A Welcome To Newcomers

Reverend Richard D. Wilson, Administrator

Reverend Deacon Lawrence A. St. Onge, Permanent Deacon

Reverend Michael Racine, In Residence

Reverend Herbert T. Nichols, In Residence

St. James - St. John School

180 Orchard Street, New Bedford

Telephone (508) 996-0534

St. James Religious Education Center

Church Hall

Telephone (508) 990-8140

Parish Staff

Edmund Borges - Principal, St. James - St. John School

Mary Worden - Religious Education Coordinator

Steven Massoud - Director of Music

Andrew Rivet - Sexton

Carol Oliver - Rectory Housekeeper

SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday    4:00 P.M. (English)

Sunday    8:30 A.M. & 10:00 A.M. (English)

11:30 A.M. (Hispanic)

Weekdays

Monday - Saturday    9:00 A.M. (English)

Monday & Thursday    7:00 P.M. (Hispanic)

Wednesday      Eucharistic Adoration      7:00 - 9:00 P.M.

RECONCILIATION

(Confession)

Saturday    2:45 - 3:30 P.M.

Dear Newcomer,

        Welcome to our Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church community. We want you to feel welcome and at home in this inner-city house of God, and we hope that you will become an active parishioner in order to derive the most benefit and satisfaction from parish life.

        If you haven't done so already, please visit the rectory and meet our cordial priests. Sign up, if you wish, for one of the committees or lay roles described on this page. The members of the hospitality group are prepared to help you in any way they can. Just call.

        The rest is up to you, depending on your own individual interests and circumstances.

        Be at home with us.

        Sincerely,

        Fr. Wilson, and all the staff and the Hospitality Committee

PARISH ORGANIZATIONS

*PARISH COUNCIL - Fr. Wilson            LITURGY COMMITTEE - Joan Park

PARISH FINANCIAL COUNCIL - Janice Lord             SCHOOL COMMITTEE

EDUCATION/VOCATION COMMITTEE - Kathy Massoud

"FOCCUS" MARRIAGE PREPARATION - Deacon Lawrence St. Onge

HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE - Sue Foster

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS - David Spoor             **HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE - Bette Reed

LECTORS - Tim Mitchell             PRO-LIFE - Steven Massoud

ALTAR SERVERS - Fr. Wilson               PENNY SALE - Maureen Lewis

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY - Maureen Lewis

BAPTISMAL INSTRUCTION - Deacon Lawrence St. Onge

*Parish Council Members Include:

Deacon St. Onge, Carol Oliver, Kathy Murphy, Sue Bedard, Ann Hart, David Spoor, Mary Kennedy, Al Lima and Alice Lester.

**Hospitality Committee Members Include:

Bette Reed, Carrie Pereira, Jaime Pereira, Ellen Vaughn, Rosalind Fox,  Carol Oliver,  Diane Auger, Suzanne Auger, Kathy Murphy and Sheryle Martin.

Parish History

        Founded in 1888, with the Reverend James F. Clark as pastor, St. James Parish broke ground for the present church in 1890 to serve the English speaking Catholics of New Bedford's South-End. The cornerstone was laid in 1891 by Bishop Matthew Harkins of the Providence Diocese, which then included Fall River and New Bedford.

        In subsequent years, two diocesan priests who had served as curates at St. James returned to assume the role of pastor. Father Henry J. Noon left his mark as a fund-raiser, community activist, and spiritual father from 1913 to 1947, the last ten years as a Monsignor.

        He was succeeded by Father Hugh A. Gallagher, who had served as a curate at St. James during Msgr. Noon's pastorate. Fr. Gallagher's leadership abilities extended beyond the parish to the community at large in social action and civil affairs. Following six years as area dean, Fr. Gallagher also was elevated to Monsignor. More than a thousand people attended his last Mass at St. James on St. Patrick's Day, 1976.

        With our South End neighborhood -- much like the church at large in post-Vatican II years -- in a state of flux, St. James experienced a decline in church attendance and membership under a succession of short-term pastorates. This was a time when the parish church was no longer seen as the center of community life.

        A renewal of activity and spirit accompanied the arrival of Father Edward E. Correia as pastor in 1994. When the parish self-study was conducted in 1995, about 800 families were registered, and weekend Mass attendance stood at approximately 700. In the self-study survey, Fr. Correia received high marks as a pastor from the 300 survey respondents. The report noted:

"Re-decorations and improvements in the physical condition of the church, an increase in the family-based social activities in the parish, and most of all, the deep spirituality and energetic dedication of Fr. Correia have been generally approved and whole-heartedly appreciated by the various elements of the parish community."

        As a result of the self-study, four committees have been formed to help improve aspects of parish life, i.e. Health, Religious Education, Liturgy and Hospitality.