St Mary's Church, Swormville

We had a great time on Friday night around the bonfire! Our next BREAKTHROUGH Youth Night is October 28th. The theme is: The floor is lava! Grades 6 - 12 are invited to join us. Did you know your teen's friends do not have to be Catholic or belong to St. Mary's to come along?

Don’t throw out those old shoes! SMS is having a footwear drive! Our 8th grade class is hosting a shoe collection! The company that they are collecting for, Funds2Orgs, works to support individuals who create micro-businesses in developing countries to combat the effects of systemic poverty and a lack of education and economic opportunity. Bins have been placed outside the school office. We will take all we can get until 11/14. Shoes, sneakers, cleats, hiking boots, rain boots, water shoes & sandals are acceptable. They will not accept single shoes, ice skates, roller skates, wet or moldy shoes, or shoes with holes or tears.

Calling St. Mary's teens and friends: Join us this Friday night at 6:30 around the bonfire to talk about the meaning of fire!

Annual Pet Blessing on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi tomorrow - Friday, October 4 at 6:00 PM on the front steps of St. Mary School, facing Transit Rd. All furry, feathered and scaly pets are welcome! Please bring pets on a leash or in a pet carrier.

Rosary Leaders Needed. Please consider being a prayer leader before our weekend Masses this month. October is the Month of the Holy Rosary. You need not be a Rosary expert, you just need to be a disciple who is willing to lead the prayer, using the provided materials, one half hour before the scheduled Mass. If you are willing to lead the Rosary before a weekend Mass, please sign up with the link below or contact Hope Chavanne by phone at (716) 633-9525 or by email at hopemariec2@gmail.com. Sign up for as many slots as you wish at: https://shorturl.at/szfS0

Did you know that St. Mary's Church offers Children's Liturgy of the Word at the Sunday 9 AM Mass? Seen here, Fr. Walt leads the assembly in blessing the children before they depart to hear God's Word in an understandable child-friendly way during the Liturgy of the Word. Children's Liturgy of the Word is oriented to ages 4-12 and parents are welcome to accompany the younger children.

ST. MARY'S OKTOBERFEAST IS ONE WEEK AWAY! Ask your friend or spouse to scan this QR code to make a reservation! No need to pay today - pay when you arrive! $10/one person, $15/two people. Event details and link to RSVP in Friday's Flocknote & St. Mary's website: https://www.stmaryswormville.org/article/1771799

October is the Month of the Holy Rosary. Please consider being a Rosary prayer leader before our weekend Masses in October. You need not be a Rosary expert, you just need to be disciple who is willing to lead the prayer, using the provided materials, one half hour before the scheduled Mass. For more information or to sign up go to: https://shorturl.at/szfS0

Priesthood Sunday is this Sunday, September 29th. Thank a priest. Thank God for our priests. Pray for priests. Ask God for more priests.

Who are the angels? What role do they play in our lives? Students in grades 6 - 12 are invited to join us for BREAKTHROUGH Youth Night in St. Mary's gym to find out! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054CABA72FA7FD0-breakthrough1#/ or go to stmaryswormville.org > faith formation > youth ministry > breakthrough youth nights

OKTOBERFEST Sat., Oct. 5th, 5 - 8:30 PM! RSVP: 688-9380, parishlife@stmaryswormville.org, or https://stmarysparish5.flocknote.com/signup/181098. Adults 21+ welcome. Admission $10/each, $15/two. Music by The Frankfurters! Beer, wine, pretzels, brats & dumplings for purchase. BYO snacks welcome. No BYO alcohol allowed.

It's time to RSVP for OKTOBERFEST '24! Make your reservation today by scanning the QR code, calling (716)688-9380, emailing: parishlife@stmaryswormville.org., or using this link: https://stmarysparish5.flocknote.com/signup/181098 OKTOBERFEST will be a fun ACRCC community event on Saturday, October 5, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM in St. Mary's parish center. All adults 21 yrs.+ are welcome to join us. Admission is $10/person, $15/couple; tables of 8 may be reserved. Music will be provided by The Frankfurters! Seasonal craft beer, wine, hot pretzels, bratwurst, and homemade apple dumplings will be available for purchase. BYO snacks are welcome. Basket raffles and 50/50 too! Please, no BYO alcohol allowed.

Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) classes for those seeking to come into full communion with the Catholic Church are set to begin September 22, 2024. Candidates are those who wish to convert to Catholicism or those baptized Catholic who did not receive First Eucharist or Confirmation. We meet each Sunday at 8:30 AM in St. Mary's Parish Center Room 109, go to 9 AM Mass together, and have instruction from 10 AM - 12 PM.

Youth in grades 6 - 12 are welcome to join us tonight for Wild Wet Wiffle Ball. Blow off some beginning of the school year "steam" at Breakthrough Youth Night! We will meet in St. Mary's gym at 6:30 PM. Parent pick-up is 8:00 PM. All denominations welcome - bring friends!

Our gardens around the Blessed Virgin are beautiful this time of year! You can help to keep them that way by signing up to maintain a bed or two (weed, prune, edge, work up the mulch). Call the parish office to adopt a garden, (716) 688-9380

THE CHOSEN Series - Our study resumed on September 8th and we will continue to meet on Sundays at 10:15 a.m. OR Mondays at 10:15 a.m. Our first 3 weeks will be a recap and faith sharing for seasons 1, 2, and 3. Our study of season 4 will begin on Sept 29th. Each week we will explore the meaning of each episode with scripture and discussion meant to help you move forward in your faith using questions that are challenging enough to do just that. A 90-minute time of prayer, reflection, and faith sharing. A free study guide with scripture, questions, etc., is provided. Click the link below to open the registration form, learn more, and see a video trailer https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftgTVKznYKKdjurWg4180O5IQNSphEw1drJjBQUVDIX3tGgw/viewform You are a disciple! Invite family, bring friends, make friends. Come to this unforgettable, life-changing oasis on your walk to eternity. Come, even if you can only attend one session! Please contact Dick Marchessault by phone (716) 221-0046 if you have any questions or the Catholic Education Office at (716) 688-0599.

Sharing a beautiful St. John Neumann Prayer...

Do you have children in grades 6 - 12? Do you want them to have fun in a safe environment? Would you like them to meet new friends? Would you like them to embrace Jesus as relevant in their daily lives? Encourage your teen to come to a BREAKTHROUGH Youth Group gathering at St. Mary's. The next two meetings are 9/13 and 9/30, 6:30 - 8:00 PM.

NEW ALTAR SERVER TRAINING this Saturday, September 7, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM, in the church. This training session is for those who were not able to attend the training in August. Boys and girls in grade 4 and above who have received their First Communion are eligible to be trained as an altar server. The training will be conducted by our adult server coordinator, Mr. Dick Marchessault. Contact Donna Allan if your child would like to attend at liturgy@stmaryswormville.org.

Additional Altar Server Training Session Added: for those who were not able to attend the training in August, a second session has been scheduled for Saturday, September 7th from 10:30 to 12:30. Boys and girls in grade 4 and above who have received their First Communion are eligible to be trained as an altar server. The training will be conducted by our adult server coordinator, Mr. Dick Marchessault. It will take place in the church. Contact Donna Allan at liturgy@stmaryswormville.org if your child would like to attend.