SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION

AUGUST 15, 2004

 

MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday, August 14 – 4 p.m. – Elizabeth Peaston

Sunday, August 15 – 8:30 – Armand Dupre (36th anniversary)

10 a.m. – Frances & Manuel Pacheco

11:30 – Spanish

Monday, August 16 – 9 a.m. – Mr. & Mrs. Antone Neves

7 p.m. – Spanish

Tuesday, August 17 – 9 a.m. – Stefania Meggison

Wednesday, August 18 – 9 a.m. – Louis Silva

Thursday, August 19 – 9 a.m. – Souls in Purgatory

7 p.m. – (Spanish) – Mary P. Correia

Friday, August 20 – 9 a.m.- For the people

Saturday, August 21 – 9 a.m. – Ide Auger

4 p.m. – Mrs. Anthony Perry

Sunday, August 22 – 8:30 – Christine & Eddie Medeiros

10 a.m. – Richard Manning

11:30 - Spanish

 

If you would like to book a Mass for this year or next, please come by the rectory (you may want to call before coming).

 

VISIT OUR WEB SITE

http://www.saintjames-nb.org

 

PRAYER LINE 

Call Alice Lester 508- 997-8040

 

PARISH FESTIVAL

THANKS to all who worked so hard to get the festival together, to everyone who had donated items for the festival, to everyone who had bought or sold raffle tickets, and to everyone who worked at it and who came and had a fun time together.

 

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION: Today is normally a Holyday of obligation. On a holyday we are expected to go to Mass, just as we do on any Sunday. If you’re reading this, you probably already have been to Mass or you are at home and not able to get out to Mass due to illness or infirmity. What we celebrate today is Mary’s being taken up (“assumed”) body & soul into Heaven. She followed Her Son, who ascended (by His own power, while Mary is taken up by God’s power) into Heaven Body & Soul. Mary’s assumption gives us hope – it shows that Heaven is available to us and that our souls and our bodies were created with a special dignity that Christ wants to be able to love forever in Heaven. We ask Mary’s help in responding to that love during our lives on earth.

 

CIVIL WAR WEEKEND: The Fort Taber Historical Association invites us to their 2nd annual Civil War weekend this weekend. New Bedford has been transformed into Charleston, SC. It is the largest Civil War Encampment in Southern New England. From meals to parades to dances, the 1860s will come alive. Also, tours of Fort Taber will be available as well as the new Fort Taber Military Museum. For more info: www.forttaber.org or www.newbedfordtourism.com or call 800-508-5353.

 

SPANISH CLASS: Carol Oliveira, is offering a class Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the rectory. New students are welcome to come. If you would like more info, contact Carol at 508-997-8859.

 

ENGLISH CLASS will begin soon. Nancy Medeiros is working to gather the materials right now and will have sign-ups at the door of the church. This will be open to anyone who would like to improve their English. Nancy can speak Spanish and Portuguese, so people of either background should have no problem. We thank the other people who volunteered last weekend to help with the classes. For more info, either to be a student or to help teaching, please contact Nancy at 993-9612.

 

ESL CLASSES offered by Catholic Social Services will begin in the fall. Registration will be held on Sept.9 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Sister Anne Marie Phillips Learning Center, corner of Delano & South Second Sts. Classes will be assigned on that day in local locations. If you cannot go that day, please call Sheila Sullivan at 508-997-7337 on any Thursday to arrange for registration.

 

LITURGICAL COMMITTEE will meet on Thursday at 7:45 (after the 7 p.m. Spanish Mass) in the rectory. The liturgical committee deals with things having to do with our life of prayer here in the parish, especially the Mass, but also other liturgical acts, such as the Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic Adoration, etc. If you would like to come and help to grow in your own understanding of the liturgy and work together to enhance our prayer life, please feel free to come to the meeting.

 

FIESTA ESPIRITUAL: This is a project the Spanish Evangelization team carries out of bringing the message of the Gospel to people’s homes. It is not a “fiesta” in the sense of partying, but a joyful evening of prayer and reflection on the Gospel message. If you would like to try out a little Spanish, please feel free to come this Saturday at 6:30 to the home of Evelyn Montañez, 231 Middle St., Apt. 109.

 

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: The Eucharistic Ministers will have a meeting on Wednesday, August 25 at 7 p.m. We will begin with a faith sharing, then go over how the distribution of Communion is going, discuss Communion to the sick at home, and train new Extraordinary Ministers. Please place this in your calendar.

 

LECTORS will have a meeting on Wednesday, September 1 at 7 p.m. in the rectory. Please reserve this space on your calendar.

 

CCD TEACHERS will have an appreciation dinner and meeting on Wednesday, August 18 at 6 p.m. here. Please call the rectory to RSVP. Thanks for your valuable service of spreading the faith!

 

REGISTRATION FOR CCD – Registration for this year’s classes will be held the weekends of Sept. 4/5 and 11/12 after the Masses. Classes will begin the week of September 19. Please mark your calendars. Passing on the faith is such a vital task, beginning with parents and Godparents, and then assisted by our dedicated Religious Education teachers.

 

RENEW: Please save in your calendars Saturday, September 25. That day the Diocesan RENEW office, together with other diocesan agencies, is preparing a day on Social Justice. More information will follow soon.

 

BABY SUPPLIES NEEDED: Project PALM (Protect all the Little Munchkins) is looking for your help in assisting new mothers and newborns. PALM was founded by Bishop Stang Seniors Allysa Piché & Matthew Lecuyer (son of Mrs. Lecuyer, formerly of St. James/St. John School). Donations can be dropped off in marked boxes in the back of the church ‘til Sept. 12. The following new, unused items are needed: baby soap & shampoo, baby wipes, bibs, blankets, booties, bottles, disposable diapers, diaper rash ointment, lotions, onesies, pacifiers, socks, and washcloths. Please do not give baby food, formula or perishable food items. Thank you for your collaboration!

 

NATIVITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL is accepting applications for 5th & 6th grades this Fall. Nativity is a private, tuition-free middle school for boys from low income families. For more info, call 994-3800 or go by the school at 66 Spring St., downtown.

 

BUS SERVICE CHANGES: In the front entranceway of the church you may read an announcement from SRTA, the local bus agency, regarding a fare hike and cutting back of service that is planned to begin September 7. The fare will go from $1 to $1.25 (seniors & children from 50 to 60 cents) and Route 5 (Rivet St.) will be cut back to every 45 minutes. If you are concerned about this, you must contact the administrator’s office before August 29. Phone 997-6767 or lpettine@aol.com.

 

Eucharistic Adoration This Week –  On Tuesday, From 7 to 9 p.m. we will have Eucharistic Adoration, with the Rosary prayed at 7:20, a talk at 8 p.m., Night Prayer & Benediction at 8:45 and Confessions during the evening.

 

ST. JAMES/ST. JOHN SCHOOL: There are limited openings in grades 1, 2, 4 & 6 for this Fall. Please contact Principal Ed Borges (996-0534).

 

FAMILY ASSISTANCE: Maria Pereira from Catholic Social Services wrote to us to announce that she is working with the Family Center for Non-violence to train volunteers to promote positive communications skills in families. If you would like to volunteer or if you are looking for some assistance with your family, contact Maria at CSS (997-7337).

 

CLARK’S POINT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION will meet at Fort Tabor (in the first building on the right as you drive in) on Wednesday, August 18 at 6:30. Come join with your neighbors to discuss issues of concern to the South End and work to make the neighborhood better.

 

CATHOLIC CITIZENSHIP MINISTRY, with Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts, has organized an evening with former Mayor and Ambassador Ray Flynn, Wed., Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. at Bishop Stang High School (Slocum Rd., N. Dartmouth). The discussion will center around how Catholic values of economic and social justice and human dignity can be respected in our political world. For more info, please call 508-678-3351.

 

HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS: Community Nurse & Hospice Care invites compassionate individuals to be a part of their volunteer team. Training sessions are Mondays & Wednesdays, beginning Sept. 8 and concluding Oct. 13. They’re held 5:30-7:30 at 62 Center St., Fairhaven. For more info, call JoAnn Richard at 999-3400.

 

COURAGE is a group for people dealing with same-sex attractions while trying to live chastely. Founded by Fr. John Harvey, OSFS, the group is faithful to the Church’s teachings on human sexuality. The New Bedford meeting had been meeting at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart, where Msgr. Harrington had served as chaplain to it. With his retirement, the group asked if it could meet here and after consultation with Msgr. Harrington I said yes. Courage will meet on Saturday, August 29 from 7 to 8 p.m. All are welcome.

CENTENNIAL OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

CENTENNIAL ROSARY CELEBRATION

Please save in your calendar Monday, October 11 (Columbus Day). That day the Diocese will have the closing ceremony of its Centennial, with a giant Rosary Celebration out at LaSalette in Attleboro. The celebration will begin with a Concert of Praise at 12:15, followed by a banner procession, the Rosary led by over 50 people from around the diocese, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, and some words from our shepherd, Bishop George Coleman. It should be a great day for the entire family. We will hire buses so as to travel together from here. So please save the date!

 

HISTORY BOOK OF THE DIOCESE

“Bearing Fruit by Streams of Waters,” the newly published history of the Diocese of Fall River, is on sale in the rectory for $20. This limited addition book begins with the work of the church in our area before the 1904 founding of the diocese and traces the various developments over the past century. St. James, St. Anne’s, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, and St.Hedwig’s each have a little section, and mention is made of St. Hyacinth’s, too. If you would like to buy a copy, please speak to one of the priests or deacons (after Masses) or Carol Sylvia or Ana Medina (at the rectory). It might make a good gift or a keepsake to hand on to later generations.

 

The Cedars is a new assisted living community opening in September at 628 Old Westport Road in Dartmouth. Reservations for the 78 beautiful new apartments are now being accepted. In addition to traditional assisted living, in which the apartment and all services (including personal care and meals) are included in one monthly fee, there are 17 private apartments for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. There are also 16 apartments for people who qualify under Mass Health for GAFC (income under $1,036 a month, assets under $2,000, and a diagnosis that requires assistance with personal care on a daily basis). The community will have a strong Catholic orientation, with daily Mass, and a priority admission to other Catholic healthcare facilities in the area. Please call 508-636-0590 or visit the trailer for more information.

 

FOOD DONATIONS for the poor are always welcome. Our St. Vincent de Paul distributes to our parishioners and extra food is given to Catholic Social Services for distribution from their food pantry. Please leave your non-perishable items in the plastic bins near the doors of the church.