Renovation Updates – Week Eight
Things continue to move along steadily in the church!
This week, the gold stars began going up on the ceiling to create that “night sky” effect. Two of the five ceiling sections are now complete. In the photos above, you see the metal stencil used to apply the stars which is cut from sheet metal and carefully painted in place.
Here is one section of the ceiling completed.
Here you see the sanctuary ceiling now fully completed. The grand arch and lower sanctuary walls remain to be painted.
Most of the decorative painting on the sanctuary walls and the areas around the side altars is now done. As I’ve mentioned before, the back wall of the sanctuary will feature decorative stenciling rather than a printed mural. I think it’s going to tie everything together beautifully.
The altars have all been painted at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and are ready to be brought over once the sanctuary flooring is finished.
Work also began this week in the narthex (entryway) of the church. Here's a reminder of what’s happening there:
- The old broom closet is being converted into a bathroom
- The secondary, unused staircase to the choir loft is being turned into a new broom closet
- The entryway flooring is being replaced
- And a new glass enclosure is being added to separate the narthex from the main body of the church
Above is a photo of the entryway with the tiles removed. You can faintly see traces of a former partition where the hardwood floor meets the cement floor.
Here is a photo of the gutted broom closet which will become a bathroom.
Here is photo of the gutted stairwell which will become a broom closet.
Here also is a sneak peek at one of the decorative etched designs that will appear on the glass enclosure.
We’re pushing hard to get everything ready for the anniversary. Please keep the workers (and your pastor!) in your prayers.
Thank you for your continued support, and if you'd like to contribute to the renovation, you can donate here (Select 100th Anniversary):
Happening Now in Rome - Jubilee of Youth
Right now in Rome, young Catholics from around the world are gathering for the Jubilee of Young People, part of the Jubilee 2025. One of our own parishioners, Ellen Hamel, is there, attending alongside other young adults and three priests from our diocese. Please keep Ellen in your prayers for a safe and grace filled pilgrimage.
This past Thursday, the young pilgrims from the United States gathered at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome for a special event that included witness talks and Eucharistic Adoration. You can watch the recording at the link below. I especially recommend tuning in around the 45-minute mark, when a Sister of Life gives a moving testimony about hope, followed by a reflection from Bishop Robert Barron.
Excerpt from Sister Mary Grace's short reflection:
"Over these past 12 years of religious life, I’ve come to know Jesus Christ as alive, active, and intervening in my life in real time—as the Rescuer and Redeemer He promised to be. He has walked into my hells and helped me through every ache—and He still does today. I’ve learned that God isn’t just about healing. He is the original transformer. As St. Paul says, He makes all things new. He turns loneliness into intimacy, pain into consolation, trials into resilience, and fear into radical freedom—the kind that comes from knowing you are deeply loved.
No matter what you’ve been through, no matter what you’ve suffered, you are not too far gone. You are not alone. All the doors are not closed to you. Hope may lose its feelings at times, but it never loses its focus—as long as we follow Christ. We may not always know where He is leading us, but we are always called to keep leaning on Him.
As you can see, I don’t have a perfect story. I still don’t have all the answers. I definitely don’t have it all together. Our stories can be messy—but the Savior is making them beautiful.
So my final word to you is this: Do not hesitate to hope. Death and darkness are not the deepest truths about you. At the core of your heart resides a supernatural seed of revival. By your baptism, you already have hope. You are a bearer of God Himself. His goodness is within you. You have the God-given capacity to hope—and to hope again."
No matter what you’ve been through, no matter what you’ve suffered, you are not too far gone. You are not alone. All the doors are not closed to you. Hope may lose its feelings at times, but it never loses its focus—as long as we follow Christ. We may not always know where He is leading us, but we are always called to keep leaning on Him.
As you can see, I don’t have a perfect story. I still don’t have all the answers. I definitely don’t have it all together. Our stories can be messy—but the Savior is making them beautiful.
So my final word to you is this: Do not hesitate to hope. Death and darkness are not the deepest truths about you. At the core of your heart resides a supernatural seed of revival. By your baptism, you already have hope. You are a bearer of God Himself. His goodness is within you. You have the God-given capacity to hope—and to hope again."
Yesterday, Friday, the Circus Maximus in Rome was transformed into a massive outdoor confessional, with over 200 tents and an estimated 5,000 young people lining up to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Watch this short video below to hear from a few of them as they share why they decided to go to confession.
FOCUS Missionary Speaking This Weekend
This weekend (August 2/3), we’ll welcome Sheridan Bancroft, a local young adult who grew up in Wareham and has visited St. Francis Xavier for Mass and adoration over the years. Sheridan will speak briefly at the end of each Mass to share about her current work as a full-time missionary with FOCUS (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students).
Sheridan first encountered the Catholic faith through FOCUS missionaries at Bridgewater State University, leading her to be fully received into the Church in 2024. Now, she serves as a campus missionary at Montclair State University in New Jersey, walking with students just as others once walked with her.
She’ll be inviting those interested to support her mission through prayer or monthly support and will have contact cards available. You can also learn more about her story and how to support her here:
Sheridan first encountered the Catholic faith through FOCUS missionaries at Bridgewater State University, leading her to be fully received into the Church in 2024. Now, she serves as a campus missionary at Montclair State University in New Jersey, walking with students just as others once walked with her.
She’ll be inviting those interested to support her mission through prayer or monthly support and will have contact cards available. You can also learn more about her story and how to support her here:
Thank You for an Incredible Gift
I’m very happy to share that a parishioner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has generously donated the full cost ($3,500) of the new hearing assistance system in memory of her family.
Thanks to her kindness, we’ll be moving forward right away with the ListenWIFI installation. This system will make it easier for those with hearing loss to fully participate in the liturgy.
Thanks to her kindness, we’ll be moving forward right away with the ListenWIFI installation. This system will make it easier for those with hearing loss to fully participate in the liturgy.
Back to School at SFX
It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached August! At St. Francis Xavier School, we’re gearing up for a brand new year. Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Shaughnessy, and I met this week to plan out the start of school and the first few months. We’re so excited to welcome our students back.
We’re grateful to be entering the year fully staffed, with no open positions to fill. Mr. Guillotte and his helper Caden have been hard at work all summer getting the building in top shape. Just this week, new woodchips were spread on the back playground.
If you know anyone considering a last minute school switch for the fall, please send them our way! We still have a few spots left in our Pre-K4 program, and we’d love to welcome new families into our school community.
We’re grateful to be entering the year fully staffed, with no open positions to fill. Mr. Guillotte and his helper Caden have been hard at work all summer getting the building in top shape. Just this week, new woodchips were spread on the back playground.
If you know anyone considering a last minute school switch for the fall, please send them our way! We still have a few spots left in our Pre-K4 program, and we’d love to welcome new families into our school community.
Looking for deeper insight into this weekend’s readings? Check out this reflection from my favorite biblical scholar, Dr. John Bergsma
Image: The Foolish Rich Man by James Tissot (c. 1886-1894)
On the Bulletin Cover this weekend...
Venerable Bruno Lanteri (12 May 1759 – 5 August 1830)
Declared Venerable in 1965
An Italian priest who preached God’s mercy during a time of turmoil and founded the Oblates of the Virgin Mary to help people reject discouragement and begin again with hope, summed up in his powerful motto, “Nunc coepi” (“Now I begin”).
Declared Venerable in 1965
An Italian priest who preached God’s mercy during a time of turmoil and founded the Oblates of the Virgin Mary to help people reject discouragement and begin again with hope, summed up in his powerful motto, “Nunc coepi” (“Now I begin”).
“If I should fall a thousand times a day, a thousand times a day I will begin again, with new awareness of my weakness, promising God, with a peaceful heart, to amend my life. I will never think of God as if he were of our condition and grows weary of our wavering, weakness, and negligence. Rather, I will think of what is truly characteristic of him and what he prizes most highly, that is, his goodness and mercy, knowing that he is a loving Father who understands our weakness, is patient with us, and forgives us.”
“We can never hope too much. The one who hopes for everything, obtains everything.”
“I urge you to begin each day, leaving the past to the mercy of the Lord, and the future to his Divine Providence. Do not let yourself be troubled by anything, not even by your own failings, taking care to overcome them immediately by an act of love of God.”
“Keep far from you the spirit of sadness and melancholy. Show yourself joyful even when you do not feel so because of physical problems. At such times more than ever, guard against closing in on yourself and turn your thoughts to Paradise, because it is yours.”
Exciting News: St. John Henry Newman to be Named Doctor of Church
On Thursday, it was officially announced that St. John Henry Newman will soon be declared a Doctor of the Church, a title given to saints whose teaching is considered especially important for the whole Church. Newman was canonized in 2019 and has become a beloved saint of our times, known for his deep faith and powerful intellect.
This recognition honors his lifelong journey of conversion, his courageous witness to the truth, and his writings that continue to speak to the heart. Newman described faith as a “heart-to-heart” encounter with Christ, and his famous motto, Cor ad cor loquitur (“Heart speaks to heart”), captures the beauty of that relationship.
If you’d like to read more or grow in devotion to him, here are some resources:
- Buy "John Henry Newman: A Life Sacrificed" by Ida Friederike Gorres
- Buy "Prayers, Verses, Devotions"
- Read his beautiful Stations of the Cross meditations
- Read this short article on his famous poem, "Lead, Kindly Light"
And finally, one of his most quoted and beloved lines:
“God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about."
— St. John Henry Newman
Let us give thanks for this holy and brilliant man, and ask his intercession as we seek to follow Christ more faithfully in our own lives.
This recognition honors his lifelong journey of conversion, his courageous witness to the truth, and his writings that continue to speak to the heart. Newman described faith as a “heart-to-heart” encounter with Christ, and his famous motto, Cor ad cor loquitur (“Heart speaks to heart”), captures the beauty of that relationship.
If you’d like to read more or grow in devotion to him, here are some resources:
- Buy "John Henry Newman: A Life Sacrificed" by Ida Friederike Gorres
- Buy "Prayers, Verses, Devotions"
- Read his beautiful Stations of the Cross meditations
- Read this short article on his famous poem, "Lead, Kindly Light"
And finally, one of his most quoted and beloved lines:
“God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about."
— St. John Henry Newman
Let us give thanks for this holy and brilliant man, and ask his intercession as we seek to follow Christ more faithfully in our own lives.
9 Day Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption begins on Thursday, August 7th
Image: Assumption of the Virgin by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1680)
Women of Grace Save the Date Sept 20th
Pray for Our Priests – August 4th
From the Diocese:
On August 4th, the Feast of St. John Vianney, our parish priests from across our diocese will gather to make a historic consecration of their priesthood to the patron saint of parish priests. This profound act of entrustment is part of the Stronger Priests, Stronger Parishes, Stronger Church initiative – a bold effort to strengthen our priests so they can, in turn, renew our parishes and the whole Church.
We invite all parishioners to unite spiritually with our priests on this day by praying for them and their ministry. Their strength is our strength. Their holiness is the seedbed of vibrant parishes. This is a moment of grace for our diocese.
In this time, but especially on August 4th, the diocese invites you to pray the following:
Prayer for Our Priests
Saint John Vianney, patron of parish priests, intercede for our priests as they consecrate themselves to you. Inspire them with your zeal, sustain them in their trials, and enkindle in their hearts the fire of Christ’s love. May they be shepherds after the Heart of Jesus, leading their people to holiness. Strengthen them in their vocation so that, through their renewed priesthood, our parishes may flourish, and our Church may be made strong. Amen.
On August 4th, the Feast of St. John Vianney, our parish priests from across our diocese will gather to make a historic consecration of their priesthood to the patron saint of parish priests. This profound act of entrustment is part of the Stronger Priests, Stronger Parishes, Stronger Church initiative – a bold effort to strengthen our priests so they can, in turn, renew our parishes and the whole Church.
We invite all parishioners to unite spiritually with our priests on this day by praying for them and their ministry. Their strength is our strength. Their holiness is the seedbed of vibrant parishes. This is a moment of grace for our diocese.
In this time, but especially on August 4th, the diocese invites you to pray the following:
Prayer for Our Priests
Saint John Vianney, patron of parish priests, intercede for our priests as they consecrate themselves to you. Inspire them with your zeal, sustain them in their trials, and enkindle in their hearts the fire of Christ’s love. May they be shepherds after the Heart of Jesus, leading their people to holiness. Strengthen them in their vocation so that, through their renewed priesthood, our parishes may flourish, and our Church may be made strong. Amen.
Reminder: Join us for Coffee and Donuts on Sundays after Masses!
Supporting Abundant Hope PRC
A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to revisit Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Attleboro to drop off a donation check that was generously raised by our parish school students at the end of the year. The staff was incredibly grateful and gave me a tour of their center and updates on the work they’re doing.
Abundant Hope is truly on the front lines, helping women in crisis choose life for their unborn children. Several devout Catholic women serve on staff, and their dedication to the prolife cause is inspiring. After our conversation, I’m excited to announce that we’ll be partnering with them for our October Baby Bottle Drive this year.
They also have their Annual Gala coming up in September if you’re able to support them. Click here to learn more and register.
Abundant Hope is truly on the front lines, helping women in crisis choose life for their unborn children. Several devout Catholic women serve on staff, and their dedication to the prolife cause is inspiring. After our conversation, I’m excited to announce that we’ll be partnering with them for our October Baby Bottle Drive this year.
They also have their Annual Gala coming up in September if you’re able to support them. Click here to learn more and register.
Finally, they asked me to help spread the word about a ministry they offer called Surrendering the Secret, a confidential outreach dedicated to healing the heartbreak of abortion. You can reach out directly to Abundant Hope to learn more about their local offerings, or visit the national website, which includes an accompanying book and helpful resources.
Let’s continue to pray for all women facing difficult pregnancies, and for those seeking healing after abortion. Christ’s mercy is abundant, and so is the hope we’re called to share.
Maronite Catholic Feast Next Weekend in Fall River
Recent Updates from the US Bishops
Please note, there will be NO 5:30pm Confessions on Monday, August 4th due a gathering of the Fall River priests with Bishop Da Cunha.
Please note, the office is also closed on Monday, August 4th.
Mass Times
Sunday: 8:00 AM | 10:30 AM
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
M, T, Th, F, S: 9:00 AM
Sunday: 8:00 AM | 10:30 AM
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
M, T, Th, F, S: 9:00 AM
First Friday: 9:00 AM | 6:00 PM
Adoration Times
Monday-Friday
6:30am-8:45am, 9:30am-8:30pm
6:30am-8:45am, 9:30am-8:30pm
Wednesday
6:30am-8:30pm
Saturday
6:30am-8:45am, 9:30am-2:45pm
6:30am-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.