Celebrating Catholic Schools

Celebrate Catholic Schools Week

The Catholic schools of the Fall River Diocese will observe Celebrate Catholic Schools Week 2022 from January 30 through February 5. Observed annually across the country, the week is designed to highlight the value of a Catholic education to young people, as well as its contributions to the Church and community. In the Diocese of Fall River, we are blessed with talented and dedicated clergy, educators, administrators, students, and families participating in our Catholic schools.

This year’s theme is Catholic Schools:
Faith. Excellence. Service.

In addition to the overarching theme for the week, there is a specific focus for each day that celebrates different aspects of a Catholic student’s life including parish, community, and nation. Other days celebrate vocations and the many people involved in our Catholic schools such as the students, faculty, staff and volunteers, and families. Our diocesan paper The Anchor ran a comprehensive and informative article on how much the Catholic Schools have to showcase next week, and that article can be found here.

Catholic Schools Week is a time when schools host open houses and open registration for the following academic year. This year many of our schools are providing in-person and virtual options. Students and parents who are interested in enrolling in one of the Catholic schools or learning more about the enrollment process should contact the school of interest. 

A complete list of the Diocese of Fall River Catholic schools

is available at: CatholicSchoolsAlliance.org/list-of-schools.

Financial Aid Available

For many families choosing Catholic Education means making financial sacrifices. In the Fall River Diocese, we are blessed to have support available through generous donors. The Catholic Schools Alliance works with parishes, schools, and the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education (FACE) to make affording a Catholic Education feasible for any family who desires one. During the 2020-21 school year, our schools, FACE, and parishes gave out $4.4 million in financial aid. 

 
Here are three sources of financial aid offered through the Diocese of Fall River:

• Foundation to Advance Catholic Education (FACE) — Students in Kindergarten through grade 8 are eligible for financial aid through FACE. Once your student is registered at one of our Catholic schools, complete the online FACTS application to apply for financial aid through FACE. Scholarships are awarded annually based upon financial need, usually in the amounts of $250 – $2000 per year. It is important to discuss any financial concerns with the principal of your school.
• SCHOOL-BASED— Students in high school (9-12), as well as some of our elementary schools, offer school-based financial aid. Again, I invite you to speak with your school’s principal or business manager to learn about school-based financial aid.
• PARISH SPONSORED—Many pastors throughout the Diocese of Fall River offer financial aid to active parishioners in their parishes. Please contact your pastor to find out if financial assistance is available.

Catholic education plays a critical role in offering families the opportunity to educate their children in an enriching, faith-based environment. Our Fall River Diocesan Catholic schools offer an exemplary balance of academic, moral, and personal development for young people in our area. To learn more, please visit the Catholic School Alliance website.

New Permanent Diaconate Class Formation to Begin

A new class of Permanent Deacons begins in September 2022, with what is known as the Aspirancy phase. Academic study will start the following September with ordination anticipated for June 2027. In preparation, the Office of the Permanent Diaconate will offer Information Nights (the same material is covered in all sessions) beginning in February. Those interested can choose from attending via Zoom: Saturday, February 19; Monday, March 21; or Sunday,  May 29,  from 7 – 8:30 pm or in-person: Monday, June 27, or Sunday, August 14, from 7 – 8:30 pm. Registration is required and can be done on the Permanent Diaconate website.
The diaconate is a vocation from God. A deacon is ordained by his bishop for service to the Church. Deacons serve as Ministers of the Word, at the Altar, and ministers of Charity and Justice. Permanent Deacons serve as a bond between the Church and the world, and thus manifests the love of God for both
The selection, discernment, and formation of deacon candidates is an extensive process. In fact, the entire formation process is a journey of discernment: “Through systematic opportunities for prayer, spiritual direction, formal course work, and pastoral-skills development, the candidate is able to reflect critically on his life and the various ministries to which he might be assigned. this process of discernment continues to the very moment of ordination.”
If you have any questions, please contact Deacon Frank Lucca or Rev Robert Oliveira, Co-Directors of the Office of the Permanent Diaconate at office@frpermanentdiaconate.com  or contact the Office of the Permanent Diaconate at 508-990-0341.
Please know of my continued prayers for each of you, especially as we navigate this current surge of covid cases. May we all remain strengthened by our faith, steadfast in our prayers, and encouraged by the projections as numbers begin to decline.
Yours in Christ,
Bishop da Cunha

Reverendísimo Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.

The Bishop of Fall River