t eanc 0 VOL. 43, NO.2· Friday, January 8,1999
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
. FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
1998 was a banner year for the diocese ~
Spirituality grows as parishioners young and old endorse respect life and end of life issues; new priests are ordained and others memorialized; cHurches are refurbished and renewed and laity , committed to the Church service in many areas are duly honored.
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By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
FALL RIVER - January was a busy month for the diocese and it would reflect the pace and fullness of the rest of the year. There were many special events and unexpected happenings for the Fall River Diocese. As the year began, the Massachusetts Citizens for Life held a reunion at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Former Navy chaplain, Father James W. Fahey, was assigned as pastor at South Attleboro's St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish and the televised Sunday Mass marked its 35th anniversary.
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Four men in the diocese were ordained transitional deacons by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley: Rev. Mr. Paul C. Fedak, Rev. Mr. Hernando Herrera, Rev. Mr. John M. Murray and Brother Bonaventure M. McGuire of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, New Bedford. They were sub~ sequently ordained priests. Three big events for the diocese OCr curred iri January. The .43rdannual Bishop's Ball was heldatThe Venus.,de: Milo Ballroom in Swansea and. aga!(1 the festive gathering helped benefit tIte Diocesan Catholic CharitiesAppeal.r One of the biggest stories in nationa,l" news was the Pope's visit to Cuba and. on that trip Bishop O'Malley joined the Holy Father to bring the Gospel and a renewal of faith to Catholics on the island nation. The bishop said Cuba would never be the same following the five days of liturgical celebration and he had a chance to meet Cuban President Fidel Castro at a palace reception. Washington D.C. welcomed thousands of people from across the country t?if'Le:i#1; -',-" -: . l;ii_-,:"._~~''.J- _, - .--;,<' _ l: :" for the 25th annual March For Life. c:~A~GINGCUBA - Bishop SeanP.: O'Malley and Cuban President Fidel Young and old alike irom the diocese Casttp'ch'httedduringa reception at the nationalpalace in Hava~a, Cuba, Jan. participated in the event and rode busses sponsored by the Pro-Life Aposto- ~5, J~~~,I;which marked the end of.lh~.five-daypastoral visit to t~e communist Islanc:~ natl,on by Pope John PauIU~Blshop.O'Mall~y and clergy frorn New England late to show their support for life. Turn to page eight - Review
joinec;t the PQntiff in thelfinal daY~.of th~.;visit. (Photo by Msgr.Paul Mcinerny) •
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Awareness to God's call is key to religious vocations ~
Statistics show that young people involved in parish activities are more likely to heed the call when it comes. By JAMES N. DUNBAR
FALL RIVER - A religious vocation is not an isolated event but rather comes from the community and is for the community, says the diocesan director for vocations. "There is no doubt in my mind that the parish is most influential to the vocations of its young people," said Father Craig R. Pregana. " Most parish communities don't realize how important a role they play in fostering vocations and that it is the priest, the pastor who is essential to the process." Father Pregana's comments came as the diocese readied to observe National Vocation Awareness Week, January 10 through 16. According to Father Pregana, it is parishes that have youths involved in ministries and activities, having young people active
in lectoring or serving or being ministers of the Eucharist that typically produce those who respond to a call to a religious vocation. "The experience of parish community for young people gives them the opportunity to hear God's call, and be able to respond to it," Father Pregana asserted. 'The contact with the priest is essential. But if only the parish environment exists, then by itself it is just as important. Parishes that have Eucharistic devotions and
Father Craig A. Pregana
prayer services are offering the opportunities focusing on leadership in the Church and it is essential." Parishes which have youth groups, Bible study classes and other activities for ministering and planning liturgies are the ones that statistically have vocations flourishing, he said candidly. "Even when the priest does not invite, if the young people feel part of the parish community, that's how they feel connected and subsequently they will consider a vocation for themselves." Father Pregana says he cannot overemphasize how important it is for the young people themselves to consider a vocation. "I frequently talk to youth groups and confirmation candidates and I'm not under the illusion that most young p'eople I talk to are thinking about a vocation. Statistically, most of them will marry. But I think it is important that they realize that a vocation is a viable option ... maybe not for themselves, but for others or for their children later on." He said that "if our Church is going to continue, we are going
to need ministers to lead the Church, especially priests, because the Catholic Church is a Eucharistic community." Father Pregana said that when he talks to large groups, he knows he is talking to maybe two or three young people who are considering a vocation, and that they have some experience of God's presence in their life and,know it is God who is calling. "Clergy don't need to be out selling vocations like people who sell kitchenware or encyclopedias. That
is not the task at hand. My job is to somehow let people know that it is God calling in their life and urging them to listen to him." Most important to understand, says Father Pregana, "is that wedon't do the calling. We should make it clear that we are not out to sell vocations or to convince people. "Sometimes parents are under the illusion that the kids want to get married, that the celibacy thing is a Turn to page nine - Call
Four men to be ordained as transitional deacons Saturday FALL RIVER - Four men studying for the priesthood will be ordained as transitional deacons by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., at 11 a.m., Saturday in St. Mary's Cathedral. They are, Rev. Mr. Timothy Paul Driscoll of Taunton, Rev. Mr. Dariusz Kalinowski of Poland, Rev. Mr. Joseph P. Medio, a member of the Franciscans of the Primitive Observance, New Bedfordj and Rev. Mr. Isaac M. Relyea, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the
Immaculate, also of New Bedford. Rev. Mr. Driscoll, who will be ordained for service in the diocese, is a member of St. Paul Parish, Taunton. He is the son of Paul L. Driscoll Jr., and Evelyn T. Driscoll. He was educated in Taunton public schools and graduated from Taunton High School in 1984. He attended Bates College, Lewiston, Maine and Boston College. He obtained a bachelor's degree in humanities from Stonehill College in 1992. His Turn
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page five - Ordain
National Vocation Awareness Week - January 10-16, 1999