Photos above of sister parishes--Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Kingston, Jamaica, and
St. Mary's Church in Florence, Wisconsin.
Called to be Holy, Fully Engaged, Fully Alive
THIS WEEKEND, November 9th and 10th, our parish will take a collection to benefit the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, a triennial collection approved by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Prayerfully consider a contribution to this special collection to support active-duty military men and women, and their families—including those from our own parish. Specially marked envelopes can be found in your pews. Please be as generous as your abundance allows.
OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES to the family and friends of Fr. Ray Valerio who passed away October 31st, 2019, at the age of 88. May we continue to keep Fr. Ray and all his family in loving prayer. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm, to 7:00 pm, on Monday, November 11th, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Iron Mountain. The Knights of Columbus will stand vigil throughout the visitation. Rosary will be at 7:00 pm, immediately following visitation. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am, on Tuesday, November 12th, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Iron Mountain.
REMEMBRANCE BOOK . . . During the month of November, a remembrance book is on display in the worship area near the altar. Feel free to record the name of your departed loved one in the book as we continue to pray and remember all of our deceased loved ones during November.
With the weather turning very cold this week, here are a few reminders for the season of winter:
* If school or other local events are cancelled or delayed due to inclement weather, there will be no daily Masses on those days (5:30 pm Tuesday; 8:30 am Friday).
* If in the rare event Fr Timothy cannot make it to Mass on the weekend due to roads, weather or an emergency, we will try to have individuals on hand to lead the community in a liturgy service with Communion which will fulfill the Sunday Mass obligation. If not, your desire to be at Mass and the lack of a Mass being offered is not a sin.
* Finally, if the weather is too bad for you to make it to Mass, it is not a mortal sin to miss Mass due to health or weather concerns, but you should strive to keep holy the Sabbath day by another means: perhaps by reading the scriptures of the day, watching Mass on TV or listening on the radio, or taking dedicated time for prayer like the Rosary or something similar. These are not intended to be a substitute for Mass, but an alternative when the weather or your health prevent your attendance. Thank you!
THE WEEK AHEAD
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9th — Choir Practice at 5:30 pm. Mass at 6:00 pm. Mass Attendance Count.
Archdiocese for the Military Services 2nd collection during Mass.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10th — Stewardship Sunday! Choir Practice at 8:00 am. Mass at 8:30 am. Mass At-
tendance Count. Archdiocese for the Military Services 2nd collection during Mass. Intercessory Prayer
by the servers’ chairs after Mass. RE for grades 7-10 from 9:30 — 11:00 am. Rosary at 7:00 pm, in the par-
ish hall.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11th — Veterans’ Day.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12th — Mass at 5:30 pm.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13th — RE for grades 1-6 from 3:30—5:00 pm (safe environment classes for
grades 4-6). Walking with Purpose, women’s evening study group, at 5:45 pm, in the parish office center.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14th — Fr. Timothy at St. Mary from 4:00 — 6:00 pm, for confessions, anointings
and pastoral counseling. Eucharistic Adoration from 4:00—6:00 pm.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15th — Mass at 8:30 am. Liturgy of the Word with Communion at 10:00 am, at Flor-
ence Health Services.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16th — Choir Practice at 5:30 pm. Mass at 6:00 pm.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17th — Choir Practice at 8:00 am. Mass at 8:30 am. Intercessory Prayer by the serv-
ers’ chairs after Mass. No RE for grades 7-10. Rosary at 7:00 pm, in the parish hall.
SATISFY YOUR SWEET TOOTH at St. Mary’s Hospitality and Outreach Bake Sale taking place after our special deer hunters’ Masses on November 23rd and 24th. You’re sure to find a wide array of sweet treats and homemade goodies to share with your fellow hunters at camp! A sign-up sheet can be found in the entryway for folks willing to bring items.
THE WEEKEND BACKPACK PROGRAM at Florence Elementary School is underway! Backpack food programs provide nutritious, non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food to children to ensure they get enough food on weekends to avoid hunger when they cannot depend on school meals. Could you and your children benefit from this exciting, new program? To learn more or to sign-up, please contact Holly Krueger at the Florence Elementary, 715-528-3262, ext. 1600, or be sure to grab a flier located in the church entryway.
“LIVE THE GOSPEL” T-SHIRTS . . . Any one interested in purchasing “Live the Gospel” t-shirts is encouraged to sign up in the church entryway. Cost for t-shirts (adult sizes S-XL) is $8.50. (Please add $2.00 for every size up thereafter—$10.50 for 2X; $12.50 for 3X, etc.) Simply drop off your payment to Joanne in the parish office. (Checks can be made payable to St. Mary’s Church.)
ELECTRONIC GIVING CARDS . . . For those who contribute via electronic transfer or bill pay, we now have available in the church entryway “giving cards” that you may place in the collection basket during the offertory to represent your gifts to the church at the altar. Parishioners who contribute via electronic transfer or bill pay are encouraged and welcome to use these cards every week at Mass.
THANK YOU to Kathy Jazinski for completing a number of finance tasks; THANK YOU to Deb Cini for helping with some yard clean-up; and THANK YOU to Roy Rietz for bringing communion to the homebound.
GIVING TREE . . . Last year, 64 families (152 children) received items from the annual Giving Tree program. Bring joy to a child’s heart this Christmas season by taking a gift tag off of the tree located in the church entryway, and kindly returning your UNWRAPPED gift with the tag attached by Sunday, December 8th. “Angel” tags are for toys, and “dove” tags are for clothing.
Veterans’ Day Prayer
Dear Lord, Today, we honor our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country.
We pray that you will bless them for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and our country’s heritage, for all of us.
Bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced, for the sacrifices they made for their many different contributions to America’s victories over tyranny and oppression.
We respect them, we thank them, we honor them, we are proud of them. We pray that you will watch over these special people and bless them with peace and happiness.
Amen.
WALKING WITH PURPOSE TIME CHANGE . . . The Walking with Purpose women’s evening study group will begin meeting at 5:45 pm, Wednesday evenings starting November 13th, in the parish office center.
FR. TIMOTHY’S PRAYER CALENDAR . . This past spring, a prayer calendar was created in honor of Fr. Timothy’s 10th anniversary of ordination into the priesthood. A gentle reminder, are you remembering to fulfill your monthly prayer commitment? If needed, a copy of the prayer calendar is on display in the parish hall for your review. Thank you, again, for your participation in this spiritual gift of prayer for Fr. Timothy!
Thanksgiving Mass at St. Mary’s
Wednesday, November 27th, at 6:00 pm,
with blessing of food
NOTE: No Eucharistic Adoration on Thanksgiving Day, November 28th
-----------------------------------week of November 2/3, 2019, below--------------------------------------
Called to be Holy, Fully Engaged, Fully Alive
Every November, we remember those who have passed away during the past year: John D’Agostino, Jean Trinka, Millicent Conn, Anthony Dollar, Warren Stetz, Donald Bergeron, Homer Dunkes, Sharon DeLaruelle, Julie Meyers and Gerald Manley. Please remember them and their families in your prayers this week as well. If a loved one of yours passed away this past year, please feel free to enter their name in the memorial book at the front of our worship space. It will remain there throughout the month of November.
MONTHLY PRAYER LINE . . . Copies of the prayer line for the month of November are available and can be found in the church entryway for pick-up.
CALLING ALL VETERANS! Join us for Dentistry for Our Vets, a day of free dental care for our armed service veterans, taking place at the John Fornetti Dental Center, 100 S Stephenson Ave, in Iron Mountain on Saturday, November 9th, from 8 am—3 pm. FREE choice of cleaning, extraction or filling! First come, first served!
THANK YOU to Mike and John Lemanski for completing some tree removal; THANK YOU to Sis Herman, Mary Michaud, Rebecca Vento, Francie Freeberg and morning religious ed students for helping with last Sunday’s cinni-bun social; THANK YOU to Yvonne Podner for creating another vestment for Fr. Timothy; THANK YOU to Tammy Burkart for cleaning the parish hall restrooms; THANK YOU to our valuable catechists and RE snack/meal helpers; THANK YOU to Betty Steber, Nancy Podner and Sis Herman for helping with general office tasks; THANK YOU to the Koren Zipperer Family for donating a wheelchair for the church entryway; and THANK YOU to ALL who anchor Eucharistic Adoration and evening Rosary.
A BENEFIT FOR OMAR FLORES who is battling stomach cancer is taking place Sunday, November 3rd, from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm, at the Knights of Columbus, 520 W Breitung Ave, in Kingsford, MI. Suggested donation is $5.00 to attend. Kids 5 and under are free! All monies from the event will go directly to Omar’s family to help offset travel and medical expenses.
NEXT WEEKEND, November 9th and 10th, our parish will take up the Collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Established by St. John Paul II in 1985, the AMS is the only US diocese responsible for providing pastoral care to men and women serving in the US Armed Forces, enrolled at a US Military Academy, being treated as a patient at any of the 153 US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, or working for the federal government beyond US borders—including those from our own parish and diocese. Including families, AMS priests and deacons serve approximately 1.8 million Catholics who hail from 50 states and US territories. While the salaries and retirement of Catholic military chaplains are paid for by the US government, the AMS does not receive any funding from the government or military for program and administrative costs. To learn more about the AMS, go to Specially marked envelopes can be found in your pews. Please be as generous as your abundance allows.
THE WEEK AHEAD
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd — All Souls’ Day. Choir Practice at 5:30 pm. Mass at 6:00 pm. Mass Attend-
ance Count.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd — Daylight saving time ends! National Vocations Awareness Week Nov. 3rd—9th.
Choir Practice at 8:00 am. Mass at 8:30 am. Mass Attendance Count. Intercessory Prayer by the servers’ chairs after
Mass. RE for grades 7-10 from 9:30 — 11:00 am. Rosary at 7:00 pm, in the parish hall.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4th — St. Vincent de Paul Conference Meeting at 5:30 pm, in the parish office center.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5th — Mass at 5:30 pm.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6th — RE for grades 1-6 from 3:30—5:00 pm (safe environment classes for grades 1-3).
Walking with Purpose, women’s evening study group, at 6:00 pm, in the parish office center.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7th — Eucharistic Adoration from 4:00—6:00 pm.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8th — Mass at 8:30 am. Mass at 10:00 am, at Florence Health Services. Youth Encounter
Nov. 8th-10th, at Fortune Lake in Crystal Falls, MI.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9th — Choir Practice at 5:30 pm. Mass at 6:00 pm. Mass Attendance Count. Archdio-
cese for the Military Services 2nd collection during Mass.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10th — Stewardship Sunday! Choir Practice at 8:00 am. Mass at 8:30 am. Mass Attend-
ance Count. Archdiocese for the Military Services 2nd collection during Mass. Intercessory Prayer by the servers’
chairs after Mass. RE for grades 7-10 from 9:30 — 11:00
am. Rosary at 7:00 pm, in the parish hall.
LOCAL VIRTUS TRAININGS are taking place Monday, November 4th, at 5:00 pm, at St. Leonard’s Church, in Laona, WI; and on Thursday, November 7th, at 6:30 pm, at Bishop Baraga Catholic School in Iron Mountain. All adult volunteers who have contact with minors and individuals at risk as part of their volunteer duties are required to attend this awareness training. To register, visit or contact Joanne in the parish office.
THANK YOU for your response in recent weeks to the collection for World Mission Sunday. Through your support and generosity, our parish raised $519.00. You may stay connected year-round to the Pope’s mission, continuing the commitment of World Mission Sunday, by visiting MISSIO.org.
MANY THANKS! The Hospitality and Outreach Ministry would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made possible last Sunday’s ecumenical harvest dinner! A very special thank you to all who attended; the many folks who brought food; those who helped move tables and decorate the hall; our greeters; and to all who helped with set-up, serving and clean-up! And, thank you for your generous contributions in the amount of $300.00, which will be divided and shared equally between the St. Vincent de Paul Conference and the Come to Supper program at the Presbyterian Church.
HATS OFF to Carolyn Lemanski for coordinating the children’s “Saints in the Making Sunday”, which took place Sunday, October 27th! The children’s presentation was a delight to watch and was followed by light refreshments and door prizes in the parish hall! A special thank you to the children in grades 1-6 who dressed as saints and to Jessica Frost for taking pictures!
November 3rd – 9th is National Vocations Awareness Week! As Catholics, we firmly believe that God has a plan for our lives! He calls some to marriage, some to the priesthood, and others to religious life. Some remain as generous single people. Fully living our own vocations—and teaching young people how to discern God’s call—is a serious duty, but also a joyful one. Today begins National Vocations Awareness Week. During this week, please pray about how God is calling you to live your vocation more deeply. Encourage the young people in your life—children, grandchildren, students, and friends—to be open if God calls them to priesthood or consecrated life.
Teach your children to use GPS! After Mass today, have a conversation with your children, asking, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” After a few moments of discussion, ask, “Who do you think God wants you to be when you grow up?” Emphasize to your children that God has a specific plan in mind for them, and that following God’s plan is the surest way to happiness. Every life decision—which college to attend, whom to date, which job to pursue, whether to enter seminary, whom to marry—should be undertaken only after praying for God’s guidance. In other words, encourage kids to navigate life using GPS—God’s Positioning System.
How parents (and grandparents) can nurture vocations in the household:
Set an example. Model discipleship and a loving marriage to your children.
Seek role models. Befriend priests, sisters, and brothers and invite them to your home.
Look to scripture. Read and discuss the Bible stories of Mary’s response to God (Luke 1:26-39), and Jesus calling the Apostles (Mt 4:18-22).
Pray for the future. Pray aloud that your children will follow Jesus and remain open to holy marriage, priesthood, and religious life.
If your child does express interest in the priesthood or religious life, be supportive. The best thing you can say is, “Whatever God wants for you, I want for you, too. Just keep praying to discover His will for your life.”
