FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSmS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS VOL. 32, NO. 43
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Friday, October 28,1988
F ALL RIVER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly
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$10 Per Year
Education called high -vocation By Joseph Motta Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, calling teaching "a wonderful vocation" and recognizing that it presents many challenges, last Monday told 475 elementary and secondarv school educators and their gue~ts that "our Catholic schools are a tremendous asset to the work of this diocese." The bishop's remarks came during his homily at a Mass opening the annual diocesan Catholic education convention, held at Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River. Bishop Cronin was the liturgy's principal celebrant. Designated concelebrants were Fathers Richard W. Beaulieu, director of the Diocesan Department of Education, and George P. Winchester, SJ, rector of the Jesuit community at Connolly. Eight other priests also concelebrated. Msgr. John J. Oliveira, VE, was master of ceremonies. Bishop CrQnin ~Qte(qhat.~.e_l!.~.I!-,. ing can be "draining," but stressed
100 proud years A centennial observance that began in January with a liftoff of 100 balloons came to a triumphant end last'Sunday as members and friends of St. James parish, New Bedford, gathered with Bishop Daniel A. Cronin for a Mass of thanksgiving and a banquet. The bishop was principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass and also spoke briefly at the banquet. At the Mass, for which music was directed by Steven Massoud and the choir was augmented by a string quartet and brass quintet, the bishop recalled highlights of parish history. The bishop' also spoke briefly and imparted the benediction at the banquet, held at White's of Westport. Father James F. Greene, pastor, expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the celebration. Father Stephen A. Fernandes, parochial vicar, who chaired the centennial planning committee, read a papal blessing and congratulatory messages from President Reagan and Governor Dukakis. The main banquet speaker was Father Thomas L. Rita, a parish native, now pastor of St. Mary's Church, Seekonk. Titled "Memories and Musings," his talk recalled former pastors, sisters who taught in the parish school and anecdotes of years gone by. Recognized at the banquet, for which Sylvester Mitchell was master of ceremonies, were Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Xavier, who two days earlier' had celebrated the 70th anniversary of their wedding at St. James. On display were many memorabilia of parish events, including
that educators must "balance that off' against all the good that can come from their work. He said his job at the convention was to remind the educators of their high vocation. The bishop warned that "there cannot be a dichotomy between what you say and what you do." "You," Bishop Cronin pointed out, his voice very serious, "directly affect the families of the future." The keynote speaker was Father Thomas Lynch of Stratford, Conn., former director of the U.S. Catholic Conference Department of Family Ministry, who offered a model of what he sees as "going on in the contexts of our lives and society." His model took in child, family, culture, school and parish systems. Society is experiencing much dissatisfaction, the priest said, and "much scapegoating" takes place between model components. "What we see today," he said, ,Turn to Page II
The Vatican
Running on empty?
PRINCIPALS AT centennial celebration of St. James parish, New Bedford, from left, top picture, Sylvester Mitchell, cochairman;. Rev. James F. Greene, pastor; Bishop Daniel A. Cronin; Rev. Stephen A. ~ernandes, parochial vicar; Mrs. Kathieen Walden, cochairman. Above, the church, spiritual home to thousands during its long history. (Rosa photos) a 1916 photograph of parish altar boys, "Iooking as if it had been taken yesterday," said Father Fernandes. "In the top row was Jimmie Gerrard, now' Bishop Gerr,ard," said the priest. The prelate, now 91, this year marked his 65th anniversary of priestly ordination. Father Fernandes noted that all events planned for the centennial year had taken place, with the
exception of a July family picnic canceled due to adverse weather. Other activities were a CYO show; a parish mission; a school and family dance; a parish show and a fashion show. A centennial booklet was also published in connection with the jubilee year and extensive renovations and repairs of the church and other parish buildings were undertaken. Turn to Page Seven
VATICAN CITY (NC) - The Vatican has announced a $63.8 million deficit for 1987, predicted a similar shortfall for 1988 and called for greater contributions from the pew. An Oct. 15 statement said generous contributions worldwide to Peter's Pence, the pope's discretionary fund, helped defray about $50 millioJ:l of the 1987 deficit. The remaindet was made up by dipping into reserve funds established for that purpose, which are now exhausted, the Vatican said. A top Vatican official said that meant the Vatican would have to begin cutting directly into its investments and real estate holdings to meet any future shortfalls. The Vatican's 1987 income was $68.9 million but it spent $132.7 million, said a statement issued by a permanent council of cardinals at the end of a three-day meeting on the Vatican's precarious financial situation. It noie(f that Peter's Pence contributions are up so far this year by about 3 percent over 1987. But according to figures released by the council, it would take a 20 percent increase to cover the expected 1988 gap. If the 3 percent increase holds, the Vatican would wind up about $6 million short. The council therefore addressed "another pressing appeal to dioceses, to religious orders, congregations, and to the faithful in the whole world, above all in coun-
tries of greater means, to increase their spirit of cooperation with the Holy See so it can carry out adequately its pastoral mission." The Vatican statement considered separately the budget of the Vatican City State, the 108-acre state in which the Holy 'See .is located. In 1987, it had a $7.1 million surplus, most put into a fund for severance pay. The Holy See's budget-includes the financing of Curia offices, diploTurn to Page Six
WHO IS HE? See pages 8-9