Preparing for Your New Year's Resolution
St. Mary's offers numerous opportunities for prayer, service, and spiritual growth. Consider adding adding one of these to your list of resolutions for 2021.
- 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.
Celebrating the New Year and Epiphany
New Year House Blessing -
We celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany on January 3, 2021. This Feast Day is also
known as the Feast of the Three Kings. Tradition has it that on this Feast Day the
head of the household will pray a blessing on the home.
known as the Feast of the Three Kings. Tradition has it that on this Feast Day the
head of the household will pray a blessing on the home.
For this blessing use chalk to mark the doorway with letters representing the three Magi between the numbers of the new year, all separated by plus signs: 20+C+M+B+21. The initials of the three Magi: Casper, Melchior, and Balthazar, are also the abbreviation for "Christus Mansionem Benedicat," Christ bless this house.
Pray the following prayer:
As the child of Bethlehem was showered with gifts by star-led Magi Kings, we too have been blessed royally. We are grateful for all the gifts of love that have flooded into our life during this Christmas Season.
We mark the door to our home, asking your blessing on all those who will come in and out. Each day we pass this place, draw us more deeply into your presence and the wonders of your love for us.
May the poor find within these walls and all who hunger find refreshment in our home. Lead us home through you, to you and with you, one God, forever and ever. Amen
An extended version of the house blessing can be found on the USCCB website: bitly.com/chalkblessing.
Community Outreach and Respect Life
Our Daily Bread. We'll be collecting the frozen casseroles on Tuesday morning (1/12/2021) between 10:00-11:00am behind the Church. We'll also collect any homemade face masks that you'd like to donate.
Just choose a recipe (or more), follow the recipe as it is written, bake it in a 13x9 foil pan, let it cool, double wrap it with foil, label it with type of casserole and date, and freeze it. If you choose to do a mac + cheese casserole, please be sure to follow ODB's mac + cheese recipe. Please do not include ham or any meat.
Thanks for contributing to St. Mary’s Outreach efforts and for helping the ODB workers and their clients. If you have any questions, contact Bob at crhoopert@zoominternet.net
Virtual March for Life
January 24-29, 2021
For more information click the link below.
News from the Archdiocese
Knott Scholarship Applications Due March 26, 2021
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@verizon.net.