News

Consider this …

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Welcome to all who have joined us for our Easter Celebration! No matter if you are a regular attendee, a visitor, someone coming back after a long void, or a first timer — please know that you are always welcome here to experience the hope and love Jesus offers us, especially on this Easter Sunday. Please come back regularly and be a part of our faith community. If you ever need anything to assist your faith journey, please do not hesitate to reach out to our parish office or one of the priests.

On this Easter Sunday we celebrate the fact that Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Easter changes everything and I hope you are experiencing the joy and hope that Easter gives to us! Our Lenten journey has led us to this wonderful time of Resurrection. We are an Easter people and that means we have hope because death has no power over us.

Jesus was faithful to God’s plan and as a result conquered sin and death so that we can enjoy Heaven. It is important for us to realize that while the resurrection does not allow death to have power over us, we have to be committed to Jesus and have faith in his resurrection to experience that hope. God never forces His Will upon us, but asks us to respond to his constant invitation to join him. God gives us the freedom to choose the life afforded to us through the resurrection, but he also gives us the freedom to choose death. How we live our lives is evidence as to the choice we are making.

The joy and hope of the resurrection are not a free pass through our earthly life, or a guarantee of Heaven when we die. Just as Jesus committed to humanity and did everything he had to do so that we could enjoy Heaven, we too have to commit to Jesus and his life to follow after him. So, what are we doing as an Easter People? How are we committing to the life God has planned for us? Are we coming to church and sharing in the Word of Life, the Eucharist and praying together? Are we living Jesus’ example of love by loving and caring for our neighbor?

Easter is a time to celebrate in more ways than chocolate and Easter bunnies! Easter is a time to recommit to all the good Jesus has led us to, because of his commitment to us! The Risen Jesus is alive and among us today! We are part of Jesus’ Team of Disciples who are called to spread that good news to the world!

Happy Easter and many thanks to all who have made our Holy Week Celebrations so special and meaningful. Special thanks to our music ministry, environment committees, ministers, and to all who had a hand in making sure Our Parish Celebrations were great! Thank you!

God bless and Keep Smiling :)

Fr. Bryan

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Based on Fr. Bryan’s letter from the bulletin of April 9, 2023.

Consider this …

The Journey Of A Lifetime

Welcome to the week that will change your life, if you let it! As we begin Holy Week with Palm Sunday, we are reminded of just how much can happen within a week. Today, as we began our Palm Sunday Liturgy, our Hosanna’s, as Jesus enters Jerusalem became overshadowed by our shouting ‘Crucify Him!’ How quickly things can change!

It is important to remember that when we celebrate liturgy, it isn’t just a historical remembrance of a past event. Liturgy is … entering into that moment in time. We are there on Palm Sunday. We are excited to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem, and we are the ones shouting, ‘Crucify him!’ This is the mystery of liturgy, and the mystery we partake of in a special way this week. Each day is an opportunity to enter into the mystery of God’s love poured out for us through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus, on the cross.

As a reminder …

Holy Thursday (2023):

• Friendship Supper 5:30 pm, Arcade
• Mass of The Lord’s Supper 7:00 pm, Arcade
• Church open for Private Prayer until 11:00 pm, Arcade

Good Friday (2023):

• Liturgy of The Lord’s Passion 3:00 pm, East Arcade
• Confessions 6:00 pm, Arcade
• Stations of The Cross 7:00 pm, Arcade

Holy Saturday (2023):

• Easter Basket Blessing 12:00 pm, Arcade
• Easter Basket Blessing 1:30 pm, East Arcade
• Easter Vigil 8:00 pm, Arcade

Easter Sunday (2023):

• Resurrection Mass and Procession 8:30 am, Arcade
• Easter Sunday Mass 10:30 am, East Arcade
• Easter Egg Hunt and Fellowship after both Easter Masses!!

Please take advantage of all that is being offered. For our Easter Sunday Procession, we’re looking for our young people to ring bells, throw flowers, carry banners and fully participate in a full 5 senses liturgy. Please arrive by 8:15 am to help organize and implement our procession that will fully proclaim the Joy of Easter!

Let’s make this a memorable week, and for that to happen, we need to do it together. I promise these will be great liturgies! I’ll be there … will you?

Keep Smiling :) Fr. Bryan

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Based on Fr. Bryan’s letter from the bulletin of April 2, 2023. Some formatting modified from original, and year indications added for future viewers.

Consider this … What’s going to be different for you?

This weekend we hear of the raising of Lazarus. It is the final conversion story that prepares us this year to enter into Holy Week. Have we taken the last three weeks seriously and looked at our lives and asked ourselves; what is different?

Conversion is an opportunity to recognize the encounter of Christ in our lives, and do something differently so that we can be holier, better disciples of Jesus. If we are doing the same things we did before these last three weeks, or even before our Lenten journey began, then are we really opening ourselves up to conversion?

All of us need conversion in our lives, no matter our age, sex, race, ethnicity, way of life, etc. Every one of us has an opportunity to turn our lives away from sin and embrace a lifestyle closer to Jesus’. Are we being kinder to our family? Are we more loving to our spouse/friends? Are we praying more? Are we more optimistic? Are we less anxious? Are we closer to our kids? Are we … I hope you get the point. If we can’t say yes to questions like these, then are we taking our faith and this Lenten Journey seriously? If we haven’t been, IT’S NOT TOO LATE!!!

This is our final week before we enter the holiest week of the year for us Catholic Christians. As we read in the Gospel this weekend, Jesus literally gives life to his dead friend. Jesus can give us life too and raise us to do more than we could ever expect, if we let him.

Next weekend is Palm Sunday. I pray that all of us make an effort to invite someone to join us as we begin Holy Week by commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. At our 8:30 and 10:30 am Masses, we will have a Palm Sunday Procession in which we are inviting all to join in this solemn celebration and start to Holy Week. I want to invite everyone to participate, bring your children and grandchildren, bring your friends and neighbors, and experience a Palm Sunday like you’ve never experienced before!

As we prepare for Holy Week, don’t forget to plan on joining us on Holy Thursday (2023) at 5:30 pm in the Parish Hall of our Arcade Worship site for a ‘Friendship Supper’ before our Holy Thursday Celebration. This is a pot-luck dinner in which we break bread as a community of faith before we gather in the Church to remember Jesus’ action of breaking bread as Eucharist. Please sign up in the vestibules for this event, so we can plan and setup for this opportunity to truly commemorate ‘Our Lord’s Supper’.

Next Saturday, April 1st (2023), we will have a WORKDAY at our East Arcade Worship Site. Please come! We will gather at 8:00 am and work to accomplish some of the maintenance tasks that need to be addressed at this site. Many hands make lite work, and your help is appreciated! Bring basic tools to help if you can.

As we approach Holy Week, please ask yourself; what is going to be different? Take seriously the invitation to come closer to Jesus. Plan ahead and save some time to spend in Church that week. I’ll be there … will you?

Keep Smiling :) Fr. Bryan

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Based on Fr. Bryan’s letter in the bulletin of March 26, 2023. Year indications added for future viewers.

Consider this … Reconciliation;

First, I want to take a moment and congratulate our First Reconciliation students who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation from Fr. Al on Saturday. This is a big step in their sacramental life, and we want to continue to pray for, encourage, and support our young people as they get closer to Jesus. Congratulations to them and their families!

Our ‘Family of Parishes’ Reconciliation Services are fast approaching and Lent is the perfect time to examine our lives, acknowledge our sinfulness and honestly approach the mercy of God and ask for forgiveness. It’s a great way to prepare our hearts and lives for Easter and all Catholics are supposed to go to confession at least once a year, preferably between Ash Wednesday and Pentecost.

Our ‘Family of Parishes’ Reconciliation Services are as follows:

• Tuesday, March 21 (2023) — 2 pm and 6 pm at St. Aloysius in Springville and …
• Wednesday, March 29 (2023) — 2 pm and 6 pm at The New St. Mary’s, AWS in Arcade.

This weekend we hear another conversion story from John’s Gospel. All of us can grow closer in our relationship with Jesus, and this Gospel reminds us that there is no limitation that can keep us from that divine encounter with Christ himself. Encourage others to join you as you come here to worship to have an experience with the transforming power of Jesus’ love.

This is also a celebratory weekend for those who celebrate St. Patrick’s or St. Joseph’s Day. Remember these great saints are meant to inspire us in our own relationship with Jesus. It’s not just about beer, corned beef, or a table. It’s about how they inspire us to be saintly in our world today!

Lastly, I just want to let you know that our ‘Family of parishes’ had an organizational meetings with the leadership from our parishes, as well as, forming our Pillar Groups. This past week, the Pillar Groups formed and began discussing basics on what is important to each parish community that we are bringing to the family. There is a great group of people who are committed to creating a ‘Family Action Plan,’ (strategic plan) for our family, as we move forward.

Our next Pillar Group meeting for the Family will take place on Monday, March 27th (2023) at 6:30 pm at St. Jude’s in Sardinia. Please pray for the work of the Renewal, for our ‘Family of Parishes,’ and for your priests. I promise I am praying for you.

Keep Smiling :) Fr. Bryan

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Based on the bulletin of March 19, 2023. Year indications and links added for website visitors.

Consider this … Conversion

Over the next three weeks our Gospel will lead us into a deep sense of conversion. If we had elect for RCIA, these three weeks would each focus on a scrutiny rite that asks the person to look at sin in their life and make a commitment to turn to Jesus. Each of us is invited to pray for the elect, and ask God to work in the life of those seeking Baptism at the Easter Vigil. This beautiful rite is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the power of God’s grace in our lives. All of us are encouraged to look at our lives and see the need for conversion. All of us have things we need to turn away from to be drawn closer to Jesus. Lent is the perfect opportunity for all of us to look at who we are as Jesus’ disciples and acknowledge that we can be better. Each of us has sinned, and we need to turn away from that sin.

As we begin our ‘Family of Parishes’ in the renewal, this is a perfect opportunity for our parish to also look at what we need to do to turn from our old habits or attitudes, that do not lead us into deeper communion with Christ. As part of our Family, we will have two opportunities for all of us to avail ourselves of the Mercy of God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. On Tuesday, March 21, at St. Aloysius in Springville and on Wednesday, March 29, at The New St. Mary’s in Arcade, our ‘Family of Parishes’ will have Reconciliation Services, with the opportunity for individual confession, at 2 and 6 pm at both services. Please mark your calendars and take advantage of these conversion moments. It is a wonderful opportunity to be reconciled before our celebration of Holy Week.

In addition, we are mailing a letter to all registered parishioners sharing our Holy Week Schedule along with a note from Fr. Dan, our Pastor, and myself. If you do not receive a copy, please give Debbie a call in the office and she will take care of getting you one and inviting you to register with the parish. Please note the Holy Week schedule and make sure you make time for Jesus during this most sacred week of the year.

Lastly, our parish has been blessed to have a ‘Needy Fund’ that is available to help people in need for various reasons throughout the year. Over the past few years, money has not been spent from this fund and has simply accumulated in the account to the tune of almost $13,000. I spoke with Fr. Dan, and we want to make sure we honor the intent of those funds in helping those most in need. Therefore, after talking with our Finance Council, we are recommending the following:

1. We want to made sure the parish is aware that this funding exists for those who may need assistance. This is not a long-term solution, but something to help in the short term if needed. If someone needs assistance they need to contact the parish office during business hours and inquire about help.
2. To spend some of the reserved money, the Finance Council has agreed with the recommendation of contacting the food pantries in our area and making a $1,000 donation to each of them.
3. With further review of the fund in conjunction with the Finance Council, we will study how we want to spend our monies in the future.

So much continues to happen in our parish. Don’t forget about the St. Joseph’s Table, next Saturday (March 18, 2023) after the 5 pm Vigil Mass. Please feel free to invite your neighbors and friends to this wonderful event!

Keep Smiling :) Fr. Bryan

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Based on Fr. Bryan’s letter in the bulletin of March 12, 2023. Date & year indication added in italics.

Consider This … Parish Renewal

Last week I shared the state of our parish. Overall financially our parish is on the right track, but a few points that I wanted to highlight for you;

First, thank you to all who have helped St. Mary’s with your time, talent and treasure.

Second, last year was the first time our parish had a deficit at the end of the year. We want to make sure that this does not become a trend. For our parish to meet our expenses, we should be bringing in $3,000 a weekend. You will notice that the contribution totals are listed in the bulletin each week now, so we know where we stand. I ask that you please consider the current amount you’re contributing and ask if there is any way you could increase your contribution? We would greatly appreciate it.

Third, a major concern at the parish are the maintenance projects that need to be addressed at both of our sites. This past Tuesday we had an organizational Building and Grounds Committee meeting. I want to thank all those who attended this meeting. We had a GREAT turnout. I will keep you up to date as to what projects we will be tackling. There are some immediate concerns and others that will be planned for the future. Please watch the bulletin in the coming weeks as we will be having a work day at each of our parish sites to get them ready for Easter.

Fourth, we need to get people back to our parish. This will require all of us doing all we can to share what is happening and inviting others to join us. We have Jesus in the Eucharist guiding all we do. Let’s continually invite others to discover the power of the Eucharist and all that our faith is about.

Lastly, we want to start our community events and outreach again. On Saturday, March 18th (2023) our parish will host a St. Joseph’s table after the 5pm Mass at our Arcade Worship Site. This is a meatless meal that is open to all. Invite anyone to join us. A sign-up sheet will be in the back of church this weekend to let us know if you can bring a dish to pass. Also, our parish will once again host a Horse Pull in May at our East Arcade Worship Site with a Chicken BBQ. If you are able to help in any way, please call the parish office and let Debbie know to add your name to the volunteer list. More information will be forth coming on the horse pull.

One final note. As part of the Renewal and our Family of Parishes, please know that no matter what parish you attend, if you use your church envelopes, the envelope will be returned to its proper parish with the donation.

Keep smiling :)

Fr. Bryan

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Based on Fr. Bryan’s letter in the bulletin of March 5, 2023. Year indication added for future viewers.

Dear Parishioners,

Consider This … Lenten Renewal:

I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe that we are into Lent already! Where has the time gone? As our parish looks to transition in the Renewal, Lent is the perfect opportunity to look at our lives and discover how Jesus is calling us into a deeper relationship, and how we can be better disciples.

Lent is an opportunity for us to take our spiritual life seriously, and recognize that we could do more in our relationship with God. During Lent we will offer opportunities for you to grow closer to Christ through reconciliation, Mass, Stations of the Cross, as well as, your personal prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As you know, I am temporarily helping out and will do my best to offer Lenten opportunities for confessions and Stations.

Stations of the Cross

• Tuesdays during Lent (2023), after Mass at 7 pm at our East Arcade Worship Site.
• Fridays during Lent (2023) after the 7 pm Mass at our Arcade Worship Site.

*Please note; I am hoping that I can celebrate all Masses and stations during Lent, however, my schedule many not allow me to do so. Please watch the bulletin each week! If for some reason I am not able to be here for Mass on Tuesday or Friday, the Stations of the Cross will still take place, led by a lay person.

Confessions

• Tuesdays (2023) at 6:30 pm at our EAWS
• Fridays (2023) at 6:30 pm at our AWS
• Saturdays at 4:30 pm at our AWS

Please watch the bulletin for information on a parish penance service.

Important Renewal information to keep you updated:

1. All members of our Finance Councils and Parish Councils from all of our parishes in the family will meet at our AWS on Monday, March 6 (2023) at 7 pm.
2. All of the staffs from our parishes will be meeting for lunch on Wednesday, March 8 (2023) at noon, at St. Aloysius in Springville.
3. The Pillar Groups will be meeting together for the first time for an orientation session on Monday, March 13 (2023), at St. Jude’s in Sardinia at 6:30 pm.

Lent is all about Renewal, the renewal of our relationship with Jesus, as well as, the Renewal needed in our parishes as we come together as a family. Please keep praying for our Renewal, family of parishes and all that is happening in our parish. Also, please keep inviting people to come back and see what is going on.

Keep smiling :)

Fr. Bryan

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Adapted from Fr. Bryan’s letter in the bulletin of February 26, 2023.

We Are Grateful!

In order to continue to maintain our beautiful Churches and to support the mission and the ministries of our parish, we depend on our weekly offertory donations.

Offertory envelopes can be placed in collection at Mass or mailed to the Rectory Office. We are grateful for your ongoing support of St. Mary’s Parish.

Thank you!

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Adapted from the bulletin of February 26, 2023 — for more details, please see the bulletin.

Dear Parishioners,

Lent … what’s going to be different?

This week we begin the season of Lent with our celebration of Ash Wednesday. Are you ready? As you can see, we are offering MANY opportunities for people to come to Mass and receive ashes. Please take advantage and invite others to join. This is the most sacred season of our liturgical year and is an opportunity for all of us to grow closer to Christ. Please pay attention to next week’s bulletin, as we will be sharing our Lenten schedule of activities for you to grow in your relationship with Christ.

So what’s going to be different for you this Lent? As we move forward with the Renewal as a parish, this is a great time to renew our relationship and dedication to Jesus. Remember, faith is a choice and requires a commitment. Lent is the perfect time to ask ourselves, what is our commitment to our faith life and how is it visible to the world? All of us are called to share the joy of God’s love with others. If our parish wants a future, then all of us need to be committed and ask ourselves, what’s going to be different as we go forward? It begins with you!

Invite … share faith … share the reasons you follow Jesus …pray … fast and give alms! Now’s the perfect time to recommit. Let’s have a transforming and renewed Lent!

Keep smiling :)

Fr. Bryan

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Based on Fr. Bryan’s letter from the bulletin of February 19, 2023.

As I’m sure you’re aware, we have two prayer lists in our weekly bulletin. One for ‘The Sick of Our Parish’, and the other for ’Friends and Family of Our Parishioners.’

I am hoping to update our prayer lists and attempt to keep them current. Once a name is added, it will remain on the list for one month. If you would like to add your name or the name of a close relative or friend with their permission, please call the rectory to have their name added to the list. Thank you!

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Based on the bulletin of February 19, 2023.