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VOL. 46, NO. 19
• Friday, May 3, 2002
FALL RIVER, MASS.
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Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Catholic Charities' Appeal in parishes opens Sunday FALL RIVER - The spirited fund-raiser. regional promotional rallies over, A single theme has been identhe 61st annual Catholic Charities tified as running through all the Appeal in the Fall River diocese ,promotional initiatives, said gets down to basics this weekend Michael Donly, director of Dioc, when parishioners begin making esan Development. , their gifts and pledges that will "The concept is, if we can ensustain the vital ministries and courage just five percent addiagencies' outreach to those in tional new contributors to the need over the coming year. Appeal from among parishioners, "We'll simply await the early and if all those who have supreturns that will be tabulated Sun- ported us in tl1e past could conday evening to get our first real-" tribute Just five percent more this istic assessment Q!the,l:::ampai~,~' '.' year,.we wi'lll1ay~ a very successsaid Msgr. ThomasJ. Harrington, ful effort," sai'~'nonly. director of the Appe~t .' , A~ is, the tradition, the Appeal Preparations in'the ind~y\i~uar\ is~,beforeeverYone's eyes. Color, parish communities~ffaith·h.l:lve _Julposters depicting the red and included viewings of'!( video blue h~arts which have characterproviding colorful infonnation izedthe Appeal for may decades about the myriad of activities un~ have been blossoming on parish dertaken by the many' grounds and buildings extending hardworking diocesan agencies ,from the tip of Cape Cod and the and institutions which are funded Islands' communities offshore all by the Appeal. the way up to Mansfield, the A special, expanded edition of Attleboros and Easton. Sharings, a periodical prepared at A great deal of enthusiasm for Diocesan Headquarters of the the yearly Appeal has been regisAppeal, was distributed to parish- tered by some of his fellow ioners in the various parishes last priests, who are conducting the weekend. campaign in their respective parAn audio tape message from ishes for the first time as new pasBishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM tors, Msgr. Harrington told The Cap., was played in each parish, Anchor. inviting its members to lend their In the New Bedford Deanery, Tum to page 13 - Appeal generous support to the yearly
HOLY CROSS Brother Joe Esparza ,speaks during a recent meeting of the Diocesan Core Community for RENEW as other members of the group look on. From left with Brother Esparza are Father James Morse, pastor of St. Stephen's, Attleboro; Lisa Gulino, director of Adult Education and Evangelization; and Father Thomas C. Lopes, director of RENEW. (AnchodGordon photo)
R.E.NEW process continues forward By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
FALL RIVER - The Diocesan Core Community for RENEW 2000 met last week at Bishop Connolly High School for faith sharing and to continue preparation for the program's implementation in parishes. There are currently 19 people on the diocesan team and they are working to set up parish RENEW teams at more than 50 parishes. These small faith communities
will create an environment for RENEW that gets parishioners involved and builds enthusiasm. Susan Medeiros of St. John Neumann Parish, East Freetown, said she heard about the RENEW process through her pastor, Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, and was excited to get involved. "I like the idea of these small faith communities and really wanted to be a part of RENEW;' said Medeiros. "It's a good thing for the parish and the Church~"
RENEW .is an outreach that targets non-practicing Catholics in an effort to revitalize their faith. The three-year process is also an opportunity for all Catholics to get excited about their own spirituality. "We're very happy with how it's going so far," said RENEW director Father Thomas C. Lopes. "Today our d~ocesan core team will be looking at the gifts and talents we each bring to share. We Tum to page 13 - RENEW
Veterans to remember Father Emil Kapaun at Cape Cod Mass By"DAVE JOLIVET EDITOR
i BISHOP SEAN O'Malley, OFM Cap., addresses those who attended a Catholic Charities kick-off program at White's Restaurant in Westport recently. (Photo by John E. Kearns Jr.)
HYANNIS - The memory of an American Korean War hero will be alive and well come Memorial Day on Cape Cod. The hero also happens to have been a Catholic priest and chaplain in the U.S. Anny,and is the subject of an effort to advance the cause of his canonization. Father Emil J. Kapaun is most noted for his compassion and sacrifice while a prisoner of war of the Chinese Communists in North Korea in 1950-51. The chaplain died while in captivity at the age of 35 on May 23, 1951. Father Kapaun will be remembered at a noon Mass on May 27 at Our Lady of Victory Church, Centerville, celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop
Francis X. Roque of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, and the bishop protector of Catholic War Veterans U.S.A. Joining Bishop Roque will be U.S. veterans, including at least one friend and battalion mate of father Kapaun. The event will be the result of an exhaustive effort by U.S. Anny veteran AI Makkay Sr., a parishioner ofOur Lady ofVictory. ''The more I learn of Father Kapaun's heroism and faith, the more amazed I am," said Makkay in all interview with The Anchor. "I've spoken with quite a few men who were imprisoned with him, and they all paint the same picture of the man - a man of God and a man who cared deeply for his fellow captives. HopeTurn to page 13 - Kapaun
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