Dear Friends,

Last Wednesday about thirty-six parishioners made the trip to Stockbridge to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum, had lunch at the Red Lion Inn, then on to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy to visit. I think everyone had a good time: there was good humor, good laughs… and mercifully no one was lost and no one (to my knowledge) was picked up for shoplifting in any of the gift shops! It was a great way to enjoy one another’s company, and for me to come to know folks better.

For those interested, you can mark your calendars for WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15TH, for a trip to New York City to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree followed by a performance of the CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR featuring the ROCKETTES. After, we will attend a late afternoon Mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (all decorated for Christmas) before we return home. The cost for the day (tickets for the show and bus) will be announced soon. Anyone is welcome to join the trip. ***Please note: all persons must be fully vaccinated to enter the Radio City Music Hall. There are 53 seats available. Make this a part of your Christmas season!

Make it a great week!
Father Jim

The Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) – Is the process by which a non-Catholic becomes a Catholic. The candidate who seeks to become a Catholic joins other candidates from now until Easter to learn about the Catholic faith by being instructed by parish members (called Catechists).

The parts of our faith including the Bible… the Creed… Sacraments… Catholic Doctrine… parts of the Mass… Moral teachings… Catholic Customs… etc. are all laid out week after week until the candidate feels ready to receive the Sacraments of Initiation including Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. Interested? Or do you know someone who is interested in becoming Catholic? Be in touch with Father Jim, and the group of candidates will begin soon.

The Diocese continues to offer online support groups and hopes to begin offering live sessions in the Fall. These online virtual programs are being offered through Catholic Social Services on Tuesdays at 4:30pm and at 7:00pm.

To register online for either of these one-hour sessions, go to: https://www.cssdioc.org/bereavement-support/. In addition to the online sessions, one-on-one sessions are also offered via phone. For more information, contact Rose Mary Saraiva at (508)674-4681 ext. 1111 or (774)253-4097, or email rsaraiva@cssdioc.org

The Knights of Columbus will be holding a Clothing Drive in the church parking lot on Saturday, October 23, and Sunday, October 24, 2021, before and after each Mass.

Wedding Anniversary Celebration: will be celebrated with a special Mass of Thanksgiving for couples observing significant wedding anniversaries (including first year) during 2022. This celebration will take place on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at 3:00pm at St. Mary Cathedral in Fall River. If you would like an invitation, please see Fr. Jim after Mass, or call the Parish office at (508)823-9833, as soon as possible.

Induction Mass to be Celebrated by Bishop da Cunha on Saturday, October 30th.

Through the Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, the Diocese of Fall River is formally launching its “Anima Christi” Legacy Society to honor individuals and families who have made a planned gift in their will or estate plan to the Catholic Foundation, for any of its funds, a parish, a Catholic school, a Catholic organization, or the Diocese of Fall River. Bishop da Cunha will celebrate the inaugural Induction Mass on Saturday, October 30th at 10:00am at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River. A reception will follow. If you are interested in making a planned gift or have already done so and would like to attend the Induction Mass, please email info@catholicfoundationsema.org

Are you looking for ways to give back to the community? Catholic Social Services may be the answer. We need volunteers to help serve guests at our Soup Kitchen in New Bedford, as well as cooks and food preparers. We also need volunteers who can help clients with translation and document preparation at our food pantry.

If you or someone you know is looking for a way to give back and serve the community, call Rose Mary Saraiva at 508-674-4681 ext. 1111 for more information.

The 30th Annual Fall Scholarship Dinner will be held at White’s of Westport on Wednesday evening, November 3, 2021, at 5:30pm. The featured performer will be Matt Maher, Inspirational Christian Recording Artist. (learn more at www.mattmahermusic.com).

The proceeds from this dinner go toward need-based scholarships for the Catholic Schools of our Diocese. If you are interested in sponsoring, attending, or advertising at this event, wish to make a donation to the Fund, or want more information, please visit the website at www.face-dfr.org or contact the Foundation Office
at (508) 675-1311.

The Catholic Schools Alliance will host the Reverend Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., who will present scientific evidence of God’s existence on Thursday, November 18th, at 7:00pm, in the Bishop Connolly High School Auditorium in Fall River. Fr. Spitzer is known for debating Stephen Hawking on the Larry King Live Show, as well as making many other notable TV appearances.

This presentation is likely to be of great interest to faith Formation students in grades 6-12, as well as college students (and parishioners), and will give them an opportunity to ask Fr. Spitzer any question they may have regarding Catholic theology, the Existence of God, etc. There is no cost to attend, however, anyone interested in attending is asked to RSVP or call (508) 687-7301.

Knights of Columbus Council @10289 Monthly Business Meeting
The next regular business meeting will be held in person at St. Ann Parish Center on Wednesday, November 10th at 7:00pm in the Parish Center.

Annual Memorial Mass
The St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus Annual Memorial Mass for our departed Brothers will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at  8:00am.

The 30th Annual Fall Scholarship Dinner will be held at White’s of Westport on Wednesday evening, November 3, 2021 at 5:30pm.

The featured performer will be Matt Maher, Inspirational Christian Recording Artist. (learn more at www.mattmahermusic.com). The proceeds from this dinner go toward need-based scholarships for the Catholic Schools of our Diocese. If you are interested in sponsoring, attending, or advertising at this event, wish to make a donation to the Fund or want more information, please visit the website at www.face-dfr.org or contact the Foundation Office at (508) 675-1311.

The Annual in-person Open House for Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, MA will be held on Sunday, October 17th, at 1:00pm. Register online at www.bishopfeehan.com/getinfo. The Entrance exam will be Saturday, December 4th, at 7:45am. The application deadline is Thursday, December 16th. For more information call 508-226-1731 or email admissions@bishopfeehan.com.

Has been working with Catholic churches, convents, schools, homes, and other organizations in helping to recycle any Religious items that are no longer needed. We all have those old prayer books (not missalettes), rosaries, crosses, medals, framed pictures, small statues. objects that were blessed have no use for anymore we don’t know what to do with. Saint Mary Recycle Mission group will take these old Religious items and either repair or refurbish them and then offer them to places that so desperately need them. (I.E.) In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many people who lost so many of their beloved crosses, rosaries, etc. were the beneficiaries of the religious objects donated to Saint Mary’s Recycle Mission Group.

***If you find you have religious objects that you need to dispose of, don’t throw them in the dumpster….bring them to church and leave them in the containers located at the doors of the church. Thanks!

The duties of those girls and boys and young women and men who serve at the altar are integral to the celebration of the Mass. They must be mature enough to understand their responsibilities and to carry them out with appropriate reverence. They must have received First Communion and they must attend Mass on a regular basis.

If you are interested in becoming an altar server and are, in the fall, beginning fourth grade or higher, please contact the parish office to indicate your interest. (508-823-9833). You will then be notified concerning mandatory attendance at two training sessions, to be held in the November-December time period. In those sessions, we will review the duties one performs as an altar server and address any questions you may have about your responsibilities.

A second opportunity to express interest in becoming an altar server will be offered in October when a presentation and a sign-up sheet will be offered to the fourth and fifth-grade formation classes.

Coffee and donuts will be served in the Parish Center after the 8:00am and 9:30am Masses beginning in October. We are grateful to Bev Morgan for agreeing to coordinate this activity. We are currently looking for adult helpers, it’s a nice way to make friends and meet new people. If you are interested, please call Bev at 508-823-9183.

New Lectors
Many hands make for light work.  We can always use more lectors/readers at weekend masses, as well as during the week.  If you would like to be involved as a reader, please speak with Fr. Jim.  An instructional session would certainly be held to train you.

New Eucharistic Ministers
Again, having more Ministers of Holy Communion means that the same people do not have to serve so often.  Think about it and speak to Fr. Jim.  Instructions and training will be offered!

Bishop da Cunha will celebrate adult Confirmation on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 7:00pm at St. Mary’s Cathedral for any adult who is at least 18 years of age and has been instructed for Confirmation.  Online sessions (via Zoom) will begin on Thursday, October 7th at 6:30pm.

In-person sessions will begin on Saturday, October 16th at 10:00am at St. Julie Billiart Church Hall in North Dartmouth.  The registration fee of $45 is payable, in advance, to the Diocese of Fall River.  Registration forms are available after Mass on the weekend.

A reminder, the church is open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm for you to stop by and pray. Please exercise social distancing while in the church. Daily Mass is live-streamed on our website & Facebook at 8:00am each day.

The Daily and Sunday Mass is recorded for your viewing!

On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/StAnnsParishRaynham

To view on Facebook, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/stannsraynham
and the live-stream appears under the Video section.

The Parish Facebook page is also embedded on this site at
https://stannsraynham.org/facebook-page/

The live stream video is compatible with all desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

No Facebook account? No problem. View the Parish Facebook page on this site by clicking here. No Facebook account required to view.