When St. Mary presented the one person play 'A Late Night Catechism', a full hall of almost 300 persons went back in time to parochial school experiences of the 40's, 50's and early 60's. Yours truly was part of that parochial experience, an experience I often refer to as 'the Golden Age' of Catholic school education. It seems that regardless of the Order of Sisters/Nuns that occupied the classroom, the prototype was the same and the implements of teaching identical: ruler-in-hand, large belted rosary, blackboard, statue of the Immaculate Conception, pictures of the Stations of the Cross plastered around the room. At the end of the performance, the sister/actress addressed the audience/classroom and spoke eloquently of the dedication and sacrifice of the heroic sisters who braved classrooms crammed with kids who needed academic and religious education. She reminded us of the often serious plight of those same sisters who today are elderly and being cared for by a declining number of their fellow sisters.

We're busy gathering materials for Vacation Bible School starting on July 23rd and we still need lots of things for arts and crafts. If you could please look around the house and if you have any of these needed supplies, you can call the Parish Office for pick-up/drop-off information. It would be great to have them by July 19th. Thank you!

¬Old Newspapers ¬ Old Children's Magazines ¬ Paper Towel Tubes ¬
¬ Plastic Baby Wipe Containers w/Flip Up Lids ¬ Baby Food Jars ¬ Margarine/Butter Tubs w/Lids ¬ Toilet Paper Tubes ¬ Small Sea Shells ¬ Disposable Foil Cake Pans ¬ Pint Sized Jelly Jars ¬ Craft Sand ¬ Small Sponge Pieces ¬ Aquarium Gravel ¬ Yarn ¬ Card Stock ¬ etc....

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS
Is scheduled For

Saturday, July 28th
@ St. Mary's from 9-12
in the Family Life Center
With Baptisms planned for Aug. 12th

Preparation classes for baptism are a requirement for parents or expectant parents of children up to 5 years old and are generally held every other month.

Godparents are encouraged to attend as well.

We invite you to call early in your pregnancy to register for a class. For further questions, call Francell Busa (936)870-4145 or email her at fbusa@earthlink.net

Teacher's Meeting for K-8th grades will be held at 7 p.m., August 29 in the Family Life Room. Teachers, it would be great if you all would come to this important meeting. We have a lot of new and exciting topics to discuss that will make this year a great year for you and your students. Come see what we have prepared for you! Pictures for IDs will be taken.

Aides, office personal and anyone that would like to help with the RE program: Meeting at 7p.m. in the Family Life Room. Pictures for IDs will be taken.

CONFIRMATION PARENTS

Confirmation will start August 22 with a Parent orientation in St. Mary's parish hall at 6:30 p.m. Parents this is an important meeting for you only. It is extremely important that one or both parents attend the meeting, so you will be aware of what is expected of you and your child in the Confirmation Program. In keeping with the Confirmation Guidelines, Bishop DiNardo is asking that the Confirmation parents attend several information classes. We will be holding these classes in the hall on Wednesday nights for your convenience.

First Confirmation Class for Students will begin August 29 at 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Students please meet in the Parish Hall.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Hope your summer is exciting. The RE staff is working franticly getting ready for 2007-2008 R.E. Program. We are pleased to say our classes are filling up fast. If you have not filled out your child's registration and returned to the office please do so ASAP. Once the classes are filled we will not accept any more students for 2007-2008. You may find Registration packets in the hall under the RE bulletin board. You may return it to the office or drop it in the registration box in the hall

TEACHERS AND AIDES NEEDED.

Thanks to all the parents that have volunteered to help with the RE program. We do need teachers for 1st and 7th grades. We need a second Teacher and/or an aide for 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and Confirmation. Please fill out a volunteer form located in parish hall and drop in registration box or call the parish office to leave your name and phone number with Margaret. This is your opportunity to give to the children.

ART/ENVIROMENT TEAM

We are in need of parents that would like to work on Religious Deco banners for the RE program. It would be nice if we could have a lent, advent, confirmation, communion etc. made by some of our parents to hang in the stairway in the RE building. We have instructions in the RE office for the different banners we would like to have made. It would be nice if we could have a welcome banner made for the beginning of this school year. Contact the parish office: leave your name and phone number with Margaret and someone from the RE staff will contact you. THIS CAN BE AGREAT SUMMER PROJECT TO DO WITH YOUR CHILDREN.

Have you ever wanted to choose the music for Mass? Would you like to know what is out there for us to use? Are there some hymns from your former parish that you just love, but we never do them here? Well, here's your chance!

Father Ed, Linda Armstrong (choir director), Annette Young and Annette Prokop (bell choir directors), Carol Gessner and Sue Langston (organists), and Liz Torres (cantor and choir member) will be attending the National Pastoral Musicians' Conference in Indiannapolis the second week in July. They will each attend workshops and seminars for their various areas of expertise. We would appreciate the opportunity to share with you what we learn at these sessions.

Some of the most anticipated events at the conference are the sessions presented by the various music publishing companies: GIA Music, Oregon Catholic Press, Liturgical Press, etc. They bring all their new music to be sung by the attending groups; there are new Mass settings, new psalm settings, lots of new hymns, music for baptisms, confirmation, RCIA, funerals, and lots more. We would like to share with you some of these new offerings, and get your input regarding which ones you would prefer.

If you have favorite hymns which we have not done, please write them down and bring the list with you. We are open to all suggestions and requests -- can't promise, but we will do everything we can to add your favorites to our repertoire so that you will hear them on Sundays.

Join us on Wednesday, July 25, in St. Mary's Hall, for an evening of learning and singing.

Jubilate Deo!

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Have YOU been worshipping with us, but have never taken the steps to become Catholic?

Have YOU been away from the Church for whatever reason, but would like to revisit the beliefs and doctrines of the Catholic Church?

Do YOU know of anyone who has shown an interest in the Catholic faith but needs a little nudge?

Do YOU know of spouses or adult children of parishioners who are non-Catholic and yet who might want to learn more about Catholicism?

Are YOU aware of any baptized Catholics, who for one reason or another, were not raised in the church?

Our baptismal promise requires that each of us be disciples of Christ, encouraging others to know, love, and serve Him. St. Mary's/St. Joseph's RCIA program can only be successful with the help of all parishioners. Please do YOUR part! Either contact adults who are interested in learning more about our Catholic faith...or call Sharon Skeans (936-448-2740) with names and phone numbers, and she'll contact them.

Inquirers or parishioners may also contact Sharon Skeans at skeans@consolidated.net

Lord Jesus, you gave us a great example of loving service by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and forgiving sinners. Show us how to follow your example in our own lives and continue to provide devoted priests, deacons, religious, and lay ministers to lead the way in responding to the pastoral needs of your people. Amen.

Please join us every Wednesday at 9:00am Mass as we pray before the Blessed Sacrament for those being called to religious vocations.

THE GABRIEL PROJECT is the parish-based crisis pregnancy intervention program. If you have any baby items (cribs, playpen, clothes, toys, etc.) that you would like to donate, these items will be passed along with Love to the women and babies that need our help and support. If you would like to assist with this ministry, please contact Wanda O'Brien at 597-6328 or tjobrien911@hughes.net to see how you can put your specific talent to use. If are someone in need of the services of THE GABRIEL PROJECT, please use the contact information above. Information will stay confidential.

"How often should I water?" and "How much should I apply?" are a couple of the most-often asked questions from gardeners. Since water is both essential for healthy plant growth and often costly to apply in quantity during the summer, it is important to get it to the plant's roots efficiently and keep it there. The following are several suggestions for easier and more effective watering. These techniques apply to all gardening, from shade and fruit trees and vegetable gardens to lawns and house plants.

When the plants are dry, water thoroughly. Water lawns so that the soil will be wet several inches down, to encourage deep rooting and drought tolerance. One of the worst mistakes people make in their gardens is trying to 'sprinkle' them each day by using their thumb and the end of a running hose. Most gardeners just don't have the patience to stand in one spot long enough for deep water penetration.

Most plants should be watered in the morning. Evening watering increases the likelihood of disease invasion, as the majority of diseases develop most rapidly in cool, moist conditions.

While watering your lawn, try to keep water off the leaves of trees and shrubs as much as possible. This is especially important for such plants as crape myrtle and roses, which are troubled by leaf diseases which spread rapidly on wet surfaces. To keep moisture in the soil, use a thick mulch, such as shredded pine bark, grass clippings or tree leaves. In addition to reducing evaporation, mulches also keep the soil cooler and make weed pulling much easier.

God's Gardeners is going to take a "summer vacation"... there will be no meetings for the months of June, July and August... but keep reading our monthly articles for gardening tips.

The parish Saint Vincent de Paul organization is trying to locate a small travel home/trailer for a new "friend" who has no home. We refer to the people and families we help as our friends. This elderly friend has a lifetime of Plantersville roots and is in the process of starting life anew. If any parish member knows of anyone willing to donate a small mobile trailer please get in touch with the Saint Vincent de Paul organization through the parish number and leave us a message.

St. Mary's Men's Club will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 17, 2007. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

July 1

Peter's Pence Collection (Holy Father's Charities)

The Peter's Pence Collection helps the Holy Father provide emergency assistance to suffering people throughout the world. Contributions to the Peter's Pence Collection are given directly by the Holy Father to dioceses that are suffering from immediate emergencies as a result of war, oppression, and natural disasters.

July 22

St. Vincent de Paul Annual Black Bag Collection for the Archdiocese

Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering. Organized locally, Members witness God's love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The money collected will be used by the Society in collaboration with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes in our Archdiocese.

Jimmy Morris, Joey Morris, and Josh Morris, grandsons of Leland and Barbara Fougeron are serving in the Armed Forces.

Craig McMahon, serves in the U.S. Air Force and was deployed to Iraq. Craig and his family are friends of Robert & Mary Shearon.

Sgt. Allen W. Thomson, son of Robert & Florinda Thomson, son-in-law of Ronald & Dot Holguin (Parish A/P Secretary) of the 82nd Airborne Unit from Ft. Bragg, N.C. was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq via Kuwait on January 2, 2007. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as the war continues.

Cassandra Thomson, daughter-in-law of Robert & Florinda Thomson assigned to the USS Milius DDG-69 in San Diego, Ca was deployed overseas. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Joseph Swonke, son of Charles & Rita Swonke, is in Iraq at a base 25 miles south of Bagdad. Please pray for his safe return.

Michael Bielamowicz, grandson of Verna Kaminski, has been deployed to Afghanistan. Please keep Michael in your prayers

Five year old Hannah would like to ask for prayers for her daddy, Alex Anderson, who is serving in Iraq as an interrogator. Hannah is the great grand-daughter of our parishioner, Bernice Miller.

Please keep all of our men and women in the military in your prayers. If you have a loved one serving in the armed forces and would like to include them in our prayers, please contact the parish office by phone at 936-894-2223 or e-mail at info@smsj.org.

July 1 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: 1Kgs 19:16b,19-21 * Ps 16:1-2,5,7-8,9-10,11 * Gal 5:1,13-18 * Lk 9:51-62

July 2: Gn 18:16-33 * Ps 103:1-2,3-4,8-9,10-11 * Mt 8:18-22

July 3 St. Thomas : Eph 2:19-22 * Ps 117:1,2 * Jn 20:24-29

July 4 [St. Elizabeth of Portugal ] : Gn 21:5,8-20a * Ps 34:7-8,10-11,12-13 * Mt 8:28-34 17

July 5 [St, Anthony Mary Zaccaria] : Gn 22:1b-19 * Ps 115:1-2,3-4,5-6,8-9 * Mt 9:1-8

July 6 [St. Maria Goretti] : Gn 23:1-4,19; 24:1-8,62-67 * Ps 106:1-2,3-4,4-5 * Mt 9:9-13

July 7 [BVM] : Gn 27:1-5,15-29 * Ps 135:1-2,3-4,5-6 * Mt 9:14-17

July 8 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 66:10-14c * Ps 66:1-3,4-5,6-7,16,20 * Gal 6:14-18 * Lk 10:1-12,17-20

July 9 [St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions] : Gn 28:10-22a * Ps 91:1-2,3-4,14-15 * Mt 9:18-26

July 10: Gn 32:23-33 * Ps 17:1,2-3,6-7,8,15 * Mt 9:32-38

July 11 St. Benedict: Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a,17-24a * Ps 33:2-3,10-11,18-19 * Mt 10:1-7

July 12:Gn 44:18-21,23b-29; 45:1-5 * Ps 105:16-21 * Mt 10:7-15

July 13 [St. Henry] : Gn 46:1-7,28-30 * Ps 37:3-4,18-19,27-28,39-40 * Mt 10:16-23

July 14 [Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, BVM] : Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26a * Ps 105:1-2,3-4,6-7 * Mt 10:24-33

July 15 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Dt 30:10-14 * Ps 69:14,17.30-31,33-34,36,37 * Col 1:15-20 * Lk 10:25-37

July 16 [Our Lady of Mt. Carmel ] : Ex 1:8-14,22 * Ps 124:1-3,4-6,7-8 * Mt 10:34—11:1

July 17: Ex 2:1-15a * Ps 69:3,14,30-31,33-34 * Mt 11:20-24

July 18 [St. Camillus de Lellis] : Ex 3:1-6,9-12 * Ps 103:1-4,6-7 * Mt 11:25-27

July 19: Ex 3:13-20 * Ps 105:1,5,8-9,24-25,26-27 * Mt 11:28-30

July 20 [St. Apollinaris] : Ex 11:10—12:14 * Ps 116:12-13,15-18 * Mt 12:1-8

July 21 [St. Lawrence of Brindisi , BVM] : Ex 12:37-42 * Ps 136:1,23-24,10-12,13-15 * Mt 12:14-21

July 22 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Gn 18:1-10a * Ps 15:2-3,3-4,5 * Col 1:24-28 * Lk 10:38-42

July 23 [St. Bridget of Sweden ] : Ex 14:5-18 * Ex 15:1-6 * Mt 12:38-42

July 24 [St. Sharbel Makhluf] : Ex 14:21—15:1 * Ex 15:8-9,10,12,17 * Mt 12:46-50

July 25 St. James: 2 Cor 4:7-15 * Ps 126:1-2,2-3,4-5,6 * Mt 20:20-28

July 26 Sts. Joachim and Anne: Ex 19:1-2,9-11,16-20b * Dn 3:52,53,54,55,56 * Mt 13:10-17

July 27: Ex 20:1-17 * Ps 19:8,9,10,11 * Mt 13:18-23

July 28 [BVM]: Ex 24:3-8 * Ps 50:1-2,5-6,14-15 * Mt 13:24-30

July 29 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Gn 18:20-32 * Ps 138:1-2,2-3,6-7,7-8 * Col 2:12-14 * Lk 11:1-13

July 30 [St. Peter Chrysologus] : Ex 32:15-24,30-34 * Ps 106:19-20,21-22,23 * Mt 13:31-35

July 31 St. Ignatius of Loyola: Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9,28 * Ps 103:6-7,8-9,10-11,12-13 * Mt 13:36-43

Copyright 2006 by Creative Communications For The Parish. Used by permission.