Weekly Bulletin
For the Week of Sunday, March 19, 2023
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Helping Malawi in Many Ways
Pastor's Letter by Fr. Vincent Gilmore
Dear Parishioners,
The response to the Lenten Malawi Fund has been overwhelming. We have raised nearly $15,000 so far! Thank you to everyone who has donated to this project. It really will make a difference to many girls.
The original goal that we set at the beginning of Lent was to help 10 students with tuition and room and board for one year to attend the Catholic girl’s high school in Malawi. When Hannah first sent me the information about tuition cost, based on what I understood, I had indicated that tuition was around $300 per student per year. However, I have discovered that I made a mistake in calculating the costs for the year and it costs $300 for each “term”. There are three terms in the Malawi school year, so tuition for the entire year is about $800. I am sorry, this was my mistake.
But seeing how our fundraising has far exceeded our expectations, parishioners have also asked how to help students attend for multiple years, or how to help the school in other ways. I asked Hannah and she said she would like to take the students on field trips but cannot because there is no bus. The sisters who run the school would like to get a school bus and say it would cost about $50,000. They have already begun to raise funds for this and expect it to take two years.
We have decided to put the first $10,000 of our Malawi Fundraiser toward tuition assistance as originally planned, and all remaining funds over $10,000 will go toward the school bus fundraising to be able to support them on that important project as well.
As to how the funds will be handled: the money is collected and accounted for at St. Mary’s and after Easter we will wire the funds directly to the girl’s school in Malawi, which is owned and operated by an order of Catholic sisters. I visited this school twice when I was in Malawi and can attest to the good work and great education these sisters provide their students.
The silent auction for the crosses that I made to support the Lenten Malawi Fund will end this weekend after Sunday masses, so please make sure to get your last-minute bids in after mass. Thank you again for everyone’s support in this project. It has been wonderful to see everyone come together to help such an amazing, faithful community.
This is Priscilla. She was born in 2009. Her family are simple farmers at Malewa. Her favorite class is biology and she wants to become a doctor so she can help patients.
Silent Auction ends this Sunday, March 19
Parishioners have until this Sunday, March 19 after 8 am mass in Valley and 10 am mass in Chewelah to bid on the handmade wooden wall crosses that Fr. Vincent has donated. (Sacred Heart's auction ends Saturday, March 18). Thank you to everyone who is generously supporting this project. Make sure to get your final bids in after the Sunday masses.
First Reconciliation
The students preparing for their sacraments this year are Monica Trudeau, Joshua Haden and Molly Rosenberg. They will have their First Reconciliation this week on Wednesday, March 22 at 4:30 p.m. Families are invited to also participate in this special hour of confession. Then Confirmation Mass with Bishop Daly is scheduled Wednesday, May 17 at 5:30 pm. There will be a dinner reception following. It will also be the last day of Faith Night for the school year.
Upcoming this week (Friday, March 17 through Friday, March 24):
Tonight! Stations of the Cross & Soup Supper
Friday, March 17, 2023, 5:30 pm, St. Mary's
This week's supper: Altar Ministry Volunteers
Stations of the Cross are every Friday at 5:30 pm followed by a soup and bread supper, which is provided by several different parish ministries. This week, March 17, Stations is on St. Patrick's Day, which the Bishop has granted special dispensation from the obligation to abstain from meat. The Altar Ministry Volunteers will be providing this week's soup supper and next week (March 24) will be Faith Night catechists and participants, coordinated by Emily Garner.
No Mass Monday, March 20
Fr. Vincent is out of town Monday, March 20. There will be no mass that day at Holy Ghost in Valley.
Faith Night: Meaning of Mass, Part 4
Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 6 pm, St. Mary's
On the Menu: It's Tradition - Bring a family favorite
All Parish Faith Night Dinner begins at 6 pm. For this week's meal, everyone is encouraged to bring a recipe that is passed down for generations or a food your family enjoys. Fr. Vincent will continue his presentation on the Meaning of Mass with Part 4: The Eucharistic Prayer. Religious Education classes and adult formation is available to all ages and begins after dinner at 6:30 pm.
First Reconciliation
Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 4:30 pm, St. Mary's
Three of our parish youth will have their First Reconciliation this coming Wednesday at 4:30 pm. Families are invited to confession as well.
Stations of the Cross & Soup Supper
Friday, March 24, 2023, 5:30 pm, St. Mary's
This week's supper: Faith Night Catechists and Participants
On March 24, soup supper will be provided Faith Night catechists and participants, and coordinated by Emily Garner.
Special Movie Presentation
Friday, March 24, 2023, 6:30 pm, St. Mary's
Our librarian Ed Grim will be showing a movie called A Heart Like Water after Soup Supper this Friday, March 24. This movie is about 45 minutes long and not meant for kids, but is good to watch during Lent as it follows the themes of suffering and perseverance.
Penance Service on March 30
Thursday, March 30, 2023, 6:30 pm, St. Mary's
On Thursday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m. we are having a special Penance Service. There'll be a short Liturgy of the Word and examination of conscience and opportunity for personal confession. Three other priests will join us to help hear confessions that evening.
Community Baby Shower - This Thursday
Moms and families are welcome to attend the second Community Baby Shower to be held Thursday, March 23, from 10 am – 12 noon in St. Mary's parish hall. Hosted by the CAPA/PREPARES program, Shari DePaulo, perinatal educator, will return to give a Baby 101 presentation at this event. Food, gifts, and basic baby supplies will be available as well as the PREPARES regular monthly diaper distribution. Please RSVP on the Stevens County Baby Exchange Facebook page or text 509-202-3139
so everyone can be accommodated at the event.
Purchase Flowers In Memory of a Loved One - orders due Next Sunday, March 26
Volunteers are taking donations for spring altar flowers to display at each parish during Easter season in memory or in honor of a loved one. A mass will be offered for the special intentions of your loved ones with the donation toward flowers. Flowers include Easter lilies, tulips and other spring flowers. Each live plant costs $15 and will be displayed at the designated parish with a card that identifies who it is for. You are welcome to purchase multiple plants and will be able to take them home after Easter season to plant for your loved ones. Order forms are available at each parish or contact Mary Burnell at 509-935-6313.
Flowers are $15 and orders are due by Sunday, March 26. Turn in your forms/payment to the collection basket or the office.
Mailing address: 502 E Main Ave St. 26, Chewelah, WA 99109
Donate to Your Food Bank during Lent!
Please donate to our parish food collections during Lent! St. Mary's is collecting food for the Chewelah Food Bank and Holy Ghost is collecting food for the Valley Food Pantry each Sunday as well. Think about donating 40 items for 40 days of Lent - you can bring it every week or all at once. Monetary donations are always welcome as well! Thank you!
St. Jerome Library Featured Book of the Week
This week our librarian Ed Grim has given us a review of "Brother Astronomer: Adventures of a Vatican Astronomer by Bro. Consolmagno." The Vatican has a professional telescope where they watch the heavens. Bro. Conselmagno takes on the debate about science and religion. He explains what really happened to Galileo. Inerested in UFOs? He includes a discussion about whether an extra-terrestrial could be baptized. Take a look at all the other materials available to check out at St. Jerome Library at St. Mary's. Contact the office to reserve the conference room.