FALL RIVER — The annual Fall River Area Lenten Mission will take place at 7 p.m. from February 26 to March 1, with locations rotating among different parishes within the Fall River Deanery.

The Most Reverend Robert C. Evans, Auxiliary Bishop of Providence, will lead the Mission, preaching on its theme of “The Temptations of Christ in 2018.”

Each evening of the Mission will include Mass and the Mission talk, preceded by the availability of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) each evening at 6 p.m.

Locations for the Mission are as follows: Monday, Feb. 26, St. Bernadette Parish, 529 Eastern Ave., Fall River; Feb. 27, St. John of God Parish, 996 Brayton Ave., Somerset; Feb. 28, St. Bernard Parish, 32 South Main St., Assonet; and March 1, St. Anthony of the Desert Parish, 300 North Eastern Ave., Fall River.

Ordained a priest in 1973, Bishop Evans (in photo) has served in parish ministry, as a chaplain, and in diocesan administration. In addition, he was director of the Institute for Continuing Theological Education and a faculty member at the North American College in Rome for four years; and served as secretary at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. for two years before returning to the Diocese of Providence in 2007, becoming a pastor and adjunct faculty member at the seminary of Our Lady of Providence.  Pope Benedict XVI named him an Auxiliary Bishop in 2009.

Father Jay Maddock, who is Dean of the Fall River Deanery, extends an invitation to all to the Mission, attending all or as many sessions as one is able. He also encourages parishioners to help spread the word about the Lenten Mission to family members and friends.

“It’s a great way to fulfill your mission to bring the Good News of Christ to others,” he said.

FALL RIVER — The second annual Women and Men’s Conference in the Fall River Diocese will take place on Saturday, March 10, on the grounds of Stonehill College in Easton.

Building on last year’s first-ever such event in the diocese, the 2018 Women and Men’s Conference will again feature nationally-noted speakers, prayer, music, Reconciliation, Adoration, and Mass. In addition, this year’s conference will include a separate track of presentations for young adult attendees, ages 18 to 30.

Speakers will be Father Dave Dwyer, CSP, who is host of SiriusXM Radio’s The Busted Halo Show; Sister Marie Paul Curley, FSP, an author, blogger and multi-media producer; Father Tony Ciorra of Connecticut’s Sacred Heart University, who is a leading expert in Catholic spirituality; and ValLimar Jansen, a Christian music singer and inspirational speaker who offered a stirring musical and dramatic presentation last year.

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

“Our first Women and Men’s Conference last year in the Fall River Diocese was a wonderful event, drawing over 800 from across the area for a fruitful and enjoyable day,” Bishop da Cunha said.” “I now look forward to gathering with members of our Diocese for this year’s conference. There will be great talks from dynamic presenters, opportunities for prayer and reflection, music, and more. With its theme of “Be on Fire, Set the World on Fire,” the day will surely help to ignite our faith and inspire us on our journey towards Easter.”

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 1. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available.

For more information, including registration and cost, visit http://www.fallriverdiocese.org/2018-women-mens-conference/ or pick up a flyer at any parish in the diocese.

FALL RIVER — Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will celebrate the Rite of Election this Sunday, February 18, for men and women from throughout the Fall River Diocese who are preparing to become members of the Roman Catholic Church or who are preparing for full communion in the Church.  It will take place at 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.

The Rite of Election is celebrated in diocesan cathedrals annually throughout the world on the First Sunday of Lent. It marks the beginning of the final phase of preparation for those participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults –better known by the acronym RCIA- the process through which adults enter the Catholic Church.

In the context of the ceremony, Bishop da Cunha will formally acknowledge the readiness of the catechumens –those who are preparing for the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation and Eucharist) -and call them to the reception of the sacraments, to be conferred in most cases in their own parishes during the Easter Vigil on March 31.

The catechumens respond to the bishop’s call by expressing their desire for the sacraments and inscribing their names in what is called the Book of the Elect.  For the catechumens, this follows a period of study and reflection on the Word of God at their pace and with the assistance of parish instructors.

Sunday’s Rite of Election also includes the Call to Continuing Conversion for persons called candidates in the RCIA process. Candidates are those who have been baptized in other Christian traditions who now seek to become members of the Catholic Church or baptized Catholics who had no instruction in the faith and are now preparing for Eucharist and confirmation.

Bishop da Cunha will seek the approval from the sponsors of these candidates for the continuation of their preparation for reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

NEW BEDFORD — Parishioners in the New Bedford Deanery will have two opportunities each day to take part in their deanery’s Lenten Retreat set for March 19 – 21. The retreat will be offered in the context of both a 12 noon and 7 p.m. Mass each day at St. Mary’s Church, which is located at 343 Tarkiln Hill Road in New Bedford. All are invited to attend.

Jesuit Father Jack Butler (in photo at right), who oversees Mission and Ministry at Boston College, will lead the three-day retreat. Beginning at Boston College in 2002 as a campus minister, he became founding director of the college’s new Manresa House in 2007, a place where members of the BC community could go to explore a  religious vocation. At the same time, he served as vocations director for the New England Province of the Society of Jesus. In 2010, he was appointed vice president for the Division of University Mission and Ministry at Boston College. The college’s website explains that, “The Division of University Mission and Ministry coordinates and develops the university-wide process of maintaining and promoting the distinctive academic and societal mission of Boston College as a Catholic and Jesuit university.”

The New Bedford Deanery Lenten Retreat will also offer daily opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confessions will be heard 30 minutes before each of the Masses.

TAUNTON — “After This Our Exile: A People Seeking a Refuge” will be the theme of a Lenten Mission for parishioners in the Taunton Deanery. It will take place over four consecutive evenings at 7 p.m., beginning Sunday, March 4, at two church locations. On Sunday and Monday, the Lenten Mission will be offered at St. Ann Church, 660 North Main St., in Raynham; on Tuesday and Wednesday, at St. Andrew Church, 19 Kilmer Ave., in Taunton. Each evening will focus a specific topic within the mission’s overall theme and will feature a different presenter. The schedule is as follows:

• Sunday: Prayer, to be preached by Deacon Matt Gill in the context of Eucharistic Adoration. Deacon Gill is finishing his preparation for ordination to the priesthood for service in the Fall River Diocese.
• Monday: Fasting, to be preached by Father Jim Doherty, C.S.C., in the context of Mass. Father Doherty is pastor of St. Mary Parish in Taunton.
• Tuesday: Almsgiving, to be preached by Father Kevin Cook in the context of Mass. Father Cook is pastor of Holy Family Parish in East Taunton.
• Wednesday, Reconciliation, to be preached by Father Tom Costa in the context of a Reconciliation Service. Father Costa is pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Taunton.

All are welcome to attend all or as many nights as his or her schedule allows.

FALL RIVER – The Diocese of Fall River Catholic Schools Office (CSO) has announced that Mary Pat Tranter, Ph.D. (in photo), President of Coyle and Cassidy High School and Middle School in Taunton, will be joining the CSO as Director of Strategic Initiatives. This new appointment takes effect on July 1, 2018.

Reflecting on her transition Dr. Tranter shared, “Accepting this position is bittersweet for me since Coyle and Cassidy has been my family, home and life for the past 27 years.  The greatest gift that my parents gave me, besides the gift of life, was the gift of a Catholic education.  Never did I imagine when I was pursuing my Ph.D. at Harvard Medical School, that I would be called to a life of service at the very school that built the foundation for my future educational success.  I strongly believe that Catholic education is a national treasure that needs to be preserved.  I am humbled by the opportunity to not only work for the best interest of Coyle and Cassidy but for all of the schools in the Diocese of Fall River.”

In her new role, Dr. Tranter will work on a number of initiatives including the diocesan solar power initiative, providing consultation and technical assistance to Catholic School leaders to assist them with establishing effective Catholic school boards, coordinating the CSO’s review of school-based financial efficiency measures, and forming partnerships with targeted government and not-for-profit organizations to provide much needed services for family and children.

“I want to thank Dr. Tranter for her deep commitment and service to the Coyle and Cassidy High School and Middle School community. For the past 27 years and 11 of these years as its President, Dr. Tranter has provided extraordinary leadership,” stated Fall River Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Steve Perla

A search for a new President of Coyle and Cassidy High School and Middle School will commence immediately to ensure a smooth transition.

“We look forward to continuing to advance the mission of the School,” Perla said.

HYANNIS – St. Margaret Regional School in Buzzards Bay will join with St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School and St. John Paul II High School in Hyannis to create one Pre-kindergarten through grade 12 school.  Students in Pre-K through grade 4 will stay at St. Margaret Regional School while students in grades 5 through 8 will move to join St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School, effective July 1, 2018.

“This new realignment along with strategic investments in the St. Margaret Regional School’s facility and in the education program will strengthen and advance the overall mission of Catholic school education on Cape Cod,” stated Fall River Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Steve Perla.

Under the new structure Mr. Chris Keavy, current St. John Paul II High School Head of School, will provide leadership across all grade levels and oversee a principal at each campus.

In addition to the reorganization, St. Margaret Regional School Principal Mrs. Joyce Allison-Saucier has resigned. Mr. Perla expressed his gratitude for Mrs. Allison-Saucier’s dedication, saying, “I would like to thank Mrs. Allison-Saucier for her 24 years of service to the St. Margaret Regional School community as a teacher and principal. We are deeply grateful to her for her commitment to the students and families of St. Margaret Regional School during these many years.”

Dr. George Milot, Former Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Fall River, has been appointed Interim Principal of St. Margaret Regional School. Dr. Milot has over 36 years of service in Catholic school education as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

Mr. Perla met with faculty and staff yesterday to inform them of the reorganization. Parents and families were notified by email and also invited to attend a parents’ meeting at St. Margaret Regional School tomorrow night, Thursday, March 8, at 6:30 p.m., with Mr. Perla, Dr. Milot, and Mr. Keavy.

Recognizing that this new plan has implications for St. Margaret Regional School students and families, the Diocesan Catholic Schools Office has taken steps to mitigate tuition, transportation, and educational concerns. Details regarding the implementation of this reorganization and the support that will be provided to families will be given at the parent meeting on Thursday, March 8th, and in ongoing written communication.

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

FALL RIVER — On Tuesday of Holy Week, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., joined by priests of the Diocese, will celebrate the annual Chrism Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral – a celebration that includes the blessing of oils and the renewing of priestly promises. It will take place at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, and all are invited to attend.

Oil is an ancient symbol of strengthening, healing and preparation and, following the homily in the Mass, Bishop da Cunha will bless the three oils to be used in the sacramental life of the Diocese during the year. The Oil of the Sick and the Oil of the Catechumens consist of an olive oil and are blessed in the same way holy water is blessed. The Oil of the Sick is used for the anointing of all who are ill and in need of God’s healing; the Oil of the Catechumens is used for the anointing of infants, children and adults who are preparing for baptism.

The Mass takes its name from the third oil, the Sacred Chrism, the most eminent of the three. It is olive oil mixed with balsam, and it will be consecrated by the bishop during the Mass. The bishop will breathe on the oil, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Sacred Chrism is used in baptisms, confirmations, ordinations, and the dedication and blessing of churches and altars.

The Chrism Mass is also a time for priests in the presence of the bishop and the faithful to renew their commitment to the ministry to which they were ordained. Bishop da Cunha will then ask the lay faithful present at the Mass to pray for their priests as well as for him in his service as diocesan bishop.

After the Mass, the oils are distributed to all parishes in the Diocese for their use throughout the year.

St. Mary’s Cathedral is located at 327 Second Street at the corner of Spring Street in Fall River.

FALL RIVER — A special prayer service called Tenebrae is held each year on the Wednesday evening of Holy Week at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. This year, it will take place on Wednesday, March 28, beginning at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Rooted in monastic tradition, this service of readings, psalms and hymns begins in the light which eventually fades into darkness as the candles in the sanctuary are gradually extinguished. The word Tenebrae is Latin for “darkness” or “shadows.”

Christians of all denominations and their clergy are invited to participate as a means of sharing worship during these holy days when the focus of all the followers of Jesus Christ is on his passion, death and resurrection.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., of the Fall River Diocese will preside at the service and by custom a minister from another Christian denomination will preach. Clergy are welcome to enter the sacristy chapel of the Cathedral to vest according to their own tradition and to participate in the procession.

TAUNTON — To strengthen Catholic school education in Taunton, the Diocese of Fall River’s Catholic School leaders are taking a number of short- and long-term steps.

In the short-term, St. Mary Primary School in Taunton is being closed at the end of this school year. St. Mary Primary School families are being encouraged to enroll their children in Our Lady of Lourdes School, Taunton, to form one Pre-K – Grade 4 School in the city. Coyle and Cassidy High School and Middle School will add Grade 5 starting July 1, 2018, and continue to serve Catholic school students in grades 6-12.

“The decision to close St. Mary Primary School, although extraordinarily difficult, we believe will result in a stronger Catholic school educational program for all of the elementary school students in Taunton,” stated Diocese of Fall River Superintendent of Schools Steve Perla. “Through these steps we are developing a seamless Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 12 system (to be housed at 2 campuses), which will greatly benefit all of Taunton Catholic school students.”

During the past 5 years, the Taunton Catholic schools have experienced a significant decline in enrollment resulting in considerable financial challenges. Also, serious building issues at St. Mary Primary School have necessitated that these immediate short-term steps be taken to ensure a viable and sustainable future.

The Leadership Teams of both St. Mary Primary School and Our Lady of Lourdes School have been working to ensure a smooth transition for all students. Activities and events are being planned for this spring to unite the two school communities into one new school community. Current Our Lady of Lourdes School’s tuition rates will apply for all families who enroll from St. Mary Primary School to Our Lady of Lourdes School.

Coyle and Cassidy High School and Middle School is also working intentionally with students transitioning to Grade 5 to help them adjust to the change. Grade 5 will remain a self-contained classroom. First priority will be granted to those students from St. Mary Primary School and Our Lady of Lourdes School who wish to enroll in Coyle and Cassidy High School and Middle School’s Grade 5 program. For those students, the Grade 5 tuition at Coyle and Cassidy High School and Middle School will be equivalent to the tuition of Our Lady of Lourdes School.

In the long-term, a Visioning Committee will be established to work with diocesan Catholic school leaders to develop a roadmap for the future of Catholic school education in Taunton. The Committee will be comprised of 15 key stakeholders representing leadership, faculty, parents, students, and key philanthropists. The Committee will be convened in May 2018.

Parents have been invited to a meeting with the Catholic Schools Office Leadership Team on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. in Coyle and Cassidy High School and Middle School’s auditorium.

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

The Listening Session with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., scheduled for Wednesday, March 21, 2018, in St. Ann Church in Raynham has been postponed because of the nor’easter forecast to begin Wednesday afternoon. The Listening Session will be rescheduled for sometime after Easter. An announcement of the new date will be forthcoming.

FALL RIVER — With an over year-long audit process now complete, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., has announced the release of a Financial Transparency Report for the Chancery Operations for the Fall River Diocese.

The report is a comparative look at Fiscal Year 2017 versus Fiscal Year 2016 for Chancery Operations. The Chancery is the central administration office in the diocese.

“After more than a year of hard work by our staff and independent auditors, I am glad to issue our first audited financial report,” Bishop da Cunha said. “I am happy to report that the audits performed for FY 2016 and FY 2017 received unqualified or ‘clean’ opinions indicating our financial records and statements are fairly and appropriately presented and in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).”

The Fall River Diocese engaged the services of Grant Thornton, a global accounting firm with experience working with the Catholic Church, to conduct the audit.

Noting that this report marks the beginning of “an era of financial transparency in the Diocese,” Bishop da Cunha shared his hope that, “trust will again be built and a spirit of collaboration and participation by all our faithful will support our efforts now and in the future.”

The bishop explained that a published report on the financial condition of the diocesan operations has long been a priority of his, but the many challenges needing attention by the Diocese and the complexity of its finances hindered the process.

Bishop da Cunha expressed his gratitude to those whose dedicated efforts were essential to the completion of the audits and the preparation of the report.

The Financial Transparency Report and its accompanying financial statements are posted in their entirety on the Fall River Diocesan website at www.fallriverdiocese.org

A summary of the report will be published in the March 23^rd issue of the diocesan newspaper, The Anchor.

Diocesan Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Kevin R. Kiley, who oversaw the audit process, described the Financial Transparency Report as a “foundational step toward providing for complete financial transparency.” He said going forward the scope of the audit would expand over time to include diocesan parishes, schools and other affiliates of Corporation Sole.

Read the Financial Transparency Report here.

FALL RIVER — Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V, will celebrate the Fall River Diocesan Television Mass on Easter Sunday, April 1, at a special time. The TV Mass on Easter will expand to a full hour and will be aired from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on WLNE-TV, Channel 6.

It will be a delayed broadcast of the 10 a.m. Easter Mass celebrated by Bishop da Cunha in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River.  The Very Rev. Richard D. Wilson, who is Rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, will concelebrate the Mass with the bishop and Deacon Peter R. Cote will serve as deacon.

Music for the liturgy will be led by the St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir, under the direction of organist Madeleine Grace.

Mother Nature and Easter Joy

“Look at the birds in the sky…from the way the wild flowers grow” (Mt. 6:26, 28).

 When autumn arrives every year, we feel in the air and see all around us the changes taking place in nature.  There is a festival of changing colors.  Deep green turns into yellow, red, brown, and a few other shades in between.  Then the leaves begin to fall and the trees lose their beauty.  By late December, they are apparently lifeless.  If we wonder why they lose their leaves, it is nature’s way of protecting itself.  The leaves fall to keep branches from breaking with the heavy snows of winter and also to protect roots from freezing.

By now, we’ve gone through the short days and long nights of winter, but in the last few weeks we’ve seen our days getting longer and nights getting shorter.  A few days ago, we celebrated the arrival of spring.  Now, with spring here, we see new signs of life all around us. The grass will soon be turning green again; trees will soon be full of leaves; flowers will embellish our homes, lawns, sidewalks and parks everywhere.  We know that the cold and darkness of winter is behind us.  “How varied are Your works, LORD!  In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. Send forth Your spirit, they are created and You renew the face of the earth” (Ps. 104:24; 30).  “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created” (Ps. 148:5).

We need to learn a lesson from nature:  “This contemplation of creation allows us to discover in each thing a teaching which God wishes to hand onto us, since for the believer; to contemplate creation is to hear a message, to listen to a paradoxical and silent voice” (St. John Paul II, Catechesis).  Like nature preparing for the winter, we too, begin our Lenten season with the process of dying.  We received ashes on Ash Wednesday as a sign of our own willingness to let go as we journey toward Easter.  We move from the ashes of penance and dying, from the ashes of sin and selfishness, to the glory of new life and hope at Easter.

When we celebrate Easter, we go through a renewal in our lives, just as nature does.  So, when you see the signs of new life this spring, when you feel the warmth of the sun, when you see flowers blossoming and leaves growing on trees, remember that God is inviting us to renew our lives as well.  He is inviting us to leave behind the old self and fill ourselves with new hope.  He wants us to share in Christ’s Resurrection, but in order to share this glory, we need to let go, to let what is sinful and evil in us die  so that we can live a new life with Him forever.  Christ is our light, and with His grace we can pass from darkness to light, from sin to grace, from death to life.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.”  “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:4; 5).

Indeed, even in the midst of what seems to be death and doom, darkness and ashes, life is just under the surface waiting to bloom, to blossom, to grow and bear fruit.

Jesus let go of His Godliness, emptied Himself, went through His darkness, suffering and dying, but God raised Him and brought Him back to life.  If we hold to our faith and hope, God, our loving Father, will bring us also to a new life.  “To sense each creature singing the hymn of its existence is to live joyfully in God’s love and hope” (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan).

As is often sung during the Lenten season, “Abide with us, that so, this life of suffering overpast, an Easter of unending joy we may attain at last.”

 May the Lord Who rose victoriously from death, renew our faith and hope and fill us with joy and peace this Easter.

Happy Easter!  Feliz Páscoa!  Feliz Pascua  de Resurrección!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

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

Access Bishop da Cunha’s Easter Message as a pdf here

FALL RIVER — Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., has issued the following statement following the fatal shooting of Police Officer Sean Gannon:

“Like so many, I am stunned and deeply saddened by the tragic death yesterday of Yarmouth Police Officer Sean Gannon. I think it makes all of us pause to consider the dangers inherent in the daily work of those in law enforcement and public safety.

“I ask members of the Catholic community across the Fall River Diocese to pray with me for the peaceful repose of Officer Gannon and for strength and comfort for his family in their heartbreaking loss. I extend my personal condolences to them.  Officer Gannon’s mother and father, Denise and Patrick Gannon, are known to many throughout the Diocese from their longtime service as pastoral musicians. I hope that they find some solace in knowing that their many friends among our priests and lay faithful share their sorrow and embrace them in thought and prayer.

“It is important also to keep in mind members of the Yarmouth Police Department who are grieving the violent loss of a colleague.  They have our prayerful support at this difficult time and an assurance of our continued gratitude for their dedicated service.”

FALL RIVER — The Fall River Diocese will begin the 77^th annual Catholic Charities Appeal in May with a theme of “Sharing Faith and Hope,” chosen to underscore the mission of the services and programs made possible by the springtime campaign.

Proceeds from the Catholic Charities Appeal fund the charitable services and ministries that are offered by Fall River Diocese throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands. The Appeal will take place from May 1 through June 27.

“Sharing Faith and Hope,” the theme selected for this year, “well reflects the work of the many programs, ministries and services sponsored by the Fall River Diocese to provide spiritual and material help,” writes Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., in his letter on the Appeal.

The bishop points out that Scripture offers numerous accounts of Jesus’ special concern for the sick, the needy, the discouraged, and the disenfranchised.

“Each year at this time, I ask for your support of the Catholic Charities Appeal to enable our Diocesan Church to follow His example, to share faith and hope in our time, in our communities…,” Bishop da Cunha says.

Support of the Appeal enables faith to be shared in diocesan pastoral care to the sick in all area hospitals, through campus ministry, youth and young adult ministry, prison chaplaincy, faith formation and other pastoral endeavors.

Support of the Appeal enables hope to be shared through the numerous programs of Catholic Social Services including basic needs assistance, food pantries, emergency shelters, transitional housing, adoption services, counseling and more, along with diocesan outreach to immigrants, to those with disabilities, and to those trying to rebuild their lives after incarceration.

“The concept of sharing is central to the focus of the Appeal, as it is central to our faith as Catholics who are aware of the obligation not only to recognize the needs of the vulnerable among us but also to offer them assistance and hope,” said Catholic Charities Appeal Director Mike Donly.

Strengthening the ministries and services offered by the Diocese is among the principal goals of the strategic planning process launched by Bishop da Cunha earlier this year.  The Appeal theme echoes the intent of this planning process to rebuild in faith and hope.

The Catholic Charities Appeal is the one and only time during the year when the Fall River Diocese asks for financial help to fund its charitable agencies and programs, which are open to anyone regardless of creed, race, nationality, gender or economic status. It maintains a low administrative expense ratio: 94 cents of every dollar contributed is directed to the services and programs funded by the Appeal, according to Donly.

In 2017, the Appeal raised $4.78 million.

Expressing his “deep gratitude” for the past support of parishioners, area businesses and community friends, Bishop da Cunha said that he now comes to all again “to ask for your contribution to assist us in ‘Sharing Faith and Hope’” through the Catholic Charities Appeal.

Additional information is available on the Appeal website, www.frdioc-catholiccharities.org, including video testimonies from those who have been helped by Appeal-funded services and a statement of revenue and expenditures from the 2017 Appeal.

Contributions to the Catholic Charities Appeal may be made either through a one-time donation or through a pledge payable over ten months. Donations may be dropped off at any parish in the diocese, made through its website, or mailed to the Catholic Charities Appeal Office, P.O. Box 1470, Fall River, MA 02722.

FALL RIVER —Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will present the Pope Saint Pius X Youth Award to 57 young persons from parishes throughout the Fall River Diocese in the context of a prayer service at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 8, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.

The annual award, named for the pontiff who created the Fall River Diocese in 1904 and presented for the first time in 2001, recognizes teens who serve their parish community with selflessness, commitment and dedication.

Nominated for the honor by their pastor, recipients are active in a variety of ministries and programs within their parishes. Some are lectors, Eucharistic ministers, teachers in parish religious education programs; others are altar servers, leaders in youth groups, and members of retreat teams.

Pope St. Pius X Youth Award recipients must have already received the Sacrament of Confirmation, be at least a sophomore in high school and not older than 19. Recipients will participate in the award prayer service, offering readings, intercessory prayers and reflections.

Those honored with the 2018 Pope St. Pius X Youth Award and their parishes are listed below by deanery.

Attleboro Deanery

Kevin Baker, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Attleboro; Maura Crump, St .Mark Parish, Attleboro Falls; Abigail E. Hare, St. Mary Parish, North Attleboro; Kira F. Hellard, St. Mary Parish, Mansfield; Isabella Herman, St. Mary Parish, Norton; Abigael R. LaFleur, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Seekonk; Lily A Nguyen, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Attleboro; Thomas H. Rinkacs, Sacred Heart Parish, North Attleboro; and Benjamin Wheeler, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Attleboro.

Cape Cod Deanery

Colby August, Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville; Lucille A. Bresette, St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle Parish, Nantucket; Eilish C. Dillon, St. Pius X Parish, South Yarmouth; Elizabeth M. Ednie, Our Lady of the Cape Parish, Brewster; Melissa C. Ham, St. Anthony Parish, East Falmouth; Isabel Heard, St. Patrick Parish, Falmouth; Hannah R. Laird, Christ the King Parish, Mashpee; Christopher McGuire, St. Margaret Parish, Buzzards Bay; Maria D. Miller, Corpus
Christi Parish, East Sandwich; and Jeremiah Tessier, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Orleans.

Fall River Deanery

Jacob W. Biello, St. Patrick Parish, Somerset; Jonathan Cabral, St. Louis de France Parish, Swansea; Luke Cabral, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fall River; Abigail Cadorette, St. Thomas More Parish, Somerset; Aliyah Cioe, St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish, Fall River; Shayne Dias, Good Shepherd Parish, Fall River; Noah A. Gagnon, St. John the Baptist Parish, Westport; Maya M. Joncas, St. Bernard Parish, Assonet; Elijah P. LaCroix, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Swansea; Andrew Leger, St. George Parish, Westport; Mary Mahoney-Pacheco, Holy Name Parish, Fall River; Carley Medeiros, St. Stanislaus Parish, Fall River; Brady Mello, St. Joseph Parish, Fall River; Adam T. Moniz, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Westport; Nicholas E. Rachel, St. Bernadette Parish, Fall River; Christian Resendes, St. Michael Parish, Fall River; and Jillian P. Wilson, St. Dominic Parish, Swansea.

New Bedford Deanery

Emma M. Bernier, St. Julie Billiart Parish, Dartmouth; Andrew Carusi, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, New Bedford; Noah DeTerra, St. Joseph Parish, Fairhaven; Helena O. Farias, Immaculate Conception Parish, New Bedford; Tricia Fernandes, St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, New Bedford; Kyle Manny, St. John Neumann Parish, East Freetown; George V. Martin, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Bedford; Nina V. Medeiros, St. Mary Parish, Dartmouth; Alexander C. Moulding, St. Patrick Parish, Wareham; Abby-Lin C. Resendes, St. Mary Parish, New Bedford; Jake D. Riggs, St. Mary Parish, Fairhaven; Daniela Rivas, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, New Bedford; Joshua St. Pierre, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet; and Jadin M. Taylor, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, New Bedford

Taunton Deanery

Ifunanyachukio O. Akanegbu, Immaculate Conception Parish, North Easton; Madison R. Bissonnette, Holy Family Parish, East Taunton; Megan Gover, Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Taunton; Thomas E. Nichols, St. Anthony Parish, Taunton; Brandon Rodrigues, St. Mary Parish, Taunton; Garrett Sanderson, St. Nicholas of Myra Parish, North Dighton; and Lily C. Williams, Holy Cross Parish, South Easton

MOTHER’S DAY

(This prayer may be used prior to the Grace Before Meals or at the conclusion of dinner.)

Loving God,
as a mother gives life and nourishment to her children,
so you watch over your Church.
Bless our Mother.
Let the example of her faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, her family,
may honor her always
with a spirit of profound respect.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.

Prayer taken from the Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, Revised Edition, copyright © 2007, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C.

FALL RIVER — All are welcome to a “Hymn Fest for Our Lady” to take place at 4 p.m., Sunday, May 20, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, at the corner of Second and Spring Streets in Fall River.

Traditional Catholic hymns such as “Bring Flowers of the Rarest,” “`Tis the Month of Our Mother,” and “On This Day, O Beautiful Mother” will be played by organist Peter Krasinski as vocalist Mark Nemeskal leads the congregation in singing.

Hymnologist Peter Meggison of Westport will introduce each hymn with a brief reflection on its history and significance in Catholic devotional life.

Planners of the “Hymn Fest for Our Lady” are offering this special music event as an opportunity to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary during the month traditionally dedicated to her.

Meggison extends an invitation to all to “join us down this trip through ‘memory lane’ as we honor Mary in this special way.”

“Whether you learned these old favorites in Catholic school, at novenas or May devotions, or are just interested in music for Mary, this spiritually-filled encounter will inspire both young and old alike,” he said.

For further information, please contact Meggison at pmeggison@aol.com.

FALL RIVER — Diocesan seminarian Ryan J. Healy will be ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., in an 11 a.m. Mass on Saturday, May 19, 2018, in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River. All are welcome to attend.

Healy, who is 25, recently completed his third year of theological studies at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass.

Once ordained a deacon, he will be able to assist the priest at Mass and be an ordinary minister of the Eucharist, proclaim the Gospel and preach, baptize, and minister at other services.

It is anticipated that he will be ordained a priest for the Fall River Diocese next year.

An Attleboro native, Healy is the son of Richard and Christine Healy of that city. His home parish is St. John the Evangelist there, and he is a graduate of Bishop Feehan High School, also in Attleboro.

He went to Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, for two years before entering Our Lady of the Providence Seminary in Providence, R.I., and Providence College from which he graduated in 2015. He then began studies at St. John’s Seminary.

As a seminarian, he spent summers assisting at Good Shepherd and St. Stanislaus Parishes in Fall River and at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in North Falmouth.

During his final year of formation for the priesthood, Healy will complete his fourth year of theology at St. John’s and serve weekends at Holy Family Parish in East Taunton.