SERVING SOUTHEAS'rERN MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD ,& THE ISLANDS
t eanc 0 VOL. 22, NO. 7
FALL RIVER, MASS., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1978
Twelve To Attend Spring Parley Led by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, 11 priests, Sisters and laypeople of the diocese will attend the annual New England Spring Convocation of bishops, clergy and laity at Mont Marie, Holyoke, from Friday through Sunday, March 3 through 5. With the theme, "The Need for a Vision to Guide Shared Responsibility," the meeting will consist of group discussions and general meetings aimed at developing a series of inputs and comments to be used by the bishops of New England as a resource for policy-making by regional and national Church leaders. Speakers will include Father Robert Kennedy, a member of the Canon Law Society of America and on the faculty of Catholic University, Washington, D.C., whose topic will be the Vatican II vision of responsibility viewed in the American perspective. Also to be heard are Deacon Kevin Ranaghan, director of the communications office of the National Service Committee for Charismatic Renewal; and Bishop Albert Ottenweller of Steubenville, 0., who will speak on the parish as a sharing community. Among mem.bers of a steering committee that planned convocation details was Mrs. Michael J. McMahon, Fall River, past president of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, who will attend the meeting as a pastoral council representative. Turn to Page Six
VIRS. MICHAEL McMAHON
20c, $6 P路er Yeor
Bishop Cronin Named To Serve N. E. Military His Excellency, the Most RevDaniel A. Cronin, has been appointed by Cardinal Terence Cooke, Archbishop of New York and Military Vicar of the United States, to be Chaplain Delegate with the powers of .a Vicar General in the Military Vicariate for Region I, which encompasses the six-state New England area. Bishop Cronin will thus exercise jurisdiction in supervising the pastoral care of souls for Catholic military personnel and their families at bases through. cut the region. In his capacity as Chaplain Delegate of the Military Vicar, I:ishop Cronin will be expected t:> visit every military installation in New England, to meet with Catholic chaplains and personnel, to 路visit with Protestant and Jewish chaplains as the representative of Cardinal Cooke, to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation and to observe and encourage the pastoral ministry for the many thousands of Catholic men and women serving in the various branches of military f~rend
,. SEVENTEEN MEN aspmng to the permanent diaconate are questioned by Bishop Cronin during the ceremony at St. Mary's Cathedral admitting them to candidacy. Having completed preparatory studies, they now embark on a course leading to ordination in 1980.
Permanent Deacon Candidates Urged To Grow in Holiness Describing the permanent diaconate as a "magnificent calling," Bishop Daniel A. Cronin last Sunday admitted to candidacy the first class of men to aspire for the diaconate in the' Fall River diocese. At a historic ceremony in St. Mary's Cathedral, 17 men were received for this diocese. "You are beginning a new phase in your lives as Christians," Bishop Cronin told the candidates. "This is a simple ceremony but a significant occasion for the church, the diocese and yourselves." The Bishop sketched the history of the diaconate through the centuries, noting that in early times deacons were expected to be the "eyes, ears, heart and mouth of the bishop," acting as his extension in serving the faithful. Today, said the bishop, the deacons will extend the ministry of parish priests. He noted that their apostolate would be threefold, embracing liturgy when they serve at the altar; preaching and teaching; and "serving their brothers and sisters in Christ." He exhorted the candidates to grow in holiness, noting that he hoped that other vocations would
develop among the 69 children included in their families. In a special appeal to wives, he urged them to "call upon the Holy Spirit for the strength, understanding, patience and kindness you will need." At the reception ceremony, Bishop Cronin was assisted by
Msgr. John J. Regan, Cathedral rector, and by Father John F. Moore, director of the permanent diaconate program. Masters of ceremonies for the Mass were Msgr. John J. Oliveira, Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington and Father Barry W. Wall. Turn to Page Six
Here, within the Diocese of Fall River itself, Bishop Cronin will, as Chaplain Delegate of the Military Vicar, assume jurisdiction for the large Otis-Camp Edwards complex and the radar station in Truro, as well as Turn to Page Six
Annual Relief Collection Set for Laetare Sunday Preparing for the annual Catholic Relief Services (CRS) collection, to be held in all diocesan parishes on Laetare Sunday, March 5, representatives of the Fall River diocese attended 'a day-long meeting in Boston. Mrs. Jessie Dumont, chairman of the International Affairs Commission of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, diocesan chancellor and CRS campaign director; and William Dumont heard CRS National Director Bishop Edwin B. Broderick report on the agency's worldwide programs. The bishop emphasized that CRS, official aid and development arm of American Cath-
olics, touches the lives of 18 million needy people each year in 85 countries. Of particular Turn to Page Six
NOTICE This issue of The Anchor includes a Diocesan Directory in handy pull-out form. To publish it we have had to omit several of our regular features, but all will return next week. For the convenience of those who will frequently refer to the Directory, we have printed an edition on better quality paper and of a size ideal for slipping inside a telephone book. Copies, at $2 each, are available from our office.
BISHOP CRONIN
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