{"id":39519,"date":"2025-01-22T08:34:55","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T13:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fallriverdiocese.org\/?p=39519"},"modified":"2025-01-24T09:57:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T14:57:41","slug":"united-for-life-catholic-schools-week-and-the-early-success-of-the-stronger-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fallriverdiocese.org\/pt-pt\/bishops-blog\/united-for-life-catholic-schools-week-and-the-early-success-of-the-stronger-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"United for Life, Catholic Schools Week and the Early Success of the \u2018Stronger\u2019 Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Catholic Schools Week, United in Faith and Community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Catholic Schools are some of the most influential as it relates to the faith formation of children. In our schools, minds and hearts are shaped as students are engaged in learning. Catholic schools in the Diocese of Fall River offer academic excellence and a foundation rooted in faith, service, and the teachings of Christ. They form the whole person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the families whose children are already enrolled in one of our Catholic schools, I thank you for your support. Know that your child is receiving a transformative education that will prepare them for the rest of their lives. For those considering enrolling their children in a Catholic school, here is a link to open houses<\/a> in our Diocese. Here are a dozen reasons (in English<\/a> and Espa\u00f1ol<\/a>) from the National Catholic Education Association<\/a> on the value of Catholic education. As Jesus proclaimed, \u201cCome and See!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As we prepare to celebrate Catholic Schools Week beginning this Sunday, January 26,  I thank the teachers, administrators and staff of our Catholic schools for their tireless commitment to providing families in our Diocese a faith-based education. They each make tremendous sacrifices to carry out this ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Walk for Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Today, we observe our annual  Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children<\/a>, an opportunity to pray for the innocent and to help create a culture that upholds the dignity of every human person made in the image of God. How can you participate? The USCCB offers suggestions such as going to Mass, praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet or a decade of the Rosary and more<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walk for Life<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For several years, the faithful from Dioceses across the country traveled to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life, primarily to pray for an end to abortion legalized in the January 22, 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. A few years ago, the Court heard another case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which ruled that abortions are not a right under the U.S. Constitution. This was a moral victory for the pro-life movement, but our prayers and witness in support of the dignity of all human life are still very much needed. The anti-life strategy to expand access to abortion is now focused at the state level. In our effort to change hearts as well as the law,  the Diocese sponsors events here in Massachusetts to unite and affirm the pro-life community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, we began a new tradition, a Mass followed by a local walk. This year\u2019s Mass and walk are scheduled for Saturday, May 17, at 10:30 a.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette<\/a>. Please save the date in your calendar. I hope you can join us for this public display of support for all life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Word of God Sunday: Embrace the Living Word<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Pope Francis shares in Aperuit Illis<\/a>, \u201cThe relationship between the Risen Lord, the community of believers and sacred Scripture is essential to our identity as Christians. Without the Lord who opens our minds to them, it is impossible to understand the Scriptures in depth<\/em>.\u201d This Sunday, the third in Ordinary Time, we celebrate Word of God Sunday, helping us to  renew our connection to Scripture. The Bible is a gift. I invite you to regularly and purposely reflect on the Scriptures, allowing them to inspire and guide you in your daily life. Together, let us renew our commitment to hearing, living, and sharing God\u2019s Word in our lives and communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stronger Priests, Stronger Parishes, Stronger Church Update<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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I am grateful for the continued and widespread support and enthusiasm of the faithful for the Stronger Priests, Stronger Parishes, Stronger Church Initiative<\/a> for the well-being of our priests. As of this week, we have eclipsed more than 15,000 prayers and sacrifices in less than a month since the inception of the effort when we released my pastoral letter, A Time for Fortitude<\/em><\/a>. (You can sign up for the Spiritual Bouquet <\/a>here.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An update on the Spiritual Bouquet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n