Monthly Remembrance Mass at Notre Dame Cemetery in Fall River
"We hold a monthly Remembrance Mass at three of our locations! Please join us at at our Fall River location at the Notre Dame Cemetery Mausoleum Chapel on the last Saturday of the month at 9am for a Remembrance Mass.
The post June Mass – Fall River appeared first on Diocese of Fall River Diocesan Cemeteries."
Bishop da Cunha to Ordain Priest and Deacon in Fall River Ceremony
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Ordinations Bring Hope and Blessings to our Diocese
One of the greatest blessings in the life of a diocese is the ordination of new clergy. It is a reminder that God continues to call men to serve His Church and that those called continue to respond with faith, generosity, and trust. On Saturday, June 6, we will celebrate such a moment of grace as I ordain Deacon Kaique Santos to the priesthood and seminarian Lucas daCosta to the transitional diaconate during an 11 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.
For Deacon Kaique Santos, this marks the culmination of many years of discernment, formation, and missionary service. Currently serving at St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish in Falmouth, Deacon Santos describes himself as feeling peaceful as his ordination approaches.
Born in Teofilo Otoni in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Kaique’s path to the priesthood was shaped by profound loss and deep encounters with God’s grace. After losing a brother and his father as a teenager, he experienced a renewed relationship with Christ through youth retreats that transformed his life and awakened a call to the priesthood. His journey led him through years of missionary service with the Canção Nova Community, time spent in contemplative prayer at a Carthusian monastery, and eventually to the Diocese of Fall River. He will celebrate his First Mass on Sunday, June 7, at St. Anthony Church in East Falmouth.
At the same Mass, Lucas daCosta will be ordained a transitional deacon, taking the next important step toward the priesthood.
Lucas is the son of Daniel and Fatima daCosta and a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet. A graduate of Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, he spent a year in Portugal before entering Our Lady of Providence Seminary and studying philosophy at Providence College. He recently completed his priestly formation at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton.
Many parishioners throughout the Diocese have already encountered Lucas through his summer assignments at Santo Christo Parish in Fall River, St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown, St. Joseph Parish in Falmouth, and Holy Family Parish in East Taunton.
As he prepares for ordination, Lucas speaks of feeling excitement, gratitude, and hope. His words remind us of the true source of every vocation: trust in God. “My greatest hope comes not from confidence in my own abilities, but from trust in God,” he recently shared.
I invite you to join me in praying for Kaique and Lucas during these final days of preparation. May the Lord continue to strengthen them, guide them, and fill them with His grace as they dedicate their lives to His service and to the people of our Diocese.
(On Saturday, you can watch the Ordination as it is livestreamed on the Our Lady of Fall River website here.)
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to Travel to Our Diocese
As part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration and the continuing legacy of the National Eucharistic Revival, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, themed “One Nation Under God,” will travel through the Diocese of Fall River on June 29 to 30. The pilgrimage, dedicated to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, will journey through 18 dioceses from St. Augustine, Florida, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offering opportunities for prayer, Eucharistic processions, Adoration, and Mass. I am so pleased that our Diocese is hosting part of this historic pilgrimage. I strongly encourage our faithful to take part in this Pilgrimage through special events in Easton, New Bedford, and Fall River as we pray for our Church, our Diocese, and our nation.
For a complete schedule of events, locations, and registration information, please visit the Diocesan website.
Celebrating those Who Share Our Diocesan Mission
At the end of May, we held our annual service awards in the Diocese, recognizing employees for their tireless work. I began the program with the celebration of Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church, Westport, and lunch and the presentation of the awards followed. It is a pleasure for me to do this each year to honor our employees for their dedicated service and to thank them for their contributions. Regardless of the particulars of their job, each employee is instrumental in helping us to fulfill the mission that is ours as a Diocesan church, and I am grateful. This year, we recognized 13 employees, mostly for five years of service. Within the group, though, we honored one employee for 10 years, another for 30, and one for 55 years! That is dedicated service.
In the photo above, I am presenting Deborah LeDoux with her certificate marking five years of service. Deborah is the Director of Family and Respect Life within our Secretariat for the New Evangelization. Next to her is David Carvalho, the Secretary for the New Evangelization, who was also recognized for five years of service. Msgr. Stephen J. Avila is next to him. The Secretariat for the New Evangelization falls under Msgr. Avila in his role as Vicar for Pastoral Services.
The Gift of the Eucharist
The Feast of Corpus Christi to be celebrated this weekend reminds us of the extraordinary gift of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. As Catholics, we are called not only to adore the Lord in the Eucharist but also to carry His love into the world through lives of faith, service, and charity.
Sincerely,
+Bishop da Cunha
The post Gathered in Faith, Sent in Mission: Celebrating Vocations, Service, and the Eucharist appeared first on Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River."
Atlantis Charter School K-6 Newsletter - May 2026
"Dear Atlantis Families,
Happy May, Triton Families!
The sun is shining, and the end-of-year excitement is officially here. We have a month packed with fun, learning, and community spirit.
Our Fun Run fundraiser is officially underway! Families are invited to come and cheer on their students during the event on May 14th.
Sign Up: Register your student online at MyBooster.com
Kickoff: The in-school fundraiser kickoff begins May 5th
Get ready for the most energetic day of the year! Our Lower School Field Day is scheduled for June 9th (Rain Date: June 10th).
Volunteer: You can support our field day as a volunteer by signing up to run a station using this link: Sign Up Genius
Requirements: All volunteers must have a valid CORI check on file with the school.
We look forward to a great end of the school year!
K-6 Field Day
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Rain Date – Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Grade K–2 Field Day
Pizza Lunch
Time: 9:00am – 11:00am
Grade K – Wear Green
Grade 1 – Wear Blue
Grade 2 – Wear Red
Grade 3–6 Field Day
Pizza Lunch
Time: 11:30am – 1:30pm
Grade 3 – Wear Yellow
Grade 4 – Wear Blue
Grade 5 – Wear Purple
Grade 6 – Wear Green
Important Note
To create the safest possible environment for our students, spectators will not be allowed. Thank you for your understanding. Only approved CORI-checked volunteers (who signed up through SignUpGenius) will be able to attend.
Upcoming Events/Important Dates
May 11th Panchero’s Fundraising
May 13th Early Dismissal
May 14th ACS Fun Run (Grades 1-6)
May 15th Re-enrollment Form for all current ACS Students returning for 2026-2027
May 15th Kindergarten Field Trip- Roger Williams Zoo
May 15th Grade 3 Mastery Martial Arts Demonstration Sponsored by the Feinstein Foundation
May 18th Grades K-2 Junior Achievement Program
May 20th Grades 3 and 4 Field Trip- Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium
May 22nd K-6 Memorial Day Dress Down Day
May 25th No School- Memorial Day
June 3rd Grade 6 Field Trip- Camp Watchaug
June 3rd and 4th– Grade 4 Taste of the Nation Event
June 5th Early Dismissal Day
Reminder: Attendance Matters!
Resolving Conflict with Kindness
On testing days especially, it is vital that students arrive on time. Our testing sessions begin promptly in the morning. If your child is late, they may have to wait until a make-up session to test, which can be more stressful for them. Let’s work together to get everyone here and ready to go by 8:15 am!
Dean’s Corner
Digital Safety and Monitoring
As the weather warms up, it’s a great time to check in on our students’ digital habits. We strongly encourage families to keep children off social media and away from viral “TikTok challenges” that can often be unsafe or inappropriate for elementary-aged children.
If you choose to give your student a personal device, please remember that active monitoring is essential. Being a “digital co-pilot” helps ensure your child avoids difficult situations and stays focused on positive interactions. Let’s work together to keep our Tritons safe online!
Use Shared Spaces: Keep devices in common areas, not in bedrooms, to make monitoring easy.
Tell an Adult: Immediately report if a game, video, or message feels scary or strange.
All K through 6th grade students will be required to complete a summer reading and math assignment to reinforce and maintain skills over the summer months. Be on the lookout for an individualized email to be sent out (similar to report cards) before the last day of school (June 18th for grades 1-6 and June 11th for Kindergarten).
Entering Grades 1 & 2: Summer Choiceboard
Entering Grades 3 – 6: Summer Reading Book & Math Google Forms
Atlantis Charter School Stores
Atlantis Charter School offers convenient online stores where families can purchase approved school apparel and items that showcase Triton pride. From daily uniform pieces to active wear and spirit gear, our stores provide options for students, families, and fans to represent ACS throughout the year.
Uniform/Dress Code
Approved shirts, sweaters, and outerwear that meet ACS Dress Code Guidelines for everyday classroom use.
Athletic Apparel: Performance-based gear designed for PE, practices, and active school events.
Tritons Spirit Wear:
Branded clothing and accessories in Triton colors, perfect for games, events, and community pride.
Daily WearActive WearSpirit WearACS SCHOOL CALENDAR
2026-2027
VIEW HERECheck out our Recent Posts
K-6 Newsletter – 4/6/2026
Gallery
K-6 Newsletter – 4/6/2026
Show us your Spirit
Photo SubmissionUpcoming Events
Soccer ClubJune 1 @ 2:45 pm - 4:30 pm
The post K-6 Newsletter – 5/6/2026 appeared first on Atlantis Charter School."
Fall River Diocesan Walk for Life
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Walking for Life, Witnessing to the Dignity of Every Person
Last Friday, I celebrated Mass as part of our third annual Fall River Diocesan Walk for Life. I was pleased with the number of participants, including students from two of our high schools, Bishop Stang and Pope John Paul II. It was organized by our Secretariat for the New Evangelization and took place at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro. While I was only able to join them for the Mass because of other commitments, the Walk was one part of a program that also included adoration, the praying of the Rosary for Life, and a guest speaker. You can read more about it in this week’s Anchor e-newsletter.
The Church’s commitment to the protection and defense of human life flows from her teaching that all human life is made in the image of God and is therefore sacred. As believers, then, when we look at ourselves, when we look at each other, we must see the image of God imprinted within us, within all of us, in our beings, in our souls. Yes, this is a gift and a privilege to see God in others; but it’s also a big responsibility. It demands that we respect every person we meet along the way.In my homily at the Mass, I spoke of the need for consistency in our defense of human life. Pope Leo XIV underscored this in a video message shared at a recent conference at DePaul University, saying that each human life, from the moment of conception to natural death, is sacred and needs to be protected. The Right to life is foundational to all other human rights.
We must be consistent in applying this across the spectrum of human life. We start with the unborn but cannot stop there. We cannot defend some life or aspects of it, and not others. We must go forward embracing a consistent defense of life as we approach any brother or sister, no matter the behavior of that person, no matter what happens to that person.
I encouraged those at the Walk of Life -and indeed all our faithful people – to continue to work and pray for the protection of life, and to witness by their words and deeds the beauty, dignity, and value of every life in all stages. Imagine a world if everyone respected all life. What a profound impact it would have!
A Prayer for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, a time to give thanks for the gift of mothers. During this month of May, we also honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose love reflects the beauty of motherhood.
Loving God, we thank you for the gift of mothers, for their unconditional love and compassionate care. Bless those who are mothers, those expecting new life, and those mothers who are no longer with us.
Surround them all with your peace and love. Amen.
Help Make a Difference Through the Catholic Appeal
As we reflect on the call to “let it begin with me,” I invite you to take part in the Catholic Appeal, which brings Christ’s love to life through ministries serving those most in need across our Diocese. Every gift, no matter the size, helps make that peace real in our communities. Please consider donating today and be part of this shared mission.
Sincerely,
+Bishop da Cunha
The post Walking for Life and Celebrating the Gift of Mothers appeared first on Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River."
