FALL RIVER—The 83rd Catholic Appeal, “Renew the Face of the Earth,” has closed with the annual campaign raising more than $4.5 million to support the work of the Church across the Diocese of Fall River. 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.
In his call for support of this year’s Catholic Appeal, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. shared, “There is a personal dimension of the Holy Spirit’s work dwelling in each one of us. The Spirit inspires us to live virtuously and encourages us to make a positive difference in our communities. There is evidence of the impact of the Catholic Appeal everywhere in our diocese.”
“To the thousands of individuals who supported this year’s Appeal and to all of the pastors who partner with us, please know how grateful we are. The Catholic Appeal truly supports our faith in action. In our schools, churches, food pantries, homeless shelters, hospitals, and more—this support flows to
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National Eucharistic Congress a once-in-alifetime experience for
Diocesan
pilgrims
Procession at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) in Indianapolis, Indiana. More than a dozen Catholics from the Diocese of Fall River were among an estimated 55,000 who attended the 5-day event.
By Joan D. Warren Editor joandwarren@anchornews.org
FALL RIVER — The city of Indianapolis in America’s heartland was filled with faithful and love for the Lord as 60,000 from across the country and abroad came to celebrate the selfgift of Jesus Christ in the holy Eucharist.
More than a dozen men and women from the Diocese of Fall River, hailing from parishes in New Bedford, Fairhaven, Somerset, North Dartmouth, and East Sandwich, traveled to Indiana’s state capital to the Eucharistic Revival. It was a pilgrimage that many attendees say was life changing.
The majority of the Fall River parishio-
ners traveled with a group from the Diocese of Providence by bus, while others drove or flew in.
Deacon Joseph Harrington, Associate Director of Strategic and Pastoral Planning for the Diocese, Director of Youth Ministry Oscar Rivera Jr., Fr. George Harrison, Fr. Roger Landry and this author were blessed to experience the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC). Leading up to the Congress was the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage where groups from four corners of the country, accompanied Jesus from city to city across the U.S. It was the first such national Eucharistic pilgrimage in
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August 2, 2024
Karen Munroe (r) of New Bedford and Theresa Almeida of Somerset walked in the Eucharistic
Catholic Foundation raises more than $4.5 million in donations
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each corner of our Diocese,” said Miriam Finn Sherman, Chief Executive Officer of the Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts. “Gifts of all sizes to the Catholic Appeal help propel spiritual and corporal works that shine the light of Christ.”
In addition to donations that came into individual parishes throughout the Diocese, more than $1,000,000 in gifts to the 2024 Catholic Appeal were collected from friends and
supporters consisting of individuals, corporations, and organizations unaffiliated with a specific parish.
This year’s Catholic Appeal video features the work made possible throughout the Diocese thanks to donations to the Appeal. The full-length video can still 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.
Parishioners from the Diocese reflect on National Eucharistic Congress
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the history of the Catholic Church, with 60,000 reverent Catholics at Mass and Adoration.
Keynote speakers included Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Cardinal Chistophe Pierre, Mother Olga of the Sacred heart, Father Mike Schmitz, Sister Josephine Garrett and Bishop Robert the the history of the Catholic Church, with 60,000 reverent Catholics at Mass and Adoration Each spoke during the nighttime revival sessions, followed by Eucharistic Adoration.
The National Eucharistic Revival movement is a joyful, grassroots response of the Church in the United States by Bishops to the divine invitation to grow in Eucharistic knowledge, faith, gratitude, amazement, love and life. Through the Eucharist, God desires to heal, renew, and unify the Church and the world.
The celebration in Indianapolis was the first National Eucharistic Congress since 1941.
Pilgrims from the Diocese included: Doreen Gonsalves, Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James, New Bedford; Laurie-Larsen Silva, CorpusChristi, East Sandwich; Juan and Charlotte Galli, St. Anthony Padua, New Bedford; Debbie and Mark Perry, and Karen Munroe of St. Julie Billiart, North Dartmouth; Martha McCormack, St. Joseph, Fairhaven, and Theresa Almeida, St. John of God, Somerset and more.
Martha McCormack was instrumental in spreading the word about the trip. McCormack said that she prayed that ‘‘all who are not taking part in this Eucharistic Congress receive many graces and blessings also. Our Church wants it; our Church needs it,” McCormack said.
The itinerary for each day was similar: Morning Liturgy at the stadium, Impact sessions, break-out sessions in the morning and afternoon in the Indiana Convention Center, afternoon Liturgies and evening Revival ses-
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sions. Reconciliation was offered until 11 pm daily and perpetual adoration at nearby St. John the Evangelist Church. There were exhibits of the Shroud of Turin, a relics chapel, as well as a Eucharistic Miracles exhibit compiled by Blessed Carlo Acutis.
On Saturday, July 20, a Eucharistic procession and Benediction took to the streets of the city for a 1-mile route, with thousands of spectors on hand to witness the historic event.
Charlotte Galli attended with her husband Juan and said it was awe inspiring.
‘‘It was a watershed event, in my life, for sure, and (I hope, pray and trust), in the life of the Church. You felt you were receiving the fruit of years of dedicated planning and hard work, done with joy and intelligence under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
‘‘It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Singing together was wonderful, but I think I liked the silence best of all. It was a joy-filled silence, a silence of presence, His and
ours, and it transformed Lucas Oil Stadium into a Cathedral,” Mrs. Galli said.
‘‘I’m a permanent adorer at Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford; I love Adoration--and never has the power of the Blessed Sacrament been so palpable to me. There He was, body, blood, soul and divinity, doing what He always does, bringing us home to the Father, pouring out His love, but on a scale that made it feel like a tiny taste of Heaven.
‘‘Someone asked me what the high point was for me. I loved everything about it. The talks, the big families, the endless river of seminarians descending the stairs every morning, having 2,000 priests concelebrate the Mass, those bevies of religious women in all their different habits. The candles, the incense, the joy. The kindness was palpable,” Mrs. Galli said.
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Diocese of Providence Bishop Richard Henning (center) celebrated Mass on Saturday, July 20 for the pilgrims attending the NEC from both Fall River and Providence Dioceses.
NEC speakers deliver powerful messages of love, hope and repentance
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Keynote speakers included Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Cardinal Chistophe Pierre, MotheOlga of thåe Sacred heart, Father Mike Schmitz, Sister Josephine Garrett and Bishop Robert Barron. Each spoke during the nighttime revival sessions, followed by Eucharistic Adoration.
Father Schmitz, host of the popular “Bible in a Year” podcast, called on the Catholics gathered to Eucharistic conversion.
“If this is going to be a revival, if it’s going to be a real revival, here’s the reality. In the history of Christianity, you can never have a revival without repentance,” said Schmitz, chaplain at the University of MinnesotaDuluth.
“If the remedy for ignorance is to get to knowledge, and the road to knowledge is truth, and repentance the remedy for indifference is love, and the road to love is repentance,” he said.
Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, founder and superior mother of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth in the Archdiocese of Boston, gave a moving presentation on the miracles of the Eucharistic Christ in the
modern world and how Jesus Christ lives in us all.
‘‘He is the same Jesus of yesterday, today and the future. Eucharistic miracles are real and our Lord it truly here. We have him and nobody can take him away from us,” she said and had the crowd of thousands repeating it with her.
Another popular guest speaker was Jonathan Roumie, the actor who portrays Jesus Christ in the television program, The Chosen.
He told the crowd that he had flown in from the set in Utah where he is shooting season five of the series. He had spent the last week filming the Last Supper scene.
The prospect of such a portrayal, he said, had caused him a lot of anxiety.
“As a Catholic, I understand the weight of depicting the institution of the Eucharist that night,” he said. ‘‘I spent alot of time with my spiritual advisor.”
He admired the crowd and was impressed that so many were in attendance.
‘‘If you went through all the effort that it took to get here to Indianapolis, I’m convinced that it was because the Lord called you and appointed you to be here personally,” he said.
“He’s after your heart and my heart. …
He’s come for you. He’s come for you because he loves you,” he said.
Karen Monroe, a pilgrim from New Bedford, was pleased to see the actor. She was an extra on the series and the experience was so moving, she plans to go to Utah for future seasons.
‘‘I have to say how blessed I feel to have had the opportunity to attend the NEC and through the grace of God it became possible. From the spiritual experience, the adorations, masses, family rosaries, and music, I left there with fire in my soul. It was beautiful to see so many young people and families. It truly was a Eucharistic Revival bringing the Lord to our nation that is ‘One Nation under God,” she said.
For those who were unable to attend the NEC, go to eucharisticrevival.org. to watch keynote speakers, view photos and learn more.
The Diocese is holding a one-day Eucharistic Revival on September 7 at the former Bishop Connolly School. This will be similar to the NEC, just on a smaller scale. (see story on page 16.)
More photos from the NEC found on page 9
Salt, Light and Leaven
Fr. Leonard P. Hindsley: Emeritus pastor, author, professor and world traveler
By Fr. Roger Landry Interim Executive Editor
Father Leonard P. Hindsley, the emeritus pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Westport, who was also a professor at Providence College, has just published two new books. To mark the occasion and profit from his scholarship and work, the Anchor recently interviewed him on the way he’s spending his retirement and what all Catholics can learn from the subjects of his study.
Anchor: Few people have ever written one book. You’ve now published two in a short span of time. Most would not call this retirement! Were these works you’ve long wanted to write and now just have the time?
Hindsley: As a professor at Providence College for thirty years I had the incentive to write books especially in German literature, but when I became pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Westport, I had no time to complete the projects that I had begun. Translating and writing a book takes a lot of time and effort. After retirement I began to work on Christina Ebner’s Sister-Book of Engelthal and discovered a binder in the basement with half the translation done. I had completely forgotten that I had already begun work on this project!
So it was relatively easy to publish the work about the foundation story and life sketches of many of the Dominican nuns at the Monastery of Engelthal in Bavaria. Engelthal was a center of mystical life and writings in the fourteenth century. More works were written there than in any other Dominican monastery of nuns.
Anchor: In addition to being a priest, you also were a professor. Describe for Anchor readers that part of your life.
Hindsley: Professors are expected to conduct research and publish over the course of their careers. Teaching students was of greatest importance for me. I taught in the Development of Western Civilization Program, which was an incredibly enriching experience for me. I taught both Theology and Literature over four semesters. I also conducted Theology courses and, no surprise, courses in German language and literature. I was never bored, in fact,
August 2, 2024
teaching was always exciting.
Anchor: The work of translating a book is far more than just translating, but it’s writing introductions, explanatory footnotes and more. What did you bring to the works?
Hindsley: These mystic texts have never been translated into English. There are some modern German versions, but they are problematic. In one text the translator has one of the nuns saying, “I am not aware that I have ever committed original sin.” Any Catholic would recognize the stupidity of that statement. I checked the original German. What the nun had actually said was, “I am not aware that I have ever committed a mortal sin.” That’s a huge difference! I’ve dedicated myself to these translations because I know both medieval German and theology and hopefully will not make such an error.
Anchor: Tell us about Christina Ebner and the Sister-Book of Engelthal. What lessons does the wisdom it contains have for every day Catholics in 2024?
Hindsley: Christina Ebner (1277-1356) was a Dominican nun and prioress (superior) of the Monastery of Engelthal. Her Sister-Book is one of nine such texts written in the fourteenth century about several of the Dominican monasteries of nuns in German-speaking lands. Christina’s text contains the story of the community of women that founded a monastery. It shows their progression from being pious laywomen who became beguines (female ascetics in community), but eventually sought
affiliation with the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans). The book also contains life sketches of individual nuns.
What is remarkable about the foundation story and the lives of the individual nuns is the power of God’s grace acting in their lives to bring about conversion of heart to deeper faith, a more lively hope in Christ’s promises and an ardent love for Jesus himself. The founder of the community was a woman named Adelheid Rotter, who “turned from her sinful life” to embrace a life of personal goodness and charity for others.
These nuns are an example for all of us who need to continue our deeper conversion to Christ. Their lives are an inspiration to us today because they followed the teachings of Christ and the Church, dedicated themselves to prayer and came to realize that it is the love of Christ for us that sustains us on our pilgrim journey through life to eternal life.
Anchor: Please describe for us Adelheid Langmann and what revelations she claimed to receive. Are there any ways you’ve grown as a result of your spending so much time studying her life and revelations?
Hindsley: Adelheid Langmann (1306-1375) was a contemporary and a relative of Christina Ebner. In her Revelations she tells about her own story of conversion to a deeper relation to Christ. She and her family resisted her calling to become a Dominican nun, but through the advice of devout friends and revelations, she entered the monastery. Christ revealed to her, “She must be mine.”
One of the most important aspects of her love for Christ is the reception of His Body and Blood in Holy Communion. Many revelations and insights come to her both in yearning for the Eucharist and in feasting upon it. She described one such revelation she received from Christ: “He looked upon me with the eyes of his mercy and his eyes were filled with love.”
Her relationship with Jesus was characterized by love and not by fear. She dedicated herself to praying for the release of souls from purgatory, the conversion of sinners to goodness and the strengthening in faith of devout people.
Retired Rev. Leonard P. Hindsley
Cape Cod parish comforts families of those with Dementia
By Rosemary Dillon Special to the Anchor
CAPE COD — Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville and Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Osterville are offering joint spiritual support groups for those suffering from dementia and for their caregivers.
It began a few years ago, when Pat, a caregiver to her husband Bob, felt that although Cape Cod had a great support network available to residents dealing with the difficulties of dementia, one thing missing on the Cape was a means to meet the spiritual needs of the person with dementia and his or her caregiver. When approached about this need, Pastor Father Greg Mathias was very enthusiastic and regularly attended the group.
Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a group of symptoms such as loss of memory, language, problem-solving, perceptions and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to impact daily life.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.
Some other causes of dementia are Lewy Body Dementia, Frontal-Temporal and Vascular Dementia. All cause damage within the brain. Dementia is more likely to be seen in elders.
Ongoing research is demonstrating that spirituality and religion appear to slow cognitive decline and help people with coping strategies to deal with the disease and have a better quality of life.
Since the pandemic, when many were isolated for a long time, it was noted upon returning to Mass that some parishioners had significant changes in their mental status. They did not remember others or were behaving differently. This was hard for everyone, especially the person’s
primary caregiver, often the spouse or child. One of the most difficult side effects of dementia for the person and caregiver is isolation. Family and former friends are uncomfortable and unsure of how to continue the relationship and friendly socialization that was once so natural and enjoyable.
The formation of the dementia support group was organic. Our Lady of Victory Parish has formed a spiritual support group that meets after the 9 am Mass on the second Tuesday of the month in the parish center. This group is open to anyone who has, or is affected by, someone with dementia. The group prays together, sings familiar hymns together, and shares the ups and downs of living with these challenges. Birthdays are honored each month with a little gift made by Gerry, one of the members, in his woodworking shop.
The result of these gatherings is that he members of this community are finding solace and understanding as they journey together.
Contact information is shared so reaching out between meetings is possible and encouraged.
Louise, a caregiver for her husband Tom, said, “I find it nourishes us spiritually through prayer, music, sharing and at times humor, as we live our dementia journey together in a faith-filled community.”
JoAnn, who cared for her husband until his death, said, “I come to the group to be with people who understand, to deal with my loneliness, to renew my faith, and to share
Diocese of fall RiveR † official appointments † 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 made the following appointments:
Reverend Freddie Babiczuk, from Pastor of St. Anthony, St. Jude the Apostle and St. Mary Parishes in Taunton, to Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph and St. Michael Parishes in Fall River
Reverend Christopher Stanibula, from Parochial Administrator of St. Anthony - St. Rita Parish in Mattapoisett/Marion, to Parochial Administrator of St. Anthony, Saint Jude the Apostle and St. Mary Parishes in Taunton
Reverend Paul A. Caron, Temporary Administrator of St. Anthony-Saint Rita Parish in Mattapoisett/Marion
Effective August 28, 2024 + + +
Reverend Marek Chmurski, from Parochial Vicar of Saint Margaret of Scotland to Parochial Administrator of Saint Anthony-Saint Rita Parish in Mattapoisett/Marion
Effective September 20, 2024
my experiences.”
Pat, a caregiver, founder and facilitator of the group, said: “At the meetings I often feel God’s loving hand guiding me as I share some thoughts through a prayer or reading, which hopefully provides an avenue to discussion.
‘‘It is no surprise that a dialogue begins. Sharing begins, even our non-verbal friends respond with a smile or a nod. There is no right or wrong.
There is total acceptance. It is a safe, comfortable environment.”
This ministry offers prayer and songs all familiar to those with cognitive issues, and it offers community and acceptance in a safe, non-judgmental setting. It is a means to end the isolation so debilitating to both the person and the caregiver. The monthly message is: “You are not alone.”
For additional information, call the OLV parish office at 508775-5744.
August 2, 2024
Editorial
CONTINUING THE EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and the National Eucharistic Congress were the two most spectacular components of the ongoing three-year-plus National Eucharistic Revival, meant to catalyze greater Eucharistic knowledge, faith, gratitude, amazement, love and life among Catholics in the United States.
The 65-day Eucharistic Pilgrimage, a fourpart Eucharistic procession from the Atlantic, Pacific, north and south making a cross over the country converging in Indianapolis, was a first in any country in the history of the Church. It cumulatively drew hundreds of thousands to meet Jesus in the Eucharist in Churches, on streets, boats, bridges and highways, in prisons, schools and nursing homes, and put into relief the dynamic, pilgrim nature of the Church, walking with and following Jesus each day as the Eucharistic Good Shepherd seeks to lead his flock to the eternal sheepfold.
The five-day Eucharistic Congress was the first such national Eucharistic celebration in 83 years. It brought together over 50,000 Catholics to rejoice in the ongoing incarnate self-gift of Jesus Christ in sacramental form, to adore him, receive him, exalt him, get to know and appreciate him better, and learn more effectively how to share him with others.
Both the Pilgrimage and the Congress were noteworthy and newsworthy occasions, truly spectacular manifestations of the Church’s Eucharistic faith. But these extraordinary forms are meant to point us all to their ordinary expressions.
The word “congress” comes from a Latin word for “walking together,” and indicates the way Christians each Sunday, indeed every day, come together to worship the Lord. The word for Church in Greek — ekklesia — refers to how believers have been called together out of their surrounding environments in order to worship as one. The Church, in effect, is a congress, and we show that congressional reality best when we convene around the altar to meet, listen to, lovingly adore, humbly receive and commit to announce the Eucharistic Lord Jesus.
That daily Eucharistic congress is meant to flow from and lead to the perpetual pilgrimage of the Church through time as Catholics structure their daily life in communion with the Lord who accompanies and guides them.
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In the holy Eucharist the same Jesus who was within Mary’s womb, whom St. Joseph held in his strong arms, who traveled with the Holy Family on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, who crisscrossed the ancient Holy Land with the disciples and apostles and who has gone ahead of us to the Father’s house, journeys with us. He just looks different, in his doubly-miraculous sacramental appearance in which he changes the substance of the bread and wine totally into himself and, lest we be disgusted by feeding on obviously human flesh and blood, conceals himself under the appearances of human food even though after the consecration no bread or wine remains.
Christian life is, therefore, meant to be a continuous upward spiral between the Eucharistic congress that takes at the altar and the Eucharistic pilgrimage we make uniting all aspects of our daily existence to God-with-usstill-with-us. That Eucharistic awareness and vitality is what the National Eucharistic Revival is seeking to revivify within believers as it equips and emboldens them to help others to learn and live.
After the Congress, the Revival has entered a “missionary phase” in which each Catholic in the country is being asked to “walk with one” person who is presently not journeying with the Eucharistic Lord and his Church to Mass and in daily life. Surveys show that on any given Sunday five of six Catholics in the United States are prioritizing something other than the Eucharistic Lord on the Lord’s Day.
These fallen away Catholics are the lost sheep of our families and the family of the Church and each of us is being asked by the Church not merely to invite them back, but like Christ did on the road to Emmaus, to enter into conversation with them, to try to warm their hearts with the light of revelation, and to try to be Christ’s instruments to help them invite him to stay with them and to recognize him, as the two disciples did after the Resurrection, in the “breaking of the bread.”
This missionary dimension of the Eucharistic Revival was what was emphasized at the closing Mass of the Congress by Pope Francis’ legate, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization. The Filipino native is recognized as one of the greatest preachers in the English-speaking
world and he did not disappoint in Indianapolis.
In his homily, he focused on “Eucharistic conversion” as “missionary conversion.” Eucharistic conversion, to turn back fully to Jesus in the Eucharist, was the message, he said, Pope Francis asked him to share with everyone. The theme of the National Eucharistic Congress, Cardinal Tagle said, was “my flesh for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51) and illustrates, Cardinal Tagle underlined, that Jesus was sent by God the Father to give us the Eucharist; in him mission and gift are united. In us, Eucharist and evangelization are meant to be united, too.
Tagle proclaimed, “Jesus says, ‘I came down from Heaven not to do my will but the will of the One who sent me.’ Jesus is sent to be given by the Father to others. He is sent to be a gift.…The missionary is a gift. Mission is not just about work but also about the gift of oneself. Jesus fulfills his mission by giving himself, his flesh, his presence, to others as the Father wills it. … Jesus' mission and gift-of-self meet in the Eucharist."
Cardinal Tagle continued, “Where there is a lack or a weak in of missionary zeal, maybe it is partly due to a weakening in the appreciation of gifts and giftedness. …Those who do not see gifts in themselves and in others will not give gifts. They will not go on a mission.” He asked whether husbands and wives see each other as gifts or problems; whether children see their parents as gifts of ATM cards; whether parents see children as gifts or burdens; whether priests and deacons see their bishops, religious see their superiors, whether all of us see the poor, homeless and sick and those who are different as gifts.
To see ourselves and others as gifts, he continued, and to live out of Christian mission, we must regard the Eucharistic Jesus as a gift. Many, he stated, see the Eucharistic Jesus as a problem. In John 6, when Jesus declared that he is the Bread of Life and that we need to eat his flesh and drink his blood, many of his disciples responded aloud by saying the teaching was hard and wondering who could accept it. Many, as St. John said, returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with Jesus. Cardinal Tagle noted, “They returned to a way of life without Jesus. They chose his absence
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Bishop Edgar da Cunha at the Blessing of the Fleet in Provincetown
The annual Blessing of the Fleet took place in Provincetown on Sunday, June 30 with Bishop Edgar da Cunha imparting the blessing to water craft of all sizes in Provincetown harbor.
PROVINCETOWN — The annual Provincetown Portuguese Festival & Blessing of the Fleet was held over the weekend of June 29, and included Bishop Edgar da Cunha, S.D.V., imparting prayers to the watercraft in Provincetown harbor.
The event welcomes people from around the world who come to celebrate Portuguese culture and the proud seafaring heritage.
The annual festival is four days of live music, dancing, parades, food, games and more. With more than 30 events and activities with many of them free, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
The festival weekend is capped off with the Blessing of The Fleet. Following a procession through town to the water, boats decked out in their finest parade past the Bishop of the Diocese who imparts a blessing.
Traditionally during this ceremony, the Bishop anoints each boat with holy water and offers a prayer for their safety and prosperity in the coming season. This ritual holds significance due to the perilous nature of the fishing industry, known for the unpredictability of the sea and the highs and lows of the resource within it.
In Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod,
the Blessing of the Fleet has been an annual event since 1948.
Historically reliant on fishing as its main industry, Provincetown has faced numerous challenges over time, including depleted fish stocks, gentrification, and stringent regulations. These factors have significantly reduced the town’s fishing fleet, once a cornerstone of its economy to near endangered levels.
The Blessing of the Fleet is a cherished tradition originating from Portugal centuries ago, now observed in coastal communities worldwide.
August 2, 2024
‘Words cannot describe it’: Bishop urges ‘renewed zeal’ in face of ‘heinous’ Last Supper mockery at Olympics
By Daniel Payne CNA News
CROOKSTON, MINNESOTA
— Bishop Andrew Cozzens this weekend slammed what he described as the “heinous” mockery of the Christian faith displayed at the Summer Olympics in Paris on Friday, urging Catholics to respond to the spectacle with fasting and prayer.
The drag-queen-led parody of the Last Supper featured during Friday’s opening ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympics sparked a wave of incensed reactions and denunciations from Catholic leaders and others around the world.
The controversial scene, part
of the 1.5-billion-euro (about $1.62 billion) spectacle to kick off the Olympic Games, featured drag queens portraying the apostles and an overweight DJ as Jesus in what appeared to be a part of a fashion show apparently mocking Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting.
In a statement on Saturday, Cozzens — who also serves as the chairman of the board of the National Eucharistic Congress — said the performers “publicly defamed” the Last Supper with the “evil” display.
Cozzens noted that at the National Eucharistic Congress this month, the faithful gathered to “make reparation for our sins” and pray for “healing and forgiveness.”
Yet a week later, he noted,
nearly a billion spectators in person and via telecast “witnessed the public mockery of the Mass” in which the Last Supper “was depicted in heinous fashion, leaving us in such shock, sorrow, and righteous anger that words cannot describe it.”
The bishop said that throughout history Christ has “called us — the people of God — to respond to the darkness of evil with the light that comes from the Lord.” Cozzens pointed out that the Last Supper, along with the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Christ, form the paschal mystery.
“Jesus experienced his passion anew Friday night in Paris when his Last Supper was publicly defamed,” the bishop said. “As his living body, we are invited to enter into this moment of passion with him, this moment of public shame, mockery, and persecution. We do this through prayer and fasting. And our greatest prayer — in season and out of season — is the holy sacrifice of the Mass.”
Cozzens urged the faithful to attend Mass this week with “re newed zeal,” to “pray for healing and forgiveness for all those who participated in this mockery,” and to “commit ourselves this week to greater prayer and fasting in reparation for this sin.”
coming week and considering an extra Holy Hour.
“We may also be called upon to speak about this evil. Let us do so with love and charity but also with firmness,” the bishop said. He urged Catholics to “ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen us with the virtue of fortitude.”
“France and the entire world are saved by the love poured out through the Mass, which came to us through the Last Supper,” he wrote. “Inspired by the many martyrs who shed their blood to witness to the truth of the Mass, we will not stand aside and quietly abide as the world mocks our greatest gift from the Lord Jesus.”
Daniel Payne is a senior editor at Catholic News Agency. He previously worked at the College Fix and Just the News. He lives in Virginia with his family.
He further suggested attending Mass more than once in the
National Eucharistic Congress in Pictures
Jesus was present at the five-day National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana. Top left: Oscar Rivera, Jr., Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Fall River, motivates a crowd; Top right: The Eucharist is revered at the center of Lucas Oil Stadium; Bottom left: Pilgrims at the Congress; Bottom right: Fr. George Harrison and Deacon Joe P. Harrington, Associate Director, Strategic and Pastoral Planning for the Diocese on the street in front of the Indiana Convention Center.
August 2, 2024
Contextualizing Near-Death Experiences
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are a complex set of phenomena that often include reports of leaving one’s body, seeing it from outside or above, passing through a tunnel of light, seeing various forms of illumination, experiencing the presence of deceased relatives and friends, and even sensing the presence of angelic or divine beings. Between 12 and 15 percent of resuscitated heart attack patients report NDEs.
Sometimes discussions of these experiences include spiritual interpretations and religious overtones, and some commentators have claimed that “near-death experiences are certainly pronounced and conspicuous evidence of a trans physical soul” that we may use “to extract information about the afterlife.” Such strong claims, however, require further substantiation, even as they trigger vigorous discussion.
NDEs, to be clear, are not instances of a person’s actually dying and then returning from the dead to tell about it. If an individual were to die and return to life, there would have to be a supernatural explanation and cause. Human corpses do not come back to life, apart from the rare miraculous events surrounding the deaths of Jesus, Lazarus, the daughter of Jairus, and the son of the widow of Nain, as we see in the Gospels.
Human death always involves the key notion of irreversibility, which is to say: the irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions, or the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem, as explained in the 1981 Guidelines of the American Medical Association. NDEs involve situations that are reversible. They may be caused by physiological phenomena that arise as the human brain faces various stressors, like oxygen deprivation, rather than any properly supernatural phenomena.
While supernatural forces could, in theory, cause an NDE, explanatory entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity, as “Occam’s razor” counsels. The Church’s wisdom in evaluating such matters is that we should generally prefer a natural explanation for a phenomenon, unless and until the evidence for a supernatural explanation becomes truly compelling or overwhelming.
Rather than presupposing a supernatural explanation for NDEs, scientists have con-
August 2, 2024
sidered alternative explanations by examining stressful, near-death situations and their effects on brain function.
A 2023 Scientific American article notes how researchers “analyzed EEG data from four comatose patients before and after their ventilators were removed. As the patients’ brains
became deprived of oxygen, two showed an unexpected surge of gamma activity, a type of high-frequency wave linked to the formation of memory and the integration of information.”
This raises the prospect that even in situations of severe hypoxia, certain brain functions may, at least briefly, operate in ways that could still affect thought and perception.
Dr. Kevin Nelson, a researcher who has studied near-death experiences extensively, notes “One of the most common causes of near-death experiences is fainting,” which is able to generate a sense of being separated from your own body, or a feeling of euphoria. Researchers have also reported that a restriction of oxygen flow to the eye can sometimes result in an experience of tunnel vision.
Others have argued that central nervous system hallucinatory mechanisms may contribute to NDEs. The well-known neurologist, Dr. Oliver Sacks, notes how migraine headaches can generate illusions or hallucinations, which sufferers often describe as pulsating lights, shimmering illumination, or fields of brightness.
Sacks has also described the work of Swiss neuroscientist Dr. Olaf Blanke who was able to generate a hallucination, “a ‘shadow person’ in a patient by electrically stimulating her left temporoparietal junction. ‘When the woman was lying down,’ Sacks reported, ‘a mild stimulation of this area gave her the impression that someone was behind her; a stronger stimulation allowed her to define the [someone] as young but of indeterminate sex.’”
NDE’s can also resemble drug-induced experiences, and many have noted the similarity of NDE accounts to essays written by conscious drug users about their experimen-
tations and trips while using drugs like mushrooms, cannabis, LSD, ayahuasca, etc.
Sacks also offers the important observation that the reason hallucinations seem so real is that “they deploy the very same systems in the brain that actual perceptions do.” When a person is hallucinating a face, the fusiform face area, normally used to perceive and identify faces in the surrounding environment, is activated; when someone is hallucinating a voice, the auditory pathways are stimulated. It seems reasonable to believe that NDEs may rely on similar mechanisms.
Sacks also raises the possibility that NDEs may not occur when individuals are actually suffering an absence of circulation to the brain or when they are trapped in a deep coma, but rather as they are surfacing out of the coma and their cortex is beginning to regain function.
Since it is difficult to verify the cause of an individual’s NDE, it is wise to use some caution around the interpretation of such experiences.
The most authoritative source of information about the afterlife remains the One who came from heaven, redeemed us through His suffering, death and resurrection, and who invites us to follow Him into eternal life.
Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as Senior Ethicist at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter. org and www.fathertad.com.
In Your Prayers
Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks:
(Continued)
Aug. 5
Rev. Martin J. Fox, Founder, St. Paul, Taunton, 1917,
Rev. Thomas A. Kelly, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1934
Rev. 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 Rev. 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, 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
Aug. 28
Rev. Edward Callens, SS.CC., 2006
Rev. Thomas L. Campbell, C.S.C., 2012
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
Sept. 2
Rev. Paul O. Robinson, O.Carm., Former Diocesan Judicial Vicar, 2018
Sept. 3
Rev. Thomas J. McGee, D.D., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1912
Sept. 4
Rev. Joseph P. Tallon, Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1864
Rev. John J. Maguire, Founder, St. Peter the Apostle, Provincetown, 1894
Sept. 5
Rev. Napoleon, A. Messier, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1948
August 2, 2024
27th Annual FACE Summer Gala on Cape Cod
OSTERVILLE — The Diocese of Fall River will celebrate the 27th Annual FACE Summer Gala on Cape Cod on Friday, August 16, 2024, at the Wianno Club in Osterville, overlooking spectacular ocean views. It will take place from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
An exciting program of events being planned including a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, and a live auction with coveted prizes.
Event Chairs
Tom and Pat Marmen of Cotuit, parishioners of Our Lady of the Assumption in Osterville, have long been involved in Catholic Education.
Victory Parish & Our Lady of the Assumption Parish and Chaplain, St. John Paul II High School & Preparatory Division.
The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Catholic Schools on Cape Cod.
The Marmens and the FACE Summer Gala committee have been working together to plan this summer tradition.
The event supports families who desire a Catholic education for their children and who are in need of financial assistance to attend a Catholic school in the Diocese.
The 8th Al Makkay Sr. Award will be presented to the honored recipient, Rev. Christopher D. Hughes, Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of
During the event, guests will have the opportunity to participate in the fun-filled Gift Raffle, Live Auction and Fund A Scholarship with Cape Cod Auctioneer John Terrio, of Auction Knights.
Live Auction items include an exclusive wine tasting for eight friends in one’s home by Patricia Allen Lornell at Off The Vine, getaways at the Chatham Bars Inn, Ocean Edge Resort & Spa and a three-night stay in Charleston, South Carolina, foursomes of golf at Wianno Club, Cummaquid Golf Club and Hyannis Port Club, and more.
All are invited to join the FACE team for a spectacular evening raising critical scholarship dollars for students in need.
For tickets, sponsorships and donations, visit: www.face-dfr.org/2024-summer-gala.
8 Continued from page six
rather than his presence in their lives. Instead of accompanying him, they walked alone. Their rejection of the gift of Jesus’ word, Body and Blood meant they would not walk with him and neither could he send them on mission.”
Tagle then focused on what happened after many of the disciples had left Jesus. He asked the 12 apostles whether they, too, wanted to leave and Simon Peter replied, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” Cardinal Tagle commented, “Jesus is asking each one of us, ‘Do you also want to leave me?’ Like the others, I hope we can answer like Peter: ‘We will stay with you, Lord! We refuse to live far from your presence!’”
He stressed, “Those who choose to stay with Jesus will be sent by Jesus. The gift of his presence and love for us will be our gift to people. We should not keep Jesus to ourselves. That is not discipleship. That is selfishness. The gift we have received, we should give as a gift."
He cited Pope Francis’ letter to the Congress, which he said expressed the hope “that the participants of the Congress, fully aware of the universal gifts they receive from Heavenly food, may impart them to others.” He summarized, “A Eucharistic people is a missionary and evangelizing people. … When the priest or deacon says, ‘The Mass is ended, go in the Peace of Christ,’ please go! … What you have heard, touched and tasted, you must share with others. We have received the gift of Jesus! Let us go to proclaim Jesus zealously and joyfully for the life of the world!”
That is the way we are all called to live out the Revival, as we seek to have people join us on the Eucharistic pilgrimage of earthly life and join us at the sabbatine or daily Eucharistic Congress at the altar.
August 2, 2024
Jean Revil’s Shocking Death, and God’s Constant Goodness
By Fr. Roger Landry Interim Executive Editor
“God is good – all the time!”
Those who knew Jean Revil — longtime Catholic educator, campus minister, formator, volunteer, and animator — can easily recall how joyfully she would repeat this pious proclamation and teach it to others.
For her, however, this wasn’t just a favorite phrase. It captured how she lived her life: immersed in the inexhaustible goodness of the God whom she loved and served.
Jean’s life shockingly ended on July 17, during a freak accident as she was volunteering with “My Brother’s Keeper” on a house visit in Fall River. Our Brothers’ Keeper has been regularly featured in these pages for its superb work helping those less fortunate.
As painful as Jean’s sudden death was, there is something nevertheless fitting, indeed glorious, about her ultimately giving her life in the service of care for others.
Her death gives insight into the way she lived, which is why so many loved and respected her.
And her death challenges us to echo her favorite phrase with as much faith and joy as she did.
Many know Jean from her decades of work at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth where she worked as a teacher, campus minister and coach. Jean loved Stang and its mission, students, faculty and staff.
Many have rightly commented that Jean personified the mission of Stang and of Catholic education: helping people to encounter Jesus Christ and his Church, so that they might be transformed and prepared freely, responsibly and wholeheartedly to share in Christ’s saving mission.
I would see that up close every January during my early years as a priest, when I would accompany Bishop Stang and Bishop Connolly High Schools to the March for Life in Washington, DC, when the positive influence of Jean’s moral authority was on full display.
Since her death, many Stang alumni have been paying public and private tribute to her, sharing stories of how she inspired them and instilled in them a desire to love others, including the littlest, lost and least, as Christ has loved us first.
Jean was a long-time and very active member of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dart-
mouth and was a truly devout Catholic. Her faith was not just part of her life. It was her life.
She was a Benedictine oblate who loved Jesus and loved his Bride the Church. She passionately received Jesus each day at Mass and adored him regularly outside of Mass.
She was a profoundly prayerful woman who radiated God’s love and devoted her life to bringing Christian joy to others, especially those who are poor, in prison or finding life wearisome.
For her the corporal and spiritual works of mercy were not an exam question but a rule of life: if God is good all the time, she taught by example, then we must similarly strive, with God’s help, to be consistently good and generous.
After retiring from Stang, Jean strived to imitate God’s goodness in a variety of ministries, including helping families grieve the loss of loved ones at Waring-Sullivan Funeral Home, volunteering at My Brother’s Keeper and serving in the Catholic Residents Encounter Christ Ministry (REC) at the Dartmouth House of Correction.
During the last eight years of her life, she also served as director of adult faith formation at St. Joseph’s and St. Michael’s Parish and School in Fall River, passing on, as of the greatest importance, the treasure of Catholic faith, love and life.
cused of sexual misconduct and temporarily removed from her position at Stang. She handled the situation with complete trust in God’s providence. Quoting the prophet Isaiah, she “set [her] face like flint” and moved forward, confident that the truth would prevail. She was justly exonerated of all wrongdoing and returned to Bishop Stang until her retirement. She heroicly said at the time, “If one soul got out of purgatory and went to heaven because of the suffering I offered, it was worth it.”
Jean had a great devotion to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and would often quote his famous motto, “Verso L’alto” (“To the summit”), encouraging people to look to higher things, to keep their gaze fixed on heaven and to strive for goodness and greatness. She mirrored so many of Frassati’s qualities, including a love for nature, discreet service of the poor, and a desire to help others turn to Jesus in all circumstances.
Jean’s sudden passing has flummoxed those who knew and loved her, but she has left an enormous legacy: so many who have become better human beings and much more fervent and faithful disciples of Christ because of her.
Even in death her life proclaims that “God is good, all the time.” We pray that she now experiences the fullness of divine goodness, eternally, at the Summit to which her whole life unstintingly pointed.
Father Roger Landry is interim executive editor of The Anchor.
Jean was not one for superficial or worldly conversations. She often asked friends, old and new, “How is your prayer life?” She cared about deeper things, especially people’s relationship with God. She would beam with joy listening to others talk about the good things the Lord was doing in their lives and how they were responding to his graces.
Her faith in God’s goodness was on full display in late 2010 when she was falsely ac-
Day of Eucharistic Encounter to feature special program for children
FALL RIVER — With the aim of providing enrichment for all members of a family, the Fall River Diocesan Day of Eucharistic Encounter in September will feature a special, separate track for children.
“Come to the Table,” a Eucharistic Encounter program designed for children, will run concurrent with the adult sessions. “Come to the Table” offers a blend of fun activities, games, and lessons on the Eucharist for children in kindergarten through grade five.
The Diocesan Day of Eucharistic Encounter will take place on Saturday, September 7, at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River, from 8:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Adults and children will attend the day’s Opening Mass together as well as the last session at the conclusion of the day. In between, children will take part in “Come to the Table,” which will include lunch. Adults must register children for participation in the children’s track at the time of their own registration. There is no charge for children to attend.
“All of this is done in an effort to ensure
that kids can encounter and learn about the Eucharist at their own level, in a safe environment, providing peace of mind for parents, so they can feel free to attend sessions during the day,” explained diocesan Secretary for the New Evangelization David Carvalho, who is leading a committee planning the event.
Leaders of the children’s program are in compliance with the diocesan safe environment “essential three” protocol, and there will be separate bathroom facilities for children in
Daily Readings † Aug. 3 — Sept. 6
Sat. Aug. 3: Jer 26: 11-16. 24: Ps 69: 15-16. 30-31. 33-34: Mt 14: 1-12
The Diocesan Day of Eucharistic Encounter is offered as an opportunity for enrichment and renewal for adults and children as the Diocese celebrates its 120th anniversary and as the National Eucharistic Revival is underway across the country.
The day’s program for adults includes tracks in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, along with Adoration, music, vendors, lunch and more. Dynamic speakers will lead sessions: Christ Stefanick of Real Life Catholic; Auxiliary Bishop Cristiano Borro Barbosa of the Boston Archdiocese; and Father Hugo Cano, director of Hispanic Ministry in the Worcester Diocese.
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will be celebrant and homilist of a Mass to begin the day.
Registration is required and anyone considering attending is encouraged to register as soon as possible as space is limited. Please visit fallriverdiocese.org to register and to learn more.
Mon. Aug. 19 Ez 24: 15-23: Dt 32: 18-19. 20. 21: Mt 19: 16-22
Tues. Aug. 20: Ez 28: 1-10: Dt 32: 26-27ab. 27cd-28. 30. 35cd-36ab: Mt 19: 23-30
Wed. Aug. 21: Ez 34: 1-11: Ps 23: 1-3a. 3b-4. 5. 6: Mt 20: 1-16
Thurs. Aug. 22: Ez 36: 23-28: Ps 51: 12-13. 14-15. 18-19: Mt 22: 1-14
Fri. Aug. 23: Ez 37: 1-14: Ps 107: 2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9: Mt 22: 34-40
Trip to Eucharistic Congress was a life-changing encounter
By Joan D. Warren Editor joandwarren@anchornews.org
I am not the same woman who boarded a bus on the morning of July 17 and headed to Indianapolis, Indiana for the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC). The woman who embarked was what I considered to be a ‘‘good Catholic” with strong morals and an understanding that Jesus Christ died on the cross for us.
After five days attending the event that drew more than 60,000 fellow Catholics, I am now changed.
I truly believe that the Eucharist is the heart and soul of my faith and that faith grows stronger each time I received communion. And, boy did I receive communion. Everyday. I couldn’t get enough. Like a healthy diet, it is the nourishment I need to be whole.
In a story I wrote for the July issue of the Anchor, I included the following:
A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to daily life different.
I am different. From the moment I settled in on the bus, my life changed. Every encounter I had with those traveling or those I met at the Congress was profound. Jesus was present.
The first person I engaged with was an older woman named Liz from Rhode Island. We shared our personal information: where we are from, family, careers, where we worship. Traveling alone, she was eager to make friends. Liz chatted with other passengers and when we made our first stop, she pulled me aside and said she had a confession to make: She recently lost her husband and came on the trip to revive her faith.
She didn’t have to tell me that, but she felt comfortable to share that very personal information with a stranger. Jesus was there.
Another bus mate, Geoff, also from Rhode Island, felt at ease talking about his life story. Early into the 18-hour trip, I shared that I was a woman in longterm recovery from alcohol abuse and that changed our relationship from being pilgrims on a trip to one of kindred spirits.
As a certified recovery coach, I believe God put us together as Geoff was contemplating to stop drinking alcohol. By the end of the trip, Geoff considered himself to be a man in recovery. Jesus was there to guide me and Jesus was
there for Geoff to pray on his decision.
I believe Jesus that the presence of Jesus is in each of us. He takes what is broken and makes it far more beautiful than we could have hoped for.
I was paired up to bunk with a woman around my age, a woman I had only corresponded with through email.
Laureen is a very faithful single woman who lives with her mother. She is one of the smartest people I have ever met but suffers from debilitating neurosis.
I found that rooming with her was a gift from God. As someone with a history of lack of patience, I felt a sense of peace and a longing to help her feel comfortable. I didn’t sweat the small stuff and the Lord surrounded me with patience, love and compassion. We were completely compatible. Jesus was present.
Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT at a signing of her book, ‘‘Loved as I Am” at the NEC. I am next to Geoff Canham, a pilgrim on the trip who is in now recovery due to Sr. Miriam’s story and by the chance encounter of our meeting on the trip.
Walking around downtown Indianapolis, the air was static with love and joy. People of all ages, abilities, vocations, families with young children and religious had smiles on their faces!
Inside Lucas Oil Stadium or at the Convention Center where most of the activities took place, there was a sense that Jesus was among us.
Since returning, I feel an overwhelming sense of contentment. The Lord is in my heart, mind, body and soul.
I know I will continue to have relationships with my fellow pilgrims, especially Laureen and Geoff.
We have a special connection as followers of Jesus and the Holy Eucharist encounter we shared.
With this new, positive and loving outlook for life in Christ, I feel reborn. I have an overwhelming feeling of peace.
No longer will I burden myself with regret, self-pity, yearning for what I don’t have and resentment.
Through the five days of prayer and more
than a few cleansing crying sessions, I have let it all go.
Although I learned a great deal about the Catholic faith on the trip, I have much to learn. In October, I am planning on attending a Cursillo (a short course in Christian living with a purpose of to present a method of living as a Christian in the world. It also provides a method for continual, personal spiritual growth).
I will also attend the Women’s Advent Retreat on Saturday, December 7 at Corpus Christi Parish in Sandwich.
If the NEC was supposed to reawaken Catholic followers, it was a true success. For those who did not attend, please visit eucharisticrevival.org. to watch keynote speakers, view photos, videos and learn more.
The Diocese is holding a one-day Eucharistic Revival on September 7 at the former Bishop Connolly School. This will be similar to the NEC, just on a smaller scale. (See story on page 16.)
Thanks be to God!
August 2, 2024
Holy day of Obligation
The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Thursday, August 15. This is a holy day of obligation.
The solemnity commemorates the taking into heaven of Mary, soul and body, at the end of her life on earth, a truth of faith that was proclaimed a dogma by Pope Pius VII on November 1, 1950.
The feast, among the oldest and most solemn dedicated to Mary, has a long history; it was celebrated by Christians as early as the seventh century.
Look in your parish bulletin for Mass times.
Diocese of Fall River
TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel
Sunday, August 4, at 7 p.m.
Broadcast from St. Francis Xavier Church, East Providence ***
Sunday, August 11 at 7 p.m.
Broadcast from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Providence ***
Sunday, August 18 at 7 p.m.
Broadcast from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church New Bedford ***
Sunday, August 25 at 7 p.m.
Broadcast from Santo Christo Church Fall River ***
Sunday, September 1 at 7 p.m.
Broadcast from Our Lady of Fatima Church, Cumberland
August 2, 2024
Educating For an Eternity: Catholic Schools Employment Opportunities
The Diocese of Fall River and the Catholic School Alliance have open positions at schools in the Diocese. The Catholic Schools Alliance comprises administrators, teachers, staff, parents and clergy joined in partnership to educate the children of the Diocese of Fall River in Catholic faith and values. Our schools have a demanding educational culture that helps students from across the academic spectrum reach their God-given potential. With an emphasis on service and respect for the dignity of every person, we prepare students to meet the challenges of today’s diverse world and become meaningful contributors to society.
If you are presently looking for a job or to perhaps make a career change, visit the Catholic School Alliance employment opportunities page: https://www.catholicschoolsalliance.org/job-opportunities
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6
Sunday, August 4 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Ryan Kerr, C.S.C., Campus Minister, Stonehill College, Easton
Sunday, August 11 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Jason Brilhante, Pastor of St. John of God Parish, Somerset
Sunday, August 18 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Jeffrey Cabral, J.C.L., Pastor of Santo Christo Parish, Fall River
Sunday, August 25 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Christopher Peschel, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, New Bedford
Sunday, September 1 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Laurent Valliere, Administrator, St. Julie Billiart Parish, Dartmouth
Fr. Fintan Sheeran ss.cc., 95, dies
FAIRHAVEN — Father Desmond P. (Fintan) Sheeran, ss.cc., a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary-United States Province, passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, on Thursday, July 11, 2024. At the age of almost 95, he was the eldest member of the Province.
Born in Dublin, Ireland on August 27, 1929, to Laurence and Mary (Christopher) Sheeran, Fr. Fintan entered the Novitiate in Fairhaven in 1949, making his first profession of vows on September 14, 1950.
He attended the SSCC Major Seminary in Washington, DC from 1950 to 1955 and was ordained to the priesthood in Jaffrey, New Hampshire on September 24, 1955. He returned to Washington to study at Catholic University from 1956 to 1957 where he earned his STL (Licentiate in Sacred Theology).
He began his life of ministry as an SSCC by serving as Professor at Queen of Peace Seminary in Jaffrey, New Hampshire from 1957 through 1966 before returning to his beloved Ireland where, in 1966, he became the Director and a Professor at SSCC Cootehill.
Returning to the US in 1969, he was elected Provincial Superior of the SSCC East Coast Province, a position he held until 1976, when
he was elected Vicar General of the SSCC Worldwide Congregation in Rome, He remained there until 1982. Following a oneyear sabbatical and an internship in management design in Ohio, he returned to serve as a consultant, a facilitator, and a retreat director as well as the Director of the SSCC House of Studies in Cheverly, Maryland, a role he continued until 1996.
From 1966 through 2002 he served as Pastor at the SSCC administered parish of St.
Margaret of Scotland in Seat Pleasant, MD. He then traveled to Quezon City in the Philippines upon his assignment as Director of the Damien House of Studies and ministered there until 2006, when he returned to St. Margaret until 2014.
Following his departure from Seat Pleasant, Father Fintan continued his ministry as facilitator, retreat preacher, consultant, and mentor even after his “retirement” to Damien Residence – a remarkable religious journey spanning almost 75 years.
Father Fintan was pre-deceased by his brothers, Liam, Noel and Lawrence and his sister, Marie Burke. In addition to his vast SSCC family of brothers and sisters, he is survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins both in the US and in Ireland, and by countless friends.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Parish in Fairhaven on Thursday, July 18, 2024, followed by burial in the Sacred Hearts Community Cemetery.
Donations in Father Fintan’s memory may be made to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, PO Box 111, Fairhaven, MA 02719. May he rest in the Eternal Peace of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
