SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2024

Adoration & Reconciliation for Tuesday, July 23rd, has been canceled. These will resume the following week on Tuesday, July 30th.


SOCIAL CONCERNS PERSONAL CARE ITEMS DRIVE

Social Concerns is sponsoring this drive from June 29th/30th through July 27th/28th.

HELPING THOSE IN NEED …
   During the holidays or when the weather is bitter cold and windy, we often remember and help people that are less fortunate than we are. When summer comes, our thoughts change to enjoying the beach or the pool, spending the day on our boat, or planning our next backyard cookout. Often, we don’t stop to think about the poor and homeless people whose lives don’t change just because it’s summer time. We at St. Mary’s are hoping to change that this summer.
   Once again, the Social Concerns Ministry is organizing a Personal Care Products Drive during the month of July to help the homeless and needy men and women in our area and those living in transitional housing. All donated items will be brought to shelters in the New Bedford area to be handed out to those in need.

SUGGESTED ITEMS:

-Band Aids
- Body Lotion
- Body Powder
- Cotton Socks (Men’s and Women’s)
- Dental Floss
- Deodorant
- Disposable Razors
- Feminine Care Products
- Hair Comb
- Hairbrush
- Hand Cream
- Lip Balm
- Shampoo
- Shaving Cream
- Soap/Body Wash
- Soap Case
- Sunscreen*
- Toothbrush
-Toothpaste
- Toothbrush Case

   Also welcome: travel-size items, candy, chewing gum, and new baseball caps.
Sunscreen is used to protect against skin damage for those people who spend most of their day outdoors.*
Medicine, nail polish, nail polish remover or previously opened containers cannot be accepted.
   Beginning the weekend of June 29th/30th and throughout the month of July, donations may be left in the designated baskets in the Church. Monetary donations may be made through the mail slot at the Parish Center and in the offertory boxes at the Church entrances. Please use an envelope clearly marked --"Social Concerns".

** Final collection weekend is July 29th-30th **

   The Social Concerns Ministry thanks you, the St. Mary’s Church community, for your outstanding generosity.
   Let’s take time this summer to think about those people less fortunate than ourselves. And have a safe and happy summer!

OFFICE HOURS

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

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.

 

KNIGHTS ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC

Sunday, August 11

Knights of Columbus
Annual Golf Classic
1:00 pm Shot Gun Start
@ Heritage Hill in
Lakeville, MA

$115 Entry Fee includes 18 holes with cart

Box lunch, prior to start 
Dinner Only $25; will follow the conclusion of tournament

Raffles: Golf items & other various prizes.

Contests:
Air Cannon Contest
Putting Contest

Contact:
William Boles
508-491-6700
william.boles@comcast.net
or
Tony Rose
508-840-1186
anthony.rose2@bristolcc.edu

SOCIETY OF AFRICAN MISSIONS

Visiting mission priest, Rev. Nasser KOUDJE, from the Society of African Missions, will be speaking at St. Mary's Parish the weekend of August 3 & 4. He will be here looking for assistance for the ministries SMA Organization provides.
This organization has more than 750 SMA missionaries from five continents that joyfully witness the Gospel of Jesus throughout Africa.

SMA missionaries live in the communities they serve. They serve in parish ministry, as well as serving in prison ministry, education, healthcare, justice and caring for the environment, by working with government and social service agencies.

SMA depends on the generosity of donors to continue serving our African brothers and sisters in need.

Please consider supporting the Society of African Missions the weekend of Aug 3 & 4.

“Renew the Face of the Earth” - Ministry Moment

83rd Annual Catholic Appeal: “Renew the Face of the Earth" - The Annual Catholic Appeal has offically ended. Stayed tuned in the weeks to come for the final total of this year's appeal.  

SOCIAL CONCERNS MINISTRY FUNDRAISER

Social Concerns Ministry is hosting the Hospitality Tent Saturday, June 8th, and Sunday, June 9th, for Camp Kennedy. Camp Kennedy provides area children a day camp experience through the summer. The Social Concerns Ministry provides scholarships or “camperships” for elementary school campers from New Bedford or Dartmouth who are unable to pay the fee.

A session at Camp Kennedy includes:
Free breakfast and lunch provided
Bus transportation to and from camp
Daily beach visits
Outdoor activities such as sailing, paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming
Sports
Playgrounds and physical activity
Arts and crafts
Science, math, and technology programming
Field trips

“And the King will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40 usccb)

Thank you for your support! 

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 7/7/24: $ 7,396.00
egiving from 7/3/24 - 7/9/24: $ 2,799.06

The Weekly Offering for 7/14/24: $ 4,692.25
egiving from 7/10/24 - 7/16/24: $ 2,643.63

Capital Improvement a/o 7/14/24: $1,601.00
Spiritual Growth & Development a/o 7/14/24: $ 1,028.00

The 83rd Annual Catholic Appeal has offically ended. Stayed tuned in the weeks to come for the final total of this year's appeal.


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.