Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, May 5, 2023
82nd annual Catholic Appeal ushered in by the month of May 2023 theme is ‘Do this in memory of Me’
May — The Month of Mary Photo by Deacon Alan Thadeu
Tenth diocesan Permanent Diaconate class overcomes pandemic; ordination is May 20 By Dave Jolivet Editor
davejolivet@anchornews.org
FALL RIVER — A five-year formation process will bear fruit for 15 diocesan men on May 20 when Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. ordains them as Permanent Deacons for the diocese. The ordination will take place within the context of Holy Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral at 11 a.m. This will be the tenth graduation class of permanent deacons in diocesan history. There will be limited seats available to the public. The process began in March of 2018 with an aspirancy phase,
where potential candidates, and their wives, if married, were introduced to a deeper knowledge of theology, spirituality, and the diaconate ministry. They were led to a more attentive discernment of their calling. Those candidates who continued the formation process attended classes for four years, twice a week. This tenth class had arguably the most difficult formation path because of the COVID pandemic that shook the world in 2020. Father Robert Oliveira, co-director of the diocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate told 8 Turn to page 11
FALL RIVER—The 82nd Annual Catholic Appeal of the Diocese of Fall River officially kicked off on Monday, May 1, and runs through June 30. This year’s Appeal theme, “Do This in Memory of Me,” is inspired by the National Eucharistic Revival and calls us to serve our brothers and sisters in their moments of greatest need: to be the hands and feet of Jesus, loving one another as He has loved us. Since the Catholic Appeal first launched in 1942, annual gifts and pledges have supported all the agencies, programs, and ministries of the diocese, providing food and shelter, educating children and adults, and meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of tens of thousands of individuals and families. The diocese spans from Mansfield, Easton and the Attleboros, through the Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford areas, and extends all the way to Cape Cod and the Islands. In a message to the faithful of the Diocese of Fall River, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. stated, “The theme of our 82nd Annual Catholic Appeal, ‘Do This in Memory of Me,’ inspires us to keep the sacred mystery of our faith — the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist — at the center of how we live each moment of our lives. We are in the middle of a National Eucharistic Revival: an important opportunity for us to reconnect
with our Savior, with the Church, and with our faith. What better time to rekindle a flame of hope across the Diocese of Fall River, by sharing the gifts our Lord has so lovingly bestowed upon us. “Our modern world makes it very difficult to pass along the traditions and values we have shared as a Church for 2,000 years; this includes the practice of going to Mass. But it’s precisely because of these secular distractions that we must fight to uphold the teachings of our Catholic faith. Something as simple as gathering around a table and sharing a meal together binds us. This particular meal of the Eucharist, when we gather around the table of the Lord, promotes and brings about our unity in Jesus and with each other.” The Catholic Appeal supports the work of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River (formerly Catholic Social Services), which serves and ministers to nearly 40,000 individuals throughout the diocese each year. Catholic Charities offers assistance with basic and emergency needs including housing to women, men, children, and families, addiction recovery services, support for persons with disabilities, as well as much-needed sustenance to those suffering from food insecurity. In the past year, Catholic Chari8 Turn to page nine May 5, 2023 †
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