January 3, 2016 - St. Mary Mother of God Parish

St. Mary, Mother of God
A Parish of the Diocese of Greensburg
A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust
Roman Catholic Church
608 High Street ~ Freeport, PA 16229
January 3rd, 2016
Established 1826
The Epiphany of the Lord
Father Ronald Maquiñana—Pastor
[email protected]
Parish Staff
William Girardi, Pastoral Associate
Claudia Vertosick, Business Manager/Parish Secretary
Helen James, Religious Education Director
Thomas Koharchik, Choir Director
Cynthia Harbison, Social Hall Coordinator
David Valencic, Parish Custodian
Melissa Smock, Parish Custodian
Richard Bertino, St. Mary Cemetery Caretaker
Ministries
Kristen Marhefka/Julie Polana Gardone—Teen Ministry
Melissa Kristine/Beth Macurdy—Evangelization
John Nemcek—Homebound Ministry
Organizations
Jean Miller—Christian Mothers
Ray Smetana/Mary Ellen Gray—St. Vincent de Paul Society
Parish Information
Administrative Center Numbers & Hours :
724-295-2281 (Office) 724-295-3090 (Fax)
Monday through Thursday - 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Friday - 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Parish Website: www.stmaryfreeport.com
Parish Email Address: [email protected]
Mass Schedule
Saturday (Vigil): 4:00 P.M.
Sunday: 8:30 & 11:00 A.M.
Weekday Masses: Monday through Friday—8:00 A.M.
Holy Day of Obligation: 9:00 A.M. & 7:00 P.M.
Reconciliation: Saturday - 3:00—3:45 P.M.
Baptism: Sundays at 12:15 P.M. (by appointment)
Marriage: Contact the Parish nine months in advance.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: RCIA helps you to learn
more about the Catholic faith. Pre-registration is required.
Contact Fr. Ron or William Girardi at 724-295-2281.
Hospital or Home Visit: If you would like to receive Holy
Communion or if you know someone who would like to have the
priest visit, please call Fr. Ron at 724-295-2281.
Anointing of the Sick: Contact Fr. Ron at 724-295-2281.
Holy Communion: Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are available to bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound. If you know of someone, please call the Administrative
Office at 724-295-2281.
Baptism: To understand the importance of the Sacrament of
Baptism and your obligation as parents, you are required to attend
one baptismal class. To register for one of these classes, please
call the Administrative Office at 724-295-2281.
What a beautiful way to start the New Year
with the Solemnity of the Motherhood of Mary
which our parish is named after. While many of us
started the year probably with merriment and
greeting each other with a Happy New Year, our
Blessed Mother teaches us to start the New Year
with a prayer…“Mary treasured and pondered all
these things in her heart.”
What do we pray for in the New Year? First
of all, let us THANK GOD for the year that just
passed. Whatever happened, good or bad, happy or
sad, let us leave that all now with gratitude in
God’s heart. Second, let us SURRENDER and
OFFER TO GOD the year ahead of us. We do not
know what the future holds, but we know He holds
the future in His hands and that is enough. We believe that he will be with us every single day of the
year, so we need not fear. Finally, let us ASK GOD
to give us strength and courage to face whatever
lies ahead of us, especially the grace to be able to
carry out whatever mission we have for Him and the Blessed Mother.
As we begin the New Year, I invoke the blessing of God to be upon you, your family and for those whom you pray.
1) “May the Lord bless you and keep you.”
2) “May the Lord let His face shine on you and be gracious to you.”
3) “May the Lord uncover His face to you and bring you peace.” (Number 6:24-26)
Happy New Year!
Looking Back At
Father Ed gets a new assignment
ÓMardi Gras ‘15Ô
Holy Thursday with Fr. Dan Ulishney
Good
Friday
Easter Vigil
Father Pat Aborde blesses
the refurbished rectory
Father Ken Blessing the Bell Tower
Biking for God
“One Mile at a Time”
ÍInstallation of Fr. Ronald Maquiñana Î
Ð
Looking Back At
Í VBC Ð
Christian Mother’s
Hat Party Ð
Spaghetti
Anyone?
Welcome Dinner
Pilgrimage to Rome
Steeler Bar in Rome!
CCD Christmas Party
“St. Mary’s
Upcoming Events”
January 4th
January 7th
January 9th & 10th
February 6th
Christian Mother’s Christmas Party—Evolution Grill - 6:00 P.M.
Baptismal Class—Kristine Residence - 6:30 P.M.
Donut & Beverage Social—After masses
Mardi Gras Wine Tasting Event - 6:00 - 10:00 P.M.
PARISH NEWS
The deadline for all bulletin announcements is 12:00
Noon of the Friday prior to the weekend of our bulletin. You may email or mail the information to the
Parish Office.
The Mardi Gras wine tasting festival will be held
on Saturday, February 6th, 2016, 6:00-10:00 P.M. in
our Fellowship Hall. $30.00 a ticket and includes
wine tasting and a lite fare. To reserve your tickets,
please call Bridget at 724-294-0089, Marianne at
724-295-9568 or Jeff at 724-295-3081. This event is
sponsored by our Parish Council.
Diocesan News
The Most Reverend Edward Malesic, Bishop of Greensburg, has designated five Churches
of Pilgrimage in the Diocese of Greensburg that
will have Doors of Mercy for The Jubilee Year,
in which the faithful can gain a plenary indulgence. The five Churches of Pilgrimage are: Blessed Sacrament Cathedral – Greensburg; Saint Vincent Basilica – Latrobe; Christ, Prince of
Peace – Ford City; Saints Simon and Jude – Blairsville; and Saint Francis of Assisi – Footedale Site. To gain the plenary indulgence, the faithful are called to make a brief pilgrimage to one of the Churches of
Pilgrimage, pass through the Holy Year Door, participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation at another time after passing through the Door
of Mercy, and attend a celebration of the Holy Eucharist with a reflection on mercy. It will be necessary that these sacraments be accompanied by the profession of faith and prayers for the intentions of the
Holy Father.
MINISTRY SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY 9TH & 10TH, 2016
Altar Servers
Extraordinary
Ministers
Of Holy Communion
Lector
Organist
Cantor
Saturday - 4:00 P.M.
Erica Brestensky
Dave Brestensky
Fred Walker
Andrea Camerlo
Deb Showers
Bill Girardi
Tim Fogarty
Tom Misutka
Jamie Phillips
Cindy Harbison
Judy Bergstrom
Rose Check
John Nemcek
Tom Koharchik
Tom Koharchik
Debbie Baustert
Andre Volek
Marushka Steele
Bill Cogley
Dave Wesolosky
Choir
Sunday - 8:30 A.M.
Evan McCrea
Sarah & Hannah Shepherd
Hadley Hellgren
Akina Boynton
Sunday - 11:00 A.M.
Celeste Beacom
Victor Svitek
Evan Giori
Jacob & Erin Schaeffer
MASSES FOR THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
SATURDAY:
4:00 P.M.
St. Mary Parishioners
SUNDAY:
8:30 A.M.
11:00 A.M.
>Rose Yousko (The Policicchio’s)
>Francis Laux (Jack & Mary Ann Laux)
MONDAY:
8:00 A.M.
>Dawn Heilman (Ren & Marushka Steele)
TUESDAY:
8:00 A.M.
>Russ Campbell (Mike Huth)
WEDNESDAY:
8:00 A.M.
>Joan Sliwiak (Kymer Family)
THURSDAY:
8:00 A.M.
>Msgr. Stephen A. McCarren (Wyant Family)
FRIDAY:
8:00 A.M.
>Mary Louise Ruk (John & Betty Lou Nemcek)
Offertory Collection for December 20th, 2016
No. of Envelopes Mailed Out: 588
No. of Envelopes Received: 213
Collection: Offertory - $5,695.00
Catholic Accent - $198.25
Loose - $397.25
Children - $21.00
Feast of the Immaculate Conception - $35.00
Due to the early deadline for the submission of the January
3rd, 2016 bulletin, the weekly contribution report for December 25th and 27th was not available. This information will
be published in next Sunday’s bulletin.
THANK YOU!
Saturday, January 9th, 2016
Betty Canterna and Janice Meola
MASSES FOR THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
SATURDAY:
4:00 P.M.
Thanks to our advertisers who sponsor this bulletin.
Please support them with your business.
>Judith Polana (Lillian & Geno Pernazza)
ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK
SUNDAY:
8:30 A.M.
11:00 A.M.
>Don & Charmaine Macurdy (Helen Goodman)
St. Mary Parishioners
“Keddie Chevrolet”
510139
St. Mary Church
608 High Street
Freeport, PA 16229
724-295-2281
Attn: Claudia
MESSAGES: