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-FOOsomRE'ASi MASsACHUSmS;::CAPE COD & THE ISlANDS
VOL. 48, NO. 39 • Friday, October IS, 2004
FALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Pope: Devotion to Eucharist can help heal ills of society BY JOHN THAVIS CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE
energy and a plan for living. It is the ideal way for the faithful to iden-· VATICAN CITY - Pope John tify with Christ's message and his Paul II said greater Christian devo- saving sacrifice, which should in tion to the Eucharist can help heal tum have an impact on peace and a world fOrn by terrorism and justice issues in the wider society, racked by poverty. . he said. In a document offering spiritual "The lacerated image of this guidelines for the upcoming "Year world, which has begun the new of the Eucharist;' the pope called millennium with the specter of terfor more intense public witness of rorism and the tragedy of war, calls the faith. As the center of the Chris- on Christians more than ever to live tian experience, the Eucharist the Eucharist as a great school of should have a transforming power peace," he said. that carries beyond Sunday Mass This will help form men and and into daily life, he said. women as architects of dialogue The 31-page letter, released in and .communion, at every level of Italian at the Vatican was written social and political life, he said. to launch the eucharistic year that The Eucharist should also bring A MASS recognizing area religious observing jubilee years was celebrated by Bishop will run from October 17 to Octo- Catholics closer to the world's poor because it manifests Christ's "ex- George W. Coleman recently at St. Julie Billiart Church, North Dartmouth. Among the honber 2005. Titled, "Stay With Us, Lord," treme form of love" - one that re- .orees were, front row, from left: Mercy Sister Brian Murphy, 60 years; Dominican Sisters from the words of the apostles to placed domination with service as Theresa Joseph Hazera and Rita Pelletier, 50 years; Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed the risen Christ, it urged local the governing principle in human Trinity Sister Anthony Therese, 60 years; and Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary Sister churches to promote respectful lit- affairs, he said. Rosemary Seibert, 50 years. Back row: Bishop Coleman; Holy Cross Father Albert Croce, The pope urged local commu- 60 years; La Salette Father Gerald Forest, 60 years; Sisters of St. Joseph Sister Theresa urgies, adoration of the Blessed Sacmment and a better understand- nities to adopt concrete expressions Marie Croteau, 60 years; Mercy Sister Barbara Marian Cote, 50 years; and Holy Union ing of Christ's "real presence" in ofsolidarity and charity for the poor Sister Kathleen Gibney, 60 years. (AnchodJolivet photo) during the eucharistic year. the Eucharist. "I am thinking of the drama of The pope did not call for specific celebmtions or programs, and hunger that torments hundreds of at one point he said he would be millions of human beings., of the happy if the year served only to re- diseases that afflict developing vive interest in Sunday Mass and countries, of the loneliness of the eucharistic adoration outside of elderly, the needs of the unemployed and the misfortunes of imMass. . The Eucharist, the pope said, migmnts," he said. furnishes Christians with spiritual Tum to page 13 - Eucharist FALL RIVER - A series of regional pastoral diocese." He emphasized "that there is no pre-explanning assemblies that will initiate a process of isting plan. The people are gathering to help begin examining parish life in the Fall River diocese be- the pastoral planning process." gan this week on Cape Cod and will continue in the The pastoral planning assemblies will be inforother four deaneries during a two-week period. mational in nature and will follow the same format Bishop George W. Coleman has invited mem- in each deanery. Those attending the assemblies will receive exbers of parish pastoral and finance councils along with priests, deacons, religious and lay people who tensive data relative to their particular parish and comprise parish staffs to attend the assembly in their deanery, as well as on the diocese as a whole. This infonnation will include such things as sacramenrespective deanery. The upcoming assemblies, all to start at 7 p.m.,. tal and Mass attendance totals, property reports, are scheduled as follows: Fall River Deanery, Oc- census totals and projections, and a ministry area tober 18, at Bishop Connolly High School, Fall profile with detailed demographic and ethographic River; New Bedford Deanery, October 20, Bishop breakdowns. Stang High School, North Dartmouth; Taunton The information has been compiled by the diocDeanery, October 25, Coyle and Cassidy High esan Office of Pastoral Planning from parish and School, Taunton; and Attleboro Deanery, October diocesan reports and from the work of a study done by Percept, an independent demographic informa27, Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro. . The bishop first announced the gatherings of tion company specializing in service to church orthese assemblies in his August letter to the diocese ganizations. Msgr. Tosti will explain to assembly participants entitled, "To Build A Stronger Church." Msgr. Ronald A. Tosti, the director of the Office all of the information being provided, leading them of Pastoral Planning for the diocese, will conduct through one parish report as an example. All will be asked to read all of the material proeach assembly. He said that he sees these meetings as "the be- vided to them at their own pace over the next sevginning of an opportunity for laity and clergy alike eral weeks.. A MONSTRANCE stands in the chapel of St. John's Semi- to study the facts on the diocese and its parishes, as Following Msgr. Tosti's presentation, Bishop nary in Boston. A newly. released papal document says de- well as local and regional demographics, in order Coleman will speak to each group about their parvotion to the Eucharist can help transform the world. (CNS to be able to eventually present to the bishop rec- ticipation in the important task of pastoral planning. photo by Gregory L. Tracy, The Pilo~ ommendations for strengthening parish life in the Tum to page 13 - Planning
Pastoral planning assemblies begin this week across diocese