Cardinal urges: Protect children, preserve 'common good'

The Cardinal spoke of the 'beautiful life' of the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a Catholic and founder the Special Olympics.

MARBLEHEAD, MA (The Salem News) - Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley visited Marblehead yesterday to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church.

Over 700 people packed the large stone church on Atlantic Avenue where O'Malley, who is Archbishop of Boston, celebrated Mass at 11 a.m. He wished the parish "a very happy anniversary" and urged parishioners to make sacrifices.

"We must protect our children from the poisonous message of hedonism, individualism and materialism on MTV and so many other places ...," said O'Malley. "Our obligation is to make sacrifices for the common good."

Former Star of the Sea priests returned for the celebration, along with Sisters of Notre Dame who taught in the former Star of the Sea School, which closed in the 1970s.

For the Mass, people filled all the pews and stood along the sides and the back of the church, kneeling on the floor in prayer.

"He was wonderful -- it was absolutely so touching," said Marie Adams, 91, who has been a parishioner at Our Lady Star of the Sea since she was 6 months old, and attends Mass every week. "My First Communion, Confirmation, being married: it was all here. I just wouldn't go any other place."

O'Malley greeted parishioners and shook hands as people exited the church. Mass was followed by a reception across the street at the Star of the Sea Center, where the archbishop stayed long enough to cut the cake while the congregation sang "Happy Anniversary to Our Lady Star of the Sea" to the tune of "Happy Birthday."

Pastor Michael Steele said roughly 2,100 families belong to Our Lady Star of the Sea, and more than 800 students are enrolled in the religious education program.

"(The cardinal) was so glad to see so many families and a lot of youth," said Steele.

On the occasion of the parish's sesquicentennial, Steele asked 10 of the church's artists to create illustrations depicting images like the church's grotto, which were made into note cards that were for sale yesterday.

"There is a real sense of community here," said Jeri Rabchenuk, one of the artists, who has been a parishioner at Our Lady Star of the Sea for 20 years. "There is a great spirit here. Father Mike Steele has been wonderful and just very supportive."

During the homily, O'Malley said he tried to imagine what it was like to be a Catholic in the Bay State 150 years ago, before the Internet, telephones and cars.

"Those were the days of the 'No Irish need apply,' signs," he said. "We're here because of their faith, courage and generosity, and now it's our turn to pass on this treasure to future generations."

He spoke of the "beautiful life" of the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a Catholic and founder the Special Olympics. He said her recent death prompted him to ponder whether there will be a Special Olympics in the future, or whether "social engineers and pundits" will weed out the "weak," the "unborn" and the "elderly."

"Ninety percent of children with Down Syndrome are now being aborted," said O'Malley. "We have a message to share with the world! ... We must build a civilization with love, or there will be no civilization at all."

It was Cardinal O'Malley's second visit to the North Shore in as many weeks. He said Mass at Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody on Sept. 13 in celebration of the Catholic school's 50th anniversary.

Yesterday's celebration drew a spectrum of parishioners, like John and Johannah Crowley, who were married at Our Lady Star of the Sea in 1962, and rejoined the parish a decade ago when they moved back to town.

"There are so many good people associated with this parish," said John Crowley, who said the church offers so much, including an adult religious education program called Arise.

For parishioners like Peter Cuffe, the church has been part of his family for generations.

"Actually, my grandparents went to the church when it was on Prospect Street," said Cuffe, who attends church with is wife, Lisa, and their children Mary, 14, and Sarah, 12. "Father Steele is very energetic and he's drawn a lot of young families back to the church."

Parishioners said they were overjoyed to have the Cardinal celebrate the milestone with them.

"When his procession came into the church, it was such a blast of joyful song and voices and instruments," said parishioner Annette Nicolas. "It was so celebratory. I thought it was great."

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Staff writer Amanda McGregor can be reached at amcgregor@salemnews.com.

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This article originally appeared in the Salem news. Reprinted courtesy of The Salem News