Letter: Westport rally was inspirational moment for church

Posted 2/16/19

To the editor:

Houston, we have a problem!

And the response to that comment was, “With all due respect, sir, I believe this is going to be our finest hour.” And with these words, Bishop …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Letter: Westport rally was inspirational moment for church

Posted

To the editor:

Houston, we have a problem!

And the response to that comment was, “With all due respect, sir, I believe this is going to be our finest hour.” And with these words, Bishop Edgar da Cunha addressed the energized crowd of over 400 people at White’s of Westport last week for a strategic planning kick-off rally focused on Rebuilding in Faith & Hope.

The scriptural theme for this rally was Jer. 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness … to give you a future full of hope.”

This welcoming rally was preceded by the bishop himself, dressed in casual black clerical clothing, welcoming each and every person. Anyone and everyone who wanted to talk with him had the opportunity to do so. And privately so. He stood by himself, and no one was rushed.

The Witness speaker, David Rose, kick-started the rally with an inspirational talk that was a moving field goal that gave witness to the power of priesthood and the holy-mystery of the church.

His talk was followed by all in attendance singing Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). The timing of this song in relation to this week’s celebration of St Josephine Bakhita, an African slave, was providential. When she was freed from her chains, she dedicated her life to loving the Lord and doing good in any humble way she could. Her daily life seemed to echo the thought, “How may I be of help?”  

After hearing a detailed summary of our current state of affairs, one could only feel as did St Bakhita, “How may I be of help?’

The next step in in this journey of faith and hope comes in March, an appropriate month that by name suggests that we march forward together.

This rally as a first step was, to quote yet another famous inspirational moment, “That’s one small step for man, one giant step for mankind.”

Can you be of help? Now is the time to get on board.

Daryl Gonyon

Fall River

Mr. Gonyon is a former Westport town administrator.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.