St. Mary's Sunday Bulletin

Third Sunday of Lent March 7, 2010

Dear Parishioners,
A Message from the Minnesota Catholic Conference: In less than six weeks, the General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program will end. This program provides basic health care to our poorest and sickest neighbors–all of whom are living in deep poverty. Access to affordable health care that protects and supports the life, dignity and health of all people is a matter of justice. The House passed a bill on a 125 to 9 vote, and the Senate passed the bill on a 47 to 16 vote, to temporarily extend this health care coverage to the poorest and most vulnerable persons. Unfortunately the Governor vetoed the bill, seeking to balance the budget on the backs of the poor. Please contact your Representative and urge him or her to vote yes on a veto override. For more information, contact www.mncc.org. Fr. Vince

TIME, TALENT & TREASURE
Parish Sacrificial Giving Summary
In gratitude for the gifts we have received from God, parishioners & visitors made a return to the Lord of $8,766.01 in the Sunday offering for the Weekend of Feb. 27/28:
Regular Offering 7,138.00
Ongoing Capital Needs 235.00
Loose 772.40
St. Cloud Visitor 411.00
Children 38.61
Easter 100.00
Sponsor a Child 71.00
Total 8,766.01 Total last week 9,156.78
256 envelopes returned

2010 CALENDAR RAFFLE
Sponsor this week: Central MN Federal Credit Union
02/28– Keith Wensmann—$25
03/01– Michael Ebnet—$25
03/02– Geraldine Moscho—$25
03/03– Esther Beuning—$25
03/04– Jeanette Barth—$25
03/05– Nicholas Waldvogel—$25
03/06– Tony B. Ellering—$25

PERPETUAL HELP DEVOTIONS— TUESDAY
7:00—Rosary; 7:15—Devotions; 7:30—Mass

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Friday at 7:30 PM (with Benediction)

LENTEN CONFESSION SCHEDULE:
Communal Penance Services:
Thursday, March 11, 4:00 PM
Tuesday, March 16, 7:30 PM
Individual Confessions:
Saturdays of Lent: 3:00 PM
Tuesdays of Lent: 8:00 PM
After morning Masses, Mar. 24-26
Wed., Mar. 24: 5-5:30; 7-7:30 PM
Wed. Mar. 31: 5-5:30; 7-7:30 PM
.
CONFESSIONS — 3:00 PM Saturdays of Lent

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Sunday School meets during the 10:30 a.m. Mass. All children ages 3 through 2nd grade are invited.

St. Mary’s Religious Education Class Schedule
Wednesday, March 10, 2010:
Grades 1- 6: 2:50 p.m. - 4:05 p.m.

Grades 9, 10 & 11: 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

CONFIRMATION INFORMATION
QUESTIONING with Fr. Tom Becker is on Wednesday, April 14th at 7:30 p.m.
PRACTICE is on Wednesday, April 28th at Sacred Heart Church in Freeport at 7:30 p.m.
CONFIRMATION MASS is Tuesday, May 4th at 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Students need to be in Freeport at 6:00 p.m. to meet with Bishop Kinney.

FIRST COMMUNION INFORMATION
PARENT MEETING is on Thursday, April 15th at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church.
LEARNING CENTERS are on Saturday, April 17th between 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s School.
FIRST COMMUNION MASSES are on Sunday, May 2nd at 10:30 a.m. (Anglo Mass)
12:30 p.m. (Hispanic Mass)

ST. MARY’S SCHOOL
St. Mary's School recently received a refund check of $150.00 from Our Family Labels for Learning. This money was earned from the deposit of 3000 Our Family UPC"S. Thank you for cutting and saving the UPC's from Our Family products. We continue to collect SAVE grocery receipts, Big G Boxtops, Kemps and Marigold Milk Caps and Campbells Soup UPC's.

St. Mary's School has openings for students in pre kindergarten through sixth grade for the 2010-2011 school year. Please call 256-4257 for registration materials.

St. Mary's Education Board will not be meeting in March. The next education board meeting will be held on April 15th.

NSCF–meet Mon. Mar. 8, 7:30 p.m. at the Melrose City Center.

ST. BERNARD/ST. ELIZABETH SOCIETY— members breakfast, Sun. Mar. 7, following the 10:30 a.m. Mass.

MISSION SOCIETY— Mar. 12, 1:00 p.m., @ Melrose City Center.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR will sing with the Parish Choir for the Palm Sunday, Mar 27, 5:00 p.m. liturgy. Rehearsals: Mondays, March 15 & 22, 2:50—4:00 p.m. in church. Please call Gail @256-4207 if unable to attend.

Next week, our parish will take up The Catholic Relief Services Collection. This collection helps to fund six Catholic organizations that improve the quality of life and protect human dignity. Your gift will support agricultural development to strengthen economies and create food sustainability, provide outreach services to survivors of human trafficking, and supply pastoral care and advocacy for immigrants and refugees. By helping the marginalized and impoverished, you give hope to Jesus in disguise. Please be charitable in next week’s Catholic Relief Services Collection.

MELROSE AREA FOOD SHELF—is participating in the MN Food Share Drive in March. Please donate. The loose collection on
March 14, will be donated to the Food Shelf.

The food shelf is in need of volunteers to work one shift a month on Wednesday either from 1:00 pm to 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. If able to help please call Julia Westendorf at 256-4445.

ST. MARY’S CHRISTIAN MOTHERS/WOMEN — are sponsoring a chicken dinner on Sun. Mar. 14, serving from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the St. Mary’s Church basement. Dinner will feature chicken, dressing and all the trimmings with homemade desserts. There will also be fancy work stand, country store, and other games. Everyone is invited to attend. Tickets available at the Central MN Federal Credit Union—Melrose Branch, Ernie’s Family Foods, Freeport State Bank—Melrose Branch, St. Mary’s School, and at the door. Advance tickets $7.50; $8.00 at the door. We are accepting donations for the Country Store (adult & children). Donations can be brought to the Parish Center.
Thank you!

YOU ARE INVITED
Melrose City Center - “500 cards and Cribbage” will be played, Mar. 7 & 17 at 1:30 p.m. Ham dinner will be served Mar. 18, 5:30 p.m. All are welcome.
St. Andrew’s School, Greenwald— chicken dinner, Tues. Mar. 9, serving 11:30—1:00 p.m., in the school basement. Cost is $5. All you can eat. Takeouts available.
Talent Unleashed in Melrose, Community Talent Show, Sun. Mar. 7, 6:30 p.m. at MHS Auditorium. Family friendly entertainment - $2 for ages 10 and under, $4 for ages 11 and up. Join the fun! Tickets will be sold at the door.
St. Joseph’s Parish, Grey Eagle—Sat., Mar. 20, Celebrate The Feast of St. Joseph with chili following the 4:30 Mass, free will offering for the food shelf.

SERVERS SCHEDULE
Tues. 7:30 PM—Lisa Weber, Madison Rausch
Sat. 5:00 PM—Zachary Ettel, Mashaye Tschida
Sun. 8:00 AM– Grant & Austin Rieland
10:30 AM– Ben & Brady Klaphake
Weekday Mar. 10 & 11—Zachary Ettel, Rebecca Zirbes

“COOKIES WHO CARE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE BOOTH”
Brownie Troop #274 is holding a cookie booth at the Central MN Federal Credit Union in Melrose. Fri. Mar. 12 3:30—6:30 p.m. and Sat. Mar. 13 8:00-11:30 a.m. You can purchase cookies for yourself and/or for local military men and women currently serving overseas. The troop will be sending cookies and other needed items to these men and women. You may purchase cookies and drop off supplies, such as, personal hygiene items, snack foods, powdered drinks, gum, etc. Monetary donations to purchase supplies will also be accepted. For a complete list of items go to www.operationmilitarypride.org/packages. For more info please contact Amy Kloth at 256-2206.

LENTEN REFLECTION GROUP - You are welcome to attend a Lenten Reflection Group after the Monday morning Communion service. We will use the Lenten reflection booklet available at the entrances of the Church.

Our Lady of Snows — 5 day motorcoach tour on June 21-25 to Our Lady of Snows, Amana Colonies and more attractions. Spiritual Director will be Fr. Vince Lieser. Brochures are available on the bulletin boards at the entries to the church. For more info call toll free 1-800-840-9211 or check the website at www.lavernestravel.com

MISSION SOCIETY— Bingo party, Sun. Mar. 21, St. Mary’s church basement, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Prizes are cash or variety of meat packages. Cost is $10 for 20 games plus 2 black-out games, good neighbor bingo and door prize. Beverages available. Free lunch at 7:00 p.m., during intermission or following Bingo.