' You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.' - John 8:32
VOL. 70, NO. 37 SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS HOME DELIVERY $39/YEAR
FREE IN PARISHES & ON NEWSSTANDS
Number of deacons in U.S. expected to grow
BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON (CNS) - The U.S. Catholic Church in 2020 had 18,075 permanent deacons serving in ministry, a decrease of 118 deacons, less than 1%, from the previous year, according to data collected by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate in Washington. Despite the slight decline, as shown in in- formation in the Official Catholic Directory, CARA researchers expect the number of permanent deacons to grow to a projected 19,478 based on trends since 2003. Meanwhile, a total of 124 permanent diaconate formation programs in the U.S. reported 2,105 candidates enrolled during the 2020-2021 academic year, a decrease of 50 candidates, about 2%, from the previ- ous year, researchers found. In the Dioc- esan Directory, the Diocese of Worcester reports that there were seven diaconate candidate as of Dec. 31, 2020, an increase of one from the previous year. The number of permanent deacons has remained steady in recent years after steady growth with ordinations, beginning in 1972. The ministry was reestablished by St. Paul VI in 1967 fol- lowing the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Worcester has 72 active deacons in the Diocese and eight active outside the Diocese, according to statistics in the Directory. The previous year there were 75 active in the Diocese and four outside. Three deacons were added to the list of re- tired deacons for a total of 39 in the latest Directory. CARA released a report on its findings Sept. 7. The study was completed in July. A breakdown of the data collected by the center shows that the share of candidates in their 30s and 40s stood at 22% in the 2020-2021 academic year. That represents a 50% decline in the share of candidates in the two youngest age groups since 2002. Nearly half, 45% of candidates, were in their 50s and 33% were age 60 or older in the same academic year. Canon law requires permanent deacons be at least age 35 to enter formation. The study reported that the vast major- ity of candidates, 95%, were married. An- other 2% were single, never married and 2% were widowed or divorced. It appears that the diaconate is becom- ing more racially diverse. Looking at data on the racial and ethnic mix of candidates, the study found that 67% of candidates were white. In comparison, during the 2002-2003 academic year 76% of candi- dates were white. Meanwhile, 26% of candidates were His- panic or Latino. CARA projected the share of Hispanic or Latino candidates would SEE MEDICAL , 6
BY BILL DOYLE
CFP CORRESPONDENT
WORCESTER - Senior Colin Johnson can do it all, on game day for St. Paul Diocesan Junior/Senior High School football team. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Worcester resident plays running back and wide receiver on offense, stars at corner- back on defense and also handles the placekicking and punting duties. But his versatility doesn't end there. Prior to Saturday home football games this fall, Mr. Johnson and the other captains will do the readings during the 8 a.m. Mass that the Knights will attend as a team at the school. "I remember our captains my sopho- more year reading to us," Mr. Johnson said, "and it adds to that leadership role. So it will be fun." Mr. Johnson attended Mass on the mornings of home games for St. Peter- Marian Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School as a sophomore. Last fall, St. Peter-Marian and Holy Name Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School merged to form St. Paul in the former Holy Name building, but the football season was postponed by the pandemic until the newly formed Fall II season last March and April. The Knights posted a 5-0 record then, but they couldn't attend Mass together be- cause of COVID restrictions. They will be able to now, however. So, St. Paul will hold Mass for the football team for the first time at 8 a.m. Saturday, followed by a breakfast. The Knights are scheduled to open their season at noon, at home, against
Helping others feels good too
LAST IN A SUMMER SERIES OF ARTICLES LOOKING AT HOW DIOCESAN PARISHES ARE REACHING OUT TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITY
BY TANYA CONNOR
THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
Homeless children. Elders going to the senior center. Grandparents raising grandchildren. These are among the people in the commu- nity served by Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Milford. In their work they learn the lesson of how the Church would respond with love to them if they were in need, said their pastor, Stigma- tine Father Richard A. Scioli. "It's very real to them, because they can identify with the effects of generosity," he said. "Whatever we do for the least, we do for (Christ). God gives us other blessings that we don't expect - for doing the corporal works of mercy." "We started with making blessing bags" for people staying overnight in a shelter in Mil- ford, said Kristen Ferreira, former president of the shelter's board and coordinator of in- kind donations at Sacred Heart. Since the shelter, which opened in 2019 and rotated among local churches, did not have the board of health's permission to serve meals, she decided to give the people food to go. Blessing bags include high-protein snacks, bottled water, toiletries, socks, gloves, emer- gency blankets and hand warmers, she said. She figured this would be a good project for Sacred Heart's religious education students and Scouts, some of whom she worked with. "A lot of the kids needed community ser- vice hours," she explained. She also requests help, and receives re- quests for help, from the wider community, she said. Sometimes it's the police or fire department or the hospital seeking blessing bags for people with whom they're working. Donations are accepted and distributed year-round, and not just to the eight to 10 people who stay in the shelter. About 70 children in the Milford Public School system are now listed as homeless, and the system requested underwear for them and their families, Mrs. Ferreira said. She put the request on Facebook and Insta- gram. Donations for such requests and cloth- ing for Sacred Heart's coat program can be dropped in a temporary bin outside Sacred Heart's parish center. Joseph Coplan, a local Boy Scout, is working on building a perma- nent collection bin as an Eagle Scout project. Amy Donahue, a religious education coor-
Free medical program open at St. Peter's
BY TANYA CONNOR
THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
WORCESTER - Needs - and opportunities to meet needs - have brought people together to form at a medi- cal program at a church, a program that grew out of another such program. St. Peter's Free Medical Program is offered from 6-8 p.m. each Thursday in St. Pe- ter Parish's gym at 929 Main St., for those who call ahead for appointments. It's a sister program of St. Anne's Free Medical Pro- gram at St. Anne Parish's Fa- ther Smith Center, 130 Bos- ton Turnpike, Shrewsbury, said Lisa Izzo, executive director of both programs. A former administrator for Massachusetts General Hospital, Mrs. Izzo is a mem- ber of St. Patrick Parish in Whitinsville. The programs are inde- pendent of the Church, she said. But both parishes donate the space and have their staff help with setup when needed. Also, some program volunteers are members of the parishes. Patients and volunteers do not need to be Catholic to participate in the program. "Everyone's a volunteer," including medical staff, Mrs. Izzo said. "We follow all Catholic principles because we're on Catholic property," she said. But the two programs together form one indepen- dent non-profit organization SEE DEACONS , 7 SEE KNIGHTS , 7
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Catholic Charities agencies rely on virtual outreach in Ida relief. 3
Gifts
13,173
Raised
$4,397,828
Percent of $5 million goal
88%
2021 SEASON OPENER
BILL DOYLE CFP CORRESPONDENT
St. Paul football coach Mike Donovan works with the team during practice at Quinsigamond State Park.
TANYA CONNOR CFP
Janice Kowal, Lisa Blackwell and Elaine Capuzziello pack "grab and go" lunches at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish's center to be distributed at the Milford Senior Center.
TANYA CONNOR CFP
SEE FOOD , 6
BY BILL DOYLE
CFP CORRESPONDENT
E
WORCESTER - Senior Colin Johnson can do it all, on game day for St. Paul /S h S h l
Knights to play at home Saturday, after Mass
Catholic schools in Worcester were required to start implementing mask- wearing indoors on Tuesday, after a mandate from the city health department that included all schools. An emergency regulation was issued on Sept. 3 by Dr. Michael P. Hirsh, medical director of the city's Divi- sion of Public Health: "It is strongly recommended that the governing bodies of the public, private, parochial, and charter schools adopt administrative policies to
City mandates masks in schools
SEE MASKS , 7
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