About Diocese of Fall River
The Diocese of Fall River (Latin: Dioecesis Riverormensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese covering southeastern Massachusetts, including the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket, plus the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett, and Wareham on Plymouth County's south coast. Erected on March 12, 1904 by Pope Pius X from territory taken from the Diocese of Providence, it is a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston and serves roughly 275,000 Catholics in 78 parishes. Its mother church is the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River, and its eighth and current bishop is Edgar Moreira da Cunha, S.D.V., installed in 2014.
- Bishop
- Edgar Moreira da Cunha, S.D.V.
- Established
- 1904
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption (Fall River, Massachusetts)
- Territory
- Massachusetts counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket, plus the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett, and Wareham on the south coast of Plymouth County—encompassing southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands.
- Parishes
- 78 parishes (the diocesan Statistical Overview also lists 64 parishes and 11 missions)
- Province
- Archdiocese of Boston (Metropolitan Province of Boston)
History of the Diocese of Fall River
Catholic life in southeastern Massachusetts stretches back to 1821, when Bishop John Cheverus of Boston acquired land in New Bedford and Father Philip Lariscy built one of only six Catholic churches in all of New England. Parishes followed in Sandwich (1830), Taunton (1832), and Fall River (1837), where the original wooden St. John the Baptist Church was erected on the very site of today's cathedral. After the Civil War, immigration transformed the region: Portuguese Catholics founded St. John the Baptist in New Bedford in 1869 (the first U.S. Portuguese parish), and French-Canadian, Polish, Italian, German, Cape Verdean and Lebanese communities soon established their own parishes.
The area was part of the Diocese of Boston until 1872, when it was absorbed into the newly created Diocese of Providence. On March 12, 1904, Pope Pius X carved the Massachusetts portion out of Providence and erected the Diocese of Fall River as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Boston. The first bishop, the Most Reverend William Stang, was installed at St. Mary's Church—promoted to cathedral status—on May 8, 1904, with 25,000 faithful gathered outside. Over the next century, eight bishops would shepherd a diocese that grew from 44 parishes and 130,000 Catholics to nearly 78 parishes serving a quarter-million Catholics across Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties plus parts of Plymouth County.
- Erected March 12, 1904 by Pope Pius X
- Territory taken from the Diocese of Providence
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Boston from inception
- Eight bishops in succession from Stang to da Cunha
Bishops of Fall River (in succession)
Eight bishops have led the Diocese of Fall River since 1904. William Stang (1904–1907), a German-born Louvain scholar, established eleven parishes and Saint Anne's Hospital before his early death. Daniel F. Feehan (1907–1934) added thirty-six parishes, championed child-care institutions, and created the diocesan charitable and social services office. James Edwin Cassidy (1934–1951) had been named coadjutor and automatically succeeded Feehan. James Louis Connolly (1951–1970) guided the diocese through the Second Vatican Council era. Daniel A. Cronin (1970–1992) later became Archbishop of Hartford. Seán P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. (1992–2002) later became Archbishop of Boston and Cardinal (2006). George W. Coleman (2003–2014) was first elected Diocesan Administrator by the College of Consultors on October 22, 2002, then named bishop. Edgar Moreira da Cunha, S.D.V., a Brazilian-born member of the Society of Divine Vocations and former Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, was installed September 24, 2014.
- William Stang (1904–1907)
- Daniel Francis Feehan (1907–1934)
- James Edwin Cassidy (1934–1951)
- James Louis Connolly (1951–1970)
- Daniel Anthony Cronin (1970–1992)
- Seán Patrick O'Malley, OFM Cap. (1992–2002)
- George William Coleman (2003–2014)
- Edgar Moreira da Cunha, S.D.V. (2014–present)
Bishop Edgar Moreira da Cunha, S.D.V.
Bishop Edgar Moreira da Cunha was born on August 21, 1953 in Bahia, Brazil, the son of Manoel and Josefa Moreira. He professed vows in the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV, founded in Italy in 1920) and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the Universidade Católica do Salvador in Bahia and a Master of Divinity from Immaculate Conception Seminary in Mahwah, New Jersey. Ordained in 1982 in Newark, he served as Vocation Director for the SDV (1982–1987), then as pastor of St. Nicholas in Palisades Park, New Jersey (1987–1994), Master of Novices and Director of the SDV House of Formation in Florham Park, NJ (1994–2000), and pastor of St. Michael's in Newark (2000). Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Newark in 2003.
On July 3, 2014 Pope Francis named him the eighth Bishop of Fall River; Cardinal Seán O'Malley installed him on September 24, 2014 at St. Mary's Cathedral in the presence of Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò. Bishop da Cunha speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian. In November 2014 he was elected to the board of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC) at the USCCB meeting in Baltimore. In March 2018 he unveiled a strategic-planning vision built on three pillars: revitalize parishes, renew ministries, strengthen clergy support.
- Born August 21, 1953, Bahia, Brazil
- Member of the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV)
- Appointed eighth Bishop of Fall River on July 3, 2014
- Installed September 24, 2014 at St. Mary's Cathedral
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption
St. Mary's Cathedral is the spiritual center of the Diocese of Fall River—the principal church where the bishop has his cathedra and where the Catholic community gathers for the great feasts and important moments of diocesan life. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, patroness of the diocese, under her title Our Lady of the Assumption. The cornerstone was laid on August 8, 1852 by Bishop John Fitzpatrick of Boston on the site of the older wooden St. John the Baptist Church. Designed by the renowned Brooklyn architect Patrick C. Keeley in the Gothic style and built of native granite, the church was dedicated on December 16, 1855; the steeple was completed in 1858 and rises 190 feet, surmounted by a gilded cross.
The cathedral was solemnly consecrated by Bishop Matthew Harkins of Providence on September 7, 1901 and became the cathedral church of the new diocese in 1904. It has been renovated five times (1890–91, 1912–13, 1951, 1978–79, and 2000) and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Two flanking chapels—the Lady Chapel (1869), which serves as the Blessed Sacrament chapel with daily Mass, and the Bishop's Chapel (1935), dedicated to the English martyrs Saints John Fisher and Thomas More—house the crypt where four deceased bishops of Fall River are buried.
- Built 1852–1856; cornerstone laid August 8, 1852
- Designed by Patrick C. Keeley in Gothic Revival style
- Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983
- St. Anne's Hospital and the Bishop's Chapel house the Bishops' Crypt
Diocesan Offices and Ministries
The chancery at 47 Underwood Street, Fall River, MA 02720 coordinates a wide range of pastoral, educational, charitable and administrative offices. Key secretariats include the Secretariat for the New Evangelization (887 Highland Avenue, Fall River) led by Secretary David G. Carvalho, which oversees faith formation, youth ministry, family and respect-life ministry, campus ministry and the permanent diaconate; and the Catholic Schools Office (373 Elsbree Street, Fall River) led by Superintendent Daniel S. Roy, which supports 14 elementary schools, three high schools and one college affiliate through the Catholic Schools Alliance (catholicschoolsalliance.org).
- Chancery: 47 Underwood St., Fall River, MA 02720
- Catholic Schools Office — Daniel S. Roy, Superintendent
- Secretariat for the New Evangelization — David G. Carvalho, Secretary
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River — Susan Mazzarella, CEO
- Catholic Cemeteries Office — David Raposa, Director
- Strategic and Pastoral Planning Office — Laura M. Carrillo, Director
Catholic Schools
The Catholic Schools Office supports 14 elementary schools enrolling about 3,151 students and three high schools enrolling about 1,792 students, plus one affiliated college/university serving 2,491 students. Eight diocesan seminarians are currently in formation. Roughly 7,138 students are enrolled in parish religious education programs. The Catholic Schools Alliance (catholicschoolsalliance.org) maintains the online hub for enrollment, financial aid, principals and job opportunities. Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro is named for the diocese's second bishop, and Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River hosts the Fall River and New Bedford CYO.
- 14 elementary schools (~3,151 students)
- 3 high schools (~1,792 students)
- 8 diocesan seminarians
- Bishop Feehan High School (Attleboro)
- Bishop Connolly High School (Fall River)
Catholic Charities and Social Outreach
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River, headquartered at 1600 Bay Street, Fall River, MA 02724, is the principal social-services arm of the diocese. Under CEO Susan Mazzarella, M.A., L.S.W., it operates a health care center assisting 878 people annually, five homes for the aged or chronically ill serving 941 residents, one residential-care-of-children facility for 148 youths, one day care center serving 59 children, and sixteen special centers for social services and assistance that together reach about 28,000 people each year. Diocesan charitable and social institutions reflect Bishop Feehan's early-twentieth-century vision of Catholic charity and the contemporary priority placed by Bishop da Cunha on social outreach.
- Catholic Charities — 1600 Bay Street, Fall River
- Health care center (878 assisted annually)
- Homes for the aged/chronically ill (941 residents)
- Special centers for social services (~28,000 assisted annually)
Faith Formation, Youth, and Family Life
The Secretariat for the New Evangelization coordinates faith formation for children, youth, young adults, college students, families, and adults. Oscar A. Rivera Jr. directs Youth Ministry and coordinates the diocesan Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), which is hosted at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River. Deacon Frank Lucca directs College Campus Ministry through New Man Catholic Ministry. Deborah LeDoux directs Family & Respect Life with Coordinator Grace Small. Deacon Christopher Paul directs Adult and Child Discipleship. About 7,138 students are enrolled in parish religious education programs across the diocese, supported by parish catechists, Catholic schools, and diocesan resources.
- Youth Ministry — Oscar A. Rivera Jr., Director
- Adult and Child Discipleship — Deacon Christopher Paul, Director
- Family & Respect Life — Deborah LeDoux, Director
- College Campus Ministry — Deacon Frank Lucca
Cemeteries, Pastoral Planning, and Stewardship
The Catholic Cemeteries Office at 1540 Stafford Road, Fall River, MA 02721 (Director David Raposa) maintains Catholic cemeteries throughout the diocese (fallrivercatholiccemeteries.org). The Strategic and Pastoral Planning Office, launched by Bishop da Cunha in March 2018, supports parishes and diocesan ministries in long-term planning with three core goals: revitalize parishes, renew ministries, and strengthen support for clergy. The office, directed by Laura M. Carrillo, partners with clergy, parish staff, and laity on planning, problem-solving and change management in response to shifting demographics, priest shortages, and parish sustainability. The annual Catholic Appeal underwrites much of this work.
- Catholic Cemeteries Office — 1540 Stafford Road, Fall River
- Strategic and Pastoral Planning — Laura M. Carrillo, Director
- Three-pillar vision: revitalize parishes, renew ministries, strengthen clergy
Statistics at a Glance
The diocese's published Statistical Overview reports 64 parishes and 11 missions; Wikipedia and other sources commonly cite 78 parishes. Catholics number about 275,290 in a total population of roughly 825,540 (33.3%). The diocese covers 3,107 km² (1,200 sq mi) across Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties plus Marion, Mattapoisett, and Wareham in Plymouth County. Diocesan institutions include one health care center, five homes for the aged/chronically ill, one residential care of children facility, one day care center, sixteen special social-services centers, fourteen elementary schools, three high schools, one college, and 8 diocesan seminarians.
- 64 parishes / 11 missions (diocesan stats)
- 78 parishes (commonly cited)
- 275,290 Catholics (33.3%)
- 3,107 km² / 1,200 sq mi
