Diocese of Fall River, Mass.
F riday , September 18, 2015
Breaking down Pope Francis’ recent annulment reforms
By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff beckyaubut@anchornews.org FALL RIVER — Earlier this month, the Holy See released a pair of documents by Pope Francis that reform the way the Church will handle annulments effective December 8, the start of Pope Francis’ Holy Year of Mercy, a year-long jubilee during which the pontiff hopes to emphasize the merciful side of the Church. A Catholic needs a Church declaration of nullity to remarry in the Church, and a divorced Catholic who remarries Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., speaks to the Portuguese pilgrims during Mass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette last weekend. (Photo by Linda Andrade Rodrigues)
civilly without an annulment is considered an adulterer living in sin and cannot receive Communion. Jesus Christ taught that if two people divorce and then remarry, they are committing the grave sin of adultery: “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery” (Mk 10:11-12). The rules governing annulments are mainly found in two documents, the “Code of Canon Law” (which governs the Latin Catholic Church) and the “Code of Canons of the Eastern Turn to page 14
Holy Spirit speaks the language of the heart By Linda Andrade Rodrigues Anchor Correspondent seaskyandspirit.blogspot.com
ATTLEBORO — Four hundred Portuguese pilgrims from every corner of the diocese, including some from parishes as far away as Bermuda and California, gathered at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro last weekend for the Portuguese Charismatic Conference 2015 with the theme “Unity — Lord, May All Be One.” They spoke different dialects, originally hailing from the Azores, Madeira, continental Portugal, Brazil and else-
where; and the shrine Welcome Center reverberated in sound reminiscent of the Pentecost, as the participants prayed and sang with heartfelt fervor, as well as spoke in tongues. Yet they all understood because the Holy Spirit speaks the language of the heart. Jesus prayed in John 17:20-23: “That they all may be one” — and it was a call to unity that summoned the pilgrims there, as well as their desire to live a new life in Christ Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. They had embarked on a Turn to page 18
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., center, walks alongside Father Octavio Cortez, I.V.E., who is carrying the Blessed Sacrament from St. Kilian Church into St. Anthony of Padua Church in New Bedford. Parishioners of the former St. Kilian Parish were welcomed to St. Anthony of Padua Parish during a Mass celebrated by Bishop da Cunha on Monday night. Story on page 13. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)
Cape Codders ‘taste and see,’ so others see the goodness of the Lord
By Dave Jolivet Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org OSTERVILLE — For most of us the availability of a good night’s sleep in a comfy bed is something we don’t even think about. It’s pretty much a given at the end of a tough day, folks look forward to a safe, secure night of rest. For others it’s just a dream — or a nightmare. Countless men, women and children across the Diocese of Fall River don’t have the blessing of a roof over their heads, let alone a bed on which to lay their heads. That’s the unfortunate facts from the Attleboros to Cape Cod and Islands. In fact many people don’t often equate homelessness with Cape Cod, the area being such a bustling, busy, crowded tourist attraction from May through September. But the fact remains that homelessness, including on Cape Cod, is an extensive and growing tragedy for many area neighbors. For the parishioners of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville and Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville, just knowing about the problem isn’t
enough. For the past 13 years the parishes have joined forces to facilitate a major fund-raising event to help the hundreds in the area who are in dire need of shelter. The annual Taste and See Cape Cod event utilizes the generosity of some mid-Cape restaurants that donate and serve tasting menus of their finest cuisines, all in the name of those who are homeless and hungry. This year’s 14th annual event takes place at Oyster Harbors Club, 170 Grand Island Drive in Osterville, October 2 from 6 to 10 p.m. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., and NBC-TV newswoman Anne Thompson, who is auctioning off a day with her at the NBC studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City, are scheduled to be on hand to assist in the event that includes a raw bar, wine tasting, auctions, and the opportunity for an evening of socializing and fun, all to help those who are suffering. This year’s goal is $100,000. According to Mary and Joe Doolin of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, and cochairmen of the event, a featured aspect of the evening is the “Give a Bed” auction which raised more than $40,000 last year, 40 percent of the entire evening’s gross.
“Shelter providers have calculated that the cost of a bed for a night, the care and comfort for one person for a one-night stay is approximately $50,” said Mary Doolin. Auction participants are asked to bid on the number of nights they can. Last year’s total provided funds for 800 bed-nights on Cape Cod. “It is our hope to be able to counteract in some small way, the drumbeat of negative publicity about homeless people here,” Mary said. “By working toward the goal of transitional housing for the poorest of the poor, we offer practical help for the here and now, as well as hope for the future,” added Joe. Pastor of the two parishes, Father John J. Perry, said, “Because last winter was such a hard one for the people we help, people have been living in automobiles, ‘sofasurfing’ from relative to friend, shelter availability has become an even more valuable commodity. That is why we are redoubling our efforts this year to make sure that everyone who needs a warm, safe place to go this coming winter, will have it.” Father Mark R. Hession, pastor of Our Lady of Turn to page 18