A Church Renewed in Faith and Mission

Do You Know Someone Who is Being Called to Serve Christ and His People?

You may likely recall that we have conducted each fall over the past two years, our Called by Name initiative, which has allowed our Vocation Team to connect with  326 young men. I am grateful for the fruit of this effort: more men are joining discernment groups, attending events, and being accompanied by our Vocation Team. This fall, we welcomed a new seminarian, bringing the number of men in formation for our diocese to six.

At Masses on October 3–4, I invite you to consider prayerfully whether you know a young, unmarried man, from age 15 into his 30s, who shows faith, leadership, and a heart for service. Submitting his name is a way to encourage him to learn more about the priesthood; he will receive a letter from me, followed by resources and invitations from our Vocation Office. You may nominate someone who has been named before, and you can learn more or submit a name online. 

Please remember that every vocation is nurtured by the faith of a community- through the prayers, encouragement, and example of families, priests, and fellow Catholics who help young men recognize the possibility that God may be calling them to something greater.

Will You Join Us in Praying for Life?

At a critical time for the protection of human life, I invite you to come together in prayer at our annual diocesan Respect Life Mass on Sunday, October 11, at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, 327 Second Street in Fall River. We will ask God to strengthen our commitment to the dignity of every person and to guide us in caring for those who are most vulnerable. Registration for the conference following Mass is full, but I invite you to join us for this Liturgy to pray for all made in God’s image.

Following the Respect Life Mass, Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk will speak at our diocesan conference on end-of-life medical choices and the ethical questions families face during serious illness. A priest of our diocese and senior ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, Father Tad brings years of teaching and speaking on medical ethics, along with a background in science and theology. I am grateful that he will help us think through these difficult decisions with both clarity and compassion. (Please know that registration for the conference is now full.)

Laws Should Protect All Innocent Human Life and Support Families

I have joined with my brother Bishops in Massachusetts to issue a statement arguing that every person has God-given dignity from conception to natural death and condemn the state’s new abortion law as a failure to protect vulnerable lives. This is in response to legislation recently passed and then signed by the Governor that would permit “abortion throughout pregnancy for any reason, and it allows these grisly procedures—dangerous to mothers and cruel to their unborn children—to be performed in non-hospital settings.” Collectively, we are calling for laws that uphold the dignity of all human life and for practical support to help pregnant women and families facing difficult circumstances.

Each year, Respect Life Month offers the opportunity to renew our reverence for life and take concrete actions to witness to the beauty and sanctity of this foundational gift of the Lord. In our statement we offer some  concrete actions you might consider this year. Along with prayer, we’re encouraging you to consider taking part in an effort to pause and possibly overturn the new law.

Praying Together for Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness Week is October 5 to 11, and World Mental Health Day falls on Saturday, October 10. For many, these dates bring to mind someone they love who is struggling, or someone they have lost. Or maybe even themselves. This annual observance is a reminder of the need for us to check in with one another and to pray for those who need our support.

During October, I will celebrate two Masses for those facing mental health challenges and for those grieving a loved one who died by suicide or from causes related to mental health or substance use. These losses are such tragedies. Let us come together on Sunday, October 4, at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, 327 Second Street in Fall River, or on Saturday, October 24, at 4 p.m. at Corpus Christi Church, 324 Quaker Meeting House Road in East Sandwich in prayer.

During each Mass, we will remember loved ones whose names have been submitted for the Book of Remembrance. If you would like to include a name, please send an email to FR-Reception@ccfrdioc.org with “Name for Remembrance Book” in the subject line, or call Catholic Charities Diocese of Fall River at 508-674-4681, ext. 1101. Together, we can help support those with mental illness. 

Sincerely,

+Bishop da Cunha