Current Week's Mass Schedule

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St. John Bosco

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Presentation of the Lord

First Friday/St. Blaise/St. Ansgar

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Next Weekend's Mass Schedule

Vigil Mass

Note: *Regular Mass hours are Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Summer hours (June thru Labor Day) are Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

The names listed next to a specific Mass indicate an act of love for the living or the deceased member of a family or a friend. If you would like to schedule a Mass for a specific date/intention, please contact Susan Angelini at the parish office. Mass intentions are filled on a first come/first serve basis. Customary offerings are as follows: Mass – $10; flowers: main church – $50, chapel – $35; Sacristy candle – $10/week; tree memorial including a plaque – $500. 

SCHOOL NEWS
Principal: Mr. Patrick Hanus
Vice Principal: Mrs. Kathleen Pfaff
(301) 292-2522

School Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Early Dismissal: 12:15 p.m.
Before Care: 6:45 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
After Care: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

OPEN HOUSE DATES

St. Mary’s School will have two open houses on Sunday, February 12th from 1:30–3:30 p.m. and Thursday, February 23rd from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to come see our school and meet our teachers. St. Mary’s School—where miracles still happen!

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Director of Religious Education: Bill Keimig
(301) 292-0527 Ext. #104

Book Discussion Group

St. Mary’s Parish School of Religion (PSR) is held every Sunday from 10:45–11:50 a.m. in our school. Children can still register for PSR; fees are $85 for one student; $105 for two students or $120 for three or more students. 

Baptismal Classes for parents wishing to have their child baptized will be on the 4th Sunday of the month after the 12:00 p.m. Mass. Please contact Bill Keimig if you would like to attend or for further information.

Spiritual Play on The Divine Mercy and St. Faustina will be performed on Sunday, March 19th at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Church. Tickets must be purchased at the door: adults, $5; children under 12, $3. 

Hearts Aflame* Course will meet on Sundays, January 29th, February 5th, 12th and 19th from 1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Mondays, February 6th, 13th, 27th, March 6th, 13th and 20th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the school library.

*Hearts Aflame is the Archdiocesan program designed to inform, train, and enable lay parishioners to understand, communicate, and teach the Catholic Faith to others. Hearts Aflame courses are open to parishioners from any parish, and are taught by a faculty of Master Catechists. Bill Keimig, DRE at St. Mary's, serves as the Hearts Aflame instructor for this region.

Catholics Coming Home is an apostolate for those considering returning to their Catholic faith, needing help with an annulment, a divorce situation, or just wanting to talk about their struggles with the Church. We will meet on Monday evenings from 7:30–9:00 p.m. (except major holidays) in the school library. New participants are welcome at any session.

Mom’s Fellowship and Prayer Group will meet at 2312 Floral Park Road on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. for playtime and for prayer at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel. Contact person: Heather Keimig (301) 203-9293.

Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) will meet on Tuesday evening from 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. in the school library through June. All are welcome who are considering becoming a Catholic or just want to find out what the Catholic faith is all about.

Bible Sharing on the Book of Romans with Deacon George Ames will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7:00–8:30 p.m. in the conference room of the parish office through May 17th. Contact person: Deacon Ames (301) 292-0527 Ext. 105 or Gbamesjr@cs.com.

Living in the Spirit: St. Mary’s Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) prayer group meets weekly on Thursday nights from 7:30–9:30 p.m. at 1305 Christopher Lane in Ft. Washington. Join us for singing, strong fellowship and new friendships! Please call Bob Ryan at (301) 203-8203 for directions.

The Life of St. Teresa of Avila, a beautiful video series on the dramatic life of the great Carmelite mystic and Doctor of the Church, will be shown on Friday evenings, April 21st through June 2nd from 7:00–8:30 p.m. in the school library. The discussion afterwards will be facilitated by Father Gary Villanueva.

Cenacle Prayer Group meets Friday evenings (except for the 1st Friday of the month) from 8:00–9:00 p.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel to pray for our priests and parish families. Children of all ages are welcome! Contact person: Joan Yates (301) 283-2206

ARISE-Women of Prayer will meet every 2nd Saturday of the month from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady’s Chapel. Find out how much your life needs prayer and great fellowship. Receive encouragement as we seek to follow Mary’s example, and allow Christ to change the world through us! Contact person: Marti O’Neill (301) 609-6032 

PARISH NEWS
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bulletin articles must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Friday for publication two weekends later. Bulletin inserts must be in the parish office on the Tuesday prior to the weekend that the insert will be used. Inserts and articles for the bulletin must be approved by the pastor and arrangements for the organization to stuff the bulletin with the secretary. 

New parishioners should fill out a registration form found in either the gathering place of the main church or at the parish office. If you have a new address, phone number, e-mail address or a new member of your family, please contact Susan at (301) 292-0527 or parish@stmaryspiscataway.org. Thank you!

A special thanks to all who helped me locate the missing cemetery plot owners! I am still trying to locate: Mr. William Aubrey, Mr. Roberto & Lydia Correa, Mr. & Mrs. W. Alton Davis, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Rice, Mr. James Smith and Mr. & Mrs. John Washington (Mary). Sincerely, Susan

Quilters Wanted: St. Mary’s Piecemakers will be starting the new quilt for 2006. We meet once a week and can really use the extra help! Previous experience is not necessary. If you’d like to join us, please call Pat Seaquist at (301) 843-2082.

Attention All Scouts and Leaders! There will be a SPECIAL Commemorative Mass on Sunday, February 5th at 9:30 a.m. in the Main Church. Please wear your full Scout uniform and sit in the reserved pews. If you have any questions, please contact Mike or Rachel Alldaffer (301) 894-8499. 

RIGHT TO LIFE
January 2006

Legislation Promoting Embryonic Stem Cell Research (Oppose): Delegate Samuel Rosenberg and Senator Paula Hollinger are sponsoring legislation to promote embryonic stem cell research. (The bill title won’t be known until early February.) The bill seeks to use state money to fund the destruction of human embryos so that their cells can be used in science experiments. The Church condemns the destruction of innocent early human life; legislation endorsing the killing of human embryos must be opposed.

Legislation Promoting Parental Notification Before a Minor’s Abortion (Support): Parents have the right to be involved in the health care decisions of their minor children, and a minor girl seeking an abortion needs the guidance and support of her parents. The proposed legislation would modify Maryland’s law so that at least one parent will be notified before a minor’s abortion. An exception would be allowed in cases where a girl fears parental abuse, in which case a judge would authorize bypass of parental notification.

Please contact your Maryland State Senator and all of your Maryland Delegates; urge them to oppose legislation funding embryonic stem cell research and to support legislation promoting parental notification before a minor’s abortion.

District 27A-All areas South and East of St. Mary’s and Ft. Washington Forest Area directly West of St. Mary’s. 

Your State Senator is Thomas V. Mike Miller, State House, Room H-107, Annapolis, MD 21401, (301) 858-3700. His E-Mail Address is: : thomas_v_mike_miller@senate.state.md.us.

Your State Delegates are: James Proctor, Room 411, (301) 858-3083 james_proctor@house.state.md.us.
Joseph Vallario, Room 121, (301) 858-3488 

District 26-Most Areas North and West of Ft. Washington Forest Neighborhood.

Your State Senator is Gloria Gary Lawlah, James Senate Office Building, Room 304, Annapolis, MD 21401, (301) 858-3092 E-mail address: gloria_gary_lawlah@senate.state.md.us. 

Your State Delegates are: Darryl Kelley, Room 205, (301) 858-3212 darryl_kelley@house.state.md.us; Obie Patterson, Room 416, (301) 858-3210, obie_patterson@house.state.md.us; and Veronica Turner, Room 205, (301) 858-3212, veronica_turner@house.state.md.us. 

The address for all State Delegates is Lowe House Office Building, Room ___, Annapolis, MD 21401

 Can YOU watch with me
for just one hour?

Adorers and visitors are welcome to attend any hour of adoration. We are also in need of regular adorers and substitutes. Please contact Joan Yates at (301) 283-2206 if you have questions or would like to be an adorer. NOTE: There is an hour of adoration the first Friday of every month prior to the evening Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel.

The Holy Name Society is a group of Catholic men that promote reverence for the name of God and sanctification of members, supports the clergy and works for the good of the Parish. Come and join us every 1st Tuesday of the month from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the parish office conference room for good fellowship and for the betterment of the larger church community. Please contact Frank Kane if you have any questions.
 

SODALITY
Mrs. Mary Parker (301) 292-6656

Sodality is a group of Catholic women willing to work together in service of Christ’s Church and the world in every area of life: family, work, professional, civil and ecclesial. Sodality meets every 1st Sunday of the month after the 9:30 a.m. Mass in the school hall. For further information, please contact Mary Parker at (301) 292-6656 or Vicki Burton at (301) 292-9012.

Sodality will be selling raffle tickets to benefit the James Cardinal Hickey Scholarship Fund after all Masses through Sunday, February 26th. The 1st place prize will be $500, 2nd place $300, and three 3rd place prizes at $100 each. One half of the proceeds go to support St. Mary’s School. The other half goes to the Sodality Union of the Archdiocese of Washington to support the Mass for shut-ins. Tickets are $2 per book. For further information, please call Dorothy Jones at (301) 372-8922. 

 

YOUTH GROUP Youth Group Director: Mrs. Paola Carts (301) 283-0167

St. Mary’s has just started a Youth Group for teens and we would love to have you join! Interested teens and their parents are invited to offer ideas for projects and activities they’d like the group to do. We now have a brand new web site; please feel free to go to www.stmaryspiscataway.org/youthgroup.htm.

February 10th–12th Mount 2000 and Beyond Retreat, Emmitsburg, MD (Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary). A group of teens from St. Mary’s is already signed up to attend, but it’s not too late for others to sign up too! We have until 1800 registrants sign up or Feb. 1st, whichever comes first. This weekend-long retreat includes meals, housing and worship opportunities. 

MUSIC MINISTRY Music Director: Dr. Mickey Terry (202) 581-6304

TV Mass for Shut-Ins

The Archdiocese Office of Worship has once again requested St. Mary’s Traditional Choir to record another set of Shut-In Masses for Catholic television. The broadcast will be filmed at the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Shut-In Masses will be aired on the first and third Sundays of Lent. Congratulations to our choir! 

This is an exciting time to join the St. Mary’s Contemporary or Traditional Choir! The Traditional choir practice is on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.; the Contemporary choir, on Sunday at 9:00 a.m.—both in the Main Church. Please call Dr. Mickey Terry at (202) 581-6304 if you are interested in joining. Come and share your talents while worshiping Him!

OUTSIDE OF PARISH EVENTS