From the Pastor January 11/12

A Time for Fortitude

My twin brother, his wife, and one of my sisters were here for Christmas Eve. They came to the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass. When I returned to the rectory after the 6 p.m. Mass, I was pleasantly surprised. I was hardly in the door when my sister Celia said, "John, that was an excellent homily, and you seemed so relaxed and happy." I don't know about your family, but mine doesn't freely hand out compliments. Hearing her say I appeared tranquil meant a lot to me. I want to convey my joy and love of God to parishioners, and I was glad to hear she felt she saw me doing that. Her comment echoed the comments of a parishioner who also said I seemed content and heard other parishioners say the same thing. I do feel happy, relaxed, and comfortable in my skin. I feel joy about my situation in life and my service to the parish and God, and I am happy I demonstrate it to people. No parish can be healthy if the pastor isn't healthy. 

Bishop Da Cuhna feels the same way about the vibrancy of parishes. Early in December, he published a pastoral letter entitled, A Time for Fortitude: Stronger Priests, Stronger Parishes, Stronger Church. The letter outlined "A vision that focuses on moving the local Church forward in relationship to Christ by actively working towards bringing our priests more stability, hope, holiness, and wellbeing." 

When Bishop Da Cunha announced at the October Priests Convocation that he was gathering the priests again on December 3 to present this new pastoral planning initiative, my heart sank. I've listened to many of these over the years. They are depressing. They are usually filled with dreary statistics about declining Mass participation, shortages of resources, and the declining number of priests, news that will sap the joy of the most optimistic. 

These issues did prompt Bishop Da Cunha's plan for action, but his approach is novel. He recognizes that progress won't be made only by closing parishes and retreating but by helping foster the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the priests of our diocese. 

In his letter, he offers two reasons for the evolution of the vision. 

• Thriving priests lead to vibrant parishes and apostolates.
• New unprecedented challenges and realities are being imposed on our priests, making it more difficult than, perhaps, at any time in our Diocesan history for them to thrive.

The bishop wrote, "The Spiritual Law of Causality points out that there is a causal relationship between the priest's holiness and the laity's holiness."  A Diocese with a Priesthood living their best lives in wellness and holiness will be a Diocese that is set aflame for the love of the Lord and the Eucharist."

The bishop asks for three things from the laity to support this initiative. 

• Embrace fortitude: "As a cardinal virtue and a gift of the Holy Spirit, fortitude strengthens us to joyfully and confidently do God's holy will despite fear, risk, and rejection." Let's all be courageous concerning sharing our faith! 
• Increase Prayer: We never receive anything from God unless we ask for it. So, let's all pray. Find a prayer card for the initiative at the welcome desks. A tri-lingual brochure also answers simple questions about the initiative and includes the prayer. We all must bombard Heaven with prayer.
• 
  Take Action: Support this mission according to your station in life. Use all the gifts God has provided you to support the "A Time for Fortitude:" initiative. Share your time, talent, and treasure to help make it a success.

If you want to print a copy of Bishop Da Cunha's Letter, A Time for Fortitude: Stronger Priets, Stronger Parishes, Stronger Church. Go to https://www.fallriverdiocese.org/stronger-priests-stronger-parishes-stronger-church-initiative. 

None of us may live to see the full fruit of this initiative, but we can't let that frustrate our work to support the work of Christ's Church here in our diocese. 

Annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass

Married couples celebrating a significant wedding anniversary in 2025 are invited to renew their wedding vows with Most Rev. Edgar M. DaCunha, S.D.V., D.D., at the Annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass, Sunday, February 9, 2025, at a 3:00 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the St. Mary of the Assumption, 327 Second Street, Fall River, MA 02721. To register, please get in touch with the Parish Office at 508-945-0677. 

Baby Bottle Boomerang 

January is Sanctity of Life Month. This month, we pray for respect for life from conception to natural death. While we rejoice in the Dobbs case reversing the Roe v. Wade abortion decision, we recognize we have much work to do to protect life against abortion and euthanasia. It is very possible that the Massachusetts Legislature will consider legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide in the coming year. It is an issue all Catholics must be aware of and ready to fight against.

Holy Redeemer has held a fundraiser called the Baby Bottle Boomerang for the past several years to benefit Your Options Medical Centers. Your Options is an agency that offers pregnant women services such as ultrasound tests and counseling to help women considering abortion know all their options. Pro-life people need to be ready to help women with problem pregnancies with prayerful and financial resources. We need to meet our words with action.

Parishioners participate in the Boomerang by taking a baby bottle, filling it with the loose change we receive during the month, and returning it in early February. Take a baby bottle as you leave Mass today and help support Holy Redeemer's effort to support pregnant women and families.

In observance of Respect Life Month, consider joining these prayer initiatives. 9 Days for Life, January 16-24. For more information, go to the website www.respectlife.org/9-days-signup. Commemorate Day for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on Wednesday, January 22. For more information, google www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/resources/January-22-day-of-prayer.cfm. 

Annual Divorced and Separated Healing Mass 

The Family and Respect Life Office of the Diocese of Fall River invites you to join them for the Annual Divorced and Separated Healing Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption 327 Second Street, Fall River, MA on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

Marriage Encounter Retreat 

For the first time in four years, the Holy Cross Retreat House, 490 Washington Street, North Easton, will offer the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Residential Weekend Retreat on January 24-26, 2025. The Marriage Encounter is designed to deepen and enrich the joys a couple shares together, whether they have been married a short time or for many years. Contact Matt & Julie King at (978) 870-5646 for registration or more information.