t ea ,C VOL. 42, NO.1. Friday, January 2, 1998
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS FALL RIVER, MASS.
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Permanent deacons gather for family Mass By JAMES N.
DUNBAR
FALL RIVER-Within a few years there will be as many permanent deacons in the Fall River diocese as there are priests, "offering a new face, a new reality in today's church that no one ever imagined," says Father John F. Moore, director of the permanent dia<:onate program. His comments came at the 22nd annual Diocesan Diaconate Family Mass and social held Dec. 26, the feast of St. Stephen - the first martyr and a deacon - at St. Stanislaus Church. Father Moore, who was principal celebrant and homilist, told the congregation that in the Boston diocese, there will be more retired deacons in the next five years than active deacons, "so they are looking, as all of us are, at where the permanent diaconate program is and where it is going." "We are very pleast:d that the
power of God has been with us to help us to have a sense of identity, and I am going to ask all of you to do that as we begin a new semester to welcome approximately 28 candidates in the new diaconate class the 24th in the diocese." As permanent deacons increase and take a special active role in the church community, "We have to realize the changes that are coming and that we must be inclusive, not exclusive," Father Moore noted. ''That is very difficult to do, because change in our lives is constant and daily. We face the loss of what we thought was a wonderful, nice, small group of people. When we think that way, we are thinking very small. So the increase in the diaconate is something we must have faith and hope in. What many are now realizing is that we cannot get along without our permanent deacons in our parish ministries and developing ministries; that he is a catalyst, not a lil.urgiqll function-
Former Navy chaplain to skipper So. Attleboro Parish By JAMES N. DUNBAR SOUTH ATTLEBORO-Just days after being named pa'>tor of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, former Navy chaplain Father James W. Fahey took time out from unpacking his sea bags and with a cup of black coffee, settled into an easy chair in the rectory off Baltic Street. How was it going? "I've always been a missionary since I began as a teenage seminarian with the Columban Fathers and I think I've been on the go ever sincl~, so this is nothing different," the 53-year-old Taunton native said with a wide smile three days before Christmas. "I'm making the adjustment." Having retired from the Navy in 1997 with the rank ofcommander, the
REV. JAMES W. FAHEY
priest received a call from his home diocese alerting him to the fact that he would be succeeding Father David M. Andrade, who has been serving as administrator of the parish. "We have a very active parish of 1,225 families, and they seem very receptive and have been very kind to me," Father Fahey said. "I've seen them handing out food and toys, which makes me extremely pleased. 1can see they work awfully hard." The new pastor will also be busy. "I'm the only priest, and there are five Masses on the weekends. I do have a permanent deacon, Bob Nicholson of the Diocese of Providence, R.I., who is the religious education coordinator and he is helping me out. I am excited and truly glad to be here. I've always said I knew how to be a priest, but I wasn't always good as being a Navy officer - although the Navy has been good to me" Although he intended to serve only three years in the Navy, "The needs were great. The recruits were indeed 'Prodigal Sons' away from home for the first time and trying out everything. They came back to the church empty and hungry." The call to a religious vocation came early for the future priest. In his teens he completed four years of high school and a college year at the Columban Fathers' seminary in Silver Creek, N.Y. While Latin posed no problems, Greek subsequently did, the new paStor recalled. It prompted his leaving to study for the diocesan clergy at St. Mary Seminary in Kentucky. "It was then Monsignor Turn to page J3- Fahey
ary." In Cape Cod communities, such as Martha's Vineyard, where more than 50 percent of the population is Catholic year-round, "deacons are indispensable," Father Moore asserted. Current and future needs point to the use of deacons not only in parishes, but in diocesan ministries as well, he said. Deacons need to be involved "where there is poverty, need and hopelessness. We must move on in this direction ... in order that hopefully, God's will and work be done." Father Robert S. Kaszynski, pastor of St. Stanislaus, in his greetings to the deacons, their families and all who attended the Mass, said that God's message is that, "'I have called you to be servants and witnesses' and that is the summation of the whole Christian mission. St. Stephen is a marvelous example of those deacons and candidates for the diaconate who are always hoping to see God's power. This gathering is an opportunity to share in the work of the diocese and let the Turn to page 5- Deacon Mass
DIACONATE GATHERING-Concelebrants of the annual Diocesan Diaconate Family Mass at St. Stanislaus Church, Fall River, on Dec. 26, were, from left, Father Robert S. Kaszynski, pastor; Father Craig A. Pregana, vocations director for the diocese; and Father John F. Moore, director of the Permanent Diaconate Program and homilist.
Citizens For Life celebrates 25 years By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
MASHPEE-Ifyou want to know what Massachusetts Citizens for Life is all about, ask Roy R. Scarpato. When members of the Cape Cod chapter of the pro-life organization with a long history in Massachusetts gathered at Christ the King Parish here for its reunion and pilgrimage celebrating the 25th anniversary of the group, Scarpato, the group's first president- in 1972, made the issue perfectly clear. "Our culture has become one where self-gratification is the be-all and end-all of life," he asserted. He contends that the American culture has been sliding down a slippery moral slope sinct: the I970s and that it is becoming tougher to sacrifice anything for the sake of ethics. On the premise that things need to change, Scarpato maintains that the MCFL continues to promote life in a positive and ethical way. "These are very loving people, not those who espouse any kind of violence," he said. "I wouldn't have spent 25 years of my life in an organization that did." His pride is in the group's 30,000 members statewide as well as its purpose - to promote all human life from conception through old age. Members coordinate many educational activities throughout Massachusetts and last year raised $500,000 to air pro-life adds during nationally broadcast television proTurn to page J3- Pro-life
MILESTONE-The Massachusetts Citizens For Life held a reunion and brunch at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee. The event featured pro-life speakers and celebrated its anniversary. Pictured from left to right are: Anne Scarpato, Madeline McComish, former president; Eleanor Rafferty, current MCFL president; Roy Scarpato, first MCFL president; Cynthia Klopfer, chairman, Cape Cod chapter; and Dr. Mildred Jefferson, keynote speaker and vice-president of communications and public relations.
Four to be ordained transitional deacons FALL RIVER-Four men studying for the priesthood will be ordained transitional deacons by Bishop Sean F. O'Mally, OFM Cap., in ceremonies at St. Mary Cathedral on Jan. 3 at II a.m. To be ordained for the Diocese
of Fall River are: Paul C. Fedak, son of Lucas and Lois H. Fedak, formerly of Shelton, Conn., and now of Florida; Hernando Herrera, son of Hector and Cecilia Herrera of Falls Church, Va.; and John M. Turn to page J3- To be ordained