FOURTH ANNIVERSARY
The ANCHOR An Anchor of the Soul, Sure and Firm-St. Paul
Fall River, Mass., Thursday, Dec. 12, 1974 'RICE 15c Vol. 18, No. SO © 1974 The Anchor ' $5.00 per ,ear
Sacred Hearts Academy Closing Next June Statement of Sister Marilyn Spellman, Provincial of the Religious of the Holy Union of the Sacred Heatrs, issued Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1974, regarding Sacred Hearts Academy in Fall River:
After more than a year of factfinding, discussing, and praying, we have come to a final decision regarding the Academy of the Sacred Hearts. The decision was made in early October, before thz events of· this past month in which the Diocesan officials and Catholic High School principals explored the possibilities of a merger of the schools. We certainly endorse the idea of a merger, but it has no bearing on our decision regarding the Academy. Our decision is that the Academy will close in June 1975, whether or not there is a merger. It has not been easy to come to this termination of a school which has been a vital force in the greater Fall River area for eighty-eight years. The school has consistently provided quality education by dedicated teachers who have worked diligently at developing curriculum that is geared to th-e students' needs. Everyone really concerned about the school put forth extra effort in order to continue the school:
-The Holy Union Sisters conducted a study of. apstolates five years ago and, in spite of a deficit, devised alternate plans for the Academy to attempt to ease financial straits while continuing excellence in education. -The staff attempted to alleviate matters through efforts at careful budgeting and economi-, cal maintenance. -The parents association carried on many fund-raising projects to gain finances for the school. All these efforts enabled the school to continue .to the present year. For this we are most grateful. However, the facts remain: -The young women will still have the opportunity for Catholic schooling in Bishop Gerrard High School and if the merger is realTurn to Page Two
Hold Ecumenical Preaching Study At Ston'ehill
Sister Patricia is going home for Christmas. Home, for the native of SS. Peter and Paul parish, Fall River, is the village of Kuttikad in Kerala State, South India, where for nearly four years she has been in charge of construction and operation of a 14-bed maternity and med· ical hospital. Sister. Patricia is superior of a community of 10 Indian Sisters, all of whom have received their religious formation at St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River and the DigMon novitiate of the DominiCan community staffing the hospital. . She was in Dighton for a viceprovincial assembly of her community and she returns to India today, to a Christmas celebration that she says will be wholly religious with no commercial trappings. With her is another Fall Riv· - erite, a native of St. Patrick's parish. She is Sister John Ruggiero, sister of Patrolman John Ruggiero of the Fall River Police Department, .killed last year in line of duty, the first Fall River Turn to Page Two
Fifty priests of the Diocese of Fall River and several Protestant ministers of the area participated yesterday in a day-long seminar on parish preaching conducted by Rev. Joseph T. Nolan, editor of the homily and worship service, "Good News." Sponsored by the continuing education program for the clergy of the Diocese and directed by Rev. Michel G. Methot, Associate Director for Adult Education in the Diocese, the seminar was held at Holy Cross Retreat House, No. Easton. ,Father Nolan, who is associated with the Franciscan Com· munications Center in Los Angeles, California, opened the day with a short film, "The Preacher." Using a passage from Scrip· ture, Father raised the question, "How do we preach the Kerygma today?" Le., is the message still the same? are methods of communication really differTurn to Page Two
Bishop's Mass To Stress Ministry to the Diocese Most Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, S.T.D., Bishop of Fall River will celebrate the fourth anniversary of his installation as the Fifth Bishop of Fall River on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 15, 'at 5 P.M. TL~ concelebrated Mass will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral with fifteen designated concelebrants and an invitation to all· - priests of the Diocese to concele· brate if they are able. As in the past, priestly vocations will be the theme of the celebration. During the Mass, the Bishop will install eight diocesan seminarians in the Ministry of the Lectorate. Designated concelebrants include: Most ,Rev. James J. Gerrard, Auxiliary Bishop of Fall River Most, Rev. James L: Connolly, Former Bishop of Fall River Rev. Msgr. Luiz G. Mendonca, Vicar General and pastor of one of the new lectors Rev. Msgr. Alfred J. Gendreau, S.T.D., Episcopal Vicar for the Fall River·New Bedford Area Rev. Msgr. Henry T. Munroe, Episcopal Vicar for the AttleboroTaunton Area Rev. Msgr. Raymond T. Considine, P.A., Director of Diocesan Homes Rev. Msgr. John J. B.egan, Rector of the Cathedral Rev. Francis M. Coady, pastor of a seminarian Rev. Albin Fusco, O.F.M., pastor of a seminarian Rev. James F. Kenney, pastor of a seminarian Rev. John J. Murphy, pastor of a seminarian
BISHOP CRONIN
Rev. John V. Rezendes, pastor of a seminarian Rev. Bernard H. Unsworth. pastor of two seminarians Rev. John J. Smith, Director of Vocations Rev. John R. Foister, Examiner of the Clergy Rev. Mr. Bruce M. Neylon of St. Mary Parish, Mansfield, will be the Deacon of the Mass. To accent the vocational theme of the Bishop's Installation An-
Reports Catholic Representation In Congress at All-Time High WASHINGTON (NC) - Cath· olic representation in Congress is at an all-time high following
Sister Builds, Supervises Indian Clinic . Sponsored by S.t. Anne's Dominicans
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niversary Mass, eight diocesan seminarians will be installed in the Ministry of the Lectorate. They are: William Baker and Stephen Fernandes of St. Mary Parish, New Bedford Raymond Cambra of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, New Bedford Joseph Cpsta of Espirito Santo Parish, Fall River John Darcy of St. Patrick Parish, Fall River John Oliveira of St. Joseph Parish, Taunton John Ozug of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Fall River Edward Parr of St. Kilian Parish, New Bedford. The Most Reverend Bishop Vias installed as the Fifth Bishop ot Fall River at St. Mary's Cathedrai on Dec. 16, 1970 by Luigi Cardinal Raimondi, then Archbishop and Apostolic Delegate to the United States. More than 20 bishops joined those of New England to witness the impressive rites before a thronged cathedral and viewed by countless others over WTEV, Cr..:mnel 6, New Bedford. Seated at the episcopal-presi. dential chair for the first time during the ceremonies, Bishop Cronin received the crozier from the Apostolic Delegate and his Turn to Page Four
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WELCOME: Sister Patricia of·the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation that staff St. Anne's Hospital and Superior of the Kuttidad religious community, greets Bishop Joseph Kundukulam with lei as he makes his official visit at the opening of the Jeevadhara Health Care Center in Kerala State, South India.
the November elections, according to Christianity Today, an evangelical Protestant weekly. The number of Catholics in Congress was raised by eight to a total of 123, the magazine said. Jewish representation increased by 10 to 24, the magazine said. "Records over the years indicate that Catholics and Jews benefit in a Democratic year while Presbyterians take it on the chin." Presbyterian representation drop· ped by 13. . Catholics make up the single largest bloc in Congress, the census indicated, followed by Methodists (85), Episcopal (66) and Presbyterian (65). Two new clergymen were elected to Congress, the magazine said-- Norbertine Father Robert Cornell, 54, of DePere, Wise., and the Rev. Robert W. Edgar, 31: a United Methodist Minister, Protestant chaplain at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Four ordained clergymen were re·elected - The Rev. Andrew Young of Georgia, a Democrat (United Church of Christ), The Rev. John Buchanan of Alabama, a Republican (Southern Baptist), the Rev. Walter Fauntroy, Democratic delegate of Washington, 'D. C. ~Progressive National Baptist)' and Jesuit Father Robert Drinan (D-Mass.). The only clergyman defeated for re-election was Indianapolis Republican, the Rev. William H. Hudnut, a United Presbyterian pastor.