FALL RIVER — Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will celebrate the annual Red Mass in the Fall River Diocese at 4 p.m., Saturday, September 29, 2018, in Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River.

A long standing tradition in the Church, the Red Mass is celebrated each year in the diocese to invoke God’s guidance and strength on those who work to promote justice in the legal system.

Judges, attorneys and others working in the justice system throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands are invited to attend.

At the conclusion of the Mass, in keeping with a tradition unique to the Fall River Diocese, Bishop da Cunha will present the St. Thomas More Award to members of the area legal community in recognition of dedicated service.

Selected for the honors this year are, as distinguished jurist, Judge Daniel J. O’Shea, First Justice, Attleboro District Court; as distinguished attorney, Stephen F. Kiley, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, Taunton Office; as distinguished court employee, Faith Shannon, Judicial Regional Secretary, Barnstable District Court; as distinguished recipient of the ecumenical award, Attorney Scott W. Lang, of Lang, Xifaras, and Bullard, New Bedford; and as distinguished recipient of the Joseph P. Harrington Founder’s Award, Attorney Robert Surprenant, of Surprenant and Beneski., P.C., New Bedford.

The Red Mass is so named because of the color of the vestments worn during the liturgy, which is the Mass of the Holy Spirit, who will be invoked upon those in attendance. Its roots date back to 13^th century Europe, and it is widely celebrated in dioceses throughout the U.S.

The St. Thomas More Awards are named for St. Thomas More, a 16^th -century English layman and lawyer martyred for opposition to the divorce of King Henry VIII and for refusing to renounce papal authority.

Award recipients were nominated for the recognition by the Red Mass planning committee from across the diocese, headed by New Bedford attorney Michael J. Harrington.

O’Shea was appointed to the District Court in 2005 and has served in his current post in Attleboro District Court since 2010. A member of several committees that work to improve the operation of the court, he is currently chairman of the District Court Case Flow Management Committee. He served for the past several years as a Judicial Mentor in the Trial Court’s judicial mentoring program.

Prior to his coming to District Court, he was Senior Judge for the state’s Department of Industrial Accidents, where he had administrative and supervisory authority over the department’s Administrative Judges, Reviewing Board Judges and its Division of Dispute Resolution.

Earlier in his career he worked as a staff attorney for Commonwealth Energy System (now known as Eversource) and as claims supervisor for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.

O’Shea is a graduate of New England Law School in Boston.

Married, he and his wife, Donna, are the parents of three adult children.

O’Shea is a parishioner of Holy Cross Parish in Easton.

Kiley is assistant general counsel for the state’s Department of Mental Health. As such, he represents the agency in guardianship and civil commitment cases, reviews statutes and regulations, conducts in-service trainings and provides other legal assistance as necessary. He has been with the department since 1997.

He maintained a general practice of law for twelve years before that, concentrating in criminal defense, mental health and probate and real estate law.

For many years, he also taught part-time at area colleges.

A certified official in the Massachusetts Track and Field Officials Association and USA Track and Field, Kiley has volunteered his service in that capacity for many years at the Special Olympics and Bay State Games, Southeast/Coastal Region.

He is an active member of his parish, St. Louis de France, Swansea, serving on its Catholic Charities Committee and formerly on its Finance Committee.

He holds a law degree from New England School of Law, Boston.

A resident of Somerset, he is married to Janel Lafond Paquin and has a stepdaughter and two grandchildren.

Shannon began her work in the Trial Court in 1998 in the Wareham District Court clerk’s office. In March 2005, she was named to her present post as regional assistant for District Court Region I, helping Administrative Justice Kathryn E. Hand manage its day-to-day operation. Region 1 encompasses nine District Court divisions located within the Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes Nantucket and Plymouth Counties that are staffed by 24 judges.

Prior to her employment with the court, she and her husband Francis (Frank) A. Shannon, Jr., were co-owners and operators of R.W. Thorson, a long-established leather tanner.

Shannon resides in Onset and attends St. Margaret Parish in Buzzards Bay. She has two step children.

Lang has practiced law for over 40 years,  most of them as a partner in the New Bedford-based firm of Lang, Xifaras and Bullard, providing representation in a range of areas such as personal injury, workers’ compensation, labor and employment law, discrimination and civil rights.

His legal career has also included service as an Assistant District Attorney for Bristol County for 12 years and as an arbitrator with Commonwealth Mediation and Conciliation, Inc. for six.

From 2006 to 2012, he served three terms as Mayor of the City of New Bedford.

He was for many years an adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth, teaching courses in political science and labor law. He continues to be a frequent panel participant in labor and employment related seminars for professional associations.

Over the years, he has been recognized for his civic engagement and public service, including receiving an honorary degree from Bristol Community College and the Distinguished Service Award from Bridgewater State University, both in 2012.

Lang, who is a native of New York, earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.

He is married to Marguerite “Gig” Lang, and they are the parents of three children.

Surprenant began a private practice of law in the Greater New Bedford area in 1975. In 2003, he founded the firm of Surprenant and Beneski, P.C., to specialize in elder law. He has written and lectured frequently on elder law issues. With the practice now carried on by his daughter and son, Surprenant serves as of counsel to the firm.

Earlier in his career, Suprenant served as assistant clerk of the Bristol County Superior Court and as an assistant attorney general for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the latter capacity, he directed the consumer protection office for southeastern Massachusetts.

In 1993, he was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Fall River Diocese and served in that capacity at St. John Neumann Parish, East Freetown; St. Anthony Parish, Mattapoisett; and Holy Name Parish, Fall River.

In addition, he and his wife, Diane (Poyant), were engaged in prison ministry in the area for some 11 years.

While a resident of Freetown, he was active in town government serving as a member of its Board of Selectmen, Board of Health, and Finance Committee of which he was chairman.

Suprenant is a graduate of Boston College Law School.

He and his wife currently live in Fairhaven. They have six children and 19 grandchildren.

All are welcome at the Red Mass. A reception and dinner will follow for which a ticket is required. For information, please contact Atty. Harrington at 508-994-5900.

Fall River – Members of the Fall River Diocese are invited to join Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., in the annual Procession and Mass for Peace on Monday, October 8, 2018, the Columbus Day holiday.

Participants in the procession should meet no later than 5:30 p.m. in the area of St. Anne Church, across from Kennedy Park on South Main Street, to march approximately one-half mile to St. Mary’s Cathedral. The procession will begin at 6:00 p.m. Marchers will carry candles, recite the rosary and sing Marian hymns in various languages.

At 7 p.m. Bishop da Cunha, S.D.V., will celebrate the Mass for Peace at St. Mary’s Cathedral, located at the corner of Second and Spring Streets. The Bishop will be homilist at the liturgy.

The Mass for Peace will last about one to one-and one-half hours, with the entire ceremony concluding around 8:30 p.m.

Those who are disabled or handicapped should proceed directly to St. Mary’s Cathedral, where a special area will be designated for them.

The Columbus Day Procession and Mass for Peace is a long tradition in the Fall River Diocese. It was first held in 1975 especially to pray for peace in Portugal but its emphasis has since broadened to include peace and justice worldwide. The Columbus Day holiday was chosen as day for the event as it falls near and sometimes on the October 13th feast of Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the last in a series of appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three Portuguese children during the year 1917.

FALL RIVER — In light of the recent scandals in the Church, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., has asked that a Holy Hour for Healing and Reparation be held in each deanery of the Fall River Diocese on Friday, October 5, at 7 p.m. Bishop da Cunha will preside at a Holy Hour at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River at that time. Other Holy Hours will take place simultaneously at these parishes: St. John the Evangelist, Attleboro; Christ the King, Mashpee; St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket; St. Mary, New Bedford; and St. Ann, Raynham. It is the hope that many of the faithful of the Diocese will join together in pray at the same time in the presence of our Lord for healing, reparation and mercy. All are welcome.

Here are the locations for each church: St. Mary’s Cathedral, 327 Second St., Fall River; St. John the Evangelist, 155 North Main St., Attleboro; Christ the King, 5 Job’s Fishing Rd., Mashpee; St.Mary-Our Lady of the Isle, 3 Federal St., Nantucket; St. Mary, 343 Tarkiln Hill Rd., New Bedford; and St. Ann, 660 North Main St., Raynham.

FALL RIVER — After months of study and discussion by laity and clergy in planning sessions, parishioners in one area of Fall River learned at Masses this past weekend of the steps to be taken to renew their parishes.

While these steps will mean change and some sacrifice, taken together they offer a vision for transforming struggling parishes into vibrant and sustainable Catholic communities of faith.

Creating a New Catholic Community Collaboration

In a letter to parishioners of Good Shepherd, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and St. Stanislaus Parishes, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., explained that the four communities, three of which were already engaged in joint planning since June, would now do so in a more cohesive and coordinated way –with the Cathedral- as a group of parishes to be called the Catholic Community of Central Fall River. This community will also include parishioners from the former parish of St. Bernadette, which closed in August, and St. Anne’s.

The Bishop has appointed a Franciscan priest with extensive administrative experience to lead this community and guide parishioners as they plan for the future. Father Thomas Washburn, O.F.M., a New Bedford native who formerly served in national leadership posts for his religious community, will become rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral and administrator of Good Shepherd and St. Stanislaus Parishes, effective October 31. He will be assisted in pastoral ministry to the parish collaborative by Father Juan Carlos Muñoz Montoya as parochial vicar, and Father Brian Albino who will remain as pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish.

In his letter to parishioners, Bishop da Cunha wrote, “This I know: we are better positioned as a community of faith to confront our challenges collaboratively, not separately, as individual parishes.”

He pointed to advice given to him frequently in a series of regional listening sessions earlier this year and again expressed in parish planning meetings, “…by focusing on strong lay and priestly leadership, consolidating our ministries, building on our combined human and financial resources, and reimagining the efficient use of our churches and facilities, we can plan with renewed vigor and inspiration.”

This move comes as the Fall River Diocese faces many critical challenges from changing demographics, a decline in parish membership and participation, aging facilities and fewer priests. These issues are especially felt in its cities because of the large concentration of churches there. The four parishes of the new central Fall River grouping are all within an approximate two mile area.

St. Anne’s Parish

All of these factors have impacted St. Anne’s Parish, also located in that vicinity. It has been without use of the main floor of its landmark church since 2015 because of its deteriorating condition. Bishop da Cunha addressed that situation in a separate letter to parishioners of St. Anne’s Parish this past weekend.

An architectural report estimated the cost for repairs to the church ranged from a low of $5 million to simply make the upper church useable, to $13.5 million for a complete renovation and restoration. Since last March the parish administrator, Father David Deston, and a committee of parishioners have been at work exploring the feasibility of a capital campaign to pay for it with assistance from a professional fundraiser and planner.

After investigating many fundraising options and reaching out to prospective major donors, the committee reported to Bishop da Cunha that, while most St. Anne’s parishioners were prepared to donate, overall response among donors capable of making the large gifts necessary for a successful multimillion dollar campaign “was tepid at best” and the prospect of raising the money highly unlikely. Offering no formal recommendations, they left the decision on the future of the parish to the Bishop.

Bishop da Cunha also sought additional counsel from an ad hoc group of Greater Fall River area business and community leaders concerning the likelihood of raising the funds necessary to restore the church. It was the consensus of that group as well that there were not sufficient resources to restore and maintain the iconic church.

With prayerful consideration of all the information at hand –the work of the St. Anne Parish Planning Team, input from community and business leaders, relevant parish statistics on membership and Mass attendance, and the high cost of even minimal repairs, Bishop da Cunha reached a difficult decision that he shared with parishioners in his letter this past weekend: St. Anne Parish will close.

“I do this with heavy heart, knowing the genuine deep loss you will all feel,” wrote the Bishop.

At the same time, Bishop da Cunha expressed his commitment to finding an alternative use for the church building. “It is my intention to form an ad-hoc committee whose singular mission will be the adaptive re-use of the St. Anne building, “explained the Bishop.

“This ‘Committee for the Adaptive Re-Use of St. Anne’s’ will support the Diocese in its efforts to explore other uses for the building that will preserve its architectural heritage in line with the needs of the community.”

Bishop da Cunha will be with the parishioners of St. Anne’s and celebrate the final Mass before the closing of the church on Sunday, November 25^th, the last day of the Church’s liturgical year.

Parishioners from St. Anne’s are invited to join any of the neighboring parishes that will now make up the Catholic Community of Central Fall River. Beyond simply joining, they are encouraged to take an active role in the planning for this new community, to bring their vision, aspirations, and abiding faith to the parish collaboration as it evolves.

Holy Rosary and Holy Cross Chapels

With only three priests now to provide ministry at the four remaining Central Fall River parishes, it will also be necessary to close Holy Rosary and Holy Cross Chapels. Their final Masses will also be celebrated the weekend of November 25^th. In recent years, both chapels have had only one weekend Mass.

“There are many details to be worked out, many questions and concerns to be considered; that is indeed the work of strategic planning,” said Bishop da Cunha in closing his letter.

“I am confident, he continued, with the talent and commitment of our clergy and laity working together, “we will establish a renewed and refreshed Catholic community of Central Fall River, and continue rebuilding our Diocese in faith and hope.”

-end-

FALL RIVER — This year the 11 (arch) dioceses of New England will be celebrating their own Catholic Schools Week November 4 – 11, 2018. Each diocese is celebrating in a unique way while working together to shine the light on the great things that are happening across New England in Catholic Schools.

For the first annual New England Catholic Schools Week, the Catholic Schools Alliance is using this year’s theme of “Celebrating the Beauty of Every Child.”

The week is intended to raise awareness of Catholic schools in the wider community and showcase what makes the schools and students unique.

Fall River diocesan schools will celebrate the week in school with the following daily themes: Sunday: Faith-Filled Leaders; Monday: Academic Achievers; Tuesday: Humble Servants;Wednesday: Global Influencers; Thursday: Game Changers; Friday: Life-long Friends; Saturday: Confident Graduate; and Sunday: Active Alumni.

Be sure to follow the Catholic Schools Alliance and local Catholic schools on Facebook to see the fun activities schools hold using the daily theme.

Several schools will be hosting Open Houses during the New England Catholic Schools Week:

November 3
Our Lady of Lourdes School, 52 First Street, Taunton, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
St. Francis Xavier School, 223 Main Street, Acushnet, from 5 to 5:45 p.m.

November 4
Bishop Feehan High School, 70 Holcott Drive, Attleboro, at 1 p.m.
Bishop Stang High School, 500 Slocum Road, North Dartmouth, from 1-3 p.m.
Holy Name School, 850 Pearce Street, Fall River, from 1 to 3 p.m.
St. Francis Xavier School, 223 Main Street, Acushnet, from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

November 7
All Saints Catholic School, 115 Illinois Street, New Bedford, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Holy Family-Holy Name School, 91 Summer Street, New Bedford, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
St. James-St. John School, 180 Orchard Street, New Bedford, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

November 9
St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School, 33 Cross Street, Hyannis, from 9-10:30 a.m.

Other Open Houses taking place outside the New England Catholic Schools Week are as follows:

October 28
Coyle and Cassidy High School and Middle School, 2 Hamilton Street, Taunton, from 12-2:30 p.m.
November 16
St. John Paul II High School, 120 High School Road, Hyannis, from 9-10:30 a.m.
November 30
St. Margaret Regional School, 143 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Please visit www.catholicschoolsalliance.com/csw for a full list of New England Catholic School Week events.

Diocese of Fall River
Catholic Schools Alliance
423 Highland Avenue
Fall River, MA 02720
508-678-2828
www.CatholicSchoolsAlliance.org

Diocese of Fall River

OFFICIAL

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D., Bishop of Fall River, has announced the following appointments and transfers:

Reverend Marek Chmurski, Parochial Vicar at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee to Administrator of Saint Margaret of Scotland Parish in Buzzards Bay;

Reverend Matthew M. Gill, Minister to the Hispanic Community at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, while remaining Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville;

Reverend Andrew Johnson, Pastor of Saint Stanislaus and Good Shepherd Parishes in Fall River to Parochial Vicar of Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich;

Reverend Juan Carlos Muñoz-Montoya, Parochial Vicar of Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich to Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Good Shepherd and Saint Stanislaus Parishes in Fall River;

Revered Thomas Washburn, OFM., Pastor of Saint Margaret of Scotland Parish to Rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River and Administrator of Good Shepherd and Saint Stanislaus Parishes in Fall River;

Reverend Richard D. Wilson, Rector of the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Fall River to Pastor of Holy Family Parish in East Taunton, Minister to the Hispanic Community of Taunton, and Director of Continuing Education and Formation of Clergy.

Effective: October 31, 2018

Reverend David C. Deston, Jr., Administrator of Saint Anne’s Church in Fall River to Chaplain of Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, while remaining Chaplain of Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River with residence at Espirito Santo Rectory in Fall River.

Effective:  December 1, 2018

FALL RIVER — Father Michael F. Kuhn, Y.A., a priest of the Diocese of Fall River and member of the Youth Apostles Institute, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation of alleged sexual misconduct with a minor in approximately 1975. The incident is alleged to have occurred in Manassas, Virginia, when Father Kuhn was roughly 18 years old, more than 20 years before he was ordained a priest in 1997.

Father Kuhn was ordained as a priest of the Fall River Diocese for service in the Youth Apostles Institute. He currently ministers in Virginia and Maryland.

The Fall River Diocese has been informed that Father Kuhn denies the accusation, and no determination has yet been made regarding its credibility. The decision to restrict Father Kuhn from ministry should not be construed as an implication of guilt but rather as a measure intended to facilitate the investigation.

As a priest in the Fall River Diocese, he served as a parochial vicar at the former St. Mary Parish in Seekonk, 1997 to 2000; and as chaplain at Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro, 1997 to 2004. From there, he was assigned as chaplain, Paul VI High School Fairfax, Va., 2004-2008; director, Youth Apostles Community House, Thurmont, Md., 2009-; Campus Ministry, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va., 2011-2016; chaplain, St. John’s Catholic Prep, Frederick, Md., 2016-; and assistant chaplain, Marymount University, Arlington, Va., 2017-.

Like all priests, Father Kuhn has undergone criminal background checks during his service.

Anyone who knows of any information that may be related to this case is asked to notify the Manassas City Police Department’s Investigative Services Division at (703) 257-8092.

As this difficult situation is addressed, prayers are asked for all who may be affected by these allegations.

FALL RIVER — National studies indicate that between 13 – 20% of children have been diagnosed with a mental disorder, but a shortage of qualified providers means limited access for children to receive the care that they need in a timely manner.[1]  Recognizing the importance of addressing mental health issues early and quickly, the Diocese of Fall River Catholic Schools Alliance has partnered with Saint Vincent’s to offer direct on-site counseling for students in their twenty Catholic schools in Southeastern Massachusetts starting in November 2018.

Providing on-site assessment and counseling services will enable students to receive the care that they need in an environment that is familiar and safe. It also takes the burden off families to find a provider in their insurance network who is accepting new patients – a process that is often time consuming and confusing. The counseling services provided by Saint Vincent’s can be covered by health insurance.  Counseling services will be available in both English and Portuguese. Addressing mental, social / emotional, and behavioral issues removes a level of stress from students and provides them with tools to achieve greater academic success.

As part of the partnership, Saint Vincent’s will also provide consultation to classroom teachers and/ or administrators to provide additional support for students with special education, social / emotional or behavioral needs. This service will build on the professional development offered to Diocese of Fall River Catholic schools by Dahyana Schlosser CPRP, M.Ed. which focus on creating school based mental health triage teams to assist students in crisis.

Upon announcing the partnership, Superintendent of Schools Stephen Perla stated; “Given the increasing number of students who are struggling with social and emotional issues and the growing challenge with accessing mental health services, we are deeply grateful to St. Vincent’s for this partnership.”

Founded in 1885 by the Sisters of Mercy and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River as an orphanage, Saint Vincent’s has changed its service delivery over the years and is now a multi-service, behavioral health and child welfare organization serving over 1,000 children, adolescents and families annually throughout Southeastern MA, Cape Cod and the Islands.  Saint Vincent’s is committed to fostering the well-being of children, adolescents, families and the community through a holistic approach to treatment and care.  Saint Vincent’s is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and provides a place of positive change for children, adolescents and their families and to give them the insight and tools they need to build healthy relationships.

For more information or to find your local Catholic School please visit www.CatholicSchoolsAlliance.org or contact Sarah Heaton at sheaton@catholicsa.org.

[1] Tobin Tyler, Elizabeth, et al. Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care: Considerations and Opportunities for Policymakers, Planners, and Providers. Milbank Memorial Fund, 2017, Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care: Considerations and Opportunities for Policymakers, Planners, and Providers, www.milbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/MMF_BHI_Executive-Summary-FINAL.pdf.

Diocese of Fall River
Catholic Schools Alliance
423 Highland Avenue
Fall River, MA 02720
508-678-2828
www.CatholicSchoolsAlliance.org

FALL RIVER — Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will award the Marian Medal to 79 laypersons from parishes throughout the Fall River Diocese at 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 18, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, 327 Second Street, Fall River.

First presented in 1968, the annual award recognizes members of diocesan parishes for their dedicated service to the Church.  Recipients are nominated for the award by their pastor.

The medals will be blessed and presented in the context of Evening Prayer of the Church and Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Made of sterling silver, the Marian Medal is embossed with a Miraculous Medal on one side and the Fall River Diocesan coat-of-arms on the other.

The Marian Medal recipients for 2018 are listed below by deanery or area.

Attleboro Deanery

José Acevedo, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Attleboro; Elizabeth Johnston, St. Mary Parish, Mansfield; Anthony J. Karpinski, Jr., St. Mark Parish, Attleboro Falls; Helen Keough, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Seekonk; Corrine Lupoli-Joyce, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Seekonk; Jeanne MacDonald, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Attleboro; Herbert McEvoy, Sacred Heart Parish, North Attleboro; Laura Vergow, St. Mary Parish, Norton; John Vigorito, St. Mary Parish, North Attleboro; and Mary Irene Vincent, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, South Attleboro.

Cape Cod & Islands Deanery

Paul Carney, St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, North Falmouth; Lisa Chalke, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Jean Clark, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Orleans; Fran Coco, St Peter the Apostle Parish, Provincetown; Barbara Cormier, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Wellfleet; Jovina Santos Dean, St. Margaret Parish, Buzzards Bay; Valerio L. Destefani, Good Shepherd Parish, Vineyard Haven; Michael J. Donly, St. Anthony Parish, East Falmouth; Hugh Drummond, Holy Trinity Parish, West Harwich; John Fuller, St. Patrick Parish, Falmouth; James Hines, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Osterville; Anne Fusco Lemaitre, Our Lady of the Cape Parish, Brewster; James Livingston, Christ the King Parish, Mashpee; Barbara Murphy, Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville; George Pereira, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Pocasset; Dorothy R. Scarlett, St. Pius X Parish, South Yarmouth; Erik Wendelken, St. Mary/Our Lady of the Isle Parish, Nantucket; and Monica Wieting, Holy Redeemer Parish, Chatham.

Fall River Deanery

Maria Helena Botelho, Santo Christo Parish, Fall River; Antonio Branco, St. Bernard Parish, Assonet; Daniel Cunha, St. George Parish, Westport; Paul Doiron, Holy Name Parish, Fall River; Patrick Fingliss, St. Patrick Parish, Somerset; Alice Garvin, St. Louis de France Parish, Swansea; Joyce Elizabeth Gendreau, St. Dominic Parish, Swansea; Jan J. Grygiel, St.Stanislaus Parish, Fall River; Rita Guidotti, St. Joseph Parish, Fall River; Augustine Medeiros, St. Anne Parish, Fall River;

Also, Anne Marie Menard, St. Thomas More Parish, Somerset; Manuel Miranda, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Swansea; Helena Pacheco, Espirito Santo Parish, Fall River; Aida Reis, Good Shepherd Parish, Fall River; Monique Robinette, Holy Trinity Parish, Fall River; Jose Sobrinho, St. Mary Cathedral Parish, Fall River; Donatilde Sousa, St. Michael Parish, Fall River; Auracelia Souza, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Westport; Urania Tabicas, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fall River; Carlos Tavares, St. John of God Parish, Somerset; and Robert Tripp, St. John the Baptist Parish, Westport.

New Bedford Deanery

Ana Aldarondo, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Bedford; Antonio Baganha, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, New Bedford; Lawrence Bizarro, St. Mary Parish, Fairhaven; Paul Foster, St. Joseph Parish, Fairhaven; Suzanne Gent, St. Joseph-St. Therese Parish, New Bedford; Patricia Grenda, St. Patrick Parish,Wareham; Rosalina Jovel, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, New Bedford; John Laronda, Jr., St. John Neumann Parish, East Freetown; Catherine Levine, St. Anthony Parish, Mattapoisett; Cidalia Lopes, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, New Bedford; Michael McCormack, St. Mary Parish, New Bedford; Michael K. McDermott, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, New Bedford;

Also, Anne Medeiros, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet; William O’Neil, St. Julie Billiart Parish, North Dartmouth; Joseph E. Paiva, St. Rita Parish, Marion; Dorothy Roncka, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, New Bedford; Harriet Servais, St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, New Bedford; Theresa Marie Souza, St. Francis Assisi Parish, New Bedford; Edward Souza, Immaculate Conception Parish, New Bedford; Carol Sylvia, St. Mary Parish, South Dartmouth; and Sharon Vieira, Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, New Bedford.

Taunton Deanery

Lois M. Achtelik, St. Nicholas of Myra Parish, North Dighton; Kathleen A. Bendixen, Immaculate Conception Parish, North Easton; Kevin Brennan, Holy Cross Parish, South Easton; Jean Desrosiers, St. Jude the Apostle Parish, Taunton; Kathleen Duarte, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Taunton; Gabriel Leitao, Brazilian Apostolate at Holy Rosary, Taunton; Jeannette Marie Paige, Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Taunton; Thomas P. Quinn, Holy Family Parish, East Taunton; and Beverly Vargas, St Ann Parish, Raynham.

FALL RIVER — The Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Fall River will administer a Placement Examination for new students on Saturday, December 1, with a make-up exam scheduled for Saturday, December 8. Students wishing to enter any of these schools next September should report to the school of their choice no later than 7:45 a.m. The exam will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Students should bring two sharpened #2 pencils to the test and the $20.00 registration fee -either cash or a check made payable to the school (Coyle & Cassidy is $25.00). Students need bring no records with them, nor do parents have to accompany them. Information regarding courses, activities, and financial aid, etc. will be given at the time of the examination, or can be obtained by contacting the school at any time.

Students planning to take the make up exam on December 8 should notify the Admissions Office of the school before that Saturday.

For more information, please contact the school of interest:

Bishop Connolly High School
Bishop Feehan High School
Bishop Stang High School
Coyle and Cassidy High School
St. John Paul II High School

The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held Dec. 8-9 in the Diocese of Fall River. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) in Washington, the appeal benefits 31,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests.

The Diocese of Fall River donated $129,634.98 to the last collection. In 2018, the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, whose central house is located in the diocese, received financial support made possible by the Retirement Fund for Religious. Almost 94 percent of donations aid senior religious and their communities, with the remaining funds used for administration and promotion of the national appeal.

The 2017 collection raised just over $28 million, and the NRRO disbursed $25 million to 360 religious communities for the direct care of elderly members. Communities combine these funds with their own income and savings to help furnish necessities such as medications and nursing care. Throughout the year, additional funding is allocated for congregations with critical needs and for retirement planning and educational resources.

Religious communities apply annually for financial support from the national collection, and distributions are sent to each eligible community’s central house. Although women and men religious often minister outside their home dioceses, they may benefit from the allocations disbursed to their individual orders.

“Donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious have a far-reaching impact,” said Presentation Sister Stephanie Still, the NRRO’s executive director. “Most importantly, they help communities care for aging members, but they also underwrite initiatives aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the funding shortages.”

Religious orders are financially autonomous and thus responsible for the support of all members. Traditionally, Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests—known collectively as women and men religious—served for little to no pay. Today, hundreds of orders lack sufficient retirement savings. Of 547 communities providing data to the NRRO, only 4 percent are adequately funded for retirement. Compounding the financial crisis are the rising cost of care and the increasing number of those needing care.

Catholic bishops of the United States initiated the national collection in 1988 to help address the deficit in retirement funding among U.S. religious communities. Since the collection was launched, U.S. Catholics have donated $844 million to the appeal, helping many communities stabilize their retirement outlook.

“We are overwhelmed by the ongoing generosity toward the annual appeal and by the love and thanksgiving for the service of our elder religious,” said Sister Still. “Our office is committed to stewarding these funds in ways that help religious communities care for older members while continuing to serve the People of God.”

Visit retiredreligious.org to learn more.

FALL RIVER—The Foundation to Advance Catholic Education or FACE launched a new communications initiative called “the FACE of the Future” at its annual Fall Scholarship Dinner on October 30. The launch came in the form of a video which details how the recent $10 million of investments into diocesan Catholic schools has caused a “renaissance” in Catholic education in the Diocese of Fall River.

The FACE of the Future also illustrates that today’s elementary school students are tomorrow’s Catholic parishioners, benefactors and leaders.  An investment in Catholic education today has been proven to pay off in the future; studies have shown a Catholic school advantage in several areas including academic achievement; degree of civic engagement; commitment to service and tolerance of others; and the ability to earn higher wages.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., said in the video, “The value of Catholic schools and what Catholic schools do to our young people, no one else can do.  We can offer not only a quality academic education, but we offer values and faith.”  The FACE of the Future initiative will provide consistent education on the benefits of a Catholic education as well as encourage anyone interested to reach out to one of one of the diocesan Catholic schools for a tour.  While tuition costs are a very big concern for more than half of families, this is where FACE can help with providing needs-based scholarships.

Another announcement at the Fall Scholarship Dinner was the launch of a new website which can be found at www.face-dfr.org.  The new website uses state-of-the-art web technology which allows for easy and automatic translation of the content into multiple languages supported by Google Translate.  Many people who speak primarily Spanish and Portuguese – and who value their Catholic faith – make their home in Southeastern Massachusetts; thus this website facilitates their ability to understand how FACE can assist in providing a Catholic education for their children.

“Many of the students who are entering our Catholic schools have parents who do not speak English as their first language.  The new FACE website will be a tremendous help in guiding these families through the FACTS application process,” according to Sandi Duxbury, FACE’s Executive Director.  “The new website also features vibrant photos of our students which clearly communicate the excitement and diversity experienced by our students, teachers and administrators.  I welcome everyone to visit www.face-dfr.org and enjoy our new look.”

For more information about the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education, please contact Sandi M. Duxbury at sduxbury@dioc-fr.org or to make an online donation, please go to www.face-dfr.org/donate/

FALL RIVER — Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will be the principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass for Christmas to be broadcast on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 12 noon on WLNE-TV, Channel 6. The one-hour televised liturgy is sponsored by the Fall River Diocesan Television Mass Apostolate.

The Portuguese Channel will air Christmas Mass in Portuguese at 7:30 p.m. on Christmas night. The Rev. Daniel O. Reis, pastor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish in New Bedford, will be celebrant and homilist for the Mass. The Portuguese Channel is carried by most cable systems in the Fall River Diocese.

Dear Friends in Christ,

This year that is coming to a close, has been a year full of challenges for our world, our country, our diocese and for the Universal Church. We have seen natural disasters: fires destroying homes, lives and entire communities in California; we have seen powerful hurricanes affecting the lives of millions of people; we have seen violence in our country and around the world; we have seen racial tensions and migrants suffering from displacement. We have seen scandals ripping through the heart of the Church and affecting the faith and trust of God’s people in the Church and her leaders. We have seen the face of sin and evil all around us.

In our own diocese, four churches closed:  Saint Bernadette, Holy Rosary, Holy Cross and Saint Anne.  As Bishop of Fall River, these were difficult decisions to make, knowing that closing these beloved places of worship would cause tremendous sadness for the faithful parishioners of these parishes.

On the other hand, we have also seen commitment of so many good people to remain faithful and connected to God and the Church. We have seen the solid faith of so many who are not abandoning God or the Church. We have seen people fighting the evil of racism, working to eradicate the sin of sexual abuse, and dedicating their talents to protect life and to protect this planet, our common home. It is because of the generosity and commitment of so many good people, and because we know that God will never abandon us, that hope is kept alive.  God’s grace and our faith continue to help us remain committed to making this world a better place.

As we celebrate Christmas, let us remember that when Jesus came, He did not find a peaceful, loving world; He found a world filled with discrimination, division, violence and war.  Jesus Himself was a victim of these evils, but He faced these evils head-on because He is the Prince of Peace.

Jesus comes to us again this Christmas, in the midst of all the evil in the world, to bring peace.  He asks us to embrace with Him the mission of transforming the world by eliminating what is evil in ourselves first.  “Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:5).  Christmas is the perfect time for us to pause and reflect on how we each contribute to what is not going well in the world and how we can contribute to make the necessary changes.  The message of peace and Salvation that Jesus brought us 2,000 years ago will only be realized when we accept our responsibility to make a difference through our faith and with our talents.

This Christmas, as we gather with family and friends, let us remember that Christmas is much more than just a holiday or feast; it is a Sacred moment celebrating the coming of Christ to save us and our world and entrusting us with the task of continuing His mission of saving and Sanctifying the world.  Let us pass on to our children and young people the values we received from our ancestors and rekindle the real Spirit of Christmas in our hearts, our homes, our families and throughout the world.

Merry Christmas! Feliz Natal! Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noel!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.
Bishop of Fall River

Access the Bishop’s Message in PDF form

FALL RIVER– The annual Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) collection will be taken up at parish Masses in the Fall River Diocese during the weekend of January 19 and 20, 2019.

This yearly national campaign is designed as a shared collection, meaning half of the proceeds stay in the local diocese and the other half is forwarded to the Catholic Communication Campaign office of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference.

The portion remaining in the Fall River Diocese is used to fund the weekly Television Mass, which airs at 11 a.m. each Sunday on WLNE-TV, channel 6. The cost for the Television Mass averages $100,000 annually including production, airtime and closed-captioning –all of which are handled by different entities.

In addition to proceeds from this weekend’s CCC collection, the Television Mass is also supported by the Catholic Charities Appeal.

At the national level, the CCC helps the Church spread the Gospel message through television, radio, print, social networks and the Internet by the U.S. Bishops’ Conference staff and other grantee organizations here in the U.S. and abroad.

To learn more about the Catholic Communication Campaign and the important work is supports, please visit www.usccb.org/ccc

Donations to support the Diocesan Television Mass may also be sent directly at any time to the Television Mass, Fall River Diocese, P.O. Box 2577, Fall River, MA 02722.

FALL RIVER — Joining with their counterparts nationwide, Catholic schools in the Fall River Diocese will observe Catholic Schools Week from January 27 through February 2 with Masses, open houses and a variety of special programs and activities.

Catholic Schools Week is designed to highlight the value of a Catholic education to young people as well as its contributions to the Church and wider community; it is celebrated across the country annually beginning on the last Sunday in January.

It is also the time when most Catholic schools host open houses and open registration for the following academic year. Parents who are interested in enrolling a child in a Catholic school in the Fall River Diocese or learning more about one should contact the school of interest for information or visit www.CatholicSchoolsAlliance.org.

Specific Catholic Schools Week schedules vary from school to school but often feature academic and athletic challenges; music and arts festivals; guest speakers; special opportunities for prayer; activities to support charities and outreach to those in need; appreciation events; and student socials.

The national theme for the celebration is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”

In the January 25th issue of “The Anchor,” Fall River Diocesan Central Catholic Schools Board Chairman Roger Sullivan and Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Stephen A. Perla provide an update on major renewal initiatives now underway in Catholic Schools resulting in new opportunities for students and teachers. Read the story here.

FALL RIVER — The Fall River Diocese will offer its annual Women and Men’s Conference on Saturday, March 9, with a program featuring nationally-noted speakers, prayer, music, Adoration, Mass, and more. It will take place on the grounds of Stonehill College in Easton.

Speakers will be Boston Auxiliary Bishop Robert Reed, who is president of the CatholicTV Network; Dr. Mary Healy of Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, a professor of Sacred Scripture there and an international speaker on Scripture, evangelization and the spiritual life; and Deacon Pedro Guevara-Mann, a radio and TV producer, writer, and host from Salt and Light Media of Canada.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will be celebrant and homilist of a Mass at 4 p.m. to conclude the day.

“During Lent, we are called to look for ways to grow in faith, to deepen our relationship with God as we prepare for the celebration of Easter,” Bishop da Cunha said. “Our Women and Men’s Conference is an opportunity to take a break from the busyness of everyday life to do just that while enjoying the fellowship of hundreds of others from our diocesan family.”

The Women and Men’s Conference will take place in the Ames Sports Complex at Stonehill College, with doors opening at 9 a.m. The program will get underway at 10 a.m. and include a midday break with lunch, and time to visit the many vendors that will be on hand.

Registration for the conference is required. The deadline is March 6. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available.

For more information, including registration and cost, visit the Women and Men’s Conference webpage or pick up a flyer at any parish in the diocese.

Learn more about the Conference Speakers

Register Online

View or download the Conference Flyer with mail-in registration form

January 3, 2019

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we begin this New Year, I write to inform you of recent, important steps taken in the Fall River Diocese in our ongoing efforts to foster healing in the wake of the clergy sexual abuse crisis and to provide greater transparency in our response to it.

Last fall an internal review and reorganization of all priestly personnel files in the Diocese was done to ensure all documents were assembled together and in proper order. With input from advisors, I then determined that, in the interest of accountability and transparency, the services of an outside independent consultant were needed for a comprehensive evaluation of these files with regard to abuse. I am pleased to inform you that Mr. William Gavin, an experienced compliance auditor and former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Assistant Director, has recently begun an in-depth review of all records of the Diocese pertaining to the abuse or allegations of abuse of a minor by any cleric in the Diocese. Mr. Gavin brings much experience and expertise in this work having completed numerous similar reviews for other dioceses. It is anticipated that this review will be completed in the spring.

Upon its completion, the Fall River Diocese will publish a list of clergy against whom a credible allegation of abuse of a minor has been made in the past. While most of these names have already been reported in the media, the publication of a list is necessary for greater transparency on our part in response to clerical sexual abuse. I wish that this information could be made available sooner; yet it takes time and diligence to compile a list that is accurate and complete.

Also in the year ahead, efforts will continue to strengthen diocesan abuse prevention protocols through the work of our reorganized and expanded Office of Safe Environment to help ensure the protection of our youth and vulnerable adults.

It is my fervent prayer that this New Year will be one marked by recovery and healing both here in our Diocese and in the Church worldwide.

Please know that you have my prayerful best wishes for a healthy and happy 2019.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
Bishop of Fall River

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MASSACHUSETTS CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, MA 02184
617-746-5630

www.macatholic.org

Bishops of Massachusetts to the Catholics of the Commonwealth

We write as your pastors; we write also at a critical moment for the Catholic Church in Massachusetts, in the nation and throughout the world.  The issue which confronts us all, but especially confronts us as bishops, is the sexual abuse crisis that has again enveloped the life of the Church.

Catholics throughout the United States and the world have struggled with the deepest questions of reason and faith as the multiple issues of sexual abuse by priests and bishops have become public over the last sixteen years.  The past year has been especially traumatic, and we again apologize to survivors and their families for all they have endured.  We also apologize to the Catholic community for the seemingly unending nature of this scandal and the many questions it raises regarding Church leadership.

The attention of the Church and the wider society will be focused in an extraordinary way on the upcoming Summit Meeting in Rome, convoked by Pope Francis to address the crisis globally. Our purpose in this message is to provide perspective on the meeting considering what has occurred in the Church in the United States and throughout the world.

The Past: The clergy abuse crisis exploded in the United States early in 2002 when the unprecedented dimensions of the crisis became clear, leading the US Bishops Conference to adopt “The Dallas Charter” later that year. The Charter promised a policy of zero-tolerance of sexual abuse of minors, meaning that accused priests determined to have abused a minor would be removed from ministry; all cases would be referred to appropriate civil authorities and each case would then be investigated within the Church.  Beyond the provisions in the Charter, individual dioceses have adopted policies to provide care and counseling for survivors and education and prevention training in our parishes, schools and religious education programs.  Reviewing the past, we acknowledge the record includes gaps and failures as well as successful implementation of these policies. At the same time, the Church in the rest of the world has experienced the abuse crisis in different ways at different times.

The Present:  In 2018, the primary attention of responsibility for the abuse crisis shifted from priests to bishops.  It became clear that the Dallas Charter, focused on priests, needed to be amended to include accountability for bishops’ and cardinals. In order to broaden the policy in this way, the U.S. Bishops have proposed that a publicly announced method of reporting cardinals and bishops implicated in occurrences of sexual abuse be established. We also have advocated for the establishment of an oversight review committee that includes appropriately credentialed professional lay leadership. However, the Holy See asked the U.S. Bishops Conference to postpone action on this proposal until after the meeting in Rome.

The Summit Meeting, convoked by Pope Francis, will involve the Presidents of over 180 Episcopal Conferences from throughout the world; along with Cardinal O’Malley, participating in his role as President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children.  The goal of the Summit Meeting, as stated by the Holy Father, is “catechesis” of the episcopal conferences.  A way to interpret this phrase is that the meeting will seek to create a strong consensus throughout the universal Church of zero tolerance of sexual abuse, to develop the programs which will implement this mandate and to put in place the programs of education and prevention needed to keep children safe throughout the world, even and perhaps most especially in countries where government and law enforcement  may not be reliable partners in protecting children.

This meeting will be very complex in its composition, cultural and geographical diversity and the political and legal context that is necessarily present in these matters. We ask your prayers for all involved in the Summit Meeting and your appreciation that a three-day meeting will not produce a finished and final plan for a global Church of 1.2 billion people.  Demanding but also realistic expectations will be helpful for us all as we think not only about what the Church in the United States needs to accomplish but also the steps necessary to achieve global solutions, particularly in circumstances where cultural sensitivities must be considered.

The Future: As always, first and foremost in our thoughts are the survivors of abuse for whom we continue to pledge our vigilance. We use this occasion to pledge our continued commitment to the policies we have adopted and to all those measures of care, counseling, education and healing needed to abolish the scourge of sexual abuse throughout the Church.

Thank you.

His Eminence Seán P. O’Malley, OFM Cap.            Most Reverend Robert J. McManus
Archbishop of Boston                                                 Bishop of Worcester

Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski                      Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.
Bishop of Springfield                                                  Bishop of Fall River

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