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WORLD NEWS 2 NATIONAL NEWS 3 COMMENTARY 4 POPE AUDIENCE 4 FUNDAMENTALS 5 CATHOLIC QUIZ 5 OBITUARY 6 AROUND DIOCESE 8
'You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.' - John 8:32
VOL. 70, NO. 19 MAY 7, 2021 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS HOME DELIVERY $39/YEAR
FREE IN PARISHES & ON NEWSSTANDS
Bishop McManus has extended his suspension of the obligation to attend Mass. 7
Do you still have questions about vaccines?
BY MARGARET M. RUSSELL
THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
Which vaccine to choose? What if my college or workplace is mandating the vac- cine? Where can I get help making these moral decisions? Every week more issues arise that can be answered by a thorough and prayerful reading of "Forming Consciences on COV- ID Vaccines: What Catholics Should Know." The document, crafted by Bishop McMa- nus and Allison LeDoux, director of the Respect Life Office, was published in The Catholic Free Press April 23 and is avail- able on the diocesan website at worcester- diocese.org/vaccines. Parishes also have been asked to distribute the document. Bishop McManus and Mrs. LeDoux sat down to discuss the evolving issues sur- rounding COVID-19 vaccinations and how Catholics can properly form their con- sciences to react. What is the goal of the "Forming Con- sciences on COVID Vaccines" document? Mrs. LeDoux : We want people to be fully informed so they can make the best medi- cal and moral decisions possible, relative to their own health and their own circum- stances. Bishop McManus: Everyone is so wea- ried by the pandemic and they don't have the moral background to make these dis- tinctions.- We really have an obligation to do this formation. Two moral principles are involved in this reflection on which is the more appro- priate vaccine, morally. Commonly what we hear is the principle of cooperation. But I think what is more appropriate is the principal of the appro- priation of evil. In the three vaccines that we already have (Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson), the material cooperation is very, very remote. But the question of the ap- propriation of evil is very current. And the question becomes how much evil was actually performed in the retrieval of this aborted fetal cell line? And should we ap- propriate that evil? Because, obviously, abortion is a gravely, intrinsically evil ac- tivity. So, what are the moral circumstanc- es under which we can appropriate that evil? Or very remotely cooperate in it? I think that's what we have to keep in mind as we try to form our people's con- sciences about this whole vaccine issue. SEE DEACON , 6 SEE PILGRIMS , 6
BY TANYA CONNOR
THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
WORCESTER - "It's Mother's Day every day at Visitation House - because the moms - they're learning about being a good parent, wanting to be a good par- ent." So says Laurie Cahill, the mother of 20-year-old twins, who learned about mothering from her mother. Mrs. Cahill is house manager/house mother at Visi- tation House, "a caring home providing women with unplanned pregnancies a path to cherish and sustain the life of their babies," according to its website visitationhouse.org. Since the home opened on the feast of the Visitation, May 31, 2005, it has welcomed hundreds of women and their children, the website says. "We're a life-saving ministry," Mrs. Cahill said. That's exemplified by the story told by a current resident who called herself simply Lyne. "I'm not ready to be a mother," she told her case manager, who suggested she call Visitation House. Lyne didn't; she'd planned to end her pregnancy. But one day, alone and in need of help, she called. She said she was having pains related to her pregnancy. "Laurie - wanted to meet me." And, though not feeling well, "I wanted to meet her so bad," Lyne said. When she got to Visitation House, they thought she should be seen by a doctor. So, Grace Cheffers, executive director, who is a mother of 11 and a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Winchendon, drove her to the emer- gency room. Upon her release, Lyne returned to Visitation House and within weeks her baby was born via cesarean section. After giving birth, "I still wasn't ready
A ministry that loves mothers
Branching out with others
BY TANYA CONNOR
THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
"Absolutely stunning!" That was Ramona Williams' reaction to a pilgrimage to St. Joseph Parish in Charlton Sunday. "I love how active the edu- cation ministry is," she said, adding that she's bringing some ideas back to her par- ish, St. Denis in Douglas. Her fellow parishioners got ideas too. "Look at this set-up," one said to their pastor, Father Juan D. Escudero, upon learning how St. Joseph's livestreams Masses. When Deacon William Shea, who serves at St. Joseph's, said Wi-Fi has been installed throughout the building, someone said, "Cindy, take notes." Cynthia Murphy, St. Denis' communications di- rector, asked Deacon Shea a question about it. Later Father Escudero said he'd heard his parishioners suggesting that St. Denis raise a lot of money for the diocesan Legacy of Hope capital campaign so they can do more with the par- ish's portion of the money raised. But the pilgrims weren't there just to get ideas. St. Joseph's Sunday bulletin explained why they came to visit. "A very warm welcome to the pastor and people of St. Denis Church," said the an- nouncement. "As part of their observance of the year of St. Joseph, they are making a visit to our parish this Sun- day afternoon for prayer and blessing. Their plan is to visit all the churches in our Dio- cese dedicated to St. Joseph." "It's a venue for our par- ish to get to know the work of evangelization in other places, and, at the same time, honor St. Joseph (during) this year dedicated to him," Father Escudero told The Catholic Free Press. (St. Denis' motto is "Go make disciples.") "Sometimes we see only our own branch; here we see
Drawn to the Church
Ordinations
BY TANYA CONNOR
THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
God, the Church and the sacraments. These are central to the vocation of Deacon Carlos Francisco Ardila Navia, who is scheduled to be or- dained a priest this month. Before the journey to the priesthood is the journey to the Lord, he said. "I'm Colombian; most of us are Catholic," he said. Growing up, he learned about God and the faith, but later he experienced the Father, Son and Holy Spirit more profoundly. "I've always had a beauti- ful, sometimes challeng- ing, relationship with God," Deacon Ardila said. "But I never thought of becoming a priest until I was in my 20s." He was born on July 1, 1983, in Bogot, Colombia, the son of Carlos Ardila Five ordination liturgies for the Diocese of Worcester are scheduled in St. Paul Cathedral. COVID restrictions limit in-person attendance but anyone can watch via Livestream at worcesterdiocese.org. Those in Worcester can view live on cable WCCA, Spectrum Ch 194. May 15 at 10 a.m. Ordination to the priesthood Deacon Carlos F. Ardila Deacon Jose F. Carvajal May 29 at 10 a.m. Ordination to the transitional diaconate James Boulette Thiago Ibiapina Derek Mobilio May 29 at 2 p.m. Ordination to the transitional diaconate Cleber de Paula Julio Granados Juan Parra June 5 at 10 a.m. Ordination to the permanent diaconate Scott Camilleri John Ladroga Donald Pegg June 19 at 10 a.m. Ordination to the priesthood Deacon Lucas M. LaRoche Deacon John L. Larochelle Gifts
10,162
Raised
$3,555,947
Percent of $5 million goal
71%
SEE Q&A , 7 SEE MOTHERS , 7
TANYA CONNOR CFP
Former Visitation House residents back for a visit - Camila with daughter Esther (seated) and Janellys with daughter Alyna Faith - gather with staff members Laurie Cahill, left, and Jennifer de De Mora.
Year of St. Joseph
TANYA CONNOR CFP
Father Juan D. Escudero introduced pilgrims to a devotion to St. Joseph and led them in prayer before the saint's statue during their pilgrimage to St. Joseph Parish in Charlton Sunday.
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