VOL. 35, NO. 20
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Friday, May 17, 1991
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts',Largest Weekly
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511 Per Year
Coyle-Cassidy ranked one of top U.8. Catholic schools
POPE JOHN Paul II speaks with Sister Lucia dos Santos in this 1982 file photo. The pope and Sister Lucia, the only survivor of the three shepherd children who saw the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, met again this May 13, the anniversary of Our Lady's first apparition in 1917.
Pope's Portugal trip a Marian tribute FATIMA, Portugal (CNS) The pope's early-May visit to Portugal turned into a ~~lute to Mary and showed the continuing strength of Marian "evotion among Catholics. Traveling to the Azores and to Fatima for the four-day papal visit were Bishop Daniel A. Cronin and diocesan chancellor Msgr. John J. Oliveira. As far as can be determined, Bishop Cronin, invited by Bishop Aurelio Granada of the diocese of Angra, Azores, was the ~nly U.S. bishop in attendance. pope John Paul II thanked Mary for freeing Eastern Europeans from ,communist rule, protecting the church against decades of communist repression and saving his life 10 years ago in an assassination attempt. Mary also was entrusted with the tasks of helping the rebirth of a Christian Europe and orienting toward God contemporary generations lost to religion. Europe must find its Christian
roots, otherwise it could fall to a new "theoretical and practical atheism which appears to want to build a new materialistic society," said the pope to the Portuguese bishops May 13. This form of atheism praises freedom but "tends to destroy the roots of human and Christian morals," he added later in the day at a ceremony entrusting church concerns to Mary's care. The pope's two public events at Fatima, site of one of Catholicism's most popular Marian shrines, drew more than 1 million people, while attendance at the other events was measured in the tens of thousands. Also during the May 10-13 trip, the pope praised 500 years of Portuguese missionary history, calling the country the "pulpit ofthe Gospel" because its seaborne exploration and colonizing expeditions, starting in the 15th century, brought Turn to Page Six
Coyle and Cassidy Memorial High School in Taunton has been recognized as one of the top Catholic high schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education. Coyle-Cassidy headmaster Michael J. Donly received notification Monday fro~ the U.S. Department of Education that the Taunton school has been selected as an "Exemplary School" by the department's national review panel. The school is one of only 38 Ca!hol!c _secon~ary sChoo.Is, nationwide to receive such a dlstinction. Only three Catholic high schools in New England were so honored. "This is certainly strong affirmation for the Coyle-Cassidy faculty who have worked with tireless dedication to provide an instructional atmosphere conducive to our Catholic school philosophy," said Donly. "Our philosophy is one in which academic excellence, service, and the spiritual development of the whole person can be, and are pursued with success." Donly and other school representatives will attend a White House ceremony in the late summer or early fall to accept the award from President George Bush and Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander.
In announcing the award, Donly thanked benefactors who have contribut~d t.o Catholic secondary educatIOn 10 the Taunton area. During the next academic year, Coyle-Cassidy will celebrate 80 years of service to the community. "It is affirming to the many students, parents, teachers, religious, alumni and friends who have supported us throughout the years. This award belongs to all who have worked so hard for a school whose mission they understood and in which they believed. This is an award which is definitely deserved by all, and' one for which
we are most grateful," said Donly. The U.S. Department of Education sponsors school recognition programs for elementary and secondary schools in alternate years to identify and acknowledge outstanding public and private schools throughout the United States. . The. Coyle-C~ssldy f~culty, led by project coordmator Sister Mary Catherine Burns, SUSC, began the recognition program application process last fall. The application requested descriptions of
~oyle-Ca~~~fs academ~c. eff~ct- ",
Iveness and school spmt. The Turn to Page 10
Priests' federation examines prophecy, church leadership ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) - The growing U.S. priest shortage and how priests minister as prophets were key issues facing the National Federation of Priests' Councils as about 250 members ofthe 23-yearold federation met in Orlando April 29-May 3. The, meeting's theme was "Priesthoo": the Prophetic Call to Ministry." In attendance from the Fall River diocese were Rev. Marc H. Bergeron, pastor of St. Joseph Church, New Bedford and secretary of the local Presbyteral Council; Rev. Marcel H. Bouchard, pastor of Sacred Heart Church, North Attleboro and a council member; and Rev. Edward J. Healey, parochial vicar at
St. Pius X Church, South Yarmouth, a council member and federation representative from the ecclesiastical province of Boston. The latter two could not be reached for comment. Discussing the meeting, Father
Bergeron praised the presentation of Bishop Kenneth J. Untener of Saginaw, Mich., among main speakers. Saying he was disturbed by a growing gap between the highest Turn to Page 10 .
CCA reaches $1,517,428 ti~ns until 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 28. Parish Honor Roll Parishes which have surpassed their 1990 final Appeal totals at the Collectors for the special gifts , completion of this year's Appeal and parish phases of the Appeal will be enrolled on the honor roll. will continue to make calls. Appeal books will be open for cont-ribuTurn to Page Two
Up-to-date reportsji:om parish and special gifts solicitors bring the total for the 1991 Catholic Charities Appeal to $1,517,428.86.