January 21 Weekly News
Thanks to our Visiting Priests. Take time to welcome and thank the visiting priests who are celebrating Mass while Father Kunkel recuperates. This weekend they are Fr. Marc Lanoue (St. Ignatius), Msgr. Jay O'Connor (Eastern Regional Vicar), and Fr. Roque Lim (Chaplain at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center).
Thanks from Father Kunkel. Thank you so much to the CFF students who send the beautiful cards! They cheer me up so much. God bless you!
Send your get well cards for Father Kunkel to the parish office and they will be delivered to him.
Welcome
Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore Culotta and Family
Pray for our Beloved Dead
Ken Kiedrowski
Joseph Weiss
Blood Drive, Thursday, February 3. The American Red Cross and the North Harford Interfaith Community will again be hosting a blood drive at St. Mary’s Church.
Appointments are now available from 1 to 6 p.m. Register at redcrossblood.org. or call Darlene at 410-404-8583 and leave a message.
Around the Parish
Catholic Connection
Word on Fire Institute is doing a new series on gaming and the Christian approach to video game culture. They will be talking about:
- Why people play video games,
- Identifying positive trends in the industry,
- The pitfalls of gaming and how to participate responsibly, and more.
This will be a weekly show where Father Blake and Bobby Angel will be interviewing experts in the field. Below is Episode 1. Make sure to go online and check out future episodes.
Outreach
Our Daily Bread
Thanks to everyone who took pans and returned the frozen casseroles for ODB. We successfully made our January delivery. Our next delivery is scheduled for February 7.
Several of the pans that we handed out have not come back yet. If you took a pan, please return the frozen casserole to the Parish freezer by January 30.
If you have any questions, please contact Bob at crhoopert@zoominternet.net.
Prevention and Recovery Ministry
Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known to man. The CDC webpage states that "Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States". As stated in the NYTimes article, "cigarette smoking has been in a steady decline among adults in the United States for 30 years".
Unfortunately, as the sub-title of the article states "Cigarettes, once shunned, have made a comeback with a younger crowd who knows better".
Here's the link to the article: Cigarettes Are Making a Comeback - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
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
Event Update. Please note that due to the rise in Covid and updated guidance from the Archdiocese, there will be no in person Youth Ministry events in the months of January and February.
Theology of the Body, Tuesdays, 7 PM. For the next three months, we are offering the Theology of the Body/Created to Love curriculum for our 9th Grade HSFF Students. If anyone in High School would like to attend but is not currently registered in one of our High School Faith Formation classes, you are welcome to join us. Parents, please contact Mrs. Rachel Bittner at rbittner@stmaryspylesville.org for more information.
Catholic Heart Work Camp Deadline Extended. 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 Feb. 1. The total cost is $300.00. Any questions? Please contact Mrs. Rachel (rbittner@stmaryspylesville.org)
Respect Life
This year marks the 49th annual March for Life. Over 63 million unborn lives have been eliminated from our United States population. This year’s them is Equality Begins in the Womb. We must care for all people, especially those vulnerable people with no voice to speak for themselves.
“Stand firm and immovable, devoting yourselves completely to the work of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
“Reflection: An 11-ear old girl wrote recently: ‘My mother and I are taking a bus and will be coming to the March for Life. My teacher said that I will receive 0’s on any work that I miss and it can’t be made up. I told her missing a day at school in order to stand up for life is more important and I’m willing to suffer the consequences.’
Prayer: Lord, may we imitate this young girl’s willingness to sacrifice for the cause of life. Amen.” (priestsforlife.org)
The 2022 session of the Maryland General Assembly convenes January 12 through April 11. Please pray for the Governor and all the members of the General Assembly that they will submit to God’s holy will and promote policies that provide a fertile environment for a culture of life.
Third Month (size: about 3 inches) The baby can now squint, swallow and move his tongue. He sleeps and awakens. Fingernails and toenails form. He now has his own unique set of fingerprints. Sensitive to touch, he will tightly grasp an object placed in the palm of his hand. He breathes amniotic fluid to help develop and strengthen the respiratory system, but he gets the oxygen he needs through the umbilical cord.
Maryland March for Life takes place on Thursday, February 3, 2022 in Annapolis. Gather at Lawyers Mall, Annapolis any time beginning at 5:00pm to hear speakers such as Toni McFadden and Terissa Bukovinac.
Join the Respect Life Ministry. If you are interested in joining the St. Mary’s Respect Life ministry, please email Deborah Brocato at debbrocato@aol.com.
News from the Archdiocese of Baltimore
Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries. Today’s Gospel is a transformational moment for Jesus. After standing up in the synagogue and reading Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming of one who will free the captives, heal the blind, and bring glad tidings to the poor, Jesus tells those gathered: “Today the Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus gives his listeners any other interpretation: He is the Messiah. He is the one who fulfills all the Old Testament prophecies.
Do we believe this? Do we believe that Jesus really can bring freedom and healing and spiritual richness, to us and to the world? If so, then how important is His Church? How important is the liturgy, the sacraments, acts of Christian service, learning the Church’s teachings, and all the other good things we do at our parish?
Our parish activity is an essential way that Christ continues to fulfill these ancient prophecies, pouring His love out into the world. Help this essential work continue by supporting our Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries today.
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.
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