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The recent publication of the grand jury report on clergy sexual abuse in six dioceses in Pennsylvania along with the resignation of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick have inaugurated another phase in the sexual abuse crisis in our Church.

SAVE THE DATES NOVEMBER 9 – 12, 2018 Summer is a good time to step back and reflect on the past year. But it’s not too early to look ahead to the Fall. Over 60 St. Mary’s parishioners have participated in one of our Light of the World Retreats.

This Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of another summer season as many of us transition back to school and a busier schedule. Several parishioners asked me this week if I would share with them the comments I made in my homily last weekend relative to the sexual abuse crisis we continue to face in the Church.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming Catholic or if you are a Catholic who would like to complete your initiation through the sacraments of Confirmation and/or Eucharist, the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) can help. The RCIA forms adults in the Catholic faith and prepares them for the sacraments of initiation. For additional information please call Msgr. Mike at the Pastoral Center at 508-845-6341.

There have been a number of recent news stories from around the country and around the globe revealing reports of sexual abuse of minors by clergy over many decades and how some bishops did not take decisive action to remove them from ministry. That such stories continue to emerge is deeply troubling, to say the least.

Online Volunteer Registration is Open!!! For the St. Mary's Festival to be successful we need hundreds of volunteers to do a little bit of everything before, during, and after the Family Festival. We have over 700 volunteer slots to fill! Volunteer opportunities range from selling tickets to helping kids at the inflatables, and all kinds of things in between.

On Wednesday, August 15th following the 7:00 pm Mass for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, St. Mary's Parishioner Jeffrey Badstubner will share his experiences as a Youth Apostle Missionary in Virginia. Come and hear the experiences of a recent college graduation as he puts his faith into action with young people.

This weekend as we welcome our newly ordained associate pastor, Fr. Javier Julio, I could not help but think how blessed our parish community has been these past 13 years to share in the early years of young priests’ ministry. They have enriched the faith of so many people at St. Mary’s, and we have all played a role in helping them grow in their lives as priests.

 The 2018 St Mary Family Festival Planning Committee has been hard at work planning for the 2018 St Mary Family Festival!  We excited to share with you this update.

Bishop McManus has named Javier Julio as the next Associate Pastor for St. Mary's Parish. Deacon Javier was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 23rd at St. Paul's Cathedral. He will begin his assignment with us on August 1st. You can learn more about Fr. Javier Julio and his journey to the priesthood in a recent article in the Catholic Free Press.

Join us on Saturday, August 4th at the Paw Sox game for a special fundraiser! St Mary’s will receive $5 for each ticket purchased with proceeds going towards the St. Mary's Family Festival.

Thank you very much for your prayers and monetary support of our high school teens participating in St. Mary's summer service program this year. At the time of this writing, two groups have completed their service weeks - the first with Young Neighbors in Action, and the second with Habitat for Humanity.

More than 2000 years ago, the disciples of our Lord were gathered together in an upper room, when they heard the sound of a mighty wind, and tongues as if of fire came to rest over their heads. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. And the people in Jerusalem "from every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5), were astounded to hear them speak in their native tongues.

With Memorial Day behind us and the Fourth of July not far away, we look forward to another summer season. It is during these weeks that we reflect on and celebrate the gifts that we share and experience here in the United States. Indeed, it is freedom that Americans seem to cherish the most. Throughout the country freedom of the press, free-speech, academic freedom, and religious freedom are often topics of our conversation. [MORE]

Bishop Robert McManus has named Fr. Juan Escudero, our Associate Pastor for the past three years, the new Administrator (“Pastor”) of St. Denis Parish in Douglas effective on July 1, 2018. He will succeed Fr. Ernie Allega who will be retiring.

Our annual Day of Service was held on Saturday, May 19th. Parishioners of all ages participated and despite the bad weather, we accomplished a lot!

"You are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God. You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone."  These words written by St. Paul to the Ephesians almost 2000 years ago are an apt description of the Church from its beginning until this very day.  They reflect the universal nature of the Church which has carried out the Lord Jesus' command to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. [READ MORE]

All of the rooms and spaces at St. Mary's are witness to the many ways our community gathers for prayer, celebrations, service, meals, education, special events, and much more.  Often times the parish hall and meeting rooms transform in appearance to accommodate and fit the event or activity being hosted.  

Happy Easter. Today I join Fr. Juan and the parish staff of St. Mary's in wishing you and your families a joy-filled and faith-filled Easter.   [READ MORE]

St. Mary Parish held our second Light of the World Retreat last weekend with 25 people taking part.