Our Beliefs
Our Profession of Faith-The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
We are fully Catholic and value our Catholicism
- We believe and acknowledge that the true presence of Christ is found in the Eucharist. As Catholics the Eucharist is the center of our faith.
- All Seven Sacraments are visible signs of invisible realities, that communicate grace to God's people.
- We believe that the Sacraments are all restorative; restoring and deepening our relationship with God, and one another.
- We believe in the tenants set forth in the Nicene-Constantinople Creed.
Our Mission
To Pray, Teach, Serve and Make Disciples
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you"
Matt 26:19-20
Our Vision
Making Church Relevant to all of God's Children in the Fall River Area
Without Vision the People Perish-Proverbs 28:19
Our Strategy
In the last 40 years we have seen churches close at an alarming rate. Many churches and parishes have had to merge to survive. There are many reasons we can point to for the closures and mergers. God is calling us to reach out to disenfranchised Christians looking for a home.
Our Values
Service
To all our brothers and sisters including the poor and the homeless.
Discipleship
Bringing the joyful and life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ to all God's Children and accepting them wherever they are in their wall with God. We know as we walk together with Jesus we are called to change and grow with the help of His grace.
Community
Following in the footsteps of St. Francis, we believe in fostering strong bonds of fellowship within our community. Bearing one another burdens and sharing each others joy.
Evangelizing
Spreading the Gospel by preaching and giving public witness to how God changes lives. Most times we preach the Gospel with our actions mores than our words.
The Sacraments:
Baptism
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Baptism is the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Whether we are baptized as infants or adults, Baptism is the Church's way of celebrating and enacting the embrace of God.
Eucharist
Catholics believe the Eucharist, or Communion, is both a sacrifice and a meal. We believe in the real presence of Jesus, who died for our sins. As we receive Christ's Body and Blood, we also are nourished spiritually and brought closer to God. We believe in an open table where any Christian who is baptized may receive the Body and Blood of Christ.
Reconciliation
The Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Penance, or Penance and Reconciliation) has three elements: conversion, confession and celebration. In it we find God's unconditional forgiveness; as a result we are called to forgive others.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Marriage
For Catholics, the Sacrament of Marriage, or Holy Matrimony, is a public sign that one gives oneself totally to this other person. It is also a public statement about God: the loving union speaks of family values and also God's values. We value the right of same sex couple to marry.
Holy Orders
In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest being ordained vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel, and by providing other means to holiness. We believe both men and women are called to the diaconate, priesthood and episcopacy.
Anointing of the Sick
The Catholic Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, is a ritual of healing appropriate not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual sickness.
WE'RE HERE TO SERVE YOU |
A FAMILY GATHERING |
Catholic Liturgical Calendar
Our Catholic liturgical calendar provides us with the opportunity to reflect upon different aspects of our Catholic faith during a complete cycle of the liturgical year. During the year we commemorate the lives of the Saints as well as important milestones in the life of Our Blessed Mother, Mary.
Advent
Advent is the beginning of our Catholic New Year : Advent begins in late November-early December each calendar year. Advent is a period of waiting and preparing for the coming of the Jesus Our Lord at Christmas. There are four Sundays in Advent, and ends on December 24.
Christmas
We celebrate the coming of Jesus with Christmas on December 25. The Feast of Christmas lasts twelve days, until Epiphany, which in the lectionary readings is marked by the visit of the Magi/Wise Men. The Christmas season lasts an additional week, through the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord.
Ordinary Time ( 1)
When the Christmas season comes to a close, we enter into Ordinary Time, which takes us from Christ’s childhood through the early parts of His ministry.
Lenten Season
Lent is a solitary time of prayer, fasting, including the forgotten practice of almsgiving. During the Lenten Season we are called to repent and return to God with all our hearts. The season is 40 days—(not including Sundays)—and begins on Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, we receive a cross made with ashes traced on our foreheads to reminded us that from dust we came, and to dust we will return. The 40 days reminds us of the period in which Jesus was tested by Satan in the desert before beginning His earthly ministry.
The last Sunday of Lent is called Palm Sunday, when we enter Holy Week and receive palms to remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On Holy Thursday of this week, we remember the Passover Meal Christ shared with His disciples in the upper room.
On Good Friday, we commemorate the Passion of Christ—His suffering and death on the cross. Holy Saturday is a day of quiet waiting until Easter Vigil Saturday evening. During this most powerful Liturgy of the year we celebrate Jesus’ journey from death to life.
Easter
The Easter season begins with Easter Vigil the evening of Holy Saturday and continues until Pentecost. This is perhaps our most joyous season, as we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. The season lasts 50 days and at Mass, we recount the risen Christ’s visits to the Apostles, Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, and on Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.
Ordinary Time (2)
After Pentecost until the new liturgical year begins in Advent, we enter into the second and longest period of Ordinary Time. During this time, we focus on Christ’s reign and prepare for His second coming. The final Sunday of this Ordinary Time, the Feast of Christ the King, represents His reign.
Our Catholic liturgical calendar provides us with the opportunity to reflect upon different aspects of our Catholic faith during a complete cycle of the liturgical year. During the year we commemorate the lives of the Saints as well as important milestones in the life of Our Blessed Mother, Mary.
Advent
Advent is the beginning of our Catholic New Year : Advent begins in late November-early December each calendar year. Advent is a period of waiting and preparing for the coming of the Jesus Our Lord at Christmas. There are four Sundays in Advent, and ends on December 24.
Christmas
We celebrate the coming of Jesus with Christmas on December 25. The Feast of Christmas lasts twelve days, until Epiphany, which in the lectionary readings is marked by the visit of the Magi/Wise Men. The Christmas season lasts an additional week, through the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord.
Ordinary Time ( 1)
When the Christmas season comes to a close, we enter into Ordinary Time, which takes us from Christ’s childhood through the early parts of His ministry.
Lenten Season
Lent is a solitary time of prayer, fasting, including the forgotten practice of almsgiving. During the Lenten Season we are called to repent and return to God with all our hearts. The season is 40 days—(not including Sundays)—and begins on Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, we receive a cross made with ashes traced on our foreheads to reminded us that from dust we came, and to dust we will return. The 40 days reminds us of the period in which Jesus was tested by Satan in the desert before beginning His earthly ministry.
The last Sunday of Lent is called Palm Sunday, when we enter Holy Week and receive palms to remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On Holy Thursday of this week, we remember the Passover Meal Christ shared with His disciples in the upper room.
On Good Friday, we commemorate the Passion of Christ—His suffering and death on the cross. Holy Saturday is a day of quiet waiting until Easter Vigil Saturday evening. During this most powerful Liturgy of the year we celebrate Jesus’ journey from death to life.
Easter
The Easter season begins with Easter Vigil the evening of Holy Saturday and continues until Pentecost. This is perhaps our most joyous season, as we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. The season lasts 50 days and at Mass, we recount the risen Christ’s visits to the Apostles, Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, and on Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.
Ordinary Time (2)
After Pentecost until the new liturgical year begins in Advent, we enter into the second and longest period of Ordinary Time. During this time, we focus on Christ’s reign and prepare for His second coming. The final Sunday of this Ordinary Time, the Feast of Christ the King, represents His reign.
