New Albany Deanery Catholic Youth Ministries will be kicking off the annual fundraising campaign with a dinner on August 28 at Huber’s Plantation Hall at 6pm. This year’s guest speaker is Archbishop Charles Thompson. All are welcome to attend. For more information, please call Sandy at (812) 923-8355 or email sandy@nadyouth.org

Due to the parish picnic no fill the truck in the month of August! Look for the van in September to support the Breaking Bread Food Pantry, a ministry of St. Mary Church and Dare to Care, on the second Sunday of each month by donating items to the truck parked between the Church and school. Items needed: Canned tuna, spaghetti, and sauce, fruit.

Archbishop Charles Thompson and the U.S. bishops urge our participation each Friday in a nationwide Novena for the Legal Protection of Human Life, August 3–September 28. Participants will receive weekly email or text reminders to pray and fast, along with little-known facts about Roe v. Wade to share with others. Please sign up at www.usccb.org/pray today and join our parish community in prayer.

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.

•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.

Eucharistic ministers are needed for each weekend Mass. Please consider this ministry, follow the linl above for more information.

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!

Dear St. Mary Parishioner, Please take a few moments to listen to the wise and simple words of Archbishop Joseph Tobin on a life of stewardship.

The Breaking Bread Food Pantry would like to thank all of the faithful volunteers who give of their time, serving the needs of the vulnerable in our community. At this time, there is a need for more volunteers - high school age and adults - to work on Tuesdays between the hours of 4pm and 6pm.