May 9, 2010 Sixth Sunday of Easter SATURDAY, May 8 4:00 PM John V. Medeiros by his family SUNDAY, May 9 MOTHER S DAY 8:00 AM For all Mothers, Grandmothers and 9:30 AM Godmothers, living and deceased, 11:00 AM in our families and our parish MONDAY, May 10 9:00 AM Tom Smith by Members of St. Vincent de Paul TUESDAY, May 11 9:00 AM Ann Kostka by Conrad & Phyllis Fortier WEDNESDAY, May 12 9:00 AM John & Mary Almeida by his sister THURSDAY, May 13 HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION TheAscension of the Lord 9:00 AM Parish Family 7:00 PM Parish Family SATURDAY, May 15 4:00 PM Frank J. Boyko, Sr.and Gregory Sowa by Helena & Ed Sowa SUNDAY, May 16 8:00 AM Henry & Catherine Thomas by their family 9:30 AM John Silvia by his wife & daughter 11:00 AM Glenn Furtado by his parents (14 th anniversary) John Reis by his children & grandchildren (2 nd anniv) George Howell by the Smith Family Craig Mello by friend, Jerry Fontaine (16 th anniv) Edward Krawczyk (4 th anniversary) and Hilda Krawczyk (birthday remembrance) by their Godchildren May Memorial Candles Sanctuary Lamp in memory of Robert Peloquin by his wife, Wanda Altar Candles in memory of Jack Lyons & Clement Levell by Katherine Lyons Tabernacle Candles Nancy Corum by Don & Elizabeth Roussel May 2, 2010 Collection Budget.....$ 4,403.68 Reminder: Collection on Ascension Thursday masses will be for the St. Vincent de Paul Society of our parish. Thank You to all who continue to Generously support our parish. HAVE YOU EVER MADE A WILL? ARE YOU THINKING OF MAKING ONE? Would you consider leaving something to your parish? Many people (even recently) have done so here and in other parishes, and their generosity has a lasting effect on many people. Just a little food for though. FAITH FORMATION CORNER The 2009=2010 religious education year will come to an end with next week s classes. Registration forms for 2010-2011 will be handed out to the children at that time. A registration form is required for each child. Completed registration forms are to returned by June 30th. This will enable us to determine the number of teachers and class rooms needed for each grade. The registrations form(s) and check /cash for the appropriate registration fee, can be mailed to the parish office at 270 Ocean Grove Ave., or placed in the collection basket in an envelope marked Religious Education. Registration forms can be obtained at the parish office and on our website: www.stfrancisswansea.com CATH0LIC CHARITIES APPEAL Caring, Sharing, Offering Hope May 1 st June 22 nd The 69 th annual Catholic Charities Appeal is under way and runs through June 22 nd. Thank you to all who have returned their contribution. You should have received a letter, pamphlet, envelope and pledge card in the mail. Numerous agencies, programs, and ministries provide food and shelter, educate children and adults, and meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of thousands. Returns can be mailed to the parish office, or place in the collection basket at any weekend Mass. Please be as generous as possible. Thank you. The Anchor All parishioners are encouraged to subscribe to The Anchor, the weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Fall River. This is a great means to grow in faith and stay informed of issues relevant to the faith that secular newspapers can neglect or distort. Subscriptions are $20 a year. Renewal subscription envelopes as well as new subscription envelopes are available in the Sacristy. Please fill out the envelope, enclosed $20.00 cash or check made payable to St. Francis of Assisi Parish, and place in the collection basket. Subscriptions will be forwarded to The Anchor. Mass Book - The Mass Book is available to schedule masses for July through December, 2010. Mass can be scheduled by calling the parish office at 508-673-2808. In order to accommodate everyone, we must limit the number of masses you can schedule to 6 masses (3 weekend and 3 weekday).
50 WEEK CLUB FOR 2010-2011 IT S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN - If you are interested in joining this year s 50 Week Club, or if you have family or friends who would like to be part of the 50 Week Club, (you do need to be a parishioner to join all are welcome), fill out the form below, cut out, and place in the collection basket. Envelopes will be sent to you for the payment method selected. The new 50 Week Club will begin on May 2, 2010 and end on April 10, 2011. The 2011 banquet will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Venus de Milo. 50 WEEK CLUB METHOD OF PAYMENT PLEASE CIRCLE ONE Family Life Corner The Family Life Committee is looking for faith-filled, generous people who are willing to share ideas, talents and faith to enrich St. Francis of Assisi parish. Our goal is to transform our parish community into a vibrant, active and welcoming home, where we all feel treasured and loved. To do this, we need you! Our membership is growing, but we still need more people to continue to do things which make our parish awesome. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the church hall. The next meeting will take place on May 11 th. Please join us for some fun and fellowship. For more information please call Christine Patota at 508-677-0804. 10@$10 5@$20 4@$25 2@$50 1@$100 Name Address City State Phone # After expenses for the 2009-20010 club were paid (weekly and final prizes, band, printing of envelopes, and Venus de Milo), a check in the amount of $4,431.91 was presented to our parish. We would like to apply this to the cost of paving the handicap parking spaces on the south side of the church. So, if you find yourself on the fence about becoming part of the 50 Week Club, give it a try! Simply cut out and completing the above membership form and place it in the collection basket. You ll be glad you did. Masachusetts Citizens for Life Rose Drive This weekend (May 8 th and May 9 th ), our parish is endorsing Massachusetts Citizens for Life Rose drive to support their educational and legislative efforts to protect human life from the moment of fertilization to natural death. Whatever donation you can offer to help protect and promote the sanctity of human life we thank you most sincerely! Roses may be given to a loved one or you may offer your roses to the Blessed Mother. Please place roses for the Blessed Mother in the vases at the entrances. They will be placed before the Blessed Mother during the month of May. The next meeting will be held in the church hall on Tonight, May 9 th at 6:00 p.m. Please contact Monica Valenti if you have any questions. All Grades 8 12 students are welcome. Bring a friend Sunday, May 23, 2010 Parish breakfast in the church hall from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for children ages 6 12. There is no charge for children ages 5 and under. Tickets will be available after all masses this weekend and next weekend. Please come and join other members of our parish family for a delicious breakfast buffet. You don t have to cook, serve, or cleanup.just enjoy! What a wonderful way to start your day attending mass followed by breakfast with friends. Please note: Tickets will not be sold the day of the breakfast. Come and eat breakfast John 21:12 St. Vincent de Paul Corner In Need of Assistance? Are you facing utility shutoffs and or high food bills? If you are a family in need of assistance, please contact the St. Francis Vincent de Paul Society at 508-673-2808. A container for used clothing has been installed in the parking area behind the church. We encourage you to support the Saint Vincent de Paul Society by using this container to deposit used clothing, both reusable and not reusable. Please support our bulletin sponsors.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry - workshops for the month of May will be held on Tuesday May 11 th and on Tuesday May 25 th at 1:30 pm in the church hall. All are welcome to join us on any of our workshop days. Have you lost a family member or friend? An Invitation has been issued by Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish to participate in one or more of the programs planned for those who have lost a family member or friend to be held at St. James Rectory, 233 County Street (use back entrance to the rectory) on the following Saturdays, 5:15 to 6:45 p.m.; May 22: Remembering Ways to Honor and Cope; June 26: What & How We Remember; July 24: Why do I feel so Guilty? Aug. 21: Depression & Anger; Sept. 25: Grief & Faith Questions; Oct. 23: We Grieve Because we Love; Nov. 20: Family Occasions How to Cope; Dec. 18: Grief & the Holidays. Programs are free and no registration is required. For information, call 508-345-2660 or 508-992-9408. New Prayers On Old Beads How can you open the heart of child to God?... By Prayer. The Knights of Columbus are looking for your old, broken, or new rosary beads that are no longer hearing your prayers. Other religious items, bibles, medals, prayer books, are also accepted. These will be passed on to the Poor Clare Sisters and other prayer groups. These items may be placed in the receptacles placed at the doors of the church. Thank you for opening the door of prayer. Sixth Sunday of Easter May 9, 2010 After discussion, James, leader of the Jerusalem church, sent the letter to the people of Antioch, found in today s First Reading. This letter introduced an official delegation to clarify the issues and backed the Gentile ministry of Paul and Barnabas. There were four regulations in the letter, each meant to keep the Jewish-Christians from being scandalized. First, eating meat offered to idols was a communion meal with the deity, eating this meat would be seen as an act of idolatry. Second, as a symbol of life, blood was sacred to Jews; the covenant God made with Noah and his descendants (that is, all humanity) expressly forbade eating blood. Third, Jews and an insult to God s creation saw the strangling of animals as a cruel death; eating animals who died in this way would share in this cruelty. Finally, unlawful marriage would include incestuous marriages or polygamy. In each case, the Gentile Christian would be acting as a righteous Gentile, a non-jew who worshiped the Jewish God and honored His people. Paul and his opponents stood on principle. James addressed the need for peace in the community. What do we require of fellow Christians, principle or peace? Are we willing to accept the scandal that comes from principle? The psalmist prayed to experience God s blessing and His presence in today s Responsorial Psalm. As we pray for God s blessing, let us extend that prayer to all peoples, friend and foe alike. Let us remember God is Lord of all, not just our personal deity. Take time this week to pray for God s blessing for the world, perhaps praying a rosary for world peace. John described the Church in the fullness of God s presence in our Second reading. While the Church is blessed with the divine presence, it is still on a journey to fullness, to the perfection that the end times promise. As members, we are on that road. The end is within sight. But, until then, we take one step at a time. How does the thought of the heavenly Jerusalem inspire you? Tom McManus, from the Knights of Columbus, came to St. Francis last week to collect the donated prayer beads and other religious items to be passed on to others who can use them. The collection container will remain at the south side entrance of the church for a few more weeks. International Statue of Our Lady of Fatima at St. Bernard Church, Assonet. Blessed by Pope Pius XII, this is one of four official International Pilgrim Virgin Statues of the Fatima Sanctuary in Portugal. Statue will be present in St. Bernard s, beginning Saturday, May 15, through Monday, May 17. Masses, rosary, Benediction scheduled throughout the visit. Contact St. Bernard Parish at 508-644-5585 for more information. Happy Mother s Day to all Mothers, Grandmothers, and Godmothers
SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI PARISH SWANSEA, MASSACHUSETTS HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY