New mission society director named

Rev. Michael Farano, pastor of St. Pius X parish in Loudonville, has been appointed as diocesan director of the society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Holy Childhood Association by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany.

Father Farano replaces Rev. Paul Tartaglia, who recently retired from this position (see related story).

Father Farano will continue to serve as pastor of St. Pius, but is looking forward to the work with the missions. "Christ said, `Go and teach all nations,'" said Father Farano. "This appeals to me strongly. Evangelization is the primary work of the Church. This is a wonderful opportunity."

The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is the Church's official agency for providing resources to developing countries. Its four main objectives are mission education and awareness; prayer and sacrifice; material support for missions; and promotion of missionary vocations.

The work of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, said Father Farano, is at "the very heart of what the Church is about."

The priest has had the opportunity to travel with Catholic organizations to Central America and Romania. Seeing the impact the Church has in these developing nations has left a lasting impression on him. "I wondered why I was afforded the opportunity to travel," he said. "It's the way of the Lord. The long term goal was for this."

His goal in his new position is to help local Catholics see the importance of missionary work.

"I wish there was some way [for people] to know and experience the life of the Church in different cultures," he said.

According to the priest, the Church provides the infrastructure for services to people in developing nations while also meeting religious needs. "The Church comes alive in the faith of the people," he said.

His past travels as well as work with the Campaign for Human Development have helped Father Farano see that needs are the same worldwide. "The principles to help people help themselves are the same," he said.

While Father Farano will be balancing his new role as director and his pastorate, he told The Evangelist that with help from the other staff members of the Propagation of the Faith office, he hopes "to fulfill the responsibility of the Propagation of the Faith completely without harming my responsibility to the parish. I am grateful the Bishop afforded me this opportunity."

(04-10-97) [[In-content Ad]]