FALL RIVER — For the first time, a special second collection will be held in the Diocese of Fall River to help make Catholic schools more accessible to more families.

This collection will benefit FACE -the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education, which raises money for need-based scholarships to assist with the cost of a Catholic education in the Diocese of Fall River. It will be taken up at all parishes in the diocese at September 10-11 weekend Masses.

In support of the collection, the Carney Family Foundation has announced it will match up to $50,000 in donations for FACE raised through it.

Since the opening of its first school, it has been the desire of the Diocese of Fall River to make its Catholic schools accessible to all families who wish to provide a Catholic education for their children. Toward this end, in 1991, the Diocese established the St. Mary’s Education Fund. In 2015, the St. Mary’s Education Fund changed its name to the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education or FACE to convey its mission more clearly.

FACE wants 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.

In the 2021-22 school year, FACE awarded approximately $1.4 million in financial aid to over 1,000 students who attended a Catholic school in all areas of the Diocese. FACE uses a third-party tuition assistance company to ensure a fair evaluation of all applications for assistance.

There are 19 Catholic schools in the Diocese that enroll more than 5,400 children across grades K-12. In these schools, students receive a values- and faith-based education in a high-quality environment dedicated to helping them reach their God-given potential.

Visit www.face-dfr.org/ to learn more about FACE.

Watch this video for a special message from Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., on the new school year and the upcoming FACE collection.

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