St. Mary's 14Mar04 Bulletin

7:30 Robert Piazza Sr. 9th Anniversary, by Paul and Elsie O’Dell
9:00 Eileen Leahy, by St. Mary Parents Association
11:00 Manny Chaves, Theresa and Jose Fernandes and Olimpio Martins, by Lisa and Joe Sousa
5:30 Dennis Miller, by the family

6:45 For the Vocations to the Religious Life/Priesthood
8:30 For the Monks of Saint Joseph Abbey

6:45 The Sisters of St. Joseph especially Sr. Lillian Reilly SSJ
8:30 For all the Fathers of the parish
7:00 For the new Bishop of Worcester, Bishop Robert Joseph McManus

8:30 Yvonne Rogers, by the family
4:30 Rose Battaglia 2nd Anniversary, by the family

7:30 Jack, Margaret and Irene Trabert, by the family
9:00 Virginia Provencher, by the family
11:00 Jim McNamara and Helen Burchard, by Janice and family
5:30 Peter Margelony, by his wife and children

Baby Mia for successful surgery, Charlie L. to have good results from medical testing and full recovery from a recent stroke, Stephen's full and fast recovery from a tumor on his colon, Leah, on bed rest, to have a safe and full term pregnancy and delivery, Tom's rapid healing following surgery and to regain full motion and comfort in his arm, Erin to receive a good diagnosis following a surgical appointment for her leg, a mother of five who is dying to have a peaceful passing and for her family to support and care for one another in her absence, Linda with cancer, Robin battling seizures, Harry with cancer, a young man's full and fast recovery from brain surgery, Jim to have successful foot surgery and quick healing, safe travel for a family, especially for A. and F., and peace around the world, especially Iraq, Israel and Afghanistan. Continued prayers for: Rosemary, Anne Marie, P., Lisa, Lennie, Justine, baby Gabriel, Meg, Michael and Seamus, Kevin, Diana, Bruce, Arnold and Marsha looking for work. Thanksgiving for: Sue's successful eye surgery, Virginia's birth of twins and continued prayers for their steady growth and improvement, all those who led our cluster of parishes mission and for prayers answered. Prayer Line: Tracy at 508-842-2279 or Susan at 508-842-6524 or Susanbk@townisp.com

10:00 Knitting Ministry – Mary’s Room
1:00 Grade 4 Mini Retreat – Church Hall
7:00 O’Connell’s Pub – Church Hall

7:00 Liturgy Committee Meeting – Mary’s Room
7:00 Grade 5 Teacher Meeting – St. Luke

9:30 Thomas Merton Study Group – Mary’s Room
5:30 Imagination Destination – Mary’s Room
7:00 Festival Choir Rehearsal – Church
7:00 Daughters of Isabella – Mary’s Room
7:00 Commission for Women – St. Matthew
7:00 Grade 6 Teacher Meeting – St. Luke
7:00 Religious Ed Board Meeting – St. Mark

9:00-1:00 Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Chapel
6:00 Shrewsbury Youth Football – Church Hall

Saint Mary’s Drama Club presents
GODSPELL JUNIOR

Friday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m.

Saint John’s Black Box Theatre, Saint John’s High School

Tickets may be ordered ahead for $5 or at the door (based on availability) for $7. To order tickets call Joanne Danna at 508-839-6167 or Patricia McCaffrey at 508-865-8092.

St. Mary Parents' Association invites you to an informational program/discussion concerning INTERNET SAFETY AND BULLYING on March 23, from 7:00-8:30 pm in the St. Mary Parish Hall. Guest speakers include Ellen Miller from District Attorney John Conte's Office, Detective Fiske, Shrewsbury Police Dept, and Kelly O'Connell and Kathy Rivenberg, Shrewsbury Middle School Bullying Task Force members. This program is for parents/adults of St. Mary's Parish and School. Any questions, please contact Patty McCaffrey at 508-865-8092.

Help St. Mary’s Outreach and St. Anne’s Parish feed the less fortunate of our community. On the weekends of March 13&14 and 20&21 tables will be set up with ornaments for food vouchers. The vouchers can be purchased at Shaws, Price Chopper and Stop & Shop. Attach food voucher to ornament and place it in the wooden church by the altar. Please return no later than March 27 & 28.

This week of Lent brings great celebration. Wednesday is the feastday of St. Patrick, 4th century bishop of Armagh in Ireland and author of the Confessio as well as the breastplate prayer. Friday is the SOLEMNITY OF SAINT JOSEPH, husband of the virgin Mary. We honored St. Patrick at a festive dinner in the parish hall over this weekend and on Friday there will be Masses in honor of Joseph at 6:45 & 8:30 a.m. and at 7:00 p.m. A wonderful tradition of bringing loaves of bread to Mass and distributing them to people in need has grown over the years. Begun in Sicily many years ago when villagers prayed to St. Joseph for help during times of famine, this tradition will be enacted this week. Come – BRING YOUR BREAD - join in prayer and help others in need!

Thank you to all our parishioners who took the time and effort to vote in last weekend’s ELECTION to the Pastoral Council. The following people were elected: Annette Duquette, Ed McDermott, Carol McWilliams, Steve Lunt, Patricia Kelley and Gina Kuruvilla. (Six persons were elected instead of five since one council member had to resign for business reasons.) I am grateful for all who volunteered to run in this election and pray that their time spent in this important ministry will be fulfilling and blessed for our parish.

The Pastoral Council met during this past week and after prayer continued to discuss our strategic plan for St. Mary’s. The results of the survey last year have now been transposed into a plan which will be presented for parish response in the spring. Worship, education, community outreach and facilities make up the four major parts of the plan. Our biggest challenge is still the lack of adequate space for parish programs and the Building and Development Committee presented their latest plan to respond to this need. Shrewsbury and St. Mary’s continues to grow and our small facilities become more inadequate each year. There are over 1,000 children in our religious education programs and 300 in the Parish School. The buildings are now over 40 years old and are showing their age (like a lot of us!) Pray for our parish and for all who take on the responsibility of planning its future.

The Diocese of Worcester rejoices in the appointment of a new bishop! Pope John Paul II announced that Bishop Robert McManus, the auxiliary bishop of Providence, will take the place of Bishop Daniel Reilly. Bishop Reilly is retiring at the age of 75 after being with us for the past 9 years. St. Mary’s of Shrewsbury warmly welcomes Bishop McManus and prays that his time as our Shepherd will be happy and fruitful. We pray that Bishop Reilly will have many happy and healthy years as he continues to live in our midst and assist in any way that he can. Ad multos annos.

Our Lenten journey continues. I urge all to join the many who gather for Mass at 6:45 or 8:30. It is a wonderful way to begin the day as well as prepare for the great feast of Easter. Our Parish staff prays for your growth in holiness and your good health.

Mass	Servers:
4:30	T. Seed, K. Suuberg/C. Tupper, P. Seed/A. Granados
7:30	B. Kleister, N. Ferrante, L. BrennerC. Gallant
9:00	L. Strand, T. Hannum/C. Black, N. Henry/S. McGinnis, T. Evans
11:00	L. Sex, T. Kuruvilla/K. Paul, K. Hirtle/J. Grip, K. Kiely
5:30	N. Russell, C. Russell/J. Violette, K. Kuhtreiber/M. Walheim, C. Burke

Mass	Lectors:	Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion:
4:30	R. Blute	M/M Blanchard, M. Blute, M. Law, K. Contreras, C. Genco, M. Kiely, K. Lukach, M. Serafin, W. Tomaiolo, M. Vilandre
7:30	S. Krauss	M/M Donovan, A. Figueiredo, T. Keegan, M. Lemoine
9:00	W. Gooley	A. Ahearn, P. Ahern, A. Brennan, C. Hetzler, M/M Nelligan, J. O’Connor, J. Rondeau, M/M Zybert, V. Sheehan
11:00	J. Ahern C. Howland	K. Canney, V. Cavanna, B. DeWolfe, S. Howard, P. King, E. Korpi, E. Lemoine, R. Levesque, L. Shuba
5:30	A. Deknis	A. Blute, C. Ferrante, S. Kitchin, M/M Meilus, M. Niewosowsk, B. Seidenberg, M/M Thompson, R. Thompson

In light of the recent unrest Haiti, the Youth group wanted to supplement our current parish Haiti Mission by sponsoring a small fundraiser for Fr. Rick Frechette, a Passionist Missionary. Unable to secure adequate medical care for the poor children at his Orphanage in Haiti, Fr. Rick returned to the United States where he trained to become a doctor. He currently tends to the needs of over 500 children in his orphanage as well as over 100 orphaned children in his makeshift hospital. Some of the things needed are: coloring books and crayons, as well as bandages for the hospital. Please join us next week after Mass as the youth group offers a variety of baked goods to raise money for Fr. Rick and his mission.

High School Youth Ministry

St. Mary’s Summer Service Experiences for High School Students This summer St. Mary’s Youth Ministry is offering three opportunities for weeklong service experiences for high school students: Habitat for Humanity, Eastman, GA. July 10-18, 2004; Camp Sunshine, Casco, ME July 25-30, 2004; and Young Neighbors In Action (YNIA), Worcester, MA June 27-July 3, 2004. If you are interested in participating in one of these experiences either as a student or staff and want to learn more join us March 7th at 6:30pm for an information meeting. The deadline for student sign ups is has been extended for Habitat for Humanity. A $50 deposit is due.

HIGH SCHOOL RELIGIOUS FORMATION
CONFIRMATION PROGRAM

Upcoming meetings:

Year 1:

March 14, 2004 - 2-5pm at St. Mary's Parish Hall

Year 2:

March 22nd - Faith and Pop Culture Part II - 7-9pm St. Mary's Pastoral Center.
Wednesday March 17th - Mustard Seed Service Project: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day serving others! Open to any high school student including those who selected an Independent Ministry Experience. To sign up call Evan (see below)
April 2nd - Agape Ministry Experience. Leave St. Mary's at 9am and return by 5pm.

If you have any questions contact Evan Cuthbert: 842-0899 or cuthberte@stmarysparish.org.

CLUSTER EVENTS

Friday, March 19 7:00 p.m. Saint Mary’s Shrewsbury

Do something beautiful as a family this Lent by celebrating together at this Mass in honor of Saint Joseph and bringing a loaf of bread for the poor.

Thursday, March 25 7:00 p.m. Saint Mary of the Hills

Prayer Service in honor of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Sister Barbara Flynn SSA will be the speaker at this beautiful prayer service.

Wednesday, March 31 7:00 p.m. Saint Anne’s

Penitential Prayer Service – Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation to get ready for Easter. Father John Doran of Saint Leo’s in Leominster will be the speaker and many priests will be available to hear confessions.

Friday, April 2, 7:00 p.m. Saint Mary’s Shrewsbury

The Shadow of the Cross - Tenebrae Service with Scripture, Song, Silence and Prayer. “We adore you O Christ and we praise you because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.”

American Bishops Overseas Appeal, March 21- Supports agencies that build the international social ministry of the catholic Church. Ministries include relief and settlement services to the victims of war and natural disasters, development programs to improve the living conditions of the poor, advocacy on behalf of the powerless, and peace and reconciliation work for people suffering form violence. Thank you for supporting the Bishop’s Overseas Appeal.