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e nco VOL. 45, NO. 42 • Friday, November 2, 2001
FALL RIVER, MASS.
FALL Ri\/ER D]OCESPu\J NEWSPAPER PORSOUTHEASTh-1ASSACHUSETTS CPPE CODc& THE iSLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year
Convening Catholic educators told to be 'echoers of God's Word' By
DEACON JAMES
N.
DUNBAR
FALL RIVER - In song, stories, and a dramatic presentation, keynote speaker Jane Ayer told hundreds of Catholic educators gathered at Bishop' Connolly High School that indeed they were living and vibrant reflections of the convention's theme: "Love Beyond All Telling." Ayer was filling in on October 27 for Father Richard Fragomeni, associate professor of liturgy and homiletics and chairperson of the Department of Word and Worship at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, who was scheduled to give the principal address. Deacon Bruce Bonneau, director of Religious Education for the Fall River diocese, and coordinator for the convention reported that Father Fragomeni, a national speaker and author, was forced to cancel his speaking engagements until the end of this calendar year due to the deaths of his father and nephew as well as his continuing personal health problems. "You are here today because you are involved in Church," said Ayer. "I think all of you on your best days, at your best hour would say that you are even passionate about your ministry, as Catholic educators, as spiritual guides, as administrators, clergy, religious and as catechists." She reminded her listeners that as Christians they are called to be catechists, " which comes form the Greek word meaning- 'Echo.' And so Turn. to page two - Educators
BISHOP SEAN P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., accepts a check for $603,142 at the St. Mary's Education Fund Fall Dinner. The money will benefit children attending Catholic schools and provide need-based scholarships. Also pictured are dinner chairman John G. Hodgson, Jr., and Mike Donly, diocesan director of development. (Anchor/Gordon photo)
Dinner boosts tuition monies for diocese By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Jane Ayer and coordinator Deacon Bruce Bonneau were instrumental in the success of the Fall River diocese's annual Catholic Education Convention held at Bishop Connolly High School. (Anchor photo)
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WESTPORT - The seventh annual St. Mary's Education Fund Fall Dinner attracted its largest crowd ever in support of Catholic education. More than 400 people turned out October 25 at' White's of Westport and Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., was presented wjth a check totaling $603,142 to provide' need-based scholarships to students who would not be able to attend Catholic schools without tuition assistance. This event and the St. Mary's Education Fund Dinner on Cape Cod held this past August, contributed to the large sum. Bishop O'Malley thanked many people for their hard work and dedic.ation to the St. Mary's Education Fund and said "Jesus calls on us to teach and pass on his message and Catholic
schools are an important part of that mission." "It really is a joy to be here every year and see the numbers growing," he added. "I'm thankful to all those who made it successful." The bishop addressed the crowd following the presentation of the check and said the money will mean scholarships for hundreds of students. He praised them for being a friend to Catholic education and said he was "very grateful." Dr. Jean F. MacCormack, 'chancellor of the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, was guest speaker. She spoke about the pathways we take in our lives as directed by parents and schools and also about the importance of values. "I'm a product of Catholic school," said MacCormack, "and I hope I can provide a few words about what strong values I learned in CathoTurn to page J3 - Di17ner
Bishop O'Malley's letter to the Diocese of Fall River October 29,2001 Dearly Beloved in Christ, The purpose of this letter is simply to thank you for the overwhelming response to my appeal to aid those affected by the terrorist attacks. Up to this time, we have received $420,315.26 from the collections taken up in our parishes; the largest collection in the history of the diocese. This money will be distributed through the Catholic Charities Offices in the
affected dioceses and by the "Fund for Widows and Orphans of Firefigh~ers and Police." The terrible events we· suffered have made us all more aware of how much we Reed God and one another. Yesterday, I spoke by telephone to a young family in Portugal. They had been parishioners of mine as a young priest. They told me that since September 11 they have begun to pray the family rosary each day. They said they are praying for America. I was
very touched by their great faith and by their affection for our country. I urge our families to begin to pray the rosary and come to church together. Everyone is saying that September 11 is the "wake-up call." I hope that we will not press the "snooze button," and roll over and go back to sleep.
solidarity among the world's peoples. Once again, I thank you for your generous response, and I assure you of my prayers for each of you. With every good wish, I remain Devotedly yours in Christ,
Together we pray for an erid to terrorism, violence, and war. September 11 has shown us all how small our world is and that peace will be achieved only through justice and
#4It,~ Bishop of Fall River