St. Francis Xavier Parish

St. Francis Xavier Parish 5 th Sunday In Ordinary Time 10 February 2019

St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet Diocese of Fall River Mass Schedule (February 9 th - February17 th ) Sat. Feb 09 5 th Sunday (Vigil) (Gr) 4:00pm Pro Populo Sun. Feb 10 5 th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Gr) 8:00am Eileen Cabral 10:30am Month s Mind Mon. Feb 11 Our Lady of Lourdes (Wh) 9:00am George Bevilacqua Tues. Feb 12 Feria (Gr) 9:00am Jose, Oclelia Alexdra & Fatima Couto Wed. Feb 13 Feria (Gr) 9:00am Robert Tisdelle Thurs. Feb 14 Ss. Cyril & Methodius (Wh) 9:00am Brian Bernard Fri. Feb 15 Feria (Gr) 9:00am Donald Denault Sat. Feb 16 Blessed Virgin Mary (Wh) 9:00am Hailey Allard Sat. Feb 16 6 th Sunday (Vigil) (Gr) 4:00pm Pro Populo Sun. Feb 17 6 th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Gr) 8:00am Donny, Helen & Jean Guenette 10:30am George Bevilacqua Financial Report Income: 4 th Sunday in Ordinary Time.... $4,582.55 Home Missions.....$1,553.04 Income: Audio System Repair..$225.00 Prayers Please for all the sick of our parish: those homebound, in the hospital, and nursing facilities; and for all the souls in purgatory. Sanctuary Lamp If you are interested in this weekly memorial, please contact the parish office. During Eucharistic Adoration please pray for the following person/s for whose intention the Sanctuary Candle burns this week: Simonne & George Fahey CONFESSIONS Monday: 5:30 to 6:30pm Saturday: 9:30 to 10:00am Saturday: 3:00 to 3:45pm From Fr. Williams A PROMISING START TO AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE At a time when there is so much bad news coming from the Middle East there was a sign of hope this past week as Pope Francis made the first-ever papal visit to the peninsula. This is especially noteworthy as Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, particularly the rigorist interpretations of this religion which are generally hostile to other faiths. While the purpose for his trip was to attend an interreligious conference in the United Arab Emirates, it also gave him a chance to pray and meet with the local Christian community there. It can certainly use the encouragement! Until fairly recently Christians were not allowed to build churches on the Arabian peninsula, and even now in Saudi Arabia this is still the case. In the midst of this challenging situation, Christians many of them migrant workers from the Philippines, India, and other countries keep the practice of their faith despite the obstacles placed before them. In Abu Dhabi, where the Pope is visiting, St. Joseph s Cathedral Parish regularly offers Mass in sixteen different languages. Due to work schedules built around the Islamic holy day of Friday, in many places the Sunday obligation to attend Mass is moved to that day. On Tuesday, the Pope celebrated a Mass that was expected to draw over 100,000 faithful about 10% of the estimated one million Catholics who live in the country. There are many more Catholics who practice their faith in secret in Saudi Arabia, as well as in war conditions in neighboring Yemen. On the one hand, we need to acknowledge the growing openness of some leaders in Arabia to religious diversity. The conference which the Pope is attending was convened by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan as part of a Year of Tolerance being held in the UAE to encourage greater religious diversity. The very fact of this event explodes the myth that religion only serves to divide; instead, we see here that faith provides a common meeting point for dialogue. On the other hand, we need to pay attention to how the situation for Christians in the Middle East develops. An event such as this only has value when actions follow words. In Saudi Arabia supposedly our national ally freedom of religion for Christians is still not acknowledged at all. We should not only pray for Christians living in Arabia, but also pay attention to whether or not our elected leaders advocate for religious freedom with their counterparts in Arabia, and then hold them accountable for what they promise.

PARISH INFORMATION HELPFUL CONTACTS PARISH OFFICE HOURS Mon-Fri: 9:30am 4:00pm Please make an appointment to meet with Father Williams to schedule a Baptism or Wedding. Religious Education: 508-998-7445 School: 508-995-4313 School Fax: 508-995-0456 ACCESSIBILITY Open for Prayer Every Day Wheelchair Lift St. Francis Xavier Parish 125 Main Street Acushnet, MA 02743 tel: (508)-995-7600 fax: (508) -995-1794 email: info@sfxparish.com Fr. Riley J. Williams, Administrator [rjw@sfxparish.com] Deacon David Pepin [dbp@sfxparish.com] Mr. Steven Guillotte, Director of Pastoral Services [sng@sfxparish.com] Mrs. Michelle Russo, Principal [mrusso@sfxacushnet.com] Mrs. Anabela Shaughnessy, Asst. Principal [ashaughnessy@sfxacushnet.com] Mrs. Janine Hammarquist, Rel. Ed. Coordinator [jlh@sfxparish.com] HOLY MASS Sunday 8:00am & 10:30am Saturday Vigil 4:00pm Monday-Saturday 9:00am First Friday 9:00am & 6:00pm Latin/Extraordinary Form: As Announced CONFESSIONS Monday 5:30-6:30pm Saturday 9:30-10:00am Saturday 3:00-3:45pm First Fridays 6:45-7:15pm Any Time by Appointment ADORATION Mon - Friday 9:30am-9:00pm Saturday 9:30am-2:45pm VESPERS Monday: Vespers with Benediction Tuesday: Vespers Wednesday: Vespers with Benediction (Vespers begins at 6:30 pm) On the Cover "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." (Lk 5:4-5) The boats of Jewish fisherman on the Lake of Gennesaret were unlikely to be large vessels and so their nets for catching fish were much smaller than the nets of our modern fishing crafts. So when Jesus challenges Peter and his crew to go out into deep water, he was not sending Peter out to drag up fish from the bottom of the sea but to trust Him in a precarious situation, especially since fishing in deep water is not particularly safe or sound practice when one is already tired. Jesus being the Word and Wisdom of God was playing out for Peter a parable in real life so that he would understand that his abundant catch of fish, through the power of Jesus, serves as an analogy of catching men through that same power. This power of God which we call grace is present to all disciples of Christ who seek to benefit from it. Grace is no force or energy, but the power of the Holy Spirit freely gifted to those who believe in Jesus Christ and his saving mission. All baptized Catholics are called to this mission to add to the great catch of souls that will fill the school of heaven. The fish are very slippery these days and our nets unsure. As to the fish, they are much more difficult to catch than, say, were the pagans-of-old, many who before converting to the faith held strongly to belief in the natural law, trusting in: the exclusivity of marriage, the modesty of the body, the biology of two genders, the respect of elders, the esteem of tradition, and deference to moral authority. As to our nets, they need to be sturdier and more sound to receive and catch our contemporary zigzagging fish. Such fish cannot be caught by simply floating a welcome sign. They must be sought in faith, seized by truth, and secured in love. In order to put this vision to task we are using two images from American maritime painter Winslow Homer in this bulletin for this 5 th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The first, Mending the Nets (1881), which is on page four, serves for us as an allegory that we need to set aside quiet time to reflect and even contemplate God s will as we repair our Church and weave our approach to catching souls. The second, which adorns our bulletin cover, is entitled The Herring Net. This is what we do after we have rested and worshipped and been counseled by the Lord. It is indicated by robust action, the willingness to go out into the deep, and the fortitude to endure the dangerous waters amongst the raging waves that rock the boat of the world each and every day. This needed approach requires sharp spiritual senses, the resolution to drag the net over and over again, the steadiness of faith to not fall into sin or doubt, and the strong arms of Church teaching to carry home God s capture. Let us pray and get to work.

5 th Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 10, 2019 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: On all Monday evenings 7:30-8:30pm. Every grade level will have a scheduled hour of Adoration from October-May. February is Level 4. All students in that grade level should make every attempt to join us for this hour. If school is canceled due to snow then there will be no adoration. Last FAMILY FAITH FORMATION EVENT Sun. Feb. 10 th Our Sunday class will take place as usual in the parish center on this day. All parents will be attending a talk presented by Deacon David Pepin at their child s normal class time also in the parish center. If your child goes to Catholic School and is taking part in our 2 year sacramental programs, you should also attend this event. Levels 1-6 @ 9:15am; Levels 7-9 @ 11:30am.Please remember to sign in. First Holy Communion Parent Meeting: Sunday March 3rd at 9:15am in the Hospitality Room in the Parish Center. At least one parent must attend. All First Communion Students will be attending the 10:30am Mass together in reserved pews from March 10 th April 7 th. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare to receive Holy Communion for the first time in May. ***For cancellations please watch channel 7 news, go to www.whdh.com for free mobile app or check parish master calendar for updates www.sfxparish.com*** Please consider supporting our parish school in its upcoming, major fundraising effort of the year! On Saturday, March 2 nd at 6pm, we will gather at the Century House for an evening of fun and fundraising! This year s theme, Imagine, encourages us all to celebrate our past and look to the future of our school and our community. Donations of any kind are welcome, as we secure items for both the Chinese and silent auctions. Event representatives will be in the narthex after Mass for the next few weeks, making reservations and securing any donations that you are able to contribute for this event which this year will include a sit down dinner. In years past, we have always had a wonderful showing of parishioners at the event and numerous and creative donations that became great auction items. Thank you in advance for your continued prayers and support of our school that has been a blessing to so many! God Bless, Michelle Russo/Principal Upcoming Second & Special Collections February 10 th February 24 th March 3 rd - Parish Building Fund - Diocesan Assessment - Parish Building Fund Mending the Nets Winslow Homer (1881) Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. (Lk 5:10-11) SFX Parish Calendar Sunday February 10 Rel. Ed Levels 1-6 9:15-10:15am Parish Ctr. Family Faith Formation Levels 1-6 Parents Only 9:15-10:15am Parish Ctr. Rel. Ed Levels 7-9 11:40-12:40pm Parish Ctr. Family Faith Formation Levels 7-9 Parents Only 11:45-12:45pm Parish Ctr. HS Youth Group 6:30-8:30pm School Gym Monday February 11 Vespers & Benediction 6:30pm-7pm Church Eucharistic Adoration: Rel. Ed Level 4 7:30-8:30pm Church Tuesday February 12 Vespers 6:30pm-7pm Church Wednesday February 13 Vespers & Benediction 6:30-7:00pm Church

Women of Grace Let us begin anew by being rooted in a belief that calls us to a greater degree of perfection; Jesus Christ, that we may be more resolved to see them through. Extending our invitation to all women at different stages in your spiritual journey, to deepen your relationship with Jesus through the beauty of self-reflection and fellowship with others in this simple, engaging, scripture-rich opportunity with The Gift of Invitation: 7 ways Jesus invites you to a Life of Grace written by Allison Gingras; begins on Tuesday March 26 th with meeting times at noon and 7pm. If interested contact Mrs. Janine Hammarquist by email jlh@sfxparish.com to reserve a book @ $14.50 (if you act quick Amazon.com is offering them for $12). Allison Gingras will be making an appearance during this study. SFX Prayer Line Please call 508-850-6649 between 8am & 8pm Or email your prayer request to: sfxprayerline@gmail.com RCIA Participants: We began our first preparational instruction of our two catechumens, Lauren Pimental and Adam Clavell, on January 30 th. Over the next ten weeks they will receive catechesis in the faith in areas of biblical history, prayer, sacraments, morality etc. as they have the opportunity to probe the Catholic faith with their thoughts and inquiries. These instructions are for the purpose of preparing their hearts and minds to wholeheartedly receive their sacraments of initiation and enter joyfully into the Church. Please pray for them, especially to the Holy Spirit who is actively forming them for this wonderful entrance or expansion into a life of grace MONTH S MIND MASS We remember the following individuals that were deceased in the past month at our 10 February, 10:30 am Mass: Albert Forgue Daniel Casey Jr. Donald Cardoza Readings for Week of February 10, 2019 Sunday: Is 6:1-2a, 3-8/Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8 [1c]/1 Cor 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11/Lk 5:1-11 Monday: Gn 1:1-19/Ps 104:1-2a, 5-6, 10 and 12, 24 and 35c [31b]/Mk 6:53-56 Tuesday: Gn 1:20 2:4a/Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 [2ab]/Mk 7:1-13 Wednesday: Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17/Ps 104:1-2a, 27-28, 29bc-30 [1a]/Mk 7:14-23 Thursday: Gn 2:18-25/Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 [cf. 1a]/Mk 7:24-30 Friday: Gn 3:1-8/Ps 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7 [1a]/Mk 7:31-37 Saturday: Gn 3:9-24/Ps 90:2, 3-4abc, 5-6, 12-13 [1]/Mk 8:1-10 Food Items Needed: Now that the holiday giving season is over our St. Vincent de Paul Society is busy restocking its shelves with new food items as part of its ongoing service to the local poor. Therefore, at this time they are again requesting the following items to restock and replenish its pantry: rice, canned meats such as ham; juice, coffee, and tea. Thank you for your support. Our Lady of Lourdes Holy Mass 9 am, February 11 th Parish Office Closing: The office will be closed on Monday, 18 February for President s Day. On this day we will have Holy Mass at 9 am with Confession following. Adoration will continue as normal, however there will be no evening Confession and no Vespers (Evening Prayer).

5 th Sunday in Ordinary Time - February 10, 2019 IDEAS FOR PRAYER BY DOM HUBERT VAN ZELLER The practice of aspiratory prayer possesses two notable advantages. Inside prayer-time it restores us to a state of recollection when distraction has diverted the attention of the mind: all we have to do is to repeat the aspiration or find a new one. Outside prayer-time it maintains the continuity and reminds us of God s presence: all we have to do is to mention the holy name or make any other quick flick of the soul towards God, and the occupation of the moment is made over to the service of prayer. Looked upon merely as spiritual fence-mending aspiratory prayer is valuable enough, but quite apart from recalling the mind from temporal considerations it addresses the will in praise and love to God. Where meditation dwells upon the things of God, the prayer of aspiration has no time to dwell and so reaches out to more immediate contact. When people complain about not having time to pray they are forgetting about the opportunities opened up by aspiratory prayer. While driving a car, writing a letter, doing accounts, answering the telephone, waiting for a train or a meal or an appointment, and particularly while waking up and going to sleep, a man may interject into whatever he is doing quick shafts of aspiratory prayer. Arriving Early to Mass & Staying Later: The best way to prepare for Holy Mass is to arrive in the church at least 15 minutes before Mass begins. This practice will allow you to reflect on the readings before Mass, sit quietly and pray before the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, and prepare spiritually for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We understand that this may be less feasible for those with young children as the morning preparation at home takes a bit longer. However, if you and your family are able, think about arriving even a little earlier than you do now so we all together can create for the Lord an atmosphere of solemnness even before Mass begins. (PLEASE NOTE - arriving early is not for sitting with family and friends and talking in church. Once we enter our attention should be turned to prayer). We also ask that all Mass participants do not depart from the celebration until after the priest has processed to the back of the church. Please consider how leaving early after Holy Communion does not complete the Mass which concludes with the final blessing, the deacon s call to go out and serve the Lord, and the recessional hymn which lifts our hearts to depart in joy to complete the mission of Christ. Please note that if you are ill and need to leave early, this is understandable, however, leaving just to get a head start out of the parking lot is never a reason for departing early and disturbing the cadence of the Mass. World Marriage Day: is being celebrated this Sunday, February 10 th. On this day please include prayers for marriage, all married couples, those preparing for marriage, and those who were once married and our now living outside the Church - that they will find their way back to a life of sacramental grace. At Holy Mass this weekend Father Williams will be including words concerning the observance of this day in his Sunday homily. Parish Lenten Mission: We are very happy to announce a 2019 Lenten Mission at our parish (presented by the Fathers of Mercy) which is to begin on Sunday, 17 March 2019. Her e is a list of the expected talks which all begin at 7:00 pm: Sunday - The Four last Things Monday - Confession: The Sacrament of the Prodigal Son Tuesday - The Sacrament of Communion & Real Presence: The Holy Eucharist Wednesday: The Culture of Life vs. the Culture of Death: The Eucharistic Solution Thursday - Our Lady, Mother of God and Mother of the Church There will Confession before and after the parish mis- Ash Wednesday: Opens the Lenten season on March 6 th, less than a month away. Please start preparing in your heart and prayer for this wonderful penitential season. We will once again hold the Stations of the Cross each Friday evening at 7:00 pm beginning on Friday, 8 March. Upcoming Events ADULT EDUCATION SERIES - On the 28 th of February 2019 we resume our St. Francis Xavier Parish, Adult Education Series. These last three instructions (of our 7 part series) which make up our Spring Session will cover the four Gospels of Jesus Christ as we continue with our annual theme of seeking the Face of Christ. There will be a morning instruction from 10:00 to 11:00 am and an evening instruction on the same day from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. This series will be held in our parish center. Parishioners and all others are welcome to attend.