Dear Parishioners,Next Friday, March 19, the Church will celebrate the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We invite you to come to our Masses that day, 7 AM and 12:10 PM, to celebrate the Patron of the Universal Church. Fr. Fields will lead the parish in a live-streamed prayer service at 3 PM on Facebook Live with the Holy Rosary and Devotions to St. Joseph. Since the Solemnity falls on a Lenten Friday this year, there is no obligation to abstain from meat on Friday, March 19. This exception is contained within the Code of Canon Law (can. 1251).
Don't forget to
"spring forward" your clocks one hour on Saturday evening so you don't miss your favorite Mass time on Sunday.
Into the Breach-Studies show that the rise of civilizations grows out of family life and the collapse of those same civilizations comes from the collapse of family life. Men of the parish are invited to join Fr. Fields to start fighting for our families at our next Into the Breach gathering on
Saturday, March 13, at 7:30 AM. First-timers and friends are always welcome. Join us with the Zoom meeting link,
HERE. and password 20852.
For our RCIA catechumens and candidates, we will celebrate the Ritual Mass for the
Celebration of the Second Scrutiny on Sunday, March 14 at the 11:30 AM Mass. At this Mass, the readings from Year A will be used. They are:
* First Reading: 1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6-7, 10-13a
* Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23: 1-6
* Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 8-14
* Gospel: John 9: 1-41
Please continue to pray for the catechumens preparing for baptism and the candidates preparing to complete their Christian initiation.
The next
Parish Rosary, (virtually) is this
Sunday, March 14, at 12:30 pm. Join us in prayer to Our Blessed Mother,
HERE.
Youth Group Feast, Sunday, March 14th, 5-7 pm, St. Mary's Church and Outside the Parish Hall:All teens are invited to St. Mary's for a celebration of St. Joseph's Feast Day! Parents should attend 5 pm Mass with their children before dropping their teens off outside of the parish hall for socially distant dinner, games, and discussion. Please RSVP or ask any questions at
[email protected] so we can provide enough pizza for all attendees.
Our recorded Way of the Cross with Msgr. Amey on YouTube averages at least 100 weekly views. We invite all households to pray the Stations often throughout the Lenten season.A plenary indulgence may be earned on any day when the faithful call to mind the memory of the Passion and Death of our Lord with the Stations. You may pray the Stations anytime
HERE.
Confessions are available Saturdays (1-2 PM) and Wednesdays (5-6 PM). Fr. Fields remarked that parishioners should expect a long line for Confessions between March 20 and April 3. He advises that if you are ready to make a contrite and concise Lenten Confession, come to Confession this weekend or this coming week.
Online Lenten Bible Study, Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm, Its not too late to join! All adults of St. Mary's are invited to join for the remaining 4 weeks of Bible study, "Wisdom: God's Vision for Life"! We'll use weekly videos and discussion on the Bible's wisdom literature to learn how to seek guidance from God in navigating life. We'll meet each week virtually HERE with the password, 20852. Please e-mail [email protected] to RSVP or for any questions.
Troop 472 Mulch Sale - On Saturday, March 27, Saint Mary's Scout Troops 472 Boys & Girls will hold their annual fund-raising mulch sale. Orders should be placed by March 20. Premium Hardwood Mulch, $5.50 per 3 cubic foot bag (50 – 80 lbs), FREE DELIVERY on all orders of 20 bags or more, $5 delivery charge for orders of less than 20 bags. Delivery provided for those residing within a 8-mile radius of Saint Mary’s. PRESS HERE TO ORDER ONLINE OR PRESS HERE FOR THE FLYER AND PAPER ORDER FORM.
St. Mary's is continuing its practice of praying for Archdiocese of Washington seminarians this Lent with a Virtual Vocations Tree. We invite each household to pray for at least one seminarian daily throughout Lent. You may find out how to participate and print out your seminarian prayer cards HERE.
Adult Confirmation Classes-Are you or do you know a Catholic adult who has never been confirmed? We invite you to join us for a six-week class that will prepare you to receive your Confirmation on Pentecost this May! The classes will be held weekly starting on the week of April 5th, either through Zoom video calls or outdoor meetings., to be scheduled at a date and format based on participant availability. To join or ask any questions, please contact Minister of Religious Education, Thomas Patchan, at [email protected] or 301-762-8750.