{"id":37948,"date":"2024-10-10T07:17:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T11:17:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fallriverdiocese.org\/?p=37948"},"modified":"2024-10-10T07:18:04","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T11:18:04","slug":"october-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fallriverdiocese.org\/pt-pt\/bishops-blog\/october-events\/","title":{"rendered":"October Events"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mass of Thanksgiving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday afternoon, we had a special Mass of Thanksgiving in our Cathedral to celebrate two significant anniversaries happening this year. The first is the 120th<\/sup> anniversary of the establishment of our Diocese of Fall River. In 1904, then Pope Pius X separated the territory of Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod from the Diocese of Providence to become what is now our Diocese of Fall River. The creation of the Diocese followed years of a growing Catholic population in the area, particularly in the cities of Bristol County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s other anniversary marks far fewer years but is one for which I am particularly thankful: my tenth anniversary of serving as your Bishop. I was installed as the Eighth Bishop of Fall River in St. Mary\u2019s Cathedral on September 24, 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am so grateful to our priests, deacons, religious, and parishioners who were able to attend what was a wonderful Mass on Sunday for our Diocesan family and for me personally. It was a joyful celebration that concluded with a reception and a beautifully decorated 120th-anniversary cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In my homily for the Mass, I shared that as we celebrate the 120th<\/sup> anniversary of the Diocese, we need to look back and recall the rich history, look at the present with gratitude, and look ahead with faith and hope. We look back remembering so many who came before us, the bishops, priests, religious men and women, as well as the lay faithful who built our Diocese. Through good times and bad, in the midst of suffering and joy, they persevered, building numerous institutions and a vibrant diocesan community of faith that continues today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we mark this anniversary, we need an attitude of gratitude for all that went before us and for all that we have today. Such an attitude helps us to realize the many blessings around us. Our families and our parish communities are still the bedrock of our church. In gratitude, we must give thanks. How appropriate that our anniversary observance was centered around the celebration of the Eucharist, which is the ultimate sign and act of thanks to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In remembrance and with gratitude, we must now continue to move forward. It\u2019s our turn to do our part, to re-build in hope and faith for now and for generations to come. Yes, there will be challenges; there always are. As I said in my homily at my installation ten years ago, \u201clife is not waiting for the storms to pass; it\u2019s learning how to dance in the rain.\u201d We must rely on our faith to do this. From a perspective of faith, we know that God has a vision for us, a plan for our Diocese and for our Church. We must be open to it and ready to conform our ways to God\u2019s plan. It is then that our ministries will bear much fruit, and we will find peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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