feb_11_11

Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

F riday , February 11, 2011

Mass. bishops file brief in DOMA case

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

BOSTON — On January 27, the four bishops of Massachusetts, along with more than a dozen religious organizations, filed a brief in two cases that may be the first involving same-sex marriage to appear before the United States Supreme Court.

Currently before First Circuit Court of Appeals, Gill v. Office of Personnel Management was decided by federal district judge Joseph Louis Tauro on July 8, 2010. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and seven individuals brought the suit, alleging discrimination because the Defense of Marriage Act prevented them from receiving federal benefits of marriage though they had legally entered into same-sex marriages in Massachusetts.

Judge Tauro ruled that DOMA, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, is unconstitutional when applied to Massachusetts, finding that de-

fining marriage as the union between one man and one woman lacked a rational basis. He asserted that the definition violates the equal protection provided by the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

On that same day, Judge Tauro ruled on a second, completely separate, suit brought by Attorney General Martha Coakley. In that case, Massachusetts v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, he found DOMA unconstitutional, saying that it impedes Massachusetts’ rights to define marriage.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed an appeal for both cases in October.

In part, the bishops of Massachusetts weighed in on these cases because the Obama administration provided a weak defense of DOMA by omitting rationale that was used in crafting the legislation, according to Dan Avila, the Massachusetts Catholic Conference’s (MCC) Turn to page 13

Helping each other adjust to a new life

B y Dave Jolivet, Editor

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Leading up to St. Valentine’s Day, February 14, one can’t enter a retail store without being bombarded with reminders about remembering your “sweetheart” at this time of year. There are cards, hearts, flowers, candies, with romantic gifts and sentiments abounding.

It all seems so happy and beautiful,_ unless you’re one of many people who are experiencing the alienation from a spouse through separation or divorce — especially if the trauma is new.

The grief experienced by people going through a separation or divorce is painful, but magnified around celebrations like Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries and Valentine’s Day. Fortunately for those who chose to proactively seek healing and comfort, the Diocese of Fall River offers a very active and dynamic Separated and Divorced Support Group through the Office of Faith Formation.

Joanne Dupre and Bob Menard have been the group’s facilitators for more than a dozTurn to page 15

couples for couples — The Fall River Diocese Marriage Prep Program recently held a retirement party for Deacon David Akin and his wife, Rosemary, who have worked with the program for more than 25 years. They recruited and have passed the torch to Deacon John and Barbara-Anne Foley who are in their fifth year in the Marriage Prep Program, made up of couples who share a love of the Lord as well as the love of their spouses and wish to share that with young couples today.

From left: Maureen Mahan, Deacon Foley, Paul Adams and his wife, Ann Marie, the Boyds (retired), Dr. David Doherty and his wife Alice, and Karen and Bob Boucher. Deacon Akin and Rosemary are front and center. The group has well over 200 years of marriage experience combined to offer.

Strengthening your marriage

By Rebecca Aubut Anchor Staff

MILFORD — In 1952, a young priest in Spain began to develop a series of conferences for married couples that focused on the development of an open and honest relationship within marriage and learning to live out the sacramental relationship in the service of others. The success of those presentations spawned the Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a Catholic marriage enrichment program that can now be found in more than 90 countries.

The worldwide marriage encounter weekend is a positive and personal experience offering married couples an opportunity to learn a technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their lives. It is a chance to look deeply into their relationship with each other and with God, and to take a moment to

share their feelings, hopes and dreams with each other.

“It’s like a weekend retreat for married couples and also for priests and religious,” said Jim Richards, a WWME presenter and team leader and parishioner of St. Mary’s Parish in Milford. “We give a series of presentations that really focus on the couples individually. They have some time to talk about what we presented; it’s really about presenting them with new communication ideas of how to go through today’s world in marriage.”

Presentations are given by a team of Catholic couples and a priest who explore each couple’s individuality, and then additional dialogues are created to help work on their partnership to make it stronger. It’s not about over sharing, said Richards, it’s about keeping the focus on the couples and their relationship to each Turn to page 18

More Catholics searching for soul mates online

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — As another Valentine’s Day approaches, a growing majority of Catholic singles aren’t looking for love in the once-popular social circles of school and parish activities. They’re now gravitating to cyberspace to find their potential soul mates.

And with an estimated more than 22 million Catholic singles — or four in 10 adult Catholics

— currently in the United States, online dating websites like CatholicMatch.com have witnessed a boom in membership.

“We’ve seen really strong growth since 2005, even though we’ve been around a lot longer than that,” Brian Barcaro, co-

founder of the Pennsylvaniabased CatholicMatch.com, told The Anchor.

Barcaro attributed his website’s growth spurt to many of the older Catholic singles who have signed on.

“One of the misconceptions about online dating is that it’s for early 20-something people when, in reality, the vast majority of people using online Turn to page 18

Mass. bishops issue joint statement on economic hardships — Page 12

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News From the Vatican

February 11, 2011

Catholic nurses seeing rise in threats to consciences, association reports

Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) — Catholic health care workers are facing a worldwide erosion of spiritual and moral standards in their profession, according to the leader of a Vatican-affiliated organization for Catholic nurses.

“In the United States, the biggest problem that Catholic nurses are facing is the ability to use their conscience,” said Marylee Meehan, president of the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medical-Social Assistants, or CICIAMS. The International Catholic Committee of Nurses and MedicalSocial Assistants is a Dublin-based umbrella organization that unites national associations of Catholic nurses, midwives and health assistants from 26 active nations on five continents.

The international scope of the nurses’ organization allows it to see trends in ethical and moral realms.

In Rome to speak at a Vatican seminar on world health issues, Meehan told CNA that Pro-Life issues are at the top of U.S. health workers’ concerns.

Many young nurses and health assistants are “timid” about breaching the subject, especially in regard to abortions. Veterans fear that if they speak out, or refuse to take part in certain procedures they will be fired.

“It’s a problem, when you want to apply for a job and you will not provide abortions, they will not accept you,” said Meehan about some U.S. hospitals.

She explained that an applicant to a maternity unit can be screened out with direct questions about their position on the issue. Those with the courage to call themselves Pro-Life at a job interview could be blocked from serious consideration.

Meehan seeks to provide support for these men and women through their national associations to give them a voice and a place to share their stories. It is necessary, she said, because “somebody made abortion legal, but that didn’t make it moral.”

On an international level, the association is witnessing an “implosion” where “new cultural trends” are eroding the spiritual side of health care, she said in her address at the seminar. The “circle of

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Catholic health institutions” is not immune to these cultural changes, she said.

She cited the recent stripping of the “Catholic” status of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. for providing an abortion in “clear violations of the U.S. bishops’ Ethical and Medical Directives” as an example of an action “contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church.”

In addition to abortion and euthanasia, the committee is seeing concerns related to “children’s condoms,” in-vitro fertilization, AIDS transmission and the concept of bearing children as a “right.” There are also questions about adequate medical attention for the elderly.

Amid the many issues that assail the nurse’s conscience today, “it takes extreme courage to be a Catholic living the Catholic life in their professional environment,” said Meehan.

The concern of American nurses is apparent from the most recent member statistics. The National Association of Catholic Nurses in the U.S. saw its membership triple in 2010, said Meehan.

The Catholic nurses association seeks to provide a forum for collaboration and communion among all of them. It holds a world congress every four years to bring member-associations together. The next will be in Croatia in 2013.

It also serves as an intermediary with the Vatican and provides them a collective voice at the United Nations or the World Health Organization.

National associations are united by more than just their membership, said Meehan. “When you talk about Catholic health professionals, it means that they are united by an understanding and the protection of the sanctity of life. Catholic nurses are doing it for God and we’re conscious of doing it for God.” To those people who see Catholicism as “anti-everything,” Meehan hopes the good things Catholics are doing in health care worldwide will knock down barriers.

“Ears will be opened” when people hear about the good works of Catholic nurses, said Meehan.

“And then, when we have to talk about issues they don’t want to hear, they’ll start listening.”

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 55, No. 06

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can i go now? — A boy runs to hug Pope Benedict XVI as he leads his weekly general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/Alessandro Bianchi, Reuters)

Pope promotes ‘gripping’ new ‘Youth Catechism’

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — The pope has great expectations for the “Youcat,” a text designed to teach young people the ABC’s of Catholicism using a language tailored to their generation.

The 300-page volume is the new and official “Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

A team has produced the volume and enlisted its translations under the guidance of Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, Austria, who also served as the editor of the universal 1992 “Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

According to its American publisher Ignatius Press, the new text was produced with adolescents and young adults in mind as “an accessible, contemporary expression of the Catholic faith.”

It covers questions of doctrine, the sacraments, moral life and prayer and spirituality in a format friendly to young readers. According to the publisher, it uses a straightforward question-answer format, commentary, a variety of images and a glossary of terms along with Bible passages and the words of great Catholic saints and teachers.

In a presentation during meetings last month, organizers for World Youth Day 2011 said that Youcat “is expected to become the ‘go-to’ catechetical resource for young people with questions about the faith.”

Organizers of the international youth gathering have ordered 700,000 copies for the backpack kits to be given out to registered young pilgrims next August along with a sleeping bag, map and other accessories.

In the book’s preface, published in the January 3 edition of

the Vatican paper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI himself calls it “extraordinary.”

In addition to its content, its basis in the 1992 “Catechism” makes it special, he writes.

As a cardinal, the pope was heavily involved in the process of creating the “Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

In the 1980s, Pope John Paul II asked him to organize the bishops of the world to produce a text that could explain the faith to any person. It was no simple task producing a book for readers from all cultures, backgrounds and levels of education, he recalls in the preface.

It “seemed like a miracle” when the “Catechism” was finally produced, with all of the difficulty, discussion and collaboration that was needed to compile it, he writes.

The new “Youth Catechism” derives from that book as the response to a need for a “Catechism” translated into “the language of young people and to make its words penetrate their world,” Pope Benedict explains.

He hopes that young people across the world will “allow themselves to be fascinated” by the adaptation designed for them.

The read is a “gripping” one, he writes, because “it speaks to us of our very destiny and because it looks at each one of us closely.”

He invites youth to approach the book with passion and perseverance, to “remain in dialogue” with the faith by speaking with friends, forming study networks and exchanging ideas on the Internet.

Youth must know their beliefs and faith with the same precision as “a computer specialist knows

an operating system” or “a musician knows a piece of music,” he says.

“Yes, you must be more deeply rooted in the faith than your parents’ generation, to be able to endure the challenges and temptations of this time with strength and decision.”

He tells them not to let the evil and sin of the world, even that within the Church, keep them from learning their faith. “You carry intact the fire of your love in this Church every time that men have darkened her face,” he tells them.

Cardinal Schonborn told the Vatican newspaper that the pope was interested in every stage of the process from the very beginning. The idea for the youthbased catechism, he said, was proposed by young Catholics in Austria.

The first draft was created by a theologians and teachers in German-speaking areas. The text was then put to the test during a pair of summer camps to see if it retained its relevance across language and cultural barriers.

“In this way the entire book is an expression of the youth culture profoundly implanted with the fruitful seed of the Gospel,” said Cardinal Schonborn.

The world, he added, has become so “small” that it was necessary to give young people a new perspective on the Gospel, “and ‘Youcat’ will be able to carry out this mission.”

The resource will be available in 13 languages by April 4.

Ignatius Press has announced the English edition will be released in March. Other volumes in world languages, including Chinese and Arabic, are being prepared.

February 11, 2011

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The International Church

Pakistani archbishop angered by withdrawal of bill on blasphemy law

anti-christian — A supporter of Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami holds a placard while shouting slogans in support of Pakistan’s blasphemy law during a rally in Peshawar recently. Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore, president of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, expressed outrage at the government’s decision to withdraw a National Assembly members bill proposing changes in the law. (CNS photo/Fayaz Aziz, Reuters)

Fate of Christians, Muslims tied in Middle East, scholar says

ROME (CNS) — Christians and Muslims are involved together in the democracy and reform movements bubbling up around the Middle East and members of both communities will gain from their success and suffer if they are violently suppressed, said a leading Lebanese Muslim scholar.

With demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt, simmering unrest in Yemen and government changes in Lebanon, “I am both worried and hopeful,” said Muhammad al-Sammak, adviser to the chief mufti of Lebanon and secretary general of Lebanon’s ChristianMuslim Committee for Dialogue.

Al-Sammak, whom Pope Benedict XVI invited to speak to the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East in October, met with journalists February 4 at the Rome headquarters of the Community of Sant’Egidio, a lay organization active in interreligious dialogue for peace.

“It is true that the situation of Christians in the Middle East is not good,” al-Sammak said, adding that the region’s governments must do more to protect the religious minorities in their midst.

One concrete proposal for accomplishing that, he said, is a “fatwa” — an Islamic legal opinion — declaring that in Islam and for a Muslim “harming a Christian is like harming a Muslim and attacking a church is like attacking a mosque.”

Al-Sammak drafted a fatwa at the request of Saad Hariri, when Hariri was still Lebanon’s prime minister. Adoption of the fatwa

by Islamic and government leaders around the Middle East stalled only because Hariri’s government fell and the essential support of influential Muslim scholars at Al-Ahzar University in Cairo

was difficult to obtain while their country was experiencing widespread demonstrations, al-Sammak said.

The scholar told reporters in Rome that the protests and unrest throughout the Middle East “just started, but it came after a long period of fermentation. The political outcome is likely to take different shapes in different countries,” he said.

But one thing he knows for sure, and that, he said, is “the Christians in the Middle East are part of this change. They are not opposed to it; they are not leading it; they are part of it.”

Members of the bishops’ conference of northern Africa, which held its annual meeting January 29-February 2 in Algiers, Algeria, said the protests in Tunisia, Egypt and other Arab countries are a sign of the “demand for freedom and dignity, particularly by the younger generations in the region.”

The bishops in the conference, which covers Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Libya, said the demonstrations show that the region’s inhabitants want to “be recognized as citizens” with full rights and responsibilities to participate in governing their countries.

The North African bishops said wider respect for religious freedom should be part of the regional push for human rights.

Religious freedom “means, above all, freedom of conscience granted to everyone, the freedom to seek the truth. It implies respect for others, their dignity, (which is) the foundation of the moral legitimacy of any legal or social norm,” the bishops said in a statement published February 3.

The bishops said freedom of conscience and the meaning of citizenship “will no doubt in-

creasingly be at the heart of the dialogue between Muslim and Christian believers” who live in northern Africa.

Decades of dialogue, of living side by side and of sharing joys and hardships have led to real friendships being formed between Christians and Muslims in the region, the bishops said.

The experience has convinced the bishops that, “yes, ChristianMuslim dialogue is possible,” they said.

Also February 3, Fides, the Vatican’s missionary news agency, published an interview with Comboni Father Luciano Verdoscia, who lives and works in Cairo. The Italian missionary said that after several days of peaceful protests, “the climate has changed,” with many people blaming members of President Hosni Mubarak’s National Party for provoking violence among the crowd February 3.

“Tempers are heating up,” the priest said, and foreigners have been urged not to leave their homes.

Father Verdoscia said the situation is complex, with the protesters calling for Mubarak to leave after almost 30 years in power.

But “there are many people who support Mubarak,” Father Verdoscia said. “In my opinion, they may account for 40 percent of the population, particularly people from the upper and upper-middle classes,” in a country where the divide between rich and poor “is very deep and evident.”

“I hope that this will not have a bloody ending, because what has been occurring in recent days has been an example of nobility, gentleness and courage on the part of the people,” he said.

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNS) — The head of the Catholic Church in Pakistan expressed outrage at the government’s decision to withdraw a private member’s bill proposing changes in the country’s blasphemy law, calling it “an act of surrender.”

“It’s a mistake giving in to pressure by Islamic parties,” Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore, president of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference, told the Asian church news agency UCA News. “The government has totally caved in and there seems no prospect of changes in the controversial legislation in the near future.”

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told the National Assembly February 2 that the government never intended to change the law and had disbanded the committee reviewing it.

The premier also said that Sherry Rehman, the senior Pakistan People’s Party leader who introduced the bill, had decided to withdraw it.

The decision comes in the wake of the recent assassination of the governor of Punjab,

Salman Taseer, who was a vocal critic of the blasphemy law.

News reports indicated Rehman had received death threats for introducing the bill.

“I have no other option but to abide by my party’s decision,” Rehman said February 3.

“The bill was not aiming to repeal the law, but to better protect our great Prophet Mohammed’s name against injustices. Policies to please extremists will be harmful.”

Archbishop Saldanha agreed with the last point.

“Improving the law will bring more honor and respect to the prophet and the country. The poor and Christians have suffered a lot; even students are now afraid to speak, discuss or write about the prophet,” he said.

The blasphemy law makes an insult to the Quran an offense punishable by up to life imprisonment, and call for the death penalty for anyone convicted of insulting Mohammed.

Church leaders contend the law is being abused for personal gain and to harass nonMuslims.

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February 11, 2011 The Church in the U.S. Church hasn’t lost generation in Archdiocese sets aside burial site for victims of Philly abortionist their 20s, conference speakers say

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PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — For the defenseless victims of Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s West Philadelphia abortion clinic, there may yet be dignity in death.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has set aside a potential grave site in the recently opened infant section of All Souls Cemetery in West Brandywine and is now seeking contributions for a burial fund.

The grand jury estimated that “hundreds” of late-term babies were born alive and killed in Gosnell’s clinic then stored in jars and containers, some in a freezer.

Robert Whomsley, director of the archdiocese’s Catholic Cemeteries Office, said he is “prepared to receive these children and bury them in whatever way the archdiocese decides.”

Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre said, “Every effort will be made to identify the babies as individuals and bury them that way. If there are body parts, we would probably bury them in a dignified manner, in one coffin.”

Besides providing dignity in death, Bishop McIntyre said the burial offer is “testimony to the Church’s respect for all human

life from the moment of conception to natural death.”

“If we can move people’s hearts through this story to see the true sacredness of all human life, then we can say that these infants did not die in vain,” he said.

No funeral can take place until Gosnell has been tried and exhausted his appeals. Until then, the babies, and parts of infants, must be held as evidence.

The process could take months or even years.

The idea for a burial fund came from Rachael Tennyson Gallagher, a Bucks County mother of four adopted sons, who offered to make a gift and raise money from others.

Bishop McIntyre said donated money will be kept in the fund until the bodies are released, and that the fund “would pay for a memorial and other things, such as the caskets.”

Plans call for a Mass to be celebrated at which the public can pay their respects.

If donations exceed the funeral costs, Bishop McIntyre said the remaining money would be used to help bury other infants whose parents were unable to afford a funeral or a burial.

Ecclesial Mission, or ESTEEM, and is a collaborative effort with the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management.

Sociologist James Davidson, professor emeritus at Purdue University, said young Catholics “distinguish between the Catholic faith, which they identify with and respect, and the Catholic Church, which they are less attached to.”

Quoting a wide body of research, including his own, Davidson said eight of 10 young Catholics believe there are many ways to interpret Catholicism and they grant more authority to their individual experience than they do to the magisterium.

“They stress the importance

rent hypersexual culture. “Sex is little more than a contact sport, best played among strangers,” even at NEW YORK — Catholic Catholic colleges, she said. young adults aren’t as attached to Campbell said young adults the Church as their counterparts who reject the “anything-goes from the 1940s and 1950s, but they ethos of popular culture” are a are hardly a lost generation and minority in their generation, but have not abandoned the faith, aca majority among those active in cording to speakers at a two-day the Church.

She said those who forum at Jesuit-run Fordham Unisuccessfully “fought and fumbled versity. their way to a full embrace of CathMore than 700 people regisolic teachings” were those who aptered for the recent conference tipreciated the countercultural natled “Lost? Twenty-somethings in ture of Catholic sexual ethics and the Church,” which was co-sponcombined a disciplined prayer life sored by the Francis and Ann Curwith a supportive community life. ran Center for American Catholic Respondent Patrick Landry, a Studies and the Fordham Center on middle school teacher and graduReligion and Culture. Participants ate student at Northwestern Uniincluded young adults, campus versity, said his young ministers, youth miniscontemporaries struggle e owe it to them to develop ters and others. with Church positions Tami Schmitz, assisways to feed this precious tant director of spiritual- hunger in them. Catechizing them in on which their personal experiences have inity in campus ministry at ways that are creative and exciting and formed them differently, the University of Notre Dame, said young adults answering their questions is a good including homosexuality, contraception and diyearn for good cateche- start.” vorce. “We need to listen sis, a connection with to people and keep the God and a place in a dialogue open,” he said. community. Many of the students of thinking for themselves more “Dismissing or ignoring these isshe sees have a weak understandthan obeying Church leaders,” he sues will only increase feelings of ing of the basics, but are eager, said.

“Instead of simply embracing disconnectedness.” open and curious to learn about the Church traditions and teachings, In a discussion on the intersecfaith. they tinker with them.

They distintion of Catholic culture and popu“We owe it to them to develop guish between abstract beliefs and lar culture, Bill McGarvey, former ways to feed this precious hunprinciples that they think are at the editor-in-chief of BustedHalo.com, ger in them. Catechizing them in core of the Catholic faith, and more said, “Millennials don’t really see ways that are creative and exciting concrete norms and codes of conreligion as relevant to their lives.” and answering their questions is a duct that they consider optional or He said there is a perceived dichotgood start,” she said. “If we don’t peripheral.” omy between the Church and the do it, where else are they going to In essence, Davidson said, contemporary culture.

The latter get their answers? And how long “they believe that doctrines such as is valued as transparent, unfiltered, will they keep searching?”

Schmitz said those in their the Trinity, the Incarnation, Mary democratic and collaborative.

Nonetheless, he said people are 20s seek community. “They want as the mother of God, Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist and “hard-wired” to seek deeper meansomeone to know, listen to and the need to be concerned about ing in their lives and the Church treasure their story. They want to the poor are more important than should use all the contemporary know that being a part of a faith teachings such as the need to limit tools available to spread the uncommunity makes a difference in the priesthood to men, the need for changing message of the Gospel. their lives. When you are part of a Matthew Boudway, an editor at true faith community, you can’t be priestly celibacy, the Church’s opposition to artificial birth control Commonweal magazine, said that lost: Someone will come looking and its opposition to the death penin a sacramental religion such as for you because they will miss you alty.”

Catholicism, faith is about practice if you are not there.”

Catholic young adults are not and not just belief.

Referencing Father Robert Beloin, chapimmune to the complex encounter Facebook, he said faith is an aclain of St. Thomas More Catholic between the Church and popular tivity and not a status.

“Catholics Chapel at Yale University, said 20-somethings are a great un- culture, said participants in a panel should be the last to forget that tapped resource which the Church discussion on “Sex and the City of friendship is sustained by pracGod.” tice.” should not overlook.

Donna Freitas, associate profesMarilyn Santos, director of He said campus ministry prosor of religion at Hofstra Univeryouth and inculturation minisgrams create a structure, the small sity, said her research among coltries for the Archdiocese of Atchurch community, where Catholege students showed that “there’s lanta, said young Latino Catholics lic intellectual life is promoted a lot of frustration, anger and alienwholeheartedly embrace the misthrough “wonderful liturgy,” lecation about the do’s and don’ts of sion of the Church as their own, tures and discussions and young sex, because Catholic students feel but move away from practice as adults can be with one another and their tradition has not given them they become part of mainstream “be Church for one another and not anything of use regarding sexual American society. She said the just go to church.”

Church can retain 20-somethings He said St. Thomas More is behavior.”

Author Colleen Carroll Camp“if parishes can be a community part of a pilot program to prepare bell said trying to help young of communities, allowing people undergraduate students for “viCatholics put Gospel values into to create their own ecclesial space, brant life in the Church” after their practice is an age-old Christian while intentionally creating mograduation. The program is called challenge compounded by the curments of unity.”

Engaging Students to Enliven the

By Beth Griffin Catholic News Service

“W

February 11, 2011

The Church in the U.S.

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Short on priests and faithful, Boston Archdiocese considers parish mergers

Boston (CNA) — On February 2, the Archdiocese of Boston announced plans for a reorganization that could change how many parishes operate. The changes are aimed at allowing the Church to cope with declining Mass attendance and a shortage of priests, without forcing parishes to close.

“The Archdiocese has been operating under a model decades-old that was built for a time when 70 percent of Catholics attended Mass regularly,” archdiocesan spokesman Terry Donilon told CNA. “Today less than 20 percent attend weekly Mass in the archdiocese.”

These numbers call for what

Donilon described as a “total rebuild of the archdiocese,” likely to include mergers between several parish communities.

The newly-formed Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission hopes it can avoid some of the more drastic measures it has resorted to in the past. Vicar General Father Richard M. Erikson told the Boston Globe that the archdiocese did not plan to initiate another round of church closings, as it did in the wake of the 2002 sex-abuse scandals and resulting lawsuits.

Instead, the planning commission will consider how to combine a number of church communities

— which currently function as independent parishes — into single parishes that would continue to worship in separate spaces.

The combined communities would keep their buildings, while merging into one single parish for administrative, financial, and pastoral purposes. This plan could eliminate inefficient aspects of the current system, in which one priest often already serves as the pastor of multiple parishes simultaneously, due to the priest shortage.

Although the archdiocese is already taking steps to recruit more priests and boost Mass attendance, these longer-term strategies can-

not address some of the immediate challenges posed by stark demographic realities.

Statistics from the archdiocese indicate that 40 percent of its parishes are barely meeting their financial needs or operating at a loss, while the number of active diocesan priests is expected to diminish by nearly half — from around 400, to only 180 — by 2021. Mass attendance in Boston dropped by 23 percent between 2000 and 2009.

“We approach our work cognizant of the challenges and opportunities facing the Archdiocese of Boston and inspired by the grace of God’s presence throughout,” said

Msgr. William Fay, a Brightonbased pastor who will co-chair the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning Commission.

The commission has begun discussing a draft plan for reorganization, although it has not yet set a timetable for making its recommendations to Boston’s Cardinal Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley.

“The cardinal has authorized us to shape a plan that will provide the local Church with a road map for the future,” Msgr. Fay said. He anticipated the development and implementation of “a plan that supports the good work of our priests and which invigorates parish life.”

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The recent undercover videos showing a Planned Parenthood worker advising clients how to skirt age restrictions on abortion and mandatory reporting laws came as no surprise to Jennifer A. Ruggiero, director of the Office of Respect for Life in the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J. “We’ve made an ongoing effort to raise awareness of some of the myths about Planned Parenthood,” Ruggiero told Catholic News Service in a telephone interview February 4.

The video “sting” conducted by the group Live Action at the Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey clinic in Perth Amboy showed the clinic’s office manager — who has since been fired — talking to a young man and woman posing as a pimp and an underage sex worker. She urges them not to reveal that the sex worker is 14 because state law would require clinic personnel to report it as a case of statutory rape and child abuse.

Other undercover videos released by Live Action have shown Planned Parenthood personnel in 10 states offering advice that would help hide the sexual exploitation of minors or sex trafficking of foreignborn women.

Although Ruggiero said she found it “very disturbing” that the Planned Parenthood abuses were taking place “in our backyard,” she said it was “not surprising” for an organization that has long targeted minorities and young women.

“It’s been a concern for years” that abortion clinics “need to be investigated and regulated,” she said, adding that the new revelations have “caught the attention of legislators” in New Jersey, making improvements in abortion laws in the state more likely.

Also in the works is a new “statewide action plan” being drawn up by Pro-Life directors in dioceses throughout the state to address abortion in a coordinated way, Ruggiero said.

The undercover videos also have prompted a move in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood.

“To say it is an outrage is an understatement,” said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., during a February 3 webcast co-hosted by Family Research Council Action and Live Action. “The time has come to deny any and all federal funding to Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in America and also the largest recipient of federal funds under Title X,” the federal

grant program for family planning.

Pence’s Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, H.R. 217, would “prohibit family planning grants from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions.” As of February 7, it had 154 co-sponsors in the House.

Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood director in Texas who also appeared on the webcast, said the types of information given in the videos were “a common occurrence, unfortunately” at the clinic where she had worked.

“Many women are subjected to the cover-ups of Planned Parenthood and the tweaking of information,” she said. “They will do anything, coerce anyone into having an abortion. We’re all good salespeople at Planned Parenthood; that is our job.”

Johnson called Planned Parenthood “a safe haven for people who are trying to exploit young girls.”

Stuart Schear, vice president for communications at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement that the organi-

zation’s “top priority is the health and safety of our patients and the health and well-being of women and teens across the country.”

“When Planned Parenthood learns of an operation that exploits young women, we vigilantly work with law enforcement authorities to uncover and stop this abhorrent activity,” Schear said.

Live Action describes itself as a “youth-led movement” that uses new media and investigative journalism “to expose threats against the vulnerable and defenseless.”

Abortion clinic videos show need for changes, Pro-Life official says

new and improved — Copies of the New American Bible, a Catholic Bible in English first published in 1970, are pictured in the bookstore at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. A revised edition will be released March 9, Ash Wednesday. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

6

The Anchor

A full pastoral commitment to adequate marriage preparation

The celebration of World Marriage Day on Sunday and St. Valentine’s Day on Monday are obvious, fitting occasions to think about the blessings of romantic love and marriage. They’re also particularly challenging days for the growing number whose personal experience of love has fallen far short of love’s aspirations and ideals. The personal suffering caused by broken hearts, relationships, marriages and families often causes people, both the young and the old, to become cynical about the possibility of true and enduring love and to waver in making a total commitment of themselves to another, without which genuine and lasting love won’t have a chance.

Pope Benedict spoke about these realities on January 22 in a provocative address to the members of the Roman Rota, the Vatican tribunal that, among other duties, handles the final appeals regarding petitions for the investigation of the nullity of marriages. Over the past several years, Pope Benedict has been using his annual address to the Rota to call the attention of the members of that supreme tribunal — as well as canon lawyers, bishops and the Church as a whole — to the fact that there are simply too many declarations of nullity being granted each year throughout the world.

He has sought in these addresses to identify the problem’s various contributing causes, centering mainly on misunderstanding and misapplication of the canons referring to what constitutes valid matrimonial consent.

This year, however, Pope Benedict addressed a much larger issue: the lack of adequate marriage preparation in parishes and dioceses around the world that often fails to help young couples recognize what marriage really is and consent to it. The reason why many marriages are eventually determined to have been null from the beginning, the pope suggested, is because those involved in marriage preparation did not do enough to assist well-meaning young couples to know with adequate precision that to which they were consenting.

Pope Benedict called on pastors and all those involved in preparation of couples for marriage throughout the world — out of reverence for the sacrament of marriage and pastoral concern for those who will be affected by a marital breakup and the process of seeking a declaration of nullity — to be more committed to and demanding of engaged couples to ensure they are truly intending to embrace what God intends for Christian marriage. Specifically, he called them to beef up the “juridical dimension that is inherent in the pastoral activity of preparation and admission to marriage.”

He said that in many parts of the Church, marriage preparation courses give a “rather modest, if not insignificant, place” to canonical issues. Many pastors, he indicated, think that “the future spouses have little interest” in these issues and therefore resign themselves to going through the pre-marital paperwork as a formality rather than as a crucial means of discernment.

One reason why pastors and others involved in the Church’s marital preparation efforts may not be engaging couples in this type of discernment, Pope Benedict suggested, is because they believe erroneously that young Catholic couples have a right to marry in the Church. Pope Benedict said emphatically that there’s no such right. “The right to marry,” he declared, “is not a subjective claim that pastors must fulfill through a merely formal recognition independent of the effective content of the union. The right to contract marriage presupposes that the person can and intends to celebrate it truly, that is, in the truth of its essence as the Church teaches it. No one can claim the right to a nuptial ceremony.” The right to marry, he added, “refers to the right to celebrate an authentic marriage” and “would, therefore, be denied where it was evident that the fundamental requirements for its exercise were lacking, namely, if the required capacity for marriage were patently lacking or the person intended to choose something which was incompatible with the natural reality of marriage.” The pastors, he said, have an obligation to determine whether the couple really intends to enter into a marriage as the Church understands it, not as they may understand it.

To illustrate what Pope Benedict is saying about a couple’s intending to choose something incompatible with marriage, we can look at what the couple must affirm under oath about their intentions, which they do in writing before the priest preparing them as well as publicly during their wedding ceremony immediately before the exchange of vows. The couple declares that they are freely and without reservation intending upon giving themselves to each other in marriage; that they are committing themselves to love and honor each other as husband and wife for the rest of their lives; and that they will accept children lovingly from God and raise them according to the law of Christ and the Church. These are commitments that many young brides and grooms readily say yes to on the surface, but often, underneath, their understanding of what they’re committing to and their consent to it are weak or altogether lacking.

For example, all couples preparing for marriage in the Diocese of Fall River need to take a FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study) inventory, a series of 150-200 statements with which they individually say they agree or disagree. One of the statements is: “I could not under any condition remain married to my spouse if he/she were ever unfaithful to me.” It’s the experience of many pastors in the diocese that the vast majority of their engaged couples have one or both of the fiancés affirm their agreement with that statement. Such an affirmation is totally contrary to their stated intention to marry the other “for better or worse” until death.

Likewise, it’s hard for couples honestly to affirm that they’re going to keep a promise to accept and raise kids according to the law of Christ and his Church if they themselves are not already living according to the law of Christ and the Church. For example, if a couple has not been in the habit of coming to Mass and, despite the encouragement of the priest preparing to return, continues to put other things in life before keeping holy the Lord’s day, it’s unlikely that they’ll keep the commitment to take children to Mass later; or if the couple is living in violation of the sixth Commandment and continue to persevere in that lifestyle during an engagement after conversation with the priest about it, it would call into question whether they’re going to pass on to their children in a credible way the law of true love of God and others.

Pope Benedict called this premarital examination of the couple “a unique pastoral opportunity — one to be made the most of with the full seriousness and attention that it requires — in which, through a dialogue full of respect and cordiality, the pastor seeks to help [each fiancé] to face seriously the truth about himself or herself and about his or her own human and Christian vocation for marriage.” Through these means of “careful preparation and verification, an effective pastoral action can be developed that seeks to prevent the nullity of marriage” and “avoid situations where impulsive decisions or superficial reasons lead two young people to take on responsibilities that they are then incapable of honoring.” Even though “not all the causes of an eventual declaration of nullity can be identified or expressed in the preparation for marriage,” he said, “the good that the Church and society as a whole expect from marriage and from the family founded upon marriage is so great as to call for full pastoral commitment to this particular area.” He specifically called on those “entrusted with the care of souls” — bishops and pastors — to an “even more incisive awareness” of their responsibilities in this area.

A fuller and more incisive pastoral commitment to marriage preparation will result not only in fewer invalid (null) marriages, but also stronger valid marriages, capable of fulfilling the lofty mission Christ gives to each sacramentally married couple.

As we prepare to celebrate the feast of St. Valentine, who prepared, facilitated and celebrated the marriages of so many Christian couples during a time of persecution, let us ask him to intercede for all those in the Church today that we may make, and call young couples to, a similar commitment.

A

February 11, 2011

With liberty and justice for all

couple of years ago, when I was us into action. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta first assigned to be chaplain at the (Mother Teresa), most known for her high school, I was caught off guard one work among the poorest of God’s children morning when, after morning prayers would often say, “If you want peace, work were said, we were asked to remain stand- for justice.” This expression is actually ing for the “Pledge of Allegiance.” It had a rewording of Isaiah 32:17 that says, been so long since I had last said it aloud “Justice will bring about peace.” that I almost forgot the words.

For the World Day of Peace in 1972, Often when we learn something Pope Paul VI said that these words from through memorization, especially as a the prophet Isaiah are “an invitation which child, it may be easy to forget the exact does not ignore the difficulties in practicwords when we get older. But more deving justice, in defining it, first of all, and astating than forgetting the words would then in actuating it. We have such trust in be to overlook the meaning that they the power of the associated ideals of jussignify. tice and peace to generate in modern man You might remember an effort a couple the moral energy to actuate them, that of years ago to remove the words “under we are confident of their gradual victory.

God” from the pledge. How tragic would Indeed we are even more confident that that have been to our nation and what on his own modern man has an underit would have communicated to future standing of the ways of peace, sufficient generations. to enable him to become a promoter of It was in fact, in 1954, in response justice.” to the communist threat of the times, Almost 40 years later, Pope Benedict that President Eisenhower encouraged XVI would explain, “By cultivating a Congress to add the words, “under God” spirit of honesty and impartiality, and by as they were not in Francis Bellamy’s first keeping justice their aim, civil and eccleedition. sial leaders Thanks be earn the trust to God that of their people Putting Into many recand enhance the Deep ognized the the sense importance and of shared

By Father value of these responsibility Jay Mello words and of all citizens fought to keep to promote a them, especialcivilization of ly as many try to remove any reference to love” (Angelus, Oct. 27, 2008).

God from the public square. As Catholics, Our faith and our sense of patriotism it is crucial that we continue to testify to urge us to work for justice, to stand up and our faith in Jesus Christ and to witness to speak for those who are being mistreated, the importance of his being recognized disrespected, abused or neglected. Justice privately and publicly. is what moves us to speak up for those It is the last line of the pledge, howwho don’t have the ability to speak up for ever, “with liberty and justice for all,” that themselves.

I would like to focus on today. It provides It is the virtue of justice that drives us insight into another important issue that people to gather in Washington, D.C. evconnects our faith and our citizenship as ery January 22 to “march for life,” speakAmericans, namely, justice. ing out against the injustice of the Roe v.

Today we examine justice, the second Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing of the cardinal virtues. The book of Provabortion in our nation. erbs says: “To do what is right and just is It is the virtue of justice that brought more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Mother Teresa to Calcutta, India to care To practice justice is a joy for the just, but for those who were literally left to die in terror for evildoers” (Prov 21: 3, 15). the streets.

The “Catechism” explains that justice It is the virtue of justice that motivated is the moral virtue that consists in the con- Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous, “I have stant and firm will to give their due to God a Dream” speech and his work in the civil and neighbor. Justice toward God is called rights movement in the 1960s. the “virtue of religion.” Justice toward It was the virtue of justice that led Eumen disposes one to respect the rights of nice Kennedy Shriver to found the Special each and to establish in human relationOlympics for those who were mentally ships the harmony that promotes equity or physically handicapped as was it the with regard to persons and to the common same virtue that led her husband, Sargent good (CCC 1807).

Shriver to found the Peace Corps and to Like so many of the other virtues, it lead the war on poverty. would be much easier to find examples of Justice is looking at other people, no injustice in today’s society than it would matter what color or ethnicity, no matbe find instances of the virtue being exerter what political affiliation or economic cised. One of the ways for us to cultivate background, no matter what level of eduthis virtue in our own lives is to look at cation, and seeing them as brothers and each sin against justice and to be saddened sisters, as someone made in the image and and angered by it. But it isn’t enough just likeness of God. Justice is when we refuse to be upset by injustice, to sit back and to tolerate it when they are not treated acwish things were different; we must also cording to the dignity they deserve. If we work at establishing justice in every area truly want peace in our world today, then of our lives. we must work for justice.

When we see the rights or dignity of Father Mello is a parochial vicar at others being disrespected it should compel St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

February 11, 2011

Q: Can the Psalm after the first reading (usually from the Old Testament) be replaced by a hymn related to the second reading (usually from the New Testament) or the Gospel? Music groups rarely have a repertoire that includes all the Psalms, but can usually find something related to the second reading or Gospel. — J.S., London A: The short answer to this question is no. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM, American translation) is quite explicit in No. 61, which deals with the Psalm: “After the first reading comes the responsorial Psalm, which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God. “The responsorial Psalm should correspond to each reading and should, as a rule, be taken from the Lectionary.

“It is preferable that the responsorial Psalm be sung, at least as far as the people’s response is concerned. Hence, the Psalmist, or the cantor of the Psalm, sings the verses of the Psalm from the ambo or another suitable place. The entire congregation remains seated and

T

7

The Anchor

Substituting the Psalm

listens but, as a rule, takes part by bishop. Songs or hymns may not singing the response, except when be used in place of the responsorial the Psalm is sung straight through Psalm.” without a response. In order, howThus, although there is a lot ever, that the people may be able of flexibility in order to promote to sing the Psalm response more readily, texts of some responses and Psalms have been chosen for the various seasons of the year or for the various categories of saints. These may be

By Father used in place of the text Edward McNamara corresponding to the reading whenever the Psalm is sung. If the Psalm cannot be sung, then it should be recited singing the Psalm, including the in such a way that it is particularly substitution of the Psalm of the day suited to fostering meditation on and possible use of an approved the word of God. metrical version, there is no occa“In the dioceses of the United sion in which a non-biblical hymn States of America, the following may substitute the Psalm. may also be sung in place of the This is because no human work, Psalm assigned in the Lectionary no matter now musically or poetifor Mass: either the proper or seacally accomplished, can substitute sonal antiphon and Psalm from the God’s inspired word. This norm is Lectionary, as found either in the already found in the GIRM, No. Roman Gradual or Simple Gradual 57: or in another musical setting; or “In the readings, the table of an antiphon and Psalm from God’s word is prepared for the another collection of the Psalms faithful, and the riches of the Bible and antiphons, including Psalms are opened to them. Hence, it is arranged in metrical form, providpreferable to maintain the arrangeing that they have been approved ment of the biblical readings, by by the United States Conference of which light is shed on the unity of Catholic Bishops or the diocesan both Testaments and of salvation

Liturgical Q&A

history. Moreover, it is unlawful to substitute other, non-biblical texts for the readings and responsorial Psalm, which contain the word of God.” Only God’s Word enjoys that special presence of Christ which is found during the liturgical proclamation of the Word.

As St. Augustine wrote in his lectures on the Gospel of John (30,1): “The passage of the holy Gospel of which we have before discoursed to you, beloved, is followed by that of today, which has just now been read. Both the disciples and the Jews heard the Lord speaking; both men of truth and liars heard the truth speaking; both friends and enemies heard charity speaking; both good men and bad men heard the good speaking. They heard, but he discerned; he saw and foresaw whom his discourse profited and would profit. Among those who were then, he saw; among us who were to be, he foresaw. Let us therefore hear the Gospel, just as if we were listening to the Lord himself present: nor let us say, ‘O happy they who were able to see him!’ because there were many of them who saw, and also killed him;

and there are many among us who have not seen him, and yet have believed. For the precious truth that sounded forth from the mouth of the Lord was both written for our sakes, and preserved for our sakes, and recited for our sakes, and will be recited also for the sake of our prosperity, even until the end of the world. The Lord is above; but the Lord, the truth, is also here. For the body of the Lord, in which he rose again from the dead, can be only in one place; but his truth is everywhere diffused.

Let us then hear the Lord, and let us also speak that which he shall have granted to us concerning his own words.”

God speaks to us through all the readings and not just the Gospels.

We also respond to him using his inspired words, which encapsulate all possible human reactions to the encounter with God. Father Edward McNamara is a Legionary of Christ and professor of Liturgy at Regina Apostolorum University in Rome. His column appears weekly at zenit.org. To submit questions, email liturgy@zenit. org. Please put the word “Liturgy” in the subject field. The text should include your initials, your city and state.

The Second Phase: The Movement Comes of Age

he early years of the 20th century saw the coming of age of the Liturgical Movement in Europe and gradually in other parts of the world. From 1903 to 1914, Pope St. Pius X had vigorously promoted the movement, calling attention to the centrality of the liturgy in the life of the Church. He urged frequent Communion at a time when people seldom received. When the choir alone sang the Sanctus and other prayers that now belong to the whole congregation, he encouraged the people to sing the parts of Gregorian chant that pertained to them.

Pope Pius XI (1922-39) encouraged the laity to use hand missals, which translated the Latin prayers of the Mass. His Apostolic Constitution Divini Cultus (1928) insisted upon Pius X’s reform of liturgical music, which suggests that hitherto it had not been carried out sufficiently.

In 1922 the Sacred Congregation of Rites admitted the possibility of the so-called “dialogue Mass,” that is, a said or “low” Mass (as distinct from a sung or “high” Mass) in which the people say all the responses commonly made by the servers alone. This provided a higher level of participation than simply silently reading My Sunday Missal in order to “follow the priest.”

By the time of Pope Pius XII (1939-58) the groundwork for a

Yet the Liturgical Movetrue renewal of the liturgy had ment was not lacking in men been laid. It was during this of prudence. Such men never period, however, that the issues questioned the need for indibecame more complex and the vidual piety if the faithful were proponents of the Liturgical to participate in the liturgy with Movement began to take the litmind and heart. They recognized urgy in varying directions. Like that the Rosary had developed as most spiritual and intellectual a substitute for the Psalter, and movements in the Church’s long that Benediction of the Blessed history, the Liturgical Movement was subject to excesses.

First, there was an attack on private devotions. The movement had emphasized the great truth that the liturgy, as the public

By Father worship of the whole Thomas M. Kocik body of Christ, is vastly superior to any form of private prayer Sacrament came into prominence or devotion. Its leaders had also as the Communion of the laity observed that devotions such as the Rosary, Eucharistic adoration, became less frequent. They also recognized that rejecting these and the Way of the Cross had venerable devotions would in gained popularity largely to the no way lead Catholics to a more extent that the spiritual lives of Catholics had grown distant from liturgically centered spirituality. the liturgy. Consequently, zealots Since souls could draw fruit from within the movement left no room such devotions, it was necessary to highlight the connections these for devotions. devotions have to the liturgy. Nor Second, there were others did these activists wish to go back who, enthused by their studies to ancient models of Christian of ancient liturgies, wanted to worship, as if the Holy Spirit had restore former practices without taken leave of the Church in the regard for their fittingness in the eighth, or fifth, or second century. contemporary Church and conIn 1947 Pius XII gave an temptuous of liturgical developofficial voice to these counsels ments that had taken place over of prudence when he intervened centuries.

The Liturgical Movement

with his Encyclical Mediator Dei. The pope sought to endorse the best aspects of the Liturgical Movement while reigning in its excesses. He warned against theories that exaggerated the importance of physical activity in the liturgy to the detriment of interior or contemplative engagement, which includes silent attentiveness. He condemned an “antiquarianism” that seeks “to restore everything indiscriminately to its ancient condition” while denying the value of historical developments in the liturgy.

“One would be straying from the right path,” said Pius XII, “were he to wish the altar restored to its primitive table form; were he to want black excluded as a color for the liturgical vestments; were he to forbid the use of sacred images and statues in churches; were he to order the crucifix so designed that the divine Redeemer’s body shows no trace of his cruel sufferings; and lastly were he to disdain or reject polyphonic music or singing in parts.” This sage counsel fell on many deaf ears, as the experience of the ensuing years and decades attests.

Though conservative in nature, Mediator Dei was a great boon to the Liturgical Movement. The encyclical located the liturgy at the heart of Christian life. It ex-

plained in depth how the baptized offer the Eucharistic Sacrifice “not only ... by the hands of the priest, but also, to a certain extent, in union with him.” It acknowledged that the use of the vernacular “in several of the rites” may be advantageous when done with due authorization.

It strongly promoted frequent Communion. And it encouraged the dialogue Mass as well as the people’s chanting of the Latin responses at high Mass.

The pontificate of Pius XII also saw the introduction of significant reforms in the liturgy such as a new Latin translation of the Psalter, the restoration of the Easter Vigil to its proper time at night (over the centuries it had found its way to Holy Saturday morning!), and the reduction of the Eucharistic fast to three hours (for most of the Church’s history, Catholics were required to fast from midnight if they wished to receive Communion). Underpinned by Mediator Dei, the Liturgical Movement was poised to have even greater impact, for good and for ill.

Father Kocik, parochial vicar of Santo Christo Parish in Fall River, is editor of “Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal,” author of two liturgy-related books, and contributor to the forthcoming “T&T Clark Companion to Liturgical Studies.”

8

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he Scribes and the Pharisees mentioned in today’s Gospel were experts in the law. They knew the law and the precepts contained in the Book of Leviticus that regulated every aspect of Jewish life.

They often boasted about keeping these laws faithfully. In the Gospel, Jesus rarely even refers to the laws regulating the Sabbath and all the ritual laws of washings, foods, cooking, meals, activities, etc. Whenever Jesus was asked about the law — for instance, when he was asked about the greatest of the Commandments — he referred to the law of love found in the book of Deuteronomy: “You shall love your God with your whole being.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about the

February 11, 2011

The Anchor

The minimum is not sufficient

“Law and the Prophets.”

Christian life as we drive.

He doesn’t speak about the We keep within the marked dietary laws and customs. He lanes. We try to be courspeaks about the Ten Comteous because that is the mandments which are also “nice” thing to do. We travel the foundation stones of all exactly at the speed limit — civil law. He tells us that exactly 55 miles per hours these laws are to be obeyed. They are to be lived.

Homily of the Week In the first readSixth Sunday ing from the Book of Sirach, we are in Ordinary Time told that to be part

By Father Bernard of God’s people, we Baris, M.S. must choose to live the Commandments: “If you choose, you can keep the Command— no more, no less. And we ments. They will save you. are especially law-abiding If you trust in God, you when we sense the presence shall live.” The text seems of police. to place the emphasis on our Today, Jesus tells us that choice to live or not to live the minimalist or the “exact” the Commandments; to walk approach to the law isn’t or not to walk in the ways of sufficient. It’s not going to God — to choose life. get us to our destination.

Often, we try to live our He tells his audience, the

Scribes and the Pharisees, that following the letter of the law “perfectly” isn’t enough. He tells us that it is not enough not to commit murder, not to commit adultery, not to steal. We might even add that it is not enough to go to Mass every weekend, pray every day or fast during Lent.

That’s the minimum.

To follow the law as dictated by Jesus is to live the spirit of the law from the heart which includes kindness towards all, living faithful and chaste lives, giving to others not only from our surplus, being true to ourselves and to others, respecting God’s creation and living our lives totally dependent upon God. This weekend we celebrate World Marriage

Weekend in conjunction with the celebration of Valentine’s Day on Monday. A marriage will not and cannot last if the couple constantly measures and holds back what they give to each other in their relationship. A husband and a wife always have to go far beyond what is “required” of them (the minimum) to build a strong loving relationship. On his part, God holds nothing back in our relationship with him. How do we respond?

St. Paul reminds us in the second reading from 1 Corinthians that the requirements of our baptism oblige us to live daily by the dictates and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is this that leads to inner peace — to God. Father Baris is pastor of Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Feb. 12, Gn 3:9-24; Ps 90:2-6,12-13; Mk 8:1-10. Sun. Feb. 13, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sir 15:15-20; Ps 119:1-2,4-5,17-18,33-34; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37 or 5:20-22a,27-28,33-34a,37. Mon. Feb. 14, Gn 4:1-15,25; Ps 50:1,8,16bc-17,20-21; Mk 8:11-13. Tues. Feb. 15, Gn 6:5-8;7:1-5; Ps 129:1a,2,3ac-4; Mk 8:14-21.

Wed. Feb. 16, Gn 8:6-13,20-22; Ps 166:12-15,18-19; Mk 8:22-26. Thur. Feb. 17, Gn 9:1-13; Ps 102:16-18,19-23,29; Mk 8:27-33. Fri. Feb. 18, Gn 11:1-9; Ps 33:10-15; Mk 8:34-9:1.

F

or 27 years, the International Bulletin of Missionary Research has published an annual “Status of Global Mission” report, which attempts to quantify the world Christian reality, comparing Christianity’s circumstances to those of other faiths, and assaying how Christianity’s various expressions are faring when measured against the recent (and not-so-recent) past. The report is unfailingly interesting, sometimes jarring, and occasionally provocative.

The provocation in the 2011 report involves martyrdom. For purposes of research, the report defines “martyrs” as “believ-

Christian number crunching

Christians of all kinds in the ers in Christ who have lost their world, representing 33 percent of lives, prematurely, in situations world population — a slight perof witness, as a result of human centage rise from mid-2000 (32.7 hostility.” The report estimates that there were, on average, 270 new Christian martyrs every 24 hours over the past decade, such that “the number of martyrs [in the period 2000-2010] was approximately one milBy George Weigel lion.” Compare this to an estimated 34,000 Christian martyrs in 1900.

As for the interestpercent), but a slight percentage ing, try the aggregate numbers.

According to the report, there will drop since 1900 (34.5 percent).

Of those 2.3 billion Christians, be, by mid-2011, 2,306,609,000 some 1.5 billion are regular church attenders, who worship in 5,171,000 congregations or “worship centers,” up from 400,000 in 1900 and 3.5 million in 2000.

These 2.3 billion Christians can be divided into six “ecclesiastical megablocks”: 1,160,880,000 Catholics; 426,450,000 Protestants; 271,316,000 Orthodox; 87,520,000 Anglicans; 378,281,000 “Independents” (i.e., those separated from or unaffiliated with historic denominational Christianity); and 35,539,000 “marginal Christians” (i.e., those professing off-brand Trinitarian theology, dubious Christology, or a supplementary written revelation beyond the Bible).

Compared to the world’s 2.3 billion Christians, there are 1.6 billion Muslims, 951 million Hindus, 468 million Buddhists, 458 million Chinese folk-religionists,

The Catholic Difference

and 137 million atheists, whose numbers have actually dropped over the past decade, despite the caterwauling of Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Co. One cluster of comparative growth statistics is striking: as of mid-2011, there will be an average of 80,000 new Christians per day (of whom 31,000 will be Catholics) and 79,000 new Muslims per day, but 300 fewer atheists every 24 hours.

Africa has been the most stunning area of Christian growth over the past century. There were 8.7 million African Christians in 1900 (primarily in Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa); there are 475 million African Christians today and their numbers are projected to reach 670 million by 2025. Another astonishing growth spurt, measured typologically, has been among Pentecostals and charismatics: 981,000 in 1900; 612,472,000 in 2011, with an average of 37,000 new adherents every day — the fastest growth in two millennia of Christian history.

As for the quest for Christian unity: there were 1,600 Christian denominations in 1900; there were 18,800 in 1970; and there are 42,000 today.

Other impressive numbers: $545 billion is given to Christian causes annually, which comes out to $1.5 billion per day. There are some 600 million computers

in Christian use, up from 1,000 in 1970. 71,425,000 Bibles will be distributed this year, and some two billion people will tune in at least once a month to Christian radio or television. 7.1 million books about Christianity will be published this year, compared to 1.8 million in 1970.

The big lesson of the 2011 Status of Global Mission report can be borrowed from Mark Twain’s famous crack about his alleged death: Reports of Christianity’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Christianity may be waning in western Europe, but it’s on an impressive growth curve in other parts of the world, including that toughest of regions for Christian evangelism, Asia. Indeed, the continuing growth of Christianity as compared to the decline of atheism (in absolute numbers, and considering atheists as a percentage of total world population) suggests the possibility that the vitriolic character of the New Atheism — displayed in all its crudity prior to Pope Benedict’s September 2010 visit to Great Britain — may have something to do with the shrewder atheists’ fear that they’re losing, and the clock is running.

That’s something you’re unlikely to hear reported in the mainstream media. The numbers are there, however, and the numbers are suggestive.

George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

What to do?

Wednesday 2 February 2011 In other words, rather like a rat — snowbound in The Dightons with spines. The name reflects — Candlemas Day the animal’s habit of living under n former times, today was hedgerows. The “hog” part comes considered the first day of from its pig-like snout. spring. Farmers were itching to The shadow in question was begin their spring planting as soon as the weather permitted. The European custom of predicting the Reflections of a weather on this day Parish Priest goes back to the ancient

By Father Tim Romans (doesn’t everything?). It had to do with a Goldrick rodent seeing his shadow.

It wasn’t a groundhog.

It was a hedgehog. That would not cast by the sun, but rather by be, as we all know, a mammal the moon. Hedgehogs are nocof the subfamily Erinaceinae turnal. This year, February 2 fell and the order Erinaceomorpha. on the night of the new moon.

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The Ship’s Log

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The Anchor

February 11, 2011

Like an open café

barn doors to open again, but long Rte. 28A in Falto no avail. The hefty wooden mouth on Cape Cod beam securing the huge barn there used to be this quaint, doors remained in place and seasonal café that a good only the occasional twitter of friend and I loved to frequent. a solitary songbird filled the The building that housed the air. After three seasons of its café was really just an ordiowner’s absence, the weeds nary old barn. However, when and briars consumed the patio the café’s owner returned each area and completely shrouded summer and arranged three or the Romanesque birdbath. four small umbrella-covered Walkers passing by on a warm tables on the cut grass just besummer morning would have yond the yawning barn doors, no reason to think that the and charmingly decorated barn ever contained anything each table with a hand-woven scarf and a colorful glass jar bursting with wild flowers, the barn underwent a Cinderella-style transformation and became a most inviting spot.

By Heidi Bratton Classical music often drifted out of the barn and a lovely, Romanmore than rusty tools, spider esque birdbath tucked into webs, and mouse nests. the nearby tall grass brought Sometimes after being marsong birds to the patio area ried for some period of time, providing the final charming spouses can become like that touches. café. What used to be the most The café was the baby of a inviting “spot” of our joint man who traveled from France lives (our spousal relationto Cape Cod every summer. ship) gets closed up and overThere were probably a few looked. Instead of working to more customers than just my charm and woo our spouse to friend and I, especially when come and spend a little time the weather was warm and the with us, we get busy tendwalkers were out doing their ing to what seem to be more thing, but I never remember pressing matters like paying feeling rushed or crowded. the mortgage, volunteering at The café’s atmosphere and church, and helping the kids the owner’s manner of French with homework. hospitality made us feel so Most often ours is not a singularly important that my purposeful act of abandonfriend and I would begin drivment. Small children and ing by the closed barn in early grown children alike, careers May always hoping to be and volunteer activities can there on the first day that the be very demanding. Life has barn doors were unbolted and this way of getting intense, swung open. and frankly, I think keeping The sad turn to my story an open, intimate relationis that not only did my friend ship with a spouse takes even move away, but also for three more time, focus, and energy, full summers afterward I than does running a café. But waited and watched for those

Homegrown Faith

The new crescent moon doesn’t cast shadows. As a result, hedgehogs all over the world failed to see their shadows. Does this mean winter is over? I think not.

They say early German settlers in Pennsylvania brought the custom with them to the United States. They found not a single hedgehog in the entire country, but remained undeterred. Their persistence eventually led to a group of men in top hats annoying a hibernating groundhog. Unenthusiastic about getting up in the middle of the night to inspect a groundhog’s shadow, they trans-

the rewards are greater too — much greater — because the ultimate goal of being a spouse is to help our better half get to heaven.

One of the most important ways I’ve found to maintain openness in my marriage is to remain, first and foremost, open to God. Instead of letting the secular media inform my perspectives on love, sex, and marriage, I try to allow daily Scripture reading and prayer, attentiveness to the Holy Spirit during Mass, and fellowship with other Christians enlighten my outlook on these things. Being open to God inevitably helps me to desire the virtues I need to make my husband feel singularly important on an ongoing basis instead of rushed along and crowded out of my life. Another way I’ve found to make my husband feel singularly important is establish a regular time for us to be alone and to maintain that time with the same rigidity that I would any meeting for work, school, or church.

Remembering the sharp contrast between that same spot on Rte. 28A when it is a closed, old barn and when it is an open, charming café has been instrumental in helping me desire to be more like the latter for my husband. In any season, I hope it can help all married couples recognize the value of lifting the bolt(s) and opening up to our spouses, again, even or especially if we have been closed to them for too long.

Heidi is an author, photographer, and full-time mother of six. To contact her, email homegrownfaith@gmail.com.

ferred the event to the full light of day. Nor are they required to venture out in wintery weather to locate the creature. They keep the groundhog year round, where else, but in the town’s library.

This morning, “Punxsutawney Phil, King of Weather Prophets,” failed to see his shadow. Looking out the rectory window, I find it difficult to believe that winter is over.

By the way, those people down there is Pennsylvania have been harassing the groundhog since 1887. Punxsutawney Phil is 124 years old. Let the poor thing sleep, I say. Last year, PETA suggested that the live animal be replaced with a furry robot rodent.

So, what to do in celebration of Groundhog Day? The town’s road crews have been busy all night plowing and sanding the streets. I know this due to the simple fact that I live next-door to the headquarters of the town’s Department of Public Works. All night long I can hear the beeping of trucks in reverse gear.

Local school districts in these parts cancelled classes today.

There are three school districts in the parish and, fortunately, all were on the same page. Cancellation of school was due to “winter mix.” What creative weather person invented this phrase and why is winter the only season to have a “mix?” It sounds like some sort of salad.

At any rate, when schools cancel classes, the parish also cancels events. Better to be safe than sorry. I did drive over to the church just in case anyone showed up for morning Mass on Candlemas Day. Nobody did, much to their credit.

The ground crew was there, plowing, sanding, and shoveling. They work hard to make the property accessible and safe, but this winter weather is costing parishes throughout the diocese hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In our case, snow removal these past two months has cost more than heating our three buildings (and that in itself is considerable). What’s a poor pastor to do but grin and bear it?

I made a list of things I could do today. Here it is: — Play a game of Jeopardy in my mind. (Oh, wait. Dave Jolivet, my worthy editor, has already done this in The Anchor.)

Bummer.

— Chat with the guys at Alice’s, the local coffee shop.

— Feed and walk the dogs.

— Shovel and treat the back stairs.

— Write this article.

— Prepare my income taxes.

— Answer the letters and cards I received last Christmas.

— Feed the birds in my backyard.

— Eat a tuna salad sandwich for lunch.

— Empty the wastebaskets.

— Make my bed.

— Straighten out my home office files.

— Write a homily for the TV Mass.

— Write this weekend’s homily.

— Take a DVD course on the Dead Sea Scrolls.

— Watch “Haunted” on Animal Planet.

— Clean the top of the refrigerator.

— Take out the garbage.

— Wash the entryway floor.

— Return messages on email and Facebook.

— Telephone friends and relatives.

— Visit the post office.

— Check the files for upcoming marriages.

— Water the houseplants.

— Rearrange the furniture for the next meeting.

— Tidy up the church kitchen storage area.

— Groom the dogs.

— Light the fireplaces.

— Wash the dishes.

— Pay personal bills.

— Store the Christmas decorations in the attic.

— Go through the clothes closet and give unused items to the poor.

What to do? I think I’ll take a nap.

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

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The Anchor

February 11, 2011

Taunton woman remains devoted to her parish, school

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

TAUNTON — For Arleen Booker, three decades of service to her parish community all began with a simple offer to help at her children’s school back in 1978.

“I used to warn parents to be careful what they volunteered for, because they might end up becoming principal,” Booker said, laughing.

Even though she did ultimately end up becoming principal at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton, Booker still kept busy with a variety of other parish activities for more than 30 years.

“I served for 11 years as principal until I retired three years ago,” Booker said. “Before that I taught, did the bookkeeping for the parish, did the bookkeeping for the school, I did a lot of other things and wore a lot of hats. I still help out with fund-raising efforts at the school. I volunteer at bingo every week, I volunteer for the golf tournament and penny sale. I still help out with different things.”

And when Our Lady of Lourdes Parish merged with the former Sacred Heart Parish a decade ago to become the new Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Booker remained a reliable fixture in parochial life.

“We’re just about to cel“I think it’s important to do days and I was very impressed ebrate our 10th anniversary at whatever you can,” Booker with what the program did.”

Annunciation of the Lord as a said. “If there’s a bake sale at Although it’s often associatmerged parish,” Booker said. church, I’ll bake. I’d like to ed with children who are griev“I first joined Our Lady of do more, really, but there are ing over the death of a parent Lourdes Parish in 1980.” only so many hours in the day. or family member, Booker A strong believer in and I am still fairly involved, but said Rainbows also deals with supporter of Catholic the grief experienced education, Booker said through divorce and the school is an integral separation. part of parish life.

“So many children “Any parish that has today come from broa school is fortunate,” ken homes,” she said. she said. “The school “It’s a very devastating helped build the parish, thing. Sometimes the actually. I remember a parents think the kids lot of parents who enare doing great, but rolled their children in they’re not. They show the school later became up at school and you members of the parcan just see it. When I ish.” was teaching I saw a lot While the school is things and I knew this what may have first program was a wonderdrawn her in, it was ful idea.”

Booker’s strong faith The Rainbows prothat kept her coming gram brings children back. Over the years together who are grievshe has served Our ing to share their expeLady of Lourdes Parish riences with the help of and now Annunciation an adult facilitator. of the Lord Parish as an Anchor Person of the Week — Arleen “When children are extraordinary minister Booker. in grief, they can’t talk of holy Communion, as to their parents,” Booka member of the active er said. “They don’t women’s guild, as a singer with now I’m committed to tutor- want their mommy to cry and the parish youth choir, as assis- ing everyday and I don’t want they don’t want to make anytant to the Sisters at the local to overextend myself. And one sad. When grown-ups have convent, and as cook and vol- now that I’m retired, I’d like to someone who passes away, we unteer for a variety of school spend some quality time with have other grown-ups who and parish fund-raisers — from my grandchildren.” have experienced it before and bingo to pancake breakfasts.

One program Booker helped we can talk to them and we start at Our Lady of Lourdes have our little support group.

School and one that she re- But children haven’t always mains committed to and most experienced that before.” proud of is the Rainbows proBooker still serves as coorgram, a support group for chil- dinator for the lone Rainbows dren in grief. program in the Fall River Di“I started the Rainbows pro- ocese based at Our Lady of gram at Our Lady of Lourdes Lourdes School in Taunton, School,” Booker said. “Sister and she hopes other chapters Eugenia Brady was the direc- will start up to serve other parts tor for the program in the dio- of the diocese. cese at the time, and I heard her “There were others, but I speak at one of our professional think they closed,” she said.

“You have to have someone to keep it going. It’s a very good program and you can’t tell me that our school is the only one that needs it.”

Over the years, faith has been an important and driving force in her life and it remains something that keeps Booker going.

“I don’t think I could have gotten through a lot of things in my life if it wasn’t for my faith,” she said. “I believe in prayer. Even now, people will call me and ask me to please pray for so-and-so. I’ve got a long list of people at night for whom I’m praying … and it’s growing.”

And she hopes others will come forward to help keep her legacy of parish involvement alive.

“There are very few younger women getting involved in the parish and I think they need to come forward,” Booker said. “We need younger blood because we’re not all going to last forever here. We all have an expiration date, and some of those dates are getting pretty close. I know everyone is busy — I was busy, too — but even if they do a little bit, it will help. It’s a good thing to volunteer.”

Having relished reading about past Persons of the Week, Booker also considers it an honor to be named among her fellow nominees here in The Anchor.

“I have to admit, I always enjoy reading them every week,” she said. “It’s one of the first things I read and I like to hear about what other people are doing in their parish.”

To submit a Person of the Week nominee, send an email to fatherrogerlandry@ anchornews.org.

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@anchornews.org

February 11, 2011

The Anchor

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The Anchor

February 11, 2011

Mass. Catholic bishops issue joint statement addressing current economic hardships: Standing in Solidarity with All

Boston — The Roman Catholic bishops in Massachusetts have issued the following joint statement addressing the current economic situation and the resulting hardships experienced by vulnerable persons and those rendered newly fragile by the financial downturn: Standing in Solidarity with All We begin the second decade of a still new century as a country of complexity and contrasts. Even after the financial crisis of three years ago, the United States remains a society capable of producing great wealth, a center of scientific discovery and innovation. For some the financial crisis appears finished; in technical terms, the recession may be described as over. But the contrasts remain and are riveting in human terms. For many residents — a great many — the reality of the financial crisis, its initial impact and its continuing turmoil, is all too evident.

In Massachusetts, the unemployment rate ranks below the nine percent national average, but at 8.2 percent [1] it still poses stark consequences for individuals and families across the Commonwealth. Over 12,000 foreclosures were reported in our state in 2010, [2] creating untold suffering in our communities. In many cases, the neighborhoods hit hardest by the economic recession are located in the parts of our cities already suffering the most from violence, and even loss of life — but the rural areas have not escaped the pain either.

As bishops, we know about and are most concerned with the human dimensions of these economic hard times. From our pastors and most poignantly from our social service agencies, we see and hear of the recession’s impact on families, and especially on the children. The statistics from just one agency alone highlights the dramatic escalation in human need occurring in our midst. At a food pantry in Boston the customary assistance is 5,000 pounds of food a month; in the past year, in just one week, the same pantry distributed 12,000 pounds of food.

We have learned also from our Catholic Charities offices that hundreds of families are doubling-up in inadequate housing or are being squeezed into already overwhelmed shelters and motel rooms. We cite these facts while fully aware that the hardship is not unique to our agencies; other religious communities and other nonprofit organizations share similar stories. We all face a punishing intersection of rising human needs and declining resources that threatens the dignity of the human person and the stability of family life.

We all have been heartened by individual acts of charity, especially as witnessed over the holidays. Yet we as citizens cannot ignore the ominous and complicated decline in resources stemming from the tightly intertwined relationship between our major social service agencies and our government — at city, state and federal levels. It is here that we have experienced two consecutive years of deep cuts, and are preparing for a third. An additional one-and-a-half billion dollars in total cutbacks have been proposed by Governor Deval Patrick for the FY 2012 budget.

We note this as a report, not as a critique. In the devastation of shrinking city and state budgets across the country, all face excruciating choices. But we caution that while the temptation to turn away from the growing social needs confronting our cities and towns may seem attractive — especially when our own personal budgets are squeezed — our capacity to move beyond the many complex problems we face today depends on our willingness to overcome that temptation. Only then can we provide a secure pathway for the Commonwealth’s children and grandchildren.

The challenge is to sustain our social safety net in the most efficient manner, not by risking the quality or type of services we need, but by maximizing our effectiveness in providing good programs. Programs that are rooted in the protection and nurturance of the dignity of the human person are the ones most likely to provide long-term benefits. Housing, health care, proper nutrition, education, and employment all help to ensure a decent quality of life for our residents. As a society, our

shared moral commitment to these social goods equates to security for all because it protects and promotes the common good.

We see then that the consequences of the recession have destabilized the provision of essential services, especially for the poor. We realize the unyielding pressures facing public officials. Thus we recognize the responsibility we have as Church to stretch our resources to the limit as we collaborate with others on behalf of the most vulnerable in our midst. Pope Benedict XVI, addressing the whole Church in his letter God is Love (2005), stressed that the work of charity is an imperative, not an optional choice for us. In words that carry unique gravity for us as bishops, the pope affirmed: “Love of neighbor, grounded in the love of God, is first and foremost a responsibility for each individual member of the faithful, but it is also a responsibility for the entire ecclesial community at every level: from the local community to the particular Church and to the Church universal in its entirety. As a community, the Church must practice love.”

We take seriously this call to love, and it is for this reason we are offering this statement of solidarity.

In light of the extraordinary challenges our state faces and in view of our religious and moral responsibilities, we use this occasion to make a pledge and to issue a plea. Our pledge is that we will do all we can as bishops to enable our institutions — parishes, Catholic Charities, health care facilities and schools — to continue to do their best in extending help to our neighbors in need. The persons we must serve include not only those defined statistically as poor, but also those recently unemployed who once enjoyed stability, and who constitute the newly fragile as a result of the recession’s impact.

Our plea is that in the decisions facing our elected officials, and in the discussions and actions of all citizens, there be preserved, for the sake of human dignity, a special place and regard for the vulnerable — those forced to choose between heat and food, and between shelter and clothing — those for whom the destination of every dollar is now so consequential.

The tradition of our Commonwealth and our country offers an inspiring record of our ability to recover from tragedies of multiple kinds. We as a people have responded to military attacks, to economic crises, and to natural disasters, and have done so with determination and ingenuity. The religious and moral values that were rooted in this Commonwealth’s early settlers have sustained us through past difficulties and will continue to strengthen us going forward.

Our present economic crisis is now three years old and does not promise easy or rapid resolution. But the memories of the past, the values of the present, and the decency of our citizens and public officials offer hope and light for the road ahead. We pledge our Church to this project of recovery and renewal; it is the work of God in human hands.

Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley O.F.M. Cap. Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston Most Rev. George W. Coleman Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield Most Rev. Robert J. McManus Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester

1] Bureau of Labor Statistics, News Release: The Employment Situation-January 2011 (Feb. 4, 2011) (reporting national unemployment rate for January 2010), available at http:// www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf ; Bureau of Labor Statistics, News Release: Regional and State Employment and Unemployment-December 2010 (Jan. 25, 2011) (reporting states’ unemployment rates for December 2010), available at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ pdf/laus.pdf.

[2] The Warren Group, News Release: More Bay State Residents Lost Homes to Foreclosure in 2010 (Jan. 19, 2011), available at http://www.thewarrengroup.com/portal/Solutions/ PressReleases/tabid/190/newsid751/2446/Default.aspx.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, February 13 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Andrew Johnson, OCSO, chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital and in residence at St. Michael’s Parish, both in Fall River

Boston’s new Catholic radio station to host Father Corapi at TD Garden

NATICK — Boston’s first Catholic radio station announced on February 7 that it will host a conference in Boston at the TD Garden on Aug. 6, 2011. The conference, for which tickets are now on sale, will feature a presentation from nationally renowned Catholic priest Father John Corapi, SOLT. “We are honored to have Father Corapi join us for this celebration,” Jim Wright, president and general manager of The Station of the Cross Catholic Radio Network stated. “Father Corapi has a limited number of speaking engagements every year and we are very fortunate he will be joining us in August. Our listeners and followers attending the conference will have a unique opportunity to hear his words in person.”

WQOM 1060 AM Boston began broadcasting on Nov. 1, 2010, and is a division of Holy Family Communications. The broadcast signal is 50,000-watts and reaches a population of more than 5.5 million listeners. The station’s inaugural broadcast featured a live Mass from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross celebrated by Cardinal Seán O’Malley, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Boston.

Last year, The Station of The Cross Radio Network hosted a conference with Father Corapi in Buffalo that brought 10,000 people and an estimated $8 million to the city.

The station anticipates more than 12,000 people to attend the event at the TD Garden.

“Boston is the ideal place to host our next conference,” Wright said.

“With the successful launch of our station in November, we look forward to broadening our listenership

further and are excited to share the beliefs and values behind our programming live with a large audience.”

“Some of the most exciting and fruitful live events that I have ever preached at are those hosted by the Station of the Cross,” declared Father John Corapi. “That, coupled with the fact that they will be sponsoring a major event in Boston has us looking forward to that day with great anticipation. One of the most popular series I ever preached was in Boston in front of thousands of people. The series, entitled ‘Surrender Is not an Option’ went on to be one of the most successful event series we ever produced. We have a lot of good friends in the Boston area, and we hope to make many more. Please join me at the TD Garden in Boston, on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011. I promise you it’ll be a day you’ll never forget. God bless you.”

“This conference will be one of the largest local gatherings of Catholics in 2011,” remarked Cardinal O’Malley. “The archdiocese is grateful to the Station of the Cross for hosting it in Boston. WQOM has already brought significant blessings to Catholics in our archdiocese and we hope this conference will help to gather many of WQOM’s listeners and encourage many others to tune into 1060 AM. I look forward to joining the conference attendees and Father Corapi for the celebration of Mass.”

Tickets for the event are on sale on Ticketmaster.com starting at $45. More information about the VIP dinner package, sponsorships, and patrons is available at www.frcorapiboston.com.

February 11, 2011

C

aregivers and health care professionals can and often do greatly assist those who are suffering and dying. Even with careful pain management and comfort measures, however, the dying process can still be agonizing and difficult. Each death has a unique and particular trajectory, but even the most difficult and unpleasant deaths often have powerful graces and remarkable opportunities for growth mysteriously interwoven into them.

Some time ago, I corresponded with a registered nurse about her mother’s final battle with lung cancer. She described the unexpected shifts in her mother’s condition that had taken place over a period of eight days: “…passing through a day of Cheyne-Stokes respirations [a pattern of deep breathing, followed by stoppage of breathing, followed by repetition of the cycle], days of such shallow breathing that death seemed literally one breath away, days of calm coma, two days where the smell of imminent death was detectable, signs of diminished extremity perfusions coming and then going, coming and then going, day after day, no

Working through a hard death

urine output, then urine outuse the tools of medicine to alleput, then no urine, then urine viate the suffering of those who again, emerge from this state are dying, we realize how deliand embark upon three hours of cate a balancing act it can be, increasingly severe respiratory fraught with difficult decisions distress culminating in a violent about dosages and interventions, respiratory arrest.” and not always guaranteed to No stranger to death and work. When pain and suffering dying, this nurse had assisted cannot be alleviated, patients countless other patients with pain, air and hunger management.

During her mom’s final hours, she had significantly increased morphine doses per

By Father Tad hospice protocols, but Pacholczyk with little or no apparent relief. Her mother’s death ended up being very hard. ought to be helped to appreciate Reflecting on it afterwards, she the Christian understanding of realized that if she had not been redemptive suffering. both a healthcare professional The nurse described how she and a person who trusted deeply and her mother had experienced in God, she would have been, to this Christian understanding use her own words, “out of my themselves: “My mom and I mind with horror.” prayed hard and much over this Why certain deaths are so past year. She was expected to much harder than others is die a year ago. As we began to no easier to explain than why understand that she was actually certain lives are so much harder improving and that she (and I) than others. It gives us pause, had been given this gift of time, though, to ask whether suffering we became increasingly devoted doesn’t have some hidden but to the Divine Mercy of Jesus. I important meaning, however it am of the opinion that God gave enters our lives. As we seek to mom an opportunity to be on the

cross with Him.” Real suffering engages a lot of complex emotions. We may worry that our crosses will be more than we can bear. We may not see how our sufferings could really have any value or meaning. In the end, suffering can make us bitter or it can make us better, depending upon how we respond to it and use it to enter into deeper union with the Lord who suffered and died a hard death for us.

I’m reminded of a story I once heard about a priest in Poland who taught at the seminary.

Each year, there had been fewer candidates entering the seminary, rarely more than eight or nine, and it was becoming a serious concern for the seminary and the diocese. One day, this priest learned he had a terminal illness, with only a few months to live. Shortly afterwards, he turned to God and said: “Lord Jesus, I will do my best to offer up the sufferings that lie ahead of me, whatever they may be, but I would ask that you send us 18 new candidates for next year’s incoming class.” The good priest faced an excruciat-

ing death, but a few months later when the candidates started showing up at the seminary, there were exactly 18 new students in the class.

His story speaks of how suffering has meaning whenever we unite it to the redemptive sufferings of Christ. Our sufferings and struggles are an important, albeit temporary, part of our journey. They are a harbinger of a greater destiny and a promise of our transformation. Pope John Paul II once described it this way: “The cross of Christ throws salvific light, in a most penetrating way, on man’s life... the cross reaches man together with the resurrection.” Our experience of suffering and death, even a very hard death, offers us mysterious and dramatic graces, with the reassurance that God himself is ever near to those who carry their cross.

Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, and serves as the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www. ncbcenter.org

“That is inaccurate and unfair,” the brief says.

It is inaccurate because the faith communities represented in the brief condemn hatred and mistreatment of homosexuals and because the government has an interest in promoting responsible procreation and child rearing, it adds.

“Social science has confirmed the common-sense, cultural understanding that children benefit when they are raised in a stable family by the biological couple who brought them into this world,” the brief states. “Simply put, government has an interest in marriage because it has an interest in children.”

Although some studies show that children raised by same-sex attracted parents are as likely to be well-adjusted as children raised by heterosexual parents, they do not demonstrate a professional consensus, it says.

In 2008, a group of 70 prominent scholars in a report titled, “Marriage and the Public Good: Ten Principles,” concluded, “No one can definitively say at this point how children are being affected by being reared by samesex couples.”

“Upsetting the settled definition of marriage by adopting an untested genderless definition carries risks for children

parented by same-sex couples,” the brief says. “Given what we know about the adverse effects of fatherless parenting, encouraging more same-sex parenting may well increase negative outcomes for increasingly large numbers of children.”

The religious groups who submitted this brief, including the MCC, were not alone in supporting DOMA. So far more than a dozen other amicus briefs have also been submitted by groups like the Massachusetts Family Institute, the National Organization for Marriage and the states of Indiana, Colorado, Michigan, South Carolina and Utah.

The next step in the cases is for the plaintiffs to file their briefs.

From there the Justice Department will have a chance to file a brief responding to the various briefs before oral arguments are heard, probably sometime this summer. The court will likely issue an opinion late this year or early next year, Avila said.

If the cases make it to the U.S. Supreme Court and the plaintiffs prevail, the ruling could reach across the nation.

“The primary argument that the plaintiffs are using in these DOMA cases in Massachusetts is that DOMA violates equal protection just by ‘discriminating,’ so even though they’ve

framed the case as only applying to states like Massachusetts that recognize same-sex marriages, the underlying constitutional arguments of denial of equal protection would apply to all the states,” Avila added.

Anthony Picarello, general counsel for the USCCB, told The Anchor that the high stakes are precisely why the bishops chose to submit a brief in this case. Normally the bishops do not submit briefs in cases that are not yet before the U.S. Supreme Court. The last three appellate amicus briefs filed by the bishops have all been in cases about the definition of marriage.

“We are watching very carefully the developments in this area of law,” he said. “If it’s somehow discriminatory to adhere to the traditional definition of marriage, then support for that definition in all corners of life will be deemed bigotry.”

Picarello called the defense of marriage “critical” and while reflecting on the faith groups who signed on to the brief said, “Defending marriage is about the common good rather than any one religion.”

For more information, visit the USCCB’s website on the defense of marriage at www.usccb.org/defenseofmarriage.

Making Sense Out of Bioethics

Mass. bishops file brief in DOMA case continued from page one

associate director for policy and research.

The defense maintains Congress’ authority on the matter but notes that the administration disagrees with it, favors repealing the law and questions legislators’ motives in enacting it.

“That’s hardly a full-fledged defense of DOMA,” Avila told The Anchor, adding that the administration is taking a “one hand behind the back approach.”

Reacting to the Department of Justice’s brief, GLAD’s lead attorney for the case, Mary L. Bonauto, said it contains nothing new and merely rehashes previous arguments that led to DOMA being overturned.

“We’re prepared to meet these arguments head-on, and bring to an end the discrimination that is suffered by married same-sex couples like our plaintiffs and that DOJ has admitted is caused

by DOMA,” she said.

Avila called the amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief that the bishops supported “vital.”

Such briefs provide an opportunity for organizations to weigh in on a case because the ruling will directly impact them or they have a direct concern over the outcome.

The other religious organizations that signed on to the amicus brief are the U.S. Confer-

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The Anchor

ence of Catholic Bishops, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the Brethren in Christ Church, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, the Evangelical Free Church of America, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, the Missionary Church, Open Bible Churches (USA), the United Brethren in Christ Church and the Wesleyan Church.

Avila said, “It’s a remarkable array of across-the-board religious viewpoints. We don’t agree theologically and public policy issue-wise on many things, but these groups all came together in agreement on the marriage issue.”

The brief states that DOMA is entitled to broad deference and respect from the federal courts.

The judge instead invalidated DOMA “as if it were nothing more than raw, anti-homosexual bigotry.”

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The Anchor

By Father John Flynn, LC

ROME (Zenit.org) — Surrogacy and celebrities burst into the news again recently with the announcement that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have a new baby daughter, born December 28 to a surrogate mother.

The news came soon after it was reported that Elton John and David Furnish became fathers to a baby boy on Christmas day. As ABC News noted January 4, they join a long list of celebrities who have used surrogate mothers to have children. The lineup includes couples such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, actor Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, and soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The case of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban drew the attention of social commentators because of a statement issued by the couple in which they thanked the “gestational carrier.” Melinda Tankard Reist, writing in the national newspaper The Australian, criticized the term for bringing together the objectification of women’s bodies and the commercialization of childbirth.

In her January 19 article, she argued that such impersonal language takes away the humanity of the woman who bore the child, and it also denies the intense bond between a mother

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Make this the year to stay informed on Church issues.

The trend to surrogate motherhood

and her child that develops during pregnancy.

Miranda Devine, writing in the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph newspaper on January 19, was also highly critical of the term used: “Even if she was paid, as most U.S. surrogates are, what she did was an act of enormous personal generosity, and ought not be diminished by weasel words that seek to dehumanize the most intimate human relationship.”

Devine explained that she felt uncomfortable with the current fad for surrogate babies, as if they were some kind of fashion accessory, or in the case of homosexual couples, a political statement.

Michelle Higgins, in a commentary published January 21 in the Sydney Morning Herald, sympathized with the pain of infertile women, but objected to terms such as breeder or gestational carrier. Our choice of language to describe surrogacy does indeed matter, she argued, and has an impact on the participants.

From England, in a January 21 article published in the Guardian newspaper, Yvonne Roberts argued that motherhood is not just another branch of the retail industry. Putting up wombs for rent is simply dehumanizing, she stated.

A woman may be said to

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choose to be a surrogate of her own free will, but this presupposes we live in a society with no serious differences in authority and income, she noted.

There are “some corners of the soul into which even those with bottomless wallets should not go,” Roberts added.

Other commentators, however, came out in support of surrogacy. Letitia Rowlands, in the January 22 edition of the Daily Telegraph, argued that it is a happy ending for couples who would otherwise not be able to have children.

In Australia, surrogates can only receive payment for their medical costs, but Rowlands favored commercialized surrogacy so that couples desperate for children will have more opportunities to do so.

Two further commentary articles, published the next day in the Sunday edition of the Daily Telegraph, also advocated surrogacy. Claire Harvey called it “an extraordinary gift of love.”

Surrogate mothers offer to share their gifts of good health and fertility to benefit those not so lucky, she said. “It’s a deliberate gift of compassion, patience and love from one woman to another.”

Tracey Spicer recounted her own difficulties in conceiving and said there are thousands of women who suffer from the problem of infertility, but acknowledged that in some cases, such as when women from countries such as India are hired to give birth for Western couples, there is injustice.

Spicer’s reference to India hits a sensitive spot regarding surrogate mothers. Last December 10, the Wall Street Journal published a lengthy article about the new industry of producing babies using women from low-income countries.

PlanetHospital, for example, uses women from countries such as Bulgaria and gets them to give birth in Greece, where lax laws make it easier to operate. Or they have what they term the “India bundle” — a

package deal combining egg donors and embryo transfers into multiple surrogate mothers in India.

For a bit extra, PlanetHospital will split eggs from the same donor to fertilize with different sperm, or allow couples to choose the sex of their child.

Since 2007, the organization has facilitated about 459 births.

The increasing use of surrogacy has, however, sparked off a series of court battles. In England, where paying surrogates over and above what would be needed to cover medical costs is supposedly not allowed, a judge recently challenged how the law has been interpreted.

In a High Court decision, Justice Hedley said the law on payments for surrogacy was unclear, and allowed a British couple to keep a newborn child even though they had given what was more than what the law terms “reasonable expenses” to the American surrogate, the London Telegraph reported December 8. The justice interpreted the law as applying to only the “clearest case” of surrogacy for profit.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that the non-genetic partner of a baby born through surrogacy could be given legal parenthood rights, ABC News reported January 20.

Anthony and Shawn Raftopol were legally married in Massachusetts in 2008, and their twin boys were born through a donor egg and a surrogate mother. They live in Holland and were worried that when Shawn, who is not the biological father, travels with the kids he could be accused of trafficking them across international borders.

The court ruled over the objections of Connecticut authorities and declared there was no need to go through an adoption process and that Shawn could be listed on the birth certificates.

Just a short time later, the Family Court in Melbourne,

Australia, reached a similar conclusion, the Herald Sun newspaper reported January 22.

A homosexual couple who had paid an Indian mother to give birth to twin girls sought full legal status for the non-genetic father.

“As a matter of law, the word ‘parent’ tends to suggest some biological connection, but ... biology does not really matter; it is all about parental responsibility,” Justice Paul Cronin decided.

Sometimes surrogates don’t want to hand over the babies once they are born, leading to legal tussles. One that was resolved recently on the side of the birth mother is the case in Britain where an unnamed surrogate was allowed to keep the baby. Justice Baker explained in his ruling that the child should remain with the biological mother as it was in the child’s best interests, the Telegraph newspaper reported January 23.

In the 2008 document “Dignitatus Personae” on bioethical questions, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith reaffirmed the Church’s opposition to the use of surrogate mothers.

It confirmed what “Donum Vitae” had stated some 20 years earlier. In that document the Church explained that any birth technique involving people other than the married couple is unacceptable as it is “contrary to the unity of marriage and to the dignity of the procreation of the human person.”

It also stated that it is a denial of “the child’s right to be conceived and brought into the world in marriage and from marriage.”

The nature of the bond between a husband and a wife means that they have “the exclusive right to become father and mother solely through each other,” it added. There’s no denying the very pain of a couple that are unable to have children, but while surrogacy might resolve one problem it creates many others.

February 11, 2011

Helping each other to adjust to a new life continued from page one

en years now and have seen the remarkable benefits the ministry has reaped.

“Many people feel that they are so alone and no one knows what they’re going through when they first become separated from their spouse,” said Dupre, who joined the group in 1998 and became a facilitator in 1999. “But when they join us, they realize we provide a relaxed atmosphere, with absolutely no judgment, where they can listen and/or share with others who are experiencing the same pain.”

Menard became involved with the group slightly more than 25 years ago, and took a break to be with his young children. He rejoined a dozen years ago. “When people become single, and they don’t want to be, it can be a very difficult transition,” he told The Anchor.

“Some people are afraid to approach us for various reasons, but they should know there is no pressure to speak if they choose not to. There is an openness and freedom here with no obligations, no fees, and no emphasis on their particular faith.

It’s the same openness that Christ showed to the woman at the well.”

The group’s website says it is “focused on the elements of peer ministry and spiritual direction. Meetings include speakers, resources and the opportunity to share with others in similar circumstances not only the pain and struggles but also practical aids for healing and becoming whole again.”

“Some come just to listen,” Dupre told The Anchor. “And that’s OK. It’s part of healing. The important thing is that people realize that they are not alone in their feelings.

There’s just so much family and friends can offer as far as advice and comfort go. It gets to the point where they stop asking how the person is doing. That’s where the group is so helpful. First of all they can talk about what they’re going through and that’s very therapeutic. Secondly, they may hear advice from others about how they got through some very difficult times.”

“As facilitators, Joanne and I can’t offer any physical or financial support for their pain, because there is none,” said Menard. “The pain is internal and the healing must come from within. These people, men and women, are adjusting to a new lifestyle and the realization that they are not a couple anymore, and that’s very

15

The Anchor painful. Joanne and I know that from experience.”

Both facilitators concur that they’re not the source of the healing and growth. It’s the other members through sharing and genuine concern.

“Not all our members are Catholic, but we do recognize that spirituality plays a key role in the process,” said Dupre. “We always end our meetings with prayer, and most of our members have reconnected with God. When the loss first occurs there is often a stronger connection to their spirituality.

So often we hear, ‘It’s God’s love that gets us through this.’

We encourage them to give it up to God. We also encourage them to talk to their parish priest or their minister if they need more. Father Gregory A. Mathias is our spiritual advisor, and he’s always open to talk and listen.”

“I see God working in all these people,” added Menard.

“I had a wonderful experience with a woman who shared with me that God had truly come into her life with an incredible peace. She said, ‘Why do I need a spouse, when God is with me always?’ That’s an extreme case because people can’t isolate themselves and rely totally on God. They need the support of others, but God is key. Another woman ended up becoming a Third Order Franciscan and another felt God’s calling to go to confession and receive the sacraments again.”

As time passes, the groups change as does the dynamic.

“Our current group has really connected with each other,” said Dupre. “They call each other for support just to see how they’re doing and how things are going. And that’s great. They don’t need to cling to the facilitators. They’re encouraged to meet new friends and get together. In fact, the

group is planning a get-together this Valentine’s Day, which is a very difficult time for them. It’s still in the planning stages, but they’ll either go to a member’s home or out to dinner. Valentine’s Day is a time for expressing love for your partner and these people, some for the first time, are realizing they don’t have a partner any more, so getting together is very helpful. I remember my first Valentine’s Day alone. It was terrible.”

Menard mentioned that people who attend the group’s meetings are provided with information on the various stages of grief and other helpful materials. He also said that the first six months of a separation can be the most difficult.

“They realize they are not part of a couple any longer. And when there’s children involved it can be very painful. There’s so much to overcome, but being with others who are in the same circumstance is vital.

Sometimes they meet others with circumstances worse than their own.”

With Christmas having just passed and Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, these are painful times for divorced and separated. “Holidays and special celebrations are time of family tradition,” added Dupre. “Now these people see

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that family tradition is broken.

We try to stress that it’s time to establish new traditions. It’s hard to do and it takes time, but it can be done.”

More fallout from a broken relationship can be feelings of guilt — that the break-up was their fault — and feelings of low self-worth and selfesteem. “It’s important that we help them realize that they are good people and they’re not alone in these feelings,” said Menard. “We try to help them understand who they are and they now have a different lifestyle,” said Dupre. “Some have forgotten how to be single.” It’s all part of the process of making the person whole again.

“We don’t have the answers,” added Dupre, “but people are not looking for

answers. They’re looking for help and compassion and understanding. Thank God for this group. It’s a good ministry. A needed ministry. And it’s still going strong.”

“I’m so glad the diocese has maintained this ministry,” said Menard. “It’s a good feeling to know you’re helping others.”

For information about the Separated and Divorced Support group in the New Bedford area, contact Joanne Dupre at 508-993-0589 or 508-9659296; or Bob Menard at 508673-2997 or 508-965-2919.

For information in the Attleboro area contact Dorothy Levesque at 508-236-9083.

For those interested in helping to start a support group in the Fall River, Taunton, or Cape Cod areas, email frmarprep@mail.com.

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16

Youth Pages

February 11, 2011

they come marching in — Students from St. James-St. John School in New Bedford were encouraged to dress as their favorite saint as part of Catholic Schools Week.

on the right track — Bishop Feehan High School senior Viviana Hanley was selected by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association as a recent “Student-Athlete of the Month.” She holds a 4.0 GPA, is president of the National Honor Society, co-president of the Art Honor Society, and a member of the Science, Spanish, History, Math, and English Honor Societies. During the 2010 cross country season, she was awarded the following titles: Brown Invitational Championship Race winner, the EAC League meet Champion, the Eastern Mass Division IV winner with the fastest time of the day in all six divisions, the Division II All State Champion, again with the fastest time of the day in either division, and the Boston Globe Runner of the Year which is given to the top performer in the state. Hanley also recently won prestigious Scholastic Gold Key awards in writing and art, as well as a Silver Key, and honorable mention awards for art. From left, Principal Bill Runey, Coach Robert L’Homme, Hanley, and Athletic Director Paul O’Boy.

reaching her goals — Nicole Noonan, a senior at Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, was recently selected by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association as the “Student-Athlete of the Month.” She played an important role on the field hockey team this past season.

She scored 14 goals with three assists and was named an Eastern Athletic Conference All-Star. As a team captain, Noonan’s leadership helped guide the team to a 16-0-0 regular season record and a top seeding in the MIAA Field Hockey Division II South Tournament this fall. She is recognized for her leadership on and off the field of play. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is among the top students in her class with a 3.88 GPA with a course load that includes several honors and AP classes. Noonan is a member of the Student Council and very active in charity and community work.

From left: Athletic Director Ryan Sylvia, Noonan, and Field Hockey Coach Karen Quintin.

part of his flock — More than 180 second-graders at St. Mary’s Parish, Mansfield, made their first penance this month.

They continue to prepare for the celebration of first holy Communion this spring. Here Lauren Smith adds her sheep to the Shepherd banner which represents her participation in first penance.

seeing the forest through the trees — After reading a non-fiction story about the Amazon Rain Forest, the fifth-graders at Holy Name School in Fall River painted a mural depicting the flora and fauna of the area. They also created a PowerPoint presentation with facts about the animals, plants, and products of the Rain Forest.

Youth Pages

February 11, 2011

I

17

Long after the chocolates and flowers are gone

waited with great anticipation as Sister Mary Anthony passed out the envelopes. She stopped in front of each desk and dropped off a good number of envelopes until she got to mine. She handed me two envelopes.

I remember being sad and embarrassed as I looked around, squirreled down in my seat and opened the two envelopes. One was from my best friend Maureen and the other from my friend Gary (not his real name).

You never know where you stand in popularity until the day the envelopes are passed out and that year, I stood at the bottom of the pile. It’s no wonder that Valentine’s Day was one of my least favorite holidays.

As the years progressed, political correctness required you to send cards to everyone in the class or to no one. It was a way to keep those kids like me from feeling like a loser. I wonder if it worked?

I pretty much ignored the holiday until I got married. Then Valentine’s Day caused thoughts of red roses, candy in heart-shaped boxes, and winged cherubs shooting arrows to start swirling around in my head. What would I do to show my wife how much I loved her on that day? I recall one year purchasing her a dozen and a half roses and sent them to her office. It cost me

around $100 and I was so sure that it would show my love without question.

When she got home, I didn’t get the reaction I expected. She was upset that I spent so much money on flowers. I defended my gift as worth every dollar to show her how much I loved her.

Kris, in the plain language that only she can speak, told me that my unconditional love was shown to her everyday — and nothing else was needed. I hope I’ve done that

By Frank Lucca for most of our nearly 33 years of marriage.

Thoughts of the upcoming Valentine’s Day caused me to do a little research on the holiday and what it means and what it could mean to us this year. I was interested to learn that the origin of Valentine’s Day (actually St. Valentine’s Day) comes from the life and death of a martyr.

Valentine was a Roman Christian during the persecution of Christians in the third century. The emperor of the time declared Christians illegal citizens. Valentine was arrested. During his time in prison he was asked by a

Be Not Afraid

lofty effort — Catholic schools on Cape Cod gathered during Catholic Schools Week for a special Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis. Students came from St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School and Pope John Paul II High School in Hyannis, St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth, St. Margaret’s School in Buzzards Bay, and Holy Trinity School in West Harwich. Pictured is a choir of representatives from each of the schools.

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools or parish Religious Education programs have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org

guard to pray for his blind daughter.

As a result of those prayers, the girl’s sight was restored. The guard and his whole family of 46 people came to believe in Jesus and were baptized.

When the emperor heard that Valentine was still converting people while in prison he sentenced him to death. Just before being led out to be executed, Valentine wrote a note to the guard’s daughter urging her to stay close to God, signing it, “From Your Valentine.”

So the very first valentine was really a witness to unconditional devotion to Christ even under the pain of death.

Having read about St. Valentine, I think I can now come to a new appreciation for the holiday. Not a day to count how many Valentine cards, or tweets, texts, or Facebook notes you receive during the day, but a day to commemorate St. Valentine on the day he was executed for refusing to renounce his faith in Jesus.

I’m not saying we should abandon all of the fun aspects of the holiday, but all too often in this world we secular-

ize things to reduce their important meaning in our lives (like Christmas and Easter). Rather, this Valentine’s Day remember you are loved, not only by friends and family, but also, and I dare say most importantly, by God. God wants to be your Valentine each and every day. God’s love is not like those flimsy Valentine’s cards or tweets that will soon be discarded. He doesn’t choose whom to give his Valentine to; he gives it to each and every one of us.

It is surely not like the love the world gives. It is the real thing. It is an unconditional love proven everyday by his willingness to suffer and die for us. It is truly what real love is all about.

Of course, the question now is, will you be God’s Valentine?

Let’s pray. God of love, thank you for those whom I love. Let your compassion, generosity, and power continue to shine in my life long after the flowers and chocolates are gone, that I and all who I love might remember that you love us, now and always. Amen.

Frank Lucca is a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea.

He is chair and director of the YES! Retreat and director of the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI). He is a husband and a father of two daughters.

18

The Anchor

February 11, 2011

Strengthening your marriage

More Catholics searching for soul mates online

other.

“Once you’ve been married for a while, it’s easy to forget about why you fell in love and why you got married in the first place,” said Richards. “You get so caught up in the vision. It helps put the focus back on you and reminds you how important being married is; you hear from other couples who think that marriage is important. I think that’s part of what they get out of it.”

Open to any faith, the program is steeped in Catholic beliefs and allows God to be woven into the couple’s relationship and become a solid part of their foundation.

“It brings God back into the relationship and how in the relationship, God can really work,” said Richards. “It really shows how God is a part of your relationship.

When a couple is stronger, they end up having a better family life.”

A more comprehensive program for helping couples renew their commitment to their marriage during a period of difficulty is the Retrouvaille (pronounced re-tro-vi with a long i) program. Currently celebrating its 20th anniversary in New England, the program is designed as a weekend experience combined with a series of six post-weekend sessions over three months with the main emphasis of the program on positive communication between the couple.

“We help them discover who they are and what their needs and wants are, their values and ideals,” said Ann Moberg, coordinator for the New England branch of the program. “We teach them a technique called ‘dialogue’ which is similar to what is used by marriage encounter, but the Retrouvaille program is more for people that have had problems in their marriages.”

French for “discovery,” the Retrouvaille program breaks down marriage into four stages: romance, disillusionment, misery and awakening. By the time couples have entered the program, the couples are no longer feeling the romance and are often caught up in disillu-

dating sites are in the 35 to 45 age range,” Barcaro said. “When you think about it, while you’re in college you have natural social circles in which you can find people to date. But when you graduate and go into the work force, your social circles begin to shrink.

“As you get older and further into your career, if you don’t get married you’ll find fewer people in your social circle who are still single. So we’ve seen this progression of people in their late 30s and early 40s looking for ways to expand their social circles and thus dating websites are a natural way to go. And for people who value their faith and want to make it a cornerstone in any relationship or marriage, sites like CatholicMatch.com are a very reasonable choice.”

Chris Alestra, formerly of Attleboro, made a long-distance connection when she met her husband Mark through CatholicMatch.com.

“Both Mark and I were seeking compatible mates with an overriding desire to marry within our faith,” said Alestra, whose future husband lived in Atlanta, Ga. “With traditional ways of meeting people not working we both simultaneously signed up for CatholicMatch. Both of us had tried other online dating services and were not satisfied with the matches we were provided.

At the end of the day we were both first and foremost Catholics with a strong faith. After praying a long time and meeting men that just weren’t what I desired in a mate, I found CatholicMatch … and I found Mark.”

Alestra had nothing but high praise for her online experience.

“Electronic dating gives you an opportunity to ‘design’ your preferences for a mate and see what ‘models’ match your criteria,” she said. “It also gives you the time to get to know someone either through emails and phone calls for whatever period of time you do that until you meet. I’m so grateful that God used technology to bring Mark and I together.”

Originally co-founded with friends Jason LaFosse and Mike Lloyd and launched in June 1999 as St.Raphael.net — named after the patron saint of Catholic singles — the website was later redubbed CatholicMatch.com in 2003 and has since flourished.

In addition to the fact that many single Catholics are skewing older and waiting longer before getting married today, Barcaro said websites like CatholicMatch.com are also meeting the needs of a growing number of divorced Catholics

continued from page one

sionment or misery.

“Some of the couples have significant problems in their relationships,” said Moberg, adding it isn’t uncommon to see couples already separated using the program as their last hope. “It just depends on how firm the couple is, if they see their marriage as a covenant with themselves and with God.” The first weekend is presented by three team couples and a priest, and is the cornerstone of the program and its initiatives. During the six-week follow up, the couples continue to improve their dialogue technique and learn some of the concepts given on the weekend but in a more intense way, said Moberg.

“We help them to see who they are as a person, and then help them share with each other their different backgrounds,” explained Moberg. “We are trying to teach them to be more understanding of each other. If we give the dialogue technique the amnesty it deserves, then you try to solve a problem with dialogue for a deeper understanding of each other. If you each know how the other feels and can understand that, then you can be more open to each other.”

The best recipe for success is to attend not only the weekend retreat but all the follow-up sessions, said Moberg. And when you have couples dealing with serious issues like adultery, addiction or conflicts within the family, sometimes additional counseling will also be beneficial.

“We encourage them to be in counseling or to continue with counseling if they are already attending,” said Moberg. “We don’t have a 100 percent success rate but we do have a high rate of success.

You can’t really put your finger on it — we don’t keep statistics on it — but we feel that about 85 percent of the couples’ marriages are restored.”

For information regarding a weekend retreat in your area for Worldwide Marriage Encounter, go to www.wwme.org; and for the Retrouvaille program, go to www. retrouvaille.org.

continued from page one

looking to get married after having received an annulment.

“If you walk into a typical parish, you’ll see anywhere from one-quarter to one-third of the congregation who has been divorced,” he said. “When you add them into the mix of people who were never married and are entering their 30s and 40s, there’s just an explosion in that age range of available people. That’s another aspect that adds to the increasingly popularity of dating websites.”

Crystal-Lynn Medeiros, assistant director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Fall River Diocese, agreed there are a number of factors that have changed the dating landscape for Catholic singles in recent years.

“Most people, and in particular young adults, lack the time that once was spent frequenting clubs, bars, and other places where people were known to meet,” Medeiros said. “Theirs is a culture of working more than 40 hours per week, seven days per week and one where it has become much easier to be a little more selective. Second, with the explosion of social media in recent years, young adults, for the most part, connect with their friends more online than in face-to-face situations. So relying on your good friend Susie to introduce you to ‘this great guy I know’ is becoming far less frequent.

“Third, and perhaps most importantly, young adult Catholics are trying to seek new ways to meet other young adult Catholics because as many of us in ministry already know, there are not as many young adult Catholics in the pews on Sunday for whatever reason. So by posting a profile on a site like CatholicMatch. com, one can specifically look for other Catholics who share the same or complementary set of Catholic values.”

Unlike secular dating websites such as Match.com and eHarmony.com, Catholic dating sites like CatholicMatch.com, CatholicSingles.com and AveMariaSingles.com obviously cater to singles seeking out significant others who share similar belief systems and value the importance of the Catholic faith in their lives.

“There are secular sites out there that do a very nice job with the service they provide and it’s certainly reasonable for a Catholic to try them,” Barcaro said. “Where the differentiation comes with our website is twofold. First, on a large secular site, the Catholicity of an individual is much more difficult to determine because you have to wade

through profiles that just aren’t oriented towards the information you’re looking for. You might have a field that says ‘Catholic,’ but that’s all you have to go on.

Second, we try to provide a more unique Catholic experience: we review every photo, profile and all the information that’s uploaded to the site to make sure it provides an experience that is both family-friendly and Catholic in nature.”

Barcaro is also proud of the fact that CatholicMatch.com has become a great place for Catholics to find support from likeminded individuals, even if they don’t find that elusive romantic connection they’re seeking.

“We think of ourselves as a companion to the single Catholic, rather than just a place where they log on and find their match,” Barcaro said. “Even if they’re not finding romance, the one thing they will gain is a strong support community of single Catholics which is sometimes hard to find on the parish level.

It’s not always intentional, and I think single Catholics sometimes get defensive about it, but parish life is so focused on the family.

There often just aren’t a lot of great outlets for them, especially within the Church.”

With Pope Benedict’s recent release of “Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age,” a proclamation to coincide with the Church’s World Day of Communications, Barcaro said it’s sort of given the Church’s stamp of approval on the Catholic online dating model.

“The two points you can take away from his letter and things that really needed to be said were: one, evangelizing online is as much about how you behave and who you represent yourself to be as much as it is about hosting and trying to convince people about morality and Catholicism,” Barcaro said. “Second, I think a lot of Catholics need to be less sensitive about the Internet. It’s just like real life: you can walk down the street and hear things and see things that you’re not going to approve of or not going to agree with. That’s how the Internet is, too. Just because one or two things happen, doesn’t mean you throw out the baby with the bath water.

“Whether it’s a dating site or Facebook or some other website, there will be some bad elements and it’s a mistake to go around condemning everything rather than seeing the good, cautioning about the bad, educating people on how to guard against the bad, but emphasizing the good that it can do.”

The Anchor

February 11, 2011

Workshop on upcoming new translation of Roman Missal is March 5 in Taunton

TAUNTON — To prepare faithful across the Diocese of Fall River for the pending introduction of the new English translation of the Roman Missal this coming Advent, the diocesan Office for Worship and the Faith Formation Office are collaborating on a workshop to be held March 5 at the Taunton Inn and Convention Center in the city’s Industrial Park.

The workshop for lay catechetical and ministerial leaders will be lead by Msgr.

James P. Moroney, a priest of the Diocese of Worcester and a member of the faculty at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton.

Msgr. Moroney was the executive director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for the Liturgy from 1996 to 2007.

He is a consultor to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome.

Msgr. Moroney also serves as executive secretary to the Vox Clara Committee responsible for the new translation.

He had given a similar workshop for diocesan priests and deacons last October.

Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, director of the Office for Worship, told The Anchor, “This is a great opportunity for catechetical and liturgical leaders to learn of the changes from someone whose credentials are extensive. We’re

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Feb. 12 Rev. Stanislaus Bernard, SS.CC, Retired Founder Our Lady of Assumption, New Bedford, 1961

Feb. 14 Rev. Charles E. Clerk, Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River, 1932 Rev. Msgr. Francis McKeon, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1980 Feb. 15 Rev. Joseph G. Lavalle, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1910 Rev. James C. Conlon, Pastor, St. Mary, Norton, 1957 Feb. 16 Rev. Alphonse J. LaChapelle, Assistant, Holy Ghost, Attleboro, 1983 Rev. Joaquim Fernandes da Silva, CM, 2001 Feb. 17 Rev. Louis R. Boivin, Retired, Cardinal Medeiros Residence, Fall River, Former Pastor, St. Theresa, Attleboro, 2010

very fortunate to have Msgr.

Moroney.”

Msgr. Avila also pointed out that the March 5 workshop is not only open to leaders but for anyone who wishes to learn of the upcoming changes.

The workshop has a $25 registration fee, and will begin at 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Msgr. Moroney will give three presentations focusing on the specific issues as to the whys and what to expect regarding the changes.

There will also be several venues at the workshop where liturgical and catechetical publishers will make available materials with the

means and methods to implement a smooth transition in parishes this fall.

Msgr. Avila said the collaboration of his office and the Faith Formation Office will continue to announce diocesan initiatives to the faithful throughout the process leading to the changes. Pastors will be given materials to share with their parishioners, and some may include information sessions on the parish level.

Deadline for registration is February 15. A registration form can be obtained from the Faith Formation website at fallriverfaithformation.org

Around the Diocese 2/11

To commemorate the World Day of the Sick and the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, public adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the anointing of the sick will take place in the chapel of the Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street, Easton today beginning with rosary prayer at 9 a.m. followed by adoration and Mass at noon. The anointing of the sick will be administered during Mass. For more information call 508-238-4095.

2/11

The Sacred Hearts Retreat Center in Wareham and Office of Faith Formation will sponsor a “Retreat for Men and the Boy Within” today through Sunday, guided by Father Stan Kolasa, SS.CC., and Deacon Bruce Bonneau. Retreatants will arrive tonight at 6 p.m. and will depart Sunday at 1 p.m. For more information email retreats@sscc.org or call 508-295-0100.

2/11

A healing Mass in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes that will include anointing of the sick will be celebrated at St. Jude the Apostle Parish, 249 Whittenton Street, Taunton tonight at 6 p.m. Father Edward A. Murphy, chaplain at Morton Hospital in Taunton, will celebrate the healing Mass in observance of World Day of the Sick. Recitation of the rosary will precede the Mass at 5:30 p.m. and the sacrament of reconciliation will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. Benediction and a healing service will immediately follow the Mass.

2/26

Courage, a group for people dealing with same-sex attraction while trying to live chastely, will next meet on February 26 at 7 p.m. The group is faithful to the Catholic Church’s teaching on human sexuality. The meeting lasts about an hour and all are welcome. For location and more information call Father Richard Wilson at 508-992-9408.

2/26

An indoor yard sale sponsored by the Couples Club at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 121 Mount Pleasant Street, New Bedford, will be held February 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information call 508-992-6583.

2/27

International Irish Tenor Mark Forrest will be performing at Corpus Christi Parish, 324 Quaker Meetinghouse Road, East Sandwich, on February 27 from 3 to 5 p.m. The acclaimed Irish tenor, who has sung for Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa, will present an inspiration concert. For tickets or more information call 508-888-2740.

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19 Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Fridays 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays end with Evening Prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays end with Benediction at 2:45 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — St. Joseph Church holds eucharistic adoration in the Adoration Chapel located at the (south) side entrance at 208 South Main Street, Sunday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Brewster — Eucharistic adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays following the 11 a.m.

Mass until 7:45 a.m. on the First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and Mass.

Buzzards Bay — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m.

Mass.

East Freetown — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John Neumann Church every Monday (excluding legal holidays) 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady, Mother of All Nations Chapel. (The base of the bell tower).

East Sandwich — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at the Corpus Christi Parish Adoration Chapel, 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Also, 24-hour eucharistic adoration takes place on the First Friday of every month with Benediction at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning.

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place First Fridays at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 8 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has eucharistic adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at noon.

Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration. Refreshments follow.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has eucharistic adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

FALL RIVER — Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, has eucharistic adoration Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has eucharistic adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass until 6 p.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel. There is a bilingual Holy Hour in English and Portuguese from 5-6 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has eucharistic adoration each First Friday, following the 9 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 4:30 p.m. The rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

HYANNIS — A Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration will take place each First Friday at St. Francis Xavier Church, 21 Cross Street, beginning at 4 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of eucharistic adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and confessions offered during the evening.

NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the rosary, and the opportunity for confession.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has eucharistic adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m.

The rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and every Friday from noon to 5 p.m., with Benediction at 5 p.m.

Taunton — Eucharistic adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

A World Day of Prayer 2011 service will be held March 4 at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High Street, Wareham. World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday of March. For more information visit www.wdpusa.org or contact Judith Hewey at 508-295-1787.

WAREHAM — Adoration with opportunities for private and formal prayer is offered on the First Friday of each month from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, High Street.

The Prayer Schedule is as follows: 7:30 a.m. the rosary; 8 a.m. Mass; 8:30 a.m. exposition and Morning Prayer; 12 p.m. the Angelus; 3 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet; 5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer; 7 p.m. sacrament of confession; 8 p.m. Benediction.

3/5

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual eucharistic adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All from other parishes are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

St. Margaret Regional School will hold its annual auction fund-raiser March 5 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Coonnamessett Inn, 311 Gifford Street, Falmouth. Funds will benefit the students of St. Margaret Regional School for school improvement planning. Silent auction bidding will begin February 28 online at www.saintmargaretregional.com. Click on auction tab and follow instructions for bid placement. The event will include full dinner buffet, dessert, cash bar, DJ entertainment, and Irish Step Dancing by students.

WOODS HOLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Joseph’s Church, 33 Millfield Street, year-round on weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No adoration on Sundays, Wednesdays, and holidays. For information call 508-274-5435.

20

I

t’s early Tuesday morning right now, and I can tell it’s Tuesday for two reasons.

One, I’m hours from deadline and still trying to find a topic for this week’s column; and two, it’s snowing.

I’m a winter guy — I enjoy the snow, ice, and cold of the season, but this is growing a bit tedious. In my younger years,

The Anchor

February 11, 2011

If it’s snowing, it must be Tuesday

these weekly or bi-weekly snowfalls would have made me giddy with excitement. Now, not so much.

I still enjoy watching the snow fall. I find it one of the most beautiful sights nature has to offer. It’s the repercussions of that lovely sight that are getting to me.

As a young man, I would hit

the slopes in and around North I was single.

Conway, N.H. for one week But I did maintain my love of skiing per winter.

But with the advent of a wife and children, my skiing days were numbered — to zero. I simply couldn’t afford to get hurt and miss

By Dave Jolivet work (sounds like an insurance commercial with a duck), or even afford the downhill excursions for ice skating, but as time any more. I haven’t been since passed, the safe ice time on lo-

My View From the Stands

cal ponds became less frequent each winter, until it got to the point when I only skated in indoor rinks ... on occasion. The last time I skated outdoors was this past December at Rockefeller Center, and that hardly constitutes as pond skating.

One-by-one my winter athletics were replaced with indoor activities like sitting on the recliner and watching others ski and skate.

Winter sports for me now include shoveling, scraping the windshield, and hanging on for dear life as I walk to and from the bus stop every day. It seems this winter that with each passing day, the sidewalks are becoming smaller and smaller.

It’s to the point now that city streets are one big sidewalk for me. Not the safest mode of travel.

With ever-increasing frequency, I find myself longing for late spring. (Early spring is nothing but a mud-fest — the transition from winter to summer.) I want to see green grass and feel warm breezes. I want to hit the links again and be reminded of what an impossible game golf is. I want to broil on Horseneck Beach and then body surf the waves rolling in from the Atlantic. I even want the muscle aches the day following body-surfing the waves of the Atlantic.

OK, it’s now late Tuesday morning. After more than a few interruptions and editing duties, I’m back at the keyboard tidying up this column. And as I look out the window, it’s still snowing. The sand of Horseneck and the rough on the 14th hole seem like worlds away — almost as far away as my days on the slopes or the frozen ponds of New England.

I always thought it was my Canuck ancestry that made me a winter person — distant relatives who made the trek from icy Quebec on south.

I’m thinking maybe that my peeps actually migrated north from Florida, or even east from Hawaii, and my true identity as a summer person is manifesting itself.

Oh well, it is what is. It’s now 11:30 and the Red Sox equipment trucks will be rolling away from Fenway Park in a half hour, on their annual migration down I95 to Fort Myers, Fla. I’m tempted to skip out and try and stow away on one.

But it looks way too cold and icy out there right now. And besides, this week’s deadline is rapidly approaching. Oh yes, definitely a Tuesday.