10 03 14 by The Anchor

Joy, hope fill cathedral at installation of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor

FALL RIVER — The early fall New England weather provided the perfect backdrop for a day filled with joy, hope and anticipation as the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese of Fall River welcomed the installation of the eighth bishop of the 110-year-old diocese, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. Bishop da Cunha was named the Bishop of Fall River by Pope Francis on July 3 to succeed the retiring Bishop George W. Coleman, who shepherded the diocese for the past 11 years. Bishop da Cunha, a priest of the Society of Divine Vocations, was at the time Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J. He came to Newark from his home in Riachão do Jacuípe, Bahia, Brazil, in 1978 when still a vocationary student, at the request of the Vocationists’ superior general. Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap., of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Metropolitan Archbishop, Cardinal Emeritus Theodore McCarrick of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., more than 20 bishops, scores of priests and hundreds of lay people, including three of Bishop da Cunha’s sisters who traveled from Brazil, and many faithful from the Archdiocese of Newark, filled the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River on September 24 for Bishop da Cunha’s formal installation. As the seemingly endless line

of priests, bishops and cardinals processed into the cathedral, members of the Neocatechumenal Way played guitar and sang Spanish hymns across the street to welcome the new shepherd of Fall River. Bishop da Cunha was welcomed at the cathedral doors by Cardinal O’Malley. Following an introduction to the College of Consultors, the cathedral rector, Father John C. Ozug, presented Bishop da Cunha with a crucifix and holy water to bless himself and the capacity cathedral congregation. Former Fall River Bishop Coleman welcomed his successor: “Over the years we and our families came here from many countries; from Europe, Africa, North America, South America, and Asia,” he began. “We speak in many tongues. We are one in the faith and the love of Jesus Christ, Who, through His Church, teaches us to live in peace with all people and to work for the development of a true civilization of love. “From my personal experience, Bishop da Cunha, I can assure you of the generous prayers of the priests, the religious and laity of this wonderful diocese. “Through the intercession of Mary, mother of the Incarnate Word, we pray that your ministry among us may lead us to a deeper faith in her Son and a more fervent charity for each other. Welcome to the Diocese of Fall River.” Cardinal O’Malley evoked

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha processes into St. Mary’s Cathedral for his installation as Bishop of Fall River last week. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)

The Anchor - October 3, 2014

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., shares a laugh outside the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River, with Jim Goodness, director of communications and vice chancellor for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., just before processing in for Bishop da Cunha’s installation as the eighth bishop of the Fall River Diocese on September 24. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

laughter from the new bishop and the congregation when he said, “Bishop da Cunha, 21 years ago I was sitting in that hot seat,” referring to the blistering hot day on which he was installed as Bishop of Fall River at the same cathedral in 1992. “We are grateful to have Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States, here and grateful for his generous service to the Church in our country, where he makes Pope Francis’ love and solicitude present to us in so many different ways. “I wish to express my admiration and gratitude to Bishop Coleman for his faithful, loving service to the people of the Diocese of Fall River. “We are all excited to welcome Bishop da Cunha to this marvelous Diocese of Fall River. You will find here a fine presbyterate; wonderful, dedicated deacons, religious and laity, to say nothing of the great Portuguese food and beautiful beaches.” Archbishop Viganò and Cardinal O’Malley escorted Bishop da Cunha to the cathedra, the cathedral chair, symbolizing the bishop’s apostolic authority. The cardinal handed Bishop da Cunha his crozier and the new bishop sat in the cathedra for the very first time, to extended applause. The newly-appointed bishop thanked all his brother priests for their attendance, as well as the re-

ligious and faithful in the congregation. “I want to thank Cardinal O’Malley for presiding at this installation ceremony,” he said. “I want to thank Archbishop Viganò for being here and representing our beloved Pope Francis among us. Your presence means so much to all of us. It shows our unity with the Successor of Peter. “Today I give thanks to the Lord for the gift of the Diocese of Fall River, for the gift of its faithful people. I thank the Lord for entrusting to me the mission of leading His people on the journey of faith and the path to holiness. “What a blessing for me to have my three predecessors here with us: Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin [retired Archbishop of Hartford, Conn.], Cardinal O’Malley, and Bishop Coleman. I want to acknowledge in a special way Bishop Coleman for his gracious welcome and kindness to me. We wish you well in this new stage of your life. Ad Multos Annos.” Bishop da Cunha referred to the Liturgy’s first reading when the Lord said to Abraham, “Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land I will show you,” and Abraham did as the Lord directed. “I heard those words 36 years ago on the Second Sunday of Lent, the day I left Brazil to come to the Turn to page 47

For the first time in the history of the Diocese of Fall River, four bishops who have served as bishops of the diocese gathered for a photo, prior to the installation of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., as the eighth bishop of the 110-year-old diocese. From left: retired Bishop George W. Coleman, 2003-14; Bishop da Cunha, the current bishop; Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., 1992-2002; and retired Archbishop of Hartford, Conn., Daniel A. Cronin, 19701991. This represents half of the men who have served as bishops of the Diocese of Fall River. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)

Diocesan faithful express joy, optimism over newly-installed bishop By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

WESTPORT — Echoing the sentiments of inclusion and a call to welcome people back to the Church that Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., highlighted in the homily during his Mass of Installation earlier in the day, UMass Dartmouth student Jillian McHenry said his appointment as the eighth bishop of the Fall River Diocese was “one of several things that brought me back and helped me come back to Church.” Admitting she had stopped going to church after high school, the college junior and member of the UMass Dartmouth Catholic Campus Ministry beamed with joy at meeting the newly-installed bishop during a reception in his honor at White’s of Westport following the installation ceremony on September 24. She wanted to memorialize the moment by taking a “selfie” with the bishop, who graciously obliged her. “I heard a lot of good things about him,” McHenry told The Anchor. “He’s very nice and down-to-earth and I had heard that he really wants to bring the youth back to the Church and that’s sort of what inspired me to go back.” McHenry and hundreds of other lay people — along with priests, deacons and religious — from across the diocese attended the post-installation reception for Bishop da

Cunha to welcome him as their new shepherd. While for most of those present this was the first encounter with the former Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., their first impressions were overwhelmingly positive and optimistic. “I think Bishop da Cunha is wonder-

ful,” said Sandra Vigeant, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet, who asked him to sign his photo card that was included with the installation Mass program. “He’s young and full of ambition and I think he’s going to do so much for the Church and the (Catholic) schools in our diocese.” Turn to page 46

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., obliges Jillian McHenry, a student at UMass Dartmouth and member of the Catholic Campus Ministry, to take a “selfie” on her iPhone during a reception welcoming him on September 24 in Westport. Bishop da Cunha, formerly of the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., was installed as the eighth bishop of the Fall River Diocese earlier that afternoon. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

The Anchor - October 3, 2014

Bishop da Cunha’s Coat of Arms reflects his roots By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

found in the various color choices and symbols used in coats of arms. FALL RIVER — “Sufficit tibi Some of these colors can include gratia Mea,” (My grace is enough gold (generosity), silver (peace or for you), taken from St. Paul’s Sec- sincerity), red (warrior or martyr), ond Letter to the Corinthians, or green (hope, joy and loyalty), are the words emblazoned on the while symbols can include an anmotto scroll of Bishop Edgar M. chor (hope, religious or steadfastda Cunha’s Coat of Arms as a re- ness), angels (dignity or glory), a minder to the newly-minted bish- baton (token of authority) or a bear op of the Fall River Diocese that (strength, cunning or ferocity). Designed by heraldist Pierre de God’s grace will see him through the challenges that all Christians Chaignon la Rose, the arms of the Diocese of Fall River are composed face in the modern world. The idea of a coat of arms origi- of a shield with its symbols surnated in Europe as an art of her- mounted by a bishop’s mitre (hat). aldry, and was utilized initially by The shield is a silver field on which knights as a way of identifying is displayed a blue bend (the diagothemselves and setting themselves nal line) of wavy lines, the heralapart from their enemies. Fam- dic translation of water; the falling ily crests also are traditionally de- bend, going from upper left to lowsigned as a coat of arms, symboliz- er right, conveys Fall River, the title ing the history of a family name. As of the diocese. A red cross, symbolthe coat of arms evolved through izing redemption and the graces the years, many people and insti- which flow from the cathedral as tutions have adopted the tradition; the Spiritual center of the diocese, incidentally, many towns or cities is placed over the wavy bend. At the center of the cross, a ciruse a coat of arms, and those are cle is incorporated in which sits a called civic heraldry. The Church adopted heraldry as six-pointed silver star to honor the a means of approving and authen- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin ticating documents as well as an Mary, the title of the diocesan caindication in ownership of Church thedral; the design pays homage buildings. A bishop will use his to the litany of Loreto, where Our coat of arms to decorate his epis- Lady is called the “Morning Star.” “Domini Sumus” (We are the copal throne, vestment, and tableware. To this day, a bishop’s coat of Lord’s) was the motto of retired arms is used in official correspon- Bishop George. W. Coleman and dence and sealing of important was taken from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Designed by Deacon documents. Heraldic tradition dictates that Paul J. Sullivan of Narragansett, the arms of a diocesan bishop be R.I., the coat of arms bears a de“impaled” (joined) with the arms sign that reflected Bishop Coleof his jurisdiction; the “Dexter im- man’s life and Irish heritage, and palement” (left side of the shield) newly-elected Bishop da Cunha is bears the bishop’s jurisdiction also paying tribute to his roots in while the “sinister impalement” his Coat of Arms. This is not the first Coat of (right side) of the design bears the Arms that Bishop da Cunha has personal arms of the bishop. There are symbolic meanings had, but the slight redesign con-

The Anchor - October 3, 2014

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha’s Coat of Arms hangs above the cathedra in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)

tinues to pay tribute to his religious community and his roots, and also replaces the connection of his former home in the Archdiocese of Newark and adds in the Diocese of Fall River. The left side now bears his jurisdiction in the Fall River Diocese, while the right side is more personal by representing where he has come from, and the influences that have shaped his life. The coat of arms is designed by the Very Rev. Michael M. Walters, J.C.L., V.F., director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Archdiocese of Newark, and is based upon an original design by the Rev. Matthew R. Mauriello of the Diocese of Bridgeport, with artwork by Carolyn Martins-Reitz. The bottom part of the shield signifies the bishop’s life in Brazil, where he was born and where he received his first formation in the faith from his family and through the Sacraments of the Church. The colors of the flag — green and yellow (heraldic gold) — recall the flag of Brazil. The green of the flag is referenced by the indented green line, which also refers to the motto of the bishop’s home state of Bahia, “Per Ardua Surgo” (I rise through difficulties). The indentations were created to look like steps to remind Catholics that growth in the faith is sometimes accomplished through enduring difficulties. The globe in the center bears a banner with the words, “Ordem e Progresso” (order and progress). The top part of his shield rep-

resents the Society of the Divine Vocations, the religious order to which Bishop da Cunha belongs. Founded in Italy in 1920 by Blessed Justin Russolilio, the religious order spread rapidly throughout Italy, France, Argentina, the United States, and Brazil, beginning its work in the bishop’s hometown of Bahia in 1950. The circle represents the world and the triangle represents the Trinity; they are interlaced which indicates the Vocationist mission to bring the world to God and God to the world. To represent the precious nature of the Christian vocation, the colors of silver and gold were chosen. The symbol has been placed on a blue field, which is the color of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a reminder to Bishop da Cunha that his vocation began with his Baptism in the Immaculate Conception Parish in Gavião, Bahia, continued with his studies for the priesthood in Immaculate Conception Seminary, and his years of ministry as a priest and bishop in the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., which is under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception. The shield is completed by the episcopal hat and cross, and the scroll bearing his motto: “Sufficit tibi gratia Mea”; words to remind Bishop da Cunha that God’s grace will see him through all the challenges as he begins his ministry as the shepherd of the Fall River Diocese.

Westport parish celebrates 100 years, welcomes new bishop By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor

WESTPORT — It may have been his first week on the job in the Diocese of Fall River, but Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., had the honor of celebrating a Mass at a Westport parish celebrating its 100th birthday. Bishop da Cunha, the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Fall River, visited the parishioners of St. George last Sunday to celebrate the anniversary of the parish es-

people who came before you; some of your ancestors, and now we see this beautiful church, this beautiful community of faith carrying on because you are contaminated by their goodness, by their generosity, by their faith. They are contagious and you caught it. Right? “But now, 100 years from now, 50 years from now, is going to depend on us. And I include myself now because I am now here, right? I am now a part of the his-

Father Stephen B. Salvador, pastor of St. George’s Parish in Westport, right, introduces parish altar servers to Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, prior to the Mass celebrating the parish’s 100th anniversary last week. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)

tablished in 1914 by the diocese’s second bishop, Bishop Daniel F. Feehan. “We are so honored to have Bishop da Cunha here as his first visit to a parish in the Diocese of Fall River, as we continue to celebrate the past 100 years and look to the future and the next 100 years,” pastor Father Stephen B. Salvador told The Anchor. “I’ve only been here two months, but I’ve been so welcomed by everyone. I feel like I’ve been here for years.” Former pastor of 13 years, Father Gerard Hebert, who was at the celebration, told The Anchor, “Msgr. Edmund Levesque would have loved to have been here. He was here 18 years as an associate and five years in retirement.” In his homily, Bishop da Cunha told the capacity congregation, “As I have been reading about the history of this parish, on the 75th anniversary Father [Roger D.] Leduc began a program called, ‘We the Parish.’ “That is why this parish is here 100 years later. Because of the faith, the generosity, of so many

The Anchor - October 3, 2014

tory of this parish and this diocese. And I include myself now as part of those who ought to give that contagious example for others. We, the parish. “So my urge and invitation to you, all of you today, is that we the Parish of St. George, will be here for the next generation because we will share our gifts, our treasures, our faith with one another. And we will make it contagious for our people to come and join us and follow us, and this parish will be here for the next generations to come.” “We believe that Heaven touches earth when we celebrate Mass,” parishioner centennial celebration committee secretary Jean Poisson told The Anchor. “The entrance song was ‘Praise to the Lord,’ an old standard I have heard on many occasions but nothing like this. As the song began I felt that Heavenly presence. More than the angels singing their praises to God, I believed that the faithful departed of St. George Parish also joined us, the living members of the parish, in offering praise and thanksgiving.

“The offertory gifts of bread and wine were augmented with symbols of our 100 years of existence. A shadow box containing the original 1922 contract for the construction of the current church building symbolized our respect for the gathering place where so many have worshiped Our Lord. The first and current register books for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and death were also brought to the altar.” Other meaningful gifts were also part of the Liturgy. Ninety-one-year-old Oscar N. Stebenne was one of the many gift-bearers during the Liturgy. Stebenne is oldest parishioner born and baptized at St. George’s. “I was baptized here, made my First Communion and Confirmation here,” he told The Anchor. “I returned after I came back from World War II and got married. It’s beautiful to be a part of this celebration. It’s a special day.” The history of the vibrant parish had its beginnings in the mid 1880s until its founding in 1914. During that period many French Canadian immigrants took root in the Westport area, particularly to work at the Westport Factory, whose lifeblood was the Noquochoke River that supplied power to the workplace. Situated between New Bedford and Fall River, the immigrant Catholic community had to travel quite a distance, back then, to attend Mass and receive the Sacraments. Eventually, a building in the area of Beeden Road and Route 177 became a mission

of Notre Dame de Lourdes and St. Anne’s parishes, both in Fall River, that served the FrenchCanadian community at the time. Witnessing the growing faith community in the Westport Factory area, Bishop Feehan knew the time was right to establish a new parish there named St. George. Its parish boundaries included all of Westport and Dartmouth. Bishop Feehan appointed Father Charles Clerk as the inaugural pastor. In 1917, a young, enthusiastic priest, Father Alfred A. Coulombe, a native of Lotbiniere, Canada, was named the parish’s second pastor. The 38-year-old hit the ground running and created a wave of excitement for the construction of a new church building for the fledgeling parish. Construction started in 1922. The building was to be a Romanesque design made of tapestry brick, with “made stone” decorating the facade. It was to have a Spanish tile roof and a spire reaching 60 feet into the Westport sky. The cornerstone was laid in 1923. Tragically, Father Coulombe would never see the completion of the house of worship he so lovingly and diligently worked for. On Oct. 29, 1923, he was killed in a head-on automobile crash between Sanford and Beaulah roads, on Route 6, the very route his new church building overlooked. Despite the fact that the church building did not yet have Turn to page 32

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha receives gifts during the Mass celebrating the 100th anniversary of St. George’s Parish in Westport. At left is 91-year-old Oscar N. Stebenne, the oldest parishioner baptized at St. George’s, and at right is Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Oliveira and their son Noah, who was the latest to be baptized at the parish in September. (Photos by Dave Jolivet)

Area priest helps bring bishop’s installation into local living rooms By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor

SOUTH DARTMOUTH — Admittedly, Father Rodney E. Thibault, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in South Dartmouth, was disappointed not to be able to join his brother priests at the Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River for the installation of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha. But he was busy. Father Thibault was busy that day bringing the solemnity and joy of that event into living rooms, nursing homes and computer screens across the diocese as part of the ABC Channel 6 broadcast of the unique event. “It was bittersweet,” Father Thibault told The Anchor. “I was excited to be able to offer commentary but I was not there to concelebrate the Mass when the new bishop took possession of his diocese for the very first time.” Father Thibault joined Channel 6 TV anchors John DeLuca and Alexandra Crowley for the broadcast that aired on Channel 6. The feed was also picked up and aired on CatholicTV out of Boston, and worldwide on EWTN. It was also streamed live on the Channel 6 website. Father Thibault is no stranger to providing commentary and insights for a special TV Mass. He was at the Channel 10 desk for Bishop George W. Coleman’s ordination to the episcopacy at St. Mary’s Cathedral in 2003. It was Father Thibault’s “youthful face,” that prompted his selection as commentator for that Mass. “I received a call from John Kearns [diocesan director of Communications] and he asked if I would be interested in providing commentary. It would be nice to have a ‘young face’ representing the diocese. I had to laugh this time around since I am not as young as I was 11 years ago.” Diocesan Moderator of the Curia Father Michael McManus asked Father Thibault if he would again provide commentary for Bishop da Cunha’s installation. “I told him that I would be honored to represent the Diocese of Fall River in this fashion on this important day,” said Father Thibault. Immediately Father Thibault began to research the man on whom he would be commenting. “I had to start from scratch,” he told The Anchor. “How do you talk about someone you do not even know? I researched Bishop da Cunha online and focused on his work in the Archdiocese of Newark. I was fortunate to have about 10

minutes of his time the day before the installation so that I could ask about his family and was happy to learn that 11 of his siblings still live in his native Brazil; one lives in the U.S., and his parents are still alive. In point of fact, they were planning on watching the Mass of Installation streaming live from Brazil. The other thing that I did was to research what happens at a Mass of Installation. My folder

read one of the prayers of the faithful,” he said. “It was also nice that I had a list of the names of the greeters and could introduce them to the viewing audience. I feel that the preparation that I did beforehand was sufficient to offer commentary. One last thing that was crucial was that I had a copy of the homily Bishop da Cunha would deliver, the night before so I could look over it and highlight some

Father Rodney E. Thibault, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in South Dartmouth is shown at the desk of ABC Channel 6. Father Thibault provided commentary for the installation Mass of Bishop Edgar da Cunha. (Photo courtesy of Channel 6)

containing my notes for Bishop Coleman’s ordination was not going to be helpful at all. I watched a Youtube video of the Mass of Installation in Manchester, N.H. and the online program that was posted on the diocesan website was very helpful. “On the day before the installation, Father McManus and I met for a bit at the chancery before I arrived for my work at the Tribunal. The information that Father McManus provided was helpful. I feel that the preparation that I did beforehand was sufficient to offer commentary.” Father Thibault said the experience was “a humbling moment. I was able to represent the diocese and hopefully gave helpful and insightful commentary during the Mass. We didn’t want to talk too much, but the station didn’t want silence all of the time.” Father Thibault said it was a challenge to balance the commentary while remembering that the Mass is a Sacred time and that the commentators and viewers remembered that. His research and prepared materials proved to be a great asset. Having a list of all the participants, Father Thibault was able to quickly identify each and provide some background for the viewers. “I was able to put a name with a face as someone was coming forward to read a reading or

talking points. I also had received an email from Madeleine Grace who told me the particulars about the music and how Bishop da Cunha had practically chosen everything himself — especially the opening hymn: “All Are Welcome” — a salient point that he hit home during his homily. “We focused during our commentary a lot on the homily. We really dissected it during the distribu-

tion of Communion. I said that this was Bishop da Cunha setting out his vision for the local Church. We discussed, in great length, the fact that Bishop da Cunha wanted to reach out to disenfranchised Catholics.” Leonor Rego is a parishioner at Espirito Santo in Fall River and watched the installation Mass from her home. “It was such a beautiful Mass and ceremony,” she told The Anchor. “Father Thibault provided such good information, and he kept the Sacredness of the event in his words. You can truly tell that Father Thibault is a man of God.” “I have the distinction of saying that I announced, once they were seated in the cathedra, the seventh Bishop of Fall River and the eighth,” Father Thibault added. “I will probably be too old for the ninth and will take my place in the cathedral with my brother priests. Listening to Bishop da Cunha’s homily was truly a reason to be hope-filled. His pastoral style seems to be in the spirit of Pope Francis and for that, I am truly excited and hope-filled. I believe that the Diocese of Fall River has received a shepherd who wants to get to smell his sheep, as Pope Francis recently said that he and bishops and priests should do. He wants to get to know the people of this local Church that he has been charged with shepherding. He certainly has the promise of my prayers. I wish him the very best.” Father Thibault added, “I hope that if Bishop da Cunha ever watches it [the installation Mass broadcast] and listens to the commentary, he will be pleased.”

The Anchor - October 3, 2014

Congratulations Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, SDV on your installation as the Eighth Bishop of Fall River.

From Bishop Michael R. Cote and the Diocese of Norwich 12

The Anchor - October 3, 2014

t his September 24 installation Mass, Bishop Edgar da Cunha initiated his service as shepherd of the Diocese of Fall River by making a spirited appeal for faithful, priests and religious to form a diocesan-wide Church of SS. Martha and Mary. The Gospel he chose for the Mass was Jesus’ being welcomed to the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus in Bethany (Lk 10:38-42). It was an opportunity for him to emphasize in his enthusiastic inaugural homily that “just as Martha with her sister Mary welcomed Jesus into their home, we also must be a welcoming Church.” That begins first by faithfully welcoming Jesus “into our hearts, our lives and our homes,” Bishop da Cunha said. Jesus in the Gospel scene praises Mary for having recognized that “there is need of only one thing” and having “chosen the better part,” by sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him speak. Mary grasped that Jesus had come to their home not principally to be fed but to feed, and she was the one who hungered for every Word that came from His mouth. “Do we have time to sit and listen to Jesus?” Bishop da Cunha asked. The first way we become a modern Bethany is by opening ourselves up in prayerful receptivity to all Jesus wants to say to us and to embrace Him as a beloved guest in personal Sacramental encounters. But that’s not the only way we welcome Him. Martha loved Jesus no less than her sister did and sought to express that love for Him by her diligent work in the kitchen and in serving. With great Spiritual maternity, Martha made sure Jesus would be nourished to continue His saving work. A welcoming Church features that maternal loving service. Jesus once told us that He wants us to welcome others the way we would welcome Him (Mt 25:35). Bishop da Cunha said that his “dream” for “all

The Diocese of Bethany in Fall River

God’s people in the Diocese of Fall River” is that we become as hospitable to our brothers and sisters as Martha and Mary were to Jesus. He called us warmly to embrace those who are “looking for Jesus and for meaning and purpose in their lives,” who “feel alienated from the Church,” who are “hurting and are looking for healing” regardless of nationality, language, culture, skin-color or accent. He said that we continue Martha’s serving of Jesus as we “serve our brothers and sisters in need,” just as our ancestors in the faith have served generations of immigrants from so many ethnic groups. For us to remain and become more fully a welcoming diocese, Bishop da Cunha said, we need to learn from Martha’s and Mary’s respective strengths. “I am convinced that there is a Martha and a Mary in each one of us,” he stated. “Like Martha, we have the need to keep active; but like Mary, we also have the need to be contemplative, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him.” The two activities are not opposed. “Marys,” he said, “need to remember that service is worship. Marthas need to remember that worship is service. If God has called you to be a Martha, then serve! Remind the rest of us that there is evangelism in feeding the poor and there is worship in nursing the sick. If God has called you to be a Mary, then worship! Remind the rest of us that we don’t have to be busy to be holy. Urge us with your example to put down our clipboards and megaphones and be quiet in worship.” There are a few other lessons we learn in Bethany about welcoming that Bishop da Cunha has also

highlighted The first is about faith. Jesus once asked Martha, “Do you believe this?” referring to faith in Him as the Resurrection and the life ( Jn 11:26). Bishop da Cunha began his installation homily pondering the obedient faith of Abraham who left his native place and went to a place the Lord would indicate, a call similar to the one Bishop da Cunha said he felt as a young man to leave his native Brazil to come as the missionary to the United States, and experienced anew leaving New Jersey after 30 years to follow the Lord’s summons to Fall River. These journeys are a concrete expression of Martha’s response to Jesus, “Yes, Lord, I do believe!” The second is about welcoming the vocations God never ceases to provide. In a recent Anchor interview, Bishop da Cunha said, “Encouraging vocations has to be a priority not just for me but for our priests and our lay people.” Like Martha went to Mary, we, too, need to go to family members

and fellow parishioners and say, “The Teacher is here and He is calling you” ( Jn 11:28), and help them to respond. Finally, we learn from Martha and Mary how to welcome Jesus and others not out of dry duty but lavish love. In one of Jesus’ visits, Mary spent a whole year’s salary to anoint Jesus’ feet with aromatic nard and dry them with her hair ( Jn 12:1-8), showing us that Jesus is worth our best and our all. Bishop da Cunha said he is going to try to fulfill his new duties with similar generosity. “I pledge to you today to use all the gifts God gave me, to use all the graces He will continue giving me, to serve you and to do it faithfully and joyfully.” And he prayed that we would match him in those efforts, saying in Portuguese, “I hope that I can count on the support, faith and prayers of all of you.” As we welcome our new bishop, let’s pledge ourselves wholeheartedly to collaborate with him — praying like Mary and working like Martha — to help his dream of making our diocese a true Bethany become reality. Anchor columnist Father Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River. fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

The Anchor - October 3, 2014

Extraordinary ordinariness

ast week I had the privilege and joy to participate in the installation Mass of our new Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha. From the day that it was announced that he would be the eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River, discussions throughout the diocese have centered on trying to determine what kind of shepherd he would be. All of the chatter was put to rest at the installation Mass and reception where we had our first opportunity to interact directly with Bishop Edgar. He took the time to speak to everyone who attended the reception and even took time to have a photo taken with anyone who asked. When I had a few moments to speak to him, I asked him how he was doing. Was he tired? He just smiled, thanked us for coming and then reached out to another of the hundreds of people who came to welcome him. One of our UMass Dartmouth students, who were invited to serve as ushers at the Mass, asked him if it was OK if she took a selfie! “Sure, why not?” he said. It didn’t take long for us to understand what type of shepherd he would be and his homily confirmed his and our hopes and direction for the Diocese of Fall River and for the people. This all brought to mind a phrase I have often heard, “Live an extraordinary life in an ordinary way.” Maybe it goes the other way around but in any case it’s a call to action and it basically tells us that we don’t have to be out on a soapbox or out front. We don’t need to use a bully pulpit. We don’t need to call-out those who live a life that doesn’t quite live up to what a Christian is expected to do. We can simply bring others to Christ by our living an ordinary Christian life. We can make a difference in the world by being ordinary. In a recent TV interview he said, “[I’m] honestly a little uncomfortable. I’d rather be on the sideline just doing the work without the spotlight.” In his simple and ordinary demeanor, Bishop Edgar brought this phrase to life in my mind. An ordinary man of God, a simple and holy priest, blessed with the extraordinary call to lead the people of God in this diocese. Calling our bishop ordinary is hardly a put down. There isn’t anything wrong with being ordinary. After all, the first 30 years of Jesus’ life were pretty ordinary. He lived in an ordinary home in an ordinary town. He worked with His dad. He learned a trade. I’m sure He helped His mom around the house. I think that this is a model for all of us. This ordinary time took up most of His life so I’m thinking it must be an important message to us all! Even when He began His public ministry, most of what He did was ordinary. He traveled with friends, He preached, He taught. Yet in each of these ordinary events He showed us what it means to live an extraordinary life!

Think about His miracles. The first took place at an ordinary event — a wedding. The ordinary became extraordinary when He turned the water into wine. The ordinary Passover dinner on what we now call Holy Thursday was a meal with friends that turned extraordinary when He turned the bread and wine into His Own Body. The ordinary act

Be Not Afraid By Deacon Frank Lucca of dying turned extraordinary at His Resurrection. Jesus. A Man Who lived, and felt like we do. He laughed, He cried, He loved and He even got angry. That is pretty ordinary stuff. But in how He took the ordinary and made it extraordinary is where I think the message lies. I truly believe that each and every one of us can be extraordinary — but in an ordinary way. I don’t have to give out profound messages, nor write a column that will razzledazzle people. I only have to be me doing the best I can and living a life modeled on Christ. There is a song, whose title escapes me now, that has the stanza, “I only have to be what You made me.” The artist is saying that God gave us talents and abilities and we only need to use them to the best of our ability. Some folks are musicians, others are writers and scholars. Others are good people who live what would be considered a simple life. It is in that ordinariness that we can each be extraordinary. In his homily, Bishop Edgar challenged all of us and himself to welcome

Jesus into our lives, to be accepting of all those made in the image and likeness of God and to be a welcoming Church. I would like to challenge each of us today to look around in our ordinary lives and see what we can turn to the extraordinary. Take a look at the person who is marginalized by society, or ostracized in school or work and reach out to them. Visit the sick or call someone who is lonely. Thank a teacher for their hard work. Show support to someone who is upset, ill or hurting. Work at a soup kitchen, teach a Religious Education class or rake someone’s lawn. It is in these ordinary actions that someone will see Jesus in us. They will want to know why you are the way you are. They will try to be more like you. That simple ordinary action will affect others in such a way that they will change a bit and so will you. Bishop Edgar’s kind, gentle, humble, ordinary ways, I predict, will be an extraordinary example to us in this region, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. His and our ordinary actions of our ordinary lives may bring someone to come to know Jesus better. Now that’s extraordinary! Anchor columnist Frank Lucca is a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Fall River, a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea, and a campus minister at UMass Dartmouth. He is married to his wife of 35 years, Kristine, and the father of two daughters and their husbands, and a seven-monthold grandson. Comments, ideas or suggestions? Please email him at DeaconFrankLucca@ comcast.net.

The Anchor - October 3, 2014

Diocesan faithful express joy, optimism over newly-installed Bishop da Cunha continued from page three

Matt Gill, a third-year student at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton and a native of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Attleboro, expressed similar excitement over meeting the new bishop and his potential future boss. “He’s just a humble and sincere man and I think he really wants to get know everybody,” Gill said. “You can tell he has a very good pastoral heart.” Gill and several of his seminarian classmates posed for a group photo with Bishop da Cunha, who was the one-time director of Vocations for his order, the Society of Divine Vocations.

“I know he was the vocation director for the Vocationist Fathers, so one would have high hopes for future (vocations) in our diocese,” Gill said. In addition to faithful from the Fall River Diocese, there was also a sizeable contingent of priests and parishioners present from the Newark Archdiocese, where Bishop da Cunha had served for more than 30 years. A group of long-time friends from St. Michael’s Parish in Newark, where Bishop da Cunha was ordained and first assigned in 1982, praised their former pastor. “We are losing a good man, but you are

gaining a good man,” said Mario Montoya, a parishioner of St. Michael’s. “We’re good friends and when he told me the news that Pope Francis was appointing him here, he said: ‘I have to go where God calls me.’ But he’ll always be in our hearts and we’ll come to visit him.” Montoya and his fellow parishioners presented Bishop da Cunha with several gifts and tokens of their affection. Even before the day-long celebration began, Bishop da Cunha’s arrival was greeted with joyful songs in Spanish — one of the four languages he speaks — just outside the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River. A group of about 25 people from the Neocatechumenal Way, accompanied by two seminarians on guitars, provided the soundtrack as Bishop da Cunha processed into his new cathedral. “We wanted to welcome him,” said Sean Gibney from Brockton, one of the volunteers with the Neocatechumenal Way. “We imagined that a bishop coming here from Newark, N.J. and being in a new city with new people, it might be nice to say ‘welcome.’” Indeed, the large buoyant group was a stark contrast to the three advocates for clergy sex abuse victims who took the opportunity to protest Bishop da Cunha’s installation on the opposite corner. For Gibney, who described his group’s mission as helping people to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and to help evangelize “those who have drifted from the Church,” Bishop da Cunha’s installation is certainly in line with Pope Francis’ own thinking about welcoming people back into the fold. McHenry, who said she remained active at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth with her family until drifting away from the Church, agreed they have been instrumental in calling people back home. “Between (Bishop da Cunha) and Pope Francis, I think they’ve made (the Church) a lot more welcoming and they have brought it down to our level,” she said.

Diocesan website to carry video of Bishop da Cunha’s Mass of Installation

The September 24 Mass of Installation of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., as Bishop of Fall River, has been posted on the Fall River Diocesan website for online viewing. Visit www. fallriverdiocese.org to watch the Mass in its entirety or to view segments of it including Bishop da Cunha’s homily and remarks of Cardinal Sean O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., and Fall River Bishop Emeritus George W. Coleman. 46

The Anchor - October 3, 2014

Joy, hope fill cathedral at installation of new bishop continued from page two

United States,” he continued. “I gained a new understanding of those words then. But today I heard them again in a newer context, a newer reality — but still one in which the Lord calls me — indeed, calls each of us — to embrace the mission He is entrusting to us.” He also referred to the Gospel reading about Mary and Martha. “Even though Martha complained that Mary was not helping her, I think it safe to say that the two of them got along pretty well,” said Bishop da Cunha. “How about the Marthas and Marys in us and among us? Do we get along and live peacefully with each other? “We have here such a rich diversity of gifts, of Spirituality, of devotions. Can we live in harmony despite our differences? Our cultural differences, our different styles of devotions and Spirituality, even our theological or ecclesial views should not divide us. On the contrary, they should be a reason to celebrate our diversity, which enriches us all as Church. “I feel so grateful today that the Lord and Pope Francis gave me this beautiful gift: the opportunity to serve the Lord and His people here in the Diocese of Fall River. My brother priests and my brothers and sisters, I pledge to you today to use all the gifts God gave me; to use all the graces He will continue giving me, to

serve you and to do it faithfully and joyfully. We shall walk together in faith and hope, sharing our faith with each other, praying for one another always trusting in the Lord’s words and the promise He made to us: ‘Sufficit Tibi Gracia Mea.’ ‘My grace is enough for you.’” Following the Liturgy and the final blessing, the huge congregation again broke into extended

applause as the new shepherd of the Diocese of Fall River left the cathedral. Busloads of faithful then traveled from the cathedral to White’s of Westport for a welcoming reception for Bishop da Cunha; first by invited guests from each parish, and then by faithful from across the diocese who requested a ticket to meet and greet the new bishop.

The Anchor - October 3, 2014