Tomorrow: Diaconate Ordination of Lucas da Costa
The diaconate ordination of our parishioner and seminarian, Lucas da Costa, will take place tomorrow, Saturday, June 6 at 11:00am at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River. Lucas will be ordained to the transitional diaconate alongside Kaique Duarte Santos, who will be ordained to the priesthood for our diocese.
Lucas will return to St. Francis Xavier this weekend and will serve at the 4:00pm, 8:00am, and 10:30am Masses, preaching his first homily as a deacon at each Mass. We will have a light reception following the Masses (downstairs due to forecasted rain) this weekend so that parishioners may congratulate him personally.
It is also customary for parishioners and friends to offer a card, spiritual bouquet, or gift to someone being ordained, and I know Lucas would be deeply grateful for your prayers and encouragement during this important moment in his life.
Included below is the invitation graphic with additional details for the ordination weekend. Please continue to pray for Lucas in these coming days as he prepares for ordination and for all those discerning a vocation to the priesthood.
Lucas will return to St. Francis Xavier this weekend and will serve at the 4:00pm, 8:00am, and 10:30am Masses, preaching his first homily as a deacon at each Mass. We will have a light reception following the Masses (downstairs due to forecasted rain) this weekend so that parishioners may congratulate him personally.
It is also customary for parishioners and friends to offer a card, spiritual bouquet, or gift to someone being ordained, and I know Lucas would be deeply grateful for your prayers and encouragement during this important moment in his life.
Included below is the invitation graphic with additional details for the ordination weekend. Please continue to pray for Lucas in these coming days as he prepares for ordination and for all those discerning a vocation to the priesthood.
This Sunday: NB Corpus Christi Procession
This weekend, the Church celebrates Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Traditionally, this feast is marked by Eucharistic processions that bring Our Lord into the streets as a public witness of faith and devotion.
Because our school Baccalaureate Mass will be taking place this Sunday afternoon, we will not be holding a Eucharistic procession here at SFX this year. However, I encourage you to participate in the New Bedford Corpus Christi Procession sponsored by Our Lady's Chapel in collaboration with St. Lawrence, OL of Guadalupe, and OL of Mount Carmel parishes. Please see the advertisement above for details.
Because our school Baccalaureate Mass will be taking place this Sunday afternoon, we will not be holding a Eucharistic procession here at SFX this year. However, I encourage you to participate in the New Bedford Corpus Christi Procession sponsored by Our Lady's Chapel in collaboration with St. Lawrence, OL of Guadalupe, and OL of Mount Carmel parishes. Please see the advertisement above for details.
This Week at St. Francis Xavier School
As we move ever closer to the end of another school year, our eighth graders have been busy with the many special events and activities that lead up to graduation weekend. On Thursday morning, we gathered as a school community for what would be our final school Mass with the Class of 2026 before they departed for their class retreat later that day.
Because Thursday was the traditional date of Corpus Christi, we celebrated a Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist and gave thanks for the great gift of Christ's presence among us. In the Gospel reading on Thursday, Jesus was asked which commandment is the most important. His answer was to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
As we come to the end of the school year, it is natural to reflect on what has mattered most and what we hope our students will carry with them into the future. I reminded our eighth graders that, above all else, if there is one lesson we hope remains with them from their years at St. Francis Xavier School, it is the very lesson Jesus gave in the Gospel: love God and love your neighbor. If they can hold on to those two commandments, they will have taken with them the most important thing we could ever hope to teach.
Because Thursday was the traditional date of Corpus Christi, we celebrated a Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist and gave thanks for the great gift of Christ's presence among us. In the Gospel reading on Thursday, Jesus was asked which commandment is the most important. His answer was to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
As we come to the end of the school year, it is natural to reflect on what has mattered most and what we hope our students will carry with them into the future. I reminded our eighth graders that, above all else, if there is one lesson we hope remains with them from their years at St. Francis Xavier School, it is the very lesson Jesus gave in the Gospel: love God and love your neighbor. If they can hold on to those two commandments, they will have taken with them the most important thing we could ever hope to teach.
We're Hiring for the 2026-2027 School Year
St. Francis Xavier School is currently seeking qualified candidates for a couple positions for the upcoming school year. Please see the graphic and links below for more information and detailed job descriptions.
If you know someone who may be interested in joining our outstanding school community, please share these opportunities with them. Recommendations from parishioners are often one of the best ways we find talented and mission driven educators and staff members.
If you have any questions or possible leads, please feel free to reach out to me directly. Thank you for helping us spread the word.
If you know someone who may be interested in joining our outstanding school community, please share these opportunities with them. Recommendations from parishioners are often one of the best ways we find talented and mission driven educators and staff members.
If you have any questions or possible leads, please feel free to reach out to me directly. Thank you for helping us spread the word.
Celebrating the 100th Graduating Class of St. Francis Xavier School
This Sunday afternoon (June 7th) at 2:00pm, our parish will gather for the Baccalaureate Mass for the graduating Class of 2026 of St. Francis Xavier School. All parishioners are invited to join us as we celebrate these young men and women and pray for them as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives.
This year's class holds a special place in the history of our parish and school, as they are the 100th graduating class of St. Francis Xavier School. For a century, generations of students have been formed here in faith, knowledge, and service. We thank God for the countless lives that have been touched by our school over the past 100 years, and we look forward with gratitude and hope to the next century of Catholic education.
This year's class holds a special place in the history of our parish and school, as they are the 100th graduating class of St. Francis Xavier School. For a century, generations of students have been formed here in faith, knowledge, and service. We thank God for the countless lives that have been touched by our school over the past 100 years, and we look forward with gratitude and hope to the next century of Catholic education.
Consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Last year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that our nation will be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Thursday, June 11, as our country marks the 250th anniversary of its founding. At this significant moment in our nation's history, Catholics across the country will unite in asking the Sacred Heart of Jesus to bless, guide, and protect our nation and its people.
Special Parish Mass on Thursday June 11
Here at St. Francis Xavier, I will celebrate a special Mass this Thursday, June 11 at 6:00pm. During the Mass, we will join Catholics throughout the nation in praying the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All are welcome to attend. This Mass will serve as the vigil Mass for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is celebrated on Friday, June 12 this year.
Friday June 12: Sacred Heart Hymn Festival
Join us this Friday, June 12 at 6:00 p.m. for a special evening of sacred music in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Led by Jono Babbitt and Allison Messier, the program will feature hymns and musical selections drawn from the rich treasury of music devoted to the Sacred Heart. All are welcome.
Steubenville Collection Thank You
Thank you to everyone who contributed to last weekend's collection in support of our teens attending the Steubenville Youth Conference this summer. Thanks to your generosity, we raised nearly $4,000 through the collection at Masses.
We are also deeply grateful to our parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, which generously contributed $1,200 to sponsor three participants. Together, these gifts have brought us very close to covering the entire cost of the trip.
The Steubenville Youth Conference has had a profound impact on many of our young people over the years, helping them deepen their faith, encounter Christ in a powerful way, and build lasting friendships with other young Catholics. Thank you for investing in our youth and supporting them with your prayers and generosity. We are truly blessed by your kindness and support.
We are also deeply grateful to our parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, which generously contributed $1,200 to sponsor three participants. Together, these gifts have brought us very close to covering the entire cost of the trip.
The Steubenville Youth Conference has had a profound impact on many of our young people over the years, helping them deepen their faith, encounter Christ in a powerful way, and build lasting friendships with other young Catholics. Thank you for investing in our youth and supporting them with your prayers and generosity. We are truly blessed by your kindness and support.
Continuing Our Commitment to Parish Safety
This past Monday, several members of our Parish Safety Committee and I attended a diocesan seminar on church safety at St. Julie Billiart Parish in Dartmouth. The workshop brought together parish leaders from across the Diocese and featured guest speakers who shared best practices, current recommendations, and practical considerations for maintaining safe and secure houses of worship.
The presentations gave us much to reflect upon and provided valuable ideas as we continue strengthening our own safety plans. At the same time, we left encouraged and grateful, recognizing that St. Francis Xavier has already taken many important steps in recent years to improve safety and emergency preparedness. From our safety planning and committee work to recent investments in security measures and emergency response procedures, much good work has already been accomplished.
I am grateful to the members of our Safety Committee who generously volunteer their time and expertise in this important ministry. As we continue to review our procedures and implement improvements where appropriate, we look forward to sharing updates with the parish. Thank you for your continued support as we work to ensure that our parish remains a safe, welcoming, and secure place.
The presentations gave us much to reflect upon and provided valuable ideas as we continue strengthening our own safety plans. At the same time, we left encouraged and grateful, recognizing that St. Francis Xavier has already taken many important steps in recent years to improve safety and emergency preparedness. From our safety planning and committee work to recent investments in security measures and emergency response procedures, much good work has already been accomplished.
I am grateful to the members of our Safety Committee who generously volunteer their time and expertise in this important ministry. As we continue to review our procedures and implement improvements where appropriate, we look forward to sharing updates with the parish. Thank you for your continued support as we work to ensure that our parish remains a safe, welcoming, and secure place.
*No Saturday Morning Confessions This Week
Please note that there will be no confessions tomorrow, Saturday, from 9:30–10:00 a.m. A visiting priest, who cannot stay afterwards, will be celebrating the 9:00 a.m. Mass while I travel to Boston to celebrate the funeral Mass for a family member.
Unfortunately, this means that I will also be unable to attend the ordination Mass in Fall River for Lucas DaCosta. I will be back in time for all of our regularly scheduled weekend Masses and look forward to seeing you then.
Unfortunately, this means that I will also be unable to attend the ordination Mass in Fall River for Lucas DaCosta. I will be back in time for all of our regularly scheduled weekend Masses and look forward to seeing you then.
Diocesan Catholic Appeal May 1 - June 30
The Diocesan Catholic Appeal continues through the end of June. I ask you to please support this important appeal, which helps fund the essential ministries of our diocese and supports the work of the Gospel in so many ways across our local Church. Thank you again for your generosity.
A Homily for this Sunday from Fr. Mike Schmitz
Adorers Needed
We are currently in need of committed adorers for the following hours:
Tuesdays 4:30 - 5:30 AM
Fridays 1:00 - 2:00 PM
If you are able to take one of these hours and spend time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, please contact Mary Cardoza at 774-526-1444.
Tuesdays 4:30 - 5:30 AM
Fridays 1:00 - 2:00 PM
If you are able to take one of these hours and spend time with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, please contact Mary Cardoza at 774-526-1444.
Save the Date: National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in New Bedford on Monday June 29th
Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Jake and Ryleigh (Alfonse) Meleski!
Acutis Days for Kids Coming up in July
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-7:30pm
6:30am-8:45am, 9:30am-7:30pm
Wednesday
6:30am-7:30pm
Saturday
6:30am-8:45am, 9:30am-2:45pm
6:30am-7:30pm
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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