Bishop of Fall River
Edgar Moreira da Cunha. He was born in Nova Fatima, Bahia, Brazil, on August 21, 1953, the son of Manoel and Josefa Moreira. He attended local schools in Nova Fatima, Bahia, including the minor seminary (or Vocationary) of the Vocationist Fathers in Riachão do Jacuípe. There he joined the Vocationist Fathers, also known as the Society of Divine Vocations. He studied Philosophy at Universidade Catolica do Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, New Jersey, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree. At the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, he has been a member of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church and Committee on Migration, and he currently serves as a member of the Administration Committee; Committee on Priorities and Plans, Sub-Committee on the Church in Latin America; the Sub-Committee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugee and Travelers; and the Sub-Committee on Hispanic Affairs; and as Episcopal Liaison to the Brazilian Apostolate in the U.S. Pope Francis appointed Bishop da Cunha to be the Eighth Bishop of Fall River on July 3, 2014. As the leader of the Fall River Diocesan Church he shepherds a community of faith of approximately 240,000 persons who worship in 64 parishes throughout Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands.