SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2024

VETERAN’S DAY

Honoring Those Who Served
Thank You Veterans!

OFFICE HOURS

The Parish Office will be closed beginning noon on Wednesday, Nov. 27th, and will reopen on Monday, Dec. 2nd.

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

HALLOW’s ADVENT PRAYER25 CHALLENGE

Join us in prayer everyday this season, as we reflect on John 3:16 and encounter God's love.
Prepare your heart for Christmas and rediscover the wonder of Christ’s coming into this world and into our hearts
Click here to register

Diocesan Council of Catholic Women   
Nov. 16th - 9 AM

The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women invites all women of the diocese to attend a meeting at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 121 Mount Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA 02740. The meeting will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 9 AM to 11:30 am. The presenter will be Rev. Michael Racine, Pastor, Whaling City Catholic Community. Light refreshments will be served. For questions, email Ann Marie Melanson at frdccwannmarie@gmail.com

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

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.

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.

ST. MARY’S THRIFT STORE 

Wednesday
10am to 2pm

Friday Afternoon
12pm to 4pm

Saturday
10am to 2pm

Donations are also accepted during Thrift Shop hours.
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The Thrift Shop will be closed the week of Thanksgiving; beginning Wednesday, Nov. 27th and reopening on Wednesday, Dec. 4th.

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. The Parish Office phone number is: 508-992-7505.

ALL SOULS MEMORIAL MASS

A Memorial Mass for those who have passed away this past year, from November 2023 through October 2024, will be held on Monday, November 4th at 5:30pm.

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.

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Fr. Bill and St. Mary's Staff wishes you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

NEW ADVENT PROGRAM: FACE TO FACE

What if you knew that December 25th, Christmas Day, was the day that you were going to die? The way we live Advent would have to change.

We'd have to live with intentionality. We'd have to live it with purpose. We'd have to live it with grace. Too often, we live life by "default". We forget that we are on a journey to an eternal destination of joy that we were made for. We are burdened by fears and questions: what if I am not worthy? What if I am not enough? Click here to register.

SURVIVING DIVORCE MINISTRY

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

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

The Book of Rememberance will be available to write the names of the deceased in from November 1st through November 30th. This book will be located in the Shrine Area of the church.

MILLIONS OF MONICAS

Millions of Monicas will not be meeting the week of Thanksgiving.

Date & Time Change:
In efforts to make this prayer time more available, a change in the day & time has been made for this prayer meeting.

After Thanksgiving, Millions of Monicas will be meeting every Tuesday, from 1pm to 2pm. 

SOCIAL CONCERNS THANKSGIVING DINNER DRIVE

Once again with your help, the Social Concerns Ministry plans to provide the "fixings" for a family's Thanksgiving Dinner, plus other food items.

Each year, approximately 80-90 families in the Greater New Bedford area receive a box of groceries and gift cards to Market Basket. The "turkey tags" that specify the needed items are on trees in the Church. Please take a tag or two, purchase an item or two, and return the items no later than November 20th to the church alcoves or the Parish Center.

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!

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 11/10/24: $ 5,537.00
egiving from 11/6/24 thru 11/13/24: $2,040.96

The Weekly Offering for 11/17/24: $ 5,829.96
egiving from 11/14/24 thru 11/19/24: $ 1,855.66

Fall Clean-up a/o 11/18/24: $1,848.00

This weekend, Nov. 23rd/24th, 5% of the offetory will be allocated to Campaign for Human Development.
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2024 Annual Appeal: Once again, Fr. Bill would like to thank our faith community for the tremendous effort so many of you have made by financially supporting the Grand Annual Parish Appeal.

We have received $ 96,472.68 in total from our parish families. Thank you again for the love and concern you have shown for the St. Mary's Parish community.

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.