Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, August 19, 2022
Mass of remembrance for St. Mother Teresa to be celebrated at St. Lawrence Martyr Church on 25th anniversary of her death By Dave Jolivet Editor
davejolivet@anchornews.org
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., leads a procession with the International Statue of Our Lady of Fatima during the recent International Pilgrimage at the Shrine of Fatima in Portugal. Story on page two. (Photo from the Shrine of Fatima Facebook page)
Help needed to ease the supply shortage facing the Solanus Casey Food Pantry NEW BEDFORD — With an increase in demand for its services and a decrease in supplies available to it, the Solanus Casey Food Pantry in New Bedford is seeking to navigate a storm affecting its ability to feed the hungry. One of the largest food pantries in Southeastern Massachusetts, the Solanus Casey Food Pantry has had a 67 percent increase in the number of clients accessing its services since January of 2022, and a 22 percent increase since May of 2022. High prices in stores, pandemic-level Supplemen-
tal Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits being reduced or lost and depleted stock levels in existing stores have contributed to the issue. Also, the Boston Food Bank, which supplies most of the food distributed at the Solanus Casey Food Pantry, has reduced the maximum order weight by 30 percent in the past year. Other weekly donations are also down and several other food pantries in the area have closed or also have reduced stock. With the uptick in demand and the decrease 8 Turn to page seven
NEW BEDFORD — June 14, 1995 was a dreary, rainy day in the Whaling City, but the weather never dampened the excitement and enthusiasm for the visit of the beloved Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The saint-to-be was visiting the members of her order, the Missionaries of Charity, who had just begun to minister in New Bedford. She visited the rectory St. Lawrence Martyr
Church, where the then-diocesan Director of Communication, Msgr. John J. Moore and then-Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Conv., hosted the tiny woman with the large heart prior to a Mass at the church. As the day of the 25th anniversary of St. Mother Teresa’s death approached, the Missionaries of Charity, who still live across the street from St. Lawrence Church, approached pastor Father Michael Racine to ask if he would celebrate a Mass of remembrance for
her. “I’m going to have a special mass commemorating her passing 25 years ago on Monday, September 5, which is Labor Day,” Father Racine told The Anchor. “It’s the actual day, so it’s appropriate that we do it. The Mass will be at 10 a.m. at St. Lawrence. All are invited to come and pray with the sisters.” On that day in 1995, the church was filled to capacity with priests, Missionaries of Charity, religious and faithful fortunate 8 Turn to page three
St. Mother Teresa prays during a Mass at St. Lawrence Martyr Church in New Bedford during her June 14, 1995 visit there. A Mass of remembrance will be celebrated at the same church on September 5, the 25th anniversary of her passing. (Anchor file photo) August 19, 2022 † 1