All priests are supposed to take at least a week's retreat to deepen their relationship with the Lord and strengthen their commitment to priestly ministry. There are many different kinds of retreats: silent, in solitude, structured, one-on-one with a retreat director, group, and probably other kinds I'm not familiar with. Our Archdiocese has a policy that every-other-year the retreat is to be taken together as a group with the off-year your choice of the type of retreat you want to participate in. This year is a 'together' retreat at the Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston. It's the same retreat where St. Mary Men's Club will have their retreat in March.

Saint Mary's Catholic Church
"Adopt - A - Road" Program

St. Mary's has invested a lot of time, talent and treasure in restoring our beautiful church and grounds the past several years. While driving to this area, we want to present the most idyllic setting that we can.

On your way home today, look at the litter in the ditches between State Highway 105 and Sand Creek, .4 of a mile north of the church grounds. These ditches are debris and litter ridden, and reflect poorly on our entire community.

This flyer is meant to organize St Mary's parishioners to take active steps to clean up FM 1774.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has volunteered to help us in this effort, by providing trash bags, safety vests, safety literature, and roll-up traffic control signs. They will remove the trash bags the first working day after the pickup. They will also remove large, heavy or hazardous items as necessary. TxDOT will erect a 4' X 4' sign at each end of the adopted section with the "Saint Mary's Catholic Church" name displayed.

We are asking every able bodied parishioner to participate, not only those in St. Mary's formal organizations. Included are men, women, children or any outside volunteers. The cleanups will occur quarterly. The first pickup is tentatively planned for Saturday, February 10, 2007.

If enough volunteers sign up, we will each only be required to pick up once or twice per year.

Please call or email Bob Dean to volunteer for this worthwhile effort. 936.582.6314 or bob4345@aol.com

Please Volunteer Today

The Gospel According to St. Luke Rev. William T. Kelly
St. Anthony de Padua, Danbury

At the beginning of Advent last December, the Church switched to the C cycle of readings for our Sunday liturgies. This cycle centers on St. Luke's Gospel. After fielding a variety of questions from both parishioners and students about Luke's Gospel, I thought it would be helpful to present a bit of "background" information concerning St. Luke the man.

Of the four Evangelists, it is easiest for me as a priest to identify with St. Luke. Like me, Luke was not a Jew - He was gentile in origin. He was not from Palestine, but rather probably came from the city of Antioch in Syria. And, most important for me, he never personally knew Jesus.

After due consideration by the St. Mary's Finance Council and with Fr. Ed's approval, a contract has been signed with Schier Construction for minor renovations to the offices in the FLC and a major upgrade to the ladies' restroom in the Hall.

The work in the FLC will begin the week of February 5, and is expected to last only about one week. This work involves minor changes to the office area for greater efficiency and to the Pastor's office and Deacon's office to allow for more sound insulation. This will ensure more privacy for parishioners

The work in the Hall will start on February 19, and will take at least two weeks. This will involve a doubling of the number of stalls, new countertops and tile floors and the creation of a unisex handicapped restroom facility. In addition, the floor in the Hall entryway will be resurfaced in tile.

We are very excited about getting this much needed work done. We ask your patience with the construction for this brief time.

All High School Classes will end at 8:30 p.m. instead of 8:15 pm. We will let the High School Students exit through the front door. You will continue to enter from the back door. So parents, if you pick-up a High School student you may wait for them on the west side of the hall or directly in front of the hall. Please do not park in front of the RE Building this area is for the teachers/volunteers only. Please exit out the north road as you do now.

Confirmation retreat will be held at St. Joseph's because of the construction at St. Mary's Hall. The retreat will be held both Saturday and Sunday. Every level must attend this retreat. Retreat is Saturday, February 24th, 8:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 25th, 9:00 a m. until 5 p.m. Students are asked to attend the early mass at either church. Bring a sack lunch for both days. Level 1 Bring drinks (juice and cokes), Level 2 Breakfast snacks (donuts, pig in the blanket etc.) and level 3 Snacks for breaks (brownies, cookies, etc)

The activity/project class February 25th has been changed to March 4th, 2-3 p.m. after you finish at the coffee fellowship. It would be a good idea that you are present.

Sponsors and Level 3 candidates: Mandatory meeting Sunday February 11th at 4 p.m. in the hall. It is very important that you and your sponsor attend this meeting if you are planning to be confirmed this April.

It's February! The Lenten Season begins Wednesday February 21st with Ash Wednesday. We will have classes and the students will receive ashes in their classrooms; however, if you would like to attend mass with your child, mass will be at 5:30 p.m.

February 07 Class Out of Cycle students 6:15 pm before class.

February 14 Class Elementary students will have a 30 minute party.

February 21 Class Ashes will be receive in the classrooms.

February 28 Class

We have moved the R.E Office to the room between the Family Life office and the 1st grade classroom. Parents and visitors are asked to sign and get their pass at the office.

Out Of Cycle Students will meet Weekly at 6:15 before regular class. We are preparing them for Baptism, Reconciliation and 1st Communion

With the freezing weather in January, many of our gardens are not looking their best right now. As a reminder, the average date for the last frost for our area of the state is March 1. Cutting off the dead limbs or sections of a plant can stimulate the plant to put our new growth. This new growth will be too tender to survive a frost. If you can tolerate a brown garden for now and hold off pruning, your garden will reward you in the spring!

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 14 at 10:00am (after the 9:00am Mass). There is no better day to talk about roses. On the subject of roses, a suggestion has been proposed to organize a trip to the Antique Rose Emporium in Independence with a possible lunch stop at Martha's Bloomers in Navasota. If you would be interested in going, please drop by the February meeting or talk to one of God's Gardeners.

Also, as a reminder of the fun to come this spring, below are some "Do's & Don'ts for home gardening:
DO:

Use varieties recommended for your area of the state.

Keep garden free of insects, disease and weed infestations.

Use mulches to conserve moisture, control weeds and reduce rot of fruit that touches the bed surface.

Water as needed and wet to a depth of 6 inches.

Avoid excessive walking and working in the garden when the foliage and soil are wet.

Wash and clean garden tools, sprayers and other equipment after each use.

DON'T:

Plant so closely that you cannot walk or work in the garden

Cultivate so deeply that plant roots are pruned or injured.

Shade small plants with taller growing crops.

Water excessively or late in the afternoon.

Place fertilizer directly in contact with plant roots or seeds.

Allow weeds to become large and well established before cultivating.

If you're interested in joining us, please call Roy Klaus @ 832-419-6027.

St. Mary's Men's Club is sponsoring a blood drive on Sunday, February 11, 9:00-1:00. Come over to the SM Hall before or after mass to donate and be our guest for breakfast. Give the gift of life.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

for Thursday, March 15

St. Joseph's Altar Society is hosting it's annual Stew Supper for all parishioners.

Mass will be at 6:00 followed by an night of food, friends and fellowship.

Make plans to be there - all are invited.

Date: February 24th (rain day reschedule to 3/3)

Time: 9:00 am

Where: St. Joseph's and St. Mary's Cemetery grounds

Both churches will have a Lenten cleanup. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come out with your rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, hoes and gloves.

The crew will be making a thorough cleaning - please make sure that any flowers and other items you want to save are removed prior to that day.

Ash Wednesday is on February 21st, and it marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence (from meat), and repentance.

Ash Wednesday Mass times are:

St. Joseph's
12:00 pm

St. Mary's
9:00am, 5:30pm and 7:30pm

Feb 1:Heb 12:18-19,21-24 * Ps 48:2-3,3-4,9,10-11 * Mk 6:7-13

Feb 2 The Presentation of the Lord: Mal 3:1-4 * Ps 24:7,8,9,10 * Heb 2:14-18 * Lk 2:22-40

Feb 3 [ St. Blase, St. Ansgar] : Heb 13:15-17,20-21 * Ps 23:1-6 * Mk 6:30-34

Feb 4 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 6:1-2a,3-8 * Ps 138:1-2,2-3,4-5,7-8 * 1 Cor 15:1-11 * Lk 5:1-11

Feb 5 St. Agatha: Gn 1:1-19 * Ps 104:1-2,5-6,10,12,24,35 * Mk 6:53-56

Feb 6 St. Paul Miki and Companions: Gn 1:20—2:4 * Ps 8:4-9 * Mk 7:1-13

Feb 7: Gn 2:4b-9,15-17 * Ps 104:1-2,27-28,29-30 * Mk 7:14-23

Feb 8 [ St. Jerome Emiliani, St. Josephine Bakhita] : Gn 2:18-25 * Ps 128:1-2,3,4-5 * Mk 7:24-30

Feb 9: Gn 3:1-8 * Ps 32:1-2,5,6,7 * Mk 7:31-37

Feb 10 St. Scholastica: Gn 3:9-24 * Ps 90:2,3-4,5-6,12-13 * Mk 8:1-10

Feb 11 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jer 17:5-8 * Ps 1:1-2,3,4,6 * 1 Cor 15:12,16-20 * Lk 6:17,20-26

Feb 12: Gn 4:1-15,25 * Ps 50:1,8,16-17,20-21 * Mk 8:11-13

Feb 13: Gn 6:5-8;7:1-5,10 * Ps 29:1-2,3-4,3,9-10 * Mk 8:14-21

Feb 14 Sts. Cyril and Methodius: Gn 8:6-13, 20-22 * Ps 116:12-13,14-15,18-19 * Mk 8:22-26

Feb 15: Gn 9:1-13 * Ps 102:16-18,19-21,29,22-23 * Mk 8:27-33

Feb 16: Gn 11:1-9 * Ps 33:10-11,12-13,14-15 * Mk 8:34—9:1

Feb 17 [The Seven Founders of the Order of Servites] : Heb 11:1-7 * Ps 145:2-3,4-5,10-11 * Mk 9:2-13

Feb 18 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: 1 Sm 26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23 * Ps 103:1-2,3-4,8,10,12-13 * 1 Cor 15:45-49 * Lk 6:27-38

Feb 19: Sir 1:1-10 * Ps 93:1,1-2,5 * Mk 9:14-29

Feb 20: Sir 2:1-11 * Ps 37:3-4,18-19,27-28,39-40 * Mk 9:30-37

Lent 

Feb 21 Ash Wednesday: Jl 2:12-18 * Ps 51:3-4,5-6,12-13,14,17 * 2 Cor 5:20—6:2 * Mt 6:1-6,16-18

Feb 22 The Chair of Peter, Apostle: 1Pt 5:1-4 * Ps 23:1-6 * Mt 16:13-19

Feb 23 [St. Polycarp] : Is 58:1-9a * Ps 51:3-4,5-6,18-19 * Mt 9:14-15

Feb 24: Is 58:9b-14 * Ps 86:1-2,3-4,5-6 * Lk 5:27-32

Feb 25 First Sunday of Lent: Dt 26:4-10 * Ps 91:1-2,10-11,12-13,14-15 * Rom 10:8-13 * Lk 4:1-13

Feb 26: Lv 19:1-2,11-18 * Ps 19:8,9,10,15 * Mt 25:31-46

Feb 27: Is 55:10-11 * Ps 34:4-5,6-7,16-17,18-19 * Mt 6:7-15

Feb 28: Jon 3:1-10 * Ps 51:3-4,12-13,18-19 * Lk 11:29-32