December 23 Weekly News
Thanks to the Christmas volunteers! Be sure to thank the volunteers who make the Christmas Masses possible, even in the scaled down 2020 version. The latest count shows over 50 parishioners contribute to the beauty of our Christmas experience - decorators, musicians, readers, and ushers!
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2020
4:00 PM Church and Hall
4:00 PM Church and Hall
6:00 PM Church and Hall
8:00 PM Church and Hall
Christmas Day
8:00 PM Church and Hall
Christmas Day
December 25, 2020
10:00 AM Church and Hall
10:00 AM Church and Hall
Livestream Masses
Christmas Eve - 4:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Christmas Day - 10:00 AM.
4:00 PM Mass - Outdoor Communion - Weather-permitting.
Weather permitting, Communion will be distributed in the lower parking lot during the 4:00 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve. Park and watch the Mass via Facebook livestreamed in your car. Ushers will be directing traffic outside to assist. Those wishing to receive Communion will line up to receive from established stations. There will be no distribution to those sitting in cars.
New Year's Resolutions.
St. Mary's offers many opportunities to grow spiritually through prayer and service. Read the article below for ideas. We need additional help.
Editor's Note. The newsletter will be published on Wednesday next week. Deadline for submissions will be Tuesday, December 29.
Christmas Masses
A Prayer for Christmas Gatherings
In this Christmas season like no other,
even now, O God, your name is worthy to be praised.
For in your mercy and kindness
you sent your Son to be our Savior.
For the blessings of the Incarnation we have known and for those we have yet to recognize,
to you we sing our praise.
For life that reminds us how fragile we are and also how strong we can be: Glory to God in the highest.
For sheltering that is a reminder of
your abiding protection: Glory to God in the highest.
For communication that allows us
to connect in ways new and old: Glory to God in the highest.
And for mindfulness that shows us
how much we rely on one another: Glory to God in the highest.
Watch over your family, Lord, gathered here and at tables separated by miles,
and bless those who work tirelessly to keep us all safe.
Though we may be kept apart
in this season that calls us together,
we know that your Word dwells among us all.
Lord, we ask you to ease the pain of empty chairs that bring to mind our beloved dead.
Let our grieving find its rest in your Son, Jesus, in whose Resurrection is our hope.
Grant your Spirit to be present here
that this meal may become a foretaste of your heavenly table where every tear shall be wiped away, every hunger fed,
and no distance can separate us from your love in Christ our Savior, from whom all good things come.
Amen.
Adapted from ”A Thanksgiving Prayer in Time of Pandemic.” Copyright © Diana Macalintal, 2020. Used with permission.
Community Outreach
Our Daily Bread. Our next collection of casseroles will be on January 12th.
Thanks for contributing to St. Mary's Outreach efforts. If you have any questions, contact Bob at crhoopert@zoominternet.net
Respect Life
Spiritual Adoption of Unborn Children
December – 2nd month
Merry Christmas from St. Mary‘s Respect Life Ministry! As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, please remember to pray for the pre-born baby you spiritually adopted in October. Your spiritually-adopted child is now two months old in gestation and needs you to pray that his/her mother awaits the birth of her child with trust in God, just as Mary awaited the birth of her Son.
Second Month (size: about 2 inches)
The developing baby is now called a "fetus" which is Latin for "Little One". She is making rapid progress developing all her external and internal organs. During the second month baby teeth form; fingers and toes are developing. Ears, nose, lips, and tongue can now be clearly seen. Brain waves can be recorded. The skeleton changes from cartilage to bone. Forty muscle sets begin their first exercises. This Little One can now suck her thumb. By 8 weeks all body systems are present.
Merry Christmas from St. Mary‘s Respect Life Ministry! As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, please remember to pray for the pre-born baby you spiritually adopted in October. Your spiritually-adopted child is now two months old in gestation and needs you to pray that his/her mother awaits the birth of her child with trust in God, just as Mary awaited the birth of her Son.
Second Month (size: about 2 inches)
The developing baby is now called a "fetus" which is Latin for "Little One". She is making rapid progress developing all her external and internal organs. During the second month baby teeth form; fingers and toes are developing. Ears, nose, lips, and tongue can now be clearly seen. Brain waves can be recorded. The skeleton changes from cartilage to bone. Forty muscle sets begin their first exercises. This Little One can now suck her thumb. By 8 weeks all body systems are present.
“Heavenly Father, we love you very much. We beg you spare the life of the unborn baby that we have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.”
Virtual March for Life
January 24-29, 2021
For more information click the link below.
Preparing for Your New Year's Resolution
If you are starting to think about resolutions for 2021, St. Mary's offers numerous opportunities for prayer, service, and spiritual growth. Consider adding adding one of these to your list.
- Join the Prayer Chain and receive notices of special intentions and requests for prayer from parishioners and others. Contact Mary Washburn to be added to the email list, marywashburn123@zoominternet.net
- Participate in a small faith group. Currently these groups meet virtually. Training in leading virtual meeting is available as are materials to start discussions, Contact Jim Edwards (410-404-5323) for information on how to start or join a group. Group Leaders must be Virtus trained.
- Volunteer as an usher or lector for weekend Masses. You may notice the same faces every Saturday and Sunday greeting you and reading. We welcome new volunteers for these critical ministries. These volunteers must be Virtus trained. Contact Sharon Alasandro for more information. slalasandro@gmail.com
- Offer to cantor at Mass. We are always on the lookout for new singers to offer their voices in praise of God. Adult cantors must be Virtus trained. Teens must complete Worthy of the Call. Contact Nic Zurowski for more information. nzurowski@stmstc.org
- Assist with the Food Bank. The pantry operates for two hours, one Saturday each month. Adults must be Virtus trained. Teens must complete Worthy of the Call. Contact Sue Pardo for more information. parfrm1@verizon.net
- Bake casseroles for Our Daily Bread. Watch the bulletin and the newsletter for collection dates and links to approved recipes. Contact Bob Hoopert for more information. crhoopert@zoominternet.net
- Support or volunteer for the Respect Life Committee. There are numerous ways to provide support to the efforts to respect life from conception to natural death. You can volunteer for Birthright or the Gabriel Network, write letters to elected officials advocating for the protection of human life, attend the March for Life in January, or provide financial and material support to those whose lives are threatened. Contact the parish office for more information.
News from the Archdiocese
Deaconate Information Sessions:
How is God calling you to follow?
To ensure an understanding of the commitment of formation, applications are only available to those who attend an information session, or after special consideration with a member of the formation team:
- Fr. Mike Triplett (mtriplett@archbalt.org),
- Deacon Larry Matheny (lmatheny@e-stignatius.org),
- Deacon Scott Lancaster (slancaster1@stlouisparish.org).
Information sessions
- Thursday, January 7 at 7p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ellicott City
- Sunday, January 10 at 3 p.m. at St. Ignatius, Ijamsville
- Wednesday, January 27 at 6p.m. at St. Bernadine, Baltimore
- Wednesday, February 10 at 7p.m. on Zoom
Please assist the formation team by registering with Kristine Arata, Kristine.Arata@archbalt.org. Registering allows us to contact you if adjustments must be made to the schedule.
Weddings and Funerals
Masses for weddings and funerals are permitted outside, or inside with limited attendance. Please check with the parish office for further guidance.
Canceled Events and Activities
The parish buildings are still closed to the public except for religious services and education. All public events and most parish activities are canceled or postponed.
Sacraments
- Contact the Parish Office to arrange for Baptisms and the Sacrament of the Sick (Anointing).
- The Sacrament of the Sick for in-patients is available through the hospital chaplains.
Volunteering for the Parish
Volunteers are the backbone of the parish and we welcome new volunteers with open arms. However, in the world today we must do everything we can to protect all people of all ages, the church and also yourself.
If you are ready and willing to give of your time and talent, to be a part of one or more of our many ministries, please contact Barbara Sadler, Extension 22 or Barbara_stmarys@yahoo.com for the information and guidance of the required Virtus training. The training will provide insight for the protection of all age groups and the responsibilities. DON’T WORRY!! It is an easy procedure.
Contact Information
Parish Office: 410 879-4015
410 838-7471
410 452-5166
www.stmaryspylesville.org
1021 St. Mary's Road
Pylesville, MD 21132
Deadline for Submissions:
Thursday 12 Noon
Send to Newsletter Editor:
Jackie Seneschal
jackieseneschal@gmail.com
The 2021 Our Prayer Book, usually displayed near the altar, is not readily accessible for many parishioners to enter their own prayer intentions. St. Mary's Care Ministry is adding names and dates as you would like them to appear. Please send names and dates to peane13@verison.net.