01.17.92

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FAU RIVER DIOCESAN( NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSmS CAPE COD & THEISLAIII)S VOL. 36, l'IO.::;

Fl'iday, January 17, 1992

FALL RIVER, MASS.

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Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly

$11 Per Year

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AT HIS LAST :\1ass as bishop of Fall River, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin addresses congregants and blesses the crowd; right, some of the over 100 diocesan prit:sts in attendance (Kearns and Hickey photos)

:Bishop's farewell

M[a,rch for Life With leNS I~eporls As the 19th annivers~',ry <Jf the V,S. Supreme Court's Jan, 22, 1973, Roe vs, Wade deci!.ion legalizing aborti'Jn n,~ars, pro-life groups in the: Fall Rive'r d:.ocese and around the country are planning observan,~es and participation in the annual National Praye:~ Vigil and March for Life Jan. 21 a.nd 22 in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, President Bush has declared a National Sa.nctity of Human Life Day for Jan. 19, also the date of a Massachu:;etts Citizens for Life Assembly for Life in Boston, to be attended by many diocesans. Bl:ginning alt 4 p,m. at thl: Boston Sheraton Prudential Center, the assembly will feature as keynote speaker Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York, ~ha:rman 'of the V.S. bishoJls' Committee for Pro-Life Activities. Joinir.:g him will be Boston Cal'dina: Bernard F. Law and the city's Mayor Ray Flynn, Many diocesan parishes have organized carpooling :0 the event, open to all.

March for Life Arrangements have also been made for diocesans to attend the March for Life rally and parade to the Capitol. (see box). Turn to Page 14

By Marcie Hickey

"Here ;s my servant, whom / uphold. " _·/s. 42:1 That excerpt from a reading for the feast of the Baptism of the Lord took on added me:aning Sunday as a capacity crowd gathered in St. Marfs CathedraL Fall River, to say goodbye to one who has served with quiet authority. Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, who will be installed Jan. 2B as archbishop of Hartford, Conll., presided for a final time in a ca':hedral full of memories of his 21 y,:ars as fifth bishop of Fall River. Joined by more than 100 priests of the diocese and hundreds of religious and laity represt:nting numerous parishes and diocesan organizations, he spoke words of farewell from an altar surrounded by red and white poinsettia plants. In his homily, BiShop Cronin said his aim these 21 years has been to guide his flock in growing in holiness. "It is the hallmark of a zealous Christian not to look for publicity,

just to do the work of Jesus Christ, and that's all I've tried to do...to call you to holiness, because that's the only thing that counts," he said. "So all the fame and fortune, all the publicity, all the accolades don't mean a thing. All that counts is the quiet word of the Christian to his brother or sister, or her brother or sister, saying 'The peace of Christ be with you.' " In discussing the day's readings Bishop Cronin noted that they not only recall the Lord's baptism but also invite reflection on our individual baptisms through which we have been "incorporated into the people of God" and have been given "responsibility one for the other and for the mission of Christ's Church." Baptism becomes "the foundation of spiritual life" and "an acceptance of the responsibility of preaching the Gospel," said Bishop Cronin. We are "to lead a good personal life and lead others to Christ by word and example." The readings' message was a

timely one on Sunday, the bishop continued, for it has been "the fulfillment of the baptismal promise that thas brought us here together over the years." He recognized with fondness and gratitude the diocesans who "quietly go about the work of faith" in the schools, health facilities and social service departments ofthe diocese which he has "grown to love profoundly." "Twenty-one years ago I was younger - and so were you. I was enthusiastic, and so were you," Bishop Cronin told the gathering. As he gave his first homily in the cathedral, he recalled, "I called everyone to share in a unity of faith, to work together to preach the message of Christ. I promised to do my best to lead quietly but firmly this community of deep faith." In the years that followed, he continued, he ordained many of the priests who now stood before him at his farewell Mass; he came to know the religious of the dioTurn to Page Eight

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AT THE 37th a:mt:.al Bishop's Charity Ball to benefit exceptional and underprivileged children and other charitable apostolates of the diocese: Ball chairman Father Daniel L. Freitas with Bishop Cronin and Ball cochairperson!. Mary Mikita, presid.ent of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, and Frank C. Miller, pres:dent ofthe Cape and Islands district St. Vincent de Paul Society. Center, Erin A. Aguiar ofSt. Julie Billiart parish, North Dartmouth,

and her father, Robert L. Aguiar, greet the bishop and Miller; Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, who chaired the Ball for many years before his retirement, meets with Ball presentees committee members, from left, Vivian Belanger, Dorothy Curry and Claire O'Toole, chairman. (Hickey photos) Additional Ball pictures pages 11 and 15.


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