Celebration, Seminarians, and Support

Prayers for Eucharistic Encounter

The long-awaited Diocesan Eucharistic Encounter will take place this Saturday. I am so pleased to share that the response has been so overwhelming that we have had to close registration after reaching our 1,200-person capacity. The interest in this culminating celebration of the National Eucharistic Revival in our Diocese clearly demonstrates the abundant graces stemming from the many parish and diocesan Eucharist-focused events and programs over the last three years. I can think of no better way to fan the fire of revival in the belief of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist than by coming together as a faith community for reflection,  Mass and Adoration!

As the dedicated Encounter team works to pull the day together, I invite you to join us in praying for all those who will attend, the speakers (Chris Stefanick, Auxiliary Bishop Cristiano Borro Barbosa of the Boston Archdiocese, and Father Hugo Cano), and the blessings of the day to have a ripple effect for years to come in our Diocese. 

Praying for our Seminarians

This summer, I officially accepted Evan Mello and John Martin as seminarians for our Diocese. Evan has begun his studies at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, and John at Our Lady of Providence, Providence, RI.

Evan’s home parish is Transfiguration of the Lord Parish in North Attleborough, and John is a communicant of St. Anthony of Padua in New Bedford. I am very grateful for the work of Fr. Jack Schrader and Fr. John Garabedian in our Vocations Office. I ask you to also keep them in your prayers as they continue in their important work of helping men discern if the Lord is calling them to the priesthood. 

We are so blessed to have them, along with Kaique Santos, in the formation programs for the priesthood. Please remember them and all men discerning a vocation in your prayers.

Foundation to Advance Catholic Education

The Diocese of Fall River has sought to make Catholic education accessible to all families since its first school opened. To help achieve this goal, the St. Mary’s Education Fund was established in 1991; in 2015, the fund was renamed the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education (FACE) to better reflect its mission. FACE aims “to meet the challenges of serving diverse populations, while addressing the increase in the demand for financial assistance for families striving to send their children to a Catholic school in the Diocese.”

For the 2023-2024 school year, FACE awarded over 1,000 need-based scholarships to support students attending a Catholic school in the Diocese of Fall River, making a Catholic education a reality for local families, who desire one for their children, the heart of the mission of FACE. The  upcoming special collection will benefit the foundation and help it continue its critical outreach.

A second collection for FACE will be taken up at all parishes in the Diocese of Fall River at the September 14-15 weekend Masses. Please consider supporting the 2024 FACE collection in your parish to help bring a Catholic education within the reach of additional families in the Diocese. To donate online or learn more about FACE, visit www.FACE-DFR.ORG.

Yours in Christ,
Bishop da Cunha