SERVING . .. SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSmS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
t eanc 0 VOL. 2.4, NO. 18
FALL RIVER, MASS., THURSDAY; MAY 1, 1980
20c, $6 Per Year
CCA parish phase Sunday Over 19,000 volunteer Catholic Charities Appeal parish solicitors will make house-to-house calls to parishioners this Sunday, May 4, for donations and pledges to the 39th annual Catholic Charities Appeal. . Some 106,000 homes, representing more than 325,000 people, will be visited between the hours of noon and 3 p.m. in the diocese's 113 parishes. Each parish decides whether its campaign will be from noon to 2 p.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. The Appeal funds maintenance and expansion of the many diocesan apostolates of charity, mercy, education, social services and health care. Bishop Daniel A. Cronin has set a 1980 goal of $1,250,000.00 to meet expanded needs of the apostolates due to increasing costs and inflation. The prelate wrote this week to every family in the diocese. He said: "Please be assured that I am keenly aware of the tre-
mendous financial strain which these days impose at every level of our society. However, I am also well aware that the many human needs to which our Annual Catholic Charities Appeal responds in Christ's Name continue to increase. "Last year, through the kind generosity of good people like y<?urselves, the Appeal realized a record-setting sum of $1,119, 483.48. Such an amount was ind~ed unprecedented and extremely gratifying. Yet, as you can well understand, expenses have continued to escalate at an alarming rate. "Thus, the funding needed for the various apostolates and programs of charity is, quite literally, greater this year than ever before. This year, we are setting a goal of $1,250,000 to meet rising costs and inflation." Rev. Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, diocesan director of the Appeal, has suggested serious
consideration of the pledge system as a way of making a substantial offering over an extended period of time. The generosity of parishioners is indispensable to the ultimate success of the Appeal, he emphasized. All parishioners have received contribution cards in the mail. Solicitors have been given their assignments of parishioners to be contacted and are urged to make returns to parish centers immediately on Sunday. Each parish will be contacted Sunday between 8 and 9 p.m. by area Appeal headquarters. Each area center will then be contacted Sunday by diocesan Appeal headquarters for the total amount of funds received and a final tabulation will be made for all parishes. Officially, the parish phase ends on May 14 and the books of the 1980 Appeal will be closed on Friday, May 23.
Church playing world role From NC News sources On the eve of Pope John Paul II's II-day, six-nation tour of Africa, itself a major news story, the Catholic church is deeply involved in events in Iran, Colombia and Cuba. Archbishop John R. Quinn of San Francisco, president of the National ·Conference of Catholic Bishops, called for "a continued policy of patience and restraint" in a statement issued after the aborted u.S. attempt to rescue the 50 hostages held since last November in Iran. The archbishop said he prayed that the U.S. government would continue to pursue possibilities in the international forum, "frustrating as such an approach may be." He said he prayed also for the hostages and for the eight Americans who died in the collision of two U.S. aircraft during the attempt to withdraw the failed mission from Iran. Meanwhile, Father Romeo Panciroli, director of the Vatican press office, refused to comment on reports from Iran that the
Holy See may be asked to be an intermediary in return to the U.S. of the bodies of the eight Americans. The Ayatollah Sadegh Khalkhali, president of Iran's Revolutionary Court, had said in Teheran, Iran, that the bodies would not be released to anyone acting for the U.S. government, but might be released to a third party such as a delegation from the Vatican. l;Ie specifically mentioned Archbishop Hilarion Capucci, former Melkite-Rite patriarchal vicar of Jerusalem, as a possible Vatican-appointed intermediary. The archbishop, who was ·convicted by an Israeli court in 1974 of gun-running for Palestinian guerrillas and freed in 1977, left Rome for Teheran on April 28 on what he called a humanitarian mission.· It was not immediately known whether he was acting on behalf of the Vatican. Archbishop Annibale Bugnini, apostolic nuncio in Iran, has been asked to keep the Vatican constantly up-to-date on devel-
opments and other Vatican diplomats were requested to transmit world reaction to the situation, the sources said. Cuban Exodus As small boats continue to brave the turbulent 90 miles of ocean between Key West, Fla. and Cuba in the attempt to rescue Cuban refugees, Archbishop Edward McCarthy of Miami urged the U.S. government to seek a Solution to the worsening problem. "We recognize the seriousness of such unregulated and unorganized an exodus," he said. The flight has taken place without approval from either the U.S. or Cuban government. U.S. Catholic Conference's Migration and Refugees Services representatives in Miami are helping refugees who have already fled Cuba. Refugees are met at Key West by the U.S. Coast Guard, immigration officials and the FBI. "They are being screened, being brought to Miami, to a large fairgrounds" for processing, Don Turn to Page Six
BRING FLOWERS OF THE FAIREST? This reluctant participant in a May crowning ceremony isn't sure about the whole thing despite a little friendly backup. (NC Photo)
Bishop ,to Azores His Excellency, the Most Reverend Daniel A. Cronin, Bishop of Fall River, has released the itinerary for his trip to the Azores to participate in the Feast of Santo Christo. The feast is the focal point of devotion to our Lord at this time of the year on the island of S1. Michael. Over the centuries the feast has grown to its present proportions in thanksgiving for many favors obtained through devotion to Santo Christo. Bishop Cronin noted: "I am looking forward with great anticipation to visiting the Azores once again. It will be my privilege to extend in my own name and in the name of so many from our diocese, to Bishop Aurelio Granada of the Azores and his flock our fraternal unity through prayer and sacrifice." Bishop Cronin observed that it was a great honor for him to
preside at the feast of Santo Christo: "Since coming to the diocese of Fall River, I have been very much aware of the great devotion many in our diocese have for Santo Christo. I look forward to experiencing first hand the great manifestation of faith and love of our I,.ord demonstrated through this magnificent feast." In addition to presiding at a variety of liturgical ceremonies, Bishop Cronin will view· the devastation left by the earthquake which struck some of the· Azorean islands on last New Year's Day. In particular, the bishop will visit the islands of Terceira and St. George. .Bishop Cronin has already forwarded $90,000, proceeds of a special collection taken in the Fall River diocese, to assist the Bishop of the Azores in caring for earthquake-connected needs. Turn to page thirteen