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VOL. 33, NO. 24
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Friday, June 16, 1989
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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSmS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS
FALL RIVER, MASS.
AT LAST Saturday's ordination of Craig A. Pregana, from left, at the climactic moment of ordination, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin imposes his hands on the new priest's head; Father Pregana gives his first priestly'blessing to the bishop; with his family, from left, his father, Arthur C. Pregana; Msgr. John J.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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Oliveira; Father Pregana; his brother, David Pregana, a seminarian who served at the ordination; the bishop; Jeffrey Souza, his sister's fiance, partially hidden by bishop's crozier; Mrs. Pregana; his sister, Gail Pregana. (GaudeUe photos)
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Trip showcases ecumenism
By Catholic News Service VADSTENA, Swedl:n (CNS) - Pope John Paul n's travels through five Nordic countries became an ecumenical "Tale of Two Cities," showing th,: different attitudes in Catholic-Lutherai\ relations. At Roskilde, Denmark, the ecumenical service was cold and dry. The Lutheran bishops did not mention the pope's presence, and they nixed the idea of a papal speech in the cathedral, resting pla<:e of Denmark's Lutheran kings and queens. . In Uppsala, Sweden, the ceremony was warm and live:ty. In the cathedral, resting place of Swed-
en's St. Erik, the medieval monarch who symbolizes national unity, the pope spoke and embraced his Lutheran host, Archbishop Bertil Werkstrom. Catholic-Lutheran relations were a major dimension in the June 110 trip to Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. Lutheranism is the dominant religion in those countries, and the region has almost one-third of the world's 70 million Lutherans. It was the first papal trip to an overwhelmingly Lutheran area. For Vatican officials the success or failure of the pope's ecumenical travels is measured by the climate
it creates, since a pastoral visit does not allow time for substaritive theological dialogue and must be limited to outlining agreements and difficulties. In the Nordic countries the climate was unstable. In Sweden, Finland and Iceland the weather was generally good, while darkened' clouds hung over Denmark and Norway. In all countries, the pope and the Lutheran bishops frankly listed major differences between the two churches, including: . - Attitudes toward Martin Luther, founder of Lutheranism Turn to Page Six
SMiLING NUNS. greet pope in Copenhagen, Denmark, the next to last country he visited on his pilgrimage throltlgh five Nordic countries. (CNS-UPljReuters photo)
Vicars named
Bishop Daniel A. Cronin has priestly assignment,of Father Craig announced that he has acceded to A. Pregana, who will become P~l the request of Msgr. Luiz G. Men- rochial vicar at St. John the Evandonca, vicar general of the Fall gelist parish, Attleboro, where he River diocese since 1971, to be served as a transitional deacon. relieved of that post due to declin- The assignment is. effective June 28. ing health, effective June 28. Msgr. Henry T. Munroe, who will become pastor of St. Thomas Responsibilities Listed More parish, Somerset, on June The responsibilities of a vicar 28, will succeed Msgr. Mendonca general and of episcopal vicars are as vicar general, effective July I. outlined in the Code of Canon The bishop also announced ap- Law. pointment of episcopal vicars for - A vicar general is appointed by the Attleboro-Taunton, Fall River- the diocesan bishop, whom hI: New Bedford and Cape Cod and assists in governance of the entirt~ Islands vicariates. diocese. There is normally only Msgr. Daniel F. Hoye will serve one vicar general in a diocese, in the Attleboro-Taunton area; unless it is of exceptional size or Msgr. Oliveira in Fall River-New has a very large number of in·· Bedford; and Msgr.-Smith in Cape habitants. Cod and the Islands. Episcopal vicars, also appointed The episcopal vicar appoint- by the bishop, have the responsi-· ments are effective July I for a bilities of a vicar general in a three-year period. A vicar general determined section of a diocese or serves at the pleasure of the dioce- in. a certain type of business or san bishop and his power expires if over the faithful of a determined the episcopal see becomes vacant. Also announced was the first Turn to Page Three
MSGR. MENDONCA
MSGR. MUNROE