NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE P AID CHICOPEE, MA 01021 Permit No. 56

THE ANCHOR “… to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm,…” (Heb 6:18,19)

Special Blessing for Mary Farm “ Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11-28) August 19th, on the occasion of our Annual Day of Appreciation, Rev. Timothy McDonnell, Bishop of Springfield blessed this magnificent Crucifix according to the Rites of the Church. As the photo indicates, Jesus is reverently placed within the reach of all. Our crucified Lord is awaiting a visit from you.

Bishop Assigns New Director

With the passing of Fr. Donald Fournier, our Spiritual Director for 10 years, Bishop Timothy McDonnell recently appointed Fr. John L. Sullivan as our new Spiritual Director. Father Sullivan has assisted the Apostolate in the past, during the hospitalization of his predecessor Fr. Fournier. We are very pleased to have his assistance and guidance and most grateful to our Bishop for his appointment. We ask you, our members, to pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Fournier and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for Fr. Sullivan’s future endeavors with the Apostolate. Page 2 The ANCHOR CONTAGIOUS DISEASE AND PRAYER A PERSONAL APPROACH

An old proverb says: What are the results “Necessity teaches one to of this prayer of suffering? pray.” Is this really the I think the words of the Psalmist eloquently answer case? Some learn to pray this: “I am weary with my moaning; every night I in difficult situations while flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with others become embittered. my weeping. My eye wastes away because of The individual hopes that grief, it grows weak because of all my foes.” God “will change the (Psalms 6, 7-8) It seems to be describing a de- course of things” to meet stroyed person, but unexpectedly the tone changes: his own needs. Having a contagious disease “The Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. can make one feel abandoned The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord and isolated from God as well as accepts my prayer. All my enemies shall be from society. Contagious diseases ashamed and sorely troubled;” (Psalms 6, 9-10) can isolate and most of all make one radically lose faith Thus all of the prayers of suffering have meaning: in himself and in others. Grumbling leads to a loss of the the Lord listens, places the person in His hands and real meaning of life—the inability to love, the loss of dig- converses with him . nity. God seems so far away. Isolation, abandonment At the beginning of an illness, everything seems and fear for the future remain. senseless and unjust with God not present. But when one enters into the mystery of God’s forgive- ness, things change and take on a different mean- Prayer is a means of overcoming this feeling of isolation. ing, lightening up the person’s life. By invoking God, one no longer feels alone. Man’s cry: His Holiness, John Paul II spoke these words “God of life where are you?” becomes the prayer of suf- in Redemptor Hominis : “There is wonder in the man fering as was Christ’s on the cross: “My God, my God why who discovers God’s profound love; and when he hast thou forsaken me?” (Mt 27, 46) has understood this, his total vision of the world What does the prayer of suffering deal with? It focuses changes. He sees everything in a positive way.” on everything which has been taken away. Praying fervently leads one to share in There is dignity in one protesting one’s illness. The Christ’s healing powers on a physical person delves deeply into one’s feelings and discovers level, and there is certainly interior heal- the pain in his heart. It is not only a loud protest: it is a ing as well. protest rooted in hope, in the desire for recovery. It is the Excerpts taken from a Lecture by Fr.Armando Aufiero, , Silent Workers of the Cross; President of the International Confederation desire to change his world and his whole being. It is a of the Volunteers of Suffering Center (CVS), Professor of Bioethics protest which confides in God, going deeply to the roots and Theology, Sacred Heart Catholic University – Moncrivello of his existence. (VC), . Autumn ’07 Page 3

is no one souls are lost because there “So many m” y and offer sacrifices for them to pray A (1917) ( OUR LADY OF FATIM

Her words so inspired Msgr. Luigi Novarese, he founded the Apostolate of the Suffering among the sick.

This coming October is the 90 th combine our Morning Offering with who does unite anniversary celebration of Our the acceptance of our daily discom- their suffering Blessed Mother’s appearances at forts, we are responding to both with those of Fatima. Our Apostolate of the Suffer- messages. Our sufferings are now Christ crucified, give meaning and ing will conclude its own 60 th anniver- sanctified and capable of saving value to their lives. They become sary celebrations in Fatima, by partici- souls. “sharers” in the salvation of souls! pating in some of the official celebra- Each and everyone of us must The messages of Fatima have tions of the Fatima Sanctuary. follow the long and difficult path of given us the key to giving our In 1916 the Angel of Peace ap- the cross in our own lives, for the suffering, purpose and mean- peared and told the three children of cross is found upon the shoulders of ing. Now it’s up to us! Fatima, to pray constantly. We do this us all. We have a choice. We can when we pray our Morning Offering. accept that which we cannot change (If you would like a free copy of the Morn- ing Offering, please enclose a self ad- The Blessed Mary also asked and put it to good use or we can do dressed, stamped envelope to our enve- the children if they were willing to ac- nothing and let it become “wasted lope and return to us requesting the cept whatever God sent them and suffering”, for there is no such thing “Morning Offering”.) offer it up to save souls. When we as “useless” suffering. A person

C H R I S T I A N S A R E C A L L E D T O H E L P T H E S U F F E R I N G.

The second section of Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) has been made very clear: In the face of suffering, it is necessary for Christians to act to alleviate the suffering, not simply observe it. In it, our Holy Father, reminiscing how St , this brilliant scholar famous for translating the Bible, had to leave his books when refugees flooded his region after the sacking of in 404. “I cannot help them all, but I grieve and weep with them, and am completely absorbed in the duties that charity imposes on me.” He wrote. “I have put aside my commentary on and almost all study. For to- day we must translate the precepts of the Scriptures into deeds. Instead of speak- ing saintly words, we must act them.” Pope Benedict also advocates a particular kind of action: one that serves the body as well as the soul, providing spiritual comfort as well as material aid. To quote part of an editorial taken from a recent ‘ National Catholic Observer’: “In the face of suffering, Christians can philosophize all they want, but they won’t truly understand until they help.” Page 4 The ANCHOR

S T U A R T H A L E Y M E M O R I A L We are pleased to announce that our President of the Apostolate of the Suffering Stuart won the respect of everyone who knew him. A simple, uncompli- Robert Letasz cated, honest & caring man with a love for the farm he grew up on, which, will solemnly make his with the surrounding area eventually became known as Mary Farm. Stuart Profession as a Brother of our caretaker endeared the and The Silent Workers brothers of the Silent Workers of the Cross from Italy who occasionally came to visit and of the Cross would call him “UNCLE”. on December the 8th 2007 at St Mary’s Church A new Artesian Well covering was recently in Ware MA. erected as a fitting memorial for him. This You are cordially invited may not be a big monument, but it’s our way to attend the Mass of having our friend remembered, as we and the reception know that anything that improved Mary Farm that will follow. made him happy. r.s.v.p. by November 10th. A brass plaque placed on the front of the for information wishing well carries his name and reads “ or reservation . AN HONEST & CARING MAN WHO LOVED Tel. 413 536-0080 MARY FARM”. Indeed, future visitors will see it and know that there once was a very spe- cial man here. He is greatly missed. Please SUPPORT NEEDED join us in praying a Hail Mary for Stuart. We especially seek the prayers of our sick members since they are so powerful before God. We also ear- nestly urge you to be as generous as possible with your tax deductible contributions which helps us to con- tinue the production and mailing of Some minds are like concrete.. this publication and other endeav- ors. We thank you in advance for thoroughly mixed up your generosity. and permanently set.. We’re on the Web: WWW.SODCVS.ORG or ee----mailmail us at:: [email protected] Peace starts with a smile! Or write to us at:: MARY FARM 1915 WARE ST. PALMER MA 01069

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE APOSTOLATE Name ...... The Apostolate of the Suffering (A.O.S.) was founded in Italy in

1947 and fully approved by the Church, as a co-association of the Silent Workers of the Cross. Today it consists of ecclesiastical Private Dioce- Address ...... san Associations in many Countries of the world, united in an Interna- tional Confederation, approved by Decree of the Pontifical Council for City/State/Zip ...... the Laity. Our main purpose is to alleviate suffering and inspire a genu- ine vocation in all who suffer and to help in living a fruitful apostolic life. E-mail ………..…………………………………………………………………………..

Anyone can become a member of the Apostolate of the Suffering. We have all been called to assist Jesus in the salvation of souls and in I wish to be enrolled ( ) re-enrolled ( ) as a member of the Apos- the building up of his Church. You also become eligible to receive a tolate of the Suffering as (check one): plenary indulgence. ( ) A Volunteer of Suffering (suffering person) To become a member or renew membership for the year 2007, fill ( ) A Brother/Sister of the Sick (able bodied) out the form with the suggested $5 annual dues. Your card will be promptly sent to you. Mail to: Signature ...... date: APOSTOLATE OF THE SUFFERING Upon receipt of this form, your name will be registered as a member of the P.O. BOX 535 CHICOPEE MA 01021 Apostolate and you will begin receiving its Newsletters automatically.