Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, July 8, 2022
Father Edward A. Murphy, chaplain of the St. Anne’s Preservation Society, carries the Monstrance with the Holy Eucharist during the recent St. Anne’s Shrine Eucharistic Procession in Fall River.
Bishop revels in the joy of a ‘once in a lifetime experience’ at the Vatican
bishop told The Anchor. “He was a model, an inspiration, and all of Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org his teachings and everything that I learned about him was affirmed FALL RIVER — May 15, 2022 when he was canonized.” was a day that will forever live in The bishop was the mind and heart of impressed by all the Fall River Bishop Edgar people he could see from M. da Cunha, S.D.V. On his vantage point in St. that day, the founder Peter’s Square during the of the order in which ceremony. “It was said the bishop is a member, there were 50,000 people Father Justin Russolilthere, but I think there lo, was made a saint by were much more. This Pope Francis, along with was a once in a lifetime nine other pious souls. experience to be with “All my life, Father Justin St. Justin Russolillo such a large crowd, that was a father figure to included many bishops, me and the others at the priests, deacons and lay people. Vocationary, where men study to become priests in that order,” the 8 Turn to page two By Dave Jolivet
Prayer vigils like this outside Four Women, Inc. in Attleboro, have occurred often in the diocese over the last half century as a result of the United States Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973 legalizing abortion in this country. On June 24, SCOTUS overturned that decision.
Diocesan Pro-Life advocates respond to reversal of Roe v. Wade By Dave Jolivet Editor
davejolivet@anchornews.org
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., shares a meditation at a vigil service in Rome on the eve prior to the canonization of St. Justin Russolillo, the founder of the Society of Divine Vocations, the order to which he belongs.
FALL RIVER — The Supreme Court of the United States legalized abortion in this country in January of 1973. Since that time, women and men of every nationality, ethnicity and religion, including many in the Diocese of Fall River, have worked diligently to save the lives children and care for their mothers in need. On June 24, Pro-Life advocates saw the fruits of their labor achieved when SCOTUS reversed the nearly 50-year-old decision.
Predictably, reaction from Pro-Life advocates across the diocese has been one of relief, thanks and a strengthened belief in the power of prayer, all while knowing the battle is far from won. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., said shortly after the decision was announced, the “Supreme Court decision will save the lives of millions of children who otherwise would never see the light of day or experience the warmth of a loving family. “As Catholics, we stand with the teaching of the Catholic July 8, 82022 Turn †to page three
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