As we reflect on the dignity of every human being, especially this month, which is Respect Life Month, we think about saving lives and defending life; we think of so many innocent people whose lives have been taken away from them. They have been deprived of the right to live, to see the sunshine, to see the beauty of the skies, and the flowers, and the colors. They have been deprived of that gift, and yet we are here, and we have been blessed.
Respecting life encompasses the defense of life in and out of the womb, as well as the lives of those who have been born, particularly the elderly. During this pandemic, more than ever, we’ve seen the vulnerability of our elderly population. We have seen so many lives lost. We have so many people who are suffering oppression and indignity — the poor, the lonely, the dying, the hungry, the victims of human trafficking, victims of slavery, victims of forced labor, victims of sexual tourism, victims of sexual abuse, and the list goes on and on. And these are all people whose lives are robbed of dignity, and we must defend them.
Life is a precious gift from God. He created each of us in His image, and therefore, the value of life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death needs to be respected and preserved. The work of the Office of Pro-Life Apostolate and Project Rachel remains an important ministry in our diocese. Children in the womb are not potential persons, but persons with potential—they must be treated as such. None of us has the right to take another life because it is a unique, special gift from God, and only God determines when it begins and ends.

Office of the Pro-Life Apostolate & Project Rachel

The Office of the Pro-Life Apostolate & Project Rachel admirably serves the Diocese of Fall River by striving to build a culture of life. This office provides pastoral care for men & women who may have suffered from the loss of abortion (through Project Rachel) and for those who are sick and dying.
Their mission is to educate and promote a Culture of Life that protects and preserves all life from the moment of conception till natural death. This office aims to bring this message to all by reaching out through our parishes, diocesan schools and the communities around us and to serve all according to the teachings and precepts of the Roman Catholic Church.
Though its office is currently closed to the general public without an appointment because of the  COVID-19 pandemic, the Pro-Life Apostolate continues its mission and is available to anyone in need of its services. You can contact the  Pro-Life Apostolate & Project Rachel by calling the office at  508-985-6509 or through their website contact page.

Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral to Highlight Respect Life Month

Each October the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life. In response to this call, I will celebrate a special liturgy as part of our observance of Respect Life Month in the Fall River Diocese. This Mass will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.
This Mass in celebration of Respect Life Month will be livestreamed on the diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate Facebook page.
All guidelines in place for the safe celebration of Mass during the pandemic will be followed including occupancy limits within the Cathedral to provide for social distancing. Anyone who wishes to attend this Mass in person must pre-register online: HERE. Seats will be allotted to those who register on a first-come, first-served basis.
This Mass is being hosted by the Fall River Diocesan Pro-Life Office, which is overseeing plans for the liturgy. Please contact Irina DeLucca at the office at 508-675-1311 or by email at idelucca@dioc-fr.org with any questions.
 

Foundation to Advance Catholic Education

I invite you to join me for the 26th Annual FACE Fall Scholarship Dinner as we honor our Catholic school faculty, administrators, and staff with the Timothy J. Cotter Friend of Catholic Education Award. While we can’t gather together in person at White’s of Westport as we have for many years, “The Show Must Go On LINE” and we have a wonderful virtual program planned for Wednesday, November 4th at 7:00 PM. We are partnering with White’s of Westport to provide meal packages to our sponsors on the night of the event to be enjoyed in the comfort of their homes while watching the event online! We are also thrilled to welcome our featured speaker and performer, Christian recording artist Matt Maher this year. To learn more about Matt please visit www.mattmahermusic.com.
Though this year’s event may look a little different, its goal remains the same. Our Co-Chairs John Feitelberg, President of HUB International, and Janna Lafrance, of Lafrance Hospitality, together with the entire Dinner Committee have continued to work to raise much-need scholarship funds for our Catholic school students in need. Please visit the FACE website to learn more or to register: www.FACEfalldinner.org.  I hope to see you there!
Yours in Christ,
Bishop da Cunha

The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
The Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
The Bishop of Fall River