F.ALL,..RIV,,ER [)(O'~ESJlN NEWSPAPER
FOR SOU1HEAS'lr MASSiACHUSFlT~ CA~1E COD &. TH:~ IS,""ANnS
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VOL. 40, NO. 21
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Friday, May 24, 1996
FALL RIVER, MASS.
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Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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TRUMAN TAYLOR, guest speaker at a World Communications Day celebration sponsored by the Fall River diocese, receives a silver bowl and a congratulatory handshake from Bishop O'Malley. At right, Father John F. Moore, Director of Communications for the diocese, welcomed the many media representatives in attendance. (Anchor/ Jolivet photos)
Area media gather to observe World Communications Day By Dave Jolivet Anchor Staff Over 60 members of the media from throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island
gathered at White's Restaurant in Westport on May 21 for a dinner to observe World Communications Day. The purpose of the dinner is to
respond to Pope John Paul II's suggestion of setting aside one day per year to recognize the importance of the media in today's society.
Brittany DeGagne comes home
Pe.ntecost
Suntfay Index Bosco column
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Daily Readings
5
Editorial " Father Dietzen Healthwise Necrology
4 7 11 7
Steering Points
16
Youth News
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By Christine Vieira Mills Anchor Staff It was a hero's welcome that she received. Limos carried her in style. Family members, friends, well wishers and the media turned out to greet the 10-year-old. Even Edward Lambert, mayor of Fall River, was on hand to present her with a bouquet of balloons and a Fall River T-shirt. But, amidst all the fanfare, the first thing Brittany De Gagne wanted to do when she came home 1.0 Fall River after four months at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital was pray to her favorite, saint, St. Theresa, at St. Anne's Shrine, Fall River. Brittany, who hopes to become a nun when she grows up, was born with biliary atresia, an incurable degenerative liver disease. In late February, after hospitalizations, she underwent liver transplant surgery, but the new liver was incompatible. In March, another liver became available and Brittany had a second operation, this time a success. During the long recovery period, Pat Casey, a parishioner at St. Patrick's Church, Fall River, Brittany's parish, organized', with the help of many others, a prayer service, fund raising activities and the May 18 "welcome home" party. A stretch limousine and van were donated to pick up the Domin-
ican Academy, Fall River, fourth grader and her entourage from T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island where the press and scores of cheering people surprised her. Once in the city, the convoy was given a motorcycle police escort to St. Anne's where about 100 people were holding balloons, carrying signs and waiting excit-
BRITTANY'S face lit up when sh(~ spotted classmates in the crowd. (Anchor/ Mills photo) .
edly as if to catch a glimpse of a movie star. Brittany, rather overwhelmed by Turn to Page 13
Each diocese throughout the world celebrates this day in a numbel' of ways; workshops, luncheons, Masses, etc. In the Fall River Diocese Father John F. Moore, diocesan Secretary for Communications and John Kearns Jr., assistant director of the diocesan Office of Communications extended invitations to representatives of newspaper, radio stations, TV and cable TV stations who service the diocesan area to join Bishop Sean Turn to Page 13
Appeal Total ever climbing Friends in business, industry and the professions from across southeastern Massachusetts provide significant help to the annual Catholic Charities Appeal conducted by the Diocese of Fall River, reported Monsignor Thomas J. Harrington, Diocesan Director of the Appeal. "However," he noted, "the principal strength of the Appeal continues, year after year, to rest in the returns received from the parishes." This year is no exception to that rule, as the 1996 Charities Appeal continues; to date, a total of$I,670,628.61 has been received at Headquarters. Some interesting expedients have have been attempted in the parishes this year. A promotional video was prepared by the Diocesan Office of Communications and made available to all parishes. Father Cyril Augustyn, OFM, Conv., pastor of Holy Rosary parish in Taunton, reported that he made arrangements to show the video on a large-screen television which he rented from a neighborhood appliance firm. Prior to the open-
ing of the parish phase of the Appeal, Father Cyril presented this resource to everyone at the weekend liturgies at Holy Rosary Church. "I think it was very well done," he noted, "and it gave people clear information about just what is accomplished with the monies collected in the Appeal." Apparently, the initiative worked well, for Holy Rosary parishioners have contributed a record-setting sum in this year's response. • On Cape Cod, Father Mark Hession, administering Saint Joan of Arc parish in Orleans, invited Mrs. Arlene McNamee, Diocesan Director of Catholic Social Services to speak at all the weekend Masses in anticipation of the Appeal. In the space of a few moments, Mrs. McNamee presented information to the congregation about the myriad of programs conducted under the auspices of Catholic Social Services in all parts of the Diocese. Father Hession noted that the listeners, parTurn to Page 10