teanc VOL. 38, NO. 24
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Friday, June 17, 1994
li~ALL FUVER DIOCESA~ NEWSPAPER, (FORSQUTHEAST MASSACHUSEn'S :eAPECOD & THE ISLANDS
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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SII Per Year
Appelt;' is best ever! Statement of Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. This week's Anchor details the results of the 1994 Catholic Charities Appeal in the Diocese of Fall River. • , I am pleased to r.eporttJlllltiLn e~c.ess; of $2,300,000.00 wa5coll in this year~s Appeal, the largest a . nt ever reached in the diocese, d)t is the . result of the dedicate~ ',~~of many priests, religious, and ,ity; Thou"sands of individuals have given of their time, hard work, aitl<,! reso'iJrces to make the 1994 Appeal so s· ssful. I ress to them mYi prof grati-
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IN A TOUCHING moment at last Saturday's ordination ceremony at St. Mary's Cathedral, the new Father Pawel A. Swiercz imparts his priestly blessing to Bishop Sean O'Malley. (Kearns photo)
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Papal honor for Msgr. Mendonca Last Sumlay was already one of the biggest days ever at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish, New Bedford. Msgr. Luiz G. Mendonca, a parish native, who was baptized, made his first communion, and was confirmed and ordained within Mt. Carmel's majestic walls, was offering his golden jubilee Mass, which also marked his retirement from active ministry. Following the homily, Bishop Sean O'Malley, saying "I want mine to be the first present you open," gave the completely surprised monsignor a gift-wrapped box. It contained a ferraiolone, a floorlength purple cape denoting that its wearer is a protonotary apostolic, and a papal certificate attesting to Msgr. Mendonca's new rank. Expressing their delight at the honor paid their pastor, parishioners responded with a standing ovation. Protonotaries, who may use the letters
PA after their names, are address€:d as "Reverend Monsignor." They may wear a purple cassock and sash for choir dress and Ii red-trimmed black cassock with purple sash and the ferraiolone for nonliturgical occasions. Following Mass, parishioners honored the new Rev. Msgr. Mendonca at a reception. It was followed on Sunday evening by a testimonial banquet attended by 520 relatives, fellow priests, parishioners and friends. With James Mendonca, the honoree's brother, as master of ceremonies, the program included presentations by church organizations and many speakers, including Bishop O'Malley, Azorean Bishop Aurelio Granada Escudeiro, parish representatives, New Bedford Acting Mayor David Gerwatowski, Portuguese Consul Dr. Jorge Serpa Neves, Catholic , Turn to Page 12
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Mary Jane Owen builds bridges for d~sabled By Marcie Hickey
AT A RI~TIREMENT testimonial last Sunday, Rev. Msgr. Luiz G. Mendonca, PA, wearing the vestments indicative of his new rank, is flanked by Azorean Bishop Aurelio Granada Escudeiro and Bishop Sean O'Malley. (H ickey photo)
Diocesan Director 'of the Appeal, and Mr. John P. Urban, this year's La}'~' Chairperson, have, done an outstand· .' .. ingjob. . . , The Diocese 'Of Fall Rivermes 0&' the Charities Ap~eal to provide tb~' resources to allowl us to continue the many pastoral andisQcial welfare actw..' ities of.the DiocesJ. The success of tiM,', 1994 Appeal allows us to continue atid' even expan<,! those: activities. Many have sael'ificed to make Appeal so succe~sful, and J ilPP(¢cillte t !l1~foIilSr'(X
Mary Jane Owen builds bridges. Blind, partially deaf and a wheelchair user, she spans gulfs of ignorance, prejudice, misunderstanding and indifference in promoting the rights and dignity of the disabled. For Ms. Owen the mission is entwined with life issues in the Catholic church: protecting society's most vulnerable and "valuing each individual." As executive director since 1991 of the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities, she coordinates resources and support services for diocesan and parish personnel, writes articles, speaks at conferencesand flies in the face of what others might consider limitations. (She once told a Catholic News Service reporter during a Vatican meeting on disabilities, "I will bounce up stairs on my behind to get where I need to go.") Ms. Owen points to the U.S. bishops' 1978 pastoral statement on the handicapped as the definitive call for ful1 inclusion of persons with disabilities in the life of the church. "It's my job to keep reminding every~ne" what that document says, said Ms. Owen. The disabled and their advocates "need to share our stories, our wealth of experience," for stories make human connections and connections build bridges, said Ms. Owen, who was in Fall River last week for the annual conference of Spiritual Connections, cosponsored by the Diocesan Apostolate for Persons with Disabilities. Spiritual Connections, an interdenominational organization serving Greater Fall River, assists persons in institutions or group homes in becoming active in the religious denomination of their choice, providing transportation and supportive friendships.
Last week's conference, themed "I nclusion through Bridge .Building," also i;lcluded a presentation by Robin Friedlander of Project R EC (Recreation in Education and the Community) at Children's Hospital in Boston and a panel discussion with clergy and Spiritual Connections volunteers. Building bridges of understanding must begin with a solid foundation, Ms. Owen said; hers is a phrase ingrained in her since childhood: "Jesus loves me. this I know." That does not mean, she amended, that persons from different faiths or perspectives cannot find common ground. "You study the terrain," she said. "Where is the best place for me to m~et you?" Ms. Owen suggests that place is "a sense of mutual vulnerability," a place where God can act and heal, empowering the powerless. Turn to Page 12
~\drbti;'()r 'tJllbotfl; .'. dedi~ation set' Ii:; ~ast()n Knights of Columbus iovi••;, !lill to a Mass ~nddedicationofa Tomb, of the lJn~o~l~ Child Sunday, JU.,~.£ , ihe noon tvIa:\S at Immaculate'Q
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t~t'¥ onQl1tl>n Street, North E bY'dcedicatio~ ora Tomb of the U .,' ~Id, memOliializingchildren who ha ~9st their livef through abortion. '. i'Fhecerempny, the first of its kind i~ the Fal1 River diocese, is encouraged' l:tythenatio1al office of the Knighl'.$ of
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r-o--_1n This Issue-_----------l"......-......- ......- ..............................- ............- -........................- - - . - - , I Appeal final figures Page 2
Social Services director named. Page 3
Invitation to Visit MJlry Garden I rage 11