Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful day yesterday. We had a great turnout at our 9:00am Thanksgiving Mass. I was able to spend the day in Attleboro with my parents, my two sisters, my brother-in-law, and my nephew who is now just over a year and a half.
On behalf of Deacon Dave and all of our parish and school staff, please know of our gratitude for you and the many ways you bless this community.
On behalf of Deacon Dave and all of our parish and school staff, please know of our gratitude for you and the many ways you bless this community.
Support SFX School This Weekend
This weekend we will take up our annual St. Francis Xavier School Collection, timed to coincide with Giving Tuesday on December 2. This year’s project focuses on improving our school grounds, renewing the well worn soccer field with safer turf and installing new security fencing along the back of the property and around the Pre-K playground. Thank you for your continued support of our parish school and its mission!
The School will be post on their social media with the progress on Giving Tuesday. Please share on your own social media!
Thanks to your generosity last year, we were able to complete several important improvements to our school building. This summer, brand new exterior doors were installed, greatly improving the safety, security, and appearance of the school.
And just a couple of weeks ago, our school lobby received a fresh facelift, with beautiful new photos on the walls celebrating our students. Take a look below.
SFX Feast Day on Wednesday
This Wednesday we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, our parish’s patron. Because he is our patron, this day is observed as a solemnity here (a higher rank of feast day in which the Church invites us to rejoice in the special protection and intercession of our parish saint).
To mark our patronal feast, all are warmly invited to a special Mass at 7:00pm. This is a beautiful opportunity for our parish family to honor St. Francis Xavier together and to ask his prayers for our community.
Please note: As usual, there will be no 9:00am Mass that Wednesday morning.
Women of Grace Mass - Friday Dec 12th
Starting this Sunday, for the four Sundays of Advent, our parish will celebrate Sung Solemn Vespers each Sunday evening at 7:00pm, and all are warmly invited to come.
Our musicians, Jono and Allison, will lead the sung Vespers. Please join us as we pray and wait for the Lord together this Advent.
Congratulations to Carol Eccleston, who has been awarded this year’s Marian Medal by Bishop da Cunha. Each year, this medal is given to one parishioner from every parish in the diocese in recognition of their faithful service to God and His Church. Carol has served our parish generously for years, including her work as coordinator of our Women of Grace apostolate. On behalf of the entire parish, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the many ways she supports St. Francis Xavier. Carol will receive the Marian Medal at a ceremony this Sunday, November 30, at the Cathedral in Fall River. Congratulations, Carol!
Blessed Karl of Austria Mass Next Sunday
Over the summer, I was contacted by a young man named Will, a local student at Thomas Aquinas College who works with the North American Gebetsliga which is the prayer league promoting the cause for the canonization of Blessed Karl of Austria, the last emperor of Austria-Hungary. The Gebetsliga is organizing a nine month series of special Masses around Massachusetts, and they asked if the Fall River Diocese Mass could be hosted here at St. Francis Xavier.
We are honored to welcome them next Sunday at the 10:30am Mass.
Blessed Karl is remembered for his deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist, his commitment to peace, his love for family life, and the sacrifices he made during a turbulent time in Europe. He is buried on the island of Madeira which is a special connection for the many Madeirans in our parish.
After the 10:30am Mass, there will be two very short talks about Blessed Karl’s life and cause for canonization, followed by a light reception in the school.
We are honored to welcome them next Sunday at the 10:30am Mass.
Blessed Karl is remembered for his deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist, his commitment to peace, his love for family life, and the sacrifices he made during a turbulent time in Europe. He is buried on the island of Madeira which is a special connection for the many Madeirans in our parish.
After the 10:30am Mass, there will be two very short talks about Blessed Karl’s life and cause for canonization, followed by a light reception in the school.
All are warmly invited to join us.
Novena in Honor of the Immaculate Conception in New Bedford
Holy Name of the Sacred Heart in New Bedford will be hosting a nine day novena in preparation for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Dec 8). Each evening includes Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, a preached meditation on one of the virtues and vices, Benediction, and confessions.
This is a beautiful way to begin Advent and to prepare our hearts for Christmas.
This is a beautiful way to begin Advent and to prepare our hearts for Christmas.
When:
November 30 – December 8
7:00–8:00pm each evening
Where:
Holy Name of the Sacred Heart Church
121 Mount Pleasant St., New Bedford
November 30 – December 8
7:00–8:00pm each evening
Where:
Holy Name of the Sacred Heart Church
121 Mount Pleasant St., New Bedford
Preachers for the Novena:
Nov 30 – Fr. Kevin Cook: Grace and Sin
Dec 1 – Fr. Chris Peschel: Diligence and Sloth
Dec 2 – Fr. John Garabedian: Magnanimity and Timidity
Dec 3 – Fr. Matt Gill: Humility and Pride
Dec 4 – Fr. Ryan Healy: Patience and Anger
Dec 5 – Fr. Juan Carlos Muñoz: Generosity and Greed
Dec 6 – Deacon Maurice Ouellette: Love and Hate
Dec 7 – Fr. Larry Valliere: Hope and Despair
Dec 8 – Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
All are welcome to attend any or all of the evenings.
Nov 30 – Fr. Kevin Cook: Grace and Sin
Dec 1 – Fr. Chris Peschel: Diligence and Sloth
Dec 2 – Fr. John Garabedian: Magnanimity and Timidity
Dec 3 – Fr. Matt Gill: Humility and Pride
Dec 4 – Fr. Ryan Healy: Patience and Anger
Dec 5 – Fr. Juan Carlos Muñoz: Generosity and Greed
Dec 6 – Deacon Maurice Ouellette: Love and Hate
Dec 7 – Fr. Larry Valliere: Hope and Despair
Dec 8 – Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
All are welcome to attend any or all of the evenings.
Fall River Advent Speaker this Monday
On the bulletin cover this weekend...
Blessed Elisa Angela Meneguzzi (12 September 1901 - 2 December 1941)
Feast Day: December 2
Beatified in 2002
An Italian sister who devoted her life to the sick and suffering in Ethiopia, caring for wounded soldiers during World War II, serving all regardless of religion or race, and becoming known as an ‘ecumenical flame’ for her boundless charity.
An Italian sister who devoted her life to the sick and suffering in Ethiopia, caring for wounded soldiers during World War II, serving all regardless of religion or race, and becoming known as an ‘ecumenical flame’ for her boundless charity.
"The message that the Blessed Liduina Meneguzzi nowadays brings to the Church and to the world is that of hope and love. A kind of hope which redeems men both from their selfishness and from aberrant forms of violence. A kind of love which is an urge to solidarity, to sharing out and to service, following the example of Christ who came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life to save all of us". (cfr Decree on the Heroicness of the Virtues)
New Parish Missalette for the New Liturgical Year
As we begin a new liturgical year this weekend, you’ll notice that we have a new missalette in the pews. We are now using the Source & Summit Missal, a beautifully designed missal used in many growing parishes around the country.
When our parish musicians, Jono and Allison, joined us last winter, we began discussing the strengths and weaknesses of our previous missalette. After some research, they recommended Source & Summit, which provides not only the Mass readings and hymns, but also a wide range of additional prayers, seasonal devotions, and musical resources. It also includes a strong online platform with excellent support for parish musicians.
A big thank you to Phil Martin, Louise Hebert, and the ninth graders and volunteers who worked so quickly on Wednesday evening to switch out every missalette in the church.
Below is a short video from Msgr. John Cihak (Archdiocese of Portland), a close friend of our former pastor, Msgr. Gerard O’Connor. He shares how he came to choose the Source & Summit Missal for his own parish and the benefits he’s seen.
When our parish musicians, Jono and Allison, joined us last winter, we began discussing the strengths and weaknesses of our previous missalette. After some research, they recommended Source & Summit, which provides not only the Mass readings and hymns, but also a wide range of additional prayers, seasonal devotions, and musical resources. It also includes a strong online platform with excellent support for parish musicians.
A big thank you to Phil Martin, Louise Hebert, and the ninth graders and volunteers who worked so quickly on Wednesday evening to switch out every missalette in the church.
Below is a short video from Msgr. John Cihak (Archdiocese of Portland), a close friend of our former pastor, Msgr. Gerard O’Connor. He shares how he came to choose the Source & Summit Missal for his own parish and the benefits he’s seen.
SVDP Giving Tree
Message from our SVDP:
We would like to thank our parishioners and the school for the bountiful Thanksgiving donations!
We are setting up the Annual Giving Tree on Friday, 11/28. Please take a tag or two and bring back an unwrapped gift with the same tag attached by Dec. 14. If you are donating a gift card, please include the receipt.
If you or anyone you know needs a little help through the holidays, please let us know by calling Gayle at 508-971-3791. Thank you.
SVDP Gift Basket Raffle Next Weekend
Our St. Vincent de Paul Society will be holding a Gift Basket Raffle after each Mass next weekend, December 6th and 7th. All proceeds support their work assisting families in need throughout our community.
Tickets:
$1 for 1 ticket
$10 for 12 tickets
Winners will be notified on December 7th.
Thank you for supporting the good work of St. Vincent de Paul!
Tickets:
$1 for 1 ticket
$10 for 12 tickets
Winners will be notified on December 7th.
Thank you for supporting the good work of St. Vincent de Paul!
High School Youth Group — December 7th
Our next High School Youth Group meeting will be on Sunday, December 7th. We’ll be starting our Advent service project for Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center, and then having a fun “duct tape to the wall” activity afterward. High school teens are welcome to join us. Bring a friend!
Supporting Abundant Hope Through Our Youth Group (Correction)
In correction to an earlier email sent this morning:
We will be collecting baby items for Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center throughout the entire month of December, not only on December 7th.
Beginning next weekend, a pack-and-play will be set up in the back of the church to receive donations. Abundant Hope serves more than 70 babies every month, and they are especially grateful for new diapers of all sizes (newborn through size 7) and new warm clothing for infants and toddlers. Items will be delivered to Abundant Hope at the beginning of January.
Thank you for supporting this important work for mothers and babies in our community.
We will be collecting baby items for Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center throughout the entire month of December, not only on December 7th.
Beginning next weekend, a pack-and-play will be set up in the back of the church to receive donations. Abundant Hope serves more than 70 babies every month, and they are especially grateful for new diapers of all sizes (newborn through size 7) and new warm clothing for infants and toddlers. Items will be delivered to Abundant Hope at the beginning of January.
Thank you for supporting this important work for mothers and babies in our community.
Please pick up Memorial Board photos
Thank you to everyone who brought photos for our Memorial Board during the month of November as we prayed for our departed loved ones. Please feel free to take your photo home this weekend. May our loved ones, and all the faithful departed, rest peacefully in the merciful embrace of our Heavenly Father.
Sponsor the New Entryway Crucifix
We are hoping to install a beautiful wall crucifix in the church entryway. This crucifix will be the one the clergy and servers bow to at the end of each Mass and serve as a visible reminder that we are sent out under the sign of Christ’s sacrifice, and that we leave strengthened by His Cross.
If anyone would like to sponsor this crucifix for $600, please let me know. It will be a lasting gift to the parish.
If you’re interested, please email me at rjh@sfxparish.com or speak with me after Mass.
If anyone would like to sponsor this crucifix for $600, please let me know. It will be a lasting gift to the parish.
If you’re interested, please email me at rjh@sfxparish.com or speak with me after Mass.
St. Paul's Boy's Choir School Christmas Concert in Cambridge, MA - Dec. 7 & 14
If you’ve never heard of St. Paul’s Choir School in Cambridge, it is the only Catholic boys’ choir school in the United States, a real treasure right here in our own backyard. Each December, the boys present their Lessons and Carols concerts, which have become a beloved tradition for many in the Boston area.
This year’s concerts are on Sunday, December 7th and Sunday, December 14th. Tickets have been on sale since October, but some may still be available. Parking in Cambridge can be a bit challenging, but the music is absolutely worth the trip. I’ve been a couple of times myself, and it is truly an awesome experience.
This year’s concerts are on Sunday, December 7th and Sunday, December 14th. Tickets have been on sale since October, but some may still be available. Parking in Cambridge can be a bit challenging, but the music is absolutely worth the trip. I’ve been a couple of times myself, and it is truly an awesome experience.
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
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