530 Gardners Neck Road Swansea, MA 02777 November 27, 2016
Swansea, MA Parish Mission Statement: In the spirit of our patron, St. Francis of Assisi, we dedicate ourselves as living stones to building our parish family with Christ as our foundation. Enlivened by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves by sharing God s transforming love with our families, our community and our world. Parish Staff Pastor: Rev. Michael A. Ciryak Maintenance: Tony Roderigues Faith Formation: Christine Patota (Grades 1-9) Finance/Office: Barbara Wenc Music Director: Ada Simpson Cantors: Allison Messier, Andi Flax Youth Ministry: Justin & Amanda La Croix and Melanie Boyer Parish Council President: Wayne Gray Parish Address: Church: Office/Rectory Office hours: 530 Gardner s Neck Rd 270 Ocean Grove Avenue Swansea, MA 02777 9:30 a.m. 4 p.m. or by appointment Contact: Parish Office: 508-673-2808 Parish fax: 508-672-6241 Email: stfrancisswansea@comcast.net Website: www.stfrancisswansea.com Religious Education: 508-673-2808 or 508-674-0024 religiouseducation@stfrancisswansea.com St. Vincent de Paul: 508-673-2808 Youth Ministry: 508-673-2808 50 Week Club: 508-674-5202 Jim & Alice Join our Parish Family Please introduce yourself to our clergy after Mass. Call the Parish Office to register. Bulletin notices may be submitted to the Parish Office in writing by Friday a week prior to the Sunday bulletin when it will be posted. Church is handicapped accessible. Saturday Vigil: Sundays: Monday Thursday: Civic Holidays: Liturgical Celebrations 4 p.m. 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m. 9 a.m. 9 a.m. only Sacraments: Baptism: Arrangements must be made in advance. Please call the Parish Office to arrange a date and supply pertinent information. Individual Baptismal preparation is required. Sponsors: must receive from their respective Catholic pastors a sponsor certificate, which is the signed word of one priest to another that the proposed godparent is a Confirmed, fully-practicing Catholic who is qualified to be a godparent by living in harmony with our faith. Reconciliation: Saturday from 3:15PM to 3:40PM or call the rectory for an appointment. First Eucharist & Confirmation: Preparation two years prior to receiving each Sacrament is mandatory as a registered student in the Faith Formation Program. Matrimony: Couples are asked to consult with our priest at least six months in advance of the intended date to allow time for marriage preparation, including the Diocesan Program. Ministry to the Sick: Please notify us if someone you know is homebound and would like to be added to our Communion call list, or would like to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. Low gluten hosts available: Please let us know before Mass if you have a need to receive this type of host.
First Sunday of Advent Be watchful, and be prepared Sat. Sun. 11/26 4:00 p.m. Chad Gray by Barbara Herbert Gray by Tony & Judy 11/27 8:00 a.m. Joseph Fonseca by wife Noreen 9:30 a.m. Lillian Carpenter by Jeff & Christine 11:00 a.m. Joey Gonsalves, III by parents Bernadette & Luis Sousa by son & family Maria Teixeira Mon. 11/28 9:00 a.m. Alice Kret by famiy Tues. 11/29 9:00 a.m. Desiree Choquette Wed. 11/30 9:00 a.m. Deanna Brule Thurs. 12/1 9:00 a.m. Dorothy Lachance by Jeannine Moss - Sat. Sun. 12/3 4:00 p.m. Richard E. Willette by Wanda Oscar & Cecile Fontaine by son & daughter-in-law 12/4 8:00 a.m. Gilbert Mello Manuel O. Amaral by sister & family 9:30 a.m. John Sousa 11:00 a.m. Maria C. Brum Joseph C. Brum Joseph T. Brum by Helena Oliveira Christmas Choir: Rehearsal will be held in church on Wednesday, November 30th at 7PM. All voice parts are needed and the ability to read music is not necessary. Come, join the choir! For more information email Ada at adasimpson@verizon.net. Lucky 50 Week Club Winner for November 27th is: Matt Talbot Congratulations, Matt! Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. Mt:43-44 November Candles burn in memory of: Sanctuary Lamp: Normand St. Laurent by daughter and family Altar Candles: Fortier Family & Wneta Family Tabernacle Candles: Oscar & Cecile Fontaine by son & daughter-in-law Crucifix Candles: Herman & Mary Costa by granddaughter Offertory Collections November 12-13, 2016 Budget donations: $3,727.00 Diocesan Assessment: $1,330.00 Thank you for your faithful support. Electronic-giving: We are now offering the option to make your donations to the parish through the on-line giving process. Please call Barbara at the Parish office 508-673-2808 for more information, or request a form to be mailed to you by placing this in the collection basket: Please send a form to me for electronic giving: Name Address Budget Envelope Number Phone
Confirmation I - Grade 8 students will meet next Sunday, December 4th. We will have a Special Presentation. The session will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by attendance at the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Please plan accordingly. Confirmation II - Grade 9 Students will gather for their Retreat Day in the church hall next Saturday, December 3rd 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Participation is mandatory. Snacks, lunch, and dinner will be provided. The next class will be Sunday, December 4th at 9:30 a.m. followed by 11:00 a.m. Mass. Grades 6 & 7 attend the 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, followed by class downstairs until 11:30 a.m. Grades 3, 4, & 5 Grades 1 & 2 FAITH FORMATION Tuesday, 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. Thursday, 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. PRESCHOOL PROGRAM: Children who are pre-registered for the Preschool Program will come to the 9:30 a.m. Mass with their families. After receiving a blessing by the presiding priest, their teachers will take them downstairs for the program. Parents pick up their children downstairs after Mass. HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE/PLACEMENT EXAMS: The Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Fall River will accept applications and administer an Entrance/ Placement Examination for new students on Saturday, December 3rd with the make-up exam on Saturday, December 10th. Students wishing to enter any of these schools next September should report to the school of their choice at the dates and times below. Testing dates: Arrival: Test: December 3rd & 10th 7:45 a.m. 8:00 a.m. Bishop Connolly High, Fall River Bishop Feehan High, Attleboro St. John Paul II High, Hyannis Bishop Stang High, No. Dartmouth Coyle and Cassidy High, Taunton GIVING TREE Swansea, MA Once again this year our parish is participating in the annual Giving Tree project. Beginning this weekend (Nov. 26-27) the Giving Tree will be located near the Tabernacle. Please take one or more tags from the tree, purchase the gift item listed on the tag, and then place the item under the tree the following weekend. DO NOT WRAP the gift. They will be distributed by Catholic Social Services in Fall River to needy families throughout the Diocese. Please place your gifts under the tree by December 11th so that they may be distributed prior to Christmas. The Gift of Giving Christmas Volunteers: Catholic Social Services, 600 Bay Street in Fall River, is in need of volunteers to help wrap the gifts for needy families. Please call Mary Lou Frias at 508-878-7588 to schedule a specific day and time before coming to help. Helpers are needed from now until Dec. 19th. Knitting Ministry: Our next meeting will be held Tuesday, November 29th at 1 p.m. in the church hall. If you know of anyone who needs a Prayer Shawl, please call the Parish Office at 508-673-2808 and leave a message. We ll be sure to get it to them. Prayer for Advent Dear God, as an Advent candle is lit in joyous an cipa on of your Son's na vity, remind us always of the reason for our joy. As the purple of the candles stand for both penance and atonement for sin, give us the grace to do penance for our wrongs, and to love Christ, whose sacrifice atoned for the sins of the whole world. But just as the rose candle stands for joy in the midst of suffering and expecta on, give us the joy of your Son, Jesus Christ, who came into a world that had so longed for its Savior, and made the angels themselves sing with joy at his birth. Amen
November 27, 2016 Come, enjoy the fun this Sunday! Chili Contest / Vendor Fair & Flea Market NOVEMBER 27th from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Advent Crafts and Activities Bake Sale Hotdogs and beverages Sponsored by: St. Francis of Assisi Family Life Committee and Youth Group VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We need a few helpers for the upcoming Christmas Pageant. It s not a long term commitment. For more information on how you can help, please call Christine Patota at 508-673-2808. This makes a great service project! St. Francis of Assisi Faith Formation presents A Christmas Pageant Sunday, December 18, 2016 2:00 p.m. In the church Come, enter into the true spirit of Christmas. Experience the Nativity story being portrayed through narration and traditional hymns. Refreshments will be served after in the church hall. 1st Sunday of Advent Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 Blessed First Sunday in Advent to each of you! Advent and Lent are the two penitential seasons of the church year. However, Advent is a season in anticipation of the birth of Christ in time. Now, what is meant by "the birth of Christ in time"? Our four Sundays of Advent are not just Sundays in preparation for the birth of a child destined to become the Savior of the nations, but the birth of a child every day in the hearts of every Christian and the future return of the second coming in time where everything will be taken back by our God. In today's Gospel, for some this reading might strike fear into their hearts: "...perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright." Even today, we hear about doomsday sayers professing the end of the world on a particular date. To be sure, the end of the world will come! However, we truly do not know the time. Only God knows when God will call everything to return to him. In the final lines of today's Gospel we are told to "be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent." This first Sunday in the season of Advent is a time for us to joyfully await the coming of Christ for the first time, at birth; for the second time, into our everyday lives; and looking forward to the last time when he will come to take all of creation back to his Father. Liturgical Publications, Inc. All are welcome!