Bring the whole family out for a fun night watching the Louisville Bats take on the Indianapolis Indians on Friday, August 24. Tickets are $8 per person and include reserved seating and a Bats hat! It’s the anniversary of the classic baseball movie, The Sandlot, so the first 2000 fans in attendance will also receive a “ Ham Porter ” bobblehead. Place your ticket order in the Parish Office no later than August 20. For more information, contact Michelle at (812) 952-2853 or faithformation@frontier.com.

•Has expressed an interest in becoming Catholic? •Has a child over the age of seven who has not been baptized? •Was baptized Catholic as a child, but has not celebrated the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or the Eucharist? St. Mary Church offers an opportunity to come together in a small group to learn more about our Catholic faith. Sessions focus on the teachings and experience of Church and prepare individuals to celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the appropriate time in their faith journey. There are separate sessions for children or youth. You are welcome to participate in the process with your questions, your insights and yours story in a warm accepting setting. For information please contact Michelle Fessel at (812) 952-2853 or faithformation@frontier.com today. Small group gatherings occur year round, so it is never too early (or too late!) to join in.

Each Sunday morning, prior to the 8am Mass, the Holy Rosary is prayed at St. Mary Church. We are in need of several more individuals or couples willing to lead the rosary, reciting the mysteries and prayers. If you are interested in learning more about this ministry opportunity, please contact David or Esther Wheatley at (812) 952-3065. All are welcome to join in and pray the rosary each week before Mass! Please consider joining us, even if the role of leader is not your calling.

Taylor Fulkerson is our (only) seminarian currently in formation. He is the son of David and Carol Fulkerson. Taylor is a Jesuit scholastic of the USA Midwest Province and is currently in formation at the PONTIFICAL CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF PERU (Lima, Peru). Please remember him in your prayers

VBS 2018 registration now open. Register online at www.catholic-community.org/vbs or fill out a paper form at St. Mary’s Parish Office. For more information, contact Rena or Sara at (812 )952-2853. VBS will be held July 16-19 from 6-8:45pm. A family night, which will include an end-of-VBS party and Mass, will also be held on July 21.

On Sunday, September 24, from 12:00pm—2:00 pm Widows, Widowers & Senior Singles will meet. This is a pitch in lunch and meat will be provided, please bring a dish. Join us and bring a friend!

The Office of Deacon Formation is beginning a period of inquiry and discernment for those interested in the Permanent Diaconate. In the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, formation for the permanent diaconate is a five year process beginning with the year of inquiry and discernment. Click on the link above to learn more on the Deacon Formation program.

Youth Ministers from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, including St. Mary’s Sara Hollowell, began the summer with training and education on the ministry fundamentals. “Vocation” Bible School offered school age children a chance to learn more about hearing God’s call in our lives. Three representatives of St. Mary Church attended One Bread One Cup, a liturgical leadership conference at St. Meinrad Archabbey.

To receive periodic text messages from St. Mary Church, including ministry updates, weather-related cancellations, and Holy Day Mass reminders and the latest news, please text the ministry code for your specific age-group, (below) to (607) 564-5066.

The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum - from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Please click on the link above to access the entire Mass schedule.

Everyone loves the thrill of an egg hunt! Our annual parish Easter Egg Hunt Easter Sunday, April 16, immediately following the 10:30am Mass. Children up to age 10 are invited to participate. Adults of all ages are welcome to stay and watch the fun unfold! Forgot your basket? No problem! Bags are available if you left your basket at home! Thank you to Tara Dye for coordinating this year’s hunt!

Lenten Faith Sharing begins this week! Is the Church relevant in a society that encourages each individual to create his own morality? What is “right” and “wrong”? Is what’s right for me, right for you? After discerning what is right, how do I respond to Jesus’ invitation to encounter His mercy and be healed by His love? We will wrestle with these difficult questions during six weeks of prayer, Catholic teaching and small group discussion among parishioners during the 2017 Lenten Faith Sharing at St. Mary Catholic Church.

"It is therefore fitting to have several penitential celebrations during Lent, so that all the faithful may have an opportunity to be reconciled with God and their neighbor and so be able to celebrate the paschal mystery in the Easter Triduum with renewed hearts" (The Rite of Penance, No. 13).

I-CAN (The Indiana Catholic Action Network) aims to help Roman Catholics, from throughout the state of Indiana, to stay informed and aware of current laws moving through state and national government.

Children and youth from our parish are preparing their hearts to receive the Sacraments of Initiation in the spring. Would you consider joining them on their special day and give them your prayerful support?

St. Mary Youth Ministry will be hosting a Valentine’s Dinner, Dance & Silent Auction on Saturday, February 11, 2017 from 6:30pm - 10:00pm. Reserve your seat now!! Limited seating available. Reserve your seat by mailing or dropping off the reservation form to the parish office, or call 812-952-2853. Reservations will be accepted until 4:00pm Friday, February 3, 2017.

Have you ever been curious about One Bread, One Cup, the liturgical conference held each year at St. Meinrad? For years, high school students from our parish have spent a week at the seminary growing in faith through prayer, liturgical ministry, reflection on Sacred Scripture and more.

Teens and children are invited to participate in the annual Christmas play which will be held during the parish Christmas party on December 30. If you are interested, please make plans to spend the afternoon of December 30 with us from noon until the play at 5:30pm.

Start the season of Advent off with a evening with family and friends on Monday, November 28. Make your own wreath with provided supplies (fresh greenery, basket, floral foam, candles, ribbon etc.) at the cost of $10 per wreath.

Prepare for the coming of the Lord by reconciling yourself with God and with the Church. The sacrament of reconciliation is available at the following parishes during Advent: