Around the Parish
Advent
The Advent Wreath Tradition. The word “Advent” means coming. Each year we enter into the four weeks of Advent preparing again for the coming of Jesus. We long to know Him with greater intimacy and closeness, so we prepare through penance, reflection and expressions of our longing for God. Each evening we say a seasonal prayer and light a candle. The flame proclaims that Jesus, the Light of the World, will soon come.
Blessing the Advent Wreath. The First Sunday of Advent, the family gathers to bless the wreath: Lord God, we, Your people, await the coming of the Savior. Bless this wreath and grant that through its use we may better prepare for Christ’s coming.
Prayer for The First Week of Advent
[One candle is lit.]
Leader: Heavenly Father, as we begin this Advent, give light to our eyes and peace
to our hearts. May the Lord find us watching and waiting in joy when He
comes. We pray in Jesus' name.
All: Amen.
[One candle is lit.]
Leader: Heavenly Father, as we begin this Advent, give light to our eyes and peace
to our hearts. May the Lord find us watching and waiting in joy when He
comes. We pray in Jesus' name.
All: Amen.
Harford County Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent
- Friday, December 3 - St. Mark 6:30 PM
- Saturday, December 4 - St. Patrick 3-3:30 PM; St. Mary 3:15-3:45 PM; St. Joan of Arc 4:15 PM; Holy Spirit 4:30 PM
- Monday, December 6 - St. Mary 7 PM; St. Patrick 6-7 PM
- Wednesday, December 8 - St. Margaret 5-7 PM
- Friday, December 10 - St. Margaret 2-4 PM
- Saturday, December 11 - St. Margaret 9-11 AM; St. Patrick 3-3:30 PM; St. Mary 3:15-3:45 PM; St. Joan of Arc 4:15 PM; Holy Spirit 4:30 PM
- Monday, December 13 - St. Patrick 6-7 PM
- Tuesday, December 14 - St. John, Hydes 6:15 PM; St. Francis de Sales 7:00 PM; St. Joan of Arc 7:00 PM
- Wednesday, December 15 - St. Mark 3-5 PM & 7-8 PM; St. Ignatius 7:00 PM
- Saturday, December 18 - St. Patrick 3-3:30 PM; St. Mary 3:15-3:45 PM; St. Joan of Arc 4:15 PM; Holy Spirit 4:30 PM
- Monday, December 20 - St. Mark 3-5 PM & 7-8 PM; St. Patrick 6-7 PM
Catholic Connection
Our goal is to use this space each week to highlight resources that can be easily accessed to help each of us grow in relationship with Jesus Christ through our Catholic Faith.
This week we are highlighting “The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist” - In this teaching Bishop Barron explains using the Bible and the words of the Saints why we believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This video is a little over an hour long but Bishop Barron keeps it interesting as well as informative. Invite family and friends to watch it with you. Enjoy!
This can be accessed on your electronic devices by typing in: The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist/Bishop Barron. It is on YouTube.
Outreach
Holiday Food Projects 2021
Thanks to everyone who donated groceries and gift cards for our Thanksgiving Holiday Food Project. And thanks to everyone who signed up as volunteers for our sorting and distributing events.
Please watch for upcoming announcements about our Christmas Holiday Food Project.
For anyone else who might be interested in helping us for Christmas, you must have completed either the Virtus training or the Worthy of the Call training.
Please submit your name to Bob at crhoopert@zoominternet.net now.
Bob will forward your name to Barbara Sadler to verify that you’ve been trained and she will then add your name to our official list of volunteers.
Operation Christmas Child. We delivered 61 shoeboxes, which contributed to the 677 total collected at Williams Watters Church. Thank you for your generosity for this wonderful project.
Our Daily Bread. Thanks to everyone who took pans and returned the frozen casseroles for our November and December deliveries to ODB.
We delivered 13 casseroles to ODB in November. The rest will be delivered on December 6, Our next distribution of casserole pans will be held on January 8-9. If you have any questions, please contact Bob at crhoopert@zoominternet.net.
Prevention and Recovery Ministry
Last week, there were numerous reports about how over 100,000 Americans died between April of 2020 and April of 2021 due to opioid drug overdoses. As stated in a New York Time's article, "The figure marks the first time the number of overdose deaths in the United States has exceeded 100,000 a year, more than the toll of car crashes and gun fatalities combined. Overdose deaths have more than doubled since 2015".
Here's the link: Overdose Deaths Reached Record High as the Pandemic Spread - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
For a look at what's happening closer to home, we have an article from the Capital Gazette. The Gazette covers the news in Annapolis, MD. It reports that "More than 100,000 people died due to overdoses in that time period, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, a record number that is higher than the number of people who died of gunshots and car crashes combined" and "overdose deaths rose 21% in Maryland". Here's the link: Maryland substance abuse experts say more access to treatment and medications is essential to combating opioid crisis - Capital Gazette
If you have any questions or if there are any SUD-related subjects that you are interested in learning more about, please contact Bob at crhoopert@zoominternet.net.
Youth Ministry
Catholic Heart Work Camp Update. North Haledon, New Jersey, July 17-22, 2022. Work Camp is open to students ages 14 -17 in Middle or High School and Young Adults. Students must have Worthy of the Call Training to volunteer. Anyone 18 or over must complete the online Virtus Child Protection Training w/substantial contact. Dare to Care Forms are available online, in the vestibule of Church or Youth Ministry Bulletin Boards in the Hall and Youth Room. To reserve your spot you need to return a completed Dare to Care Form with a $100 non-refundable deposit due by Jan. 1st. The total cost is $300.00. Any questions please contact Mrs. Rachel (rbittner@stmaryspylesville.org)
Jesus' Birthday Bash and Christmas Pageant, Dec 12 10:30 AM. Teens who are 14 and older who are W of T C Trained are welcome to volunteer to help for the day. Please email Mrs. Rachel if you would like to help.
Advent Fair Thanks! A St. Mary’s thank you to everyone who made this year’s Advent Fair/Pancake Breakfast event a success. The Lord gave us a beautiful day, we were Blessed by St. Nicholas himself and many families who supported the Fair!! We served over 200 guests and raised $1100 towards our Catholic Heart Work Camp Summer Mission Trip!
A big thank you to all of the teens and adults who worked in the kitchen prepping, preparing, serving, cooking, and cleaning up after the Pancake Breakfast. Thank you to Rachel Bittner, Karen Dietz and the Faith Formation teachers who helped with the Children’s Gift Shoppe, the Advent Crafts, Bingo, and Advent Wreath table. Thanks to all the folks who donated items, Christmas bags, and wrapping paper for the gift shoppe. We are grateful.
Respect Life
Spiritual Adoption of Unborn Children
This is the last weekend to pick up a pledge card. Please spiritually adopt an unborn child and pray for him/her for 9 months. Pick up your pledge card from the basket in the back of the church.
Name your child so you can pray for the baby by name. Pledge cards are available in a basket in the back of the church. Post the pledge card in a prominent place in your home as a reminder to pray for the unborn child. Your prayers can save a life.
November – First Month (size: about ¼ inch) At fertilization a new human life begins, complete with his or her own unique set of DNA, which is present from the first day of life. The new little person’s sex is also determined from the beginning. During this first amazing month of life the baby grows to 10,000 times his size at conception. By the third week the baby’s heart begins to beat.
The 49th annual March for Life will take place on Friday, January 21, 2022. The theme for the 2022 March for Life is “Equality Begins in the Womb.”
Project Rachel Ministry One-day Retreat, Saturday, December 11 in a confidential Baltimore location. Abortion is not the unforgiveable sin. Seek Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Retreats are open to both women and men who are suffering following involvement in abortion. For more information, contact projectrachel@archbalt.org or call 410.625.8491 or text 410.299.9345.
Suggested reading: Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion, Dr. Theresa Burke, founder of Rachel’s Vineyard.
Join the Respect Life Ministry. There are many ways to be involved in Respect Life ministry – become part of the email distribution list, attend Respect Life events such as prayer vigils, research life issues, plan events, etc. If you are interested in the St. Mary’s Respect Life ministry, please email Deborah Brocato at debbrocato@aol.com.
News from the Archdiocese of Baltimore
Healing Mass, December 12, 2:00 PM, at Catholic Community of St Francis Xavier .The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be administered during Mass. Afterward prayer teams will pray for you or in proxy for another. More information: www.sfxcityofgod.org or Call: 443-386-9512 or parish office at 410-785-0356.
Knott Scholarships provide four-year, full tuition for Catholic Students to attend elementary or secondary Catholic schools in certain areas of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Applications are accepted from students in the 4th and 8th grades. If you have a high-achieving student, check out our website www.knottscholar.org for more information.
The portal for elementary and secondary scholarship applications opens January 19,2022. All completed scholarship applications must be submitted to our office no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, March 25,2022. Applications received after this deadline will not be processed regardless of the reason for the delay.
Announcement of results will be on or about April 12, 2022.
Knott Scholarships for full and partial tuition are also available at Loyola University Maryland, Mount St. Mary’s University, and Notre Dame Maryland University. Initial eligibility requirements are on our website for Collegiate Knott Scholarships.
Year of the Eucharist Exhibit with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament This exhibit features the International Miracles of the Eucharist and a 1st class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis and is happening December 11-19 at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.
Unbound Prayer Ministry, December 4, The Church of the Resurrection’s School, Ellicott City. Unbound Prayer is based on 5 scriptural keys that help you unlock those areas of your life where you want to receive greater freedom, healing & spiritual growth. Many of us are fighting invisible battles with anxieties, negative thoughts, sins, unhealthy relationships, destructive habits, resentments and bitter wounds that seem to never heal. You can reach out and experience God’s merciful love, healing and freedom. Unbound Ministry releases the power of Jesus into wounded lives.
On December 4, 2021 there will be trained teams available to provide individual prayer using the Unbound Model of prayer at The Church of the Resurrection’s School in Ellicott City.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or want more information, please contact us by November 29, at unboundministrymaryland@gmail.com. We ask that you read at least the first 7 chapters of the book Unbound, by Neal Lozano prior to scheduling an appointment to receive Unbound prayer (available at www.Amazon.com OR www.heartofthefather.com).
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
Choir/Cantors
Nicholas Zurowski
nzurowski@sjpray.org
Submission Deadline: Thursday 12 Noon