A very special weekend together...

Where:   HERE at St. Mary's but you go to your own home each night!

What:   Marriage Encounter is designed to give married couples the opportunity to examine their lives together….a time to share their feelings, their hopes, disappointments, joys and frustrations...and to do so openly and honestly in a private face-to-face, heart-to-heart encounter with the one person they have chosen to live with for the rest of their life.

It's not a retreat, not a marriage clinic, nor group sensitivity.   It's a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Christian marriage.   This is a time for you and your spouse to be alone together.   To rediscover each other and together focus on your relationship for an entire weekend.   Every marriage deserves that kind of attention!

Who Is It For?:   Any married couple who desires a richer fuller life together.   A marriage can never be too good.   Marriage Encounter is designed to deepen and enrich the joys a couple shares together, whether they have been married for only a short time, or many years.  

The encounter weekend teaches a communication technique which permits each couple to explore important areas of their relationship in a spirit of love and understanding.  

When:   The weekend starts at 8:00 PM on Friday, May 19th and runs until about 4:30 PM on Sunday, May 21st (includes a special Sunday Mass).  

Cost:   $50 per couple non-refundable registration fee confirms your registration and all meals (except breakfast).   No one is ever refused the opportunity to make a weekend because of the lack of funds.

Pre-registration (space is limited to a set number of couples):

Name_____________________________&__________________________________

Address:______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________Zip____________________

Phones (Hm) _____- _______________   (Cell) _____ - ______________________

Your Wedding Date:_______________

_____Would like to Register      _____Would like more info

(Please fill out and drop in collection or bring or mail to church office)

The preparation for baptism and Christian instruction are both of vital concern to God's people, the Church, which hands on and nourishes the faith received from the apostles.

RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults ) is designed for adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts.   By God's help they will be strengthened spiritually during their preparation and at the proper time will receive the sacraments fruitfully.

RCIA is for catechumens ( those never baptized) , baptized Christians of other faiths wishing to be received into full communion of the Catholic Church and those baptized as Catholics but are uncatechized (never attended CCE).   See separate bulletin article for those seeking Confirmation only .

Registration begins NOW (see form below) for our Fall RCIA classes (to begin on Sunday, September 17th) plus we will have table registering in the Halls the weekend of March 25-26th after all Masses at both St. Mary's and St. Joseph's.   It is important to register early so we may complete an Initial Interview with you.   The interview is designed to get basic data such as name, address, etc. but will also reveal background info such as your previous religious upbringing and any previous marriages, divorces, etc.

Background information such as previous marriages, divorces, etc. is necessary so we may assist you in starting any annulment processes you may need for spiritual and ecclesiastical purposes before entering into full communion with the Catholic Church.   Annulments can take up to 12-15 months (sometimes longer) so we need you to register for RCIA and complete the Initial Interview as soon as possible.   P lease complete the following form and mail it or drop it by the church office.

RCIA REGISTRATION

%   Walter & Francell Busa

4802 Thane Rd.

Navasota, Tx. 77868

NAME___________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS________________________________________________________ZIP_____________

HOME PHONE (_____) _______________________   CELL   (_____)   ______________ __________

OTHER CONTACT (work, parents, etc.) (______) __________________________________________

We will contact you soon for an Initial Interview and to answer any questions you may have.

_____ Baptism        _____Baptized in Another Faith       _____Baptized, Uncatechized Catholic

(Sunday, April 23rd)

•  Must be 18 years old or older

•  Must have been baptized Catholic as a child

•  Must have been catechized (attended CCE) as a child

•  Must have made 1st Holy Communion

•  Must not have ever made Confirmation

This is your opportunity!   Only five weeks of classes are necessary and are scheduled to begin Sunday, April 23rd.   Classes will be held in the Family Life Center at St. Mary's each Sunday from 12:15 pm - 2:30 pm (right after the 10:30 am Mass).

There will be a sign-up available after all Masses on the weekend of March 11-12th for both St. Mary's and St. Joseph.   Come and be completed.

(If you miss the weekend sign-up, please call the church office at 936-894-2223 and give them your name and phone number to register for the classes.)

Does the rising divorce rate (in the world & in the church) disturb you?

Perhaps God is calling you to be a Sponsor Couple to engaged couples - help them explore the realities of marriage and to more fully understand what a sacramental marriage really is?

A Training Class is being planned for those who are being called to this ministry.

If interested, please call the church office, 936-894-2223 , and leave your name & phone number .

Infant BAPTISM Preparation Class for Parents & Godparents

Will be held on Saturday,

April 1, 2006

at St. Mary's Family Life Center from 9-12 am

Please call the church office to register for the Class, 936-894-2223.

The classes are a requirement for parents or expectant parents of children up to 5 years old before baptism.   Godparents are encouraged to attend as well.   Babysitting may be available upon request.   For further questions, call Francell Busa (936)870-4145 or Wanda O'Brien (936)597-6328.

Do you really know what the Church teaches

and why?

A 45-min . video presentation by Fr. John Corapi   is continuing to be shown weekly in the 6th grade classroom of the FLC at St. Mary's after each of the Sunday Masses (9:00am & 10:30 am).  

Fr. Ed will be holding one of his famous Q & A sessions in the Hall on March 12 after the 10:30 am Mass to answer any questions you may have after viewing the first sessions—so get those questions ready!!

The video schedule is as follows:

•  March 5 - video

•  March 12 - Fr. Ed's Q & A

•  March 19 - video

•  March 26 - video

•  Apr. 2 - video

•  Apr. 9 - off (Palm Sunday)

•  Apr. 16 - off (Easter)

•  Apr. 23 - video

•  Apr. 30 - video (& evaluation)

'IN ORDER TO LOVE CHRIST MORE DEEPLY ONE MUST COME TO KNOW HIM MORE INTIMATELY.   KNOWING THE FAITH IS KNOWING JESUS.' 

There is a preparation process that is required for you to complete before being married in the Catholic Church, so start early!  

This is especially true for those wishing to participate in an Engaged Encounter Weekend through our archdiocese.   The spaces are booked up for months in advance.

Within our local parish, we offer FOCCUS and a sponsor couple program both of which involves a number of sessions.  

This is for both those getting married for the first time as well as for those seeking to validate their marriage in the Church..   ( Both partners are required to participate whether Catholic or not).

Please call the church office ( 936 - 894-2223 ) if you are not already registered.

(For our parishioners who would like to drop in   for a particular subject.)

Wednesday, Mar. 1....Ash Wednesday 

Sunday, Mar. 5............ Rite of Sending @ St. Mary's......Rite of Election @ Katy, Tx 

Sunday, Mar. 12..........The Light of Faith;

                          Conversion:   The Power of Grace

Sunday, Mar. 19..........Intro to 10 Command

                        ments;   1st-3rd Commandments

Sunday, Mar. 26..........4th-10th Commandments

Sunday, Apr. 2..........The Lord's Prayer

The Rite of Sending is provided for parishes whose catechumens and candidates seeking to complete their Christian initiation or to be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church will be recognized by the bishop in a subsequent celebration.

Because he is the sign of unity within the Church, it is fitting for the bishop to recognize these candidates.   It is the responsibility of the parish community, however, to prepare these candidates for their fuller life in the Church.   Through the experience of worship, daily life and service in the parish community the candidates deepen their appreciation of the Church's tradition and universal character.

This rite offers the local community the opportunity to express its joy in the candidates' decision and to send them forth to the celebration of recognition (election) assured of the parish's care and support.

It's just right around the corner...

THERE WILL BE A MEETING AFTER THE 7:30 am MASS ON MARCH 12, 2006 IN THE ST. JOSEPH'S HALL

We will need volunteers, booth managers, etc. so come on out and join in on the fun.

If you need any further information, please contact:

Rhonda Sechelski at (936)419-6536

Or

Bo Imhoff at (936)672-4555

A natural result of the outstanding growth of St. Mary's/St. Joseph's parish is competition for our scarce facilities, including the churches, halls and the Family Life Center. In order to be fair to everyone, it is timely to re-state our parish policy towards reservations of facilities.

It's time to give back to God some of the wonderful blessings He has bestowed on us! God gave each of us a voice (the one HE liked!) to enable us to communicate with each other, to pray to him, but especially to sing His praises. Can you spare 1 1/2 hours per week for God? That's even less time than it takes to watch Oprah every day.

St. Mary's Men's Club Annual Golf Tournament

May 7 th , 2006

You Can Help Make this 2006 Church Fund-raiser a Success

The 2005 Tournament supported Several Community and Church Projects

We ask you to thank our 2005 sponsors and to support them with your business

Golfers Mark your Calendars for May, 7 th , 2006

Mar 1 Ash Wednesday:   J1 2:12-18 * Ps 51:3-6,12-14,17 * Cor 5:20-6:2 * Mt. 6:1-6,16-18

Mar 2: Dt 30:15-20 * Ps 1:1-4,6 * Lk 9:22-25

Mar 3 {St. Katharine Drexel}: Is 58:1-9a * Ps 51:3-6,18-19 * Mt 9:14-15

Mar 4 {St. Casimir}: Is 58:9b-14 * Ps 86:1-6 * Lk 5:27-32

First Sunday of Lent, Mar 5: Gn 9:8-15 * Ps 25:4-9 * 1 Pt 3:18-22 * Mk 1:12-15

Mar 6: Lv 19:1-2,11-18 * Ps 19:8-10,15 * Mt 25:31-46

Mar 7 {Sts. Perpetua and Felicity}: Is 55:10-11 * Ps 34:4-7,16-19 * Mt 6:7-15

Mar 8 {St. John of God}: Jon 3:1-10 * Ps 51:3-4,12-13,18-19 * Lk 11:29-32

Mar 9 {St. Frances of Rome}: Est C 12:14-16,23-25 * Ps 138:1-3,7-8 * Mt 7:7-12

Mar 10: Ez 18:21-28 * Ps 130:1-5,7-8 * Mt 5:20-26

Mar 11: Dt 26:16-19 * Ps 119:1-2,4-5,7-8 * Mt 5:43-48

Second Sunday of Lent, Mar 12: Gn 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18 * Ps 116:10,15-19 * Rom 8:31b-34 * Mk 9:2-10

Mar 13: Dn 9:4b-10 * Ps 79:8-9,11,13 * Lk 6:36-38

Mar 14: Is 1:10,16-20 * Ps 50:8-9,16-17,21,23 * Mt 23:1-12

Mar 15: Jer 18:18-20 * Ps 31:5-6,14-16 * Mt 20:17-28

Mar 16: Jer 17:5-10 * Ps 1:1-4,6 * Lk 16:19-31

Mar 17 {St. Patrick}: Gn 37:3-4,12-13a,17b-28a * Ps 105:16-21 * Mt 21:33-43,45-46

Mar 18 {St. Cyril of Jerusalem}: Mi 7:14-15,18-20 * Ps 103:1-4,9-12 * Lk 15:1-3,11-32

Third Sunday of Lent, Mar 19: Ex 20:1-17 * Ps 19:8-11 * 1 Cor 1:22-25 * Jn 2:13-25 5

Mar 20 St. Joseph: 2 Sm 7:4-5a,12-14a,16 * Ps 89:2-5,27,29 * Rom 4:13,16-18,22 * Mt 1:16,18-21,24a

Mar 21: Dn 3:25,34-43 * Ps 25:4-9 * Mt 18:21-35 6

Mar 22: Dt 4:1,5-9 * Ps 147:12-13,15-16,19-20 * Mt 5:17-19

Mar 23 {St. Toribio de Mogrovejo}: Jer 7:23-28 * Ps 95:1-2,6-9 * Lk 11:14-23

Mar 24: Hos 14:2-10 * Ps 81:6-11,14,17 * Mk 12:28-34

Mar 25 The Annunciation of the Lord: Is 7:10-14;8:10 * Ps 40:7-11 * Heb 10:4-10 * Lk 1:26-38

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Mar 26: 2 Chr 36:14-16,19-23 * Ps 137:1-6 * Eph 2:4-10 * Jn 3:14-21 7

Mar 27: Is 65:17-21 * Ps 30:2,4-6,11-13 * Jn 4:43-54 8

Mar 28: Ez 47:1-9,12 * Ps 46:2-3,5-6,8-9 * Jn 5:1-16

Mar 29: Is 49:8-15 * Ps 145:8-9,13-14,17-18 * Jn 5:17-30

Mar 30: Ex 32:7-14 * Ps 106:19-23 * Jn 5:31-47

Mar 31: Wis 2:1a,12-22 * Ps 34:17-21,23 * Jn 7:1-2,10,25-30