Once again I am going to interrupt my story, sharing with you the experience and adventure of my holiday aboard ship from Rome, through the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Next month I'll pick up the story at Odessa in the Ukraine, formerly of Russia and the point-of-origin of many of our families of St. Mary.

It's that time of year again . . . .

Time for the St. Joseph's Catholic Church

99th Annual Homecoming Bazaar

in Stoneham , Texas !

When: Sunday, May 25, 2008

Time: 11:00am until ?

Bar-B-Que Dinner beginning at 11:00am

Auction beginning at 2:00pm in Hall

Music from 11:00am until 8:00pm

Lots of fun for the whole family

Games and booths for all ages

~ Wanted ~

* Cakes and Pies for dinner line *

* Cakes for cake booth *

* Items for the auction *

* Volunteers, volunteers & volunteers! *

For more information, contact:

Bo Imhoff at 936-672-4555

or

Mike Wetuski at 936-870-6836

Please keep all of our men and women in the military in your prayers, especially ..........

Lt. Keith M. Herzog
Headquarters XVIII
Airborne Corps
Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq
(Keith is the son of George, Jr. & Nancy Herzog & the grandson of George, Sr. & Pauline Herzog)

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.

The Cemetery Association of St. Mary's Catholic Community invites all to a MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION in the Cemetery MONDAY, MAY 26, 2008 at 9:00 AM to pay respects to those who gave their life in the service of our country.

The month of May is traditionally dedicated to Mary in many cultures. May crowning became popular in the United States, especially prior to Vatican II. This practice continues in many parishes today. A statue of Mary is honored with a wreath of blossoms to indicate Mary's virtues, virtues that were to be imitated by the faithful.

The Blessed Virgin Mary will be crowned at St. Joseph's Church on Sunday, May 4 and at St. Mary's Church on Sunday, May 18 during the 10:30am mass.

What's Happening This Month??? - MAY, 2008

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.

Program: ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The Altar Society has long been associated with Altar Care in the Church, and St Mary's Altar Society still maintains this as our special privilege. Volunteers work in pairs each month to see that the altar and all that are used on the altar are ready for celebrating the Mass.

However, there are several other committees/activities that function within the Altar Society. Here are just a few…..

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will be meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, after the 9am mass

Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Please contact Pam Alexander for more information.

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's GAME DAY this month ... come join us on Thursday, May 15, 2008 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

The First Sunday of the Month is Food Pantry Sunday. A few can goods from each family add up to a parish family reaching out, sharing and living the teachings of the gospel and Saint Vincent de Paul. Large wicker baskets are provided in the foyer of the St. Mary's Hall and St. Joseph's Hall to accept your offerings.

Our next gathering will be on Sunday, May 18th, at the Mareks at 4:00PM.

We are always happy to welcome new members to our conference. We meet once a month, and our purpose is to reach out to those in need while working to improve our own spirituality. If you are interested in learning more about our work, please contact our president, C. J. LeBlanc at (936) 597-7924.

My name is Joshua Welsh. I am a parishioner, choir member and Level III Conformation student at St. Mary's. I am currently working towards completion of my Boy Scout Eagle rank. To complete this rank I must organize and lead a project. I have selected to organize a drive to collect baby items for the Gabriel Project. On May 4, 2008 I will have a baby shower inside the parish hall at St. Mary's. You may donate baby items in the hall anytime that weekend by placing them in the foyer. Thank you in advance for your contributions and support.

St. Mary's/St. Joseph's Easter Egg Hunt is coming on Pentecost Sunday, Mother's Day, May 11, 2008.(This is the day Easter season closes.)

So, children of the parish, 6th grade and younger, there will be an egg hunt after each Sunday Mass at both churches. You do not have to bring your baskets--all Easter baskets will be furnished.

Congratulations to those students who received the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation!

Holy Communion

Christopher Baldwin, Kaylie Chilek, Emily Donina, Bailey Doyle, Gianna Guzman, Bailey Hayes, Alex Hijuelos, Eric Hijuelos, Saylor Imhoff, Joseph LeBlanc, Maria

Levantino, Chelsie Marshburn, Jessica McFarland, Micah Mock, Tess O'Brien,

Gabriella Olivieri, Danielle Pena, Ashley Penshorn, Derek Pietsch, Travis Politakis, Madison Poole, Allyson Rooney, Rayna Valadez, Justin Vickers

Confirmation

Tyler Gurka, Joseph LaRose, Barrett Lauer, Jill Leiber, Brock Moss, Joshua Nieto, Hayden O'Brien, Landon Rabun, Joshua Welsh, Dylan Wetuski, Bryan Wheeler

******************

If you are new to St. Mary's and would like for your child/children to attend CCE please stop by the Religious Education office for more information and forms.

Also if you are interested in being a catechist for the next school year please email, call, or stop by the office and fill out one of our volunteer forms.

Have a safe summer; we look forward to seeing you all next year!

We need your help! Please consider a donation for prizes for the Raffle. Donations of prizes help keep our cost down and make the Bazaar more profitable. If interested in donating larger type prizes, please consider forming a group. We will have a Wish List available outside of the church after all Masses on May 11, 18, and 25.

The famous St. Mary's Garage Sale is set for Saturday, July 12, 2008.

You may bring items to donate beginning the week of April 27.

May 1, The Ascension of the Lord: Acts 1:1-11 * Ps 47:2-3,6-7,8-9 * Eph 1:17-23 * Mt 28: 16-20 14

May 2 St. Athanasius: Acts 18:9-18 * Ps 47:2-3,4-5,6-7 * Jn 16:20-23

May 3 Sts. Philip and James: 1 Cor 15:1-8 * Ps 19:2-3,4-5 * Jn 14:6-14

May 4, Seventh Sunday of Easter: Acts 1:12-14 * Ps 27:1,4,7-8 * 1 Pt 4:13-16 * Jn 17:1-11 or Ascension (see May 1)

May 5: Acts 19:1-8 * Ps 68:2-3,4-5,6-7 * Jn 16:29-33

May 6: Acts 20:17-27 * Ps 68:10-11,20-21 * Jn 17:1-11a

May 7: Acts 20:28-38 * Ps 68:29-30,33-35,35-36 * Jn 17:11b-19

May 8: Acts 22:30;23:6-11 * Ps 16:1-2,5,7-8,9-10,11* Jn 17:20-26

May 9: Acts 25:13b-21 * Ps 103:1-2,11-12,19-20 * Jn 21:15-19

May 10 [Bl. Damien Joseph de Veuster of Molokai ]: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 * Ps 11:4,5,7 * Jn 21:20-25

May 11, Pentecost Sunday: Acts 2L1-11 * Ps 104:1,24,29-30,31,34 * 1 Cor 12:3b-7,12-13 * Jn 20:19-23

+ ORDINARY TIME

May 12 [ Sts. Nereus, Achilleus and Pancras]: Jas 1:1-11 * Ps 119:67,68,71,72,75,76 * Mk 8:11-13

May 13 [Our Lady of Fatima ]: Jas 1:12-18 * Ps 94:12-13,14-15,18-19 * Mk 8:14-21

May 14 St. Matthias: Acts 1:15-17,20-26 * Ps 113:1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8 * Jn 15:9-17

May 15 [St. Isidore]: Jas 2:1-9 * Ps 34:2-3,4-5,6-7 * Mk 8:27-33

May 16: Jas 2:14-24,26 * Ps 112:1-2,3-4,5-6 * Mk 8:34--9:1

May 17 [BVM]: Jas 3:1-10 * Ps 12:2-3,4-5,7-8 * Mk 9:2-13

May 18, The Most Holy Trinity: Ex 34:4b-6,8-9 * Dn3:52,53,54,55,56 * 2 Cor 13:11-13 * Jn 3:16-18

May 19: Jas 3:13-18 * Ps 19:8,9,10,15 * Mk 9:14-29

May 20 [St. Bernardine of Siena]: Jas 4:1-10 * Ps 55:7-8,9-10,10-11, 23 * Mk 9:30-37

May 21 [St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions]: Jas 4:13-17 * Ps 49:2-3,6-7,8-10,11 * Mk 9:38-40

May 22 [St. Rita of Cascia]: Jas 5:1-6 * Ps 49:14-15,15-16,17-18,19-20 * Mk 9:41-50

May 23: Jas 5:9-12 * Ps 103:1-2,3-4,8-9,11-12 * Mk 10:1-12

May 24 [BVM]: Jas 5:13-20 * Ps 141:1-2,3,8 * Mk 10:13-16

May 25, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ: Dt 8:2-3,14b-16a * Ps 147:12-13,14-15,19-20 * 1 Cor 10:16-17 * Jn 6:51-58

May 26 St. Philip Neri: 1 Pt 1:3-9 * Ps 111:1-2,5-6,9-10 * Mk10:17-27

May 27 [St. Augustine of Canterbury]: 1 Pt 1:10-16 * Ps 98:1,2-3,3-4 * Mk 10:28-31

May 28: 1 Pt 1:18-25 * Ps 147:12-13,14-15, 19-20 * Mk 10:32-45

May 29: 1 Pt 2:2-5,9-12 * Ps 100:2,3,4,5 * Mk 10:46-52

May 30 The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Dt 7:6-11 * Ps 103:1-2,3-4,6-7,8,10 * Mt 11:25-30

May 31 The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Zep 3:14-18a * Is 12:2-3,4,5-6 * Lk 1:39-56