SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

OFFICE HOURS

Parish Office Hours
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm

On the weekend of September 14-15, 2024, our parish will celebrate our annual “Fall Kick-Off” weekend and Open House!

Food & Fun
You may have heard the buzz. It’s true: After each Mass, we will be serving fun treats! Just drop by after the 4pm Saturday Mass, or the 8 am, 10 am, 11:30 am Sunday Masses.

And That’s Not All!
On both days we’ll celebrate our OPEN HOUSE with table tops outside the church where you can learn more about our parish or just hang out and meet members of our parish family.

So join us for the biggest weekend of the year! See you there!

DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER
OFFICE OF SAFE ENVIRONMENTS

   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.

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 

Wednesday
10am to 2pm

Friday Afternoon
12pm to 4pm

Saturday
10am to 2pm

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

EMMAUS RETREAT

Emmaus is a retreat for men and women (ages 20+) who seek to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, regardless of their present level of faith or practice.

We want to invite you to join us on our next Emmaus weekend. You will be welcomed by a loving community, spend time in personal and communal prayer, and celebrate the sacraments.

For more information or to apply online, email us at emmausretreats@gmail.com
or 

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.

 

ST. MARY’S ANNUAL APPEAL

The response to this year's annual appeal has been outstanding; as of this week, we have raised $75,313.00. If you have not yet had a chance to make your gift, there is still time to participate. Please consider giving towards the annual appeal, you can make your secure gift online Ways to Give (above).

Also, you can drop your gift off at church or mail it to the Parish Office at 789 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth, MA 02748.

Thank you for your loving support of our wonderful parish

St. Mary’s Catholic Church is pleased to announce an exciting new ministry that will bring hope and healing to those who have experienced the pain and loneliness of a broken marriage.

Surviving Divorce features twelve video presentations that cover topics such as shock and grief, anger and forgiveness, money issues, dealing with children, a former spouse, and annulment and remarriage.

This program is for the newly separated and divorced and those still struggling with issues many years later. It will help them find answers to their questions, restore their hope, an begin authentic healing.

The program begins on Monday, October 21st, at 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall of St. Mary Catholic Church, 789 Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth, MA. The cost of the program is $20 and includes the Surviving Divorce Personal Guide and all program materials.

Please call Beni at 508-742-6923 to register or for more information

SOCIAL CONCERNS MINISTRY 

The Social Concerns Ministry (SCM) kicks off its “new year” on Thursday, September 19th, at 2pm in the Parish Center.

If you’ve been thinking about joining SCM, this is a great time to visit and hear about our plans for the upcoming year. Our meetings are very informal and last about an hour. We welcome everyone!

For more information, please visit the SCM table at the Parish Kick-Off Weekend, Sept. 14th-15th.

BOOKING MASS INTENTIONS

We have been experiencing a shortage of reserved Masses for the intentions of the faithful. To help better assist with the process of booking Masses for the deceased, please see below:

According to Church Canon Law, one Sunday Mass per weekend must be celebrated for "All the People of the Parish"
One Sunday Mass, per month, will be celebrated for the newly deceased for the prior month.
In November, one Sunday Mass will be celebrated for all who have died the year prior.
The Mass Book is open for intentions, three months in advance. (On October 1st, bookings are open for the months of January, February & March.)

Going Forward: The new policy for Mass Intention booking is as follows, the person booking the Mass may only book two Mass Intentions: one weekend Mass and one weekday Mass, per quarter.

The person booking the Mass may include more than one name on each Mass Intention. The goal is to allow for the reservation of anniversary Masses for the recently deceased and also open more opportunities for everyone to have at least an anniversary or other special occasion Mass celebrated on or near a relevant date for their loved one(s).

By becoming more aware of the challenges of scheduling reserved Masses, it is hoped that we will display a generous spirit of sharing, of fairness and flexibility, which characterizes an authentic Christian approach to this delicate situation.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration in this matter.

SPECIAL MASSES FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS

October 10th is World Mental Health Day and October 6th – 12th is Mental Illness Awareness Week.

In recognition of the impact that mental health challenges can have on individuals, their families and caregivers, Bishop Edgar da Cunha will offer two special Liturgies to raise awareness of the impact of Mental Health and Substance Use within Faith Communities within the Diocese.

In an effort to accommodate the faithful throughout the Diocese, the Liturgies will be celebrated on:

Sunday, October 13th, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption on Second Street in Fall River;
Saturday, October 26th, 2024, at 4 p.m. at Corpus Christi Church, Quaker Meeting House Road in East Sandwich.

These Liturgies will be offered for those who have lost a loved one to suicide, drug and alcohol use, or mental illness, and for those who are currently experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. All are welcome!

A Book of Remembrance will be offered during the Liturgy for those who have died. If you would like to submit a name or names of loved ones to be included in the Book of Remembrance, please email
FR-Reception@ccfrdioc.org, with the subject line: Name for Remembrance Book.

You may also call Catholic Charities Diocese of Fall River at 508-674-4681 Ext. 1101.

New ways to give are here! We made exciting changes to our Parish’s online giving program. Our updated program through Realm Connect, offers more ways for you to support the Parish.

In the coming weeks, look for announcements about giving via text message and with our app. Some of you may have already noticed our updated online giving webpage. To help protect your information, you’ll need to create an account for our new system if you wish to set up a recurring gift. Look for emails from us on how to create this account.

All our new ways to give offer the same security as our old method where processing standards meet the highest regulations set by the card industry.

If you have any questions, please contact church office at 508-992-7505 . We appreciate your continued support. 

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CALENDAR RAFFLE 

Cash Prizes will be given away every day in May.

$10 for every chance.
The Knights will selling tickets in front of the church on April 20/21

SOCIAL CONCERNS MINISTRY -THANK YOU

Thanks to the generosity of St. Mary’s Church parishioners, the Social Concerns Ministry provided 90 families in Dartmouth and New Bedford with a box full of groceries that included, among other items, ingredients for an Easter dinner.

The families also received a $30 gift card to Market Basket and a family Easter basket filled with goodies. The families receiving the donations were selected by school counselors. 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 9/8/24: $6,050.00
egiving from 9/4/24 - 9/10/24: $4,740.98

Spiritual Growth & Development a/o 9/9/24: $1,384.00

This weekend, 5% of the offertory will be allocated to the Catholic Schools Financial Aid/Scholarship Funds (FACE).

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.