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When he died in 1960 he was succeeded by Father Anatole Continuedfrom page one Desmarais, who paid off the parish new brick school was dedicated on ish school. debt and renovated the rectory. He Construction ofthe church began was followed by Msgr. Alfred March 18, 1930 October 21, 1906 and St. Jacques Gendreau in 1966 and FatherAndre . Msgr. O'Reilly served as pastor became the first French parish es- P. Jussaume, who had been a curate until his death in 1948. Father Thomas Taylor became the sixth pastor tablished in the Fall River Diocese at the parish since 1958, was named on April 7, 1948. Five years later the established in 1904. administrator. He served for 30 The corner stone for the St. years. old wooden church was demolished and a new brick church was dedi- Jacques School was blessed by Father Thomas E. Morrissey arBishop Daniel Feehan on Aug. 20, rived as pastor in June of 1988 and cated on Sept. 26,1954. Subsequent pastors included Fa- 1912. It opened with 500 students served until his death on February ther William H. O'Reilly, Father on March 31 the next year. 20, 2006. Father David Stopyra, In 1922, the Holy Union Sisters OFM Conv., was named temporary John J. Steakem, Father Michael J. Nagle, Father Gerald P. Barnwell, moved into their new home, which administrator until Father Perry arFather William P. Blottman and Fa- became the parish Religious Educa- rived. tion Center. ther Richard E. Degagne. "People have been very openFather Carrier was succeeded as minded," said Father Perry. "OrgaIn October of 1904, the parish was divi~ed to create St. Jacques to pastor by Father Alfred Levesque in . nizations such as the St. Vmcent de meet the needs of French-Canadian February of 1931. Father Levesque Paul Society and choirs have already Catholics living in the north end of founded the St. Vmcent de Paul So- pulled together and it's been a posiciety and established The Ligue du tive thing. The director is thrilled at the city. Father Alfred Carrier was ap- Sacred, Les Dames de Ste. Anne and the bigger numbers and I think we pointed pastor and plans for a church La Societe de Enfants de Marie have the finest choir in the diocese." and rectory began. A house was while pas.tor. He also oversaw and Father David M. Andrade, direcrented at King and Lawrence streets addition to the school. tor of Pastoral Planning, knows that In the late 1940s a defective the process of merging parishes to:. for the rectory and services were boiler caused a ~ that damaged the gether is not an easy one "because held at St. Jean Baptist Hall until 1907. At the same time, a house was rear of the church. it's saying goodbye to a parish that FatherWilliam Smith was named means so much to people," but it's a rented to house the Holy Union Sisters who traveled each day from St. pastor in February of 1950 and com- process that is often necessary. Mary's Convent to teach at the par- pleted work in the upper churc~. "Sadness and grief will give way
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to new beginnings and hope," said Father Andrade. "There is a chance to create something even better. We hope the Church can be J;l1ore vibrant in its mission and as" a parish community." Asked about contributing factors for the need to merge, Father Perry and Father Andrade were pt agreement. "As we are faced with ~e reality ofless resources we must creatively . I look at how we can deal with that," said Father Andrade. "One of those realities is less priests." Father Perry noted that ,~e close location of the churches ,as also a factor as well as finances and fewer people attending Masses. I "We must ask how can we be a more vibrant Church?" said Father Andrade. "Being at Holy Trinity we. had three parishes close iIi proximity that were limping alorlg. It was very difficult and not just from a financial point of view. By coming together, as difficult as it was, it enables us to reach out. There'are more people now in the pew~. When people are sharing their kifts and talents in those activities it enhances our spirituality. It enhances the parish." A factor: in using St.li Jacques Church .,is that it seats ji700-750 people opposed to only 500 at Immaculate Conception. It is also in a
better state of repair according to Father Perry. He said they would eventually like to add additional parking at the site and have the church air conditioned. The name St. Jude the Apostle was chosen by parishioners by a considerable margin according to Father Perry and he estimated that the parish will have 1,100 families. Immaculate Conception Parishioner Mary O'Dea has been on the parish pastoral planning committee and praised Father Perry. "He has done a wonderful job. He is very optimistic and positive about things." Her friend Yvonne Labonte of St. Jacques is also a member ofthe committee. "We as parishioners are very fortunate that the bishop sent Father Perry. He is filled with compassion and understanding in handling this." Both are extraordinary ministers of holy Communion at their respective parishes. Labonte has been encouraged at the number ofpeople attending Mass. "Now when we go to church for the celebration of Mass there are people all around you. The church is full." Father Perry is a native of Fall River and previously served at St. Joseph's Church in Fall River. "I was there for 10 years and enjoyed that," Continued on page four
02722路2577 OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
Diocese of Fall River
OFFICIAL
DECREE In considering the pastoral care of the faithful throughout the Diocese and after a st1,Jdy of the situation of Saint Jacques Parish in Taunton and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Taunton, and after having consulted the pastor of Saint Jacques and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parishes, and after having heard the advice of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Fall River, the Diocesan Bishop hereby decrees the following:
His Excellency, the Most Reverend George W. Coleman, Bishop of Fall River, has armo~nced the following appointment: I'
Reverend Craig A. Pregana from Parochial Administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish and Notre Dame Parish, Fall River, to Pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa. 'i
That Saint Jacques Parish in Taunton be suppressed; That Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Taunton be suppressed; That the new Parish of Saint Jude the Apostle be erected with the worship site at Saint Jacques Church; That the canonical registers of Saint Jacques Parish and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish be kept at Saint Jude the Apostle Parish; That the goods and obligations of Saint Jacques Parish and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish belong to Saint Jude the Apostle Parish; . That Saint Jacques Church, Saint Jacques Rectory, Saint Jacques Religious Education Center, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Rectory, and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Religious Education Center become the canonical property of Saint Jude the Apostle Parish. This Decree shall be effective at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, the twenty-seventh day of June in the year two thousand and seven. Given in Fall River this eighth day of June in the year two thousand and seven:
1-4M~
(0)) Attest:
\~:~~:-,~-:-5i
Reverend Brian Albino from Parochial Vicar of Santo Christo Parish, Fall River, and part-time Chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River, to Pastor of Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Fall River. Reverend Paul E. Canuel from Pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa, to paStor Saint Mary-Our Lady of the Isle Parish, Nantucket. Reverend Paul A. Caron from Pastor of Saint Mary-Our Lady of the Isle Parish, Nantucket, to Pastor of Saint Rita Parish, Marion. Reverend Timothy IP. Driscoll from Parochial Vicar of Espirito Santo Parish, Fall River. to Pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Taunton. Reverend Timothy J. Goldrick from Pastor of Saint Bernard Parish, Assonet, to Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish, North Dighton. Reverend John J. Perry from Pastor of Saint Jacques Parish and Immaculate Conception Parish, Taunton, to Pastor of Saint Jude the Apostle Parish, Taunton. Reverend Michael :Racine from Hospital Chaplain at St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford, to Pastor of Saint Bernard Parish, Assonet. 1:
Effective June 27, 2007
His Excellency, theiMost Reverend George W. Coleman, Bishop of Fall Rivet, has armounced the following appointment:
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508-675-1311
Effective June 6, 2007
His Excellency, the Most Reverend George W. Coleman, Bishop of Fall River, has armounced the following appointments:
Bishop of Fall River
i'
Chancellor T"'.I'PHONF.:
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Reverend John A. Gomes from Pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Taunton, to Pastor of Saint Mary Parish, South Dartmouth. FACSIMII.E:
508-679-9220
Effective July 4, 2007