St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church at 7 Frank Lane, Fort Monroe, VA 23651-1010 US - Home

Weekly Bible Quote: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26) 

What's New at St. Mary's...
                       

St. Mary Star of the Sea
Weekend Mass Schedule

SATURDAY               5:00 pm 
 SUNDAY                    9:30 am 

 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENT!

The Peninsula Cluster of Catholic Churches  has created a new registration form for Religious Education.  Click here on CCD to obtain your copy, or go to the Religious Education box above. 

The Peninsula Cluster Mass Schedule has been revised to include the correct Mass times for all three churches.  To download and print a detailed Peninsula Cluster Mass Schedule, complete with Confession times and locations, go to Cluster Mass Schedule.

St. Mary's 2012 Income/Expense Report is available.  To view the details, refer to 2012 Income/Expense Report.

                                                          Take Note:
               
There will be a priest available by appointment each Friday after the 12:05 Mass.  Call the Parish Office at the number listed in the bulletin to make an appointment.

Bishop DiLorenzo has issued and circulated a letter to all the parishes in the Richmond Diocese.  This communication is in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's intention to require all employers, including Catholic employers, to offer their employees coverage for services that run counter to the basic tenets of our faith.  Not only does this decision infringe upon the religious freedom that this nation was built upon, it disregards the First Amendment to the Constitution.  Please take a few minutes to read the Bishop's letter and find out how you can help bring about and support a reversal of this decision.  Refer to Bishop DiLorenzo's Letter.     

All are welcome to join in praying the Rosary each Sunday morning at 9:00 am prior to the 9:30 am Mass. 

Dr. Martin Cruz, St. Mary Star of the Sea's pianist/organist for our Sunday 9:30 am Mass, has produced a CD of various religious hymns.  Originally created in honor of our parish's 150th Anniversary, the CD was produced exclusively at St. Mary's and highlights our own piano and organ.  You can hear Martin's CD in the Parish Hall where it is also available for purchase.  All proceeds from the sale of his CD go to St. Mary Star of the Sea.  Come in to listen to some very beautiful music.

Shannon McCall, St. Mary's cantor at the Saturday 5:00 pm Mass, has a website that showcases her outstanding musical talent and offers visitors to the site an opportunity to hear samples of selections from her cd, "Aves & Angels".  The cd is available for purchase, as are the individual selections.  Album notes, reviews, etc. are also included.  The music is not to be missed.  Shannon and her accompanist, John Siderius, organist at our 5:00 pm Mass, delight the listener with "seven settings of the Ave and other angelic songs" in a "wide range of styles".  To get to the site, click on Aves & Angels.

 guide titled  "EMERGENCY EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS Taking Responsibility for Your Safety" is available by contacting St. Mary's Parish Disability Advocate.  Simply click on Barb Kelly to request a copy of this guide for people with disabilities and other activity limitations.  Be sure you and your loved ones are as prepared as possible should the weather or some other event make evacuation necessary.

Let our legislators know what's important to you.  Sign up for the FREE VA Catholic Conference's email advocacy network at www.vacatholic.org. The site provides predrafted messages which can be personalized.  The messages are then automatically sent to the correct Congressman. 

The latest available Peninsula Cluster of  Churches parish bulletin has been posted.  Please check our Parish Bulletins Archive.
          
Food and clothing for the needy can be donated at Mass times and during office hours. All donations are welcome and appreciated.  Please bring items to the parish hall.  


Homebound or Hospitalized

 Do you know someone who is currently unable to attend Mass and would like to receive the sacraments?  Please call St. Mary's Star of the Sea Parish Office with the parishioner's contact information.  A priest will visit them for anointing and see them periodically.  A lay Eucharistic Minister will visit the sick weekly bringing the Eucharist.  Your help in bringing and keeping this information up-to-date is essential and very much appreciated.

Anniversary News:

 Want to view St. Mary's 150th Anniversary in pictures?  Just click on ALBUM!  This will take you to a web page where you can view the pictures individually or play the slideshow.  The photos, taken at different times and events by a variety of parishioners, are provided by Dr. Bill McCall, our chief photographer for St. Mary's Anniversary year.  Questions or comments about the Sesquicentennial Anniversary Photo Album should be directed to Barb Kelly, our webmaster, by clicking on:  Feedback.

The remainder of our Sesquicentennial Memories will be available for viewing again soon.  A special Anniversay Page is currently under construction.

Still to Come... 

REMINDER:  There's still time to share a favorite family recipe with your St. Mary's Parish family!  We'd love to include it/them in our 150th Anniversary Cookbook.  Recipes can be submitted from our Anniversary web page or by clicking on Barb Kelly or Shannon McCall.  
 

 Save the Date:

Upcoming Meetings:

Refer to the Weekly Calendar in the Peninsula Cluster bulletin for a full list of readings, meetings, activities, and Mass intentions scheduled at all three Cluster Parishes.

Did You Know?...

St. Mary's Parish Disability Advocate is available to assist you even outside of Mass.  Is there a disability or support group you'd like to learn more about?  Do you have questions or suggestions that would help you or a family member participate more fully in the Mass, or in Parish life?  Click on Barb Kelly to email your question, concern, or suggestion. 

There is a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall for all who wish to provide refreshments for the social gathering following the Sunday 9:30 am Mass.  We all enjoy visiting after mass and we thank all who have contributed the delicious refreshments on past Sunday mornings.

There is a website and phone number which will help you locate the Catholic Churches and Mass times in your area when you are traveling.  To access the website, click on Mass Times for Travel or consult this week's bulletin.

As of June 1, 2009, donations of clothing, houshold items, and furniture for H.E.L.P. will be taken on FRIDAYS ONLY from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Call the H.E.L.P. main office at the number listed in the bulletin.  This does not include donations to the Food Pantry.  The Food Pantry donation procedure will be unchanged. 

Dates To Remember:

"YOUTH NIGHTS"

All teens are welcome to join in our youth group gatherings.  The group meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at St. Joseph's Cordier Hall.