12.21.78

SERVING

t eanc 0 VOL. 22, NO.

so

MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

FALL RIVER, MASS., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1978

20c, $6 Per Year

B1ishop Cr:onin's Christmas Message

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Christmas 1978

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Dearly beloved in Christ, "This day in David's City a Savior has been born to you, the Messiah and Lord." (Luke 2:11) This joyful proclamation from the Gospel of Saint Luke heralds the Feast of Christmas for all of us. It is indeed a time of celebration, for we remember today that Jesus, the eternally begotten Son of the Father, was born of the Virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit.

M A N U € L

SOUTHEASTE~N

What a great mystery we celebrate! God has become Man. What greater love could the Father bestow on us than by sending his Divine· Son, filled with enduring love, to dwell among us. There is cause for much rejoicing today and throughout this blessed Christmas Season.

However, this Feast beckons us not only to remember the love of God which has been shown us in Christ Jesus.

It also challenges us to respond to his love with our love.

GOD WITH

us

The celebration of the Lord's Nativity calls us to allow the Savior to dwell with us, to let him be born in us today.

Then, and only then, will the full meaning of this holy day be clear. For we ourselves will have grown in his grace, and others around us will know that the Messiah and Lord, born in David's City nearly two thousand years ago, continues to dwell, in a marvelous way, in our cities and towns through his holy people, the Church of God, which is his Body.

I take this occasion to extend to one and all throughout the Diocese prayerful good wishes for an abundance of God's choicest blessings during these blessed days of Christmas.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Bishop of Fall River

2

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall Ri,,:er-Thur., Dec. 21, 1978

CHRISTMAS AT CARMEL: Bishop Cronin, assisted by Msgr. John J. Oliveira, gives Holy Communion to a member of the Carmelite Monastery of Christ Crucified and Mary Mediatrix in South Dartmouth. The com-

munity, cloistered contemplatives following the ancient Carmelite rule of life, is praying particularly for the Fall River diocese during its 75th jubilee year. (Rosa Photo)

IEvery Door Had a Banner about Peace and Love l Has your parish a goal?

What are your plans?

If you have no goal, should you have one, and how should you move towards it?

These were the questions put to nearly 200 parish and school l~aders by Sister Marjorie Tuite, OP at an all-day leadership conference held last Friday at Holy Name parish center, New Bed;'ord.

The widely known expert in group dynamics and leadership t.echniques tied her presentation t.o the Fall River diocesan jubilee t.heme, "Restore All Things in Christ."

"As a diocese," she said, "you have agreed to articulate in words the vision which makes you continue struggling."

During the day she discussed practical techniques for reaching the goals expressed "by all our neat words." Each parish was asked to "write a goal clarifying its task and making it realizable In terms of the vision of the diocl'!se."

"We should reflect on the journey of Jesus together," said

Sister Marjorie. "We live in relationship to others and a corporate vision differs from a personal vision." However, she added, "the journey is a question without many answers."

She warned against a "client and product mentality" with regard to a parish. "If I don't like a particular parish, I'll just look for a better product." A client, she said, "doesn't want to

change things or take responsibility for them."

Some people, she continued, "want to make Jesus deliver products - they want him to heal them, feed them, listen to

SISTER MARJORIE TUITE explains leadership technique to William Bancroft, Holy Name Church, New Bedford; Father Marcel Bouchard, diocesan assistant director of religious education; and Mrs. Margaret Cotillo, CCD coordinator at St. Patrick's parish, Falmouth. (Rosa Photo)

them."

On the parish level, this is the attitude that waits for Father to tell us what to do - and blames him if anything goes wrong. If,said Sister Marjorie, a leader likes this relationship and those led don't mind it either - "at least lay it on the line and make it clear to people what's going on."

Then, she said, there's the privacy relationship: "you do your thing, I'll do mine and we'll wave." Epitomizing such a situation, she related the story of a convent she visited, where "every door had a banner :tbout peace and love - and every door was closed."

In some parishes, she continued, people meet on such a level, with every .organization out for itself and no common meeting ground. "You can't move together like that towards the vision of this diocese."

A better relationship, she said, is that of a healthy tension between leaders and the led. She decried the attitude on the part Turn to Page Three

THE ANCHORThurs., Dec. 21, 1978

Religious Heads Asked to Assist Asian Refugees GENEVA, Switzerland (NC)The head of U.S. Catholic refugee services has asked U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Paul Hartling, to summon the world's religious leaders and seek their help in handling the growing tide of refugees from Southeast Asia.

John E. McCarthy, director of Migration and Refugee Services of the U.S. Catholic Conference, made his plea during a meeting with Hartling and representatives of 34 governments in Geneva.

"It is quite evident that a solution of this problem will not be found by dealing with goveITIments alone," said McCarthy, who is also president of the International Catholic Migration Commission.

It is vital that the citizenry of the world take the initiative in providing new life opportunities for these tens of thousands of drowning and dying escapees," he said.

McCarthy asked the commissioner to convoke the world's religious leadership, including Pope John Paul II, and ask them to call on their members to aid the Southeast Asian refugees.

He said that the person-toperson rescue system has proven effectiveness,. providing its homes, employment and resettlement opportunities for over a million people.

McCarthy said the U.S. Catholic Church has guaranteed to provide resettlement opportunities for about 7,000 Southeast Asian refugees a month for thp first six months of 1979 in response to the U.S. government's authorization to admit 50,000 during the early months of 1979.

Family Duties Synod Theme

3

Two Masses Since Christmas falls on Mon.. day this year, Catholics haV«l two distinct obligations to attend Mass, one for Sunday and onl! for the holy day.

The Sunday obligation may bll fulfilled at a Saturday vigil Mass or at any Mass this Sunday.

'The Christmas day obligation may be fulfilled at any Mas!l after 4 p.m. Sunday or at any Mass on Monday.

One Sunday evening Mass does not fulfill both obligations!

The same obligations will hold for the New Year weekend.

WHAT'S CHRISTMAS without cookies, and CYO members at Espirito Santo Church, Fall River, made sure that parish shut-ins and nursing home residents got their share of holiday treats. From left. Joseph Pereira, Maria Aguiar, Linda Mello, Gorette Oliveira, Odilia Jacob. (Torchia Photo)

'Every Door Had a Banner' Continued from Page Two

around a pastor," accepting his of some leaders that "they're not style of leadership and supplying ready for it," when a new pro- what's lacking.

"If he's not a 'people person,' gram or method of doing things that he may be very 300d accept is suggested. at organizational details, for in"We should not determine the stance." readiness of other people," she In the practical realm, the relideclared, recalling that when gious suggested that when it is Jesus "empowered the woman at the well to spread his message, necessary to talk to a person in he didn't go with her in case she authority, someone with the same type leadership style did it. wrong." should be selected. "If you were Pointing also to the "rich talking to Archbishop Jadot, the young man who went away sorapostolic delegate, for instance, rowful," she admitted that no he would hear you if you spoke parish will ever have fullparticiof the needs of people. Another pation of all members, "but we person might hear if you dismust continue." cussed financial details or camJesus did not call people to a paign plans." role, said Sister Marjorie. "If Goals must be concrete, so your role-whether it be pastor, you know if they're being teacher or coordinator-hinders achieved, said Sister Marjorie. you from attaining your vision"Spreading the gospel is a vision, get out of that role. A school but how you do it is a goal." should not be an empire - but "If I understand God as tranjust a vehicle moving towards the vision. And a parish council should be doing more than talking about paving the parking lot."

Discussing types of leadership, the Dominican said that whether authority is vested in a pastor or parish council "makes no difference; you've changed nothing but the faces of the people at the top." Instead of a pyramid model for a parish, with power at the top, she suggested a circle model, with all striving towards one goal.

"No matter how much you can do alone, it's not as much as a group can do," she pointed out.

But recognizing the reality of pastor-directed parishes, she suggested that others "build up

VATICAN CITY (NC) - "The Duties of the Christian Family in the Contemporary World" will be the theme of the 1980 world .

Synod of Bishops meeting.

The theme is not a surprise.

Family life as a synod topic was proposed as early as 1972, when the Canadian bishops suggested it.

Reliable Rome sources, however, said Pope Paul VI was reluctant to choose the theme for fear it would stir renewed controversy over his reaffirmation that artificial contraceptives are contrary to church teachings.

Under Pope John Paul II, the' forthcoming meeting could take on a new aspect. He has stressed collegiality in the exercise of papal authority and has mentioned the synod as an area where collegiality could be improved.

He has attended each of the five synods held since 1965 and Bishop Daniel A. Cronin will was a member of the group's celebrate Mass on live television pprmanent council, which meets at 9 a.m. Christmas Day on betweeI1 full convocations.

WTEV·Channel 6, New Bedford.

Music for the special Mass will be directed by Father William G. . Campbell, associate pastor at Keep Christ in Christmas Holy Name Church, Fall River, and music consultant for the diocese.

Christmas Mass

scendent and Jesus only as the Son of God, I will understand the church as hierarchical and my ministry as being to the people; if I understand God as immanent and Jesus as living in history and in the church as a community of people, then I will understand ministry as of the people."

But people need not agree in order to struggle together toward the vision, she told her hearers, adding, however, that "we won't reach the goal because we're good people trying. We need a plan, we can't stay in the 'offer it up' generation."

Time was allowed in the day for parish groups to "dream or scheme" towards their vision and the program closed with a "rite of sending forth" for all participants. Bishop Cronin was present for the beginning and ending of the day.

Necrology January 1 Rev. Jose Valeiro, 1955, Pas· tor, St. Elizabeth, Fall River Rev. Antonio M. Fortuna, 1956, Pastor, Immaculate Con· ception, New Bedford Rev. Francis R. Connerton, SS., S.T.D., St. John's Seminary, Plymouth, Michigan Rev. Leo T. Sullivan, 1975, Pastor, Holy Name, New Bed· ford January 4 Rev. Eugene L. Dion, 1961, Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River

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Apr. 9th

Holy Scripture comes alive for you as

you walk the Way of the Cross. Your faith takes deeper meaning as you pray where

,tood the 'Iable in Bethlehem or kneel in Ihe Garden of Gethsemane.

You will gaze oul over the Jordan Valley from atop the Mount of Jericho. vi,it Nazareth, Cana, Mount of Beatitudes. many other holy place,.

PAPAL AUDIENCE. On your relurn you'll ,top for a pilgrim, visit to Rome and a thorough tour of

Ihe Vatican and the Eternal City.

The lint ,tep i, to ,end in thi, coupon todar. By relurn mail YOU will receive a fact· packed folder which lell, YOU what you can expect eyery moment of. an unforgellable exDetlence.-----l John J. R,\,n IP~!t'1

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thur., Dec. 21,1978

themoorin~

the living word

Wholly Night

The American Civil Liberties Union is doing it again.

This Christmas, as in years past, they have renewed their efforts to secularize this holiday that means so much to so many Americans. As an example of their activities, one might mention the present suit they have filed to ban nativity scenes from government properties, charging, as is their wont, that the use of public money violates constitutional separation of church and state.

In a clearly secular tone, a spokesman for the organization openly supported current distorted attitudes towards Christmas.

Speaking for the Illinois division of the ACLU, Jay A. Miller, its executive director, was quoted as saying, "The nativity reflects an attitude. It promotes one religion. We a.re not talking about Christmas trees and Santa Claus, but the nativity was taken from the Bible and is clearly a religious thing."

In this case, as in many other situations, the real claim that is being offered to the American people is that irreligion must enjoy equal status with religion as a constitutional imperative. This attempt of the ACLU is yet another effort to achieve this end, namely the total and complete secularzation of this country.

Because of such determined efforts, religion is coming to be regarded as a disreputable category and religious people themselves are being taught to internalize the secularist contempt of religion under the guise of separating church and state.

It has come to pass, even in our own commonwealth, that any activity by religious people that threatens the secular state in any area is blamed on religion. Such an atti:tude would have us all a secular society whose institutions presuppose our civic willingness to give every outward appearance of being agnostics. It is irreligion that now claims preferred status.

This Christmas season is a time for all who sincerely Sleek the truth to openly and clearly state that the secular position is false. It rests on a confusion of categories. The believer is expected by such a mind to act and behave as if he or she didn't believe; he is to treat his own belief as if it. were false, simply because others can't be asked to treat it as if it were true. This is ridiculous and absurd, not only within the context of religious belief, but of any belief.

In reply to the ACLU and other organizations that would have us establish irreligion, let us this Christmas seaspn of 1978 reaffirm to our shopping mall society that all religion implies a divine communication that is true and authoritative; that in Bethlehem there is embodied for all men not only truths about the universe but also personal obligations.

All of us committed to religious belief must realize that the application of even a simple principle may be v,ery complicated in the world in which we now live; but the obligation to apply such principles to our Uving is not on that account lessened.

Christmas is a time for religious people to insist that "human rights" include not only the right to dissent but also the right to worship. Mayall of us exercise that right this festal holy day, this hopeful day that will give strength to personal faith, this joyful day that tells all that the Light has come to dispel the darkness of men's minds.

Without Christ, the ACLU should realize that the' holy night is truly wholly night, the dark night of faithlessness.

theanch~

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

Published weekly by The Catholic Press of the Dioc.es,e of Fall River' 410 Highland Avenue Fall River, Mass. 02722 675-7151 PUBLISHER Most Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, D.O., S.T.O.

EDITOR .~ev.

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR Rev. Msgr. John J. Regan

John F. Moore ~

leary Press-Fall River

•

'0 Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel, who openest and no man shutteth, who shuttest and no man openeth, come and bring out of his prison house the captive that sitteth in darkness and in the shadow of death.' Job 12:14

IGolden Fleecing l of Helpless Elderly

By Father Thomas Haney Father Haney is executive editor of The Catholic Witness, Harrisburg, Pa. The Roman Stoic philsopher Cato observed that "old age has deformities enough of its own.

It should never add to them the deformity of vice." I would like to paraphrase his statement to read: "The deformity of vice should never be added to old age."

Yet this is exactly what is being done by unsctupulous insurance agents and companies who are bilking the elderly of as much as $1 billion a year in overlapping and unnecessary medical insurance.

These slick, smooth-talking agents use an average-man approach with a veneer of law and order to persuade naive and unsuspecting older people that they can make coffers out of graves.

The so-cal1ed Medigap insurance blasted off into starry popularity when the out-of-pocket payments for medical care zoomed into stratospheric costs.

During Medicare's first year in 1966, the average out-of-pocket payment was $241 a year. Today it is more than $1,100. About five times more.

Elderly people, fearful that a prolonged illness might plunge

them into bankruptcy and destitution, became the easy prey of ruthless insuarnce companies. Of the 23 million Americans eligible for Medicare, 15 million have purchased supplemental health insurance. What is ruthless and immoral is that an individual with several policies is most likely unaware of the fine print denying payment from more than one policy.

It would be easy to write off purchasers of these kinds of policies for not consulting someone who is knowledgeable before buying the supplemental insurance. .on the other hand, taking into consideration the normal fears that accompany growing older, the feigned concern, the soft-sell, the misleading pitches and the scare tactics used by some agents weave a horrifying tale of exploitation.

What moral argument can be employed to justify selling 60 hospitalization and life insurance policies to a 76-year-old woman who eventual1y had to mortgage her farm to pay premiums that in one year total1ed $15,OOO? Rep. Claude Pepper (D-Fla.), 78, who heads the House Select Committee on Aging, charged that abuses in the sale of health insurance to the elderly has become a "full-scale national scandaL"

There is nothing more insidious than greed hearing the vestments of selfless c:oncern. And state insurance commissioners who are ,lax in t~e performance Or their duties are serving as acolytes at the high altar of Mammon, where the sacrificial victims are the unwary elderly.

The elderly, who have made their unique contribution to society, have enough problems trying to cope with the perplexities of our rapidly changing world.

They certainly don't need the terror of casual violence heaped upon them by greedy insurance agents with their pious platitudes and veiled threats about medical security.

Chesterton observed that "the golden age only comes to men (and women) when they have forgotten gold." Maybe so, but the elderly do need enough money to live on. And they'll never manage to retain much as long as unscrupulous insurance agents keep chiseling it away, 30 pieces of silver at a time. ...., ",,,"''''' '"''

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THE ANCHOR Second Class Postage Paid at Fall River, MISS. Published every Thursday at 410 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02722 by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River. Subscription price by mall, postpaid liar year.

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thur., Dec. 21, 1978 2 Y2 months that followed to plead this cause. Of course, the Roman diplomats had been at this game just a little bit longer, and kept referring it to various study commissions, which buried the issue until long after the Lord Mayor's death, and the resultant sympathy and acclaim his action won worldwide, including from the ordinary British voter.

Right now, the' Long Kesh Prison Camp is an embarrassment to Her Majesty's government, which does not want the Bristish voter or the world to know any more about conditions there than they did about the atrocities committed by the British Army in putting down

THE STEPPIN' STONES entertain at a Christmas party for children from St. Vincent's Home, Fall River, and St. Mary's Home, New Bedford, sponsored-by La Salette Shrine, Attleboro. (Callahan Photo)

Letters to the Editor Letters are welcomed, but should be no Illore than 200 words. The editor reserves the right to condense or edit, if deemed necessary. All letters must be signed and Include a home or business address.

What's Inside Dear Editor: Your editorial of Nov. 30, 1978 seems to me to be unfortunate and unfair. Your quotes from Sister 'Elizabeth Morancy of Providence were taken out of context with little attempt to understand what she was trying to say.

It is true that external signs

are important but we must remember that Jesus reacted very strongly to the emphasis of his time on external observances and practices. The Gospels in many different ways tell us that it is what's inside a person's heart that really counts. Antoine de St.-Exupery expresses it beautifully in The Little Prince. "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye."

The measure and test of our faith and commitment to Jesus Christ do not rest in the clothes that we wear but in the love and concern that emanate from our bearts. I feel that your editorials should present a more positive and compassionate im-age of Christian hope and understanding.

(Rev.) Robert J. Carter Fall River

Sauce for Goose Dear Editor: Are you picking on the Sisters of Mercy again? Can't you leave them alone.

Hey, I'm for the Pope, too.

For years I have felt very disappointed with this attitude of "let's pretend that we aren't religious." Or as someone very close to me used to put it, "I've got on my Super Christian uniform." That is the way it is be-

ing used in the past years . . .

Just that ... like a role that is being played and while we're playing the part we'll dress for it.

HOWEVER, the ANCHOR a couple of weeks ago quoted the' Pope addressing the priesthood in the same vein.

I love you, Father John, but I feel that what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gande~!

PEACE. Mary Gosselin New Bedford

Living Faith Dear Editor: A few words of note for your editorial on a sign of confusion.

The heart of the matter, I agree with you, is not the wearing of a habit. The real force of the editorial was the fact that all are called to live the Gospel openly according to the way of the Lord and set our own. Too many people who get upset with signs have missed the boat on the real facts at hand.

Living the faith is not just the work of the laity together with the Holy Father. Religious should be the first to give us the example of this living. Thank God the new movements in the Church are taking up the slack where they are failing us.

Don't be afraid of what some might say. Keep up the good work and tell it as it is.

C. J. Welch

Harwich

Sweet Scent Dear Editor: I attended the Charismatic Conference in Providence, R.I. and I have to add my feelings.

If you were open at all to the adoration and praises that the 14,000 people were giving to God, you could feel His Spirit among us and the sweet scent of Jesus was all around.

The many priests were jubilant with joy, together, as a priestly people. The bishops who were there, I'm sure, felt the love that

the music and singing poured out from the innermost depths of our souls, the highest form of prayer.

There was no one looking around to see who was and who wasn't singing, you blended, all with the same attitude and feeling, one in the Lord.

British Plots Dear Editor: Of course, the British hierarchy is cooperating with the British government in keeping Rome from making Archbishop O'Fiaich of Armagh from being made a Cardinal (Anchor,' 12/14).

Why not? They've been doing it for 150 years now. Ever since Catholicism's "Second Spring" in England, Crown and Crozier have been pretty closely allied: especially on the troublesome "Irish question."

The closest parallel to the present situation of British hierarchy teaming up with government to meddle in Irish affairs in Rome came in 1920 during the heroic fast of :Lord Mayor Terence McSwiney. Dragged from the office to which the people of Cork had elected him by due process, the Lord Mayor told the British Tribunal that sentenced him to Brixtop Prison that he would henceforth take no more food until he was set free: if not through their action, then through that of a Higher Court.

Letters are still extant from British bishops, pleading with Rome to condemn the man and his action as a sinful and degrading suicide. Special emissaries were sent down to Rome in the

Rev. Cornelius J. O'NeilI Taunton

Sllare your ltl0st precious sifts witll tile Missioqs!

My dear Friends of the Missions, Two thousand years ago, a Child was born into poverty. Laid in a manger, He gave the appearance of being the lowliest babe in the world.

BUT WISE MEN RECOGNIZED THAT HE WAS CHRIST and offered him their most precious gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

of all. For faith is the gift that promiBes God's care today and His love forever. It is the gift of eternity.

The gift of HOPE. The people of the Missions are quite like us. They have dreams for themselves and fortheirchitdren: healthy bodies, informed minds, employment, food on the table, adequate shelte{. The Mission Churc~, is often the only agency that offers hope of fulfilling any of these dreams.

Through its medical facilities, schools, training centers, agricultural projects and social programs, the Church is a real and active source of hope for a life of human dignity.

I know that the living God was pleased to see His children worshiping through His Son Jesus Christ, shouting the "Good News." The people there were not hungry for bodily food, they were hungry for spiritual food, love, which is giving and receiving, Christ gave to us and He received from God. Mrs. F. L. Bouchard North Dartmouth

the "Rebellion" in India in the 1930's.

And as long as Archbishop 0' Fiaich keeps shouting so loudly about it, he's got to go! "No offence about the whole thing, you know, old boy, it's just that it doesn't 'fit into the preser:t scheme of things.". I'm sure Cardinal Hume "would welcome Archbishop O'Fiaich at Westminster" anytime. He must be used to having Irish around the house: you know, the cooks, maids, chauffeurs, and groundskeepers at his father's estates: probably found that they were a rather decent lot, as long as they knew their place.

The gift of LOVE. Amazing as it may seem, your gift to the Missions thiS Christmas will tell millions that you love them.

PEOPLE OF WISDOM ALWAYS RECOGNIZE CHRIST WHEREVER HE MAY BE, EVEN IN THE LEAST LITTLE SLEEPING CHILD. This Christmas, would you recognize Christ in the poor of the Missions, and offer them your most precious gifts of faith and hope and love?

The gift of FAITH. More than half the world's people cannot say with us the simplest of prayers: "I believe in God" because they do not know of Him or of His Son Who came to share our burdens, or of His Spirit Who warms our lives.

They know that the fruits of your ÂŁifts (parishes, hospitals, schools and W:lIlderful, serving people) are there 1:>0cause of your love.

Such knowledge draws these unknown friends close to you. And they say "thanks" the only way they know how, and the only way that really matters ... in prayer.

So please, my friends, I beg of yOL -recognize Christ in the poor of His Missions and share with them your most precious gifts of faith and hope and love.

Devotedly in Chlist.

~.~g. {U~&~~

By sharing your faith with the Missions, you come bearing the greatest gift

Director

Dear Father, I want to offer the Missions precious gifts of faith, hope and love this Christmas. I enclose 0$1,500 to help a missionary maintain a 0 $100 to help outfit, mobile clinic home lor orphans 0 $ 50 to help educate a native priest o $1,000 to help iupport a leprosarium 0 $ 25 to help support a missionary for a month o $ 500 to help support a parish 0 $ 10 to help educate a Sisler "SOnlor center" 0 $ 5 to help support, village catechist o $ 250 to help support a school $

(other) because I have been specially blessed.

Please remember my intentions:

_

o I would like to share with the Missions ALL year round. Please send monthly envelopes.

NAME

_

STREET

_

CITY

_

STATE Make che,cks payable to:

.l.ZlP

_

TAX DEDUCTIBLE,

THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH Send contributions to:

Rev. Msgr. John J, Oliveira 368 North Main Street Fall River, Massachusetts 02720

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thur., Dec. 21, 1978

From Preconceptions to Foregone Conclusions Ely

REV.

l\NDREW M. GIREELEY

. Despite the hilure of the '''Call to Action," we currently are engaged in or about to embark UpO:1 a year of t~vangelization, a year of parish renewal and a yea.r of the family. Like "Call to Action," the family year involves an elaborate "plan" set forth in an expensive brochure.

It is hard for me to understand the mentality that goes

Iy MARY . CARSON

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven so at Christmas there must be a purpose to everything.

- a time to bl~ weary from hurried shopping, and a time to rest during that brief moment on Christmas Eve when

There is in the "plan" no meaningful review of the sociological literature on the family and no input from ordinary Catholic families. It" is nothing

And not, if one believes the rumors, an inconsiderable amount of money. The "program" is supposed to cost between $450,000 and $500,000 over three years. The national staff didn't" have enough money to keep Msgr. George Higgins for another year or to continue the professionally competent work of Sister Ann Neale on technology and human values; but it apparently has a lot of money for a project without substantive content.

Obviously sex is a dangerous subject in the Church now because most Catholic families ignore the church's teaching on birth control. I could see a case for a family program that skirts the birth control issue by trying to develop a positive and constructive Catholic approach to sexuality. But there is no evidence that "the plan of pastoral action" has any intention to follow such a strategy.

Before the plan was elaborated there were deliberations by an ad hoc committee on marri-

age and the family. I have seen a report of these deliberations and must testify that it is an intelligent and sophisticated work.

It also bears very little relationship to the "plan" which allegedly grew out of the deliberations. Indeed, in some respects, the plan directly contradicts the recommendations of the report (by placing the research phase after the execution of the plan instead of before it, for example).

In the past I have been critical of the U.S. Catholic Conference for not consulting experts before elaborating grandiose schemes. This time they did consult the experts..

And then ignored them.

the last package is wrapped and the undoing hasn't begun - a time to be torn apart by old rifts, and a time to try to mend them - a time to reach out to others, and a time' to be drawn into the deepest recesses of our own minds - a time to forget past hurts, and a time to renew neglected friendships - a time to remember all the happiness of years past, and a time to recognize that some things are better forgotten - a time to be with others, and a time to gather our own

together - a time to be frustrated trying to assemble a bicycle, and a time to feel gratitude that at least all the parts ar.e there - a time to try a special recipe, and a time to learn that the family prefers the old familiar ones - a time to think more kindly toward our children at a time when they seem to behave worse than they have all year - a time to save the little remembrances that make life worthwhile, and a time to spend our energies in caring about others

a time to make things beautiful, and a time to see beauty in the dis1igured - a time to see the failure in humanity as we struggle through crowds of unreasonable, surly people, and a time to be gracious to them anyway - a time to be neat and tidy Christmas Eve, and a time to relax and enjoy Christmas Day - a time to reflect and a time to look forward - a time to diet, and a time to decide to start again next year a time to be cautious, and a time to have the courage to..

speak the unspoken loving thoughts deep within us - a time to remember the spiritual meaning of Christmas, and a time to really believe that playing with your children can be just as spiritual a recreation as a Nativity scene - for surely Mary and Joseph played with Jesus - a time to forget the pressures brought upon us by others, and a time to remember the first Christmas was the sharing of the deep love between parents and their Child - a time to be all Christ meant us to be.

into such expensive projects.

One draws up a detailed plan, asks questions, "listens" to those who bother to answer the questions, makes conclusions on the basis of these responses - most of which have been pre- programmed into the questions and then constructs a program already contained in germ in the original "plan." It is a pilg"rimage from preconceived opinions to foregone conclusons, serenely untroubled by data, facts and problems.

more than an organization chart masquerading as ;;heory, data and policy. It is doubtless wellintentioned; it is also a waste of money.

The most glaring omission is any mention of sexuality, other than quotations from papal or episcopal documents.

The Continuing Crisis of Hunger By

JIM C:ASTELLI

From Thanksgiving to Christmas, the holiday season is largely a time for lavish fasting.

But there is no holiday food - and little enough of any kind - for some 800 million people throughout the world.

The world food crisis receives less attention than it did several

Ely

MARILYN A~ODERICK

I've been reacEng Dicken's "Christmas Carol" to my reading classes and I've enjoyed it as much as they have. The descriptions of the Christmas. foods in those Victorian times are truly mouthwatering.

Despite their poverty, the Cratchits' holiday dinner was a

• In

the World

years ago, but it not only continues, it has worsened.

Concern about hunger has been reduced 'somewhat by record grain crops around the world. But Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit, president of Bread for the World, a Christian hunger lobby, counters: "Good harvests don't guarantee that the poor will be able to pay for food," He said that some countries, such as Mexico, which have large numbers of starving people, are actually exporting grain.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization recent-

ly concluded that if present trends continue, "the aggregate annual import requirements of developing countries for cereals would rise from some 66 million tons (of grain) to over 90 million tons by 1985," The FAO listed six major problems: - "The number of people suffering from chronic hunger and malnutrition has increased," - "There is still no viable system of food reserves."

- "Food aid remains insufficient," - "Slow progress has been made in improving' the conditions of international trade in

grain for Laos and 2.6 million agricultural products."

- Developing countries have tons for Vietnam.

'Bishop Gumbleton says the not received the money they public response in the United need to meet production goals.

- Food and agriculture pro- States to the hunger crisis has duction in developing countries been good in that people want to help. But he said that help often is not increasing fast enough.

In addition to the overall seri- comes in the form of relief, not ousness of the problem, several pressure for the political changes countries face exceptionally dif- _ needed in foreign aid and trade.

It is true that Congress has ficult times. Bishop Gumbleton says up to two million people passed the largest foreign aid in Ethiopia are in immediate appropriations bill in history and danger of starvation because of approved funds to help poor war-related food shortages; the countries hurt by rising oil U.N. Disaster Relief Organiza- prices; but it did not approve tion warns that recent floods in establishment of an internationSoutheast Asia will result in a al emergency grain reserve or shortfall of 120,000 tons of reform of U.S. aid programs.

feast unequaled in Christmas literature. Victorians certainly knew how to keep Christmas.

Ever since, as a very young girl, I first read the "Christmas Carol," I have wanted to sit down to a dinner straight out of its pages, complete with goose and that famous plum pudding "bubbling in the copper," It must have been a majestic creation, bathed in flaming rum and rich with plump dates. Other puddings may appeal, but surely the king is Mrs. Cratchit's masterpiece.

If I am ever ambitious enough to recreate a Victorian feast, this is the pudding recipe I

would use: Flaming Plwn Pudding 1 cup dark raisins 1 cup dry sherry 2 sticks butter or margerine 1 cup sugar 1 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking soda Y2 teaspoon salt 4 eggs, lightly beaten 2 cups chopped dates 1 Y2 cups grated carrots 1 cup chopped pecans 1 cup breadcrumbs 1 cup milk % cup dark molasses 1 tablespoon grated orange peel 1 tablespoon grated lemon

peel 2 teaspoons cinnamon Y2 teaspoon cloves Y2 teaspoon nutmeg % teaspoon mace % cup brandy or cognac 1. Plump raisins in sherry for several hours.

2. Heavily grease a 2 quart mold with tight fitting lid.

Cream butter and sugar in large bowl.

3. Blend in flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in raisins with any remaining sherry and all the other ingredients except the brandy. Mix thoroughly, then spoon into prepared mold and cover tightly.

4. Place mold on small rack in bottom of a large pot (about 8 quarts.) Add boiling water half way up the side of the mold.

Cover pot and steam pudding in gently simmering water about 5 hours. Add more water if necessary.

5. Remove mold from water and uncover. Allow to cool 30 minutes. Carefully loosen edges with sharp knife and invert onto serving platter. Allow to stand with mold over pudding until pudding releases.

6. Just before bringing to table, pour small amount of brandy over pudding and ignite.

Serve with hard sauce.

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thur., Dec. 21,1978

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of fall River-Thur., Dec. 21, 1978

Christmas Not Time To Be Superman

By Dr. Jim and Mary Kenny

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Holidays pose a particular problem for women. The problem is not materialism or commercialism but its opposite. The problem is the generous impulse, the desire to remember everyone in a personal and meaningful way.

The woman smitten by the generous impulse resolves to give truly personal remembrances this year. The children's teachers will receive homemade cookies. However, we can't remember the school teachers and fail to remember those devoted OeD teachers. Add three more batches of cookies.

Then there are the neighbors.

We can't remembet the Jacksons next door and overlook Mrs. Allen down the street. The Whaleys have been so kind about chauffeuring this year.

Add six loaves of homemade bread.

What a wonderful thing that we women get caught up in the personal side of Christmas.

What a good thing that we want to reach out to everyone. It is exactly this spirit we recall

when we wish that Christmas could last all year.

The generous impulse is beautiful. However, when it reaches beyond our capabilities, it can turn us into exhausted, short-tempered nags and destroy the very loving spirit which inspired it.

Here are three ways to cultivate the generous impulse without becoming overwhelmed.

- 1 Set priorities. People come before things. To buy or prepare things at the expense of people is to reverse priorities. Little people take time. If you are blessed with an infant or preschooler, your child's needs cannot be put on "hold" during the holidays.

If your children are of school age and eager to help, the satisfaction they get from helping you is more important than the masterpieces of cooking or fine art which you can produce if you shoo them aside. Let them help, even though it takes longer. .- 2 Have realistic expectations of yourself and others.

Most of us know one woman who seems to handle a fulltime job and a houseful of children and still produce handmade gifts for all her relatives and goodies for all the neighbors.

We notice her precisely because she is so rare. Admire her talents without comparing yourself to her or trying to copy her.

-3 Accept help gracefully.

Insisting on making everything personally and from scratch can be a personal ego trip rather than a generous impulse. In fact, in forming ties with others, accepting help can be important.

Christmas is a beautiful time for generous impulses. Follow through on them. Do all that you can to make your friends and loved ones happy. Avoid projects that are personal ego trips for you, and stress projects that show caring and love. Christmas is not the time to demonstrate that you are Supermom.

It is the time to grow in love.

Reader questions on family living and child care are invited.

Address to The Kennys; clo The Anchor, P. O. Box 7, Fall River, Mass. 02722.

Hospital Chaplains Graduate At St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, representatives of the Catholic ministries of eight area hospitals recently completed a chaplaincy training program. It focused .on aspects of medical care, emergency and routine situations, and the skills needed to help patients and families through stressful and anxious moments.

The program· was conducted

by St. Anne's Hospital's Pastoral Care Department, which formulated the curriculum for affiliation with the Catholic Diocese of Fall River.

It was conducted over a period of 15 weeks and included lectures by experts in areas such as child abuse, intensive care, cancer treatment and hospital pastoral care. The speakers were personnel of St. Anne's Hospital and other east coast care agencies. .~raduates are eligible for certification as hospital chaplains by the U.S. Catholic Conference.

The hospital and diocese col-

laborated to create the program as a result of Bishop Cronin's interest in' providing pastoral care for the sick in the Catholic ministries of hospitals throughout the Diocese, according to Father Fitzgerald.

Father Fitzgerald, both as director of the Diocesan Department of Pastoral Care For The Sick, and director of Pastoral Care at St. Anne's Hospital, coordinated the chaplaincy training program.

Other supervisors were Sr. Marie Claire, O.-P. of the pastoral care department at St. Anne's, and Father Kevin Tripp of St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford.

The program was culminated by a liturgy Monday in the hospital chapel,· concelebrated by program participants and the bishop. Also _attending were officials of St. Anne's and all other Catholic chaplains from the diocese.

Completing the program were nine people from eight area hos-

pitals. Sr. Perpetua Lester, R.S.M. is a member of the Catholic ministry at Union-Truesdale Hospital, Rev. Nicholas Smith is director of Pastoral Care at St. Joseph Hospital, Providence, R.I., and Rev. Terence Keenan is a member of the Catholic ministry at Cape Cod Hospital. Sr. Eleanore Calouro and Rev. Steven Furtado are members of the Catholic ministry at St. Luke's Hospital, Rev. Thomas Lopes is at Morton Hospital, Taunton, and Rev. William Costello is at Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Attleboro.

Rev. Mr. L~vesque, a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Rhode Island, is deacon chaplain at Rhode Island Veterans' Home.

His wife Kathleen, a registered nurse, is supervisor of the emergency room at St. Anne's Hospital and is a member of the hospital's Child Protection Team.

Sr. Mary Margaret Mello, O.P., is a member of the pastoral care department at St. Anne's.

Durfee Trust

AttlEboro1iust NEW HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS meet with Bishop Cronin following completion of a chaplaincy training program at St. Anne's Hospital. (Torchia Photo)

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thur., Dec. 21, 1978

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With 27,000 Subscribers, It Pays To Advertise In The Anchor

A RESIDENT of the House of Ruth in Washington is counseled by Good Shepherd Sister Gertrude Coffey. The building, 'a former school, is one of seven shelters for homeless, battered or destitute women and th~ir childr-en. (NC Photo)

Yule Gifts: Place To Stay, New Hope

By Nancy Frazier WASHINGTON (NC) - As Christmas approached three years ago, Carole Yost was living in a house with no water or heat, shortly after being released from a mental institution. She had lost contact with her parents. who had custody of her child. Then she met Veronica :\Iaz. and Christmases have been happy and hopeful ever since: Ms. Maz is founder and guiding light of the House of Ruth, a network of seven shelters for homeless, battered or destitute women in Washington. Since Carole became the House of Ruth's first official resident in December 1975, approximately 50 women each night have found a bed, a meal and, if they're willing to work' at it, a new direction.

The House of Ruth relies on community support to exist.

Some 14,000 people - including the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and other Catholic groups and individuals - have volunteered their time, money or belongings to the shelter since it opened. Some, like Carole, a secretary and receptionist, started out as residents and now work full-time for a small stipend.

"Every day is like Christmas here," says Ms. Maz. "It's always a happy group, very open to hope. The women here thrive on the most important things of all, because they don't have the material things to worry about.

I always say they're closer to God than anyone, because that's all they have."

There will be a special dinner and gifts for everyone at Christmas time, but for many the most important gift is knowing that they will not have to sleep in the streets or in the same room with a man who has beaten them and their children.

"It feels like home here," says Alberta Templeton, who came to the House of Ruth after her pocketbook was stolen with her Social Security money inside.

"There's no place better in the world than this."

Since her arrival, Alberta has become friendly with Sister Gertrude Coffey, a Good Shepherd nun and social worker who is secretary of the House of Ruth's board of directors. Sister Coffey is especially interested in helping battered women and the older homeless get back on their feet.

The House of Ruth offers more than a bed and meal. Ms. Maz and Lila Caffrey; coordinator of the newly opened Madison Center, believe it is the first such shelter to offer women training and practical aid to turn their lives around. "There are a great many places that are keeping women alive until someone with a program comes along," says Ms. Maz. "But love is not enough; you have to have a plan for them....

Linda, for instance, arrived at the Madison Center a few days ago and still looks a little dazed.

Until she left home recently, she had always lived with her mother and never held a job.

She wants to learn to live. on her own, to depend on herself, to find a job and an apartment, but she'll need a lot of help. "I never thought I'd leave home, but it just happened," Linda says. "I appreciate everything the House of Ruth has done, but I hope I can get back on my own."

Willie Edith, a staff aide who lives at the Madison Center and does "anything they ask me to do" in return for room and board, has seen the women come and go. Asked to sum up Hte House of Ruth's successes and failures, she replies: "It accomplishes miracles. But it takes time. If the women cooperate with the staff, there's nothing that can't be done."

As an example, she cites the case of one homeless woman who "was confused and didn't know which way to turn" when she arrived. Now she has a job

and will be leaving the shelter.

Ms. Maz gives at least one speech a day to groups interested in the House of Ruth, and she tries to convey the same message each time "You don't help a group, you help a person.

Just add a friend to your life.

It's not a great big project; it's just a simple thing," Donations to the House of Ruth may be sent to 1211 New Jersey Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of fall River-Thur., Dec. 21, 1978

CandlEls' glow, lighting the season with fond thoughts and our deep thanks I

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ATILEBORO AREA members of the Bishop's Ball Committee are, from left, Miss Angela Medeiros, Rev. Bento R. Fraga, Msgr. Harry B. Loew, Charles Rozak, Mrs. David B. Sellmayer. Those in charge of ball decorations will meet Sunday, Jan. 7 at Lincoln Park Ballroom, North Dartmouth to prepare for the Jan. 13 event.

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By Frank Franzonia MACOMB, Ill. (NC) - During December, Holy Cross Father J. Robert Rioux is mailing 100,000 letters across the country with an urgent Yuletide request: Help stem the tide of Catholic school closings.

"Pick up any Catholic paper and you'll read about a school closing," said the priest, who is director of development at Western Illinois Unive~sity in Macomb and head of the new Save Our Schools fund-raising campaign.

Father Rioux said his desire to help local elementary schools led him to use his 15 years of

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j;und-raising experience to try to help . schools nationally. He started the direct mail campaign with the aid of a Boston woman, who donated a large sum of money to keep SOS afloat until contributions start coming in.

A New England computer firm has volunteered to handle the mailing and printing work, he said. Both the company and the woman want to remain anonymous.

National direct mail fund-raising as a means of aiding parochial elementary schools may never have been tried, Father Rioux said. But his own experience has shown that it can be an 'effective money maker.

Because of the volunteer work force and donated seed money, fewer mail contributions will be used to pay for administrative costs, said the priest, who will not be paid for his work.

To receive an SOS I!:rant, Catholic schools are asked to write a letter explaining why they need financial help and what they would use it for.

How many schools will actually get aid? "We'll just have to see what kind of requests we get," Father Rioux said. "Our goal is to help as many schools as possible."

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Year of Child "Christmas, Past, Present and Future: from Barnstable to Bangladesh" was the theme of a Hyannis Christmas parade float prepared by Church Women United, an eumenical Cape Cod group.

The float, featuring a nativity scene, also called attention to the International Year of the Child. More information on the Year, sponsored by the United Nations, is available from Alice Houst of the. Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, at P.O. Box 996, West Dennis, 02670.

Cu,ban Catholics MIANH - .exiled Bishop Eduardo Boza Masvidal has said Cuban Catholics can support moves to free political prisoners in Cuba and reunite families separated by political events, but cannot yield to continued deprivation of rights.

The priest said SOS could probably not aid schools that definitely have to close. "But if we can possibly help a school survive by giving $5,000, it would be very worthwhile," he said.

The grants - which will probably average from $1,000 to $5,000 - will be awarded by a yet to be appointed board of educators which, it is hoped, will include some national figures.

The first grants are expected to be made in June 1979.

Noting that he considers government aid "a last resort," the priest said government funding can sometimes bring restrictions and force schools to compromise their teaching principles. Private funding, he said, "gives us the freedom not to compromise."

Contributions may be sent to Father Rioux at Save Our Schools, 30 Richmond Road, Macomb, Ill. 61455. Requests from Catholic schools for aid l'ihl)ldd be sent to the same address.

Catholic Scouting Heads Are Named Bishop Joseph Hart of Cheyenne, Wyo. has been named bishop moderator of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting.

He succeeds Bishop Michael McAuliffe, who had held the post since 1970.

Bishop Hart attained the Eagle Scout rank in 1946, as a member of his parish troop in Kansas City, Mo. As a priest he was an active chaplain' to Scout parishioners. In his new post he will head over 350,000 SCQuts and leaders in 11,000 plt-rish or church-related groups using Scouting as a youth ministry.

Named chaplain for the national committee is Rev. Richard P. La Rocque of Gales Ferry, Conn., who will be assisted by Rev. Jerome C. Elder of Granada Hills, Calif.

Father La Rocque, who had been assistant chaplain since 1975, succeeds the late Father John Rice. Both he and Father Elder have had extensive Scouting experience.

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thur., Dec. 21,1978

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Question (orner •

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By Father John Dietzen

Last week's column and this one are a little heavier than 1 usually prefer, but 1 believe they will be helpful. A reader asked for a basic summary of the marriage laws of the church. In light of the numerous questions this column receives concerning the possibility of an annulment or remarriage, such a summary might answer many questions about specific cases as they normally apply to the United States.

Last week we talked about the church's rules for her own members, and how the church considers marriages between nonCatholics as true perhaps even sacramental marriages.

We also said that the church does claim authority to dissolve certain marriages in most situations where a person who is Catholic marries for a second time, and we want to explain that today.

'If one of the partners in a valid marriage is not baptized (wherever that marriage took place), such a marriage may be dissolved by the church so that a later mariage may be true and valid. This procedure is based on a passage in Saint Paul (I Corinthians 7,12-15) in which Paul discusses marriages and remarriages of new converts to Christianity.

For at least 1,500 years, the church has interpreted this teaching as giving it the right to dissolve marriages of unbaptized people "in favor of the faith" - that is, for the good of their faith.

Such procedures may be of two kinds: -1. Pauline Privilege, named after Saint Paul. This method is used to dissolve the valid marriage of two non-baptized persons, if one of the partners wishes to become a Catholic and marry a Catholic. These cases are usually decided by the marriage tribunals of the local diocese.

- 2. Privilege of the Faith.

Through this approach, the church dissolves a valid marriage of a baptized person (whether that individual' is Caholic or Protestant) with a partner who is not baptized.

Here, one spouse is baptized at the time of the marriage; in the Pauline Privilege procedure, both are unbaptized.

Normally, Privilege of the Faith cases are decided by officials in Rome.

Finally, one more word about annulment, which is a formal declaration that what seemed to be a valid marriage was never really a marriage at all. Note carefully that this is different from dissolving a marriage that is truly already in eXistence.

In most annulment procedures it makes no difference whether the people involved are Catholic

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The New Engla"nd Liturgical Committee has announced the 1979 Maurice Lavanoux Award competition. The award, named for the former editor of liturgical Arts magazine, is designated each year to a particular area of the cuitic arts.

The 1979 competition will be for design of assembly space for the liturgy, including access and accommodation for the handicapped.

Competition details are available from Rev. Kevin Tripp, 233 County Street, New Bedford 02740.

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SMIUNG LE NGA, 6, visiting a Toronto department store, has her first encounter with Santa Claus. She is among thousands of Vietnam refugees making new homes in Canada. Christmas trees, snow and ice skating· were also firsts for the little girl.

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Prisoners Condition Concerns Bishops MIAMI, Fla. (NC)-The bishops of Cuba have issued a statement supporting the cooperation between Premier Fidel Castro and Cuban exiles which led to the release of political prisoners, but the bishops expressed conern for those left behind bars.

"We want to express our pastoral support for that dialogue resulting from the steps taken by our prime minister, :md the response they found in the first stages among extensive ::lectors of our countrymen now living in exile for diverse reasons," they wrote in a statement released by the permanent committee of the Cuban Bishops Conference.

A copy of the statement was brought by representatives of Cuban exiles, who met with Castro early in December to complete arrangements for the transfer of close to 180 prisoners and relatives, who arrived in Miami earlier this month.

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Questions for this column should be sent to Father Dietzen c/o The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, Mass. 02722.

Lavanoux Award

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Happy j Holidays!"

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or Protestant, baptized or not.

What must be proven is that some condition was present in the marriage that made real marriage promises impossible.

One example of such a condition would be if one or both of the spouses intended never to have children in their married life. Another example would be an emotional or psychological instability so serious in one of the partners that he or she simply was incapable of genuine, full commitment to the kind of life together that marriage involves.

You need not remember all these details, but if you save this and last week's column and refer to them when questions arise, you will find that they will help explain why things are possible in one situation that simply cannot be done in another.

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Foil River-Thur., Dec. 21,1978

KNOW YOUR FAITH NC NEWS

The Healing Power of God

Rich Man

By Mary C. Maher

By Father Jo'hn J. Castelot The story of the rich young man introduces a Gospel passage dealing with the problem posed by riches in leading a Christian life. The basic text is that of Mark, but Matthew and Luke, while following it quite closely, adapted it in varying degrees.

The man is rich in all three accounts, but Matthew says he was young, and Luke makes him a ruler of some sort. But there are more significant differences.

The man asks Jesus: "Good teacher, what must I do to share in everlasting We?" (Mark 10:17).

He is a sincere, attractive fellow, not content to live a merely good life, but anxious to acquire a greater degree of holiness. The term "everlasting" or "eternal" life, very comm:m in John, is not restricted to it1; temporal meaning of life in et,ernity; it signifies rather a quality of life, a share in Godlikeness that can be realized here on earth. It is this the man is seeking, hoping perhaps that Jesus will give him some FRANCIS LIBERMANN secret esoteric formula.

Instead, he gets, at least at the outset, a strange reply almost -==========---======11 like a brush-off: "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone," (Mark 10:18).

Later generations had trouble By Fr. Adrian van Kaam, C.S.Sp. this community, allowing it to be absorbed in the already eixstwith this blunt statement of ,Francis Libermann, a spiritual Jesus. Even Matthew seems to master of the first half of the ing Spiritans. He extended in this way his care for abandoned have found it embarrassing, for 19th century, communicates as he changed the dialogue to read: his main message abandonment students, teachers and scholars.

"Teacher, what good must I do to Our Lord so that we may In the end he propagated an unbelievable variety of other works to possess everlasting life?" overcome our abandonment of for all kinds of abandoned souls.

Jesus answered: "Why do you soul. To appreciate his message Many of his followers could question me ab:>ut what is good? we should be aware of the many not immediately grasp the steady There is One who is Good. . :' abandonments Francis' himself deepening of his life direction.

(Matthew 19:Hi-17). experienced.

Instead, they would fixate on Contrary to a popular misconHe was born in France on some initial work accepted by ception, Jesus did not go ardnnd April 12, 1802, to Rabbi Lazarus him that embodied only one asclaiming to be' "God:' Son of Libermann. He shared the aban- pect of his vision. Hence, until God though he was, he was also' donment Jewish families felt at the end of his life, he suffered an authentic human being. As that time. Growing up, he met the abandonment of betrayal by such, he acknowledged his dethe inner abandonment of a his own followers. pendence upon his Father for crisis of faith. This trial ended Libermann's spirituality origieverything, an admission espewith his conversion to the Cath- nates in his experience that a cially explicit in the fourth Gosolic faith. person achieves his unique life pel, for all its clear statements He entered the seminary of from only when he abandons of the divinity of Christ.

St. SuIpice in aris. There he was himself to his divine life direcJesus reassured the man that struck by epileptic convulsions, tion. This abandonment implies if there was any secret about preventing his advance to orders. an acceptance of one's nature living a Godlike life, it was an So they kept him as a helper of with its gifts and limitations, inopen secret. He simply referred the seminary bursar, doing little cluding one's bodily needs. him to the keeping of the Comjobs around the house.

Francis frowned on a multimandments, and the man, perRunning errands in Paris, he tude of petty devotions or inhaps a bit disappointed, answered: "Teacher, I have kept never crossed the bridges over volvement in numerous ascetical all these since my childhood" . the Seine without the urge to practices. He recommended reThis was not a pompous boast, cast himself into the water be- maining in the presence of God. like that made by the pharisee in low. Even within his room he The rest follows spontaneously.

Jesus' parable of the Pharisee dared not keep a knife or other Abandonment to God's direcand the Publican. It was a sim- sharp object. Abandonment to tion made him suspicious of perple, rather ingenuous statement God saved him from despair. fectionism: "Beware of that of fact.

After 10 years of suffering, imagination which makes you Jesus' reaction speaks volumes the seminarian was sufficiently demand perfection in human be(and it is strange indeed that cured to be ordained a priest. In ings, in organizations and in neither Matthew nor Luke re- the meantime he had founded a things in general. . . We will tained it): "Th,en Jesus looked at religious community. Initially, it encounter imperfection wherever him with love and told him, would care for abandoned souls we encounter human beings." . .

"There is one thing more you in some of the colonies of He advised his followers: "Be Turn to ])age Thirteen France. Later on he dissolved Turn to Page Thirteen

I

Francis Libermann

"I pay taxes. I am good to my family. I give to charity ... pay church support. I try to save the environment. Yet I go to church every Sunday and hear that I ought to do better. How can J be expected to do !J1ore? With the little time I have left over, I hate to spend it feeling guilty about what I don't do. And J don't have an easy life. I don't seem to be' reaping God's rewards."

These feelings are distressing, and possibly a number of us feel this way. But we should stop a moment and realize that we are not perfect, even though we may live exemplary lives. It we take time to examine one day, any day, we will realize that we could have done something better. And when things do not seem to be working out for us, even though we try to be true to our Christianity, it is human to feel that God is not rewarding us.

What we hear from pulpits about becoming better p~opie is about healing, which ::omes in recognizing the evil within and outside ourselves. If we listen well, we can learn how healing can happen to us.

All of us know the harsh moment when we are accused of something and then left, abandoned to our pain and our insufficiency. An increased sense of self-worthlessness takes a long time to heal.

True, God's healing does not overlay our human defeats in celestial gold leaf, leaving us as great baroque art pieces. It does not offer the same being-takencare-of-forever which banks in our society offer. But neither does it encourage unhealthy and defeatist atttudes, leaving us with non-producLve patterns which we repeat because, at least, they are familiar.

Sometimes God's healing doesn't seem to reach deep enough. We feel like characters in deep need of a better author.

Being at peace with God does not always mean being at peace, however. The truly religious person admits that evil exists.

Senseless things happen; good people fall under the wheel of others' ill-will; others fall under theirs.

The human tendency to lay guilt trips is also almost universally denied. "Others manipulate. make me feel small, inadequate. But, you see, I understand that they do and 'ergo' I do not do that myself to anyone." Actually that is nonsense. We all have human failings, and this is one of them.

And when we are feeling sorry for ourselves because life is unrewarding and unfair, it will put ihings into perspective if we recall the earthly reward Jesus was given for his goodness. Perhaps then we can thank him for the reward of sharing his kingdom after we end our struggles on earth.

For Children

By Janaan Manternach There was once a young man who wanted more than anything to be happy. His parents were very rich and gave him many things. But they knew that money and possessions alone could not make anyone happy.

So they taught him to keep God's laws if he really wanted to be happy. He did his best as he was growing up and he did keep God's laws.

One day the rich young man heard that Jesus was in town.

People said Jesus was a great teacher, who spoke of life and happiness like no one else. The man thought Jesus might know the secret of how he could really live a happy life.

Jesus looked at the eager young man and said simply. "If you want to be happy, keep the commandments."

The young man was disappointed. Jesus seemed to be saying no more than what he already knew. But maybe Jesus meant other commandments than those his parents had taught

him. So he asked, "Which ones?"

Jesus said, "You shall not kill"; "You shall not steal"; "You shall not lie"; "Respect your parents and be good to them."

Still more disappointed, the young man replied, "I do keep those commandments. I have kept them since I was a child.

There must be something more, isn't there?"

Jesus really liked the earnest young man. He smiled at him lovingly and told him, "Yes, there is something more. If you really want to live happily, you must do one more thing. Go and sell everything you own. Give all the money to the poor. Then come back and be my friend."

This was not what the young man had expected to hear. Sell everything and give away the money to poor people, strangers!

Slowly and sadly. he walked away from Jesus.

If you were that young man. how would you feel? What would you do?

A Verdade E A Vida

Thurs., Dec. 21, 1978

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Birigida pelo Rev. Edmond Rego NATAL DO SENHOR Deitada nas palhinhas, aquela terna criancinha ~ 0 Verbo de Deus, 0 pr~prio Deus. Tudo se fez por meio d'Ele e sem Ele nada se·fez. Ele ~ a Palavra viva, a I imagem do Pai, gerado antes de todos os seculos. No princ!pio era 0 Verbo, 0 Verbo estava junto de Deus e 0 Verbo era Deus. E o Verbo se fez carne e habitou entre n~s.

Sendo 0 Senhor do Universo, quer precisar de Maria e de Jose, que 0 cuidem e 0 defendam. Nasce na pobreza mais extrema.

Para nos dar uma lil~o de humi~dade. Para que aprendamos todos algo que e fundamental para a nossa vida.

Desde 0 princIpio da Humanidade 0 homem aspirou a ser mais do que ~, nada menos que ser i~ual a Deus. Adro deixa-se seduzir com a promessa da serpente: Sereis como deuses. Mais tarde, em Babel, cegos pelo orgulho, os homens querem construir , uma torre que che~ue ao ceu. Uma e outra experi~ncia trouxeram a desilus~6 a Humanidade, a experi~ncia amarga da sua surdez e 0 desentendimento entre os homens. o caminho da soberba nunca leva a nada de born.

Hoje reina soberana no cora~~o dos homens do nosso tempo. Democracia ~ hoje a desculpa, na cabe~a de muitos, para n~o respeitar ninguem. Fala-se muito de direi. tos e nada de deveres. E 0 eu que pretende reinar tir~nico por toda a part~, levando apenas a destruifao e tornando este mundo poluido e inabitavel.

Olhemos a lirao do Pres~pio. Jesus veio divinizar-nos. A quantos 0 receberam deu-lhes 0 poder de se tornarem filhos de Deus. E foi da sua plenitude que todos n6s recebemos. Ensina-nos 0 caminho do endeusamento born. E* 0 da humildade. Quem se humilha ser~ exaltado.

Quando nos convida a imit~-l'O ~ precisamente na Sua humildade. Aprendei de Mim, que sou manse e humilde de cora~ro.

Somos humildes colocando-nos em nosso lugar. Reconhecendo a nossa situaf~o de criaturas, seres que existem pela generosidade de Deus, que nos criou enos conserva. Humildade ~ a verdade. Somos 0 nada diante do tudo.

A nossa vida h~-de ser para dar gl~­ ria a Deus. Nao podemos invemtar deuses de tarimba, promover-nos a nOs ou a outros para ocupar 0 lugar de Deus. ~ que espremer as nossas aCT~es para dar a Deus toda a gloria, dizendo ao Senhor que queremos fazer tudo para the agradar. Teremos de estar atentos ao orgulho que se mete e rect1ficar as inten¥~es muitas vezes ao dia.

Uma forma de h~ildaae ~ a gratid:o.

Sabendo dar ~rayas pelas coisas boas que temos e que s~o uma dadiva de Deus.

Outra forma de humildade servir os outros e faz~-lo com alegria. Foi assim que Jesus viveu. Ele veio nro para ser servido para servir. E deixou bern claro: todo o que quiser eQtre vos ser 0 maior seja 0 vosso servo.

A humildade ~ garantia de eficacia humana e sobrnatural. As espigas vergadas s~o as que t~m abundtncia de trigo.

A humildade 0 caminho para a alegria. Encontrareis a paz para as vossas almas, diz-nos 0 Senhor. Que a Virgem e S~o Jos~ nos ensinem a ~alhardia de servir * alegremente e de procurar semp~e a gloria de Deus.

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13

THE ANCHOR-

I

points IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, TAUNTON Each parish family is asked to contribute one homemade or bought ornament for the church trees. They may be placed on the tree before or after any weekend Mass. Those wishing to donate poinsettias for the church may also bring them this weekend.

ST. ANNE, FALL RIVER A penance service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in the lower church.

Thanks are expressed to an anonymous donor who gave the school $1,000 for purchase of new textbooks; to Cecile Michno and her Girl Scouts for donating 100 toys to the parish nursery; to Denise and John Kochanski for preparing students for a school drug program; and to another anonymous donor who gave $25 to the parish general fund.

ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL, FALL RIVER Music for the 10 a.m. Mass Sunday will include "Of the Father's Love Begotten" and the 15th century carol, "There Is No Rose."

The Christmas vigil liturgy at 5 p.m. Sunday will be preceded by a choral prelude of Christmas

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If you buy palm crosses made in Africa, you help people Whose income I is $5,500 per year to buy the bare necessities of life, and try to fi II health and educational needs. All work done in this co mtry is voh:n· tee red. Orders are acknOWledged and ~ must be received by March 25 to guarantee delivery by Palm Sunday.

Rates based on $4.00 per 100; $2.00 per 50, in units of 50 only. Only in• dividual size palms are available.

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carols with congregational participation. The Cathedral choir will sing for the vigil itself, to be celebrated by Bishop Cronin.

ST. JOHN OF GOD, SOMERSET Anyone needing assistance to procure Christmas dinner, or knowing of anyone who needs such help may contact the rectory or Louis Rosa, St. Vincent de Paul Society president.

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SACRED HEART, FALL RIVER . CCD classes are suspended until Sunday, Jan. 7.

Youth group members will make a Christmas retreat this weekend at La Salette Center, Attleboro.

Decorations may be placed on the Jesse Tree in the church and gifts for nursing home patients may be ieft beneath it.

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ST. STANISLAUS, FALL RIVER The first Diocesan Service Committee of the Charismatic Renewal will be installed in ceremonies presided over by Bishop Cronin at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29.

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Rich Man Continued from Page Twelve must do. Go and sell what you have and give it to the poor; you will then have treasure in heaven. After that, come and follow me." (Mark 10:21).

The man has made no claim to heroic virtue or anything of the sort. He has simply kept the Commandments. And for that Jesus responds not with cold approval or even warm admiration, but with love, thus establishing the deepest of interpersonal relationships.

Libermann Continued from Page Twelve particularly careful to overcome the embarrassment you may feel . . . in the company of men of the world. . . . Such embarrassment engenders a. sort of stiffness, a kind of shyness that gives one the air of being illhumored and stand-offish. . .

You ought to like all people, no matter how they may feel about religious principles or about you."

For Francis the main condition and the finest fruit of this spirituality of abandonment was an attitude which he described over and over again. He called it "douceur" or gentleness. It is the fruit of graced self possession gained through growth in abandonment to our divine life direction.

Still, he realizes that his friend is restless with what he considers his own ordinariness, and tells him how he can satisfy that restlessness. It is obviously not a demand he would make on everyone, and Matthew recasts Jesus' words to make it clear that he is suggesting something unusual: "If you seek perfection, go, sell your possessions. . ," (Matthew 19:21). But, to return to Mark's account, "At these words 'the man's face fell. He went away sad, for he had many possessions."

In all three versions there follows a series of sayings on the general theme of riches in the life of the Christian. The incident itself illustrates how attachment to riches can stand between a person and his genuine desire for a more intimate relationship with the Lord.

But the sayings touch upon the still more tragic situation of people who are so enamored of wealth that it becomes a rival claimant with God for their allegiance. Clearly the man in the Gospel story didn't fall into this unhappy category "Jesus looked at him with love" - and the sayings are not an indictment of riches in themselves or of the rich. But they are a warning against fashioning for ourselves golden calves, idols which can bar our entry into the Kingdom.

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tHE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Thur., Dec. 21, 1978

By Charlie Martin

o Holy Night o holy

night! the stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Savior's birth. .

Long lily the world in sin and error pining.

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious mom.

Fallon your knees! 0 hear the angel voices! o nigbt. divine! 0 night when Christ was born o night divine! 0 night, () night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming.

With gl:owing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here Cl:lIJle the wise men from the Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all (Iur trials born to be our friend; He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger; Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King! Your King, before Him bend.

STANG STUDENTS from St. Rita's parish, Marion, meet with their pastor, Father John J. Steakem, former school chaplain, at a luncheon sponsored by the North Dartmouth' high school to acquaint parish priests with its curriculum and activities. (Sister Gertrude Gaudette Photo)

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By Cecilia Belanger

It is Christmas 1978. Many of its sights, sounds and feelings are familiar, for we have known many past Christmasses. Is this' holy night any d.ifferent from the past? Yes! To walk the road of life in 1978 is not the same as in 1977 or any past years. This year we have smiled new smiles, wept new tears and hoped for new expressions of our dreams.

We see that the world of 1978 still searches for the truth that will free it from the chains of hate. But each year the need grows stronger. Will the light in our hearts still glow in the face of a growing darkness manifeste~ in greed, insensitivity and pride? The cry of the world is for a new belief in itself. . Our holy night still glows with Bethlehem's brightly shining stars. We are empowered to walk forward into 1979, knowing that God still walks with us.

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focus on youth • • •

Whenever young people tell me of being "displaced" at home, at school, on a bus, in a plane, in some group, I think of Mary and Joseph the night our Lord was born. How Joseph made no fuss at the door of th~ inn that memorable night. No imploring the innkeeper to at least clear a little space for his wife about to give birth.

Even at the moment of his birth, Jesus displaced no one.

He was born outside the,~.

Later he would die outside the-, city. The Holy Family did not put anybody out, as the saying goes. Take heart, those on the outside of things.

The soul that is in touch with that Child takes care not to harm, not to displace. Some people reach the top but on their way they make shambles of other lives.

Tie Some Ribbons!

In this Christmas season I received a letter from a lady who has for 10 years befriended a teenager who had been thrown out of her own home.

In those years there has been no communication between the girl and her parents.

'But now the runaway, married and with a child of her own, has become homesick, but is afraid to communicate with her parents for fear they might again shut the' door in her face. To them and to all such parents I would say, "Tie some ribbons on a tree!" What does that mean?

Well, there was a train traveler in the hill country of West Virginia. He seemed very nervous and at last his seatmate asked what was wrong.

The man hesitatingly explained that he had been a prisoner for many years. Now he was .heading home, but was very uncertain of his family's welcome.

Since he and they were almost illiterate, there had been very little communication during his jail term.

So he had dictated a letter

saying he would understand if they did not want him home again; but if they did want him, they were to tie a white ribbon around an apple tree bough that he knew was visible from the train. If there was no ribbon, he would not get off the train and would never bother them again.

As the train drew nearer his home, he became even more

Holy F'amily The New Bedford school outdid itself as. it marked. Spirit .Week precedmg the openmg of its-....b.asketball season.

Old' socks were prescribed for "Sock it to Coyle-Cassidy Day." Hat and Tie Day, Blue & Gold Day, and Clash Day were followed by Blue and White Day with school colors much in evidence.

Points were gained each day as classes vied with one another.

Sister Eugenia Margaret's sophomore homeroom captured the prize - no uniforms the following day. The program w.as conducted by Holy. FamIly c~eerleaders led by LOUIse Cormler.

Hundreds of snowflakes decorated the auditorium as the. music department, directed by Arthur Buckley, presented its Christmas program. Soloists were Michelle Despres and Donna 'Langlois. Members of the Triple Trio were Arlene Corderre, Michelle Despres, Ann Uugan, Diane Fabian, Celeste Gauthier, Sharon Jeronimo, Donna Langlois, Sharon Machado and Lynn. Poyant. Father Jim and Sister Charlotte were in disguise as Mr. and Mrs. Santa.

A recruiting team of students led by William P. Gushue, viceprincipal, visited area schools piror to diocesan entrance examinations.

Classroom windows, seasonally decorated by Mike Lavallee and Gordon Goes under the direction of Janice Twarog, art teacher, deserve special mention.

nervous. So the seatmate offered to watch for him, and they switched seats. As· the train rounded the last curve, the exconvict heard his new friend sing out, "Look, look!" He did.

The whole tree was white with ribbons.

This I would like to say to parents in this holiday season.

Bring your children home. Reconcile, forgive, understand and start over. And get out those ribbons!

Bishop Stang

By Suzanne Seguin Christmas activities have included a homeroom decorati'ng contest; a trip to La Salette Shrine, Attleboro, sponsored by the Student Involvement Committee; and a Mass at which baby gifts, presented at the offertory, were collected for needy families.

A Mass preceded the annual National Honor Society induction ceremony.

Bishop Feehan 'National Honor Society memMrs visited two nursing homes before vacation. Santa and his elves distributed gifts and carols were sung. Sister Suzanne and Sister Carolanne, moderators, accompanied the students.

Winners of a recent Spell-In at the Attleboro high school were Jeanne Lynch, Steven Fachada, Susan Diaz, and Michelle Giordane, who received prizes and certificates.

Feehan cheerleaders earned second place in a cheerleading competition at Norton High School.

John Polce, a member of the music ministry of St. Margaret parish, Rumford, R.I., was guest speaker in the religion classes last week. He has published two records of songs of Christian witness, and he spoke on the Christian life to students.

Senior Michelle Morin spoke at Monday's Science Careers Club meeting.

Interscholastic

Sports

IN THE DIOCESE

By BILL MORRISSETTE

Stang's Hiller is An All-Star Stephanie Hiller of Bishop Stang High School has been named to the New Bedford Standard-Times' all-star cross country team for the New Bedford area.

Miss Hiller was the No. 3 runner on the Spartans' cross country team, which includes boys. She was undefeated among girls in dual meet competions and was the first girl to finish in the Southeastern Mass. Div· ision III meet.

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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-parental guidance sug· gested; R-restricted, unsuitable for children or younger teens.

Catholic ratings: Al-approved for children and adults; A2-approved for adults and adolescents; A3-approved for adults only; B-objectionable in part for everyone; A4-separate classification (given to films not morally. offensive which, however, require some analysis and explanation); C-condemned.

the Girls' State Meet she finished seventh.

Miss Hiller was 26th in the Massachusetts State Coaches Association Meet and qualified for the state finals by coming in 14th in the Eastern Mass.

New Films Girls' Division III Meet. Unfor"Superman" (Warners) is the tunately, illness preven~ed her well-known story of Clark Kent, from competing in the finals.

Attleboro High School gar- mild-mannered reporter, actually nered 372 points to win the Eas- a visitor from another planet, tern Mass. Swimming Associa- capable of incredible deeds of tion Southern Conference's Re- strength and valor. This film lay Carnival in New Bedford . version, starring Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, has She finished second in the High School last Saturday.

Seekonk had 278 points, New scenes (such as the destruction Dartmouth High Invitational meet in which she gave Somer- Bedford High 266, Middleboro of Krypton, Superman's home set's great runner, Marilyn Fer170, Milford 160, Taunton 123, planet) which may be frightening to young children and there nandes, strong competition. In Randolph 98, Durfee 78. are a few double entendres, but in general it is enjoyable enterDiocesan Schools Active in Hockey, Basketball tainment. PG, A2 Bishop Connolly High's Cou- Youth Center, New Bedford, and gars wind up their pre-confer- visit Coyle-Cassidy at 7:30 p.m. ence hockey schedule at home Tuesday. to New Bedford High at 8 toWednesday night, Bishop Ilight in the Driscoll Rink, Fall Stang High will be host to DurRiver, and against Our Lady of fee in a non-league game. DurProvidence High School at 4 fee's hockey team will be host p.m. Wednesday in the North to Bishop Feehan High in a Providence Arena. non-league game at noon TuesIn basketball the Cougars will day in the Driscoll Rink.

Other non-league hoop games be home tomorrow night to New Bedford High and will visit tomorrow night list Case at New Fairhaven Wednesday night in Bedford Voke-Tech, Harwich at Division One Southeastern Mass. Wareham, Apponequet at West Conference games. Other Divi- Bridgewater, Chatham at Westsion One games tomorrow night port, Dighton-Rehoboth at Old have Barnstable at Durfee, Fair- Rochester, Old Colony Voke at haven at Attleboro .and Dart- Sacred Heart. In hockey Bourne mouth at Somerset. is host to Wareham tomorrow On the non-league basketball night in the Gallo Arena, and circuit Holy Family High will Dartmouth takes on Old Romeet an Alumni quintet at 8 chester Saturday night in the p.m. tomorrow in the Kennedy Hetland Rink, New Bedford.

"The Deer Hunter" (Universal) depicts the impact of the Vietnam waJ;' on three young Russian-American steelworkers (Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage) linked by friendship, ethnic identity and a love for deer hunting. Nudity, rough language and a graphic depiction of the consequences of Russian roulette are offensive. R, B TV Film Sat., Dec. 30, 9 p.m. (CBS) "Demon Seed" (United Artists): Scientists build an artificial brain which proceeds to propagate itself with the unwilling assistance of the wife of one of its creators. Her humiliating predicament, together with brief snatches of nudity and profanity, give this film a "morally objectionable in part for all" rating.

R, B

On Television Tuesday, Dec. 26, 8·9 p.m.

(CBS) "Any Place But Here."

The plight of mental patients discharged into communities unprepared to accept them is examined by Bill Moyers.

THE ANCHOKThurs., Dec. 21, 1978

15

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15 Irvington Ct. New Bedford

995-5166

FAIRHAVEN LUMBER CO. Complete Line Building Materials 118 ALDEN RD. FAIRHAVEf'

993-2611 .J:-'~_'

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Taunton in Maior Upset in CYO Hockey Taunton posted the major upset of the Bristol County Cath· olic Hockey League session when it blanked defending champion Fall River South, 3-0, in the Driscoll Rink, Fall River, last Sunday night. It was South's first defeat since Oct. 1 when the Southies dropped a 4-2 decision to Somerset-Freetown. It was also the first time South failed to score in the 13 games played thus far this season.

In other games last -Sunday night, runnerup New Bedford defeated Fall River North, 3-0,

and Rochester took a 5-2 decision from Somerset-Freetown.

As a result of those games, South's lead over New Bedford has been out to five points.

South has 20 points, New Bedford 15, Taunton 13, SomersetFreetown and Rochester 11, North 8 in the standings. The league will be idle until Jan. 7 because of the holidays.

To all: sincere wishes for happy and healthy holidays, and that God may bless you always and in all ways.

Tel. 548-0042 Do.n~· B~.I·Am~s

FUNERAL SERVICE Howard C. Doane Sr. Howard C. Doane Jr.

• Gordon L. Homer Robert L. Studley

HYANNIS 775-0684 South Ylrmauth 391·2201 Hlrwlch Port 432-0593

Est. 1949

Jenkins Funeral Home, Inc. 584 Main Street West Falmouth, Mass.

Harold W. Jenkins, Jr. Richard E. Gregoire Directors

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holy message of Christmas. May the bright Star that shone over Bethlehem cast its eternal light over the world bringing all people together in peace, good will and brotherhood. For these blessings and for your enduring faith and trust, we say thanks.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FROM THE

GOLD MEDAL BAKING CO. Bakers of Enriched HOLSUM BREAD ROLAND

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The LeCOMTE FAMILY LEO

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JOHN

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ROLAND, JR.