Saint Mary's Parish and Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima

03/22/2024

Pastoral Update - March 22, 2024
Tonight is the final Lenten Dinner sponsored by our Knights of Columbus and our final Friday evening Stations of the Cross. Come join us.

This weekend is Palm Sunday. Depending on the weather, one mass may begin with the outdoor procession. Please check with an usher when you arrive at church.

We are still in need of helpers to assist with the Easter Egg Hunt on March 31. So far we have two volunteers. We need several more to hide the eggs and supervise the children. Teens and Adults are welcome. Let the parish office know if you can help make the children joy-filled on Easter morning.

02/13/2024

Come one and all to our Mardi Gras Celebration tonight, February 13 from 6 - 8 pm in the Fr. Reid Pavilion. Our menu features Pancakes, Sausage, Eggs, Juice, Coffee. Free of charge, donations accepted.

Join us tomorrow for Ash Wednesday with Masses and the distribution of Ashes at 9:00 am. 4:15 pm. and 7:30 pm.

02/08/2024

February 10 & 11 Homemade Valentine Cookies to benefit our twinning parish in Haiti. $15 minimum donation. Super Bowl Subs available for pick up. First Penance for our children, keep them in prayer.

February 13 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper from 6 – 8 pm. No charge, donations accepted. Come enjoy our Mardi Gras celebration.

February 16 First of Lenten Friday Dinners sponsored by our Knights of Columbus in the Pavilion. Cost is $15 per person ($12 for Seniors). Crab Cake option is $7. Dinner from 5:30 pm – 7 pm.

February 18 Sodality Tea Party at Noon in the Pavilion. Reservations required. All people of the parish are invited. Sign up at Mass or email [email protected].

12/22/2023

Celebration of Christmas

Christmas Eve, December 24
3:30 pm Prelude
4:00 pm Mass with Pageant
9:30 pm Prelude
10:00 pm Mass at Night

Christmas Day - Monday, December 25
10:00 am Mass

12/22/2023

December 2023

Dear Parishioners,
It has been 800 years since St. Francis of Assisi celebrated this sacred time with the first live nativity scene in Greccio, Italy. He wanted to bring Bethlehem close to all the town’s people so they could experience the true story of Christmas and the love, hope and humility of our God, revealed as an Infant.
“Francis stood before the manger, full of sighs, overcome with tenderness and filled with wondrous joy. The solemnities of the Mass were celebrated over the manger, and the priest enjoyed a new consolation.”
This joining of the Nativity and the Eucharist shows the bond between the Incarnation of the Son of God and the Eucharist. As we celebrate Christmas Mass we are called to feel the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and filled with that love be inspired and equipped to share that love with others.
Praying that your Christmas is blessed in every way, through the presence of the Holy Family. Let us invite them to walk with us throughout the new Year of Grace, 2024. All of you remain in our daily prayers.
Blessings

11/01/2023

Pastoral Update – November 1, 2023

Our Sodality, in association with the Knights of Columbus, is sponsoring the Blessed Carlo Acutis Eucharistic Miracles Display in the Fr. Reid Pavilion this weekend, November 4 and 5. The display times are Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, and following the 5:00 pm mass. Sunday display times are after the masses and from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.
Blessed Carlo was born in 1991 and died of leukemia in 2006. During his life he attended daily mass and had a deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist. He lived by the motto “Jesus is my friend, and the Eucharist is my highway to Heaven.”
Come and experience the Real Presence of Jesus in the many Eucharistic Miracles that continue to occur around the world.

10/05/2023

Pastoral Update – October 5, 2023

Our Haiti Food Truck Festival is this Saturday from 4:30 – 7:30 pm. Please bring your family and friends and plan to join us in support of our twinning ministry at St. Joseph’s Parish in Carcasse. Admission is FREE. There will be 3 Food Trucks, live music, raffles, children’s games, face painting and more. PLEASE NOTE: Saturday afternoon Mass this week will be at 4:00 pm instead of 5:00 pm.

Our parish office will be closed this Monday for Columbus Day.

05/18/2023

Pastoral Update - May 17, 2023

This Friday, May 19 we begin the annual Novena to the Holy Spirit for nine days leading up to Pentecost. This is the oldest Novena in the Church and it has its roots in Sacred Scripture. I encourage all to make this Novena in light of the turmoil in our world today.

Copies of the Novena prayers are available in the Church vestibule. You can also find them online at various sites. I am including two sights you can copy and paste from:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/novena-to-the-holy-spirit/ #:~:text=Though%20this%20novena%20can%20be,May%2019-27%2C%202023

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-to-the-holy-spirit-for-the-seven-gifts-309

Blessings,
Fr. Kevin

We ought to pray and invoke the Holy Spirit, for each of us greatly needs His protection and His help. The more a

02/03/2023

Pastoral Update February 3, 2023

Join our Sodality this Saturday, February 4 for 9:00 am Mass to pray for their deceased members. We will also pray our monthly Fatima Devotions after Mass.

Word Among Us and Magnificat for February are in the church this weekend.

On Sunday we have Donuts, Coffee and Juice. Haiti Coffee will be available for sale. Lenten materials for Children and Adults will be available in the Pavilion at Donuts. They are coming out early since the next Donut Sunday will be two weeks into Lent.

Mark your calendars for our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 21 from 6 – 8 pm.

12/14/2022

Pastoral Update - December 14, 2022

Today, Wednesday, December 14 is your opportunity for Confession before Christmas. Two priests will be available for confession at 4:10 pm and 7:30 pm in the church. Come and ready your hearts to welcome the Prince of Peace.

Sunday we will celebrate the Anointing of the Sick at the 10:30 am Mass. All in serious need of healing physically, mentally and spiritually will be invited forward after the homily to be anointed.

11/23/2022

Pastoral Update - November 23, 2022
Join us for our Thanksgiving Mass tomorrow at 10:00 am. Come and give thanks to God for His many blessings. Our parish office will be closed tomorrow and Friday. Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend.

O Heavenly Father: we thank Thee for food and remember the hungry. We thank Thee for health and remember the sick. We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless. We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved. May these remembrances stir us to service that Thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.

This weekend begins the season of Advent. The Word Among Us and Magnificats will be in church for your Advent readings.

The Ladies Night out for Advent is coming on Friday, December 2 beginning at 6:00 pm. Sign up now by contacting Ann Alicea at 301-980-9382.

Mark your calendars for our Donut Sunday on December 4. We will have Advent crafts for children. The Sodality will be hosting their cookie sale and Pregnancy Center baby shower. Consider baking some cookies to help with the sale.

11/17/2022

Pastoral Update - November 17, 2022

This weekend our Haiti Committee is hosting a Pie Sale for Haiti. Apple and Pumpkin Pies will be available after mass for a donation of $20.

Join us for our Thanksgiving Mass on Thursday at 10:00 am. Our parish office will be closed next Thursday and Friday. Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend.

The Ladies Night Out for Advent is coming on Friday, December 2. See the flyer in this weekend’s bulletin to sign up.