VOL. 47, NO.29
• Friday, July 25, 2003
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
'A very good day/or the Church
Nuncio cites challenges, talents of new bishop
By DAVE JOLIVET EDITOR
FALL RIVER - It was a good day for the Catholic Church. A very good day when hundreds filled the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption here on Tuesday to witness the ordination and installation of Bishop George W. Coleman as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Fall River. Before a congregation including 32 bishops from across the country, scores of diocesan priests, numerous other invited priests and interfaith representatives, local political dignitaries, and hundreds of invited guests, the words of the prophet Isaiah came to life: ''The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me" (Isaiah 61). When Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, anointed Bishop Coleman with chrism and presented him with the Book of the Gospels, a ring, miter, and pastoral staff, the faithful of the Fall River diocese were blessed with their seventh shepherd in the diocese's 100-year history. "My heart overflows today with joy and thanksgiving to the Lord for the many blessings he has given me," remarked the new bishop in his first address as shepherd of the diocese. The hundreds who witnessed the ceremony at the Cathedral and the hundreds more who watched live coverage on television surely shared those sentiments. Throughout the two-and-a-half hour event, Bishop Coleman's countenance was one of humility and joy. At the conclusion of the cer,emony, the newly ordained and installed bishop addressed the diocesan faithful with words of thanksgiving and promise. "I am profoundly grateful to our Holy Father Pope John Paul II for calling me to Turn to page nine :- Church
By DEACON JAMES N.
NEWLY ORDAINED and installed Bishop George W. Coleman blesses the congregation gathered at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, following the ceremonial Mass there on Tuesday. (Anchor photo by Bruce McDaniel)
A new bishop By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
FALL RIVER - Following Bishop George W. Coleman's ordination and installation as the new bishop of Fall River, The Anchor had a chance to speak with people in attendance and the following is an account of those impressions. "I thought it was a great and beautiful
DUNBAR
FALL RIVER - The responsibilities of a good shepherd and the corresponding talents of Bishop George W. Coleman to meet them were addressed by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, in his homily during the ordination/installation of Bishop Coleman as the seventh bishop of the Fall River diocese. The ages old ritual of the ordination of a bishop were held in St. Mary's Cathedral here Tuesday, with more than 30 bishops, 250 priests and hundreds of parishioners from across the diocese attending the limited seating liturgy. Archbishop Montalvo said that when former Fall River Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. was "unexpectedly" sent to take over Florida's Palm Beach diocese in October 2002, "the Holy Father wanted to fill the void in the Fall River diocese which is especially dear to him. He nominated Msgr. Coleman as bishop, teacher and shepherd. It is my great joy to congratulate him today." Bishop Coleman, who had been the elected administrator of the Fall River diocese since shortly after Bishop O'Malley left, was named the bishop-elect on April 30 by Pope John Paul II. The archbishop said Bishop Coleman, who is 64, "is a well known and an illustrious son of this diocese, who, since his formation (theological studies) in Rome ,has always exercised his priestly ministry" in many ways as an administrator. The Somerset native, a priest since 1964, in his many leadership years has served as a pastor, diocesan director of education, and as a monsignor with duties as vicar general and moderator of the CuTurn to page eight - Talents
a special moment for all
ceremony," said Marian Desrosiers, assistant director of the Pro-Life Apostolate. "We are very blessed to have Bishop Coleman as our leader and he's a gift to all of us." Diane Baron of St. Mary's Parish, New Bedford, called the ceremony moving and described it as "a very sacred and holy moment in history." It had that sense, said
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Baron, of being '~(}' special moment in our Church's history." Her son Peter attended the installation with her and said it was the most ceremonial event he's seen in the Church and something he really wanted to see. "It was solemn and holy. You could feel something special was happening," said Baron. As attendees boarded buses from St.
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Mary's Cathedral to White's of Westport for the reception, Dick Mahoney, who taught Bishop Coleman in the eighthgrade, explained that the tickets he received for the installation were unexpected, but a nice surprise. "It was a fantastic event," said Mahoney. "It's nice to be here and I'm very proud of Turn to page 13 - Moment
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