Volume 42 Issue 2 March, 2019
Mary Mother of the Church
Managing Editor: Jackie Wilson Reproduction: Trish Willmering Post Office Delivery: Jim Krull
FROM YOUR PASTOR Fr. Chuck Barthel 894-1373
PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN Barbara Foley 892-8932
SPOTLIGHT ON
STEWARDSHIP
UPDATE STAFF
I recently visited Punta Cana with the YMCA group. It was warm and beautiful; and I was hoping for a restful vacation. However, on the 2nd day I tripped on a step, and fell over the top of a wooden chair, damaging and bruising my upper chest muscles. After x-rays, shots and a prescription for pain, luckily nothing was broken. I spent most of the vacation resting by a pool, reading (about 3 books), and enjoying the friendship and condolences of thoughtful Y friends. Sometimes life doesn’t always turn out like I would want it to happen. In retrospect, I did want rest (but not the pain - Ha). Now that Lent is upon us (March 6), I wonder if Jesus knew of the pain and suffering he would go through; of the good friends who supported him and those who thought he was a charlatan. In Mt. 4:1-11, Jesus was led into the desert. We too are led into the desert to confront the demons of our hearts, of society, those alluring spirits which exist in the world in which we live. In what ways do you rationalize this temptation in your own life? Are you willing to let go of the bonds of this part of your life? What will it cost you to let go of it? Are you willing to pay the price?
GROW IN
SPIRITUAL STATURE DURING
LENT
This person is a lector and former Parish Council Youth Representative. She is very active in Mary Mother’s Youth
Group. She is a senior at Mehlville High School and is the drum major in the band. She does a lot of service and is a member of Hosa. Most of all she has a heart for Jesus; and
it is obvious in the way she lives her life! Look on page 2 to see who this is.
UPDATE Page 2
FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE Michele Venable 894-1373 [email protected]
PARISH COUNCIL SECRETARY Melissa Lavallee 780-4993
THE SPOTLIGHT’S ON......
MARY GALASKE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
TO OUR PARISH FAMILY.
Submitted by Luke Kotcher
Parent Workshop on First Communion will be on Saturday, March 2nd from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Rooms 1 and 2.
All Confirmation Candidates attend CLASS on Sunday, March 3, 7-9 pm.
First Communion Retreat Day and Potluck Banquet will be on Saturday, March 30. Please bring your child to the parish hall between 12:15 and 12:30 p.m. (Have lunch before coming.) Pick up children between 4:00 and 4:20 p.m. and drop off your dish for the potluck banquet, which follows the 4:30 p.m. liturgy. Since this is a community day for the children, we ask all children and families to participate.
First Communion will be on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at the 11:00 a.m. Liturgy. Rehearsal and pictures will be on Tuesday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. Children rehearse in First Communion attire; one parent must accompany child at rehearsal.
CONFIRMATION will be administered by Bishop Rivituso, on Thursday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. REHEARSAL for Candidates and Sponsors will be on Monday, May 13th from 7 to 9 p.m.
DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Ed Lewandowski 894-1373 [email protected]
When was the last time you were invited to a new group, organization or anything? How do you meet new people? How do you find out about these new opportunities? Wouldn’t it be nice if someone invited you to join a group and really wanted you there? We have this opportunity here at Mary Mother. I am asking the Parish Council Commission chairs to openly invite someone, anyone, to the various groups under their commission. Why do we want to do this?
We want everyone to feel included at Mary Mother;
groups can sometimes feel closed; and we want them to be open to new people and ideas.
We need to be constantly re-filling the groups with new people
We want more participation Many of the groups under the various commissions have had little or no change over the past years. This type of stagnation leads to people not taking on new things or the event just goes away. Once things go away, sometimes they don’t come back. Examples of parish sponsored events that we no longer have are things like the auction, fall festival, soccer and basketball tournaments, trivia night and even our golf tournament. What event would you like to see come back, or what new event would you like to see? Both have one thing in common - people to help run them.
From every angle, I see this wonderful Mary, Mother of the Church parish community working to unite and make our faith a REALITY. The way that friends, and in many cases, families in the parish, come together to get through heartbreaking struggles, illnesses and deaths have given hope to so many. Our Lord calls us to be support for one another. This community answers this call with a lot of courage and compassion. We have already begun to prepare for Lent. How will we spend these “40 days?’ However it is spent, we, at any age, will be strengthened as we care for one another. In need of any medical/assistive items? Please call or email me if you’re in need of a walker, a walker with an attached tray, 4-pronged cane, wheelchair, dressing supplies, etc. Thank you to so many parishioners who have donated these items. Time to find homes for them! If I don’t have what you need, I will use resources to help find whatever is needed. Thank you. I am grateful to serve YOU!
PARISH COUNCIL VICE-CHAIRPERSON
Dick Roseland 486-8345 [email protected]
As we begin the season of Lent, it’s time to think about self-examination, fasting, and our Baptismal Promises. Let’s all promise to do something this Lenten Season that helps bring us closer to Jesus. The next Parish Council meeting is on March 28th at 7 PM. All are welcome to attend! The minutes from Parish Council meetings are published on the Mary Mother website at www.marymother.org. As always, please let me know if you have any questions!
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UPDATE Page 3
PARISH COUNCIL VICE-CHAIRPERSON
Dick Roseland 486-8345 [email protected]
CHRISTIAN FORMATION Karen Karr 416-1992
Here at Mary Mother, in 2019, our Lent Planning Team is encouraging our personal and community conversion with the focus of “Change Our Hearts.” During Lent, we will certainly put some attention on singing the song with that same title, although there are many ways to seek conversion. Here are some thoughts about the conversion of our hearts from the “Sourcebook for Sundays and Seasons:” “When our hearts are authentically open to universal communion, our sense of fraternity excludes nothing and no one. Our indifference or cruelty toward fellow creatures of this world sooner or later affects our treatment of other human beings. We have only one heart, and the same [treatment we exhibit toward any creature] will not be long in showing itself in our relationships with other people. We can hardly consider ourselves to be fully loving if we disregard any aspect of our reality. Peace, justice, and the preservation of creation are three absolutely interconnected.…everything is related, and we human beings are united.…woven together by the love that God has for every creature.” Lord, as love needed, change our hearts.
We’re about to begin my favorite season of the liturgical year. For me, Lent is a new beginning.
At this writing, we have several special programs planned for Lent.
On the first Saturday in Lent, March 9, we will have our second annual Day of Prayer. The theme this year is “Pray Always and Pray All Ways (A Life of Communion).” If you are looking for a quiet day of prayer and learning some new and creative ways to pray, you should consider coming. It will be held on Saturday, March 9, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Bring your own lunch. Drinks will be available. You can register on Sign-up Genius or call the office.
Deanery Formation is having a three-part program at Mary Mother on March 7, 14 and 21. It is titled “Presence - The Mystery of the Eucharist.” The cost per person is $6.00. If you have any questions, contact Cindy Yamnitz at her email address: [email protected]. You can register at Sign-up Genius.
Check the bulletin for other programs that may be coming.
LITURGY NOTES Ken Barnes 894-1373 [email protected]
LITURGY COMMISSION Mary Anne Howe 314-892-6396
Here’s to First Impressions !!! And, here’s to Lasting Impressions, as well. That’s what the Liturgy Commission works toward. We want everyone who walks into our church to worship with us to feel Welcome; we want them to feel “at home.” When someone comes into our church, they are greeted by our amazing Hospitality Team; they share “Welcome.” As Church, we welcome others simply by wearing our name tags. Introduce yourself and share “Welcome.” If someone comes in and would like to share your pew, scoot on over and it says, “Welcome! Come sit with me; and we will worship together.” Prayerful Liturgies planned by fantastic Planning Teams, Lectors who believe and live what they read, Children’s Liturgy of the Word Teachers, Meaningful Music performed by our amazing Choirs and Musicians, Beautiful Environment, Petition Writers, Dedicated Eucharistic Ministers, and Servers. And, all those behind the scenes who share Welcome to Jesus through Eucharistic Adoration. All of these actions are how we, as Mary Mother of the Church, say “Welcome! We’re glad you’re here – Please come back.”
HEALTH MINISTRY Amy Kelemen 314-288-8931
GOD BLESS
YOU THIS LENT
Don’t forget to check out the Fish Fry Raffle Baskets! They will be available to view after each Mass on the
weekend of March 23rd and 24th. You will be able to purchase tickets at that time and at the Fish Fry on Friday,
March 29th. The winning tickets will be drawn at the end of the Fish Fry to see who the lucky winners are. No need
to be present to win. All proceeds from ticket sales go right back to supporting Mary, Mother of the Church.
UPDATE Page 4
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COMMISSION
Carl Cooper 200-9138 [email protected]
PRO-LIFE Craig Snavely 651-7432
In order to keep The Mary Mother Quilters out of mischief, we need your help. We toil ( as well as laugh a lot) in the basement every Tuesday from 10 am to 3pm. Are you an aunt, uncle or grandparent to-be and need a gift that will become a cherished keepsake? We have a great stash of hand embroidered quilts and colorful alphabet and character quilts for sale. Do you want to have fun with your toddler? We have just the thing in our “I Spy” quilts. There also may be adults out there who could keep warm in our lap quilts. The Mary Mother Quilters do a beautiful job of custom quilting on antique pieced or embroidered tops that you may have found in your attic; and of course, we love work-ing on new quilts you have crafted yourself. In need of our help but Tuesdays don’t work for you? Call Mary Beth Barylski at 314-416-7755 or Karen Obrecht at 314-620-620 for assistance. Remember, all proceeds from our services go back to the parish and keep our gaggle of quilters happy.
TITHING
Plan your calendar for the coming “Show Me Rally” in Jefferson City on March 12, 2019. There will be buses leaving Grasso Plaza at 7:30 AM and at St. Paul Church in Fenton at 7:50 AM. Coming soon, we will have an updated Pro-Life bulletin board between the elevator and the stairs to the right as you go towards the classrooms. Good information will be listed posting events and articles on current events in the Pro-Life movement. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 6, at 7:00 PM; and all are welcome. Isaiah 49:1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother's womb he has spoken my name. Please contact Craig at 314-651-7432 if you want more information.
LORD, MAKE ME
AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR
PEACE
BRING A CHILD
UP IN THE WAY
OF THE LORD
MARY MOTHER QUILTERS
January 2019 – 4 Sundays - $928 each agency
1. Arnold Food Pantry – Offers non-perishable foods and a Thrift Shop for those in need. 2. Energy Care – Provides financial assistance for utility bills for those facing loss of gas/electric service. 3. Living Well Village – Instructs and encourages youth with medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, etc., in an intense camp experience with a health and wellness focus. 4. Footprints – dedicated to improving the quality of life for children living with complex medical conditions and supporting their journey, providing comfort, advocacy, and support to help families cope and thrive. 5. Vincent Gray Alternative High School – Helps provide an education for poor, at-risk young men and women in a supportive and respectful atmosphere. 6. Microfinancing Partners in Africa – A micro-financing ministry of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood and the Sisters of St. Joseph that provides help for women establishing cottage industries to support their families.
Soon there will be the CRACK OF THE BAT instead of the ROAR OF THE SNOW BLOWER. Believe it or not spring is coming and with it BASEBALL. This year Mary Mother is partnering with St. John the Beloved Disciple in the GRAND SLAM BASEBALL fundraiser. Tickets will be on sale after Masses until the end of March and will also be available in the rectory office. NO TALENT IS NECESSARY. It is pure luck, a win, a win for all. Tickets are $25.00 each with 17 opportunities to win one of 9 prizes each week ranging from $24.00 to $400.00. That’s only $1.47 per opportunity to win. Mary Mother also wins! $11.00 of each ticket purchased will be given to our parish. Last year we partnered with St. John the Beloved Disciple parish in their Football Fundraiser. Several parishioners won; and Mary Mother won also, receiving over $2,000 from our ticket sales. Help make our fundraiser a success and consider purchasing one or several Grand Slam Baseball tickets.
UPDATE Page 5 Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
March 2019
For more details, go to www.marymother.org/calendar-1
Mar 1 7am Parish Hall
closed for cleaning
2 Booster Sales
9am Basketball League Play
9am Contemplative
Prayer Group 9:30am Parent
Communion
Workshop (Gr 2) 3:30pm Confession
5:30pm bridge bread
5:30pm Jonah Team
3 Booster Sales
9am Jonah Team 9am bridge bread
9am Family Mass
11am Confirmation Candidates
12:30pm Baptism
1pm Basketball League Play
6:30pm Men's
Basketball 7pm Confirmation
Class
4 9:05am AA Group 12:30pm Pickleball
6pm Pickleball
6pm GriefShare 6:30pm PSR
7pm Men's Prayer
Group
5 9am Adoration 9am Quilting
9am TOPS
9am Walking/PAC 4:30pm Basketball
7pm SVDP Mtg
7:30pm Youth Commission Mtg
6
ASH WEDNESDAY
9am Adoration
9:30am Cornerstone
9:30am Tai Chi 12:30pm Pickleball
4:30pm Basketball
6:30pm NO PSR 7pm ProLife Mtg
7:15pm Traditional
Choir 8pm Youth Prayer Grp
9pm Men's Basketball
7 9am Walking/PAC 10:30am Zumba
4pm Adoration
4:30pm Basketball 5pm Yoga
6pm Deanery Lenten
Formation program 6:30pm Social Justice
10-week program
7pm Contemporary Choir
7pm Liturgy Mtg
7:15pm Prayer Group
8 8:30am Meat Slicing (For SS II)
3pm Stations of
the Cross
9 Booster Sales St Patrick Center
Fundraiser
9am Basketball League Play
9am Lenten Day of
Prayer 3:30pm Confession
5:30pm BP
Screening
10 1st Sunday of Lent 9am BP Screenings
9am Preschool
11am Confirmation Candidates
1pm Basketball
League Play 6:30pm Men's
Basketball
11 9:05am AA Group
12:30pm Pickleball
6pm Pickleball 6pm GriefShare
6:30pm PSR
7pm Men's Prayer Grp
12 9am Adoration
9am Quilting
9am Sandwich Shoppe II
9am TOPS
9am Walking/PAC 4:30pm Basketball
6:30pm Athletic Mtg
7pm PC evening of discernment
7pm Women Sharing
Faith
7:30pm Youth Grp
Adult Volunteers
Mtg
13 9am Adoration
9:30am Cornerstone
9:30am Tai Chi 12:30pm Pickleball
4:30pm Basketball
6:30pm PSR 7pm Young Women's
Prayer Grp
7:15pm Traditional Choir
7:45pm ACTS Core
Team 8pm Youth Prayer Grp
9pm Men's Basketball
14 9am Walking/PAC
10:30am Zumba
4pm Adoration 4:30pm Basketball
5pm Yoga
6pm Deanery Lenten Formation program
6:30pm Social Justice
10-week program 7pm Contemporary
Choir
7pm Christian Svc Mtg 7:15pm Prayer Grp
15 7am Room at the
Inn
11:30am Friday Friends
3pm Pickleball
3pm Stations of the Cross
16 Booster Sales
9am Contemplative
Prayer Grp 3:30pm Confession
17 2nd Sunday of Lent
9am Preschool
11am Confirmation Candidates
12pm UPDATE Due
7pm Youth Group rec nite
18 9:05am AA Group
12:30pm Pickleball
6pm Pickleball 6pm GriefShare
6:30pm No PSR
7pm Men's Prayer Grp
19 8:30am Meat Slicing
(for SS III)
9am Adoration 9am Quilting
9am TOPS
9am Walking/PAC 4:30pm Basketball
6pm Ad/Fin Meeting
6:30pm Sandwich Shoppe III
6:30pm Stitching 7pm Health Ministry
7pm SVdP Mtg
20 9am Adoration
9:30am Cornerstone
9:30am Tai Chi 12:30pm Pickleball
4:30pm Basketball
5:30pm Children's Choir
6:30pm No PSR
7:15pm Traditional Choir
8pm Youth Prayer Grp 9pm Men's Basketball
21 9am Walking/PAC
10:30am Zumba
4pm Adoration 4:30pm Basketball
5pm Yoga
6pm Deanery Lenten Formation program
7pm Contemporary
Choir 7:15pm Prayer Group
22 3pm Pickleball
3pm Stations of
the Cross
23
Booster Sales
Bread for the World Letter writing
Fish Fry RAFFLE
ticket sales Rock Church Food
Collection Weekend
3:30pm Confessions 5:30pm SNL at
MMOC
24
Booster Sales
Bread for the World Letter writing
Fish Fry RAFFLE
ticket sales Rock Church Food
Collection Weekend
9am Preschool 11am Confirmation
Candidates 6:30pm Men's
Basketball
25 9:05am AA Group
12:30pm Pickleball 1pm Meat Slicing
(for SS I)
6pm Pickleball 6pm GriefShare
6:30pm PSR
7pm Men's Prayer Grp
26 9am Adoration
9am Quilting 9am Sandwich
Shoppe I
9am TOPS 9am Walking/PAC
4:30pm Basketball
7pm Women Sharing Faith
27 9am Adoration
9:30am Cornerstone 9:30am Tai Chi
12:30pm Pickleball
4:30pm Basketball 6:30pm PSR
7pm Young Women's
Prayer Grp 7:15pm Traditional
Choir
8pm Youth Prayer Grp 9pm Men's Basketball
28 9am Walking/PAC
10:30am Zumba 3pm Fish Fry Prep
4pm Adoration
4:30pm Basketball 5pm Yoga
6:30pm Social Justice
10-week program 7pm Contemporary
Choir
7pm Parish Council 7:15pm Prayer Group
29 books stored for
book fair 3pm Pickleball
4pm Fish Fry
7pm Stations of the Cross
30 Blest Art in vestibule
after All Masses books stored for book
fair
12:30pm 1st Communion Retreat
& Potluck
3:30pm Confessions
31 4th Sunday of Lent
Blest Art in vestibule after All Masses
books stored for book
fair
DAYLIGHT
SAVINGS TIME
BEGINS
9am Preschool
11am Confirmation
Candidates 6:30pm Men's
Basketball
UPDATE Page 6
UPDATE Page 8
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID St. Louis, MO Permit No. 458
UPDATE
Mary Mother of the Church 5901 Kerth Road St. Louis, MO 63128
BAPTISMS: Joseph Matthew Johnson DEATHS: Glennon Potthast Marilyn Rothermel Robert Colombo NEW PARISHIONERS: Cathy Mayrose Charlie & Pat Turner (returning) David & Kathleen Mendias Justin & Stephanie (Aubuchon) Schoemehl & Lorenzo
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S
DAY