Now that Spring is here, we will begin to maintain our parish cemeteries. A Cemetery Upkeep envelope is included in your boxed envelopes. Your donations help us to maintain the resting place of your loved ones. Your donation may be mailed to the parish office or placed in the collection basket. Thank you for your generosity!
Based on the bulletin of May 21, 2023.
Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.
1Pt 3:15
How often do people ask us why we are hopeful? If that doesn’t happen on a regular basis, maybe we should ask ourselves why? As we are in the Easter Season, we are invited to recognize the hope that is given to us because of the resurrection. If hope is really a part of our lives, nothing can bring us down, no tragedy, no fight, no renewal, no job loss, nothing! Now, I realize that this is easier said than done.
Consider how much effort and energy we invest in things that are never going to help us have hope. When we invest in things that bring us hope, it can change our lives! Jesus is the ultimate source of hope for us, and sometimes when things don’t go our way, have we ever considered that maybe Jesus is trying to guide us in a different path that we haven’t been open to or considered? Hope requires trust in God’s plan. Again, easier said than done.
This weekend as we celebrate Mother’s Day, it is a time to recognize how much Mothers are an image of hope in our world today. First I want to acknowledge that when we speak of Mothers, I include all women in this category. I believe that all women have an innate ability to foster life in their own unique way. For some it is in the traditional sense of forming a home with a husband, bearing children and nurturing them. For others it’s through the female generative nature in creating life by how they interact with people and the world. Some women bring life into the world by how they create relationships of love, or by bringing beauty to the world through talents and caring, or by nurturing friends through difficult times in life.
Women have a natural ability to be hope bearers and we recognize their giftedness and the many ways they sacrifice for others, so that others can be better. This is what I believe we celebrate today. Thank you and blessings to every form of Mother on this Mother’s Day Weekend! We pray for you in a special way and ask God to bless you.
This week we celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord on Thursday [May 18, 2023], which is a Holy Day of obligation. There will not be a vigil mass because of my schedule with the Diocese. I apologize, but on Thursday the masses will be as follows:
Let’s strive this week to be people who embrace, share and spread hope. Just think of what the world would be like if we spread hope as easily as we spread other things.
Keep smiling 🙂 Fr. Bryan
Based on Fr. Bryan’s letter in the bulletin of May 14, 2023. Modified slightly, formatted for web, and emphasis modified from original.
To be a sponsor, please call Bob Salzler.
The Horse Pull Refreshment Stand needs bakers to make 2 dozen extra large cookies! If you can help out, please call Linda Jean. Thank you!
For more information on our Horse Pull for 2023, please see event details here.
Based on the bulletin of May 14, 2023.
For additional contact information, please see bulletin or contact the parish office.
This weekend we welcome Christian, and Alexander and Arabella to the Lord’s Table. Jesus comes to us in the gift of the Eucharist each week, and these three wonderful children will have their lives changed forever because of our Eucharistic Lord. First Communions are a great time for us to recall the powerful gift of the Eucharist in our own lives as well. Jesus gives us his very self in Body and Blood to feed us on our journey towards heaven. Think of it this way. I’m sure we’ve all had days in which we just NEED that cup of coffee, or energy drink to get through the day or the task ahead. They give us the boost we need to power through. The Eucharist is that and so much more for our own journey of life. It is the boost, energy, love, encouragement, hope and true presence of the Lord himself that assists us each week to persevere through.
Please pray in a special way for our children receiving this beautiful Sacrament of Initiation today.
This weekend we will also crown our Blessed Mother as we begin the month of May. As patroness of our parish, we have a special relationship with Our Lady and ask her to intercede for us to her Son. I encourage all of us to take some extra time throughout the month to pray to our Blessed Mother. Some ideas to celebrate the month of Mary include: Light a candle at the Blessed Mother Altar, say a Hail Mary, create a prayer corner in your home with a statue or picture of Our Lady and take a moment each day to pray there, say the rosary as a family, bring flowers to Our Lady’s Altar one weekend in May. There are so many ways we can honor and pay tribute to Our Lady and she will in return honor and guide us.
Lastly, as we continue to move forward with the Renewal in our Family of Parishes, you have seen the new Mass schedule that has been put forward for the weekend. Please know that there is a lot of other work that also continues by our pillar committees going on as well. Recommendations for our family are coming from our Spiritual Life, Liturgy, Administration, Outreach/Inreach, Forming Disciples and Stewardship Pillars on how to form our Family of Parishes for success in the future. Please pray for this important work, and ask our Blessed Mother throughout the month of May to guide this important work. As more decisions come out, they will be shared with you.
Keep Smiling 🙂 Fr. Bryan
Based on the bulletin of May 7, 2023. Edited slightly, and link added.
On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, we hear that Jesus is the gatekeeper. The role and image of gatekeeper gives us a sense that everything goes through Jesus who is the gate to heaven. As we look at our parish, all that we do is meant to work through Jesus. Each of us is called to a great responsibility to help one another get to the gate by all that we do. The same is true for our parish community.
As we move into a Family of Parishes model, it is important for us to realize that all of us have a part to play in making sure our parish is vibrant and successful into the future. With that being said, there are many things that need leadership within our parish. I am asking that you please consider if you would be willing to help in any of the following areas. If you are, please contact Debbie at the rectory so we can get a list of parish leaders together that are helping our parish function as we move forward in the Family of Parishes.
We need:
These are the top ten areas in which we need help. Please prayerfully consider how you might be able to assist in any of these areas. Training opportunities for each area are available.
Next Sunday (May 7, 2023) is First Communion and our May Crownings’. Please pray for our three young people who will be receiving Jesus for the very first time and as a parish dedicated to Our Lady, please join in our Solemn May Crowning by bringing flowers to present to Mary. Weather permitting, both May Crownings’ will take place outside.
Lastly — Mother’s Day is fast approaching. I am inviting the men of our parish to cook a Mother’s Day Breakfast for the women of our parish. This would take place at the Arcade Worship Site on Mother’s Day after the 8:30 am mass. Sign-ups for our men to cook and women to attend are in the back of church. Please help recognize the beautiful women of our parish on this important day.
Keep Smiling 🙂 Fr. Bryan
Based on the bulletin of April 30, 2023. Slightly edited, links added, and date added for future viewers.
You may request a Mass ($15) or reserve the Tabernacle Candle ($10) at either worship site by dropping a note in the collection basket. Please print the name of your loved one or intention, and who it is being offered by, clearly with your telephone number and your payment. Thank you!
Please note an update: At the time of writing this update in February 2025, at St. Mary’s we no longer reserve the Tabernacle Candle.
Based on the bulletin of April 30, 2023.
This week we hear from the Gospel of Luke about the Road to Emmaus. Pardon me if I jump right into it, but it clearly makes me think about the Road to Renewal! The Road to Emmaus had disciples disheartened, losing faith and walking away. The Road to Renewal has some people disheartened at times, discouraged and walking away. What both scenarios failed to realize is what God was doing in the midst of their personal struggle — God was winning! Jesus walks with the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, and he walks with us on the Road to Renewal! There is new life available! All we have to do is open our hearts, welcome Jesus in, and he will transform us, our parishes, our diocese and our world!
OK, with that being said, Fr. Dan shared with you last week, our family of parishes is implementing a new Mass schedule starting the first weekend of June (2023). As we move toward June there are some things that I want to share with you that we need to prepare for as we start becoming a family of parishes.
First — Being a family means we need to welcome one another, no matter who is present, we need to be hospitable and encouraging to others. I know families at times have tension and stress, but our family of parishes must be a place where people know they are always welcome. Please begin making every effort to welcome those you may not recognize at Mass.
Second — Use your envelopes!!! Becoming a family of parishes does not stop our need to support our parish community. No matter where you attend Mass, by using your envelopes you are still supporting your parish community. Envelopes will be returned to their proper parish each week. I would also encourage you even if you are unable to contribute, to please just drop your empty envelope into the basket so we know where people are attending Mass. The new Mass schedule will be reevaluated after six months and knowing who is attending where helps in making informed decisions.
Third — Vibrant liturgies! As we move into the family of parishes, all of our Masses must be vibrant worship experiences. Our music ministry, servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, greeters must be welcoming, serve where and when they are needed and be willing to adapt to new environments. Our Masses MUST be the best they can be and we have to work at making them so. All ministers should be sure to attend our ministry night on Wednesday, April 26 (2023) with Mass at 6pm followed by our ministry meeting. Please make every effort to attend!
Fourth — We need leaders. Our parish has lost many people who used to be leaders and organizers of many events and activities. We need to pull together and energize these ministries and opportunities once again. I am asking every parishioner to pray and discern what it is they can do to assist our parish moving forward. Next week I will provide a list of volunteer ministries that we need people to take charge of. Remember, the church is the people of God, the physical building is where we gather to worship. For our church to be vibrant, the people of God need to be empowered, encouraged and supported in doing God’s work. Our family of parishes will depend upon you doing just that.
The Road to Emmaus transformed the disciples to become evangelizers and share the Good News. We are invited to do the same thing on our Road to Renewal, share the Good News and open ourselves up to the transformation that the Risen Jesus calls us to.
Keep Smiling :) Fr. Bryan
Based on the bulletin of April 23, 2023. Modified slightly and year indications added for future viewers.
Please be generous in the Catholic Home Mission Appeal and help strengthen the Church at home. Your support provides home mission dioceses with the resources to welcome and minister to growing multicultural populations and help to meet the needs of their growing communities.
Your support of this appeal on April 29th and 30th (2023) will truly make a difference. Thank you and God bless you!
Based on the bulletin of April 23, 2023.
A Letter from Fr. Dan
Since we have begun our Road to Renewal as a Family of Parishes in mid-February, one of the first things we have had to address is the fact that our four parishes, which had been served by three priests, would have to accommodate the fact that, going forward, we would only have two priests assigned to the parishes within the family. We recognize that it is impossible to maintain the previous weekend Mass schedule of eight Masses on a weekend amongst the four parishes, celebrated by two priests. The Liturgy Pillar Group was tasked with developing a new Mass Schedule to address this situation.
We were fortunate to have Father Bryan Zielenieski, who graciously volunteered to cover the Masses in Arcade and East Arcade, while a new Mass Schedule could be worked out. Initially, Fr. Bryan committed to being with us until the beginning of May, which was our goal to implement the new schedule. We soon realized that the beginning of May brought First Communion Celebrations, Mother’s Day, and later in the month, the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration of Father Alfons Osiander’s Priestly Ordination. We felt it was prudent to wait until after these events to alter the Mass schedule and Fr. Bryan has graciously agreed to extend his commitment through the end of May.
The Liturgy Pillar Group has proposed the following Mass schedule for our Family of Parishes, and Fr. Al and I have agreed to it.
Beginning on the weekend of June 3rd and 4th [2023], the Masses will be as follows:
We realize that the new schedule will require an adjustment for many parishioners, and we want to give you time to decide which Mass will accommodate you and your family. Please be assured that you are welcome to attend Mass at any of our worship sites and envelopes placed in the collection basket at each site will be forwarded to the parish for which it is intended. Liturgical ministers are also welcome to serve at any of our Masses you attend, regardless of whether it is at your parish worship site or another worship site.
Thank you for your support of our Family of Parishes and your patience and flexibility in our Road to Renewal!
Happy and Blessed Easter! Father Dan Fawls
Based on the bulletin of April 16, 2023. Slight formatting changes; date & year indications added.
Sign up sheets in Church vestibules to reserve a day.
The first 16 days of month reserved for the EAWS and the remainder of month for the AWS.
For additional information, call Betty Peplin.
Based on the bulletin of April 16, 2023. For additional contact information, please see the bulletin or contact the parish office.
