During this time, the parish was still growing in numbers but was still plagued by financial difficulty. The church was leaking and was in need of many repairs, but the money was limited. In 1944, Fr. Augusto Leal Furtado, Pastor of St. John of God Parish in Somerset was appointed as our new pastor. It was difficult for Fr. Furtado to leave behind the close-knit that he began in Somerset. The seeds that he planted there are still evident today. Fr. Furtado was overwhelmed by the challenges he encountered here at Saint Michael Parish, especially the financial situation, and was sent back to Somerset after only six months as our pastor.

At that time, our parish was experiencing great financial difficulties and something needed to be done. Fr. Joseph M. Silvia was named pastor, replacing Fr. Furtado in 1944. Father Silvia was born in the Azores in 1899 and came to this country as a young child. He was ordained at Saint Mary Cathedral in 1926 and served at Saint John the Baptist in New Bedford before becoming pastor of Saint Elizabeth in Fall River. Father Silvia came into our parish from Saint Elizabeth Parish determined to get the parish on its feet again. Father Silvia, as noted in the parish bulletins, was concerned not only with securing the financial stability of the parish, but in the spiritual growth and formation of the whole parish family. He continually stressed the importance of Sunday worship and the faith formation of parish youth. During the pastorate of Fr. Silvia, parish societies thrived: Saint Vincent de Paul, Holy Name Society, Children of Mary and Holy Rosary. Father Silvia was assisted for many years by Fr. George E. Amaral and Fr. Ernesto do Rego Borges who is still living and is retired in the Azores.

It was Fr. Silvia’s dream to reconstruct the sanctuary of our church, replacing the old sanctuary furnishings with the beautiful wooden reredos on which our tabernacle rests today. Father Silvia also dreamed of converting the rectory into a convent for the sisters who taught in our school and securing a new rectory. But, he was encouraged by the Bishop to focus on raising funds for a new, central parochial school building since the three school buildings were not in good condition.

Father Silvia’s vision for St. Michael Parish was cut short. In the prime of his life, he was diagnosed with cancer and suffered for several months. This beloved servant of God was called home on January 27, 1955 at the age of fifty-five. The sanctuary was completed in time for his funeral.

Succeeding Fr. Silvia was Fr. Arthur Cordeiro dos Reis, a native of Sao Vicente Ferreira, Sao Miguel, Azores, who was then Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Fall River. During the pastorate of Fr. Reis, a new parish school was constructed on a vast piece of land to the east of the Church. The new Saint Michael School building was dedicated by Bishop James L. Connolly in September 1957. With a new school building, a new enthusiasm was born and our Parish school began a new chapter in its history. In 1960, Fr. dos Reis was appointed Pastor of Santo Christo Parish in Fall River and was replaced by Monsignor Humberto Sousa Medeiros.

 

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