Fall River Diocese transitions to digital platforms amid changing media landscape
By John Kearns Director of Communications jkearns@dioc-fr.org
FALL RIVER — The Diocese of Fall River is announcing changes impacting two longtime communication ministries. The changes are in response to the widespread use of digital platforms, changing media habits, and increasing costs across the board.
Effective January 2026, the Diocese will discontinue its Television Mass aired weekly on WLNETV, Channel 6. The final TV Mass will be broadcast at 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 28, 2025. The Diocese has posted information on its website fallriverdiocese. org on accessing Sunday Mass via livestream options and broadcast and cable television.
Additionally, the diocesan monthly newspaper The Anchor will transition from a printed publication to digital formats with the launch of a weekly electronic newsletter and new website in
February 2026.
“This was a difficult decision to make,” said Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.
‘‘Both the printed Anchor and the Television Mass have well served the Diocese over the past 60-plus years. Times change, however, and after a careful analysis of media usage trends and costs, we think investing in other communication endeavors will help us to better connect with and engage a wider segment of our Diocesan community.”
The Anchor will continue to provide all the diocesan news and happenings through its new website and e-newsletter along with feature stories, upcoming events, and local columnists. All of this will be available without cost to everyone. You can sign up to receive the newsletter by email here: https://lp.constantcontactpages. com/sl/wffx0yf
Bishop da Cunha is pleased to announce that in these new for-
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Called to Be a Priestly People
The Stronger Priests Initiative: Year One in Review and the Road Ahead
By Matthew S. Robinson, Director of Clergy Support mrobinson@dioc-fr.org
FALL RIVER — Across the Diocese of Fall River, many of us can sense that our priests are carrying more than ever before. There are fewer priests and more parishes, growing health concerns, and increasingly complex responsibilities. In the midst of all this, our priests are still trying to do what they were ordained to do: lead people to a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ.
In response to this reality, Bishop Edgar da Cunha, S.D.V., launched a three-year path of renewal in 2025 called Stronger Priests, Stronger Parishes, Stronger Church. The basic conviction behind the initiative is simple: when priests are strong in Christ—supported, healthy, and spiritually grounded—parishes are more alive, vocations are nourished, and the whole Church
flourishes.
You can picture the initiative as three concentric circles moving outward. The first year, 2025, focuses on “The Priest Himself,” laying foundations of prayer, health, fraternity, and support. The second year, 2026, will focus on “The Priest with His Closest Collaborators,” equipping parish staff, key lay leaders, brother priests, and strengthening unity with the Bishop so that no priest carries the mission alone. The third year, 2027, will widen the circle to “The Priest in the Local Church,” renewing diocesan life, priestly unity, and our shared mission.
This is not a quick “program” or a passing initiative. It is a deliberate, gradual, and adaptable effort to build a stronger Church—starting with our priests.
Year One: Strengthening the Priest in Health and Holiness Year One has concentrated on the priest himself: his friendship
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FACE Fall Dinner a Slam-Dunk celebration of scholarship support
By Shawna E. Florio Director of Major Gifts and Grants
The Catholic Foundation
WESTPORT — Former Boston Celtics player Gordon Hayward made a memorable impact on nearly 400 guests gathered at White’s of Westport for the annual FACE Fall Scholarship Dinner on November 6, where he served as guest speaker.
During an engaging “fire-side chat” with the evening’s Emcee and FACE Board Chair Ed Hurley, the NBA standout shared his inspiring journey of conversion from Lutheranism to the Catholic faith. He also delighted the audience with stories from his years in Boston, recalling teammates, coaching influences—especially Coach Joe Mazzulla—and moments from his basketball career.
Hayward thoughtfully answered questions from attendees regarding both his time in the NBA and ways to connect young people more deeply with their faith. Throughout the evening he was exceptionally generous with his time, taking photos and visiting with guests. “I love what FACE is doing—giving an opportunity for kids to go to a Catholic school,” he told the audience.
A highlight of the evening was Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha’s presentation of the Timothy J. Cotter Friend of Catholic Education Award to the Makkay Family in recognition of their multi-generational commitment to FACE.
Accepting the award were Albert Makkay, Jr., a FACE Board Member, along with his sisters Allison Makkay Davis and Colleen Makkay Mulgrew (pictured with Bishop da Cunha). Their mother, Maureen Makkay, was unable to attend and was fondly missed.
In his remarks, Bishop da Cunha referenced Al Makkay, Sr., in whose memory an award is given annually at the FACE Summer Gala. “I know that Al would
be so proud of you all and grateful to you for continuing the legacy of helping students attain a Catholic education,” the Bishop reflected. “You are a true blessing to the Diocese of Fall River.”
Guests were greeted warmly by student ambassadors representing Catholic schools throughout the Diocese. Leeza Rebelo, an eighth grader from Espirito Santo School in Fall River, offered heartfelt reflections as the student speaker. “The school is more than just teachers and students—for me it’s like a family,” she shared. “The teachers are the backbone of this family. They teach us not only history, math, science, and ELA, but also patience, respect, kindness, and how to be Christ-like to one another.” Students later presented Hayward with a special FACE poster featuring photos from all diocesan Catholic schools.
Co-Chairs John Feitelberg of Hub International and Janna Lafrance of Lafrance Hospitality energized the crowd during the “Scan to Give” portion of the program, where donors contributing $100 or more were entered into a raffle for a Celtics-themed gift basket. The lucky winner was Al Makkay, Jr.
The FACE Fall Scholarship Dinner is a signature event that
† December 5, 2025
raises critical funds to help approximately 1,000 children each year access a Catholic education. BayCoast Bank and its subsidiaries—Plimoth Investment Advisers, BayCoast Mortgage, and BayCoast Insurance—along with the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation and the Carney Family Foundation, served as Presenting Sponsors, each contributing $25,000.
“We are so fortunate to have
the leadership of our Presenting Sponsors. Their support makes a meaningful difference in our ability to provide access to a Catholic education for our young people,” said Miriam Finn Sherman, CEO of the Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts.
Scholar Council Sponsors— including an Anonymous Donor, Bristol County Savings Bank, Lafrance Hospitality, and Prima CARE—each contributed $10,000. In total, the event raised more than $300,000, continuing FACE’s essential mission of providing financial aid to children across the Diocese of Fall River.
To make a donation or view event photos, please visit face-dfr. org/31st-annual-face-fall-scholarship-dinner.
Upcoming FACE events will be held this summer: August 13 – FACE Summer Gala on Cape Cod August 16 – FACE team participation in the Falmouth Road Race to support student scholarships
Bishop da Cunha and members of the Makkay family who received the Timothy J. Cotter Friend of Catholic Education Award in recognition of their multi-generational commitment to FACE. Accepting the award were Albert Makkay, Jr., a FACE Board Member, with his sisters Allison Makkay Davis and Colleen Makkay. Mulgrew.
Former Boston Celtics player Gordon Hayward with event emcee and FACE Board Chairman, Ed Hurley.
Bishops unite as Pope Leo urges nation to re-examine treatment of immigrants
BALTIMORE — The annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops November 10 to 13 in Baltimore with a renewed spirit of fraternity, prayer, and pastoral concern—culminating in a historic call for compassion toward immigrants that resonated far beyond the meeting hall, reaching even the voice of Pope Leo himself.
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., reflecting on the gathering, described a powerful sense of unity from the moment more than 200 bishops joined in prayer Nov. 10, setting the tone for the days ahead. Later that day, they celebrated Mass at the Basilica of the Assumption—the nation’s first Catholic cathedral—where the sight of so many bishops praying together “united in purpose and hope for the Church” made a deep impression.
But the most consequential moment came when the bishops approved a Special Message on Immigration—the first such statement issued in twelve years. The document passed with an extraordinary 96% consensus, a level of unity Bishop da Cunha said “reflects our shared concern for immigrant families who are suffering under unjust policies.”
The message emphasizes two moral principles drawn from
Catholic social teaching:
Every nation has the right to secure its borders.
Every immigrant must be treated with humanity, dignity, and respect.
“These principles are not rooted in politics,” Bishop da Cunha noted, “but in our Catholic faith and the Church’s commitment to uphold all human life and the common good.”
Pope Leo Praises Bishops’ Statement, Criticizes Harsh Immigration Policies
Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, strongly affirmed the bishops’ message during remarks made in Castel Gandolfo. He repeated his longstanding concerns about the treatment of migrants under former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, calling the approach “extremely disrespectful” and urging Catholics to take the bishops’ warning seriously.
“I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely,
treating people with the dignity that they have,” the Pope said. He stressed that while every country has the right to regulate immigration, longstanding residents should never be subjected to fear, violence, or degrading treatment.
“Many have lived good lives in the United States for 10, 15, even 20 years. To treat them with such disrespect… I think the bishops have been very clear.”
Since his election in May, Pope Leo has spoken increasingly forcefully about the moral failings of immigration policies that inflict suffering on families. In past statements he has questioned whether support for harsh immigration measures can be reconciled with an authentically pro-life ethic.
A Broader Call to Moral Leadership
In addition to immigration, Pope Leo used the same appearance to issue a passionate plea on behalf of the planet, addressing world leaders gathered for
the COP30 climate summit. He warned that “creation is crying out” through climate-driven disasters and lamented the lack of political will to implement the Paris Agreement, which he called “the strongest tool for protecting people and the planet.”
“It is not the agreement that is failing; we are failing in our response,” he said. “True leadership means service, and support at a scale that will make a difference.”
A Unified Witness
For Bishop da Cunha, the convergence of the bishops’ unified action in Baltimore and the Pope’s outspoken advocacy underscores a single, urgent message: the dignity of the human person must remain at the center of national policies.
“As bishops, we are united,” he said, “in affirming the right of nations to maintain secure borders—and equally in insisting that every human being be treated with dignity, compassion, and justice.”
The Baltimore meeting closed with a renewed commitment to guiding the Church in the United States with clarity, unity, and pastoral love—echoing Pope Leo’s call for Catholics to reflect deeply on how the nation treats its most vulnerable brothers and sisters.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is December 8
The Catholic Church will observe the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, a major feast day that honors the belief that the Virgin Mary was conceived without Original Sin. The doctrine was formally defined by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854.
As a Holy Day of Obligation, Catholics are required to attend Mass, including in the United States where the celebration holds particular importance. Mary, under the title of the Immaculate
Conception, is the patroness of the nation. For this reason, the feast remains a day of obligation in the United States even when it occurs on a weekend.
Catholics mark the day by reflecting on Mary’s preservation from sin from the moment of her conception and by recalling that human life also begins at conception.
Many choose to pray with special devotions, including the late Pope Francis’ Prayer for the Immaculate Conception, which
asks for the grace to view others with respect and awareness.
Prayer for the Immaculate Conception: ‘‘For the Church, that following Mary’s example, she may remain pure and spotless in faith and service, let us pray to the Lord. For the Holy Father, bishops, priests, and religious, that through Mary’s intercession they may lead God’s people in holiness, let us pray to the Lord.”
Bishop da Cunha presents Marian Award to 58
FALL RIVER — Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., awarded the Marian Award to 58 members of parishes from throughout the Fall River Diocese on Sunday, November 30, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River.
The award recognizes diocesan parishioners for their dedicated service to the Church. Recipients are nominated for the award by their pastor.
The Marian Award is a pewter medal embossed with a Madonna and Child Jesus image on one side and the Fall River Diocesan coatof-arms on the other.
The award continues the tradition of the Marian Medal, which has been presented annually to honor parishioners for service since 1968.
Bishop da Cunha blessed and presented the Marian Awards in the context of Evening Prayer of the Church and Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Marian Award recipients for 2025 are listed below by deanery or area.
Attleboro
Deanery
Victoria J. Carter, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Seekonk; Lillian Costello, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Seekonk; Patrica M Healey, Transfiguration of the Lord Parish, North Attleboro; Thomas L. Jarbeau, St. Mary Parish, Norton;
† December 5, 2025
Kathleen Kane, St. Mary Parish, Mansfield; and Virginia Richardson, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Attleboro.
Cape Cod & Islands Deanery
Carmella Patricia Alfano, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Orleans; Steven J. Angelilli, Good Shepherd Parish, Martha’s Vineyard; Mark J. Cutone, St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle Parish, Nantucket; Jeanne Dennis, Christ the King Parish, Mashpee; John McDermott, Holy Trinity Parish, West Harwich; Claudia Moniz, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Hyannis; Carol Mooney, St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Provincetown; Diane R. Quinn, St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish, Falmouth; Francoise Rocher, Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville; Mary Jane Shea, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Wellfleet; Dorothy Stahley, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Roger K. Sullivan, St. Pius X Parish, South Yarmouth; Lena Teixeira, St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, Buzzards Bay; Patricia
Wahlberg, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Pocasset; Judith Wass, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Osterville; and Marilyn Whelden, Holy Redeemer Parish, Chatham.
Fall River Deanery
Mamede Almeida, St. Michael Parish, Fall River; Marylou Cordeiro, St. Stanislaus Parish, Fall River; Winifred P. Costa, St. Joseph Parish, Fall River; Odete da Pina, Espirito Santo Parish, Fall River; Maria Fatima Dias, Santo Christo Parish, Fall River; Donna Fraser, Holy Name Parish, Fall River; Judy Giusti, Divine Mercy Parish, Westport; Raymond Gut, St. John of God Parish, Somerset; Maria Machado, Good Shepherd Parish, Fall River; Elaine Mello, St. Bernard Parish, Assonet Village; Stephen M. Menard, Our Lady of Peace, Parish, Somerset; Anthony Oliveira, St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish, Fall River; and Ann Pereira, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fall River.
New Bedford Deanery
Jane Elizabeth Bellavance, St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, New Bedford; Maria DaCruz, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, New Bedford; Carol Eccleston, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet; Lilia Fagundes, St. Mary Parish, Dartmouth; Olga Maria Hernandez-Ortiz, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Bedford; Antonio Linhares, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, New Bedford; Sharon Rose McGraw, St. Mary Parish, Fairhaven; Mary Peabody, St. Patrick Parish, Wareham; Madeline C. Perry, St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, New Bedford; Robert E. Santos, St. Julie Billiart Parish, Dartmouth; Anne Silveira, St. Joseph Parish, Fairhaven; Alfred Thomas Sylvia, Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish, New Bedford; Janice Tinkham, St. John Neumann Parish, East Freetown; and Gordon W. Vieira, Holy Name of the Sacred Heart Parish, New Bedford.
Taunton Deanery
Walter Cahoon, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Taunton; Antoinette Carvalho, St Ann Parish, Raynham; Manuel Coelho, St. Jude the Apostle Parish, Taunton; Vivian Courcy, Holy Family Parish, East Taunton; Kevin Dixon, Holy Cross Parish, South Easton; Luis Freitas, St. Anthony Parish, Taunton; Elizabeth Mullaney, St. Nicholas of Myra Parish, North Dighton; Katrina Silveira, Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Taunton; and Gary D. Twiraga, Immaculate Conception Parish, North Easton.
The Marian Awards Ceremony is posted on the Fall River Diocesan YouTube channel for viewing. Go to http://www.youtube.com/@frdcomm
Marylou Cordeiro, right, of St. Stanislaus Parish, Fall River, receives her Marian Medal Award from Bishop da Cunha.
The Stronger Priests Initiative
continued from page one
practical supports he needs to serve with joy.
A key part of this has been setting spiritual foundations. On August 4, the Feast of St. John Vianney, Bishop da Cunha led the priests and seminarians of the diocese in a historic consecration to the Curé of Ars, patron of parish priests. That act was not just a ceremony; it was a public expression of dependence on God’s grace and a decision to place our priests under the care of a saint who poured out his life for souls.
Around that consecration, a “hidden army” of prayer has quietly grown. More than twenty thousand prayers and good works have
been offered in a spiritual bouquet for our priests. Over 120 cloistered religious communities, Catholic nursing homes, and thirty-seven “Spiritual Mothers of Priests” now pray intentionally for our clergy and for the renewal of our local Church. The Traveling Relic of St. John Vianney has begun visiting parishes, inviting both priests and parishioners to deeper holiness and a renewed sense of their vocation. This network of intercession is the unseen powerhouse behind everything else.
Year One has also taken practical steps to care for priests in mind, body, and spirit. Annual wellness checks now give
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER
Published monthly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720, Tel. 508-675-7151; FAX 508-675-7048; email: joandwarren@anchornews.org.
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priests access to individualized support for their physical and mental health. A new “Shepherd’s Hub” App connects priests with resources, communication, and one another in a more streamlined way. A formation course for priests called The Inner Shepherd,has provided a shared language for emotional and pastoral health, while Fraternity Teams (priest peer-support small groups) and a shared framework for healthy and holy priesthood called the Ten Priestly Commitments are helping to strengthen brotherhood, accountability, and healthy priestly living.
At the same time, the Diocese has begun to strengthen the systems around priests. Task forces have been examining critical areas such as rectory life and fraternity, seminarian formation, parish life and ministry, and church staff training. The goal is not to burden parishes with new structures, but to make sure the environment around priests actually helps them live their vocation well. A clearer process has been put in place for helping priests return to ministry in healthy and accountable ways. Parish planning and restructuring, while sometimes painful, have already freed priest assignments, reduced multi-parish workloads, and created more sustainable models so that priests can focus more on pastoral care.
model for others.
One very tangible sign of hope this past year is the arrival of five new seminarians in formation for our diocese. In a time when many places are seeing vocations decline, this is a beautiful reminder that the Holy Spirit is at work. It is also an appropriate moment to thank our Vocations Office, whose fidelity and dedication help these vocations grow and take root.
The Road Ahead: 2026 and 2027
While we remain committed to everything that began in 2025, the focus will now gradually move outward.
In 2026, attention will turn to the priest with his closest collaborators: parish staff, key lay leaders, brother priests, and his relationship with the Bishop. The aim is to build healthier teams around pastors, form parish and diocesan staff so they can better support priests and serve parishioners, and expand opportunities for priestly renewal and fraternity. It is unrealistic and unhealthy for any priest to carry the mission of a parish alone. The second year of the initiative is about making sure he doesn’t have to.
PUBLISHER – Most ReveRend edgaR M. da Cunha, s.d.v., d.d. Vol. 70, No. 12 www.anchornews.org
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Joan d. WaRRen
ADVERTISING
Wayne R. PoWeRs
These efforts have begun to draw attention beyond the diocese. A recent article in the National Catholic Register highlighted how parish priests today face fewer vocations, heavier administrative burdens, and parish consolidations. Rather than discouraging us, the article pointed to the Diocese of Fall River’s consecration of priests and seminarians to St. John Vianney as a hopeful sign. It noted that priests are “men, not machines,” and that what they most need is the support of one another and of the lay faithful they serve. In other words, what we are doing here is quietly becoming a
In 2027, the focus will widen again to the whole diocesan family. The Diocese will work toward a clearer sense of what it means to be a priest of the Diocese of Fall River and will invite the faithful into a Year of Parishioner Formation on the Priesthood. Parish structures and processes will continue to be adjusted so that time and resources are used more directly for the Church’s mission of evangelization and sanctification, rather than simply maintaining buildings or systems. A bi-annual clergy retreat and a joyful diocesan celebration of the priesthood will be part of this effort to bring priests and people together in thanksgiving and renewal.
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December 5, 2025
Editorial adVENt, SaiNt aNdrEW, aNd HoPE
Advent this year takes place during the Jubilee of Hope. Advent is a special season of hope, in which, pondering the reality and meaning of Jesus’ first coming in Bethlehem, we run forth to meet him now in all the ways he comes to us — in prayer, in the Sacraments, in his holy Word, in others — and get ready like the wise virgins in Jesus’ Gospel parable (Matt 25:1-14) to sprint out to meet him with lamps lit when he comes at the end of time, or the end of our life, whichever comes first.
The first Sunday of Advent took place on the feast of St. Andrew. St. Andrew was someone who longed for the Messiah, who hungered for him, who drew close to St. John the Baptist as the Elijah and precursor of the Anointed and Awaited One, and became a faithful follower once that Messiah was pointed out. Together with almost certainly St. John, Andrew immediately began to follow Jesus, entered into conversation with him, came and saw where he was staying, and was changed forever.
St. Andrew then spent his life, like John the Baptist, as an Advent announcer, preparing people to embrace Jesus as the Christ. As soon as he was able to travel after the completion of the Sabbath, he ran to his brother Simon and announced, “We have found the Messiah!” and brought Simon to Jesus.
Little did Andrew know what Jesus’ plans would have been for his brother, that he would become the rock on whom Jesus would build his Church, the one to whom he would give the keys of the kingdom of heaven. All he did was bring Simon to Jesus and Jesus did the rest. Similarly, he brought the young boy with the five loaves and two fish to Jesus, who took those meager materials and — in a Messianic foreshadowing of the
Eucharist on earth and the eternal banquet in heaven — multiplied them to feed the vast throng to more than satiation. He finally brought the Greeks who wished to see Jesus (Jn 12:20-24) to him and that was the trigger for Jesus’ Messianic hour when the Son of Man would be glorified by his being lifted up in crucifixion and resurrection (Jn 12:20-24).
St. Andrew was — like you’re called to be, sisters — an Advent sign, someone who pointed to Jesus, the long-awaited anointed one, the one for whom the heart of every Jew, and more broadly of every human being, has been created to beat. And just as much as Andrew responded to the fulfillment of that first Advent by bringing others still waiting to Christ, so we’re sent out every Advent, as “fishers of men” like the apostle, to bring others — including, like in Andrews’ life, family members, young people, and even seekers from other countries — to meet Jesus. Christ comes for all and in Advent we seek to bring him all.
The Jubilee of Hope and the Feast of St. Andrew help us to adopt better and more profoundly the attitude God wants us to have as we embrace this season of Advent.
At the start of the new liturgical year, something that blends both kairos and chronos, we can ask, “What time is it? The whole Jubilee has been ultimately to wake us up to reality of Jesus’ being with us now, as a result of his birth, as a result of the sacraments, and the reality that he is coming again, and wants us to be as alert for his arrival as St. Andrew was at the Jordan.
Advent is a time of spiritual reawakening, as we return to what should be the proper foundation of our life. In it, we retrace the centuries long waiting of the Jews
† December 5, 2025
for Jesus’ first coming so that we might learn from them how to stoke our hunger for Jesus’ second coming.
Rather than sleep through the gift of life, we go out to meet Christ the Bridegroom like the five wise bridesmaids, to enter into his victory feast. Sometimes many of us spiritually are like slumbering teenage boys for whom you need a bucket of ice water to get them out of bed! We hit the snooze button on the Lord’s calling us to become fully alive.
Advent is like a set of spiritual defibrillating pads meant to jolt us out of the spiritual comas into which out of weakness we can fall. So Advent is first a time to wake up.
Advent is a time of journeying. Christ is indeed coming and we are called not to stay where we are, but to journey toward him and journey with him.
Advent, is a time of hope when we, like Andrew before us, get up, get excited, and get moving. We know that none of these verbs happen without a subject. They demand our free choice. Advent is the time God helps us recalibrate our whole life and make resolutions to give him his proper place.
The great twentieth-century English convert, priest and author Msgr. Ronald Knox commented that most of us approach Advent in the same way the pre-converted Augustine did the virtue of chastity.
We say, “We want our Lord to come, but not just yet.” The reason that we prefer him to wait is because we don’t want our life to change as fully as we know God wants. We don’t want to die to the parts of our lives that are not yet full of God’s light. We want to remain in control, because we don’t trust God yet enough to lead us in
light up his holy mountain. But God this Advent wants to give us a conversion as profound as St. Andrew’s in 30 AD and St. Augustine’s in 386. He wants to protect us with the armor of light and help us clothe ourselves with his virtues, his thoughts, and his desires.
The spiritual new year we begin is a time of setting “New Year’s Resolutions” and responding to God’s help to keep them so that we might in fact stay alert, excited and moving. That way, no matter when the Lord comes, we’ll never find him a thief but a Friend. That way he’ll never catch us off-guard but find us ready to continue with him the journey we have been seeking to walk with him each day. That way he’ll find us full of hope and desiring above all his kingdom and eternal life (CCC 1817).
For Catholics, every Mass is meant to be a little Advent, when we run forth to the “fulfillment of our blessed hope, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
More than any place, this is where we are supposed to wake up and become alive and alert for the presence of God in our life and world. This is where the Holy Spirit comes to try to help us and our brothers and sisters to become genuinely excited about our faith. This is where we go out to encounter the Lord Jesus who comes to meet us and lead us in light to the highest mountain of all, the celestial Jerusalem.
As we begin that journey, we rejoice that we have come to the house of the Lord where Christ teaches us his ways and helps us to walk in his paths. What time is it? It’s time to get up, get excited, and get moving. Emmanuel is coming. Let us go out full of hope, and, like Andrew, encourage others to go out with us, to meet Jesus with all the love and excitement we can muster.
Kaique Santos will be ordained a transitional deacon
FALL RIVER — Seminarian
Kaique Santos will be ordained a transitional deacon at 11 a.m. on December 13 at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River.
Born in Teófilo Otoni, Brazil, Santos is the youngest of three children of Marizete and Aldair Burmann. Raised in a Catholic home, he received his First Communion in 2004 and grew up dreaming of becoming a scientist or doctor. “From a young age, I was always curious about the world and fascinated by American culture,” he said.
Santos’s teenage years were marked by tragedy with the deaths of his brother Victor in 2008 and his father in 2009. “Losing them shook my world and forced me to confront the deeper questions of life,” he recalled. “It
opened a space in my heart that God would later fill with His love.”
A youth retreat in 2010 became a turning point in his spiritual journey and deepened his relationship with Christ. Another retreat in 2011 awakened a vocational calling.
“When I saw the joy of a young priest there, something inside me said, ‘This is what I want to give my life to.’ I felt peace like never before.”
His path of discernment led him to the Brazilian Canção Nova Community in 2015 and later through intense periods of prayer,
including a 30-day retreat in a Carthusian monastery. After a trip to Europe, he sensed a missionary call to serve where priests are most needed.
A friend introduced him to the Diocese of Fall River, and he joined in 2023. “From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed. I knew this was where God was calling me,” he said.
Santos is now approaching his diaconal ordination, which he describes as the first of two major steps in the journey toward the priesthood. “It is truly a monumental occasion. A long chapter of my life is closing, and a pro-
found new one is about to begin. I can hardly believe that my time as a seminarian is nearly over.”
His road to this moment has been a decade-long process of study, prayer, and formation. He recently completed two significant public acts, the Profession of Faith and the Oath of Fidelity.
“These were not just simple ceremonies,” he said.
“They were my way of declaring, in front of God and the Church, that I fully believe what the Catholic Church teaches and that I am ready to be completely faithful to the mission I will be given.”
According to Santos, every step of his vocation has renewed his commitment to God.
“Now I am repeating with great happiness: ‘Here I am, Lord, ready to do Your will.’”
Looking ahead, he says his expectations are centered on service and surrender. His years in formation have taught him that following God’s call is not about choosing the safest path.
“It is a leap of faith,” he said. “It means saying goodbye to everything you thought you needed for security and trusting entirely in God. I do not know exactly what life holds for me, but I know the One who calls me, and that is enough.”
Santos hopes to embrace his new chapter with fidelity and joy.
“My goal is to live out my commitment to the Church and serve the people entrusted to me with all the love and confidence that faith provides. Thank you for your prayers and support during this special time.”
All are invited to attend the ordination and support the soonto-be transitional deacon.
December 5, 2025
Laws Providing Cover for Unethical Actions in Medicine
In recent decades, lawmakers have been pressured to provide legal cover in the form of “immunity from prosecution” for medical personnel who participate in various unethical practices.
One involves physician-assisted suicide. Politicians and lawmakers in many jurisdictions are drawn into the process of creating legal “carve outs” to insulate health care professionals from lawsuits and liability when they help patients commit suicide.
For example, Colorado in its 2016 “End of Life Options Act” puts the exception this way: "No person shall be subjected to civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action solely for participating in good faith in the death with dignity process or for any other action taken in good faith compliance with this article" (§25-48-119).
Writing a prescription for a toxic dose of a drug to help a person commit suicide, of course, involves a fundamental contradiction for a medical professional whose mission and work are directed to healing and saving lives. By supporting the suicide of his patient, the medical professional upends the delicate relationship of trust at the heart of the physician-patient relationship and abuses his position of authority. To exempt him on principle from such medical malpractice, and to provide professional and legal cover for patient abandonment, is a morally indefensible course of action.
In his famous encyclical
Evangelium Vitae (On the Gift of Life), Pope St. John Paul II recognizes this legislative trend as a particularly devastating form of cultural decline:
“The fact that legislation in many countries, perhaps even departing from basic principles of their Constitutions, has determined not to punish these practices against life, and even to make them altogether legal, is both a disturbing symptom and a significant cause of grave moral decline. Choices once unanimously considered criminal and rejected by the common moral sense are gradually becoming socially acceptable. Even certain sectors of the medical profession, which by its calling is directed to the defense and care of human life, are increasingly willing to carry out these acts against the person. In this way the very nature of the medical profession is distorted and contradicted, and the dignity of those who practice it is degraded.”
pill — and the physician's identity is accessible only via a subpoena within California. Pharmacists who dispense the abortion drug are also legally allowed to omit their names, as well as the names of the patient and prescriber, from the label on the medication bottle.
Such policies constitute another example of patient abandonment. Health care professionals have a responsibility to provide careful medical supervision and oversight to patients seeking dangerous pharmaceuticals. This requires significant interaction with the patient in the form of medical testing, interviews, and in-person exams. That attentive oversight vanishes as lawmakers and politicians start promoting misguided laws to bolster anonymous prescriptions, undermining sound medical practice and depersonalizing both the medical professional and the vulnerable patient.
baby’s life.
A third example involves in-vitro fertilization. The State of Alabama in 2024 passed legislation that protects IVF providers and patients from civil and criminal liability for death and damage to human beings who are still embryos. It gives a pass to the infertility industry by granting near total indemnity with regard to a host of potential medical malpractices.
We have to wonder why such carve outs are tolerated at all, given that the legal establishment has long defended the rights of those who bear the brunt of serious malpractice by medical personnel. When it comes to the most vulnerable classes of human beings at the beginning and end of life, we should be especially vigilant not to relax accountability.
Another form of legal protection for unethical practices involves laws that encourage “anonymous abortion pill prescriptions.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a measure allowing doctors anonymously to prescribe abortion pills. This means that the prescribing doctor remains anonymous — even to the patient receiving the abortion
Politicians, the media, and many in the medical profession have decided that abortion deserves an entirely different and much lower standard than the rest of medicine. We would never sanction such an undisciplined approach with other potent pharmaceuticals like opioids or cancer medications.
Rather than treating women and doctors as anonymous entities, pregnant women deserve the supportive medical care and focused attention of their health care team. Ideally, such personal care should help them feel strengthened and empowered to bring their pregnancies to term rather than defaulting to a fear-driven and desperate attempt to end their
As a society, we cannot overlook or grant a pass to those who systematically campaign for the legalization of corrosive medical practices like physician-assisted suicide, abortion and the production, freezing and destruction of embryonic human beings. Seeking to provide legal cover for medical personnel in the form of “immunity from prosecution” inflicts a serious wound on medicine, society and culture, especially when those efforts are spearheaded, as Pope St. John Paul II has noted, by political leaders, lawmakers and public policy experts “who ought to be society's promoters and defenders.”
Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as Senior Ethicist at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org and www. fathertad.com.
A Season to Awaken the Heart: Entering Advent Together
On a quiet Sunday morning, as the last leaves of autumn skitter across parish parking lots, the Church begins again. This year, Advent— which began on November 30—ushers in a new liturgical year, inviting the faithful into a season not of haste, but of holy expectation. Ad venire, “to come,” has always drawn believers into these weeks with a mixture of longing and hope. From the earliest days of the Church, Christians have pondered Christ’s promise to return. Yet the Scriptures proclaimed during Advent gently redirect our curiosity: do not waste time on predictions. Instead, they urge us to “be alert,” to resist being weighed down by the cares and noise of the world, and to prepare our hearts for both the Lord’s coming at the end of time and the celebration of His birth at Christmas.
Emmanuel. Their poetry bridges centuries, reminding us that Christ comes not only to fulfill ancient hopes but also to meet the needs of our own day.
In homes across the
Just as in Lent, purple drapes the sanctuary during these weeks—a sign of preparation and interior renewal. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal reminds us of these seasonal shifts: the priest’s violet vestments, the more modestly decorated altar, and the single rose-colored Sunday—Gaudete—when the Church cannot contain her joy and allows it to peek through the penitential purple.
As December deepens, the Church turns toward one of Advent’s most ancient treasures. From December 17 to 24, the beloved “O Antiphons” rise again in our liturgies. Sung since at least the eighth century, these chants echo the longings of Israel: O Wisdom… O Key of David… O
world, families keep their own Advent rhythms. Some gather around evergreen wreaths, adding the soft glow of a new candle each week— hope, peace, joy, and love—until the darkness is pierced by a ring of light. Others open Advent calendars, revealing small surprises, Scripture verses, or simple reflections, each encouraging children and adults alike to see this season not as a countdown to presents but as a journey toward Christ. These routines and rituals—whether profound or playful—shape the soul. They teach children that faith lives in daily practice, and they remind adults that God created us to flourish, not rush. Advent offers us the chance to adjust our pace, to build habits that bring joy, and to renew traditions that strengthen families.
The four themes of Advent guide us along the way:
Week 1: Hope
We remember the prophets who longed for the Messiah and renew our own longing for God to break into our lives.
Week 2: Peace
We prepare our hearts, seeking the peace Christ offers and striving to bring peace to one another.
Week 3: Joy
On Gaudete Sunday, the rose candle—“the Shepherd’s Candle”—celebrates the joy of Christ’s nearness.
Week 4: Love
We contemplate the immeasurable love of God, who sends His Son as the Light of the world.
Some homes also place a fifth candle—the Christ Candle—in the center of their wreath. Lit on Christmas Eve, it reminds us that all light, all hope, all peace, all joy, and all love radiate from Him alone.
As the Church steps into this
season once more, Advent invites every Catholic—children, parents, the homebound, the busy, the weary—to pause. To prepare. And to let the quiet anticipation of Christ’s coming transform the heart.
This year, may our Advent be not simply observed, but lived. May it renew our homes, deepen our faith, and open us more fully to the miracle waiting in Bethlehem.
Dear Reader of The Anchor,
I write to you today with important information regarding our diocesan monthly newspaper, The Anchor. After careful analysis and consultation, we have decided that The Anchor will transition from a printed publication to fully digital formats. The February 6th, 2026, Anchor issue will be the final printed one. On Ash Wednesday, February 18, The Anchor will launch a new mobile-friendly website and shortly thereafter introduce a new weekly electronic newsletter available by email.
I want to be sure the Diocese is sharing the Good News in the most effective ways available with the aim of reaching as many people as possible. This decision regarding The Anchor comes in response to changing times and new opportunities. More and more people get their news and information online, and digital platforms allow us to share stories more quickly, reach more people, and use our limited resources more effectively.
In these new ways, The Anchor will continue to provide all the diocesan news and happenings and local commentary you’re used to reading plus much more! I am pleased to announce that The Anchor will partner with OSV News to connect you with a wealth of additional content. OSV is a national Catholic news and information service and evangelization resource. With OSV, The Anchor will offer national and international Church news and Vatican updates along with in depth analysis, more images, inspirational stories and special features designed to support your spiritual journey.
All of this will be available to everyone, free of charge, through these new platforms and an enhanced use of The Anchor social media channels.
Some of you may remember a letter I sent a few years ago explaining that The Anchor would likely become a digital-only news source at some point in the future. That time has come. The Anchor has not been immune to the overall decline in newspaper readership in general. In recent years, the number of paid subscriptions to the paper has dramatically fallen as printing and distribution costs have significantly increased.
I am deeply grateful to all who have supported The Anchor over the years: our staff, present and past; contributors, and especially our faithful readers. I ask for your continued support and prayers during this time of change. I am certain that through its new website and weekly e-newsletter, The Anchor will continue to be a vital instrument of evangelization and communication within our Diocese.
Be sure to visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/wffx0yf to sign up to receive the e-newsletter.
Thank you for your faith, your love for the Church, and your interest in and support of the Diocese of Fall River. I wish you and your loved ones a Blessed Advent.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. Bishop of Fall River
Changes to TV Mass and The Anchor
Continued from page five
mats The Anchor will partner with OSV News, a national Catholic news and information service and evangelization resource, to augment its local news reporting. This will greatly expand and enhance its content and coverage with international and national Catholic news, Vatican updates, a variety of inspirational stories, profiles, and ways to nourish one’s journey of faith.
For many years, broadcast TV was for the most part the only way to access a Mass for those unable to go to a church, but other options are available now.
† December 5, 2025
“Almost half of parishes in the Diocese now livestream their Masses on their websites and in some cases use Facebook Live or parish YouTube channels,” said Diocesan Director of Communications John Kearns.
“In addition, the dominant cable television providers in the region both carry Catholic TV and EWTN, two Catholic networks that each provide multiple Masses every Sunday in English and Spanish.”
Information on both accessing livestream Masses and how to sign up for the online Anchor can be
found at fallriverdiocese.org.
“It is my hope that our faithful people will understand the reasoning behind these transitions,” Bishop da Cunha said.
“We are grateful to all who have supported our TV Mass Apostolate— participating clergy, WLNE-TV Channel 6, technical personnel, donors, and especially the viewers. I ask for their patience and support as we explore new ways to reach out and celebrate our Catholic faith with more people in what is now a very busy and complex world.”
H o l i d a y S t r o l l
E x p e r i e n c e t h e m a g i c o f W h a l e r ’s C o ve A s s i s t e d
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Show support for priests through gifts to the Serving the Shepherds Fund
FALL RIVER — Now in its third year, the Diocese of Fall River’s Serving the Shepherds Fund continues to gain momentum, offering parishioners an opportunity to support the priests who serve communities across Southeastern Massachusetts. Introduced during a season traditionally associated with reflection and gratitude, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., invites the diocesan faithful to offer gifts, gratitude, and prayers in support of this annual appeal, which acknowledges the countless ways our priests pour out their lives in service. “I invite you to consider a gift to our Serving the Shepherds Fund. Your generosity will help sustain the shepherds who have devoted their lives to serving God’s people, so that together we can continue bringing the light of hope to a world that longs for it.”
The initiative encourages the faithful to consider the dedication of priests working in parishes and diocesan ministries, many of
whom have spent decades nurturing the faith of their communities. In addition to financial contributions, the fund seeks prayers and personal tributes for priests; these messages are shared through the
ilies to celebrating Funeral Rites and praying for the deceased, clergy often stand alongside parishioners during times of sorrow and transition. Diocesan leaders say this compassionate service
diocesan Clergy Office. All gifts directly support seminarians as well as active and retired priests. Priests throughout the Diocese play a pivotal role in guiding Catholics through life’s most challenging moments. From offering spiritual counsel to grieving fam-
deepens the faith of countless individuals and underscores the importance of supporting those who have devoted their lives to ministry.
The Serving the Shepherds Fund complements the Diocese’s broader three-year initiative,
Stronger Priests, Stronger Parishes, Stronger Church, launched last year. The effort has already garnered more than 18,000 prayers for priests. Under the leadership of Matt Robinson and the Office for Clergy Support, several programs have been established to enhance the mental, spiritual, and physical well-being of clergy—efforts that have been warmly received across the Diocese.
Funds raised through Serving the Shepherds play a vital role in strengthening the entire arc of priestly ministry. Contributions help support discernment programs through the Vocations Office, cover educational costs for seminarians, and sustain ongoing formation for active priests, including programs connected to the Stronger Priests initiative. The appeal also provides essential assistance to retired priests, particularly in areas such as housing, healthcare, and overall quality of life.
Households throughout the Diocese recently received mailings with information about the fund, including an envelope for contributions. Donations may also be made online at catholicfoundationsema.org/shepherds or mailed to the Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, 450 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720.
Even for those not making a financial gift, diocesan officials encourage the faithful to use the enclosed prayer card—or visit the Stronger Priests, Stronger Parishes, Stronger Church page on the diocesan website—to offer words of gratitude to the priests who have accompanied them in their own journeys of faith.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Fall River
A
Season of Giving and Hope 2025
In this season of hope we want to provide for those who face housing insecurity, individuals who are often forgotten during the holidays. This year, we want to fill that void. The goal is to provide “Blessing
Bags” to all our shelter guests.
With the help of volunteers, our agency plans to assemble and distribute these blessing bags for Christmas. We will be collecting items from now until December 12th, with plans to insure that our shelters receive them by December 19th.
Our guests needs and wishes are simple: Personal Hygiene items; warm outer gear; undergarments; slippers/flip flops; snacks; food and beverage containers; gift cards McDonalds, Burger King, Dunkin ($10-25), which provides a meal and a warm place to sit for a while; public transportation passes or gift cards.
These are just a few of the items being asked for. For more information on how you can help or a full list of wish items, call us at 508 -674-4681 Ext. 1111.
Be the light, be the difference!
December 5, 2025
AdventFamilyDay
In Your Prayers
Please pray for these bishops, priests and deacons during the coming weeks:
Dec. 6
Rev. Joseph L. Cabral, Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 1959
Rt. Rev. Msgr. John H. Hackett, JCD, Chancellor, June-December, 1966
Rev. Joseph K. Welsh, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, 1971
Rev. John T. Higgins, Retired Pastor , St. Mary, Mansfield, 1985
Dec. 7
Rev. Thomas F. Daley, Retired Pastor, St. James, New Bedford, 1976
Rev. Ambrose Bowen, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Taunton, 1977
Rev. James W. Clark, Retired Pastor, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, 2000
Dec. 8
Rev. John F. Broderick, Pastor, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1940
Dec. 9
Rev. Rene Patenaude, O.P., Retired Associate Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River, 1983
Dec. 10
Rev. Thomas C. Briscoe, Former Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River, 1918
Rev. Andrew S.P. Baj, Former Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford, 1971
Rev. Leonard M. Mullaney, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony, Mattapoisett, 2014
Dec. 11
Rev. Edward L. Killigrew, Pastor, St. Kilian, New Bedford, 1959
Dec. 12
Rev. Paul F. McCarrick, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1996
Dec. 13
Rev. Reginald Theriault, O.P., St. Anne, Dominican Priory, Fall River, 1972
Rev. Adrien L. Francoeur, M.S., La Salette Shrine, North Attleboro, 1991
Dec. 14
Rev. Msgr. John J. Hayes, Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford, 1970
Rev. Edward J. Burns, Retired Pastor, St. Mark, Attleboro Falls, 2015
Dec. 15
Rev. Mortimer Downing, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1942
Rev. John F. O’Keefe, Assistant, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1955
Dec. 19
Rev. Deacon Eugene L. Orosz, 1988
Rev. Deacon Maurice LaValle, 2007
Rev. Gabriel (William) Healy, SS.CC., 2015
Dec. 20
Rev. Manuel S. Travassos, Pastor, Espirito Santo, Fall River, 1953
Rev. John A. Janson, OFM, Missionary in Brazil, 1996
Rev. William J. Heffron, SS.CC., 2017
Dec. 21
Rev. Henri J. Charest, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1968
Rev. Manuel M. Resendes, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes,Taunton, 1985
Rev. Laureano C. dos Reis, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, Fall River, 1989
Dec. 22
Rev. Adriano Moniz, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Angels, Fall River, 1964
Rev. Armand P. Paradis, S.J., Psychologist, San Francisco, Calif., 1991
Dec. 23
Rev. Owen J. Kiernan, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1901 Rev. Charles P. Trainor, SS, St. Edward Seminary, Seattle, Wash., 1947
Rev. Msgr. John A. Silvia, Retired Pastor , St. John the Baptist, New Bedford, 1970
Rev. William E. Collard, Retired Pastor, St Theresa, New Bedford, 1986
Dec. 24
Rev. James K. Beaven, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1886
Rev. Timothy J. Duff, Assistant, St. Joseph, Woods Hole, 1914
Dec. 27
Rev. Thomas J. Stapleton, Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1956
Rev. Msgr. Armand Levasseur, Retired Pastor, St. Anne, New Bedford, 1970
Rev. Manuel Andrade, Former Pastor, Our Lady of Health, Fall River, 1995 Dec. 28
Rev. Charles R. Smith, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1955
Rev. Edward J. Sharpe, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset, 1987
Rev. Clement Paquet, O.P., Assistant, St. Anne, Fall River, 1987
Rev. Msgr. John Smith, Retired, Catholic Memorial Home, Former Pastor, St. Pius X, South Yarmouth, 2021 Dec. 29
Rev. Rafeal Flammia, SS.CC., Retired Pastor, Our Lady of the Assumption, New Bedford, 1993
Rev. Robert J. Kruse, C.S.C., 2015
Rev. Kevin Harrington, Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi, New Bedford, 2020 Dec. 30
Rev. Robert C. Donovan, Pastor, St. John the Evangelist, Pocasset, 2016 Dec. 31
Rev. Thomas C. Mayhew, Pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Seekonk, 1991 Jan. 1
Rev. Jose Valeiro, Pastor, St. Elizabeth, Fall River, 1955
Rev. Antonio M. Fortuna, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, New Bedford, 1956
Rev. Francis R. Connerton, SS. STD., St. John’s Seminary, Plymouth, Mich., 1968
Rev. Leo T. Sullivan, Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford, 1975 Jan. 4
Rev. Eugene L. Dion, Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1961
Rev. Joseph L. Powers, Founder, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, No. Falmouth, 1999
Rev. Francis B. Connors, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, 2003
Jan. 5
Rev. L. Octave Massicotte, 1922
Rev. William McClenahan, SS.CC. Former Pastor, Holy Redeemer, Chatham, 1994
Jan. 6
Rev. James F. Roach, Founder, Immaculate Conception, Taunton, 1906
Rev. Rene G. Gauthier, Pastor, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1997 Permanent Deacon Antonio Cruz, 2009
Jan. 7
Rev. Alfred R. Forni, Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi, New Bedford, 1970
Rev. Gustave Gosselin, M.S., La Salette Shrine, Attleboro, 1989
Rev. Jude Morgan, SS.CC., Former Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Wellfleet, 2003
Rev. Raymond Robida, 2003
Jan. 8
Rev. John Kelly, Founder, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1885
Rev. Alfred J. Carrier, Founder, St. Jacques, Taunton, 1940
Rev. Arthur C. Lenaghan, USA Chaplain, Killed in Action, 1944
Rev. Evaristo Tavares, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 2000
Rev. Louis Joseph, US Air Force, 2000
Jan. 9
Rev. William F. Morris, Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1982
December 5, 2025
Family Advent Celebration
On Saturday, December 6th, from 11a.m. to 2 p.m., all are invited to a family Advent celebration at The Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington St., N. Easton.
There will be a visit from St. Nicholas, activity for children, cookie decorating, pizza lunch, hot cocoa, and a Christmas carol family sing-along.
This is a free event and donations are welcome.
Around the Diocese
The Father Peyton Center will host a special weekday event on Monday, Dec. 8 for The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. It will include Mass, followed by a reflection, activity for children, and a light reception. This is a free event and donations are welcome.
Registration not required but very appreciated at: https://hcfm. info/ic-2025. Questions? Contact mission@HCFM.org or 508-2384095.
2025 Christmas Drive
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River is once again spreading joy this Christmas season and needs community support to help those in need.
Christmas is a precious time, in which we are able to celebrate with our loved ones and share in the many blessings that we’ve experienced in this past year.
However, many children and families are struggling with poverty, food insecurity, and affordable housing. Please help achieve the goal of raising $17,500 for the
Sun. Dec. 21: Is 7: 10-14/ Ps 24: 1-2. 3-4. 5-6 (7c. 10b)/ Rom 1: 1-7/ Mt 1: 18-24
Mon. Dec. 22: 1 Sm 1: 24-28/ 1 Sm 2: 1. 4-5. 6-7. 8abcd/ Lk 1: 46-56
Tues. Dec. 23: Mal 3: 1-4. 23-24/ Ps 25: 4-5ab. 8-9. 10 and 14/ Lk 1: 57-66
† December 5, 2025
annual Christmas drive.
This initiative aims to provide a $50 gift card to the roughly 350 children who currently receive services through Catholic Charities of Fall River.
You can make a donation by going to the link below. It is through your generosity and compassion that Catholic Charities is able to make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.
ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette announced that the 2025-2026 La Salette Christmas Festival of Lights is open and will be on display until Sunday, January 4, 2026.
This year’s theme is “Rejoice In Hope. The Night Is Far Gone, The Day Is At Hand.”
With the addition of 137 new displays, the La Salette Christmas Festival of Lights will present to the public more than one million Christmas lights, making it one of the biggest, if not the biggest, Christmas religious display of New England.
The Christmas Lights go on every day, Monday-Sunday, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Entrance and parking are free.
Special Festival attractions:
1) La Salette International Creche Museum (open every day, 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
2) Art Exhibition by well-renowned artist Nancy Marek Cote (open every day, 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
3) Fr. Pat concerts (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.)
4) Photos with Santa Claus 5) Ride to Bethlehem, Hayride, and Carousel.
For further information see a copy of the Christmas flyer with comprehensive information about the Festival by going to https:// lasaletteattleboroshrine.org/ christmas-festival, call 508-2225410, or write to shrinesecretary@ lasalette-shrine.org
Deacon Rick Varieur of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and Mount Carmel Seekonk MA parishes, arranged an incredible 2,000-mile 10 day trip through Alaska and the Canadian Yukon for 10 men, nine riding motorcycles plus a support vehicle.
One of the highlights of this trip was attending Mass at St. Mary's Church in Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada that
dates back to 1902, for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.
‘‘It was a truly a remarkable experience,” said Richard Butler, pictured with Deacon Varieur, right.
Send in a photo with you and the Anchor someplace far and way and see how far the Anchor can travel! Send to joandwarren@ anchornews.org
ROME LANDS IN R ODE ISLAND!
Cardinal Sean O’Malley celebrates St. Anne Shrine at annual banquet
More than 150 benefactors, supporters and friends of St. Anne Shrine, Fall River, attended the Shrine’s annual “Deo Optimo Maximo” banquet in September at White’s of Westport.
His Eminence Sean Cardinal O’Malley, former bishop of Fall River and retired archbishop of Boston, was a special guest at the celebration
Before the dinner, he met with the Board of Directors and Chaplain of the Preservation Society and thanked them for their efforts in preserving the Shrine. Pictured is Cardinal O’Malley (middle) surrounded by members of the board of directors.
Faculty, staff and students at St. Joseph School in Fairhaven celebrated National Principal Day by honoring their principal, Tara Frost. Speeches, words of gratitude and gifts were presented to her at morning prayer. Pictured , left to right: Father Maiki Kamauoha, SS.CC pastor, Tara Frost and Diocesan Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Denise Peixoto.
www.anchornews.org
TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel
Sunday, December 7 at 7 p.m.
Broadcast from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Providence ***
Sunday, December 14 at 7 p.m.
Broadcast from St. Francis Xavier Church, East Providence ***
Sunday, December 21 at 7:00 p.m. St. Anthony of Padua Church, Fall River ***
Christmas, December 25 (Time TBA)
Broadcast from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, New Bedford
Sunday, December 28 at 7 p.m.
Broadcast from St. Michael Church, Fall River
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6
Sunday, December 7 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Riley J. Williams, Pastor of Holy Name Parish, Fall River
Sunday, December 14 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Peter R. Scheffer, Pastor, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Orleans, and Parochial Administrator, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Wellfleet
Sunday, December 21at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Jeffrey Cabral, Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Fall River and Pastor of Santo Christo Parish, Fall River
Sunday, December 28 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Monsignor Stephen J. Avila, Director of the Television Mass Apostolate for the Diocese of Fall River and pastor of St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish, Falmouth
December 5, 2025
Stronger priests make for a stronger church
Continued from page five
Called to Be a Priestly People: Your Part in the Initiative
The title of this article—“Called to Be a Priestly People”—is not just a slogan. It reflects a deep truth of our faith. By baptism, every Christian shares in what the Church calls the “common priesthood of the faithful.” We are not all ordained, but we are all called to offer our lives— our work, our joys, our suffering, our love—as a spiritual sacrifice to God, united to the one perfect sacrifice of Christ. The ministerial priesthood exists precisely to help the baptized live this priestly identity more fully.
That means this three-year initiative is not only “about priests.” It is about the whole Church. If priests are to be strong, holy, and able to live the heart of their vocation, they need a people who understand both the beauty and the burden of their calling and who are willing to walk with them. There are very concrete ways you can help. You can begin by praying intentionally for your priests. Setting aside even a small daily prayer for your pastor, your parish, and for new vocations makes a real difference. Offering
a Rosary, a holy hour, a decade in the car, or a simple “Hail Mary” before bed for your priest, and for those who are struggling, strengthens them in ways you may never see this side of heaven. Venerable Fulton Sheen said that “Millions of favors are hanging from Heaven on silken cords — prayer is the sword that will cut them.”
as a human being. A kind word after Mass, a note of encouragement, an invitation to a meal, a willingness to give him the benefit of the doubt, and a simple “Father, I’m praying for you” can lighten a heavy heart. Remember that your priest is not only a sacramental minister, but a human being, who can be lifted up—or weighed down—by the way he is received.
When the Traveling Relic of St. John Vianney comes to your parish, you can make the effort to be there. Participating in the times of prayer, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and consecrating yourself and your family to St. John Vianney’s intercession are powerful ways of saying, “We want to grow in holiness with our priests.”
You can support your priest
You can also get more involved in the life of your parish. Ask the Lord, “Where are you inviting me to help?” and then speak with your pastor about how your gifts might serve the mission. Whether it is catechesis, hospitality, visiting the sick, helping with administration, or simply being a faithful presence in the pews, your active participation helps the parish become what it is meant to be: a
school of holiness and a center of missionary outreach.
Finally, you can encourage vocations. Speak positively about the priesthood. If you see signs of a priestly calling in a young man, tell him. Pray for our seminarians by name when you can, and hold our Vocations Office in prayer as they accompany those whom God may be calling.
At the heart of all of this is a simple prayer: stronger priests, stronger parishes, a stronger and holier Church. Through the intercession of Our Lady, Mother of Priests, and St. John Vianney, may the Lord bring to completion the good work He has begun in us. And may each of us, clergy and laity alike, have the courage to ask, “Lord, what is my part in this initiative?”
St. John Newman said, “God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.” What’s your definitive service? Whatever it is, let’s make sure we are a people who have a bias towards action. Time is short, if I am going to do good, I better be quick about it because we’re called to be “doers of the word and not hearers only” (James 1:22).
