St. Mary Parish, Manchester at 210 West Main Street, Manchester, MI 48158 US - News and Events in the Parish and Area
| News and Events in the Parish and Area |
Children's Choir Rehearsal News Confirmation Candidates: Community Service Opportunities First Holy Communion and Confirmation Reminder Manchester Community Thanksgiving Service Cookbooks and Christmas Cards still available Bakers Needed! Sign-up sheets will be outside the church after all Masses this weekend. Please sign-up, or call Jill Bondy at 734-904-4179 so we don't have an over-abundance of any one item for the sale. Note: Out of the ordinary items sell best; homemade pies (no custard or refrigerated pies), cakes, coffee cakes, breads, pumpkin rolls, specialty cookies (lebkuchen, springerle's, etc.) – but all goodies are most appreciated!! Drop off times at the Methodist Church are Fri., Nov. 20 from 5-7 p.m. or Saturday morning between 8–8:45 (to allow time for pricing). Sale starts at 9 am on Sat., Nov. 21. Come check out our goodies at the sale! Wreath Sales End Pretzel Surprise! Caring for Our Treasured Gifts Faith Magazine and the American Evangelization Appeal Giving Thanks When You Shop Can you be a sub for Eucharistic Adoration? Baptism preparation classes The blessings of our Catholic parishes Check it out! Did you know… The “Poor Box” Need Prayer???? If you shop at Meijers… Support Groups encourage behavior consistent with Church teachings Mass intentions & Sanctuary Lamps You recall the Sanctuary Lamps are the special candles which burn in every Roman Catholic Church to remind us of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, present in the Tabernacle on the Altar. Here at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church we add our prayer intentions to the light of the candle and bring them to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. The prayer intentions for the Sanctuary Lamps are for one week, from Saturday to Saturday. They are published in the bulletin as well as on a card in the main vestibule to encourage all who come to pray to remember and pray for this special intention. Like a Mass intention, you can contact the parish office to schedule a Sanctuary Lamp prayer intention. The customary donation is $12. Help Needed in Parish Office Lost and Found Need Help? Jason Evert to Address Teens: Middle and high school teens are invited to St. Thomas in Ann Arbor to hear this renowned and dynamic Catholic speaker, known for handling topics such as chastity and physical boundaries in dating, on Sunday, Nov. 15. Schedule: 5 pm Address to middle school teens and parents; 6:15 pm Pizza dinner; 7 pm Address to high school teens. Suggested donation $10 per person (includes pizza). RSVP to bgyopko@att.net. For more info, call 734-355-3503 Manchester Boy Scout Troop 426 will host their monthly Coney Nite on Thurs., Nov. 19 at the Manchester United Methodist Church (next to Klager School and the football field) from 4:30-7:00 pm. Enjoy an excellent meal deal while you support the youth of Manchester. Is God calling you to volunteer? At the Pregnancy Counseling Center, our client numbers have increased so much that we must find eight (8) more caring Christians to serve four hours a week as receptionists, counselors or new mom mentors. If you bring the enthusiasm, we will provide all the training. Please join us in this ministry to pregnant women and their unborn babies. Call 734-434-3088 by Nov. 30 for information. Ask for Beth or Betsy. Women’s Retreat offered by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, will be Sat-Sun, Dec. 5-6. For more info or to register, visit www.sistersofmary.org (click on the “Retreats” tab). Waiting in Joyful Hope: Fr. Matt Fedewa will present Advent Day of Prayer on Tues. Dec. 1 at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt. Info at www.stfrancis.ws or 866-669-8321. Register by Nov. 23. Annual March for Life: Right to Life of Michigan is once again offering a charter bus trip to Washington, DC for this event, held January 22 in Washington, DC every year since 1973. In 1973, there were 20,000 people marching down Constitution Avenue in our nation’s capitol! In 2009, the 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, approx. 300,000 people joined together to protest this tragically flawed decision. You are invited to join us this upcoming year to travel with us to Washington, DC for the 37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Come and take a pro-life stand, be the voice for those without a voice, along with hundreds of thousands who believe as you do. Register now! Bring your youth, your youthful, and your passion for life and join us on the red eye bus trip to Washington, DC! We are ready to take your registration now! Transportation per person (not including meals): Students $90; seniors (65 yrs older) $90; and adults $95. Registration deadline is Dec. 4. Bus departure locations on Thurs, Jan. 21, 2010 at approx. 5:00 pm and will arrive in DC in the early morning of Jan. 22, the day of the rally and march. Buses then depart Washington DC traveling back to Michigan, arriving early, at approx. 5-6 am on Saturday January 23. This is a “red eye” bus trip, back and forth with no hotel overnight stay. We have buses departing Ann Arbor at Domino Farms and in Woodhaven at “Our Lady of the Woods” parish. Call Karen Walacavage, RLM Office Manager at: 734-930-7474 to register and/or for more information. 9-Days in Poland: The Spiritual Development Commission at St. Andrew, Saline invites you to be part of a pilgrimage from July 11-19, 2010 to visit the sites of St. Faustina, John Paul II, St. Kolbe, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Auschwitz, and more. Offering a $200 “early bird” discount until Jan. 31, 2010. For more info, contact Suzanne Krisak, group coordinator, at 734-944-1599 or 248-931-0194 or via the web: skrisak@peoplepc.com or www.pilgrimages.com/krisak. Caritas: Angel Tree Needs Your Help!! Hundreds of children will not be receiving gifts this Christmas. Angel Tree is a National Christian Prison Ministry giving help to families of prisoners. We are asking all the parishes in the Diocese of Lansing to help. If every parish could help out 5 requests, we would be able to help hundreds of these children. Normally two gifts are given (one practical, i.e. clothes and one fun, i.e. toy/game). We know times are difficult for everyone. Maybe friends or parish organizations would be willing to share the responsibility of one child. We need quick action, these items need to be arrive to families before December 24 for Christmas. God loves us ~ this is a time to share our blessings with one another. Contact Tim Metts, 517-342-2495 or tmetts@dioceseoflansing.org. Thank you for your generosity!! Tax Aides Needed: Will you have some spare time this winter? Do you enjoy helping others? Catholic Social Services seeks volunteers to assist lower income older adults obtain Michigan tax credits and to help complete basic income tax forms. We provide the training and the opportunity to apply the knowledge on a flexible schedule. If you are interested, please contact Sue or Joe at Older Adult Services 734-712-3625. His Eye is on the Sparrow is considering opening another home for handicapped adults in Washtenaw County. There are two families already interested and we are looking for a third family before going ahead with the purchase of another house. If you are considering this option for caring for your handicapped child, please give one of these families a call to discuss your questions and concerns: Bren Quilter at 734-761-5637 or Jim Turek at 734-222-0230. Experienced Moms sought: The Pregnancy Counseling Center is looking for experienced mothers to serve as mentors in our Stand By Me program. Mentors partner with an expectant or new mother for the first two years of her child’s life. They provide support with weekly contact, encouragement, prayer and friendship. Training will be provided. If interested, call 734-434-3088 or contact Executive Director Betsy Duncan Spong at bdspong@sbcglobal.net. If you are not able to make a two-year commitment but are still interested in helping, we also need receptionists who can serve a four-hour shift during office hours. Please call if interested. Respite Program of Catholic Social Services: Respite volunteers needed 2-4 hours once a week to stay with an older adult in his/her home so that a family caregiver can get a break. No direct care required, just your friendly self. Also, please call for information if you, or someone you know, could benefit from this service. Contact Connie Hoffman, Interfaith Volunteer Caregiver Program at choffman@csswashtenaw.org or phone 734-712-5730. ArborVitae Pregnancy Help Center in Ann Arbor needs gently used cribs and mattresses. There are new crib safety requirements so please: no recalled cribs or bassinets (check www.cpsc.gov), cribs must have manufacturer info clearly visible, and slats must be 2-3/8 inches apart or less. Call 975-4357. US Bishops and Healthcare: Find out what the US Bishops are saying about health care reform by visiting this new, comprehensive web resource for information on the Church’s position on this important issue: http://www.usccb.org/healthcare/ . You can contribute to a Catholic book being published, “Letters to Priests, Thanking The Men Of Catholic Church.” At last an opportunity to thank priests for their every day dedication to healing, help and support of those who seek help. This new publication will be a compilation of letters of thanks written by people from all over the world who have been helped, supported and encouraged by a priest/priests. Please join us in this opportunity for healing. Sharing your letter of thanks may be healing for you and others. Many of us share the same sorrows and in thanking your priest you may be a source of hope and healing for others as they read of your journey and have deeper hope for their own journey. Please join us in this new publication dedicated to healing through expressions of thanks, hope, and encouragement. E-mail Anne Hughes or Teena Adamick at letterstopriests@gmail.com, visit http://www.linkedin.com/pub/anne-hughes/15/754/812, or send a letter to Anne Hughes, P.O. Box 482, Ada, Michigan, USA, 49301.November 14 - 22, 2009
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Rehearsals will begin for the Children/Youth Choir on Wed., Dec. 2 (6-7:00 pm) and run consecutive Wednesdays through Dec. 23. The children and youth will sing for the 10 am Mass on Christmas Day. All (third grade through high school) are welcome! For more information, please contact Dr. or Mrs. Redmon at 428-8448.
Communtiy Service opportunities with Associated Charities of Lenawee: 1) Collecting toys for "Toys for Lenawee Kids" on Sat., Dec. 12 at Midas Muffler, Adrian; 2) Packing food baskets for delivery on Sat., Dec. 19 at Associated Charities, Adrian.
We are still in need of baptismal records for children preparing to receive First Holy Communion and Confirmation in 2010. This also includes students being prepared at home. If you have not done so already, please turn in your child's Baptism information ASAP. This is needed for our records at the parish office. Any questions, contact Patrice Sommers 428-9573 or 972-1937 or call the parish office. Thank you.
Next Sun., Nov. 22, on the weekend before Thanksgiving, people of faith from throughout our community will gather for Manchester's Annual Community Thanksgiving Service. The participating churches take turns hosting it. This year the event will be at St. John's United Church of Christ, 12376 Waters Road (just east of Fletcher Rd in Freedom Township), beginning at 4:00 pm. Our Deacon Dennis Walters will be representing St. Mary's at this service. All are welcome and encouraged to come. Offerings of both cash and canned good items will be accepted to share with Manchester Family Service and the Community Resource Center.
Pick up a copy of the new St. Mary Cookbook and/or this year's St. Mary Christmas Cards at the Christmas in the Village Bake Sale on Nov. 21, or from the table at the back of the church, or from the parish office.
Our annual Christmas in the Village Bake Sale will be held on Sat., Nov. 21, at Manchester United Methodist Church (in conjunction with other area churches). Many baked goods are needed to make this parish fundraiser a great success once again! If you enjoy baking, making jams, jellies, pickles, etc., please consider donating items to help raise money for our parish. Bring your favorite treats!
Tomorrow, Nov. 16, is the final day to accept orders for wreaths, centerpieces, grave pillows and grave blankets. Please place your order sheets and money in an envelope marked "Wreath Sale" and place them in the collection box in the vestibule no later than 5:00 p.m. Monday. Pick up date for orders is Dec. 5 and 6 following all Masses. Questions? Please contact Sandi Kwolek at 734-428-7674.
Next Sat., Nov. 21, the Altar Society will be participating in a Bake Sale at the Methodist Church from 9 am–2 pm as part of the Christmas in the Village festivities. This year, it has been decided to add homemade German Pretzels to our sale, and we request your assistance in mixing, rolling and baking! Everything will be provided, so there is no need to bring anything. We will begin mixing dough this Thurs., Nov. 19 at 9:30 am at the Parish Center and will roll the pretzels on Friday beginning at 4:00 pm followed by baking. (Due to the use of lye, no children are allowed at the Parish Center for the making of pretzels). And don't forget that we will also be selling tickets at the American Legion for our annual raffle! Please look for sign-up sheets in the main entrance of the church! For more information on pretzel making, please contact Judy Walz at 734-428-7419 or Laurie Sanders at 734-428-1328.
The Diocese of Lansing has been seeking support for its campaign to raise funds to build an additional residence for senior priests. The good news is that the goal of $1,000,000 is almost reached with more than $720,000 in donations. In this final phase, they turn to us, the faithful of the diocese, to ask for assistance in reaching the goal by year-end. Please consider a year-end gift to this most worthy of causes – that of caring for our senior priests. For info on how to make a gift, contact Patricia O'Hearn at 517-342-2503 or email pohearn@DioceseofLansing.org.
If you want to receive or continue your subscription to Faith magazine, please know that your donations to the Faith magazine appeal do not directly purchase your subscription. To offset the parish subscription costs, please make your subscription check payable to the parish and send it directly to the parish. For more info, call the parish office at 428-8811.
Please be sure to thank the generous advertisers in our bulletin. Through their participation, our parish receives our weekly bulletins free of charge. The next time you patronize one of our advertisers, please be sure to thank them. And mention that you saw their ad in our parish bulletin!
Did you know that during First Friday Exposition and Adoration, there must be two adorers present at every moment of the 23-hours? Can you offer your name as a sub? If so, call Pete Nashif (428-1836) or the parish office.
A reminder that if you are expecting a child, you can arrange to attend the Baptism Preparation Class anytime before the baby is born. You will most likely find this easier than after the little one is born, and it will also mean everything will be ready for a baptism as soon as possible after birth! Please call the parish office to make arrangements. Note: All parents must take the class to be updated in their preparation.
If you attend Mass here at St. Mary’s, it is important that you register with the parish. It is part of our Catholic life to be connected to a parish. Although you may feel connected, the proper and complete thing to do is to register. Just give the parish office a call; registration can be done on the phone. Registering means that your family’s sacramental history is in the care of a priest, and that the parish is able to serve those who are attending. Please don’t neglect this important step. Call the parish office at 428-8811.
…that Fr. Tim’s homilies are available online? Also usher, lector, EMHC and altar server schedules, times of special parish events, and more? Check it out. stmarymanchester.catholicweb.com
Perhaps you’ve noticed it: the little wooden box on the wall above the holy water font in the main vestibule. “Poor Box” it says on it. Each week, the coins and dollars dropped in this box are collected and put in a special fund. The priest then has available to him discretionary funds to use at any moment to help someone in the parish experiencing an emergency or unexpected crisis or serious need. In these uncertain times, this money has been a great blessing to a number of people. Thanks to those, young and old, who have dropped some money in the Poor Box. While the amounts are typically humble each week, occasionally there is great generosity. Thanks be to God! You may want to know that the balance in the poor box fund right now is very low. So consider: sometimes our eyes become so accustomed to something that they no longer see it. But take a look. The simple wooden box is there. And what you put in it may be an answer to someone else’s prayer!
The St. Mary’s Prayer Tree will pray “with you and for you” when you or someone you love is in need. Call Shirley Krzyzaniak at 428-0360 or call the Parish Office at 428-8811.
Please consider getting a “Meijer Guest Card” and designating our parish # 670279 to receive a donation from Meijers worth 0.5-1% of your monthly purchase totals. It is not a credit card. And it costs you nothing. There are applications at Meijer stores. Or fill one out online at www.meijer.com/rewards. (P.S. Meijers requested all particpants to re-register for the program last May when they made changes to how it works. If you have not re-registereed, please doe so by calling Meijers at 1-800-962-7011 or visiting www.meijer.com/rewards.
Courageis a spiritual support group helping Catholic men and women live in accordance with the Catholic Church’s teaching on same-sex attraction and/or behavior. Courage members strive to develop lives of interior chastity in union with Christ, through participation in the Sacraments, prayer, fellowship and moral support. Courage now meets at four different locations within the Diocese with a priest moderator at each meeting. Encourage is a separate spiritual support group for family members and friends of loved ones with same-sex attraction. For information about locations and meeting times for either of these groups, call the Courage Office at 517-351-3315 or visit our website at www.CourageRC.net.
Our parish Mass book is filling up quickly. To have a Mass offered for a loved one is a great blessing, and many are anxious to take part in this. But please remember that if the Mass is already “taken” for the date you want, you can request a Sanctuary Lamp.
We are always looking for volunteers willing to help with various tasks in the parish office. We are trying to develop a list of people whom we could call upon that might be willing to help out in various situations. For example, when the secretary has to be away (vacations, sick days, personal days), there still needs to be someone to staff the desk and answer the phone. Also there is always a little filing to do each week. And then there are the newsletters and other special mailings to prepare for the post office (folding, labeling, stamping, etc). And booklets and special printings to put together. If someone is comfortable with the computer, there are other projects pending. In short, there are any number of things for which help is needed, some on a regular basis, some occasionally. If you would be interested in being available to help, please call Janet in the parish office (428-8811) or email stmaryofc@rc.net so we can talk more about what is involved. Thanks!
Occasionally something is found in the church after Mass. If you have lost a Rosary, gloves, an earring, etc, please don’t hesitate to call the Parish Office (428-8811). We can check to see if it has been found. And if so, arrange for you to pick it up.
************** IN THE AREA **************
Is God calling you to volunteer? At the Pregnancy Counseling Center, our client numbers have increased so much that we must find eight (8) more caring Christians to serve four hours a week as receptionists, counselors or new mom mentors. If you bring the enthusiasm, we will provide all the training. Please join us in this ministry to pregnant women and their unborn babies. Call 434-3088 by Nov. 30 for information. Ask for Beth or Betsy.