NEW BEDFORD — Nine candidates who are currently studying for the Permanent Diaconate in the Fall River Diocese will be installed as Readers by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at 7:00 PM in Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in New Bedford.

Assisting Bishop da Cunha will be Reverend Monsignor John J. Oliveira, director of the Permanent Diaconate Program, and Reverend Robert A. Oliveira, associate director of the program. Deacon Frank Lucca, who is assistant director of Candidate Formation and Continuing Formation for the program, will serve as Deacon.

The Ministry of Reader is the first of two ministries which candidates must receive and exercise as part of their preparation for ordination as a permanent deacon.

These candidates are the ninth class for the Permanent Diaconate of the Diocese of Fall River and have been in the formation program for two years.  They will continue for two more years of academic and pastoral formation before their ordination as deacons.

To be installed as Readers are Richard J. Bisson, Sr., Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Keith R. Caldwell, Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville; Gary L. Donahue, Holy Cross Parish, Easton; Kevin P. Gingras, Holy Family Parish, Taunton;  David O. Harum, St. Vincent dePaul Parish, Attleboro; George E. Hults, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Antonio M. Pimentel, Jr., St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet; Paul D. Spearin, St. Ann Parish, Raynham; and Matthew T. Sweeney, St. Theresa of the Child of Jesus Parish, Attleboro

Diocese of Fall River
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