Diocese of Fall River
The Anchor
F riday , July 17, 2009
Diocesan committee maps out Year For Priests plans By Dave Jolivet, Editor
Father Marcel H. Bouchard
EAST SANDWICH — When Bishop George W. Coleman asked Father Marcel H. Bouchard, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, to coordinate activities in the Fall River Diocese with regards to the Year For Priests, he gratefully accepted. “For me, this is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the gift of the priesthood,” Father Bouchard told The Anchor, “and also share what the life of a priest is with the laity.” Bishop Coleman told his brother priests the crux of the Year For Priests is not only that priests come to a deeper understanding of their own priesthood, but to
share that deeper understanding with those they serve. He added that such an approach could well have an impact on future vocations since it will manifest in the faithful a greater appreciation of the priesthood. With that in mind, Father Bouchard enlisted the help of Father Mark R. Hession, pastor of Our Lady of Victory in Centerville, and diocesan director of the Office of Continuing Education and Formation of Clergy. “With Father Mark’s background, he is a great source of ideas, and he, too, is excited to put together some great events,” said Father Bouchard. In addition to Father Hession,
a committee with representatives from each of the five diocesan deaneries has been established to assist in the endeavor. Members include: Father John Ozug from the New Bedford Deanery; Father Kevin Cook, Taunton; Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, Attleboro; and Father Hugh McCullough, Fall River. Fathers Bouchard and Hession represent the Cape Cod Deanery. Already in the works to be incorporated into the Year For Priests are a diocesan retreat and convocation for priests, a Lenten Day of Prayer and Reflection, the Chrism Mass and dinner, and priestly ordination. Turn to page 18
Snowbirds: Nesting in their faith at home and abroad
“So, little Snowbird, take me with you when you go To that land of gentle breezes where the peaceful waters flow.” —“Snowbird” by Anne Murray By Deacon James N. Dunbar
EAST SANDWICH — Like many Snowbirds who head for the Sunbelt states when the New England frost begins to bite, Rosario “Sonny” Alesse and his wife Mary Gale find that while their venue for Masses and sacraments change from season to season, their faith always remains firmly planted. “Sure, we’ve been heading to Titusville in Florida for the past 11 years to get away from the cold … but another important reason is that we get free health care in Florida,” reported Mary Gale Alesse, who, with her husband is a member of Corpus Christi Parish in
East Sandwich. “We spend six or seven months in Florida, and while we’re there we attend St. Theresa’s Church in Titusville, which is a big church, but nowhere as large as ours at Corpus Christi,” she told The Anchor. So as two of approximately 950,000 who swell the state of Florida and make up nearly 6.3 percent of that state’s peak winter population, what does she see as differences among faith-filled Catholics in both locations? “I think generally people are more church-going in Florida than they are in New England, and as an example there were more than 400 Turn to page 18
CASTING A SPELL — Students from John Paul II High School in Hyannis performed a selection of songs from their recent production of “Godspell,” at the annual St. Mary’s Fund Dinner held July 10 at the New Seabury Country Club in Mashpee. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)
Fall River Deanery to host Year For Priests event By Dave Jolivet, Editor
FALL RIVER — The parishioners of Notre Dame de Lourdes and Immaculate Conception parishes, and their pastor, Father Richard L. Chretien, will welcome clergy and lay people to a Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, as part of the Fall River Deanery’s efforts to celebrate the Year For Priests. An 8 a.m. Mass at Notre Dame Church, 529 Eastern Avenue, on August 4, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John
Marie Vianney, patron saint of parish priests, will kick off the day. Eucharistic adoration will take place beginning at 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. A relic of St. John Vianney will also be available for veneration at that time. Confessions will be heard from 3-4 p.m., and Benediction will take place at 4:15 p.m. Father Chretien has invited all deanery priests to concelebrate a Mass in honor of St. John Vianney at 4:30 p.m., after which the
clergy are invited to a cold buffet. “As priests of the Fall River Deanery we are blessed to serve God’s people,” wrote Father Chretien. “This time of prayer will help both us and our parishioners to give thanks to God for the gift of the priesthood.” Father Chretien has also extended a welcome to all the faithful of the Fall River Deanery to “take time on that day to visit the church and pray for and give thanks for Turn to page 19