Candlelit Mass for Feast of the Presentation
This Monday Feb 2
7:00PM
I want to personally invite you to join me this Monday, February 2, for Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Because the feast falls on a Monday this year, I am organizing two Masses, at 9:00am and 7:00pm. The 7:00pm Mass will be candlelit and include music, and I especially encourage you to come if you are able.
At both Masses, beeswax candles will be blessed and distributed, and you are welcome to bring candles from home to be blessed for use in personal prayer throughout the year.
Candlemas is a beautiful feast that centers on Christ as our light, and I hope you will join us this Monday to celebrate it together.
Because the feast falls on a Monday this year, I am organizing two Masses, at 9:00am and 7:00pm. The 7:00pm Mass will be candlelit and include music, and I especially encourage you to come if you are able.
At both Masses, beeswax candles will be blessed and distributed, and you are welcome to bring candles from home to be blessed for use in personal prayer throughout the year.
Candlemas is a beautiful feast that centers on Christ as our light, and I hope you will join us this Monday to celebrate it together.
After the 7:00pm Mass, the blessing of throats will be offered in anticipation of the Feast of St. Blaise the following day. The blessing will also take place at the 9:00am Mass on Tuesday.
Homily from Fr. Mike Schmitz on Monday's Feast Day
Catholic Schools Week
This past week we celebrated National Catholic Schools Week. With two snow days mixed in, we had to pack all of our festivities into the final three days, but the students rose to the occasion.
On Wednesday morning, our school community gathered for our annual Patriotic Assembly. Our Pre-K students sang several patriotic songs, honoring active duty service members and veterans among our school families.
On Wednesday morning, our school community gathered for our annual Patriotic Assembly. Our Pre-K students sang several patriotic songs, honoring active duty service members and veterans among our school families.
Thursday of Catholic Schools Week focuses on vocations. That afternoon, students in grades 2–6 gathered for a fun assembly and welcomed several priests and religious sisters for a friendly round of “Minute-to-Win-It” games—religious vs. students. We were blessed to be joined by Fr. Leonard, Fr. Paul Born (parochial vicar in Carver/Plymouth, where some of our students attend Mass), Sr. Therese Maria of the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light, and Mother Mary Aeiparthenos with one of the sisters who serve at St. Anthony’s and Immaculate Conception in New Bedford.
It turns out I am surprisingly good at lifting cotton balls with a straw. The competition was close, but with the Lord clearly on our side, the priests and sisters managed to clinch the victory. Many thanks to our religious friends for joining us and showing our students how joyful a life devoted to God can be. And thank you to Mrs. Rogers for organizing such a fun afternoon!
I invite you to pray the prayer for vocations shared below, asking the Lord to raise up future priests, religious, and generous servants from our own parish family.
Thursday also brought the annual Catholic Schools Challenge at Bishop Stang, with 7th and 8th graders from Catholic schools across the Fall River and New Bedford area. After winning the title the past few years, St. Francis Xavier fought hard and proudly brought home second place. Congratulations to our students.
Today we wrapped up the week with our annual Fun Run. Students worked hard gathering sponsorships from family and friends to support this year’s special project, Fields and Fences, which will help replace our soccer field and install new perimeter fencing to improve security. Our goal was $30,000, and as of yesterday afternoon we were still about $6,000 short. I’m happy to report that as of this afternoon, we have raised nearly $35,000! Thank you to everyone who supported our students so generously.
Today we wrapped up the week with our annual Fun Run. Students worked hard gathering sponsorships from family and friends to support this year’s special project, Fields and Fences, which will help replace our soccer field and install new perimeter fencing to improve security. Our goal was $30,000, and as of yesterday afternoon we were still about $6,000 short. I’m happy to report that as of this afternoon, we have raised nearly $35,000! Thank you to everyone who supported our students so generously.
This afternoon, our middle school students, organized through the National Junior Honor Society, partnered with the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society to assemble winter survival packs for individuals experiencing homelessness in the New Bedford area. With donations collected from students in every grade, the packs were filled with practical essentials including granola bars, gloves, juice boxes, toiletries, fruit cups, winter hats, socks, and beef jerky.
School Open House Update
Due to last weekend’s snow, our school Open House was postponed. Our new plan is to hold the Open House this Sunday, February 1, from 12:00–2:00pm.
Please feel free to share this with anyone you know who was planning to attend last weekend or who may be interested in learning more about our school.
Please feel free to share this with anyone you know who was planning to attend last weekend or who may be interested in learning more about our school.
We are aware that snow is possible again this weekend and are keeping a close eye on the forecast. If a change becomes absolutely necessary, we will pivot accordingly. Please watch our school social media for any updates.
Winter Weather Again This Weekend
It’s a little hard to believe, but it looks like another nor’easter may be trying to make an appearance this weekend. I hope you all survived last weekend’s snow. Between that and these negative windchills every morning, I’m really starting to question my life choices about being a priest in Massachusetts… perhaps a transfer to a nice diocese down south is in order. Diocese of Miami, anyone? 😅
I have seen varying reports on the weather for Sunday. I do want to encourage you to consider the Saturday 4:00pm Mass, which has been quite full the last few weeks.
As usual, the 9:00am Monday Mass will be celebrated.
I have seen varying reports on the weather for Sunday. I do want to encourage you to consider the Saturday 4:00pm Mass, which has been quite full the last few weeks.
As usual, the 9:00am Monday Mass will be celebrated.
In your kindness, please pray for the repose of the souls of the following individuals:
Eleanor M. (Florio) Charbonneau, 83, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, January 12, 2026. Her funeral Mass will take place at St. Mary’s in Fairhaven on Saturday, January 31st at 10am. Calling hours are omitted in accordance with her wishes. Burial will be private.
Recent Building Improvements
A few small improvements were completed last week. The entryway bathroom received some finishing touches, including a new baby changing station and a grab bar next to the toilet. Thank you to DesRoches Brothers Contractors for the installation. And thank you to the moms and dads with little ones for your patience 😅
In addition, Abbey Glass completed work around the church last week, including installing protective plexiglass over the new stained glass doors on either side of the sanctuary and adding new locks in the adoration chapel as part of our ongoing safety plan.
A Homily for this Sunday from Fr. Mike Schmitz
Azorean Tile Scene and Baptistry Dedication
Some of you have asked over the past several months about the plans for the blank wall behind the baptismal font. Something has been in the works since the summertime, and I’m happy to finally share more. We are planning to install a hand painted tile scene being crafted in an artisan workshop on São Miguel in the Azores, depicting Our Lord and St. John the Baptist at the Baptism in the Jordan. This piece will honor the Portuguese heritage present in our parish and in the wider community, while also highlighting the meaning of the Sacrament celebrated in this sacred space.
The total cost for the crafting, acquisition, and installation of the tile scene, along with the opportunity to dedicate the baptistry area, is $5,000. If a family or individual would be interested in supporting this project and dedication, please feel free to contact me directly: rjh@sfxparish.com
The total cost for the crafting, acquisition, and installation of the tile scene, along with the opportunity to dedicate the baptistry area, is $5,000. If a family or individual would be interested in supporting this project and dedication, please feel free to contact me directly: rjh@sfxparish.com
Start Preparing for Lent
Pray40: The Return – Hallow’s Lent Community Prayer Challenge for 2026
St. Paul Center
Join Bible Across America: Lent
Save the Date: 2026 SFX Lenten Mission
Please mark your calendar for February 22–25, 2026, and plan to join us for our Parish Lenten Mission with Father James Sullivan, OP, of the Dominican Fathers of the Province of St. Joseph.
Parish Leader Dinner Last Night
A few of us from St. Francis Xavier attended the Parish Leader Dinner last night at Holy Family in East Taunton, hosted by the Secretariat for the New Evangelization of our diocese for catechetical leaders. The guest speaker was Jim Jansen from the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska.
He gave an excellent presentation on the importance of parishes having clear structures in place to accompany people in discipleship, from those who are completely unchurched to those who have been faithfully attending Mass for years. It was a thought provoking evening and gave me a great deal to reflect on as we continue working to evangelize and form disciples of Jesus Christ here in Acushnet.
He gave an excellent presentation on the importance of parishes having clear structures in place to accompany people in discipleship, from those who are completely unchurched to those who have been faithfully attending Mass for years. It was a thought provoking evening and gave me a great deal to reflect on as we continue working to evangelize and form disciples of Jesus Christ here in Acushnet.
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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