In honor of our parish’s 175th anniversary, St. Mary Church is pleased to offer a one-woman-play on October 7, 2018 at 1pm. ‘In Her Own Words’ is based on the journals and letters of Indiana’s first saint, Mother Theodore Guerin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary-of-theWoods near Terre Haute, IN. The performance will highlight the founding of the first school at St. Mary Church by St. Theodora in the fall of 1854. Actress Sandra Hartlieb will bring the saint to life, centering this historical portrayal of Mother Theodore on her strength, humor, pioneering hardships, determined spirit and a profound trust in Providence. The performance will also include interludes of music and creative movement by Nora Pritchett of Sisterhood Drama Ministry. Reservations are not required and there is no cost to attend this anniversary event.

Please save the date for our 175th Anniversary Mass, celebrated by the Most Rev. Charles Thompson, Archbishop of Indianapolis. on Saturday, October 13, 2018. Mass, which will feature the Confirmation of 20 youth and adults, will begin at 5:30pm. An anniversary banquet, hosted by St. Anne's Altar Society, will follow at 7pm. Reservation details to follow.

So. Ind begins 2nd year Well-Read Mom is a way for women to reclaim time to read and provides a monthly structure for reading high quality literature and grow in friendship. The year’s theme is “Contemplative” and includes great books, spiritual classics (during Advent and Lent), poetry and selected essays from the Catholic and Western Tradition. The kick off is September 14 at St. Joseph Church from 7-9pm . Find out more by emailing Angela de Krieger at angela.dekrieger@gmail.com . You may also want to check out www.wellreadmom.com .

You are invited to attend a DVD series presented by Fr. Michael Gaitley, “The Second Greatest Story Ever Told,” that tells the dramatic story of God’s Love and Mercy as interwoven into the key events of history. It is a perfect opportunity for every parish or person who desires to go deeper into a heartfelt understanding of Divine Mercy and their role in God’s plan. This program will be offered at St. Joseph Church in the Cafeteria on Friday, August 17 (7pm –9pm) and Saturday, August 18 (9am – 4pm, includes lunch). Please RSVP the St. Joseph’s Parish Office at (812) 738-2742 by Thursday, August 16, 2018. This opportunity is offered by the Missionaries of Divine Mercy from all Harrison County parishes!

Don’t go back to college without it! All 2018 high school graduates and college-age compatriots are invited out for a night of Tacomania craziness with Catholic YouthMinistries! Meet at Mt. St. Francis (101 St. Anthony Dr / Mt. St. Francis, IN) on August 3 at 5 pm. We will travel together to Kraft’s pool complex where tacos, games and general pool shenanigans will take place! Please RSVP by July 30 by texting “George” to 84576 and sign on to the “Tacomania” group. You may also call (812) 923-8355 for more information.

Batter up! 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.

Thirsty Thursdays begins new series Catholic young adults (21-40) are invited to Thirsty Thursday, every Thursday night beginning at 6pm. This group enjoys fellowship, discussion and the new series “The Catholic Faith As We’ve Never Seen It Before.” Contact Philip at (812) 923-8355 or Philip@nadyouth.org for more details. No RSVP required.

Mondays at the Mount will resume on August 20 at 7:00 pm. This will be the first Mondays at the Mount Bible Study gathering since the death of Bro. Bob Baxter, OFM. Conv. All who have attended his “Mondays” in the past are invited for a special sharing session in the Cupertino Room at Mount St. Francis (101 St. Anthony Dr / Mt. St. Francis, IN) led by Bro. Nick Wolfla, OFM. Conv. For more information, call (812) 923-8817.

Can you lend a hand? St. Mary Youth Ministry is in need of volunteers to help kick off our annual Parish Picnic! To accomplish our goal of “the best picnic EVER” in 2018, we will be hosting a work day on Saturday, August 5 from 9am until 4pm. (Lunch will be provided.) Come for the whole day or just a few hours. We will be doing all kinds of projects, including but not limited to setting up a parish museum, building yard games for the children’s area, delivering picnic invitations to neighborhoods surrounding the parish, scrapbooking and setting up a museum display. Your help and creativity is needed! Call Michelle at (812) 952-2853 or faithformaiton@frontier.com for more information. No RSVP required.

You are invited to attend a DVD series presented by Fr. Michael Gaitley that tells the dramatic story of God’s Love and Mercy as interwoven into the key events of history. It is a perfect opportunity for every parish or person who desires to go deeper into a heartfelt understanding of Divine Mercy and their role in God’s plan. This program will be offered at St. Joseph Church in the Cafeteria on Friday, August 17 (7pm –9pm) and Saturday, August 18 (9am – 4pm, includes lunch). To make sure we can accommodate attendees for lunch please RSVP the St. Joseph’s Parish Office at (812) 738-2742 by Thursday, August 16, 2018. There is no charge for attending this program, however, free will offerings are always accepted. An optional workbook, which covers the material in the program, will be available for purchase at the office or the day of the program if you so choose.

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.