St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church - Outdoor Mass sign-ups are available online stmaryslg.org/sign-up-for-mass. We continue to offer Live Stream Mass as well.
Summer is over, let’s welcome the fall and pray for rain throughout California. Certainly, this season always brings out the best in us with the promise of a rich harvest. Our farms produce some of the finest produce in the world—the Los Gatos Farmer’s Market is proof of that. The surrounding region of the Bay Area remains an agricultural marvel, and the waxing days of a slumbering summer sun in the western sky proves once again the bounty we share by the grace of God. This is no time to take for granted the blessing of a harvest in this season and the blessing for hope in the coming year. This is normally the time when we prepare to celebrate the holidays, though this year will be different, all do well to safeguard the health of others by following the directives of the County Health Department for the public safety and our own good. Let’s do our part by keeping our hands clean, maintaining healthy distances, and wearing a mask.
By the time you read this, we will have surpassed almost 5 days since the fall equinox. Knowing about the equinox is a discovery of wonders. When thinking about how we experience the ebb and flow of seasons, the planet is unimaginably huge and is turning continuously. Revolving at 900 miles an hour on an axis that tilts its hemispheres from the north to south and then back from the south to the north, we can compare this gradual shift with our own down to earth experience of the diminishing hours of daylight and the longer period of night. On November first, we’ll move our clock back one hour—oh joy, an extra hour of sleep.
Normally, we start preparing for the Country Fair at this time of year. This year our theme is: “2020, No Fair.” It’s been an unusual year that produced what amounts to the beginning of the end. Each day presents a new challenge, but we remain faithful and courageous as we await the fulfillment of salvation already won for us by the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are always prayerful, mindful, and watchful for the time of fulfillment, but our vigilance bids us to prepare for the near-term; the days, weeks, and months ahead.
The Country Fair is the longest running fundraiser and fun experience for St. Mary’s kids no matter what their age. Consider becoming a friend of the Country Fair by making a contribution or purchase this year’s t-shirt. Look for further details on our website and in the newsletter on ways to support this year’s virtual Country Fair. Contributing together let’s keep the spirit of this celebration alive.
While we do not have the booths & activities to sponsor this year we can still virtually sponsor the fair. Your advertisement would appear on our websites (fair, parish, school) and on our virtual video we are putting together this year remembering past fairs and looking to the future with photos and video clips everyone has been contributing. Become a Sponsor
Mass Intention Requests - Now Available Online
We have created a form so you may request Mass Intentions while our office is closed. Dates for intentions are to be made at least 3 - 4 weeks in advance as most recent dates are usually filled. Requests will be completed in the order in which we receive them (date/time) on Mondays (except holidays) and Thursdays - stmaryslg.org/mass-intention-request.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
We are resuming our weekly schedule for the Sacrament of Confession for all faithful with no prior appointments on Saturdays from 3.30 to 4.30 pm. More information is available on our website
Faith Formation
We are looking for catechists to help guide our children and families on their continued faith journey. It is hard to stay connected during these times of social distancing and we are looking at new ways to share our faith as a community. If you are interested in working with elementary children or with our children who will be receiving First Reconciliation and First Communion, please contact Terri at ttrotter@stmaryslg.org
Faith Formation - Fall 2020
Registration and information Playways, Elementary, EDGE (Junior High) & Element 4:12 (High School) is now available on our website stmaryslg.org/faith-formation-registration-form. Please email Terri Trotter if you have any questions about our programs (Playways through Elementary) & Katie Sullivan for EDGE (Jr. High) and
Element 4:12 (High School).
Faith In Action
Prayer Requests
How Can We Pray For You? We are committed to being a community that prays for one another. Whatever your circumstance or situation is, prayer can effect and transform it. Feel free to leave an intention below and know that you are being prayed for. Prayer Requests can be made online
Evening Prayer
All are welcome and invited to participate in our St. Mary's Evening Prayer Group, which meets every Thursday at 8:00 pm - 8:30 pm via Zoom. Details on our website.
Music Ministry
Do you like to sing? Play an instrument? We invite you to consider joining the music ministry! Choir rehearsals (virtually have started). We are also putting together a children's choir (virtually) For more infomation or questions, please contact Percival at pperlas@stmaryslg.org or 408.354.3726 x122
St. Mary School
408.354.3944
Principal Monica Hernandez was able to announce this week that our school is allowed to reopen for in-person learning! There are a number of new requirements, changes and procedures we've put into place in anticipation of our students returning to school, and we'll all be modeling patience and staying positive as we welcome our students back.
Our TK and Kindergarten classes will begin on Monday, September 28, our 1st Grade the following week, and continuing in a gradual manner until all grades are on campus. Parents will complete a Reopening Training Zoom session, which will explain new policies and procedures we've put in place. Please keep our school faculty and staff, as well as all our St. Mary School families in your prayers as we welcome our students back! We have a few openings in most grades, feel free to call the school office, 408-354-3944.
Monica Hernandez, Principal. mhernandez@stmaryslg.org x119
Kathy Rosendin, Admin. Assistant krosendin@stmaryslg.org x118
The teachers and students at St. Mary School may have been in Distance Learning, but they were connected as ever with families sharing 1st Day of School photos, tuning in for the Back to School Mass, and keeping all the victims of the fires in their prayers. The St. Mary PTG is putting together care packages for school or parish families that have been displaced by the fires. Please call the school office so we can make sure a care packages reaches you if your family has been impacted!
Diocese of San Jose
Bishop Cantú shares update on the desire to return to indoor worship. The letter is available: English | Spanish | Vietnamese
Catholic Schools Superintendent update on in-person reopening: This week, the State of California announced that Santa Clara County has remained in Tier 2 (Red) for 14 days. As a result of meeting this metric, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department is now allowing TK-12 schools in our County to open for in-person instruction with strict adherence to State and County guidelines. Read More on the DSJ webpage
40th Anniversary Logo Contest: The Diocese of San José is looking forward to celebrating its 40th Anniversary in March 2021. As a part of our preparations, we invite all parishioners and friends to participate in designing a logo that will be identified with the upcoming anniversary celebrations. See and share the official contest rules.
Register for Pastoral Ministry Formation - Classes begin in October for this 18-session series and ends March 2021.
Retrouvaille: Do you seek the tools to heal and renew your relationship? Retrouvaille can help your marriage heal and be make it stronger. For locations and more information click here!
A Virtual Half-Day Gathering for Healing: Spirit Fire survivors will be hosting special guests including leaders in education and other professions, such as President John Garvey, of the Catholic University of America, and Ms. Pat Neal, the Executive Director of VIRTUS. Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap., will share his memories and also close the one-day conference with a Mass for victims, families and all who need healing. This program includes prayer time, musical interludes, and excerpts from interviews with survivors, family members, clergy and religious and lay leaders. Themes cover many aspects of the recovery path victims and families follow. Our Catholic Story is the first step in the Spirit Fire restorative justice process that the 2021 Spirit Fire Global Conference on Abuse and Faith promises to be. This event is free and part of an ongoing series devoted to faith and healing.
Santa Clara County Influenza (Flu) Vaccine: Every person aged 6 months and older needs the flu vaccine, every year. This is especially true this year, with COVID-19 also circulating widely in Santa Clara County. For more info click here.
- Getting vaccinated for the flu will be even more important this year because the symptoms of the flu and the coronavirus are very similar and the two illnesses could be mistaken for each other if someone has not been vaccinated or tested for the virus.
- If you have health insurance, you can visit your regular doctor.
- You can input your zip code into HealthMap Vaccine Finder to find all flu shot locations near you.
- The county will offer flu vaccinations for free, regardless of insurance or immigration status, at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through mid-December and at all Santa Clara Valley Medical Center clinics and pharmacies.
Please continue to check our website for updates - stmaryslg.org
Previous eNewsletters can be found at stmaryslg.org/enewsletter
We are still available by email. If you call and leave a voicemail it will reach us to. Just go to our Contact Us page or our website.
