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VOL. 39, NO. 17
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Friday, April 28, 1995
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Bishop announc:es retirements, pastorates Bishop Sean O'Malley has announced two retirements and four changes of pastors from one parish to another. Rev. Joseph L. Powers, pastor ofSt. Elizabeth Setoll parish, North Falmouth, and Rev. Rene R. Levesque, pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish, Fall River, will retire as of June 28. Rev. Gerald P. Barnwell, now pastor of Immaculate Conception parish, Taunton, will be pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish, Fall River; Rev. William P. Blottman, now pastor of St. Peter the Apostle parish, Provincc~town, will be pastor of Immaculate Conception parish, Taunton. Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, now pastor of St. Joseph parish, Taunton, will be pastor of Holy Name parish, New Bedford; Rev. John F. Moore, now pastor of St. Mary parish, New Bedford, will be pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton parish, North Falmouth. All the appointments will be effective as of June 28. Father Powers Born in 'Providence May 21, 1922, Father Powers is the son of the late James E. Powers and the late Elizabeth (Halliwell)" Powers and the foster son of the late Mrs. Rose Hurll. A sister. EIi-
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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$11 Per Year
Charities Appeal kicks off 54th campaign
F ATHER JOSEPH L. POWERS zabeth Eldredge, is a resident of Rhode Island. He graduated from then Msgr. Coyle High School in Taunton and attended Providence College before entering St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, to prepare for the priesthood. He was ordai~ed by Bishop James E. Cassidy June 15, 1946, and thereafter seryed at St. Patrick parish, Falmouth, and St. Joseph's, Taunton, before being named diocesan director of tne Confraternity
of Christian Doctrine in February, 1957. He remained in the post until June, 1970, at various times during the same period also serving as chaplain at Bishop Stang and Bishop Feehan high schools, and administrator at St. Mark's parish, Attleboro Falls. In 1975 Father Powers was named pastor at St. Joseph's parish, Woods Hole, and in 1977 was appointed to St. Elizabeth Seton. Turn to Page Three
At Cathedral Camp
Stewardship parley to be May 23 Rev. Marcel H. Bouchard, chairperson of the Diocesan Stewardship Committee, has announced that Rev. Thomas McGread, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi parish in Wichita, Kansas, will visit the Fall River diocesl: Tuesday, May 23, to make presentations on stewardship to clergy and laity. His program, to be held at Neumann Hall, Cathedral Camp, East Freetown, will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a presentation to priests of the diocese and will be followed by a social hour and supper to which laypersons involvl:d in stewardship on the parish level will be invited. After the meal, Father McGread will speak at 7 p.m. to both clergy and laity, then he and diocesan
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
representatives of the stewardship program will answer questions on the process. Materials describing various approaches to stewardship will also be available for review. Father McGread has led his parish for over 20 years. Duri'1g that time it has growl1 to include over 2,200 families and a new parish of over 1,000 families has been formed from it. Eighty-five percent of parishioners attend weekly Mass and 300 are at daily Mass, while the sacrament of reconciliation is offered six days a week and 800
Stewardship, , , ,
A WAY OF LIFE
people participate in perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. There are 750 students in the parish school and weekly collections total over $60,000. On May 23, as he has in many other dioceses and as he did at last November's National Stewardship Conference in Boston, attended by more delegates from the Fall River diocese than from any other in the nation, Father McGread will explain the theology and spirituality of stewardship. He will also discuss practical methods of inviting people to adopt it as a way of life and as a means of responding more fully to the discipleship to which each baptized person is called.
The 54th annual Catholic Charities Appeal, themed "Sharing is the Measure of Love," was launched April 19 with a Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral concelebrated by Bishop Sean O'Malley and priests of the diocese. The Mass will be telecast on WLNE Channel 6at II a.m. Sunday, May7,designated as Catholic Charities Sunday and the opening day of the parish phase of the Appeal, which will continue through June 6. During that period diocesans will contribute to support the various charitable apostolates of the diocese. The Appeal's Special Gifts phase, soliciting support from businesses and organizations, is already, underway and will continue through May 7. In a letter regarding the Appeal, Bishop O'Malley estimated that the upcoming diocesan budget would call for $2.75 million. Noting that meeting this budget relies heavily upon the Catholic Charities Appeal, the bishop made the following requests: - That each family support its parish participation in the Appeal; -That it consider a gift of $100 or $10 a month for 10 months in the form of an initial gift plus a nine month pledge. -That each household consider a pledge of one percent of its annual income, or of one day's wages, whichever its means will allow. The bishop was homilist at the Appeal Mass; Permanent Deacon Thomas J. Souza, Appeal chairman, spoke after the liturgy and a reception followed in the Cathe-
dral school hall. Shown at the reception was a 12-minute video portraying the work of apostolates funded by the Appeal; it will be aired on some local cable stations and is available for parish use from the Catholic Charities Appeal headquarters at telephone 676-8943 or 676-3200. The Measure of Love In his homily, Bishop O'Malley emphasized that the call to charity reflects faith and unity in Christ. Using the image of the Good Shepherd, he said the Gospels recount how, before his crucifixion, Jesus predicted'that his flock would be scattered; then they tell of "the risen Lord returning to gather the scattered." Through members of the church today "the Lord is still gathering his people who have been scattered and broken in so many ways," he continued. In a society showing increased "disregard for human life," said the bishop, "we are called to share in Christ's mission to support and promote the dignity of all people through charity." In caring "for the other person for whom God made us responsible, we have the opportunity to serve Jesus." The Catholic Charities Appeal is "a collective cry on behalf of those in need," said Bishop O'Malley, and our response is "an expression of our faith in Christ living in his church." Citing the many needs filled by Catholic Charities Appeal funds, the bishop emphasized, "We need to be there." Turn to Page II
Knights ask Appeal support Dear Brother Knights, This year during the annual Catholic Charities Appeal we ask you to contact your local parish and request your pastor fo put you to work to help make this the greatest and most successful Appeal. You can volunteer your services to help in the Special Gifts campaign, April 17 through May', along with the final phase taking place May' through June 6. We Brother Knights are bound together as a Fraternal society to support our church through our local pastors. What a great time to prove ourselves! Call your local pastor today! Fraternally yours, District Deputies #43 Walter J. O'Shea #40 Charles Pine #44 Francis T. Affonce #41 George Sequeira #45 Kevin Reilly #42 Robert O. Mathieu