Community
Priest in Diocese of Fall River placed on leave
The Diocese of Fall River has issued a statement involving a priest that has been placed on leave.
This weekend (March 9-10), parishioners at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk, and priests of the Fall River Diocese, were informed that Father Mark R. Hession was placed on leave from active priestly ministry because of conduct inconsistent with standards of ministerial behavior and in direct violation of the Code of Conduct for priests in the Fall River Diocese. Father Hession was formerly assigned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church until August 2018, when he was reassigned to duties in the Diocesan Tribunal.
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., made the decision to place Father Hession on leave based on complaints he received about inappropriate communications that Father Hession had sent to several adult parishioners.
As a priest placed on leave he is not permitted to exercise public ministry nor present himself as a priest in public settings.