08.07.92

t eanco VOL. 36, NO. 31

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Friday, August 7,1992

F ALL RIVER, MASS.

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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly

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Most Reverend Sean Patrick O'Malley, OFM Cap. Sixth Bishop of Fall River ttThere was a man, sent'from God, whose name was John." John 1:6

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$11 Per Year

There \Vas a tnan, sent frotn God ffThere was a man, sent from God, whose name was John." Oohn 1:6) It is appropriate to asso, ciate Fall River's new bishop with the Gospel ofJohn. Sean is the Gaelic form of John and Bishop O'Malley's epis, copal motto, Quodcumque dixerit /acite (Do whatever he tells you), is taken fromJohn's account of the wedding feast at Cana, where Mary initi, ated the miracle of water made wine by giving that command to the waiters.

Before he left Washington, Bishop O'Malley told the Catholic Standard, the arch, diocesan newspaper, that he chose the motto ubecause Uohn] is my patron, because he was closest to the Blessed Virgin, because he was the beloved disciple and because of his fidelity to the Lord at the crucifixion. Also, these are the last words of Mary in the Gospel. The message of Mary is always pointing to the Son and, as Franciscans, our lives are to be like hers, pointing to the Son." In coming to Fall River,

Bishop O'Malley is obeying a papal assignment, thus can be said ffsent from God," since as Vicar of Christ the pope is seen as discerning God's will.

It began June 16 with aterse advisory from Catholic News Service in Washington, DC: "Pope John Paul II today named Bishop Sean P. O'Malley of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to be the new bishop of Fall River, Mass. We will have a story later today."

The news touched offexcitement, anticipation and multifarious preparations in the Fall River diocese, which had been awaiting word of its new leader since the ann~uncement last Dec. 10 of former Bishop Daniel A. Cronin's appointment as archbishop of Hartford, Conn.

Telephones rang, fax machines shrilled and media converged on the Fall River diocesan office of communications for a hastily-called press conference.

a0165 r w ADVISORY-BISHOP

ADVISORY-BISHOP June lE.., Editors~

clf St. Mass.

The first reaction of the press, radio and television representatives was ofsurprise, obviously expected by the brown-robed Bishop O'Malley. "As you can see from the sandals and the beard," he said in an oft-quoted comment, "Central Casting has not sent you a conventional-looking bishop.

"I am a Capuchin Franciscan friar," he continued. "It is our custom to wear a beard in imitation of Christ and St. Francis, our founder."

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Pope John Paul. II today naMed Bishop Sean P.

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later tc.d.ay.

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PATRICK O'MALLEY as a very young altar boy.

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THE ANCHOR (USPS路S4S-020). Second Class Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.

Published weekly except the week of July 4 and the week after Christmas at 887 High路 land Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720 by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $11.00 per year. Postmasters send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

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" THE FUTURE BISHOP as a child and youth. In the first picture, his older brother Theodore is on the left.

There was a man

his family moved to Penn, sylvania, in Pittsburgh and The son of retired Atty. he admitted that he didn't Reading. Following his sopho, Theodore J. O'Malley, who shine 'at the Mass responses, . more year in high school, he told his unsurprised family now lives in Point Clinton, said in Latin in those days. that he wanted to enter the TheOdore, His older brother, Ohio, and the late Mary Louise Capuchin minor seminary. recited the prayers, he ex, (Reidy) O'Malley, he was born "I've always loved the ideals plained, while young Patrick June 29, 1944, in Lakewood, of St. Francis, ,his 10veJor the (Sean is his religious name) Ohio. He knew from boyhood poor of Christ, his sense of mumbled companionably. that he wanted to be a priest; being a universal brother," he He attended Catholic grade in fact, he was an altar boy at told an interviewer years later, age five or six, he said, although schools in Lakewood and, after

in explaining his choice of the Washington, combining that Capuchin way of life. . with advanced stUdies at Cath0' Hefollowed high school and lie University, also in Washing, college years at St. Fidelis ton. He holds master's degrees Seminary with theological stud, in religious education and ies at Capuchin College, Wash, Spanish and a doctorate in ington, DC, and was ordained 16th'CenturySpanish and Portto the priesthood Aug. 29, uguese literature and he speaks 1970.

Portuguese, Spanish, French, As a seminarian,' Bishop Italian and German.

O'Malley had begun work with He took from his doctoral the Hispanic community in studies a deep appreciation of

Saint LalVrence, Martyr Church New Bedford

welcome and a .,'

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Bob Thayer photo counesy of Providence Journal-Bulletin

BISHOP O'MALLEY, right, leaves the June 16 news conference where it was announced he would head the Fall River diocese. At left, Rev. John F. Moore, diocesan director ofcommunications and editor of the Anchor; in background, Rev. Jay T. Maddock, judicial vicar for the diocesan marriage court.

God's Blessings fora Spirit.-filled

Ministry

St. Stanislaus Parish Community, Fall River greets our "new bishop with prayerful best wishes

of

ttSTO LAT" May he enjoy a hundred years!

ST. BERNARD PARISH ASSONET

There was a man Saints Teresa of Avila and' John of the Cross, naming St. 'Teresa's commentary on the Lord's prayer as "one of the best books he has studied" and describing St. John's Spir, , itual Canticle as "the most bea4tiful poem in the world."

In '1973, then 29~year,0Id Father O'Malley was appointed director of the HispaniC apos, tolate forthe Washington arch, diocese. Among his initiatives while in that position was the founding in 1977 ofa Spanish, language weekly newspaper, "EI Pregonero," with the aim of sharing' Catholic informa, tion and values with the His, panic community. Edited by Oscar Reyes, its present circu, lation is 18,000. In 1978, Fa, ther O'Malley. added to his resume the title of archdioce, san director for sodal services and yicar forSpanish,speaking ministries.

Living in an apartment in Washington's Spanish Catholic Center often shared by roaches and rodents, he was known as Padre SeaI).-and as the per; son to see if one were in any kind of trouble.

His "parishioners" num; bered some 100,000 Latin AT WASHINGTON'S Centro Catolico for Hispanics, Bishop,elect O'Malley Americans and the Spanish ,gets a farewell hug from Clara Collantes in this 1984 photo as he prepares for departure Center's constantly expanding to the Virgin Islands. (Michael Hoyt photo courtesy of Catholic Standard) services embraced medical and

'Corpus Christi Church Sandwich, Massachusetts

Welcome & may God's Blessing & Grace be with you.

St. Theresa 's Church Sagamore, Massachusetts

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dentalc1iniai, various social and education programs, youth activities, and assistance in finding jobs and housing. . Further insight into the nature of his work was sup' plied by' Mary Conway in a June 7, 1984, 'feature story in the Washington, DC; Catholic Standard. It was written after his appointment two days ear, lier to the diocese of St. Tho, mas in the Virgin Islands as coadjutor bishop with right of succession. It follows: Dial 0 for O'Malley In the old movie Bells of St. Mary's, Bing Cros, by, piaying a priest, told Ingrid Bergman that if she ever needed anything at all she shou!d simply dial "0" for O'Malley.

That line might have been written for Capuchin Fa' ther Sean O'Malley, the new bishop,elect for the Virgin Islands.

Whether I've been look, ing for facts about an . immigration bill or emer, gency assistance for a young friend whose life was endangered, Father Sean has responded as if my problem were the only thing he had on his mind.

Evidently, other people

There was a man, sent from God got the same impression when they went to him with difficulties.

Once, when we met for an interview at the Centro Catolico; Father Sean suggested there would be fewer interrup~ tions if we talked over coffee at the Potter's House, an unpretentious eatery/bookstore a cou~ pIe of blocks away. It took a long time to go that short distance be~ cause a woman stopped him to ask about helping her relatives in Latin America; a man held out his baby and asked for Father Sean's blessing; another man, evidently referring to past 'help simply said, "Gracias, Padre."

If getting an interview to talk about the needs of immigrants was rela~ tively easy, getting a prom~ ise from him for some free time just to talk was another matter.. Once, when I invited him to lunch, he checked his schedule for the day and found two weddings, three baptisms, a couple of families coming in for counseling and a few

hours of hearing corifes~ sions.

How could he possi~ bly keep his sanity with so many demands on him, I asked. "Don't worry," he joked, "I plan to relax with a round of golf in my free time." The line brought to mind a ludi~ crous image of Father Sean in his worn sandals and fraying brown robe making a fourth with a trio of appropriately clad golfers.

Not that the habit is inappropriate to Father Sean. Like his simple liv~ ing quarters, which he has been known to share, not without some wry comments, with roaches and rodents, the habit is in keeping with the pov~ erty he has embraced as a Capuchin.

One of the reasons he has become so respected a spokesman on social justice issues is that he shares the life ofthe poor.

At the same time he accepts as graciou:sly a good meal as a meager one. Somehow he man~ ages to advance the cause of the hungry without adding to their numbers

by taking away the appe~ tites of his hosts; he ap~ peals to generosity with~ out ba~gering with guilt.

jected to having a man with an Irish name as head ofan Hispanic apos~ . tolate are now burning votive lights in front of statues of St. Francis because the statues look like Father Sean.

One of his fellow priests has joked that people who originally ob~

While the story a~ chieves its humor by exa~ geration, if only slight, the fact remains that Fa~ ther Sean has inspired great affection among those whom he has been

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THE BISHOP..ELECT distributes communion during a 1984 Mass at Wash~ ington's Capilla Latina. (Michael Hoyt photo courtesy of Catholic Standard)

Warm wishes and prayerful congratulations Bishop Sean Patrick O'Malley ..... ~

THE PARISH COMMUNITY OF

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI NEW BEDFORD

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THE ANCHOR -

Dloc'ese of Fall River -

Fri., Aug. 7, 1992

State11lent of Cardinal Latv It -is good news -indeed that the Holy Father has appointed Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap. as Bishop of Fall River. Bishop O'Malley has given outstanding pastoral leadership to the Catholic Church in the Virgin Islands. He has been particularly attentive to evangeliza.. tion and to ministry to the poor.

He brings to his new responsibility the richness of his religious community's tradition, a varied pastoral expe.. rience, and the added gift of fluency in Portuguese and a knowledge and love of that culture which has shaped so many of the faithful in Fall River.

It is good to have him as a neighbor and as a co..worker in the Province. I am confident that he will be received warmly and that he will be extended prayerful support and cooperation by the priests, religious and laity of the diocese of Fall River. + Bernard Cardinal Law Archbishop of Boston

There was a

nian

serving. Certainly, he can count on their prayers that he receive all the graces he needs, for his new responsibilities.

Would it be too much , to ask that he also be given the gift of being in two places at once, the Virgin Islands and Wash, ington?

Islands photograph shows that he also enjoys a snack at McDonald's.

When cooking for himself, she said, "he fixes whatever is handy and quick to prepare," but when entertaining friends "he likes to make chili."

So popular in Washington that when his departure was announced, scores of going, away parties were held, the Rice, Black Beans new bishop had made a lasting In a second article, also'writ, impression in his 16 years in ten before the bishop,elect left the archdiocese.

Washington, Ms. Conway He was outspoken in his quoted him as expressing his adherence to Gospel princi, gratitude to the Spanish and pIes, so much so that on one Portuguese communities in the occasion a group of diplomats capital city. walked out of the archdioce, "I've learned so much from san cathedral during a homily the people's faith," he said, he was preaching on human "their generosity, their devo, rights. tion to the Blessed Mother, His many,faceted ministry their hospitality. I'm very grate- was recognized by Catholic ful to them for everything University's President's Medal they've given me." for Distinguished Community Although Ms. Conway wrote Service; and in 1974 he was from the Virgin Islands, where named a Knight Commander she now edits the monthly of the Order of Prince Henry diocesan publication, the Cath, the Navigator by the president olic Islander, that' 'rumors that of Portugal in recognition of the St. Thomas Pizza Hut will his work with Portuguese give up and close on August immigrants in the Washing, 11 are greatly exaggerated," ton archdiocese. she noted that while the bishop , In addition to his work in likes hamburgers, he loves rice the archdiocese, Bishop O'Mal, and black beans and a Virgin ley was appointed in 1978 as

May God grant Bishop O'Malley wisdom and strength as he fulfills his episcopal ministry through many happy years to come.

THE PEOPLE AND PRIESTS PARISH OF SAINT-MARK. ATTL路EBORO FALLS

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Statem.ent

of Cardinal 'Hickey

With much happiness, I greet the news that our and he leaves behind a record of solid accomplish, Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has appointed Bishop' ments. He has worked tirelessly in service of the poor Sean O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap., as the next Bishop of in the Islands, those whom tourists and vacationers Fall River, Massachusetts. rarely encounter. He has attracted priestly vocations Bishop O'Malley is well,known and well,loved in and strengthened parish life. Bishop O'Malley the Archdiocese of Washington. Before his appoint, established a diocesan newspaper, The Catholic ment as the Bishop 'of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islander, and he set up a television station offering Islands, he served the Hispanic members of the solid Catholic programming to the Islands. Under his Archdiocese with special love and dedication. He was leadership, the Church effectively responded to the actively involved in the Centro Catolico Hispano destruction caused by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. which offers .a clinic, counseling and so many other Bishop O'Malley helped to deliver relief services, needed services to our Hispanic brothers and sisters. quickly reopened the Catholic schools and repaired He is the founder of El Pregonero, the Spanish damaged parish facilities. language newspaper of the Archdiocese of Wash, The people of Fall River will quickly discover that ington. Under Cardinal Baum, he also served as their new Bishop possesses extraordinary abilities of Director of the Office for Social Development. Most intellect and heart. He is an accomplished linguist, an ofall, we remember the love, the fidelity and devotion insightful thinker and farsighted leader. Most of all, which characterized his service among us. he is a loving pastor and I pray that the Lord will In 198 4, Bishop O'Malley was appointed Co' abundantly bless his service to the Diocese of Fall adjutor Bishop of St. Thomas and the following year River in the years ahead. he became the Bishop of St. Thomas. He brought that + James Cardinal Hickey same spirit of willing service to his new assignment ' Archbishop of Washington

The Parish Of Saint ,Thom.as More In Somerset Extends A Very Warm Welcome To Bishop Sean (J'Malley.

It Is Ou'r Prayer That Your Years Here As Bishop Will Be Blessed, Filled With Joy And Very Fruitful.

REV. MSGR. HENRY T. MUNROE, Pastor REV. JOHN M. SULLIVAN, PaTochial VicaT THE PARISH STAFF AND THE PARISH COMMUNITY

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'there was'a man, sent from God program director for the Mary· .land Catholic Conference.

The bishop served his Capu· chin community as a transla· tor at general chapters of the order held in Rome in 1979 and 1982 and at a 1981 pIe. nary council of the order deal· ing with formation ofmembers.

Bittersweet Occasion Kaki Roberts ofthe Catholic Standardstaffchronicled Wash·

ington reactions to the depar. ture of "Father Sean" in the following article: As word of Capuchin Father Sean O'Malley's appointment to the epis· copacy spread among his colleagues, parishioners, fellow Capuchin friars, family and friends, and his beloved Hispanic com· munity, reactions to the

announcement reflected a mingling of delight and sadness.

Ackowledgment of Bishop.elect O'Malley's qualifications for his new position as coadjutor bish· op of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands was uni· versa!. The bittersweet notes were sounded by those who recognized the

BISHOP b'MALLEY at a National Encuentro, a meeting called to plan U.S. pastoral ministry to Hispanics. In 1986, he was named board chairman of the Northeast Hispanic Catholic Center in New York.

bishop.elect's departure from Washington as the loss of an exceptional friend and advocate.

"In sharing Bishop O'Malley with the Vir· gin Islands, all of us in Washington are making an extraordinary sacri· fice," Archbishop James A. Hickey said in a state· ment released Tuesday.

"For a number of years he has been a leader in working for social jus· tice, especially in behalf of immigrants. Literally thousands ofour Spanish. speaking residents turn to him as guide, pastor and constant friend. To them and to the wider community in the Church and the city, Padre Sean has been a real inspira· tion."

"It is a big loss at the local level, but a big gain at the national level, especially at the level of the National Conference ofCatholic Bishops," said Dominican Sister Marga. rita Velez, director of the Archdiocesan Office for HispanicCatholics. Bishop' elect O'Malley may make important contributions as a member ofthe NCCB,

she said, "because ofhis understanding of the La· tin American situation, which is one of the big issues among bishops here." uln his early youth it was quite apparent that he was headed to the priesthood, but I never dreamed it would lead to this," marveled the bishop' elect's father, retired law· yer Theodore J. O'Mal· ley, when reached by tele· phone at his Ohio home. uWe're certainly very surprised and happy and grateful," said Mr. O'Mal· ley, who learned of his son's episcopal appoint· ment in a telephone call from the bishop.elect early Tuesday morning.

"He sounded quite happy and almost in a state of shock," Mr. O'Malley reported.

"We're very proud of Sean and our prayers will be with him in this important work he'll be under· taking," said Mr. O'Maliey. Asked if he would be attending his son's epis· copal ordination in Aug- ; ust, the elder O'Malley replied buoyantly, "I sure

Sincere Congratulations 'p'

and

Warm Best Wishes

SAINT JEAN BAPTISTE PARISH COMMUNITY FALL RIVER

There was a man hope so. I wouldn't miss it for'the world."

ItI think it's just a wonderful thing, and I think it will be a very lib~ erating thing for him," said Capuchin Father Tom Russman, a profes~ sor of philosophy .at the University of St. Thomas in Houston and a child~. hood friend ofthe bishop~. elect since the days when . the two were third~grade classmates at St. Gabriel School in Pittsburgh..

While in Washington to visit Capuchin CQllege, Father Russman spoke in a telephone interview about Bisho~lectO'Mal~ ley's qualifications for his new post. "I think he's a wonderfully pastoral man, . extremely intelligent and an exceptional linguist, " Father Russman said. "He has always had a strong religious dedication, a Thomas Merton kind of spirituality characterized by a desire for Ii strong prayer life that flows into active ministry."

Speaking in a telephone interview from Pitts~. burgh, Father Robert L. McCreary, provincial of the Province of St. Aug~ ustine of the Capuchin

F(iars, said it was an honor and pleasure to learn that Bishop~elect O'Malley would 路be the newest Capuchin bishop..

"I believe that Sean is a man very devoted to the Chu,rch and to working with people of diverse. cultures, as he has in Washington. He has a very special love f6rpeople of backgrou~ds different than his own.

"Sean is a very peace~ . , ful person," Father Mc~ Creary added. "He has a . very great respect for the individual, and he con~ sistently tries to live the ideals of St. Francis. He always has lived very poorly and simply. He is a very devout person and has been a unifying force for people of Hispanic' background from many different countries.' He has devoted himself to helping people in situa~ tions of great disadvari~ tage."

Father McCreary pre~ dieted that the new bishop will maintain his simplic~ ity of style as he takes up his new responsibilities in the Virgin Islands. ItI really feel Sean wants to be a servant; I don't

believe it makes much difference in what form.

I think. he is embracing this as a special call to him. I know that his will be among the most sim~ . pl~ lifestyles ofa bishbp."

"In his personal pov~ erty and simplicity oflife, . he might be a challenge to other bishops," Sister Margarita agreed.

"To me, Father Sean is the most committed of priests," said Sister Mar~ .garita. "He is completely dedicated to the Hispanic community. When he speaks' about Hispanics, he always says, 'our peo~ pIe, my people' He doesn't speak of 'them.';' "I would doubt that there is anybody in the Hispanic community of Washington who is bet~ ter known than Sean," observed Capuchin Broth~ er Don Lippert as he took a break between Masses at the Capilla Latina Sunday. "I don't know if even three peo~ pIe could take over all , the things he does."

The clients Bishop~ elect O'Malley has served as director ofthe Spanish Catholic Center and his parishioners at Capilla

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall Rlver-Fri., Aug. 7, 1992

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A RELAXED BISHOP

THE PARISH FAMILY OF SANTO CHRISTO, FALL RIVER,

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SERVING THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER FOR 100 YEARS, OFFERS A WARM WELCOME

AND LOYAL SUPPORT TO OUR NEW SPIRITUAL LEADER, BISHOP SEAN O'MALLEY.

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The priests and people of ST. JAMES CHURCH

The parish community of

IN NEW BEDFORD

Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, and

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welc'ome with joy our,

Lady.

new Bishop Sean Patrick

of Hope, West Barnstable

O'Malley

extends best wishes to

him our obedience, as

Bishop Sean O'Malley on

well as our prayers.

his appointment as Bishop

May God Bless your

of Fall River. Our prayers

endeavors as Shepherd

and affection are always

of the Diocese of Fall

with you.

River.

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pledge to

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There was a man, sent from God Latina and St. Matthew's Cathedral see him as one of the family, Brother Don added. "When they say 'Father,' they really mean it. They know he's there for them and they pick up the way he re~ sponds to them. They iove him very much."

In the Virgin Islands Nearly 100 Washingtonians made the journey to St. Tho~ mas in the Virgin Islands for the Aug. 2, 1984, episcopal ordination ofBishop O'Malley. .

Ms. Conway described the ceremony for the Catholic Standard in an article written from St. Thomas: The altar was banked high with West Indian red lilies and the tradi~· tional Veni Creator pulsed through the cathedral on a calypso beat when Ca~ puchin Father Sean O'Malley was consecrat~ ed last Thursday to serve as coadjutor bishop of the Virgin Islands.

The ancient rite of passing on the Apostolic office from one bishop to the next took place in the Cathedral ofSts. Peter and Paul on the island of St. Thomas. According

to Anthony Olive, a Thomian descended from French settlers, it was the first time in l~ving memory that an episco~ ...pal ordination was cele~ brated in the Virgin Is~ lands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John.

Archbishop Pio Laghi, the Papal Pro~nuncio to· the United States; Arch~ bishop James A. Hickey, who as Archbishop of Washington is the Met~ ropolitan Bishop of the suffragan see ofSt. Thom~ as, and other bishops from the United States and the Carribbean is~ lands joined Bishop Thomas J. Harper of St. Thomas in the rite of consecration.

Among the congrega~ tion of 400 were some of Bishop O'Malley's rela~ tives, including his father, stepmother and sister; many of his Capuchin brothers, the other half of his family as he called them; a group of nearly 100friends from Washing~ ton and members of the Catholic parishes on St. Thomas and St. John.

An overflow crowd in the cathedral school

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Aug. 7, 1992

after which Bishop O'Mal~ ley, who is 40, is to suc~ ceed him as Ordinary of the diocese.

The enthusiasm with which the islanders antici~ pated Bishop O'Malley's coming was evident in their preparations for his ordination. The night' before, workers decorated ' the cathedral with bright. flowers and banners, in~ . cluding pne appliqued with his coat of arms.

And the choir members rehearsed the classical pieces they sang for a prelude, the Spanish hymns and the English parts of the Mass which they performed to the accompaniment of tam~ bourines and maracas.

On the morning ofthe ordination,workerscame to polish the mahogany pews and to do the final sweeping of the marble tiled floor, on which a few hours later Bishop O'Malley lay prone while the congregation sang a litany. His gesture of humility and abandon~ ment to the will of God revealed the brown hem of his Franciscan robe beneath the white litur~

and said, "We want you to know how we in Wash~ ington honor and esteem Bishop Sean.... We have given you one. of our very best."

Bishop Harper, who thanked Archbishop Laghi and Archbishop Hickey for helping him to obtain a coadjutor bishop, assured them that Bishop O'Malley already was warmly welcomed and that the people's love for him will deepen as they come to know "his goodness, his gentleness, his compassion· and his zeal. " Having lived with the new· bishop for a few days before his ordina~ tion, Bishop Harper said that "even now we are like father and son or like brother to brother. I am so happy that the Holy Spirit has sent Bish~ op O'Malley to us, the Church of the Virgin Islands."

Bishop Harper, who is 74 and suffering from arthritis, will share what he called "this wonder~ ful but burdensome of~ fice" with Bishop O'Mal~ ley for the next year,

watched a telecast of the ordination.

Because it was too expensive for most of the Catholics'on St. Croix to cross to St. Thomas for the ordination, Bishop O'Malley planned to cele~ brate a Mass on Sunday at St. Patrick's Church, the largest on St. Croix, where the Crucians pre~ pared a reception in his honor.. .

One ofthe St. Thomas residents told a Washing~ ton visitor that he did not mind not having a seat in the cathedral be~ cause he would have many opportunities to see Bish~ op O'Malley "while those from the mainland had to say farewell to their friend.

That farewell was a difficult one. Bishop O'Mal~ ley, speaking in Spanish and Portuguese to those he had served in Washing~ ton, quoted from the classic El Cid to describe the pain of parting as being worse than having his fingernails torn out.

And Archbishop Hickey told the islanders how hard it was for Washing~ ton to lose the new bishop

WE PLEDGE BISHOP O'MALLEY OUR PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE AS HE UNDERTAKES HIS NEW REPONSIBILITIES IN FALL RIVER .

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WARmEST COnGRATULATions . ".

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SAINT WILLIAM PARISH • FALL RIVER _~.,----------------------------------.I

4.

There was a man, sent from G~d

Ollr Best Wisltes ~ Prlll/ers

gical .garb· and, on his otherwise bare feet, the sandals of his mendicant Order.

from

HOLY FAMILY PARISH EAST TAUNTON

Cead mlle failter

'"

BISHOp·O'MALLEY '" from the parishioners of

St. Joseph Parish North Dighton DiQ's Muire dhtiit!

(God and Mary be· with you!)

Prayerful Congratulations

and Warmest Wishes ~

,

.PRIESTS AND THE PEOPLE OF ESPIRITO SANTO • FALL RIVER·

Con linued2J.kssiny~ and:7Jesl W.ishes 10 ,BISHOP O'MALLEY OUR LADY

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CAPE PARISH FAMILY BREWSTER

OF THE

He also thankedCar~ dinal Patrick A. O'Boyle, Cardinal William A. B~um and Archbishop Hickey for their example and their kindnesses to him. Of Pope John Paul; Bishop' 9'Malley said, "He makes feel us so good about being.catho~ lies" and he recalled the firs,t time he saw the Holy Father, '. at Puebla.· "He gave a stirring address to· the bishops there, urging them to be teachers of the truth about Jesus, about His Church, about .

His person and to be defehders of people's dignity and human rights," he said.

Addressing the pastoral . team ofthe Virgin Islands, he said, "I've come to work with you, to learn from you. Be patient With me, but be frank. I'm not , too fragile." He said he looks forw.ard to estab~ llshingrelarlons with lead~ ers of other faiths and, referring to the seven flags that have flown over the Virgin Islands, he told the people,' "The only flag I bring to you is that of my heart."

When' he rose from the floor of the ~ain aisle and went to kneel before the altar, Bishop Harper, in the ancient gesture of consecration, placed; his hands on the Capuchin's bowed head and prayed silently. Bish~ op Harper was followed . by Archbishop Hickey, Bishop Eugene A. Marino, Archbishop Laghi, Arch~ bishop William Borders of Baltimore and all the bishops present down to the most recently conse~ crated, Josephjte Bishop John Ricard ofBaltimore.

After the laying on of hands, a silver~bound book of the Gospels was held over Bishop O'Mal~ ley's head while Bishop Harper invoked God's blessing on him, praying that he may always be pleasing in God's sight.

He then anointed Bishop O'Malley with the sacred chrism of o~dinationand presented him with three 'symbols ofhis new office: the ring, the ~itre and the crozier.

The congregation re~ sponded with another standing ovation and, when the Mass was ended and the procession filed through the street in front of the cathedral, those waiting outside closed around their new bishop, calling out greetings, shak~ ing his hand, wishing him well.

The joyous crowd es~ corted him to the cathe~ dral school, where in an oPen courtyard and an upper room the diocesan ,.hospitality committee had . prepared a feast. After removing his vestments in the rectory next door, Bishop O'Malley ap'" peared again dressed in his brown robe and san~ daIs, exchanging hugs and handshakes until the stars came out· to light. the ' tropical night.

The ring was a loan from another bishop, Bishop O'Malley's own choice not being ready in time for the ceremony.

The crozier was a gift from the Capuchins and features the crossed arms of Christ and St. Francis which are carved to fit in the crook of the wooden staff.

The congregation gave Bishop O'Malley a stand~ ing ovation when he was presented to them and they laughed' when he paraphrased Pope John , Paul's remark on becom~ ing pope. Any man can become a bishop, Bishop.

O'Mall~y said, the proof ,being that he had become one.

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SACRED HEART PARISH FAMILV NORTH ATIlEBORO. MASSACHUSETIS

spoke of the debt . he owes to his family for g~ving him an appre~ia~ tion ofthe importance'of ' prayer, of devotion to the sacraments, to the Church, to the Mother of God and to the Holy Father. He spoke also of ,the Capuchins and oftheir teaching hi~ the ideai of universal brotherhood of Christ's peace. ItI assure you that my greatest joy in life is being a Capu~ chin friar," he said.

. Differences, Similarities ., ' In his new diocese, the 'co; adjutor bishop found differ~ ences, but also similarities to the teeming capital city of Washington. A Catholic Stan~ dard backgr<?und report point~ ":ed out that he encountered a different physical setting, with sun~drenched islands taking the place of Washington's crowded Hispanic area with its many crumbling buildings~ and that his flock shrank from·

-,;'.

" 100,000Washington~area Hispanics to his new diocese's approximately 25,000 Catho~ lies, one~quarter ofthe islands' population."

A· youngster among U.S. dioceses, St.: Thomas was created in 1977 in unincorpo~ rated U.S. territory consisting of three large islands, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, plus about 50 small islands and cays. It is a suffra~ gan see of the Washington archdiocese. .'

Racially 85 percent black and 15 percen.t white, its major ethnic groups are of West Indian, French and Hispanic extraction.

Succeeds Bishop Harper . After 14 months as coadju~ tor to Bishop Harper, the lat~ .ter retired at age 75 and was succeeded Oct. 16, 1985, by Bishop O'Malley. .

The apostolic zeal the new shepherd manifested in Wash~ ington continl,led in the Virgin Islands, where he oversaw es~ tablishment of a new com~ munity of women religious, the West Indian Franciscans, and invited three other com~ munities to serve there: the Marist Sisters, the Missionaries of Charity and the Fatima Sisters. He also ordained seven priests and nine permanent deacons.

He initiated two Catholic television stations and the diocesan newspaper, the Cath~ olic Islander. He opened di~ ocesan offices for religious education and Catholic schools and a religious book and gift ., shop.

The bishop established two soup kitchens, one on St. Thomas and one on St. Croix; .. a program for. pregnant teen~ ag~rs and teen~age parents; a Club House for those suffer~ ing from mental illness; are~ source center for· the handi~ capped; a corporation for low~ income housing; and a hospice. .Bishop O'Malley blessed the hospice, St. Francis House, on Aug. 5, as part of his official farewell to the St. Thomas diocese. Staffed by the Mis~ s.onaries of. Charity, it will accommodate terminally ill patients, the majority of them AIDS patients, said Mary Con~ way, who came to St. Thomas from Washington seven years ago to found the Catholic Islander. .

In explaining the mission of. the hospice, a Catholic Islander news story quoted Bishop O'Malley as saying that expe~ rience with Bethlehem House shelters for the homeless "has helped us to realize that there are people dying alone,those whose families are unable to

There was a man, sent from God give them adequate care in their last weeks on earth. In their special time, we need to help people who are facing their last weeks of this life to prepare for new life in eternity. We have to help them to die with dignity, surrounded by love and concern, in an atmosphere of prayer and hope."

In addition to providing residential care for the termi, nally ill, the diocese also plans an out-patient component.

During his years in his island diocese, the bishop often re, turned to the mainland, offi, ciating at Hispanic ceremonies in various dioceses and archdioceses as part of his respon, sibility as board chairman for the Northeast Hispanic Catho, lic Center in New York. He was elected to that post in 1986.

One special occasion came only weeks after he left Wash, ington, when he returned to the capital city as homilist at the 75th annual Pan American Mass, celebrated at the Na, tional Shrine of the Immacu, late Conception. Attended by representatives of South, Cen, tral and North American na, tions, it was offered in Span, ish, Portuguese, French and English. The bishop, reported

the Catholic Standard, took the occasion to condemn abor, tion, saying it is not a topic on which there can be legitimate dissent in the church.

"Abortion is not a women's issue, it is a human issue," he declared, suggesting that it be combated "by a vigorous cate, chesis at all levels, energized not by self,righteousness but by prayer and fasting." Every committed Christian should feel called upon to participate in some way in the effort to rid society of the "new slavery" of abortion, he said.

Bishop O'Malley said many parallels exist between abortion and slavery. "Both are lucrative industries," he said.

Just as slavery was in 19th, century America, "abortion is now often accepted by many respectable and seemingly intelligent citizens as an unfor, tunate but necessary practice."

Addressing the large con, gregation of diplomatic per, sonneI and others, Bishop O'Malley expressed his hope that Mary, the patroness of the Americas, "be our inspiration. . . in the construction of a world of peace, justice, and love for all . . . from the first moment of life. " Another honor came in Sep, tember, 1987, when Bishop

O'Malley was invested as a Knight ofthe Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre ofJeru' salem in ceremonies in Pen,_ sacola, Fla. The Order of the Holy Sepulchre was founded in the 11th century during the time of the First Crusade to help protect the Holy Land from Moslem invaders. Today it helps maintain a Christian presence in the Holy Land through prayer and financial support of church, convents, seminaries, schools and or, phanages. Franciscans have had custody of the Holy Places in Palestine and the Middle East in general since 1342.

A time of trial came for the bishop and his diocese in Sep, tember 1989, when Hurricane Hugo struck the Virgin Islands, with the eye of the storm pass' ing through St. Croix, destroy, ing 90 percent of its buildings and leaving every tree leafless.

On the island of St. Thorn, as, less severely hit, Bishop O'Malley's residence was destroyed and the cathedral had extensive water damage.

In an interview with the Catholic Standard, the bishop described the damage on St. Croix, where he was when the hurricane struck, as tlapoca, lyptic," with food rotting for

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Aug. 7, 1992

lack of refrigeration, the hos, pital collapsed and people "liv, ing in the rain."

The bishop spearheaded re, lief and rebuilding efforts in the diocese, aided by contri, butions from the Washington archdiocese and other main' land donors.

Bishop O'Malley's last acts as shepherd ofthe St. Thomas diocese are to come Sunday, Aug. 9, when he will offer 11 a.m. Mass in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Char, lotte Amalie, the capital city of the U.S. Virgin Islands. It will be followed by a come, one,come,all fiesta, from which the bishop will depart for the airport and his new duties in the Fall River diocese.

Reflecting the bittersweet emotions that accompany end, ings and new beginnings, he said he felt "great sadness at the prospect of leaving_ the Virgin Islands, which have truly become a home to me."

He said his eight years there have been "the happiest years ofmy life. . . [but] at moments like this, we must say 'yes' to God and to his Church."

But, as he said at his June 16 press conference upon his first visit to Fall River, "When I arrived [in St. Thomas], I came to have the firm conviction

that it was God's providence that brought me there and it's with the same peace in my heart that I come here asking for God's blessing as I take up this new challenge and re, sponsibility to serve the church of Fall River.

"When I come in August," he added, "I will come as a novice to listen and learn. I ask you to be patient as I learn the ropes. I ask for your prayers so that I might be guided by the Holy Spirit in this awe, some task of ministering to God's people. I am anxious to meet with the various groups in the diocese to get to know you, to listen to your ideas. I look forward to being your bishop and I will try to do my best for you."

Deep gratitude is expressed to the family of Bishop O'Malley; to Mary Conway, originally of the Catholic Standard of Washington' DC, and now ~itar ofthe Catholic Islander; to' Joseph Siccardi, editor, and Kaki Roberts, a staff member, of the Catholic Standard; to the Capuchin Franciscan Prownce of St. Augstine in Pittsburgh; and to Sally Benninger of the Catholic UniCleTse Bulletin of Cle"eland, 0., far their generous assistance by way of photographs, stories and background material far this special issue of the Anchor.

WELCOME, BISHOP SEAN!

........

In the words of St. Francis, we pray that under your

leadership the Church of Fall River may continue to growin God's gifts of "right faith, sure hope andm-ature-love." .Sf. Jolin 1M 'ErJtinadist ~arisn !FamUiJ JLttfe60r0J !MJt

15

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DURING THE CEREMONY of episcopal ordination, a silver' bound book of the Gospels is held over the new bish<;>p's head while

Bishop Harper invokes God's blessing on him, praying that he might always be pleasing in the sight of the Lord. (Catholic Standard photo)

WE WELCOME BISHOP SEAN P. O'MALLEY,

O.F.M., Cap.

"WE ARE THE PEOPLE HE PASTURES, THE FLOCK THAT HE GUIDES." (PSALMS 95:7)

ST. JACQUES PARISH TAUNTON â&#x20AC;˘ MASS.

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