Chaplain's Page
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 it
certainly 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:
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