Masses, Schedules, and General Information

Rectory

Rectory: (978) 851-7331

Rectory Office Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Friday : 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Sunday: 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM

Mass Schedule

• Saturday Evening: 4:00 p.m.
  
• Sunday 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 a.m., and 5:00 p.m.
  • Family Mass: 9:30 a.m., Lower Church
    
• Weekdays: 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (including First Friday)
  
• Holy Days (except Christmas and January 1):
  • On Eve of Holy Day: 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.
  • On Holy Day: 7:00 and 9:00 a.m., 5:15 and 7:00 p.m.
    
• Christmas and January 1: Same as for Sundays
  
• From 1 June through 30 September the 9:30 Family Mass in the Lower Church, the 5:30 p.m. Daily Mass, and the 9:00 a.m. Saturday Mass are discontinued

Reconciliation

• Saturday and Eve of Holy Day: 3:00-3:45 p.m.
• First Friday: Before Mass.
• Anytime at the Rectory

Christ gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation as the means for renewing our friendship with Him and strengthening his grace within us. Knowing that we are children of a loving and merciful God, we are encouraged to seek His forgiveness regularly. At special penance liturgies, the new sacramental form allows the penitent the option of the traditional private confession or face-to-face confession in the Reconciliation Room. Priests are also available by special appointment.

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Communion for the Sick and Infirm

The Eucharist is brought to the sick, infirm, and elderly who cannot attend Mass. Contact the rectory to arrange for a priest or Eucharistic Minister to bring Communion to the home, hospital, or nursing home. Please inform the rectory of such needs among family or neighbors.

Baptism

Baptism is a sacred sacrament which demands accountability within the framework of the Church. Hence, it will be conferred on only those for whom a religious upbringing can be assured. The rites are conferred on Sunday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. Parents are urged to make plans for the sacrament before the birth of the child by contacting the rectory and consulting with one of the priests. Preparation instructions for Parents and Godparents are held at 7:30 p.m. on alternate Tuesdays before the Baptism in the lower church.

Parish Religious Education Program (PREP)

PREP Office: (978) 851-3471

PREP Hours: 9:00 AM. to 2:00 PM Monday - Thursday

The Parish offers a comprehensive Religious Education Program for Grades 1 through 10. Registration information and class schedules are available at the PREP Office in the Parish Center.

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First Communion

First Holy Communion is distributed in April or May. Dates will be announced in advance in the Weekly Bulletin. To be eligible, candidates who attend public schools must have attended first- and second-grade PREP classes.

Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred once each year, usually in November. Candidates must have completed ninth- and tenth-grade PREP classes before being confirmed. Adults wishing to be confirmed must contact the rectory before the end of August.

Matrimony

Arrangements must be made at the rectory at least 6 months before the marriage. Attendance at marriage instruction is required by the Archdiocese and may be taken through an Engaged Couples Workshop or Engaged or Encounter Days.

Anointing of the Sick

An Anointing Liturgy for ambulatory elderly and infirm is held each Fall. Details of the special Mass are announced in the Weekly Bulletin. Arrangements for anointing individuals can be made by calling the rectory. (Hospitals usually provide for their patients.) When parishioners learn that they have a serious illness or just before they are to have major surgery, they may make an appointment with a priest for him to come to the home at a time when concerned friends and family members can join in the Anointing of the Sick as a prayer for healing.

Funeral Arrangements

Masses of Christian Burial are usually arranged through the funeral director. Members of the family are invited to be readers or gift bearers or to express remarks of remembrance at the funeral liturgy. Please advise the rectory as soon as possible upon the death of a parishioner.

Masses for Special Intentions

Masses for special intentions of parishioners and for individuals living and dead may be arranged at the rectory on a date-available basis.

Policy for Scheduling Mass Intentions

On Monday, February 1, 2000, the 2000 Mass Intention Book will be opened for those wishing to schedule Masses for 2000. From past experience, we know that we will not be able to fulfill all requests. Your cooperation and understanding will be most appreciated.

Because of the large number of requests received the first day, the following policy is effective the week of 2/2/2000-2/9/2000:

1. No more than 4 Masses may be scheduled.
2. Telephone requests will be taken from 1:00-3:00 p.m. only.
3. The ordinary Mass stipend is ten dollars.

The following yearly policy has been established to make weekend Masses available to as many parishioners as possible.

1. Only one weekend Mass per month may be scheduled. If anyone wishes additional Masses for that month, they may be scheduled as weekday Masses, if they are available.
2. Masses will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. Masses may be scheduled by telephone or by coming to the rectory.
4. We ask the person requesting the Mass Intention to leave their name and telephone number. Mass stipends may be given at time of scheduling or mailed to St. William's Rectory, 1351 Main St., Tewksbury, MA 01876.

We remind you that it may not be possible to meet every individual request. Your cooperation and understanding will be most appreciated.

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Mass Cards and Spiritual Enrollments

A wide assortment of Mass cards and enrollments for special occasions and intentions are available from the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate and can be obtained at the rectory. They include Perpetual and Five-Year Spiritual Bouquets, and enrollment cards for Christmas, Mother's Day, wedding anniversaries and birthdays, plus thank you and get well cards and memorial donations.

Use of Parish Facilities

The Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) offices are located in the Parish Center, which also provides meeting space for the Greater Lowell Pastoral Counseling Center, Boy Scouts, Alcoholics Anonymous and various parish groups.

The former school building is used for Religious Education classes, Youth Group dances, Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) Weekends, the Tewksbury Head Start Program, Friday Night Bingo, and the annual Christmas Fair.

The Lower Church includes the parish hall and two smaller function rooms: the Blessed Joseph Gerard Room (Coffee & Donut Room), and the St. Eugene de Mazenod Room (formerly the Zebra Room). These facilities are generally available to parish organizations and at special times to other groups with the permission of the Pastor. Use of the facilities must be scheduled through the rectory office.

Bequests

Everyone should have a Will. No matter what your financial circumstances, you need a Will to assure that your possessions will be distributed as you desire. If you have a Will, review it periodically - yesterday's plans may not meet today's needs.

After you have provided for the financial security of your loved ones, consider a bequest to St. Williams or Oblate Fathers. A bequest in your Will, no matter what the amount, will help the parish continue the Spiritual and temporal care and service to the parish community . . . the senior citizens and the children, the homebound elderly and the sick, the family, the troubled, and the poor.

Such a bequest is tax deductible - it can decrease or eliminate federal and state estate and inheritance taxes.