St. John Neumann Church 157 Middleboro Road / P.O. Box 718 East Freetown, MA 02717

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1 St. John Neumann Church 157 Middleboro Road / P.O. Box 718 East Freetown, MA (phone) (Fax) Rev. Gregory A. Mathias, Pastor Rev. Msgr. John J. Smith, (Assistant in Retirement) WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE Sunday: 8:00, 9:30, 11:00A.M. Saturday Vigil: 5:00 P.M. DAILY MASS SCHEDULE Monday Thursday: 7:30 A.M. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Friday: 6:15 6:45 P.M. Saturday: 3:45 4:45 P.M. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Mary, Mother of All Nations Chapel Weekdays: 8:00 A.M. 9:00 P.M. Mondays (except civil holidays) Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament PARISH OFFFICE / RECTORY YOUTH MINISTRY OFFICE contact@sjnfreetown.org NEUMANN HALL Monday Friday: 8:30 A.M. 4:30 P.M. (Closed holidays) Mrs. Diane Whelan Parish Secretary William and Susan Furtado (Sr. Youth Ministry) JoAnn Violette/Amy Burgess (Jr. Youth Ministry) Dennis and Debra Dube (Young Adult Ministry) OFFICE OF FAITH FORMATION MUSIC MINISTRY NEUMANN HALL Ms. Linda Johnston Director Mr. Philip Pereira Organist Mrs. Suzanne Medeiros Director Dr. Doris Thibault Coordinator for Grades 1 7 MAINTENANCE AND FACILITIES Mrs. Anna Manny Coordinator for Confirmation Raymond Bedard SACRAMENTS AND CHURCH PROGRAMS PARISH ORGANIZATIONS AND MINISTRIES Please go the parish website or contact the office for more complete information. BAPTISM: Celebrated Sunday after 11:00 Mass. Mass on the 1 st and 3 rd Sundays of the month. Baptism Catechesis is required of all parents MARRIAGE: Please contact the pastor at least 8 months prior to the intended date and prior to other plans. MINISTRY TO THE SICK: Please notify us if a homebound or hospitalized family member would like a visit. PRAYER LINE: Call the rectory to include your intention. RCIA: We welcome adults who wish to complete their initiation into the Catholic Church. Please contact the office. WOMEN S GUILD: 1 st Mondays ST. VINCENT de PAUL: 1 st Wednesdays YOUTH MINISTRY: see website for events and times. Junior (Gr. 6 8): Every Tuesday Senior (Gr. 9 12) Every Monday COUPLES CLUB: 2 nd Saturdays ADULT CHOIR: Rehearsal on Thursdays 7:00 P.M. PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: 1st Saturday Welcome to St. John Neumann Parish. Thank You for joining us in worship today. We hope you will join us on the spiritual journey, in ministry to all God s people. Please contact the parish office. Click on the QRC to connect to the parish website.

2 Fourth Sunday of Lent March 10, 2013 March 9: Vigil Fourth Sunday of Lent 5:00PM Eleanor Dupont 2nd Ann. by Armand & family March 10: Fourth Sunday of Lent 8:00AM Ernest Letendre 9th Ann. by family 9:30AM People of the Parish 11:00AM Joseph & Mary Lopes by Regina Lopes March 11: Lenten Weekday, Saint Casimir 7:30AM Dennis Messier by Gloria Steinbrenner March 12: Lenten Weekday 7:30AM Robert P. Boucher by Jeanne Carlier March 13: Lenten Weekday 7:30AM Eric Johnson by Bob & Diane Larkin March 14: Lenten Weekday 7:30AM Lorraine Amaral by Cheryl Amaral March 16: Vigil Fifth Sunday of Lent 5:00PM Laurent & Yolande Moreau by family March 17: Fifth Sunday of Lent 8:00AM Jeanne Patnaude by Roger & Claudette Lacasse 9:30AM Evelyn Langlois by Roger & Alice Bourgeois 11:00AM People of the Parish Your Offertory Trust Thank you for your Parish Support through your Offertory Trust. BUDGET: $ MAINTENANCE: $ ENERGY $ Stop in Neumann Hall after the 8:00AM and 9:30AM Mass and enjoy Coffee & Donuts!! Hosted by the Woman s Guild Stations of the Cross Devotion will be held every Friday at 7:00pm during Lent Lenten course on Moral Theology Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. St. John Neumann Hall TOPICS March 12th - Session 5: Reproduction vs. Procreation Infertility treatments, surrogate motherhood, Human cloning (a reality within the year?) March 19th - Session 6: Physician Assisted Suicide Palliative care and Hospice; role of suffering Ecumenical Soup & Bible Study On Wednesday, March 13th, St. John Neumann Parish will host the Ecumenical Soup and Bible Study at 6:00pm. Please plan to join us at Neumann Hall for a Lenten supper of Soup and Bread. The evening continues in church with a teaching by the Rev. Dr. Ken Beres. Let s offer our ecumenical friends a warm welcome and pray together during this season holy to all Christians. Need Assistance?? Are you a parishioner in need of assistance? If so please contact the Saint Vincent DePaul Society by calling the rectory at The Mathieu and Thibault families would like to take the opportunity to thank all the parishioners of St. John Neumann for all of the thoughts, prayers, flowers, masses and cards that were received for Jackie. The memorial luncheon organized by the Bereavement Committee and St. Vincent DePaul Society capped off the finishing touches as a final tribute to our dear sister Jackie. Love and Prayers Always, The Mathieu & Thibault Families

3 Toys & U S (Underwear & Socks) Drive Children ages 3 6 are invited to participate in the Liturgy of the Word for Children during the 9:30am Mass. Parents may bring their children to the library where they will celebrate the Liturgy of the Word at an age appropriate level. They will be brought back to their families in church during the preparation rite of the Mass. On the 1st Sunday of each month, parents should bring their children directly to church. On these Sundays, Fr. Greg will invite the children into the sanctuary for his homily. March 2013 Schedule March 10 - Library March 17 - Library March 24 - Library The St. John Neumann Confirmation II Candidates are sponsoring a Toy, Underwear, and Sock drive to benefit Gifts to Give in New Bedford. Gifts to Give is a wonderful organization that accepts, cleans, and distributes donations to children and local families in need. As part of their Community Service Project the Confirmation II Candidates recently volunteered at Gifts to Give. Please help by donating any new or gently used toys and new underwear and socks. What: Toys - (new or gently used) Underwear - New for Boys & Girls Ages 3-21 Socks - New for Boys & Girls Ages 3-21 When: ~ Saturday March 16, 2013 ~ 4:30PM - 6:00PM ~ Sunday March 17, 2013 ~ 8:00AM - 12:00PM Where: Neumann Hall First Communion Retreat Preparation Meeting: Parents and catechists involved in planning the First Communion Retreat will meet in Neumann Hall, Thursday March 14th at 6:30PM. Retreat for the First Communion Class and their parents will be held on Saturday, March 16, :30am to 11:00am in Neumann Hall. If you have any questions call Lisa Johnson (508) All candidates in Confirmation I & II will be attending a Lenten Reconciliation Service on Sunday, March 10 at 5:30 pm in the church. This will take the place of regular scheduled classes. Important info for Confirmation II Motorcycle Riders First Ever Blessing of the Bikes is being organized in conjunction with the Lakeside Family Festival. All those interested in helping with the preparation or riding may contact Butch & Sue Silva at or at snb2@comcast.net "Like living stones, let us be built into a spiritual house..."(1 Peter 2:5) - The sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10 at 7:00 pm by Fr. Greg Mathias. - Robe measurements will take place on Sunday, March 10 at 5:00 pm in the Church (before the Reconciliation Service). - Rehearsal for Confirmation will take place on Sunday, April 7. Candidates are asked to arrive at the Church for rehearsal at 5:30 pm and Sponsors are asked to join them for a rehearsal at 6:30 pm.

4 Canary in the Coal Mine? Since it has been six centuries since a Pope resigned, it is understandable that the decision has generated much media buzz. The simplest explanation for this decision is that the Pope is an old and ailing man and he deemed it reasonable to yield the office to someone younger and healthier. In doing so, he is also underscoring the distinction between the man and the office. Pope Benedict is stepping outside-of and repositioning himself beneath the power of that office. And, perhaps, it is simply because it is time for such a change, given the difficulties of the modern world. Against this simple explanation there are many speculations: These speculations range from somewhat benign suggestions to the most lurid; the latter leading to characterizations that the Church is in crisis. The most disturbing and troubling suggestions concern a profound level of moral corruption reaching as high as the level of certain Cardinals in the Vatican. Let s face it... as a community; we Catholics have taken a beating over the past decade or more. We have been subject to one lurid scandal after another. The abuse of children by priests has been a mind numbing and heart rending tragedy beyond what any of us could have imagined! More recent revelations of substance abuse, dysfunction and perversion within the ranks of the clergy of the Church have only made matters that much worse. If you read the newspapers and watch the news enough, you start to wonder if the Church hasn t become the locus of all corruption. So, what if the current media speculation is true? What if sexual misconduct is discovered at the highest ranks of the Vatican? Well, of course, the secular media will have a field day, and, once again, we will be subject to a shameful spectacle for weeks-worth of the news cycle. beings animated, and accompanied by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit, which supplies the powers to offices such as that of the Pope, guarantees that the word of God shall not return to him void, but shall do his will, achieving the end for which He sent it, (Isaiah 55:11). Meanwhile, Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict), George Coleman, Gregory Mathias, and every other Catholic Christian are earthen vessels: We are keepers of the sacred tradition handed down to us from the Evangelists (Bible) and the Apostles, (Spirit-filled Church). St. Paul is the one who applies this description to the church in 2 Corinthians 4:7: And, anticipating a world of disappointments and tragedies, he goes on to say, We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed... for we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus... My suggestion is this: It may well be that the Lord uses the Church as a kind of canary in the coal mine. It is very easy to scoff and mock the Church when she presents as a shameful mess; but scoffers beware! It is the world that is in trouble... rife with the abuse of innocent children, idolatry of money, the denigration of human life, etc. And, as for those of us trying to maintain our faith, we know what is required... let us make a return to the Lord, (Hosea 6:1) Fr. Greg I would suggest the following way of framing the scandals that have already occurred, and those that might yet be uncovered: The Church is a society of sinful human

5 Chrism Mass at St. Mary s Cathedral Drop In ----.Yes we will be having a regular Drop-In this Monday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Camp House. It s never too late to drop in. We ve got the space let s see your face. Yes! Retreat --- The Yes retreat is a weekend long diocesan retreat held right here at Cathedral Camp. It will take place Fri. April 5 th Sun. April 7 th. This is a terrific youth retreat for grades Enjoy a weekend of prayer, social times, small group sharing,and fun group activities. You will leave this retreat with new friends from around our diocese. Say YES!!!! To the Yes! Retreat. More information will be available outside the Youth Ministry Office or online at the Diocese of Fall River Office of Faith Formation. For more information about SJN Senior Youth Ministry, contact Bill and Sue Furtado at or us at SJNYOUTHMINISTRY@AOL.COM Parish Prayer Line If you are interested in sharing your faith through prayer for the sick of our parish and for other intentions please call Rachel Constant Thank You!! The Anchor Subscription envelopes have been mailed for the current year for our Diocesan Newspaper The Anchor. You may return them by mail or drop them in the collection basket on the weekend. If you do not receive The Anchor and would like to New subscription envelopes are located in the Narthex. On Tuesday, March 26, 2013, at 4:00pm, all the priests of the diocese will gather with Bishop Coleman at St. Mary s Cathedral, Fall River to celebrate the Chrism Mass. At this Mass, the priests will renew their ordination promises. Bishop Coleman will also bless and consecrate the oils to be distributed to all the parishes of the diocese for use in the celebration of the sacraments. The laity are welcome to participate in this great celebration. Free tickets are available by calling the rectory. Divorce and Separated Meetings On March 14, 2013 the Divorce Care Series video will be, Forgiveness. This video offers ways to deal with forgiveness and how it can effect our lives in divorce or separation. Discussion with the support group will follow. All Divorce & Separated meeting are held from 7 9pm at St. Julie Billiart Parish Center in No. Dartmouth. E-GIVING E-Giving Contributions for the month of February: $ E-Giving is short for electronic giving. It is an automatic transfer program that allows you to make contributions without the hassle of writing checks. How does it work? Go to our website, and click on Donate Online. Then, simply follow the directions to authorize an ACH deduction and you can make a donation via your checking or savings account or credit/ debit card; it will be transferred directly to the church s account. For more information on E-Giving, please visit our website at Catholic Relief Services: The second Collection this weekend will benefit the ministry of the Catholic Relief Services. This agency reaches out to poverty and disaster stricken regions in our world. Next Drop-In Tuesday. March 12th at the Camp House from 6:30 to 8:00. Junior Youth Group is open to all students in Grades 6, 7 & 8.

6 SACRED TRIDUUM March 28: Holy Thursday 7:00PM - Mass of the Lord s Supper March 23 March 24: Passion Sunday 5:00PM - Mass and Blessing of Palms 8:00AM - Mass and Blessing of Palms 9:30AM - Mass and Blessing of Palms: Solemn Procession (Please gather on the lawn near Neumann Hall weather permitting) 11:00AM - Mass and Blessing of Palms March 29: Good Friday 12:00 noon - Stations of the Cross Led by the Youth Ministry Outdoors (weather permitting) 3:00PM - Service of the Lord s Passion 7:00PM - Stations of the Cross in the church March 25: Monday of Holy Week 7:30 AM - Mass March 26: Tuesday of Holy Week 7:30AM - Mass 4:00PM Chrism Mass at St. Mary s Cathedral, Fall River. Tickets are available for laity. (Please call the Rectory if interested) March 30: Holy Saturday 7:30PM - Solemn Vigil of Easter (Gather on the lawn behind the church) March 27: Wednesday of Holy Week 7:30AM - Mass March 31: Easter Sunday 8:00AM - Mass 9:30AM - Mass 11:00AM - Mass

7 EASTER FLOWERS Contributions are now being received for Easter Flowers in memory of departed loved ones and as thank offerings. A Memorial Book will be available in the Narthex for the Easter Season. A member of the Liturgical Committee will be in the Narthex to accept donations for the Easter Flowers. You may use your envelope from your collection envelopes or one of your own. Please remember to note the names of those you d like remembered. You can donate one flower in someone s memory or several flowers. Donations will be accepted through the weekend of March 24th.