Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, march 7, 2025
Pray, Fast, and Give: Preparing for the 40 Days of Lent
Called by Name campaign gives hope for Vocations By Joan D. Warren Editor
joandwarren@anchornews.org
Mass on Ash Wednesday in 2024 at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Fall River. This year, the Ash Wednesday Mass was on March 5, the start of the season of Lent, the 40-day period of preparing for the commemoration of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Most Reverend Apr. 20. The 40 days of Lent call each of us to a Edgar da Cunha, S.D.V.,D.D. time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; it calls Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River each of us to embark on a journey of faith to deepen our relationship with Christ. Let us While it may seem like we just concluded embrace conversion and prepare our hearts for the celebrations of Christmas with the Feast of the joy of Easter. the Baptism of Jesus in early January, it’s already time to prepare for the 40 days of Lent. It began Pray on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and concludes As we journey through these 40 days, prayer with the celebration of the Easter Triduum and the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter Sunday, 8 Turn to page two
EAST SANDWICH — In the past four months since the Diocese of Fall River introduced the Called by Name campaign, there has been a promising outpouring of support aimed at encouraging more men to discern priestly vocations. Diocesan Vocations Director Father Jack Schrader (seen in photo) stated that more than 160 names of young men who may be open to learning more about the priesthood were submitted by families, pastors, and teachers from across the Diocese. Called by Name is an initiative designed to identify and accompany faithful young men who may have a calling to the priesthood. With support from Vocation Pathway, a highly focused strategy to help Vocation Offices increase priestly vocations, the Diocese is hopeful in attracting young men to join the priesthood. This strategy falls under the umbrella of Vianney Vocations, which implements effective approaches to fostering vocations, and the Melchizedek Project, which provides resources for those discerning the priesthood. The initiative begins with forming and training a robust Vocation Team, then identifying faithful young men and guiding them as they discern their vocations. Father Schrader shared that both he and Bishop Edgar da Cunha sent letters to each of the nominated men, inviting them to learn more about the program and encouraging them to participate in upcoming events. 8 Turn to page eight March 7, 2025 †
1