St. Mary's Parish

As we did last year, St. Mary’s will be participating in Catholic Relief Services‘ Operation Rice Bowl. ORB is an easy way to help those throughout the world who benefit from the work done by Catholic Relief Services. A little spare change can go a long way!

The “rice bowls” will be given to the Religious Education students on Wednesday, February 15th, with the remaining bowls available at the weekend Masses in Malta. Please pick one up and join in this simple yet powerful Lenten practice. Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl invites us to pray with our families and parish community, fast in solidarity with those who are hungry, learn about our brothers and sisters around the world, and give sacrificial contributions to help those in need.

From Anne Boothe:

The Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) delivered over 40 plates of wonderful cookies and candies to parish and community members in need of some Christmas Cheer on Wednesday December 14th.  After packaging  the goodies, ladies enjoyed a soup supper and special devotional on the meaning of “swaddling” prepared by Madeline Itcaina.  The best part of the evening was delivering the trays and extending wishes for a Merry Christmas to all the recipients.

Thank you to everyone to attended and especially those who made and donated the delicious treats.

Soup Supper

Wrapping the cookie plates

The finished cookie plates

The PCCW ladies displaying their handiwork

This week there will be two opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession as part of the communal Penance Services:

• Wednesday, December 21, 7:00 PM – Malta
• Thursday, December 22, 7:00 PM – Dodson

Confession will also be available on Christmas Eve at the regularly scheduled Saturday 4:00 – 5:00 PM time if you are unable to attend either Penance Service.

Unfortunately, the schedule for Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was left out of the bulletin. Here’s the schedule for Christmas:

Christmas Eve

• Confessions – Malta – 4:00 PM (as normally scheduled)
• Vigil Mass – Malta – 5:30 PM

Christmas Day

• Midnight Mass – Malta – 12:00 AM
• Mass – Dodson – 8:30 AM
• Mass – Saco – 11:00 AM

Some prayers of the Mass will be changing. We invite you to learn more about it.

Mystical Body, Mystical Voice is a unique program based on an appreciation of the sacramental nature of the liturgical rites.

This program will

• let you know what changes are coming;
• open you to the riches of the liturgy;
• lead you to participation that is fuller, deeper, and more conscious.

Find out more! Come join us!

Sessions begin in Malta on September 6 at 7:00 PM in the Church Basement, Dodson on September 8 at 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall, and Saco on September 11 in the Church Basement after the 12:15 Mass.

This weekend, St. Mary’s played host to the annual Search youth retreat.

Search participants and volunteers at the beginning of the weekend

In my homily over the weekend, I spoke about the need for all of us Catholics to evangelize. I hope everyone understands that this is not coming solely from my thoughts or feelings, but is the consistant teaching of the Catholic Church. It has been a continuous theme by our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, and here is an article describing the remarks he made at a recent meeting of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization: Crisis of ‘indifference’ shows need for New Evangelization. It’s my hope that we can put into practice the Holy Father’s call for evangelization.

Tuesday evening, May 17th, the Knights of Columbus Council 2124 sponsored a Pro-Life Rally and March. The march began in front of the old St. Mary’s School and processed to the Memorial for the Unborn at the cemetery.

Grand Knight Michael Fred Ereaux with the wreath for the Memorial for the Unborn

Balloons to be released

Lining up in front of the church for the march to the cemetery

At the Memorial for the Unborn

The Memorial for the Unborn with the wreath

With the arrival of Palm Sunday comes the beginning of a very blessed and busy week at St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart and St. Francis.

Saturday before Palm Sunday – April 16
2 PM – Confessions in Malta
3:30 PM – Confessions in Saco
4 PM – Mass – Saco
5:30PM – Mass – Malta

Palm Sunday – April 17
8:30 AM – Mass – Dodson
10:30 AM – Mass – Malta
12:30 PM – Mass – Whitewater

Monday of Holy Week – April 18
8:30 AM – Mass – Malta
7:00 PM – Chrism Mass – Great Falls

Tuesday of Holy Week – April 19
5:30 PM – Mass – Malta

Wednesday of Holy Week – April 20
8:30 AM – Mass – Malta

Holy Thursday – April 21
7:00 PM – Holy Thursday Mass – Malta

Good Friday – April 22
12:00 Noon – Good Friday Liturgy – Malta

Holy Saturday – April 23
9:00 PM – Easter Vigil – Malta

Easter Sunday – April 24
8:30 AM – Mass- Dodson
10:30 AM – Mass – Malta
12:15 PM – Mass – Saco

Due to scheduling conflicts, the penance service which was supposed to be held on Wednesday, March 30, will now be on Wednesday, April 13, at 7:00 PM. First Confessions will be held on March 3o at 7:00 PM, as previously scheduled. I’m sorry for the short notice on this change.