Sunday, January 22, 2023

OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Thursday, 9am to 5pm
The Welcome Center after each  weekend Mass

FROM THE PASTOR

   What are the steps to growing in discipleship and faith?
   Look below and pray to the Lord to discern how you can take the next STEPS to growing in faith:
   Serve: We have been given unique gifts and talents by God. Using our gifts to serve in Ministry or outreach creates environments for others to experience God’s presence at St. Mary’s and brings God’s love to other communities locally, nationally, and internationally.
   Tithe: We seek to honor God in all areas of life, and this includes our finances. As stewards, not owners, of the resources God has given us, we are called to sacrificial giving, which means percentage, progressive giving to the local Church and the poor. The more we give, the more we receive.
   Engage: We believe faith grows in circles. In Small Groups, we grow in fellowship and relationship with one another and God in ways we cannot grow on our own. Small Groups are where our big Church gets small. Also, spiritual direction, meeting with clergy or another trained director to help see where the Lord is present and to discern what He is calling you to do.
   Practice: We know God wants us to live lives of integrity and virtue that stem from our personal relationship with Christ. We strive to practice daily prayer, Scripture reading, and full participation in the Sacraments to receive grace for our faith growth.
   Share: We want others to experience the life-changing message of the Gospel. Our strategy is to ‘invest and invite’. That simply means we invest in the relationships we have with people in our lives and, when the time comes, invite them to Church with us.
   We can help you take one (or more!) of these STEPS. Stop by the Welcome Center after Mass, see one of the Parish Staff, visit our website or call the Parish Office!

AWAY THIS WINTER?

  If you are planning on being away for the winter, please call the Parish Office at 508-992-7505, to provide the timeframe in which you will be away.
  Thank you!

ST. VINCENT dePAUL - THANK YOU!

   The members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society wish to acknowledge the generous donations from the holy day collections on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and on January 1st, the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.
   These donations will be used to pay heating oil deliveries, for gas, electric and phone bills, back rents, gift cards for food and for Christmas gift cards to purchase gifts for needy children.
   Any Parish family or families outside of the Parish who have financial problems paying any of the aforementioned bills, please call the Parish Office at 508-992-7505 and a member of the Society will contact you.

SNOW DAYS

   St. Mary's Catholic Parish follows the same schedule for snow closures as the Dartmouth Public Schools.
   If the schools are closed due to inclement weather, all Masses for that day are canceled, and the Parish Office will be closed.

SOCIAL CONCERNS MINISTRY MEETING

  The Social Concerns Ministry is meeting this Thursday, January 19th, at 2pm in the Parish Center. The Ministry is a composed of a group of parishioners volunteering to help needy people in the Dartmouth/New Bedford area through its various projects.

All are welcome and we hope you will join us. For more information, call 774-992-0155.

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.

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE

We are incredibly blessed to have thoughtful and generous parishioners who support the good works of St. Mary's.

This Week's Collection:
The Weekly Offering for 1/15/23: $ 7,365.41
egiving from 1/11/23 - 1/18/23 : $ 1,709.00
Spiritual Growth & Developement (a/o 1/18/23): $ 683.00
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This weekend, Jan. 21st/22nd, 5% of the offertory collection will be allocated to the Church in Latin America
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Many thanks for your continued spiritual and financial commitment to our Parish and community! 

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.

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.