As this bulletin is going to press, I'll be on the last leg of my cruise of New Zealand and Australia. I recognize that I am very fortunate to be able to be invited on such an adventure and holiday and have a community willing to let me go and enjoy myself and anxious to 'hear all about it' when I return. There is another dimension to a priest traveling with a group of parishioners and friends that I would like to share.

Palm Sunday This feast of Palm Sunday is both joyous and sad.

It is joyous in that it recalls Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He was accompanied that day by crowds who had come up with Him to the holy city of Jerusalem; the Lord rode a young donkey to fulfill the words of the Prophet Zachariah who had foretold that the true king of Israel would come riding on the foal of a donkey. A second crowd came out of the city to greet Him -- carrying palm branches, a Jewish sign of welcome for a great king. These were spread on the ground where Jesus would pass to drive home the point that it was He Who was such a king! The prayers with which we bless our Palms remind us and emphasize that we too are to welcome Jesus into our own lives and to bear faithful witness to both Him and to His Lordship. It is also a sad feast in that it is the beginning of

Holy Week Mass Schedule

Palm Sunday ~ April 5
Regular Sunday Mass Schedule

Holy Thursday ~ Mass of the Lord's Supper ~ April 9
7:00 pm @ St. Joseph's

Good Friday ~ Passion of the Lord ~ April 10
3:00 pm at St. Mary's
Stations of the Cross ~ 7:00 pm @ St. Joseph's
{No Stations at St. Mary's}

Easter Vigil ~ April 11
8:30 pm @ St. Mary's
Reception following in St. Mary's Hall

Easter Sunday ~ April 12
Regular Sunday Mass Schedule

Easter Vigil - Holy Saturday April 11, 2009

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

The Initiation Ministry of St. Mary's/St. Joseph's invites all parishioners as we celebrate with our "Elect" the sacraments of initiation and their profession of faith into full communion of the Roman Catholic Church. Please join us for this, the holiest of liturgies, on Holy Saturday beginning at 8:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church. A reception will follow in the hall immediately afterwards. Come and rejoice in the Lord's goodness!!!

(Sharon Skeans, RCIA Director)

ST. MARY'S & ST. JOSEPH'S
EVERY FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00PM DURING THE SEASON OF LENT.

5:30-8:30pm
Tuesday, March 31, 2009

(Fr. Kelly will assist Fr. Ed)

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

Brian Perry E6 & Matthew Perry E5(Brian & Matthew are the sons of Marshall & Patrice Perry of Montgomery)Brian has been in the Navy for 9 years and is a Navy Seal in San Diego & Matthew has been in the Navy for 6 years and is a Cryptologist at Fort Meade in Maryland.

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 MEN OF ST. MARY'S/ST. JOSEPH'S WILL GATHER FOR THEIR FIFTH ANNUAL MEN'S RETREAT AT THE HOLY NAME RETREAT CENTER IN HOUSTON, TX. ON APRIL 24, 25 AND 26, 2009

FOR INFORMATION ON THE RETREAT CALL:

LARRY ALEXANDER 936-447-6994
C.J. LEBLANC 936-597-7924
NICK LOMONTE 936-597-8659
DEEN MILLER 936-894-2715
FRED SEALE 936-582-7095
RICHARD ZAJAC 936-588-1903

TOGETHER WE CAN DISCOVER HOW TO REJOICE IN WHAT WE HAVE AND WHO WE ARE TOGETHER!

The Cemetery Committee
St. Mary Catholic Community

March 8, 2009

Fellow Parishioners:

A survey of burial prices in the immediate area has yielded data that has lead the Committee to propose a modification in the cost of burial space in St. Mary Cemetery.

After having consulted with Fr. Ed, the Committee will establish the fee for burial space, for established Parishioners in good standing, in St. Mary Cemetery at $800.00.

A burial space in our cemetery will accommodate two (2) full size caskets (one on top of the other) or two (2) cremation urns.

The fee for those to be buried in St. Mary Cemetery who are not established Parishioners in good standing, who are Catholic and are close family members of established Parishioners in good standing, who have been granted permission to be interred at St. Mary Cemetery will be $3500.00.

The effective date for these alternate fees will be June 1, 2009. Prior to that date, established Parishioners in good standing may purchase burial spaces at St. Mary Cemetery for the current fee of $200.00. Opening/closing of the grave site and other costs are not included in this fee.

Parishioners are welcome and encouraged to offer comments (in writing) to the Cemetery Committee in care of the Church office.

Russell E. "Rusty" Smith, Jr.
Cemetery Committee Chairman

Fr. Ed Kucera, Jr.
Pastor

The re-glazing and partial re-leading of St. Mary's windows is now complete. We are still working on re-painting and sealing the upper windows. We are also trying to solve the draft problem created when the windows were removed and made functional. Please bear with us on this tedious process over the next few weeks.

May 2, 2009 ~ 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

St. Mary Catholic Church-Plantersville, TX

Here Ye, Here Ye: We need your help to make this a successful garage sale. We need your no longer needed gently used items. (Please not old tire and analog TVs). Appliance need to be in working order. Also, we need your help with getting it organized. Please give us 1 or more days. The work days are as follows:

Week One: April 1, 2, & 3, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Week Two: April 7, 8, & 9 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Holy Week)
Week Three: April 14, 15, & 16 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Saturday: April 18th: All (Men & Women) setting up, cleaning tables and tents necessary for garage sale day.
Week Four: April 21, 22, & 23 from 10:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Sat., April 25th: All (Men & Women) moving all garage sale items to designated areas.
Week Five: April 27, 28, 29, & 30 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM--Arranging items on tables and be ready for garage sale. "Praise The Lord" we are done!!!!!

If you have any questions, please call Mildred Rosenberg @ 936-873-2579 or the St. Mary's Office for details.

Cut off date to bring items is Friday, April 24!

Help us make the Annual Homecoming & Bazaar Celebrating the 100th Year at St. Joseph's Catholic Church a special event!

We need volunteers, cakes, pies, fruit, toys, groceries, plants, auction items, monetary donations, etc.

CONSIDER MAKING SOMETHING SPECIAL COMMEMORATING 100 YEARS AT ST. JOSEPH'S FOR THE AUCTION.

If you can help out in any way, contact:
Bo Imhoff at 936-672-4555 or Mike Wetuski at 936-870-6836
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This year's bazaar is dedicated to Fr. Ed and Fr. Kelly!

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's BINGO this month ... come join us on Thursday, April 16, 2009 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Choir Practice is every Wednesday nightat 7:00 p.m.

Call Linda Armstrong for more information.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009. Please contact Pam Alexander for more information.

Store Hours:

Saturdays: Open after 5:30 p.m. Mass
Sundays: Open 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Mon thru Fri: Stop by the Parish Office
between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. for Assistance

First Holy Communion Gifts Available.
Gift Certificates ~ Gift Registry
Religious Articles ~ Prayer Books
Bibles ~ Rosaries
Children & Adult Books
Baptism Gifts &
many other Gift Items.

TOPS TX 1737 had its election of officers at the March business meeting--the officers for the upcoming year are: Leader - Margaret McClosky, Co-leader - Jeanette Raines, Sec-retary - Rayma Simons and Treasurer - Neil Rosenberg. The new officers will be installed at our meeting on April 2, 2009.

And, congratulate our best monthly losers next time you see them. Alma Smith was our best loser for January & Deen Miller was our best loser for February. Way to go, Alma & Deen!

Want to see what it's about? We meet every Thursday @ 6:30pm in St. Mary's FLC..

MONTHLY MEETING -- TUES., APRIL 14, 2009 -- 6:00 PM AT ST. MARY'S HALL

Monthly Meeting Hostesses: Mary Ann Jordon, Mary Ellen Lundquist, Mary Lynch

St. Mary's Men's Club Eighth Annual Golf Benefit Walden Golf Club
Monday, April 6, 2009 (Rainout date May 4th)

Registration from 9:00-9:45am - tee off at 10:00 am

For more information: contact Ed Kura at 936-597-8144

. . . will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2009. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

---------------------------------------------
The St. Mary's Men's Club is again sponsoring a scholarship for a student within our Parish. Applicants must be active members of St. Mary/St. Joseph Catholic Church, be a graduating senior and be planning to attend an accredited trade school, college or university in 2009.

Applications are available through the Parish Office and completed applications must be turned in by April 10, 2009. The office contact is Gail Sowell.

NEXT MEETING: APRIL 16--3:30PM--SM HALL

We are always happy to welcome new members to our St. Vincent de Paul 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.

Knights of Columbus
Father Domanski Council # 4054

FISH FRY
KC Hall ~ Anderson, TX
Friday, April 3, 2009
5 p.m. til ?

$7.00 per plate

Fish, fries, hush puppies, drink & dessert.

PUBLIC IS INVITED

It feels so good to be out working in the flower beds and vegetable garden again. I know I will be sore but it is so worth it. The stores are full of the bright colors of marigold, Celosia, cosmos, zinnia, Amaranthus, portulaca, Gopherus and several other warm season annuals. A few perennials for summer color include lantana, sedum, salvia, daylilies, Hosta, verbena, purple coneflower, phlox and ferns. I will wait until May to plant periwinkle (Vinca). If you wait until it is hotter there is a better chance of avoiding fungal blight.

I have always been one to collect seeds wherever I may be. Now is the time to get them planted. I am planting them along fences, some in the vegetable garden to add color and to attract bees, some in flats (so I will know where they are) and will plant them later. Time to fertilize the lawns. I use a turf builder twice a year that is high in nitrogen. It is a safe mixture that has yet to burned my grass. It contains 26-2-13.

My corn is up and growing fast. I barely got it planted last month but it is doing good. I will be putting in my spring vegetables this weekend. I will be planting blue lake bush beans, cucumber, cantaloupe, summer squash, tomatoes, peppers, lima/butter beans, pinto beans, black eyed peas and later at the end of this month with the coming of the new moon okra and pumpkins. Pumpkins need 100 to 120 days to ripen. I try to time them to be ready for Halloween. My grandkids will enjoy having a giant pumpkin at their door.

Did you know we have a state pepper? Of course now that you are thinking about it, you know it has to be the jalapeno. The state fruit is the Ruby Red Grapefruit. The state onion is the 1015. By the almanac we are to have below average precipitation until the middle of July. Conserve you watering by placing down newspaper then mulch. This will keep the moisture from evaporating too quickly thus using less water. You didn't finish drinking that bottle of water from yesterday, pour it into one of your house plants. Most homemade nontoxic pesticides are made from use of citrus dishwashing liquid and water. You may also use a container for doing your dishes in and use the leftover water to water an outside plant thus quenching it's thirst and keeping away pest at the same tiem. In my vegetable garden I use a citrus soap and water method to kill ants. I stir up the mound on a sunny day. All the ants I spray, die when the sun dries the soap. It is a slow process but I do not use harmful chemicals around my plants in which I will be consuming later. How is your garden doing?

GOD BLESS YOU AND THE GROUND HE WALKED UPON.
Send your gardening ideas to: Ronniebochat@consolidated.net

..wants to extend their thanks and appreciation to everyone who supported, contributed and attended their Stew Supper on March 19. The evening was a huge success once again. There was lots of food, fun and fellowship and a great time was had by all.

-----------------------------------------------
Thank You to the ladies of the St. Joseph's Altar Society who made the healing mass at St. Joseph's on Sat., March 7 a wonderful event. The luncheon was delicious and topped off an overwhelming day.

------------------------------------------------
The St. Joseph's Altar Society will meet this month at the hall after the 9:00am mass on April 14, 2009.

April 26, 2009 ~ 10am--1:30pm
Benefiting the CCE Program

Hamburger / Hot Dog Lunch

Activities:
Small Live Auction
Ring Toss
John Deere Tractor Races
Train Ride
Football / Baseball Booth
Bean Bag Tournament
And many more fun things to do!

Raffle Prizes:
Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop
Nintendo Wii
Apple IPOD Nano 8GB
American Express $100 Gift Card
Miche Bag

PLANTERSVILLE-STONEHAM VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.32nd Annual Bar-B-Que & Bazaar w/Live Band

Sunday, April 19 ~ 11am til ?
Fire Station--Downtown Plantersville
Raffle ~ Food ~ Drinks ~ Kiddie Entertainment
Games ~ Auction begins at 2pm
Plates: $7.00 each

Any questions, please contact:
Janie Legge at 936-894-2506
Jacki Peacock at 936-894-2464

(Arthur Plessala -- April, 2009)

As Lent comes to a close and we enter the Easter season, I want to share some thoughts from chapter one of Praying the Scriptures (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2003) by Fr. Demetrius R. Dumm, O.S.B., S.T.D. He selects major events in our salvation history on which all of us should focus and reflect. His rationale: Fr. Dumm quotes an imminent scholar of the Bible, G. Ernest Wright, and declares that "this emphasis on events is the most distinctive feature of biblical revelation and separates it from the sacred literature of other religions." What follows is a paraphrased excerpt of chapter one whose theme is I will declare all your wondrous deeds (Psalm 19:2).

How long did you date your beloved? If married, how long were you engaged? If parishioners were asked these questions, answers would vary greatly. So when individuals decide to get to know God and develop an intimate relationship with Him, who are we to know His time-schedule? Each person's journey is based on God's time and God's grace, rather than on our parish calendar and a published RCIA "program."

The Rite itself implores us to respect the individuality of each person's journey: "The rite of initiation is suited to a spiritual journey of adults that varies according to the many forms of God's grace, the free cooperation of the individuals, the action of the Church, and the circumstances of time and place" (RCIA, #5).

Your St. Mary's/St. Joseph's RCIA Team is attempting to meet the needs of all inquirers. While we've begun informal discussions over the phone with people and in the FLC on Sundays, we welcome anyone at any time throughout the year. We urge all parishioners to recognize their Baptismal promise of fulfilling their own Catholic identity by evangelizing to non-Catholics. YOU, too, are a member of our initiation ministry! Please do your part by encouraging others to join our discussions of faith. Check out our Sunday topics, and join us yourself to continue your lifelong catechesis of Catholicism. All are welcome!!!!!

(Dr. Sharon Skeans, RCIA Director; contact her at skeans@consolidated.net)

THE GABRIEL PROJECT is the parish-based crisis pregnancy intervention program. 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 you are someone in need of the services of THE GABRIEL PROJECT, please use the contact information above. Information will stay confidential.

On the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm In the St. Mary's Family Life Center...

St. Mary's Choristers will be singing with the Adult Choir at the 10:30 am Mass on Palm Sunday, April 5, and at the 10:30 Mass on Easter Sunday.

The St. Mary's Choristers Booster Club will sponsor an Easter Bake Sale after all Masses on Easter Sunday; stop by and pick up a delicious dessert for your Easter dinner.

Ann Swonke has volunteered to sponsor our chorister, Cailley McAuliffe. The sponsors have donated $75 to purchase the vestments for these choristers. Have a look at the Music Ministry bulletin board in the hall to see all the choristers and learn their names and those of their sponsors.

Three new choristers were registered in March. If you are interested in sponsoring one of the remaining members, please place your donation in an envelope and put it in the collection basket, with a note as to what it is for, and the name of the chorister if you have a preference for a particular one. Or you can contact Linda Armstrong at linda@smsj.org or by phone at 936-825-0565.
Our pastor, Father Ed, and the entire community of St. Mary's has been very generous in their support of the overall music ministry, and now in support of the children in St. Mary's Choristers. We applaud your generosity, and thank you for your continued support.
Please keep this group of young people in your prayers as they work to learn about the Liturgy, about liturgical music, and how to work as a community to serve and praise God.

Sunday, April 12 after all themorning Masses.

Come and get all of your favorite baked items and help The St. Mary's Choristers at the same time! Take a break from baking at Easter and let The Choristers provide your goodies. We will have blackberry pies, kolaches, cookies, cakes, candies, and all sorts of goodies!!

MARRIED COUPLES:

Prepare for Easter with your spouse in a special way this year. A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend will help you enjoy like with a new closeness to each other and God. You don't need it - you DESERVE it. Upcoming weekend dates are April 17-19 & June 12-14. Contact Brian & Tina Little at 281-485-5648 for more information. Or go on-line to www.mehouston.org.

Living Stations of the Cross
Friday, April 4th @ 7:00 p.m.

Students need to arrive no later than 6:30 p.m. and meet in the Activity Room.

First Wednesdays
April 1st & May 6th

Come join the youth of our Parish in the Hall at 6:00 p.m.

First Eucharist Students
First Eucharist Retreat - Saturday, April 18th, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. in the FLC. Parents needed for practice at 11:30 in the Church.

Student Practice - Wednesday, April 22nd @ 7:00 p.m.

First Eucharist Mass - Sunday, April 26th @ 2:00 p.m.

CCE Closing Mass & Reception
Wednesday, April 29th

Student awards will be handed out. A reception will be held in the Hall after Mass.

CCE 2009-2010 Year Intention Slips Due
Wednesday, April 22nd

If your children will be attending our CCE Program this coming academic year of 2009-2010, please fill out the intention forms that were sent home with the students and return them to the CCE Office by April 22nd. This will pre-register your students and you will only need to fill out new forms at the beginning of the next year if there are any changes in your family's personal information.

Vacation Bible School
June 22nd - 26th

Volunteers Needed - call the CCE office if you can help. (936) 894-2223.

Students of the Month - February
Congratulations to the following students who received the award for February!

K - Emma Doyle
1st - Austin Penshorn
2nd - Dylan Weaver
3rd - Bailey Hayes
4th - Bailey Doyle
5th - Meghan Mock
6th - Andrew Penshorn
7th - Anthony Beck
8th - Rylan Moss
C I - Zach Giddens
C II - Georgina Wade

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES

are Scheduled for Saturday, April 4th from 9:00-12:00 in St. Mary's Family Life Center with Baptisms to follow May 17th

Preparation classes for baptism are a requirement for parents or expectant parents of children up to 7 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.

Call: Francell Busa (936) 870-4145 (fbusa@embarqmail.com),
or
Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,
Anita Thornton (936) 582-2618
or
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

Apr 1: Dn 3:14-20,91-92,95 * Dn 3:52,53,54,55,56 * Jn 8:31-42
Apr 2 [St. Francis of Paola] : Gn 17:3-9 * Ps 105:4-5,6-7,8-9 * Jn 8:51-59
Apr 3: Jer 20:10-13 * Ps 18:2-3,3-4,5-6,7 * Jn 10:31-42
Apr 4 [St. Isidore] : Ez 37:21-28 * Jer 31:10,11-12,13 * Jn 11:45-56

Holy Week

Apr 5 Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion: Mk 11:1-10 (Procession) * Is 50:4-7 * Ps 22:8-9,17-18,19-20,23-24 * Phil 2:6-11 * Mk 14:1--15:47
Apr 6 Monday of Holy Week: Is 42:1-7 * Ps 27:1,2,3,13-14 * Jn 12:1-11
Apr 7 Tuesday of Holy Week: Is 49:1-6 * Ps 71:1-2,3-4,5-6,15,17 * Jn 13:21-33,36-38
Apr 8 Wednesday of Holy Week: Is 50:4-9a * Ps 69:8-10,21-22,31,33-34 * Mt 26:14-25
Apr 9 Holy Thursday: Ex 12:1-8,11-14 * Ps 116:12-13,15-16,17-18 * 1 Cor 11:23-26 * Jn 13:1-15 11
Apr 10 Good Friday of the Lord's Passion: Is 52:13--53:12 * Ps 31:2,6,12-13,15-16,17,25 * Heb 4:14-16;5:7-9 * Jn 18:1----19:42
Apr 11 Holy Saturday (Vigil): Ex 14:15----15:1 * Ex 15:1-2,3-4,5-6,17-18 * Rom 6:3-11 * Ps 118:1-2,16-17,22-23 * Mk 16:1-7 12

Easter Season

Apr 12 Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord: Acts 10:34a,37-43 * Ps 118:1-2,16-17,22-23 * Col 3:1-4 * Jn 20:1-9 13
Apr 13 Easter Monday: Acts 2:14,22-23 * Ps 16:1-2,5,7-8,9-10,11 * Mt 28:8-15
Apr 14 Easter Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41 * Ps 33:4-5,18-19,20,22 * Jn 20:11-18
Apr 15 Easter Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10 * Ps 105:1-2,3-4,6-7,8-9 * Lk 24:13-35
Apr 16 Easter Thursday: Acts 3:11-26 * Ps 8:2,5,6-7,8-9 * Lk 24:35-48
Apr 17 Easter Friday: Acts 4:1-12 * Ps 118:1-2,4,22-24,25-27 * Jn 21:1-14
Apr 18 Easter Saturday: Acts 4:13-21 * Ps 118:1,14-15,16-18,19-21 * Mk 16:9-15
Apr 19 Second Sunday of Easter/Divine Mercy Sunday: Acts 4:32-35 * Ps 118:2-4,13-15,22-24 * 1 Jn 5:1-6 * Jn 20:19-31
Apr 20: Acts 4:23-31 * Ps 2:1-3,4-7,7-9 * Jn 3:1-8
Apr 21 [St. Anselm] : Acts 4:32-37 * Ps 93:1,1-2,5 * Jn 3:7b-15
Apr 22: Acts 5:17-26 * Ps 34:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9 * Jn 3:16-21
Apr 23 [St. George, St. Adalbert] : Acts 5:27-33 * Ps 34:2,9,17-18,19-20 * Jn 3:31-36
Apr 24 [St. Fidelis] : Acts 5:34-42 * Ps 27:1,4,13-14 * Jn 6:1-15
Apr 25 St. Mark: 1 Pt 5:5b-14 * Ps 89:2-3,6-7,16-17 * Mk 16:15:20
Apr 26 Third Sunday of Easter: Acts 3:13-15,17-19 * Ps 4:2,4,7-8,9 * 1 Jn 2:1-5a * Lk 24:35-48
Apr 27: Acts 6:8-15 * Ps 119:23-24,26-27,29-30 * Jn 6:22-29
Apr 28 [St. Peter Chanel, St. Louis Mary de Montfort] : Acts 7:51----8:1a * Ps 31:3-4,6,7,8,17,21 * Jn 6:30-35
Apr 29 St. Catherine of Siena : Acts 8:1b-8 * Ps 66:1-3,4-5,6-7 * Jn 6:35-40
Apr 30 [St. Pius V] : Acts 8:26-40 * Ps 66:8-9,16-17,20 * Jn 6:44-51