Many have asked about my recent holiday, wondering where I had wandered off to. I enjoy recounting my travels to all who ask and now want to share with you my good fortune of being chaplain on a transatlantic repositioning cruise. I know you will all appreciate the hardship and sacrifice such a voyage entails and that it was only by the grace of God, love of you, my dog/cat/bird, and lure of a paycheck that I returned.

The High school and junior students did a great job in creating the living rosary Wednesday October 4th. It was impressive and a great success. We will put it on our project list for next year. Thanks for your participation. You are wonderful group of young adults with big hearts. Keep up the awesome work you do for the parish.
We love you!!!

Fall Festival November 1st

Confirmation Retreat November 3rd thru 5th;
All Confirmation are required to attend this Retreat.

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston no longer requires students under the age of 16 to attend Virtus Training.

We are off to a good Start. Thanks again to all the Teachers, Aides, Office assistants and monitors. We could us a few more High School and Junior assistant teachers. It would be great to have two teachers and an aide in each classroom. If you think you can help please talk to Fran Marek, DRE.

Out of Cycle Students:

We will be starting our out of cycle Sacrament classes in November. If you have an older child that needs to be baptized and/or make First Communion, please come to the parish hall, Wednesday, November 8th at 7:15. We will have a meeting and register your child for this class. Any questions will be answered at this time.

Fall Festival:

November 1st there will be a fall festival for the Elementary classes provided by the High School Confirmation Classes. All students are asked to dress up like their favorite Saint. Parents this is a special day for your children, so please help them dress up and learn a little about their special saint. It is a fun night for all. All parents are invited to join us for the Festival. We will have it under the pavilion.

No Class November 22. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

St. Mary's Choir has begun preparation of Advent and Christmas music this month. If you have been meaning to join the choir but just haven't gotten around to it, now's the time!

Some special musical events coming up include a Taize prayer service in Remembrance of the Dead on Sunday, November 12.

Join us at choir practice on Wednesdays at 7pm in the Church, and raise your voices in God's praise.

Jubilate Deo!

The Saint Vincent de Paul conference has set aside the last two weekends of November to collect Hams and Turkeys for the needy of the area. We will have members at each mass to bring collected items to the Home Provision Center. We ask where possible to bring Canned Hams in place of the traditional frozen turkeys. We are finding that many of the needy families we assist do not have the space to store and/or cook large turkeys. Canned hams are much easier for them to store and handle. Thank you for your continued assistance in supporting and helping our conference serve the needy in the area.

Fr. Ed Has Lost His Roommate

After less than four months, Fr. Al Walsh, our resident priest, has decided that the country may not have been the right choice as a place of retirement. We are a bit remote to say the least. We have all enjoyed his stay with us and are fortunate to have had his presence and ministry among us even for this short time. He will be returning to his former residence at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Houston. He's been reassured that when he does want some quiet time again in the country for a visit, his room will be waiting. Bridget (our parish dog), Y2K (our parish cat) and John Paul (our parish cockatiel) are saddened with his leaving. Y2K was especially fond of Fr. Al. Bridget, of course, was always underfoot when food was anywhere in sight or smell. Fr. Al will certainly have peace at meals that was definitely difficult to find here at our rectory. Please keep Fr. Al in your prayer. He will be returning to help with Sunday liturgies until we can find a replacement.

In observance of All Soul's Day and in remembrance of our loved ones who have died during the last year, St. Mary's will host a special prayer service on Sunday, November 12, 2006, at 3pm.

If you have lost a loved one and would like his or her name to be included in this special remembrance, please fill out the form below and drop it in the box provided; you may also call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or email at LINDA@SMSJ.ORG to give this information. The name will be included in the prayer intentions for the service, and a votive candle will be provided for the family. It is not necessary that the deceased had been a member of St. Mary/St. Joseph parish to be included.

We also encourage you to bring photos or other momentos of your loved one to be placed on our Remembrance Table during the weekend of Nov. 11-12, 2006.

All family members and friends are encouraged to participate in this remembrance service, and the entire parish family is asked to offer their prayers for the repose of the souls of these loved ones.

A pot-luck dinner will follow in the Hall after the service. Ham and drinks will be provided; please bring a side dish or dessert to share with others.

Being a sponsor is like being a trusted friend. You share what you can. You offer support and counsel as you are able and to the extent that is needed or desired.

As a sponsor from our parish community, you will walk with a catechumen or candidate through a formation process that reaches a climax at the Easter Vigil.

You may be asking yourself whether you are worthy or qualified. Remember St. Paul's words: "We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Keeping these words in mind may keep you from becoming too worried about being an unworthy sponsor and help you avoid taking too much credit for what God will accomplish through you.

• Sponsors should be confirmed Catholics, in valid marriages, and active in their faith (regularly going to Eucharist) as they represent the Catholic community
• Sponsors are companions on a journey of faith (they are not catechists)
• A sponsor prays for and listens to their catechumen/candidate
• A sponsor is respectful and not judgmental toward their catechumen/candidate
• A sponsor serves as a bridge between the catechumen/candidate and the church

Think about becoming an RCIA sponsor this year! Call us today and volunteer!
rockbluff@mscc.net or 936-870-4145

All Saints, Nov 1: Rv 7:2-4,9-14 * Ps 24:1-6 * 1 Jn 3:1-3 * Mt 5:1-12a

Nov 2 The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, All Souls:

Wis 3:1-9 * Ps 23:1-6 * Rom 5:5-11 * Jn 6:37-4012

Nov 3 [St. Martin de Porres] : Phil 1:1-11 * Ps 111:1-6 * Lk 14:1-6

Nov 4 St. Charles Borromeo: Phil 1:18b-26 * Ps 42:2-3,5 * Lk 14:1,7-11

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nov 5: Dt 6:2-6 * Ps 18:2-4,47,51 * Heb 7:23-28 * Mk 12:28b-34

Nov 6: Phil 2:1-4 * Ps 131:1-3 * Lk 14:12-14

Nov 7: Phil 2:5-11 * Ps 22:26-32 * Lk 14:15-24

Nov 8: Phil 2:12-18 * Ps 27:1,4,13-14 * Lk 14:25-33

Nov 9 The Dedication of The Lateran Basilica in Rome : Ez 47:1-2,8-9,12 * Ps 46:2-3,5-6,8-9 * 1 Cor 3:9c-11,16-17 * Jn 2:13-22

Nov 10 St. Leo the Great: Phil 3:17-4:1 * Ps 122:1-5 * Lk 16:1-8

Nov 11 St. Martin of Tours : Phil 4:10-19 * Ps 112:1-2,5-6,8-9 * Lk 16:9-15

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nov 12: 1 Kgs 17:10-16 * Ps 146:7-10 * Heb 9:24-28 * Mk 12:38-44

Nov 13 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini: Ti 1:1-9 * Ps 24:1-6 * Lk 17:1-6

Nov 14: Ti 2:1-8,11-14 * Ps 37:3-4,18,23,27,29 * Lk 17:7-10

Nov 15 [ St. Albert the Great] : Ti 3:1-7 * Ps 23:1-6 * Lk 17:11-19

Nov 16 [Sts. Margaret of Scotland and Gertrude] : Phlm 7-20 * Ps 146:7-10 * Lk 17:20-25

Nov 17 St. Elizabeth of Hungary : 2 Jn 4-9 * Ps 119:1-2,10-11,17-18 * Lk 17:26-37

Nov 18 [The Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter & St. Paul ; St. Rose Philippine Duchesne] : 3 Jn 5-8 * Ps 112:1-6 * Lk 18:1-8

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nov 19: Dn 12:1-3 * Ps 16:5,8-11 * Heb 10:11-14,18 * Mk 13:24-32

Nov 20: Rev 1:1-4;2:1-5 * Ps 1:1-4,6 * Lk 18:35-43

Nov 21 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Rev 3:1-6,14-22 * Ps 15:2-5 * Lk 19:1-10

Nov 22 St. Cecilia: Rev 4:1-11 * Ps 150:1-6 * Lk 19:11-28

Nov 23 [ Sts. Clement I and Colomban; Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro;

Thanksgiving Day U.S.A. ] : Rev 5:1-10 * Ps 149:1-6,9 * Lk 19:41-4413

Nov 24 St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions: Rev 10:8-11 *

Ps 119:14,24,72,103,111,131 * Lk 19:45-48

Nov 25 [St. Catherine of Alexandria ; BVM] : Rev 11:4-12 * Ps 144:1-2,9-10 * Lk 20:27-40

Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, Sun, Nov 26: Dn 7:13-14 * Ps 93:1-2,5 * Rv 1:5-8 * Jn 18:33b-37

Nov 27: Rev 14:1-3,4b-5 * Ps 24:1-6 * Lk 21:1-4

Nov 28: Rev 14:14-19 * Ps 96:10-13 * Lk 21:5-11

Nov 29: Rev 15:1-4 * Ps 98:1-3,7-9 * Lk 21:12-19

Nov 30 St. Andrew: Rom 10:9-18 * Ps 19:8-11 * Mt 4:18-22