SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2024

OFFICE SCHEDULE

This week, the office will be closed on:
Thursday, Feb. 29th
Friday, March 1st
The office will reopen on Monday, March 4th.

BIRTHRIGHT - BABY BOTTLE FUNDRAISER

Birthright has been supporting moms,
families and babies for over 40 years.

On the weekend of April 27th/28th, baby bottles will be available for you to take home. Please fill up each baby bottle with your loose change and return them to St. Mary's Parish on the weekend of May 11th/12th.

Your support is greatly appreciated! 

SOCIAL CONCERNS MINISTRY
ANNUAL ANOINTING MASS

After a 5-year hiatus, due to the pandemic, Social Concerns Ministry is hosting the Annual Anointing Mass and invites parishioners to attend. The Anointing Mass offers the Sacrament of the Sick, which is the embodiment of the Church’s prayer for healing.

This Mass will be held on Saturday, April 27th, at 11 AM in the gym of the Parish Center (this allows for easy access for walkers and wheelchairs), followed by a free luncheon. Greeters will be on hand to assist attendees. Caregivers are invited to accompany their loved one(s).

If you wish to attend, please make your reservation by calling Social Concerns at 774-992-0155. Reservations must be made by Friday, April 19th.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

On Friday, April 5th, First Friday Adoration begins with 8am Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5:00pm.

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.

 

JESUS AND THE EUCHARIST

As we continue this year of Eucharistic Revival, we would like to invite you to grow closer to Jesus alongside fellow parishioners through the Jesus and the Eucharist study.

This study was specifically designed for this Year of Parish Revival, and we will be joining many other parishes throughout the United States in participating in this small group study as we journey together through this National Eucharistic Revival.

Each session is full of rich theological content, powerful testimonies, and unique and timely messages from individual bishops across the country. This is a great opportunity to dive more deeply into the richness of our Eucharistic faith.

Please join us for this small group series, Jesus and the Eucharist. Meetings will begin the week of April 7th. Please call the Parish Office at 508-992-7505 or click here to register.

(If you are interested in leading a small group, please contact Beni Costa-Reedy at the Parish Office or email Beni at: beni@stmarysdartmouth.org)

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.
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: 4/7/24: $ 7,609.00
E-giving from 4/3/24 - 4/9/24: $ 2,546.15

There was a budget envelope misprint. In this last series of budget envelopes beginning May 5th, one of the envelopes, for May 9, 2024 for the Ascension, has a misprint.

Donations will be collected on May 9th, but they are not for the St. Mary's St. Vincent de Paul Society, as they dissolved in October of 2023. The funds will be given to Birthright of New Bedford.

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.