Diocese of Fall River, Mass.
F riday , May 1, 2015
Pope St. Pius X Youth Award recipients react to honor
By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff
Award this year from Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., within the context of FALL RIVER — When he was first a prayer service on May 5 at St. Mary’s notified that he’d be receiving the 2015 Cathedral in Fall River. Pope St. Pius X Youth Award for his The annual award, named for the contributions at Christ the King Parish pontiff who created the Fall River Dioin Mashpee, Kevin Agostinelli said his cese in 1904 and presented for the first initial reaction was one of surprise. time in 2001, recognizes teens who serve “To me, it’s more about the recogni- their parish community with selflessness, tion for my work throughout the parish,” commitment and dedication. Agostinelli told The Anchor. “I’ve always Nominated for the honor by their been active with the Church and I’ve pastor, recipients are active in a variety been involved with a lot of the youth of ministries and programs within their programs at Christ the King, so I’m defi- parishes. Some are lectors, extraordinary nitely satisfied that I’ve been able to reap ministers of Holy Communion, teachers the benefits with this award.” in parish Religious Education programs; Agostinelli will be among more than others are altar servers, leaders in youth 50 teen-agers from parishes throughout groups, and members of retreat teams. the Fall River Diocese who will receive In order to be eligible for the Pope St. the prestigious Pope St. Pius X Youth Turn to page 14
This is a screen shot from one of five Catholic Charities Appeal videos produced to display the many good works performed in the Diocese of Fall River thanks to the generous donations to the Appeal by thousands of faithful. The videos were specific to each of the five diocesan deaneries and the works performed in them. To view any of the videos visit www.frdioc-catholiccharities.org.
Videos illustrate when it comes to the annual Charities Appeal, it is indeed ‘What We Do’ of Fairhaven, and newly-installed Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., have colFAIRHAVEN — Every picture is laborated to show faithful across the dioworth a thousand words, and the mil- cese, “What We Do.” The videos, which have been shown lions of words emanating from the five at regional kickoff events and at some 2015 Catholic Charities Appeal videos churches, are recorded in English, Spantell stories of hope, courage, faith, healish and Portuguese, and are directed toing, compassion, and the day-to-day living out of Jesus’ Beatitudes from His wards those living in towns in each of the five diocesan deaneries; Attleboro, beloved Sermon on the Mount. For 71 years the Fall River diocesan Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford, and Cape Cod and the IsCatholic Charities lands. Appeal has been servEach of the viding those in need eos begin with a brief from the Attleboros montage of Bishop through Taunton, da Cunha’s life, beNew Bedford, Fall ginning in Brazil and River, Cape Cod and ending up in the Fall the Islands, and evRiver Diocese. “Even erywhere in between. The annual Appeal is the source of though I have been here for a short time,” renewals, new lives, and second chances Bishop da Cunha tells viewers, “I have for thousands of individuals who, for come to know and love the people that one reason or another, are in dire straits God has entrusted to my pastoral care.” The bishop continues, “As you join us and are in need of the assistance of their in this mission of service, I hope that you brothers and sisters. This year’s campaign begins, as it usu- will find joy in the Lord’s call to share ally does, with kickoff events and ex- your gifts with our needy brothers and tremely informative and moving video sisters.” “The collaboration with Bishop da testimonies of those who help and those Cunha and Dave Fortin has been trewho are being helped. And sometimes mendous,” Campbell told The Anchor. former helpers are the ones being helped today by the generous donations to the “Dave is a tremendous producer and Bishop da Cunha has added so much of Appeal. This year, the diocesan Development his own input into the videos.” “Putting together the media for the Office, under director James Campbell, media production expert Dave Fortin, of Catholic Charities Appeal is a huge unTurn to page 18 Media Image Productions, Inc. based out By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor
The members of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts — United States Province, whose headquarters are in Fairhaven and Kaneohe, Hawaii, recently selected their new provincial government to serve for the next three years. Elected Provincial Superior for a second term was Father Johnathan Hurrell. Father Stanley Kolasa was chosen as Vicar Provincial for Massachusetts with Father Herman Gomes as Vicar Provincial for Hawaii. Father Martin Gomes, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Fairhaven, was elected as Massachusetts councilor while his Hawaiian counterpart is Brother Richard Kupo. In 2011, the East Coast and Hawaiian Provinces merged to create the United States Province. Pictured, from left, are Father Herman Gomes, Father Martin Gomes, Father Johnathan Hurrell, Father Stanley Kolasa and Brother Richard Kupo.
Breaking down diocese’s responses to the latest synod questionnaire By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff
FALL RIVER — In October of 2014, the Synod of Bishops entered into the formation of small groups and ended with a concluding document, “Relatio Synodi,” found in its entirety on the Vatican website, and which addresses “The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization” through three comprehensive parts. “At the Extraordinary General Assembly of October 2014, the Bishop of
Rome called upon the Synod of Bishops to reflect upon the critical and invaluable reality of the family,” reads the document’s introduction, “a reflection which will then be pursued in greater depth at its Ordinary General Assembly scheduled to take place in October of 2015, as well as during the full year between the two synodal events. ‘The convenire in unum around the Bishop of Rome is already an event of grace, in which episcopal collegiality is made manifest in a Turn to page 15