So much is packed into each day and month that when we come to the end of a year and at the threshold of a new year, it's difficult to appreciate all that's happened and a little intimidating to think of what lies ahead.

This past year of 2006 has been another year in the long history of our churches of St. Mary and St. Joseph. I am very proud of both communities and especially pleased with the interaction and cooperation that have flowered among the members of both churches. In this age of shortage of priests, it makes a pastor's job so much easier when the communities served not only get along, but work together.

Confirmation Students ~ you have made the Christmas Celebration great with sharing your time in making the Living Nativity such a success. Thanks to all of you that participated.

We have a lot of projects to do for this year. Many of you have not participated in any of the on going activities. You need to select one and start working.

2nd retreat February 24th Everyone that did not make the first Retreat will spend extra time (Saturday after mass and Sunday) to make up for the 1st retreat. This will take the place of a make up retreat for the ones that did not find a make up retreat in another parish. The students that attended the first retreat will only attend Friday evening and Saturday. More instructions will come before the retreat.

January 14th ~ Sunday 4 p.m. ~ Parish Hall ~ All Confirmation Students are required to attend this meeting. Parents, we will be going over the retreat, projects, activities for the rest of this year's and next year's plans, etc. Please make an effort to have your child present if he/she plans to remain in the program. Parents are welcome!

We will need cookies and drinks for snacks. Parents if you can send one of the following with your child: a package of cookies, small sandwiches, chips or 2 liter drink (coke, Dr. Pepper, sprite) Thanks!

From Fran Marek DRE and RE Staff
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years to All!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I know we are all looking forward to the holidays and spending time with our families. These are happy times for God gave us his Son, Jesus. Christ taught faith, joy, respect, sharing, honesty and hope to all. Look at the holidays and the New Year as a new beginning. Parents reach out to your children and teach them to pray, love, respect, give and to be honest to all. These skills they learn from you! Remember, your children represent you each day they go into the world. How are you being represented?

January 10 classes will begin.

Out of cycle classes have begun. If your child is out of cycle (with sacraments) and has not filled out the Out of Cycle Form or received their books, please contact Fran Marek at 936-894-2916. Your child needs to get started if you plan to have them make their sacraments this school year.

January 13th Saturday, Reconciliation for First Communion Class Students. First Communion Teachers will keep parents posted.

As the new liturgical year begins here at St. Mary's, the God's Gardeners are starting off the year with new changes too. We are in the process of cleaning out the flower beds on both sides of the church. We plan on putting in a few plants to create several small bed areas that don't take much to keep up for the "gardener on the go" who already has a full schedule. Several of the small bed areas have already been adopted and really look great. Also, we are changing our monthly meeting times. Instead of having all our meetings during the day, we'd like to try something new. During the even months (February, April, June, August, October and December) we'll still have our monthly meeting at 10:00am, after the 9:00 Mass. But, on the odd months, our meeting will be at 6:30pm - just before CCE classes start to allow the working gardener to still have a chance to attend the meetings. And, even if you're not an official member of the God's Gardeners, you're always welcome to come on up to church and pull some weeds. You don't have to have a bed of your own---it's always easy to find someone who would like help with theirs.

We always meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, so this month's meeting will be on January 10 at 6:30pm in the parish hall. With the new year starting, it would really be great to see some new faces in the flowerbeds having a good time playing in the dirt! (I don't think it is dirty playing with all the things God made.) It's time to start the seeds so we can have beautiful flower beds this spring. Hope to see y'all at the next meeting!

GOLFERS...
MARK YOUR
CALENDAR FOR
ST. MARY'S MEN'S CLUB SIXTH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT.
THIS YEARS TOURNAMENT WILL BE HELD AT WALDEN GOLF CLUB ON MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007 AT 10:00AM. MORE DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE.

+ Ordinary Time

Jan 9(First Week in Ordinary Time): Heb 2:5-12 * Ps 8:2,5-9 * Mk 1:21-28
Jan 10: Heb 2:14-18 * Ps 105:1-2,3-4,6-7,8-9 * Mk 1:29-39
Jan 11: Heb 3:7-14 * Ps 95:6-7,8-9,10-11 * Mk 1:40-45
Jan 12: Heb 4:1-5,11 * Ps 78:3-4,6-7,8 * Mk 2:1-12
Jan 13 [St. Hilary]: Heb 4:12-16 * Ps 19:8,9,10,15 * Mk 2:13-17
Jan 14 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 62:1-5 * Ps 96:1-2,2-3,7-8,9-10 * 1Cor 12:4-11 * Jn 2:1-11
Jan 15: Heb 5:1-10 * Ps 110:1,2,3,4 * Mk 2:18-22
Jan 16: Heb 6:10-20 * Ps 111:1-2,4-5,9-10 * Mk 2:23-28
Jan 17 St. Anthony, Abbot: Heb 7:1-3,15-17 * Ps 110:1,2,3,4 * Mk 3:1-6
Jan 18: Heb 7:25—8:6 * Ps 40:7-8,8-9,10,17 * Mk 3:7-12
Jan 19: Heb 8:6-13 * Ps 85:8,10,11-12,13-14 * Mk 3:13-19
Jan 20 [St. Fabian, St. Sebastian]: Heb 9:2-3,11-14 * Ps 47:2-3,6-7,8-9 * Mk 3:20-21
Jan 21 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Neh 8:2-4a,5-6,8-10 * Ps 19:8,9,10,15 * 1Cor 12:12-30 *Lk 1:1-4;4:14-21
Jan 22 [St. Vincent]: Heb 9:15,24-28 * Ps 98:1,2-3,3-4,5-6 * Mk 3:22-30
Jan 23:Heb 10:1-10 * Ps 40:2,4,7-8,10-11 * Mk 3:31-35
Jan 24 St. Francis de Sales: Heb 10:11-18 * Ps 110:1,2,3,4 * Mk 4:1-20
Jan 25 The Conversion of St. Paul: Acts 22:3-16 * Ps 117:1-2 * Mk 16:15-18
Jan 26 Sts. Timothy and Titus: 2Tm 1:1-8 * or Ti 1:1-5 * * Ps 96:1-2,2-3,7-8,10 * Mk 4:26-34
Jan 27 [St. Angela Merici]: Heb 11:1-2,8-19 * Lk 1:69-75 * Mk 4:35-41
Jan 28 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jer 1:4-5,17-19 * Ps 71:1-2,3-4,5-6,15-17 *
1Cor 12:31—13:13 * Lk 4:21-30
Jan 29: Heb 11:32-40 * Ps 31:20,21,22,23,24 * Mk 5:1-20
Jan 30: Heb 12:1-4 * Ps 22:26-27,28,30,31-32 * Mk 5:21-43
Jan 31 St. John Bosco: Heb 12:4-7,11-15 * Ps 103:1-2,13-14,17-18 * Mk 6:1-6