From St. Mary’s to All Saints: Embracing Change, Honoring Legacy, and Living Faith

Honoring St. Mary’s Legacy and Embracing New Beginnings

I was in Taunton Saturday afternoon for events to celebrate and honor the legacy of St. Mary’s Parish in that city. With an estimated millions of dollars needed for significant structural repairs and safety upgrades to be made to the parish church, the difficult decision was made earlier this year to close the parish. St. Mary’s was already part of the Taunton Catholic North collaborative with St. Anthony and St. Jude Parishes; members of all three participated in the events.

St. Mary Church has been unused for some time because of safety concerns, so we began with an outdoor prayer service in front of it. I shared my own memories of the church, especially my first time walking in over 10 years ago for a Mass with Catholic school children from across the city. It was packed and full of youthful energy, and remains for me a joyful, happy memory. I reminded those present, especially from St. Mary’s, that while the church is made of inanimate stone, the parish was made of living stones -its parishioners- who can continue to practice their faith at other churches bringing with them their wonderful memories.

We then processed together to nearby St. Anthony Church with some participants carrying items representative of the long and fruitful history of St. Mary’s. Once there I was  pleased to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the parish.

In my homily, I called attention to Jesus’ parable shared in the Gospel where the Pharisee and the tax collector went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee, self-righteous and proud, did not think he needed to do anything different; the tax collector, however, stood back, asking for God’s mercy. He was ready to embrace change and conversion. Change is difficult for most of us. While we usually like things to remain the same, change is the one constant in our lives. It is, and must be, part of life in order to move forward.

St. Mary’s closed because things change and its parishioners are now welcomed into new spiritual homes where they can continue to pray and to encounter God. In so doing, no one should ever forget St. Mary Parish. It should be remembered and celebrated always by parishioners throughout their lifelong journey of faith.

I pray that they -and all of us- will take comfort in knowing that God doesn’t change and nor should our faith in Him. We can be confident in knowing that whatever change we must face, God will not abandon us. He remains with us and is always by our side and reminds us to be not afraid.

A Reminder of the Gift of Catholic Schools

Left to Right: Bishop da Cunha celebrating Masses at Bishop Stang High School, Dartmouth, and St. John Paul II School, Hyannis, as a new school year is underway.

To mark the beginning of a new school year, each fall I visit our Catholic high schools in the Diocese  to celebrate Mass and to meet the students, teachers, and staff. These visits remind me of the incredible gift of a Catholic education and of the dedicated teachers and staff who make it possible. I also thank the families of our Catholic school students for their belief in the value of a Catholic education.

All Saints and All Souls Day

On Saturday, we will celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints Day and on Sunday, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, also known as All Souls Day. These are two very different, but important, days on the Liturgical Calendar. 

On All Saints Day, we honor the saints and martyrs who served the Lord and ask for their prayers that we, too, may one day share eternal life with them in heaven. We often turn to the Saints for their intercession. How many times have you prayed to St. Anthony to find a misplaced item? Or to St. Michael for protection from evil? The saints play an important role in the everyday lives of Catholics.

On All Souls’ Day, we remember our loved ones who have been called to their eternal home. For many of our brothers and sisters in Latin America and in our Diocese, this day is also observed as Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. While it can be a difficult time as the pain of loss resurfaces, it is also a moment to cherish the beautiful memories of those who have gone before us and to give thanks for the love and joy they brought into our lives.

Día de los Muertos is celebrated as a joyful tribute to the lives of the departed. Altars with rich colors are created with candles, photos, flowers, and even food. Families will gather on this day in prayer, decorate the graves of the departed, and share their stories. It is a different, yet beautiful, tribute to the departed in an expression of love. 

On this All Souls Day, I will remember in prayer many family and friends who have passed, especially my mother and father. I will also remember the priests, deacons, and religious of the Diocese who passed away in the last year, as well as the lay faithful.

Sincerely,
+Bishop da Cunha