April 2024 Anchor

Solanus Casey Food Pantry provides sustenance and hope

By Joan D. Warren

NEW

BEDFORD

—The line on Bonny Street in the south end of New Bedford stretched along the sidewalk, around the corner and down Katherine Street. Folks weren’t waiting to purchase concert tickets or gain entrance to a show. They were patiently awaiting their turn to “shop” at the Solanus Casey’s Food Pantry, a ministry of Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Fall River.

The chilly March morning with a steady breeze and mostly cloudy skies didn’t seem to bother them much. In fact, many were socializing with those in front or behind in line, some listened to music on their phones, and a mother sang lullaby’s to her infant in a stroller.

This is a typical scene every Wednesday and Thursday morning from 10 am until noon at the food pantry.

Kevin Frederic, coordinator for the food pantry, said the clients who

2024 Easter Message

Bishop Edgar da Cunha, S.D.V

come are grateful and friendly.

“It’s hard to express what I see here. We are here to serve those with food insecurities, but at the end of the day, it is who we are being served,” he said.

The “we” he speaks of are the dozens of volunteers that help make the food pantry operation a reality.

“We have volunteers that the regulars who visit know on a first

At last, after preparing during six-weeks of Lent, we celebrate the joyous feast of Easter, the heart of our Christian faith. Our faith flows from our belief in the Resurrection. Christ’s victory over sin and death means new life for us all. Easter is the proof of God’s love for humanity and our assurance that God wants all of us to be raised up after our own death and to live with him forever.

We understand Easter as the passage from old to new; from darkness to light; and from suffering to joy. It is such a hope-filled and life-giving feast that we, the Church, celebrate Easter for not merely one day but for an entire 50-day season.

Let us not miss this opportunity to enjoy, celebrate, and be inspired by all the beautiful symbols and messages the Easter season offers us.

In my Lenten message, I proposed we offer our Lenten sacrifices for three special intentions to help us journey through the season with a more focused purpose. What if, for the Easter season, we continue to move forward in our faith practices with either the same or three new special intentions? For whom or for what intention can you continue to offer every prayer, every sacrifice, and every act of charity during the Easter Season in anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost?

Did you experience a renewed energy in your prayer life over the last 40-plus days as you placed your attention on those things you most desire for your family, community, nation, or world? If you took my recommendation to write down your three most important intentions, go back to those now and reflect on where you saw God working in each intention. Then, write three new intentions to focus on for the

Clients ”shop” for food items at the Solanus Casey Food Pantry in New Bedford. The food pantry serves close to 400 people per week.

Solanus Casey Food Pantry Coordinator Kevin Frederic chats with Laurie Wilkerson and her mother Nancy Cahoon before they went shopping.

Bishop Edgar da Cunha celebrates Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption.

Men’s groups vital in keeping the family on a spiritual path to God

By Joan D. Warren Editor joandwarren@anchornews.org

FALL RIVER — The role of father is crucial to raising faithful children. Unfortunately, in 2024, religion in general is dwindling in the United States, according to statistics.

A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 80 percent of U.S. adults say religion’s role in American life is shrinking. Most Americans who say religion’s influence is shrinking are not happy about it.

It has been said that faithful father’s have about a 93 percent influence on the children’s religious practice into adulthood. In a world where the traditional family unit has significantly changed, a father’s presence in the home can make a lasting positive influence

on children in many ways, but especially spiritually.

Deacon Christopher Paul, Director of Adult & Child Discipleship, knows that if the church is to keep the young practicing the faith later in life, the youth being raised

Catholic, getting men to become spiritual leaders is paramount. He, with the help from a member of the Knights of Columbus, Richard Raiche, is identifying areas in the diocese that are lacking men’s ministries and attempting to get more up and running.

“As leaders of households, fathers play a crucial role in the faith of their children. We will try to help them to live a life of faith with passion and purpose,” Deacon Paul said.

Mr. Raiche is the State Evangelization and Faith Formation Director for the Knights, and tasked to bring spiritual programs for men to area parishes, among other responsibilities.

“Many parishes have nothing for men to participate in. We should offer ways for men in our diocese to practice their spirituality. It will greatly benefit them, their families and the community,” Mr. Raiche said.

The men’s ministries in question are not affiliated with the Knights although the goals and missions are similar.

“My job is to talk with area Councils in the diocese, most are affiliated with parishes, and talk with the pastors to see if there are any men in the parish that they think might be interested in starting a men’s ministry,” Raiche said.

There are 35 Knights of Columbus Councils in the Diocese of Fall River.

Deacon Paul said there are areas in the Diocese that are lacking mens groups, such as the Cape. That is where Mr. Raiche will be focusing his time.

‘‘I will see if there is a parishioner who wants to help form a men’s group. We will help them get started and hopefully they will be self-sustaining moving forward,” Raiche said.

Currently there are about 14 vibrant men’s groups within the Diocese that can be used as a model for start-up groups.

The most popular groups are Men of St. Joseph and That Man is You!

In South Attleboro, the That Man Is You! program meets at St. John’s Parish Center and offers faith topics and small group sharing.

The description of the program is: ‘‘That Man is You! honestly addresses the pressures and temptations that men face in our modern culture, especially those relating to their roles as husbands and fathers. The program harmonizes current social and medical science with the teachings of the Church and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of man fully alive”.

Pocasset and Falmouth parishes also offer That Man Is you! to any man in the area looking for spiritual guidance, not only parishioners.

The Fall River Deanery has used the That Man Is You! as a guide to start their own men’s group.

A different men’s group, The Fall River IRONMEN started three years ago with a core group of about eight men and has expanded to 30. They gather monthly at St. Stanislaus School for a brief practical presentation, discussion and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Confessions are available during Adoration.

For more information on Men’s ministries, visit the Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese.org and go to the faith formation page or email Deacon Paul at cpaul@dioc-fr.org.

Dr. Brett Salkeld, author of ‘Educating for Eternity’, keynotes the Diocese of Fall River Catholic Schools Spiritual Day

FALL RIVER, MA – Each year the faculty and staff of every Catholic school in the Diocese of Fall River come together for a day of spiritual renewal. In addition to regular faith formation programs at the individual school level, the Catholic Schools Office offers a day for Catholic school teachers, administrators, and staff that began with Mass celebrated by Bishop da Cunha at St. Julie of Billiart Parish, followed by a spiritual program at Bishop Stang High School.

This year’s spiritual day was held March 15. Brett Salkeld, PhD., Salkeld, theologian for the Archdiocese of Regina in Canada, was keynote speaker. Dr. Salkeld is the author of ‘Educating for Eternity,’ where he explains the role of Catholic anthropology in education as well as offers Catholic school teachers, leaders, and staff new ways of integrating the faith into all aspects of their school’s curriculum. From math and science to health and social studies, every subject can be taught from a Catholic worldview, he said, and he tried to present a truly effective way to explain and model eternal truths to students.

This is how the true purpose of Catholic education is fulfilled, he stated.

After his address to an audience of almost 475 educators from across the Diocese, the group divided according to their grade and subject area. Initially the high school educators remained with Dr. Salkeld as he dove deeper into the challenges of incorporating the Catholic worldview into all areas of a high school education. Concurrently, the elementary level educators divided into

smaller groups and discussed what they learned from the keynote address and shared ideas on what has worked, as well as on challenges faced in their own schools. The groups switched so that the elementary educators benefited from working directly with Dr. Salkeld on challenges unique to elementary age school children.

According to Dr. Salkeld, “As our culture becomes more and more post-Christian, and as the basic cultural presuppositions through which we unwittingly approach any subject become less and less Catholic, we must be ever more intentional about cultivating a consistent and coherent Catholic worldview in ourselves and in our students. Such a worldview will impact the way we approach every subject. It is my hope that everyone who reads this book or attended this professional development came away with a clearer vision of how their Catholic faith informs how they approach many

of the most important questions facing our Church and our world.”

Marian Desrosiers, Director of Catholic Identity and Mission, added, “Catholic schools continue to be valuable places of education that support the two essential structures for healthy social fabric and better quality of life – families and faith communities. ‘Educating for Eternity’ brings together the calling each of our educators experienced when they said ‘Yes’ to Catholic education, with the privilege of strengthening these two structures that have been proven to be the foundations of thriving in a secular world. Moreover, Catholic schools help students deepen their relationships with God and Christ, which in turn, allows each individual to become the person God created them to be. Herein, lies the formula for true happiness.”

“‘Educating for Eternity’ is a tremendous resource for every Catholic school educator, leader and staff member,” said Daniel Roy, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Fall River. “Our Catholic schools’ primary focus is to evangelize students and their families, and Dr. Salkeld invites educators to consider more deeply what it means to teach in a Catholic school, offering practical approaches based in what teachers teach. The rich history of the Catholic Church and contributions to the world need to be known and embraced by all who pass the faith onto the younger generation. I am personally excited that Dr. Salkeld has joined us in this work to strengthen our schools for the communities they serve.”

Dr. Brett Salkeld was the keynote speaker at the annual spiritual day for Catholic school faculty on March 15.

Meet Shaun Kerrigan, jack of all trades at the Diocese

By Joan D. Warren Editor joandwarren@anchornews.org

Shaun Kerrigan, Diocesan Records Coordinator was born in Hartford, CT, the fourth of six children. Right after college in September of 1979, he enrolled in St. John Seminary Graduate School of Theology in Brighton, MA. He left St. John’s in August of 1982. In September of 1984 he married his wife Mary and currently live in Taunton, MA. They have three children: Tom and his wife Gisella of Lowell, MA and their two children, Lucan and Annabella; Meghan and her husband, Alex of Englewood, CO; and Kaitlyn lives in Frederick, MD. with her husband, Greg, and their son, Heath.

What is your role at the Diocese of Fall River? My current title is Records Coordinator in the Archives. I facilitate and research archive requests from within and outside the Diocese. I have been doing this since April of 2021. I inventory and electronically organize files for active and deceased Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Diocesan institutions and Parishes. I scanned and made word-searchable the information on the Diocese of Fall River in the Official Catholic Directory from 1920-current.

I research (and sometimes copy) historical Diocese of Fall River location blueprints and plans for the Facilities and Real Estate Office, now located on the first floor of the Archives.

I coordinate the scheduling of the priests and volunteers for the weekly Mass on Tuesdays at the Chancery and oversee the preparations for that Mass and weekly Adoration on Wednesdays.

I coordinate the processing of all the mail for the Chancery Campus and assist in the monthly delivery of the Anchor to parishes, schools and other diocesan locations.

I man the front desk in the Lobby of the Chancery on Mondays and Thursdays.

Finally, I monitor and respond to the urgent calls that come into the main phone line at the Chancery.

Is this your first job with the Diocese? This is not my first job at the Diocese. I was the Assistant Benefits Manager from August 2002 through March 2021. In March of 2021 I was asked if I would be willing to work on updating the archives from a paper format to an electronic format. I said yes. That still is a work in progress!

Prior to that I was an Agent for Prudential Insurance from 1999 until 2002.

My first job was as an account executive at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts from 1984 1999.

Are you a history buff? Although I like to learn as much as I can from a history perspective, I would not consider myself a history buff. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed my short time here in the archives reading about and researching the history of the various locations and people that have gone before us in the Diocese.

Did you attend Catholic school? I attended Catholic school for my entire academic career, except for college. I attended the Cathedral of St.

Joseph School in Hartford, CT. through 8th grade. I attended St. Thomas Seminary High School in Bloomfield, CT. For my junior and senior year of college I attended the University of Hartford. Finally, I attended St. John Seminary Graduate School of Theology in Brighton through Third Theology. It was a great three years with a lot of positive, varied pastoral experiences with some specially gifted classmates who are now great priests. I discerned that God was not calling me to be a priest, but to serve him in many other ways.

Were you an athlete at school? Yes I was. I started playing C.Y.O. basketball in 5th grade for the Cathedral school. We won the New England championship at St. Anselm’s College, my first year. (I didn’t contribute much to winning the championship!). I played basketball and baseball at St. Thomas Seminary. I played on the Golf Team at the University of Hartford. I coached youth basketball both in Connecticut and Massachusetts. I have been a board-certified basketball official for 19 years.

Still in the game: ‘I referee basketball for a number of reasons. I played and coached basketball for almost 40 years! I love the game and I enjoy administering the rules of the game and helping players and coaches to learn to play and coach the game according to the rules and with good sportsmanship. I often say to coaches and parents, “That was a teachable moment.” Since November 2023, the Fall River CYO has been playing their games at Bishop Connolly High School. They needed additional referees and I seized the opportunity. I have come ‘full circle’ with my CYO basketball experiences! I enjoy the exercise that it provides.

Currently reading: ‘Learning to Pray’, by Fr. James Martin, SJ. and Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks.

Favorite place you have visited: Ireland, luckily five times. My wife, Mary, had relatives in Glenbeigh on the Ring of Kerry.

Favorite meal: ‘I do not have just one. Anything with fish: crab meat, scallops, shrimp or swordfish. I also enjoy an Irish boiled dinner with homemade Irish bread!

Who is your patron saint? St. Patrick. My Confirmation Name.

Several years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Tom when I was the director of music ministry in a parish in New Jersey. Tom was a jovial man. Every Sunday the elderly gentleman would chat with me after Mass. He always wore a big smile and had a joke or riddle to share. Sometimes he’d even have a little present for me – usually a plastic “gold” coin embossed with an angel that he’d received in the mail. Once, he gave me the most wonderful gift. As I was packing up my music and closing the roll top of the organ console, he stopped to comment on the music. The congregation sang David Haas’ “You are Mine” as the gifts were presented and prepared that Sunday morning. With a twinkle in his eye, he told me how much he loved the song and began to quote the text. “All the blind will see, the lame will all run free.” He went on to tell me about his deceased sister who had been blind since birth and his wife who, prior to her death, had been confined to a wheelchair. He continued to quote the lyrics of the song, “Come and follow

The feast that frees us

me, I will bring you home. I love you and you are mine.” His smile broadened and his eyes sparkled even more. “I can’t wait to go there”, he said. “My sister never saw me during her life, but she’ll see me in heaven. And I can dance with my wife again!” He spoke without a hint of sadness or pain. On the contrary, he was filled with joyful anticipation. I smiled through a tear and sensed the depth of the faith of this jolly man who had just been nourished at the table of the Lord.

We have just entered into the most joyful season of the liturgical year – Easter. For forty days we observed Lent with prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. We focused on our shortcomings and our need for God’s forgiveness as we prepared ourselves to celebrate the great fifty days of Easter. Easter and the joy of the resurrection brings us to new life - free from death, free from sin. Christ crucified is at the heart of our Easter celebrations; in and through the Eucharist we have our

deepest and most meaningful encounter with Christ, our risen Lord. It is through the Eucharist that we are brought more fully into a life of grace, a life in the Spirit. It is through the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we are given the gift and the promise of eternal life.

As I drove home from church that Sunday, I reflected on my conversation with Tom. I was both

but he didn’t need any of those things. Tom knew our Lord Jesus could make the blind see. He knew that Jesus could make the lane walk. And he knew that Jesus Christ had the power to raise the dead to eternal life.

blessed and enriched. As is so often the case, I went to church that Sunday to minister, and was ministered to instead. I realized that Tom was the embodiment of what we as Catholic Christians believe about the power of the empty tomb and the joy of resurrection. I may have known a bit more about liturgy than Tom did. My knowledge of scripture may have been a bit broader than his. And I may have had the vocabulary to articulate theological concepts that Tom didn’t possess,

My friend Tom went home to God a few years ago. I know he has joined his beloved wife and sister in heaven, and I believe he is feasting at the heavenly banquet. I’ll never forget Tom and his tremendous and unmistakable faith in our Lord and Savior. He understood the joy and power of the resurrection, and he recognized the connection between resurrection and the Eucharist, the feast that frees us from sin and death. What more can we Christians hope for than to be cheerful disciples, secure in the knowledge that when we complete our earthly pilgrimage, through the merciful love of God, we will become one in Christ and join the communion of saints at the heavenly banquet. We are freed from sin and all that binds us because we are His. And that, my friends, is the

Anchor columnist Ada Simpson is former editor of Ministry and Liturgy magazine, holds an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry, and is the director of Music Ministry at St. Francis and St. Dominic parishes in Swansea. To

Divine Mercy, Eternal Life and Hell

As we continue during this Easter Octave to celebrate Jesus’ triumph over sin and death and as the Church prepares for Divine Mercy Sunday this weekend, it is important to ponder the self-imposed limit God himself has placed on his mercy by making the human person free.

This subject is of added relevance this year after Fabio Fazio’s interview with Pope Francis on Italy’s Channel 9. When Fazio asked the Holy Father on Jan. 14 how he understands hell in the context of divine mercy, the Holy Father replied with words that captured international headlines: “It’s difficult to imagine it. What I would say is not a dogma of faith but my personal thought: I like to think hell is empty; I hope it is.”

The Holy Father is not the first to hope that no one will end up eternally in hell. Bishop Robert Barron, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Saints Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, Gregory of Nyssa, Clement of Alexandria and Maximus the Confessor all have expressed, in one way or another, a similar hope, as did Origen.

It’s certainly not heretical to have this hope, while it is to believe with certainty that hell is vacant — “universalism” was condemned by the Council of Constantinople in 543). In contrast to canonizations in which the Church proclaims someone in heaven through the determination of a particular saint’s heroic virtue and through miracles solicited through the saint’s intercession, the Church has never formally pronounced anyone in particular in hell, not even Judas Iscariot. While the Catechism of the Church affirms the “existence of hell and its eternity” (1035) and states that “those who die in mortal sin” go there, it also affirms that “in hope, the Church prays for all men to be saved” (1821).

Those who hope in this way interpret various passages of Sacred Scripture as reasonable justifications for it — most notably St. Paul’s expression that God “desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). Similarly, they focus on the power of Christ’s death, resurrection and mercy as they cite his words, “I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world (Jn 12:47) and “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself” (Jn 12:32).

The vast majority of popes, ecumenical councils, saints, fathers and doctors of the Church, however, have given far more attention to the many expressions Jesus himself gives in Sacred Scripture about the reality of Hell and the unmistakable impression he gives that people in fact do end up there.

Jesus compared hell to a blazing furnace, an unquenchable fire, and a worm that doesn’t die (Mt 13:42; Mk 9:43, Mk 9:48). He said we can make choices that can cause us to lose both body and soul in hell, exclude us from the banquet of the

Kingdom, and lead to God’s saying to us, “I never knew you” (Mt 10:28; Mt 22:13; Mt 7:23) He states that some “children of the kingdom” will be cast into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Mt 8:12). In two parables, he communicates that while the kingdom seeks to draw everyone in, not everyone is fit for it (Mt 13:24-30; 13:47-50). He gives a parable of judgment in which he says he “will” — not “might” — say to those who have refused to nourish, dress, welcome and care for others, “Depart from Me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt 25:41).

While not a snapshot of the end of the journey, Jesus says that there are far more people on the “broad way that leads to perdition” than the “narrow road that leads to life” (Mt 7:13-14) And even if the Church has never formally pronounced Judas in hell, Jesus stated that it was “better for him never to have been born” and that “none of [the apostles] was lost, except the son of perdition” (Mk 14:21; Jn 17:12).

If Jesus said all of this — and more — while knowing that hell would be unoccupied, he would have basically been engaging in psych ops to frighten us into doing the right thing. Such an image of Jesus speaking about a fearsome place of punishment and exile while knowing that Gehenna was literally an empty threat simply does not cohere with the one who identified himself as “The Truth” and declared he “came into the world to testify to the truth” (Jn 14:6; 18:37)?

Those who dare to hope that hell will be eternally uninhabited often do so because they cannot fathom how a God full of compassion, slow to anger, and rich in kindness could ever set up an eternal, infernal dungeon in which He mercilessly punishes his beloved creatures. How could he ever refuse the merits of his passion to anyone for whom he gave his life?

Jesus, indeed, affirms that he had come into the world to save not condemn it, but added, “The one who rejects Me and does not receive My word has a judge, and on the last day the Word that I have spoken will serve as judge” (Jn 12:47). Those who reject Jesus’ words of eternal life, walk in the darkness instead of the light, and fail to live by faith and enter the kingdom, become their own judges by the way they respond to the truth God has revealed.

“There are only two kinds of people in the end,” C.S. Lewis famously wrote in The Great Divorce. “Those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in hell choose it.” Hell exists not despite God’s love but precisely because of it, in order to honor the desires of those who don’t want to live in loving communion with Him and others. That’s why the Catechism calls hell the state of “definitive self-exclusion from communion with God

and the blessed” (1033).

Hell is a tragic possibility of human freedom for those who, by choosing sin and persevering in it, separate themselves from God and others. There are some at the end who turn to Jesus like the Good Thief. There are also those who respond to him like the bandit on Jesus’ left.

When Christ last century revealed the depth of his divine mercy to St. Faustina — private revelations that the Church finds credible and devotionally follows in the novena from Good Friday through Divine Mercy Sunday — he spoke to her about hell and gave her several visions. While he stated that he “wants souls to come to know him first as King of mercy” (Diary 378), he said that we must take advantage of — not take for granted — that divine gift.

“If my death has not convinced you of my life,” he told her, “What will? [Some] use my graces to offend me. … They do not wish to hear my call [to mercy] but proceed into the abyss of hell. … God though I am, I cannot help such a soul because it scorns Me; having a free will, it can spurn Me or love Me” (580).

After St. Faustina was shown a vision of hell and witnessed the particular sufferings of those there, she testified, “I am writing this at the command of God, so that no soul may find an excuse by saying there is no hell, or that nobody has ever been there, and so no one can say what it is like. I, Sister Faustina, by the order of God, have visited the abysses of hell so that I might tell souls about it and testify to its existence.” She added, “Most of the souls there are those who did not believe that there is a hell” (742).

No faithful follower of Jesus of course ever wants anyone to end up in hell. We want Jesus’ work of salvation to be efficacious, not refused. But refusing salvation is a radical capacity of human freedom. Just as it would have been senseless for Truth incarnate to speak about damnation so often and concretely if going there were just theoretical possibility — essentially just to “scare the hell out of” his people across the centuries — so it is imprudent and evangelically dangerous for Christians to second guess Jesus’ words and speculate publicly about the improbability that no one in all of history would ever die in mortal sin and definitive self-exclusion.

Such problematic musings don’t call people to conversion but complacency.

When Jesus was asked about how many are saved — and therefore how many go to hell — he didn’t respond with a number, or a percentage, or with a full or null set. Rather, he said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate” (Lk 13:24).

As the Church celebrates during the Easter Octave Christ’s victory, we would all do well faithfully to echo Jesus’ wisdom and, with his grace, follow urgently and perseveringly the path that leads to sharing in his triumph.

Poking the Hornet’s Nest of IVF

A sweeping decision by the Alabama Supreme Court in February sent shock waves through the world of assisted reproduction. Justice Jay Mitchell, writing on behalf of the court’s 7-2 majority, concluded that human embryos in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics “are ‘children,’ … without exception based on developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics.”

A firestorm followed. The decision uncomfortably reignited basic ethical questions that those in the IVF business had hoped were behind us. It had obvious financial implications, since it allowed parents to seek damages against IVF clinics when their embryonic children were lost or destroyed. It effectively upended the tacit assumption guiding the work of every IVF clinic, namely, that human embryos are nothing special, just a “means to an end” or objects to be used in the quest to satisfy customers and improve profitability. As one commentator put it, the court’s decision is “clearly extraordinary in its determination that in vitro, 8-cell, microscopic embryos are considered people.”

But should it really be so extraordinary? What’s extraordinary is the fact that so many people, for so long, could become so riveted to the falsehood that little human beings are not human beings, just because they are little.

IVF has become so ingrained in lifestyle choices that it’s now not only awkward, but positively impolite, to suggest that pre-born life has intrinsic value, whether in a petri dish, a freezer, or a womb. Yet scientific facts have a hard edge to them, and as O’Rahilly & Muller put it in ‘‘Human Embryology & Teratology,” the 3rd edition of their famous textbook: ‘‘lthough life is a continuous process, fertilization is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new genetically distinct human organism is formed.”

The awkward truth for the purveyors of IVF is the fact that we are all embryos who have grown up, and if all men are created equal, then all embryos are human beings, each of whom ought to be unconditionally safeguarded and never exploited.

The Alabama court ruling thrust the state into the national spotlight and sent panicked lawmakers on both sides of the aisle scrambling to come up with a quick legislative “fix.” Only a few weeks after the judicial decision, the powerful infertility industry succeeded in convincing both the Alabama House and the Senate to pass legislation guaranteeing fertility clinics and doctors immunity from prosecution for any ”death or damage to an embryo” that might occur

during the IVF process.

Rather than running scared and caving to pressure from IVF advocates, we should be facing the question of how we have become so complacent about something so glaringly wrong. Why have we stood by to allow the industrialized commodification and destruction of younger human beings?

IVF involves at least two major moral problems —the “collateral damage problem” and the “intrinsic problem.”

The collateral damage problem means that

in order to achieve one IVF birth, clinic workers may create a dozen embryos, prescreen and transfer several of the “best” ones, discard or freeze the ‘‘leftovers,” and if more than one implants successfully, selectively abort the additional fetus(es). Those IVF-produced babies who manage to run this gauntlet and cross the threshold of birth still manifest elevated rates of birth defects when compared to normally-conceived babies, another instance of collateral damage.

This high tolerance for collateral damage in IVF clinics and among IVF customers arises out of the intentional prioritization of the desires of older, more powerful and wealthy adults over the rights and needs of voiceless embryonic children. Parental wants are always assumed by the industry to trump their children’s best interests, allowing for grave human rights violations to become “standards of infertility care.”

When it comes to the “intrinsic problem,” meanwhile, IVF always involves actions contrary to the meaning of marriage and to the core designs of human marital sexuality.

Even if parts of society assert otherwise, sex remains fundamentally about bringing forth the next generation of human life within

the stable bond of marriage. Children are not commodities and are entitled to be brought into the world through the loving embrace of the marital act, and within the protective and loving environment of the maternal womb, rather than being manufactured and manhandled under laboratory lights by hired hands in fertility clinics.

Through IVF, we create an ‘‘exploitable subclass” — those who, although they are just as human as the rest of us, are unjustly instrumentalized and dehumanized by being brought into the world in a manner distinct from the rest of us. This subclass is produced and subjugated through human craftiness and scheming, instead of arriving as free and undeserved gifts through the bodily self-surrender and fruitful spousal love of the marital embrace.

For those interested in understanding these issues more completely, I have recently produced two full-length, professionally-filmed videos on YouTube and Vimeo, entitled “The Struggle of Infertility” and “Why is IVF Wrong?” They are available at: https://www.youtube.com/@FatherTad/videos or https://vimeo. com/bioethicsvideos.

Let us hope that the Alabama court’s decision will provide the impetus for some serious soul-searching about the ongoing calamity of IVF in our society.

Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as Senior Ethicist at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org and www.fathertad.com

St Patrick’s Parish in Wareham becomes chapter of Franciscan Seculars

By Joan D. Warren Editor joandwarren@anchornews.org

WAREHAM — Mary Peabody waited better part of her adult life for this day.

On Monday, March 11, 2024, couldn’t hold back tears as St. Patrick’s Parish in Wareham received its official paperwork to be a chapter of the Divine Mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Fraternity Order of Franciscans Secular.

An Establishment Mass at 4 pm was presided by Father Cidouane Joseph, Regional Spiritual Assistant of the Blessed Solanus Casey Region, the area of Franciscan seculars in North Eastern United States.

The Secular Franciscans have been in existence for centuries. It was established by St. Francis of Assisi 800 years ago with a purpose to bring the Gospel to life through living a life like Jesus.

Secular Franciscans seek to encounter the living and active person of Christ in their brothers and sisters, in Sacred Scripture, in the Church and in liturgical activity. They do this by studying, loving and living in an integrated human and evangelical life.

Originally known as the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, the Order is open to any Catholic, in good standing, at least 18 years in age, and not bound by religious vows to another religious order. It is made up of both the laity (male and female) and secular clergy (deacons, priests, bishops and even Popes).

Today there are approximately 650,000 secular Franciscans in 110 countries.

They look for ways to embrace the Gospel in their daily lives and try to help others to do likewise.

A group of parishioners at St. Patrick have been meeting for more than 25 years and in recent years, have gone through the steps to become a recognized fraternity.

“We are faithful Catholics who are in service to others. We pray together and enjoy fellowship. We are a Franciscan family serving our church and the community,” Peabody said.

‘‘We live according to the gospel; together with sisters and brothers in fraternity,” she said.

The current Franciscan secular community at St. Patrick’s has about 18 members. To become a member, there is a process of study and prayer of about three years of participating in meetings, outreach and prayer, a

profession in made for the desire to be in the fraternity.

In his homily, Father Joseph said that being in the fraternity is a privileged, joyful place.

‘‘As part of this fraternity, you have big shoes to fill. You will be an example to future candidates through ongoing formation. The Holy Spirit is your boss in everything that you are doing. By your example, you will win people to Christ,” he said.

The official reading and signing of the document followed by an exhortation from the writings of St. Francis and remarks by Joseph Krans, Council Vice Minister, OFS (Franciscan Secular

Order) from the Solanus Casey chapter.

Mr. Krans spent the past four years mentoring potential members to become secular Franciscans

‘‘I came to help you know what it means to be a secular Franciscan. To help you grow and know what it is to live in fraternity — to care and love one another, simply and humbly,” he said.

Glenda Banfield, a parishioner at St. Patrick for the past 48 years, professed on February 24 of this year.

“I was asked to go to one of their prayer meetings and enjoyed it. It is basically what the church believes — to live the life of the Gospel. I think I liked the idea of joining, since St. Francis was kind of a rebel and I am, too,” she said.

Although the majority of members are female, there are male members as well, united by the desire to live the life of the gospel and to serve others.

Marion Raymond, a parishioner at St. Patrick’s since 1983, had been exploring the idea of joining the fraternity after her husband John passed away seven years ago.

“He was in the fraternity and it was so very important in his life. After he died, I wanted to have what he had. When I professed, I had an overwhelming feeling of peace. It was beautiful,” she said.

The Mass was followed by a dinner in the parish hall catered, by Dan Minkle Catering.

Newly consecrated members from St. Patrick Parish in Wareham and members of the Solanus Casey Order of Franciscans Secular after the Establishment Mass on March 11, 2024. Mary Peabody (center seated) prayed for the day when the group of faithful officially became members of the Divine Mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Fraternity Order of Franciscans Secular.

Father Cidouane Joseph, Regional Spiritual Assistant of the Blessed Solanus Casey Region, the area of Franciscan seculars in Northeastern United States.

Bishop da Cunha celebrates Mass, honors inductees to the Caritas Christi Society at Spiritual Day for Catholic school staff

Newly inducted to the Caritas Christi Society (members who have 25 years of service the Diocese of Fall River Catholic schools) are (l-r): Amy Madeira, St. Michael School; Donna McDougal, Bishop Stang High School; Kathleen LaPerriere, St. Teresa of Calcutta School; Bishop da Cunha; Susan Garman, All Saints Catholic School; Cristina Viveiros-Serra, St. Teresa of Calcutta School; Paula Bedard, St. John the Evangelist School. Not pictured inductees are: Susan John, Holy Trinity School; Judith Lussier, Holy Trinity School; and Kristie Pelland, Our Lady of Lourdes School.

The George C. Shields Knights of Columbus Council 420 take initial Polar Plunge to support Special Olympics

The George C. Shields Council 420 in Mansfield celebrated its 125th anniversary year by expanding its charitable work by participating in their initial Polar Plunge to support Special Olympics of Massachusetts. In keeping with the pillars of Charity, Unity and Fraternity, the council raised more than $2,600 for Special Olympics in its community.

Pictured are (l-r): Kevin Clark, Jim Porter, Brizzly the Polar Bear, Brian Healy, Police Mascot dog, Cameron Symonds, Mackenzie Symonds, Chris Herrick and Chuck McPherson after they dried off from the Polar Plunge.

Bishop da Cunha poses with two religious sisters who have devoted more than 50 years of service and continue to serve in our Catholic schools: Sister Muriel Lebeau, ss.cc from St. Joseph School (r) and Sister Donald Marie Kerr, RSM from Our Lady of Lourdes School (l).

The resurrection of the lord

a time for renewal

8 Continued from page one

next fifty days of Easter. Maybe it is the same three; whatever you choose, try now to spend time in prayer each day with the Lord, asking for His graces in each situation or circumstance.

This exercise is especially significant during this year dedicated to prayer, as Pope Francis calls the whole world to focus on prayer during this year in preparation for the Jubilee Years, 2025. The celebration of this year of prayer has as the theme: “Teach Us To Pray,”

The Holy Father has repeatedly emphasized that prayer is not just a devout practice, but rather is like the ‘breathing of the soul’; it is the expression of a deep and natural need of every human being.

Prayer, according to Pope Francis, is a true dialogue with God, a ‘face to face with Him’.

May our celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus transform us and renew us, and may we experience the peace and joy of the Risen Christ in our hearts and in our homes throughout this Easter season and beyond.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend

Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. Bishop of Fall River

Theme for Jubilee Years, 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

The year 2025 will be a Jubilee Year for the Catholic Church, beginning on December 24, 2024 and ending on January 6, 2025. A Jubilee Year is a special year of grace, in which the Catholic Church offers the faithful the possibility of gaining for a plenary indulgence. The theme for the Jubilee Year 2025 will be “Pilgrims of Hope.” The Holy Year of 2025 will be the 27th ordinary jubilee year of the Catholic Church. The Vatican and the city of Rome are expecting an estimated 35 million people to flock to the Eternal City for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.

Solanus

included apples, carrots, potatoes and onions and varies week to week.

Solanus Casey Food Pantry

8 Continued from page one name basis and have grown attachments for. They look for them and greet one another like old friends,” Frederic said.

While expediting the line, a small woman handed Mr. Frederic a small booklet, ‘Steps to Peace With God.’ Another said ‘‘God Bless You” as she passed him by.

Barbara Najjar has been volunteering at Solanus Casey for more than ten years as a way to do God’s work.

“There is such a need for those with food insecurities and the food pantry provides a way to help but also is a place where they don’t feel badly about their situation,” she said.

‘‘As the second of eleven children and the recipient of good will by others, doing this work is deeply rooted in me,” she said.

The pantry is set up outside like a store where clients can pick what they want from the weekly offerings. On a recent Wednesday morning, clients could choose from a variety of canned vegetables, juices, and dry goods.

‘‘Shopping gives them humility and they have choices,” Najjar said.

Staff does bag up fresh produce and bags of meat and cheese, when available. This day they offered bags of Italian sausage, hamburger and shredded cheese.

The majority of the non-perish-

Solanus Casey Food Pantry gets new truck

NEW BEDFORD

—The Solanus Casey Food Pantry took ownership of a refrigerated food delivery truck, on left, in March. The truck will allow for expansion of home delivery service already in place. The truck they have been using did not have refrigerator capacity, limiting items they could deliver to the elderly, disabled or homebound in the area, especially during the summer months. Plans to increase the distribution area will include deliveries to Fall River, Dartmouth, Acushnet and New Bedford, with hopes of further expansion.

able goods as well as some meats, vegetables and dairy products are picked up weekly at the Greater Boston Food Bank. Eight thousand pounds, to be exact. Another roughly six thousand pounds are donated by local parishes, including: St. John the Baptist, St. Mary’s Dartmouth, St. James, Neustra Senora de Guadeloupe, Our Lady of the Assumption, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and St. John Neumann.

Other organizations in the community hold food drives that help stock the shelves.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Child Nutrition Partnership, Salvation Army, Citizens for Citizens, First Baptist Church, along with local schools and community members, groups, and drives support the food pantry.

This collaborative team has helped Solanus Casey to become the largest provider of food outside of the Greater Boston area, servicing close to 800 clients and their families monthly. In addition, the food pantry helps to feed emergency situations in the community, and the numerous residential and other client services of Catholic Charities.

Susan Mazzarella, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Fall River, said the food pantry has grown exponentially under the direction of Mr. Frederic.

‘‘He is magic. Kevin lives the mission and has such respect for the individuals and their situations,” she said.

Since becoming coordinator, the pantry under his leadership has flourished, but there is more to do.

‘‘I would like to expand our home delivery service to eventually include the southcoast region of the state,” Frederic said.

Space has become an obstacle to their success. They have outgrown the location on Bonny Street (A building owned by Catholic Charities), limiting their offerings.

Mazzarella said, ‘‘Our longterm goal is to find a new home. We need to consider a location with greater accessibility and visibility. Ultimately, we would like a loca-

tion that is like a mini-supermarket with space for case managers and other support services under one roof.”

Keeping the pantry in the south end of New Bedford is optimal, she said.

Increasing the number of paid staff is the first step in the expansion plans with the addition of an assistant coordinator and other leadership staff.

‘‘We wish to continue this ministry that has been in existence for more than 20 years and continue to empower our clients with the power of choice, planting the seeds for dignity restoration,” she said.

Two clients who visit the pantry weekly said Mr. Frederic has become a friend to them both.

‘‘Kevin helped my mother when I was still working. He brought her bags to the car and made sure she didn’t carry anything heavy since she has problems with her arms,” Laurie Wilkerson said.

”With the price of food these days, the food pantry is a true blessing to the community,” Nancy Cahoon said.

The pantry staff makes picking out food supplies as simple as possible. There are no forms to fill out or wage requirements to declare. No one will be turned away.

‘‘The gate is open, no questions asked,” Frederic said.

Although he can’t take special requests from individuals, the coordinator quietly listens to clients wants and needs and tries to order their preferences, if possible.

He places an online order with the Boston Food Bank on Thursdays for the next week and he and a driver travel to Boston on Tuesday and pick the order up.

‘‘Around the holidays we try to get foods that are traditionally served but if I overhear a specific item a client is looking for, I will see if I can get it. The look of gratitude when they know how much we really care is the best gift in the world,” Frederic said.

A listing of additional food pantries within the diocese can be found on page 19.

Casey Food Pantry volunteers Noel Seeley and Barbara Najjar fill 250 fresh produce bags to be given out to clients on a Wednesday morning. The bags

In Your Prayers

Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks:

Dominic, Swansea, 1990

April 6

Rev. Philip Lariscy, O.S.A. Founder of the New Bedford Mission, 1824

Rev. Edward J. Mongan. Retired Pastor St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1920

Rev. Msgr. John A. Chippendale, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Wareham, 1977

Rev. Lorenzo Morais, Retired Pastor, St. George, Westport, 1980

Rev. Msgr. William D. Thomson, Retired Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1987

Rev. Gerald E. Conmy, CSC, Associate Pastor, St. Ann, DeBary, Fla.,1994

Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Gilligan, P.A. STD, Archdiocese of St. Paul, 1997

Rev. Lucien Jusseaume, Chaplain, Our Lady’s Haven, Fairhaven, Retired Pastor, St Roch, Fall River, 2001

April 7

Rev. James A. Dury, Retired Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1976

Rev. Alvin Matthews, O.F.M., Retired, Our Lady’s Chapel, New Bedford, 1988

April 8

Rev. Alvin Matthews, OFM, Retired, Our Lady’s Chapel, New Bedford, 1988

Rev. Bento R. Fraga, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 2012

April 9

Rev. Cornelius McSwiney, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1919

Rev. Edward F. Dowling, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1965

April 10

Rev. John P. Doyle, Pastor, St. William, Fall River, 1944

April 11

Rev. John F. Downey, Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1914

Rev. John Mackey Fee, SS.CC., 2012

April 12

Rev. John Tobin, Assistant, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1909

Rev. Msgr. Alfred J. Gendreau, S.T.D., Retired Pastor, Notre Dame, Fall River, 1996

Rev. Edward P. Doyle, O.P., St. Raymond, Providence, R.I., 1997

Rev. Bertrand R. Chabot, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, New Bedford, 2002

April 13

Rev. Deacon Joseph Stanley Jr., 2006

April 14

Rev. Louis N. Dequoy, Pastor, Sacred Heart, North Attleboro, 1935

Rev. Cosmas Chaloner, SS.CC., St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet, 1977

Rev. John Godelaer, SS.CC., 1990

April 15

Rev. Christopher G. Hughes, D.D., Retired Rector, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River, 1908

Rev. Deacon Oscar Drinkwater, 2011

Rev. Deacon George H. Zarella, 2021

April 16

Rev. Arthur E. Langlois, On Sick Leave, Denver, Colo., 1928

Rev. Norman F. Lord, C.S.Sp., Hemet, Calif., 1995

April 18

Rev. Hugh B. Harrold, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1935

Rt. Rev. John F. McKeon, P.R., Pastor, St. Lawrence, New Bedford, 1956

Rev. Joao Vieira Resendes, Retired Pastor, Espirito Santo, Fall River, 1984

Rev. Wilfred C. Boulanger, M.S., La Salette Shrine, Attleboro, 1985

Rev. George E. Amaral, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony, Taunton, 1992

Rev. Deacon Vincent Patrick Walsh, 2014

April 19

Rev. William Wiley, Pastor, St. Mary, Taunton, 1855

Rev. Msgr. Leo J. Duart, Pastor, St. Peter the Apostle, Provincetown, 1975

Rev. Daniel E. Carey, Chaplain, Catholic Memorial Home, Retired Pastor, St.

Rev. Msgr. Antonino Tavares, Retired Pastor, Santo Christo, Fall River, 2008

April 20

Rev. Edward F. Coyle, S.S., St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, Md., 1954

Rev. James E. O’Reilly, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Seekonk, 1970

Rev. James P. Dalzell, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Woods Hole, 1999

April 21

Rev. John O’Beirne, Pastor, St. Mary, Taunton

Rev. Thomas M. Feeley, C.S.C., Author, Former National Director of Family

Rosary of Holy Cross Family Ministries, Easton, 2004

Rev. Gerard Shanley, SS.CC., 2017

April 22

Rev. James L. Smith, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1910

Rev. Thomas F. Fitzgerald, Pastor, St. Mary, Nantucket, 1954

Rev. Richard J. Segreve, C.S.C., Retired, Holy Cross Residence, Stonehill College, Easton, 2017

April 23

Rev. John J. Murphy, Retired Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford, 2007

Rev. Deacon Robert G. Lorenzo, 2021

April 25

Rev. John J. Wade, Assistant, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1940

Rev. Raymond J. Lynch, Chaplain, Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River, 1955

Rev. Charles A. Murray, M.M., Maryknoll Missioner, 2017

April 26

Rev. Ubalde Deneault, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Attleboro, 1982

Rev. James F. Greene, Pastor, Our Lady of Fatima, New Bedford, 2002

April 27

Rev. James Murphy, 1869

Rev. Francis J. Bradley, D.D., Retired Rector, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River, 1925

Rev. Romeo D. Archambault, St. Anne, New Bedford, 1949

Rev. Edward F. O’Keefe, S.J., Retired, St. Francis Xavier, Boston, 1973

April 28

Rev. Stanislaus J. Goyette, Pastor, St. Louis de France, Swansea, 1959

Rev. Wilfrid J. Vigeant, S.J., 2011

April 29

Rev. James Leo Maguire, Pastor, Diocese of Monterey, Calif., 1987

Rev. Adolph Szelagowksi, OFM Conv., Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford, 1989

Rev. Peter P. Mullen, M.M., Maryknoll Missioner, 1999

Rev. John M. Breen, M.M., Maryknoll Missioner, 2005

April 30

Rev. John A. Hurley, Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1900

Rev. David F. Sheedy, Pastor, St. John Evangelist, Attleboro, 1930

Rev. John Moda, Pastor, St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Ford City, Pa., 1993

May 1

Rev. Francis J. Quinn, Founder, Immaculate Conception, North Easton; Founder, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1882

Rev. Joseph F. D’Amico, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Oak Bluffs, 1996

Rev. Walter A. Sullivan, Pastor, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1997

May 2

Rt. Rev. Msgr. M.P. Leonidas Lariviere, Pastor, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1963

Sister Mary Gilbert Snide, OP of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, dies

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Sister Mary

Gilbert Snide OP, 92, of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, died March 11, 2024, in New Rochelle, NY. The daughter of the late Wilfred and Dorothy (Willette) Snide, she was born August 19, 1931, in Mooers Forks, New York.

Sister Mary Gilbert entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Fall River, Massachusetts in August 1949, made her First Profession in August 1951, and Final Profession in August 1954.

Sister Mary Gilbert was engaged in a variety of services to the congregation, including cooking, maintenance, sacristan, and driving. Her places of ministry included the Dominican Sisters of Fall River from 1954-55, 1959-60, 196974, and 1977-83; St. John’s Nursery in Fall River, from 1955-59, where she also cared for the

children; Rosary Convent in Chateauguay, New York, from 1960-64, where, in addition to her other duties, she taught catechetical classes in the parish; St. Dominic Convent in Plattsburgh, New York, from 1964-69 and 1974-77.

From 1986, until her move to the Newburgh Center of Hope in 2002, Sister ministered at the motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of Fall River as driver, weekend cook, and member of the infirmary staff. Sister also ministered at the Newburgh Center of Hope, where she provided transportation for the sisters and other volunteer services.

Sister Mary Gilbert was kind and gentle and loved to bake and cook. When she lived in Massachusetts, she used to bake dozens of pies and made sure the sisters with whom she lived had nutritious meals each day. In her later years, she spent a lot of her time knitting beautiful baby

sweaters, hats and booties as well as soft and cozy blankets. Sister also loved word games and playing scrabble with our other Sisters.

Sister Mary Gilbert is predeceased by her parents Wilfred and Dorothy Snide, her sisters Cecile and Mildred, and Jane and Jeannette and her brothers Amos, Roland and Leonard. She is survived by her Dominican Sisters of Hope and her siblings Bernadette, Doris, Eugenie, Gilbert, Philias, Theresa and many nephews and nieces.

Sister Mary Gilbert’s funeral was on Tuesday March 19, 2024, in the Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary at the Dominican Center, Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York.

Donations in Sister Mary Gilbert’s name can be made to the Development Office of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, 299 North Highland Avenue, Ossining, NY 10562.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel

Sunday, April 7, at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Providence

Sunday, April 14 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Francis Xavier Parish, East Providence

Sunday, April 21 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Anthony Parish, Taunton

Sunday, April 28 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from Santo Christo

Cape Parishes hosting speaker and author Jason Evert for talks for parents and teens

MASHPEE — Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville, and Christ the King Parish, Mashpee, are co-hosting international Catholic speaker Jason Evert for a double feature of talks aimed at bringing parents and teens together to discover God’s plan for love.

Around the Diocese

The evening program will conclude with Adoration, praise and worship music, and an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, transforming the night into a mini retreat for the whole family.

The talks, entitled Purified and Gender and the Theology of Your Body, will be offered on Monday, April 22, at Christ the King Parish, 5 Job’s Fishing Rd., in Mashpee. The first one is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m., the second for 7:45 to 8:30 p.m.

In his presentations, Evert mixes humor with down-to-earth practicality, making the difficult conversations about love much easier and opening an opportunity to continue the discussion about this important topic at home with resources that work.

Evert has spoken to more than one million people about the virtue of chastity. He is a best-selling author of more than ten books, including “Theology of the Body for Teens,” and “How to Find Your Soulmate without Losing Your Soul,” and is the founder of Totus Tuus Press and the Chastity Project. A frequent guest on radio and television programs, he has been featured on Fox News, the BBC, MSNBC, and EWTN.

The cost for both talks is $25 and free resources will be available for every attendee.

Tickets may be purchased online at Chastity.com/purified.

For more information, please email billb@olvparish.org

Fall River

Diocesan Council of Catholic Women

ANNUAL MEETING

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024

Where: Our Lady of Grace Church, 569 Sanford Rd. Westport, MA

Speaker: Rev. Peter Scheffer, Pastor, Our Lady of Grace, St. George, and St. John the Baptist Parishes in Westport.

Cost: $25.00 per person

R.S.V.P. by May 7th

Checks payable to: FRDCCW to Judy Corliss, 193 Tremont Street, Unit 19, Taunton MA 02780.

Questions: call Ann Marie Melanson, President, at 508-632-0533

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6

Celebrant is Father Edward A. Murphy, Pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Taunton

Sunday, April14 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Father Thomas C. Lopes, Retired Priest of the Diocese of Fall River

Sunday, April 21 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father John Garabedian, Parochial Vicar, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich, and Assistant Vocations Director for the Diocese of Fall River

Sunday, April 28 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Michael Racine, Pastor of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Lawrence Martyr Parishes, New Bedford

Daily Readings † April 6 - May 3

Sat. April 6: Acts 4: 13-21: Ps 118: 1 and 14-15ab. 16-18. 19-21: Mk 16: 9-15

Sun. April 7: Acts 4: 32-35: Ps 118: 2-4. 13-15. 22-24: 1 Jn 5: 1-6: Jn 20: 19-31

Mon April 8: Is 7: 10-14; 8: 10: Ps 40: 7-8a. 8b-9. 10. 11: Heb 10: 4-10: Lk 1: 2638

Tues. April 9: Acts 4: 32-37: Ps 93: 1ab. 1cd-2. 5: Jn 3: 7b-15

Wed. April 10: Acts 5: 17-26: Ps 34: 2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9: Jn 3: 16-21

Thurs. April 11: Acts 5: 27-33: Ps 34: 2 and 9. 17-18. 19-20: Jn 3: 31-36

Fri. April 12: Acts 5: 34-42: Ps 27: 1. 4. 13-14: Jn 6: 1-15

Sat: April 13: Acts 6: 1-7: Ps 33: 1-2. 4-5. 18-19: Jn 6: 16-21

Sun. April 14: Acts 3: 13-15. 17-19: Ps 4: 2. 4. 7-8. 9 (7a): 1 Jn 2: 1-5a: Lk 24: 35-48

Mon. April 15: Acts 6: 8-15: Ps 119: 23-24. 26-27. 29-30: Jn 6: 22-29

Tues. April 16: Acts 7: 51 -- 8: 1a: Ps 31: 3cd-4. 6 and 7b and 8a. 17 and 21ab: Jn 6: 30-35

Wed. April 17: Acts 8: 1b-8: Ps 66: 1-3a. 4-5. 6-7a: Jn 6: 35-40

Thurs. April 18: Acts 8: 26-40: Ps 66: 8-9. 16-17. 20: Jn 6: 44-51

Fri: April 19: Acts 9: 1-20: Ps 117: 1bc. 2: Jn 6: 52-59

FALL RIVER — Rev. Martin L. Buote, 90, of Fall River, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the Cardinal Medeiros Residence for Retired Priests. He was an expert in physics, philosophy, poetry, theology, mathematics, horticulture, literature and cooking.

His passion for growing orchids included grafting new species, including registering his “Sean O’Malley” orchid. A connoisseur of authentic Chinese cuisine, he often prepared multi-course Chinese meals for friends and volunteers of his parishes.

Having participated in an Alzheimer’s longitudinal study since 2004 with Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Fr. Buote’s mental acuity is now the standard used for elderly mental clarity.

Born in Fall River and raised in Somerset, he was a graduate of Somerset High School and then studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. Buote enrolled at the School of St. Philip Neri in Boston and attended Cardinal O’Connell Minor Seminary

Sat. April 20: Acts 9: 31-42: Ps 116: 12-13. 14-15. 16-17: Jn 6: 60-69

Sun. April 21: Acts 4: 8-12: Ps 118: 1. 8-9. 21-23. 26. 28. 29 (22): 1 Jn 3: 1-2: Jn 10: 11-18

Mon. April 22: Acts 11: 1-18: Ps 42: 2-3; 43: 3-4: Jn 10: 1-10

Tues. April 23: Acts 11: 19-26: Ps 87: 1b-3. 4-5. 6-7: Jn 10: 22-30

Wed. April 24: Acts 12: 24 -- 13: 5a: Ps 67: 2-3. 5. 6 and 8: Jn 12: 44-50

Thurs. April 25: 1 Pt 5: 5b-14: Ps 89: 2-3. 6-7. 16-17: Mk 16: 15-20

Fri. April 26: Acts 13: 26-33: Ps 2: 6-7. 8-9. 10-11ab: Jn 14: 1-6

Sat. April 27: Acts 13: 44-52: Ps 98: 1. 2-3ab. 3cd-4: Jn 14: 7-14

Sun. April 28: Acts 9: 26-31: Ps 22: 26-27. 28. 30. 31-32 (26a): 1 Jn 3:18-24: Jn 15: 1-8

Mon. April 29: Acts 14: 5-18: Ps 115: 1-2. 3-4. 15-16: Jn 14: 21-26

Tues. April 30: Acts 14: 19-28: Ps 145: 10-11. 12-13ab. 21: Jn 14: 27-31a

Wed. May 1: Acts 15: 1-6: Ps 122: 1-2. 3-4ab. 4cd-5: Jn 15: 1-8. Proper Gospel for

Joseph: Mt 13: 54-58

Thurs. May 2: Acts 15: 7-21: Ps 96: 1-2a. 2b-3. 10: Jn 15: 9-11

Fri. May 3: 1 Cor 15: 1-8: Ps 19: 2-3. 4-5: Jn 14: 6-14

Father Martin L. Buote, dies

and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton. He was ordained to the Priesthood on Jan. 30, 1960, and continued his studies at Boston College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physics in 1964. He served at many parishes throughout the Diocese and finally St. Anne Parish in New Bedford for 24 years, retiring on June 30, 2004. He also served as Director for the Boy Scouts of Taunton and Fall River.

Following retirement, he assisted at Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, both in New Bedford and at St. Patrick in Wareham.

Rev. Buote frequently submitted articles to the Anchor and Standard-Times newspapers. He often responded to stories in the Southcoast Opinion pages, offering his theological viewpoint. He was published in several scientific journals. His final transcript is to be

published on the Fourth Gospel posthumously.

He leaves nieces, nephews and many friends. He was the son of the late John A. and Margaret (Martin) Buote and the brother of the late Francis, Arthur and Edward Buote.

His Funeral Mass was held on Monday, March 11 at St. Patrick’s Church, Somerset. Visitation was held at the church prior to the funeral Mass Burial at St. Patrick Cemetery, Somerset immediately followed the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center in remembrance of Rev. Martin Buote. (checks may be made payable to “Trustees of Boston University” and indicate in the memo of the check or with an attached note, the donation is “for the Hope Study”, via the Clinical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases Fund.)

Mail to: Boston University Development Gift Processing P.O. Box 22605, New York, NY 10087-2605, and to the Diocese of Fall River / Office of Youth Evangelization, 450 Highland Ave. Fall River, MA 02720.

Mrs. Cornelia M. Gallant, mother of Rev. Jon-Paul Gallant, dies

FALL RIVER — Cornelia M. Gallant, 98, of Fall River, entered into eternal life on March 13, 2024, at Charlton Memorial Hospital. She was the widow of the late Robert J. Gallant, to whom she had been married for 57 years.

Born in Fall River, she was a daughter of the late Henry F. and Margaret (Conroy) O’Neil. She was a loving mother to eight children: the late Robert Gallant Jr., Rev. Jon-Paul Gallant of Fall River, the late James Gallant, the late Christopher Gallant, David Gallant (with whom she made her home) and his life partner Dawn Dubois of Fall River, Timothy Gallant and his wife Robin of Somerset, Elizabeth

Gallant Green and her husband Jonathan of Cambridge and Peter Gallant and his wife Carmen of Providence. She was the sister of the late Kathleen Liberi, Francis O’Neil, Margaret Crowley, John O’Neil and Grace Edwards.

A lifelong resident of Fall River, she was a graduate of Sts. Peter and Paul School and Durfee High School, class of 1943. She worked for many years as an operator for the former New England Telephone, while raising her children.

A woman of faith, she was a member of the former St. William’s Parish and currently a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Fall River. It was her loving desire to provide a Catholic education for all her children. She was a devoted wife and mother who loved to gather her “little family” around the table to share in food and conversation.

She is also survived by nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

Her funeral was held Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Holy Trinity Parish, Fall River. Burial was in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River.

St. Vincent de Paul and other Catholic Church food pantries in the Diocese

The food pantry list below was taken partially from the website, foodpantries.com. For more information, hours of operation and requirements, call or go to the website and search for each listing by town.

St. Vincent de Paul - St. Mary’s 78 Broadway, Taunton 508-821-4845

St. Vincent de Paul -

141 Washington Street, Taunton 508-823-6676

My Brother’s Keeper Food Pantry

534 Washington Street, Easton 508-238-4416

St. Theresa’s Food Pantry

18 Baltic Street, Attleboro 508-761-6665

St. Anne’s Parish Food Pantry

818 Middle Street, Fall River 508-238-4416

Sacred Heart Pantry

160 Seabury Street, Fall River, MA

Phone: (508) 673-0852

St. Anthony of Padua Food Pantry

1359 Achusnet Avenue, New Bedford 508-993-1691

St. Lawrence Food Pantry

110 Summer Street, New Bedford 508-992-4251

St. Patrick’s

82 High Street, Wareham 508-295-2411

Christ the King Food Pantry

3 Jobs Fishing Road, Mashpee 508-477-7700

St. Vincent de Paul Society

21 Cross Street, Hyannis 508-775-3073

St. Vincent de Paul - Our Lady of the Cape Catholic Church

468 Stony Brook Road, Brewster 508-385-758

St. Vincent de Paul - St. Francis Xavier Parish

347 South Street, Hyannis 508-775-3073

St. Vincent de Paul - Sandwich

324 Quaker Meeting House Road 508-833-1555

Good Shepard Parish Food Pantry 500 School Street, Oaks Bluff, Martha’s Vineyard 508-693-0342

Strikes For Hope raises $70,000 for My Brother’s Keeper

On Sunday, March 10th, more than 400 bowlers came out to support the 3rd annual fundraiser, Strikes For Hope, hosted by My Brother’s Keeper a Christian nonprofit with locations in Easton and Dartmouth that delivers furniture, food, and Christmas assistance to local families, free of charge and without prerequisites. A recent report from Project Bread revealed that 19.5 percent of all households in Massachusetts reported food insecurity last fall. My Brother’s Keeper volunteers and staff are on the road five days a week delivering a week’s worth of healthy groceries and much-needed household furniture to local families.