A PEOPLE CHANGED BY 9/11 "The years have gone by, but the memories remain for all who were involved in that one single day and its aftermath that changed the lives of so many and of our nation."
Around the Parish
Contemporary Music Ministry. Wednesday, September 8, 7:00 p.m. The Contemporary Music Group is resuming their weekly practices. If you are interested in participating in this music ministry, please contact Rachel Bittner at rbittner@stmaryspylesville.org.
Looking for Choir Members. We rehearse on Thursdays at 7 pm in the choir loft. Please contact Nicholas Zurowski at nzurowski@stmstc.org. No prior experience or ability to read music is necessary. The choir serves on Sunday during the 9:30 am Mass and on Feast Days. Come check us out!
Flowers for the Book of Life. In November The Book of Life will be available for all to remember their deceased family and friends. If you would like to have a loved one remembered by sponsoring the flowers please notify Mary Washburn (410-937-5766, call or text message) or marywashburn123@zoominternet.net. Dates available are the weekend of November 6-7, 13-14.
Donut Sunday, September 26, After All Masses, Parish Hall
Sewing Day, October 13, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, BELLES EVENTS: The Belles will have a sewing day on Wednesday, October 13. Please bring your lunch and sewing machine. There are projects for those who do not sew, too. Call Sue Pardo (410-456-7882).
Belles of St, Mary's Craft Show, November 13, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM There are a few vendor spots available. Call 410-456-7882 or 443-640-4423 for more information.
"To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, get vaccinated as soon as you can. Wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission." (CDC) Harford County remains an area of high transmission.
Everyone is encouraged to wear a mask, whether vaccinated or not. Students and teachers are required to wear masks for Faith Formation classes.
Reminder - If you test positive for COVID-19 after attending activities, including Mass, at St. Mary's, please contact the parish office. The Archdiocese requires us to notify those who attended the same activity of the potential contact. Your identity is protected during the notification process.
Clergy and lay ministers must wear masks while distributing Communion and while in the sanctuary during Mass, except while reading or leading prayers.
"Wearing a mask is considered an act of charity and should be practiced by all individuals."
Source: Harford County Health Department, https://harfordcountyhealth.com/harford-county-covid-19-zip-code-data/
Faith Formation
Catechetical Sunday September 19, 11:30 AM Mass. Please pray for our catechists, our students, and their parents as they continue their faith journeys in our Children's Faith Formation and High School Faith Formation programs.
Confirmation Class Bonding High Ropes Course, Saturday Sept. 18, 2021, 11:30 AM. Meet at church to head for Black Rock Retreat Center.
Children's Faith Formation Classes are starting! If you haven't already done so, please register your child(ren) as soon as possible so that we can prepare materials. You may access the registration forms on the St. Mary's Website, or in the back of the church. The first class will be on September 19 for GIFT, and September 21 for Tuesday classes.
9th Grade High School Faith Formation, September 21, 7-8:30 PM, Youth Room. Worthy of the Call Training
Youth Ministry
Teen Volunteers Ages 14 – 17. Worthy of the Call Training is for any of our teens who are 14 – 17 years of age and would like to volunteer for a ministry ie: (Altar serving, Sacristan, Lector, Usher, Music Ministry, Faith Formation Classroom Helper, VBS, Boy Scouts, Parish Events and Fundraisers, Outreach and Service Ministries). Teens must complete this training as we would love to have you volunteer in Parish Events and ministries.
Please email Rachel Bittner: rbittner@stmaryspylesville.org). She will send you the paperwork and set up a training time.
Contact information
Children's Faith Formation (CFF)
Karen Dietz
High School Faith Faith Formation (HSFF) and Youth Ministry
Rachel Bittner
Outreach
Our Daily Bread.
Our next distribution of casserole pans will be held on September 11-12.
If you have any questions, please contact Bob at
The Food Pantry The food pantry served 12 families in August, 33 people.
The food pantry will be open on Saturday, September 18, from 10:00 am until 11:30 a.m. The food pantry volunteer group lost three long-term members this year. Thank you so much for your wonderful years of service. God is sooo good. We gained several new members. Thank you all!! If you are interested in serving, please contact Sue Pardo (parfrm1@verizon.net). It only requires a few hours several Saturdays a year. Volunteers must be Virtus trained.
Respect Life
“The promotion of the culture of life should be the highest priority in our societies…If the right to life is not defended decisively as a condition for all other rights of the person, all other references to human rights remain deceitful and illusory.”
“Never tire of firmly speaking out in defense of life from its conception and do not be deterred from the commitment to defend the dignity of every human person with courageous determination. Christ is with you: be not afraid!”
“As believers, how can we fail to see that abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide are a terrible rejection of God’s gift of life and love?”
“The inviolability of the person which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, finds its primary and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life. Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights-for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.”
“But responsibility likewise falls on the legislators who have promoted and approved abortion laws, and, to the extent that they have a say in the matter, on the administrators of the health-care centers where abortions are performed. In this sense abortion goes beyond the responsibility of individuals and beyond the harm done to them and takes on a distinctly social dimension, It is a most serious wound inflicted on society and its culture by the very people who ought to be society’s promoters and defenders.”
Saint John Paul II
Save the Date: The LifeChain returns to Jarrettsville on Sunday, October 3. LifeChain is an international effort to call attention to the plight of the unborn and their mothers. Join in solidarity to pray for the sanctity of life for unborn people.
News from the Archdiocese of Baltimore
Effective October 1, 2021, Bishop Denis Madden will step-down from his role as Urban Vicar. At the same time, while retaining the title of Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus, Bishop Madden will remain active by overseeing ecumenical and interfaith work in the Archdiocese of Baltimore as well as continuing to serve as a liaison between the Archdiocese and the university communities in our area.
Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, CSsR, will serve as Urban Vicar for the Archdiocese of Baltimore while continuing his work as Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Catholics.
Sacraments, Funerals, and Contact Information
Weddings and Funerals
Masses for weddings and funerals are arranged through the parish office. Contact the parish staff for further guidance.
Other Sacraments
Contact the Parish Office to arrange for Baptisms and the Sacrament of the Sick (Anointing).
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 bsadler@stmaryspylesville.org 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
Email Addresses for Parish Staff
Pastor, Fr. Henry Kunkel hkunkel@stmaryspylesville.org
Administrative Assistant, Diana Weidner
dweidner@stmaryspylesville.org
Business Manager, Barbara Sadler
bsadler@stmaryspylesville.org
Coordinator of Religious Education, Karen Dietz kdietz@stmaryspylesville.org
Youth Ministry/Confirmation and Contemporary Music Coordinator Rachel Bittner rbittner@stmaryspylesville.org
Maintenance Larry Glos lglos@stmaryspylesville.org
Submission Deadline: Thursday 12 Noon