FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSEnS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS VOL. 41, NO. 22
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Friday, May 30, 1997
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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21 MEN were ordained as Permanent Deacons last Saturday at St. Anthony's Church, New Bedford. This was the largest class to be ordained in the history of the Diocese of Fall River. Included in the class were the first three Portuguese immigrants to be ordained in the diocese (see picture on page 4). Here the newly ordained deacons pose with Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM, Cap., after the ceremony. Also ordained were five transitional deacons (see picture on page 3). (AnchorjJolivet photo)
26 mert ordained to permanent and transitional diaconates By Pat McGowan Anchor staff Majestic St., Anthony of Padua Church, New Bedford, was the setting for the May 24 ordination of 21 permanent deacons for the Fall River diocese, as well as five transitional deacons. The church, sea.ting some 1,650 worshipers, was filled with family members, close friends and fellow parishioners ofthe ordinands, who represented 19 diocesan parishes, with two parishes, St. Mary, Mansfield, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, New Bedford, accounting for two candidates each. The only vacant places were those that afforded no view of St. Anthony's breathtaking altar. , ' . '. . , "
The opening procession of the ordination Mass included Knights,and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre, Knights and Dames of Malta, already ordained permanent deacons, the candidates and their wives, and ministers of the ordination Mass. Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., was
presiding celebrant and homilist and also in attendance was Coadjutor Bishop Robert E. M ulvee of the Providence diocese. Also in the procession were scores of priests of the diocese. Ordination Ceremony The ordination ceremony took place in the context of
Mass, with the Liturgy of the Word preceding it. Readers were Dr. Owen McGowan, who conducted courses in the Old and New Testaments during the candidacy of the new deacons; and Arlene A. McNamee, diocesan director of Catholic Social Services. The candidates were called forth and
Charities Appeal tops $2 million mark The 1997 Diocesan Catholic Charities Appeal has surpassed the $2 million mark, reports Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, Appeal director. He expre~sed appreciation for support forthcoming from businesses, industries, professional persons and civic organizations, noting also that "the traditional strength of the Appeal" comes from the 112 parishes of the Fall River diocese. ~'lt i.s <:ncouraging to see how
some of the priests who have been named pastors for the first time within the past year have been successful in leading their parishes to higher levels of giving to the Appeal," Msgr. Harrington noted, citing the work of Father Paul Caron, Saint Francis Xavier parish, Acushnet; Father Richard Andrade, Saint Jean Baptiste parish, Fall River; and Father Robert Charlton, SS.Cc., Saint Mary's parish, Fairhaven.
"It's great to see new pastors carrying on the fine work of so many ofthe priests who have been zealous in providing leadership over the many years of the Appeal," said the director. ' Interesting vignettes have also been reported by pastors, added Msgr. Harrington, calling them illustrative of the enthusiasm of parishioners for the goals of Catholic Charities. Turn to Page 13
presented to Bishop O'Malley, who elected them, asking for the consent of the congregation, signified by prolonged applause. In his following homily, the bishop discussed the origin and vocation of the deacon as described in the First Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy, which notes that deacons must be "serious, straightforward and truthful." Deacons are ordained to serve, said the bishop, and their special ministry in the early Church was to the poor and sick. Speaking in both English and ,Portuguese, the bishop stressed that the deacon should preach "what , , ' Turnto Page 13