You may have seen the report shared at parishes last weekend that provides an update on Safe Environment initiatives in the Diocese. This update was issued in advance of World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence. As I wrote in my introduction to the report, “When I look back, it pains and saddens me to think about the tragic failure to protect the innocent who suffered and continue to suffer in so many ways. To all survivors of child sexual abuse, I am deeply sorry.”

In response to the abuse crisis, the Diocese has been, and continues to be, focused on creating a culture of child protection through several additions and reforms to our policies and procedures in the areas of abuse prevention and response. All of this is detailed in our Fostering a Culture of Protection report. There is also an introduction to Carolyn Shipp, who serves as our Director of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance and some interesting callouts on the reach of our safe environment training programs.
I encourage you to read this report to learn about our Safe Environment initiatives in the Diocese.

Including and Welcoming the Stranger

Bishop da Cunha at the Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary in New Jersey in 1978. Similar to so many, he, too is an immigrant to the United States.

Following a few days in Baltimore, Maryland, with my brother Bishops at the Fall Plenary Assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), I returned to Massachusetts, reflecting upon the many topics we discussed. The agenda was lengthy, but much was accomplished in service to the faithful. (For a detailed summary, the USCCB provides these helpful resources.)

Among my many reflections, I was impressed with information shared by Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso. Bishop Seitz’s diocese is located on the U.S. and Mexico border, where he has seen first-hand the plight of migrants. He has also witnessed the heartache of families who have been separated and those who have left their homes in search of a better life for themselves and their families with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. His presentation on the Church’s ongoing ministry to migrants and refugees was inspiring amid fears throughout the country of mass deportations. I am also  proud of the statement of pastoral concern for migrants in which we, the Bishops, and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. declared, “We stand in firm solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters.” Know that I do, too, and I hope that you will, too. 

In 1978, Bishop da Cunha left Brazil to travel to the United States to study Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary in New Jersey. At the recent Bishops’ meeting, the Bishops and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. declared in a statement, “We stand in firm solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters.”

That message was a source of inspiration as I, too, am an immigrant to the United States. I was born in Brazil and came to the United States in 1978 to study Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary in New Jersey, where I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree. Like so many, I worked hard to earn the benefits of living in the United States. We can and must do better to serve those in the greatest need. That includes migrants, as they are also children of God. They are indefatigable in their work and in spirit and are proud, hard-working people who cherish their culture and work ethic. They contribute immeasurably to our economy and, most importantly, to the vibrancy of our parish communities. 

Beyond the noise of campaign rhetoric, I pray that we recall that the United States is a nation composed of immigrants, including me! Since its founding, we have embraced the words of Jesus Christ: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:31-40). Let us remember that our nation was built from the resilience and tenacity of immigrants. That includes many of us here in the Diocese of Fall River, and most of our ancestors. 

Other presentations at the Bishops’ meeting included Bishop Stepan Sus, auxiliary and curial bishop to the head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Metropolitan of Kyiv-Halych, who shared information about the widespread devastation in Ukraine amid the continuing war with Russia. It was astounding –  but reaffirming – to hear how Catholic communities in Ukraine have endured the destruction of their homeland as they continue to gather in prayer each week. Their resilience speaks to a community strong in faith and love for one another and in Jesus Christ amid circumstances of unimaginable suffering. This, too, is a reminder that Jesus is always present, no matter the circumstances. Always. Please pray for peace in Ukraine and for its people, especially for the innocent victims of this tragic war. 

Giving and Receiving Thanks

Next week, we will pause from the demands of our busy lives, spend time with family and friends, and reflect upon the extraordinary blessings we have received from God almighty. I will begin my Thanksgiving day in prayer, remembering all who go without, not just on Thanksgiving but every day. So many throughout the Diocese make the difficult decision between food or housing each month. They work tirelessly but often come up short. For those who have in abundance, will you share? I hope you will find a way to do so. Read on to find out how.

Please consider donating food or funds to ensure everyone in our Diocese can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner regardless of their financial means. Catholic Charities of Fall River welcomes your donations at the Solanus Casey Food Pantry, 238 Bonney St. in New Bedford. If you or someone you know needs a Thanksgiving meal, please do not hesitate to contact the food pantry at (508) 997-7337, but call them as soon as possible to arrange for assistance. 

As the Diocese where the pilgrims first landed, none of our families should go without on this day of giving thanks. 

Christ the King and Religious Freedom

Is it a coincidence that the Solemnity of Christ the King, the final Sunday of the liturgical year, occurs right before Thanksgiving? About 400 years ago, a group of pilgrims set foot in the New World. 284 years later, those lands would become the Diocese of Fall River. Upon first landing in Provincetown, the pilgrims completed their journey from England in search of a new home where they could freely worship without fear of persecution. (Despite the popular notion that the Pilgrims first arrived in Plymouth, they stopped first in Provincetown, located in our Diocese!)                                                                                                                                                                                               

One may claim that the Diocese of Fall River is the birthplace of religious freedom in the New World. And they would be right. That spirit of religious freedom endures today throughout our Diocese and the country. We celebrate that freedom on the Solemnity of Christ the King. For some, the persecution the Pilgrims fled 400 years ago continues today, whether among their peers or in their daily lives. As the U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops shares, 

Today, religious freedom for many people means that we can believe whatever we want in private, but when we enter the public square or the marketplace, we may not speak of anything that relates to our faith…For Christians, when our faith is repeatedly marginalized in public life, we can fall into the habit of compartmentalizing our lives. We love Jesus in our private lives, but we shrink from acknowledging the kingship of Christ in social life. When we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, we declare to the world and remind ourselves that Jesus is the Lord of the Church and of the entire universe.

USCCB

This prayer from the USCCB is one that I will pray in the coming weeks. “Let us pray fervently that we will help others encounter a new Christ, our King, bringing the Gospel to the margins of society, that all might bear witness to Him before others.” Please join me in prayer for all who encounter challenges to practice their faith.

Until then, let us reflect upon and examine the Free Exercise Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which protects citizens like you and me to choose and practice the religion of our preference. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Bishop da Cunha