Sacraments

Welcome!

If you are new to Saint Mary’s Parish, we invite you to come to the parish office/rectory so that we may welcome you to the Parish. We want to get to know you so that we may serve you better.

It is our mission to make disciples of all people, inviting everyone to support the mission of Saint Mary’s Parish with their prayer, time, talent, and treasure.

Sacrament of Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is the sacrament of initiation into the Christian community and the Church. It is the first step in a lifelong journey of faith and is necessary for salvation according to Catholic teaching.

Congratulations on the birth of your child! St. Mary’s parish welcomes your child into our faith community.

Please note that baptisms are celebrated several times a year on Sundays during the 10 am Mass. Please contact the parish office to make arrangements for your child’s baptism. There will be a seminar on every second Saturday of the month. This seminar is designed to prepare and support parents and godparents for raising their child in the Catholic faith. Please note that baptisms are not celebrated during the Seasons of Lent.

Congratulations on your newborn child!

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as Confession, is a sacrament through which we receive forgiveness for sins committed after baptism. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, grants absolution, which reconciles the penitent with God and the Church and offers spiritual guidance and penance to help the penitent grow in holiness. This sacrament provides spiritual healing, strengthens the individual’s relationship with God, and helps us recognize that God loves everyone.

St. Mary’s Parish offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation every Saturday from 3:45 pm to 4:15 pm in the small chapel. For other times, you can contact the parish office for an appointment.

Sacrament of Holy Communion

In the Sacrament of Holy Communion, Catholics believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ through transubstantiation. This Sacrament is a commemoration of the Last Supper, where Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples and instructed them to do the same remembrance of Him. 

We offer preparation for this sacrament through our faith formation classes, and we usually celebrate ‘First Holy Communion in the Month of May. 

Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation in the Catholic Church, along with Baptism and Holy Communion. It is believed to strengthen the grace received at Baptism and is often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Through this sacrament, Catholic receive a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit which empowers them to live more fully in their faith and to be active members of the Church. Confirmation is usually administered by the bishop of the local diocese who anoints the candidate with Chrism oil and says, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirt.”

We offer classes for this important sacrament in our faith formation program. The dates for the Sacrament of Confirmation are usually provided by the Bishop of Fall River’s office and we join together with the other Sacred Hearts Parishes (Our Lady of the Assumption in New Bedford and St. Joseph in Fairhaven) to celebrate this sacrament. 

Sacrament of Holy Orders

The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church. It is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. 

Do you hear God’s calling?

We invite those who are interested in serving God through the Sacrament of Holy Orders or religious life to contact the vocation recruiter of the Sacred Hearts Community through the Parish Office. 

All are welcome to join, and together let us build up the Kingdom of God. 

Sacrament of Matrimony

The Sacrament of Matrimony is a covenant by which a man and a woman establish a partnership for their whole lives. This sacrament signifies the union of Christ and the Church and gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church. 

Congratulations on your decision to get married in the church! We are pleased and happy that you are planning to celebrate the great love of God through marriage here at St. Mary’s Parish. To prepare for a Catholic wedding, please contact the parish office at least one year in advance to arrange for the marriage preparation seminar/course required by the Diocese of Fall River.

The sacrament of matrimony is not celebrated during the season of Lent. We pray for God’s blessings as you build your new family.

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is one of the Catholic sacraments that offers spiritual, physical, and emotional healing to those who are seriously ill, elderly, or facing major surgery. It involves the anointing of the person with blessed oil and prayers by a priest. This sacrament provides the grace of the Holy Spirit to strengthen, comfort, and, if it is God’s will, restore the person to health. It also offers the forgiveness of sins if the person is unable to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

If you know someone who is homebound, ill, or desires to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, please don’t hesitate to call the parish office. An available priest will administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.