BY TANYA CONNOR
THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
Visitation House in Worcester is continuing its work with mothers and babies, thanks to Evelyn "Eve" Lindquist, executive director for 13 years, and her successor, Grace Cheffers. Mrs. Lindquist, a mother and grandmother from St. Bernadette Parish in Northborough, officially retires Aug. 31. Ms. Cheffers, a mother and grand- mother from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Winchendon, started July 1, said Deborah LeDoux, Visi- tation House marketing and com- munications director. She said Ms. Cheffers was friends with Ruth V. K. Pakaluk, who had envisioned Visita- tion House but died before it opened in 2005. "It turned out to be a totally dif- ferent experience than I thought it would be," Mrs. Lindquist said of directing Visitation House. She said she knew in her mind that the home sheltered pregnant women in need, but didn't understand the depth of it in her heart until she "saw what the house meant to these homeless women," some of whom were con- sidering abortion because of finan- cial difficulties. "They're homeless by virtue of being rejected - not like they're homeless street people," she said. Some were kicked out by their par- ents for not getting an abortion; some fled an abusive boyfriend, some came for other reasons, she said. "We're a life raft for them," Mrs. Lindquist said. "Women do have a choice. - An abortion, I don't think, is much of a choice. - It's very detri- mental to the woman." At Visitation House, there's a happy ending. "They learn - that we respect their decision to have the baby and we celebrate the births of these babies," as the grandparents some-
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'You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.' - John 8:32
VOL. 69, NO. 32 AUGUST 7, 2020 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS HOME DELIVERY $39/YEAR
FREE IN PARISHES & ON NEWSSTANDS
Pope calls for prayers for people of Lebanon after massive explosion in Beirut. 8
Supporting Partners supports others
Bishop McManus is making a personal appeal to the people of the diocese to do- nate to Partners in Charity so those agen- cies and ministries supported by Partners can continue to reach out to people in need. "I cannot imagine what it would have been like these past few months if agen- cies and ministries had not been able to respond. This crisis isn't over. We need every gift to assure that we can continue to respond after September 1 when our new fiscal year begins," Bishop McManus says in a letter published in today's edition of The Catholic Free Press. The letter will also be distributed by parishes and online. The annual appeal ends Aug. 31. Pledges and dona- tions have reached 80 per- cent of the $5 million goal, according to the Office of Stewardship and Develop- ment. The campaign is about $1 million short of goal. "In our own diocese, we are responding to people in need, in large part, through the 25 agencies and min- istries supported by Partners in Charity. Donors who make a pledge or gift rec- ognize that they, too, are responders by enabling others to do this work, whether specialized during this cri- sis, or simply made more poignant due to the pan- demic," the bishop writes. Catholic Charities Worcester County is one of the recipients of an annual grant from Partners. In a recent newsletter, Timothy McMahon, executive direc- tor, said that the agency saw a "200% to 300% increase in need at our area office food pantries, a steep rise in requests for help with rent and utilities, and a general dependence on staff to assure folks that things were going to be OK." Catholic Charities also continued its pro- grams in Worcester and Leominster with recovery programs for men and women dealing with substance abuse, as well as shelter services for homeless families, the bishop states. Another Partners' agency, Pernet Family Health Service, helped more families than usual facing hunger and other needs dur- ing the pandemic. Diocesan ministries changed some of their focus in response to the pandemic. They were able to do so because of the funding they received through Partners in Gifts
11,310
Raised
$3,983,622
Percent of $5 million goal
80%
SEE PARTNERS , 7
PEOPLE BACK IN THE PEW
"They use the masks and then the social distancing - it's distant enough - and then using the hand sanitizer. Everywhere I go I feel pretty safe." - Marie France Valentin St. Peter Parish, Worcester; also attends Holy Family, Worcester "I feel very confident that any risk is minimized . It's just nice to celebrate as a parish community again." _ - Jeffrey Chasse St. John Paul II Parish, Southbridge "Yeah, we feel safe here. We have all the precautions in place. - We have enough social distance between us. - There's somebody that cleans the pews after Mass." - Catherine Damian St. Andrew Bobola Parish, Dudley
Do the precautions taken at your parish make you feel safe enough to return to church?
"I feel very safe, the way they've got it all organized. - I'm helping with the spray (to sanitize the pews). " - Paula Waskiewicz St. Anne and St. Patrick Parish, Sturbridge
Retiring director calls Visitation House 'a life raft'
PHOTO BY KAREN FOURNIER
Patrick Freeman, left, "holds hands" with others for the Our Father at Mass on July 26 as part of the Home Mission at St. Matthew's Church in Southborough.
Home Mission a hit
BY TANYA CONNOR
THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
SOUTHBOROUGH - Impressive. That's what the priest in his 80s called young parishio- ners. Father James B. Flynn, pastor of St. Matthew Par- ish, was preaching at Mass for the July 26-29 Home Mission of St. Matthew's teenagers, who were joined by peers from St. Anne Parish. "I was so impressed with these kids," Father Flynn told The Catholic Free Press. The 35 youth worked at St. Matthew's, a cemetery and a garden, visited shut-ins, made blankets for those in need and read prisoners' poems and short stories and sent them comments, said Mark Polny, St. Matthew's youth minister. They also had time for prayer and reflec- tion. This replaced their annual trip to the Gulfport/ Biloxi area of Mississippi, cancelled because of the coro- navirus. Father Flynn said he'd thought the youth would be so disappointed at the cancellation that they wouldn't want to serve locally. "I'm thinking we can make that a part of the pro- gram," inviting youth to serve locally, he said afterwards. But why were they going to Mississippi in the first
Pursuing a degree and a vocation
BY KYLIE ARVIDSON
ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY STUDENT, CLASS OF 2021 SPECIAL TO THE CFP
A shared passion for learning and faith forma- tion has strengthened an important bond between the Diocese of Worcester's Holy Name of Jesus House of Studies and Assumption University. The partnership was developed in 2008 by Assumption President Francesco C. Cesareo and Bishop McManus to sup- port and encourage those with a serious interest in the priesthood. Through Assumption's Holy Name of Jesus Institute, students can earn a bachelor's degree in philosophy for half the tuition cost, eas- ing some of the burden individuals face in their pursuit of education and a higher calling. "I have met with men from outside our diocese who desire to apply to sem- inary, who have had to de- lay entering seminary be- cause of debt," said Father Donato Infante, director of the diocesan Office for Vocations and co-director of the House of Studies. He said the relationship with Assumption has bridged this gap. Through the partnership, the tuition amount is reduced, and when combined with other scholarships, some men pay very little for their edu- cation. "Debt can prove a major obstacle for someone who wants to enter seminary af- ter college - Programs like the Institute help prevent situations like these from arising," Father Infante said. The House of Studies, SEE VOCATIONS , 7 SEE LIFE RAFT , 6 SEE MISSION , 6
Southborough teens embrace the community
CFP FILE PHOTO
Visitation House residents joined the annual dinner in 2019. Evelyn Lindquist, executive director, second from left, gathers with some attendees.
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