Mass Schedule
Each weekday will have the normal 8 am Mass in the Church as below:
Saturday, March 18, 2023
8:00 AM Armindo Furtado Maroto
4:00 PM Deacon Michael Murray
Sunday, March 19, 2023
7:30 AM For the People of the Parish
9:00 AM Joan Albernaz-1st Anniversary
10:30 AM Henry Bulcamino-1st Anniversary
Monday, March 20, 2023
8:00 AM Alice Zeiba
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
8:00 AM Manuel Hathaway-5th Anniversary
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
8:00 AM Special Intention
Thursday, March 23, 2023
8:00 AM Natalie Rodrigues
Joseph & Gloria Oliveira
Friday, March 24, 2023
8:00 AM Carmen Sousa
Saturday, March 25, 2023
8:00 AM Leo Sylvia
4:00 PM Carol Murray
Sunday, March 26, 2023
7:30 AM For the People of the Parish
9:00 AM Carlos Sabino
10:30 AM Albert J. Williams-1st Anniversary
Our Adoration chapel at the parish center continues to be open Monday-Friday from 11am8pm unless otherwise noted. Please know that you are most welcome to come by and spend some time with our Lord. If you have never been to Adoration before and you are uncertain what to expect, just drop by for 5 minutes one day, say a prayer, and just be present with Him.
You can stay as little or as long as you wish!
What do I do in Adoration? You really don’t have to “do” anything during Adoration. You can just sit there and look at Jesus. Take the time to be with Him. If you are the only person in the chapel, don’t be afraid to pray or sing aloud. This is your personal time with Christ. (from CatholicLink)
Currently, we have an opening for a permanent Adorer on Tuesdays from 5-6 pm.
If you would like to cover that hour on a temporary or permanent basis, please contact Merle Coughlin or Tracey. Thank you!
Don’t forget to update your contact information if you’ve moved. We don’t do many bulk mailings, but when we do, we get a number of envelopes returned due to relocations. Please help us keep our records up to date and just drop Tracey an email or give her a call to let her know of any changes. Thank you so much!
Ash Wednesday is this week on February 22nd. We will have 2 Masses that day at 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM, as well as a prayer service at noon. All 3 will have the distribution of ashes. Everyone is encouraged to begin to pray about Lent and ask the Holy Spirit to help them see how to live this season the best way they can.
The Church calls for days of abstinence and fasting during Lent:
Abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday, all Fridays during Lent, and Good Friday for those aged 14 and older;
Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for those aged 18 through 59. Fasting is defined as eating only one full meatless meal. Two other meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one’s needs.
Those who are not obliged to fast or abstain from meat are encouraged to join in those disciplines to the extent that they are able.
Catholics are urged to regard the Lenten season as a serious time for spiritual renewal by intensifying prayer, practicing works of piety, and seeking out opportunities for charity
Stations of the Cross - We will have Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent at 7 pm in the Church. .
We have a number of wonderful books that we purchased to help you have a more prayerful and reflective Lent. The books are available at the back of the church after the weekend Masses, or at the parish center during regular office/Faith Formation hours. We do ask for a $10 donation per book to help offset the cost to the parish. Some of the ones chosen this year by Fr. Matt are: The Incredible Catholic Mass, The Last Hours of Jesus, The Catholic Guide to Depression, Couples, Awaken Your Love, Into Your Hands Father, & Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist.
We are getting ready for retreat time at the parish for our youth and we need YOUR help! Do you have a special talent, a witness or are you blessed with a yearning to assist the young people of the parish? We are welcoming everyone of all ages to join us to create a core team as we get ready for these great events for Grades 2, 8 & 9. It could be as simple as food prep or as intricate as sharing a witness. Just simply reach out to Shannon and Kellie-Jo or email [email protected].
ORDINATION dates have been confirmed! The Diaconate ordination will take place on Saturday, May 20th, and the Ordination to the Priesthood will be on Saturday, June 3rd! Both will take place at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.
Holy Family Men - Faith, Fellowship, and Fromage! AND WE ARE GROWING! We meet in the Parish Center on Thursday Nights from 6:30-8:00 PM where we discuss and solve all the world's issues, learn about our faith, have coffee, water, cheese (fromage), and crackers, and pray as men together. Hope to see you there!
If you are in need... don’t be afraid to reach out! We have our St. Vincent de Paul society at Holy Family that assists those in the East Taunton community struggling to make ends meet. They can be reached at the main parish number, but then choose extension 3 to leave a voicemail and one of our Vincentians will return your call.
In almost every Catholic family today there are loved ones who have fallen away from the Church. This has filled many family members with questions, anxieties, & concerns. Knowing the great angst & helplessness that many experience, our parish would like to address this very real concern. We are turning with great confidence to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, knowing that His Heart burns with a deep love for all of his children, especially those who have wandered away. On every First Friday, our devotion will begin with a 6 pm Holy Hour, followed by a Mass at 7:00 pm (come to either or both depending on your schedule). We would love to have you join us!
CLICK HERE
Explore Catholic education at Our Lady of Lourdes school. OLOL includes preschool-8th grade and is located at 52 First Street in Taunton. For more information, you can check our website at www.ololtaunton.com, or call us at 508- 822-3746.
Our Parish is committed to providing a safe place for all the faithful. Therefore, we follow a
strict policy of The Essential Three for all who minister, work or volunteer in our parish. We
ask for your cooperation and support. The safety of our community depends on all of us doing
our part. Please visit the Diocesan Safe Environment page for more information:
https://www.fallriverdiocese.org/office-of-safe-environment/
The Diocese of Fall River remains committed to the process of healing for survivors of sexual abuse by any clergy member or diocesan employee. The victim assistance coordinator is available to help survivors make a formal complaint of abuse to the diocese and to obtain supportive resources for the needs of the individuals and families. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse by a diocesan employee or volunteer, please contact Carolyn Shipp, at 508-675-1311, our victim assistance coordinator.
Testimony by Fr.Matt Gill
This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Within the Church’s life we rank our celebrations. We celebrate 1) Solemnities, 2) Feasts, 3) Memorials and 4) Optional Memorials in descending order of importance. The fact that St. Joseph’s feast is a solemnity speaks volumes about the esteem that the Church has for him. St. Joseph is described as a righteous man which only makes sense, after all, it was to his care that God the Father entrust his Son. The humble carpenter from Nazareth was obedient, listening to the voice of an angels in his dreams, bring the Holy Family to and from Egypt by night. St. Joseph assumed a true and authentic fatherly role in raising Jesus, teaching him prayers, practical wisdom and the trade of carpentry. However, St. Joseph’s vocation did not end with his death here on earth. The saints are truly active in heaven, listening to our prayers, turning to the throne of God and pleading for us. In fact, in 1870 St. Joseph was declared Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX. Just as he watched, with deep concern, over the development, growth and health of his son, so too does Joseph watch over, with an anxious concern, the mystical body of Christ here on earth: the Church. It appears, too, that Heaven confirmed this decision by Pius IX. In 1879, just nine years later Joseph appeared in the apparition in Knock, Ireland, silently present with Jesus, Mary and even John the Evangelist. Fast forward to the apparitions of Fatima and we again see St. Joseph. On October 13th 1917, after the miracle of the sun, when tens of thousands witnessed the sun dancing around the sky, St. Joseph appeared with the Christ Child in his arms. Both St. Joseph and our Lord blessed the world by making the shape of the cross over the world. Appearing and blessing the world, we see that the Universal Patron of the Church, St. Joseph, does have a deep concern for us, his spiritual children. By way of conclusion, in the Old Testament we hear of another Joseph who also has dreams. Joseph, one of the 12 sons of Israel, was sold by his envious brothers and brought to Egypt. It was there that he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams which foreshadowed seven years of good harvests followed by seven years of famine. During the first seven years the Egyptians wisely stored up grain and when the famine came the whole world descended upon Egypt looking for food. The Pharoah told everyone, “Ite ad Joseph, Go to Joseph” for he had stored up enough grain to feed all who came in search of nourishment. In the same way, the saints also tell us to “Go to Saint Joseph,” who watched over Jesus, the Bread of Life. As we reflect on Adoration this Lenten season, we turn to Joseph who, with Mary, was the first to adore Jesus in Bethlehem, Egypt and Nazareth. Go to Joseph… the patron of the Universal Church, our spiritual father and head of the Holy Family. He will always lead us to adore, love and be fed by his son, Jesus Christ.
We love having you as part of our flock! Keep in touch with us via email or text. To sign up click here:
Holy Family Flocknote
Or Text
HF619
To 84576
Or use your phone camera to scan this image: