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e VOL. 45, NO.5· Friday, February 2,2001

FAU...RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSf5APER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHtJSE11'S . CAPIt;COD & THE ISLANDS ' !j;§

FAil:;RIVER, MASS. :

Southeastern'Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year

Pro-Life: Not just a day's march ~

The Fall River diocese's young people are urged to carry the standard forward.

the nation's capital for the Jan. 2123 observances, and who praised the behavior and stamina of "the pilgrims at liturgies and events. "It was a great experience for a lot of first-time kids who went ... from the four high schools, By JAMES N. DUNBAR Bishop Connolly, Bishop Stang, FALL RIVER - Inspired by Bishop Cassidy and Bishop the young people they accompa- Feehan... some 85 boys and 132 nied to Washington, D.C., for the girls and chaperones," McNamee Jan. 22 annual March for Life to reported. . protest abortion in America, di"We ... the boys ... were guests ocesan clergy, youth leaders and at Pope Paul VI High School in educators are eagerly planning to Virginia and the girls were at resume their battle in even greater Bishop Ierton High School numbers next year. nearby. We were royally treated, "My bones are sore but my greeted on the Saturday by the spirits are high," quipped James Paul VI Youth Group and they A. McNamee, superintendent gave all of us a pizza party. We of Diocesan Schools, who not attended Mass and confessions only made the trek by bus with were available. It was a wonderthe young people, but also ful start;' said McNamee. spent the two nights in a sleepEarly Sunday the youths were ing bag on the floor of a school bused to the Holocaust Museum in Virginia. in Washington "and Bishop Sean McNamee was one ofseveral , . P. 9'Mallyy';:O~¥ Cap., joined adults accompanying appro~i":~:~4s~4i\iitlnQUJi~e.,d;~dtoured with mately 220 teen students among":Oih'e~s'il.ideiii's;1'htl:5' eagerly took the 331 aboard six buses that '. headed through the snowstorm to Turn to page eight - Life

.FOR THE RECORD -:- Having marched their message to the Capitol, young Pro-Lifers from the Fall River'diocese seize the moment on the famous steps. (Photo courtesy of James A. McNamee)

Liturgies launch Catholic School's Week .activities

STUDENTS EXIT St. Mary's Church, Taunton, following a Mass by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. (AnchodGordon photo)

FALL RIVER - Students across the diocese attended Masses as they began a potpourri of events as part of Catholic Schools Week celebrations. At St. Mary's Church in Taunton, students from Our Lady of Lourdes School, St. Mary's Primary School and Taunton Catholic Middle School gathered for a Mass Monday morning with Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., as principal celebrant. The bjshop told the assembly that it was a great joy to come together to give thanks to God and celebrate Catholic Schools Week, because it has meant so much to so many people over the years. He noted that there are 10,000 students attending Catholic schools in the diocese and another 40,000 students in religious education classes. "Parents are the first educators of children," Bishop O'~alley said. "Many parents send their children to Catholic schools so that students may find a sense of duty and responsibility to their community and a relatiohship with God's love. Today I urge all you children to love your schools and your teachers." Reminding them that their parents and teachers make a lot of sacrifices for them, he centered on the prime concern: "Good education. That' is what our Catholic schools are all about. We want you to grow up to know God." Turn to page J6 - Schools

Two Tau~ton parishes to become one in July By JOHN E.

KEARNS JR. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

the parish church, where weekend Masses will take place. Our Lady of Lourdes Church TAUNTON - Saying that it will become a chapel for the is no longer possible to maintain new parish where daily Masses them as two separate parishes, will be offered. Bishop O'Malley also said Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., has asked parishioners of the needs of the PortugueseOur Lady of Lourdes and Sa- speaking parishioners would be cred Heart in this city for their "addressed and. services for cooperation in the creation of a them maintained." A new name will be chosen for single new parish that will bring together Catholics from both the new parish. The bishop will make the final decision after conplaces. The bishop made the request sultation with parishioners. Plans call for the new parish in a letter to parishioners that was read at all Masses cel- to begin sometime on or around ebrated this past weekend at July 1 of this year. Bishop O'Malley explained both churches. A merger of the two parishes that several factors necessitate into one entity has been under the change. Chief among them are a continued shortage of study for several months. Regarding the closure of priests and growing numbers of buildings in the plan, the bishop Catholics in other parts of the wrote, " I am pleased to report diocese that require additional that both churches and the resources. In October, the Diocesan Ofschool (now attached to Our Lady of Lourdes) can be main- fice of Pastoral Planning held tained" for use by the new par- meetings with the pastors, Father Jon-Paul Gallant of Sacred ish. Sacred Heart Church will be Tum to page J3 - Taunton


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