Current Week's Mass Schedule

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All Saints Day - HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION

All Souls Day

St. Martin De Porres

1st Friday/St. Charles Borromeo

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Next Weekend's Mass Schedule

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. 

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. 

PARISHIONERS

Week 1: Gwen Mason, Rene Mendenilla
Week 4: Grace Schlosser

FAMILY AND FRIENDS 

Week 1: Amy Braun, Nancy Brislow, Crocker Family
Week 3: Robert Bredehoft

TROOPS IN IRAQ

2nd Lt Albert Elam, III; Patrick O’Bryant, US Army; PFC Kori Arsenault, Natl Guard; S/SGT Kurt Gartung; Major Alfredo Bandong, Jr.; Capt Marc S. LLacuna, USAF; Lt Col Stephen Wilson, USMC

Please pray for those listed above: Names of those in need of prayer will be published in the church bulletin for one month. If a parishioner still has need for prayer, his or her name will be kept on the prayer list. Please let Susan know when the name can be removed. Thank you! 

All Saints Day on Tuesday, November 1st is a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass will be at 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Main Church. There will be a Mass at 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Main Church on Wednesday, November 2nd for All Souls Day. All Souls Day is not a Holy Day of Obligation.

There is no place like home!

We will enter the month of November this week. The Feast of All Saints reminds us that our ultimate home is Heaven. This truth of our faith is not a vague notion but a belief that there is something beyond encountering death. The saints in Heaven are members of our families—many whom we never met nor even know their names. Yet, their “YES” to life and to the gift of faith has merited for them the blessing of union with God. The commemoration of All Souls is filled with mixed emotions for most of us. We remember loved ones who no longer journey with us in this life. Many faces and voices come to mind. Yet, because of our faith, we can continue to say to them “I continue to say to them “I love you” by means of our prayers. This month leads us to anticipate our heavenly home. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let us give thanks to our Lord for the grace to be faithful to both our earthly and heavenly home.

“The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest,” Jesus says in today’s Gospel. What wonderful good news for those who give of their time in service to others!

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.

St. Mary’s website has a link to FindaGrave.com which is a virtual cemetery and lists the names of those buried in our cemetery. Please go to St. Mary’s in Clinton located in PG county. Many thanks go to Clarence Parrish for collecting the names and to Corinne Prebble, our web master for making the linkage.

Blessing of Graves by Father Gary at St. Mary’s Cemetery on All Souls Day, Wednesday, November 2nd between 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30–5:00 p.m. Father Gary will also bless graves on November 5th, 13th, 19th and 27th from 9:00–10:00 a.m. Please come to the parish office during these hours to contact Father Gary.

Father Gary will be celebrating Mass at 8:00 p.m. on First Friday, November 5th in Our Lady’s Chapel. Those participating in this special Mass are reminded that First Saturday is celebrated at the 8:30 a.m. Mass in our Lady’s Chapel.

Reconciliation Services will be held on Tuesday, December 13th and 20th at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Church.

We are in need of male and/or female volunteers to help at the Millennium Nursing Home on Tuesdays from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. This time includes Mass, so please contact Joan Yates at (301) 283-2206 if you can join us.

Can YOU watch for just one hour? Adorers and visitors are welcome to attend any hour of adoration. Our hours of greatest need are: Tuesday noon–1:00 p.m., 5:00–6:00 p.m., 6:00–7:00 p.m.; Wednesday 5:00–6:00 p.m. and Thursday, noon–1:00 p.m., 1:00–2:00 p.m., 5:00–6:00 p.m. and 6:00–7:00 p.m. Please contact Joan Yates at (301) 283-2206 if you have questions or would like to be an adorer. 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Director of Religious Education: Bill Keimig
(310) 292-0527 Ext. #104

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 $110 for three or more students.

Book Discussion Group meets every Sunday morning 10:45–11:45 a.m. in the faculty lounge or behind the school depending on the weather. Come for good fellowship, donuts and hot drinks! 

Baptismal Classes for parents wishing to have their child baptized will be held on the 4th Sunday of the month after the noon Mass. Please call Bill Keimig at (301) 292-0527 Ext. #104 and leave a message if you plan to attend.

Hearts Aflame Course on Morality will be held on Mondays: October 31st, November 7th, 14th, and 21st from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Natural Family Planning Classes will be held at the Keimigs’ home (15000 Schall Road, Accokeek) on the following Sunday afternoons: November 6th, and 20th from 1:30–3:30 p.m. Please contact Heather at (301) 203-9293 to pre-register

Spiritual Play on Three Women of the Bible on Sunday evening, November 13th at 6:30 p.m. in the main church. Tickets must be purchased at the door: adults, $5; children under 12, $3.

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 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 for play time and for prayer at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel. Contact person: Heather Keimig (301) 203-9293. 

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) sessions for those considering becoming Catholic will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7:15–9:15 p.m. in the school library. Please feel free to come any Tuesday; no pressure. 

Bible Sharing on the Book of Romans with Deacon Ames will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7:00–8:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Parish office through December 14th. Please feel free to join us! Contact person: Deacon George 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 at 7:30 p.m. Please call Bob Ryan at (301) 203-8203 for the current meeting location.

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 8:30–10:30 a.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel. Contact person: Marti O’Neill (301) 609-6032. Join us for prayer and great fellowship! 

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

If you like to sing, and have thought about joining the choir, but feel that your schedule is too hectic to fit it in—you may find that it is not as difficult as you might have thought. We would love to have you sing with us! Please contact Dr. Terry to join the choir.

From the time I was a child, music has been part of my life. I’ve sang in a choir in grammar school and in a glee club in high school. I sing soprano as well as alto, but I enjoy the challenge of singing alto. Even after high school, I continued to sing in the adult choir at Church. I’ve been a member of St. Mary’s choir since 1991. I do not read music very well, but I’ve learned a lot from all my years of singing and listening to the other members around me. Sometimes I feel that my life is too busy to be in the choir—working full time job and attending rehearsals on Thursday nights and spending 2 ½ hours in church on Sunday. However, I continue to enjoy the opportunity to sing.
My confirmation name is St. Cecelia. At one point, I felt that something was missing in my life. My mother encouraged me to join St. Mary’s Choir in 1995. A year later, I took a break from singing, but in 2002 I returned to the Contemporary Choir. Over the summer my mother suggested that I return to the Traditional Choir. I thank the Lord that He has given me a gift of singing praises and joy.

YOUTH GROUP
Mrs. Paola Carts (301) 283-0167

OUTSIDE OF PARISH EVENTS

Post Cana, a widow/widower’s group, is hosting a Mass commemorating deceased spouses and friends on Sunday, November 6th at the Pastoral Center, 5001 Easter Avenue, Hyattsville, MD. The Liturgy will begin at 12:30 p.m. followed by dinner. Reservations for dinner may be made by sending a check for $17.50 payable to Rita Sewell, 2904 N. Leisure World Boulevard, Apt. #403, Silver Spring, MD 20906. Deadline is Monday, October 31st. Please contact Rita at (301) 438-3241 for further information.

Open House on Sunday, November 20th for two Catholic co-educational high schools serving the area: St. John’s College High School, 2607 Military Road, NW, Washington, D.C. 20015 from 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. www.stjohns-chs.org and Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, 11601 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902 at (301) 942-1155.

St. Peter’s Bookstore Lecture Series

Father Donald Calloway MIC—Saturday, November 19th at Mount Saint Mary’s University and Seminary’s Marion Burk Knott Auditorium in Emmitsburg, MD. Hear father’s captivating story of conversion and how he came to the priesthood. Read father’s new book, “The Virgin Mary and Theology of the Body.” Father will be at St. Peter’s Bookstore in Emmitsburg for a book signing from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. followed by a talk at the Knott Auditorium at 3:00 p.m. 

Father Kieran Kavanaugh O.C.D.—Saturday, December 3rd at the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, noon Mass followed by a talk from Fr. Kavanaugh. Father is the English translator of the writings of both St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. He is a member of the Carmelite Studies and was the vice postulator for the canonization of St. Edith Stein.

Ned Dougherty—Saturday, January 14, 2006. Ned will be at St. Peter’s Bookstore for a book signing from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. followed by a talk at Ski Liberty Resort and Conference Center in Fairfield, PA at 7:00 p.m. Hear Ned’s story of his near death experience that led him from being a wealthy businessman and his return to God. Visit his website at www.fastlanetoheaven.com.