News

Dear Parishioners,

Its time for Renewal! I am so excited that I have the opportunity to be assisting at my home parish to help us move forward with the Renewal. As I mentioned last weekend in my homily, everything needs to be on the table so we have a real understanding of how our church needs to respond. I ask you to pray for our parish and the work of the Renewal as we move forward. As a parish we have a lot of work to do to get our parish in a good position to move forward as a family. Please take note of all of the following:

1. Please pay attention to the daily Mass schedule. I will do my best to have daily Mass each week, but with my full time renewal schedule, I can’t guarantee that it will be consistent. I will update the schedule weekly until our family of parishes is able to establish a new Mass schedule.

2. Look for details, we are planning a Mardi Gras event on Tuesday, Feb. 21st (2023) in conjunction with daily Mass at our East Arcade site.

3. Ash Wednesday is fast approaching. We are making every effort to make sure all are welcome and able to attend Mass with distribution of Ashes. The schedule for Ash Wednesday (2023) is as follows: 8:30 am, Noon and 5:30 pm at the Arcade Worship site, and 7:30 pm at the East Arcade Worship Site. I want to encourage everyone to invite someone you know to begin their Lenten journey with us. This is an important time to develop and strengthen your relationship with Jesus.

4. From my conversations with people already, it is clear that not many people really know the state of our parish; how it is financially, spiritually, etc. Therefore, we will have a ‘State of the Parish Address’, on Thursday, February 23rd (2023) at 7 pm in the church at Arcade. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. I will share trends and important information on where the parish stands for the future.

5. We need to develop a Buildings and Grounds Committee for our parish. I am inviting anyone who may be interested in helping to make sure our buildings and grounds are in tip top shape as we prepare to move forward as a family of parishes. I would like to invite all interested on Tuesday, Feb 28 (2023) at 7:30 pm after the 7 pm daily Mass in East Arcade. We will meet in the rectory there.

In the midst of all of this, please take advantage of Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays’ and Fridays’. The Church is warm, and ready for you to come and adore the Lord who is the one ultimately in charge of all that is going on.

Keep smiling 🙂
Fr. Bryan

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Based on Fr. Bryan’s letter in the bulletin of February 12, 2023. Links added; year indication added “(2023)” for future viewers; emphasis added to worship site locations via underline.

If you want to help serve at our Masses on the weekend, we would love to include you in our schedule! Please call the parish office and let Debbie know you’d like to be on the schedule.

We will be working at developing a new schedule by March 1st (2023). We really need servers to help at Mass! Please if you can. If you need training just let us know and we will be glad to get you the training you need.

🙂 Fr. Bryan

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This information is from the bulletin of February 12, 2023. Year indication added for future viewers.

Lent is ordered to preparing for the celebration of Easter, since the Lenten liturgy prepares for celebration of the Paschal Mystery, both catechumens and the faithful, recall their own Baptism and do penance.

The 40 days of Lent run from Ash Wednesday up to but excluding the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Abstinence: All Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday are bound to abstain totally from meat on the following days: Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.

Fasting: All Catholics between their 18th and 59th birthdays are bound to observe the Law of Fast on the following days: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This practice involves limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals. Light sustenance may be taken on two other occasions in the course of the day.

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This information is from the bulletin of February 12, 2023.

We welcome Rev. Dan Fawls, our new Pastor, and our parishioner, Father Bryan Zielenieski, who will be leading us forward in the Road to Renewal, Family of Families Parishes.

Thank you for all the blessings and graces you have given to me in the past 16 years, through your sacrifices and kindness, they will never be forgotten. I thank Almighty God for you!

Be assured of my thoughts, prayers, and Masses in the year ahead.

God’s Blessings Always,
Fr. Joe Gullo

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Excerpted from the bulletin of February 5, 2023, modified slightly. For additional information, please see that issue of the bulletin.

Dear Parishioners,

I am reflecting on my years of ministry here at St. Mary’s Parish in Arcade and East Arcade and all I can say is Thank you to you all, for all the blessings and graces I have received through you and your kindness for the past 16 years. As the new administration of the Family of Families Parishes will be shortly announced, I plan on retirement, (hard to believe).

I am not retiring from priesthood, because, “I am a priest forever.” Be assured of my thoughts & prayers and Masses for all of you through the upcoming years. Thank you! I will miss all of you greatly.

God’s Blessings Always,
Fr. Joe Gullo

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For information on a reception in honor of Fr. Joe’s ministry at St. Mary’s: View reception details

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This post is based on the bulletin of January 22, 2023.

 

Dear Parishioners,

Happy New Year! We pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Benedict, Emeritus, who has given the Church over 66 books, encyclicals, and theological writings.

We will be taking down the Christmas decorations this weekend (January 15, 2023) after the 8:30 and 10:30 am Masses at both worship sites. Please plan on lending a helping hand!

God’s Blessings Always for the New Year 2023!
Fr. Joe Gullo

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Please help us take down our decorations at both worship sites after this Sunday’s Masses (January 15, 2023)… Thank You!!

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This information based on the bulletin of January 15, 2023, lightly modified. Italic text in parentheses was added for the web site.

Dear Parishioners,

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany or Little Christmas. Many countries celebrate Little Christmas as the day children receive their presents. We celebrate the arrival of the Wise Men; Kaspar, Balthasar and Melchior, as they bring the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to our Newborn King.

Chalk and incense are located in the stable near Baby Jesus at both worship sites. Please take your packet home with you this weekend. There is a Blessing Prayer enclosed with the chalk.

Thank you to our music ministry, all who decorated, all who made the liturgies so beautiful, and especially to our young people who enacted the Gospel message of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem!

God’s Blessings Always for the New Year 2023!
Fr. Joe Gullo

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Based on Fr. Joe’s letter from the bulletin of January 8, 2023.

Dear Parishioners,

Today we celebrate the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God, January 1st, 2023. Hard to believe the New Year is here! May we all have a blessed New Year as we continue to do the work of the Lord in our lives!

Thank you to all who decorated both worship sites so beautifully, for all the cards, gifts, treats, and goodies. Thank you to our music Ministries for the beautiful music that enhanced our liturgies, and a special thank you to our young people, who enacted the Gospel of the Nativity.

Happy New Year!!

God’s Blessings Always,
Fr. Joe Gullo

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Reprinted from the bulletin of January 1, 2023.

Dear Parishioners,

Merry Christmas to you and all your loved ones!

May the splendor of Christ’s Humble Birth in Bethlehem bring you much joy, peace, and love this Christmas and throughout the New Year.

Thank you for all that you do! You are in my thoughts and prayers and remembered in my Masses.

God’s Blessings Always,
Fr. Joe Gullo

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From Fr. Joe’s letter published in the bulletin of December 25, 2022. Merry Christmas!

The P.A.C. Food Pantry could use donations! (Non-perishable food, personal care items, etc.)

Boxes are set up to receive goods in the church vestibules at both worship sites.

Thank You for your continuing support!

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This information is based on the bulletin of December 18, 2022, modified from original.