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VOL. 50, NO.2· Friday, January 13,2006 FALL RIVER, MASS. Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Yeal"

JOSEPH JENNINGS, a former gang leader, spoke recentlyto students at S1. Anne's School, Fall River, about the dan­gers of drugs, gangs and not respecting one's self. (Anchor/Gordon photo)

Ex-gang leader challengesstudents to be street-wise

and live virtuously

According, to its history, the school opened its doorsfor the fIrst time on Jan. 6, 1906. It was established bythecomumnityofSt Stanislaus Parish underFatherPeterBasinski:' to educate fIrst-and second-generation Polishimmigrants. Felician Sisters from the congregation ofthe Sisters of S1. Felix of Cantalice staffed the school­house and instruction was in English and Polish.

A new school eventually replaced that four-roomclassroom in 1967 and the Felician Sisters continued toeducate students until 1985 when they were forced todiscontinue due to a lack ofvocations.

Curreht Principal Jean Willis said they have beendoing a lot ofwork to prepare for the centennial, but itwas worth the effort.

"I'm very happy with everything," said Willis.''We've been doing a lot of things during the schoolyear to celebrate and we have an alumni weekendplanned for May. Many of the Felician Sisters will be

Turn to page 16 - Centennial ..

II

BISHOP GEORGE W. Coleman greets students of S1. Stanislaus SChool during a Masscelebrating the Fall River school's 100th anniversary. (Anchor/Gordon photo)

Ii

;St~ Stanislaus School celebrates100 years of Catholic education

By MIKE GORDON

ANCHOR STAFF

FALL RIVER - An overflow crowd of parishio­ners, parents, teachers and students marked the 100thanniversary of S1. Stanislaus SchOol January 8 at a toa.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop GeOIge W Colemanwith pastor Father Bruce M. Neylon.

It was a time to reflect on a century ofCatholic edu­cation and what thathas meant to the community throughthe years.

FatherNeylon called the centennial celebration, 'Tre­mendous. It says a lot about the commitment ofthe pa­rishioners, the Sisters who first came here and the teach­ers today. All have made a great commitment to theschool and community."

Father Neylon added that it was special for him be­cause his mother attended the school. ''It's ajoyous oc­casion and I'm glad to be part of this celebration and aparish that values Catholic education."

school. We have too many kidstoday making too many adult de­cisions. I encourage you kids tobe kids."

Jennings' talk focused on thedangers of smoking, alcohol,drugs, profanity, gangs and notrespecting one's body. His visitwas organized by Catholic SocialServices' Abstinence ChallengingTeens in Our Neighborhoods Pro­gram.

Jennings travels the countryvisiting schools to bring his ex­perience to students in hopes thathe can change lives by makingthem realize they have a choicewhen it comes to sex, drugs andviolence. He has appeared on na-

Turn to page 13 - Message

By MIKE GORDON

ANCHOR STAFF

FALL RIVER - Students atS1. Anne's School received a visitfrom an old friend recently whenmotivational speaker JosephJennings returned to Fall River togive them advice about importantlife choices.

Jennings,afonnergangleade~

instantly had the students in thepalm of his hand and it's easy tosee why. At a little oversix-feettalland 260 pounds, Jennings is a bigman and his booming voice rever­berated through the auditorium.

''Take advantage of your timehere," he told students. "Comehere and learn and appreciate thatyour parents put you in this

Legal challenge filed to citizens' constitutional marriage amendmentlay DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR

AND eNS REPORTS

BOSTON - Even as the Elections Di­vision of the Office of the Secretary of theCommonwealth certifIed 123,356 signa­tures given last fall on a citizens petitionto amend the state's constitution to definemarriage as between one man and onewoman, a legal block is looming.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defend­ers, GLAD, fonnally filed a lawsuit Janu­aiy 3 challenging Massachusetts AttorneyGeneral Thomas Reilly's authority to al­low the citizens' initiative as it promisedin a Nov. 26, 2005 statement, reportedDaniel Avila, director of Public Policy forthe Massachusetts Catholic Council, the

public policy voice of the Catholic bish­ops of Massachusetts.

"The attorney general simply got itwrong," said Gary Buseck, GLAD's legaldirector. "Our state constitution says therecan be no citizen-initiated constitutionalanlendment that 'relates to the reversal ofa judicial decision. ",

GLAD has continually maintained thata citizen-initiated petition cannot reversethe ruling on same-sex marriage that cameNov. 18, 2003 from the MassachusettsSupreme Judicial Court in its decision inGoodwin v. Department of Public Health.It involved a lawsuit by seven same-sexcouples demanding marriage licenses. Thehigh court ruled that same-sex marriage is

required in Massachusetts.In a I5-page letter sent to the group last

September, Assistant Attorney GeneralPeter Sacks rejected that argument, stat­ing: "Amending the words ofthe constitu­tion does not require the people to say thata court's decision was wrong and shouldbe ignored. Instead, it changes the rules tobe applied by the court so that future caseswill tum out differently."

Responding to the lawsuit January 6,Reilly's communications director, DavidGuarino, said the attorney general still sup-ports that reasoning. .

However GLAD did not file a suit bythe Friday, January 6 deadline challeng­ing the petition process or the certification

ofthe signatures by the Secretary ofState,"reported Larry Cirignano, executive direc­tor of the campaign VoteOnMarriage.org.the citizen's initiative petition.

. ''We have enough legislators" who arewilling to support the bill, said Cirignano,e~ecutivedirector ofCatholic Citizenship,a nonpartisan organization that coordinatedthe signature-gathering process in thestate's Catholic dioceses.

''The big thing is that we have to get thevote," Cirignano added. Senate PresidentRobert E. Travaglini and House SpeakerSalvatore F. DeMasi "have to allow avote," he said.

The goal of the initiative is to allowTurn to page 13 - Marriage

•

Friday, January 13, 2006

PROUD MEMBERS: FUNERAL CONSUMERS ALLIANCE

was dedicated by Bishop Janles L.Connolly.

The parish celebrated its 75th an­niversary in 1981 and in 1987 a newrectory was constructed behind theReligious Education Center.

As 2006 adds new pages to thehistory of the diocese, it also sparksmemories ofthe fonner St. BonifaceParish in New Bedford, that wouldhave marked its centennial this year.

Founded in 1906 as an ethnicGennan parish, it was suppressedand closed its door in 1987. Its sac­ramental records were transferred toHoly Name Parish in the WhalingCity, later to be renamed Holy Nameof the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.

During the late 1800s many Ger­mans and Austrians came to NewBedford, most of them to work inthe city's cotton mills. Father Will­iam Stang, a native of Baden, Ger­many, who was to become thediocese's first bishop, ministered tothe Gennan population. ,

Named after the patron of Ger­many, St. Boniface's was completedin 1908, and the first Mass was cel­ebrated there on Christmas Day. Ithad been staffedover the many yearsby Sacred Hearts Fathers.

ments within and among churches are vigorous."They said living in the name of Jesus can be as

simple as people talking, listening, consulting, under­standing and cooperating, offering ecumenical hospi­tality "andreceiving one another as Christ has receivedus."

The following is this year's prayer for unity:"We bless your name, gracious God, for sending

your Son to be partofthe human family and to lead allmen and women into unity by his Spirit.

We ask you to protect those who bear the nameChristian, so that in bearing witness to the Cross ofChrist we may receive whatever burdens come to uswith confidence in the strength of your grace.

We pray that we may hear your Word and wel­come your Spirit, so that our care for one another willmake visible the promise of Jesus to bring peace andreconciliation to all humankind.

We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."

THE FORMER St. Boniface Church in New Bedford, closedin 1987, was founded in the diocese 100 years ago.

didly. He had recently been servingas parochial vicar at St. Mary's Par­ish in Seekonk.

. At another St. Mary's Parish, thisone in Seekonk, where FatherGeorge B. Scales is pastor, it wasreported that plans for a celebrationare not yet fonnaIized.

Bishop William Stang, the firstBishop ofFall River, established theparish on April 8, 1906. FatherPatrick McGee was appointed itspastor that same year.

The original church was locatedin the Hebronville section ofAttleboro. The first stoneofthe foun­dation was laid on June 22, 1906.The first Mass was celebrated thereon feast of the Immaculate Concep­tion, December 8, 1906. The origi­nal rectory was located next to thechurch on Hebron Avenue.

In 1956, FatherCornelius Keliherwas appointed pastor of St. Mary's,and plans were developed for theconstructionofa new Church - butat another location.

In May of that year, three acreswere purchased for the new churchin the Cherry Hill area of Seekonk.The church was completed and onMay 30, 1957, the new St. Mary's

BOSTON- The four Catholic bishops in Massa­chusetts are among the signers ofan ecumenical letterfrom 28 religious leaders across the state calling forprayer during the Week of Prayer for Christian UnityJanuary 18 through 25.

Bishop George W. Coleman of Fall River signedthe letter, along with Boston Archbishop Sean P.O'Malley, OFM Cap.; Bishop Robert J. McManus ofWorcester,and Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell ofSpringfield.

The week's theme is ''Where two or three are gath­ered together in my name, I am there among them"(Mt. 18:20).

The leaders from various religious denominationsnoted that "our desire for l,lnity should be especiallystrong in times like the~e, when human community isundennined in "hot spots" on almost every continent;political differences within this country often disinte­grate into dehumanizing monologues; and disagree-

North Attleboro parish sees 150thbirthday; Seekonk parish is 100

Ecumenical letter launchesWeek for Christian Unity

By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR

FALL RIVER - 1\vo parisheswill mark more than a century ofservice to the faithful at celebrationsthis year.

Like many church communitiesin southeastern Massachusetts, St.Mary's Parish in North Attleborowas ministering to Catholics longbefore the Fall River diocese wasestablished in 1904.

Historical accounts tell us thatJohn Graham in 1826 walked fromBoston to Attleboro to leam the tradeofa jeweler with the finn ofDraper& Tift. It W1S at his home in Octo­ber 1848 that Father JosephMcNamee, coming from churchesin Pawtucket, R.I., offered the firstMass in the Attleboro's.

When in 1852, the congregationwas considered large enough for itsown church, Father McNamee pur­chased land "on the rocky spot" onthe main road between the falls andNorth Attleboro.

Father Philip Gillick fromGreenville, R.I., was given chargeofAttleboro in 1856, and became itsfirst pastor. He built a church on theland bought by Father McNamee,which was dedicated by BostonBishop John B. Fitzpatrick on June19,1859.

A history ofthe parish sums it upin these words: "Notbuiltofthe goldand surplus and leisure of thewealthy, but with pennies and thewant"and laborofthe poor. Not builtthrough pride or rivalry or petty jeal­ousy, but through faith, to shelterHim in Whom we hope for life eter­nal."

A new church was completed in1901 on the feast of the ImmaculateConception. A school and conventwere completed in 1924, and a newrectory built in 1956.

However, as 2006 was usheredin, plans for a parish celebration arestill undetermined reportedBenedictine FatherRobertJ. Powell,newly appointed administrator.

"St. Mary's pastor, Father JamesM. Fitzpatrick, remains on medicalleave, and my bags are stilI un­packed," Father Powell, said can-

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While all people are called towork for peace, he said, peace­making is a "permanent mandate"for all those who believe in theGospel of Jesus Christ.

Christians contribute to peace­making when they proclaim that"the recognition of the full truthof God is the fIrst and indispens­able condition for the cons.olida-

tion of the truth of peace,"he said.

Pope Benedict said hu­manity needs a ')ump-startof courage and trust in Godand in man in order tochoose to follow the path ofpeace.'~

Continuing his reflectionduring his midday Angelusaddress, the pope said.Christians are called tomeditate on the Bible and al­low its truths to challengesituations of sin, violenceand injustice present in themodem world.

''When man lets himself be en­lightened by the splendor of truth,"the pope said, "he becomes a peace­maker with interior courage."

During the Christmas season,"we learn a great lesson: To wel­come the gift of peace, we mustopen ourselves to the truth that isrevealed in the person of Jesus,who taught us both the contentand means of peace, which islove," the pope said.

By sending his son to becomea human and to die for all menand women, God "also showedus the path ofpeace: dialogue, for­giveness and solidarity. This is theonly path to true peace," PopeBenedict said.

obedient to the command of theangels and docile to the will ofGod," are a model of "the manwho lets himself be enlightenedby truth, in that way becomingcapable of building a world ofpeace."

"In the face of continuing situ­ations of injustice and violencethat continue to oppress differentareas of the earth and before thosethings that present themselves asnew and insidious threats to peace- terrorism, nihilism and fanati­cal fundamentalism - it becomesnecessary more than ever to worktogether for peace," PopeBenedict said.

eas of Africa and Asia still expe­riencing conflict.

In his homily, Pope Benedictcalled attention to the Gospel ofLuke's description of the shep­herds hearing the angels announcethe birth of Christ and setting offto adore him.

The pope said the shepherds,"in their poverty and simplicity,

"In the face of continuing situa­tions of injustice and violence thatcontinue to oppress different areasof the earth and before those thingsthatpresent themselves as newandinsidious threats to peace - terror­ism, nihilism and fanatical funda­mentalism - it becomes necessarymore than ever to work together forpeace, " Pope Benedict said.

By CINDY WOODEN

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - Whenpeople recognize the truth thatthey are all children of God andthat moral law exists for the ben­efit of all, they become peace­makers, Pope Benedict XVI said.

"Peace - this great aspirationin the heart of every man andwoman - is built day byday with the support of ev­eryone," the pope said as hecelebrated Mass for thefeast of Mary, Mother·ofGod and for World PeaceDay.

The Mass in St. Peter'sBasilica and the recitation ofthe Angelus afterward in St.Peter's Square featuredpeople from around theworld dressed in their na­tive costumes. Many car­ried peace banners.

During the Mass, the of­fertory gifts were given toPope Benedict by two boys and agirl from Germany dressed as theMagi and participants fromMexico, Peru, Pakistan, Vietnamand Democratic Republic ofCongo.

In the prayers - read in Rus­sian, Chinese, Arabic, Polish, Span­ish and Portuguese - the congre­gation asked God to help thechurches ofthe East and West worktogether for peace and asked Godto bless international organizationscommitted to peacemaking..

Specific prayers were offered.for "the martyred populations ofPalestine, the hind of Jesus andof his mother, Mary," and for ar-

Frlday. January 13, 2006

Published weekly except for two weeks in July and the week after Christmas bythe Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River,MA 02720. Telephone 508-675-7151 - FAX 508-675-7048, E-mail:theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $14.00 per year.Send address changes to P.O. Box 7. Fall River. MA. call or use E-mail address

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PUBLISHER - Bishop George W. ColemanEXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry falherrogertandry@anchornaws.orgEDITOR David B. Joiivet daveJoiivet@anchomews.orgNEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jimdunbar@anchornews.orgREPORTER Michael Gordon mikegordon@anchomews.orgOFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase rnarychase@anC;hornewS.org

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THE LANDINGTime to rise up together

As we prepare for the Week of Christian Unity January 18-25, Christiansin our Commonwealth are confronting an issue on which they are clearlyunited. It's a challenge, ecumenists often say, to find unanimity among Catho­lics and Greek Orthodox, Evangelicals and Pentecostals, Anglicans, Lutherans·and Methodists. But a bill on Beacon Hill has brought them together. They'vebeenjoined by Christian Scientists and Unitarians. The same piece oflegisla­tion has gotten Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews not only to agreewith each other, but to concur with the Islamic Council of New England.

All are united in opposition to Senate Bill 1074, dubbed "An Act Relativeto Charities in Massachusetts," which passed the state Senate in Novemberand is up for a vote in the House ofRepresentatives later this month. This billwould require all houses of worship in the Commonwealth to file detailedannual financial reports for the review of the attorney general; to submit asolicitation form with the attorney general for'all fund-raising activity theyhave done in the previous year and another specifying the ways they hope toraise money in the following year; to file a corporation certificate with theSecretary of State detailing various data about its particular organizationalstructure; and require all of them to list for the attorney general every parcelof real estate.owned.

State religious leaders from every denomination say, on a practical level,that fulfilling the terms ofthe bill would be fmancially crippling, especially tosmall churches, mosques or synagogues. Each community would need to hirea certified public accountant every year to do the reports in the way mandatedby the legislation, and even proponents of the bill admit that this would entailcosts of$6,000 to $15,000 annually for a typical community and could evenexceed a million for a larger institution like a diocese. Those costs come inaddition to the fees that must accompany each of the filings, which, for ex- .ample, can run up to $250 for the financial report given to the attorney gen­eral. Supporte~ of the bill say that the faithful of a house of worship have theright to know where their money is going. Those who give money to theirfaith community, however, doubtless do not want it going to the state govern­ment, as a surreptitious tax on tax-exempt religious institutions.

Much more than the financial impact ofthe bill, however,Christians, Jewsand Muslim leaders are saying that the bill attacks the religious freedom guar­anteed by both the United States' and Massachusetts' constitutions. The billgives the attorney general the right to review and determine whether the lead­ers of a religious entity have properly used its assets to carry out its statedreligious purpose. Any religious institution would be vulnerable to second­guessing by the attorney general on perceived misuse offunds, and they wouldhave to provide all documentary evidence at his request. Moreover, aftercourt proceedings that would no doubt be very expensive, any decision madeby a church, mosque, synagogue or diocese could be overturned if the attor­ney general could convince the court that there was a misapplication ofchari­table donations or a breach of the public trust.

The principle of religious freedom, however, means that the religious in­stitution, and not the state, must have final say on whether the allocation offunds is consistent with religious priorities.

Ever since the foundation of Division of Public Charities in 1954 withinthe Attorney General's Office, religious institutions have been exempt fromsuch purview because of the principle of the separation of church and state.Why is there a move now to remove the exemption? Rev. Diane Kessler, theexecutive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches and a candidand veteran observer ofBeacon Hill, says very plainly that the proponents ofthe bill are "concerned with m.aking changes in the ... internal managementof the Archdiocese of Boston." The principal sponsor, Sen. Marian Walsh ofDedham, has stated openly that she submitted the bill because she and someof her Catholic constituents were unhappy with the results of the parish clos­ings in the Archdiocese ofBoston, especially the proposed closure ofa parishin her district. But the legislature is not the place to settle the score for adecision with one disagrees. As Rev. Kessler asks "How is this not the gov­ernment entangling itself with the inner-workings of one religious commu­nity?"

Leaders of houses of worship throughout the state are united in askingtheir members to contact their state representatives to vote "no" on S. 1074.Bishop George W. Coleman has made such a request to pastors and parishpastoral and finance council members. All those who want to keep theirhousesof worship free from governmental interference and from additional and un­necessary financial and administrative burdens, should heed their advice andcontact their representatives right away.

again the light shining in thedarkness in my six-year-oldnephew who, while at the dinnertable, impressed us all by recitingfrom memory the message fromthe angel to the shepherds. (Bravoto his teachers at St. Mary'sSchool in Mansfield!)

The light shines in the dark­ness and the darkness has notovercome it. It shines brightly inthose who have heroically held

onto their faith in Christand risen above greatadversity,. destructiv~influences and intense _persOQal sorrow. By' theirper~everance' and joyful:'ness, they have notallowed the darkness toovercome the light. Thislight of faith and lovepreserved in the minds

and hearts of the young will beargreat fruit and continue totransform the world, even whiledarkness remains.

Although it may seem at timesthat the darkness has the upper­hand on the light, we have beenassured by God's infalliblerevelation that the light will not beovercome by the darkness. By themystery of God's providence, thedarkness is allowed to co-existwith the light, but the light, whois the true light that enlightenseveryone, can penetrate even the

. greatest darkness and will alwaysbe more powerful. By the birth ofChrist, we have been rescuedfrom the power of darkness andmade worthy to share the lot ofthe saints in light (Col 1:12-13).Trusting in this truth is one moreway that Our Lord asks andinvites us to put out into the deep.

has pervaded the whole world.And to see the difference thatwas made by the human birth ofthe Son of God, we have to findthe light shining in the darkness,and see how the darkness has notovercome it. Finding this light inthe midst of darkness can bequite a challenge. If we focusonly on the darkness, we mightmiss the light.

But I have seen it, once again,shining brightly in-the students atBishop Stang High School. At ourannual prayer service on the lastday of classes before the Christ­mas break, I heard beautiful,sincere, and moving reflectionsby the students on the meaning ofthe mystery of Christmas, andhow it has affected their ownlives. On Christmas Day, I saw

kingdom that would never end,and yet, even in a country that is96 percent Christian, the meremention of his birthday in publicis somehow, absurdly, consideredinappropriate. It is obvious thatmuch darkness remains in theworld, even after the birth of "thetrue light, which enlightenseveryone."

But, amid this darkness, shinesthe light of faith in Christ, which

By Father DavidA. Pignato

Putting Intothe Deep

The light shining in the darkness

the living word

PEoPLE SCAVENGE THROUGH A DUMP SITE NEAR THE SMOLDERING SMOKEY MOUNTAIN

GARBAGE DUMP IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES. THE CATHOLIC PARISH OF THE RISEN CHRIST IS

IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THE DUMPS

OVERCOME POVERTY. (CNS PHOTOIPAUL JEFFREY)

"AND HE WOULD HAVE GLADLY FILLED HIS STOMACH WITH THE PODS THAT THE

SWINE WERE EATING, AND NO ONE WAS GIVING ANYTHING TO HIM" (LUKE 15:26).

One of the things I love aboutbeing Catholic is that, althoughour society and much of theworld moves on rather quicklyfrom the celebration of Christ­mas, we in the· Church extend ourcelebration of this great feast untilthe feast of the Baptism of theLord, observed this past Monday.

Ol!f celebration is extended inan effort to give due attention andsolemnity to the mystery of theIncarnation, a mystery ofsuch great magnitude _----------that it warrants ourcontinual reflection andremembrance. Duringthe Christmas season,we celebrated the factthat "the true light,.which enlightenseveryone, was cominginto the world" (1n 1:9).And, although the world to whichhe came was full of darkness, St.John assures us that "the lightshines in the darkness, and thedarkness has not overcome it"(1n 1:5).

For some, the celebration ofChristmas might be challenging,or even difficult, because somuch in the world today suggeststhat the birth of Christ has notmade any difference. Forexample, the Word made flesh,the prince of peace, was sup­posed to flood the world withpeace, and yet we see continuedviolence:He was supposed tobring justice to the oppressed, andyet we continue to see greatinjustices throughout the world.He was supposed to be a light tothe nations, and establish a

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THEDIOCESE OF FALL RIVERtheancholS>

51athletes sending a prayerskyward to thank the good Lordfor allowing them to be igno­rant, arrogant, and intolerant.

Football is still a great game- it's just the players that ruinit sometimes.

Now it's time for me topractice a little self-control, andresist the temptation to dump abucket of Gatorade over mypastor's head after an inspiringhomily.

Comments are welcome atdavejolivet@anchornews.org.

"We can only pay him$q.S2 a month but he is like

a priceless gift to our people."I,,

So says Bishop JosephWillig~rs of Jinja, Uganda,about~atlUas,one

of his batechists.

There '~re 185 full-time and

569 part-time catechists inII

Jinja. Each is willing to giveof themselves because, as

I:

one catechist put it,

"We 19re Jesus Christ and know that but for ourwork of making Him known many of our peoplewouldlinot be reached at all with the 'Good News.'''

zo

Namc f- _

Address, ~ ~ _

City -"- --'Stalc Zip _

I:

face of an adversary during anargument;

- players violently hittingopponents while out of bounds;

- officials being verballyabused by coaches and playerson questionable calls;

- players taunting opponentsand their fans;

- and grown men acting likeself-centered Idiots 'in the endzone after their teammatesworked so hard to get themthere.

And after all that, watching

St. Francis of Assisi Parish530 Gardner's Neck Road

'I

, Swansea, MAII

'I

Qrganist/VocalistII

51. Franci, of Assisi Parish is looking for anorganist who will also serve as vocalist for all

weekend II Masses, weddings and funerals

For more information, or to applyPlease call:

Father Edward E. Correia, Pastor'I

at 508-673-2808or I:write to Father Correia atSt. Francis of Assisi Rectory270 Ocean Grove Avenue

Swansea, MA 02777

Won't ~ou help catechists in the Missions, throughthe Propagation of the Faith, as they continue to bringthe "Gqod News" ofJesus Christ to those ItWst in needofHim?

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'

The Society fbr THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH...A Pontifical Mission Society

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and now the pros are in themidst of their playoff runs.

Since a week before Christ­mas, I could watch a livefootball game at practically anytime of the day or night.

There's no way I can countthe number of kicks,passes, fumbles andtouchdowns I've seenover the past few weeks.

The gridiron hassaturated all aspects ofmy existence. Unbe­knownst to my co­workers, when we put anAnchor to bed for the-week, I spike my mouse

and moonwalk across the office.Football - I love it.Yet, as seemingly insane as I

may appear, I do draw the line.Mixed into the pleasures and

thrills of the past few weeks, .have been moments that I willnever imitate.

Moments like a playerintentionally walking across theleg of a downed opponent;

- a player spitting in the

overwhelmed with an impulse todrop kick the groceries into therefrigerator.

You may ask yourself, "Howdid this surreal metamorphosistranspire?"

It's simple - as AndyWilliams once crooned, "It's themost wonderful time of theyear."

I just finished watchingnearly 300 college bowl games,

driver's license, I give thecamera my meanest, ugliestpose (instead of just my ugliest),and tell the clerk to include onthe license that my major isballroom dancing.

And most re<1ently, I'm

The lost angel

My ViewFlOm

the Stands/By Dave Jolivet

Am I in the end zone ~r t~ilight zone?

I Friday, January 13, 2006 theancholS)

All right, it's official. Myeyeballs are now pennanently

. shaped like footballs. When Iclose my peepers, all I seeburned into each cornea aregreen expanses covered withyard markers.

When calling thefamily to dinner, Istagger my cadence, asif to draw themoffsides.

If, while walking .through the house, mydog Igor is in my way, Ithrow her a stutter stepmove, do a complete360, and leave her inmy dust.

While out and abowt Iinstinctually cringewhen I seeanyone wearing !i(OP withvertical black lrtd white stripes,half expec~ 'them to throw a'yellow fla5 at me.

Whe>'l I lose an argumentwith~fiY wife, I must suppresst.be Urge to request an instantteplay for further review.

Come time to renew my

It was a Friday night in is always a mystery - never a curb, was the earring.December and we had just guarantee. That is why we must Truly, God is an awesomereturned from a wonderful have faith - and hope, of course. God. And in that moment, timeperfonnance of the "Nutcracker." I arrived at the school. Pitch had stopped and as I stood aloneWalking into the house, I reached black. Everyone had ·left. Now I in that parking lot there was onlyfor my earrings to take th~m off. realized that my choices for God, only God's gentle love."Gh no," I said softly, "One is searching had been cut in half. I picked her up and looked atmissing." And it was cold, and wet and her. By now, she had become

Now these were not just any although there were lights in the almost lifelike; almost as if sheearrings. They were not particu- parking lot, there were many was smiling at me. This littlelarly·expensive, but they were areas of shadows and darkness. angel earring had become solittle silver angel earrings, each But I had my flashlight. I special and important.with a heart in the center. I had decided to persevere. And as I began to drive home,just gotten them the day before, I parked the car in the exact I put her on the front seat next toand I was just beginning ...--------""":"'-r--:::::~:--..... me, so that I could look atto cherish them. her.

I began to tell myself, 0 Ur And what can you"You just got them. You teach me dear angel, tocan get another pair. It'll Journey always have hope? Tobe alright." But the f F -th always believe?

.deepest part of me, the 0 aI It is one thing to find atruest part of me, was lost angel eairing. It's trulynot on board with this By Greta MacKoul another to find a child whoplan. has been lost ... believing

''I'm going to go all can be reconciled. Toback," I announced. My husband same spot as before, to check find a husband or wife who hasresponded, "You are?" He did not that area first. It was not there. I been estranged ... knowing thatreally sound surprised, however, then proceeded across a grassy all can be healed. To find charity,for he knows me all too well. area, trying to remember the way when there has been greed.

"Yes, I have to go." thilt I had walked. I was begin- Forgiveness, when there has beenNow, we live in Mashpee, and ning to feel somewhat hopeless, anger. And instead of indifference,

the perfonnance had been in that maybe this was a time that I selfishness or hatred, to find love.Falmouth. Also, it was getting to would just have to accept the As we tuck away our Christ-be 10:00 p.m. and it had started to circumstances. mas decorations and as scenes ofrain. But then, I looked down. I the baby Jesus and the Epiphany

Nonetheless, I felt that if I saw something silver in the grass become nestled in our memory,went back, maybe the school ... could it be? may we remember our stories ofwould still be open and I could But it was only a dime. hope and resurrection.retrace my steps ... through the Still I was hopeful. I picked it For surely, we have many. Mayauditorium, the hallways, the up for good luck. we remember them, and reflectsidewalk, the lawn, and the Farther on, I saw something upon them. For they are theparking lot. else, shiny and silver. stories of faith. They are the

Maybe, I could find the lost A quarter. stories of what it means to believe.angel. "Hey, God, are you having fun They are the stories of Jesus.

As I left my cozy, warm house with this now?" Greta MacKoul is the authorI cannot say that I felt confident. I had left the grassy area,and and illustrator of"The OceanYet it's safe to say that as I began had crossed a driveway. All that F.lowers, A Parable ofLove" andto pray, I was just feeling very was left was the sidewalk, before numerous articles. Greta and herhopeful - hopeful based on past the door to the building. I was husband George, with theirexperience of so many times when just about to step on the curb of children Maxwell and Marysa,God had come through. But I was the sidewalk when I looked are members ofChrist the Kingnot sure, because with God there down, and there, just before the Parish in Mashpee.

6 Frid:ry, J~muary 13, 2006

Behold the Lamb ofGod

"I

thing. God alone suffices."The Magi from the East are

often described as the wisemen because in a real sensethey were wise: they knew'where life was.

In today's first reading wesee the call of the young .Samuel. He was privileged,we might say, to be in theright place with the rightteacher at the right time, in

how much God is calling eachand every one of us to the lifeand love only he has and onlyhe can give. We proclaim ourfaith each Sunday in "the Lord;the Giver of life." Of that life,St. Therese Lisieux said, "Theone who has God has every- .

By FatherJoseph Blyskosz

orqer to be able to understand respond to his call.and respond to God's call. Yet Do you know what God iseven in this simple context, calling you to do? Do youwe see the character of his struggle to live out what youfaith and the disposition of his know he is calling you to do?heart which' enabled him to Have you fallen from your callhear and resp()!\q to the Lord's and are you embarrassed to gocall. In the middl~of the back to ask the Lord to begin.

night, he hear'l.tan anew?r-----------01:;"....~:::::"""""'.."h audible voice ca\ling No matter where you areHomily of the Week him by name, and tuns and what life brings you, listen

S d S to present himself tothe to the words of St. John theecon unday priest Eli, not once, not'-" Baptist, who, like Eli, helps us

after the Epiphany twice but three times. '\0 see the presence of the LordThat took courage. ihteracting with us in our midst:Imagine if a student "B~old the Lamb of God, whotoday tried to awaken a takes\way the sins of therespected priest three world.'1successive times with During our diocesan ECHO

the same matter. Eli is a true retreats, we\.ing: "Call thepriest, however, and teaches Man who dea~ in love beyondSamuel not only how to repair and not o\ty love but itrecognize the Lord's voice but all. And if you hav~.Jo.und himhow to respond properly to it. and live his life and~ve go

Young Samuel reminds us out and tell others: We~vethat during whatever sleepless found the Messiah!"'"nights we may have had Father Blyskosz is paro-"....struggling with thoughts and chial vicar at St. Anthony of '"decisions, the voice and the PaduaParish and chaplain atperson of the Lord wants to St. Luke's Hospital, both inspeak to us and have us New Bedford.

route" (Mt 2:12).This Sunday begins the

Sundays of Ordinary Time,which concern our ordinarylife. The holy word of Godproclaimed to us touches on avery critical and fundamentalaspect of our existence:namely, the mystery ofour own call.

Three weeks ago,we heard amid the"highs" of churches,bells, hymns, concertsand praesepios, and the"lows" of Christmasshopping, gift wrap,lights and decorations,the joyful news of thecoming of the Messiah, bornfor us as our Savior. We cameto adore and worship him atthe Christmas liturgies,proclaiming with the angels,"Glory to God in the Highestand Peace to His people onearth." We venerated theMother of God and with theMagi offered Christ our gold,frankincense and myrrh.. In today's Gospel, we hear

On the first Sunday ofJanuary we celebrated theSolemnity of Mary. She heardthe Archangel Gabriel's call tobe the Mother of God, andaccepted that call, carrying fornine months in her womb thechild she conceived not by theflesh but by faith and trustinthe word of God.

Last Sunday we celebratedthe solemn Epiphany ­revelation - of the son shebore to the whole world,personified in the Magi fromthe East. They saw the star inthe east and felt called to leavetheir homes and journeythrough unsafe roads andcountries to greet the new bornmessiah. When they foundhim, they prostrated them­selves and gave him homage.They were so attuned to that"call" that they even disre­garded the order of KingHerod to return to him andreport their findings. As theword of God tells us,"Warned in their sleep, theyreturned home by another

Running on empty

By Heidi Bratton

Daily Readin~s

Jan 14 1 Sm 9:1-4,17­19;10:1a; Ps19:8-10:15; Mk2:13-17

Jan 15 1 Sm3:3b-10,19;Ps 40:2,4,7-10; 1Cor 6:13c­15a,17-20; Jn1:35-42

Jan 16 1 Sm 15:16-23;Ps 50:8-9,16­17,21,23; Mk2:18-22

Jan 17 1 Sm 16:1-13; Ps89:20-22,27-28;Mk 2:23-28

Jan 18 1 Sm 17:32~

33,37,40-51; Ps144:1-2,9-10; Mk3:1-6

Jan 19 1 Sm 18:6­9;19:1-7; Ps56:2-3,9-14; Mk3:7-12

Jan 20 1 Sm 24:3-21; Ps57:2-4,6,11; Mk3:3-19

life's storms and that God willbless my efforts to get fueledup by keeping the Sabbath.

How do you keep theSabbath holy with your family?In 30 words or less please sendyour ideas tohomegrownfaith@yahoo.com.Thanks!

Heidi Bratton is the at·home mother offive and theauthor and photographer of11Christian children's books andone trade book on motheringcalled "Making Peace withMotherhood and Creating aBetter You." Heidi and herhusband, John, make theirhome and grow their faith inFalmouth.

In Your 'PrayersPlease pray for the following

priests during the coming weeks

Jan. 231983, Msgr. Henri A. Hamel, USAF, Retired Chaplain, Re­

tired Pastor, St. Joseph, New Bedford

Jan. 171967, Rev. John F. Laughlin, Retired Pastor, Holy Ghost,

Attleboro \ -\2002, Rev. Daniel J. M~Carthy, SS.CC., Former Provincial

Superior, Retired Pastor, Holy Redeemer,.Chatham\ \'\.-..//._,-=~- .-.. ---....__ J~.\19··

1999, Rev. Thomasp.·O'be4,\<\ssistant, St. Lawrence, NewBedford / '\ \,

\,\,Jan.2Q\

1952, Rev. Roland 1. Masse, Assistant, Notre Dame de Lourdes,Fall River .\

HomeGrownFaith

Tough choices. I must tell you,however, that, time and timeagain, when our family hasmade even the smallest effort tobecome more of a Sabbathpeople, God has provided for

getting pretty high. The costsometimes includes not beingable to participate in sports,jobs, or other events thatregularly take place on Sunday.

the extra time and money we'veneeded during the other sixdays of the week. Whichreminds me of how God pro­vided for me in my anxiety about

driving around on a....----------r--::=:---.... nearly empty tank of gas.Come September, I

discovered that gasprices over in NorthDartmouth were as muchas 34 cents per galloncheaper than near ourhome! Now, by waitingto fill up near the kids'school, lean almost pay

for the drive over, and I don'thave to drive around on emptyquite as often. Most of all, thesituation is a tangible reminderof my need to stay fueled up onfaith in order to better weather

far more terrifying spiritualstorms than hazardous snowstorms since getting my driver'slicense. Storms likeunforgiveness demolishingrelationships, material­ism siphoning off .family finances, anddisregard for Churchteaching exploding intodivorce.

I can think of manygood ways to staytanked up on faith, butI'd like to focus on one.That way would be totake the Third Commandmentseriously by really celebratingthe Sabbath. First and foremost,this would mean getting toMass every week, but justgetting to Mass would be likegetting just a quarter a tank ofgas.

You see, keeping holy theSabbath means more than justgetting my sacraments andwinning the race out of thechurch parking lot. A Sabbath isa "recurring period of rest andworship" based on God'sresting on the seventh day aftercreating the world. To getspiritually tanked up, we needto stop spinning our work-a-daywheels, to physically rest, andto refresh our relationship withGod and family once a week.It's God's plan for keeping ourspiritual fuel gages pegged onfull, and Jewish and Christiancultures have lived and pros­pered by it for thousands ofyears.

Sadly, our post-modernculture seems to enjoy doinganything but observing God'splans, so the cost of really ­keeping holy the Sabbath is

I am unreasonably afraid ofrunning out of gas in the c~. Ithink it is because I learned todrive in Northern Wisconsin,where running out of gas in themiddle of winter could be afatal mistake. Driving instruc­tors told tales of fools whocarelessly ventured out on oldlogging roads without enoughgas and were never seen again.

"Freak snowstorms as earlyas October or as late as May arenot too remote a possibility,"my instructors would omi­nously warn. Taking their talesto heart, I developed thecautious habit of filling up mytank whenever it was down toaround one-fourth full.

My habit served me well formore than 20 years, but thengas prices skyrocketed lastAugust, and it became tooexpensive to fill the family vanpast one-fourth full. Although Iknew it was a necessaryfinancial measure, driving on anearly empty tank all the timereally stressed me out. I feltfoolish and unprepared for thepossibility of getting lost, beinglate, or running into that freaksnowstorm. (Hey, October wasonly six weeks away!) Then, asSeptember approached, I beganto get nervous about getting ouroldest kids to and from BishopStang High School about 30 .miles away from home.

There are parallels with thespiritual aspects of life. Am Iusually tanked up on faith oralways running on empty?When a crisis comes up, do Ihave enough spiritual reserve toget through? Am I as aware ofmy faith gage as r am of my gasgage? In truth, I have witnessed

7

Cast wide the net of friends'hip

Holy cyberspace! photo album is terrific. Cuttingedge and high end, it's also fun.FLASH is also used with subtleanimation on the home page ofSt.Mary Church, Norton(www.StmatysNorton.org).

St. Francis Church,Acushnet(www.SFXAcushnet.org) has agood example of a parish photoalbum using simpler and lessexpensive technology - twoqualities to which I can relate.

Another tool is Web calendarsoftware. Look at ImmaculateConception Church, NorthEaston (www.icceaston.org) foran excellent example. See howeasy it is to switch from calendarformat to listing format.

Still another parish that does afine job with the calendar is St.Joan ofArc, Orleans(www.joanarc.org).St. John TheEvangelist, Attleboro(www.stjohns-attleboro.org) andSt. Mark Church, AttleboroFalls (www.stmarks­attleborofalls.org), effectivelycustomize the same Web tem­plate, including calendar software.

Kudos are given to Our Ladyof Victory, Centerville(www.olvparish.org) for thewealth of inspirational material.The site is also very current.

Next week: The finalists andwinner of the "Golden Mouse"is announced.

Parish staffs can receive afree confidential evaluation oftheir own church site. Contact"Timmy the Techie" atStBernardAssonet@aol.com.

We're located at ...46 Oak Grove Ave., Fall River

or call ...508-675-7426 • 508-674-0709

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'J~'";"J: ...1,' ,Ii _ , _,~'<.', . I

Qualifications'include: Faithful commitment to the teachingsof the Catholic qhurch; al1un~'~rstandingqf the philosophy

and mission 0tCath8Ii9Sch901~.;.and !5 years teachingexperience andi~prPPriateiacademlcicredentials.

Applicati6hsi)t(j'¢(q~e.!/f~briJja;y!?, 2006Interested candid,~tes shojJl,dpslrlbmita I~tter of intent and

resume befor~ 2/3/06tR':;.~eorgeA Milot, Ed.D.Superintenden~of Scho:?IS, 423'Highland Ave.,

FalliRiver,MA 02120.Other positions listed 0'1 'o~h.We6site: www.dfrcec.com

weakness. Bulletin and homilywere not current at the time ofour visit. Daily blog (Internetpublishing log) was a day behind.Fourth category: "Outreach."Credit was given for archives, adaily blog and a weekly blog(Ship's Log), and links to othersites. St. Bernard Parish site, likeany other, is a work in progress.It's evolving as we find out whatworks and what doesn't. There'salways room for improvement.And all of us are busy these days.There's hardly time to make thedoughnuts. In the real world,sometimes we just have to make­do with stale doughnuts and day­old news.

On a parish Website, commu­nication works both ways. Ireceive prayer requests over theInternet. The intentions areoffered at Morning Prayer. E­mail, I have also found, is aneffective way of to communicatewith young adults, especiallythose planning marriage. You callanswer queries anytime of theday or night., The Internet is already animportant pastoral tool. It willbecome increasingly so. It isabsolutely essential,for parishoutreach to young People. The kidsare way ahead of uS old fogies.

Our first port-of"eall was ourneighbor to the south St. MichaelParish, Fall River II . .

(www.smpfr.org) sbiffy! It's themost technically advanced of allour parishes. The s* makesexceptional use of FLASH (Web'animation software)'. Their FLASH

photos of parish events was aplus. .

The fourth category was"Outreach." Here we werelooking at how well the sitecommunicated the Good Newsof Jesus Christ. We were lookingfor inspirational texts, warm andwelcoming words, well-written,educational and uplifting texts.

Would spiritual seekersviewing the site bedrawn to visit the parish,participate in worship, oreven join the faithcommunity? In a word:is it evangelical?

Since one church wasdisqualified from the"Golden MouseAward" contest, let's

look at the St. Bernard Chuurch,Assonet site(www.StBernardAsonet.org) tosample the evaluation system.First category, "Design": We seelegible text, good graphics, butlinks are hard to read and slow toload. Second category, "Ease ofUse": It has consistent naviga­tion; it includes schedules,driving directions, Sundaybulletins, and photos (nowappearing in a slide show format)- all one click away. Thirdcategory: "Currency". Here is the

points in four categories: Des}gn,Ease of Use, Currency and ,­Outreach.

Under the "Design" category,we asked the questiops: Is thetext legible? Are grJlphics used?Is the site visuallv,unifIed andattractive? /,.

Under the "Ease of Use"categOly/we looked to see if the

//

site had a consistent navigationon each page. Was vital informa­tion (like Mass schedule anddirections to the church) immedi­ately available? Credit was givenfor working search pages and/ora site index page.

The "Currency" category wasmeasured by the dating of thematerial posted on the site. Wasthere the most recent parishbulletin and homily? Was there acalendar page or schedule ofevents for the upcoming week ormonth? A page with rece~t

was from the side of Christ ashe slept the sleep of death uponthe cross that there came forththe 'wondrous s'acrament of thewhole Church'" (CCC 1067). Inmy 10 years of adult education Iam pleasantly amused when Iask a group, large or small,"Can anyone tell me the defini­tion of a sacrament?" Inevitably,several participants from the

"Baltimore Catechism" era will,in unison, give the full definitionwhich they memorized as achild. The new catechism defmessacraments as "powers thatcomes forth from the Body ofChrist, which is ever-living andlife-giving. They are actions of theHoly Spirit at work in his Body, theChurch." Sacraments, especially inthe Eucharist, communicate themystery of communion with theGod who is love.

For God's people, thiscommunion with Christ and theChurch is essential to the .fmitfulness of the missionentrusted to all the baptized.Jesus states forthrightly, "Apartfrom me you can do nothing."We think of the image of thevine and the branches: apartfrom the vine !he branches dry

By Lisa M.Gulino

Lay co.wor'k~r$

in the vineyard

up and die. Connected to thevine, the branches flourish andbear much fmit. Communionbegets communion. Thereforecommunion with others, asrooted in and flowing forthfrom God the source of allunity, is a most magnificent fmitwhich the branches give. Whatdoes this communion look likeand where is it found?

The Church of Jesus.....-------~~.,..._::iiiiiii:::"-,... Christ - the one, holy,catholic and apostolicChurch .:....- is a commu­nity of faith, hope andlove. It is love, "thegreatest of these," whichis the innermost life ofthe Church, becauseGod is love and God isthe life of the Church!

The Council teaches that theChurch exists to spread thekingdom of Christ over all theearth for God's glory and toestablish the right relationship ofthe entire world to Christ. Everyactivity which is undertakenwith this view is given the name"apostolate." The U.S. bishopsin their document, Co-workersin the Vineyard of the Lord,remind the laity of their respon­sibility to contribute to thesanctification of the world fromwithin, like leaven, in the spiritof the Gospel, by fulfillingfaithfully the duties and de­mands of daily life.

Having been called "friends"by Je.sus, we go into the worldto witness to this friendship andyes, to invite others to enter intofriendship with Jesus and hisChurch.

In the Bible starting withChapter 13 of the Gospel ofJohn, a heading'has been addedwhich reads, The Book ofGlory. Interestingly, this sectionis the account of the Passovermeal, Jesus' words of instruc­tion and explanation of things tocome, as well as a re-telling ofJesus' passion, death andresurrection by one who was awitness. The nightbefore Jesus was givenup to death, a death hefreely accepted, hespoke with great loveand affection to hisdisciples: "As the Fatherhas loved me, so I haveloved you, live on in mylove." He continued,''There is no greaterlove than this: to lay down one'slife for one's friends. You aremy friends if you do what Icommand you. I no longerspeak of you as servants.Instead, I call you friends, sinceI have made known to you allthat I heard from my Father"(In 15: 15).

Such is the mystery ofChrist. Sent by the Father toreveal and make present the loveof God for humanity, Jesuswillingly suffers and dies for thesalvation of the world, rises andascends to the Father givingglory to God's name. Weproclaim this wondrous work ofredemption every time we pray,"Dying he destroyed our death,rising he restored our life."Poetically the "Catechism of theCatholic Church" reads, "For it

13 January 2006 - On thisdate in 1927, transatlantictelephone service was inaugu­rated. Thirty-one calls were madethe first day.

Stick a pineapple on thegatepost! The Captain hasreturned from far-off lands andexotic places. He's back from thevastness of deep cyberspace. Hehas "boldly gone whereno man has gone before."(The Captain watches too Th~/Ship's LogmU~~;oceseofFall ~~:~~!~tt~hS oJ a"',,.River staffs 100 parishes. ~,::,,-~jsIiJ~rJ:~at i:;;:~There were 45 parish / ... ' ~~ -., ;;.' -"':e. <. ,~~"Websites. We visited I ~f,!7c"i1 By:;-atm!rbmL'::~them all. Jeanne ·GoldrickSpellman of Spellv;anDesign, LLC, w« ,navigator. We piotted course byaddresses pred on the diocf;sanWebsite / '(wwwJ?1oceseOfFallRiver.org).Jeaup::'utilized her technicalkJyJwledge and design skills to~tfer commentary.

/ Eight sites were experiencingtechnical difficulties (brokenURL) at the time of our visit.One parish site (my own) wasdeclared ineligible due to conflictof interests.

To make our "cybersailing"more interesting, we awarded

/

I8 theancholY . Friday, January 13, 2006

dark valleys of life, and offers himconsolation, comfort and light," hcsaid.

The pope added that, while"none of us know what will hap­pen to our planct or our Europe inthe next 50 or 60 years," as Chris­tians they could all be sure that theybelong to the fanlily of God.

The Mass was the resumptionof an annual tradition begun byPope John Paul n in 1980 to markthe feast of the Baptism of theLord. Because ofhis frailty, the latepope had to skip the liturgy the lasttwo yearS of his life.

Speaking to tens of thousand ofpilgrims afterward from his apart- .ment window above St. ~eter's

Square, P9pe Benedict said bap­tism was a gift to the infant thatneeds to be accepted in a "free andresponsible" way as an ·adult.

.He encouraged all Christians torediscover the meaning of theirown baptism and emphasized thatbaptism unites members of everyChristian church and community.

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~~~._----- )

The pope said the ''yes'' to lifeexpressed in baptism was fully-experienced by early Christians,including those in ancient Rome,who fought against a similar "anti­culture of death" in their pagansociety.. "It involved a 'no' to the spec­tacles where death, cruelty and vio­lence were entertainment. Think ofwhat was done in the Colosseum,or here in Nero's gardens, wheremen were set on fire like livingtorches." he said.

The pope's reference was to ac­cOlmts of Christians being burnedalive to light the evening partiesthrown by the Emperor Nero in hisgardens on Vatican Hill.

With·baptism, the pope said, thechild is brought into ~'a companyof friends that will never abandonhim, in life or death."

"This company is the family ofGod that carries within itself thepromise ofeternity. It is a companythat will alw~ys follow him, evenin the days of suffering and the

VATICAN CITY (CNS) ­Continuing one of hispredecessor's favorite traditions,Pope Benedict XVI baptized 10babies and urged their parents tolead them along the path of truth.

In an extemporaneous sennonduring a Jan. 8 Mass, the pope saidbaptism today carries with it theresponsibility to fight against "thelargely dominant culture ofdeath"- a culture, he said, that is markedby injustice, self-delusion andsexual irresponsibility.

The hour-and-a-half-long Massin the Sistine Chapel was enliv­ened by the frequent cries of theinfants chosen for the papal liturgy.Beneath Michelangelo's famousfrescoes of the creation, mothersused pacifiers and rhytlullic rock­ing to try to keep their babies quiet.

The pope, standing next to. a .large marble font, poured waterfrom a golden dipper over the headofeach baby as he pronounced thewords of baptism. The five girlsand five boys were children orgrandchildren of Vatican employ­ees.

Mterward, the pontiff smiled indelight as brothers and sisters ofthe newly baptized brought him theoffertory gifts.

Instead ofpronouncing his pre­pared text, the pope stood and gavean impromptu sermon on themeaning of baptism. In the broadsense, he said, the sacrament is a"yes" to life and a "no" to the wide­spread culture of death.

"This anti-culture is seen indrugs, in flight from reality, in self­delusion, in false happiness that ismanifested in lies, deceit and in­justice. It is seen in contempt forothers, contempt for solidarity andcontempt for a sense of responsi­bili!)' for the poor and the suffer­ing," he said.

"It is demonstrated in a sexual­ity that becomes pure anlUsementwithout responsibility, that turnsthe human being into a 'thing' in­stead of a person," he said.

POPE BENEDICT XVI anoints an infant in the Sistine Chapel at the VatiCan January 8. Thepope baptized 10 babies, using the occasion to launch an impassioned d~unciation of a

. "culture of death" that he said pervades the modem world. (CNS photo/L'Osservato.1'e Romano)

Pope baptizes 1.0 infants, urges ~JIDarent§ to lead them on path of truth

place a creche near the Sear's en­trance to the mall from Decem­ber 15 through 23.

To accommodate the crecheand to display it properly, a mo­bile display unit was designed andconstructed during the spring andsummer of 2005 by Deacon JimLeavitt of Our Lady of the CapeParish, Brcwster.

The Alliance told The Anchorthat it would like to thank the of­ficials of the Simon Cape CodMall for hosting the creche.

Thc Pro-Life group alsothankcd the S1. Pius Council.Knights of Columbus for its gen~erous donation toward the con­struction of the creche mobile dis­play unit that made the effort ofthe action group successful.

Be sure to stop by:

OPEN HOUSE February 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

DEACON JIM Leavitt of Our Lady of the Cape Parish inBrewster stands next to the Nativity scene on display CapeCod Mall in Hyannis. Members of the Cape Cod Pro-LifeAlliance received permission from the mall owners to displaythe creche. Deacon Le?"itt designed and constructed themobile display unit.

Whaler's Cove wishes the faithful of theDiocese of Fall River a happy and healthy 2006

Cape Cod group helped keepChrist in Christmas season

Also stop by our

Cardiac Screening Prevention ProgramJanuary 19 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Co-sponsored with Southcoast Health Systems, this eventprovides the opportunity for cholesterol, blood sugar

and blood pressure testing.

Whaler's Cove Independent & Assisted! Living114 Riverside Ave.

New Bedford, MA 02746508-997-2880

HYANNIS - To remindChristmas shoppers that Christ isthe reason for the season, mem­bers of the Cape Cod Pro-LifeAlliance set up a mobile crechein Cape Cod Mall for eight daysduring Advent.

Comprised ofdedicated Catho­lics concerned with 'many of theissucs of lifc in today's socicty, ithas chosen the Blessed VirginMother as its patroness andmodcl.

During the Advent/Christmasseason the Alli.ance wanted to re­mind shoppcrs that as thcy pur­chased presents for loved ones,that the greatest gift ofall is God'sgift to humanity through Mary.

They sought out mall manage­ment and received permission to

Friday, January 13, 2006 9

By CINDY WOODEN

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE "

Admitting past mistakes is keyto Christian !unity,. pope says

© 2006 CNS

Suppo..t theweekly

TV Ma$sthrough your donation

.to the CatholicCommunication Campaign

in your parish thisweekend or write: . ~ " ,

< Watch theTELEVISION MASS APOSTOLATE -;;Mass at 11 :00 a.m..

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John IE. Kearns Jr., Assistant Director ~1!I'i!III••••~IM!!Jll.,I!IIIiI1!!I

MEDICAL STUDIO

POPE'S BEDROOM

The top floor of the apostolic palace IS the papal apartment.The floors below contain rooms for the reception of dignitaries and

guests and various Vatican offices. The pope appears ejlch Sundayat the window Of his study to give a blessing.

relationship which must be nur­tured in truth and love."

VATICAN CITY - When The pope said the Catholic-Christian churches and communi- Reformed dialogue, w1.lich beganties are willing to admit their shortly after the Second Vaticanmembers may have offended or Council, "has made an importantmisrepresented the teachings of contribution to the demandingothers, they make important con- work of theological reflection andtributions to Christian unity, Pope historical investigation indispens­Bcnedict XVI said. able for surmounting the tragic

Meeting January 7 wit1.l the divisions which arose amongleaders of the World Alliance of Christians in the 16th century."Reformed Churches, Pope The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick,Benedict said that in 2000 Pope president of the World Alliance,John Paul II "gave a powerful told Pope Benedict, "There is stillimpulse to this endeavor. in the much to be done to move beyondCat hoi i c our past con-Church" when demnations ofhe publicly The pope said the one another, toasked for for- Catholic-Reformed dia- truly respectgiveness on be- logue, which began shortly one another ashalf of Catho- after the Second Vatican parts of the onelics. body of Jesus

"I am pleased' Council,"has made an im- Christ, serveto leam that sev- portant qontribution to the God togethereral of the Re- demanding work of theo- without worry­formed churches logical reflection and his- ing about inhi­which are mem- torical investigation indis- bitions in ourbers ofthe World nations, and toAlliance have pensablff for surmounting eome togetherundertaken simi- the· tragic divisions which at the table of

For one thing, the electrical sys- pope's bedroom, the medical stu- lar initiatives," arose among Christians in our Lord.tem was not up to code. Some dio, his private chapel, a smallliv- he said. the 16th!; century" "We are ea-rooms still used old I25-volt elec- ing room, a dining room and The pope ger to be part-trical outlets, which were phased kitchen. was referringto.. ners with you inout years ago in Italy in favor of It was Pope Pius, X who trans- decisions by the Presbytdrian this important ministry of Chris­220 volts. The water pipes were ferred his apartment to the top floor Church USA, the Christian, Re- tian unity," he told the pope.encrusted with rust and lime, and ofthe Apostolic Palace in 1903. In formed Church in North America Rev. Kirkpatrick expressed histhe heating system was approxi- 1964, Pope Paul VI completely and others to declare that official hope that Catholics and membersmate at best. remodeled the papal residence, and statements about Catholicism of the Reformed churches would

Above the false ceiling, work- Pope John Paul made his own made by their leaders in the)~th work together "to make the thirders discovered big drums placed changes early in his papacy. century do not reflect their cur- m'illennium the era of the reunit­strategically to catch the leaks from In the late 1930s, the huge attic rent understandings of Catpolic ing ofthe broken body ofChrist."the roof; some were nearly full of above the apartment was remod- Church teaching. The official Catholic-Reformedwater. cled to make aseries ofmini-apart- For example, the 2004 synod dialogue is preparing to release a

The makeover included renova- ments that open to the inner court- of the Christian Reformed Church statement on the nature of thetion of the medical studio, which yard. They house members of the declared inaccurate a confessional Church and on Christians' commonis said to include emergency sur- pope's household staff, and one is statement, contained in the 1563 witness to the kingdom ofGod.gery and dentistry equipment. The said to have been refitted as a guest Heidelberg Catechism, saying the Rev. Kirkpatrick told Popepapal bedroom, situated atthe cor- quarters for Pope Benedict's Catholic Mass "is basically noth- Benedict that members of the al­nerofthe building, was completely' . brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger. ing but a denial of the one sacri- liance "are eager to begin the nextredone, and most of the rooms ·"1 had a small house built for fice and suffering of Jesus Christ stage ofefforts to move closer to-were' freshly wallpapered. . me in Germany once," the pope and (basically nothing but) a con- gether in common faith and wit-

The new kitchen was reportedly told the workmen. "I'm convinced demnable idolatry." ness" and would meet with theoutfitted by a German company, that anywhere else this project Pope Benedict told the all'iarlce Pontifical Council for Promotingwith state-of-the-art ovens, ranges would have taken ayear orpemaps leaders, "Gestures such as these Christian Unity to begin prepar-

'and other appliances. longer." are the building blocks ofadeeper ing for the next round of talks.Those who frequented the pa- A§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§~§§§§§§§§§§§~~

pal apartment under Pope JohnPaul II have no doubt that the placeneeded an overhaul. Polish filmdirector Krzysztof Zanussi, afriend of the late pope, once saidhe was astonished at the gloomi­ness of the place, with its out­moded furnishings and lack oflighting.

"Everything was in semidark­ness, somber and without inspira­tion. The chairs were like the onesmy aunt had in the suburbs ofWar­saw," Zanussi said. "It was not aplace that made one feel good."

The papal apartment wrapsaround tWo sides of the ApostolicPalace and is accessed by a door­way that opens onto a historic log­gia decorated with frescoes. Thelayout includes a vestibule, the li­brary, a small studio for the papalsecretary and the pope's privatestudio, from which he blesses thecrowd every Sunday.

The other rooms include the

THE POPE'S PLACE

No place like home: Papalapartment gets a makeover

By JOHN THAVIS

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - When hewas elected last April, PopeBenedict XVI inherited the papalapartment on the top floor of theApostolic Palace, but it wasn'tuntil Christmas that the pope couldreally call it home.

The apartment, about 10 roomsin all, underwent a three-monthrenovation this fall. Electrical wir­ing was replaced, new pipes wereinstalled, the kitchen was refur­bished and a custom-fitted privatelibrary was put in place.

It was "Extreme Makeover:.Vatican Edition." And while thepope didn't whoop orjump up anddown at the unveiling, he made it

. clear he was pleased with the re­sults.

"I can only admire the thingsyou've done, like these beautifulfloors," he told the more than 200architects, engineers and workersinvolved in the remodeling project.

"I really like my new library,with that antique ceiling. For meit's like being surrounded byfriends, now that there are bookson the shelf," he said.

The floors were the original16th-century marble slabs and in­lay, restored to their original lus­ter. The library solved the problemof where to put the pope's 20,000books, which he did not want toleave in storage somewhere.

Details of the remodeling wereconsidered secret, but theyemerged in the sideways fashiontypical ofthe Vatican. When BrunoBartoloni, a veteran Vatican cor­respondent for the Italian newspa­per Carriere della Sera, went tohave his hair cut recently, he foundhimself seated next to a talkativemember of the restoration team.

The renovation, the workman.related, was long overdue. The ar­chitects said they were surprisedat the poor state of the apartnlent.

eNS video reviews

IERIC BANA, left, and Geoffrey Rush star in a scene from the movie "Munich." For a briefreview of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Universal)

Millicent Martin) and, thoughimprobable, the story imparts aworthy message about aging andhuman connection. Mild profan­ity and innuendo, brief instancesof crude language, a brief sexualencounter with no nudity, pre­marital sex. The USCCB Officefor Film & Broadcasting classifi­cation is A-ill - adults. Not ratedby the Motion Picture Associationof America.

"Munich" (Universal)Riveting but morally fuzzy po­

litical thriller inspired by realevents about a team of Israeli as­sassins (led by Eric Bana) as­signed to hunt down and assassi­nate 11 Palestinians who suppos­edly had a hand in the slaughterof Jewish athletes at the 1972Munich Olympics. With its prob­lematic revenge theme, directorSteven Spielberg's well-acted filmwalks a thin line between con­demning violence and exploitingit for titillating effect by wrappingit in the pulse-pounding excite­ment of an espionage-actionmovie that belies its stated seri­ous intent. Extremely graphic vio­lence, including shooting andbomb-related gore, full-frontalnudity, two sexual encounters be­tween husband and wife with par­tial nudity, as well as recurringrough and crude language andprofanity. The USCCB Office forFilm & Broadcasting classificationis L - limited adult audience,films whose problematic contentmany adults would find troubling.The Motion Picture Association ofAmerica rating is R - restricted.Under 17 requires accompanyingparent or adult guardian.

Friday, January 13, 2006

Movies OnlineCan't remember how a recent film was classified

by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops? Wantto know whether to let the kids go see it? You canlook film reviews up on the Catholic News ServiceWebsite.

Visit www.catholicnews.com and click on "Mov­ies," under the "News Item" menu.

nally tempered by his admirationfor an ambitious actress(Samantha Morton) whom hegrooms for stardom. DirectorLaurence Dunmore's adaptationof Stephen Jeffreys' play is rea­sonably well acted, but slow-mov­ing and distasteful, wallowing .excessively in its protagonist'sunbridled lusts and the generalbawdiness of the age, despite itsostensibly redemptive ending.Much rough and crude language,vulgar sexual expressions and

. imagery, sexual situations, adul­tery, partial and rear nudity, someanticlerical remarks and vio­lence. The USCCB Office forFilm & Broadcasting classifica­tion is 0 - morally offensive.The Motion Picture Associationof America rating is R - re­stricted. Under 17 requires ac­companying parent or adultguardian.

"Mrs. Palfrey at theClaremont" (Cineville)

A terrific performance by JoanPlowright is reason enough tocatch this low-key British charmerabout an elderly matron whomoves into a shabbily genteelLondon hotel, and just when she'sabandoned by her uncaringdaughter and grandson and ap­pears to be facing a dead-end ex­istence, she is befriended by ahandsome young writer (RupertFriend) whom she passes off asher grandson to the inquisitiveresidents. For this bittersweetfilm, director Dan Ireland has as­sembled a top cast of British prosto play the hotel's loners (AnnaMassey, Robert Lang, MarciaWarren, Georgina Hale and

lC~§· ~'I()viile

ICa.IV~Ulllle~

NEW YORK (CNS) - Thefollowing are capsule reviews ofmovies recently reviewed by theOffice for Film & Broadcasting ofthe U.S. Conference of CatholicBishops.

"Cache" ("Hidden")(Sony Classics)

Superior allegorical Frenchthriller - with political underpin­nings - about a television talkshow host (Daniel Auteuil) and .his wife (Juliette Binoche) whoworks in publishing who receiveominous drawings and videotapesindicating that they are under sur­veillance, but by whom is a mys­tery. Director-writer. MichaelHaneke eschews melodramaticsfor understated suspense and psy­chological tension that buildsunnervingly, though the denoue­ment leaves provocatively unan­swered questions. Subtitles. Scat­tered rough and crude language;an instance of profanity; two vio­lent, if dramatically valid, epi­sodes including the beheading ofa rooster with blood; a suicidewith blood; brief shadowy nudity.The USCCB Office for Film &Broadcasting classification is A­III - adults. The Motion PictureAssociation of America rating isR - restricted. Under 17 requiresaccompanying parent or adultguardian.

"The Libertine" (Weinstein)Dank and dark 17th-century

tale of provocative real-life poetJohn Wilmot, the second Earl ofRochester (Johnny Depp), whohas a love-hate relationship withKing Charles II (John Malkovich),falling in and out of his favor, andwhose womanizing ways are fi-

ers (led by Cole Hauser and EddieCibrian) trapped miles beneath thesurface, who, while struggling tofind a way out, fall prey to an un­known subterranean species ofravenous creatures. Despite itscreepy claustrophobic setting,Bruce Hunt's directorial debut pro­vides few (even B-movie) jolts,resulting in a formulaic and forget­table group-peril flick that cavesin under the weight of its illogicaland hackneyed script. Recurringmonster menace and bloody gore,as well as scattered crude language

: and profanity. The USCCB Officefor Film & Broadcasting classifica­tion is L~ limited adult audience,films whose problematic contentmany adults would find troubling.The Motion Picture Association ofAmerica rating is PG-13 - parents

'strongly cautioned. Some materialmay be inappropriate for childrenunder 13. (ColumbiaffriStar)

"Dumb and Dumber" (Two­Disc Special Edition) (1994). Aptly named comedy follows

two dimwits (Jim Carrey and JeffDaniels) from Providence, R.I., toAspen, Colo., as they blunderalong trying t~ return an attachecase stu,ffed with ransom moneyleft by a beautiful woman (LaurenHolly) for kidnappers who, in tum,pursue the dopey duo. When notconcentrating on scatological hu­mor, director Peter Farrelly getsoccasional laughs from this ex­ample oflowest-common-denomi­nator comedy. Much vulgar toilethumor, exaggerated violenceplayed for laughs and fleetingsexual innuendo. The USCCB Of­fice for Film & Broadcasting clas­sification is A-ill - adults. TheMotion Picture Association ofAmerica rating is PG-13 - par­ents strongly cautioned. Somematerial may be inappropriate forchildren under 13. (Warner Bros.)

"The Gospel" (2005)Elevating if melodramatic re­

demption drama about a preacher'sson (Boris Kodjoe) who returnshome after 15 years - putting histemptation-filled success as achart-topping hip-hop artist onhold - to mend fences with hisestranged father (Clifton Powell),who is terminally ill, and his child­hood friend (Idris Elba), who'sbeen named his father's successorat the church, and to make peacewith himself and his past. Despitean undernourished script paddedwith roof-raising gospel musicnumbers, director Rob Hardy'scontemporary re-imagining of theprodigal son parable movingly ex­plores themes offarnily, faith, for­giveness, flawed humanity andGod's unconditional love. An im­plied sexual encounter, maturethemes, brieffisticuffs, a bump-and­grind dance sequence and somemildly crude language, making itbetter suited for older adolescents.The USCCB Office for Film &Broadcasting classification is A-ill- adults. The Motion Picture As­sociation of America rating is PG- parental guidance suggested.Some material may not be suitablefor children. (ColumbiaffriStar)

NEW YORK (CNS)-Thefol­lowing are capsule reviews of newand recent DVD and video releasesfrom the Office for Film & Broad­casting of the u.s. Conference ofCatholic Bishops. Theatrical mov­ies on video have a USCCB Of­fice for Film & Broadcasting clas­sification and Motion Picture As­sociation of America rating.

"Broken Flowers" (2005)World-weary womanizer (Bill

Murray), deserted by his latestamour (Julie Delpy), receives ananonymous letter from a long-agoflame informing him he has a 19­year-old son, leading his neighbor(Jeffrey Wright) to suggest he lookup ex-girlfriends (Sharon Stone,Frances Conroy, Tilda Swinton,Jessica Lange) and determinewhich one might have sent the let­ter. Writer-director Jim Jarmusch'squirky film is a telling commen­tary on relationships and human in­terconnection, the performancesare fine, and Murray is effortlesslyluminous. Scattered uses of roughlanguage, brief full-frontal femalenudity, implied premarital sex, un­derage drinking and briefdrug use.The USCCB Office for Film &Broadcasting classification is L­limited adult audience, ftlms whoseproblematic content many adults

.would find troubling. The MotionPicture Association ofAmericarat­ing is R - restricted. Under 17 re­quires accompanying parent oradult guardian. (Universal)''The Brothers Grimm" (2005)

Visually inventive, higWy atmo­spheric adult fantasy that presentsthe fairy-tale authors - Wilhelmand Jacob Grimm (Matt Damonand Heath Ledger, with credibleEnglish accents) - as con-artistcharacters in a story as fantasticalas anything they might have writ­ten, incorporating familiar ele­ments of many of their stories, asan autocratic French occupier(Jonathan Pryce) orders them toget to the bottom of strange hap­penings in a German forest involv­ing missing children. DirectorTerry Gilliam gets high marks forcreating an evocative, 19th-centuryworld, andwhipping up a gooddeal of excitement as the storyraces to its conclusion, but the filmis marred by a slow start and anuneven screenplay by EhrenKrueger. Intense action violence,frightening images, many involv­ing insects, torture scenes, scat­tered profanity and crude lan­guage, brief sexual situations andbrief irreligiosity. The DVD ver­sion features informative commen­tary by the soft-spoken Gilliam;several deleted scenes for whichhe professes great fondness; andfeaturettes on the making of thefilm and the production design.The USCCB Office for Film &Broadcasting classification is A-ill- adults. The MotionPicture Asso­ciationofAmericarating isPG-13­parents strongly cautioned. Somematerial may be inappropriate forchildren under 13. (Buena VISta)

"The Cave" (2005)Schlocky horror action movie

about a team ofexpert cave explor-

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of Lansing, Mich., Oct. 22, 2005;- Bishop Raphael M. Fliss of

Superior, Wis., Oct. 25, 2005;.- Auxiliary Bishop Dominic

Carmon of New Orleans, Dec. 13,2005.

The currently active bishopswho will turn 75 in 2006, in addi­tion to Cardinals Keeler and Law,are:

- January 25: Archbishop Jo­seph A. Fiorenza of Galveston­Houston;

- March 22: Auxiliary BishopRobert W. Donnelly of Toledo,Ohio;

- May 1: Auxiliary BishopEmil A. Wcela of Rockville Cen­tre, N.Y.;

- June 21: Bishop Joseph L.Imesch of Joliet, Ill.;

- July 14: 'Archbishop Tho­mas C. Kelly of Louisville, Ky.;

- July 15: Bishop Charles V.. Grahmann of Dallas;

- August 14: AuxiliaryBishop Robert A. Brucato of NewYork;

- September 9: AuxiliaryBishop Vincent M. Rizzotto ofGalveston-Houston;

- September 21: ArchbishopOscar H. Lipscomb of Mobile,Ala.;

- September 29: Bishop Vic­tor Balke of Crookston, Minn.;

- October 2: Bishop John W.Yanta of Amarillo, Texas;

- October 22: Bishop WilliamB. Friend of Shreveport, La.

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2006. Formerly bishop of Harris­burg, Pa., he has been archbishopof Baltimore since 1989.

Cardinal Bernard 'P. Law,archpriest of St. Mary Major Ba­silica in Rome, will be 7,5 Nov. 4,2006. A former bishop of Spring­field-Cape Girardeau, Mo., hewas archbishop of Bos.ton from1984 until his resignation in 2002in the wake of the clergy sex abusescandal there. He was named tohis Rome post in 2004.1'

Pope John Paul II often askedcardinals to stay on the job afterthey reached the age ofp5. So farPope Benedict XVI has given noindication that he will change thatpractice. Even when dcardinalretires in his 70s, he rJmains anactive member of the College ofCardinals, eligible to enter a con­clave and vote for a new pope,until age 80.

The 11 other active U.S. bish­ops who are already 7'5 and thedates of their 75th birthday are:

- Ruthenian Bishop AndrewPataki of Passaic, NJ.( Aug. 30,2002;. - Bishop Manuel Batakian of

'Ithe Eparchy of Our Lady of Naregin New York for Armenian Catho­lics, Nov. 5, 2004;

- Auxiliary Bishqp John P.Boles of Boston, Jan. 21, 2005;

- Auxiliary Bishop,Thomas J.Gumbleton of Detroit, Jan. 26,2005; I

- Bishop F. Joseph Gossmanof Raleigh, N.C., ApriJ. 1,2005;

- Bishop William E. Franklinof Davenport, Iowa, May 3, 2005;

- Bishop John J. Leibrecht ofSpringfield-Cape Girafdeau, Mo.,Aug. 8,2005;

- Bishop Sylvest~r D. RyanofMonterey, Calif., Sept. 3, 2005;

- Bishop Carl F. 'Mengeling

McCarrick of Washington turned75.

Cardinal Maida, whose birth­day is March 18, was bishop ofGreen Bay, Wis., before he wasmade archbishop of Detroit in1990.

Cardinal McCarrick, whosebirthday is July 7, was bishop ofMetuchen, N.J., and archbishop ofNewark, N.J., before he wasnamed to head the WashingtonArchdiocese in 2000.

Cardinal William H. Keeler ofBaltimore will be 75 March 4,

508-999-1226

move toward the manner foreseenin the liturgical books for the dis­tribution of the body and blood ofChrist," it said.

Cardinal Arinze's letter alsoemphasized a point made in theNeocatechumenal Way's 2002statutes: Only a priest or deaconmay give the homily at Mass.

The cardinal told the commu­nities to be very careful to ensurethat any readings or commentsmeant to reinforce the Gospelmessage are brief and clearly dif­ferent from a homily..

He also said that the commu­nities should make use of all theeucharistic prayers contained inthe Roman Missal, rather thanusing only the second eucharisticprayer.

Cardinal Arinze said theVatican would allow theNeocatechumenal Way to con­tinue one of its special practices,exchanging the sign of peace justbefore the offertory rather thanjust before Communion.

At the October Synod of Bish­ops on the Eucharist, an archbishop .from Guam said he had s~n a re­markable growth in faith in parisheswhere the Neocatechumenal Waywas operating.

Archbishop Anthony Apuronof Agana, Guam, said the entireChurch shoulg consider adoptingsome of the Way's liturgical prac­tices, including restoring "the~breadness' of the bread," by us­ing the "unleavened bread used inthe ancient and primitive Churchrather than the wafer-thin, mass­produced bread we use as hostsfor our people today."

to the pope. Bishop Losten turned75last May 11.

Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka,78, who has been in Vatican ser­vice since 1990, has been the old-

. est active U.S. cardinal since July2003. The former bishop ofGaylord, Mich., and former arch­bishop of Detroit turned 75 onSept. 14,2002. In Vatican servicesince 1990, he is president of thePontifical Commission forVatican City State.

In 2005 Cardinals Adam J.Maida of Detroit and Theodore E.

By CINDY WOODEN

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON (CNS) ­Following the recent retirement ofUkrainian Bishop Basil H. Lostenof Stamford, Conn., up to 28 otherU.S. bishops, including five car­dinals, could retire because ofagethis year.

There are 14 still-active U.S.bishops, including three cardinals,who have already turned 75. Four­teen more, including two cardi­nals, will celebrate their 75thbirthday in 2006.

At age 75 bishops are re­quested to submit their resignation

Friday, January 13, 2006 theailcholS>

Vatican tells movement to changesome Mass, Communion practices

Because the celebration ofSunday Mass is so important in

ROME - The Vatican has told the life of a parish, the letter said,communities of the the Neocatechumenal communi­Neocatechumenal Way to join ties in each parish must join thetheir entire parish at least once a rest of the parish at least once amonth for Mass and to phase out month for Sunday Mass.their practice of receiving Com- The statutes of themunion seated around a table. Neocatechumenal Way, approved

The instructions were con7 by Pope John Paul II in 2002, al­tained in a letter from Cardinal low the communities to celebrateFrancis Arinze, prefect of the their own regular weekly Mass onCongregation for Divine Worship Saturday evenings.and the Sacraments, published in Fot more than 30 years, mem­late December by an Italian news- bers of the Neocatechumenal Way

v paper and an Italian magazine. have prepared their liturgies byOfficials of the congregation baking their own loaves ofunleav­

and the Neocatechumenal Way ened bread, and they have receivedwere not available for comment. the Eucharist under both species

The letter said Cardinal Arinze while seated around a table.met in November with the lead- However, the letter said, theers of the international parish- practice should not continue.based faith formation program - ''The Neocatechumenal WayKiko Arguello _and Carmen will be given a transition periodHernandez, who founded the Way, of not more than two years to passand Father Mario Pezzi - to dis- from the common method of re­cuss the liturgy. ceiving holy Communion in its

According to the letter, Pope communities - seated, using aBenedict XVI requested that the decorated table placed at the cen­changes be made. ~ ter of the church instead of the

"In the celebration of the holy dedicated altar in the sanctuary­Mass, the Neocatechumenal Way to the manner normal to the en­will accept and follow the liturgi- tire Church for receiving holycal books approved by the Church Communion," the letter said.without omitting or adding any- "This means that thething," the letter said. Neocatechumenal Way must

Up to 28 more U.S. bishops couldretire for age reasons in 2006

A PRIEST moves through pews distributing Communionduring a Mass of members of the Neocatechumenal Way inBoston December 14. The Vatican has instructed theNeocatechumenal Way to phase out the practice of receiv­ing Communion while seated and to conform to "the mannernormal to the entire Church for receiving holy Communion."(CNS photo/Gregory L. Tracy)

112 theanch~ Friday, January 13, 2006

Vatican agency reports 26 missionaries murdered in 2005

MEHMET ALI Agca, guarded by Turkish po­lice, sits in court for a hearing in Istanbul in thisDecember 2000 photo. Agca, the man who shotand seriously wounded Pope John Paul II in1981, wili be freed from prison this month, theAnatolian state news agency said January 8.(CNS photo/Reuters)

for nearly four decades, often pro­voking the anger of ranchers as 'she defended rural workers. Shewas shot several times in the chestand head February 12; two of thefive people accused of involve­ment in her murder were foundguilty in early December. Theother three, including two ranch­ers accused of ordering the kill­ing, were awaiting trial.

The murdered bishop was anItalian who had worked in Kenyafor four decades; Bishop LuigiLocati, apostolic vicar of Isiolo,Kenya, was murdered in July.

Not including Sister Margaret,Fides said 12 Church workerswere killed in South America, twoin Europe, eight in Africa, andfour in Asia..

implicated by Agca.In recent years, Agca has said he acted on his own

in shooting the pope. Agca, a Muslim, had publiclythreatened to kill the pontiff in 1979 when the popevisited Turkey; in a letter to several Turkish newspa­pers, he called the pope a "crusader commander" sentby Western imperialists.

Pope John Paul long credited Mary with saving hislife; he was shot May 13, the anniversary of the first ofthe apparitions in Fatima, Portugal. In 1984, he hadthe bullet fragment that was removed from his bodyplaced in the crown of the Marian statue at the Fatimashrine.

killed in Belgium. Although theywere not working in mission terri­tories, the Belgian, Father RobertDe Leener, was included becauseof his work with immigrants;Slovakian Father Jan Hermanovskiwas included because of his workwith the homeless in Russia.

After the list was compiled,Fides received news of anothermurder. Ursuline Sister MargaretBranchen, a 74-year-old Swissnun, was killed December 28 inSouth Africa. She was shot dur­ing a robbery at the clinic whereshe worked.

Among the missionaries listedby Fides was Notre Dame deNamur Sister Dorothy Stang,originally from the U.S., wholived in Brazil's Amazon region

Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifi­cal Council for Justice and Peace, said his council didnot want to interfere with the Turkish court's decisionthat determined Agca had "paid his debt to justice."

The cardinal said, however, that Scripture readingsduring this Christmas season have talked about Christbeing sent "to proclaim liberty to captives."

Christ, in his mercy, will not break "a bruised reed"nor snuff out "a smoldering wick," he wrote in a state­

ment sent to journalistsr-------------------....., last week.

Cardinal Martino alsonoted that "John Paul II,who immediately par­doned his attacker, titledone of his messages forthe World Day of Peace:'There Is No Peace wIth­out Justice, No JusticeWithout Forgiveness. '"

Pope John Paul'sformer secretary, PolishArchbishop StanislawDziwisz of Krakow, saidthe late pope "wouldhave celebrated" uponhearing the news ofAgca's scheduled releasefrom prison.

At various times sincethe assassination attemptagainst Pope John Paul,Agca told different ver­sions of what happenedand who was behind it. .At one point Agcaclaimed Bulgarian secretservice agents' hired himat the bidding of the So­viet KGB, the formerRussian secret police andintelligence agency. Theallegations resulted in atrial and acquittals in1986 for the Bulgarianand Turkish defendants

Pope John Paul II's would-be assassinset to be freed from Thrki,sh prison

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Al­though many of them were killedduring robbery attempts, the 26Catholic missionaries murdered in2005 each died spreading theGospel and serving the poor andvictims of violence, a Vaticannews agency said.

Fides, the news agency of theCongregation for the Evangeliza­tion of Peoples, published its an­nuallist of murdered Church per­sonnel at year's end.

The agency said its tally, twiceas many as were killed in 2004,showed that one bishop, 20priests, two religious brothers,two nuns and one lay missionarydied violently in 2005.

In the 2005 list, Fides includeda priest killed in Russia and one

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Turkish terroristwho shot and seriously wounded Pope John Paul II ·ina failed 1981 assassination attempt was scheduled tobe freed on parole from a Turkish prison on Thursday.

Since his extradition from Italy to Turkey in 2000,Mehmet Ali Agca served five years of a lO-year sen­tence for the 1979 murder of a Turkish journalist andtwo robberies the same year. But a Turkish court saidAgca had completed his prison term and could be re­leased, according to re­ports by the country'ssemiofficial Anatolianews agency.

Vatican spokesmanJoaquin Navarro-Valls,commenting on "thenews ofthe possible free­dom of Ali Agca" in aJanuary 8 press release,said the decision to re­lease Agca should be upto the Turkish courts.

Concerning issues ofplaces. The answer is their fami- "a judicial nature," the·lies. These men work so hard to Vatican "submits to theachieve a living - a good living decisions of the tribunals- so that they can be good to their involved in this matter,"children, grandchildren and ex- the statement said.tended family." Pope Benedict XVI is

This is the culture of West Vir- expected to travel to Tur­ginia, where family is valued and key this fall.is given priority, he added. He also. Agca, 48, had servedtalked aboutthe work ethic of the 19 years in an Italianpeople of the Mountain State in prison for his May 13,providing for theirfamilies. 1981, assassination at-

"I'm sure that when these 13 tempt on Pope John Paulmen went in there, their work ethic in St. Peter's Square.was clear," Bishop Bransfield said. Just days after the"They were going to work very near-fatal shooting, thehard for the people they loved and Polish pope publicly for­for the achievement of the best life gave Agca, and in 1983for them. the pope embraced his

"When our prayers go out to would-be assassin in histhem, we recognize that their vo-. Rome prison cell.cation, their drive, their willing- Though he was sen­ness to do this under such diffi- tencedtolifeinprisonforcult conditions were not for them- the shooting, Italian authorities granted Agca clemencyselves. "It was for the love of oth- in 2000 and returned him to Turkey. At the time, theers, which Christ tells us is. - Vatican said the pope personally intervened in thewith the love of God - the para- gunman's release from the Italian prison.mount reason that we live." After returning to his home country, Agca was sent

"As a faith-filled state with topris<.?n for the murder of the editor ofa liberal Thrk­many; many Christians who do ish newspaper and two robberies committed in 1979.believe that these men have gone New Turkish laws reduced Agca's original punish­to the Lord, it is important that our ment from life in prison, or 36 years under Turkishprayers" continue, he said. "It is regulation,toa lQ-yearsentence. Additional penal codeour obligation as a community to reforms led a Turkish court recently to further deductpray for and support the families the years Agca served in Italian prison, thereby com­left behind, that they are not left pleting his sentence, according to The Associated Press.behind in another sense of com­munity, that our communities arestrong, are vibrant and loving, andthat will be shown to the worldby the people of West Virginia."

Following the Mass, BishopBransfield spoke with the peopleof the parish, who said they ap­preciated his presence during thisdifficult time.

"I would like to thank thebishop for coming. That meant alot to me," said Steve Guire, a coalminer who is also a St. Elizabethparishioner. "It just strengthenedeveryone to know that the bishopcares enough to come."

Bishop Bransfield celebratedthe funeral Mass for miner TerryHelms Tuesday at St. Zha Churchin Masontown, along with FatherWard and Msgr. Jerome McKenna,vicar general of the diocese whois a former pastor of the parish.

TWELVE BLACK ribbons line a fence in front of the SagoMine in Sago, W.Va., January 8 in honor of the 12 minerswho died in the Sago Mine after a January 2 explosion. (CNS/Jason Cohn, Reuters)

Bishop celebrates·Mass on 'sad day'as community remembers miners

PHILIPPI, W.Va. (CNS) ­"Today is a very sad day for theChurch in West Vrrginia and for thepeople of West VIrginia," BishopMichael 1. Bransfield ofWheeling­Charleston said to those gatheredfor Mass Sunday at St. ElizabethChurch in Philippi.

The community was remem­bering the 12 coal miners who losttheir lives after the explosion atthe Sago Coal Mine in UpshurCounty and were praying forminer Randal McCloy Jr., the onlysurvivor.

Philippi lost three of its resi­dents in the incident, and BishopBransfield came to celebrate theMass to help foster healing andto bring comfort to the commu­nity.

The bishop said the black rib­bons that draped the front doorsof St. Elizabeth "signify the sor­row of all ofus for the miners whohave perished, the one who re­mains ill and for their familieswho continue to suffer throughthese difficult days."

Concelebrating the Mass withthe bishop were Father AndyKranyc, pastor of St. Elizabeth,and Msgr. Mark Ward, pastor ofSt. Zita Parish in Masontown.

During the Mass, BishopBransfield thanked Father Kranycfor being present to the familiesof the miners as they waited fornews of their loved ones and forconsoling them after they learnedof their deaths.

"He was the best representationthe Church in West VIrginia couldhave," the bishop said, receiving around of applause from FatherKranyc's congregation in response.

During his homily, BishopBransfield said that not long afterhe became bishop of Wheeling­Charleston last February, his sec­retary, Father Paul Hudock, tookhim to Beckley to tour an areacoal mine.

"In seeing this, I had to won­der how difficult it was for thesemen to work under such condi­tions," he said. "I'm sure that ev­eryone asks, the world asks andour American community askswhy people work in these tough

Friday, January 13, 2006

tionally televised talk shows andvisited more than 2,000 schools.

"We're happy to have him hereagain," said Principal Felipe Felipe."He gives a good message to ourstudents." .

Jennings kept constantly reach­ing out to his audience and used thephrase "click, click" when hewanted them to repeat what he hadsaid. He told students their mindsare their own personal computerand encouraged them to rememberhis message.

, ''Broken families are a big issuetoday," said Jennings: \'}-Ionor yourmother and father., Respect yourparents, your guardians and yourgrandparents. Spend time with yourgrandparents. Tell them you lovethem."

He told a story about overhear- 'ing a loud profanity-laced pub­lic conversation between twowomen at an airport. He inter­rupted them to say their languagehad offended him and encour­aged the students to stay awayfro{Il such language.

"Profanity is a confession of aweak-minded person," he said."Click, click!" You hear it in mu­sic, on television and at home. Youthink it makes you a man, but quitethe opposite. Swearing does notmake you cool. Quite the contrary."

Jennings relayed his tough up­bringing. He was shot 13 times as agang member. He was stabbed. Hewas burned. He was addicted todrugs.

"Ifyou say 'no' to drugs and al­cohol and practice abstinence you

l'

been cited in media reports thatcitizens have been frightened thattheir identities have been stolenand believe the calls and lettersare intended to harass and intimi­date them - a clear civil rightsissue. '

In assertive action last fallsparked by Catholic Citizenship,the Massachusetts Catholic Con­ference, and others, 170,000 vot­ers signatures were gathered ­many done in-pew at Catholicparishes across the state in Sep­tember and November. They weredelivered to the 351 city and townoffices over a 60-day period.

While 170,000 signatures werecollected and 138,000 of thosecertified by local governments,the Secretary ofState's Office dis­qualified 4,676 on forms that werenot exact copies or contained ex­traneous markings, it was re­ported.

Another 10,265 signatureswere also excluded because of aprovision that sets no more thanone fourth of the signatures forcertification can come from anyone county.

Now the petitions will be filedwith the state Legislature andmust recei've 50 votes in two con­secutive constitutional conven­tions for it to appear on the ballotin 2008.

The prayer service is the spiri­tual conclusion of a day of com­memoration that begins with abreakfast and program at BristolCommunity College at 7:30 a.m.featuring guest speaker, GeorgeLima. He served as a member ofthe Tuskegee (Alabama) Airmen,the first black aviators in theUnited States military, duringWorld War II.

,

Continuedfrom page one

sponsored by the church, the In­terfaith Council of Greater FallRiver, Inc., the City of FallRiver, and Bristol CommunityCollege. I'

Cantor Richard Wolberg ofTemple Beth EI will pteach a trib­ute to the late Dr. King. Luncheonwill be served in the church hallat Bethel A.M.E. fOllowing theservice. i

- I'

case of fraud the initiative isaware of, the admission before alegislative committee and to themedia by paid circulator AngelaMcElroy that she misrepresentedthe marriage petition in potentially269 cases - has yet to be inves­tigated.

The letter also raises graveconcerns about the.iJegitimacyof petition complaint report­ing processes established bythe anti-vote organizationsKnowThyNeighbor.org andMassEquality.org.

According to the! letter, bothorganizations on their Websitesinvite citizens to search their da­tabase and make a qomplaint totheir office and/or to the officesof Reilly and Galvin llIld state leg­islators if their name was listedbut they did not wish to sign thepetition. '

"We have no objection to ef­forts to expose as-of-yet unknowninstances of alleged; fraud, how­ever we do object to the mannerin which they are carrying outtheir anti-vote campaign," saidKris Mineau, spokesman forVoteOnMarriage.org and presi­dent, Massachusetts Family Insti­tute.

The initiative pledged to fullycooperate in any im;estigation.

According to Mineau, it has

FALL RIVER - The public isinvited to a prayer service that hasbecome an integral part of FallRiver's annual civic, educationaland spiritual commemoration ofthe birthday of Rev. Dr. MartinLuther King Jr.

The event will take place Janu­ary 16 at 11 a.m. at Bethel A.M.E.Church, 146 Hanover Street.

The events of the day are

Massachusetts' citizens to vote toamend the state constitution rede­fining marriage without invalidat­ing the same-sex marriages thathave already occurred.

"But GLAD says it intends tocontinue challenging the Secre­tary of State's ruling, and we canalso expect a smear campaign,"said Cirignano.

Bea Martins, director ofCatho­lic Citizenship for the Fall Riverdiocese, expressed confidence"that the entire procedure forseeking the citizens' initiative andthe taking and filing of the signa­tures are on solid ground. We feeleverything we did was done ac­cording to law and done cor­rectly."

And in a new development onMonday, VoteOnMarriage.orgcalled on Reilly and Secretary ofState William Galvin to take ap­propriate action to protect thosewho had signed the initiative fromonline, telephone and direct mailthreats against their civil liberties,personal safety and security, byanti-vote Websites.

The letter to Reilly and Galvindetails that VoteOnMarriage.orgsought to comply fully with allapplicable laws during the signa­ture gathering process and !ladbeen found in full compliance.

Hower, it noted that the only

Interfaith service to honor Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

M~rriage

TWO MONKS view some of the statues on thel; front of Westminister Abbey in London.The statues depict Christian martyrs of the 20th century, including the Rev. Martin LutherKing Jr., center. The national Martin Luther Kingl:Jr. Day is observed on January ,16 thisyear. (CNS file photo)

will lay a good foundation down,"he told students. "My father taughtme how to be a thug., He nevertaught me about God. I'm blessedto be here at this school."

Jennings, author ofa book abouthis life, spoke to seventh- andeighth-grade students and con­nected with them throughout his 50­minute presentation. He asked themwhat is the honor in being in a gang?What is the prize for drinking orcursing? What is the prize for notfollowing the teaching of theChurch?

"'There is no prize," he declared."Here you can get an education.You can receive salvation. TheBible says your body is a temple ofthe Holy Spirit. I challenge you to­day tQ love yourself, to respect yourbody and recognize peer pressure."

He advised that the worst deci­sion a person can make is to havesex outside ofmarriage. "Itdestroysa good relationship."

Seventh-grade teacher LisaEscobar sat in with her students andthought the presentation was animportant one. "He's a great moti­vational speaker and has a power­ful message. He connected reallywell with our children."

At the end of his presentation,Jennings distributed copies of hisbook to students as well as some T­shirts provided by the ACTION pfO"gram that read, "I know what I wantand I know what I don7t," and"Proud to be a virgin."

Students gave Jennings a rous­ing round ofapplause following histalk.

MISCELLANEOUS

ATTLEBORO'- An interfaithservice, part of the Rev. Dr. Mar­tin Luther King Jr., GreaterAttleboro celebration, will be heldat the National Shrine 9f Our Ladyof La Salette January 16 at 2p.m.For more information call 508­222-5410.

SUPPORTGROUPS

NEW BEDFORD - Cour­age, a support group for peopledealing with same-sex attractionwhile trying to live chaste lives,will meet January 28 at 7 p.m. atOur Lady of Guadalupe Parishat St. James Church. The meet­ings combine.prayer and shar­ing as they walk together in theLord. For more information callFather Richard Wilson at 508­992-9408.

Choice, an adoption and preg­nancy counseling program ofCatholic Social Services, will holdan information session for peopleinterested in domestic newborn orinternational adoption January 22from 1:30-3:30 p.m. It will be heldat 1600 Bay Street. The snow dateis January 29. For more informa­tion call 508-674-4681.

Continued from page oneMessage

EUCHARISTICADORATION

J'

LECTURES!PRESENTATIONS

,ATTLEBORO - A series cel­

ebrating the Year of the Eucharistwill begin January 19 at 7:15 p.m.at the National Shrine of Our Ladyof La Salette. La Salette FatherDaniel Bradley will address thetopic "Presence of the RisenLord." For more information call508-222-5410.

, FALJ.. RIVER - Adoption by

ATTLEBORO - Mass will becelebrated by La Salette FatherManuel Pereira Sunday at 2 p.m.at the National Shrine of Our Ladyof La Salette. A healing service inPortuguese will follow. Reconcili­ation in Portuguese will be avail­able Saturday from 2-3 p.m. Formore information call 508-222­5410.

ATTLEBORO - Volunteersare needed for Perpetual Eucha­ristic Adoration at St. Joseph'sChurch, 208 South Main Street.For more information call 508­226-1115.

HEALING MASSES

--

114 Friday, January 13, 2006

MEGHAN LOONEY, a sophomore at Bishop Feehan High School inAttleboro, is a finalist in the 12th annual Massachusetts Interscholastic Ath­letic Essay Contest. Her essay will appear in the booklet "Sportsmanship: AGame for Life, Volume Five." She is a member of the school's cross country,winter, and spring track teams.

STUDENTS IN Elizabeth Patricio's second-grade class at SS. Peter and PaulSchool, Fall River, practice math skills by building sugar cube houses. The an­nual Christmas activity gives students hands-on experience in counting andparents were invited to visit the school and participate with their children.

CHILDREN IN the After School program at St. John the Evangelist School,Attleboro, visited Madonna Manor recently where they entertained residentsby using bells to play Christmas songs. With the children are coordinatorsAndrea Devlin and Sue Fortin. .

METEOROLOGIST STEVE Cascione visited sixth-graders in Alison Mello'sclass at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School, North Attleboro, where he spokeabout his job at Channel 12 WPRI and forecasting the weather. Studentsrecently completed a uniton meteorology.

FACULTV, STAFF, and students at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in NewBedford recently gathered to celebrate Mass. The school's choir, under thedirection of Ann DeFrias, led the congregation in song.

THESE STUDENTS from Holy Trinity Regional School display gifts they pur­chased for less fortunate children atChristmas through the Salvation Army's "Dress­A-Live Doll" program. Each class from the West Harwich school was providedwith the first name of a child along with their clothing size and favorite color.

.... .

Friday, January 13, 200~> '0

15

you." For him, love is "plOre thanwords." I agree. Words havesignificance, but action$ speak withgreater clarity. .

The start of this newl year is anappropriate time to evaluate what"words" are being cominunicatedby your actions. II

1. In 2006, be more focused onhow you give love through respect.Treating another with ryspect startswith accepting who shdlhe is. Thisdoes not imply that YOlf must agreewith the other's perspe~tive ortolerate every behavior', But lovinganother through respect brings awillingness to listen, an opennessto differences and a lighthearted­ness to everyday interactions.

2. In 2006, be more focused on

By CHARLIE MARTIN - CATHO~IC NEWS SERVICE

However, if you prefer ypur music how you give love throughin Spanish, it is also on his "Un kindness. Look for ways to be kindNuevo Dia," out this January. every day. Show kindness to"More Than Words" is known as a whomever God puts before you,"cover song," as originally it was but be especially kind to thoserecorded by the early '90s rock bonded to you as friends or family.group "Extreme."" 3. In 2006, be more focused on

The song's character tells putting your imagination to workanother that "sayin' I love you is on behalf of love. Sure, you shouldnot the words I want to near from give your mother a card on

Mother's Day, but why wait forMay? How about any day as agood day to state your appreciationwith a card for all she does foryou? This is just one idea. Beimaginative.

4. In 2006, be more focused onhow you give love by generouslysharing your time. Read to youngersiblings. Volunteer in a directservice program for those in need.Tutor children. The gift of yourtime clearly says, "I care!"

5. In 2006, be more focused ongiving love through forgiveness.Your friends, like you, makemistakes. Do not stockpileresentments. Show love's power byseeking ways to renew goodrelationships when hurts occur.

6. In 2006, be more focused ongiving love by praying for thoseyou love. Each day, ask God toguide those you love and to helpthem find the best in themselves.

Certainly, you could come upwith your own list of specific waysto turn words of love into evenstronger expressions of caring.Let's all make 2006 a time whenlove definitely is "more thanwords."

Comments are wekome at:chmarlin@swindiana.netorat7125W200S, Rockport, IN 47635.

Actions speak louder than words

...~~.•1Ma.· ~ ........•..•..

MORE THAN WORDS

Sayin ' I love youIs not the words I want to hear

from youIt's not that I want you

Not to say, but if you only knewHow easy it would be to show me

how you feelMore than words is all you have

to do to make it realThen you wouldn't have to say

that you love me'Cause I'd already know.

What would you do ifmy heartwas torn in two?

More than words toshow you feel

That your love for me is realWhat would you say if I took

those words away?Then you couldn'tmake things new

Just by saying I love you.Now that I've tried to talk to you

and make you understandAll you have to do is

close your eyesAnd just reach out your hands \

and touch meHold me close don't ever

let me goMore than words is all I ever

needed you to show'Then you wouldn't have to say

that you love me'Cause I'd already know.

Sung by Frankie J(c) 2005, Columbia Records

I don't know if Frankie J is newto you, but I was not familiar withhis music. Frankie's smoothmusical style is hard not to like.

"More Than Words" is off hisnew "dual disc" (CD and DVD) ofhis previous release "The One."

quotation is taken from the first chap- .ter of the Acts of the Apostles.

''YourWord Is aLamp toMy Feetand aLight to My Path" is the themechosen by the pope for the 2006 cel­ebrations, which will be held on thediocesan level, the council said.

In 2007, also on the diocesanlevel, young people will focus on thetheme "Just as I Have Loved You,You Also Should Love One An­other."

"The thread running throughthese three years ofpreparation is thelink between the Holy Spirit andmission," the council said.

"As is customary," the noticesaid, .''the theme and the pastoralapproach ofthese World Youth Dayswill be developed in the traditionalmessage that the Holy Father ad­dresses to young people for PalmSunday."

POPE BENEDICT XVI receives the offertory gifts' from chil­dren dressed as the Magi during Mass in St. Peter's Basi~ica

at the Vatican January 1, the feast of Mary, Mother of God.(eNS photofTony Gentile, Reuters)

Pontifical council says Holy Spiritis theme ofnext three youth days

VATICAN CITY (CNS) ­While choosing themes for the nextthree celebrations of World YouthDay, Pope Benedict XVI askedyoung Catholics to reflect on how·the Holy Spirit leads people to en­counter Christ, to love others and togo out to the world to spread theGospel, said the Pontifical Councilfor the Laity.

The council, which coordinatesthe local annualcelebrationofWorldYouth Day and organizes the inter­national gatherings ofyoung peoplewith the pope, published the list ofthemes for 2006-2008.

The next international gathering.will be held July 15-20, 2008, inSydney, Australia.

The theme for the 2008 event is"You Will Receive PowerWhen theHoly Spirit Has Come Upon You;and YouWillBeMy~tnesses."The

No one is a failure

By'Osvaldo Pactieco

His name was' George. He wasyoung, energetic and lived in asmall all-American town whereeveryone knew and cared for eachother. Although George loved thepeople of his community healways hoped to leave that"miserable old town," as he calledit, and travel the world.

Well, George never got to seethe world. He stayed and chal­lenged himself to make a differ­ence for the people he loved;helping them to live better livesthrough his savings and loancompany and by encouragingthem to have a voice in theircommunity.

George did just that. But, hestruggled between doing what wasright in his mind and what wasgood in his heart. Remember, hewanted to leave and see the world.One day he realized that hissavings and loan had misplacedthousands of dollars. If the moneywas not found it could only meanfailure, scandal, corruption andprison. This brought him to thelowest point in his life. He feltalone, abandoned and a failure.

Then, the "miserable oldtown" changed all that. Theycarne to his aid just as he hadcome to theirs many times before.George learned that he did make adifference and, more importantly,that he was not a failure becausehe had friends. This is the story ofGeorge Bailey, in the1946 movie "It's AWonderful Life."

Your struggles andchallenges are similar toGeorge's. As youngpeople you are constantlystruggling arnongconflicts that comebecause what you believeto be right may notalways be good, and what youbelieve to be good may notalways be right.

Do you think it's right to deserta friend because a group offriends you want to belong to saysthat your friend doesn't fit in?

It feels good to belorig and tobe accepted, and may even giveyou a sense of accomplishmentand success, but at what price?You know the right thing to do is

not to be selfish. But in situationslike this, we sometimes regardonly the 'me' and forget others­those most important to us. Isforming a good friendship basedon what you can do for yourself,or on what you can do for others?

Throughout your lives,

Be"NDt'. Aft:aid~

~,'- -,

especially your teen-age years,you will set many goals and buildmany friendships. Those goalsand friendships will challengeyour character: is it about me or isit about we? What drives you toaccept a challenge like this is yourwanting to be successful and feela sense of accomplishment. Youquickly realize that you will notalways succeed. But that doesn'tmean you have failed. You will

"make mistakes along the way.However, it is from these mis­takes that you learn the hardlessons that life has tdteach, aslong as you can recog¢ze themistakes and correct them.

I remember, as a very youngteen-ager, the greatest mistake of

my life. It w~1one that Irecognized qufckly andone that I corrected,though (now that I thinkabout it) not f¥t enough. Ibegged my mother to letme go out with my friendsafter dark. She said no. Iwas angry. I was mad. Ikept begging, ,and theanswer was always no.

Then, without considering whatwas in my heart, I spoke my mindand told my mother I didn't loveher. I was only thinking about me.Big mistake. I knew it as soon as Isaid it. I struggled with the thoughtthat I had failed as my mother'soldest son. The challenge I facedwas to win back my mother's love.

I found out, three days later(that's how long it took) that Ididn't have to win back her love.

It was never gone; it was neverlost. She assured me that as Godloves me and will never abandonme, neither will she ever stoploving me or abandon me. Isimply needed to tell her that Iloved her. I wasn't a failure. Ijustmade a mistake. I learned that daythat my mother was a real friend,caring enough to say no. Imeasured my success that day byrealizing I did something wrongand made it right, again.

Like George, we all need torecognize what is right andgood for ourselves and forothers. Putting others first is ahumbling experience, whichhelps us to recognize our realspirit and humanity. Indeed, itis a wonderful life we live,even with its faults. Butremember: no one who hasfriends is a failure. You are nota failure - you have friends.God is your friend. God bless.

Ozzie Pacheco is FaithFormation director at SantoChristo Parish in FaU River,where he has been involved inyouth ministry for 22 years.

-

received through the years and itsrich history.

As partofcelebration, the schoolunveiled a centennial logo. The de­sign is ofan encircled cross symbol­izing its mission to proclaim theGospel through education. Thecircleis a reminder of God's all-embrac­ing love, and tile bond in commu­nity through him. The text includesthe nameofthe school and its motto:"Be not afraid. Follow Me." Theyears 1906 and 2006 are on the ver­tical bar of the cross.

There are many significant col­ors within the logo. Black is the colorofremembrance and is used to honorfomler alwnni and faculty. Whiterepresents innocence and futurc stu­dents. Yellow brings to mind youthand hospitality and represents cur­rent students and teachers. Theschool's consecration to Mary is ex­pressed in shades of blue.

''Wc'vc been ablc to continuc tllCPolish religious traditions and thathas played an important part at tllCschool," FatllcrNeylon said. Hc wastllankful for the hard work tllat ev­eryone put in to makc the celebra­tion a success and was glad BishopColeman could share in it.

''Ourday would not be completewithout our students and wc thankthem and their parents," he con­cluded. ''This was a great day."

A reception followed the Mass.

Friday, January 13, 2006

Continuedfrom page one

exciting."Her classmate Aaron Couto was

in charge ofagame and said being astudent at St. Stanislaus ''has been avery good experience. The teachersare great and it's neat to be part ofthe 100th graduating class."

That mightnothavebeen possiblebecause in 1991 a major fire de­stroved St. Stanislaus Church. But ane~ worship space was built onschool property and a second floorwas added. The school held classesin the fonner St. Patrick's Schoolwhile construction was underway.

Two years later the new buildingwas dedicated and in honoring theirPolish roots, each grade's room wasdedicated to a Polish saint. At thattime, preschool was added.

Since then rooms have been ex­panded to accommodate more stu­dents and currently there are 158 stu­dents enrolled. In addition to the coresubjects, the school offers art, mu­sic, instnunent lessons, technology,foreign language and physical edu­cation. It received accreditation fromthe New England Association ofSchools and Colleges in 2005,

"I went to school here and mythree children go to school herenow," said teacher aide Erika Dias."I love it here. It's like being partofa family."

Father Neylon was thankful forthe generous support the school has

PARISH CELEBRATIONS included, top left, a cake in honor of the centennial of St.Stanislaus School, Fall River; eighth-graders Lindsey O'Connor and Andrew Boucher as­sisting school mascot as played by Brent Wahl. Below, Principal Jean Willis addressesstudents. (Anchor/Gordon photos)

Centennialcoming back for that."

Bishop Coleman was homilist atthe Mass and blessed an icon ofOurLady ofCzestochowa before Mass.He was greeted at the altar in the tra­ditional Polish manner with breadand salt, symbols ofhospitality.

Hetold parishioners, "As we lookback on the past century, our heartsare filled with gratitude for those'who helped the school cany out itsmission and we pray that itwill con­tinueformanymoregenerations. Weare thankful for their generosity anddedication."

The bishop touched on the mis­sion of the school, which he said,"has always been rooted in the mis­sion of the Church. It reminds pa­rishioners, parents, faculty and stu­dents to answer the call to holinessand as disciples of Jesus, to findmeaning and purpose in life."

Over the years, the school wentfrom being a Polish school to aschool promoting Polish traditions.That was seen during the Mass asmembers of the adult and youthchoirs sang traditional Polish songs.

Earlier that week, students cel­ebrated the January 6 birthday bysinging Happy Birthday in Polishand enjoying a cake resembling theschool and church. Heidi Medeirossaid the celebration was inspiringand she was glad her second-gradedaughter Samantha could be a partof it.

"One hundred years of Catholiceducation is something to be proudof," said Medeiros. She said herdaughter attends the school becauseofthe value of a faith-based educa­tion. "The children need it," she de­clared.

The seventh- and eighth-gradestudents organized a day of activi­ties for the school and busied them­selves with face painting and vari­ousgames.

Among them was eighth-graderLindsey O'Connor who shares thesamebirthday as the school and said,''It's unique to be partofhistOl)'. It's

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