t eanc 0 VOL. 33, NO. 39
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Friday, October 6,1989
FALL RIVER, MASS.
FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER
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St. George parish, Westport, marks 75th year Last Sunday was a long-awaited day for St. George parish, Westport. Members marked their church's 75th anniversary at a Mass of thanksgiving at which Bishop Daniel A. Cronin was principal celebrant and Father Roger D. LeDuc, pastor, and Father David J. Landry, a parish native and now parochial vicar at St. Anne's Church, Fall River, were the main concelebrants. The Mass was followed by a banquet with Normand C. Ouelette as chairman, assisted by John Caron. At the meal guests received copies of a parish histOl j prepared by Jean Poisson and Amy Caron, wife of John Caron. Excerpts follow. Re-Membering! This is the slogan for our diamond jubilee year. It is a delightful play on words that invokes a twofold response from the St. George parish family. ReMembering, on one hand, invites us to reaffirm our involvement in the parish unit and, at the same time, to e.mbrace our lost family members back into our midst. ReMembering is also a call for us to take heed of our rich and varied
PEOPLE, PRIESTS AND BISHOP process into St. George's Church for celebration of the parish's 75th anniversary Mass. (Rosa photo) history and to ponder the accomplishments of our parish family. For St. George parish the torch was lit in 1914 when Rev. Charles Clerk was given the pastorship of
Diocese to aid Hugo victims
the newly inaugurated parish. Up until then the souls in the Westport Factory area were tended as a mission congregation by the priests of Notre Dame and St.
Anne Churches in Fall River. The growing population of Fall River and New Bedford, though, caused Bishop Daniel L. Feehan to establish a full-fledged parish. Father
signed by
Following reception of a letter from Archbishop John L. May, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in which he asked his fellow bishops "to consider a diocesanwide appeal which would benefit the dioceses of Charleston, St. Thomas and the five dioceses of Puerto Rico," Bishop Daniel A. Cronin authorized diocesan pastors to schedule a collection to benefit the dioceses named by Archbishop May. Each parish will announce its collection. date and proceeds will be forwarded to the American Board of Catholic Missions in Washington, which, said Archbishop May, "will make quick disbursements to those dioceses which urgently need our help." The archbishop also informed his brother bishops that the mission board is presently disbursing $100,000 in an existing disaster fund and that the NCCB has another disaster fund maintained in conjunction with Catholic Charities. Turn to Page 10
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~church CNS photo
ARCHBISHOP RUNCIE
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Rev. Philias Jalbert replaced Father Coulombe and assumed the pleasures, as well as the burdens, Turn to Page Nine
650 attend education day
Declaration
WASHINGTON (CNS) - Money, food, walkie-talkies, tarpaulins, generators,. other materials and some trained workers are being sent by Catholics to the Caribbean and the Carolinas to help the beleaguered survivors of Hurricane Hugo. Fall River is among U.S. dioceses that will hold special collections to aid victims.
Clerk started his stewardship with only one great asset, the zeal of a community that would now be bonded as a family in Christ. With a change in pastors in 1917, Rev. Alfred Coulombe arrived on the scene to propel St. George parish to its first major achievement, the construction of the church. With great energy and enthusiasm, he spearheaded the drive that would lead to diocesan approval to build our house of worship. The cornerstone was laid in 1923 and we can well imagine Father Coulombe's excitement as he watched the progress toward the completion of his dream. Unfortunately, the young clergyman was denied the honor of serving in the new edifice as he was killed in an automobile accident on Rte. 6 in Westport. Although without pews and otherwise incomplete, the first service in the church was his funeral Mass.
CNS photo
POPE JOHN PAUL II
VATICAN CITY (CNS) munion prevents reconciliation be- being studied by the Catholic While it is not clear how differen- tween us even where there is oth- Church with a view to responding ces dividing Roman Catholics and erwise progress toward agreement to it," the declaration said. It noted Anglicans can be resolved, the two in faith on the meaning of the that Anglicans and Roman Cathchurches will continue working Eucharist and the ordained minis- olics share faith in God, in Jesus, toward full communion, said an try," the declaration said. in the Holy Spirit and a common accord declaration signed Oct. 2 "While we ourselves do not see a baptism in the name of Christ. by Pope John Paul II and the spir- solution to this obstacle," the pope They read the same Scriptures and itualleader of the worldwide Angli- and archbishop wrote, conversations recite the same creeds. and theological examinations of can Communion. After signing the declaration and "No pilgrim knows in advance the issues involved "will in fact reciting the Lord's Prayer, the pope all the steps along the path," said help to deepen and enlarge our. and archbishop offered personal the declaration signed by the pope- understanding. " prayers and good wishes to each and Anglican Archbishop Robert The declaration renewed sup- other. It was their last meeting Runcie of Canterbury, England, port for the work of the Second during Archbishop Runcie's Sept. during a meeting in the pope's pri- Anglican-Roman Catholic Inter- 28-0ct. 2 visit to the Vatican. vate library. . national commission and welcomed Earlier in the day, the archbi"The question and practice of the Anglican Communion's accep- shop was given a tour of the excathe admission of women to the tance of the 1982 final report by vations beneath St. Peter's Basilministerial priesthood in some the commission's predecessor. ica and was taken to the Vatican's provinces of the Anglican Com"This report is currently also Turn to Page 10
650 participants attended . last Saturday's religious education convention at Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth: The day began with a Mass planned by Father David A. Costa, parochial vicar at St. Thomas More parish, Somerset, at which Bishop Daniel A. Cronin was princ,ipal celebrant. In his homily the bishop spoke of the importance of the teaching ministry and emphasized the importance of the sacrament of reconciliation. He pointed out that as "ambassadors' of forgiveness," teachers should both professionally and personally witness to the good news of God's mercy. 33 workshops addressed the day's theme, "Know and Share the God of Mercy," with topics including prayer, medical ethics, liturgy, ministry to youth and adults, sexuality catechesis, teaching methods, death, grief and loss and effects of divorce on children. Father Paul Carrier, SJ, keynote speaker and chaplain at Fairfield University, Fairfield, Conn., discussed "Religious Education for the 21st Century: Education for Compassion." He noted that a sense of mission and a knowledge of strategies are needed to reach the young and that ed'ucators must realize that "this is not the same Church we were born into" and Turn to Page 10