Ascension Thursday is This Week
Image: L'Ascension by Gustave Dore (1879)
This Thursday, May 29, is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord - a holy day of obligation. Mass times here are:
Vigil Mass (Wednesday): 5:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am & 7:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am & 7:00pm
Come celebrate this great feast of our Lord’s return to the Father and the promise of the Holy Spirit!
Renovation 2025 Update
Work is well underway at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where all the altars are being carefully sanded and repainted in preparation for their installation in our sanctuary. Here's a photo of the progress on part of the reredos.
As a reminder, SFX Church will close on Monday, June 9th for the start of renovations.
I Need Your Help
On Sunday, June 8th at 4:00pm, right after the school graduation in church, I need volunteers to help me clear out the church. Everything in the sanctuary and on the walls - chairs, artwork, Stations of the Cross, etc. - needs to be moved either into downstairs storage or down to the school gym for weekend Masses. If you can help, sign up here:
More Updates:
Thanks to the help of a parishioner, we are hopeful that we’ll be able to temporarily install air conditioning in the school gym for weekend Masses. This would be a big relief, especially for those concerned about the summer heat.
Weekday Masses from June 9–13 and 16–17 will be held in the hospitality room.
Starting Wednesday, June 18th, weekday Masses will move to the school gym, where weekend Masses will also be held beginning Saturday, June 14th with the 9:00am.
Confessions will take place off the school foyer beginning Monday June 9th.
Adoration will move temporarily to the elevator room, where it first began in 2006. We plan to maintain our usual hours.
Funerals and Baptisms can take place either in the school gym or at a neighboring parish.
The parish office will remain open throughout the summer and is not affected by the renovation.
Thank you for your flexibility and support as we begin this exciting project.
Thanks to the help of a parishioner, we are hopeful that we’ll be able to temporarily install air conditioning in the school gym for weekend Masses. This would be a big relief, especially for those concerned about the summer heat.
Weekday Masses from June 9–13 and 16–17 will be held in the hospitality room.
Starting Wednesday, June 18th, weekday Masses will move to the school gym, where weekend Masses will also be held beginning Saturday, June 14th with the 9:00am.
Confessions will take place off the school foyer beginning Monday June 9th.
Adoration will move temporarily to the elevator room, where it first began in 2006. We plan to maintain our usual hours.
Funerals and Baptisms can take place either in the school gym or at a neighboring parish.
The parish office will remain open throughout the summer and is not affected by the renovation.
Thank you for your flexibility and support as we begin this exciting project.
33 Days to Eucharistic Glory Started Wednesday
On Wednesday our parish-wide reading of 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory began. If you missed the first couple days, there's still time to catch up!
I also shared a video resource to go along with the daily readings. The publisher has put together a series of short videos by Fr. Jonathan Meyer. His reflections are down to earth and a great companion to the book.
I’m glad so many in the parish are taking this on. I think it’ll be a great lead up to Corpus Christi on Sunday June 22nd.
I’m glad so many in the parish are taking this on. I think it’ll be a great lead up to Corpus Christi on Sunday June 22nd.
Parish Movie Night Saturday June 14th
To mark the final week of reading 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory, we’ll be hosting a special screening of the new documentary Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist (2024).
Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist takes viewers on a global journey to uncover the transformative power of the Eucharist. Through discussions with Catholic leaders and heartfelt personal narratives, the film unveils the Eucharist as Jesus Christ Himself, eagerly desiring to fulfill our spiritual thirst with His boundless love.
“‘Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist’ is an inspiring film that every Catholic should see,” said Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas. “During this time of Eucharistic Revival, this film provides a moving meditation on the beauty and the power of the Eucharist. It also invites and challenges viewers to become eucharistic missionaries.”
“This wonderful new film, ‘Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist,’ will engage, inform, and inspire you and your family with a more profound understanding and love of the Eucharist,” added Most Reverend David L. Toups, Bishop of Beaumont, Texas. “I highly encourage the faithful of all ages to see this movie – you will be blessed!”
The movie will be shown Saturday evening, June 14th after the 4:00pm Mass, in the school gym (our first weekend holding Masses there while the church is under renovation). We’ll have pizza and snacks, and a free-will offering can be made if you’d like to contribute. If you’re able, we’d love for you to bring a dessert to share!
Please RSVP at the link so we can plan for food:
“This wonderful new film, ‘Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist,’ will engage, inform, and inspire you and your family with a more profound understanding and love of the Eucharist,” added Most Reverend David L. Toups, Bishop of Beaumont, Texas. “I highly encourage the faithful of all ages to see this movie – you will be blessed!”
The movie will be shown Saturday evening, June 14th after the 4:00pm Mass, in the school gym (our first weekend holding Masses there while the church is under renovation). We’ll have pizza and snacks, and a free-will offering can be made if you’d like to contribute. If you’re able, we’d love for you to bring a dessert to share!
Please RSVP at the link so we can plan for food:
Memorial Day Weekend
This Memorial Day, we pause to offer prayers of gratitude for all those who have given their lives in service to our country, especially the sons of our own parish. We pray for the repose of their souls and for peace in our world.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Please also keep in your prayers Fr. Steve Booth, a former SFX parishioner and now a priest of our diocese, who currently serves as a naval chaplain ministering to U.S. forces and their families in Sicily. A few months ago, some of you contributed to the care package we sent to Fr. Steve with Dunkin’ coffee, an Acushnet Creamery t-shirt, and other small reminders of home. He is grateful for your kindness and support.
**Please note that the parish office will be closed on Memorial Day. Confessions will be held after the 9am Mass instead of 5:30-6:30pm. Millions of Monica's will meet as usual at 7pm.
Women of Grace Event June 11th
School Mass This Week
This past Monday at our school Mass, I preached on a beautiful line from that day’s Gospel: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”
I used the image of the movie Home Alone, where Kevin McCallister initially enjoys having the house to himself, but eventually becomes lonely and realizes how empty it feels without his family. I shared with the students how our hearts can sometimes feel that same kind of loneliness or emptiness, and that only the Lord can truly fill that space. He wants to make His home in us.
One funny moment: on the way out of church, a very excited first grader ran up to me and said, “Father Ryan! Father Ryan! Did you hear about the new pope?”
Yes, I did hear... thank you for the breaking news! 😂
Looking for deeper insight into this weekend’s readings? Check out this reflection from my favorite biblical scholar, Dr. John Bergsma
Adorers Needed!!
We are in need of adorers for the following hours:
- Wednesdays 4:30 PM-5:30 PM
- Fridays 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
If you are interested in spending an hour with the Lord, please call or text Mary Cardoza at 774-526-1444 or speak with Fr. Ryan.
The Novena to the Holy Spirit Starts Next Friday, May 30th
Supporting the Parish While You’re Away
As we approach the summer months, many families take time for travel and vacation. If you’ll be away, please consider signing up for online giving. Your ongoing support helps us meet our parish’s weekly operating needs, even when you're not able to be with us in person.
It’s easy to set up and ensures that your generosity continues to support the mission and ministries of St. Francis Xavier throughout the summer. You can sign up here at the link below.
Thank you for your continued support of our parish!
It’s easy to set up and ensures that your generosity continues to support the mission and ministries of St. Francis Xavier throughout the summer. You can sign up here at the link below.
Thank you for your continued support of our parish!
New Organ at St. Francis Xavier
I'm happy to share that this week we received the new-to-us organ I mentioned a few weeks ago here on my Flocknote. It came from a recently closed church in the diocese and was generously made available to us.
This instrument offers several upgrades from our previous one, including a full pedal board, which will make a big difference for our musicians. (The former organ had only a miniature pedal board, making it much more challenging to play.)
Our old organ has found a new home at St. Dominic’s in Swansea, where it will continue to serve in liturgy. Special thanks to Jono Babbitt and Allison Messier for coordinating the move and installation.
The new organ will be blessed at the beginning of the 4:00pm Mass tomorrow. As we begin using it, please note that it may take a little time to properly voice the instrument and calibrate the settings for our space. Thank you for your support!
This instrument offers several upgrades from our previous one, including a full pedal board, which will make a big difference for our musicians. (The former organ had only a miniature pedal board, making it much more challenging to play.)
Our old organ has found a new home at St. Dominic’s in Swansea, where it will continue to serve in liturgy. Special thanks to Jono Babbitt and Allison Messier for coordinating the move and installation.
The new organ will be blessed at the beginning of the 4:00pm Mass tomorrow. As we begin using it, please note that it may take a little time to properly voice the instrument and calibrate the settings for our space. Thank you for your support!
Honoring Blessed Stanley Rother
This Sunday, May 25, marks the 62nd anniversary of priestly ordination for Blessed Stanley Rother, the Oklahoma priest and martyr who served the indigenous poor of Guatemala and was beatified in 2017.
Our parish is blessed to have a relic of Blessed Stanley, enshrined here by Fr. Williams. In honor of this anniversary, the relic will be placed out for veneration this weekend.
I invite you to stop by after Mass to offer a prayer through his intercession, especially that he may soon be raised to the altars as a canonized saint.
Pray for us, Blessed Stanley, faithful shepherd and martyr!
Our parish is blessed to have a relic of Blessed Stanley, enshrined here by Fr. Williams. In honor of this anniversary, the relic will be placed out for veneration this weekend.
I invite you to stop by after Mass to offer a prayer through his intercession, especially that he may soon be raised to the altars as a canonized saint.
Pray for us, Blessed Stanley, faithful shepherd and martyr!
Pope Leo XIV Prayer Cards
Last weekend, I mentioned that prayer cards of Pope Leo XIV would be available, but they arrived in the mail late. They will be available in the entryway this weekend. If you would like to order your own, you can order them here.
Local Legion of Mary hosting a Rosary Procession here this Sunday. May 25
**Please note the school parking lot will be unavailable due to resealing. Please park at the church and walk down.
Lenten Offering Boxes – Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Lenten offering boxes! I’m happy to share that we will be donating over $2,600 to Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Attleboro thanks to your generosity to support mothers in need.
A special word of thanks to Andrea Oliver who hauls all the coins to the bank for sorting each year!
A special word of thanks to Andrea Oliver who hauls all the coins to the bank for sorting each year!
Faustina Center Now Open to Help Mothers in Need
The Diocese has officially opened the Faustina Center at Holy Name Parish in Fall River, a new space to support mothers and families in difficult situations. The center offers material resources, spiritual support, education, and referrals for women facing unplanned or challenging pregnancies.
Many of the items collected during our parish Pro-Life Night in March are now being distributed from the center. It’s a blessing to see how your generosity is making a difference.
To learn more about the center or to refer someone in need, contact Irina Robinson at irobinson@dioc-fr.org or call 508-669-7966.
Many of the items collected during our parish Pro-Life Night in March are now being distributed from the center. It’s a blessing to see how your generosity is making a difference.
To learn more about the center or to refer someone in need, contact Irina Robinson at irobinson@dioc-fr.org or call 508-669-7966.
2025 Catholic Appeal
May 1 - June 30
Thank you to all who have contributed to this year’s Catholic Appeal. As of this week, parishioners from SFX have pledged $4,535.00 to support the pastoral ministries of our diocese.
If you haven’t yet had a chance to give, there’s still time. You can donate online or pick up an envelope in the entryway.
If you haven’t yet had a chance to give, there’s still time. You can donate online or pick up an envelope in the entryway.
Elijah Cup – Praying for Vocations
Just a reminder that our parish continues the Elijah Cup Vocations Prayer Ministry. Parishioners and families are invited to take home the Elijah Cup and the accompanying prayer materials for one week to pray specifically for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
To sign up for a week, please use the sign-up sheet located just to the right of the Adoration Chapel.
To sign up for a week, please use the sign-up sheet located just to the right of the Adoration Chapel.
Ladies, Save the Date!
Mass Times
Sunday: 8:00 AM | 10:30 AM
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM
Sunday: 8:00 AM | 10:30 AM
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM
First Friday: 9:00 AM | 6:00 PM
Adoration Times
Monday-Friday
6:30am-8:45am, 9:30am-8:30pm
Saturday
6:30am-8:45am, 9:30am-2:45pm
6:30am-8:45am, 9:30am-8:30pm
Saturday
6:30am-8:45am, 9:30am-2:45pm
Confession Times
Monday: 5:30–6:30 PM
Saturday: 9:30–10:00 AM | 3:00–3:45 PM
Monday: 5:30–6:30 PM
Saturday: 9:30–10:00 AM | 3:00–3:45 PM
First Friday: 6:45–7:15 PM
Anytime by Appointment
To add someone to this weekly newsletter, they can either text the word ACUSHNET to 84576 or sign up at sfxparish.flocknote.com.