Holy Day on Monday - Immaculate Conception
This Monday, Dec 8, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, one of the great Marian feasts of the year. The Church celebrates that from the first moment of her existence, Mary was preserved from original sin and prepared by God to be the mother of Jesus.
Because this feast is a Holy Day of Obligation, all Catholics are invited to take part in Mass. We will have two Masses here at St. Francis Xavier: 9:00am and 6:30pm. I hope you’ll be able to join us as we honor Our Lady and ask her prayers at the start of Advent.
A Huge Thank You from Our Parish School
On behalf of Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Shaughnessy, thank you to everyone who contributed to the special collection for the school last weekend. We raised over $3,600 in the second collection! And I’m delighted to share that, between the weekend collection and Giving Tuesday, our community raised almost $20,000 for St. Francis Xavier School. Your generosity is incredible.
On Giving Tuesday alone, our school raised $15,000 in a single day, thanks to many of you and to two families who stepped forward with matching gifts.
One of the incentives for meeting Tuesday’s goal was that our students would get Raising Cane’s chicken for lunch if we hit the target. So yesterday I drove to the Raising Cane’s in Fall River to pick up a very large order. The staff was understandably curious about what a priest was doing with 700 chicken tenders, and let’s just say driving down 195 with every window fogged up from the heat of the chicken was a first for me. 😂
But it was worth it, the students were thrilled, and it was a special treat they won’t forget.
Thank you again for your kindness, your support of our school, and your belief in our mission.
If you didn’t have a chance to give either last weekend or on Giving Tuesday, but would still like to support the effort, you can do so at the link below.
On Giving Tuesday alone, our school raised $15,000 in a single day, thanks to many of you and to two families who stepped forward with matching gifts.
One of the incentives for meeting Tuesday’s goal was that our students would get Raising Cane’s chicken for lunch if we hit the target. So yesterday I drove to the Raising Cane’s in Fall River to pick up a very large order. The staff was understandably curious about what a priest was doing with 700 chicken tenders, and let’s just say driving down 195 with every window fogged up from the heat of the chicken was a first for me. 😂
But it was worth it, the students were thrilled, and it was a special treat they won’t forget.
Thank you again for your kindness, your support of our school, and your belief in our mission.
If you didn’t have a chance to give either last weekend or on Giving Tuesday, but would still like to support the effort, you can do so at the link below.
Feast Day Mass at SFX School
On Wednesday morning, our school community gathered for a beautiful Mass for the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. We were blessed to welcome the Bishop Stang High School Mass Choir, directed by Mr. Tim Gannon, son of Patrick & Denise, who once served as musicians here at St. Francis. It was a wonderful homecoming for Tim and a joy for him to see the renovated church.
In my homily, I shared with the students that St. Francis Xavier was known for his destroyed shoes, a sign that he was always on the move, always serving, always taking the next step the Lord asked of him. That’s the spirit we hope to imitate, being ready to serve whenever others need us.
It has also become a nice tradition for all of our school altar boys to serve at this Mass, and it was great to have all of them up there together.
In my homily, I shared with the students that St. Francis Xavier was known for his destroyed shoes, a sign that he was always on the move, always serving, always taking the next step the Lord asked of him. That’s the spirit we hope to imitate, being ready to serve whenever others need us.
It has also become a nice tradition for all of our school altar boys to serve at this Mass, and it was great to have all of them up there together.
Support the School This Tuesday
Women of Grace Mass - This Friday Dec 12th
Blessed Karl of Austria Mass This Sunday
A reminder that we are honored to welcome the North American Gebetsliga to St. Francis Xavier this Sunday at the 10:30am Mass. Over the summer, their representative, Will, a local student at Thomas Aquinas College, reached out asking if our parish could host the Fall River Diocese’s Mass in honor of Blessed Karl of Austria, the last emperor of Austria-Hungary and a model of Eucharistic devotion, peace, and family life. His burial on the island of Madeira gives a special connection for many Madeiran families of our area.
After the 10:30am Mass, there will be two very short talks about Blessed Karl’s life and his cause for canonization.
Coffee and donuts will be offered down at the school, where the talks will also take place.
All are warmly invited to join us.
After the 10:30am Mass, there will be two very short talks about Blessed Karl’s life and his cause for canonization.
Coffee and donuts will be offered down at the school, where the talks will also take place.
All are warmly invited to join us.
Don’t forget your Advent Reflection Booklet
I forgot to mention this at the Masses last weekend, but we once again have the Magnificat Advent Reflection Booklets available for you. There are still plenty left in the entryway.
Please feel free to pick one up this weekend. They’re a great way to pray through Advent.
Please feel free to pick one up this weekend. They’re a great way to pray through Advent.
Advent Shoe Fundraiser – Helping Children in Rwanda
As we do every Advent, our parish is once again collecting donations to provide shoes for school children in Rwanda. For many years now, your generosity has helped give children something as simple and as life changing as a pair of shoes that allows them to attend school.
We are asking for $20 donations, which will be collected next weekend and the following weekend (December 13/14 and December 20/21). A volunteer will be in the entryway after each Mass.
If you’d like to make a donation in someone’s honor, you can also pick up one of the small cards (pictured above) that says:
“I bought you shoes for Christmas. But you have enough shoes… so I sent them to Rwanda.”
Thank you, as always, for your generosity.
We are asking for $20 donations, which will be collected next weekend and the following weekend (December 13/14 and December 20/21). A volunteer will be in the entryway after each Mass.
If you’d like to make a donation in someone’s honor, you can also pick up one of the small cards (pictured above) that says:
“I bought you shoes for Christmas. But you have enough shoes… so I sent them to Rwanda.”
Thank you, as always, for your generosity.
Congratulations, Carol!
It was a joyful occasion last Sunday as parishioner Carol Eccleston received the Marian Medal Award at the Cathedral in Fall River, presented by Bishop da Cunha.
Congratulations, Carol, and thank you for your dedicated service to our parish!
Congratulations, Carol, and thank you for your dedicated service to our parish!
*Dr. Bergsma does not have a reflection for the second Sunday of Advent so here is one from his colleague Dr. Brant Pitre*
On the bulletin cover this weekend...
Saint María de las Maravillas de Jesús (4 November 1891 - 11 December 1974)
Feast Day: December 11
Canonized in 2003
A Spanish aristocrat who abandoned everything for the hidden life of a Carmelite, went on to found thriving monasteries in times of persecution and became one of the great, quiet reformers of the modern Church.
A Spanish aristocrat who abandoned everything for the hidden life of a Carmelite, went on to found thriving monasteries in times of persecution and became one of the great, quiet reformers of the modern Church.
SVDP Gift Basket Raffle This Weekend
Our St. Vincent de Paul Society will be holding a Gift Basket Raffle after each Mass this 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.
$1 for 1 ticket
$10 for 12 tickets
Winners will be notified on December 7th.
If you took a tag from the Giving Tree, please bring back an unwrapped gift with the same tag attached by Dec. 14th. If you are donating a gift card, please include the receipt.
Thank you for supporting the good work of St. Vincent de Paul!
If you or anyone you know needs a little help through the holidays, please let us know by calling Gayle Phaneuf at 508 971 3791.
High School Youth Group — December 7th
Our next High School Youth Group meeting will be this 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
We will be collecting baby items for Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center throughout the entire month of December.
Beginning this 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.
Beginning this 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.
Christmas Flower Donations
Envelopes are available in the entryway for anyone who would like to make a donation toward our Christmas flowers in memory of a loved one.
Please feel free to take an envelope and place your offering in the collection basket. Thank you for your generosity.
Please feel free to take an envelope and place your offering in the collection basket. Thank you for your generosity.
Bambinelli Sunday – December 20th & 21st
All are invited to bring the Jesus figure from your home Nativity set to Mass on the fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20–21) for a special blessing, following the longtime tradition of Bambinelli Sunday.
This blessing is usually done on the third Sunday of Advent, but this year we will celebrate it on the fourth.
A beautiful way to prepare your home and heart for Christmas!
This blessing is usually done on the third Sunday of Advent, but this year we will celebrate it on the fourth.
A beautiful way to prepare your home and heart for Christmas!
Transitional Diaconate Ordination Next Saturday Dec 13
Please keep Kaique Santos in your prayers this week as he prepares to be ordained a transitional deacon for our diocese. Kaique is originally from Brazil, and he has been studying and serving here as he continues his journey toward the priesthood. This is a joyful moment not only for him, but for our whole diocese.
His ordination will take place next Saturday, December 13, at 11:00am at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River, and all are welcome to attend. The next morning, Sunday, December 14, he will preach his first homily at the 9:00am Mass at Corpus Christi in East Sandwich.
A small favor from our volunteer cleaners
Our team of volunteer cleaners has a simple request, especially for those who attend the 10:30am Mass: if you could please put the kneelers up and return the missalettes and pew cards to their places before you leave your row. It makes a huge difference for them when they come in early on Monday morning to tidy the church.
Thank you for helping keep our parish home beautiful!
Thank you for helping keep our parish home beautiful!
Christmas Idea:
Give the Gift of Catholic Summer Camp - Camps Fatima & Bernadette in NH
Before & After
Thank you for all the positive feedback about the church over the past couple of months. It has also been really wonderful meeting people in the wider community who have heard about the renovation.
Someone recently asked if I could share a simple “before and after” photo so we can all remember just how much has changed… so here it is!
Someone recently asked if I could share a simple “before and after” photo so we can all remember just how much has changed… so here it is!
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.