Diocese of Fall River
The Anchor
F riday , October 8, 2010
St. Vincent’s Home at 125 — Successes from the past, with a window to the future, for children and families By Dave Jolivet, Editor
FALL RIVER — For a centuryand-a-quarter, St. Vincent’s Home, an institution older than the Diocese of Fall River itself, has had as its primary focus the welfare of children and their families. In the early days, when the home was located on the shores of the Taunton River on North Main Street in Fall River, St. Vincent’s Home was a place of solace and hope for children whose parents were ill or deceased. More than 100 years later, the home is still providing hope and opportunities for children and their families in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to treatment. According to its website, “Care is offered in a non-judgmental manner, honoring the cultural diversity of each child and family.” The home “strives to create an environment where trust characterizes the relationship between staff and children and where staff members are supported and their contributions acknowledged.” One of the home’s greatest attributes throughout its storied history has been the ability to “change with the times,” meaning that as needs change, the home’s staff adapts and utilizes state of the art procedures for care and treatment. In 1997, Jack Weldon, M.S.W., was appointed the home’s executive director by then-Fall River Bishop Sean O’Malley. He was the first lay person to assume the position in the home’s history.
Under Weldon’s direction, St. Vincent’s Home has continued its capacity for realizing the diverse needs facing children, youth, and families in necessity. Much of the home’s history in-
service agency providing a broad continuum of services to meet the individualized needs of children, youth, and families.” Weldon told The Anchor that at one time, more than 70 percent of
A window to the future — St. Vincent’s Home is all about the children in these scenes from various events. Clockwise from top left: Chef Gloria Cabral of Bristol Community College Culinary Arts Department explains to St. Vincent’s children and staff how to make chicken cutlets; Mercy Sister Elaine Marchand uses her artistic talents to paint a cat face on a little girl; Father Genaro Aguilar, former chaplain of the Athletics Department at Stonehill College, provided weekly liturgy in the chapel at St. Vincent’s children; and youth help to take care of the animals at a local therapeutic working farm.
Annual procession, Mass for peace Monday FALL RIVER — Bishop George W. Coleman will lead the annual candle-lit procession and Mass for Peace Monday evening. The procession is from St. Mary’s Cathedral to St. Anne’s Church where the Mass will be celebrated. Parish groups are encouraged to attend, bringing ban-
volved providing children with a safe place to live and learn. But according to Weldon, “St. Vincent’s is no longer an orphanage, nor is it exclusively a residential education program. Rather, it is a multi-
ners and flags, along with their own candles, as a limited supply with be available. As in previous years, marchers will meet no later than 5:45 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, on the corner of Spring and Second streets in Fall River, to process apTurn to page two
the children served by St. Vincent’s lived on campus and attended the campus school. Today more than 65 percent of its clients attend schools within the community — either in regular classrooms or in area special education programs. “Nationwide, over the last few years, there has been a priority placed on maintaining the stability and permanence of families by relying less on out-of-home placements in response to crises of various kinds and, instead, providing supportive and clinical services within the child’s home and home community while building on the family’s strengths,” said Weldon. “As a result of these initiatives, the nature and scope of work of agencies like St. Vincent’s has necessarily changed.” One of the major changes in treatment in recent years is to prepare youth to transition back to a home environment in a safe and effective manner. “All of St. Vincent’s residential and congregate care programs are licensed by the Mass. Department of Early Education and Care,” added Weldon. “In addition, the residential and day special education schools operated by St. Vincent’s are fully approved by the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.” The focus at St. Vincent’s has become attuned to developing more short-term, communitybased and family-centered care. Turn to page 17
Respect Life — ‘You can do huge things’ By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent
BOSTON — “I want every Pro-Life person out there, especially the young adults, to know that you can do huge things, regardless of age,” said Matthew Hanafin, Massachusetts Citizens for Life’s youngest board member, at the annual Walk to Aid Mothers and Children October 3. Several thousand Pro-Life advocates gathered at the Boston Common bandstand on Respect Life Sunday to hear speakers at a rally before the 5K-walk. Hanafin, 20, is a sophomore at Merrimack College and cochairman of the MCFL’s Burlington chapter. He graduated from Burlington High School,
which is the only Massachusetts public school with a club dedicated to the Pro-Life cause.
He said of the club’s representatives in attendance, “They Turn to page 16
pro-life leaders — Young Pro-Life advocates from across New England lead the charge at the annual Walk to Aid Mothers and Children sponsored by Mass. Citizens For Life. (Photo by Christine Williams)