t eanc 0
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
FALL RIVER, MASS.
VOL. 43, NO. 33 • Friday, August 27,1999
Nine diocesan • • priests receive papal honors
•
~
SHARON HUECKEL
Stewardship Committee to host seminars ~
Author, lecturer Sharon Hueckel to address clergy and parish committees.
FALL RIVER - Clergy and members of parish committees will have the opportunity to hear how stewardship is and can be advanced at separate seminars next month sponsored by the Diocesan Stewardship Committee. The committee and Father Marcel H. Bouchard, diocesan Director of Stewardship, announced that Sharon Hueckel will be the guest speaker at meetings Sept. 8 and 9 at Cathedral Camp in East Freetown. Hueckel, who has written and lectured on stewardship as a way of life, is the former director of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Lafayette, Ind. She is the Turn to page 13 - Stewardship
Diocesan schools set to open; enroUment up By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
FALL RIVER - As the summer recess ends, teachers and administrators throughout the diocese are preparing for the opening of Catholic schools. They have been going through orientations, reviewing faculty and student handbooks, working on curriculum and getting classrooms ready for the influx of students. Superintendent of Diocesan Schools, JamesA. McNamee says they're ready. "It will be a very exciting school year as we move into the new millennium," said McNamee adding that "it's been an extremely busy summer. We've been interviewing new teachers, doing memos, working on calendars and newsletters." More than 8,500 students were enrolled in Catholic Schools in the Fall River Diocese last year and it looks like that number will continue to increase with this year's en~ollmen1. "Most of our schools have a waiting list," reported McNamee who said he's looking forward to the official opening of schools slated for Tuesday for most of the diocese. Fall River Schools open after the Labor Day holiday. Turn to page 13 - School
Investiture ceremonies for the monsignors will be held in Sf. Mary's Cathedral in the fall.
celebrated his silver jubilee as a priest in 1989. He holds a licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In 1974, Pope Paul VI designated him a Papal Chamberlain with the title of monsignor. FALL RIVER - Nine priests of the Fall River Diocese He has been pastor at Holy Name Church, New Bedford, have been informed by Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., since 1995; is a former chancellor; served in the Diocesan that Pope John Paul II has conferred papal honors on them. Tribunal, and is currently Secretary of Spiritual Formation In a letter dated August 19, Bishop O'Malley said he was and the Apostolates; and is a diocesan consultor. Rev. Msgr. Levesque informed through the offices of the Apostolic Nuncio, the Rev. Msgr. Edmond R. Levesque was born in Fall River, Most Rev. Gabriel Montalvo, of the honors. Those who have been named Prelate of Honor of His studied at Assumption College, Worcester, and was ordained Holiness are: Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, Rev. Msgr. a priest on Feb. 2, 1955 in St. Mary's Cathedral by Bishop Turn to page three - Papal Honors Edmond R. Levesque, Rev. Msgr. John J. Steakem and Rev. Msgr. Antonino C. Tavares. Those who have been named Chaplain to His Holiness are: Rev. Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, Rev. Msgr. Edmund J. Fitzgerald, Rev. Msgr. John F. Moore, Rev. Msgr. John A. Perry and Rev. Msgr. Ronald A. Tosti. In his announcement letter to the priests ofthe diocese, Bishop O'Malley said that, "The Holy Father, in doing so, has recognized the constant, dedicated pastoral work that these, your brother priests have carried out, in fidelity to the mission of the Church. In a very real sense this honor recognizes not only their contributions to building up the Church in the Diocese of Fall River, but also those of all the priests ofour exceptionally dedicated presbyterate. While all these men bring to their minisREV. MSGR. EDMOND R. LEVESQUE try unique talents and gifts, they, REV. MSGR. THOMAS J. HARRINGTON like so many of you, bring a joyful enthusiasm to those whom they serve, giving exemplary witness to their priestly vocation." The bishop noted that the honors will be bestowed at S1. Mary's Cathedral at a fall date to be announced. "With you, I offer my prayers and heartfelt congratulations to our new 'Monsignori.' May the Lord, who has graced us with the gift of priesthood, instill in us ever greater zeal and love for His Mission," Bishop O'Malley said.
Rev. Msgr. Harrington Rev. Msgr. Harrington, a New Bedford native, was ordained a priest in S1. Mary's Cathedral on May 30, 1964 by the late Bishop James L. Connolly. He
REV. MSGR. JOHN J. STEAKEM
REV. MSGR. ANTONINO
C. TAVARES