08.04.23

St. Padre Pio relics coming to Falmouth parish August 25-26

By Dave Jolivet Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

FALMOUTH — After several delays, relics of the beloved St. Padre Pio are making a visit to the Diocese of Fall River on August 25 and 26 at St. Patrick’s Church in Falmouth.

In 2016, Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, pastor of St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish in Falmouth, made a pilgrimage with a group from Cape Cod on a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, home to Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary where St. Padre Pio spent his final years. “While at San Giovanni Rotondo, I was graced with some very powerful

82nd Catholic Appeal raises $4.5 Million

experiences being in the presence of relics of St. Padre Pio,” Msgr. Avila told The Anchor. “I was so moved by the whole experience and felt the need to share what I felt with others who would never get to visit the Friary. I wish others could have the opportunity to experience being in the presence of the relics.”

St. Padre Pio was a Capuchin priest, an order that seeks extreme poverty, strict observance of the Franciscan rule and simplicity. He ministered in Italy as a priest for 68 years. He was known worldwide as a healer, a confessor and a mystic who suffered the extreme pains of stigmata.

FALL RIVER—The 82nd Catholic Appeal, “Do This in Memory of Me,” has closed with the annual campaign raising $4.5 million to support the work of the Church across the Diocese of Fall River. In the midst of an extremely challenging economic environment, more than 15,000 individual donors made gifts and pledges to sustain the Appeal’s longstanding mission of serving those in greatest need.

The success of this year’s Appeal is a testament to the commitment of the faithful of the diocese to help those in great need. It is also a strong sign of how parishioners stand collectively to uphold the teachings of the Church by serving as the hands and feet of Christ here on Earth.

“I am filled with gratitude to see the number of households across the Diocese of Fall River who came forward in support of

the Catholic Appeal,” said Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. “Each and every contribution, large and small, adds up to create real and beautiful changes in thousands of lives. When we do something good for someone in their moment of need, God sees it — and rewards us in so many beautiful ways. I pray that everyone who donated to the Appeal is blessed immeasurably, and for the Holy Spirit to renew us as a diocesan family.”

Even amid challenging economic times, 35 of the 70 parishes in the diocese — one half of all parishes — surpassed their 2022 fundraising total this year.

“This year in honor of our Appeal theme, we invited everyone to think of a special individual whose example of loving generosity and faith made a difference in their lives, and to give in remembrance or in honor

Three diocesan priests retire this summer

FALL RIVER — Three priests of the Diocese of Fall River retired at the end of June after serving for decades in parishes and ministries.

Entering retirement were Father George E. Harrison, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich, who this year observed 55 years in the priesthood; Father Raymond Cambra, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Seekonk, 46 years in priestly ministry; and Father Jon-Paul Gallant, pastor of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, South

Attleboro, 45 years.

Their retirements were announced by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., and became effective on June 30.

Father Cambra is a native of New Bedford and a graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in that city and Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth. He prepared for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary in Kentucky and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass., and was ordained on May 14, 1977, by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River.

He began his priestly ministry at Immaculate Conception Parish in Fall River as a parochial vicar and then served in that capacity at Immaculate

Conception, Taunton; Santo Christo, Fall River; and St. Pius X, South Yarmouth.

Bishop Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap., appointed him pastor of St. Elizabeth

Parish, Fall River, in 1995, where he remained until 2000 when he became pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, also in Fall River. He was

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August 4, 2023

Father Raymond Cambra Father Jon-Paul Gallant Father George E. Harrison

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Josefa da Cunha, mother of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., dies at 92

FALL RIVER — On July 8, at the age of 92, Josefa da Cunha, the mother of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., died in her home in Brazil.

She was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Manoel Antonio, who passed away on June 23, 2015. She lived a long and beautiful life; she raised 13 children

the diocesan website (fallriverdiocese.org), Bishop da Cunha wrote:

“She was a person of great faith, and her memory will be treasured as a person who lived her life dedicated to God and family. The wake and burial took place on Monday, July 10, 2023, in Bahia, Brazil. Heartbreakingly, because of flight cancellations and delays, I was unable to arrive in time for the services; instead, I came back home from the airport and had to livestream the Funeral Liturgy to Brazil from my chapel in Fall River.

and saw her family grow to 39 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-greatgrandchild, to a total of 101 descendants.

In his blog on

“Having left my home of Brazil over 40 years ago to serve the Lord as a Vocationist priest, I recognize and try always to connect with my roots and make time for family. I am blessed and grateful that the Lord has continued to provide me with this opportunity. God is indeed generous and loving, evident in my unexpected opportunity to visit

my mother one last time when in Brazil for Father Thiago’s ordination last month. It is amazing how God continues to work all things for the good of those who love Him, as St. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:28.

“I first shared in the February 2019 blog the blessing of spending time visiting my mother,

siblings, and numerous nieces and nephews. As I explained, my vacation in Brazil allows me to maintain that important connection with family, as well as provides me an opportunity to rest and recharge my batteries. In caring for myself, I can best continue to serve the people of the Fall River Diocese effectively.

“In February 2020, I was blessed to take my annual vacation to Brazil just before the world shut down. This special trip included the opportunity to baptize one of my many nieces. This event was all the more special as her Baptism occurred in my hometown parish.

“This past January, my family was able to capture a memorable photograph representing six generations. My mother was so very blessed to have met her great-great-greatgranddaughter; not many people are bestowed such a remarkable gift.

“During that visit, I was also graced with sharing special meals and gatherings with my large, extended family. Interestingly, the first reading for the Mass the Sunday I returned from that particular trip to Brazil came from Genesis, where we read: ‘On the seventh day God completed the work He had been doing; He rested on the seventh day from all the work He had undertaken’ (Gen 2:2).

“That inspired me to share thoughts in the blog on the critical importance and value of rest and family. These two things are universally essential to our emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental well-being, and yet, also sadly universally neglected. We must cherish the gift of family for as long as the Good Lord allows them in our lives. In your generosity, I ask you to please keep the repose of my mother, Josefa, and my entire family in your prayers.”

August 4, 2023

Six generations are represented in this photo with Josefa da Cunha, far right, taken in January of this year. At left is Mrs. da Cunha’s great-great-great-granddaughter.

FACE is off and running: A busy few months for the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education

FALL RIVER — With a mission to provide educational access to the Diocese of Fall River’s Catholic schools by offering financial support, the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education (FACE) will engage thousands of donors and supporters in parishes throughout the Diocese over the next few months.

On August 17 FACE will hold one of its longest standing and most cherished events: the Summer Gala. Co-Chairs Pat and Tom Marmen are working with a committee of Cape Cod parishioners and volunteers to make this 26th annual fundraiser a

memorable evening for all who join them at the Wianno Club in Osterville. The Al Makkay Sr. “Friend of Catholic Education” Award honoree is Jim Remillard from St. John Paul II School (High School Division). Remillard, Science Department Chairperson and Technology Coordinator, is retiring after a 16 year career at St. John Paul II School. In addition to being an exemplary teacher, remarks in his nomination included, “Mr. Remillard is one of the kindest, most caring,

as father-son participants David and Father Mathew Laird. While the official Race Day is August 20,

DIOCESAN TRIBUNAL

FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS

Decree of Citation

Since his present domicile is unknown, in accord with the provision of Canon 1509.1, we hereby cite Thomas J. Lutz to appear in person before the Tribunal of the Diocese of Fall River (887 Highland Avenue in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts) on August 25, 2023 at 2:30 PM to give his testimony regarding the question:

IS THE GIAF AGLIONE-LUTZ MARRIAGE NULL ACCORDING TO CHURCH LAW?

Anyone who has knowledge of the domicile of Thomas J. Lutz is hereby required to inform him of this citation. Given at the offices of the Diocesan Tribunal in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts on July 5, 2023.

(Very Rev.) Jeffrey Cabral, J.C.L. Judicial Vicar

and faith-filled teachers one could meet. You see him at weekly Mass in our chapel, leading our seniors every year on a spiritual retreat, and participating in faith formation at Christ the King Parish.”

runners can again choose the Virtual At-Home Edition from August 12-19.

Shortly after the runners cross the finish line, planning will be underway for the annual FACE Fall Scholarship Dinner, to be held on November 9 at White’s of Westport. Dr. Ernie Collamati, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Regis College, is the featured speaker. In addition to being a beloved professor, Dr. Collamati is a parishioner in the Diocese of Fall River. Dr. Collamati and his wife Sue, a former Bishop Feehan High School teacher, are parishioners of Transfiguration of the Lord Church, North Attleboro.

Nearly 1,000 children

will begin school year 2022-23 with financial support from FACE. Shortly after they are welcomed back to Catholic schools across the Diocese, parishes will be holding a Second Collection to help raise these critical scholarship dollars. This is the second year that such a collection will take place for FACE. Donations can be made in pew and online the weekend of September 9 and 10. A link and QR code will be

provided to support this important initiative.

FACE’s mission is as important today as it was when it was founded in 1991 as the St. Mary’s Education Fund. Annually, thanks to the generosity of all of its supporters, FACE ensures that children with financial need can receive a high-quality education in faith-faithed environments dedicated to helping them achieve their God-given potential.

More information about FACE can be found at: www.face-dfr.org

Diocesan Health Facilities to host 14th annual Golf Classic

FALL RIVER — On September 25, at LeBaron Hills Country Club in Lakeville, the Diocesan Health Facilities will be hosting the 14th Annual Golf Classic to benefit the more than 700 adults served in diocesan skilled nursing communities.

(Mrs.) Janet M. Neubecker Ecclesiastical

Notary

Also in August, eight runners are lacing up their sneakers to participate as a team in the 51st ASICS Falmouth Road Race Numbers for Non-Profits Program. The FACE team includes mother-daughter participants Jane and Cassandra Robin as well

Participation opportunities include: sponsorships, golf foursomes,

prize donations for raffles, advertising on tee signs and advertisement in the event program booklet and much more.

For additional information on the various levels of sponsorships, call the Diocesan Health Facilities Office at 508-679-8154 or email Debra Medeiros DebraM@dhfo.org for more details.

At left are greeters at a prior FACE Fall Dinner; below are students from St. Mary’s School in Mansfield; and above are students from Holy Family School in Fall River.

†

Diocese of fall RiveR † official appointments

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D., Bishop of Fall River, has accepted the request to retire of:

Reverend Robert O. Oliveira as Co-Director of the Permanent Diaconate Program

Effective June 30, 2023 +++

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D., Bishop of Fall River, has announced the following appointment:

Deacon Joseph A. McGinley, Co-Director of the Permanent Diaconate Program

Effective July 1, 2023 +++

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D., Bishop of Fall River, has accepted the nomination of the Very Reverend Stephen Ehiakuruike, S.D.V., Provincial of the Vocationist Fathers, and has made the following appointments:

Reverend Patrick Nwachukwu, S.D.V., Parochial Administrator of Saint Patrick Parish in Wareham

Effective July 1, 2023

Reverend Vernon Kohlmann, S.D.V., Parochial Vicar of Saint Patrick Parish in Wareham

Effective July 12, 2023 +++

His Excellency, the Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D., Bishop of Fall River, has made the following appointments:

Reverend Stephen Banjare, ss.cc., Parochial Administrator of Saint Mary Parish in Fairhaven, while remaining Pastor at Saint Joseph Parish in Fairhaven

Effective July 24, 2023

Reverend William M. Rodrigues, Chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River

Effective July 26, 2023

God made the scene with a bang

Thetitle of this column puns on the theater, modern science, and mid-1900s slang. I’ll get to some specifics about that later, but first I want to address a question I read recently in a scientific magazine: “In what direction of the sky did the Big Bang take place?”

I don’t know if the question was by a sincere, though ignorant questioner, or from someone who wanted to poohpooh modern science. The first type of questioner needs to be enlightened. The second type of questioner needs to be ignored. Modern science tells us that all things, and even space itself, had their origin in some sort of a big bang. So, if you want to look at the location of the big bang, look into a mirror for every part of you and even the space you occupy was once in the big bang!

As we look through our best telescopes, we see closer and closer to the activity of the big bang as it expands spherically around the entire universe. We are not looking at our own history, but rather at the type of history every part of the universe has undergone.

To see our own history, we would need some sort of mirror to reflect it back to us. When we map the distance to the moon by radar, the signal that comes back to us is actually a bit of our history from about two-and-one-half seconds in the past.

While it it is not possible to see the details of our history (apart from home movies and the like), it is

possible to see histories of other parts of the universe which were similar to our own. This is made possible by such instruments as the James Webb and Hubble telescopes. How big is the universe? You really don’t want to know, but I’ll tell

by scholars of that time, but the theology is the same. God created all things according to plan. Whereas Genesis describes six “days” for creation according to tasks, not time, we now speak of ages of the cosmos and ages of development of the earth as geologic ages, i.e. periods of development, not time.

you anyway! According to the Boston Museum of Science, the universe spans some 46 billion light years. That is the distance light travels in a year (about six trillion miles) multiplied by 46 billion years!

That 46 billion light years includes more than 15 billion light years our telescopes can see in all directions plus the thickness of the big bang frontier hidden by at least two layers of opaque ionization, plus the distance of expansion during the past 15 billion years.

The world as understood by our ancestors at the time the Bible was composed was much smaller; the sky, the dry land, the sea. The Book of Genesis describes the coming into existence of that world. It was by the creative power of God according to plan. The science was primitive (sky, land, sea), but the theology was secure: it came about by God’s plan, not by accident.

The world as understood by scholars today is vastly larger and more complex than what was understood 3,000 years ago

In Genesis, the plan is accomplished by the word of God, In our understanding today, the plan is guided by the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics along with various laws of physics, chemistry, geology, biology and evolution.

The Greek philosopher Parmenides, who died in 460 B.C., gave the world an important insight into reality. Some who have taken university courses may recognize the Latin form of that insight: “Ex nihilo, nihil fit.”

For those who are thankful they have forgotten the Latin language completely, that translates as: “From nothing, you get nothing.”

The Big Bang Theory says that everything was formed from a big bang. That would include space and time! So whether we are speaking of the beginning as described in Genesis or in the Big Bang Theory, there is still needed the creative event: “Let there be!”

Indeed, God made the scene, all the world to be seen, in a very BIG BANG .

Father Buote is a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese and a frequent contributor to The Anchor.

have held a certain appeal and promise because they are remarkably flexible. Researchers can make various cell types out of them, whether nerve cells or pancreatic islet cells, and these could, in theory, be used to treat diseases like Parkinson’s or diabetes. These morally-problematic cells, obtained by destroying human embryos, are, however, limited in their degree of flexibility, lacking the ability to “rewind” and make an entire embryo.

Until now.

Recent reports suggest it may now be possible to generate “synthetic embryos” from embryonic stem cells through various manipulations, including genetic reprogramming steps and mixing various cell types together, without the need for sperm and egg. Researchers claim that synthetic embryos could be used to help them unlock the mysteries of very early human development, and address early pregnancy loss.

When a researcher from Cambridge University and another in Israel recently announced that they had been able to produce such an “embryo model,” a longstanding “line in the biological sand” appears to have

What about synthetic embryos?

been crossed, along with some important ethical lines as well.

At least two notable ethical concerns arise in the wake of this new technology: First, the use of unethically-derived cell types in biomedical research, especially human embryonic stem cells, still remains a major concern. Second, if scientists are able successfully to produce a living human embryo by this technology, it would clearly raise additional serious ethical objections.

New human beings are entitled to the respect of entering the world only through the marital embrace. Any time we create living human embryos by other approaches, whether by cloning, by IVF, by synthetic embryo construction, or by other novel methods, we cross a key moral line.

The big question hanging over this research is: Are these so-called “ synthetic embryos” really living human embryos? If they are, we have walked right into the ethical landmine of creating human beings solely to be exploited for research or experimental purposes. If they are not, can that line be crossed

through additional steps to make them authentic human embryos?

Scientists are likely to continue to improve their techniques so as to generate better embryo stand-ins,

lar to regular embryos, as developmental biologist

Jesse Veenvliet of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics pointed out: “The similarity to the natural embryo is remarkable, almost uncanny.” If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then, as they say, might it really be a duck?

euphemism.

enabling them to study in ever greater detail the way that early human development unfolds.

As the Director of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, David Albert Jones, sums it up: “A synthetic embryo is not a ‘model’ of an embryo, it is an attempt to make an embryo. If this attempt is successful, scientifically, then it will be wrong ethically, but if it is not successful scientifically then it will not be able to tell us much about normal human development.”

The lab from Cambridge concluded that the structures it made were not real embryos. Alfonso Martinez Arias, a developmental biologist at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain agreed, describing them as “masses of cells separated into compartments, but no embryo-like organization.” He suggested that the cell manipulation “confuses what [the] cells do” so that a real embryo is not produced.

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EDITOR;

david B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org

Some claim that if synthetic embryos were implanted, they would fail to initiate a pregnancy, and this proves they aren’t real embryos. But women’s pregnancies sometimes fail through miscarriages not because their child was “not an embryo,” but because their child was affected by a genetic or developmental defect.

Could these newly-produced synthetic embryos be real embryos that have a defect thanks to the various laboratory manipulations they have undergone? It seems unsafe to start from the assumption that they are “synthetic” and hence “not-truly-embryos,” given the challenging task of distinguishing a “non-embryo” from an “embryo with a defect.”

By employing terms like “embryo structures,” “synthetic embryos,” “stem cell embryo models,” or even “stembryos,” researchers may be seeking to go around ethics by relying on

Even though sperm and egg are not directly employed to make synthetic embryos, this also does not rule out the possibility that these entities could be genuine embryos. In human cloning, for example, no sperm is needed to make real cloned human embryos. Dolly the sheep arose from a real sheep embryo, even though no sperm was involved. Over time scientists are coming up with more technologically advanced ways of creating organisms, including human organisms, apart from the usual approach that relies directly on sperm and egg.

Ethically speaking, a great deal is at stake in these kinds of synthetic embryo experiments that threaten to manipulate and destroy human life. These developmental studies ought to be carried out by studying animal models, carefully avoiding the use of human embryonic stem cells and the production of human embryos.

Anchor columnist Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, and serves as the Director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org and www.fathertad.com.

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The research team based at the Weizmann Institute in Israel, however, produced extremely realistic synthetic embryo models that grew for up to two weeks. They exhibited characteristics quite simi-

Embryonic stem cells

The rejuvenaTing pilgrimage of The ChurCh To lisbon

World Youth Days are not just for those who are able to attend in person but are meant to renew and rejuvenate the entire Church.

They provide the occasion for Catholics of every generation to convert and become more childlike (Mt 18:3), to ponder the mystery of youth and to confront or revisit the pivotal questions that preoccupy this phase, especially how one is to live one’s life in correspondence to God.

That’s why the 37th World Youth Day, now taking place with Pope Francis and more than a million young pilgrims from across the world in Lisbon, including 23 from the Diocese of Fall River, is so important. Everyone in the Church should be accompanying them spiritually — not merely praying for them but with them.

World Youth Days are a compelling experience of God, as youth leave their comfort zones and, often at considerable expense, travel great distances in search of God and what He may be asking of them. There is an inescapable focus on God, with Mass each day, the Rosary on buses, Stations of the Cross on streets, visits to churches and shrines, the Sacrament of Confession offered simultaneously by the pope and thousands of priests, all night vigils of prayer, and the most well-attended celebration of Mass most will ever experience. All of these help to confirm that God is indeed real, loves each of us personally, and is worthy of our love and life in return.

World Youth Days are also a powerful encounter with the catholicity of the Church, as young people not only have the chance to pray on several occasions with the pope but also to meet and grow in communion with fellow youth from all over the world. It’s not easy to grow up as a Catholic in the United States, especially as many parishes are greying and thinning, popular culture derides Catholic faith and morals, some religious leaders behave as villains rather than heroes, and many endure broken families and the temptation to hold God accountable. To be surrounded by hundreds of thousands of ebullient peers singing, laughing, and praying in various languages provides an indelible lesson that the Catholic faith is a treasure bigger and more beautiful than most had previously realized. They return fortified to live and share the faith as a source of hope and remedy for the loneliness and purposelessness that plague so many of their friends.

World Youth Days are, third, a great means to grow in the knowledge of the faith, both in times of formal catechesis with their chaplains, bishops, and zealous lay and religious apostles, but also informally through discussing their challenges and confusions with their fellow wayfarers. It helps them to respond with greater confidence to what is always one of the principal papal summons of every World Youth Day: to go and teach all nations, beginning with the lost sheep of their own families, schools and parishes.

As the Church prepares for Lisbon, she does so building on what has already taken place in the huge international gatherings in Rome, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Compostela, Czestochowa, Denver, Manila, Paris, Toronto, Cologne, Sydney, Madrid, Rio, Krakow, and Panama as well as in home dioceses in intervening years, on Palm Sunday originally and, more recently, on the Solemnity of Christ the King.

The theme on which Pope Francis will be focusing in Lisbon will be the mystery of the Visitation, specifically St. Luke’s words that “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39). In his message preparing the Church for this encounter, the Holy Father pondered how this young girl, immediately after the Angel Gabriel appeared and she accepted to become the mother of the eternal Son of God, is a model for how every young Catholic, filled with the grace of Baptism and blessed within by the Lord’s presence in Holy Communion, is summoned to get up and bring Him with urgency to others.

“Mary could have focused on herself and her own worries and fears about her new condition,” Pope Francis writes. “Instead, she entrusted herself completely to God. Her thoughts turned to Elizabeth. She got up and went forth. … The young Mary did not remain paralyzed, for within her was Jesus, the power of resurrection and new life. … [She] is a model for young people on the move, who refuse to stand in front of a mirror to contemplate themselves. … Mary’s focus is always directed outwards. She is in a permanent state of exodus, going forth from herself towards that great Other who is God and towards others, her brothers and sisters, especially those in greatest need.”

He tackles head on the type of indifference and lethargy that can lead youth not to get involved when others need help, or to wait for someone else to approve or take the lead. He gets practical and simple, urging them to think about all those who look forward just to a visit, like “the elderly, the sick, the imprisoned and refugees,” or those who are lonely and abandoned. “The real question in life,” he says, “is for whom am I living?” Mary shows us how to answer.

To have this dialogue in Lisbon is a significant choice.

The Portuguese capital was one of the great launching pads to “put out into the deep” (Lk 5:4) in search of a new world. “In the 15th and 16th centuries,” Pope Francis comments, “great numbers of young people — including many missionaries — set out for worlds unknown, not least to share their experience of Jesus with other peoples and nations.” The Saturday night vigil of Adoration and Sunday concluding Mass will take place overlooking the majestic Vasco de Gama Bridge on the shores of the Tejo River from which the bold explorers set out. It is a setting fit to inspire the whole Church to a similar spiritual audacity.

Lisbon is important as well because it is the birthplace of St. Anthony of “Padua” (where he died), right across from Lisbon’s Cathedral. It’s where he first received his vocation to become a great Scripture scholar and saint of charity. The Church built over his home is a place where many young people have and can, through the prayers and example of this patron of lost things, find definitive direction.

Lisbon is likewise providential because it is less than an hour’s drive from Fatima, where our Lady went in haste several times in 1917 to summon three Portuguese young people, and through them the Church, to personal conversion and to prayer and sacrifices for conversion of others. On August 5, as Pope Francis will travel to Fatima to pray with and for sick young people in the Chapel of Apparitions, it will be an occasion for the whole Church to respond anew to Mary’s appeal.

Lisbon is likewise notable because of its history. The opening ceremony on August 2 took place in Edward VII Park, which is right next to the monumental statue and iconic roundabout of the Marquis de Pombal, who rebuilt Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake but who is infamous for his radical secularism, ruthless hatred for the Church and the clergy, and for his spiteful work to suppress the Jesuits. To have the successor of St. Peter and first Jesuit pope bring hundreds of thousands of young people to celebrate the Catholic faith and pray next to his monument is an inspiring witness to the power of Jesus’ resurrection at work in the Church, a bold summons never to be afraid, and an unforgettable opportunity to pray for the Church’s persecutors, not just today but throughout Church history.

Therefore, together with Mary, the Holy Father, and Jesus — whom Pope Francis says is “the greatest gift,” “the great message entrusted to the Church” and the center and hero of World Youth Day — let us all go with haste spiritually to Lisbon, and from there set out anew.

When my daughter was young, we moved to a beach community. It was a collection of mostly summer cottages with a smattering of year-round residents, and most of those residents were retirees. Fortunately, there was a young family directly across the street and we went on to develop a deep friendship. We visited with each other daily and one of the things I loved about their house was the family room. On one wall was a map of the world. I’m not talking about one of those maps that was held up with push pins. No! It literally took up the entire wall and it was huge! I assume it was wallpaper, and while I know it was there for the children to become better educated in geography, I was fascinated with it. I’d sit there and say to myself, “I wonder where Bali is?” or “Where the heck is Easter Island, anyway?” I was never that great in geography in school but for some reason, I loved that map. For well over a year, we’ve been praying for the people of Ukraine and an end to the war there. We have recently been praying for the people of Sudan, a country that has been beset by war and unrest for generations. I happen to know a little bit about Sudan. Sister Jeanette Chishibanji was a classmate and a member of my cohort when I was in graduate school studying pastoral ministry. She told me and my classmates of the abject poverty of her people. She spoke of the lack of food and water, the lack of health care and sanitation, and the lack of electricity, and education for the children. Sister Jeanette did what news reports cannot — she put a human face on a global problem. It wasn’t a two-minute clip or a headline in a newspaper. No. She was a living, breathing human being whom I knew that spoke daily of the struggles of her family, her people, and her nation. And we felt her pain.

Where in the world is …?

My parish now prays daily for the people of our country and those throughout the world who are affected by floods, wildfires, tornadoes, drought, and for those suffering under the oppressive and unprecedented heat. Just this week we’ve heard about wildfires in Canada and the islands of Greece. Smoke from more than 900 fires in Canada has blanketed much of the U.S., affecting our air quality and causing many with pre-existing heart and lung issues to become ill. The heat of the summer has been unbearable for folks in the Southwest. The “heat dome,” as it’s called, is now creeping north and east and threatens millions more with unbearable humidity and scorching temperatures. Europe and Asia are experiencing similar heat and weather-related problems.

I miss that map on the wall. Today I’d spend some time finding Sudan or Ukraine on it. I’d locate those Greek isles; maybe I’d even take a look at Canada and states that are so far removed from where we live. I might be inspired to google those countries and places that are struggling with war, poverty, violence, and natural disasters to get a better understanding of who and what I’m praying for. For the past year we have been praying for peace in Ukraine; we now pray for Sudan, as well. We pray for those affected by natural disasters. We pray for the sick and injured and deceased. We respond, “Lord, hear our prayer” Sunday after Sunday, yet I wonder if we could do just a bit more?

In a few short days we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the time when Mary’s

earthly life ended and she was assumed, body and soul, into heaven. Perhaps this month, we could seek the intercession of Mary — Mary, the Mother of God, Mary, the Queen of Peace, Mary, Help of the Sick, Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted, Mary, Mother of Sorrows. This month, we could pray for Mary to intercede for victims of war — the children, the parents, the elderly. We could pray for people throughout the world whose lives have been impacted by weather-related events. We could pray for priests and missionaries throughout the

world. We could pray for a deeper understanding of the struggles and turmoils of those in places overcome with strife and loss. We could pray for Mary, the Mother of God, to intercede for us with her Son to reconcile hearts filled with violence and vengeance and bring peace and tranquility to our troubled world. And that, my friends, is the Good News!

“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.”

Anchor columnist Ada Simpson is former editor of Ministry and Liturgy magazine, holds an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry, and is the director of Music Ministry at St. Francis and St. Dominic parishes in Swansea.

More than 200 motorcycles to join Saint Vincent’s Motorcycle Run this September

FALL RIVER — Saint Vincent’s Services (SVS) will hold its 18th Annual Motorcycle Run and Raffle presented by Preferred Concrete Corp. on a new date, Sunday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saint Vincent’s Services anticipates a larger crowd due to the change in date of the 45-mile Run.

“We are excited to welcome everyone out this fall for our annual motorcycle run. Everyone will enjoy the open roads, sweeping lake views and spectacular scenery,” said Katie Dawkins, Director of Donor Relations and Fundraising.

The signature event will start rain or shine at 2425 Highland Avenue in Fall River with kick-stands up promptly at 10 a.m.

The Massachusetts State Police will escort riders along the scenic ride as they travel through the back roads of Fall River, Assonet, Berkley, Lakeville, and Somerset and end at the Fall River Elks Lodge on North Main Street. With expected cooler weather and less

humid conditions in September, this ride provides a more comfortable ride with breath-taking lake views and fewer delays for participants due to road closures and competing charity runs, etc.

Kathryn Dow, Chair of the Motorcycle Run’s Committee, is excited to see and welcome attendees. “While this is a Bike Run, people need not have a motorcycle to participate. There will be many opportunities at the Elks for everyone to participate and enjoy the day with us while supporting the Mission of Saint Vincent’s,” stated Dow.

Tickets for riders, passengers, and attendees are available on Saint Vincent’s Services website (www.SaintVincentsServices. org) or can be purchased on the morning of the Bike Run. To donate a raffle item, please contact Katie Dawkins, Director of Donor Relations and Fundraising, at 508-2353228 or email kdawkins@ saintvincentsservices.org.

Relics of St. Padre Pio to visit Cape Cod parish

continued from page one

Msgr. Avila did arrange to have the relics of St. Padre Pio brought to Falmouth in May of 2020 but that opportunity was dealt a heartbreaking blow with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down the world.

Despite being dis-

appointed at losing the chance to have the relics brought to the diocese, Msgr. Avila’s powerful experiences kept him resolute to bring this gift to others.

“I learned of the St. Pio Foundation, a group that offers dioceses and parishes the chance to host relics

of St. Padre Pio,” said Msgr. Avila. “I contacted them and they had one open date left this year and I quickly reserved that time.

“I am very excited at the opportunity being offered to local Catholics to be in the presence of firstand second-class relics of this holy man. From what I understand, this is the only appearance of the relics in Massachusetts this year.”

Msgr. Avila told The Anchor that the first-class relics are blood from the saint’s hand wounds and a lock of his hair; the second-class relic is a piece of his habit.

“People will be allowed to bring medals and holy cards that they may touch to the relics, thus making those items third-class relics,” he explained.

Because St. Padre Pio is a powerful healer and because the Sacrament of Confession was of utmost importance to him, the two-day event at St. Patrick’s Church will include Confessions and Anointing of the Sick.

“We established a committee to handle the logistics of the visit,” said Msgr. Avila. “Whenever the relics are present, there must be greeters to welcome guests, and there must be an honor guard flanking the relics. Many people are working hard to make this a wonderful, grace-filled two days.”

On Friday, August 25, the relics will arrive and there will be a prayer ser-

vice with the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at 3 p.m. Veneration will follow and continue until 8 p.m.

On Saturday, August 26, following an 8 a.m. Mass, veneration will begin again at 8:30 a.m until 3 p.m.

The 4 p.m. Vigil Mass will be in honor of St. Padre Pio, celebrated by Msgr. Avila. Following the Mass, Luciano Lamonarca, founder and director of the St. Pio Foundation, will speak about the foundation’s work and St. Pio’s inspiring legacy.

“It is my hope that many people will take the opportunity to visit and experience, in their own way, the grace and power of the presence of St. Padre Pio’s relics,” said Msgr. Avila. He added that the two-day event will be livestreamed on the parish website.

For more information visit the parish website at falmouthcatholic. org or contact the parish by calling 508-5480108, or email office@ famouthcatholic.org.

For more information on the St. Pio Foundation and St. Padre Pio, visit padrepio.com.

Several diocesan schools announce new principals

St. Francis Xavier School, Acushnet

Father Ryan Healy, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church in Acushnet, has announced that Haley Rogers has been appointed the new principal of St. Francis Xavier School, effective July 1, 2023.

Rogers is a devout Catholic educator who began her career in teaching at St. Francis Xavier. Known then as Miss Ketschke, Rogers has spent the last four years serving in the Diocese of Providence in Educational Administration. She served as the Vice Principal at St. Pius V under the Nashville Dominican Sisters and then most

recently as the Principal at St. Augustine School. During her time in administration, Rogers has worked to advocate for students with disabilities in Catholic schools and to bring high quality curriculum materials to the students. She has served on many committees at the Diocesan level including the Curriculum Committee and the Social Emotional Learning Committee.

“I am thrilled that Mrs. Rogers will be joining our school as the newly appointed principal,” said Father Healy. “As a graduate of Bishop Stang and Franciscan University of Steubenville, Mrs. Rogers brings with her a deep-rooted understanding of our Catholic values and a commitment to academic excellence. Her extensive experience in the field of education, combined with her unwavering faith, make her an ideal leader for our school. I am excited to work alongside Mrs. Rogers in our mission to provide a nurturing and faith-filled environment for our students. Her return

to our community will undoubtedly be met with great anticipation and joy by many. Together, I am confident that we will continue to strengthen our academic program and foster a vibrant community, all grounded in our shared love for Jesus Christ.”

Rogers shared she is “beyond blessed for the opportunity to come home to the school where I began my career and to serve the families in the SFX community. I know that St. Francis has worked hard to maintain its strong Catholic identity and rigorous academic programs, and I am humbled for the opportunity to continue to lead the school in their tradition of excellence alongside Father Ryan Healy and Mrs. Anabela Shaughnessy (Assistant Principal).”

St. Joseph School, Fairhaven

Father Stephen Banjare, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Fairhaven, has announced the appointment of Heidi Kuliga as the new principal of St. Joseph School. Kuliga is well known to the New Bedford Catholic school community as a former principal and teacher within the Diocese of Fall River.

Most recently, Kuliga worked as the Community Business Director for Atria Senior Living in Fairhaven. Previously, Kuliga lived in California where she was the principal at Sacred Heart Catholic School, a Pre-K-to-grade eight Catholic school in the relatively rural and diverse community of Patterson, Calif. Prior to moving to California, Kuliga was vice principal at All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford, where she was the lead administrator for the middle school annex building, mentored PACT teachers, trained school ambassadors, and provided guidance and support for middle school students. Kuliga was also the principal at Espirito Santo Parochial School in Fall River.

Kuliga began her teaching career as a teacher at Holy Family Holy Name School in New Bed-

ford, teaching multiple subjects at many grade levels from preschool to grade eight, as well as acting as the extended care coordinator.

“While I am grateful for the opportunities afforded me while working with senior citizens, I miss the relationships with students and their families, as well as the rewards that only a faithfilled, educational environment can uniquely bring to my soul,” indicated Kuliga. “I am excited to once again leverage my expertise in school administration, middle school education and elementary education as I lead St. Joseph School to the next level of success. The Catholic identity and close knit community one expects from a Catholic school is clearly evident and I look forward to executing on the vision imparted by Father Stephen and the school’s board.”

Father Banjare added, “Finding the right school leader in a tight labor market can be a challenge;

thus, we are so blessed that Mrs. Kuliga has said ‘yes’ to leading St. Joseph School. Our school is positioned well to serve students from many surrounding communities whose families seek a more traditional, faith-based environment for their children. I am confident that under Mrs. Kuliga’s leadership, St. Joseph School will continue to be that beacon of hope for families.”

Daniel S. Roy, Superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Fall River said about Kuliga’s appointment, “Our Catholic schools partner with families to foster the culture of virtue expected of our schools and school leadership. It has been proven that a Catholic education allows each student to flourish as they learn our Catholic faith as it is integrated with foundational subjects such as reading, writing, math and social studies. Mrs. Kuliga’s extensive career in Catholic education is an outward expression of her firm commitment to all that Catholic education affords children and their families.”

Kuliga has a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from the American International College. She received her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from Bridgewater State College. Heidi and her husband, Bob, have three adult children and

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Heidi Kuliga

Haley Rogers

Iwas a little tardy getting into the Paddy Wagon because I had been trying to choose which of two shirts to wear to the occasion this morning. Had I been married, that decision would surely have been made last night — at the very latest. Anyway, I opted for the shirt with the red branches, set on a white background. I figured this was acceptable on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

When I arrived at the designated location in Papaloa Cemetery, a large

Lei Hali’a O Kalaupapa

number of Kalaupapa residents, patients and workers as well as visitors had assembled around a canopy that sheltered tables of flowers and tea-leaf leis. We had gathered for our annual blessing of leis, which would subsequently be placed on the many graves throughout the Makanalua peninsula. I breathed a sigh of relief on being on time for the ceremony. It would have been a scandal had

the priest arrived on the scene late — with a shirt half on and half off. After an opening Oli

by the young people from the Big Island, Keri and Mickiala spoke about the origin and the purpose of this annual ceremo -

ny. Then Nancy and Ken spoke words of welcome. We had the blessing of the leis and 99-year-old John Arruda and 89-year-old Meli Watanuki followed by placing the first leis on adjacent graves. Joined by members of our Kalaupapa community, the members of Hui Malama Makanalua from the Big Island began to fan out and placed leis on the settlement graves. I myself placed a colorful lei on the grave marker of John Santos, the great grand -

father of our own Bishop Larry. I hope this action places me in the good books of Bishop Larry Silva!

Back at the ranch, so to speak, I have divested myself of my chosen shirt of the day. I am currently sitting on my chosen easy chair while penning these lines. I hope they will make the print in my favorite publication. The sun is shining on this early Hawaiian summer day and the trade winds are playing in the branches of the palm and plumeria trees. It is good to be alive here in Kalaupapa even as we remember those who have lived and gone before us in the lands of Saints Damien and Marianne. Aloha .

Anchor columnist, Father Killilea is pastor of St. Francis Church in Kalaupapa, Hawaii.

New principals announced

continued from page nine

are active members of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. They reside in New Bedford.

St. Stanislaus School, Fall River

Father David Frederici, Rector of the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption and Pastor of Good Shepherd and Saint Stanislaus Parishes, has announced the appointment of Patricia Coady as the new principal of St. Stanislaus School. Coady is well known to the St. Stanislaus community as a current parishioner as well as previously a teacher at St. Stanislaus School.

For the past two years, Coady has been the fourthgrade teacher at St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet, where, in addition to managing the fourthgrade classroom, she assisted in creating and implementing a school-wide social-emotional learning program. Previous to St. Francis Xavier, Coady was a member of the St. Stanislaus School faculty for more than 15 years, teaching both in the lower elementary grades as well as middle school. Her most recent assignment at St. Stanislaus School was teaching social studies for grades five-eight as well as grade eight religion.

“Leading this amazing Catholic school community has been a dream of mine and I am blessed to embark on this new journey,” indicated Coady. “My desire is not only to embrace and nourish our deep Polish and Catholic traditions but also to incorporate and celebrate traditions that reflect other cultures that are represented in our collaborative community. I am also determined to foster an environ-

ment in which the students will be supported and encouraged to be the best selves that they can be and enable them to discover their God-given talents and callings.”

Father Frederici added, “The search team was incredibly impressed with the commitment Patricia has demonstrated to the St. Stanislaus community as well as her vision for taking the school to the next level. Her experience at all levels of elementary education equips her to identify challenges and implement solutions in a collaborative and caring manner. The collaborative community is ready to support her in every way we can.”

Superintendent Roy said, “Our Catholic schools provide age-appropriate opportunities to foster a culture of virtue as taught by Jesus Christ. Moreover, we partner with families to ensure each student can flourish as they learn our Catholic faith integrated with foundational subjects such as reading, writing, math and social studies. Mrs. Coady has embraced these unique characteristics of Catholic education throughout her career and will continue to do so as she takes the helm of this school.”

Coady has a Masters in Elementary Education from Lesley University. In addition, she has a Master Teacher Certification in Contemporary Apologetics from the Magis Institute, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Catholic School Leadership from Creighton University and a Thanatology Certificate from Bristol Community College. She has presented at Boston College’s Social and Emotional Learning Academy. Coady’s undergraduate degree is in English and psychology from St. Mary’s College. She and her husband, Rob, have three children and are active members of the St. Stanislaus Parish.

St. John Paul II Preparatory School Grades, Hyannis

Paula J. Mannering Daly was

named as the new principal of the Preparatory grades 5-8. Daly joins the JPII community from Saint Joseph Preparatory High School in Boston where she was the Mathematics Department Chair. An educator with more than 20 years of experience, Daly holds Massachusetts certifications to teach math in grades fivenine as well as grades nine-12.

Prior to Saint Joseph Preparatory School, Daly taught middle school math at Monsignor Haddad Middle School in Needham, Mass. In addition to teaching five sections of pre-algebra and algebra, Daly created a math lab curriculum for seventh-grade enrichment, incorporated writing skills across the math curriculum, and was the lead teacher and mentor for new teachers. Previously, Daly spent two years teaching all fifth-grade subjects at the Jackson School in Newton.

Daly began her teaching career at the Mount Alvernia High School in Newton, where she taught all levels of math from algebra to pre-calculus. In addition to teaching, Daly served as the assistant coach for softball, basketball, and soccer, as well as helped with key senior events such as graduation

and senior night as part of her responsibilities as a senior class homeroom teacher. Daly was awarded the Tandy Technology Scholar Award in 1999 for Outstanding Teacher in Mathematics.

“I am so thrilled to be leading the middle school grades as these are such formative years for students as they enter as young kids and are prepared for the responsibilities of our high school,” indicated Daly. “Students can learn and achieve given the right support and environment. Families are the primary educators of their children, and valuable partners in the learning process. It has always been my goal to keep my students engaged, help them find their own gifts, and to use these gifts to become good and global citizens. Classrooms should be an environment where every student is known, feels accepted and can succeed.”

Phil VandenBrink, President of St. John Paul II School, added, “It has been a pleasure to get to know Ms. Daly during the interview process and I am confident she will bring the Prep grades to the next level. Middle school is a very unique time for students as each grade has very different needs. Thus, Ms. Daly’s middle school experience will definitely benefit the JPII middle school students as she continues to build the faith and academic bridge from middle school to our high school. This is a very exciting time for the St. John Paul II School community!”

Superintendent Roy said, “The

8 Turn to page 18

Patricia Coady

Paula J. Mannering Daly

Given how warm a summer this has been — on course to be the warmest summer ever — you might think my headline about turning down the temperature might be about global warming. But, actually, today I want to talk about the things that we’re regularly told are dangerous to talk about in polite company — religion and politics.

As we head into yet another potentially heated presidential election cycle, I want to offer today some words of encouragement for the ways that we, as people of faith, can make a difference in a positive way to help lower the temperature

Turning down the temperature

of rhetoric that seems to be a part of every aspect of our world these days.

Over the course of the last decade or more, we have seen the political landscape undergo a very dramatic change. I long for the days when we had two major parties — one leaning to the left, one leaning to the right, but with the same common goal of working for the good of the whole. In those days, both sides could come together on an issue and engage in something exceedingly rare today — they could compromise with the belief that most Americans

are somewhere in the middle and know that you’ve got to give a little to get a little. We know that those days are gone.

Guest Columnist

Father Thomas Washburn

The age of compromise has been replaced with the age of tribalism. In this age, politics has become a zero-sum game that demonizes the other and will only be satisfied if the other side is completely decimated — no

Family Theater Productions inks deal with PBS

Award-winning documentary ‘Native Ball’ to air nationwide this fall

EASTON — A Catholic faith-and-family-friendly production company in Hollywood, Calif., Family Theater Productions, has signed a deal with PBS Plus to distribute the company’s half-hour film on a Native American girl who used basketball as a ticket to college and giving back to her people.

“Native Ball: Legacy of a Trailblazer,” is from Emmy, Gabriel, and Christopher Award-winning Family Theater Productions, who also produced the Emmy-winning basketball documentary “The House That Rob Built,” and Gabriel-award winning documentary “Pray: The Story of Patrick Peyton.”

“Native Ball” will be available to broadcast on PBS affiliates nationwide, starting in November of 2023. It will also available to stream via PBS.org or the PBS app at that time.

“We are so pleased to

share ‘Native Ball,’ an inspiring story of Malia Kipp, a member of the Blackfeet Nation. She exemplifies how playing sports can develop character, unite people, and forge friendships,” said Father David L. Guffey, C.S.C., National Director of Family Theater Productions. “The film is sure to open hearts to the ways one person can make a difference in the lives of others.”

Father Guffey continued, “The Holy Father, Pope Francis, like so many other popes of the past, celebrates the value of athletics. He said, ‘Sport fosters contact and relationships with people who come from diverse cultures and walks of life. It accustoms us to live and welcome differences, to turn them into a precious opportunity for mutual enrichment and discovery. Above all, sport is a precious opportunity to

matter the cost. Vengeance and contempt have replaced compromise and progress.

A great sign of this divide comes from a recent CBS/YouGov poll that revealed that 54 percent of Americans view other Americans as the biggest threat to our nation. That means that both Democrats and Republicans view the other side as more dangerous to America than Russia, China, global warming or any of the other real threats we face.

more afraid, then we need to cut it out of our life. We need to be filled with Jesus and His Word – these alone will lead us to be a peaceful presence in the world.

recognize one another as brothers and sisters on the journey, to foster the culture of inclusion’.”

Family Theater Productions creates content that touches the hearts of believers and non-believers. Founded by famous, globe-trotting Rosary priest Venerable Patrick Peyton in 1947, the company produces feature films such as “Pray” and free online series Catholic Central and Spanish-language “Lente Católico, ” which teach the Catholic faith in fun and informative ways. The company also produced “The Dating Project,” a documentary about the current dating scene in the United States.

The company’s team writes a popular, faith-and-family-friendly entertainment blog, which shares insights on media from a Catholic perspective. Learn more at www. familytheater.org.

Another way of saying all of this is that the temperature of our public discourse is burning hot — as hot as the temperature outside — and we’ve got to find a way to turn it down. This is where I think that we, as people of faith, can make a difference and help turn the temperature down and get back to something that resembles civility.

We are in a unique position to help turn down the temperature in our nation because our gold standard is not a political party; it is always the life, death, resurrection and saving actions of Jesus. Our standard is the Gospel. Our job is not to magnify the destructive culture wars that swirl around us, but to live lives defined by the fruits of the Spirit. We’re called not to stoke outrage with everyone who doesn’t share our world view, but to see everyone — even those with whom we disagree — the way Jesus sees them, with love and compassion.

And so it starts with being more intentional about the news and commentary we absorb every day. If the “news” we take in only makes us angrier and

We need to find the middle ground. Just because we disagree with someone does not make him or her our enemy. Most of us are not on the far ends of the political spectrum; we’re not at the extremes; we’re in the middle. We need to find that middle ground because that’s where unity and compromise can be found. And when we’re there, we can try to figure out what Jesus would say about an issue, not what today’s “talking points” are from social media.

Peacemakers not just Peacekeepers. Creating peaceful spaces will take more energy and effort than merely trying not to ruffle feathers. Jesus did not call us to be warriors; He called us to be peacemakers; and when we are, He calls us “blessed.” We need to be the ones who don’t add to the division, but the ones who make peace in divided times. Peacemaking takes time, patience, intentionality, practice, and patience.

As people of faith, we are the practiced experts in reconciliation, grace, peace and forgiveness. We must bring these skills into the public sphere.

One of my favorite fictional characters, TV anchor Wil McAvoy from “The Newsroom” said, “I’m on a mission to civilize. Progress is slow, but I’m in it for the long haul.” Maybe we should all be on a mission to civilize; and in the process we might just save our country. Together, let us turn down the temperature.

Father Washburn is pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich.

82nd Catholic Appeal raises $4.5 Million

continued from page one

of that person (or people),” said Miriam Finn Sherman, Chief Executive Officer of the Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts. “The response to this call to action was nothing short of amazing. Thousands of our donors named parents, grandparents, beloved priests and religious who left an indelible and important mark upon them. What better reminder that none of us can do it alone – and our lives are always made better by the love, care, and support of others. I am inspired every day by our incredible donors!”

TOP 10 PARISHES IN DOLLARS RAISED

1. St. Joseph Guardian of the Holy Family, Falmouth: $299,648.57

2. St. Mary’s, Mansfield: $144,178.52

3. St. Pius the Tenth, South Yarmouth: $143,390.00

4. St. Mary’s - Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket: $142,440.00

5. Christ the King, Mashpee: $119,620.00

6. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Seekonk: $116,623.00

7. St. Mary’s, South Dartmouth: $112,267.00

8. Our Lady of the Cape, Brewster: $97,695.00

9. Transfiguration of the Lord, North Attleborough: $96,390.00

10. Our Lady of Victory, Centerville: $95,680.00

TOP TEN % FUNDRAISING INCREASES FROM 2022 – 2023

1. St. Anthony of Padua, New Bedford: 25.4%

2. St. John the Evangelist, Pocasset: 25.2%

3. Holy Cross, South Easton: 24.5%

4. St. Mary’s, Fairhaven: 24%

5. St. Rita’s, Marion: 21.2%

6. Our Lady of Grace, Westport: 19.4%

7. St. Joseph Guardian of the Holy Family, Falmouth: 18.0%

8. Good Shepherd, Martha’s Vineyard: 17.3%

9. St. Mary’s - Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket: 15.6%

10. St. John the Baptist, Westport: 11.5%

In addition to the individual parish totals, nearly $900,000 in gifts to the 2023 Catholic Appeal was collected from friends and supporters consisting of individuals, corporations, and organizations unaffiliated with a specific parish.

There is still time to watch this year’s Catholic Appeal video featuring the work made possible throughout the diocese thanks to donations to the Appeal. The fulllength video can be viewed at www.catholicfoundationsema.org/video-gallery. The Catholic Foundation website also includes a series of “Ministry Moment” videos focused on individual diocesan programs.

The need for support of the many agencies, ministries, and programs of the Diocese of Fall River, and the demand for them, remains strong. The Catholic Foundation encourages the faithful to show their support of our brothers and sisters in need throughout the year. Donations can be made online at any time at givefrdiocese.org or mailed to the Catholic Appeal office at 450 Highland Ave., Fall River, MA 02720. They may also continue to be dropped off at any parish in the Diocese.

The individual parish totals throughout the Diocese of Fall River appear on page 15.

Three diocesan priests retire

instrumental in starting the Sacred Heart Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry, which he continued to oversee for several months after the parish was joined with St. Mary’s Cathedral.

In 2015, he began concurrent assignments in Falmouth, as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish and in pastoral ministry in Falmouth Hospital. He returned to full time parish ministry in 2017 with his appointment as pastor at Our Lady of Queen of Martyrs Parish, Seekonk, from

continued from page one ,

which he retired.

Father Gallant, a Fall River native, was raised in the former St. William Parish in that city. He attended St. Jean Baptiste School and Msgr. Prevost High School, both in Fall River, after which he attended Stonehill College in Easton.

He studied for the priesthood at St. John’s Seminary College, Brighton, and at the Pontifical North American College and the Gregorian University in Rome, from which he earned advanced de-

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6

Sunday, August 6 at 11:00 a.m.

grees in theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 22, 1978, by Bishop Cronin in St. Mary’s Cathedral. In 1985, he returned to Rome for additional advanced studies at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute at San Anselmo University, receiving a licentiate in sacred liturgy.

As a parochial vicar, he served at Our Lady of Grace, Westport; St. Mary’s Cathedral and Immaculate Conception, Fall River; Our Lady of Victory, Centerville; St. John Neumann, East Freetown; St. Mary and Holy Name, New Bedford; St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis; and Sacred Heart, Taunton. He was also a parochial administrator at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk and Holy Name Parish in New Bedford.

In June 1996, he was named pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Taunton. Following the merger of Sacred Heart with Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in 2001, he became pastor of Holy

Sunday, August 13 at 11:00 a.m.

Redeemer Parish, Chatham, for seven years, and then served briefly at Immaculate Conception Parish in Easton. He began his final pastorate at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish in South Attleboro in 2009.

Along with his parish ministry, Father Gallant also served in a number of diocesan assignments: director of the Diocesan Office for Divine Worship; member and chairman of the Divine Worship Commission; assistant chancellor; director of the RCIA; auditor in the Diocesan Tribunal; and member of the Presbyteral Council.

Father Harrison grew up in Somerset, a member of St. Thomas More Parish, and attended the town’s Pottersville School and Somerset Junior High School. After graduation from Msgr. Coyle High School in Taunton, he entered St. Mary’s College in Kentucky to prepare for the priesthood and continued at St. Mary’s Seminary and

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel

Sunday, August 6, at 7 p.m.

University in Baltimore. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1968, by Bishop James L. Connolly in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River.

Over the first 15 years of his priesthood, he served as a parochial vicar at five parishes: St. Joseph and St. Mary, Taunton; St. Mary, New Bedford; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Seekonk; and St. Julie Billiart, North Dartmouth.

During those years, he also completed graduate studies, earning a master’s degree in education from Bridgewater State College in 1975.

He was the founding pastor of St. John Neumann Parish, serving in East Freetown from 1983 to 1993 and overseeing construction of the church and parish complex. From there, he became pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Seekonk, and then of Holy Name, Fall River, in 2005. Five years later, he was named pastor at Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich.

Sunday, August 20 at 11:00 a.m.

Broadcast from Santo Christo Church, Fall River ***

Sunday, August 13 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Providence ***

Sunday, August 20 at 7 p.m.

For many years, Father Harrison’s ministry also focused on serving youth and young adults. He was director of Cathedral Camp and Retreat Center from 1983 to 1993. He was named director of the newly-created Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in 1989 and followed as Vicar for Youth and then Diocesan Secretary for Youth in later re-organizations of youth ministry in the Diocese.

Sunday, August 27 at 11:00 a.m.

Broadcast from Immaculate Conception Church, New Bedford ***

Sunday, August 27 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River

August 4, 2023

Other diocesan appointments included chaplain at Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton, and Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth; director of campus ministry at UMass-Dartmouth; and secretary to the bishop and assistant chancellor.

Celebrant is Father Bradley J. Metz, C.S.C., Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Easton

Celebrant is Father Jason Brilhante, Pastor of St. John of God Parish in Somerset

Celebrant is Father Andrew Johnson, a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese

Celebrant is Father Christopher D. Hughes, Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville

2023 Catholic Appeal Parish totals

MASHPEE — Deacon Paul K. Roma of Mashpee, died July 19 at the age of 76.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jean (McCarthy) Roma; his son Zak and his daughter-in-law Amanda Dana; his children, Daniel and Emmy; his son-in-law Payam Siadatpour; his grandchildren, Zach, Sammy, Riley and Ellie; his son-in-law Ryan Winmill; his grandchildren-in-law, Finnegan, Grace and Shanice; and siblings Catherine Roma, Jack (to Paul, known as “Mel”) Roma, and Carol Kane.

He was born in Somerville, raised in Melrose, and moved to Cape Cod in the early 1970s, where he lived in a quiet nook in Cotuit in a beautiful house he built for Jean. The Cape

Permanent Deacon Paul K. Roma

afforded him a chance to take the sailboat out of his living room, to toss his kids into the water at Riley’s Beach each August — the only time he deemed the water suitably warm for a swim — and to pursue his drive as a teacher in its many forms.

A man of the humanities, Deacon Roma studied English, philosophy, and history in college, before turning to theology and becoming ordained as a Permanent Deacon. Ultimately, with his love of independence and creative spirit, he transitioned to a career as a carpenter, where he worked either on his own or with his oldest child and son, Zak, for many years before serving as the Building Commissioner in the Town of Barnstable.

Deacon Roma served at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Falmouth and then Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Osterville for decades, where he taught the Catholic faith to newcomers and children, as well as baptized, married, and conducted funerals for numbers of parishioners, family members, and friends over the years since he was ordained. He knew the Bible very well, and it was the same Bible that he used to teach his children — including his daughter Suzanne, who was born with Down Syndrome —to read.

Permanent Deacon William Augustine Martin

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Deacon William Augustine Martin, 81, of St. Petersburg, Fla., formerly of Sagamore Beach, died Tuesday, July 11, at Suncoast Hospice Care Center in Pinellas Park, surrounded by his family after a prolonged illness.

Born in Fall River, he was the son of the late Amelia (Mello) and Augustine Martin and graduated from Bristol County Agricultural High School. Deacon Martin worked at Raytheon as lieutenant of the guard at its Waltham campus.

Deacon Martin was a permanent deacon of the Fall River Diocese and served as deacon for

St. Patrick’s Church in Wareham and St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in North Falmouth.

He is survived by his son, William Martin of Sagamore Beach;

three daughters, Cherie Criasia of Mashpee, Marcie Layton of Sagamore Beach and Dori MacDermid of Barnstable; 10 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Also surviving is his wife of 52 years, Judith (Cusick) Martin.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on

He sought to connect with people, whether he was standing on the altar on Sunday delivering a homily or administering to the sick, with humor, compassion, understanding and love.

Deacon Roma spent his final days surrounded by love and laughter, with games of chess, stories of past adventures and shenanigans, a yard filled with playing kids, and a driveway filled with chalk drawings — his favorite form of art.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated July 25, at Christ the King

Church, Mashpee, followed by burial at Mosswood Cemetery, Cotuit. Donation can be made in Deacon Roma’s memory to the Down Syndrome Program Fund at Massachusetts General Hospital, online at https:// secure.massgeneral.org/ down-syndrome or via check made payable to Massachusetts General Hospital — Down Syndrome Program Fund, which can be mailed to Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, Mass., 02114.

July 21 at St. Elizabeth Seton Church. Interment was in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Suncoast Hospice Foundation, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, Fla., 33960, or at: suncoasthospicefoundation. org.

Daily Readings † August 5 - September 1

Sat. Aug. 5 , Lv 25:1,8-17; Ps 67:2-3,5,7-8; Mt 14:1-12. Sun. Aug. 6 , Transfiguration of the Lord, Dn 7:9-10,13-14; Ps 97:1-2,5-6,9; 2 Pt 1:16-19; Mt 17:1-9. Mon. Aug. 7 : Nm 11:4b-15; Ps 81:12-17; Mt 14:13-21. Tues. Aug. 8 : Nm 12:1-13; Ps 51:3-7,12-13; Mt 14:22-36

In Your Prayers

Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks:

Aug. 5

Rev. Martin J. Fox, Founder, St. Paul, Taunton, 1917, Rev. Thomas A. Kelly, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1934

Permanent Deacon Robert W. Pelland, 2016

Aug. 6

Rev. Joseph P. Lyons, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1961

Aug. 7

Rev. John F. Hogan, Pastor, St. Julie Billiart, North Dartmouth, 1986

Very Rev. Roger L. Gagne, V. F., Pastor, St. Mark, Attleboro Falls, 1987

Aug. 8

Rev. William Bric, Founder, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1880

Aug. 12

Rev. Victor O. Masse, M.S., Retired Pastor, St. Anthony, New Bedford, 1974

Rev. Msgr. John F. Moore, Retired, Catholic Memorial Home; Former Pastor, St. Elizabeth Seton, North Falmouth; Former Executive Editor of The Anchor; Former diocesan Director of the Diaconate Office, 2018

Aug. 13

Rev. Edward J. Sheridan, Pastor, St. Mary, Taunton, 1896

Rt. Rev. Leonard J. Daley, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1964

Rev. Gabriel Swol, OFM Conv., Former Associate Pastor, Holy Rosary, Taunton, 1991

Aug. 14

Rev. Raphael Marciniak, OFM Conv., Pastor, Holy Cross, Fall River, 1947

Rev. Conrad Lamb, O.S.B., Missionary in Guatemala, 1969

Aug. 15

Rev. Charles W. Cullen, Founder, Holy Family, East Taunton, 1926

Aug. 16

Rev. James O’Reilly, 1856

Aug. 17

Rev. Cornelius O’Connor, Former Pastor, Holy Trinity, Harwich Center, 1882

Rev. Msgr. Maurice Souza, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony, East Falmouth, 1996

Aug. 18

Rev. Msgr. William H. Dolan, Retired Pastor, Holy Family, East Taunton, 1977

Rev. Joseph M. Quinn, C.S.C., 2007

Aug. 20

Rev. Bernard H. Unsworth, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1982

Rev. Thomas Cantwell, SSJ, Retired, St. Joseph’s Seminary, Washington, D.C., 1983

Aug. 21

Most Rev. Lawrence S. McMahon, Bishop of Hartford, Former Pastor, St. Lawrence, New Bedford, 1893

Aug. 22

Rev. Msgr. Manuel J. Teixeira, Pastor, St. Anthony, Taunton, 1962

Rev. William R. Jordan, Pastor, St. Louis, Fall River, 1972

Rev. Msgr. Joseph C. Canty, USN Retired Chaplain; Retired Pastor, St. Paul, Taunton, 1980

Msgr. John F. Denehy, USAF Retired Chaplain, 2003

Aug. 23

Rev. Thomas F. Clinton, Pastor, St. Peter, Sandwich, 1895

Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, PA, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 1992

Aug. 24

Rev. Peter J.B. Bedard, Founder, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, 1884

Very Rev. James F. Gilchrist, CPM VG, Vicar General of the Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy, 1962

Rev. Msgr. James E. Gleason, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Falmouth, 1987

Aug. 25

Rev. Joseph F. Hanna, C.S.C, Founder, Holy Cross, South Easton, 1974

Rev. Thomas E. Lawton, C.S.C., Holy Cross Retreat House, North Easton, 2002

Aug. 27

Rt. Rev. Francisco C. Bettencourt, Pastor, Santo Christo, Fall River, 1960

Rev. Msgr. Hugh A. Gallagher, P. A., Retired Pastor, St. James, New Bedford, 1978

Rev James Tobin, C.S.C., 2008

Rev. Edward Callens, SS.CC., 2006

Rev. Thomas L. Campbell, C.S.C., 2012

Aug. 28

Aug. 29

Rev. Joseph DeVillandre, D.D., Founder, Sacred Heart, North Attleboro, 1921

Msgr. William H. Harrington, Retired Pastor, Holy Name, Fall River, 1975

Rev. William Dillon, SS.CC., 1993

Aug. 30

Rev. Frederick Meyers, SS.CC., Former Pastor, Our Lady of the Assumption, New Bedford, 2008

Aug. 31

Rev. Thomas M. Landry, O.P., Former Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River, 1996

Sept. 1

Rev. Jorge J. de Sousa, Pastor, St. Elizabeth, Fall River, 1985

Rev. James F. Lyons, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Wareham, 2008

New principals announced

continued from page 11

Diocese of Fall River is so blessed to have school leaders with the caliber of experience as Paula Daly. Our Catholic schools are known for their great academics as well as the formation of students’ faith. Ms. Daly will ensure these high standards continue at the JPII Prep grades. Moreover, her extensive high school experience opens the doors to many families who seek a solid education for their children at St. John Paul II School.”

Daly earned her Master’s degree in education from Emmanuel College. She is currently working on a second Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Boston College, with an expected completion in 2024. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She and her family live in Hyannis.

All Saints Catholic School, New Bedford

Father Sudhir Nayak, Co-Pastor and Moderator of Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish, has announced the appointment of Carolyn Lavalley, Ed. D. as the new principal of All Saints Catholic School. Dr. Lavalley’s passion for education has spanned more than 29 years and touched thousands of students from pre-kindergarten to

eighth grade, as well as graduate level students.

Most recently, Dr. Lavalley was a middle school reading specialist for Westerly, R.I. public schools where she provided intervention and monitored students in grades five through eight. Previously, she was a reading specialist and the SES Coordinator for Title 1 for the Westport public schools. Before that, Dr. Lavalley worked in the Wareham public schools where she conducted student assessments and participated on the Title 1 committee for the International Reading Program.

Dr. Lavalley also has visiting lecturer experience with post graduate students at American International College and Bridgewater State College.

Dr. Lavalley began her teaching career as a teacher at St. Joseph School in New Bedford, teaching multiple subjects at many grade levels from preschool to

grade eight, as well as assisting with marketing activities such as website development and parent workshops.

“Education can become the catalyst to help students discover their innate abilities and I am deeply humbled that I have been able to make a difference in the lives of so many students,” indicated Dr. Lavalley. “Christ is an integral part of my life because of the faithful example of so many wonderful individuals. As a member of the All Saints Catholic School community, I am excited to use the talents and experiences God has so graciously shared with me to build up His body and influence the future of ASCS students.”

Father Nayak added, “The search committee was extremely impressed with Dr. Lavalley’s dedication to the education of young people as well as her extensive academic credentials. Moreover, she is committed to the goal of bringing Christocentric values to the ASCS

community in addition to supporting the faculty and staff with their dedication to God and academic excellence.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Lavalley back to Catholic education in the Diocese of Fall River,” said Roy. “Our school leaders also believe in providing necessary programs to ensure each student will thrive academically despite learning differences. Dr. Lavalley’s extensive experience as a reading specialist and adjunct lecturer fully prepares her to lead All Saints Catholic School in this area as well as bring it to the next level.”

Lavalley has a Doctor of Education from Northeastern University. She received two certificates of advanced graduate studies from Bridgewater State University and the American International College. Carolyn and her husband, Paul Lavalley, have six children and are active members of the St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet. They reside in New Bedford.

Caroline Lavalley

It’sno secret that I am an animal lover. In this column, I’ve written extensively about my best friend Igor, my forever pooch, and about the plethora of birds I feed year round.

I go through 20 pounds of bird seed per week. Thank goodness for Home Depot and their relatively inexpensive 20-pound bag of seeds. At one time I would go there, a 10-minute ride, once a week to restock. Now, I buy two bags at a time, saving some wear and tear on this achy bag of bones.

And coming along with the territory of laying down birdseed on the grass and in hangers are the compulsory squirrels, rabbits and chipmunks — none of which I mind having share in the feasts.

Well my pups (my children this time) also know about my St. Francis reputation with the neighborhood wild life. As a gift, they got together and bought for me a Smart AI Recognition Bird Feeder.

This contraption has a reservoir for seeds that when filled spills into a tray. Directly behind the tray and the attached perch is a wireless, solar-paneled charged camera that gives me live feeds on my phone of what’s

The fly and the ant

happening at the aviary restaurant attached to a big old oak tree in my backyard. It also provides an alert when motion is detected on the feeder.

Not only that, but it can recognize and identify thousands of breeds of birds.

I was thrilled with the well-thought out gift.

Yesterday, after Mass, I read all (most) of the instructions and synced the camera to my phone, attached the house-like feeder to the tree, adjusted the camera and filled the reservoir.

Now, on Sundays I like to chill by reading, surfing around the laptop, watching a movie, or sports. But yesterday, I opted to spend some time watching the show from the feeder.

Up to that point, the only motion alerts I received were of my adjusting the camera. It did take a pretty good still shot of me.

I settled down and watched the feeder live on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

I watched for one hour and the only wildlife to touch down was house fly. I took a still shot of it — it

Saint Vincent’s Services hosting annual School Supply Drive

FALL RIVER — Backto-school time is a big deal at Saint Vincent’s Services. Annually its team collects hundreds of backpacks, lunch bags, and other necessities to distribute to the most vulnerable members of the community, ages five to 18.

Saint Vincent’s Services is asking all to help them prepare for another school year.

Donations for the drive

being the first visitor and all. I watched for another hour and had the pleasure

and-a-half hours, witnessing birds flying by without stopping. Perhaps I should have added a Motel 6 sign screaming, “I have the light on for you. Stop!”

were feeding. I wanted just to lay down a trail of seed to the new feeder, but I want it to happen naturally.

I did get a hit when I went to adjust the camera angle. Again, I got a pretty nice still shot of me.

can be dropped off in the vestibule inside the main entrance at 2425 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For more information on the Annual School Supply Drive, please get in touch with Katie Dawkins, Director of Donor Relations & Fundraising at kdawkins@ SaintVincentsServices.org or call 508-235-3228.

to taking a still of an ant. Visitor number two. Now some may say that I wasted two hours just watching nothing happen on a deserted bird feeder. But, truth be told, I enjoyed the down time of not thinking, concentrating or becoming annoyed at the Jekyll-Hyde Boston Red Sox. I actually just chilled, and prayed a bit as well. It felt really good to do literally nothing.

I watched in total two-

The first thing I did this morning was check to see if there were any motion hits —none. I turned on the camera, and I saw the sun rising in the east. Then I got up, watered the plants and fed the birds, who were waiting for me, before filling the feeders and sprinkling the lawn with seeds. I wasn’t even finished and they

So as of this writing, the house on the oak remains vacant. But I still dig it and will monitor it, just imagining the thrill of seeing the first bird (I hope it’s not a squirrel first). But as for now, I’ll relish the stills of the fly and the ant — still God’s creatures. davejolivet@anchornews. org.

The fly and the ant. No AI needed for these.