VOL. 30, NO. 23
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Friday, June 6, 1986
F ALL RIVER, MASS. -
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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58 Per Year
Changes listed Bishop Daniel A. Cronin has' announced changes affecting Msgr. ThomasJ. Harrington, Rev. Barry W. Wall and Rev. Edward J. Byington. Msgr. Harrington, Episcopal Vicar for Administration and Finance and rector ofSt. Mary's Cathedral will enter upon sabbatical studies at the C.atholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Father Wall, now pastor of Sacred Heart parish, Fall River, will become rector ofSt. Mary's Cathedral and pastor of the cathedral parish. Father Byington, now parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish, Seekonk, will succeed Father Wall as pastor of Sacred Heart parish. All changes will be effective July 1.
Msgr. Harrington Msgr. Harrington was born July 28, 1938 in New Bedford. the son of the late Atty. Edward J. and Mrs. Esther (Yates) Harrington. After graduation from Holy Family grammar and high schools in New Bedford, he earned a bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude at Holy'Cross college.
COMPLETION OF another successful Catholic Charities Appeal is celebrated by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin and Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes. (Torchia photo)
Alltime Appeal record! Most Reverend Daniel A. Cronin, Bishop of Fall River, has announced with joy and satisfaction that the 1986 Catholic Charities Appeal in the Diocese of Fall River has been completed with a new record high level of contributions received. . Diocesan headquarters reports that the total sum realized in the annual springtime campaign was $1,779,775.78, an increase of more than $110,000 over the 1985 total. Commenting upon the most successful Catholic Charities Appeal ever conducted in the 45-year history of the fundraising endeavor, Bishop Cronin called particular attention to the generosity of members of the 114 diocesan parishes. "I am sincerely grateful to the countless faithful members of our diocese who have responded in so
generous a fashion to our plea for support of our apostolic activities," he said. The bishop also took note ofthe support manifested by firms and individuals engaged in business and professional life in Southeastern Massachusetts. "Clearly," he said, "our pastoral, educational and social service initiatives have earned the admiration and support of friends and neighbors throughout our area. I am truly grateful to one and all for their contributions." The Catholic Charities Appeal remains the single most important source for funding a wide variety of activities conducted under diocesan auspices throughout the region. In making note of the unprecedented success of this year's
Appeal, Bishop Cronin expressed his delight that so many worthy programs benefiting both Catholic and nonCatholic diocesan residents would enjoy secure operation and stable growth in the new fiscal year which begins July 1. Bishop Cronin expressed special thanks to Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, diocesan Appeal director, and to Patrick Carney of South Dartmouth, the 1986 honorary lay Appeal chairman. Coupled with the increase noted in the 1985 Appeal, the substantial gain recorded in the current fundraising effort evidences healthy annual growth in the level of support. The diocesan campaign has registered a gain well in excess of $200,000 in the past two years! Turn to Page Two
He prepared for the priesthood at Theological College at Catholic University and was ordained May 30, 1964, by Bishop James L. Connolly. Following service as parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier parish, Hyannis, and Immaculate Conception, Fall River, he returned to Catholic University for studies in canon law leading to a licentiate degree in 1969. In the same year he was appointed diocesan vice-chancellor and episcopal secretary to Bishop Connolly. Feb. 4, 1971, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin named him canon law consultant to the Diocesan Committee for Divine Worship and on March 3 of the same year appointed him chancellor and Defender of the Bond for the Marriage Tribunal. June 30, 1974, he was among papalchamberlains designated by Pope Paul VI. In 1978 Msgr. Harrington, who had been in residence at the Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Home, Fall River, was appointed to his present post as cathedral rector, while remaining diocesan chancellor. Turn to Page Three
Major statements With NC News reports Two major church documents been issued in the past few days. "Dominum et Vivificantem" (Lord and Giver of Life), a 141page papal encyclical on the Holy Spirit, was released May 30 at the Vatican. The fifth encyclical to be issued by Pope John Paul II, it calls for new devotion to the Holy Spirit as an antidote to today's personal and social sin. On Tuesday the U.S. bishops released the third draft of their long-awaited pastoral on the economy. Titled "Economic Justice for All," it is scheduled to come before the full body of bishops in November for final debate and a vote on whether to adopt it as a national pastoral letter. Holy Spirit Encyclical Denouncing the "frightful" spiritual decadence of contemporary society, Pope John Paul II described in "Dominum et Vivificantern" a world filled with "signs of death," ranging from abortion and euthanasia to terrorism organized "on an international scale." He contrasted the church's message of life through the.Spirit with "atheistic ideologies" that want to "root out religion," saying that Marxism is a particularly dangerous form of materialism. hav~e
As the church and the world approach the end of the second millennium of Christ's coming, the
pope said, they have a "special need of prayer." He praised those who have joined prayer and spiritual renewal movements in the church. The encyclical was dated May 18, Pentecost Sunday, the day tbe church commemorates the descent ofthe Holy Spirit upon the apostles. The document discusses the Holy Spirit as the "supreme guide" of the apostles, the institution of the church, and contemporary humanity. Its strongest language refers to social problems and ideologies which the pope said reflect "rebellion" against God. "One has only to think of the arms race and its inherent danger of nuclear self-destruction," he said. Many areas of the world are "marked by death-dealing poverty and famine," and wars creating thousands of casualties, he added. The pope said that "the taking of human beings even before they are born, or before they reach the natural point of death" is an "even darker sign of death.... And how can one fail to mention the attacks against human life by terrorism, organized even on an international scale?" In contrast to materialism, he declared, the church proclaims "the life which is stronger than death." The pope said materialism, which accepts death as the end of human existence, is the "clearest expresTurn to Page Thirteen
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