I have to apologize for last month's lack of a message from me. As with so many, just finding the time to sit and compose myself and get ideas together is, for various reasons, difficult to find. The moment came when last month's bullein had to be sent to the printer and my message was still just 'words in my mind', not anywhere near to being put on paper. It's somewhat flattering and very embarrassing that so many noticed the absence and called the office. I am resolved to do better. So, now a word from your pastor....

It's just right around the corner...

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

Meditation: The essences of discipleship is that we carry his cross. Disciples go wherever the Master goes. Coming to understand who Jesus is, his mission, and how that relates to us his disciples is not an easy task; it takes a lifetime. Like Jesus, to be faithful followers by taking up our cross means we feel this in the depths of our humanity: we will suffer, we will lose heart, we will cry out to God to take life's miserable lot away from us. But also like Jesus we have divine life which gives us the strength to carry our cross. It is divine life pulsating within us - which we first receive at our baptism - that raises up our humanity enabling us to be faithful disciples carrying our crosses.

Our crosses today may take many forms, for example:
-laboring daily, and persevering in the service of the poor
-sharing the helplessness and pain of the marginalized
-accepting painful events, that we can do nothing about
-bearing sickness, our own and that of others
-coming to grips with aging
-enduring the death of friends and family

The following of the crucified Lord is the supreme act of faith; it is a surrender in hope and love into the incomprehensible mystery of God. Saint Vincent de Paul was deeply devoted to the Providence of God. He recommends to us to accept all things: When something unexpected happens to us in body and mind, good or bad, we are to accept is without fuss as from God's loving hand. If we could live by that ideal of Saint Vincent, we would have great peace in our lives.

Reflection: What crosses am I carrying in being a disciple of Jesus? Do I see my crosses, as Saint Vincent, the Providence of God?

The Easter Vigil will be held beginning at 7:30 pm at St. Mary's on Saturday, April 15, 2006

*** Please note: There will be NO MASS at 5:30 on April 15, 2006 due to the Easter Vigil

There will be a practice for the Easter Vigil after the 3:00 pm Mass on April 14, 2006.

Those seeking Baptism:
Carol Bellazzo and Casey DeLeon

Those seeking Full Communion with the Catholic Church:
Janis Godfrey, Charissa Imhoff, Margee Manning, Lisha Marshburn, Corliss O’Shaughnessy, Sheila Thompson, Kelly Ubanoski

A retreat may treat you to a new way of living. Come and join the men of St. Mary's/St. Joseph's for the Second Annual Men's Retreat at Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston on April 28, 29, & 30, 2006. This year's theme is "Difficult Times...Courageous Responses" - Growing in my commitment to God, to others and to myself. Also, this year, for the first time, there will be a drawing for a free retreat for anyone from St. Mary's/St. Joseph's who has never attended a men's retreat at the Holy Name Retreat Center. For information, call Fred Seale at 936~448~2999 or call the Retreat Center at 713~464~0211.

Thanks - Fred Seale

First Communion will be held on April 22, 2006 at 3:00 pm at St. Mary's. Following the First Communion celebration, will be a reception in the hall.

First Communion Retreat will be held at the FLC from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm on April 8, 2006. Children's confessions will be heard from 8:30 am until 9:00 am and for Adults, they will be heard from 9:00 am until 10:00 am. Father will then hear children's confessions again at 12:30 pm.

First Communion Practice will be held at 7:00 pm on April 12, 2006 with Father and the Parents of the children in the Church.

There will be a final practice of First Communion on April 19, 2006 at 7:00 pm.

Please keep the following people in your prayers while they are unable to come to Mass:

Igna Davis, Socorro Orallo, Thomas Noble, Fr. Burke, Margaret Flores, Helen Noble, Ella Hoffart, Nina Sipek, Jean Brown, Fr. Frank, John Clark, George Herzog, Dan Heintz, John Ognosky (Sacred Heart), Hilda Nichols, Anton Fridye, Mary Dobyanski, Veronica Oliver, Deason Marvin Fikac, Charles Mock, Shay Kinsey, Sherry Rice, Herbert Swonke, Skip Lambert.

Please call the Parish Office to add to or remove names to the Prayer list ~ 936~894~2223

Don't forget the monthly meeting of the Guardian Angels. We meet at 10:00 am at SM Family Life Center. We will be meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2006. Come join us for fun.

Also, it's BINGO time again. Bingo Day will be April 20, 2006 in the SM hall from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.

The Guardian Angels will be having a pilgrimage to Washington-On-The Brazos on April 11, 2006. We will meet at SM at 9:00 am for our trip.

The Guardian Angels will be holding their annual bake sale in the SM hall after both masses on April 30, 2006. Come join us for some good baking.

(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 for the next couple of weekends 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.)

Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation are united as the Sacraments of Initiation.

Confirmation is necessary for a Christian because it completes the grace given at Baptism.

The bishop is the ordinary minister of this sacrament primarily because he is a successor to the apostles, who bore witness to Christ.

Upon receiving the sacrament, the confirmand receives an indelible spiritual mark, the seal of the Holy Spirit, which means he has received a special power from Christ to be his witness.

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.

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.

Apr 1: Jer 11:18-20 * Ps 7:2-3 ,9 -12 * Jn 7:40-53

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Apr 2: Jer 31:31-34 * Ps 51:3-4 ,12 -15 * Heb 5:7-9 * Jn 12:20-339

Apr 3: Dn 13:1-9 ,15 -17,19-30,33-62 or Dn 13:41c-62 * Ps 23:1-6 * Jn 8:1-1110

Apr 4 [St. Isidore ] : Nm 21:4-9 * Ps 102:2-3 ,16 -21 * Jn 8:21-30

Apr 5 [St. Vincent Ferrer ] : Dn 3:14-20 ,91 -92,95 * Dn 3:52-56 * Jn 8:31-42

Apr 6: Gn 17:3-9 * Ps 105:4-9 * Jn 8:51-59

Apr 7 [St. John Baptist de la Salle] : Jer 20:10-13 * Ps 18:2-7 * Jn 10:31-42

Apr 8: Ez 37:21-28 * Jer 31:10-13 * Jn 11:45-56

Holy Week

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, Apr 9: Mk 11:1-10 * Is 50:4-7 * Ps 22:8-9 ,17 -20,23-24 * Phil 2:6-11 * Mk 14:1—15:47

Apr 10: Is 42:1-7 * Ps 27:1-3 ,13 -14 * Jn 12:1-11

Apr 11: Is 49:1-6 * Ps 71:1-6 ,15,17 * Jn 13:21-33,36-38

Apr 12: Is 50:4-9a * Ps 69:8-10 ,21 -22,31,33-34 * Mt 26:14-25

Apr 13 Holy Thursday: Ex 12:1-8 ,11 -14 * Ps 116:12-13,15-18 * 1 Cor 11:23-26 * Jn 13:1-15

Apr 14 Good Friday of the Lord's Passion: Is 52:13—53:12 * Ps 31:2 ,6,12 -13,15-17,25 * Heb 4:14-16;5:7-9 * Jn 18:1—19:42

Apr 15 Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil): Ex 14:15—15:1 *   Ex 15:1-6 ,17 -18 * Rom 6:3-11 * Ps 118:1-2,16-17,22-23 * Mk 16:1-7

Easter Season

Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord, Apr 16: Acts 10:34a ,37 -43 * Ps 118:1-2,16-17,22-23 * Col 3:1-4 * Jn 20:1-9

Apr 17 Easter Monday: Acts 2:14 ,22 -33 * Ps 16:1-2,5,7-11 * Mt 28:8-15

Apr 18 Easter Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41 * Ps 33:4-5 ,18 -20,22 * Jn 20:11-18  

Apr 19 Easter Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10 * Ps 105:1-4 ,6 -9 * Lk 24:13-35

Apr 20 Easter Thursday: Acts 3:11-26 * Ps 8:2 ,5 -9 * Lk 24:35-48

Apr 21 Easter Friday: Acts 4:1-12 * Ps 118:1-2 ,4,22 -27 * Jn 21:1-14

Apr 22 Easter Saturday: Acts 4:13-21 * Ps 118:1 ,14 -21 * Mk 16:9-15

Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday), Apr 23: Acts 4:32-35 * Ps 118:2-4 ,13 -15,22-24 * 1 Jn 5:1-6 * Jn 20:19-31

Apr 24 [St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen ] : Acts 4:23-31 * Ps 2:1-9 * Jn 3:1-8

Apr 25 St. Mark: 1 Pt 5:5b-14 * Ps 89:2-3 ,6 -7,16-17 * Mk 16:15-20

Apr 26: Acts 5:17-26 * Ps 34:2-9 * Jn 3:16-21

Apr 27: Acts 5:27-33 * Ps 34:2 ,9,17 -20 * Jn 3:31-36

Apr 28 [Sts. Peter Chanel and Louis Mary de Montfort] : Acts 5:34-42 *   Ps 27:1 ,4,13 -14 * Jn 6:1-15

Apr 29 St. Catherine of Siena: Acts 6:1-7 * Ps 33:1-2 ,4 -5,18-19 * Jn 6:16-21

Third Sunday of Easter, Apr 30: Acts 3:13-15 ,17 -19 * Ps 4:2,4,7-9 *   1 Jn 2:1-5a * Lk 24:35-48