Diocese celebrates Blessed Mother Teresa’s
100th birthday By Kenneth J. Souza, Anchor Staff NEW BEDFORD, Mass. —
Although the nave of St. Lawrence Martyr Church wasn’t as packed as it was
during her historic visit to New Bedford in back in 1995, an estimated 200
people turned out last week to celebrate the 100th birthday of Blessed Mother
Teresa of Calcutta, the beloved foundress of the Missionaries of Charity. While the late
religious only spent a brief time in New Bedford 15 years ago, her spirit was
alive and well during the recent Mass and celebration through the presence of
her Sisters still working and living in the city and the many people who
vividly remembered her historic visit as if it were yesterday. Bishop George W.
Coleman, who celebrated last week’s anniversary Mass, recalled in his homily
how excitement grew in the days leading up to Blessed Mother Teresa’s arrival
on June 14, 1995. “It was unlike
anything that has ever happened in our diocese,” Bishop Coleman said. “A high
school student commented: ‘Famous people like her don’t come to New Bedford.’
And even though rain accompanied her visit, people were saying: ‘Today, the
rain is holy water.’” By Dave Jolivet, Editor FALL RIVER, Mass. —
Several new diocesan school administrators, the first graduating class for an
area high school, the opening of a new school, and the major upgrade of
another, highlight the upcoming academic year for the Diocese of Fall River’s
Education Center. Superintendent of Schools Dr. George A. Milot told The Anchor
that everything is in motion and “this will be an exciting year in Catholic
schools across the diocese. The schools are doing well, enrollment appears to
be brisk and we’re pleased to announce that no schools will experience any cuts
in sports or extracurricular activities.” In a time when secular schools are
slashing activities, this is indeed good news. This week saw the
opening of the new All Saints Catholic Elementary School in New Bedford.
Classes will be held in the former St. Mary’s School on Illinois Street in the
Whaling City. The new learning institution succeeds two Catholic elementary
schools that were situated slightly more than one mile apart in the city’s
north end — St. Joseph-St. Therese and St. Mary’s schools. At the helm of All
Saints Catholic School is Principal Sherri Swainamer.
By Christine M. Williams, Anchor Correspondent
HYANNIS, Mass. — The first trial of a Massachusetts abortionist who killed a woman as a result of the procedure is scheduled for September 13. Three years to the day of Laura Hope Smith’s death, Rapin Osathanond will face a charge of manslaughter. The trial is expected to take two to four weeks.
Smith, 22, of Sandwich, was reportedly 13 weeks pregnant when she entered the Hyannis abortion clinic on Sept. 13, 2007. She died of cardiac arrest while under anesthesia.
“Laura died because she didn’t have oxygen. All she needed was air,” her mother, Eileen Smith, told The Anchor. “It was Propofol, a drug that should only be given out in a hospital setting and only by an anesthesiologist. And the patient should be monitored the whole time. Not only was Laura not monitored, there wasn’t even monitoring equipment there.”
changes to Mass. sex-ed legislation
By Dave Jolivet, Editor
FALL RIVER, Mass. — Pope John Paul II perhaps saw the handwriting on the wall when he said, “The right of parents to choose an education in conformity with their religious faith must be absolutely guaranteed.”
In what appears to be an increasingly typical move by Massachusetts’ legislators, those rights are in serious jeopardy.
The Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a series of curriculum frameworks for use in public school districts. Included in these frameworks are: How to get an abortion without parental knowledge (grades nine-12); How to get contraceptives (by the end of grade eight); “Behaviors” for pregnancy prevention (by the end of grade eight); and acceptance of premarital sex (by the end of grade 12).
Our Lady of Lourdes Church and Parish Center
WELLFLEET, Mass. — In March of 2009, members of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish received a wonderful new church and parish center to call home. Not only does the new 21,000-square-foot facility provide a larger place of worship for members, it also affords the many summer visitors to the Cape Cod town an appropriately-sized, beautifully designed church, said Father John F. Andrews, pastor.
From hundreds of submitted projects, only the best have been selected as Building of America award winners. The award honors the country’s most innovative, unique and challenging projects — projects that are particularly noteworthy and/or that give back to their respective communities. The Our Lady of Lourdes Church and Parish Center project was one of those so honored.