Diocese of Fall River, Mass.
F riday , September 26, 2014
La Salette Retreat House has been a Spiritual haven for half a century By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor
ATTLEBORO — For half of a century, the hallowed grounds, chapel and rooms in and around the La Salette Center for Christian Living have been a Spiritual haven, a source for Spiritual renewal, and a beginning of a new Spiritual life in Christ for countless Catholics and non-Catholics who made the commitment to put their hearts and souls in the hands of the hundreds of priests, Brothers, Sisters, and lay people who have ministered there. September 19 marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of the center, the dream of La Salette Father René Sauvé, founder and Superior of La Salette Shrine in Attleboro, and La Salette Father Giles Genest. Ground was broken for a 60room retreat house in August of 1963. One year later, in August
1964, Father Genest was named the retreat house’s first director. On September 19 of that year, two La Salette Brothers professed perpetual vows in the retreat house chapel, and the following day, the doors to the new center were opened for a public open house attended by hundreds of area faithful. It didn’t take long for the retreat house to launch into its mission of providing a quiet, holy space for public and private Spiritual retreats of many, many types. In October 1964 the inaugural event was a family weekend retreat sponsored by the Christian Family Movement, attended by 32 adults and 42 children. In a booklet published by the National Shrine of Our Lady La Salette it said, “All weekend long, Father Genest and La Salette Father Arthur Bourgeois Turn to page 20
Seminarian Jack Schrader, center, is seen visiting an orphanage in Benin, Africa recently. On October 2, Schrader, who is studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, will be ordained a transitional deacon for the diocese, at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Jack Schrader to be ordained transitional deacon October 2
By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff
ROME — As he prepares to take the penultimate step towards the priesthood by being ordained a transitional deacon, seminarian Jack Schrader expressed “tremendous gratitude” for his years at St. John’s Seminary in Boston and at the North American College in Rome, where he is currently finishing his studies. “I thank Bishop Coleman, the priests, deacons and laity of the Diocese of Fall River for
supporting me, allowing me to pray and study for these precious years,” Schrader recently told The Anchor. “During seminary, God has grafted me more deeply into the Vine, Who is His Son, and pruned me so
Because the installation of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. took place after The Anchor went to press, we will have complete coverage of the event in next week’s edition.
that I have been able to mature into the man God has called me to be. Hopefully soon I will be bearing fruit as a deacon and priest.” Schrader will be ordained to the transitional diaconate by His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on October 2. “Studying in Rome has opened my eyes to the deep living tradition of our Church,” he said. “Only our Church has such a strong historical and Turn to page 18
America editor to speak at St. Mary’s Fund Fall Dinner on October 22
The La Salette Retreat Center chapel and dorm rooms are shown above, and below is a small Adoration chapel and Reconciliation rooms at the house that is celebrating 50 years of providing a Sacred space for retreats and gatherings. (Photos by Dave Jolivet)
FALL RIVER — Jesuit Father Matt Malone, to 2009, his writing has appeared in numerous who in 2012 at the age of 40 became the young- national and international publications; he has est editor-in-chief of the national Catholic news been featured in The New York Times and The weekly America, will be the featured speaker at Washington Post among others. Father Malone was born and raised on Cape the 20th annual St. Mary’s Education Fund Fall Cod and attended Our Lady of Victory Parish Dinner. in Centerville and Christ the King The Fall Dinner will take place on Parish in Mashpee while growing October 22, at White’s of Westport up. He entered the Society of Jesus beginning with a 5:30 p.m. reception. in 2002 and was ordained a priest in Proceeds from the event ben2012. He received his undergraduefit the St. Mary’s Education Fund, ate degree from the University of which provides need-based scholarMassachusetts Amherst and holds a ships to students attending Cathomaster’s degree from Fordham Unilic elementary and middle schools versity, a bachelor of Divinity degree throughout the Fall River Diocese. from the University of London and It was during Father Malone’s a bachelor’s in Sacred Theology from tenure as chief editor that America the Catholic University of Louvain. published the wide-ranging and Father Matt Malone, S.J. Before entering the seminary, he groundbreaking interview with Pope served as founding deputy director Francis, “A Big Heart Open to God of MassInc, an independent political think tank, — A Conversation with Pope Francis.” Beyond his work with America, where he cov- and co-publisher of CommonWealth, an awardered U.S. politics and foreign affairs from 2007 Turn to page 15