no·w at $1,301,855.11 \
The Catholic Charities Appeal, closing officially today, stands at $1,301,855.11,. according to an announcement made by Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, diocesan appeal director. .He noted, however, that many parish returns, priests' donations and special gifts are yet to be reported. He said that such contribu tions must be made at Appeal headquarters in Fall River by to
day in order to be included in this year's figures. "The final total .of the 1983 appeal will be published in next week's Anchor," he said, .adding "I hope that every one of our 112 parishes will be 'over the top' today." HODor Ron Listing honor roll parishes, Msgr. Gomes singled out for special mention St. Pius X, South Yarmouth. He said it is "the
first parish of the diocese ever to achieve a total of $40,000" noting that its present total is $41,163 and that it is not yet the final figure. . to the "Congratulations priests and parishioners of St. Pius Xl" said the Appeal direc tor. In all 74 parishes have thus far surpassed their 1982 final totals. The following parishes were added to the honor roll
since last week's Anchor report: Holy Ghost, St. Joseph, Attle boro; St. Mark, Attleboro Falls, St. Theresa, Attleboro; St. Mary, Mansfield. Sacred Heart, St. Mary, No. Attleboro; St. Mary, Norton; St. Mary, Mt. Carmel, Seekonk. Our Lady of Victory, Center ville; Holy Redeemer, Chatham; St. Anthony, E. Falmouth; st Elizabeth, Edgartown. St. Patrick, Falmouth; Sacred
t eanc 0 FALL RIVER, MASS., FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1983
VOL. 27, NO. 20
Heart, Oak ,Bluffs; Assumption, Osterville; St. Peter, Province town. St. Pius X, So. Yarmouth; St. Joseph, Woods Hone; Holy Cross, "lotre Dame, Our Lady of Health, Fall River. Holy Rosary, St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. Stanislaus, Fall River; St. John, Central Village. Our Lady of Fatima, Swansea; Assumption, Immaculate Concep Turn to PSlge Six
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS'
$18 Per Year
The· parish that wouldn't quit
On May 11, 1982, members of Notre Dame parish, Fall River, watched their church reduced to a firegutted shell. Last Wednesday, a year later to the day, they celebrated the feast of the Ascension by pOlel: ing St. Mary's Cathedral to the doors for a Mass of thanks giving. Its theme was triumphantly expressed by the Notre Dame junior choir whose communion hymn was "God Is So Good to Us" and by the adult choristers whose recessional choice was "Ode to Joy." It was reinforced by Father Ernest E. Blais, Notre Dame pastor, who told his people at the end of Mass "You' made me a happy priest." Priest and congregation were thanking God for a parish that wouldn't quit, despite the loss of its historic home. They were grateful for last May's commun ity response to their plight, an outpouring of concern unequaled in the history of Fall River. And they looked forward with hope to construction of a new Notre Dame, scheduled to begin this fall. They recalled the international attention paid the Notre Dame fire, with reports of people who saw and heard about it in Eu rope and in Canada. Word of the conflagration was spread throughout the United States by network news pro grams. It brought aid from many, in particular from memo bers of the Society of St. Vin cent de Paul. They supported their fellows in the Fall River diocese 'who wrote a bright page in the organization's history, workinlJ for months at resettling families left homeless by the fire. Turn to Page ·SUe
i
G~udette
Photo
Marching towards St. Mary's Cathedral, hundreds of parishioners follow Father Ernest E. BI.ais, pastor, and Father Normand Grenier, associate pastor of Notre Dame Church, on a Holy Year pilgrimage held one year to the day after fire destroyed the Fall River landmark. .