February 22, 2021

Diocese of Fall River launches perpetual prayer campaign for injured hockey player

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

SPRINGFIELD – The Diocese of Fall River has launched a perpetual prayer campaign for A.J. Quetta, the Bishop Feehan High School hockey player injured in a tragic accident during a game last month against Pope Francis Preparatory School in West Springfield.

The 17-year-old senior from North Providence, R.I., was transferred from Massachusetts General Hospital to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta where he will undergo rehabilitation for a spinal cord injury.

“It was a team effort. We were concerned and wanted to do something. We thought about a perpetual prayer campaign for him, so everyone can play a part,” said Kevin Kiley, the chancellor and chief financial officer of the Diocese of Fall River. Bishop Feehan High School is located in Attleboro, Mass.

The prayer campaign, which has been shared on social media, can be found at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4fa4a72ca6f5c70-prayers1. People can sign up in half-hour slots around the clock and write messages of support. The sign-up currently goes through April.

“We launched the SignUpGenius site on Feb. 13. Participation has been unbelievable. Six-hundred prayer slots were filled. We filled most of the slots for February,” Kiley said.

Carlo Acutis (CNS photo/courtesy Sainthood Cause of Carlo Acutis) 

In addition to the sign-up, there is a prayer guide on the site which includes an intercessory prayer for A.J. Quetta to Blessed Carlo Acutis, the Italian teenager who died of leukemia in 2006 and who was known as a tech genius. He created a website documenting eucharistic miracles. He was beatified last fall by Pope Francis.

“People have signed up for this across the country. We’re trying to get the word out as much as possible,” said Kiley, whose three sons play hockey.

“My three boys have been skating since they were four years old. We’ve been in and out of rinks for the past 15 years. We’re a hockey family through and through,” he said. “When this happened, you feel it in your bones. That’s why I was glued to this from the beginning, saying we have to stick with A.J. through this whole time.”

The prayers come in addition to the financial support from the hockey community and beyond that’s been pouring in to help with A.J.’s recovery. Close to $1 million has been raised on GoFundMe. The Jacobs family and the Boston Bruins foundation pledged $100,000. Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots also matched up to $25,000 in donations on the “Greg Hill Show” on WEEI Sports Radio. Pope Francis Preparatory School raised close to $14,000.

While the fundraising for Quetta has surpassed the initial $10,000 goal, Kiley said continued prayer will also be critical in the weeks and months to come.

“We have our faith to support us in these tragic times. We can turn to God in times like this to help the family and also to keep us close to God,” Kiley said.