r -------
Ir@
Phase Two
Leaving Purgatory is hard, says Maronite pastor By
i
,
DEACON JAMES
N.
DUNBAR
while he has been pastor here, continuing a long NEW BEDFORD - "It's not easily done," tradition at Our Lady of Purgatory Parish." '14 Father Charbel T. Semaan said last week as he He said Father Semaan has been involved not packed his bags for a new assignment in Con- only in his own eparchy, in the diocese, and in necticut. the day-to-day life of his parish, but also in com$ "Our Lady of Purgatory Parish has been my munity issues for the Greater New Bedford area. home sweet home for 14 years and I am certainly "I think Father Semaan will most of all be regoing to miss it, all the beautiful people; a won- membered for his leadership in helping to realderful community, and the fine priests of the Fall ize the Cedars Assisted Living facility for the River diocese too," the affable, broadly smiling elderly here. It is sponsored by his parish and the priest said during an interview The Anchor. Eparchy of St. Maron." "People would comically say that I had been Father Oliveira noted that Father Semaan's in Purgatory for years," he said, laughing. mother, Josephine, who, since 1996, has spent "But the parish is a very good one and a great some time each year with her priest-son, "is an place to be and I enjoyed it very much." outstanding cook ... and I shall miss her cookA priest in the ing," he said laught Maronite Rite of r::-'--:-'~~-'---'--=~;;:---:-~---C::;;;C-:::;;;:==7T---:-"'--'-~ ing. • the Catholic -,'. -'!.... Father Semaan's . . "
t
1
,.,
~:~~~~ir.~~~~~
;~?~:r~~~
-
~~'
~-- <\:·Livi':~'· ~bt~fte:J:-'~·';.;~ f~t~~9J.a~?ss't~~~~
:,c~~('!~~~tn~~~ !?t.:~:~:i~;~
in Waterbu ry, L=.=-=~':";;"'-'-~:;':;;;"""""_~_ _-'--'--'-"""'-_~"----'--o-:.:..:.J also come to visit Conn. him. "My first Mass in The son of Lebanese my new parish will be parents, Father Semaan on Sunday, July 23, was born in Senegal, which is also the feast where his late father had of St. Charbel, my a business. The family namesake, a holy returned to Lebanon monk and Lebanese when Father Semaan was priest, to whom I have three years old. After atgreat devotion," he tending schools and a noted. seminary there, he came "Going there will to the U.S. in 1987 to atmean much more work tend the seminary of the and responsibility beOblate College at The cause it is a larger parCatholic University of ish with a faith comAmerica in Washington, D.C. munity of 350 families as compared to the 180 "I had two semesters families at the parish in to finish in my theologiNew Bedford," Father cal studies," he exSemaan said. He plained. "I returned to quickly added, "And I Lebanon to be ordained won't have any help a priest in the Maronite there, because I will be FATHER CHARBEL T. SEMAAN Rite on June 19, 1989 in alone, the only priest." St. George's Church in He looked straight at me and said: "I'll be Chawieh-Chabab, Lebanon." looking for a deacon." Back in the U.S. his first assignment was as No matter what life may bring, he said, his assistant pastor at St. Maron's in Youngstown tenure as pastor in New Bedford has created last- Ohio for six months. Then he was assigned to St. ing memories and many lasting friendships. Charbel Parish in New Jersey for a year-and-a"I came here at age 34, and am now living at half. Since September 1992 he has been in Our age 48 ... and I made a lot of friends who be- Lady of Purgatory in New Bedford. came my family here. But I hope to meet as many Father Semaan took time to answer questions good people where I am going. After all, as about his patron, St. Charbel, well known as the priests, this is our life. This is our mission be- Hermit of Lebanon. cause we are.a mission Church." "He lived from 1828 to 1898 and was canonHe said he was grateful for the welcome al- ized by Pope Paul VI on Oct. 9, 1977 during the ways offered him by former Bishop Sean P. World Synod of Bishops. He miraculously cured O'Malley, OFM Cap., and "now by Bishop many people of leprosy and cancer. His body, George W. Coleman. Whenever I came to visit I which is kept in Anaya, Lebanon, is incorrupt always found the welcome door open." and it is allowed to be seen by the public every He said the camaraderie he found in priests 50 years," he related. of the diocese "has been wonderful. I always Father Semaan said southeastern Massachuenjoyed meeting and ministering with them as setts has been well served over the years by many : brother priests. Those times were most uplifting popular Maronites, "including the late I , for me. I learned a lot from them. And they were Chorbishop Joseph Eid, more recently the late an inspiration to my vocation as a priest." Chorbishop Norman Ferris, and more currently I FatherJohn J. Oliveira, pastor of Our Lady of by Chorbishop Joseph F. Kaddo, pastor of St. , Mount Carmel Parish in New Bedford, is one of Anthony of the Desert Parish in Fall River. I think '! Father Semaan's good friends. "His community we have always been well received ... and I am , will miss him and the priests in our New Bedford very grateful for all who have been so kind to I. Deanery will miss him as well," he said. me." "He's been a very good priest for the Maronite The Anchor encourages readers to nominate Catholic community in the New Bedford area," others for the Person of the Week - who and 'II said Father Oliveira. "He's worked hard to serve why? Submit nominations at our E-mail adwell the second and third generation Lebanese dress: theanchor@anchornews.org, or write to Catholics as well as welcoming the newcomers The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.
I
I
l
~
Saying "The mission of the Church is truly what is most important," the bishop said the next five years of the planning process will mean "greater means for inter-parish collaboration and sharing of resources will be considered and acted upon, inevitably we will need to enact some form of parish reconfiguration." Bishop Coleman mentioned he wanted "To make clear that there is no master plan of parishes slated for closure and reconfiguration," and" ... at the end of the five-year process we will not have a 'grand plan' for the diocese; rather through learning together, discerning together changes will arise during the process itself." It was in 2004 that Bishop Coleman spoke out of the need to plan for the future of the local Church in his letter "To Build a Stronger Church." In instituting Phase One at that time, he called upon representatives of the five deaneries, as well as representatives from subdivisions of local parishes, to reflect and discuss the options and challenges. It brought together a wide range of individuals who reflected on the local Church and its current and future needs, he said. As a result, "Many parishes began to consider means for collaboration and have focused on sharing resources," the bishop reported. "I am especially grateful to all those who were directly involved in the process for their time and commitment," he added. In recent months Bishop Coleman said he has met with the deans and the Presbyteral Coun-
Continued from page one
cil regarding Phase One's pastoral planning process, and the update in his letter follows from that. To proceed from the first phase to the second, the steps to be taken, in essence, are: - an evaluation of the first phase by the Office of Pastoral Planning and its delegates to elicit recommendations and feedback; - formation of a Planning Assistance Team that includes parish leaders and others with competencies; - a series of Study Days beginning with priests in September, to be followed later with members of parish and diocesan ministries; - planning teams at the local level to be convened by a trained facilitator and trained during the latter part of the year. "These pre-planning steps will help us better to undertake Phase Two of the process," Bishop Coleman said. While it might seem to some that they are steps backward, "We need to look at what we have already accomplished in the process, its strengths and weaknesses, in order to more readily continue our efforts," he added. Bishop Coleman said it was his desire in carrying on the planning that "we might help each other fulfill the responsibility given us by the Lord, so that our brothers and sisters now and in generations to come may be transformed by his good news of hope." The Anchor tried to reach Father David Andrade, director of the Parish Planning Office, for his thoughts on the bishop's letter and the beginning of Phase Two, but he was unavailable for comment.
SCORES OF motorcycle riders recently lined up in front of St. Joseph's Church in Fairhaven for the annual Blessing of the Bikes by Sacred Hearts Father Christopher Santangelo. (Eric Rodrigues photo)