Chaplain

My name is Father Kevin Cook and I am the chaplain of Coyle and Cassidy High School, as well as the Associate Director of Vocations and Seminarians for the Diocese of Fall River and part-time chaplain of Morton Hospital in Taunton. I am very humbled to have been asked to take on these new responsibilities, and I consider it a great blessing to be able to focus in this line of apostolate.  My specific role in this position at the school is to offer the sacraments on a frequent basis, as well as Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, and give opportunities to meet one on one with students, as well as giving talks in classes.  The high school years can be great years, but also can be very trying times for the students (desires for greater freedom; preparation for college or the working-world; peer pressures; challenges in faith; etc...  I hope to be able in many ways to help them grow during these years to become the men and women God is calling them to be.  My hope is to assist parents and teachers in fostering the faith of the students, and hopefully help many to see God's vocation for them.  Everyone has a vocation.  Each one of us has a great responsibility to discern what our vocation is. 

 

Just to give you a little background about myself:  I grew up in Pembroke, MA, and I am the eighth of nine children.  In my home growing up, the Catholic faith was lived joyfully among the family, and the message about discerning one's vocation, seeking to serve others, and responding to the universal call to holiness was spoken of and taken seriously.  And yet we were your normal family - we tried hard in school but were never the best, loved sports, learned to put others before us in the home and outside of it.  Two of my sisters and my five brothers are married and have been blessed with many children (currently there are 43 nephews and nieces.  My oldest sister was the first in the family to respond to her vocation in giving her life to Christ and His Church, and itcertainly moved me at a young age to take seriously the discernment of God's call. The joyful example of my parents living a true generosity of heart with us children and with one another was a great environment where God could form and call us.  It was in this normal and joyful environment where God was able to help me gradually hear his call to give my life as a priest.

I attended high school at Silver Lake Regional High School and college at the University of Dallas (a great catholic university in Irving, Texas).   After working and living in northern Virginia, I entered Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. I was ordained on June 9, 2001 by Bishop Sean P.
O'Malley, OFM at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River.  After my ordination, I served my first five years of priesthood at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New Bedford, along with being the local vocation representative of the New Bedford Deanery.  In June of 2006, I was transferred to St. Patrick's Parish in Wareham, where I served for only a year, when the bishop asked me to take on this current assignment.

I hope to be available as much as possible for the students and teachers, though I also have the two other responsibilities for the diocese which I must balance the use of my time.  I am in the school each day, except on Tuesdays.  My office in the school is located on the third floor next the music room.  My voice mail at the school is ext. 688.  If you wish to talk please feel free to call and leave a message and I will call back as soon as possible. 

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHAPLAIN:

 

LITURGICAL WORSHIP

• involved in the planning and celebration of Eucharistic Liturgies (Masses)

• Homeroom Mass in the school chapel every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

• available to administer the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)

• involved in special para-liturgical and prayer services

 

PASTORAL PRESENCE

• accessible to students and staff

• knowledge and support of the school community and its mission

• present for spiritual counseling

• available for emergency (crises) situations as part of a response team

 

EVANGELIZATION

• actively involved in Campus Ministry program

• participates in the planning of faith-based worship experiences with students, staff, and campus ministers

• involved in the March for Life (Washington DC) in January

• familiar with and contributes to the curriculum of the Religion Department

• a resource person for teachers and students

• a guest lecturer in classes

• involved in the planning for, as well as presence at, school retreats

 

SOME LINKS:

• Coyle and Cassidy High School's Retreat Information

• Diocese of Fall River Vocations

• Diocese of Fall River

• DisciplesNow--The Place for Catholic Teens on the Web