News From St Mary and St Joseph Catholic Church


	Father Edward C. Kucera - Pastor

News From St. Mary and St. Joseph
August 2005

And Now A Word From Your Pastor....

Ports of Call....continued from last month....

Actually the first port we experienced was the city of Barcelona, Spain. I have been to Barcelona several times, the first being 1970. It's a large city with its main point of interest for us being the Church of the Holy Family, a church that has been under construction since 1882 . [So, all who are frustrated and anxious about the restoration of St. Mary should take heart]. The pace of the construction is determined by the donations which must come from the private sector. No government or foundation money may be used. So, it is being built as the money comes in. The architecture of the cathedral itself is rather bizarre. It's an intricate structure, each shape having a special meaning. I would recommend going on line and seeing for yourself. Search 'Google' for 'La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain, Antonio Gaudi'.

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History of St. Mary's Church Building - Plantersville, Texas

Many have asked questions about the church and have requested a written description and explanation of the church building and its interior. The information following is what I have gathered and surmised during my brief time as pastor of St. Mary/St. Joseph.

The present church structure of 1917 replaces the original church building of 1894 which was destroyed by lightening hitting the bell tower. The 1894 structure faced a trail which is now County Road 205, the road running along side of the church. This trail may have been part of the old Montgomery Trace winding through Montgomery, Dobin, and to Washington-on-the-Brazos. When the 1894 church burned in July of 1917, construction on a new church was begun immediately. The church would face toward a road which was now a more principal thoroughfare than the old trail had been: FM 1774. This explains why, when entering the church grounds, a cemetery is on the highway, with the church building in the back.

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And Now A Word About St. Mary's Organ...

On August 15 a representative of Wicks Organ Company will be here to begin the installation of a five rank pipe organ in the choir loft of St. Mary. This is not the organ originally envisioned and planned by St. Mary's Music Ministry Committee a year or so ago. We had entered into the planning and eventually building of an eleven rank, manually operated pipe organ by Mr. Peter Visser of nearby Magnolia.

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Why All The "Hello" And Noise Before Mass Begins?

"In the spirit of hospitality, let's break open again the importance of welcoming at our liturgies. We begin our liturgical celebrations first of all by welcoming each other. It is not enough for a lector, commentator, priest, or musician to welcome people. If we truly believe that the members of the assembly are the primary celebrators, then we must offer them the opportunity to welcome each other. We need to encourage each one of them to welcome Christ (their neighbors) and to be welcomed as Christ would welcome them at the heavenly banquet.

Although many parishes now begin their liturgies with a greeting, I'm not certain that the people understand the true meaning and the sacredness of this gesture. Whereas the kiss of peace is a gesture of reconciliation and unity, the welcoming is a gesture that makes strangers part of the family. It breaks down the barriers of individualism and allows us to be an assembly (and, eventually, a community) that prays, sings, listens, shares with one another in Eucharist, and lives out the call to discipleship. Do you realize that if we don't pay attention to one another at the beginning of liturgy, then we don't even look directly at those around us until the kiss of peace? Does it seem right that we should sing together, ask for forgiveness for our sins, listen to readings where God speaks to God's people as a community, offer intercessions for one another, and join together in the Eucharistic Prayer without once having encountered the people around us, except incidentally?"

So...What's The Latest OnThe Restoration Of St.Mary?
As of the publishing of this bulletin, the restoration of St.Mary is progressing on schedule. It is still in plan the we will be in the church and the hall available for Bingo on the day of St. Mary's Bazaar, September 4th.

Some of the concern as to the date of finishing developed because of the unforeseen discovery of the writing in the foyer and on the board on the facing of the choir loft. The uncovering of the writing and determining how best to preserve it took the artist's time away from the planned project. However, she and her crew have been scrambling to be as near to completion as possible by Bazaar time. There may have to be some minor touch-ups, but they will all be on the lower levels not requiring the scaffold. The upper level bays are completed. The lower bays are completed, except for the artist's paintings, which go into the diamond pattern.

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Visitors Guide To Our Church

The full title of this church is 'The Church of the Nativity of Mary' as seen on the outside corner stone at the right as one ascends the steps to the entrance. The church was rededicated in 1917 on September 8th, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. For this reason, the annual church festival was originally celebrated on that day, regardless of the day of the week on which it fell. Eventually, after World War II, the festival/homecoming was moved to the Sunday of the Labor Day weekend, where it remains to this day.

The first Catholic congregation of Plantersville was started at the request of some large landowners who brought laborers over from Poland to help in the fields after the War Between the States. This practice was not unusual. The Polish population of Chappell Hill, near Brenham, Texas originated in the same way. The first services were held in a home and in 1873 a small (20x50 ft) church was built within Plantersville. It is said that the cross on the church was placed by the Minister of the Baptist Church, showing a remarkable ecumenical spirit for the times.

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Summer Video Time!

Join us Sunday afternoon at 12:15pm at St. Mary's FLC for a fast paced, entertaining format that combines the best elements of a travel documentary, a biography, a bible study, an apologetics course and a Church history study!

Sunday, August 7th - (same time & place).
Mary (the Mother of God)

Sunday, September 11th - (same time & place).
Jesus (The Word Became Flesh)

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Wondering whether or not the content of a movie is suitable for your child or teen? Check www.screenit.com for the information you need

St. Mary's is seeking a choir director.

Our 500 - family parish has a newly formed choir with 20 enthusiastic members. Duties including planning music for liturgies, conducting practice one night per week, and directing the choir at Sunday 10:30 Mass. Position to begin ASAP. Salary based on education and experience as per NPM's criteria. Please submit letter of interest, resume and references to St. Mary's Catholic Church c/o Father Ed Kucera, P.O. Box 388 Plantersville, TX 77363 or online to info@smsj.org

CCE Classes Begin On August 24th

CCE classes will begin the fall semester on August 24th. If parents have not yet registered their children, registration will be available after the Sunday masses at both parishes. Registration documents that are needed this year are copies of each child's birth certificate as well as copies of baptismal/First Communion certificates. In addition, CCE is still in need of teachers for 4th, 5th, 7th, and 10th grade classes. If you are interested in either teaching or being a parent volunteer, please contact St. Mary's office.

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