You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.' - John 8:32
VOL. 70, NO. 41 OCTOBER 8, 2021 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS HOME DELIVERY $39/YEAR
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Students design ways to preserve creation
BY TANYA CONNOR
THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
Francesca Zicaro pointed excit- edly to a picture on a poster at church - her drawing was one of those chosen to help illus- trate ways to protect the earth. She suggested planting flowers, which she loves doing. The 7 1/2-year-old from All Saints Academy in Webster was among an estimated 1,500 young people from 13 Catholic schools and three parishes who partici- pated in some way in the Mass for Creation Friday at St. John Church in Worcester. More than a dozen students were among the 60-plus worship- pers. Hundreds more students sent in prayers and drawings, which were carried in the offer- tory procession, said Madeline Coln-Usowicz. She's a member of the diocese's Environmental Stewardship Ministry, which or- ganized the Mass, where prayers were offered in several languages and Bishop McManus blessed evergreen seedlings for worship- pers to take home and plant. Bishop McManus said in his homily that the intent of Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si'" is for us to ask, "What have we done with the gift of creation which God has given us?" The developed world has cre- ated a mess, and the vulnerable suffer, the bishop said. He recalled flying over the Dominican Republic - lush with green forests - to Haiti, where he saw deforested brown land. He lamented how people rob the land of its beauty and its ability SEE CREATION , 6
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Desire for eternal life orders our lives - This week's Gospel commentary. 5
Modern-day Barabbases deny truth about life, speaker says
BY TANYA CONNOR THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
WORCESTER - "Our state leg- islators are Pilates looking to us, the crowd, and asking us what we want them to do. More and more are shouting in favor of as- sisted suicide." Kris Correira, a physician assis- tant for ReadyMED Urgent Care, made this comparison between Jesus' Passion and today's society Monday, a few days after legisla- tors heard public testimony for and against legal- izing physician as- sisted suicide in Massachusetts. Ms. Correira was the guest speaker for Christ the King Parish's 10th Annual Novena to St. Joseph, Jesus' foster father and patron of a happy death. The novena is being held Mondays from 7:15-8 p.m. through Nov. 8 to pray for the sick and dying and to stop doctor-prescribed suicide. We always emphasize St. Jo- seph," said Msgr. Thomas J. Sul- livan, pastor. A couple speakers so far have focused on St. Joseph, during this Year of St. Joseph, while others talked about physi- cian assisted suicide. Ms. Correira addressed life is- sues at Monday's novena by con- necting Scripture and history. Scripture is the story of our humanity," she said, and told of Jesus' taking on a human body and soul, "beginning as help- lessly as we do in our mother's womb," to redeem "our fallen hu- man nature." She said his Incar- nation "reveals to us the fullness of what it means to be human - the uniqueness and grandeur of our dignity." But the crowds called for his crucifixion and the release of the murderous revolutionary Barabbas," Ms. Correira noted. Our modern Barabbas was born in Europe early in the 1600s," she continued. "His revo- lution was known as the Age of Enlightenment, and it had many prominent disciples. - The core of their revolution is to deny that objective truth exists. - Each person determines what is good SEE NOVENA , 6
TANYA CONNOR CFP
Father Jose F. Carvajal, associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Shrewsbury, offers his personal touch to Evan Page and his Havanese, Barley, at the blessing of animals Sunday outside the church.
TANYA CONNOR CFP
People in the Pew and at the Altar
Msgr. James Mitchell. - I used to serve the 5:30 a.m. Mass with him (at St. Louis Parish, Webster) and he said if my brother or I ever became a priest he wanted us to have his chalice.- His sister - came for lunch at the seminary one day and she brought me the chalice. I use it to this day.- He was such a kind man to me. I looked forward to serving his Mass." - Father William C. Konicki Pastor, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Hopedale They helped make our lives bigger - kinder." - Lillian Coln-Usowicz Third-grader, All Saints Academy, Webster Speaking of priests she knows, including Father Adam Reid, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Webster The one who comes to mind immediately is Msgr. (John) Doran. - He's such a great teacher, a great communicator and he listens to you. - He gives you his undivided attention." - Catherine North-Erickson St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Fitchburg
In anticipation of the Oct. 28 Celebrate Priesthood! gala to raise money for the care of retired priests, The Catholic Free Press asked people to:
Tell us about a priest who made a difference in your life.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, Son of John, do you love me more than these?'" (Jn. 21: 15). Jesus asks these same questions of all his priests. Often during their priestly lives, the Lord whispers the same words into the hearts of his priests. As we respond like Peter, the Lord challenges us to feed his lambs and tend his sheep. In other words, he expects us to shepherd them tenderly and lovingly just as he himself did. Each priest must have pondered the Lord's words seriously when he was discerning his call to priesthood. On the day of ordination, like Our Lady, he made his "fiat" to God, "Let it be done to me!" After Peter's example, he depends on us to feed and guide his flock both spiritually and materially. We are to show to all a genuine love after the very heart of Christ. Not to fulfill this charge is to be negligent in our vocational call. Recently, the Church celebrated "Priesthood Sunday" (Sept. 26). This particular Sunday is dedicated to acknowledging and affirming the faithful service of our priests to the Church. Priesthood Sunday is described by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as: "A special day to honor priesthood in the United States. It is a day set aside to reflect upon and affirm the role of the priest in the life of the Church as a central one."
Father Paul O'Connell. He was so inspirational to all of us and so supportive. He helped me get more involved. I became a eucharistic minister." - Sandra Goodwin St. Mary Parish, Shrewsbury
SEE PRIESTS , 6
Assembly votes show Catholics support reforms in German church. 2
Th t i d i di t l i M Msgr. Stephen Johnson. He was my first pastor as a deacon. Also, I got into other types of ministry because of him - TEC (Teens Encounter Christ retreats) when I was in high school and college. That got me into Residents Encounter Christ at Worcester County Jail. - I learned how to be pastoral. He was a great example of a pastoral priest." - Deacon Scott Colley Deacon, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Barre Father Robert Spellman. He used to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. My in-laws had 17 grandchildren.- They saw him here (at church) but it was nice to spend a holiday with him." - Nicole Savoie St. Joseph the Good Provider Parish, Berlin
BY FATHER CONRAD S. PECEVICH
RETIRED PRIEST OF THE DIOCESE OF WORCESTER
Correira
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