,~--'~-i3~;~;:):~~"~~~~~~;=;:=~~~;':~~;:~: /~e_____
7 .IL~- ;:-~~~_
;:-:;-
., ".,
e VOL. 46, NO. 41
• Friday, November 1, 2002
FALL RIvER, MASS.
Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Msgr. George W. Coleman elected diocesan administrator ~ He will lead the. day-to-day
bishop) period. I am gratefulJor the confi- ,and 'foundation of the responsibilities we minds with the trust of the Gospel,''' he dence and trust they have placed in' me." , hold, but also of the priesthood we share," added. The College of Consultors are directed According to the norms of Canon Law, ' Msgr.Coleman said. , the elected administrator ,had' to make ',~I would appreciate your prayers that I by Canon Law to convene within eight " be,a conscientious and faithful adminis- days after a bishop's see is vacated. To be .profession oUaith. "As I made the Profession of Faith '.in trator: 'And 'let us all pray for a shepherd validly chosen, the diocesan administrator By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR , the presence of the consultors; I was' con'- .'who' will.be an ¢xample of goodness to "must be a priest of at least 35-years of FALL RIVER - Msg'r. George W. scious of how this Faith is not only the core God's people and will fill our hearts and age ... who is outstanding in doctrine and Coleman, vicar general and r----~~-~--....,.-------------------------------___, prudence...." moderator of the curia, has ' " "In general and with been elected to serve as the ~' -some sacramental excepadministrator of the Diocese '. tions, for instance, ordinaof Fall' River until a new ~.' 0l.:i~ tions, the diocesan adminis' -.trator can do almost everybishop 'is installed. " .;;, ~·,c;':; ~ thing a local bishop can do," , Msgr. Coleman, 63, was elected October 22 by his ~ eRxp~ainedOFacther ~adu" .F· obmson, . arm.,Ju ICI al peers on the College of ConsuItors to administer the diovicar of the Diocesan Tribucese after Bishop Sean P. nal. O'Malley, OFM Cap., who Msgr. Coleman is well had served here for 10 years, experienced in running the assumed leadership of the· diocese. Named to the position of Diocese of Palm Beach, Fla., on October 19. vicar general and the first The College of Consulmoderator of the curia on tors, of which Msgr. September 15, 1994 as part Coleman is a member, inof an extensive reorganizaeludes Father Paul E. tion of the diocese by Canuel, Msgr. Edmund J. Bishop O'Malley, Msgr. Fitzgerald, Father Edward J. Coleman has continued fulltime in those capacities ever Healey, Father Michael K. McManus, Father John J. since. Oliveira and Msgr. John A. A native of Fall River, Perry. Msgr. Coleman graduated Msgr. Coleman told The from Coyle High School in Anchor that the consultors Taunton in 1957 and at"elected me to serve as diDIOCESAN CONSULTANTS met recently to elect a new administrator of the diocese. From left: Msgr. tended Holy Cross College, ocesanAdministratorduring Edmund J. Fitzgerald, Father John J. Oliveira, Father Paul E. Canuel, Father Michael K. McManus, Msgr. Worcester. the 'sede vacante' (vacant John A. Perry, Msgr. George W. Coleman and Father Edward J. Healey. Msgr. Coleman was named adminTum to page J3 chair or see of the local istrator and will oversee the diocese until a new bishop is seated. (AnchotiGordon photo) Administrator
operations.of the Fall River diocese in the absence of a bishop. '
a
f. .
Election 2002: Challenges and opportunities Editor's note: Thefollowing statement was released by the Catholic bishops of Massachusetts in reference to next Tuesday's elections: "We are called once again, as free citizens in a democracy, to exercise our right and duty to vote on November 5,2002. The General Election arrives this year amidst uncertainty, turmoil, and discontent. The terrible attacks of a year ago on September II shattered our sense of security. The threat of expan~ed war in the Middle East and continued acts of violence in our country and around the world sustain the tension. Our economy is sputtering, causing an increase in unemployment and forcing cutbacks in both public and private aid to the poor. The news of financial cheating only adds to the distress. Furthermore, for us in the Church, the revelations about . the abuse of children by priests have been : profoundly distressing.
As difficult as these circumstances may be, however, there is no off-season for'our obligation to speak to certain basic truths, especially at election time. Elections challenge us as a people to remember the principles that l1)ake our country strong and compassionate, We must not only exercise our right to vote, but must exercise our 'judgment in line with these principles, when consid({ring which candidates to support: . First, every human being born and unborn should,be the subject of the law's protection, and the right to life' is funda- . mental, as evidenced by its place of promi, nence in our Declaration of Independence. Like a foundation to a home, the protection ,of life is not only connected' to, but, proVides the necessary support for all other human rights. In this sense, the right to life Turn to page' J3 - ELe'ctions
Msgr. Ferris to become chorbishop Sunday FALL RIVER - Msgr. Norman J. ,Ferris, pastor of St. Anthony of the Desert Parish here, will be elevated to the rank of chorbishop in the Maronite Rite of the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday at,a 3 p.m. liturgy. A banquet will follow at the Venus de Milo Restaurant, Swansea. The term chorbishop comes from the Greek word "chora" meaning countryside, the tradition of Christianity being its early popularity in urban communities. Although the chorbishop has disappeared from the hierarchy ranks in many churches, he has remained in the Maronite, Chaldean and Syrian
Catholic Churches. The Maronites are Roman Catholics in full communion with the Holy See of Rome. The Church is comprised of several Eastern and Western Rites and the MaroniteS belong to the Syro-Antiocqene Rite. Ordained a priest in May 1953, Msgr. Ferris served for 17 years at St. Mary's Parish, Taunton. He was appointed the administrator of St. Anthony of the Desert Pari.sh in 1970, and five years later became its pastor. Invested in 1982 asa monsignor by the Diocese of St. Maron, he was named a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1996.