The ANCHOR .An Anchor 01 the Soul, Sure and Firm-St. Paul
Fall River, Mass., Thursday, Oct. 17, 1974 PRICE 15c Vol. 18, No. 42 © 1974 The Anchor $5.00 per year
Bishop Cronin In Rome For Ad Limina Visit The Most Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, Bishop of Fall River, has departed this week for Rome. -Bishop Cronin will make the '~ad lim ina" visit to the Eternal City. complying with an ecclesiastical law which reflects an age-Old tradition. Bishops of dioceses are required at specific intervals to go to Rome to visit the basilicas of Saint Peter and Saint Paul and to pray at the tombs of these Apostles. The Latin word "limina," from which the special visit draws its name, means the "threshold," Thus Bishop Cronin will visit the "thresholds" of the two great Apostles in Rome. Himself a successor of' the Apostles. Bishop Cronin will travel to the Eternal City, the' See of Peter, where resides and reigns the successor of Peter, the Holy Father Pope Paul VI, the Center of Unity for all who profess the Faith first proclaimed by Peter, Paul, Andrew, James and the other Apostles. On the occasion of the "ad limina" visit, Bishop Cronin will present a special report on th'e
status of the Diocese of Fall River. This is called the "Quinquennial Report," again hearkening to a Latin word for the number five. Such reports are pre-' sented to the Holy See every five years. The Quinquennial Report generally follows a plan which ecclesiastical authorities have prepared. Bishop Cronin will comment in the Report on significant events and developments during the period 1969-1973. In fact, there were years of great significance in the Univernal Church and in the Diocese. The renewal in Catholic worship and discipline which the yatican Council proposed has been implemented. Notable in this has been the modification 'in the central act of worship, the Mass. Bishop Cronin will report on a variety of Diocesan programs which have Turn to Page Two
Mission AppeallAsks Pray Love Give A tl:ree-fold theme - "Pray Love - Give!" - is at the heart of this year's Mission appeal to be' made in all churches and chapels of the Diocese of Fall River on the weekend of Oct. 19-20 on behalf of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Never has the world needed prayer more, never have people needed each others love more and never bas the need to give been greater than at the present .time. This year's Mission Sunday goal is $11 million. It will be used by the Society to assist over 138,600 missionaries engaged in all forms of mission work and service around the world. For over 150 years the Society has been the channel for coilecting the offerings of Catholics to aid the Missions. In 1622, 352 years ago, Pope Paul V founded the Sacred Con·
gregation for the Propagation of .the Faith, now also called the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Hist"orically occasioned· by -the dominance of the Spanish and Portuguese Crowns over all things missionary, in retrospect its foundation seems much more Divine Providence anticipating the beautiful missionary growth of the Church in recent times. In 1822, 152 years ago, Pope Pius VII recognized and blessed Pauline Jaricot'srecently founded Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Historically it is explainable as the result of the missionary zeal of a handful of Catholics in Lyon, France. However in the vision of faith Divine Providence was preparing ave· hicle for sharing missionary con· cern and responsibility among the whole people of God.
Synod Mid-Point IBishops' Youth Reports Hunger VATICAN CITI (NC) - A Canadian archbishop has called on the synod of bishops to focus attention on the battle aga'inst world hunger. Archbishop William E. Power of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, told the synod Oct. 12: "There is a growing chasm between the affluent overfed nations and the less wealthy and famished peoples of the world," He added: "We are faced with the nightmarish prospect of new economic conflicts. Food could Turn to Page Five
VATICAN CITY (NC) - Reports presented Oct. 10 by the 12 language groups of the world Synod of Bishops indicate that the topic of youth's bearing on evangelization is getting high priority from the synod fathers. Each one of the dozen groups which have been meeting for ,about a week to draft "specffic, concrete proposals of a pastoral nature" on evangelization mentioned in their reports to the synod's plenary assembly that they had been discussing youth. Turn to Page Five
Offer R,eligion Enrichment (ourses The Catholic Education Center of the Diocese of Fall River is offering five different religion enrichment courses in three areas of the Diocese to religion -teachers and other interested adults. Classes will begin at 7:30 P.M. and end at 9 P.M. Classes will be offered at Stang High School in North Dartmouth on Tuesday evenings, Oct. 22, 29, Nov. 5 and 12. Classes at St. Patrick Center, Falmouth, will be on Wednesday evenings. Oct. 23, 30, Nov. 6 and 13. Classes at Coyle-Cassidy High School in Taunton, will be on Thursday evenings, Oct. 24, 31, Nov. 7 and 14. The courses will be: The bible, Ministry to Adults, The Living Church, Freedom and Morality, and Christian Values.
In 1922, 52 years ago, the missionary Pope Pius XI conferred Roman citizenship and therefore the Church's universality on the 'above-mentioned institution of the Church in France. Historically, this move was the result of the efforts of the National Director in I,taly, Monsignor Angelo Roncalli, later' to become Pope John XXIII. In God's Providence however the young and new Churches of Africa, Oceania and Asia just beginning to take root and spring up from the efforts of European and American missionaries, were being assured of a channel to receive sorely needed aid from the Churches of older Christianity. Each year over 800 local Churches (mission dioceses) in Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe and the Americas appeal to the . Turn to Page Three
VATICAN CITY (NC) - The world Synod of Bishops marked its halfway point Oct. 11 by concluding discussion on the first half of its agenda-an exchange of experiences in evangelization. About 15 bishops gave reactions to reports submitted the day before by the 12 language groups into which the more than 200 synod Fathers are divided. Several Asian bishops mentioned that the topic of Church relations with non-Christian religions was being slighted in the synod. A few synod delegates from Western nations stressed the Church's obligation to effect change within society. Cardinal Dearden oi Detroit, in an intervention on secularization, said that the Church today must prove by word and deed its "claim to stand and speak for Christ." He added that the Church must demonstrate the Turn to Page Five
Priests' Senate Lists Priorities
BOLIVIANS IN NEED: Mothers attending a nutrition class at a· health center in Cochabamba, Bolivia, show in their expressions the effects of their hard life. Food for needy nations is one topic of concern during Respect Life month observances sponsored by the U.S. Catholic Conference, .and attention is also being turned to the spiritual and material needs of underdevolped countries for Mission Weekend, Oct. 19-20. NC Photo.
The regular scheduled meeting of the Fall River Diocese Senate of Priests was held at the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River on Friday, October 11. Rev. Michel G. Methot was appointed liaison with the National Federation of Priests' Councils. Along with Rev. Marcel H. IBouchard, senate treasurer, he received the mandate of the senate to again solicit membership dues to the Federation from the priests of the diocese. During the meeting the senate president., Rev. Walter A. Sullivan, listed four goals to facilitate the purpose of the senate. Among the goals listed Fr. Sullivan put a high priority on determining the "felt needs" of the priests ·of the diocese in matters pertaining to their pastoral work and tne good of the diTurn to Page Two