01.18.02

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VOL. 46, NO.3· Friday, January 18,2002

FALL RIVER, MASS..

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year

#Be seekers of the Lord. " (Zep. 2:3)

orld Day for Consecrated Life Diocesan religious will gather at Mass on February 3 ~

This year's theme is 'Be Seekers of the Lord.'

NORTH DARTMOUTH - The annual World Day For Consecrated Life, called for by the Vatican to highlight the role of consecrated life in the Church, will be observed in the Fall River diocese with a Mass February 3 at 3 p.m., in St. Mary's Cathedral, Fal1 River. Mercy Sister Elaine Heffernan of the Office of Religious and episcopal representative to religious, said that Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., wil1 be the principal celebrant and homilist. "Members of institutes of consecrated life have a vital role in the Church," said Bishop O'Malley, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Commission on Religious Life and Ministry, which oversees the celebration. "The tens of thousands of men and women in institutes of consecrated life deserve our profound gratitude. ThQse who opt for this lifestyle today are to be especially extolled for choosing a radical way to serve the Church and society," the bishop added. In a national message, he called on every diocese to promote the 2002 observance in all its parishes. Historically, the Church in Rome celebrated February 2, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, for consecrated life for many years. In 1997, Pope John Paul called for the observance to be promoted throughout the world. At the February 3 liturgy in the cathedral, Bishop O'Malley will ask that all religious men and women present stand and renew their vows. . "It will be a very solemn moment as they re-consecJ;ate them- selves to God through their congregations in service to the Church and the people of God," Sister Heffernan said. "All people in the diocese are invited to assist at this liturgy, with its theme of 'Be Seekers of the Lord' and to relive their fond recollections of religious brothers, sisters and priests who served them throughout the years." Currently the Fall River diocese has approximately' 475 women and men religious within it!; confines. . "The number of religious has declined over the years, but the zeal for service and love of the Church is strong in these mem-' bers," Sister Heffernan reported.

Tum to page 13 - Consecrated

BISHOP SEAN P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., celebrated Mass recently at Our Lady's Haven, Fairhaven, to mark the dedication of the new St. Mary, Queen of Peace Unit at the home. The 36-bed unit will serve residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. With the bishop are Msgr. Edmund J. Fitzgerald, director of the diocesan Health Facilities Office, and Msgr. George W. Coleman, vicar general.

Diocese launches RENEW program ~ It envisions small support

dinator of RENEW in November, 2001 by Bishop communities in which to pray, reflect Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. "While the program has existed in some areas of .and to live out the Gospel. the country for nearly 20 years, this is our diocese's official entry into it and hopefully it will be estabBy DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR lished in as many parishes as possible," Father NORTH EASTON - As the director of the RE- Lopes, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in NEW initiative Father Thomas C. Lopes is busy North Easton, and a priest since 1965, explained. criss-crossing the Fall ,.---, "We start by looking at the people in the pews and River diocese hoping to get with their help reaching it launched in parishes in out to those who are not time for the start of proin the pews," Father Lopes grams next fall. . I . said. A pastoral outreach reIn an ambitious start sponse for the 21 st century, this month, Father Lopes RENEW's objective coinBy DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR is holding two-hour meetcides with the "new evanFALL RIVER - Because adoption includes ings at five churches repgelization" forwarded by many intertwined people, all of them are in- I . Pope John Paul II, namely, vited to attend a special Mass January 27 at St. resentative of the five deaneries of the diocese:' to enable the proclamation of Christ to reach people, Mary's Cathedral that will pay them tribute. St. Julie Billiart in North The Mass, at which Bishop Sean P. Dartmouth, Annunciation mold small faith conuiluO'Malley, OFM Cap., will be the principal cel- Parish in Taunton, St. John nities, and have a deep and ebrant and homilist, will find birth parents, the Evangelist in incisive influence in bringth adoptees, adoptive parents, families and 0 ers Attleboro, Corpus Christi ing Gospel values to bear touched by adoption _ including the general Parish in East Sandwich in society and culture. . h public - attending. and St. Stanislaus Parish in During a vIsit to T e Mary-Lou Mancini, coordinator of the PregFall River. Anchor Father Lopes nancy, Foster Care and Adoption Programs of "At these meetings we talked about his first steps Catholic Social Services of Fall River, said that' after having been apTum to page 13pointed director and coor- 1Tl_u_m_to_p_a_g_e_th_,,_e_e_A_do_·p_t_io_n_ _----' RENEW

Mass will honor adoption 'triad'

I /J!!I Bishop's Ball Highlights

Pages 8-9


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