Marian and Eucharistic Devotions

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St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Bridgewater hosts many Marian and Eucharistic Devotions Coordinated by the Rosary Procession Committee of the Parish, one of the main devotions is the monthly Candlelight Rosary Procession, held on the 13th of the month from May through October at 8 PM, rain or shine. These processions, held in the upper church, feature a guest speaker, inspirational music, a Candlelight Rosary Procession led by a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Fatima, and Benediction. The service begins in church and proceeds outdoors as the Rosary is recited. Outdoor speakers allow all to take part In the Rosary, whether in the church or outdoors. The Rosary Processions are held for the sole purpose of giving honor and glory to Almighty God, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and His Holy Mother. Our Lady of Fatima--for the ultimate triumph of her Immaculate Heart and the Reign of Christ the King, We endeavor to bring the Message of Fatima to all, through the guest speakers and through literature on display at the rear of the church (narthex). Rosaries, Scapulars, medals and other religious items are available for all.

Held in honor of Our Lady of Fatima, we promote the Message of Fatima, which was given to us in 1917 as Our Lady appeared to 3 shepherd children in the little village of Fatima, Portugal, on the 13th of the month on 6 separate occasions, beginning on May 13, 1917 and ending on October 13,1917, The little shepherds, Jaclnta and Francisco Marto, sister and brother, and their cousin, Lucia Santos, were privileged to see Our Lady and to take to heart her pleas for dally Rosary, penance and sacrifices, and acts of reparation for the conversion of sinners. Francisco and Jacinta Marto died in 1919 and 1920, respectively in the world wide influenza epidemic at that time; Lucia went on to become a Dorothean nun and then a Carmelite nun in Coimbra, Portugal. Our Lady had told her that she would live "some time longer" to promote devotion to Our Lady's immaculate Heart. The "some time longer" ended in 2005, when Sister Lucia, then 98, died. AH through those years, she spread devotion to Our Lady through her Memoirs, written in obedience to her Bishops, Pope John Paul II, in one of several visits to Fatima, beatified Jacinta and Francisco Marto now known as Blesseds Jacinta and Francisco, on May 13, 2000. They are buried along with Sister Lucia in the Basilica in Fatima, Portugal, where thousands of people pilgrimage,

One devotion urged by Our Lady of Fatima was reparation to her Immaculate Heart by First Saturday Devotions. St, Thomas Aquinas Parish is privileged to hold First Saturday Devotions on the First Saturday of each month after the 9 AM Mass In the lower church. The devotions include the meditated Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. At the request of Our Lady of Fatima, the First Saturdays are made in reparation for the 5 types of blasphemies against her Immaculate Heart, First Saturday literature is available at the rear of the upper and lower church, with booklets for use along with these devotions,

A devotion held at St, Thomas Aquinas Parish for many years is Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held each Saturday after the 9 AM Mass until 3:30 PM, It is also held on the First Friday of each month after the 9 AM Mass until 10:30 AM, Adoration is held in the lower church. Basically, Eucharistic Adoration is recognizing and honoring the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. As Jesus Is no longer present to humankind in the same way He was when He walked the earth, He has made Himself present to us through the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Every time we celebrate the Eucharist in the church we proclaim Christ's death and resurrection. Outside of Mass, the Church venerates the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration, Usually the consecrated Host is placed in a sacred vessel known as the "monstrance", which Is placed on the altar for all to see. We come to Jesus in the Eucharist to adore thank, pray to and console Him, In the words of Pope John Paul I!, "When we contemplate Him present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar, Christ draws near to us and becomes more intimate to us than we are to ourselves. Remaining in silence before the Blessed Sacrament, it is Christ totally and really present whom we discover, whom we adore, and with whom we are content,"

Our Parish is always in need of "Adorers" of Jesus In the Blessed Sacrament at Eucharistic Adoration, As we must never leave Our Lord "alone" when He is exposed in the Blessed Sacrament, we need persons to commit to one hour on Saturdays between the hours of 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM, In the words of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on Holy Thursday night, to his Apostles, "Could you not watch one hour with Me?" (Matthew 26:40) Bring your lives. Its hope, Its struggles, Its needs to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament He waits for you.

If you need any information about the above devotions, or to commit to an hour of Adoration on Saturdays, please call Parish Representatives of the World Apostolate of Fatima, Archdiocese of Boston-Andrea Proffetty (508-697-9481) or Elaine Sweetman (508-697-8154) also members of The Rosary Procession Commlttee at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.