Sunday, December 3, 2023

CONGRATULATIONS

Marion Medal: Barbara "Bunny" Norton
St. Joseph Award: Michael Santos
St. Mary Award: Annette Gamache
Pope John Paul II Award: Elizabeth Santos

Please join us in congratulating our awardees.
Thank you for all you do!

HOLY DAY and HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Immaculate Conception Vigil: Thursday, December 7th @ 5:30pm
Immaculate Conception: Friday, December 8th @ 8am

All Day Adoration: Friday, December 8th from 8am to 5pm

Advent Penance Service: Tuesday, December 12th, 6pm - 7pm
Confessions will be heard in both English & Portuguese.
(This includes a time of Adoration.)

Sunday Mass: Dec. 24th @ 8am & 10am
Christmas Vigil: Sunday, Dec. 24th, @ 4pm & 6pm
Christmas Day: Monday, Dec. 25th @ 12 Midnight & 10am

Sunday Mass: Dec. 31st @ 8am, 10am & 12pm
New Year's Day Vigil: Sunday, Dec. 31st @ 5pm
New Year's Day: Monday, Jan. 1st @ 10am

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

The Knights of Columbus is hosting a "Pancake Breakfast with Santa" in St. Mary's Parish Hall on Sunday, December 10th, from 8am to 12pm.
Breakfast is being served at no cost. Everyone is invited to join in on the fun! 

ALL DAY ADORATION - DECEMBER 8

All Day Adoration will be held on Friday, December 8th, on the Holy Day of Obligation of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.

Mass is at 8am with Adoration from 8:30am to 4:40pm, concluding with Evening Prayer and Benediction. Copies of the Evening Prayer will be available. Or you can use the app "Divine Office" to view this prayer.


WHAT IS REALM?

What is Realm? Realm is an online ministry tool designed for real time connection. It helps our church connect with you and you, with us.

If you consider yourself part of this church family, you’ll love it. Realm allows you to manage your personal information and who is allowed to see it, control your egiving, and keep in touch with the groups that matter to you.

If you haven't already, please check your email for your personal invitation to join Realm. Click on the link in the email to set up your account and profile in Realm.

Many thanks for your continued spiritual and financial commitment to our Parish and community.

ST. MARY’S THRIFT STORE HOURS

Wednesday & Saturday
10am to 2pm

Friday Afternoon
12pm to 4pm

GREETERS NEEDED

We need Greeters to welcome our friends to Mass! We need YOU! To joyfully and sincerely welcome each person coming to Mass and/or other services and events at St. Mary’s.

Please sign-up to be a greeter, by visiting our webpage.

Thank you!

SNOWBIRDS

If you are going away this winter, please call the office to let us know you will be away.  Parish Office phone number is 508-992-7505

ST PATRICK’S DAY DISPENSATION

MASS INTENTION SCHEDULING

Beginning October 1st (for the booking of Masses from January 1st to March 31st of 2024), only four Masses per individual are allowed. Of these four Masses, one can be on the weekend and the other three are for during the week. Masses are $10 each and Sanctuary Candles are $25. Please provide payment at the time of booking.  

October 1st for January, February and March
January 1st for April, May, June
April 1st for July, August, September
July 1st for October, November, December

WINDOWS ON HEAVEN: PRAYING WITH ICONS
October 29-31, 2023

-Kathy Marzilli Miraglia, EdD, MAE, BFA, Professor Emerita of Art Education at UMass Dartmouth
-Sister Cynthia Bauer, OP, MA, BCC and Board-Certified interfaith Chaplain
-Sister Madeleine Tacy, OP, D.Min., and Certified in Spiritual Direction

This three-day retreat will offer historical overviews and information regarding icon painting tradition and technique. Since icons are referred to as “windows on heaven,” we will explore the meaning of icons and how they can be used in prayer.

Our time together will include small discussion groups, prayer with a chosen icon, silent reflection following the overview of liturgical and contemplative practices related to ways in which to pray with icons. Icon prayer cards will be provided.

Location: Mercy by the Sea, Madison, CT 06443

Cost: Single Bed $450, Double Bed $400 (includes ensuite bathroom and all meals from Sunday dinner, through Tuesday breakfast)

To register: call Guest Services at (203) 245.0401, Ext. 114 or click here.

 

THANK YOU KEN!

A special thank you goes to Ken Charros for setting up the Christmas lights outside of St. Mary's Church!

CHRISTMAS GIFT DRIVE

Once again with your help, the Social Concerns Ministry plans to provide area families with a Target gift card that can be used for buying groceries or Christmas gifts.

In the past, SCM provided gifts and clothing items to families selected by school counselors. These counselors believe that the gift cards are a better option so that families can select and purchase much needed items.

With this in mind, Christmas tags are hanging on trees in the Church. Please take a tag or two, purchase a gift card or two, and return them to Church and putting them in the black boxes on the wall or to the Parish Center by December 18th.

Thank you for your support.

SOCIAL CONCERNS MINISTRY

With the generosity of St. Mary’s Church parishioners, the Social Concerns Ministry provided Thanksgiving “fixings”, other staple food items, and grocery gift cards to 93 families living in Dartmouth and New Bedford.

Forty of those families also received a turkey donated by a very thoughtful parishioner. The generosity of St. Mary’s parishioners has helped hundreds of families over the years.

Thank you for your support of the Social Concerns Ministry. You make a difference in so many lives!

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY

St. Mary's follows the same closures as the school system. When the Dartmouth Schools close for a Snow Day, all activities at St. Mary's that same day will be canceled. If the Dartmouth Schools have a delayed start, only the morning Masses will be canceled.

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE

The Weekly Offering for 11/26/23: $ 4,930.00
egiving from 11/22/23 - 11/27/23: $ 1,310.64
Fall Clean-Up a/o 11/27/23: ... >>>>>>>>>>.. $ 2,120.00

Next weekend, Dec. 9th/10th, 5% of the offertory will be allocated to the National Drive for Funds to Support the Retired Religious.

Your gift to the Funds to Support the Retired Religious collection helps to furnish medications, nursing care, and other necessities. The collection is coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) in Washington.

Fall Clean Up donations can be made anytime during the month of December.

Many thanks to our Parishioners for your continued support of St. Mary's Parish. We could not do what we do without you!

PRAYER REQUESTS

Prayer Line: If you would like to have someone prayed for please either call the Parish Office at 508-992-7505, submit the prayer request on our website by clicking here.

PRAY FOR VOCATIONS

Lord God, the Provider of all our needs, You have asked us to pray for workers in the vineyard. Manifest in Your Church the Spirit whom you so abundantly bestowed on the Apostles at Pentecost.

Bless our Parish and Diocese with an increase of men and women to minister in Your Church as priests, deacons, and religious sisters and brothers. Form our Parish in Your Image to be the sacred environment for listening to the Spirit. May those whom You call give themselves, their time, and their talent to serve Your Son and the Church.

Increase the life of faith of our Parish Family that we may be a living sign of Your Kingdom for all to see. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

THE NEED IS GREAT! YOU CAN HELP!

Canned goods and other non-perishable food items are needed to restock the Solanus Casey Food Pantry at Catholic Social Svcs. in New Bedford.

Non-perishable items needed most are:
Breakfast Cereal
Peanut Butter
Canned Soups
Canned Veggies
Canned Fruit
Canned Meats
Canned Tuna
Pasta Sauce and Pasta
Macaroni & Cheese
1lb. bags of Rice
1lb. bags of Dry Beans

Any donation made—large or small—will directly benefit families in need.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to storage issues, please do not donate any fresh vegetables or fresh fruit. The Greater Boston Food Bank provides necessary fresh produce. Also, the Pantry cannot accept opened boxes or containers or items past their expiration date.

MANDATED REPORTING

 All members of the clergy, Directors of Religious Education and teachers in our schools are Mandated Reporters in Massachusetts and required by law to report any suspected child abuse. Many children will not tell anyone they are being abused. Because the Diocese believes in our moral obligation to protect children, we extend the safe environment training to all who minister, work or volunteer. Watch for signs of abuse and, if you are concerned about a child, share those concerns with a mandated reporter at your parish or school. Let us all be a voice for children who may not be able to speak for themselves.