🔔 No Daily Mass in Arcade: May 4 – 8, 2026.
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
Based on Fr. Bryan’s letter in the bulletin of March 5, 2023. Year indication added for future viewers.
Event: Saint Joseph’s Table
Date: Saturday, March 18th (2023)
Time: After 5 pm Mass — Arcade Worship Site
All are invited and asked to bring a meatless dish to pass! Invite anyone you’d like to join us! A sign-up sheet will be in the back of the church this weekend (March 4-5, 2023) to let us know what dish you’d like to bring. Can’t wait to share our faith, fellowship, and good food! Hope to see everyone there!
Based on the bulletin of March 5, 2023. Year/date indications added.
There’s plenty of work to do, PLEASE come and help! Bring your gloves, tool box, energy and enthusiasm and let’s get our parish in tip top shape for Easter! Coffee, doughnuts, other beverages will be served throughout the work day. Please help!
Based on the bulletin of March 5, 2023. Year indication added for future viewers.
Based on the bulletins of March 5 and March 19, 2023. Year indication added for future viewers.
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, February 28 (2023) at 7:30 pm after the 7 pm Mass in East Arcade. We will meet in the rectory there.
Excerpted from Fr. Bryan’s letter in the bulletin of February 12, 2023. Emphasis added to worship site location via underline; small edit for clarity; year indication added for future viewers.
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.
*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.
Please watch the bulletin for information on a parish penance service.
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
Adapted from Fr. Bryan’s letter in the bulletin of February 26, 2023.
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!
Adapted from the bulletin of February 26, 2023 — for more details, please see the bulletin.
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
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!
Based on the bulletin of February 19, 2023.
