Our Monthly Bulletin and Calendar are available for reading online or for downloading as a pdf file. Individual pages or the whole bulletin can also be printed.

July 2009 Bulletin

July 2009 Bulletin

Garage Sale

We wish to thank and congratulate Mildred Rosenberg, Chairman of St. Mary's 2009 Garage Sale, for an outstanding job. Mildred's innovative ideas, organizational skills, attention to detail and hard work created a unique experience for all attendees and workers. We truly appreciate her dedication, motivation, determination and commitment.

We also wish to thank the parishioners and non-parishioners for their generosity in contributing "slightly used" items and, especially their time sorting, moving, rearranging and selling the 10,000+ items we received. It takes hundreds of hours setting up and taking down the tables, benches, shelves, tents, signs, items, etc. in order to assemble such a large event. This year's
garage sale was a huge success due to their continued dedication!

Sonny & Stella Yorek
2009 Bazaar Chairmen

Mother's Day

The Ladies of St. Joseph's Altar Society extend hugs and kisses and many thanks to the men of St. Joseph's who served up some delicious food after mass on Mother's Day. It put smiles on the faces of many mother's who celebrated this special day!

St. Stanislaus CCE

The St. Stanislaus CCE Program thanks each and every one who supported their recent Spring Fest.

Raffle winners include:

Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop
Judy LeFlore

Nintendo Wii
Cherry Smock

Apple IPOD Nano 8GB
J.D. Grinell

American Express $100 Gift Card
Zina Ulicnik

Miche Bag
Stella Sechelski

St. Joseph's Bazaar

Many thanks to all those who contributed, worked and supported the 100th Anniversary of St. Joseph's at the recent homecoming and bazaar.

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, June 2, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's BINGO this month ... come join us on Thursday, June 18, 2009 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

June
~~MONTHLY MEETING -- TUES., JUNE 14, 2009 -- 6:00 PM AT ST. MARY'S HALL~~
Monthly Meeting Hostesses: Nancy Smith, Shirley Stuckey, Dixie Puccetti, Cindy Olivieri

July
~~MONTHLY MEETING -- TUES., JULY 14, 2009 -- 6:00 PM AT ST. MARY'S HALL~~
Monthly Meeting Hostesses: Mary Ann Kloster, Chris Kocian, Betty Ann Tolbert, Freddie Seale

Help Wanted
St. Mary's Altar Society is in the process of accepting renewal forms for current members and is ALWAYS looking for new ladies. Help is needed to serve on Sundays and for other events throughout the year. We would love for you to join with us.

If you need a form or other information, call Ann Lambert at 936-448-4926 / 281-413-6406 or the parish office at 936-894-2223.

THERE WILL BE NO MEETING IN JUNE, JULY & AUGUST!

ST. MARY'S MEN'S CLUB will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

St. Mary's Men's Club BLOOD DRIVE With Breakfast
SUNDAY, JULY 12 8:00AM - 1:00PM
in St. Mary's Parish Hall.

For more information, call
Neil Rosenberg at 936-873-2579.

The men of St. Mary's made their annual retreat at the Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center on the weekend of April 24-26, 2009. Our small parish in Grimes County ranked 6th overall out of 85 parishes represented during the Retreat year of 2009 a total of 848 men attended this year, which represents a small decrease from the previous year. It was truly a wonderful and rewarding experience had by all in attendance. If you have not attended this wonderful weekend please give it some thought for next year, it's an experience that should be on every parishioners calendar. Please keep the Passionist Fathers Retreat Ministry in your prayers for the wonderful service they provide. Next year's date is April 30-May 2, 2010.

The Music Ministry has a need for two lateral file cabinets and two metal 2-door storage cabinets. If you happen to have any cabinets you would be willing to donate to the Music Ministry office, please contact Linda Armstrong: 936-825-0565.

NEXT MEETING:
JUNE 18 - 4:00 P.M.

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.

Summer is definitely here. June is a great time to plant zinnia, lantana, verbena, salvia, petunias and marigold. For your shadier spots plant caladiums, coleus, impatiens and bedding begonias. Water transplants before and after planting. Of course we always love the tropical plants which sometimes survive the winter, but must be protected from cold winters. Some of my favorites are hibiscus, oleander, bougainvillea, agapanthus, mandevilla, trailing lantanas and plumbago. All are sun lovers that will brighten your yard for the summer.

Lantana, native of Americas and Africa, use the common names of shrub verbenas or lantanas. Their flower clusters (called umbels) are aromatic. The mix colors of pink and yellow has the nickname of ham and eggs or bacon and eggs. In some countries such as Asia, Southern Africa and Australia, some varieties have become invasive. In the US they are naturalized in the coastal regions. Being somewhat toxic, animal usually don't eat them, yet the ripen berries are edible. Green berries are mildly poisons. They can be propagated in mid summer from stem cuttings and also started by seeds.
It is time to put down mulch or newspaper and mulch, if you haven't already. With the heating of summer this will help keep roots from drying out. June is a busy time in the garden and kitchen. It is time for harvesting, freezing or canning our bounty. I prefer canning. To me it keeps the truer flavor of the vegetables.

Everything seems to ripen and the same time.

I like zucchini grilled, sliced and brushed with a mixture of olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder and rosemary. Lately, I just can't seem to eat enough squash. My mom was in the navy and she ate sparingly. Potato and onion soup was a daily meal. She passed away in 88 and her soup became my comfort food. Now I have discovered another version. While in a rush for work, I combined my leftover potato and onion soup, squash and rotisserie chicken in one container to fit in my lunch ice chest. You have got to try it. It is so delicious and quite easy. Boil potato, onions, salt, pepper and garlic powder, as if making mashed potatoes. If you are not eating white potatoes use sweet potatoes. While waiting on potatoes, I cook the squash in the micro wave. I don't like it too mushy so I fix it separate. Debone rotisserie chicken and cut into cubes. Of course you can use any kind of chicken this is just so tasty. Break up potatoes by lightly mashing with potato masher. When potatoes are ready add one to two cups of milk, the squash, chicken and some parsley. If you would like to spice it up a little, add one or two slices of pepper jack cheese. Soooo Goood! Enjoy!

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

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

Brian Perry E6 & Matthew Perry E5
(Brian, a Navy Seal in San Diego, and
Matthew, a Navy Cryptologist at Fort Meade, Maryland, are the sons of Marshall & Patrice Perry of Montgomery)
~~~~~~~~~~
Capt. John Adams
(An Installation Commander in the U.S. Army stationed at Pele Center in Pago, Pago
American Samoa, is the son of Joyce Adams)
~~~~~~~~~~
2nd Lt. USMC Jeff Vickers
(An Intel Officer stationed at Dam Neck,
Virginia Beach, VA. Jeff is the son-in-law of Rufus Pavlock.)

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

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

(Arthur Plessala -- June, 2009)

THE YEAR OF ST. PAUL COMES TO AN END

Ask Catholics about evangelization and you get a mumble and a shrug. Evangelization? That's what evangelicals do, isn't it? It's not that Catholics think it's bad. Rather, it is that most Catholics simply have no idea what to do. So we console ourselves with the saying of St. Francis of Assisi: "Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words when necessary."

Over 2000 years ago, St. Paul no more felt equal to the task of evangelism than you or I do. His secret was not a technique or philosophy. It was that Paul believed that if he trusted in the Spirit of Jesus to provide the power and the wisdom, the Spirit would come through. And he did. We can do the same. The great thing about being Catholic is that you can plagiarize and call it "being faithful to the Tradition." You do not have to have a theological brain when somebody asks you what Catholics believe. You don't have to be clever. Go find a Catechism of the Catholic Church or get a copy of the Compendium of the catechism (a Q & A format of the catechism) written by Benedict the XVI, our pope. (Both are available in St. Mary's Corner Shop.)

The Catholic Church, according to scripture, wants marriage to be for life. Marriage Preparation is a requirement for ALL who are to be married in the Catholic Church.

It is a requirement but it is also meant to be a help to the couples to help them reaffirm their choice of lifelong mates, try to pinpoint areas where they might not agree or might not have even discussed with each other and, hopefully, reach agreement or compromises for those areas. All of this is to give the couple a clearer understanding of what they face in marriage beforehand so as to reduce any disillusionment after the wedding that could lead to divorce. Topics include problem solving, financial issues, parenting, sexual issues, etc.

Each couple preparing for marriage at St. Mary's/St. Joseph's has approximately 6 meetings to schedule (lasting from 1 1/2--2 hours) which averages to about 12 hours per couple. It is important that each couple start their Marriage Preparation Sessions, hopefully, 8 months to a year in advance. As you can see from the list of weddings included in the bulletin on another page, we have had (and it's the same every year) quite a few couples to work with on Marriage Preparation.

Trying to get through all these in a timely manner is sometimes quite a feat! Plus, it takes up quite a lot of time on the part of the Marriage Preparation workers. Marriage Preparation is a joy to those who do it -- meeting young people in love and helping them to strive for strong, faith-filled marriages. Challenging them to be the best lifelong partners to each other. We love it!

However, as it is with most everything in life, there are always downsides. The biggest downside we have found in doing Marriage Preparation is setting up an appointment to meet a couple at church, leaving home and making the 20 minute trip to church and then the couple never shows. Then we have to re-schedule and do it all over again. We could be meeting another couple during this time or we could be out working at our paying job. Since our time is somewhat flexible, we try to accommodate to the couples schedules and arrange meetings at their convenience. We always give them our contact numbers (home, both cells & email) and ask that they call in advance to re-schedule if need be (we realize that things come up unexpectedly). Thankfully, the greatest majority are keeping their appointments or, at least, calling to cancel and re-schedule in advance. The problem is with those who don't.

Couples, getting married is one of the most important things you will do during your whole life. The wedding is exciting to plan, but Marriage Preparation should take precedence over everything. There is no excuse for missing an appointment completely. You have all the information you need to contact us to re-schedule in advance if it is necessary.

Parents, yes, your children are all grown-up (possibly living away) but you are still in close touch and can help them keep their scheduled appointments.

If this gets to be too big of a problem for us we may have to send the no-show couples to Fr. Ed to complete their Marriage Preparation which will be very difficult for the couple as well as Fr. Ed as he is already stressed to the limits with pastoral duties. So this means if a couple's Marriage Preparation isn't completed before their set wedding date -- that date may have to be moved back.

Sincerely in the love of Christ,
Walter & Francell Busa

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES are Scheduled for
Saturday, June 6th from 900-12:00 in St. Mary's Family Life Center with Baptisms to follow July 12th

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
or
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

Bringing Down The Bottom Line
Cutting Expenses

Are you going to be out of town Bazaar Day?
Are you unable to help set up/take down for the Bazaar?
Are you unable to work Bazaar Day?
Are you a Friend-of-St. Mary and want to help?

Consider being a Sponsor of:

Bazaar Tent [120x60] $3,000.00
Tent Air-Conditioning $3,000.00
Meat for Bazaar Dinner $3,000.00
Beer $2,500.00
Bingo $ 200.00
Coke & Tea Booth $ 400.00
Kids' Area $ 500.00
Grocery Booth $ 300.00
Concessions` $ 200.00
Hunting & Fishing $1,000.00
Kolache Booth $ 200.00
Plant Booth $ 500.00
Ring Toss Booth $ 100.00
Sausage Booth $ 250.00
Texas Shoot-out $ 500.00

If you would like to be a sponsor, please contact the church office
at 936-894-2223 or Sonny or Stella Yorek at 936-894-3161.

With Sponsors and Supporters like You,
Bazaar 2009 is going to be the best ever!!!!

54th Anniversary Bazaar

Sunday, July 19, 2009
11am til ? - KC Hall in Anderson

Auction at 1:00pm
Clown & Balloons ~ Ice Cream ~ Moon Walk
Train Rides ~ Snow Cones ~ Auction
Cash Prize Raffle ~ Bar-B-Que Plates, $7.00

June 12th at 7:00PM in the Hall

The Scarlet and The Black

In 1943, German-occupied Rome witnessed many atrocities of the
Gestapo under the command of Colonel Herbert Kappler. Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, an Irish priest, was assigned to the Vatican under the pontificate of Pope Pius XII. Despite official Vatican neutrality and significant risk to his position within the church and personal safety, O'Flaherty organizes an enormous network of civilians to save Jewish refugees and Allied POWs from the Nazis. Based on a true story.

Starring Gregory Peck & Christopher Plummer.

Help us make the Annual Homecoming & Bazaar Celebrating the 100th Year on May 24, 2009 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!

ST. JOSEPH'S RAFFLE TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE! BUY THEM FROM ANY SJ MEMBER OR COME BY THE PARISH OFFICE.

(TO ALL PARISH MEMBERS . . . SELL, SELL, SELL!)

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 and St. Mary's Church on Mother's Day Sunday, May 10 during the 10:30am mass.

IF YOU ARE A PARENT, YOU SHOULD 'BE VIRTUSED'!

'Virtus' is a National Catholic Program required for our volunteers who work with children, but ANYONE can take it.

The session is called 'Protecting God's Children'. You will learn what to look for in a child who is being or has been abused. You will learn what to look out for in a potential abuser. You will learn things you can do to help keep children safe. So, if you are a parent, here is your chance!

We are having a Virtus Session in the St. Mary Parish Hall, on Saturday, May 16th, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. You must register ahead of time, online at www.virtus.org to attend. You will need to arrive BEFORE 9:00 a.m. to be admitted. Call the Church Office if you need assistance.

Anyone who intends to help with Vacation Bible School, a Children's Music Group, C.C.E. or is a part of ANY CHILDREN'S ORGANIZATION OR GROUP that uses Church facilities and has not already taken this, needs to sign up and attend this session!

Come join us in Rome!

June 22nd -- 26th, 9:30 a.m. - Noon
Pre-K through 6th Grade Students

This year we're doing - Rome: Paul & The Underground Church

Volunteers needed! Contact the C.C.E. Office for information.

Registration Forms available in the C.C.E. Office or June Bulletin.
re@smsj.org or 936-894-2223

St. Joseph's Altar Society Stew Super Raffle Winners

Chrissy Wolfson ~ Quilt
Thomas Nickleson ~ Swing
Tim Williams ~ Adult Bicycle
Felix Kimich ~ Wind Chimes
Megan Rubach ~ $100 Gift Certificate
Gail Sowell ~ $100 Gift Certificate
Geralyn Backhus ~ $100 Gift Certificate

Thanks again to all who supported our annual Stew Supper!

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's GAME DAY this month ... come join us on Thursday, May 21, 2009 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

~~MONTHLY MEETING -- TUES., MAY 12, 2009 -- 6:00 PM AT ST. MARY'S HALL~~

Monthly Meeting Hostesses: Mimi Loftus, Pam Alexander, Pat Brownlee, Nancy Schlottman

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will meet this month at the hall after the 9:00am mass on May 12, 2009. (THERE WILL BE NO MEETING IN JUNE, JULY & AUGUST!)

. . . will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 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 would like to thank all who played, sponsored a hole, donated a gift or volunteered in our Eighth Annual Golf Tournament at Walden Golf Course last month. Thanks to the support of so many, the tournament was a huge success.

It was a tough start to the vegetable garden this year due to hail and a German Shepherd puppy that weighs a ton. I spent a lot of time getting things planted. He snuck into the garden during the night and dug it back up. Jealousy or just having fun? Needless to say he hasn't messed with them again. Now we are enjoying the fruits of our labor and anticipating more. My garden is about 100 feet from my door so I have planted some cilantro (coriander), parsley and green onions in pots closer to the house for easy access. I love the smell of cilantro and herbs when they get wet from watering. Their fragrance just fills the air.

At this time of year it will be getting hotter and hotter. Time to transplant or seed summer annual flowers such as sunflowers, zinnia, marigold, morning glory, cosmos, periwinkles and gourds. Plant Vinca at the end of the month in a sunny spot. In the shade plant Impatiens, coleus, begonias and caladium.

Summer flowering perennials include garden mums, Shasta daisy, dusty miller, mallow, coreopsis, summer phlox, daylily and salvia of many kinds and colors. Summer bulbs include achimenes, cannas, caladiums dahlias can be planted at the end of this month. Lantana loves the heat. It blooms all summer.

Firebush has bright orange and red blooms that attract hummingbirds. A few more plants that attract hummingbirds are Cherry sage, Mountain sage, Big Red sage, Red Yuka, Turk's cap, Rose Mallow, Coral vine, Trumpet vine and Cross vine.

Fertilize your roses every four to six weeks with small amounts of fertilizer. You can still set out container shrubs and trees. They will need regular watering this summer but don't over do. If you do it now you can still fertilize your yard. Testing the soil is always best to know the right fertilizer to use. Keep it watered regularly.

Looking forward to all those fresh veggies. I'm on a squash kick. Just can't seem to get enough of it lately. Enjoy the rest of spring.

GOD BLESS YOU AND THE GROUND HE WALKED UPON.

A book filled with hope and inspiration for caregivers has just been released. "Upside Down and Back Again: Hope for the Caregiver" is a unique book for caregivers written from a Christian perspective, comprised of practical tips, prayers, bible verses, and inspiration by author Barbara J. Cooper. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Franciscan Poor Clare Nuns.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information or to order your signed copy, you may contact the author though her website at: www.barbarajcooperbooks.com or you may send a check in the amount of $13.95 to B.J. Cooper-Schonert, P.O. Box 9077, College Station, Texas 77842

It's the birthday of the Catholic Church!!

Please join us on Pentecost Sunday in celebrating the beginning
of the Catholic Church.

There will be an Easter Egg hunt after all the Masses at St. Joseph's and St. Mary's on Sunday, May 31 for the children in attendance.

Bring a basket or one will be provided.

At St. Mary's, join us for the usual Coffee Service in the Hall after all the Masses. There will be a special Birthday Cake for all to share.

(Arthur Plessala -- May, 2009)

The month of May brings the feast of Pentecost, a time to celebrate the gifts that God's Spirit bestows on the Church in and through its members. God's gifts are given to each of us and we are expected to share them with others. When we recognize our gifts and talents and use them in the service of others, only then are we being the persons that God created us to be.
St. Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit is the Giver of gifts: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:8).

Gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Confirmation: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord.
Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-Control, Chastity.

How much our world needs a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit! There are still many who have not heard the Good News of Jesus Christ; while many others, for whatever reason, have not recognized in this Good News the saving truth that alone can satisfy the deepest longings of their hearts. The psalmist prays: When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth" (Ps 104:30). It is my firm belief that young people are called to be instruments of that renewal, communicating to their peers the joy they have experienced through knowing and following Christ, and sharing with others the love that the Spirit pours into their hearts, so that they too will be filled with hope and with thanksgiving for all the good things they have received from God, our heavenly Father. Many people today lack hope. They are perplexed by the questions that present themselves ever more urgently in a confusing world, and they are often uncertain which way to turn for answers. They see poverty and injustice and they long to find solutions. They are challenged by the arguments of those who deny the existence of God and they wonder how to respond. They see great damage done to the natural environment through human greed and they struggle to find ways to live in greater harmony with nature and with one another.

Where can we look for answers? The Spirit points us towards the way that leads to life, to love, and to truth. The Spirit points us towards Jesus Christ. There is a saying attributed to Saint Augustine: If you wish to remain young, seek Christ. In him we find the answers that we are seeking; we find the goals that are truly worth living for; we find the strength to pursue the path that will bring about a better world. Our hearts find no rest until they rest in the Lord, as Saint Augustine says at the beginning of the Confessions, the famous account of his own youth. Our prayer is that our hearts will truly find rest in the Lord, and that we will be filled with joy and fervor for spreading the Good News among our friends, our families, and all whom we meet.

The single, most important pre-condition for participating in the saving events of the Bible is PERSONAL HONESTY AND INTEGRITY. We must accept the full truth about ourselves. We naturally tend to be selfish, which is in fact a radical form of bondage, but there is no real happiness at the end of this path. We are always moving through the painful process of authentic conversion from selfish ego-centricity to unconditional love of others. All our prayers need to be focused on the need to move from selfishness to love of others. We have a constant need of conversion. The "big lie" of Satan is that we can achieve happiness by being self-centered and by avoiding painful conversion. The original meaning of the word, "devil," is deceiver. That is why Jesus declares, When he {the devil} tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).

It is so difficult to embrace the full truth about ourselves that it is very likely that we will find excuses for not taking the challenge of the scriptures seriously. Since the journey that we Christians are on is UNION with God---enjoying beatific vision---we must be dedicated to truth and have nothing to do with deception. We know that marriage doesn't work if we live in deception. If God is love and God is Jesus Incarnate who is the way, the truth, and the life, we believe that Union with God excludes deception. The Hebrew slaves were delivered from bondage because God loved them, not because they were attractive, but because God is good. Moses risked his life by returning to Egypt and accepting what seemed to be a "mission impossible." He did it because he loved those who needed his help. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth (John 16:13).

The Cemetery Association of St. Mary's Catholic Community invites all to a MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION in the Cemetery MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 at 9:00 AM to pay respects to those who gave their life in the service of our country.

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

Brian Perry E6 & Matthew Perry E5
(Brian, a Navy Seal in San Diego, and
Matthew, a Navy Cryptologist at Fort Meade, Maryland, are the sons of Marshall & Patrice Perry of Montgomery)
~~~~~~~~~~
Capt. John Adams
(An Installation Commander in the U.S. Army stationed at Pele Center in Pago, Pago
American Samoa, is the son of Joyce Adams)
~~~~~~~~~~
2nd Lt. USMC Jeff Vickers
(An Intel Officer stationed at Dam Neck,
Virginia Beach, VA. Jeff is the son-in-law of Rufus Pavlock.)

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.

St. Mary and St. Joseph's Catholic Communities congratulate our newest members who received the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist):

Karen Ann Klawinsky
Samantha Lea Theresa Klawinsky
Rex Wayne Sebastian Pixley
Tasha Lea Francis Willis

and

Kayla Rene Mary Magdalene Blummer
who celebrated the Rite of Reception (Confirmation and Holy Eucharist) into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church at Easter Vigil.

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
prizes, please consider forming a group. We will have a Wish List available outside of the church after all Masses on
May 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24.

Contacts:
Linda Armstrong
936-825-0565
or
St. Mary’s Church
936-894-2223

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES

are Scheduled for Saturday, June 6th from 900-12:00 in St. Mary's Family Life Center with Baptisms to follow July 12th

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

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.

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.

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

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

Come and enjoy a spaghetti dinner, traditionally meatless, at St. Mary's parish hall provided for everyone in the parish. Your only cost is to bring a sack of non-perishable items to help benefit those in our Parish community who are in need.

Dinner will be served after the 10:30am Mass on March 15, 2009.

THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY.

St. Joseph's Feast Day
5:30 pm Mass @ St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stoneham, TX

Followed by the STEW SUPPER
~Fantastic Beef Stew ~ served with wonderful Bread & Homemade Pies

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Supper served immediately following Mass
(Approximately 6:15pm--in the Parish Hall)

ADULTS - $6.00 / CHILDREN (12 & under) - $3.00
Raffle includes Phil's handmade quilt and
Leland's homemade porch swing and more!

Come and take part in our centennial year celebration!

5:30-8:30pm - Tuesday, March 31, 2009
(Fr. Kelly will assist Fr. Ed)

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!

Let's get ready for spring and summer!

All the sick in the parishes of St. Joseph's & St. Mary's are invited to attend the
~St. Joseph's Healing Mass~
MARCH 7--10:30am--ST. JOSEPH'S

A luncheon will be served in the hall following mass.

(If you need transportation to attend, please call Kaky Wetuski at
936-894-2307 and leave a message. She will arrange a ride for you.)

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:    

Work Days:  

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 18 th : 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
 Saturday: April 25 th : 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!

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's GAME DAY this month ... come join us on Thursday, March 19, 2009 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

~~MONTHLY MEETING -- TUES., MARCH 10, 2009 -- 6:00 PM AT ST. MARY'S HALL~~

Program will be Stations of the Cross

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will meet this month at the hall after the 9:00am mass on March 10, 2009.

ATTENTION GOLFERS! Mark your calendars for the Eighth Annual St. Mary's Men's Club Golf Tournament at Walden Golf Club on Lake Conroe

Monday, April 6--10:00am (Rain out date May 4)

For more information, see any Men's Club member or pick up a flyer in the parish hall.
Includes:

Range Balls
Green Fees
Box Lunch
Drinks
Cart
Dinner

Format:
4 Person Scramble

Prizes:
Hole-in-One wins a Car!
Silent Auction
Live Auction

1st & 2nd Men's Foursome
(Minimum of three men)
1st & 2nd Ladies' Foursome
(Minimum of three women)
1st & 2nd Couple's Foursome
(Foursome: two men/two women

NOTE: All proceeds benefit the charity efforts of Saint Mary's Men's Club

Checks payable to Saint Mary's Men's Club
Mail checks and entry forms to:

Roy Champagne
28 Claremont Court
Montgomery, TX 77356

Questions: Contact: Ed Kura at 936-597-8144

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.

. . . will be holding their monthly meeting on Monday, March 16, 2009. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

Knights of Columbus Father Domanski Council # 4054 FISH FRY

KC Hall ~ Anderson, TX
Friday, March 6, 2009
5 p.m. til ?

$7.00 per plate

Fish, fries, hush puppies, drink & dessert.

PUBLIC IS INVITED

(Arthur Plessala -- March, 2009)

Last month, I wrote about the traditional acts of Penance during Lent. The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday as we imitate the ancient practice of placing ashes (from the burnt palms of the previous year's Palm Sunday) on our foreheads in the sign of the cross. This visual and kinesthetic act represents the turning of our hearts and minds to God and the renewal of our need for repentance.

Adult Confirmation Classes for 2009 Is Here!  

All Catholic Adults (no matter what age) who have not been confirmed have the opportunity to attend Adult Confirmation Classes this spring to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation by the Bishop on Pentecost Sunday, May 31

Initial Sign-up is on Sun., March 22, 2009 from 12:15-1:00 pm.
Class begins on Sun., March 29 upstairs in St. Mary's Family Life Center from 12:15-2:00pm.

Calendar of Classes:

Sunday, March 29.....Faith/Church

Sunday, April 5.........Creed

Sunday, April 12.......EASTER....No Class

Sunday, April 19.......Prayer

Sunday, April 26.......Christian Initiation/Confirmation

Sunday, May 3.........Jesus/Gifts of the Spirit

Sunday, May 10 .......MOTHER'S DAY.....No Class

Sunday, May 17........Moral Life (Social Justice)/Beatitudes

Sunday, May 24........Sin/Sacrament of Penance

Saturday, May 30 .....Penance Service

Sunday, May 31........PENTECOST...Meet Bishop for Confirmation

Just seven sessions is all it takes to complete your Sacraments of Initiation.

Remember: Confirmation, rather than imparting the Spirit, is a release of the gifts and powers of the Spirit in the life of the individual. Among the effects of Confirmation is the strengthening to proclaim and defend the faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. As with all sacraments, Confirmation is effective in the dispensation of graces.

.................................................................................................................................................

CONFIRMATION SIGN-UP:

NAME______________________________________________ BIRTHDATE_________________________

ADDRESS_______________________________________________________________________________

CITY_______________________________________STATE___________________ZIP_________________

PHONE CONTACTS (Home, Work, Cell, Parents, etc.)___________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

BRING COPY OF BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE WITH YOU, IF POSSIBLE, ON MARCH 22nd.
((If you do not have one, contact the Church where you were baptized and ask them to send you a copy)

PLEASE PRE-REGISTER SO AS TO CONFIRM NUMBER OF BOOKS NEEDED  

For more information: contact Suzanne Hill
(936) 894-2396 or sehill222@hotmail.com

Thank you to all the Altar Society members who contributed their time and talent to make our
Annual Spaghetti dinner such a success.

Thank you also to all the parishioners who attended this "delicious" fellowship event.

All men of St. Mary's are welcome to join in a special Men's Choir, who will sing at 3pm on Good Friday this year. The Men's Choir was absolutely wonderful when they sang last year!

There will be four rehearsals: 7pm on March 16, March 23, March 30, and April 6, in the church. Each rehearsal will last approximately 1 ½ hours. Please check your calendars, and plan to join in this special celebration of the Lord's Passion and death.

To sign up, call the parish office at 936-894-2223, or call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565.
Email: linda@smsj.org

The St. Mary's Choristers Booster Club will sponsor a soup supper in the Hall after evening masses on Ash Wednesday. A variety of soups will be featured on the menu.

The group is preparing for a Pueri Cantores Festival to be held on Saturday, May 30, at St. Cecilia's in Houston. They will join with hundreds of other young people from 13 different Dioceses, including Galveston-Houston, at a Mass presided over by Cardinal DiNardo. The conductor for the choir is Lee Gwozdz, Assistant Conductor of the Cathedral Choir in Corpus Christi, TX.

They are also scheduled to sing at Masses in our parish during Lent and throughout the Easter Season. The Mass times will be rotated among our Saturday and Sunday Liturgies so that all parishioners will have the opportunity to hear and sing with the children.

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.

If you have been thinking about singing in the choir, but just can't seem to make the commitment to weekly rehearsals for a whole year, why not join us for the seasons of Lent and Easter?

The choir will begin rehearsing special music for these seasons the first week in February. If you can set aside 1 ½ hours each week for rehearsal from February through Easter on April 12, we would love to have you join us. Just show up at rehearsal on Wednesday, February 4.

If you have any questions, call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or email at linda@smsj.org

Jubilate Deo! Sing to the Lord!

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES are Scheduled for Saturday, April 4th
from 900-12:00 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

Ash Wednesday -- February 25, 2009

Ash Wednesday is on February 25th and marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting,abstinence (from meat), and repentance.

Mass times on Ash Wednesday are as follows:

ST. JOSEPH'S: 12:00pm

ST. MARY'S: 9:00am, 5:30pm, 7:30pm

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

Coming Soon!

St. Joseph's Feast Day
5:30 pm Mass @
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stoneham, TX
Followed by the STEW SUPPER

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Supper served immediately following Mass
(Approximately 6:15pm)in the Parish Hall

ASH WEDNESDAY SOUP SUPPER

Wednesday, Feb. 25 ~ 5-8pm ~ St. Mary's Hall

Menu:
Potato Soup ~ Seafood Gumbo
Bread/Corn Bread ~ Drinks
~~~
Adults: $5 ~ Children: $3

Please come and support the St. Mary's Choirsters as they earn funds to attend the Pueri Cantores Festival in Rome!

St. Mary's 1st Annual Valentine Dinner Event

Come spend Valentine's Day with your special Valentine, family and friends of St. Mary's at our 1st Annual Valentine Dinner Event at the Parish Hall.

When: February 14, 2009
Time: Hors d'oeuvres at 6:30 PM; Dinner at 7:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 per person pre-sale until February 8, 2009. After Feb. 8, 2009 - $35.00 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Parish Office (cash or check only). Seating is limited.

Silent Auction Items Include:
Lebanese Dinner -- hosted by Deacon David & Janice Jarvis
Golf Extravaganza ~ Spa & Brunch Package ~ Sports Package
Private Wine Tasting for 20 at Bernhardt
Dinner Package for 4 (Restaurant to be announced)

Entertainment Provided ~~~ Tickets can be purchased at the Parish Office

St. Mary's Crèche/Nativity Scene Repaired and Restored For Christmas 2008

One of the most endearing and special feature of the Christmas Season is the putting up of the crèche and staging the scene of our Savior's birth. Both of our churches of St. Mary and St. Joseph have their original crèches. We use the term 'original' as indicating that they've both been around a long time, as long as some of the old timers can remember.

St. Mary's crèche probably dates from the 1950's, maybe earlier but that would make it extremely rare. We say the 1950's because, being imported from Germany, it most likely was made after WWII when Germany was being reconstructed and during a time when the area here and else where in the United States were enjoying a period of prosperity. If it predates WWII, its antique value is enhanced. Should someone know the date of the crèche's arrival at St. Mary, please let us know.

During the years, the care given the crèche was variable. Some years it seems that the crèche was packed away very carefully. Other years it seems that they were put away very hurriedly. As a result, each piece suffered wear and tear, some more than others. One year recently, we couldn't find the Infant Jesus and St. Joseph. They finally turned up a year later. An investigation was launched to purchase a 'new', complete antique crèche similar to the one used for so many years, but now battered, badly chipped and in need of serious repair. That investigation only reinforced how special and valuable St. Mary's crèche was and how important it was to have it repaired and restored.

Ms. Donell Hill, who has done all the restoration and art work in St. Mary, undertook the delicate and time-sensitive task. All 26 pieces were painstakingly repaired and repainted, paying special attention to historical detail and reproducing even the shepherds' crooks, which have been missing for years. Remarkably, the manger Jesus lays in and several sheep were found in Mexico which were of the same or similar crèche manufacture of Germany. Dr. Antonio Loro who is himself a restorationist and a certified appraiser claims that the crèche now restored is one-of-a-kind and extremely valuable.

With that in mind and wanting to preserve St. Mary's original crèche for future generations, wooden boxes are being individually made into which each figure will be placed. Bill Malek and James Bochat are coordinating the building project with their team of expert carpenters. Each box will be cushioned to protect each figure and vented against moisture build up. Each figure will be carefully wrapped in wax paper [per Ms. Donell and Dr. Loro's instruction]. They will be stored where neither moth or thief will disturb them.

If you didn't take the time to get 'up close and personal' at the Manger Scene this past Christmas, don't miss it next year. It's a treasure.

It's Winter But Spring Will Soon Be Here....God's Gardeners Are In Need Of A Few Green Thumbs.

All who come and visit the grounds of St. Mary marvel at the gardens with their variety and profusion of plants and blooms. They are stunned when informed that there is a group of parishioners who volunteer and adopt a portion of a flowerbed and painstakingly and lovingly make it speak of the wonder of God's creation and a gift for all to enjoy. Each bed's caretaker is identified by a green metal plaque.

Understandably, being a God's Gardener is not a life time commitment. As a result, there are always flowerbeds needing adoption and continued loving care. In fact, two beds are now available to some 'one' or family wanting to share the remarkable gift of helping nature along at bit and keeping the grounds of St. Mary an exquisite garden that proclaims our love of the Creator of all things and our working together in every way for His honor and glory.

Call the Church Office [936-894-2223] and we'll connect you to your special plot on God's Green acre at St. Mary.

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, February 3, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's BINGO this month ... come join us on Thursday, February 19, 2009 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

ST. MARY'S ALTAR SOCIETY NEWS ~ FEBRUARY, 2009

~~MONTHLY MEETING -- TUES., FEBRUARY 10, 2009 -- 6:00 PM AT ST. MARY'S HALL~~
SMAS Spaghetti Dinner--Sun., Feb. 22 after 10:30am mass--to go plates available after 9am mass

Meeting Hostesses: Lorraine Nilson, Janet Nolan, Annette Freund, Patti Kalich

ST. MARY'S ALTAR SOCIETY NEWS ~ MARCH, 2009

~~MONTHLY MEETING -- TUES., MARCH 10, 2009 -- 6:00 PM AT ST. MARY'S HALL~~

Monthly Meeting Hostesses: Melissa Campbell, Joanne Naughton, Michelle LaRose, Liza Torres

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will meet this month at the hall after the 9:00am mass on February 10, 2009.

IT'S CEMETERY CLEANUP TIME AGAIN!!

February 28th is Cemetery Cleanup Day.

All old flowers and worn items will be removed from the graves. If you have any items that are sentimental to you, please remove them from your loved one's gravesite.

Anyone and everyone is invited to gather at 9:00am to begin cleanup.

THESE DATES APPLY TO BOTH CEMETERIES--ST. MARY & ST. JOSEPH

~~Bring a lunch to share to make a fun day for all.~~
The next cleanup day will be Saturday, October 3rd.

ST. MARY'S ANNUAL GARAGE SALE

St. Mary's Annual Garage Sale date has been moved to SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2009 in order to make it more climate comfortable for our volunteers.

This parish project is an opportunity for all parishioners to participate not only in disposing of gently used items (Spring Clean-Up), but also to meet and share in fellowship as you make this project a success. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept the following items: old tires, Analog TV's, non-working electronics / appliances.

Please drop off your items from Sunday to Friday, no Saturday please. Please contact the church office in advance, if assistance is needed to unload heavy items. DEADLINE FOR ALL DONATIONS IS APRIL 25, 2009.

Volunteer sign up sheets are available in the church foyer. If you have any questions, please contact Mildred Rosenberg at (936) 873-2579.

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $CHOLARSHIP $ $ $ $ $ $ $

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.

Important Date to Remember: from St. Mary's Altar Society

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2009
The Altar Society will host a SPAGHETTI DINNER after 10:30am mass.

To go boxes will be available after the 9:00am mass.

ATTENTION GOLFERS!

Mark your calendars for the Eighth Annual St. Mary's Men's Club Golf Tournament at Walden Golf Club on Lake Conroe

Monday, April 6--10:00am (Rain out date May 4)

For more information, see any Men's Club member or pick up a flyer in the parish hall.

St. Mary's Men's Club
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blood Drive with Breakfast

Sun., FEBRUARY 15 from 8AM-1pm in St. Mary's Parish Hall.

For more information, Call Neil Rosenberg At 936-873-2579

ST. MARY'S MEN'S CLUB

. . . will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2009. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

Since our food pantry is getting low on non-perishable foods, we are
asking each family to bring a donation of food each week. A few canned goods from each family add up to a parish family reaching out, sharing and living the teachings of the gospel and St. Vincent de Paul. Large wicker baskets are provided in the foyer of St. Mary's Hall and St. Joseph's Hall to accept your offerings.

Thank you!!

There will be changes in our hall rental policy effective January 1, 2009. Before scheduling any event, please stop by the office and pick up a set of new instructions.

Saint Vincent de Paul Annual Report to the Parish

The members of the St. Mary/St. Joseph Society of Saint Vincent de Paul would like to take this opportunity to thank the parish members for the outstanding support you have given our Conference over the past seven years. Without your support, the support from Father Ed., and the parish staff we would not be able to function effectively as an organization. As you know, all of our funding is through donations: Black Bag Collections (2), Poor Box Contributions, and personal donations. We currently have 64 members and 14 trained home visit teams.

Outlined below are a few if the statistics related to our 2008 Activity:
- Total funds distributed $41,744.28 (Utilities- 56%, Housing -- 18%,
Transportation- 8%, and Medical 7%)
- We helped approximately 100 families, and 464 individuals.
- Our members distributed approximately 200 baskets/bags of groceries.
- Our members totaled more than 3,700 in-service hours.
- Our members drove over 9,700 unreimbursed miles visiting our friends.
- 95% of the families we help do not belong to either of our parishes.

Not counted in above activities are donated hours by Medical and Dental Services, Families we adopted at Christmas and expenditures by members who support a friend and are not reimbursed by the Conference.

Also of note in 2008, was the relocation and beautification of our Food Pantry, and the establishment of an office for our newest outreach effort to the community, Power to Care. We are partnering with Entergy Corporation to provide qualifying Senior citizens with utility assistance.

One of the biggest challenges in helping the needy of the area is transportation. It is impossible to hold down a job without reliable transportation. We would like to give a special "Thank You" to Gary Ponton for his assistance in 2008. Gary has been an invaluable resource for evaluating transportation issues and steering us in the right direction.

2009

The one area we will be working harder on this year is transportation. If you have a car you would like to donate please get in touch with our Society. The car does not have to be running. We will have it evaluated and determine if it can be economically repaired to give to a needy family.

If you would like to join our Society please get in touch with one of our board members: Claudia Riedlinger, Sharon Lacy, Nick Lomonte, or C.J LeBlanc. Our Conference meets the third Thursday of the month. Our meeting are followed by a Mass and social gathering.

Once again, we thank you for the support you have given our Society.

St. Mary's ~ St. Joseph's MEN'S RETREAT

The Fifth Annual St. Mary's / St. Joseph's Men's Retreat will be held April 24, 25 & 26, 2009 at the Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

The theme for this year's retreat Is "Living Beyond Our Fears."

TOP TEN REASONS FOR ATTENDING A MEN'S RETREAT AT THE
HOLY NAME PASSIONIST RETREAT CENTER

10. The Priests and the Holy Name Retreat Center Staff are wonderful hosts;

9. No chores, honey-dos' or family carpooling from Friday evening to Sunday after noon;

8. No interruptions from cell phones, pagers or Blackberries for a whole weekend;

7. Best value in town--private room with private bath for 2 nights with 6 great meals for a "suggested donation" of $180.00;

6. Opportunity to get better acquainted with fellow parishioners and diocesan brothers;

5. Chance to share a wonderful experience with a son, father, brother, friend, etc.;

4. Beautiful chapel, grounds and facilities for meditation, relaxation and reflection;

3. Outstanding presentations relative to our everyday challenges;

2. The Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Lord's Supper;
AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON

1. Quality, quantity and personal time with our Savior.

For information on the drawing for a free retreat for first timers at Holy Name, Or on this year's retreat and how to obtain registration forms, please call Fred Seale at 936-582-7095 or at fseale2@yahoo.com.

"BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD"

Here we are in February. Time to start hardening off some of your veggie plants, gradually. Not too fast and do not water them as much. We still have till the end of March or even the first week of April before it is safe to put our tomatoes and peppers in the ground. Of course there are those of us who like to speed up our plant time in the ground and plant earlier trying to beat the odds of getting ruined by a frost. You can sometimes. It takes a lot of time covering and uncovering of your tender plants but if you have the time, go for it. Some may make it and some may not. As gardeners we just can't resist having the first great taste of homegrown tomatoes.

You can however still plant bare-rooted fruit trees, nut trees, grapes, blueberries and blackberry. Make sure when choosing these plants they are varieties for this area. Also find out which type require a secondary plant to pollinate. Plum, apple, pear, blueberries and some muscadine grape require another to produce. It is also time to fertilize fruit trees. I usually do this towards the end of the month. For plum and peach apply 1lb, approx 2 cups, of ammonium sulfate per inch of the trunk diameter. Place at the edge of the canopy of the branches, not at the trunk. For my citrus I sometimes use fruit tree spikes.

February is also the time to do some pruning before buds begin to swell for spring. Finish pruning summer flowering tees and shrubs. Do not prune spring flowering plants such as bridal wreath, azalea, forsythia or quince until after they bloom. Most plants don't need much pruning. Most ornamental plants usually look better if given plenty of space and are left alone to show off their natural form. Prune floribunda and tea roses. Prune hybrid tea roses 18 to 24 inches above the ground. Make clean, sharp cuts just above buds which face outward from the cane. Other roses do not need this much pruning. Climbing roses should be pruned after blooming.

Have you gotten your seed potatoes yet? Valentine Day has been the day for planting potatoes for many years. It just so happens it is also in favor with the declining of the moon this year, which is when you are to plant your below ground crop. It is not too late. Purchasing seed potatoes are good for they are disease resistant. If you choose to just pick some up at the grocery you can cut them up leaving an eye on each piece. Let them callus over a couple days. Plant in full sun in well drained soil. They will rot in wet areas. Dig a furrow 4 to 8 inches deep. Place cut side down 8 inches apart. Cover with 3 inches of soil or compost. If you have trouble with slugs or moles you may plant them shallow and cover with straw or light compost. When leaves appear, cover again with 3 inches of soil. It takes 2-4 months to harvest. Plant will flower. When flowers die off potatoes are ready. If careful you can dig some potatoes for a meal and leave some still on plant for later, up to a month. Nothing like fresh potatoes. Except those fresh tomatoes. Can't wait. Maybe I'll have to put a couple plants out early. Just maybe.

GOD BLESS YOU AND THE GROUND HE WALKED UPON.

Send your gardening ideas to : NEW EMAIL : Ronniebochat@consolidated.net

A Word from the Archdiocese about . . . . . .

Charitable Contributions and IRS

"Due to changes in the tax laws, for contributions made in 2008, parishioners (those who itemize their tax returns) will no longer be able to deduct contributions to the parish unless they maintain a bank record or written contribution statement from the parish. If you want to ensure deductibility of your contributions to the parish, please use a check, direct deposit from your bank account, or your parish envelopes. The parish will track contributions made using parish envelopes, and will upon request, produce a written statement of contributions made during 2008. Cancelled checks and other bank records are also sufficient documentation. The parish cannot track cash contributions that are not in parish envelopes."

Get ready to put on that pretty face and S M I L E !

The photographer will be here soon to take your family photo for the new pictorial directory.

March 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
3:00-9:30pm

March 28--10am-5pm

The Knights of Columbus Council 4054 in Anderson would like to thank the communities of Plantersville and Stoneham for their help by purchasing raffle tickets for a shotgun with the proceeds helping the less fortunate in the area. The winner of the raffle was Gary Black of the Conroe-Montgomery area.

The council distributed food and other items to 19 families on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008. The council is still working with the Anderson-Shiro school district to provide more items needed for children in the area such as coats.

Arthur Plessala -- February, 2009

The first two seasons of our Church's liturgical year--Advent and Christmas--brought a fresh new Epiphany to illuminate the presence of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus the Word is found in the first sentence of the Gospel of John, the Evangelist:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

This sentence means that God existed already in the beginning, God is the beginning, and God is our origin. This God---who is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE---is likewise the Word. He is a gift. He has always been in existence, is the constant new beginning, and is also a new hope and a new way for all of us.

Our new baptistery at St. Mary's, appropriately placed beside the crib, really brought the season of Christmas to life for me. Jesus is born becoming man. The angels reveal him to the shepherds. The three wise men follow the star to the place of his birth. Through Baptism, we are born again by entering into our relationship with Christ. As we are born into his baptism and thus his relationship with his Father, we are enlightened by the Holy Spirit.

Catholics should always celebrate our Christian feasts based on our insight into the acts of God, not merely on astrology. The yearly return of these feasts is quite different from the endless repetition of the secular year from the first day of January to the last day of December. It is merely an eternally repeated cycle. Our liturgical year, however, reflects the expression of God's inexhaustible love. We are made aware of the outpouring of his unconditional love by our accumulative memories of our liturgical celebrations. Unlike the beginning of the secular year, the Christian new year---Advent/Christmas---has a very special newness. It offers us again and again and again the opportunity to return to remembering the goodness of the God who became man. That same goodness should call us each year to become a child again and to live a new life of love for God and others. Along with our community of faith, we share that love by our care for the poor as we create peace on earth.

Our Christmas season ends with the Baptism of the Lord. The descent of Jesus into the water is our universal symbol of his death on the cross. Our baptism is a rebirth into that death. As the spirit appears in the form of a dove and the heavenly skies are opened, we see a sign that his descent into our "night" is his search for us. Each and every year, Jesus brings us into the "light" again. (This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased -- Mark 1:11.)

On February 25, we start the spring cycle of our liturgical year 2009. The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days. We imitate the ancient practice of turning our hearts to God as ashes are placed on our foreheads in the sign of the cross, signifying our repentance during the Lenten fast. Lent is the season of giving up our sins, choosing to remember our rebirth into the Baptism of the Lord. We do this as we devote ourselves to fasting, abstinence, prayer, and almsgiving. We bring peace on earth by helping the lowly, the poor. We imitate Jesus' dying on the cross to save us. As the grain of wheat which dies to become many grains of wheat, we die to ourselves for others. We remember that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. The ashes we use in the ceremony are made by burning the remains of the palms blessed last year---a visible sign that our liturgical cycle continues. By living the will of our Father, we are fulfilling our mission of participating in creating a
community of love here on earth. We admit being sinners as we fall into the arms of the inexhaustible love of Jesus who forgives us and all peoples on the earth...in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All men of St. Mary's are welcome to join in a special Men's Choir, who will sing at 3pm on Good Friday this year. The Men's Choir was absolutely wonderful when they sang last year!

There will be four rehearsals: 7pm on March 16, March 23, March 30, and April 6, in the church. Each rehearsal will last approximately 1 ½ hours. Please check your calendars, and plan to join in this special celebration of the Lord's Passion and death.

To sign up, call the parish office at 936-894-2223, or call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565.
Email: linda@smsj.org

St. Mary's Choristers will be singing at the 10:30 am Mass on February 1, and at the 6pm Mass on Ash Wednesday.

The St. Mary's Choristers Booster Club will sponsor a soup supper in the Hall after evening Masses on Ash Wednesday. A variety of soups will be featured on the menu. Bring the family and support the Choristers in funding their trip to Rome.

Several sponsors have stepped forward: Bill Jones has sponsored Janie Ballew; Patty Jones has sponsored Valerie Ballew; and Annette Young has sponsored Jonathan LaRose. The sponsors have donated $75 to purchase the vestments for these choristers.

Five new members of the choristers were registered in January. If you are interested in sponsoring one of the 18 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.

If you have been thinking about singing in the choir, but just can't seem to make the commitment to weekly rehearsals for a whole year, why not join us for the seasons of Lent and Easter?

The choir will begin rehearsing special music for these seasons the first week in February. If you can set aside 1 ½ hours each week for rehearsal from February through Easter on April 12, we would love to have you join us. Just show up at rehearsal on Wednesday,
February 4. If you have any questions, call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or email at linda@smsj.org

Jubilate Deo! Sing to the Lord!

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

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.

Office of the Cardinal
The Respect Life Office

You are Invited to the Thirty-Sixth Annual
MASS FOR LIFE
Presiding
His Eminence
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, D.D.,S.T.L.

The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
1111 St. Joseph Parkway, Houston, TX
February 7, 2009 at 5:30pm
Reception at Cathedral Centre following Mass
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ALSO--On February 8, 2009, The World Day for Consecrated Life is scheduled. A special Mass is being offered for the 700 women and men in Religious Life in our Archdiocese. On this day, please remember to pray for increased vocations to the religious life not only here locally but around the world.

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES Are Scheduled for Saturday, February 7th
from 900-12:00 in St. Mary's Family Life Center with Baptisms to follow Feb. 22nd

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

2009 marks the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the church of St. Joseph in what-was-then the flourishing small town of Stoneham. Until that year, the Polish community worshiped either with St. Mary in Plantersville or St. Stanislaus in Anderson. With the building of a church structure in 1909 the Polish community in the area began what is now one hundred years of witness to the Gospel which calls us to be Christ's light of peace to the world of which we are a part. Though the town of Stoneham has all but disappeared, the church structure is still a testimony to the sacrifice and determination of its early families. Originally, the mission of St. Joseph was care for by the pastor of St. Stanislaus. In 1972, the pastor of St. Mary was entrusted with the care and nourishment of the faith of the Community.

Throughout this year of 2009 we will be celebrating one hundred years with a variety of special Masses, dinners and mementos, begining with the Centennial Cookbook put together by the Altar Society of St. Joseph. As the year progresses, stay tuned for the opportunities of gathering together and thanking God for these one hundred years of witness.

Hopefully you came forward and spent some moments in prayer and reflection at the crib of both our churches. The manger scene of St. Mary is an old German set that was made probably sometime after the second World War. It was most likely purchased by St. Mary in the 50's or early 60's. Each year, when setting out the figures for the Christmas Celebration, the figures were a little more damaged. One year, we lost the Baby Jesus! There was a time when buying a 'new' antique set was looked into but there are just not a whole lot out there. We discovered that our set is very collectible and very expensive. We've added some sheep trough the years which looked mismatched.

Ms. Donell Hill, the artist and restorationist who has done all the work at both St. Mary and St. Joseph has completely repaired, restored and repainted all the figurines in time for our Christmas Celebration this year. Special boxes are being build to house each figurine for storage in the future. We have learned a valuable lesson: don't take for granted what you have (it's more valuable than you think) and take care of what you have so that it can be enjoyed and treasured for generations to come.

The Three Epiphanies:
Manifestation of His Birth in Bethlehem
Manifestation to the Wise Men
Manifestation at the Jordan

(Did you see the connection at the Manger Scene at St. Mary?)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2009: 4:00pm Church Cleaning & 6:00 PM Monthly Meeting

Come help us clean church then plan for our SPAGHETTI DINNER Fund Raiser which is coming up next month.

Monthly Meeting Hostesses: Stella Yorek, Micki Kroeker, Lucy Lewis, Zina Ulicnik

FEBRUARY, 2009

MONTHLY MEETING -- TUES., FEBRUARY 10, 2009 -- 6:00 PM AT ST. MARY'S HALL

SMAS Spaghetti Dinner--Sun., Feb. 22 after 10:30am mass--to go plates available after 9am mass

Meeting Hostesses: Lorraine Nilson, Janet Nolan, Annette Freund, Patti Kalich

Important Dates to Remember

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2009
Members will gather at 4:00pm to clean the church.
Afterward, the regular monthly meeting will begin at 6:00pm to plan for February's Spaghetti Dinner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2009
The Altar Society will host a SPAGHETTI DINNER after 10:30am mass.
To go boxes will be available after the 9:00am mass.

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will meet this month at the hall after the 9:00am mass on January 13, 2009.

A Family Blessing Of The Home & Marking Of The Home's Lintel

It is an ancient and venerable custom to gather as a family, bless one's home and mark the entrance lintel during the Christmas Season, especially on the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated this year on January 7th. It's really simple. The family gathers for God to bless the New Year and all those who live in and come to visit this home.

+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Father, we bless Your name for sending Your own Incarnate Son to become part of a family, so that, as He lived His life, He would experience our worries and our joys.

We ask You, Father, to protect and watch over our family this year of 2007 so that in the strength of Your grace we may enjoy prosperity, possess the priceless gift of Your peace, and, as the Church alive in our home, bear witness in this world to Your glory. May all who visit here find a warm welcome and feel the presence of God alive in these wall and in our hearts.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. [All] Amen.

Then, over the entrance lintel [the crossbeam of the door] one of the family members marks with the blessed chalk [given out on the Feast of the Epiphany after the Masses]:
20 + C + M + B +09
[Century] + [Caspas] + [Melchior] + [Baltazar] + [Year]

The 'C' 'M' 'B' are the initials of the traditional names of the Three Wise Men Or, another interpretation, the beginning letter of each of the word in the phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat [May Christ Bless This House]

All then pray together The Our Father, The Hail Mary, and ending with:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen.

All exchange a sign of Christ's peace.

Thank you fellow St. Mary's parishioners for your generous support of my Eagle Scout project. I want to extend a special thank you to Miss Mel Campbell, Mrs. Lisa Atkinson, Mrs. Jamie Riley, Mrs. Melissa Severino and Mrs. Sherri Welsh for their help with the set up and preparation for the Gabriel Project Baby Shower. Thank you Gail for helping me with the bulletin announcements. Thank you, Father Ed, for support of my project and filling out all of that paperwork you were sent! Last, but certainly not least, thanks to Mrs. Wanda O'Brien. You are a constant source of inspiration. All of you helped me to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

Joshua Welsh

IT'S CEMETERY CLEANUP TIME AGAIN!!

February 28th is Cemetery Cleanup Day.

All old flowers and worn items will be removed from the graves. If you have any items that are sentimental to you, please remove them from your loved one's gravesite. Items not allowed in the Cemetery have been placed under the tree outside the cemetery gate. Items not picked up will be discarded on cleanup day.

The next cleanup day will be Saturday, October 3rd.

Anyone and everyone is invited to gather at 9:00am to begin cleanup.
~~Bring a lunch to share to make a fun day for all.~~

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

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

Did you put on a few extra pounds over the holidays? If you're like most--the answer's yes. So, why don't you start off the new year right and take them off with TOPS? TOPS stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly, and that's exactly what has made us the weight loss program support group choice for thousands! No matter what your goals are, TOPS is here for you. It's for people of all ages--men, women, and children.

There's no cost for the first meeting you attend. The Plantersville TOPS chapter meets weekly--every Thursday evening in the Family Life Center at St. Mary's. Weigh-in is from 6-6:30, and the meeting begins at 6:30. Come soar to new heights with TOPS. For more information, please contact Mildred Rosenberg at 936-873-2579.

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.

NEXT MEETING: JANUARY 15--3:30PM--SM HALL

Help Us Please!
Since our food pantry is getting low on non-perishable foods, we are
asking each family to bring a donation of food each week. A few canned goods from each family add up to a parish family reaching out, sharing and living the teachings of the gospel and St. Vincent de Paul. Large wicker baskets are provided in the foyer of St. Mary's Hall and St. Joseph's Hall to accept your offerings.

Thank you!!

St. Vincent de Paul has a new contact phone number.

For assistance, call 936-894-2362.

We Announce the Rite of Institution as Reader for Walter Busa

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston formally announces that
Walter Busa, a candidate for the order of deacon will be instituted into the stable Ministry of Reader on January 17, 2009 at a Mass to be celebrated by Bishop Vincent Rizzotto. If any person knows of a serious reason why this candidate to the diaconate should not be called to this ministry or continue to ordination to the diaconate, please notify Deacon Gerald DuPont, Director of the Office of the Diaconate, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston at 281-703-0227 or at gerald@gwdupont.com. Please keep Walter in your prayers as he is instituted in to the ministry of reader. May he always be faithful to the Word which he believes, reads and proclaims.

This announcement is in compliance with Canon 1051,2o of the Code of Canon Law.

There will be changes in our hall rental policy effective January 1, 2009. Before scheduling any event, please stop by the office and pick up a set of new instructions.

Thank you to everyone who made the Parish Christmas Party such a great success. It all began with a lot of planning and many, many volunteers. A big thank you to the decorating crew who made the hall look so festive for this special occasion. Thank you to all the CCE classes who made and decorated the Christmas tree. Many, many thanks to all the ladies who baked the turkeys and dressing, and to the kitchen crew who made the potatoes and gravy and did all the set-up and then served. Another big thank you to the two ladies who made the beautiful and delicious cakes. The Ways and Means committee did a great job with the raffle. Many thanks go to the Altar Society members who donated the items and to the ladies who worked the raffle. We appreciate and thank our entertainment -- the St. Mary's Choristers, St. Nicholas and our artist member who lovingly decorated the children's Christmas gift bags. Thank you to the Men's Club and all who helped with the clean up. And last, but not least, thank you St. Mary's Parishioners for coming, bringing your fellowship and a dish to share and in turn supporting the Altar Society.

Ann Lambert

. . . will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

Mark Your Calendars Now!

St. Mary's Men's Club Blood Drive with Breakfast

Sunday, FEBRUARY 15 from 8AM-1pm
In St. Mary's Parish Hall.

For more information,
Call neil Rosenberg
At 936-873-2579

"Super Bowl Party"
Third Annual Parish Dance
Sponsored by The St. Mary's Men's Club

Date: January 31, 2009
Time: 7:00pm until 11:00pm

Dinner, Drinks & Setups Provided--BYOB

Admission Price:
Sack of Groceries for St. Joseph's Table Dinner

Hope everyone had a great Christmas season and enjoyed the snow. Winter is well on it's way. Not much going on in the garden? How are your vegetables doing? You can still plant more, such as mustards, turnips, sugar snow peas, spinach, lettuce collards, beet, carrots, garlic and onions.

I'm still enjoying the bright yellow flowers on my Cassia Senna. They are about the size of a crepe myrtle and have leaves opposite each other which close up at dusk. They start blooming in November and continue to early January. The leaves are used for medicinal purposes but the pod is preferred in making laxatives. They are not to be confused with the Biblical Cassia Senna (Cinnamomum) Kash'-a, two Hebrew words: 1) quiddah, along with myrrh, cinnamon, calamus and olive oil, as one of the ingredient of the "holy anointing oil." 2) qetsi'oth, referring to strips of bark with a cinnamon fragrance.

Other winter bloomers such as Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox var. luteus) also make yellow blooms. It is a large shrub and the bright yellow blooms appear before the leaves in Jan and have a wonderful fragrance. In the fall the leaves turn a soft lemon color. The rest of the year the shrub doesn't do much so you could plant a vine such as Clematis next to it. The Clematis will bloom in the summer. Come fall just cut back the vine and it will reappear come spring. Witch-hazel (Hamamelis) is also colorful in the winter. The name Witch has it's origin from Old English, wice, meaning "pliant" or "bendable." Hazel is derived from the use of twigs as divining rods. It's fruit, flowers and next years leaf buds all appear on the branch at the same time, which is rare for a tree. The flowers, yellow in color, sometime appear on leafless stems in the winter, thus one alternate name for the plant, "Winterbloom."

Bundle up and stay warm. Keep a blanket and some water in your vehicle. Slow down in bad weather. God Bless you and the ground he walked upon.

Send your gardening ideas to: rjbochat@netzero.net. Subject: God's Garden

St. Mary's 1st Annual Wine Tasting Event
~Featured winery is Bernhardt~

Come spend Valentine's Day with your special Valentine and friends of St. Mary's at our 1st Annual Wine Tasting Event at the Parish Hall.

When: February 14, 2009
Time: 6:30 PM, Dinner served at 7 PM
Cost: $25.00 per person pre-sale or $30.00
per person at the door (seating is limited)

Avoid the restaurants! Come join the fun!
Relax with family and friends and help critique the wine!

More details to follow!

4 Sessions will be offered beginning in June through July 3.
Cost: $400 per weekly session
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Camp Kappe is looking for a responsible high school or college student (must be 18 years or older) to complete ropes certification and work at the camp during the June / July timeframe.
Call Paula Whiteley for details at 281-650-0204
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For Information about the upcoming Summer Camp, contact
Camp Kappe at 936-894-2141

All parishioners extend congratulations to...Stephen Paul Bishop...for being received into full communion of the Roman Catholic Church
on Sunday, December 7, 2008, at the 10:30 Mass.

Kayla blummer, becky Hebert, linda Hubert, wes Hubert, and Linda wobbe...for participating in the Rite of Welcoming of Candidates (previously baptized Christians) on Sunday, December 14, 2008, at the 10:30 Mass.

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 PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON NEW YEAR’S DAY THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, AND MONDAY, JANUARY 19 IN OBSERVANCE OF THE BIRTHDAY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

While all of our presenters for RCIA formation sessions are fabulous, you may want to mark your calendar for two special guest presenters:

January 25 -- Father Ed -- "History of the Catholic Church"

February 1 -- Linda Cussen (Associate Director for the Archdiocesan Office of Continuing Christian Education) -- "What Catholics Need to Know about Judaism"

Join us in the Family Life Center for one or both sessions from 11:00 am --12:30 pm.

The liturgical year of the Catholic Church with its cycle of winter birth (Advent/Christmas) and spring re-birth (Good Friday/Easter) are gradually unfolding before our eyes. After experiencing the season of Advent, the words "COME! COME! COME!" echo in my ears. You know the feeling we all have when a new baby will soon be born. Then, we realize: new beginnings, parenting, fatherhood, motherhood.

I love the fact that our parish feast day is on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Being a member of the Catholic community of St. Mary's, we all begin each day with birthing: Mary's Birth, Jesus' Birth, Jesus' Baptism, our Birth, our Rebirth in Baptism, the birth of our children and grandchildren, Eternal Life each time we are fed by the Eucharist. Just by saying YES to God, Eternal Life is ever becoming anew.

Believe it or not, the Church asks us to begin each year focusing on Mary, the Mother of God on New Year's Day. The day is called the Solemnity of the Mother of God. This solemnity's date was changed after the Vatican Council. The old feast day of Mary, the Mother of God, used to be on October 11 each year. Pope John XXIII chose October 11 to begin a "new birth" in the Church and, thus, convened Vatican Council II on that date. The Council closed on August 15, the feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven. All of this was done intentionally because of the pope's conviction that Mary is the Mother of the Church who gave human form to Jesus and brought us God. She is the Queen Mother of Heaven and Earth.

Our current pope, Benedict XVI, inspires me as he wrote and reflected on Mary:

If Mary is really the one giving birth to God, if she bears him who is the death of death and is life in the full sense of the word, this being the Mother of God is really a "new birth" (nova nativitas): a new way of giving birth inserted into the old way, just as Mary is the New Covenant in the midst of the Old Covenant, even as a member of the Old Covenant. This birth is no dying, but only a becoming, a bursting forth of life that casts off dying and leaves it behind once and for all. The title "Mother of God" points, on the one hand, back to the Virgin: this life is not received through the everyday dying and becoming but is pure beginning. On the other hand, the title points to the Assumption: from this birth comes only life, no death. This new "generation" does not demand the surrender of the old self as its sine qua non, rather it effects the ultimate validation of the whole.

(Benedictus: Day by Day with Pope Benedict XVI, Ignatius Press, 2006, p. 14)

So take joy and celebrate in 2009! As a possible New Year's resolution, begin keeping a gratitude journal. Each day write down 5 new things you are thankful for and see how your life begins to take on birth, rebirth, new beginnings, and a new kind of celebration. More importantly, say YES to the will of God in your life as Mary said YES before the Angel Gabriel. We can give birth to God by our YES! Let's all begin anew. Happy New Year!

Get ready to put on that pretty face and S M I L E !

The photographer will be coming in March to take your family photo for the new pictorial directory.

St. Mary's Choristers is a group of 20 children who have dedicated themselves to learning the music of the Church and practicing and performing that music for the enhancement of the liturgy. This group is a member of Pueri Cantores, an international federation of Catholic youth choirs.

The stated purpose of the American Pueri Cantores is to bring together choirs of boys and girls throughout the United Stated to sing the Peace of God. The group is dedicated to enhancing the spiritual well-being of young singers through the performance of sacred, spiritual, folk, and patriotic music; to developing cultural compassion through travel and the building of national and international friendships; to elevating education in the arts resulting in choral excellence, spiritual growth, and academic achievement.

To achieve these goals, Pueri Cantores sponsors trips around the world for thousands of choristers from every continent. On January 1, 2011, many of these young people will sing at St. Peter's Basilica at a Mass presided over by Pope Benedict XVI. Our St. Mary's Choristers hope to be among that group!

On May 30, 2009, the Choristers will participate in a regional festival at St. Cecilia Parish in Houston, with Cardinal DiNardo saying the Mass. The music they will sing ranges from Gregorian chant and polyphony to twenty-first century music.

The Choristers rehearse every Wednesday evening, sing at Mass at least once each month, and also sing on special days, such as Christmas and Easter. You will be seeing a lot of them.

Of course, nothing is free, as we all know. The Choristers Booster Club will be sponsoring ongoing fund-raisers to pay for their trip to Rome.

Our immediate need is for individual sponsors so that we can buy vestments for the children. A cassock and surplice costs $75; we need 20 of them. If you sponsor a chorister, you will be that child's sponsor for the duration of his time in the group. He will send you updates about the group's activities, let you know how our trip plans are going, maybe even send you pictures and notes from Rome! If you can help, please put your sponsor donation of $75 in an envelope and into the collection basket in church, or send to the church office. You can also give any donations to Linda Armstrong at any time.

This experience -- the dedication, the preparation and hard work, the knowledge they will gain about the history of church music and music in general -- will last for their lifetimes. Please be as generous as you can in supporting the children, either by your financial support or your spiritual support. Jubilate Deo!

On Sunday, January 10, the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord. St. Mary's will celebrate the first birthday of all who have been baptized during the last year at St. Mary's and St. Joseph's.

There will be a special blessing for these new Christians at the 10:30 Mass on Sunday, January 10, with a birthday reception following in St. Mary's Hall.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend this special birthday celebration with our entire community.

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

January 1st
MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
For all mothers who will give birth today:
that their love and care
will inspire all people to a deeper appreciation
of the beauty of life;
We pray to the Lord:

January 4th
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
That as a star guided the wise men to the author of life,
the Church might be the light in the darkness of a culture of death;
We pray to the Lord:

January 11th
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
For every little child:
that as we celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan,
they might be led through the waters of Baptism
to a life of holiness and love through him;
We pray to the Lord:

January 18th
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
For our new President and all Members of Congress:
that a respect for the life of every human being
might be foremost in all their decisions;
We pray to the Lord:

January 22nd
A DAY OF PRAYER AND PENANCE FOR LIFE
For all who are wounded by the sin of abortion:
for the child, the parent, the doctor
and all who have abetted this sin,
for repentance, mercy, and peace;
We pray to the Lord:

January 25th
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
For medical researchers:
that their work might be inspired by a love for the truth
and a respect for each human person;
We pray to the Lord:

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES Scheduled for
Saturday, January 3rd @ St. Mary's
from 9-12 in the Family Life Center
with Baptisms to follow Jan. 11th

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

Wednesday, December 24th, Christmas Vigil Masses
4:00pm, 4:15pm/Hall, 6:00pm, 12 midnight @ St. Mary's
9:30pm @ St. Joseph's

Thursday, December 25th, Christmas Mass
9:00am @ St. Mary's

Friday, December 26th
No Mass

Wednesday, December 31st, New Year's Day Vigil Mass
5:30pm @ St. Mary's

Thursday, January 1st, New Year's Day Mass
7:30am @ St. Joseph's
9:00am @ St. Mary's

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Holy Day of Obligation)
Monday, December 8, 2008

Mass Schedule
9:00am @ St. Mary's
5:30pm @ St. Mary's

Monday, December 15, 2008
6:30 p.m. ~ SM Parish Hall
Dinner, Wise Men Skit, Accordian Player,lots and lots of fun and fellowship for members and their families.

(Hosted by St. Mary's Altar Society)
Sunday, December 7, 2009
After 10:30am mass In the Parish Hall
Come Out and Enjoy a "Covered Dish" Affair! Each family is asked to bring your favorite side dish or two to go with the turkey and ham provided.

~~ Raffle with 5 wonderful prizes ~~
~~ Entertainment by St. Mary's Children's Choir ~~
~~ Appearance by St. Nicholas ~~

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

Mark Your Calendars Now!

St. mary's Men's Club Blood Drive with Breakfast

Sunday, December 14
from 8AM-1pm
In St. Mary's Parish Hall.

For more information,
Call neil Rosenberg
At 936-873-2579

Wed., December 17
5:00-7:00pm

(Another confessor will be present, in addition to Fr. Ed)

Update on Heating and Cooling Issues in St. Mary's Church

During 2005 renovation of the church was completed and the pipe organ was installed in the newly rebuilt choir loft. Since that time we have had continuing issues with maintaining a balance of heat between the choir loft and the main level of the church.

The problem is one of simple physics. Hot air rises, and the choir loft sits very close to the church ceiling. For example, if the thermostat is set for heating to 72 degrees in the main church area, it will reach 88 degrees in the choir loft. In addition to discomfort to choir members, the sudden change in temperature damages the pipe organ, necessitating costly repairs.

In the meantime, we have considered many different solutions. Each fall, as cold weather approaches, the air registers above the choir loft are closed. Because the heating capacity of the church greatly exceeds our needs, we shut down one side of the heaters. These changes have failed to deal with the problem.

We will soon be installing a "ductless split system" to in effect cool off the choir loft while the remainder of the church is heated. This will require the expenditure of about $4,000. However, we are hopeful this will allow us to increase the heat on the lower level while attaining a tolerable temperature in the choir loft.

Contractors have submitted bids to have the church windows at St. Mary's re-leaded and the sashes repaired as needed. The windows are leaky and in great need of repair. No change to the glass in the windows will occur. We hope to get underway by mid-December. The likely process will be to have a few windows removed at a time and temporarily replaced by solid panes of Lexan plastic. When the re-leaded and repaired windows are returned after a few days, the Lexan sheets will move on to the next few windows and the process will be repeated. We will manage the effort so that at Christmas there will be a construction hiatus so the church looks normal at that time. Construction will then resume after Christmas and be finished by the end of January, 2009. The good ladies of St. Mary's Altar Society have agreed to fund the lion's share (though not all) of the costs for the window repairs.

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

~~New Merchandise~~
Do your Christmas Shopping
With Us!!

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

St. Mary's Corner Shoppe is featuring Willow Tree's "The Christmas Story"

Only $179.95

We also have: Advent Candles, Advent Wreaths, Sunday Missals, Christmas Cards & Wafers and many well-priced Christmas gifts!

Our Lady of Guadalupe One-Week Novena Schedule:

December: St. Mary's
January: St. Joseph's
February: St. Mary's
March: St. Joseph's

A simple one week Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Have her blessed picture in your home and honor her with a daily rosary and your petitions.

St. Mary's: A sign up sheet is available in the parish hall.

St. Joseph's: A sign up sheet is available in the church entry.

The picture of Our Lady is to be returned at the end of the week.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008. Please contact Pam Alexander for more information.

Choir Practice is every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.

Call Linda Armstrong for more information.

Join us for Advent and Christmas.

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's BINGO this month ... come join us on Thursday, December 18, 2008 in the SM Hall for our Christmas party from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Sat., December 13, 2008
6:30 p.m. ~ SM FLC

Everyone in the music ministry is invited to attend as well as their families.

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

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.

THERE WILL BE NO DECEMBER MEETING.

St. Vincent de Paul has a new contact phone number.
For assistance, call 936-894-2362.

Help Us Please!
Since our food pantry is getting low on non-perishable foods, we are asking each family to bring a donation of food each week. A few canned goods from each family add up to a parish family reaching out, sharing and living the teachings of the gospel and St. Vincent de Paul. Large wicker baskets are provided in the foyer of St. Mary's Hall and St. Joseph's Hall to accept your offerings. Thank you!!

Kids! KIDS! KIDS!

December 6th & 7th is candy cane weekend!

We're Celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas, which will be on
December 6th. Come on down for your candy cane!

St. Nicholas is scheduled to be here!!

Third Annual Parish Dance
Sponsored by The St. Mary's Men's Club

Date: January 31, 2009
Time: 7:00pm until 11:00pm

Dinner, Drinks & Setups Provided--BYOB

Admission Price:Sack of Groceries for St. Joseph's Table Dinner

4 Sessions will be offered beginning in June through July 3.
Cost: $400 per weekly session
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Camp Kappe is looking for a responsible high school or college student (must be 18 years or older)to complete ropes certification and work at the camp during the June / July time frame.
Call Paula Whiteley for details at281-650-0204
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For Information about the upcoming Summer Camp, contact Camp Kappe at 936-894-2141

~Featured winery is Bernhardt~

Come spend Valentine's Day with your special Valentine and friends of St. Mary's at our 1st
Annual Wine Tasting Event at the Parish Hall.

When: February 14, 2009 Time: 6:30 PM, Dinner served at 7 PM
Cost: $25.00 per person pre-sale or $30.00per person at the door (seating is limited)

Avoid the restaurants! Come join the fun!Relax with family and friends and help
critique the wine!

More details to follow!

I was finally able to enjoy my satsuma. So sweet and juicy. Patience does payoff. I'm so excited about the Christmas Season. It seems to me people are more "Christ Like" at this time of year. I say bring it on!

I love poinsettias. Euphorbiaceae: meaning very beautiful! They grow as a shrub that can get 10 feet in height. Some think are poisonous. They ooze a milky white sap that can irritate the skin and if consumed can upset the stomach but are not poisonous. Dec 12 is National Poinsettia Day. The date marks the death of Joel Robert Poinsett. He is credited for introducing the native Mexican plant to the United States.

There are over 100 varieties of the poinsettia.It is the most popular Christmas plant. 220 million dollars worth of poinsettias are sold over the holiday period of about six weeks. They can be planted in the ground but must be protected from freezes. A fresh poinsettia is one which little or no yellow pollen is showing on the flower clusters in the center of the bracts. Plants that have shed their pollen will soon drop their colorful bracts.

The Aztecs made a reddish purple dye from the bracts. Chile and Peru called the poinsettia the "Crown of the Andes." An NCCA Bowl game in San Diego is named the Poinsettia Bowl. And to think we just enjoy them at Christmas.

For your other plants such as alyssum, dianthus and especially pansies, they should be fertilized every 4-6 weeks. Water everything well before a freeze but avoid over watering. You can transplant bare root and container grown roses, shrubs, vines, and groundcover so they can get established before the warmth of the summer. Compost beds for spring and get soil tested. Keep stock piling your leaves.

Now is a good time to run your yard power tools dry and drain and change oil. Get repairs done before it's time to use them again. Clean and oil all your tools. This will make them last longer. Watch those houseplants for scale, mealy bugs and spider mites.

Here are some seeds you can plant: Sweet Peas, Poppy, Nasturtium, Larkspur, Gayfeather, Cornflower and bluebonnet.

Just remember plants and gardening gifts are ideal for Christmas. Hope you enjoy the celebration of Christ Birthday as much as I do. God bless you and the ground he walked upon! Merry Christmas!

Send your gardening ideas to: rjbochat@netzero.net. Subject: God's Garden

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)

SPECIAL ENVELOPES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE PEWS FOR CHRISTMAS FLOWER CONTRIBUTIONS.

TRYING TO MAKE THE CHURCH BEAUTIFUL DURING THE HOLIDAYS IS VERY COSTLY.

PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING A DONATION TO OFFSET THE COST OF FLOWERS DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

THE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 IN OBSERVANCE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
AND

DECEMBER 25 & 26 IN OBSERVANCE OF THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS!

(Arthur Plessala -- December, 2008)

December is the season of the Advent of our Savior---a visit by our God who wants to enter our lives and turn toward us.

I have a secret I want to share with you. From my youngest years living at home with my mother and father, three things remain etched in my memory: (1) the family kneeling around my mother and father's bed each evening reciting the rosary, (2) my father reading his daily prayers all alone at the kitchen table before dawn, and (3) my mother reading from her Bible and from the children's Bible history book, the stories of which still fascinate me to this day.

I've thought a lot lately about the third memory, especially during this, the Year of the Bible. When I got older and left home after my father died, my mother and I would speak by phone almost daily, and she would always share what she had read from the Bible that morning. We would discuss it like people discuss the news of the day. The Word of God was really "good news" to her. She would always tell me how powerful the "Word of God" was. She would say that God's Word was to be trusted and was filled with God's Spirit and that we were made in the image and likeness of God. She hoped each one of us kids would really get to know and love Jesus, His Father and listen to the Holy Spirit.

What did my mother and father give to me? They gave me God, the same gift that Jesus gave me and to all Christians.

St. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." My mom helped me to be a part of that new creation. She was filled with the Spirit who had guided her on her 80 year + 9 day journey home. By the time mom went home to Heaven, she had worn out nine Bibles leaving each of us eight kids a personally worn Bible. All were literally falling apart, yet cherished by me and my siblings. My mentally-challenged brother Michael was given the children's Bible history book...or our "Bible book" as he called it. We have all been blessed with a true treasure beyond description.

While speaking of the new temple, Ezekiel's final words from the book of Ezekiel are: "The name of the city shall henceforth be "The Lord is here" (Ez 48:35). As we enter the Advent season, let us not forget that the Lord is here and that we are children of God. We are the new temples of the Holy Spirit. Tell the children: God is with us! Our children deserve to know about the treasure Of God's presence. Knowing the Bible and recognizing that God loves them is the most important gift we can give our children. Teach them to read the Gospels of the story of Jesus and the New Testament first. Get them a Bible history book. Tell them these stories...for they are precious and endearing...and need to be shared with future generations.

Emmanuel, God is here. God's advent is ever coming again. God is always calling us to himself. We must let the entire world in on this secret. Wear out your Bible. Let the Word of God fill you with love.

Plan now to join us for the Social Event of the Season!

Friday, December 12th - 6:00pm

All men and women of both churches are invited to share in our
Christmas Party at St. Joseph's Parish Hall

Each person is to bring a $10.00 minimum gift (wrapped) and
a covered dish.

We will eat, drink and be merry. Mixers will be available

~~Stories & Especially Pictures Needed ~~

There is still time to get YOUR family into St. Joseph's 100-Year Book.

If any of these are in your family tree, (even on a mother's or grandmother's side), your info belongs also. Write down what you know:

your mother's parents and brothers and sisters, their birthdays? who they married? when and where? your dad's siblings? who fought where in which war? Do you remember your grandparents? Have a picture? We will come to your house to scan pictures, or they can be LENT to us. All pictures will be returned and you will also be given a cleaned up 4x6 copy to share.

If your ancestor, OR your child, is buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, your info belongs in this book. Don't be the only family missing when we go to press. HURRY--TIME IS DRAWING NEAR TO GO TO PRESS!!!

DEMNY, CHLEBOWSKI, FILIPAK (Phillips), GRACZYK (Grochett), JAGODZINSKI (Yargo), KLAWINSKI, KUTA, NASKRENT (Noski, Naski), NISZLKEWSKI, NOAK (Nowak), PAWLACK (Pavlock), PIECZYNSKI, SHECHINSKI (Sicinski), SZMIT (Smith, Schmidt), SYMANSKI, TOMKIEVITZ (Tomkivits), URBANOSK (Ubanoski), WIETZYKOLE, WINKLER, WITUCKI (Wetuski), YOREK.

If you are not sure, turn in your info anyway! The program we are using will sort it out. Each person has part of the picture, and when it all fits, it will be a beautiful resource for our descendants in the NEXT 100 years. Send info to or call:

Nance Shaw ~ nance7@embarqmail.com
16911 Lone Star Road ~ Navasota, Texas 77868 ~ 936-894-2512

IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR NAME OR YOUR ANCESTORS' NAMES IN THIS BOOK, PLEASE CONTACT NANCE AND LET HER KNOW IN WRITING.

THE GABRIEL PROJECT will be selling Christmas Cards during late November and early December. Look for them for sale after Mass and use them when you send out your Christmas Cards this year. Help be a part of this wonderful witness to the pro-life message.

There are now over 540 babies and mothers saved from abortion during this past 40 Days for Life - that we know of. And one clinic (Orange Co, FL - I think) closed it's doors and the building is for sale! See details at http://snipurl.com/55w2r

Wonderful Diaper and Formula collection! Pat yourselves on the back! On Wednesday, we delivered 62 pkgs of diapers, 37 pkgs wipes, 17 cans of formula, and assorted other stuff; OVER $1,000 worth of items from the 4 churches - 2 Baptist and 2 Catholic who chose to participate.)

The following are from the BIG Pro-Life Conference on where do we go from here. It was very upbeat. If you want to listen to the recording (2 hours) here is the free link:http://www.instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=4819845.

1. We must not become a subset of the Republican Party! We must be a definitive part of EACH/EVERY political party. Start NOW to change hearts and minds, one citizen at a time. Stories seem to work very well in this effort. Five more Pro-Life Democrats were elected to Congress on Tuesday, making 31 Pro-Life Democrats in all.

2. Youth are are not only our hope, youth leaders today ARE leading us! www.standtrue.com.

3. 254 new college campus groups Students for Life this past year (or two?) Forty-five percent of all abortions are on college women! Thirty-six percent on African-American women! Check out: www.studentsforlife.com.

4. Importance of prayer and fasting. God has us in the School of Prayer. www.boundforlife.com.

5. Become a steady drum-beat for life in our country.

6. And last, but NOT least, sidewalk counsel, talk to your friends, make abortion the UNTHINKABLE. Then Planned Parenthood's millions will dry up and there will be no reason for politicians to court them!!!

(We were warned to be careful to NOT judge women having or who have had abortions because, as I have said often, women don't CHOOSE abortions, they have abortions because they do not see any other choice!)

Several of you have written that you DO still want to be involved, I have forwarded info on sidewalk counseling to several, but NO ONE has answered my questions!!!

What do we need to do MORE of? What do we need to do LESS of?
What do we need to STOP doing? What do we need to START doing?

To my friends at St. Mary's and St. Joseph's:

I want to Thank all of you who attended the mission I preached last week. I hope you all like the Mass booklet: The Word Among Us. On behalf of my Passionist Community, Thank-you very much for the $3,800 that was so generously donated to us. In addition you purchased another $2,500 in books and C.D.'s. Your offerings and purchases help us live our religious life and help me proclaim the Gospel. Be sure I am praying for you as you read my books. Your bookstore now has all the titles and Rosary CD.

To order more teachings log on to: www.frcedric.org Remember my TV program "Live with Passion!" on channel 55 Sunday's at 6:30 am. It was a joy meeting you all. Hope to see you at Holy Name Retreat Center for a retreat soon.
Sincerely, Fr. Cedric, C.P.

The Catholic Church teaches that by God's design, sexual love possesses a life-giving nature. This life-giving nature is intentionally separated from the act of intercourse by use of artificial contraceptives. Contraception destroys the full meaning of sexual love as intended by God.

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES
Scheduled for Saturday, January 3rd @ St. Mary's from 9-12 in the Family Life Center with Baptisms to follow Jan. 11th

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

There will be a Mass of Thanksgiving on Wednesday, November 26 at 9:00am at St. Mary's.

There will be no masses on Thursday & Friday, November 27 & 28.

The Parish Office will also be closed both days.

The Stitch N' Sisters of St. Mary and St. Joseph and Friends meet at St. Joseph's in the hall each Tuesday morning following the 9am Mass. On Tuesday, October 14th, Fr. Ed. was invited to a luncheon which was billed as their 'October Covered Dish'. There was really nothing unusual about the invitation because so much of each organizations' activities revolve around food and the 'Sisters' have been known to throw a 'light' spread of goodies from time-to-time. Fr. Ed. did notice that there were two tables full of food and desserts, a lot more than he expected. He wondered what the 'November Covered Dish' would be like.

He was completely surprised when a beautifully wrapped box with an envelope was brought out and everyone laughed and sang 'Happy Birthday'. They really jumped the gun 'cause his birthday wasn't till the following week. That's how they pulled their surprise. The card was signed by all the Stitch N' Sisters. Inside the box was a hand pieced and hand stitched quilt in the 'barbwire' design. Fr. Ed. had actually watched it being pieced and stitched and admired it 'from afar'. In addition to being a beautifully hand worked quilt by parishioners and friends, it was also embroidered with a special presentation inscription, dated and signed by all the Stitching Sisters. It was displayed on the following Sunday at the Stitching Sisters table during the Festival of Ministries and drooled over by all.

Fr. Ed. will treasure the quilt not only because of its beauty, uniqueness and quality of workwomanship, but because he knows that each stitch was done with love. He already considers it an heirloom. Bridget IV and Y2K have strict notice to 'stay off'. He doesn't want this very precious gift to get 'distressed'. So many have been gifted by the talents of the Stitch N' Sisters. They are the ultimate treasure of our Community of faith.

~ COME ENCOUNTER JESUS ~
Presented by
Rev. Cedric Pisegna, C.P.

Rev . Cedric Pisegna, C.P., is a Passionist priest who professed vows in September, 1985. He was born in Springfield , Massachusetts , and graduated from the University of Mass. at Amherst with a B.S. in Social Work. In addition, he has studied Philosophy at So. Illinois Univ. and Speech and Drama at Northwestern Univ. in Chicago . Fr. Cedric graduated from the Catholic Theological Union at Chicago in May, 1990, receiving his Master of Divinity with Bible Specialization. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1991. Currently, Fr. Cedric preaches retreats and missions throughout the United States ministering out of the Passionist Retreat complex in Houston , TX .

Wanted
Your attendance at
St. Mary's / St. Joseph's Mission
November 9, 10 & 11 at 7:00pm
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Plantersville , TX

~~~

Childcare will be provided for children ages 2-8 years for all evening sessions.
To reserve a place for your child, call the office at 936-894-2223.

ALL ARE WELCOME!!
www.frcedric.org

A Parish mission is a way of rejuvenating the parish community. During this time universal message of the Gospel and of the Church is preached. It is a time of God's special grace. Through prayer, music, and preaching God's word, the missionary tries to create an atmosphere through which peoples' hearts will be moved. The centerpiece of the mission is the Lord Jesus Christ and his Paschal Mystery. Jesus died so that we could be forgiven; he rose so that we could know new life; he will come again in Glory to raise us up and take us home to Heaven. New life is the goal and purpose of the mission; the refreshing new life that God offers us in the Holy Spirit.

Led by His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo
Monday, November 24, 2008 ~ St. Thomas Catholic Church, Huntsville, TX

The Texas Catholic Conference invites Catholic faithful to participate in a Pilgrimage for Life from 9am-noon at St. Thomas Church, 1323 16th St., Huntsville, TX. The pilgrimage will be led by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo and several Texas bishops. It will start out with Mass at St. Thomas including the Stations of the Cross. The route is approximately 3 miles (bring good walking shoes) including the Planned Parenthood facility and the Walls Prison unit. For those not able to participate in the walk, an opportunity for adoration and reflections on the stations of the cross will be available. For additional information, visit http://txcatholic.org/Pilgrimage.asp or call Dave Atwood at 832-693-5710 or Maria Frederick at 512-339-9882.

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will meet this month at the hall after the 9:00am mass on November 11, 2008.

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, November 4 , 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's GAME DAY this month ... come join us on Thursday, November 20, 2008 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Choir Practice is every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.

Call Linda Armstrong for more information.

Join us for Advent and Christmas.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008. Please contact Pam Alexander for more
information.

Our Lady of Guadalupe One-Week Novena Schedule:

November: St. Joseph's
December: St. Mary's
January: St. Joseph's
February: St. Mary's

A simple one week Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Have her blessed picture in your home and honor her with a daily rosary and your petitions.

St. Mary's: A sign up sheet is available in the parish hall.

St. Joseph's: A sign up sheet is available in the church entry.

The picture of Our Lady is to be returned at the end of the week.

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

~~New Merchandise~~
Do your Christmas Shopping With Us!!

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

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.

THE NEXT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008 AT 3:30 P.M. AT ST. MARY'S HALL.

Help Us Please!

Since our food pantry is getting low on non-perishable foods, we are asking each family to bring a donation of food each week. A few canned goods from each family add up to a parish family reaching out, sharing and living the teachings of the gospel and St. Vincent de Paul. Large wicker baskets are provided in the foyer of St. Mary's Hall and St. Joseph's Hall to accept your offerings.

Thank you!!

The Cemetery Association of St. Mary Catholic Community invites all to a Memorial Day Celebration in the Cemetery Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 9:00 AM honoring St. Mary's Veterans.

St. Mary Boy Scouts will hoist the Colors Memorial Service and Blessing of the Veteran's Graves

Deacon Ted Baker Patriotic Music, Kelly Gabriel of St. Joseph"To the Colors" and "Taps" by John Sadler,a member of the Montgomery High School Band

An American Flag will be placed on each veteran's grave.

Wear your red, white and blue and come join us for this 7th annual celebration of our freedoms and the lives of the Veterans who made it possible for us to worship and celebrate in this most wonderful country.

For the last couple of years the St. Mary's Men's Club Christmas Toy Drive, which benefits the less fortunate children in our area, has been a huge success. Therefore, the SMMC is doing it again this year. All toys collected (unwrapped) will be delivered to the Plantersville Fire Department to be prepared for distribution to the children. All St. Mary's Men's Club members, or anyone wishing to contribute, should either bring their toys/contributions to the
October 21st SMMC meeting, or leave them at the Parish Office with Gail Sowell no later than November 28th. All cash donations will be used to purchase toys.

Mark Your Calendars Now!

Men's Club Blood Drive with Breakfast

Sunday, December 14 from 8AM-1pm In St. Mary's Parish Hall.

NEXT MEETING Tuesday, November 18

Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

Calling ALL Parishioners:

Join our RCIA Neophytes (those who entered into full communion with the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil 2008) and past & current RCIAers as we carpool downtown to the Co-Cathedral for a special archdiocesan "kick-off" Mass for the Year of the Bible! Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will be the celebrant at the 9:00 am Mass on Saturday, November 15. We plan on having carpools leave St. Mary's and Walmart's (Hwy 105 @ Walden Road) parking lots around 7:15, attending Mass, and then eating lunch before returning home.

For more information:
Contact Annette Young at Annetteyoung9@hotmail.com
or Sharon Skeans at skeans@consolidated.net or 936-448-2740.

(Arthur Plessala -- November, 2008)

Since November is the month for recollection, let's reflect on the following questions: (1) What is meant by the "kingdom of God"? (2) Is the kingdom of God present in our temporal world today or is it something we call Eternal Life only to be experienced after our death?

John the Baptist warned us all in the New Testament that the advent of the kingdom of God is near. John exhorts, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). In the words of Christ, the "kingdom" means not so much a goal to be attained or a place to be reached, though these meanings are by no means excluded: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (cf. Matthew 5:3). Rather it is a state of consciousness, a mental awareness that must permeate men's minds if they would be one with Him and attain His ideals: "Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, (Jesus) said in reply, 'The kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce Look, here it is, or There it is. For behold, the kingdom of God is among you" (Luke 17:20-21).
Only by recognizing these shades of meaning can we do justice to the biblical references to the kingdom with their endless variety. At one time the "kingdom" means the sway of grace in men's hearts such as in the parable of the seed growing secretly (Mark 4:26-27). Still, Mark (14:25) refers to the kingdom as a place where God reigns, as does Luke (23:42-43) when quoting the good thief crucified with Christ: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." In Matthew 3:3, we all are asked to "prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." Here John the Baptist addresses the kingdom as our lifelong goal here in our temporal world and everyday lives.

As our early church fathers grew to understand the divinity of Christ, they realized that the kingdom of God was not only, as we say in The Lord's Prayer, "thy kingdom come," our goal and a place in the future; but also the "kingdom" is enshrined in the living Church here on earth. They began to speak of the Church as "the kingdom of God"' (cf. Colossians, 1:13-14; I Thessalonians, 2:11-12).

Thus, "the kingdom of God" means the ruling of God in our hearts; it means those principles which separate us from the kingdom of the world and the devil; it means the benign sway of grace; it means the Church as that divine institution whereby we may make sure of attaining the spirit of Christ and so win that ultimate kingdom of God where He reigns without end in "the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God" (Revelation 21:2).
The stark reality: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). If we cannot come to grip with the fact that sin separates us from God, we will never come home spiritually, for there is no need for a savior. We must understand that we sinners are separated from God in order to experience "God's kingdom" here on earth. Repentance is to say to the Father, I want to turn toward you and away from the life I have lived independently from you. I am sorry for who I have been and what I have done and I want to permanently change. I pray and ask for and humbly receive your forgiveness for my sins.

The kingdom of God is within our hearts. It is the Holy Spirit that Jesus sends us. It is the Spirit of Peace. It is the Spirit of Love. The Spirit is our living union with God. It is this union with the spirit that takes us to the Kingdom. "From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him" (St. Paul).

The dividing line between temporal and eternal life is by no means simply time as we know it. We generally think that the years before death would be temporal life; the endless time afterwards, eternal life. Eternity is not just that which comes afterwards, something about which we can form no notion at all. Why? Because eternity is not just endless time but another level of being, a mere chronological distinction of the two cannot be made. Eternal life is here, in the midst of time, whenever we come face to face with God (e.g. in receiving the Eucharist---John 6:51, by helping our brothers and sisters in need). When we come face to face with Jesus, the Messiah, we come face to face with God. At those special moments, we are in another level called Eternal Life.
Through the reception and contemplation of the living God through Jesus, He becomes our soul's companion. Like a great love, Eternal life can no longer be taken from us by any physical change or chance happening; rather it is an indestructible heart from which springs the courage and the joy to go on, even when our daily lives are painful and hard...When God touches our soul, we learn to see aright... "This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John 17:3). Wherever such an encounter takes place, there is eternal life in our midst. The dividing line between temporal life and eternal life runs right through the midst of our daily existence because seeing Jesus Christ is seeing God face to face--the union of Eternal Life with life in today's world. Let's remain mindful of this each time we say The Lord's Prayer and utter the words, "thy kingdom come."

~~Stories & Especially Pictures Needed ~~

There is still time to get YOUR family into St. Joseph's 100-Year Book. If any of these are in your family tree, (even on a mother's or grandmother's side), your info belongs also. Write down what you know: your mother's parents and brothers and sisters, their birthdays? who they married? when and where? your dad's siblings? who fought where in which war? Do you remember your grandparents? Have a picture? We will come to your house to scan pictures, or they can be LENT to us. All pictures will be returned and you will also be given a cleaned up 4x6 copy to share.

If your ancestor, OR your child, is buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, your info belongs in this book. Don't be the only family missing when we go to press.

DEMNY, CHLEBOWSKI, FILIPAK (Phillips), GRACZYK (Grochett), JAGODZINSKI (Yargo), KLAWINSKI, KUTA, NASKRENT (Noski, Naski), NISZLKEWSKI, NOAK (Nowak), PAWLACK (Pavlock), PIECZYNSKI, SHECHINSKI (Sicinski), SZMIT (Smith, Schmidt), SYMANSKI, TOMKIEVITZ (Tomkivits), URBANOSK (Ubanoski), WIETZYKOLE, WINKLER, WITUCKI (Wetuski), YOREK.

If you are not sure, turn in your info anyway! The program we are using will sort it out. Each person has part of the picture, and when it all fits, it will be a beautiful resource for our
descendants in the NEXT 100 years. Send info to or call:
Nance Shaw ~ nance7@embarqmail.com
16911 Lone Star Road ~ Navasota, Texas 77868 ~ 936-894-2512

Saturday, November 8, 2008
St. Stanislaus Church--Anderson, TX

Come and enjoy a Festival Concert of sacred music at 5:30pm, and join in the celebration of Eucharist at 6pm at St. Stanislaus in Anderson. This event is hosted by St. Mary's, St. Joseph's, Christ Our Light, and St. Stanislaus. Musicians from churches all over the Archdiocese will participate in the choir, directed by Felipe Gasper, Director of Liturgical Music at Christ the Redeemer in Houston, who is also a gifted composer; Felipe's music will be featured at the concert. The Mass will be concelebrated by Father Ed and Father Raul, pastor of Christ Our Light and St. Stanislaus.

Choristers will rehearse in the Church from 6 -- 7pm on CCE class evenings (Wednesdays), and St. Mary's Chimes Choir will rehearse in the Hall.

The Choristers and Chimes Choirs will be singing and playing at regular Sunday Mass approximately once every month and at many special events, such as First Communion, Confirmation, Christmas, and Easter. Help your children to learn about the music of our faith so that they can truly fully participate in worship. For more information, contact Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or leave a message at the church office.

35 40-Hour Heros ! These people are praying every day at the same hour, for an hour:

100 emails sent out daily, with 500 emails crossing cyberspace once a week. These are all in Grimes and Waller counties (with a few neighbors of good will.)

268 known "Baby-saves" ( USA and Canada ) in the first 21 days. There are so many that are never known. The mother drives by, sees the prayer warriors, and decides to not to keep her abortion appointment, or a mother or father sees an ad or hears a radio interview, etc and a life is saved without anyone ever encountering a sidewalk counselor. How many hours of prayer and fasting are 268 babies worth?

500 families (well, a few single priests) are willing to be known as pro-life to the world, with a yard sign at the road

Over 1500 signatures sent in to Houston to stop the Planned Parenthood mega clinic!

Bottom line? It is no longer necessary to be pro-life "in secret" in Grimes and Waller Counties .

BE BOLDLY PRO-LIFE

St. Mary's will have ALTAR SERVER TRAINING on Sunday, Nov. 9 following the 10:30 Mass. Meet in church at 11:45 for a training session that will last about 45 minutes. A parent must attend with the child. Any children who have made their First Communion are eligible. For more information contact Wanda O'Brien, 597-6328.

THE GABRIEL PROJECT will be selling Christmas Cards during late November and early December. Look for them for sale after Mass and use them when you send out your Christmas Cards this year. Help be a part of this wonderful witness to the pro-life message.

Announcing an Upcoming Information Night on Annulments

There is a great deal of misinformation that surrounds the Catholic Church's laws concerning annulments. Some think that the Church's procedure for annulments amounts to nothing other than "Catholic divorce," while others feel that the process is too cumbersome, intrusive and expensive. The truth of the matter, however, is that Church law concerning annulments both protects the sanctity of marriage and offers a compassionate response to those suffering the effects of a union flawed from its beginning.

Come to this Information Night (date to be announced), meet the case sponsors here at St. Mary's/St. Joseph's, listen and feel free to ask questions. Gather knowledge and information for your own situation or to pass on to your son or daughter or friend who might be in need of an annulment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember:

The Church has come to a fuller understanding of the workings of the human mind and heart from the development of modern psychology and is attempting to respond more freely to the many requests for a declaration of nullity while remaining faithful to the teachings of Christ. (Don't ever think your case is hopeless (even if you have had a negative decision in the past--an appeal can always be made).

The Church is inviting you to investigate how you might petition for nullity for your failed marriage(s) and be able to receive all the Sacraments again. Don't keep putting it off--Contact us today for further discussion. Complete confidentiality is assured.

  Walter & Francell Busa (936) 870-4145 or fbusa@embarqmail.com
Pat & Corliss O'Shaughnessy (936) 447-3126 or patricko@consolidated.net

Questions & answers have been taken from the book, "Annulments and the Catholic Church" by Edward Peters, J.D., J.C.D.

Scheduled for Saturday, January 3rd @ St. Mary's from 9-12 in the Family Life Center with Baptisms to follow Jan. 11th

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),
Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,
Anita Thornton (936) 582-2618
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

All Saints' Day
A Holy Day

The festival of All Saints , also sometimes known as All Saints' Day , All Hallows or Hallowmas ("hallows" meaning " saints ," and "mas" meaning " Mass "), is a feast celebrated in the honour of all the saints, known and unknown. Halloween is the day preceding it, and is so named because it is "The Eve of All Hallows". All Saints is also a Christian formula invoking all the faithful saints and martyrs , known or unknown.

In the Roman Catholic Church , All Saints' Day honours those who have attained the beautific vision in heaven , while the next day, All Souls' Day , commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven.

All Saints' Vigil Mass--7:00pm--Friday, October 31 @ SJ
All Saints' Day Mass--9:00am--Saturday, November 1 @ SM
All Souls' Day Mass--Regular Sunday Mass Schedule
All Souls' Day Cemetery Service @ SJ--after 7:30am mass
All Souls' Day Remembrance of the Dead, Cemetery Service & Reception @ SM @ 3pm

~ COME ENCOUNTER JESUS ~
Presented by
Rev. Cedric Pisegna, C.P.

Rev . Cedric Pisegna, C.P., is a Passionist priest who professed vows in September, 1985. He was born in Springfield , Massachusetts , and graduated from the University of Mass. at Amherst with a B.S. in Social Work. In addition, he has studied Philosophy at So. Illinois Univ. and Speech and Drama at Northwestern Univ. in Chicago . Fr. Cedric graduated from the Catholic Theological Union at Chicago in May, 1990, receiving his Master of Divinity with Bible Specialization. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1991. Currently, Fr. Cedric preaches retreats and missions throughout the United States ministering out of the Passionist Retreat complex in Houston , TX .

Wanted
Your attendance at
St. Mary's / St. Joseph's Mission
November 9, 10 & 11 at 7:00pm
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Plantersville , TX

~~~

Childcare will be provided for children ages 2-8 years for all evening sessions.
To reserve a place for your child, call the office at 936-894-2223.

ALL ARE WELCOME!!
www.frcedric.org

A Parish mission is a way of rejuvenating the parish community. During this time universal message of the Gospel and of the Church is preached. It is a time of God's special grace. Through prayer, music, and preaching God's word, the missionary tries to create an atmosphere through which peoples' hearts will be moved. The centerpiece of the mission is the Lord Jesus Christ and his Paschal Mystery. Jesus died so that we could be forgiven; he rose so that we could know new life; he will come again in Glory to raise us up and take us home to Heaven. New life is the goal and purpose of the mission; the refreshing new life that God offers us in the Holy Spirit.

Thank You

The 2008 St. Mary's Bazaar Appreciation Dinner

Sunday, October 12 - 5:00pm at St. Mary's Hall

Come out and enjoy A Mexican Dinner and get the results from our very successful bazaar.

ST. STANISLAUS CATHOLIC CHURCH
Annual Homecoming & Bazaar
Anderson, Texas

Sunday, October 12, 2008
11:00am til ??

BBQ & Sausage Dinner with all the trimmings
Live Auction at 1pm--Games & Booths
Live Polish Band--Raffle

Come One, Come All--Everyone is Invited!

This year's event is dedicated in honor of retired pastor Rev. Louis Sikorski and the loving memory of long-time parish secretary Maxine Lee.

OCTOBER 26, 2008 ~ 12PM TO 3PM ~ PRE-SCHOOL - 6TH GRADE

Come for an afternoon of fun, food and games at St. Mary's Hall / Pavilion.

Wear a costume depicting your favorite saint for our costume contest.

Fortunately and thankfully, both of our churches of St. Mary and St. Joseph were spared damage with the blowing through of Hurricane Ike late Friday evening, September 12th. The blessing was the rain that was part of the experience, though not for anyone with roof damage. Both churches, though older structures, were unmoved and untouched by the high winds and debris. Some water did come through the leaded windows at St. Mary, but it was expected because it happens whenever there is a wind-driven rain. St. Mary Altar Society had already put aside funds for the repair of the lead in the windows which should be contracted soon. Other than that, the damage was to trees on the property of each church. Many thanks to James and Ronnie Bochat, Mary Barron and Nolan Ulbricht at St. Mary.....and Tommy, Donnie and Justin Mock at St. Joseph for coming out with their chain saws and muscle and cleaning up the debris and getting the areas in shape for Sunday. Our communities of St. Mary and St. Joseph were the few [maybe the only] in the path of Hurricane Ike who celebrated their entire weekend Mass schedule and daily schedule following the Big Blow. For all who did not make Mass that weekend, don't worry...Fr. Ed. gave a general dispensation...ha. Bridget, our parish beagle, was a trooper going out during the storm inspecting the situation at St. Mary. Fr. Ed., who is a veteran of many hurricanes, 'hunkered down' [as every newsperson on TV put it] in the rectory, confident that the 1924 structure was as safe and sound as any place on the property. Now that the hurricane is past and the electricity is flowing again, he is determined that the rectory windows will all soon be made operational again [meaning, able to be opened] and screens made. He's going to funnel fresh air into a house built to catch every breeze and never worry again whether the a/c is going to be working or not. Many thanks to Dean and Loretta Miller, Raymond and Andora Miller and the kids for bringing their generator along as they took refuge in the Family Life Center. We lost our electricity about 6:30am Saturday morning....reconnected about 9:50pm Wednesday, Sept. 17th. That coffee Saturday morning was a blessing directly from heaven! Fr. Kelly endured the entire [hair-raising, for him] situation in his mobile mansion, rosary in hand. He had his faithful eight cats and friend, Robert Hankins, from Houston as support during the ordeal. Below are some of the pictures of the aftermath at St. Mary.......send some of yours and we'll post'em in the hall for all to see and empathize....

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

Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 @ 6pm in St. Mary's~ Questions & Answers

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

Also... it's BINGO this month ... come join us on Thursday, October 16, 2008 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun

Beginning in October,
St. Vincent de Paul will have a new contact phone number.
For assistance, call 936-894-2362.
~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~
THE NEXT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2008
AT 3:30 P.M. AT ST. MARY'S HALL.
~~~~~~
Due to Hurricane Ike, our Entergy "Project Care" was delayed. Hopefully, by the time you get this bulletin, the project will be up and running.
~~~~~~
Help Us Please!

Since our food pantry is getting low on non-perishable foods, we are asking each family to bring a donation of food each week. A few canned goods from each family add up to a parish family reaching out, sharing and living the teachings of the gospel and St. Vincent de Paul. Large wicker baskets are provided in the foyer of St. Mary"s Hall and St. Joseph's Hall to accept your offerings.
Thank you!!
~~~~~~
St. Vincent de Paul "PARISH" BLACK BAG COLLECTION - OCTOBER 5, 2008

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, October 21, 2008.

Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

For the last couple of years the St. Mary's Men's Club Christmas Toy Drive, which benefits the less fortunate children in our area, has been a huge success. Therefore, the SMMC is doing it again this year. All toys collected (unwrapped) will be delivered to the Plantersville Fire Department to be prepared for distribution to the children. All St. Mary's Men's Club members, or anyone wishing to contribute, should either bring their toys/contributions to the
October 21st SMMC meeting, or leave them at the Parish Office with Gail Sowell no later than November 28th. All cash donations will be used to purchase toys.

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

The St. Mary's Cemetery Association is working with Linda Armstrong our Music Director so that we can put together a Prayer Service for the Dead and Blessing of the graves at St. Mary's Cemetery. This will be held on Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 3:00 pm at St. Mary's Church.

For more details, review the information Linda has in the bulletin titled "In Remembrance".

The Veteran's Day Service to honor all our veterans will be at 9:00am at St. Mary's Cemetery on November 11th. We invite all our parishioners to come be with us for this service. The past services on Veteran's Day and Memorial Day have been well attended and sometimes emotional. Come be with us to honor those who served and those who gave their lives so we can worship as we please and live in a free country.

Hope everyone is re-cooped from Ike. Thank God for the cool spell following the storm. It sure made it easier to cope. We still have plenty of time for planting. We can plant our winter veggies, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, onions, winter squash etc. I usually use turf builder on my lawn so it stays green most of the year. Once in the spring and again in the fall. We can also still plant lawns, ornamental grasses, fall and winter blooming perrenials and fruit trees. Save your citrus planting for the spring. For your citrus to make it through a hard freeze, place a bucket of water at the base of the tree. Cover trunk and bucket with a blanket. This will keep temps at or above freezing. Most of our hard freezes are not until Dec, Jan. or Feb. But you never know! Texas citrus will be coming in soon. The red grapefruit is the state fruit of Texas. Our satsuma fruit usually comes in around Thanksgiving.

Did your Guernsey lily (Lycoris radiata) or plain-ole Spider lily bloom this year? Most are naturalized to this area. Most are red but we have a few varieties. October is the time for planting pansies. There are more than 10 different colors to choose from. Also October is the time to heavily seed rye grasses.

I do enjoy seeing the colors on the leaves starting to turn. I've noticed the tally, sweet gum, cypress and crype myrtle joining in. Soon we will be hearing the crunch of leaves under out feet. Save them for your mulch pile. Come spring you will be able to use it in your gardens. You can also cover your tender plants so they may make it through the winter months. Hope you enjoy carving your home grown jack-o-lanterns. God Bless you and the ground he walked upon.

Send your gardening ideas to: rjbochat@netzero.net. Subject: God's Garden
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We still need someone to oversee the flower gardens around the church.

Having read the accounts in the bulletin of my exciting around the world cruise adventures, are you interested in enjoying the next one with me? I have been appointed Chaplain aboard the Celebrity Cruise Ship Millennium for an exciting voyage around New Zealand and Australia next March. We will be visiting most of the major coastal cities and important points of interest in both countries. I will be celebrating mass daily for all the passengers, and hopefully there will be a contingent of St Mary's parishioners aboard again this time to share in this "downunder" adventure.

We depart Houston IAH for Auckland via Los Angeles on March 15, 2009, and return on March 30. All the details can be obtained via the following web link: http://www.gerusaparks.com/gpts_ANZ_2009Brochure.pdf or by visiting Gerusa Parks' website at www.gerusaparks.com.

If you are interested in joining us, call Gerusa at (936) 449-6131 or contact her by email at gptravel@consolidated.net for more details. Her special group arrangements and pricing are available through October 15, 2008.

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)

Arthur Plessala -- October, 2008

It is hard to believe but forty-six years ago on October 11, 1962, Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council. At a press conference just before the commencement of this landmark Council, Pope John XXIII appeared next to a giant globe of the earth. In this 1962 talk, he used---for the first time---the phrase: lumen gentium , saying that we, the Church, are meant to be " light to the nations ." The utterance of this phrase prompted a key challenge to all Catholics, a challenge that we are all given even today as members of the universal Church. Vatican II opened the doors and windows to let the light and energy and power out. It's a power that St. Paul called dynamos , the dynamite-power of the Gospel of Christ.

In memory of that day, I share a power-filled prayer used by the Council Fathers before every session of the three-year Second Vatican Council:  

We stand before you, Holy Spirit,
conscious of our sinfulness,
but aware that we gather in your name. 

Come to us, remain with us,
and enlighten our hearts.

Give us light and strength
to know your will,
to make it our own;
and to live it in our lives.

Guide us by your wisdom,
support us by your power,
for you are God,
sharing the glory of Father and Son. 

You desire justice for all:
enable us to uphold the rights of others;
do not allow us to be misled by ignorance
or corrupted by fear or favor. 

Unite us to yourself in the bond of love
and keep us faithful to all that is true.

As we gather in your name
may we temper justice with love,
so that all our decisions
may be pleasing to you,
and earn the reward
promised to good and faithful servants.

You live and reign with the Father and the Son,
One God, for ever and ever.
AMEN

The WORLDWIDE ROSARY FOR UNBORN BABIES prayer event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 18th, 2008.

Participants will pray the Rosary during the 9 a.m. hour for the following intention: For an end to the surgical and non-surgical killing of unborn babies. Because participants will be praying the Rosary during the 9:00 a.m. hour according to the particular time zone they are in, it is hoped that the earth will be circled with multiple waves of Rosaries within a 24-hour time period. (If a person needs to, he/she may pray the Rosary at another time on October 18th, 2008.

"This October 18th pro-life prayer event gives people throughout the world a great opportunity to unite in prayer for unborn babies," said Patrick Benedict, President of the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization, the organization that is coordinating the WORLDWIDE ROSARY FOR UNBORN BABIES prayer event."

The primary way to stop the killing of unborn babies is by using spiritual weaponry. One of the greatest spiritual weapons is the Rosary, and I encourage everyone to pray the Rosary on October 18th for the unborn babies," concluded Benedict.

Sept. 24 thru Nov. 2 at St. Mary's and St. Joseph's

1. Continue Community Outreach: no matter his or her denomination, visit - neighbor to neighbor outreach, write letters to the editor, put a sign in your yard, BE PUBLICALLY PRO-LIFE. Get out of your comfort zone, babies are dying and women are crying while we sit and say, 'We'd never do that." - Haven't done anything yet? Write a letter to the editor.

2. Continue Prayer and Fasting: Every Christian is asked to join in this profound Heaven-Storming. Sign up to pray every day for an end to abortion, and fast to double your prayer. Fast as you do in Lent - give up something you like, something that keeps you from devoting yourself to God, or go hog wild and live on bread & water, just fast. Also, we will have PUBLIC PRO-LIFE PRAYER with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament each Wednesday from 9 - 12 noon at St. Mary's. (http://www.40daysforlife/grimeswaller)

3. Remember Vigil: Take a stand for life in front of Planned Parenthood, either in Bryan or in Houston. NO VIOLENCE, NO MARCHING, NO PROTESTS, prayer, Prayer, PRAYER, with a lot of love. 24 hours a day available. Go once, once a week, or camp out, again it's your call.

4. Rallies: On Sun., Nov. 2, Navasota Celebration of Life-2 p.m.-Navasota Center on Brule St.

Also, on the first Sunday of October, October 5, we will participate in the Life Chain. (http://www.nationallifechain.org/). In Navasota, in Conroe, in Hempstead and in Waller, along with over 1300 cities/towns in the US and Canada, between 2:30 and 3:30 in the afternoon, we will "wait one hour" with the Lord.

On Saturday, October 18, we all are asked to pray the Life Rosary 9-10 a.m. This is part of a world wide prayer chain to end abortion. St. Mary's at 9 a.m., St Joseph's at 9:30 a.m.

For more information, call Nance Shaw at 936-894-2512.

This Little Light of Mine

Jesus told us the Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30). The servant entrusted with five talents makes a wise investment and earns five more. The servant given only one talent is afraid of losing it and buries it in the ground. The former is rewarded, the latter severely chastised. What happened to the first being last and the last being first?

Notice this: the talents were not the property of the servants. Rather, the servants were only the stewards of their master's property. Just so, our talents and gifts -- beauty, athletic ability, intelligence -- these are our Master's property. We are only stewards.

Some of us were given gifts that are humble by the world's standards. Some of us were given gifts that are world-class. But as Dumbledore says in J. K. Rowling's 2003 novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

What should we disciples choose to do with our gifts? Have you ever given a gift you couldn't wait for someone to open? And don't you feel pride and joy every time you see the recipient wearing that new shirt or riding that new bike? That's how God feels when we use our talents to serve others. We should be like Eric Liddell, the Christian Olympian in Chariots of Fire . He said, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." Yes!

One more quote from a child's song: "This little light of mine...put it under a bushel?" "No! I'm gonna let it shine!"

Choir Practice, Wednesdays, 7pm

Beginning with the first CCE class on September 17, St. Mary's Choristers will rehearse in the Church from 6 -- 7pm on CCE class evenings (Wednesdays), and St. Mary's Chimes Choir will rehearse in the Hall. These new programs for 3rd through 8th grade students are open for registration with CCE registration, or contact the Director of Music Ministry.

The Choristers and Chimes Choirs will be singing and playing at regularSunday Mass approximately once every month and at many special events, such as First Communion, Confirmation, Christmas, and Easter. Help your children to learn about the music of our faith so that they can truly fully participate in worship.

For more information, contact Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or leave a message at the church office.

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES
Scheduled for
Saturday, October 25th
@ St. Mary's from 9-12
in the Family Life Center
With Baptisms to follow November 16th

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),
Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,
Anita Thornton (936) 582-2618
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

Next class scheduled is Dec. 20th with baptisms on Jan. 11th.

In observance of All Souls' Day and in remembrance of our loved ones who have died, St. Mary's will host a special prayer service on Sunday, November 2, 2008, at 3pm in the Church. Following the prayer service, we will have the blessing of St. Mary's Cemetery.

If you have lost a loved one and would like his or her name to be included in this special remembrance, please fill out the form below and drop it in the box provided in the hall; you may also call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or email at LINDA@SMSJ.ORG to give this information. The name will be included in the prayer intentions for the service, and prayer candles will be provided for all in attendance. It is not necessary that the deceased had been a member of St. Mary/St. Joseph parish to be included.

We also encourage you to bring photos or other momentos to be placed on our Remembrance Table in the hall during the weekend of Nov. 1-2, 2008.

All family members and friends, as well as all parishioners, are encouraged to participate in this service, and the entire parish family is asked to offer their prayers for the repose of these souls.

A pot-luck dinner will follow in the hall after the service. Ham and drinks will be provided; please bring a side dish or dessert to share with others.

The list of helpers with this year's bazaar raffle is way too long to be published! Our parishioners sold tickets at other parishes, stuffed envelopes, tore tickets apart, "scrunched" tickets, collected tickets after Masses on Sundays, sat in the heat all day on Bazaar Day and smiled and welcomed all who came to them. And all our people either sold or bought the tickets that were sent to them.
Special thanks to Liz Torres, without whom none of this would have happened. And to Gail Sowell and Adrienne Hoffart for their untiring help and continued patience!

May God grant you His graces, peace, and good health.

Linda Armstrong, Raffle Chairman 2008

I want to thank all who helped make our booth such a nice place to visit. We had a great tent thanks to Cashner's Funeral Home of Conroe, TX.

Our theme was red, white and blue. Much to my surprise on Saturday morning there was a blue tent set up for me. I would also like to thank Roy Klaus and David Zak for bringing me a trailer load of plants and a big fan to put around our area. My dear husband, Neil for bring comfortable chairs and another big fan to put on the elderly folks who enjoyed the music of Chris Ryback. Then last but not least, Frances Kowis, the victim of recent surgeries and my mom, Margaret Wagner who is 91 years old for spending their day giving out fans and visiting with the people.

Also, thanks to all who helped in small ways if only by a hug, smile, or thumbs up! What a great parish!

God Bless, Mildred (Wagner) Rosenberg, Hospitality Chairperson

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, September 2 , 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's GAME DAY this month ... come join us on Thursday, September 18, 2008 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008. 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

Think about Christmas and Special Orders

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

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will not meet during the months
of July, August and September. The next meeting is Oct. 14.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.
Installation of Officers

Bazaar Chairpersons are hard to find. Great Bazaar Chairpersonsare a Treasure! Hat Off and Bundles of Thanks To Stella & Sonny Yorek, this year's St. Mary Bazaar 2008 Chairpersons!!

And a whole Church Of helping hands & hearts Celebrating a fabulous Day!

The Bazaar Early Bird Drawing Winner of 4 Renaissance Tickets was: LENA UPTON

Help Us Please!

Since our food pantry is getting low on non-perishable foods, we are asking each family to bring a donation of food each week. A few canned goods from each family add up to a parish family reaching out, sharing and living the teachings of the gospel and St. Vincent de Paul. Large wicker baskets are provided in the foyer of St. Mary"s Hall and St. Joseph's Hall to accept your offerings.

Thank you!!

This month's meeting will be held on St. Vincent de Paul's Feast Day, Saturday, September 27. The time to be announced. In the meantime, if we can be of any assistance to you, please call the parish office, and leave a message. Following the model of St. Vincent de Paul, we are called to be kind and loving servants, and we encourage you to call and share your needs.

Mums the word! Chrysanthemums are great for our fall coloring. There are so many different colors to choose from. They are from Asia. Asian tea was made to treat influenza, fever, sore throat and acne. Of course we mostly use them as ornamentals. Fall is the time to plant trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs. We have such a short spring cause it goes from cold to HOT so fast. By planting these in the fall, they have the fall and winter months to set their roots. We tend to get more rain at this time so you don't have to water as often. Try some Texas Start bulbs: Narcissus xintermedius. Color: two shades of yellow. Plant Sept 1- Nov. 25. They will bloom in March. They are the size of a quarter and have a strong sweet smell. Hyacinths are also sweetly scented. Can be planted Sep/Oct. Plant them 6in deep and 8in apart. Apply compost for mulch. Amaryllis is one of my favorite bulbs.

So you just couldn't drag yourself out in that August heat to plant those seeds. That's ok. You still have time to get a garden in for the fall. Your neighborhood store sells plants just to give you that head start. You will need to plant your above ground crops Sept 3-7 or 10-11. Choose fast maturing varieties of tomatoes. Someone said to just cut back your spring tomatoes. I have never tried it but I might since my tomato plants did survive the summer. I think it was partially due to the newspaper I placed down at the base of the plants. I had let them get over grown in weeds, it happens, so I pulled the weeds and placed them on top of the paper to keep it from flying away. It helped to keep the ground from drying out. Well that and I waited to plant until April. Plant peppers, bush green beans, broccoli, cabbage, collards, lettuce or squash. For your root crop you will have to wait until the 18-20 or 23-24 of this month. Try planting carrots, beets, onions and such. We are always so glad when this heat lets up. The 22nd is the beginning of fall. Wouldn't it be nice to get some cooler weather! God Bless you and the ground he walked upon!

Send your gardening ideas to: rjbochat@netzero.net. Subject: God's Garden
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We still need someone to oversee the flower gardens around the church.

Starting in September your Saint Vincent de Paul Conference of St. Mary/St. Joseph will be partnering with Entergy Corporation to open a Power to Care Agency to service Grimes County. Started 25 years ago by Entergy Gulf States, Inc, the original name for the program was Project Care. The purpose of this outreach program is "to provide financial assistance to pay energy related expenses of persons residing within the Texas service area of Entergy Gulf States, Inc, who have demonstrated a need for assistance". In preparation to opening our Project Care office we have visited other Project Care agencies in Montgomery and Walker Counties. In addition, we are adding a porch to the Saint Vincent de Paul building with wheel chair access to service the public. Once our improvements are in place we will be hosting an open house for our parishioners.

The program will pay up to $400 toward utility related bills, (electrical, propane, weatherization, fans and 110 volt A/C units), in two $200 installments. Qualifications to receive assistance are: Entergy Customer, 55 years old and disabled, or 60 years old and can demonstrate a need for assistance.

We will be operating the agency similar to other Project Care offices. Our office will be located in the spare room of our food pantry now located in front of the new storage building. We will have a new phone line to accept request for appointments. Applications will be accepted by appointment only. Our initial office hours will be every Thursday morning 8:00am to Noon. We will be scheduling appointments for 30 minute interviews to fill out the required Entergy forms. The office will be staffed by Saint Vincent de Paul member volunteers. The entire program is funded by Entergy employee and customer contributions.

As a Saint Vincent de Paul Conference we are very excited about this new outreach effort. Our current efforts to assist the needy are restricted to the local area. With Project Care we will be assisting the needs of qualified Entergy customers from all of Grimes County.

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

St. Mary Men's Club
Continues to grow and share talents and gifts

St. Mary Men's Club is a dynamic and active group of men whose dedication to Christ and His Church has been the foundation of their meeting and working in our community since its beginning eight years ago. The Club's leadership has been exemplary and continues to be the glue that keeps the members united and focused.

In August's meeting, new officers were elected for the year 2008-2009. They are:

President - Al Perez
Vice Presdient - Larry Alexander
Secretary - Ron Kloster
Treasurer - Nolan Ulbricht
Directors - Bob Armstrong and Jacob Diehl

The out-going officers of the years 2006-2007/2007-2008 were:

President - Bob Armstrong
Vice President - Larry Alexander
Secretary - Ron Kloster
Treasurer - Mike Donnellan
Directors - Chris Ulicnik and Neil Rosenberg

Special thanks to the out-going officers whose time and dedication enriched not only the club membership but the entire community. Bob Armstrong's leadership as president for two years has been a blessing to all and a bright torch for his successor. Each officer and member contributes to the success of this wonderful group of guys who enjoy each other's company, work and play together well, and invite newcomers with open arms. They are a Pastor's Dream Team.

Meetings are on the 3 rd Tuesdays of each month at 6:30pm, beginning with an on site supper cooked by a volunteer team of guys each month. Cooking experience isn't necessary.

A good appetite is.

"Parish societies serve the parish community in various ways.
The life and vitality of these societies depends on
Leaders and members who are willing to give
Their time and talent." 

+Book of Blessings, The Roman Ritual, Revised by decree of the 2 ndEcumenical Council
and published by authority of Pope John Paul II.

NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, September 16, 2008.

Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

Would you like to experience the fullness of the unity God intended for marriage? Have you been led to believe that you need artificial birth control to manage your reproductive system and be happy? Get the TRUTH about your fertility. Get off those unhealthy methods and learn the natural way to plan your family. Come learn about the recently updated Couple-to-Couple League sympto-thermal method, an effective form of family planning that is good for your body, your marriage, and your soul. A class series will begin at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe on Tuesday, September 9 in the St. Thomas room. The class will use the recently updated course materials, just published for 2008. Join us and begin building a better marriage! Call Gerard or Amy Kubelka at 936-520-7880 or email geramy71@mac.com before August 31 to register.

THE GABRIEL PROJECT is the parish-based crisis pregnancy intervention program. If you have any baby items (cribs, playpen, clothes, blankets, 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 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)

(Arthur Plessala -- September, 2008)

Though I have been out of school a long time, September remains that back-to-school month reminding us that on our spiritual journey with Christ, we never stop learning. I have chosen this month to focus on the Solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross which falls this year on Sunday, September 14. The image of the exalted cross is forever displayed for us in the center of our sanctuary at St. Mary's above the statue of the resurrected Sacred Heart in brilliant white in the dome just below the illuminated Holy Spirit. How lucky we are to view it each time we enter our historic church!

The sacred central point of this world is the sign of the Holy Cross, embracing the far corners of the universe---north, south, east, and west---in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. From the beginning of time, the universe has been charged with the grandeur of God permeated with the self-communication of creation through LOVE. Jesus calls us to be friends, to love our enemies, to be companions to the true Friend, Jesus Christ, and to live in joy as co-creators and people of peace.

We exalt, we honor, we glorify and praise the cross, for it represents the triumph of love over hate. It's not about the details of the story of the crucifixion. It's not about the garden or the soldiers or the way they divided up his clothes. It's not about Peter or Pontius Pilate or those who watched his death on the cross. It's all about how Jesus took upon himself the fullness of the sorrow and suffering of humanity. And what does that sorrow and suffering look like?

...Betrayed by an ally...Abandoned by a friend...Denounced by his community...Shouted at by crowds...Handed around from authority to authority...Judged by someone who didn't understand his situation...Physically abused ... Mocked and humiliated...Misunderstood when explaining who he was and what he was doing...Labeled...Mislabeled...Stripped of his clothes...Stripped of his dignity...Put on display...Tortured...Executed.

When we hear the Gospel (John 3:16-17), "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life," we should recognize the daily experiences of people in our community and around the world. It's not just a story about Jesus. It is a story about all of us. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

Triumph....of the cross? A 33-year-young man with nails through his hands and feet, hanging on a cross until he suffocated? What kind of triumph is that? Essentially, it is a triumph of love over hate. All his life, Jesus proclaimed about the love of God and of others. Remember the good thief---considered a lost lamb---called to glory? Remember when Jesus healed the sick and forgave sinners? Jesus didn't just talk about loving his fellow man, he lived it! Most of all He lived it on the cross. He could have hated the ones who were crucifying Him. Instead, he said: "Father, forgive them." And love triumphed.

The cross is also the triumph of faith over despair. How sad it is to hear people whose lives have been shattered by tragedy and who then live out their days in despair and hopelessness. How great the temptation must have been for Jesus to abandon all hope as he hung on the cross. Jesus could have given in to despair; but instead he died saying, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." And faith triumphed.

Jesus chose to believe that God could transform bad into good. That belief resulted in the triumph of love and faith. Today, when we are faced with adversity, we can also choose not to let hate or despair overcome us. As we struggle with the crosses in our own personal lives, may we always choose to make love and faith triumphant in our world.

On the Sundays of September, when returning to our fall routines and life is good, the readings shake us out of complacency--personally and collectively--to radical conversion. They call us to open our hearts generously and close the chasm that exists between the rich and the poor. I urge you to be open to the inspirations of the "Holy Spirit from on high." Where there is love, willingness, and a thirst for the living God, all things are possible with God's grace.

The Confirmation Students are hosting a baby shower to benefit the Gabriel Project. Please join us for this special occasion and bring baby items to donate.

September 28th - In the Hall, after Mass

The St. Mary Catholic Church Cemetery Committee and Fr. Ed have been working on improvements to St. Mary Cemetery for some time. They are in the process of installing a new wrought iron fence around the cemetery and are requesting families or individuals to sponsor a 10' section of the fence for $500 per section. A permanent plaque at the front of the cemetery will denote sponsorships.

Donations are still being accepted for the St. Mary's Restoration fund. There are spaces still available and sponsors will be recognized on a permanent plaque.

Call the parish office at 936-894-2223 for more information on both projects.

The Ladies of St. Joseph are compiling a cookbook for the 100-year Anniversary of St. Joseph Catholic Church which will be available in 2009.

We are interested in everyone's favorite family recipes. Please help us by turning them in as early as possible so we can get this together and sent to the publisher.

Make sure your name is on the recipes submitted. Phone numbers for clarification would be helpful. All recipes can be dropped in the collection basket at St. Joseph during the 7:30 mass, dropped by the office at St. Mary or turned in to any of the below contact persons from St. Joseph.

Thank you in advance!

~~Stories & Especially Pictures Needed ~~

We are preparing a Family/History book to celebrate 100 years at St. Joseph. We are looking for family stories, lore, and genealogy for this publication.

The 'founding fathers" those who put their fortunes on the line to buy the land and build St.
Joseph's church have descendants today who still populate the area. Whether you now belong to St. Mary's, or wherever, if you are a descendant, we want your story and your genealogy.
We are attempting to show what happened to these original St. Joseph families.

If you have family buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, we want your story, whether or not your
family belonged to those "founding fathers."

Pictures will be greatly appreciated and returned unhurt, and or 'touched up." Stories and
pictures can be emailed to Nance Shaw: nance7@embarqmail.com. Stories and pictures can be snail-mailed also. Please include SASE IF YOU WISH YOUR STUFF RETURNED and a phone number where you can be contacted for clarifications.

Nance Shaw ~~ 16911 Lone Star Road ~~ Navasota, Texas 77868 ~~ 936-894-2512

Ever since the earliest days of the church, bereaved families and close friends have gathered together at the death of a Christian. Prayers and rituals bring comfort and consolation for those who are grieving. St. Mary's is offering a workshop on to familiarize you with the different liturgical roles and decisions you will want to know about in planning a Catholic funeral.

The workshop will be held from 9am until noon on Saturday, October 18, in St. Mary's Family Life Center. Awareness of the meaning and significance of each role will assist you and other family members in planning and participating in funeral liturgies.

Come find out what our faith teaches us about death and burial, and about celebrating life. For more information, contact Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565 or leave a
message at the Church office.

Beginning with the first CCE class on September 17, St. Mary's Choristers will rehearse in the Church from 6 -- 7pm on CCE class evenings (Wednesdays), and St. Mary's Chimes Choir will rehearse in the Hall. These new programs for 1st through 8th grade students will be open for registration with CCE registration on Aug. 17 and Aug. 24.

The Choristers and Chimes Choirs will be singing and playing at regular Sunday Mass approximately once every month and at many special events, such as First Communion, Confirmation, Christmas, and Easter. Help your children to learn about the music of our faith so that they can truly fully participate in worship.

For more information, contact Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or leave a message at the church office.

Saturday, September 13, 2008
St. Stanislaus Church
Anderson, TX

Come and enjoy a Festival Concert of sacred music at 5:30pm, and join in the celebration of Eucharist at 6pm at St. Stanislaus in Anderson. This event is hosted by St. Mary's, St. Joseph's, Christ Our Light, and St. Stanislaus. Musicians from churches all over the Archdiocese will participate in the choir, directed by Felipe Gasper, Director of Liturgical Music at Christ the Redeemer in Houston, who is also a gifted composer; Felipe's music will be featured at the concert. The Mass will be concelebrated by Father Ed and Father Raul, pastor of Christ Our Light and St. Stanislaus.

The Adult Choir has begun preparation for Advent and Christmas. If you are interested in participating during this season, please mark your calendars and plan to attend choir practice every Wednesday at 7pm in the Church. We would love to have you!

We are in need of instrumentalists for the choir: flute, oboe, guitar, trumpet, violin, or whatever your instrument of choice happens to be. If you are interested in participating, please contact Linda Armstrong at 825-0565, or call the church office and leave your name and phone number. Jubilate Deo!

IT'S CEMETERY CLEANUP TIME AGAIN!!

October 4th is Cemetery Cleanup Day. All old flowers and worn items will be removed from the graves. If you have any items that are sentimental to you, please remove them from your loved one's gravesite. The next cleanup day will be the first Saturday of Lent.

Anyone and everyone is invited to gather at 9:00am to begin cleanup.
~~Bring a lunch to share to make a fun day for all.~~

Each month, for the next several months, the Music Ministry will provide an article about one of our musicians. We believe that it is important for the entire parish family to know who we are and what we are about. This month, we introduce our Director of Music Ministry at St. Mary's and St. Joseph 's, Linda Armstrong .

Being a member of the choir, or the director, or the organist -- or all of the above -- is part of who I am. At the age of eight, I began playing the organ at Mass in my home parish of St. Joseph 's in Baytown . This was done with the "encouragement" of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, who were the teachers in our school, and the teachers of piano; it was really more of an involuntary "volunteering." The old organ was the pump style; I was too short to push the pedals to pump air into the organ, so one of the bigger kids had to sit beside me and pump.

Things got better in the organ department at St. Joseph 's when the new church was built, and a beautiful new pipe organ was installed. What a glorious day!

I became a member of the adult choir while in high school, stepped away for a few years of college, then back as a member, and eventually choir director, which I did for over twenty years. This was a labor of love back then, and it still is here at St. Mary's.

My formal music training was done at Lee College in Baytown and Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio . I now serve as "Saturday organist" at Christ Our Light in Navasota since 1999, and currently have 27 piano students. I have also participated with several organizations, including the Baytown Symphony Orchestra, the Baytown Community Chorus, and the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra.

It has been a joy to be involved in the music ministry at St. Mary's and St. Joseph's, and to see us grow from a "sort of" singing assembly to an assembly that truly sings praise to God. We have formed a stable adult choir and have seven cantors who serve regularly at all Masses on Sundays and holy days. We will be forming a children's choir starting in September. The adult bell choir (the Bells of St. Mary's) and the children's chimes choir add beauty to all our special celebrations.

Thank you to all for being so accepting of the things we have asked you to do, for putting your hearts into your music, and for your continuing support of our work. A special thanks to our pastor, Father Ed, who is always supportive of the music ministry, and even lets us try out some really crazy things! I hope to enjoy a few more years of serving St. Mary's and St. Joseph 's, God willing.

Sept. 24 thru Nov. 2 at St. Mary's and St. Joseph 's

1. Community Outreach : no matter his or her denomination, visit - neighbor to neighbor outreach, write letters to the editor, put a sign in your yard, BE PUBLICALLY PRO-LIFE. Get out of your comfort zone, babies are dying and women are crying while we sit and say, ‘We'd never do that.” 

2. Prayer and Fasting : Every Christian is asked to join in this profound Heaven-Storming. Sign up to pray every day for an end to abortion, and fast to double your prayer. Fast as you do in Lent - give up something you like, something that keeps you from devoting yourself to God, or go hog wild and live on bread & water, just fast. Also, we will have PUBLIC PRO-LIFE PRAYER with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament each Wednesday from 9 - 12 noon at St. Mary's. (http://www.40daysforlife.org) 

3. Vigil : Take a stand for life in front of Planned Parenthood, either in Bryan or in Houston . NO VIOLENCE, NO MARCHING, NO PROTESTS, prayer, Prayer, PRAYER, with a lot of love. 24 hours a day available. Go once, once a week, or camp out, again it's your call. 

4. Rallies : “Gather the people, declare a fast, turn back to the Lord”. We will rally in Hempstead at the Gazebo on Tues., Sept. 23, in Navasota on Monday, Sept. 22 at Cedar Creek Park at 7pm (bi-lingual) and on Sun., Nov. 2, and God willing, once in Prairie View. Please plan on attending one or two rallies.

Also, on the first Sunday of October, October 5, we will participate in the Life Chain . (http://www.nationallifechain.org/). In Navasota, in Conroe , in Hempstead and in Waller, along with over 1300 cities/towns in the US and Canada , between 2:30 and 3:30 in the afternoon, we will “wait one hour” with the Lord.

On Saturday, October 18, we all are asked to pray the Life Rosary 9-10 a.m. This is part of a world wide prayer chain to end abortion. St. Mary's at 9 a.m., St Joseph 's at 9:30 a.m.

Attention all teens: Sept. 24 will be “See You at the Pole” day. Pass out bracelets for 40 Days and talk pro-life. For more information, call Nance Shaw at 936-894-2512.

-------------------------------------------------------

“BeingHuman” World Premiere – Take 2!

EWTN Global Television Network

• Sunday, September 21 (just before the start of 40 Days for Life)
• 9 PM Eastern (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific)
• 30-minute documentary about 40 Days for Life, filmed by an Emmy-award-winning director right here in College Station .
• Hosted by Bryan 's own Shawn Carney, on the national 40 Days for Life team
• Highlights the results of the previous national 40 Days for Life campaigns
• Interviews local and national leaders and volunteers who were involved in making this local campaign such a success
• Get more information, watch video trailers, and more at: http://www.beinghumanshow.com

In Remembrance
Prayer Service for the Dead
Blessing of St. Mary's Cemetery

Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

"May He support us all the day long till the shades lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done, then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last."
- Cardinal Newman

In observance of All Souls' Day and in remembrance of our loved ones who have died, St. Mary's will host a special prayer service on Sunday, November 2, 2008, at 3pm in the Church. Following the prayer service, we will have the blessing of St. Mary's Cemetery.

If you have lost a loved one and would like his or her name to be included in this special remembrance, please fill out the form below and drop it in the box provided in the hall; you may also call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or email at LINDA@SMSJ.ORG to give this information. The name will be included in the prayer intentions for the service, and prayer candles will be provided for all in attendance. It is not necessary that the deceased had been a member of St. Mary/St. Joseph parish to be included.

We also encourage you to bring photos or other momentos to be placed on our Remembrance Table in the hall during the weekend of Nov. 1-2, 2008.

All family members and friends, as well as all parishioners, are encouraged to participate in this service, and the entire parish family is asked to offer their prayers for the repose of these souls.

A pot-luck dinner will follow in the hall after the service. Ham and drinks will be provided; please bring a side dish or dessert to share with others.

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES
Scheduled for Saturday, September 6th @ St. Mary's from 9-12 in the Family Life Center

With Baptisms to follow September 14th

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.

Call: Francell Busa (936) 870-4145 (fbusa@embarqmail.com),

Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,

Anita Thornton (936) 448-2974

En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

August 15th
On this great feast day, the Church commemorates the happy departure from mortal life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Her translation into the kingdom of Her Son, where He crowned Her with immortal glory and enthroned Her above all the other Saints and heavenly spirits.

Mass Schedule for the Solemnity of the Assumption
Holy Day of Obligation

Thursday, August 14, 7:00pm
Vigil Mass @ St. Joseph’s

Friday, August 15, 9:00am
Holy Day Mass @ St. Mary’s

Scheduled for
Saturday, September 6th
@ St. Mary's from 9-12
in the Family Life Center With Baptisms to follow September 14th

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.

Call: Francell Busa
(936) 870-4145 (fbusa@embarqmail.com),
Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,
Anita Thornton (936) 448-2974
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

Beginning with the first CCE class on September 17, St. Mary's Choristers will rehearse in the Church from 6 -- 7pm on CCE class evenings (Wednesdays), and St. Mary's Chimes Choir will rehearse in the Hall. These new programs for 3rd through 8th grade students will be open for registration with CCE registration on Aug. 17 and Aug. 24.

The Choristers and Chimes Choirs will be singing and playing at regular Sunday Mass approximately once every month and at many special events, such as First Communion, Confirmation, Christmas, and Easter. Help your children to learn about the music of our faith so that they can truly fully participate in worship. For more information, contact Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or leave a message at the church office.

A warm thank-you and a heartfelt congratulations to our St. Mary's Men's Choir. With only two rehearsals, they truly sounded like a (large!) choir of angels when they sang at Mass. If you see them, please extend your thanks. We hope to bring them back together at a later date. Such talent we have at St. Mary's!!!

Please join us on Wednesday, August 20 for 9:00am morning Mass, followed by fellowship in St. Mary's Hall. Bring a snack to share. Get to know the homeschooling families at St. Mary's and help us plan activities for the upcoming school year. Wanda O'Brien 597-6328.

We need kolache bakers to bake kolaches for one of the most successful booths at the bazaar! Pans and recipes will be handed out following the Masses the weekends of Aug. 9-10 and Aug. 16-17 for you to bake your kolaches and bring them to the Bazaar.

Don't know how to bake them? Francell Busa will be giving a Kolache Baking Demo on Wednesday, August 13 at 9:45am in the Family Life Center Kitchen. Please sign up for that by contacting Francell at 936-870-4145(h) or 936-825-1503(c)

On Monday, August 11, our Guardian Angel Senior Group will once again be host to the Senior Fun Day of the Northern Senior Senate. We will have a great fellowship day with bingo and a catered meal. In previous years, we have hosted 200 and more at this fun event. Anyone 55 or over interested in attending must contact Laveta Malek at 936-894-2465 by July 25. Cost of meal is $7.00.

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)

Our family can never say, "thank you" properly for the kindness, prayers, Masses, and other forms of affection to our family during the loss of our son and brother, Hayden O'Brien. Words fail at expressing the love we have for all of you as you share in our loss and help us to carry this Cross. We want to especially thank Fr. Ed for all of his time in visiting the hospital and then in making the funeral a most memorable occasion; the office staff, especially Gail, for all the extra work that was needed planning the funeral; James Bochat for his many hours of work; the St. Mary's Altar Society for a wonderful luncheon; the St. Mary's Men's Club for traffic control; Bill Malek and Deacon David Jarvis for conducting the Wake Service; the Boy Scouts for their honor guard; and all the countless others who helped. We love you all and are proud to be members of such a holy parish.

Blessings, Tim, Wanda, Emma, Maddie, Tess, and Max O'Brien

THE GABRIEL PROJECT is the parish-based crisis pregnancy intervention program. If you have any baby items (cribs, playpen, clothes, blankets, 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.

Help Us Please!

Since our food pantry is getting low on non-perishable foods, we are asking each family to bring a donation of food each week. A few canned goods from each family add up to a parish family reaching out, sharing and living the teachings of the gospel and St. Vincent de Paul. Large wicker baskets are provided in the foyer of St. Mary"s Hall and St. Joseph's Hall to accept your offerings.
Thank you!!

ATTENTION: THERE WILL BE NO MEETING IN AUGUST!

St. Vincent de Paul will not be meeting in August due to our bazaar preparations. However, we will keep all of you in our prayers, and if we can be of any assistance to you, please call the parish office, and leave a message. Following the model of St. Vincent de Paul, we are called to be kind and loving servants, and we encourage you to call and share your needs.

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, August 5 , 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's BINGO this month ... come join us on Thursday, August 21, 2008 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Anyone and everyone is invited to join the Domino Club.
Fun will be had every Tuesday at St. Mary's Parish Hall from 11:30am-3:00pm.

Bring a snack to share!

For more information, contact:
Helen Noble @
936-873-2516

or

Frances Campbell @
936-894-2079.

. . . will be holding their monthly meeting on
Tuesday, August 19, 2008.

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 Catholic Church Cemetery Committee and Fr. Ed have been working on improvements to St. Mary Cemetery for some time. They are in the process of installing a new wrought iron fence around the cemetery and are requesting families or individuals to sponsor a 10' section of the fence for $500 per section. A permanent plaque at the front of the cemetery will denote sponsorships.

Donations are still being accepted for the St. Mary's Restoration fund. There are spaces still available and sponsors will be recognized on a permanent plaque.

Call the parish office at 936-894-2223 for more information on both projects.

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will not meet during the months
of July, August and September. The next meeting is Oct. 14.

Plans have been finalized for the Celebration of Hayden O'Brien's Life.

Visitation:
St. Mary's
Wednesday, July 2 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Prayer Service & Rosary @ 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass
St. Mary's
Thursday, July 3 @ 10:30 a.m.

We were all blessed by knowing this 17-year-old. We continue to pray for him and for Wanda and Tim O'Brien and Hayden's siblings---Emma, Maddie, Tess & Max.

Everyone should have received a packet of raffle tickets for this year's St. Mary's Homecoming Bazaar, to be held Sunday, August 31.

Last year, we made over $33,000 on the raffle, which was a 10% increase over the previous year. Our goal for this year is $37,000; we need your help! Sell or buy the tickets you received in the mail, and pick up some extra tickets to sell outside the church on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

We have an impressive list of raffle prizes this year, thanks to the generosity of our parishioners.

Turn in your tickets in the collection plate, at the church office, or to the Raffle Committee person outside the church every weekend.

Volunteers are needed to sell tickets at neighboring parishes during the month of August. If you are able to help with this, please contact Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or by calling the church office at 936-894-2223. We will also need volunteers to staff the raffle booth at the Bazaar. Sign up now!

Be sure to fill out your "early bird" entry form when returning your tickets. The lucky winner will be selected by drawing at the "Stretch" meeting in August. Good luck!

St. Mary's Annual Bazaar Stretch Dance & Meeting

Sunday, August 3 ~ 4:00-8:00 pm
St. Mary's Parish Hall

St. Mary's Music Ministry is beginning a new program for 3rd through 8th grade students this fall. St. Mary's Choristers will be rehearsing before CCE for one hour in the church every Wednesday (from 6pm - 7pm). Watch for information and registration materials when you register your children for CCE. The Choristers will be singing at regular Sunday Mass approximately once every month and at many special events, such as First Communion, Confirmation, Christmas, and Easter. Help your children to learn about the music of our faith so that they can truly fully participate in worship. For more information, contact Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or leave a message at the church office.

You might have noticed some new sounds coming from the choir loft on Saturdays. We have two new substitute organists who are playing at Saturday evening Masses; Gary Lecamu and Ann Marie Ricci. Gary comes to us from Hempstead, where he was organist for Father Ed when Father was the pastor there years ago. Ann Marie and her husband, John, live in April Sound. She comes with a strong background in Catholic liturgical music and strong musical skills. Please make them welcome! We are so blessed to have such talented and dedicated people to share their skills and dedication with us.

St. Mary's Men's Choir will sing at the 10:30am Mass on Sunday, July 6.
Practices will be held on Mondays, June 23 and June 30 at 7:00pm.

All men are invited to participate in this special liturgy.

The St. Joseph's Bazaar Committee greatly appreciates and thanks the many bazaar workers, volunteers, supporters and donors. Without all these people, the bazaar would not have been the success it was.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES
Scheduled for
Saturday, September 6th
@ St. Mary's from 9-12
in the Family Life Center
With
Baptisms to follow September 14th

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. Call: Francell Busa

(936) 870-4145 ( fbusa@embarqmail.com) ,

Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,

Anita Thornton (936) 448-2974

En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

ALL ENGAGED COUPLES
(And all Newly Married Couples)  

Are invited to attend a Free
Marriage Awareness Weekend Event

"God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage"

God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage is a video marriage preparation supplement presented by Christopher West that offers engaged and newly married couples a more complete understanding of God's glorious plan for marriage and human sexuality than perhaps any program available in the Church today and is based on Pope John Paul II's The Theology of the Body.

This weekend event is part of your marriage preparation requirements to be married at St. Mary's/ St. Joseph 's Catholic Church. Don't miss it!

Do we both have to attend? Yes, it is advisable for you both to attend this meeting as a couple.

Scheduled date & times: Day 1: Saturday, August 2, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Day 2: Sunday, August 3, 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm

(Lunch, snacks and drinks are provided for each day at no charge)

Do we have to attend both days? Yes, Day 2 is a continuation of the program and is a necessary part of your preparation for marriage .

Where will this be held? St. Mary's Family Life Center

Couples Must Pre-Register (both Engaged & Newly Married):

Please contact Walter/Francell Busa, 936-870-4145 or 936-825-1503 or fbusa@embarqmail.com no later than July 20, 2008.

REMEMBER : Marriage is a Sacrament of the Church and Marriage Preparation is a requirement of the Church and takes both time and effort on your part to accomplish.

St. Mary's 5th Annual Garage Sale
Saturday, July 12, 2008
8:00am--4:00pm

PLANTERSVILLE , TEXAS

Come Rain or Shine !!!
650 Families
have donated items to make
this the biggest Garage Sale in
Montgomery & Grimes Counties

~ Shop til' U Drop ~

Kitchen items/appliances, Antiques, Toys, Bedding, Books, Glassware, Videos, Shoes (matched in pairs), Purses, Jewelry, Hats, Christmas Decorations, Furniture, Baby Items, Auto Accessories, Tools, etc...

As I take plants out of my van, my husband looks over shakes his head and smiles. My response. Cheap therapy! I guess you could say I have a passion for digging in the dirt and watching things grow.

July is when the passion flower, Passiflora or Maypop starts to bloom. Some claim the 1600's others the 1500's the flower was discovered by missionaries. Fascinated by its beauty they envisioned the likeness of the Crucifixion or Passion of Christ. The five petals and five sepals represent the ten apostles, omitting Peter and Judas. The three pistils became the nails of the cross. The purple corona or filaments, the crown of thorns and the stemmed was the Lord's goblet. They bloom July until the first frost. The fruit is an oval berry, a little larger than an egg. Passion fruit is edible but seedy. It can be used in making jam. It is also used for a food source for several species of butterfly and their larvae. The plant dies back in winter and pops back out in spring. There are over 460 known species of Passiflora.

July is time for maintaining your garden, watering, watering and watering. Taking out the old and planning for your fall garden. Pumpkin can be planted on July 4th. Above ground vegetables can be planted after the new moon on August 1st but need protection from the west sun and watered twice daily.

Therapy? You bet. God and the ground He walked upon!
Send your gardening ideas to: rjbochat@netzero.net. Subject: God's Garden
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message from the Office: Many thanks to Mrs. Ronnie Bochat who is taking over writing of the articles for God's Gardeners, but the office is still looking for someone to oversee the flower gardens around the church and to answer any "gardening" questions.

Store Hours:

Saturdays: Open after 5:30 p.m. Mass
Sundays: Open 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: Open 7:00p.m. - 8:15p.m.
Mon thru Fri: Stop by the Parish Office
between 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. for Assistance

Check out the
AFTER INVENTORY SALE
( Sale will include Christmas items
& run through the Month of July!)

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

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 meeting will be on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 3:30pm.

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.

MEDITATION: If life gives us a rainy day,
rainbows are never far away.

In the latter part of that sentence, HOPE abounds! HOPE is an emotion. Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. HOPE implies a certain amount of perseverance-believing that a positive outcome is possible.

To go back in Biblical History and in layman' s words, God said to Moses on Mount Horeb, I am the God of your ancestors. I have seen the misery of my people in the world, in your city, and in your area. I have heard them crying and I have come to save them. So, I am sending you to lead your people to FREEDOM, truth, justice, and peace. The word FREEDOM gave the Israelites HOPE for a better future.

Here we are in the 21st century and this message resounds clearly in the world today. We Vincentians cannot lead legions of people to FREEDOM and HOPE, but we can assist those in our own Grimes county. We are not "Caped Crusaders," but only human beings wanting to help our "FRIENDS" to resolve their various needs. We have learned that St. Vincent de Paul and Fredrick Ozanam want us to keep our hearts open to the suffering of others and to have compassion for them.

Pope Benedict XVI spoke on the "Hope of the World on December 3, 2007. He stated that "the world needs God, otherwise it remains without HOPE. " On December 10th, 2007, he urged HOPE through working towards a brighter and more humane world.

REFLECTION: Through your donations, you are performing a good work far greater than you think. You can show your love for our Lord by helping to give HOPE to your neighbor who is hungry, hopeless, alone, and frightened. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!

We are preparing a Family/History book to celebrate 100 years at St. Joseph. We are looking for family stories, lore, and genealogy for this publication.

The 'founding fathers" those who put their fortunes on the line to buy the land and build St.
Joseph's church have descendants today who still populate the area. Whether you now belong to St. Mary's, or wherever, if you are a descendant, we want your story and your genealogy.
We are attempting to show what happened to these original St. Joseph families.

If you have family buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, we want your story, whether or not your
family belonged to those "founding fathers."

Pictures will be greatly appreciated and returned unhurt, and or 'touched up." Stories and
pictures can be emailed to Nance Shaw: nance7@embarqmail.com. Stories and pictures can be snail-mailed also. Please include SASE IF YOU WISH YOUR STUFF RETURNED and a phone number where you can be contacted for clarifications.

Nance Shaw ~~ 16911 Lone Star Road ~~ Navasota, Texas 77868 ~~ 936-894-2512

The Ladies of St. Joseph are compiling a cookbook for the 100-year Anniversary of St. Joseph Catholic Church which will be available in 2009.

We are interested in everyone’s favorite / family recipes. Please help us by turning them in as early as possible so we can get this together and sent to the publisher.

Make sure your name is on the recipes submitted. Phone numbers for clarification would be helpful. All recipes can be dropped in the collection basket at St. Joseph during the 7:30 mass, dropped by the office at St. Mary or turned in to any of the below contact persons from St. Joseph.

Thank you in advance!
Kaky Wetuski @ 936-894-2307
Willie Mae Bohack @ 936-894-2379
Anne Mannina @ 936-449-4743
Swanda Smith @ 936-894-2415

On Monday, August 11, our Guardian Angel Senior Group will once again be host to the Senior Fun Day of the Northern Senior Senate. We will have a great fellowship day with bingo and a catered meal. In previous years, we have hosted 200 and more at this fun event. Anyone 55 or over interested in attending must contact Laveta Malek at 936-894-2465 by July 25. Cost of meal is $7.00.

ST. MARY'S MEN'S CLUB BLOOD DRIVE With Breakfast

SUNDAY, JULY 13
8:00am-1:00pm
in St. Mary's Parish Hall.

For More Information, call Neil Rosenberg
At 936-873-2579

ST. MARY'S MEN'S CLUB will be holding their monthly meeting on
Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, July 1, 10:00am in the SM FLC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Guardian Angels will take a break in July. Fun times will resume on
August 21.

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.

Altar Society Meeting Hostesses for July: Mary Ann Kloster, Chris Kocian, Betty Ann Tolbert

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will not meet during the months
of July, August and September. The next meeting is Oct. 14.

JULY, 2008

July 6th
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For our Holy Father:
In thanksgiving for his devotion to the
Gospel of Life;
We pray to the Lord:

July 13th
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For every child who died this week
by abortion: that they might rest for eternity in the gentle arms of God;
We pray to the Lord:

July 20th
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For seminarians and novices and all who prepare for religious life
: that they might be imbued with the vitality and joy of the
Gospel of Life;
We pray to the Lord:

July 27th
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

That governments sanctioning abortion,
destructive embryo research or the death
penalty may be led by courageous prophets to embrace the Gospel of Life;
We pray to the Lord:

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,
says the Lord, and I will raise them up on the last day.
(from the Roman Missal)

YMCA OPERATION BACKPACK 2008
4th Annual Archdiocesan Operation Backpack
July 14th to August 17th

How can MY parish help?

1. Commit to providing students with the tools they need to succeed: Participate in Operation Backpack from July 14th to August 17th!

2. Designate a volunteer contact to work with the archdiocesan Development Department to coordinate Operation Backpack in your parish.

3. Register as a participating parish by returning the Operation Backpack registration form.

** During the four week period of July 14th to August 17th, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and YMCA will supply your parish with depository boxes where members of your community may donate/deposit backpacks and school supplies.

** At the end of the 4 week period the supplies/backpacks from parishes will be collected at St. Mary Seminary for sorting and distribution to children who need them.

How can I help?

** Register your parish to participate as a collection site

** Become a Volunteer for supply sorting August 2-3 & 21-23 at St. Mary's Seminary

If you have any questions about Operation Backpack , please contact Leslie Barrera
in the Development Department via phone at 713-652-8257
or e-mail at lbarrera@archgh.org

Knights of Columbus
53rd Anniversary Bazaar

Sunday, July 20, 2008

11:00am til ?? ~~ Auction at 1:00pm

KC Hall in Anderson , TX

Bar-B-Que, Plates $7 ~~ Raffle ~~ Auction

1st Prize: $500 Cash 4th Prize: $200 Cash

2nd Prize: $300 Cash 5th Prize: $150 Cash

3rd Prize: $250 Cash 6th Prize: $100 Cash

TICKETS ON SALE FROM KC MEMBERS AND AT THE DOOR.

$1 Each or Book of 6 for $5

In observance of Independence Day, there will be NO MASS on Friday, July 4th. The Parish Office will be closed on Friday, July 4th.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

BIBLE CLASS DISCUSSION GROUPS

Pope Benedict said this is the year of St. Paul ; therefore, we will be studying the books in the bible written by St. Paul . Bringing Home the Word, which is available each week at the back of the church, will also have articles for more information on him.

  We have held class for two years now and the interest has really grown since we started with only five participants. We now have 22 signed up and usually have at least 15 attend each week. This number in attendance works well for this type of bible study. The sessions last for 6 weeks in the fall and spring. We meet in the CCE classrooms at the church on Thursdays at 10am.

  We are also looking for new leaders.  Please know that y ou do not have to be a bible scholar to lead.  Several parishioners have asked about maybe holding a class at a different time.  We have several couples that attend -- perhaps other couples would like to get together for a night session.

  If you are interested in attending or leading or would prefer a different place and time, please fill out the survey below and return to Gail or place in the basket on Sunday.  

FOR ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL BARBARA KAPCHINSKI AT 936-825-1779 .
 
PLEASE RETURN THIS SURVEY BY JULY 25 .

WHAT AREA DO YOU LIVE IN?     _____________________________

WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK WOULD WORK FOR YOU? WHAT TIME OF DAY?

Monday      Tuesday       Wednesday     Thursday      Friday Morning Afternoon Evening

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN LEADING A CLASS IN YOUR AREA?        YES           NO

NAME_______________________________________PHONE _____________________________________

The St. Mary Catholic Church Cemetery Committee and Fr. Ed have been working on improvements to St. Mary Cemetery for some time. They are in the process of installing a new wrought iron fence around the cemetery and are requesting families or individuals to sponsor a 10' section of the fence for $500 per section.

A permanent plaque at the front of the cemetery will denote sponsorships.
*******
Donations are still being accepted for the St. Mary's Restoration fund. There are spaces still available and sponsors will be recognized on a permanent plaque.

Call the parish office at 936-894-2223 for more information on both projects.

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

You may now bring items to donate.

In the first part of May, the Office of Aging of this Diocese, extended an invitation to the president of our senior group, the Guardian Angels, to attend a Mass being held at the new Co-Cathedral in Houston, presided over by Bishop Vasquez.

The designated day arrived with a messy weather system. With a full compliment of passengers and the rent-a-bus on the way, anticipation was at its peak. Even though the bus itself had been spotted nearby and on contacting the driver, he had made a wrong turn and was hopelessly mired in mud down a newly graded private driveway. "Where are you?" was the inquiry. "I'm setting in front of a white house and three cows are talking to me" was the reply. It gets better--a really big boy wrecker was hired out of Magnolia to get the bus back on track and he, in turn, got stuck on that newly graded 'ore trail.' Needless to say, after about three hours of patiently waiting, the group was sent home.

Credit the Holy Spirit. The weather system never abated that day and from reports of the other seven groups that did brave the elements and ended up in Houston, told of buckets of rain, with most getting a good soaking entering and exiting the Cathedral. Besides all that, the invitations had been sent to too many clubs and the response was overwhelming to the point of standing room only. The Guardian Angels graciously thank Our Lord for sparing them for the inconvenience that became a blessing in disguise.

Anyway, a visit to the Cathedral was rescheduled for the following week and all were treated to a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Vasquez, followed on the way home by a stopover at Ryan's of Conroe for a very enjoyable meal.

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.

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

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.

Please join us for the celebration of Mass at 6pm in the church followed by a short meeting.

Altar Society Meeting Hostesses for June: Nancy Smith, Shirley Stucky, Freddie Seale, Dixie Puccetti

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's BINGO this month ... come join us on Thursday, June 19, 2008 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, June 18, 2008 at 3:30pm with Mass to follow at 5:00pm.

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.

Our 7:45Am Sunday Celebration:
Sensitivity Both To Time And Temperament 

Beginning on Sunday, June 1st, our 7:45am Mass at St. Mary will take on a simpler form, acknowledging the time factor between it and the next Mass at 9am and also attempting to be sensitive to the temperament of some who are inclined to a quieter Eucharistic Celebration.

Although the importance of song in the Liturgy is never to be discounted or denied, the norms for song are specific and lend to application when the need arises. The need for adaptation at the 7:45am at St. Mary has been under consideration for a while and is now ready to be implemented.

The adaptation is really quite simple:

A. The selection of hymnody will be kept very simple, with a minimum of songs for each Liturgical Season.

B. Singing will be a capello, without instrumentation and without a music minister or cantor.

C. The sung parts of the Liturgy will be at the discretion of the Celebrant, with the Memorial Acclamation and Great Amen intoned by the Celebrant and responded to by the Assembly in song, if at all possible.

As in every Celebration, the full active participation of the faithful is expected and presumed. Just because the voice is not raised and joined in song does not imply a silent or private celebration. Attention and response to the entire Liturgy is critical, as always, for a deepening of Faith and joining with the Universal Church in our Eucharistic Hymn of Praise each Sunday.

It is important to note that the simplification does not come about because of the early hour. No hour is too early to lift our voices in prayer and song. The early Celebration at St. Joseph and the Mid-Morning Celebrations at St. Mary will remain the same.

"Therefore, by your concord and harmonious love, Jesus Christ is being sung. Now do each of you join in this choir, that being harmoniously in concord you may receive the key of God in unison, and sing with one voice through Jesus Christ to the Father."

Ignatius of Antioch , 1st Century.  

FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI

Commemorating the Last Supper, Holy Thursday is the 'Eucharistic Feast'. In its liturgical setting, however, it could not bear the devotional practices that piety required in its love for the Body of Christ, nor could it adequately allow for the joy that wanted expression, given the sorrowful mysteries of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Hence, there was a movement that began in 12th century Belgium for a special feast to honor the Blessed Sacrament. It was Pope Urban IV who first established the feast, and, most notable, commissioned the great Dominican scholar, Thomas Aquinas, to compose its liturgical texts.

Fr. James F. Burke, C.S. Sp.

Fr. Burke, who served here as our pastor from 1993-1998,
passed away on Monday afternoon, May 5, 2008 at Hemet Valley Hospital in Hemet, California at the age of 82.

Masses and letters of condolences may be sent to his nephew:

Mr. Edward Burke
11 Mount Hope Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15223

The Ladies of St. Joseph are compiling a cookbook for the 100-year Anniversary of St. Joseph Catholic Church which will be available in 2009.

We are interested in everyone's favorite / family recipes. Please help us by turning them in as early as possible so we can get this together and sent to the publisher.

Make sure your name is on the recipes submitted. Phone numbers for clarification would be helpful. All recipes can be dropped in the collection basket at St. Joseph during the 7:30 mass, dropped by the office at St. Mary or turned in to any of the below contact persons from St. Joseph.

Thank you in advance!

Kaky Wetuski @ 936-894-2307 ~~ Willie Mae Bohack @ 936-894-2379
Anne Mannina @ 936-449-4743 ~~ Swanda Smith @ 936-894-2415

The St. Mary Catholic Church Cemetery Committee and Fr. Ed have been working on improvements to St. Mary Cemetery for some time. They are in the process of installing a new wrought iron fence around the cemetery and are requesting families or individuals to sponsor a 10' section of the fence for $500 per section. A permanent plaque at the front of the cemetery will denote sponsorships.

If you would like to make a donation to St. Mary's Restoration fund, there are spaces still available. Your donation will be recognized with a permanent plaque.
Call the parish office at 936-894-2223 for more information.

Come and sail away on a 7-night Catholic Western Caribbean Cruise with Fr. Herbert Burke October 19-26, 2008 on the Carnival Conquest out of Galveston, TX. Ports of call: Montego Bay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island & Cozumel, Mexico. Prices begin at $1025.12 fro two passengers which includes all port fees and taxes. Daily Mass and Rosary offered. Deposits of only $50 per person will reserve your cabin. Space is limited. For further info or to register, contact Doug or Eileen at 860-399-7776 / dpayttc@aol.com or after hours and weekends; contact Terri at 704-888-6050 / delucajmj@bellsouth.net.

A note of reminder from:
St. Mary's Altar Society

There will be a celebration of mass for members at 6:00pm at the June 10th monthly meeting.

All men of St. Mary's are invited to participate in a special Men's Choir, which will sing on Sunday, July 6, at the 10:30 Mass. This will be a special patriotic Mass in observance of Independence Day.

There will be only two rehearsals on Mondays, June 23 and June 30, at 7pm in the church. Dust off those rusty vocal chords and show the Lord what our men can do!

NOTE: If your name is Laviolette,Magliolo, Parsons, Brown, Lahue--this message is addressed especially to you! We have heard you and the secret is out.

Jubilate Deo!

HOLY NAME PASSIONIST RETREAT CENTER'S CATHOLIC WEEKEND RETREAT

Don't put a question mark where God puts a period." If you have been questioning whether to come on a retreat, then let God finally remove the question mark and put a period in place. You know you always wanted to go, but you always had an excuse. If you are ready, so is our God. Make a retreat at Holy Name Retreat Center with the ladies of St. Mary's and St. Joseph's on June 27-29, 2008. Call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565 for more information, or pick up a registration form in the back of the church.

About fifteen years ago, the available facilities were not sufficient to meet the religious education needs of St. Mary's and expansion plans were studied in order to best serve the entire parish. The quickest and most economical solution was to purchase several portable buildings to be used as classrooms. About the same time, a couple of extremely modest corrugated structures were erected on the back side of the campus to serve as storage buildings.

THE GABRIEL PROJECT, the parish-based crisis pregnancy intervention program, would like to offer a big "Thank You" to Boy Scout Joshua Welsh for his Eagle Scout project of hosting a Baby Shower on May 4. THE GABRIEL PROJECT was the recipient of donations of baby clothes, toiletries, diapers, toys, blankets, and money for it to assist pregnant women in the area. What a wonderful witness the entire parish is to this Pro-Life ministry under the Holy Spirit's direction. Thank you all for your donations to help women choose Life!!!

Scheduled for Saturday, June 28th @ St. Mary's from 9-12 in the Family Life Center with Baptisms to follow July 20th

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.
Call: Francell Busa
(936) 870-4145 (fbusa@embarqmail.com),
Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,
Anita Thornton (936) 448-2974
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

ALL ENGAGED COUPLES
Planning to Marry in Fall of 2008
Or Spring of 2009 

Are invited to attend a Group FOCCUS Session for Couples
On Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 12:30 pm
In St. Mary's Family Life Center

What is FOCCUS? FOCCUS stands for Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study. It is an Inventory for Marriage Preparation and is a requirement for couples planning marriage at St. Mary's/ St. Joseph 's Churches.

What will we be doing at this meeting? This meeting will be primarily an informational meeting for planning your wedding in the Church plus taking the FOCCUS Inventory (which consists of statements that you will respond to by marking a scantron sheet).

How long will this meeting last? This initial meeting will last approximately an hour or longer depending upon how fast you can read and mark your responses.

Do we both have to attend? Yes, it is advisable for you both to attend this meeting. Doing FOCCUS as a group saves time and effort on those doing marriage preparation ministry.

And then what happens? Your scantron sheets are taken up and computer-scored over the next several weeks and agreement graphs are prepared for each couple. They will be returned to you as a couple at the Group Marriage Preparation Weekend to be held the first weekend of August. Exact day(s) and time(s) for this is pending, but please leave that weekend free.

Ongoing throughout this period of time, a meeting will be scheduled as a couple to meet privately to complete required marriage paperwork.

Please contact Walter/Francell Busa, 936-870-4145 or 936-825-1503 or fbusa@embarqmail.com to schedule your wedding date and to begin your marriage preparation process.

REMEMBER: Marriage Preparation is a requirement of the Church and takes time and effort on your part to accomplish.

God's Gardeners is looking for someone to write their article for the monthly bulletin. Please call the Parish Office if you are interested.

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will be meeting on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, after the 9am mass.

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.

MEDITATION: The search for the concept of true love.

Is there a true definition of love? The word "love" is used loosely and is overused in our everyday conversation. For example, I love music. I love Italian food, etc. Love can be confused with the meaning of the word "want" or "desire." This can be noticed as a craving for a substitute such as political, financial, economic power, or something more ordinary, such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, or whatever. Can it be that love is kind, has no envy and has no pride?
Is it a kindness of heart, soul, and mind? Is it a feeling, an emotion that can't be explained? Is love the continual act of unconditionally putting the needs of others before your own?

Perhaps, there IS a true definition of love. PERFECT LOVE was demonstrated when Jesus suffered and gave up His life for us. He manifested His heart to us with all the treasures of love, mercy, grace, and salvation. The heart became the EMBLEM OF LOVE, but it is the SACRED HEART that we, as Catholics, revere.

Saint Margaret Mary in the 17th century supposedly had a vision. The Sacred Heart was shown to her "enthroned in flames, more dazzling than the sun and transparent as crystal, bearing that wound; and it was ringed round with a crown of thorns signifying the sufferings our sins cause it. There was a cross over it signifying that from the earliest instant of the Incarnation, that is from the very instant that the Sacred Heart was formed, the Cross was planted in it.

As Bill Malek so beautifully stated recently, "when we enter St. Mary's Church, we see the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue with outspread arms lovingly welcoming us to His altar."

St. Vincent de Paul and Frederick Ozanam were so inspired by this flame of true love that they felt their encounters with poor people WERE encounters with Jesus Christ.

REFLECTION: The single word LOVE was stressed frequently to the Apostles, to the people of Jesus' time, and passed down to us. Wouldn't it be wonderful to keep that flame of the Sacred Heart burning in our hearts for the poor, as did St. Vincent de Paul and Frederick Ozanam?

God Bless!

The men of St. Mary's made their annual retreat at the Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center on the weekend of April 25-27, 2008. Our little parish in Grimes County ranked fourth in overall attendance for the entire Galveston-Houston Archdiocese retreat season. During the 2007-2008 retreat season a total of 909 diocesan men attended the weekend retreats which is an increase of over 100 from previous years. Please keep the Passionists Fathers Retreat Ministry in your prayers for the wonderful service they provide.

2009 MEN'S RETREAT WEEKEND WILL BE APRIL 24-26, 2009. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS ANNUAL EVENT. MORE INFORMATION WILL FOLLOW WHEN AVAILABLE.

. . . will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

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.

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.

St. Mary's ~ St. Joseph's
MEN'S RETREAT

The Fourth Annual St. Mary's / St. Joseph 's Men's Retreat will be held April 25, 26 & 27, 2008
at the Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston , Texas .
The theme for this year's retreat Is "Christian Living in a Secular World."

TOP TEN REASONS FOR ATTENDING A MEN'S RETREAT AT THE
HOLY NAME PASSIONIST RETREAT CENTER

10. The Priests and the Holy Name Retreat Center Staff are wonderful hosts;

9. No chores, honeydos' or family carpooling from Friday evening to Sunday after noon;

8. No interruptions from cell phones, pagers or Blackberries for a whole weekend;

7.Best value in town--private room with private bath for 2 nights with 6 great meals for a "suggested donation" of $165.00;

6. Opportunity to get better acquainted with fellow parishioners and diocesan brothers;

5. Chance to share a wonderful experience with a son, father, brother, friend, etc.;

4. Beautiful chapel, grounds and facilities for meditation, relaxation and reflection;

3. Outstanding presentations relative to our everyday challenges;

2. The Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Lord's Supper;

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON

1. Quality, quantity and personal time with our Savior.

Remember, the weekend of the St. Mary/St. Joseph's Men's Retreat is the last weekend of the Holy Name Retreat Season for 2008. To date we have 26 men from St. Mary's signed up for this year's retreat. There are nine other parishes attending on our weekend and many

parishes use the last scheduled weekend. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, PLEASE DON'T WAIT TOO LONG TO SEND IN YOUR $25 DEPOSIT TO RESERVE A ROOM. SPACE IS LIMITED AND WILL BE FILLED ON A FIRST COME-FIRST SERVED BASIS."

For information on the drawing for a free retreat for first timers at Holy Name,
Or on this year's retreat and how to obtain registration forms, please call
Fred Seale at 936-582-7095 or at fseale2@yahoo.com.

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 St. Joseph's Altar Society will be meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, after the 9am mass.

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

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, April 8, 2008 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.

**Proposed bylaw revisions will be read and discussed at this meeting.
Please plan to attend this very important meeting.**

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 17th, 2008 at 3:30PM with Mass to follow at 5:00PM.

We welcome new members to our St. Mary/St. Joseph 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 joining, please contact our president
C.J. LeBlanc at 936-597-7924.

The Saint 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 2008.

Applications are available through the Parish Office and completed applications must be turned in by April 15, 2008. The office contact is Gail Sowell.

St. Mary's Catholic Church Men's Club is sponsoring their Seventh Annual Golf Tournament
at Walden Golf Club on Lake Conroe--Monday, April 14, 2008--10:00am (Rain out date: Monday, May 19)

Includes:
Green Fees--Cart
Box Lunch--Free Drinks
Silent Auction--Dinner
Live Auction--Range Balls

Prizes:
Door Prizes
Win a "CAR" with a Hole-In-One

Format: Four Person Scramble

For More Information Contact:
John Tryon at 936-448-1342 or Neil Rosenberg at 936-873-2579.

St. Mary's Men's Club will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

SAVE YOUR EASTER BASKETS!

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.)

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

The Music Ministry of St. Mary's / St. Joseph's has chosen the second weekend in April as our stewardship month. Look for members of our adult choir, the Bells of St. Mary's choir, or our chimes choir in the hall after Masses on this weekend. Try your hand at ringing bells or chimes. Ask any questions you might have about our ministry -- what we do, why we do it, how much of a commitment is involved, or any other thing you would like to know. We welcome all members of our parish community to investigate how they might join our ministry. We have so much talent at St. Mary's. Isn't it time to share some of that talent and dedication with the whole parish in lifting our voices in God's praise? We have a spot for everyone, whether you can sing or not, whether you read music or not, no matter what your age or musical preferences; check us out!

The Catholic communities of St. Mary/St. Joseph extend a heartfelt welcome to the following individuals who joined our Catholic faith at Easter Vigil:

Receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist:
Elaine DeLeon
Sunni Radford

Receiving the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist:
Shawna Cook Grant
Christy Higginbotham
Daniel Polhamus

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES
Scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd @ St. Mary’s from 9-12 in the Family Life Center with Baptisms to follow on May 18th

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.
Call:
Francell Busa
(936) 870-4145 (fbusa@embarqmail.com),
Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,
Anita Thornton (936) 448-2974
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

The St. Joseph's Altar Society wants to extend their thanks and appreciation to everyone who supported, contributed and attended their Stew Supper on March 13. The evening was a huge success once again. There was lots of food, fun and fellowship and a great time was had by all.

Congratulations to the winners of the raffle prizes:
1st Prize--Handmade Quilt--William Gorney
2nd Prize--Handmade Porch Swing--Jo Ann Kowis
3rd Prize--Rod & Reel--June Lowe
$100 Gift Certificates--3 Winners:
Natalie Uilkie ~ Jay Burzynski ~ Helen Caves

St. Stanislaus Spring Festival
April 27, 2008 ~ 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 1520 Laptop
Polaroid 19" Widescreen LCD HDTV
Canon 7.1 MP Digital Camera
$100 Savings Bond
$50 Gift Card from Academy

PLANTERSVILLE-STONEHAM
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.

31st Annual
Bar-B-Que &
Bazaar

Sunday, April 13 ~ 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

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 27, 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! *

Don't forget to stop by and
take a peek at the
newly remodeled church.

For more information, contact:
Bo Imhoff at 936-672-4555
or
Mike Wetuski at 936-870-6836

Palm Sunday ~ March 16
Regular Sunday Mass Schedule

Holy Thursday
Mass of the Lord's Supper ~ March 20
7:00 pm @ St. Joseph's

Good Friday
Passion of the Lord ~ March 21
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 ~ March 22
8:30 pm @ St. Mary's
Reception following in St. Mary's Hall

Easter Sunday ~ March 23
Regular Sunday Mass Schedule

5:30-8:30pm Wednesday,March 12, 2008

(Fr. Kelley will assist Fr. Ed)

Remember...

Stations of the Cross

Fridays during Lent at 7pm at St. Mary & St. Joseph.

Come and enjoy a spaghetti dinner, traditionally meatless, at St. Mary's parish hall provided for everyone in the parish. Your only cost is to bring a sack of non-perishable items to help benefit those in our Parish community who are in need.

Dinner will be served after the 10:30am Mass on March 9, 2008.

THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY.

St. Mary's ~ St. Joseph's
MEN'S RETREAT

The Fourth Annual St. Mary's / St. Joseph's Men's Retreat will be held April 25, 26 & 27, 2008 at the Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.
The theme for this year's retreat Is "Christian Living in a Secular World."

VATICAN CITY, FEBRUARY 11, 2008 - Benedict XVI is promoting retreats known as spiritual exercises, saying the days of prayer are an opportunity of a strong experience with God.

In an audience Saturday with the Italian Federation of Spiritual Exercises, the Pope made an appeal for the promotion of retreats, which are based on a practice begun by St. Ignatius Loyola.

He affirmed that spiritual exercises are "a strong experience of God, sustained by listening to His Word, understood and welcomed in one's personal life under the action of the Holy Spirit, which in a climate of silence, prayer and by means of a spiritual guide, offer the capacity of discernment in order to purify the heart, convert one's life, follow Christ, and fulfill one's own mission in the Church and in the world."

The Pope contended that "in an age in which there is an ever stronger influence of secularization, and, on the other hand, in which there is experienced a widespread need to encounter God, the possibility of offering spaces of intense listening to His Word in silence and prayer should not falter."

Please join the Men of St. Mary's/St. Joseph's for the
2008 Men's Retreat which will specifically address the "influence of secularization" spoken of by Pope Benedict. This weekend may be just what you need to recharge your spiritual batteries.

For information on the drawing for a free retreat for first timers at Holy Name,
Or on this year's retreat and how to obtain registration forms, please call
Fred Seale at 936-582-7095 or at fseale2@yahoo.com.

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, March 4, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's GAME DAY this month ... come join us on Thursday, March 27, 2008 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

(Because of Easter, our Game Day is one week later than usual.)

TOPS stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly. This non-profit international organization was started in 1948. TOPS meets on Thursday evening in the FLC at 7:00 p.m. The meetings last 1 hour and are for support and education. Your family doctor will need to set your goal weight and plan of attack. Who can become members? It is for women, men and children. What is the Cost? It is $24.00 in yearly dues to the national organization and $4.00 per month for local dues. So, if you are needing help in losing that weight, we are here for you. You are welcome to visit for one meeting before joining. For more info please contact Mildred Rosenberg at 936-873-2579 or Cell# 713-504-9362.

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will be meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2008, after the 9am mass.

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

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.

**Proposed bylaw revisions will be passed out and discussed at this meeting. Please plan to attend this very important meeting.**

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

Meditation: St. Joseph's Table and its connection to our very own St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Tradition says that March 19th is the birthday of St. Joseph. This feast day honors all fathers. St. Joseph is the patron of workers and those in need of work. Prayers for the unemployed are often included in this day of celebration. Red was chosen as the color to be worn that day.

The origins of a St. Joseph's Table started several centuries ago in Sicily. A severe drought plagued the area for an extended period of time. No crops would grow, and many people were suffering and starving to death. The people had only their faith to rely on. St. Joseph was known as the protector of the Holy Family, so Italians with strong family relationships prayed to God for rain, and they also prayed for the intercession of St. Joseph on their behalf. They made a promise that if God would cause it to rain, they would have a Feast to thank God and St. Joseph. BY MIRACLE, THE RAIN CAME. As the famine came to an end, the grateful farmers erected an Altar in honor of St. Joseph. They promised to make annual offerings of their most precious possession-food.

THE FARMERS INVITED THE POOR TO SHARE THEIR FOOD.
The St. Joseph's Table tradition was brought to the United States in the late 19th century. Items used at the Tables have been generously donated to those in need. AT OUR TABLE, the foods go to the St. Vincent de Paul Pantry.

Through the centuries, people who have prayed for a favor and have been granted that favor, use this as a day to show their thanks. The favor must not be for personal gain or benefit.

Reflection: Oh, gracious St. Joseph, help us to follow your example of complete trust and faith in Divine Providence. Open our minds and hearts to love and serve the poor, the suffering, and those rejected or ignored by society.

St. Mary's Catholic Church Men's Club is sponsoring their Seventh Annual Golf Tournament
at Walden Golf Club on Lake Conroe--Monday, April 14, 2008--10:00am (Rain out date: Monday, May 19)

Includes:
Green Fees--Cart
Box Lunch--Free Drinks
Silent Auction--Dinner
Live Auction--Range Balls

Prizes:
Door Prizes
Win a "CAR" with a Hole-In-One

Format: Four Person Scramble

For More Information Contact:
John Tryon at 936-448-1342 or Neil Rosenberg at 936-873-2579.

$CHOLAR$HIP

The Saint 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 2008.

Applications are available through the Parish Office and completed applications must be
turned in by April 15, 2008. The office contact is Gail Sowell.

ST. MARY'S MEN'S CLUB
. . . will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2008. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

In Stoneham, Texas
St. Joseph's Feast Day
5:30 pm Mass
St. Joseph Catholic Church

Followed by the STEW SUPPER

Fantastic Beef Stew served with wonderful Bread
& Homemade Pies

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Supper served immediately following Mass (Approximately 6:15pm)in the Parish Hall

ADULTS-$6.00 / CHILDREN(12 & under)-$3.00

Raffle includes Phil's handmade quilt and Leland's homemade porch swing and more!

The Catholic communities of St. Mary/St. Joseph extend a heartfelt welcome to the following individuals who will join our Catholic faith at Easter Vigil:

Receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist: Elaine DeLeon

Receiving the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist: Daniel Polhamus

All parishioners are cordially invited to attend the Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 22, beginning at 8:30 p.m. and the reception afterwards in St. Mary's hall.

Saturday, March 1st
@ St. Mary's from 9-12
in the Family Life Center

With Baptisms to follow on March 30th

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.
Call: Francell Busa(936) 870-4145(fbusa@embarqmail.com)
Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,
Anita Thornton (936) 448-2974
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

Adult Confirmation Classes for 2008 Is Here!

All Catholic Adults (no matter what age) who have not been confirmed have the opportunity to attend Adult Confirmation Classes this spring to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation by the Bishop on Pentecost Sunday, May 11

Initial Sign-up/class begins on Sunday, March 9, 2008 @ 12:15 pm til 2:00 pm in an upstairs classroom at St. Mary's Family Life Center

Tentative Calendar of Classes:

Sunday, March 16.....Faith/Church
Sunday, March 23.....EASTER....No Class
Sunday, March 30.....Creed
Sunday, April 6.....Prayer
Sunday, April 13.....Christian Initiation / Confirmation
Sunday, April 20.....Jesus/Gifts of the Spirit
Sunday, April 27.....Moral Life (Social Justice)/Beatitudes
Sunday, May 4.....Sin/Sacrament of Penance
Sunday, May 11.....PENTECOST...Meet Bishop for Confirmation

Just seven sessions is all it takes to complete your Sacraments of Initiation.

Remember: Confirmation, rather than imparting the Spirit, is a release of the gifts and powers of the Spirit in the life of the individual. Among the effects of Confirmation is the strengthening to proclaim and defend the faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. As with all sacraments, Confirmation is effective in the dispensation of graces.

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 you are someone in need of the services of THE GABRIEL PROJECT, please use the contact information above.

Information will stay confidential.

PARISH SPAGHETTI DINNER--FEB. 3
Begins after 10:30am mass--To Go Plates available after 9:00am mass

Adults: $7; Children: $4; Children under 5 eat free

Raffle for all ages--Delicious Homemade Spaghetti

The Fourth Annual St. Mary's / St. Joseph's Men's Retreat will be held April 25, 26 & 27, 2008 at the Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.

The theme for this year's retreat Is "Christian Living in a Secular World."

"More than ever the quality of our friendship with the Lord demands a time apart to rest with Him a little and be refreshed by His call: Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest...for my yoke is easy and my burden light."
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo

"Attending the retreat was a wonderful experience made much richer by sharing it with other men from St. Mary's parish. You really could feel the Holy Spirit moving us and you could fee God's presence in a special way."
John Parziale

"At the start of the retreat I was apprehensive about my ability to make a good retreat. I quickly found that these anxieties were misplaced. I am already looking forward to next year."
Richard Zajac

"The Holy Name retreat was a great opportunity to get spiritually revitalized, spend quality time with the men of the parish, exchange ideas and grow in our faith. Diet before you attend, the food and facilities are excellent."
C. J. LeBlanc

"Having made three retreats at Holy Name in the last four years it is refreshing to learn that each one is a new experience. But most important to me personally was witnessing the spirituality and love for God that the men of our parish have."
Jeff Seale

For information on the drawing for a free retreat for first timers at Holy Name, or on this year's retreat and how to obtain registration forms, please call Fred Seale at 936-582-7095 or at fseale2@yahoo.com.

"BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD"

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.

Adult Confirmation Classes for 2008 Is Coming Soon!

All Catholic Adults who have not been confirmed have the opportunity to attend Adult Confirmation Classes this spring to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation by the Bishop on Pentecost Sunday, May 11, 2008

Initial Sign-up/class begins on Sunday, March 9, 2008 12:15 pm til 2:00 pm in an upstairs classroom at St. Mary's Family Life Center

Tentative Calendar of Classes:

Sunday, March 16.....Faith/Church
Sunday, March 23.....EASTER....No Class
Sunday, March 30.....Creed
Sunday, April 6.....Prayer
Sunday, April 13.....Christian Initiation/Confirmation
Sunday, April 20.....Jesus/Gifts of the Spirit
Sunday, April 27.....Moral Life (Social Justice)/Beatitudes
Sunday, May 4.....Sin/Sacrament of Penance
Sunday, May 11.....PENTECOST...Meet Bishop for Confirmation

Just seven sessions to complete your Sacraments of Initiation.

Remember: Confirmation, rather than imparting the Spirit, is a release of the gifts and powers of the Spirit in the life of the individual. Among the effects of Confirmation is the strengthening to proclaim and defend the faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. As with all sacraments, Confirmation is effective in the dispensation of graces.

WATCH FOR SIGN-UP SUNDAY COMING SOON!

For more information and/or for pre-registration: contact Suzanne & Gary Hill (936) 894-2396 or sehill111@hotmail.com

Saturday, March 1st @ St. Mary's from 9-12 in the Family Life Center
with Baptisms to follow on March 30th.

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. Call: Francell Busa (936) 870-4145 (fbusa@embarqmail.com), Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342, Anita Thornton (936) 448-2974

En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

ST. MARY / ST. JOSEPH
ON FEBRUARY 9--9:00AM
All flowers will be cleaned off graves--if you have anything you don't want discarded, please pick items up before this date.

Congratulations to Deacon David Garvis on his first year anniversary (Feb. 3) as a deacon. Thank you so much for assisting the various ministries here at St. Mary's / St. Joseph's.

The Saint 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 2008. Applications are available through the Parish Office and completed applications must be turned in by April 15, 2008.

The office contact is Gail Sowell.

ATTENTION GOLFERS!
Mark your calendars for the Seventh Annual St. Mary's Men's Club Golf Tournament at Walden Golf Club on Lake Conroe.

Monday, April 14--10:00am
(Rain out date April 28)

For more information, see any Men's Club member or pick up a flyer in the parish hall.

BLOOD DRIVE with Breakfast

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10
8:00am-1:00pm
in St. Mary's Parish Hall

For More Information, call Neil Rosenberg

ST. MARY'S MEN'S CLUB will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 19, 2008. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

The next meeting will be held on February 21, 2008 at 3:30pm with Mass to follow at 5:00pm

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.

The St. Joseph's Altar Society meeting will be Tuesday,
February 12, 2008 after the 9:00am Mass.

What's Happening This Month???

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall. *** Stations of the Cross, Mary's Way ***

Altar Society Meeting Hostesses for February:
Jean Lahue, Lorraine Nilson, Janet Nolan, Annette Freund

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, February 5, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's BINGO this month ... come join us on Thursday, February 21, 2008 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008. Please contact Pam Alexander for more information.

Ash Wednesday is on February 6th and marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting,abstinence (from meat), and repentance.

Mass times on Ash Wednesday are as follows:

ST. JOSEPH'S 12:00pm

ST. MARY'S 9:00am, 5:30pm, 7:30pm

DSF Collections begin on the weekend of February 2 & 3.
Bring your pledges to church.

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.

"Our "Baby Bottle Boomerang" was a great success thanks to the very generous parishioners of St. Mary's. We have received $2,374.00. Your people seem to love this ministry for which we are very grateful. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to conduct this fundraiser which is so important to our ongoing ministry. Your love for Birthright is a blessing for us. Please remember our mothers and babies in your prayers."

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

Since this letter was received, Wanda O'Brien has taken more bottles, therefore, the total given in this letter is now greater. Thank you.

Studies published ... in the journals Cell and Science offer new hope for advancing stem cell research and therapies while fully respecting the dignity of human life.

Scientists in Japan and Wisconsin used four genes to "reprogram" ordinary adult human cells, creating "induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells). ...

Thus the goal sought for years through failed attempts at human cloning -- the production of "pluripotent" stem cells that are an exact match to a patient -- has been brought within reach by an ethical procedure. The technology avoids the ethical landmines associated with embryonic stem cell research: it does not clone or destroy human embryos, [and] does not harm or exploit women for their eggs. ...

This advance reminds us once again that medical progress and respect for human life are not in conflict....
-Cardinal Justin Rigali, Statement on Stem Cell Breakthrough, Nov. 20, 2007

To join the Respect Life effort, please contact Bob Dean at
bob4345@aol.com or call him at 936-582-6314.

Gracious God, bless all families and make them holy. Enable parents to share their faith with their children through word and example. May they encourage their sons and daughters to seek and follow your Son's call to the priesthood and religious life. Amen.

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

Please check out this web site that opens a window into nuns' work and their personalities: www.catholicnunstoday.org

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.

Thank you to all who purchased Gabriel Project Christmas Cards this year to give to your friends and family. What a wonderful witness you were this Christmas season to the pro-life message.

IMPORTANT: We will have our yearly meeting on Friday, January 4 after the 9:00am Mass. Meet at 9:45 in the St. Mary's hall. Everyone is invited.

FYI: ALL ENGAGED COUPLES for 2008

Having already completed FOCCUS

(FOCCUS = F acilitating O pen C ouple C ommunication,

U nderstanding & Study) 

FOCCUS is a self-diagnostic inventory designed to help couples learn more about themselves and their unique relationship. It is not a test nor meant as a predictor of success or failure in marriage. It is a tool to help couples name and work through issues before marriage.

  ~~~~~~

  Are expected to complete their Marriage Preparation
On Saturday, January 26th, 2008
In the Family Life Center @ St. Mary's

Registration begins at 8:30 am
The Program will being promptly at 9:00 am
And will end late afternoon (lunch will be provided)

Do Not Come Late and Do Not Miss This

There will NOT be a "Make-up Session"

Initial Pre-Nuptial Interviews should have been completed by this time--Please remember to bring any additional paperwork that you have been instructed to bring on this day.

If you have not already had your wedding date placed on the church calendar and received Fr. Ed ' s approval or would like more information about the Marriage Preparation process, please contact the church @ 936-894-2223 or info@smsj.org

Or contact Francell Busa @ 936-870-4145 or 936-825-1503 or fbusa@embarqmail.com

  All couples whose weddings will be listed on the church calendar for 2008
who have not already taken FOCCUS and are not doing Marriage Preparation elsewhere
are expected to be at the next group meeting of FOCCUS later this year.

FYI: Baptisms Planned for Jan. 13th

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES
Scheduled for
Saturday, March 1st
@ St. Mary's from 9-12
in the Family Life Center with
Baptisms to follow on March 30th

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. Call: Francell Busa (936) 870-4145 (fbusa@embarqmail.com),
Gaby Tryon (936) 448-1342,
Anita Thornton (936) 448-2974
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

Have you ever wondered how to make your marriage great? Join us for a Natural Family Planning class and find out! Here you can learn more about Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body and how you and your spouse can build a terrific married life. Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a method of fertility awareness that is 99% effective in postponing pregnancy and can also help achieve pregnancy for couples with low fertility. As an added benefit, it will make your marriage stronger! The class series will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands, beginning Saturday, January 12th at 10:00 AM in the Room 203. Pre-registration is required. Join us and begin building a better marriage! For more information or to register, please contact Mike & Mary Ellen Van Horn at 281-292-3033 or mvanhorn@comcast.net.

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

God's Gardeners is looking for someone to write their article for the monthly bulletin. Please call the Parish Office if you are interested.

"Blast From The Past"

Second Annual Parish Dance

Date: January 26, 2008

Time: 6:30pm until 11:00pm

Admission Price:

Sack of Groceries for St. Joseph 's Table Dinner

Dinner, Drinks & Setups Provided--BYOB

Costume Contest--Prizes will be given!

"Be There or Be Square"
for the Oldies & Goodies

Sponsored by The St. Mary's Men's Club

ST. MARY'S MEN'S CLUB
. . . will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 15, 2008. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

Thank you to everyone who made the Parish Christmas Party a great success. A big thank you to the Altar Society members who decorated the hall and turned it into a Holiday Wonderland, a big thank you to all the members and their husbands who worked in the kitchen and cleaned up after the dinner. We want to especially thank J.C. Brown (St Nicholas) and Shirley Stucky for the pretty gift bags for the children. A very special thank you to the people who donated their time and talents for the raffle prizes Pat Wren, Ann Lambert, Rosemarie MacCartney, Pat Holt, Evelyn & Detra Cleghorn, Joanne Kowis, Shirley Stucky, Geraldine Ulbricht, Mimi Loftus, and Nolan Ulbricht. Congratulations to our winners Carol Bellezzo (Gift Card), Laveta Malek the Quilt, Betty Lott (Painting of Baby Jesus), Christina Collier (Christmas Wreath), Bob Armstrong (Table Arrangement), Mary Diehl (Homemade Sugar Cookies), Margee Manning (Homemade Fudge), Rose Kimich (Tulip Painting), Marsha Dolhonde (Wall Hanging), Bob Stucky (St Mary's Pecans), Al Perez (Angel), and Connie Greiner (Picture Frame Ornaments).

Happy New Year, fellow parishioners, and here's the latest from our St. Mary/St. Joseph St. Vincent de Paul conference. First of all, we have installed a new leadership team, and we welcome C.J. LeBlanc (President), Claudia Riedlinger (Vice President), Sharon Lacy and Jeannie Hibbison (Co-Secretaries), and Nick Lamont (Treasurer.) We look forward to continuing to work together as we serve those in need through the prayerful intercession of the Holy Spirit.

For the past six years, we have been blessed by a superb leadership team who have led us in " the Christian calling to seek and find the forgotten, the suffering, or the deprived so that we may bring them God's love." During their tenure of office, and through the kind generosity of our parish community, we have responded to the needs of hundreds of people in our area. Thank you, Craig Hibbison, Gene Hemken, Lou Tichacek, and Virginia Carver for your lessons of prayer-filled love and service.!

Finally, our next meeting will be Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 3:30 pm with Mass to follow. Our next St. Vincent de Paul black bag collection will be the first weekend of February. This money will support our parish SVdP conference, and thank you in advance for your generosity.

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 hall and St. Joseph to accept your offerings.

The St. Joseph's Altar Society meeting will be Tuesday, January 8, 2008 after the 9:00am Mass

What's Happening This Month???

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, January 8, 2008 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.

*** Planning for Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, February 3. ***

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, December 4, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's GAME DAY this month ... come join us on Thursday, January 17, 2008 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008. Please contact Pam Alexander for more information.

A Family Blessing Of The Home
&
Marking Of The Home's Lintel 

It is an ancient and venerable custom to gather as a family, bless one's home and mark the entrance lintel during the Christmas Season, especially on the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated this year on January 7th. It's really simple. The family gathers for God to bless the New Year and all those who live in and come to visit this home.

+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Father, we bless Your name for sending Your own Incarnate Son to become part of a family, so that, as He lived His life, He would experience our worries and our joys.

We ask You, Father, to protect and watch over our family this year of 2007 so that in the strength of Your grace we may enjoy prosperity, possess the priceless gift of Your peace, and, as the Church alive in our home, bear witness in this world to Your glory. May all who visit here find a warm welcome and feel the presence of God alive in these wall and in our hearts.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. [All] Amen.

Then, over the entrance lintel [the crossbeam of the door] one of the family members marks with the blessed chalk [given out on the Feast of the Epiphany after the Masses]:

20 + C + M + B +08

[Century] + [Caspas] + [Melchior] + [Baltazar] + [Year] 

The 'C' 'M' 'B' are the initials of the traditional names of the Three Wise Men

Or, another interpretation, the beginning letter of each of the word in the phrase

Christus Mansionem Benedicat

[May Christ Bless This House] 

All then pray together The Our Father, The Hail Mary, and ending with:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

World without end. Amen.

All exchange a sign of Christ's peace.

A Special Feast in January . . .

The Solemnity of Mary
Holy Day of Obligation

New Year's Day, January 1 is the day Roman Catholics celebrate The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The divine and virginal motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a singular salvific event: for Our Lady it was the foretaste and cause of her extraordinary glory; for us it is a source of grace and salvation because "through her we have received the Author of life."

MASS SCHEDULE FOR NEW YEAR'S - THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY

Vigil Mass Monday, December 31, 2007 5:30pm @ St. Mary's

Holy Day Mass Tuesday, January 1, 2008 7:30am @ St. Joseph 's and 9:00am @ St. Mary's

Please pray for Marshall & Patrice Perry's two sons serving in the Military:

Brian Perry is a Navy Seal stationed in San Diego, California &
Matthew Perry is a Helicopter Technician stationed in Mayport, Florida.

Michael Katkoski, son of Janice & Gary Pasket and grandson of August & Elizabeth Nowak, is serving in the U.S. Air Force and was recently sent to Kanbul, Afghanistan. Please pray for his safety.

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.

Holiday Mass Schedule

Monday, December 24th, Christmas Vigil Masses
4:00pm, 4:15pm/Hall, 6:00pm, 6:15pm/Hall, 8:00pm @ St. Mary's
9:30pm @ St. Joseph 's
(No Midnight Mass)

Tuesday, December 25th, Christmas Mass
9:00am @ St. Mary's

Wednesday, December 26th
No Mass

Monday, December 31st, New Year's Day Vigil Mass
5:30pm @ St. Mary's

Tuesday, January 1st, New Year's Day Mass
7:30am @ St. Joseph 's
9:00am @ St. Mary's

The St. Joseph's Altar Society meeting will be Tuesday, December 11, 2007 after the 9:00am Mass

What's Happening This Month???

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.

***Altar Society Christmas Party***

Bring wrapped gift ($10 value) for exchange -- bring a finger food or dessert.

Please pray for Marshall & Patrice Perry's two sons serving in the Military:

Brian Perry is a Navy Seal stationed in San Diego, California &
Matthew Perry is a Helicopter Technician stationed in Mayport, Florida.

Michael Katkoski, son of Janice & Gary Pasket and grandson of August & Elizabeth Nowak, is serving in the U.S. Air Force and was recently sent to Kanbul, Afghanistan.
Please pray for his safety.

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.

By Nance Shaw

We fasted, we prayed. Did it do any good?
YES! YES! YES! We are getting marvelous reports from all across America.

1. Over 300 babies will live and their parents not have to recover from the anguish of Post-Abortion Syndrome, a problem that no abortionist counsels about.

Kids!
December 1st & 2nd is candy cane weekend!

We're Celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas, which will be on December 6th. Come on down for your candy cane!

St. Nicholas is scheduled to be here!!!

You are invited to a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination of Monsignor Chester L. Borski, S.T.L. and Monsignor Adam S. McClosky on

Monday, December 3, 2007 at 6:00pm
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
Anderson, Texas

A reception will follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall

Children's Christmas Choir

The children's choir will sing before the 4pm
Children's Mass on Christmas Eve. All children ages 7-16 are invited to participate. They can be younger if they can read.

There will be three rehearsals for one hour after the 10:30 Mass on Sundays: 12/9, 12/16, and 12/23. If you are interested, please call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or email at Linda@smsj.org. We need at least 10-12 children for the choir.

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.

The Gabriel Project Christmas Cards will be for sale after Mass during the first weekends of December. Please support our fundraising and awareness effort by purchasing and sending these cards.

Thank you for your support and prayers during the 40 Days for Life national campaign. It has worked wonders throughout the country and our prayers and actions have been a part of what God has accomplished through us.

Loving God, the birth of your Son brings the light of your presence to a waiting world. Enlighten young people to accept the call and challenge to share your presence with others as priests, deacons, religious, and lay ministers, so your light will continue to shine for all to see. Amen.

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

There is a preparation process that is required for you to complete before being married in the Catholic Church.

Your presence (both bride & groom) is expected on Sunday, December 9, 2007

From 12:00 noon until ? (usually takes about 1 - 1 1/2 hr)
At St. Mary's Family Life Center

To begin Your Marriage Preparation Process

On this day, you will be taking the FOCCUS Inventory

(FOCCUS = Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study)

FOCCUS is a self-diagnostic inventory designed to help couples learn more about themselves and their unique relationship. It is not a test nor meant as a predictor of success or failure in marriage. It is a tool to help couples name and work through issues before marriage.

~~~~~~

All couples will be taking FOCCUS together as a group.

Also, on this day, appointments will be made
for your Initial Pre-Nuptial Interviews
and you will receive further instructions
for completing your Marriage Preparation process.

If you have not already had your wedding date placed on the church calendar and received Fr. Ed's approval or would like more information about the Marriage Preparation process, please contact the church @ 936-894-2223 or info@smsj.org
Or contact Francell Busa @ 936-870-4145 or 936-825-1503 or fbusa@embarqmail.com

All couples whose weddings are now listed on the church calendar for 2008 who have not already taken FOCCUS and are not doing Marriage Preparation elsewhere are expected to be at this meeting on Sunday, Dec. 9th.

Scheduled For
Saturday, December 15th
@ St. Mary's from 9-12
in the Family Life Center
With Baptisms planned for Jan. 13th

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@embarqmail.com

En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

The Secular Year Ends.....Our Liturgical Year Begins

December is the last month of 2007. 2008 is very near! We await the New Year like the birth of a new day, like we wait for those we love, or like the birth of a baby! December is also the first month of the church's liturgical cycle, the season of Advent and Christmas, the birthday of Jesus, the Son of God, Emmanuel, God-is-with-us. Yes, Jesus has brought us the image of God; and with God, the truth about our origin and destiny: faith, hope, and love.

Being a sponsor is like being a trusted friend. You share what you can. You offer support and counsel as you are able and to the extent that is needed or desired. As a sponsor from our parish community, you will walk with a catechumen or candidate through a formation process that reaches a climax at the Easter Vigil.

You may be asking yourself whether you are worthy or qualified. Remember St. Paul's words: "We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Keeping these words in mind may keep you from becoming too worried about being an unworthy sponsor and help you avoid taking too much credit for what God will accomplish through you.

**Sponsors should be confirmed Catholics, in valid marriages, and active in their faith (regularly going to Eucharist) as they represent the Catholic community.

**Sponsors are companions on a journey of faith (they are not catechists).

**A sponsor is respectful and not judgmental toward their catechumen/candidate.

**A sponsor serves as a bridge between the catechumen/candidate and the church.

Think about becoming an RCIA sponsor this year!
For info or to volunteer, call Freddie Seale (936) 582-7095 or Betty Plessala (936) 597-4422.

ST. MARY'S Men's Club Blood Drive with Breakfast

Sunday, December 16
8:00am-1:00pm
In St. Mary's Parish Hall

For more information,
call Neil Rosenberg at 936-873-2579

St. Mary's Men's Club will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 18, 2007. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

This month's theme is "GERMAN." There will be German dancers, German food and German fun.

Wednesday, December 19
5:00-8:00pm

(Another confessor will be present, in addition to Fr. Ed)

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 hall and St Joseph to accept your offerings.

There will be no meeting for the month of December.
Christmas Party is set for December 9.

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, December 4, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's BINGO this month ... come join us on Thursday, December 13, 2007 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

St. Joseph's Adult Christmas Party

Make your plans now to join us for the
Social Event of the Season!

Friday, December 14th - 7:00pm

All men and women of both churches are invited to share in our
Christmas Party at St. Joseph 's Parish Hall

Each person is to bring a $10.00 minimum
gift (wrapped) and a covered dish.

We will eat, drink and be merry.
Mixers will be available.

Prepare for the Christmas Season
At
ST. MARY'S CORNER SHOPPE!!!

Advent Calendars, Advent Wreaths, Advent Candles,
Traditional Christmas Cards, Nativity Sets &
Many Miscellaneous Gifts

Welcome to the Recently Registered Members at St. Mary's & St. Joseph 's 

ST. MARY'S
Mike & Becky Brimberry
Charles & Jane Coleman
Jerry & Charlotte Darby
Floyd, Dianne & Sarah Darling
Jan Kiszkiel
Margaret Ilnicki & Alexander Kiszkiel
Dale Ljunggren & Evelyn Cooper-Ljunggren
Luciano, Angeline & Marianna Lins
Sean, Alice & Connor McKay
Eustacio & Stephanie Ostigin
Marshall & Patrice Perry
James, Kimberly, Sadie & Travis Politakis
Rogelio, Carmen, Stephanie, Jennifer & Allison Romo
Philip, Katrina, Jacob & Isabella Scimemi
Corey & Andrea Smith

ST. JOSEPH'S
Thomas Grant & Shawna Cook

Congratulations to the Newly Baptized in Our Parish

Saturday, Nov. 10 @ St. Mary's
Eva Christine Bradley
Allison Romo

Sunday, Nov. 11 @ St. Joseph 's
Cayden Michael Rausheck

Sunday, Nov. 11 @ St. Mary's
Connor John McKay
Henry Samuel Thomas
Annie Jean Hoffart
Raylen Hey Seigler
Kaylee Danielle Reid
Brenna Chaye Reid

Sunday, November 18 @ St. Mary's
Christopher James Freund
Ethan Joseph Laviolette

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Holy Day of Obligation)
December 8, 2007
Mass Schedule

Vigil Mass, December 7, 2007, 6:00pm @ St. Mary's

Holy Day Mass, December 8, 2007, 9:00am @ St. Joseph 's

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Holy Day of Obligation

In 1854, Pope Pius IX's solemn declaration, Ineffabilis Deus, clarified with finality the long-held belief of the Church that Mary was conceived free from original sin. In proclaiming the Immaculate Conception of Mary as a dogma of the Church, the pope expressed precisely and clearly that Mary was conceived free from the stain of original sin. This privilege of Mary derives from God's having chosen her as Mother of the Savior; thus she received the benefits of salvation in Christ from the very moment of her conception. This great gift to Mary, an ordinary human being just like us, was fitting because she was destined to be Mother of God. The purity and holiness of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a model for all Christians.

Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen.

"May He support us all the day long till the shades lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done, then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last."

Cardinal Newman

In observance of All Souls' Day and in remembrance of our loved ones who have died, St. Mary's will host a special prayer service on Sunday, November 4, 2007, at 3pm.

If you have lost a loved one and would like his or her name to be included in this special remembrance, please fill out the form below and drop it in the box provided in the hall; you may also call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or email at LINDA@SMSJ.ORG to give this information. The name will be included in the prayer intentions for the service, and prayer candles will be provided for all in attendance. It is not necessary that the deceased had been a member of St. Mary/St. Joseph parish to be included.

We also encourage you to bring photos or other momentos to be placed on our Remembrance Table in the hall during the weekend of Nov. 3-4, 2007.

All family members and friends, as well as all parishioners, are encouraged to participate in this service, and the entire parish family is asked to offer their prayers for the repose of these souls.

A pot-luck dinner will follow in the hall after the service. Ham and drinks will be provided; please bring a side dish or dessert to share with others.

No bazaar can be as successful as St. Mary's has in the recent past without significant support from folks who donate prizes to Bingo, Raffle and Auction and who also purchase our Auction Items. St. Mary's is blessed with not only the support of its parishioners in this effort, but also many people from the community at large. We appreciate your support so much and pray that you will continue your help in the future. You are far too numerous to list in this space. However, if you haven't already received an individual acknowledgement from the parish for your donation or purchase, you will shortly. Your generosity is amazing!

We had another wonderful year thanks to so many people at St. Mary's and the overall community. This note is to thank everyone involved in this year's bazaar, regardless of whether you had a major role or just bought raffle tickets, the results were spectacular!

First, thanks to the Advertising Committee, especially Patty Kalich and Monica Diehl for all the hard work in getting out such a large crowd.

It has been four years now that Write for Life has been in active through the St.Mary/St. Joseph Parish. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the persons who contribute monthly in writing persons in power that control the life process. These include, legislators, Presidents of Corporations that condone/promote abortion, newspapers that slant editorials toward pro-choice, those organizations that contribute to Planned Parenthood, etc. Through these efforts we can let these people of power know that what they are doing is not in line with what their constituents believe. Below is a list of our participating members. Some are not members of our church, but are interested in the preservation of all life.

These persons include:

Joyce Adams, Larry Alexander, Bob Armstrong, Bell Berger, Larry Busa, Betty Herr, Sister Michelle Black, James Bouchat, Corky Bodman, Francell Busa, Lynn-Carrol Cannan, Patricia Card, Virginia Carver, Helen Caves, Melissa Castillo, Marcella Colbert, Jim Connors, Sylvia Corolla, Rosa Davis, Bob&Kathie Dean, Carol Delange, Justin & Marcy Felderhoff, Bonnie Fezatte, Diane Flannery, Barbara Fougeron, Betty Herr, Jeannie Hibbison, Bill&Patty Jones, Patty Kalich, Lori King, Ron Kloster, Ruth Kolek, Pete Kominczek, Shawn Kretschmar, Steve Krauzer, Ed Kuba, Amy Kubelka, Father Kucera, Carmelita Kussad, Sharon Lacy, Skip Lambert, Michelle LaRose, Lucy Lewis, Nick Lamonte, Lon Freund, Laveta Malek, Julie Medearis, Deen Miller, Julie Miltner, Alice Morgan, Dr. Joe Morgan, Joanne Naughton, Lorraine Nilson, Wanda O'Brien, Judy Parada, Arlene Parker, Jim Pearson, Joyce Peterson, Richard Prokop, ,Claudia Reidlinger, Paula Reinzie, Allen Rosa, Kathy Schleper, Sarah Schmidt, Katie Schwartz, Fred Seale, Nance Shaw, Sharon Skeans, Nancy Smith, Rita Stalzer, Swanda Smith, Theresa Stepanski, Shirley Stuckey, Bernadine Syzdek, Gertrude Tepera, Lou&Micki Tichacek, Gaby&John Tryon, Cindy Waitz, John Welsh, Susan West, Wayne Young, Kaki Wetuski, Richard Zajac. (89)

In addition there are 11 writers from Colorado that participate monthly for a grand total of 100 potential monthly writers for the Write For Life cause..

Commissioned on August 11, 2007, by Archbishop DiNardo, I was honored to begin a 3-year term as a school board member for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, representing the Northern Vicariate which includes the Northern, Eastern, and San Jacinto Deaneries. Why do this, you might ask? I, too, questioned this "call," especially since neither St. Mary's nor St. Joseph's has a Catholic school on-site. I soon learned that this board assists in "educating from womb to tomb" and that piqued my interest as a life-long educator, but more importantly, as a Catholic still on the journey!

The board's mission statement: We are an advisory body that provides policy direction and support for the educational and catechetical ministries of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. This statement not only alludes to the 42 Catholic schools, but also the numerous religious education programs, the RCIA programs, adult formation toward ministry, continuing Christian education, etc.

On September 19, the board finalized six goals that were developed in our one-day planning session on August 11. Each of us on this 14-member school board will work as a member of one of two sub-teams to accomplish three of these goals by June 2008:

Increase the diversity of means of communicating with local Catholic school boards;

Assist at least five more school boards to convert to the "Total Board Model";

Explore how we can enrich our Catholic identity in the area of education and beyond;

Interface with the Catholic School Plan (June 2007 -- November 2008);
Advocate for more well-trained directors of religious education;
Advocate for a closer connection between evangelization and catechesis.

In the following months, I'll continue to update you on the work of our board. Please keep us in your prayers that we might do His will.

(Dr. Sharon Skeans; October 2007)

The Polish Genealogical Society of Texas will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary on Sunday, November 11, 2007 at Wyndehaven Terrace, 12716 Cutten Road, Houston, TX 77066 (www.wyndehaven.com). A short program will be presented giving an overview of the Society's past history. Plans for a drawing and door prizes are underway.

Everyone is invited, a buffet dinner will be provided at a cost of $30 per person in advance or $35 at the door. Make check payable to PGST and mail to: Dolores Newman, 6126 Menor Crest, Spring, TX 77388. For more information call Newman at 281-723-1859 or Shirley Burzynski at 281-351-6959.

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.

Please watch for The Gabriel Project Christmas Cards to be on sale after Mass near the end of the month of November.

Thank you for your generous support to Birthright of Montgomery County. The monies collected from the baby bottles will go a long way to helping expectant mothers and their babies. Thank you for your help in helping them choose LIFE.

Generous God, we are grateful for the invitation to know you through your Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Help us respond generously to your voice. Send more laborers into the harvest to serve as priests, deacons, sisters, brothers, members of secular institutes, and lay ministers. Amen.

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

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES are scheduled for

Saturday, December 15th
@ St. Mary's from 9-12
in the Family Life Center

With Baptisms planned for Jan. 13th

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@embarqmail.com
En espanol: Maria Pena, (936) 588-4765

Being a sponsor is like being a trusted friend. You share what you can. You offer support and counsel as you are able and to the extent that is needed or desired. As a sponsor from our parish community, you will walk with a catechumen or candidate through a formation process that reaches a climax at the Easter Vigil.

You may be asking yourself whether you are worthy or qualified. Remember St. Paul's words: "We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Keeping these words in mind may keep you from becoming too worried about being an unworthy sponsor and help you avoid taking too much credit for what God will accomplish through you.

**Sponsors should be confirmed Catholics, in valid marriages, and active in their faith (regularly going to Eucharist) as they represent the Catholic community.
**Sponsors are companions on a journey of faith (they are not catechists).
**A sponsor is respectful and not judgmental toward their catechumen/candidate.
**A sponsor serves as a bridge between the catechumen/candidate and the church.

Think about becoming an RCIA sponsor this year!

For info or to volunteer, call Freddie Seale (936) 582-7095 or Betty Plessala (936) 597-4422.

(Arthur Plessala has graciously agreed to write an article for the bulletin each month. The following "antiphon" reflects his thoughts about November 2007)

November is a time for recollection, a season of remembrance, a season of sobriety when we remember those who have gone before us as we summon the courage to befriend our own death. This final stage of our liturgical year, the final cycle of our yearly liturgical pilgrimage, brings us then to a time when we acclaim the saints, (All Saints Day/November 1), honor the dead, (All Souls Day/November 2), and reflect on the kingdom in the spirit of the Beatitudes: "Blessed are the poor.....Blessed are those who mourn.....Blessed are the peacemakers.

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)

Last year the St. Mary's Men's Club Christmas Toy Drive, which benefits the less fortunate children in our area, was such a huge success that the SMMC is doing it again this year. All toys collected (unwrapped) will be delivered to the Plantersville Fire Department to be prepared for distribution to the children. All St. Mary's Men's Club members, or anyone wishing to contribute, should either bring their toys/contributions to the November 20th SMMC meeting, or leave them at the Parish Office with Gail Sowell no later than November 30th. All cash donations will be used to purchase toys.

Mark Your Calendars Now!

Men's Club Blood Drive with Breakfast

Sunday, December 16 from 8am-1pm In St. Mary's Parish Hall.

What's Happening This Month???

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.

Planning for the Altar Society Christmas Party--Tuesday, December 11th

Planning for the Parish Holiday Party--Sunday, December 2nd

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

Also... it's GAME DAY this month ... come join us on Thursday, November 15, 2007 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Gift Registry Now Available

Would you love to have a Nativity Set or other Gift Items for Christmas? Register for them at St. Mary's Corner Shoppe.

Willow Tree Figures
Bibles
Sterling Silver Necklaces
Books
Rosaries
Crucifixes
Framed Pictures
Statues

There will be a Mass of Thanksgiving on Wednesday, November 21 at 9:00am at St. Mary's.

There will be no masses on Thursday & Friday, November 22 & 23.

The Parish Office will also be closed both days.

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 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.

The 2007 St. Mary's
Bazaar Appreciation Dinner

Tuesday, October 2 - 7:00pm
at St. Mary's Hall

Come out and enjoy a fajita dinner and get the
results from our very successful bazaar.

ST. STANISLAUS CATHOLIC CHURCH
Annual Homecoming & Bazaar
Anderson, Texas

Sunday, October 14, 2007
10:30am til??

BBQ Dinner with all the trimmings--Auction--Booths--Band

#1 Trailered Barbeque Pit  - Patricia Branowski
#2 John Deere 42" Mower - Tracey Larson
#3 $1500 Circuit City Certificate - Gene Pierce
#4 1200 lb. Steer, custom cut - Ralph Torres
#5 4 Astros Tickets & Limo Service - Sharon Skeans
#6 $400 Discount Tire Certificate - Bill Malek
#7 Hand-Crafted Buffet - Jason Reichle
#8 $300 Lowe's Gift Card - Roy Champagne
#9 $250 American Express Gift Card - Harry & Tara Moore
#10 $250 Coufal-Prater Gift Card - Ina Armand
#11 $250 Home Depot Gift Card - E.J. & Joyce Marshburn
#12 $250 Scratch-Off Roll - Skip Lambert
#13 $250 Brookshire Bros.Gift Card - K. Mahler
#14 King Size Quilt - Louise Cheshire
#15 Golf for 4, plus cart at Walden - Mr. & Mrs. Lyle Howard
#16 $200 Gas Card - Ted Cleghorn
#17 $200 Best Buy Gift Card - Jud Schleper
#18 $200 Turner, Pierce & Fultz Gift Card - Sharon Skeans
#19 4 Renaissance Tickets - Nancy Garrett
#20 $200 Wal-mart Gift Card - St. Anthony's Church
#21 John Deere Gas Line Trimmer - Tom Quinlan
#22 Gruene Bed & Breakfast & Dinner - Olive Cannistra
#23 John Deere Chain Saw - Billy Mitchell
#24 $100 Target Gift Card - Susan Stepanski
#25 $100 Academy Gift Card - Frances Haggard
#26 $100 Imhoff's General Store Gift Card - Ron & Elaine Carroll
#27 Walden Yacht Club Dinner up to $150 - Ricky Jackson
#28 10 Takeout Dinners Allphin's Barbecue - Grant Holt
#29 $100 Accent-Hallmark Gift Card - J.W. Watson
#30 Vineyard Galleries Portrait or $100 Framing - Kitty Wheeler
#31 Surprise Gift from Father Ed - Todd Ubanoski

Being a sponsor is like being a trusted friend. You share what you can. You offer support and counsel as you are able and to the extent that is needed or desired.

As a sponsor from our parish community, you will walk with a catechumen or candidate through a formation process that reaches a climax at the Easter Vigil.

You may be asking yourself whether you are worthy or qualified. Remember St. Paul 's words: "We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Keeping these words in mind may keep you from becoming too worried about being an unworthy sponsor and help you avoid taking too much credit for what God will accomplish through you.

• Sponsors should be confirmed Catholics, in valid marriages, and active in their faith (regularly going to Eucharist) as they represent the Catholic community.
• Sponsors are companions on a journey of faith (they are not catechists).
• A sponsor is respectful and not judgmental toward their catechumen/candidate.
• A sponsor serves as a bridge between the catechumen/candidate and the church.

Think about becoming an
RCIA sponsor this year!

For information or to volunteer,

Call Freddie Seale (936) 582-7095
Or Betty Plessala (936) 597-4422

2007 7th Annual
Czech Heritage Month Celebration

The Brazos Valley Czech Heritage Society
invites you to a Czech Polka Mass
at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bryan
on Sunday, October 7 at 11:30am.

After mass, join us for a
Czech Dinner and Dance
from 1:00-5:30pm in the
St. Joseph Parish Activity Center .

Tickets for the Dinner/Dance are:
$15 Adults / $7 Children age 6-12.

Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Silent Auction with Czech Crystal ,
Kolaches and more!

Contact Lou Zaeske at 979-846-2035
or Carl Vavra at 979-776-2874.

The Diocesan Office of Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministry is sponsoring Theology-on-Tap, a special six week speaker and discussion series for young adults in their twenties and thirties, married and single, in the Brazos Valley area. It will begin the week of October 2nd and will conclude the week of November 6th. It will be held at Fitzwilly's on Northgate (across from Texas A&M University) beginning at 6pm Tuesday evening. The event is being hosted by Catholic Seeds. For more info, call 512-873-7771

God's Gardeners is looking for someone to write their article for the monthly bulletin. Please call the Parish Office if you are interested.

The Adult Choir will begin preparation for Advent and Christmas music on Wednesday, October 10 at 7pm. If you are interested in participating during this season, please mark your calendars and plan to attend choir practice every Wednesday at 7pm in the Church. We would love to have you!

We are in need of instrumentalists for the choir: flute, oboe, guitar, trumpet, violin, or whatever your instrument of choice happens to be. There is also a need for another accompanist (organ and/or piano) to help out when our regular accompanists are not available. If you are interested in either of these activities, please contact Linda Armstrong at 825-0565, or call the church office and leave your name and phone number.

The special Children's Choir, which will sing at the Children's Mass on Christmas Eve and on the Feast of the Holy Family in January, will begin practice after 10:30 Mass on Sundays, starting on Sunday, October 21. All children ages 7-16 are invited to participate. Practice will last for about an hour on each Sunday in the Church. Those children who would prefer to be in the Handchimes Choir should plan to attend that choir practice on Monday evenings at 6:00 pm in the Hall.

There were many compliments floating around on our Bazaar day regarding the singing of our congregation. A couple from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, with 2400 families in their parish, told us that our congregation sings louder and better than theirs does. Our organist, Sue Langston, heard from the director of the Methodist Church in College Station that they had heard about our congregation and how well they sing. You're becoming famous! Maybe the Holy Spirit is using you to bring people to our parish to see what's happening. What a wonderful thought! Keep up the good work; it is truly a joy to work for you. --Jubilate Deo!

40 DAYS FOR LIFE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN
September 26-November 4

40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God's power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion in America .

The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer , fasting , and peaceful activism , with the purpose of repentance, to seek God's favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America.

Why 40 days?

God has used the period of 40 days throughout history to bring about major transformation...

• Noah experienced transformation during 40 days of rain.
• Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai
• David was transformed by Goliath's 40 day challenge
• Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 days of strength from one meal
• Nineveh was transformed when God gave the city 40 days to remain faithful
• Jesus was transformed and empowered by 40 days in the desert
• The disciples were transformed after spending 40 days with Jesus following His resurrection

Just think of the transformation God could accomplish if individuals and communities across America unite together this fall for 40 days of prayer and fasting, pulling out all the stops to end the violence of abortion.

What we will be doing at St. Mary/St. Joseph community:

Prayer

Please join us every Wednesday at the 9:00am Mass at St. Mary's starting September 26 and continuing through October 31. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for Adoration from Benediction following Mass until 12:00noon. Someone needs to be at Adoration at all times, so we will be signing people up to sit and pray with Our Lord during the times He is exposed in the Blessed Sacrament.

Fasting

Christ said there are demons that can only be driven out by prayer and fasting. Fasting is a powerful means of drawing closer to God by blocking out distractions. Fast from food. Fast from television. Fast from apathy and indifference. Fast from whatever it is that separates you from God. If we all work together, our heavenly Father will hear us and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation, and our world.

"with God, all things are possible" even an end to abortion  

www.40daysforlife.com

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 936-597-6328 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.

God of all nations, we are grateful for all Catholic missionaries, who bring the great treasure of faith to many lands. May the Good News of Jesus, which shaped their lives, continue to shape our lives today. Bless every diocese with priests and religious to
follow in their footsteps. ~ Amen

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

October 13, 2007 ~ 9am - 1pm
"The Theology of Ministry"

Deacon David Garvis will conduct a Ministry Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 9am - 1pm, for all liturgical ministers and ministry leaders at St. Mary's and St. Joseph's. The subject is "The Theology of Ministry." All accolytes, sacristans, Eucharistic ministers, Hospitality ministers, lectors, cantors, and musicians (instrumentalists, choir members, adult handbell choir members, and directors) should plan to be in attendance.

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS
Is scheduled For
Saturday, October 27th
@ St. Mary's from 9-12
in the Family Life Center
With Baptisms planned for Nov. 11th

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

Planning a MARRIAGE IN 2007-2008?

There is a preparation process that is required for you to complete before being married in the Catholic Church, so start early!

FYI:

• Wedding date must be set and approved by Fr. Ed per Church calendar before beginning marriage preparation. Call office: 936-894-2223 (Make arrangements at this time for hall rental as well, if hall is needed)
• Then contact the Busa's @ fbusa@earthlink.net or at (936) 870-4145 to begin marriage preparation (FOCCUS, Pre-Nupt, etc.)
• Linda Armstrong (wedding coordinator) should also be contacted at this time (936) 825-0565 to set up a rehearsal time. She will work with you re the wedding music.  

The weekend Engaged Couples program in Houston gets filled months in advance so don't think you can wait til the last minute to register. For dates, call (713)741-8706 or mcostner@arch.org

A copy of the letter/certificate given to participants must go into the wedding packet at the church as proof of attendance. The charge has been $195.

The New Life program is recommended for remarrying couples (after death or divorce), particularly those bringing children with them into the marriage. It is a one day program. To register, call (713)741-8776 or mcostner@arch.org

A Convalidation program is now being offered for those couples civilly married and are now entering a sacramental marriage (marrying in the Church). Contact (713) 741-8776 or mcostner@arch.org

The free Engaged Couple Sponsor program we have here at St. Mary's/St. Joseph's is 5-6 meetings in the sponsors' home over a period of several months time after the FOCCUS survey and Pre-Nuptial Interview is completed so again, you need to start early!

Remember: It's not the wedding that counts, it's the marriage!

St. Mary's Catholic Church
Plantersville , Texas
Bazaar Date: September 2, 2007

Message from the 2007 Bazaar Raffle Committee

Below is the list of businesses and parishioners who gave to make the Raffle prizes possible.
We would like to thank the contributors for their generous donations.
Stop by and show your appreciation by using their services.

Businesses

Wetuski Welding Works, Plantersville
Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, Montgomery
Walden Golf Club, Montgomery
Accents, Conroe
Coufal-Prater Equipment, Navasota
Renaissance Festival, Plantersville
Allphin's Barbeque & Smokehouse, Plantersville
Walden Yacht Club, Montgomery
Cashner Funeral Home, Conroe
Vineyard Galleries, Montgomery

Parishioners

Martin John Diehl
Elizabeth Kowis
Frank & Dolores Hoffart
Curtis Guettner
Louise Swonke
Ron & Elaine Carroll
Mike & Judy Krammerer
Frances Kowis
Janice & Gary Pasket
David & Lillian Dobyanski
Lisa & Rick Atkinson
Bill & Laveta Malek
Sharon Skeans
Debbie Hoffart
George & Phyllis Hamilton
Barbara Faughn
C. J. & Flo LeBlanc
Ann Rosilier
Ralph & Katherine Wagner
Teresa & Randolph Swonke
Nancy Smith
Margaret Wagner
Larry & Micki Kroker
St. Mary's Altar Society
St. Mary's Men's Club
Various Anonymous Parishioners

Special Thanks to PAUL MAGLIOLO, who built and donated our fantastic new raffle ticket tumbler. Over 33,000 tickets, and there's still room!

• 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.

Cemetery Committee Meeting on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm in the St. Mary's Family Life Center.

REMINDER: October 6th is CEMETERY CLEAN-UP DAY.

Last year the St. Mary's Men's Club Christmas Toy Drive, which benefits the less fortunate children in our area, was such a huge success that the SMMC is doing it again this year. All toys collected (unwrapped) will be delivered to the Plantersville Fire Department to be prepared for distribution to the children. All St. Mary's Men's Club members, or anyone wishing to contribute, should either bring their toys/contributions to the November 20th SMMC meeting, or leave them at the Parish Office with Gail Sowell no later than November 30th. All cash donations will be used to purchase toys.

St. Mary's Men's Club will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 16, 2007. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

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 hall and St Joseph to accept your offerings.

This month, our meeting will be on Thursday, October 8th.

The Parishes of St. Mary and St. Joseph have been most generous in their prayers and support of the Saint Vincent de Paul organization and we Thank You. The last Black Bag collection for the support of your local Saint Vincent de Paul Conference will occur at October 7th weekend services. The local Conference was formed in February 2002. From February 2002 thru 2006 the local Conference assisted over 358 "families" and provided $113,900 in aid in the following areas: Food, clothing, medical bills/medication, utilities, transportation expenses, rent/mortgage, home repair, and references for free Service Resources available in the area. In 2007 thru August we have distributed $25,341 in aid to 249 "individuals".

For new parish members and those not familiar with the Saint Vincent de Paul organization, we offer the following. On the evening of April 23, 1833 The Conference of Charity was formed by six lay university students of the Sorbonne in Paris. The then 22 year old Frederic Ozanam was the primary founder, inspiration, and soul of the group. It was not until 1835, with the formulation of the first rules, the name of the Conference was officially change to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

All requests for aid to our local Conference are evaluated by a two person home visitation team and all funds allocated must be approved by a four member board. Our conference has 15 active home visitation teams to evaluate the need and a home provision center to supply food. All aid and assistance is held in strictest confidence between the visitation teams and the SVDP Board. We refer to the families and individuals we give aid and assistance to as our "friends". Just, if not more important than the physical and monetary support, is the emotional support and prays. It means so much to our "friends" just to know someone cares and are willing to try and help.

Our area of work is in the local community. Hard times, bad luck, illness and need is not bounded by religious affiliation, political bent, or ethnic origin and neither is our organization. We try to assist all in need to the best of our ability. The Saint Vincent de Paul organization is one of your representatives in the community and we do our best to put forth the best image possible.

Again, the weekend of October 7th is very important to our Conference. We ask for your generous support and continued prays to help us as we work on your behalf in the community.

The St. Joseph's Altar Society meeting will be Tuesday,
October 9, 2007 after the 9:00am Mass

October 2007
What's Happening This Month???

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, October 9, 2007 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.

Aimee Morvant, who brought the play St. Therese of Liseaux, will present The Blessed Mother in the hall after the 6:00pm meeting. All ladies of the parish are invited.

Don't forget the Guardian Angels Monthly Officers' meeting on Tuesday, October 2, 10:00am in the SM FLC.

Also... it's BINGO this month...come join us on Thursday, October 18, 2007 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007. Please contact Pam Alexander for more information.

In observance of All Souls' Day and in remembrance of our loved ones who have died, St. Mary's will host a special prayer service on Sunday, November 4, 2007, at 3pm.

If you have lost a loved one and would like his or her name to be included in this special remembrance, please fill out the form below and drop it in the box provided in the hall; you may also call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or email at LINDA@SMSJ.ORG to give this information. The name will be included in the prayer intentions for the service, and prayer candles will be provided for all in attendance. It is not necessary that the deceased had been a member of St. Mary/St. Joseph parish to be included.

We also encourage you to bring photos or other momentos to be placed on our Remembrance Table in the hall during the weekend of Nov. 3-4, 2007.

All family members and friends, as well as all parishioners, are encouraged to participate in this service, and the entire parish family is asked to offer their prayers for the repose of these souls.

A pot-luck dinner will follow in the hall after the service. Ham and drinks will be provided; please bring a side dish or dessert to share with others.

FALL FESTIVAL !

Sunday, November 4 th

4:00-6:00 p.m.

Kindergarten- 6 th Graders

( Parents invited, too!)

Fun, Food, Games

SAINT Costume Contest:

Dress as your favorite SAINT -- Prizes for the best costumes!

All Saints' Day
A Holy Day of Obligation

The festival of All Saints , also sometimes known as All Saints' Day , All Hallows or Hallowmas ("hallows" meaning " saints ," and "mas" meaning " Mass "), is a feast celebrated in the honour of all the saints, known and unknown. Halloween is the day preceding it, and is so named because it is "The Eve of All Hallows". All Saints is also a Christian formula invoking all the faithful saints and martyrs , known or unknown.

In the Roman Catholic Church , All Saints' Day honours those who have attained the beautific vision in heaven , while the next day, All Souls' Day , commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven.

Due to the All Saints' and All Souls' Day mass schedule,

there will no mass on Tuesday, October 30th.

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

All Saints' Vigil--7:00pm--Wednesday, October 31 @ SM

All Saints' Day--9:00am--Thursday, November 1 @ SJ

All Souls' Vigil--7:00pm--Thursday, November 1 @ SM

All Souls' Day--9:00am--Friday, November 2 @ SM

Come celebrate a very successful Bazaar 2007 with a Mexican supper with all of the trimmings, cooked and served by La Casita of Navasota.

Tues, October 2nd, 7:00PM at St Mary Parish Hall.

To celebrate...
To eat...
To be the first to hear just how good we did...!!!

Christ Our Light Catholic Church
23rd Annual Homecoming Bazaar
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2007
11:30am till ???

Grimes County Fairgrounds
Navasota, Texas

Air Conditioning/Auction @ 1pm/Booths & Games

Chicken Fried Steak or Chicken Breast w/Krolczyk Sausage or Mexican Dinner

Dance beginning at 6pm

Music provided by 2 bands ~ La Cobra & The Paw James Band

BELLS & BEAUS HANDCHIME RINGERS
Sign Up on Monday evenings in the Music Room
Grades 3--8

NO MUSIC EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Practice every Monday @ 6 PM

Join now to participate in our Christmas Program

Contact: Annette Prokop, Handchime director @ 936-597-8688

God's Gardeners is looking for someone to write their article for the monthly bulletin. Please call the Parish Office if you're interested.

Hello, my name is Gail Sowell and I will be your new parish secretary taking Margaret’s place. I am the oldest child of Frank and Dolores Hoffart of Dobbin. I reside in Anderson with my husband Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell and our 16 year old daughter Ashleigh. Please be patient and bear with me as I am in training. I will do my best to learn the office to be able to serve you well. I look forward to being a part of my “home church.” Please pray for me to get through this trying time in my life. Thank you.

September 26-November 4

40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God's power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion in America.

The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer , fasting , and peaceful activism , with the purpose of repentance, to seek God's favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America.

Why 40 days?

God has used the period of 40 days throughout history to bring about major transformation...

Noah experienced transformation during 40 days of rain.

Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai

David was transformed by Goliath's 40 day challenge

Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 days of strength from one meal

Nineveh was transformed when God gave the city 40 days to remain faithful

Jesus was transformed and empowered by 40 days in the desert

The disciples were transformed after spending 40 days with Jesus following His resurrection

Just think of the transformation God could accomplish if individuals and communities across America unite together this fall for 40 days of prayer and fasting, pulling out all the stops to end the violence of abortion.

What we will be doing at St. Mary/St. Joseph community: 

Prayer

Please join us every Wednesday at the 9:00am Mass at St. Mary's starting September 26 and continuing through October 31. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for Adoration from Benediction following Mass until 12:00noon. Someone needs to be at Adoration at all times, so we will be signing people up to sit and pray with Our Lord during the times He is exposed in the Blessed Sacrament.

Fasting

Christ said there are demons that can only be driven out by prayer and fasting. Fasting is a powerful means of drawing closer to God by blocking out distractions. Fast from food. Fast from television. Fast from apathy and indifference. Fast from whatever it is that separates you from God. If we all work together, our heavenly Father will hear us and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation, and our world.

“with God, all things are possible” even an end to abortion

  www.40daysforlife.com

October 13, 2007 ~ 9am - 1pm
"The Theology of Ministry"

Deacon David Garvis will conduct a Ministry Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 9am - 1pm, for all liturgical ministers and ministry leaders at St. Mary's and St. Joseph's. The subject is "The Theology of Ministry." All accolytes, sacristans, Eucharistic ministers, Hospitality ministers, lectors, cantors, and musicians (instrumentalists, choir members, adult handbell choir members, and directors) should plan to be in attendance. Also, anyone thinking about joining a ministry group is encouraged to attend.

Lord Jesus, we praise you for your presence in the Eucharist. May we be a eucharistic people who celebrate your love in worship and service. Send us worthy ministers of the altar and faith-filled evangelical witnesses in the world. 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 Catholic Church teaches that the use of artificial contraception is gravely sinful. Most Catholics are unaware of that teaching, or they think that the modern Church has changed its mind about it, or think that the Church is simply wrong. But the consequences of grave sin are eternal; why would anyone risk suffering them?

Learn the truth -- the wonderful truth -- about Natural Family Planning.

Check out www.ccli.org or Contact Gerard & Amy Kubelka, certified Couple to Couple League NFP Instructors: via email at kubelka@consolidated.net or call 936-273-9837

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 936-597-6328 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.

Scheduled For

Saturday, October 27th
@ St. Mary's from 9-12
in the Family Life Center
With Baptisms planned for Nov. 11th

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

There is a preparation process that is required for you to complete before being married in the Catholic Church, so start early!

FYI:

• Wedding date must be set and approved by Fr. Ed per Church calendar before beginning marriage preparation. Call office: 936-894-2223 (Make arrangements at this time for hall rental as well, if hall is needed)
• Then contact the Busa's @ fbusa@earthlink.net or at (936) 870-4145 to begin marriage preparation (FOCCUS, Pre-Nupt, etc.)
• Linda Armstrong (wedding coordinator) should also be contacted at this time (936) 825-0565 to set up a rehearsal time. She will work with you re the wedding music.

The weekend Engaged Couples program in Houston gets filled months in advance so don't think you can wait til the last minute to register. For dates, call (713)741-8706 or mcostner@arch.org

A copy of the letter/certificate given to participants must go into the wedding packet at the church as proof of attendance. The charge has been $195.

The New Life program is recommended for remarrying couples (after death or divorce), particularly those bringing children with them into the marriage. It is a one day program. To register, call (713)741-8776 or mcostner@arch.org

A Convalidation program is now being offered for those couples civilly married and are now entering a sacramental marriage (marrying in the Church). Contact (713) 741-8776 or mcostner@arch.org

The free Engaged Couple Sponsor program we have here at St. Mary's/St. Joseph's is 5-6 meetings in the sponsors' home over a period of several months time after the FOCCUS survey and Pre-Nuptial Interview is completed so again, you need to start early!

Remember: It's not the wedding that counts, it's the marriage!

We completed our 6 week study of Luke - The Good News of God's Mercy with a mixed group of 10 to 12 people each week and enjoyed learning together. Everyone agreed it was a good session and looks forward to the next one starting this month. The new series, Psalms: An Invitation to Prayer, is a guided discovery for groups and individuals by Kevin Perrotta.

The Bible invites us to explore God's word and reflect on how we might respond to it. This practical series of Bible discussion guides offers guidance and the right tools for discovery in a concise six-week format. They provide meaningful insights that explain Scripture while helping readers make connections to their own lives. Each guide

• Is faithful to Church teaching and is guided by sound biblical scholarship
• Presents the insights of Church fathers and saints
• Includes questions for discussion and reflection
• Delivers information in a reader-friendly format
• Gives suggestions for prayer that help readers respond to God's word
• Appeals to beginners as well as to advanced students of the Bible

We will start September 20th at 10 am and will meet for 6 weeks.. If you would like to join us in the fall, please call me, Barbara Kapchinski at 936-825-1779 or the church office. Please call soon so we will be able to order enough books for everyone.

I look forward to studying God's Word with you,
Barbara

• 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

This month, our meeting will be on Thursday, September 27th, the feast day. of St. Vincent de Paul.

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 hall and St Joseph to accept your offerings.

St. Mary's Men's Club will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 18, 2007. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

Cemetery Committee Meeting on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm in the St. Mary’s Family Life Center.

REMINDER: October 6th is CEMETERY CLEAN-UP DAY. All old flowers and worn items will be removed from the graves. IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT ARE SENTIMENTAL TO YOU, PLEASE REMOVE THEM FROM YOUR LOVED ONE’S GRAVISITE..

There are two clean-up days annually—the first saturday of lent and the first Saturday of October. Anyone is welcome to help.

The St. Joseph's Altar Society meeting will be Tuesday,
September 11, 2007 after the 9:00am Mass

What's Happening This Month???

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, September 11,, 2007 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.
Installation of Officers and Special Blessing by Father Ed.
Catered dinner by Rabbit Run Cafe

Our Lady of Guadalupe
One-Week Novena
Schedule:

September: St. Joseph's
October: St. Mary's
November: St. Joseph's
December: St. Mary's

A simple one week Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Have her blessed picture in your home and honor her with a daily rosary and your petitions.

St. Mary's: A sign up sheet is available in the parish hall.

St. Joseph's: A sign up sheet is available in the church entry.

The picture of Our Lady is to be returned at the end of the week.

Dear Friends:

I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you for everything. July 25th was my last day at St. Mary's as the A/P secretary. I hope that you all have enjoyed my company as much as I have enjoyed getting to know all of you. I would like to thank those outside office parishioners for being so patient with me in the beginning when I had no idea what a Mass Intention was (especially because I am Lutheran), those certain folks in the office who have always been my friends, and most of all a big "Think ya vury much..." to Father Ed for being such a wonderful person. Without him, I wouldn't be reaching for the stars.

For those of you who would like to keep in touch, my e-mail address is labonitafarms@aol.com. That is also the address for our "myspace" page. I'll add you as a friend and you can keep up with our success. We will also be featuring our horses on "youtube.com". To search for us, we will always use LBAF-P'ville (?) - the ? will be which ever horse we are promoting at that time. It's funny how a little Arabian farm in Plantersville, Texas is going Internationally. For those of you who don't know, our 2007 colt, Bugzy (LBF The Gangster) was sold to Howard and Christy Holloway of Norfolk, Virginia, but now living in Gdansk, Poland. He will stay here with us until he is a little more than a year old, then he will go to a trainer in Magnolia for racing. Just before he turns 3, he will be exported to Poland for Arabian racing as a 3 y.o. colt. We are very excited about this huge breakthrough with our little farm. Maybe they will send me some pics of him running along the coast of the Baltic (hee hee). He will be 4 months on the 26th of July and is huge!

Also, our Straight Egyptian show mare, Katia, is of course, due with twins in January. We just found out yesterday with the ultrasound. 2008 is going to be a crazy year!! A lot of sleepless nights for me. With the sale of Bugzy, we made a substantial profit and we are looking forward to completing the facilities so that we can take on more training / breeding horses for next year. Our stallion, Sadiks Hilal, already has 6 breedings for 2008. The barn might actually be finished by then as long as I don't keep changing my mind. It will be show time again in the fall, so I pray for less rain and cool weather. There is nothing like bathing a horse in 20 degree weather. So, I am hoping for cool in lieu of COLD .

But, in conclusion, I want to tell everyone to take care and you will always be in our thoughts and prayers.

Your friend,
Dot Holguin

Well, it's with a little bit of sadness and a lot of excitement that I'm writing my last message in the bulletin. Most of you in the parish have already heard that I've taken a position as secretary at Anderson-Shiro High School. My last day here was Friday, August 24th. I am very excited to be back in a High School setting, as that is where my heart is--with the children.

I want you all to know how lucky I feel to have been given the privilege to work here at St. Mary's & St. Joseph's. I felt like an outsider coming in and you all have made me feel so welcome and such a part of your parish family. My job in the office enabled me to get back in touch with some old friends and make so many new friends. I'm taking a parish roster and a parish directory with me so I'll still be able to keep in touch.

Our new parish secretary is Gail Sowell. Gail was born & raised in the area and many of you know her already. I'm sure that she'll come in and pick up right where I left off!

To finish this up, I especially want to thank Father Ed and Ron. You both know this was a hard decision for me to make and your support means a lot to me. It was very difficult to leave a job that I absolutely loved--thank you for understanding. And lastly, I want to let Ron know that I may have to lock him up on bazaar day so I can outbid him on Miss Katie's box of pickled goods!

I'll miss you all! Hope I see you at the bazaar.

Tuesday
July 31st
7:0pm in the Parish Hall

ST. MARY BAZAAR DAY

SUNDAY, SEPT 2ND, 2007

  INGREDIENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BAZAAR

652 Families
+
Each doing their part
=
AN EASY BAZAAR 2007

Necessary Ingredients:  

1 Auction Item (something that will knock their socks off!)

1 Bingo Item

1 Flowering or Green Plant

1 Toy

1 Bag of Groceries

1 Craft Item

2 Cakes or Pies on Friday or Saturday before B-Day

1 Restaurant Gift Certificate

2 Helping Hands

1 Positive Attitude and Welcoming Smile

The hall foyer is open 24 hours for midnight delivery. Tag your item for its specific booth. Tables will be designated in the hall to put your items. (If you need help unloading, call ahead @ 936-894-2223.) Friends of St. Mary who live at a distance are encouraged to send items via relatives or US Mail or UPS. Shipping address is 8227 CR 205, Plantersville , TX 77363 .

Jesus, our brother, you entrusted to us the mission of your Church: to transform society through the power of your truth and love. Help us know how to encourage men and women to lead us through the ministries of priesthood, diaconate, religious life, and lay ministry. 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 936-597-6328 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.

ATTENTION CATHOLIC HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES

Please join us for a HOMESCHOOL BLESSING MASS. This will be on Wednesday, August 22 at 9:00am at St. Mary's. We will follow this with fellowship in the Hall. Please bring a snack to share and meet other homeschooling families in the parish. If you have any questions please call Wanda O'Brien 597-6328 or by e-mail at tjobrien911@hughes.net

The next Baptisms are scheduled for
Sunday, August 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

A bell is a simple sound making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually an open-ended hollow drum which resonates upon being struck. The striking implement can be a tongue suspended within the bell, known as a clapper, a small, free sphere enclosed within the body of the bell, or a separate mallet.
Bells are usually made of cast metal, but small bells can also be made from ceramic or glass. Bells can be of all sizes: from tiny dress accessories to church bells weighing tons. The Bells of St Mary's are made of Brass metal.

One significant Bell is the Liberty Bell that was rung on Independence Day July 4, 1776. It was a very important day in History of which we celebrate to this day.

The Bells of St Mary's Bell Choir has been formed. We have approximately have 15 bell choir ringers. We also will be forming a children's Hand Chimes Choir beginning in August, 2007. The Bells of St Mary's Bell Choir meets at 6pm on Monday evenings. Anyone interested in joining, please come to Bell Practice on Monday, beginning August 6th.

More to come next Month on the History Of Bells.

We completed our 6 week study of Luke - The Good News of God's Mercy with a mixed group of 10 to 12 people each week and enjoyed learning together. Everyone agreed it was a good session and looks forward to the next one starting in September. The new series, Psalms: An Invitation to Prayer, is a guided discovery for groups and individuals by Kevin Perrotta.

The Bible invites us to explore God's word and reflect on how we might respond to it. This practical series of Bible discussion guides offers guidance and the right tools for discovery in a concise six-week format. They provide meaningful insights that explain Scripture while helping readers make connections to their own lives. Each guide

• Is faithful to Church teaching and is guided by sound biblical scholarship
• Presents the insights of Church fathers and saints
• Includes questions for discussion and reflection
• Delivers information in a reader-friendly format
• Gives suggestions for prayer that help readers respond to God's word

Appeals to beginners as well as to advanced students of the Bible

We will start September 20th at 10 am and will meet for 6 weeks.. If you would like to join us in the fall, please call me, Barbara Kapchinski at 936-825-1779 or Margaret at the church office. Please call by September 1st so we will be able to order enough books for everyone.

I look forward to studying God's Word with you,
Barbara

• 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

Training for NEW Extraordinary Ministers will be held on Saturday, August 11th from 10:00am to 12:00pm in the St. Mary's Family Life Center. In order to be scheduled as an EM you must attend this meeting. Current EM's are encouraged to attend. If you have any questions, please call Jeannie Hibbison @ 936-597-4653

St. Mary's Men's Club will be holding their monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 21, 2007. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7:00 p.m. in the SM Hall.

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 hall and St Joseph to accept your offerings.

There will be no St. Vincent de Paul meeting this month

Tips For Success: The Fall Vegetable Garden

The biggest obstacle to having a successful fall garden is overcoming the oppressive heat of July and August.

Of course this is just the time most Texas Gardeners need to start soil preparation and planting. If you can get past the heat, the benefits of an autumn garden are many. First of all, you are able to extend the production and enjoyment to a second growing season. Secondly, once established a fall garden is a joy to manage as it matures and produces during those wonderful Indian summer days of autumn. Also, since the days are getting shorter many vegetable crops store more sugar and have better flavor than spring grown crops. Here are some tips to help make your autumn efforts successful.

Soil Preparation

Summer is a great time to add compost to the garden. When purchasing commercial compost be sure to purchase only thoroughly composted material. Material that is only partially composted will contain bark, twigs, straw, etc. and will deplete nitrogen from your soil as it decomposes. Thoroughly composted material has a dark, earthy texture and has no odor. Ask your supplier if the product is thoroughly composted before purchasing it. Take advantage of the heat of summer to solarize your soil. This is particularly beneficial if you have been plagued by root knot nematodes (those microscopic worms that produce galls on plants roots - especially okra). To solarize your soil simply rototill the soil four or five times at three to five day intervals. Each time you till you will expose the nematodes and other pathogens to the deadly rays of the sun.

Starting Seed

It is usually more difficult to start seed during hot dry weather. It can be helpful to start larger seed such as okra, peas and beans overnight between two paper towels. Smaller seeds, particularly carrots should be covered with a light application of mulch or compost to help them retain enough moisture to sprout. Some seeds will not germinate at all during hot weather and planting should be delayed until temperatures moderate such as after a cool-front. Frequent watering can also improve germination. Once your seedlings are established water deeper and less frequently.

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

Also... it's BINGO this month...come join us on Thursday, August 16, 2007 in the SM Hall from 10:00am--2:00pm for good food, good company and plenty of fun!

The St. Joseph's Altar Society will not be meeting this month.

August 2007
What's Happening This Month???
General church cleaning Tuesday, August 14, at 4pm in the church prior to the meeting. Anyone wishing to help is welcome. Cleaning supplies will be furnished.

St. Mary's Altar Society Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 @ 6pm in St. Mary's Hall.
The meeting will adjourn at 6:45 to accommodate those wishing to attend the
Assumption Vigil Mass at St. Joseph's at 7:00pm.

Coffee Fellowship

Altar Society Meeting Hostesses for July:
Ethel Barbossa & Ann Swonke

Our Lady of Guadalupe
One-Week Novena
Schedule: 

August: St. Mary's
September: St. Joseph 's
October: St. Mary's
November: St. Joseph 's

A simple one week Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Have her blessed picture in your home and honor her with a daily rosary and your petitions.

St. Mary's : A sign up sheet is available in the parish hall.

St. Joseph 's : A sign up sheet is available in the church entry.

The picture of Our Lady is to be returned at the end of the week.

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

Gift Certificates Available

Inventory Sale Starting July 7!

We’re now carrying DVD’s and great books for summer reading! Featuring:

Jesus of Nazareth
written by Pope Benedict XVI
and
The Spirituality of Imperfection

Religious Articles ~ Prayer Books
Bibles ~ Rosaries~ Children &
Adult Books ~ Baptism Gifts &
many other Gift Items

Attention Texas A&M Incoming Freshman and Transfer Students

St. Mary's Catholic Center at Texas A&M in College Station invites incoming freshman and transfer students to the 2007 Welcome Weekend Retreat, Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26. Welcome Weekend is a great way to start college life, learn about the dynamic Catholic presence at TAMU and make new friends. For more information or to register, call 1-888-240-TAMU or visit www.aggiecatholic.org.

On this great feast day the Church commemorates the happy departure from mortal life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Her translation into the kingdom of Her Son, where He crowned Her with immortal glory and enthroned Her above all the other Saints and heavenly spirits.

Mass Schedule for the Feast of the Assumption
Holy Day of Obligation

Tuesday, August 14th, 7:00pm
Vigil Mass @ St. Joseph's

Wednesday, August 15th, 9:00am
Holy Day Mass @ St. Mary's

Parish Office will be Closed on Wednesday, 8/15

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.

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

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.

Late Nite Catechism was a huge success. Our thanks to Mimi Loftus, Freddie Seale and the whole team who worked tireless days to bring the production to St. Mary's. A thoroughly good time was had by all!

Maybe next year, we can host the sequel???

Have you ever noticed how people sing so naturally at birthday parties or on New Year's Eve? Or at charismatic gatherings? Or even on July 4th as they join in "God Bless America"?

Those who study this phenomenon tell us that singing comes naturally to people who have something to sing about, when events or memories so move the heart that vocal expression automatically results. Our song, if it is to be a Christian song, must reflect and flow from our faith in Christ and His message. We must be faith-filled singers.

Prayer:
Almighty and all-powerful God, You strengthen and protect all who call upon You. Pour out Your blessings among us so that the praises we sing may flow from hearts that are strong in faith and filled with Love. Amen.

Join us for choir practice on Wednesday evenings from 7 - 8:30 pm. Or use your talents with the Bells of St. Mary's, our hand bell choir, which meets at 6pm on Monday evenings.

Jubilate Deo!

Rev. William "Bill" Kelly, UST assistant professor of theology for 22 years, received the "Clergyman of the Year" award from the Knights of Columbus for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in January at the annual clergy appreciation banquet.

For the past six years, Fr. Kelly has worked two jobs, one as a UST professor and the other as the pastor of St. Anthony de Padua Parish in Danbury, Texas.

The winners of the award are nominated based on four qualities: service to parish, service to community, service to Knights of Columbus and their parish and the extra way the nominator presented the case.

Kelly's nomination included his extensive experience and devotion to his parishioners and community in Danbury and testimonials about "the good Fr. Kelly and his works," said Duke Marasigan, president of the Knights of Columbus for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

"I was just gratified that other people thought I was doing a good job," Kelly said, remembering his initial reaction to receiving the award.

The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic men's fraternal organization whose main principle is charity with 114 councils in the archdiocese and 52 of those belonging to the Galveston-Houston chapter.

Dear Jesus, you know each of us and call us by name to serve you in faith. Give courage and guidance to those you call to be priests, deacons, religious, members of secular institutes, and lay ministers. May we all respond wholeheartedly and serve devotedly.

The Vocations Committee of St. Mary/St. Joseph congratulates all who made their First Holy Communion and Confirmation sacraments during the month of May. May Christ continue to bless you as you learn to love Him more each day.

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

Many dedicated rose lovers have secret recipes for rose fertilizers that border on black magic, but we have found that most commercial rose foods and organic fertilizers produce good results. The important thing about any fertilizer application is that plenteous water will be wanted; both to dissolve the fertilizer into a form the rose can use and to clean any residue off the bush. Chemical fertilizers can burn or even kill a plant if over-used, as many of us know from having killed a favorite rose through generosity. Read the label, and when in doubt, remember less fertilizer is better than more. Always water heavily. We admit to preferring organic fertilizers (such as fish emulsion or manure) for their beneficial rejuvenation of the living organisms in the soil. Healthy soil grows healthy plants. Organic fertilizer can be combined with slow-release pellets (such as Osmocote) to keep container grown roses at their peak. For those who simply want to keep their roses healthy and vigorous, one feeding in spring and another in early fall should suffice. For maximum performance, begin feeding about 2 weeks before the last frost date for your area and continue at 4 to 6 week intervals until 6 weeks before the earliest frost date for your area. For the last feeding of the year, you might want to use a high phosphorus compound so that your plant will shift to a slower, tougher growth in preparation for cold weather.

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.

Did you know that every month, we mail out over 200 bulletins to places all over the United States? We send them to former parishioners who have moved away and relatives of current parishioners; some go out to our homebound parishioners who are unable to come to church and others go out to our many friends we have met along the way. It's a wonderful way to keep our friends and family updated with what's going on, not only in the parish, but in our community.

If you know someone who would enjoy receiving our monthly bulletin, please call me at the Parish Office so I can add them to our mailing list.

Also, if you have information that you'd like to have put in the bulletin, please let me know before the 10th of each month.

Master Sgt. John R. Schwartz (USAF), son of Katie & Jim Schwartz will be one of the airmen deploying to Iraq in January. Rob, a 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron section chief, will deploy to Iraq with the 14th Fighter Squadron along with more than 200 airmen from Misawa Air Base, Japan.

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 is being 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 will be deployed this month. 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, was deployed to Afghanistan last month. Please keep Michael in your prayers

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.

If your landscape could use some color, brighten it up with Cyclamen. The Cyclamen is a cool weather lover. At first glance, it looks like a very delicate, almost orchid-like, bloom waving in the air. In our area, many gardeners plant them directly into the flower bed, although they are also used extensively as an accent to potted plants and arrangements. When planting them in your landscape, choose an area that receives part sun and has well draining soil. The soil should be kept moist but not soggy, as the corm will get water-logged and rot. Give it a good soaking, then let it dry out partially before soaking it again. If you must fertilize, a water soluble fertilizer may be applied every 3 to 4 weeks. Too much fertilizer will produce foliage rather than flowers.

The Cyclamen comes in many different colors, including white, bright pink, red and almost purple. The white and red are the most plentiful and popular. Given the correct sunlight and moisture, they will continue to bloom until the temperature warms up.

Did you notice that the sign on the corner of HWY 105 & FM 1774 is missing? St. Mary's received notice from the Texas Department of Transportation that our sign violated TXDOT regulations, and it needed to be removed. We are currently working with our representatives to try and get our sign "grandfathered" so it can be re-erected. If you would like to write your legislature and ask for their help, please address your letters to:

Steve Ogden
State Senator-District 5
7607 Eastmark Drive, Suite 241
College Station, TX 77840
979-694-2609

Lois Kolkhorst
State Representative-District 13
P.O. Box 1867
Brenham, TX 77834
979-251-7888 or 866-829-6370

A note from the parish secretary...

Did you notice that there are a couple of new names on the inside cover of the bulletin this month?

Judy Kramer has passed along her duties as the coordinator for Hospitality Ministry at St. Mary's. Judy's done a terrific job making sure that there's a "welcoming committee" at all of the happenings here...THANK YOU JUDY! If you want to join our hospitality group, please contact our new coordinator, Janet Nolan.

Also, Swanda Smith is now our new contact person for the "Stitchin Sisters"... they meet at St. Joseph's every Wednesday at 9:30am.

Despite the fact of having been rained out on the original day of the 6th Annual St. Mary Men's Club Golf Tournament, enthusiastic golfers hit the tees at Walden's Golf Course under rather dull, grey skies on March 26th. Attitudes were positive, hopes high. As could have been foreseen, God smiled on all the hard work and prayers and, before long, the sun broke through.

Fr. Ed drove James Smock, the official photographer, around from green to green, doing what he does best: smile and shake hands. He again relinquished the privilege to actively participate on a team. He has a degree of humility but could not in pure justice handicap three players and doom them to last place. He continues in his resolve to learn and practice this game that is so near and dear to many of our parishioners. Maybe next year. Thanks to Jim Pearson he has an excellent set of left-handed clubs. Excuses are running out.

God has blessed St. Mary with a group of men who enjoy each others' company and sincerely work together for the glory of God. They're always looking for new members with the same inclination.

Congratulations, guys, for a job well done.

COME CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH at ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC MISSION

Thursday, March 15
Mass at 5:30pm
followed by the annual Stew Supper

Lots of home-made stew, hot bread, home-made pies, tea & coffee

ADULTS-$6.00 CHILDREN-$3.00

The time has now come in the Church year for the solemn observance of the great central act of history, the redemption of the human race by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The beginning of the forty days of penance is marked with the austere symbol of ashes which are used in the liturgy of Ash Wednesday. The music for Lent is somber and pleading, with the exception of Laetare Sunday (the 4th Sunday of Lent), when "Rejoice, Jerusalem" is the prelude, and Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday), when the "Hosanna Filio David" (Hosanna to the Son of David) is the prelude; many of the hymns are unaccompanied by instruments, and no instrumental pieces are used during this period.

Gathering Hymn - "Attende Domine" - ("Hear, O Lord")

This penitential hymn is based on a 10th century Mozarabic Litany for the Lenten Season. It will be used as the sung gathering prayer at all Masses during Lent. The Litany response is: R. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon us, who have sinned against Thee.

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 130.

(Ash Wednesday and the Five Sundays of Lent) "Out of the depths" (De Profundis)
The author of this Psalm is unknown. The hard suffering during the Exile of the people of Israel brought them to the confession of their guilt, and had filled their hearts with faith and hope of the Redeemer and confidence in the mercy of God. The De profundis is one of the fifteen Gradual Psalms, which were sung by the Jewish pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. It is also one of the seven Penitential Psalms which were used by the early Christians. The Psalm reminds us of the mercy of the Father Who sent His Son for the redemption of mankind.

Sending Forth Hymn: "Led by the Spirit"

The Mass musical setting for Lent is the simple, chanted Latin Mass.

The organ will be used sparingly during Lent, except on Palm Sunday. It will be heard again on Holy Thursday for the Mass of the Lord's Supper to support the singing of the Gloria, with the ringing of bells throughout. It will not be heard again until the singing of the Gloria at the Easter Vigil on Saturday.

The purpose of the Pope Pius XII program is to help Boy Scouts examine how being a Christian affects daily life in a real world, to challenge them to evaluate their own personal talents and abilities, and to give them an opportunity to share faith and practice their religion among peers. The Pope Pius XII program deals with church-related ministries and vocations (single, married, ordained).

We have 3 Boy Scouts from the parish who have just finished the one-year program to earn this medal. Please congratulate the following boys on being presented their medal by Archbishop DiNardo himself on Sunday, February 4, 2007.

Justin Felderhoff
Hayden O'Brien
Joshua Welsh

Come and enjoy a spaghetti dinner, traditionally meatless, at St. Mary's parish hall provided for everyone in the parish. Your only cost is to bring a sack of non-perishable items to help benefit those in our Parish community who are in need.

Dinner will be served after the 10:30am Mass on March 18, 2007

THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY.

Well, as the cold weather starts fading away, it's time to start pruning your roses and other plants. This year with the freezing nights we had, some of the hibiscus plants might have gotten some frost bite. To find how far to cut them back, lightly scrape the bark-when you see green, cut there with a nice clean cut.

It's also time to clean out your flower beds and don't forget to mulch; 3" to 4" is recommended to prevent most weeds from coming through.

For those of you who have vegetable gardens, it's finally time to get started. The usual time for planting potatoes is on Washington's Birthday, so if you haven't planted them yet, you better hurry up! You should also be planting your tender leaf vegetables (such as lettuce), peas, spinach, squash, peppers, and onions. Make sure to have food for the plants so they don't start good, but then run out of nutrients and fail to produce at harvest time. And we now have a bulletin board in St. Mary's Social Hall. Come take a look at all of the useful information posted.

Next month, the God's Gardeners group is planning an outing on Saturday, April 14th. We’ll leave St. Mary's at 9:30am to go to the Rose Emporium in Independence; from there, we'll go to Martha's Bloomers in Navasota for a light lunch and stay long enough to see all they have to offer. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board for all those wishing to go...and you don't have to be a member to come! All are welcome-please sign up early so we'll have an idea of how many will be going.

For more gardening information in the Montgomery County area, just go to the Montgomery County Extension Office website at www.montgomery-tx.tamu.edu or call 936-539-7822.

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

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 hall and St Joseph to accept your offerings.

Our Lady of Guadalupe
One-Week Novena
Schedule:

March: St. Joseph's
April: St. Mary's
May: St. Joseph's
June: St. Mary's

A simple one week Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Have her blessed picture in your home and honor her with a daily rosary and your petitions.

St. Mary's: A sign up sheet is available in the parish hall.

St. Joseph's: A sign up sheet is available in the church entry.

The picture of Our Lady is to be returned at the end of the week.

It's time to start getting ready for the

St. Joseph's Bazaar!

Yes, it's that time of year again...so let's start getting ready. We need lots of

Auction Items
Home-made Cakes & Pies
Donations for Booths
New Ideas
Crafts
VOLUNTEERS!!!

Lets everybody pull together in 2007 to make this the best bazaar ever. Any questions, contact Bo Imhoff at 936-672-4555 or Rhonda Sechelski at 936-419-6536. Keep an eye on the bulletin for updates and meeting times.

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.

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.

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

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!

A Last Thank You To Someone Special Who Has Left Us:
Laura Sechelski 

On Thursday, November 9th, Mrs. Laura Sechelski died at the age of 84, leaving behind a large family [10 children...How Catholic is that!] and a host of relatives and friends. She was buried at St. Joseph Cemetery on Monday, November 13th from a packed church who all thanked God for her love and friendship.

Ms. Laura also left behind something very tangible and important to our community of St. Joseph . Were it not for Ms. Laura and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Sechelski Nowak, the original statues of St. Joseph would most probably have been lost forever. In 1968 she rescued and kept in her home the statues of the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Mother. Ms. Elizabeth kept the statue of the Risen Christ in her home.

Ms. Laura graciously and generously coordinated the returning of the statues to St. Joseph in 2001 when the restoration of the sanctuary began. It was a painful day when the statues were picked up and taken to be restored and eventually returned to their original places in the church. Two bedrooms had these very precious images as part of their décor for so long that they looked bare when removed. Tears were shed, but Ms. Laura put on her big smile and knew that she would see them and be sharing them with so many others in the place which they had originally graced.

We will miss Ms. Laura but we will never forget how indebted we are to her and to her love of the Church and the church of St. Joseph and how that love would not permit an important part of our history to disappear.

Eternal rest grant to her, O Lord and let perpetual light shine on her. May she rest in peace.

Kids! Sunday, December 10th is candy cane Sunday !

We're Celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas, which was on December 6th, that day. Come on down for your candy cane!

St. Nicholas is scheduled to be here!!!

Next Infant BAPTISMS are planned for Sunday, Jan. 7 th 

The next Baptism Preparation Class is planned for Saturday, Dec. 9th from 9-12 am.

Please call early to register for the Class.

The classes are a requirement for parents or expectant parents of children up to 5 years old before baptism. Godparents are encouraged to attend as well. For further questions, call Francell Busa (936)870-4145 or email her at fbusa@earthlink.net

St. Mary's Choir has begun preparation of Advent and Christmas music. If you have been meaning to join the choir but just haven't gotten around to it, now's the time! Join us at choir practice on Wednesdays at 7pm in the Church, and raise your voices in God's praise.

The children from second through sixth grades will participate in the children's choir for Christmas Eve at the Children's Mass at 4pm on 12/24/2006 (at least those who are still in town for the holidays). The first rehearsal will be on Wednesday, Dec. 13, during regular CCE time, followed by their holiday party. Additional rehearsals will be scheduled, and details will be sent home with the children from CCE on 12/13.

Pews in the front of the church will be reserved for the families of the children participating in the music at this Mass; caroling will begin at 3:40 pm.

Please call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565 for further information.

(December 24th Sunday Obligation—Regular Sunday Mass Schedule)

Sunday, December 24th, Christmas Vigil Masses
4:00pm @ St. Mary’s 6:00pm @ St. Mary’s 8:00pm @ St. Mary’s

9:30pm @ St. Joseph’s

(no midnight mass)

Monday, December 25th, Christmas Mass
9:00am @ St. Mary’s

Caroling will begin 30 minutes before each mass.

(December 31st Sunday Obligation—Regular Sunday Mass Schedule)

Sunday, December 31st, New Year’s Day Vigil Mass
5:30pm @ St. Mary’s

Monday, January 1st, New Year’s Day Mass
9:00am @ St. Mary’s

St. Mary's Choir has begun preparation of Advent and Christmas music this month. If you have been meaning to join the choir but just haven't gotten around to it, now's the time!

Some special musical events coming up include a Taize prayer service in Remembrance of the Dead on Sunday, November 12.

Join us at choir practice on Wednesdays at 7pm in the Church, and raise your voices in God's praise.

Jubilate Deo!

The Saint Vincent de Paul conference has set aside the last two weekends of November to collect Hams and Turkeys for the needy of the area. We will have members at each mass to bring collected items to the Home Provision Center. We ask where possible to bring Canned Hams in place of the traditional frozen turkeys. We are finding that many of the needy families we assist do not have the space to store and/or cook large turkeys. Canned hams are much easier for them to store and handle. Thank you for your continued assistance in supporting and helping our conference serve the needy in the area.

Fr. Ed Has Lost His Roommate

After less than four months, Fr. Al Walsh, our resident priest, has decided that the country may not have been the right choice as a place of retirement. We are a bit remote to say the least. We have all enjoyed his stay with us and are fortunate to have had his presence and ministry among us even for this short time. He will be returning to his former residence at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Houston. He's been reassured that when he does want some quiet time again in the country for a visit, his room will be waiting. Bridget (our parish dog), Y2K (our parish cat) and John Paul (our parish cockatiel) are saddened with his leaving. Y2K was especially fond of Fr. Al. Bridget, of course, was always underfoot when food was anywhere in sight or smell. Fr. Al will certainly have peace at meals that was definitely difficult to find here at our rectory. Please keep Fr. Al in your prayer. He will be returning to help with Sunday liturgies until we can find a replacement.

In observance of All Soul's Day and in remembrance of our loved ones who have died during the last year, St. Mary's will host a special prayer service on Sunday, November 12, 2006, at 3pm.

If you have lost a loved one and would like his or her name to be included in this special remembrance, please fill out the form below and drop it in the box provided; you may also call Linda Armstrong at 936-825-0565, or email at LINDA@SMSJ.ORG to give this information. The name will be included in the prayer intentions for the service, and a votive candle will be provided for the family. It is not necessary that the deceased had been a member of St. Mary/St. Joseph parish to be included.

We also encourage you to bring photos or other momentos of your loved one to be placed on our Remembrance Table during the weekend of Nov. 11-12, 2006.

All family members and friends are encouraged to participate in this remembrance service, and the entire parish family is asked to offer their prayers for the repose of the souls of these loved ones.

A pot-luck dinner will follow in the Hall after the service. Ham and drinks will be provided; please bring a side dish or dessert to share with others.

Being a sponsor is like being a trusted friend. You share what you can. You offer support and counsel as you are able and to the extent that is needed or desired.

As a sponsor from our parish community, you will walk with a catechumen or candidate through a formation process that reaches a climax at the Easter Vigil.

You may be asking yourself whether you are worthy or qualified. Remember St. Paul's words: "We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Keeping these words in mind may keep you from becoming too worried about being an unworthy sponsor and help you avoid taking too much credit for what God will accomplish through you.

• Sponsors should be confirmed Catholics, in valid marriages, and active in their faith (regularly going to Eucharist) as they represent the Catholic community
• Sponsors are companions on a journey of faith (they are not catechists)
• A sponsor prays for and listens to their catechumen/candidate
• A sponsor is respectful and not judgmental toward their catechumen/candidate
• A sponsor serves as a bridge between the catechumen/candidate and the church

Think about becoming an RCIA sponsor this year! Call us today and volunteer!
rockbluff@mscc.net or 936-870-4145

All are welcome to attend "Praise at the Pavilion," an old-fashioned "singing convention and brush arbor meeting," sponsored by the Music Ministry of St. Mary's from 3-5 pm on Sunday, October 15, at St. Mary's Pavilion

Enjoy the music of choirs, bands, singing and instrumental groups from many churches in Grimes, Brazos, and Montgomery counties, and add your voice to congregational singing for a great afternoon of music and entertainment, praising God in song!

To continue the celebration, bring a covered dish for the pot luck dinner in St. Mary's Hall after the concert. Drinks will be furnished.

If your last names begins with A-J, bring a salad; K-P, bring a casserole or vegetable; Q-Z, bring a dessert

If you have any questions or need additional information, please call Linda Armstrong @ 936-825-0565 or e-mail at Linda@smsj.org.

St. Mary's Choir has begun preparation of Advent and Christmas music this month. If you have been meaning to join the choir but just haven't gotten around to it, now's the time!

Some special musical events coming up include a Taize prayer service in Remembrance of the Dead on Sunday, November 12; 'Praise at the Pavilion,' an ecumenical singing convention under our own outdoor pavilion on Sunday, October 15, from 3-5 p.m. (lots of singing and instrumental groups from many area churches, followed by a covered dish dinner in the Hall. All are welcome!); festival of ministries in September.

Join us at choir practice on Wednesdays at 7pm in the Church, and raise your voices in God's praise.

Jubilate Deo!

Both of our churches of St. Mary and St. Joseph have state-of-the-art professional sound systems. However, we realize that many of our parishioners have trouble hearing comfortably and satisfactorily due to the sensitivity and quality of their hearing aids. We have been studying the situation, particularly at St. Mary, and are looking into a device that will help those who wear hearing aids to be able to adjust the sound and be able to listen and respond better during the Celebration. It’s still in the investigative stage, but a solution is at hand in the near future.

Help couples explore the realities of marriage and to more fully understand how to have a sacramental marriage.

A Training Class will be held on Tuesday evening, September 19 from 6:30-8:30 pm.

(Remember, you don't have to have a perfect marriage to be a Sponsor Couple - both of you don't even have to be Catholic!)

For more information, call Carol Reissig, 936-582-2882 or Pam Alexander, 936-447-6994 or Marcy Felderhoff, 936-597-4638

Look for sign-up form elsewhere in bulletin. Please pass on this form to your friends and loved ones and encourage them to take advantage of this class each week beginning Sunday, Oct. 1st after 10:30 am mass.

Remember, this isn't a class just for those wishing to