Norm Sorel

To the editor:

Twelve years ago a Westport resident, Norm Sorel, saw that the historic St. Anne Shrine in Fall River had deteriorated and was about to be closed forever by the church. Although he was not a St. Anne parishioner, Norm volunteered his services to then-pastor Rev. Marc Bergeron. 

Norm went on to recruit many other volunteers, all non-parishioners, and several major local businesses such as Rich Beaulieu with St Anne’s Credit Union, Hector Gauthier with WSAR Radio, Tony Pires with Professional Business Printing, Kevin Fitzpatrick with Advanced Alarm Systems, and General Contractor Manuel Pereira, to participate in the shrine restoration.

Norm passed away recently. A beautiful plaque made for Norm Sorel has been posted in St. Anne Shrine with the other plaques already there honoring donors and contributors of services to the shrine restoration.

The plaque was placed there by independent contractor Myles Cory. Myles volunteered to do this. A non-Catholic who had never been in the shrine, I toured him around. Myles marveled at the work done with white corian for statuary tables, all done by yet another non-Catholic independent contractor ,Bill Moniz.

Stop by and see this beautiful plaque, say a prayer for Norm, enjoy all the accomplishments done by the Shrine Committee he founded and led did, and, if you can, spread the word about the plaque being posted.
Daryl Gonyon
Fall River

Mr. Gonyon is a former Westport town administrator.