March 17 Weekly News
Fish Fry, Friday, March 17, 3:00-7:30 pm, Parish Hall
Teen-Led Stations of the Cross, Friday, March 17, 7:00 PM. Stations are prayed on Fridays during Lent.
Teen Movie Night, March 17, 8-10 pm, in Youth Room after Teen Stations, Popcorn and snacks. Invite a friend
Food Pantry Update.
The food pantry will be open on Saturday, March 18, from 10 to 11:00 a.m. Snow date is Saturday, March 25.
Shroud of Turin, Sunday, March 19, 4 PM, in the Church
Training for all Altar Servers, Sunday, March 19, 11:15am (after the 10am Mass). In preparation for Easter, we want review the roles and responsibilities of all Altar Servers during this one-hour session. Please RSVP by reaching out to Joy Fender at jcfender2018@gmail.com or text 410 688-5571.
Confession, Tuesday, March 21, 6-7 PM. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered every Wednesday during Lent.
Chicken Dinner Sign-up. March 25-26, after Masses. It's that time again. Sign-up early to get your preferred assignment and time!
Welcome the Baptized
Blair James Knox, son of Adam & Mary
Pray for Our Beloved Dead
Jeannette Rachuba Maurice Kief
Mildred Coster
Sign up to carry the Instruments of the Passion for Weekend Masses. See information in Around the Parish.
Our Daily Bread Casseroles, Return by March 19.
Around the Parish
Parish Calendar: March 17-26
Friday, March, 17, 2023
3:00 p.m…………………….. Fish Fry
7:00 p.m………. Stations of the Cross
Saturday, March 18
10:00 a.m.........................Food Pantry
Sunday, March 19, 2023
9:00 a.m………….……….. G.I.F.T.
4:00 p.m……………... Shroud of Turin
5:00 p.m………………….Boy Scouts
Monday, March 20, 2023
6:30 p.m…….… Confirmation Practice
7:00 p.m……1st Eucharist Parent Mtg.
7:00 p.m………………. Baptism Prep.
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
10:00 a.m……………….. Care Ministry
5:30 p.m………….…. CFF Family Night
6:30 p.m…………………..HSFF Class
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.…………...Confessions
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
7:00 p.m.……………….Music Practice
Friday, March 24, 2023
7:00 p.m………. Stations of the Cross
Saturday, March 25, 2023 …………………………………………Food Bags Collected ……………
Sign Up Chicken Dinner
5:00 p.m……….. Knights of Columbus
Sunday, March 26, 2023 ………………………………………..Collection Food Bag
10:00 a.m……..1st Eucharist Enrollment
11:30 a.m…………. Stuff Easter Eggs
5:30 p.m…………………...Boy Scouts
Upcoming Events
March 25 - Confirmation
March 25-26 - Chicken Dinner Sign-up
April 2 - Palm Sunday
April 4 - Parish Penance Service
April 8 - Easter Egg Hunt
April 9 - Easter Sunday
April 15-16- Chicken Dinner Sign-up
April 29 - Chicken Dinner
Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) classes begin soon. If you are interested in the program, please call 410-879-4015 EXT. 24 or email kdietz@stmaryspylesville.org!
Instruments of the Passion
Families, couples and groups bring up the instruments during the Entrance Procession on each Sunday during Lent.
Virtus Status for April Chicken Dinner.
Everyone volunteering for the Chicken Dinner must have up-to-date Virtus credentials. Check your status now. Contact Barbara Sadler with any questions.
Liturgical Ministers Schedule
Confession – the Sacrament of Reconciliation
For Lent, we have the following times for Confession:
- Tuesdays, 6pm-7pm
- Saturdays, 3:15pm-3:50pm
- Penance Service, Tuesday, April 4, 7pm
Holy Week Schedule 2023
Monday, April 3, Chrism Mass, Cathedral of Mary Our Queen__________7:30 PM
Holy Thursday, April 6, Mass of the Lord's Supper___________________7:00 PM
Good Friday, April 7, Outdoor Stations ___________________________11:00 A.M Good Friday, April 7, Stations of the Cross in the church______________3:00 PM
Good Friday, April 7, Evening Service_____________________________7:00 PM
Holy Saturday, April 8, Food Blessing_____________________________1:00 PM
Easter Vigil, April 8 (Live streamed) _____________________________8:00 PM
There is NO 4:00 PM MASS on Saturday, April 8
Easter Sunday, April 9, Masses, Church & Parish Center____ 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM
The Parish Office is closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Spring Fried Chicken Dinner, April 29, 12:00-5:00 PM
Approximately 250 stewards will be needed to accommodate our guests and to prepare and clean up for the dinner. As always we must ask our parishioners to give of your time, talent and treasure.
Time: 3 to 4 hrs at least, but 7 to 8 hrs would be great.
Talent: Volunteer for any of the many positions to be filled.
Treasure: Buy a dinner ticket (it helps the cause).
Volunteer Sign-up, March 25-26 and April 15-16 after all Masses.
It is very important for you to sign up as soon as possible. Out of respect for Palm Sunday (April 2) and Easter Sunday (April 9) we will not have a sign up.
***Just a reminder: Anyone volunteering for the dinner in any capacity must have completed the Virtus training (Protection of our Youth and Young Adults). Please contact Barbara Sadler, Ext. 22, Bsadler@stmaryspylesville.org if you have any questions.
If you prefer to volunteer for a certain position and time we suggest you contact Barbara, ext. 22 / email – bsadler@stmaryspylesville.org as soon as possible. We cannot call you, you must contact us. Thank you in advance for signing up early and for your continuous support of our parish.
The positions of Co-Chair of the Carry Out and Chair for the Children’s Games are still open. Please consider volunteering your time and talent to these very, very important positions.
Raffle tickets and posters to advertise the dinner can be picked up the weekends of the sign up at the sign up table.
Cake and candy boxes pick-up, April 15-16 and April 22-23, after Masses. Baked goods can be returned on Friday, April 28th or early Saturday, April 29. Please note your recipe on the box.
O.C.I.C. and O.C.I.A. Classes
Classes have begun for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, but it's not too late! If you are over 18 years of age, interested in learning more about your faith, or you want to prepare for full communion in the church, please call Karen Deitz 410-879-4015 Ext. 24, or check the website https://stmaryspylesville.org/rcia
Classes have begun for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, but it's not too late! If you are over 18 years of age, interested in learning more about your faith, or you want to prepare for full communion in the church, please call Karen Deitz 410-879-4015 Ext. 24, or check the website https://stmaryspylesville.org/rcia
CHILDREN who missed preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist are welcome to join our Order of Christian Initiation of Children group beginning after Easter. Please contact the OCIC coordinator, Karen Dietz
Youth Ministry Volunteer Opportunities Teens 14 and over who are Worthy of the Call Trained. We have some upcoming opportunities for you all to volunteer!
Spring Clean Up Love our Parish Day!! April 1, 9-11:30 am. Help clean up sticks and debris to tidy up for Chicken Dinner
Easter Egg Hunt, April 8,10:45 am Help us hide the Easter Eggs and help the children. Hunt kicks off at 12 pm
Youth Ministry Teen Connect Events for Middle and High School Teens
Help Stuff Easter Eggs for Easter Egg Hunt, March 26, 11:15 - 1 pm in the Youth Room
Outreach Ministries
Prevention and Recovery Ministry
Yes, you can become addicted to marijuana. Some people who use marijuana will develop marijuana use disorder, meaning that they are unable to stop using marijuana even though it’s causing health and social problems in their lives. One study estimated that approximately 3 in 10 people who use marijuana have marijuana use disorder.
The risk of developing marijuana use disorder is greater in people who start using marijuana during their youth or adolescence and who use marijuana more frequently. Researchers do not yet know the full extent of the consequences when the body and brain are exposed to high concentrations of THC or how recent increases in these concentrations affect the risk of someone developing marijuana use disorder.
Here's the link: Addiction | Health Effects | Marijuana | CDC
Our Daily Bread
The frozen casseroles will need to be returned to the Parish freezer by March 19. If you have any questions, please contact Bob at crhoopert@zoominternet.net.
Easter Food Cash Donations. St. Mary’s will continue to provide vouchers to each of the families that have been assigned to us by Mason-Dixon Community Services. The vouchers are funded by the special collections that St. Mary’s takes up for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. The vouchers will be redeemable at the local Saubel’s store in Whiteford.
EASTER FOOD PROJECT 2023, Grocery Collection, before Masses March 25-26 Please purchase the grocery items that are listed based on the 1st initial of your last name:
Initials A through F – JELLY / PEANUT BUTTER / FRUIT JUICE / CANNED TUNA / DISH SOAP / PAPER TOWELS
Initials G through L – CANNED FRUIT / COLD CEREAL / PASTA / SPAGHETTI SAUCE / TOILET PAPER /LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Initials M through S – COLD CEREAL / JELLY / PEANUT BUTTER / FRUIT JUICE / TOILET PAPER / SHAMPOO
Initials T through Z – CANNED FRUIT / TOOTHPASTE / PASTA / SPAGHETTI SAUCE / EASTER CANDY LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Please do not donate anything that isn’t listed above. And please do not donate any food items that are past their expiration dates.We hope to see you before each of the Masses on March 25 and 26th Thank you so much for helping to feed some of our local families who are in need.
St. Mary’s will continue to provide vouchers to each of the families that have been assigned to us by Mason-Dixon Community Services. The vouchers are funded by the special collections that St. Mary’s takes up for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. The vouchers will be redeemable at the local Saubel’s store in Whiteford.
Easter Food Sort, March 31, 7:00pm. Distribution, April 1, 8:30 AM Parish Hall. All volunteers must complete either the Virtus or the Worthy of the Call training. If you were on our list for Thanksgiving and Christmas, you don’t need to do anything now. For any new volunteers, please submit your name to Bob at crhoopert@zoominternet.net now. If Barbara Sadler isn’t able to verify that you’ve been trained, you will not be included in our list of volunteers and you will not be able to help sort or distribute the groceries.
Respect Life
Maryland General Assembly: HB705/SB798 Declaration of Rights – Right to Reproductive Freedom and HB933/SB845 End of Life Option Act. Call your legislators and urge them to oppose these bills.
Go to https://mgaleg.maryland.gov, click on MEMBERS and Find My Representatives to obtain member information and send an email or letter and call their office.
Pennsylvania General Assembly Stop the abortion amendment and assisted suicide bills. FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/ CALL and EMAIL them to respectfully express your opposition to the Reproductive Rights Amendment and Assisted Suicide legislation.
As always, pray that God blesses your efforts and pray for the members of the Maryland and Pennsylvania General Assemblies that they will submit to God’s will and protect human life.
Heal the wounds of abortion. Contact Project Rachel Baltimore at 410-625-8491 or email at projectrachel@archbalt.org.
Fifth Month (size: about 12 inches)
This month marks the half-way point to birth, and the baby is very active. Sleep habits develop and his mother can feel him move and stretch, particularly when she is resting. He is big and strong enough to kick hard against the outside uterine wall and dent it. Up to now, although he swam with ease in his watery world, he was too small for her to detect because the outside wall of the uterus has no feeling. Babies born at this age have survived.
This month marks the half-way point to birth, and the baby is very active. Sleep habits develop and his mother can feel him move and stretch, particularly when she is resting. He is big and strong enough to kick hard against the outside uterine wall and dent it. Up to now, although he swam with ease in his watery world, he was too small for her to detect because the outside wall of the uterus has no feeling. Babies born at this age have survived.
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
Discover the Difference an Hour with Our Lord Can Make in Your Life - Archbishop Lori dedicated the Good Shepherd Chapel at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Ellicott City as a Regional Adoration Chapel in 2016. Over these past years, the Chapel has been a place to meet the Lord throughout the day, grow in love for the Eucharist and hold the intentions of those discerning vocations close in our hearts and prayers. Please visit the Chapel any time, especially for Eucharistic Adoration from Wednesdays at 9:00 am through Saturdays at 8:00 am. If you want to become a committed Adorer, please explore open positions HERE. To learn more about the Chapel and Adoration at OLPH, visit the website.
Communion Under Both Kinds- The Archdiocese of Baltimore is reinstituting the reception of Communion under both species on Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper, April 6. The basis for this guidance is the liturgical significance of Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper as celebrating the institution of the Eucharist as the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. While we are celebrating the return of Communion under both kinds, we will continue to monitor the numbers of flu, RSV and COVID cases in the area.
Sacraments, Funerals, and Contact Information
Urgent for all Liturgical Ministers. There are calendars placed in the vestibule of the church for sign-ups for the month of April, most importantly Holy Week. Please sign up when you are available. Any questions please contact Sharon Alasandro. (443-243-6317).
St. Mary's Food Pantry
Blessing of Expectant Parents, Saturday & Sunday, January 7&8, All Masses
Food Pantry, Saturday, February 18, 10-11 AM. Snow date is Saturday, February 25.
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.
Flocknote Help: Problems receiving St. Mary's newsletter emails? Contact Flocknote help@flocknote.com or reach out to Jackie Seneschal (jackieseneschal@gmail.com)
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
Parish Administrator,
Fr. John Rapisarda JRapisarda@archbalt.org
Deacon Phil Seneschal
pseneschal@aol.com
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
Rachel Bittner rbittner@stmaryspylesville.org
Music Director
Nicholas Zurowski
nzurowski@sjpray.org
Submission Deadline: Thursday 12 noon