FAlL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER
FOR. SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSEJ1S
:f.-~~~{E~;i VOL. 46, NO.2¡ Friday, January 11,2002
FALL RIVER, MASS.
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Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
National Vocations Awareness Week January 14-20, 2002 Priest director asks prayers for vocations FALL RIVER - A fitting now support those who have yet prelude to the diocese's obser- to come forward to offer their vance of National Vocations lives in service to God's Awareness Week next week was people." As Rev. Mr. Cabral returns to the ordination on January 5 of seminarian Jeffrey Cabral as a St. John's Seminary in Brighton for his final semester of studies transitional deacon. "The ordination was a won- prior to his ordination to the priesthood set derful celfor June, the ebration of diocese and God's call The recent ordination the nation and one reminded him of the imprays for more young man's response," portant role the enpriests. REV. MR. Jeffrey Cabral shares a moment with Bishop Sean P. O'Malley OFM Cap., said Father " N ext tire parish community in and his parents Antonio and Maria following Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River. Craig week, followA. encouraging and foster(AnchodGordon photo) ing this Pregana, di-. , . ing a vocation, Father , '.. Sunday's feast rector of the P 'd diocesan Ofregana sal . of the Baptism of the Lord, fice for Vocathe Church in tions. Commenting that there were the United States marks Namany who joined Rev. Mr. tional Vocations Awareness Cabral's parents, Antonio and Week," Father Pregana said. "The Gospel from Sunday's Maria Cabral in celebrating the wonderful event - including Mass tells of Jesus being bapBy MIKE GORDON members of his St. Julie Billiart tized in the Jordan Rive~ prior to be ordained apriest in June. ANCHOR STAFF Parish and its pastor, Father Brian to beginning his public minisBishop O'Malley was principaL celebrant at the Harrington, who vested the new try. The feast is a fitting time to FALL RIVER - With family and friends on Mass which included concelebrant Auxiliary hand, seminarian Jeffrey Cabral was ordained as Bishop Richard G. Lennon of the Archdiocese of deacon - "we see his parish had focus our prayers on asking the a transitional deacon January 5 by Bishop Sean P. Boston, rector of St. John's Seminary and dioc- a profound impact on his voca- Lord of harvest to send more tion and the diocese is grateful for workers. We are reminded that esan priests. O'Malley OFM Cap., at St. Mary's Cathedral. it." Father Pregana added. Richard D. Wilson, secretary to the Fathers Rev. Mr. Cabral is a native of North Dartmouth He added: "Let our prayers Turn to page 16 - Vocations and a member of St. Julie Billiart Parish. He is slated Turn to page 13 - Cabral
of
Jeffrey Cabral ordained transitional deacon
Pope prays for his own strength By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
A small Italian newspaper's earlier report of the pope's allegVATICAN CITY - Amid edly failing health was ignored by continuing questions about Pope most media until the pope himJohn Paul II's health, the 81-year- self spoke December 31. "I ask God for the strength to old pontiff publicly prayed for the strength to continue his busy min- continue for as long as he wants in faithful service to the Church istry. The pope obviously struggled of Rome and the whole world," through his long speech- Christ- he prayed at a thanksgiving sermas Day, but moved with greater - vice marking the end of 2001. The papal prayer came immeease and spoke more clearly on New Year's Eve and New Year's diately after he had told the congregation that 2001 had brought Day.
the number of Rome parish visits he had made up to 300. There are 34 parishes in the diocese still to go. But, while mentioning the parish visits and planned 2002 trips to Bulgaria and Toronto, many media also referred to the Liberb newspaper report that Pope John Paul would preside over the canonization of Blessed Padre Pio, the Italian Capuchin, before the end of February because he was Turn to page 13 - Health
POPE JOHN Paul II appeared stronger and clearer at the Vatican's New Year's Day Mass, (CNS photo from Reuters)