations himself at the door of the shopping center. Is that Santa Claus a threat to the t,rue meaning of Christmas or a way into the heart of the mystery?

Many. people think the faith should be kept pure. They decry all the cultural trappings of the Christmas season. They think the commercialism of it all has supplanted the essential message. They point to Christmas cards with reindeer and "Have a Good Day" message; to orgies of gifts which leave people empty on the inside; to rounds of parties that turn the season into glazed eyes and slurred speech.

It seems that everything is emphasized but the religious meaning of Christmas. Their strategy is to go back to the spiritual truth of the core story and jettison the rest. , Another crowd of Christians delights in all the cultural hubbub of Christmas. It is a season of peace andjoy so let's celebrate. All the customs and traditions which have grown up around Christmas are applauded and appropriated.

Often there seems to be little discrimination. Midnight Mass, breakfast afterwards, and the opening of gifts are all on the same level.

The caricature of this attitude is the rhetorical question, "Don't you think a Yuletide party is sort of a secular eucharist?" If the first group sees faith as standing adamantly against contemporary culture, this group tends to see faith and culture as the best of chums.

To the surprise of no one, there is a middle way. Faith does not have to isolate itself completely from cultural forms nor embrace them wholeheartedly. Some of the cultural customs surrounding Christmas accurately and creatively convey its fundamental meaning. ·Other customs and expressions seem to have little connection with the core celebration. Still others positively pervert the Christmas mystery. Sorting out and making

judgments is the name of the game.

Besides feasting and "food, glorious food," stories are the staple Christmas fare. They app.ear ·in. written, film, dramatic, and musical form, but one story stands above all and gave birth to all the rest. Within the Christian tradition there are primary and secon, dary stories, and both are needed to fully express the faith. . the primary' stoiles are' those enshrined in the sacred writings, in our case the birth narratives in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The secondary stories are all the countless tales which have grown up around the gospel stories. The response of each culture to the story of the birth of Christ is to tell other stories an<!,extend the meaning of this central proclamation.

So let us spike the eggnog, trim the tree, put on Pavarotti, write the cards, stuff the bird, plum the pudding, mince the pie, sing the

carol, build the snowperson, log the fire, and, for a moment, connect the birth of Christ with Rudolph the Red-N osed Reindeer.

There are those that push and those that get pushed. There are those who decree a census and those who must travel, pregnant or not, to register. In this rendition of the story the emphasis is on the stable-birth of Christ the outcast.

Joseph and Mary on the donkey are itinerants; the inn is crowded; their only refuge is among the animals. This is not the stuff of sentiment but the cruel facts of poverty. But in the story, this baby on the edge of the world will grow into a man with no place to lay his head who is the revelation of ultim'ate power.

It is no accident that kiddie Christmas tales seize on this theme.

For the most part, children are powerles.s, yet in their very vulnerability they have the power to heal and reveal. The Little Drummer Boy has only a tune, yet it is that which makes Christ smile. It is the gift of the Littlest Angel that is deemed worthy of the Christ child.

It is around a junked, brokendown tree with a top-heavy star that the Peanuts gang realize the meaning of Christmas in"A Charlie Brown Christmas." And it is no accident that it is the loser Charlie Brown who intuits the truth of it all.

It is Rudolph, the Rejected One, who is not allowed to "play in any reindeer games", who becomes the light in the darkness, the one who shows the way. Could these tales reflect a reality that "deposes the mighty from their thrones and raises the lowly to high places',?

Christmas is a feast of release. It touches so deeply the intersection of the divine and the human that it unleashes boundless creative energies: It may be true that much 'of the lore, customs, and tales of Christmas can forget their roots, take on a life of their own, and not witness to the truth of the long-ago child.

But it is also true that the cultural Christmas stories can express and reflect the ways of the God who revealed himself in the child of Mary's joy.

Reprinted by permission from U.S. CATHOLIC, published by Claretian Publications, 221 W. Madison, Chicago, Ill. 60606;(312) 236-7782.

1986 CHRISTMAS

Festival of Lights "Light

Our

Wa.y"

wgut Re.Ug.io(U v,wpR.a.y 01, Ugh.t6 .in the CourWt.y

C~

OPEN EVERY EVENING NOVEMBER 27th THRU JANUARY 1st Weekdays: 5:00· 9:00 P.M. 'Weekends: 5:00· 10:00 P.M.

FREE ADMISSION & PARKING G4U VISIT mE SHRINE GIFT SHOP!

The £..aJtgut -6e.iecUon 01, Re.i.<.g.iOU6

La Salette Shrine

iff ....:~~

Pastor apologizes for "Father Grinch"

May the joys of this Holy Season fill your hearts.

Good tidings to our fine friends and patrons.

~

II

feltelbeig Insurance FALL RIVER TRAVEL 154 No. Main Street Fall River

A ..

.,

\'

~. .

-r

,

\"/

C<0

/'

/~~? /~~)

:Y

:/!:,/\7~

. '.

",

._.'

'f/ ~

t.

'.

/

(

0,

,

\'

. ,.",~. ,.tt«':

,.'

.

..

..

..

: i'

, ,

.

1

'. ill

I

,

...<t

'.

...

... _

.if ,

~ "it 'fI'"'' ,JIt. 4,.

/

0,

. .

'

,$

.j

..

,~ ~~

:" c... · , ' •.•.·,d.....

"

~';

./,._

"

f", {l,r":"~,~,'", '",./.,' • " ~~$.~~~;t• ..t

I!'_..

Wishing all the blessings of the Holiday Season to you and your loved ones. We hope that you will always find peace and contentment, guided by that everlasting light that led the shepherds to the Holy Child. Have a happy Christmas season. '

THE LeCOMTE FAMILY LEO • JOHN· • ROLAND JR. Bakers of America's Favorite HOLSUM BREAD ..

., / .',

...-/~)'~,'

.A

I'

f"

"' <.'

,

/

'\'