Lent & Year of Mercry

As I open my Daily Reflection of Lent this morning I read that Pope Francis encourages Catholics to live this season of Lent "intensely" as a privileged time in which to celebrate and experience God’s mercy.

As many of us are dealing with trials of faith and mournful news I pray that you consider taking them to our Lord. Make this Lent a time for us all to remember what Jesus sacrificed for us all. So that we could be Christians!

Suggestions:

Dynamic Catholic daily online reflections-

http://dynamiccatholic.com/bestlentever/

Grab a prayer resource at the Church today.

Consider instead of giving up something try adding something faithfully encouraging to your day. Examples….

Write a note each day to an individual that has impacted you and let them know how much they mean to you.

Pray the Rosary daily.

Play Bible Bingo daily. Flip through the pages of the Bible with your eyes closed. Stop and point to a scripture verse. Open your eyes and read what the Lord has in store for you. Pretty powerful!!

I have a great idea for our next gathering! Hopefully you all will agree.

St Mary’s is offering a 5 Part Series of "Year of Mercy" in a DVD/Discussion group format starting next week. This DVD features Fr. Mike. The Diocese of Richmond requested him to make this series. I am helping facilitate the Tuesday morning session at 10:00 with Deacon Joe. He has offered me wonderful insight.

It has been approved for me to show the DVD and facilitate the same discussions at our meetings! They are great. I will be showing the first session – "Who God Is" at our Feb 29th meeting. The DVD video is 26 min and discussion will take no longer then 30-40 minutes. The church is going to provide us the learning guide booklet to everyone who attends.

Hope to see you all!

-Trish

Happy Fall Y'all

The Art of Marriage

Back by Popular Demand!...

 The Art of Marriage

A Marriage Enrichment Series at St. Maryʼs for Couples of All Ages: Six Dynamic Sessions Topics Include:

 ✔ Godʼs Purpose and Plan
 ✔ Overcoming Isolation
✔ Fulfilling Our Responsibilities
 ✔ Communication and Conflict
 ✔ Experiencing Real Intimacy
 ✔ Leaving a Lasting Legacy 

Each session builds upon the other, so plan to attend ALL SIX sessions. If you miss a session, the manual & online resources enable you to review any session at home

SAVE THESE DATES:

October 3, 10, 24, November 7, 21 & December 5

Potluck Dinners begin 6:30pm

Childcare available 6:15pm to 9:15pm

$40 per couple covers all six sessions + materials 

Register online at www.stmarysrichmond.org

 Hear from those who attended the series last Spring:

  “It helped make our good marriage even better”

 “I really enjoyed the fellowship among couples and the time spent in reflection with my wife” “Thought provoking and relevant; information I could actually use”

 “Realistic, practical & funny”

“The food was awesome, the company was excellent, I loved it” 

Questions? Contact Deacon Joe jmorlino@stmarysrichmond.org or 740-4044 ext. 53

NEW Ministry Plans

Change is in the air. 

Here is an update from our group leader, Trish McNeel.

Thanks to all the wonderful ladies who came to my home 2 weeks ago to discuss the future of St. Anne Ministry.  Upon discussion we realized that as a NEW Ministry we were trying to make it so much more than what we as individuals really desired from it.  We have concluded that we need to keep our goal simple and right now our focus needs to remain on what our group is about – WOMEN! Therefore our energy is to be channeled to the women of our Parish and within our Ministry.

Our faith and spirituality is an important part of this Ministry. So our monthly meeting/gathering is going to be focused on random topics and not just agenda. 

Our next meeting is Monday September 28th 7:00pm in the Holy Family Room. (Smaller room to 

help with discussion)  The topic that evening is "Anxiety". So bring your bibles to read passages, your life experience stories, helpful articles, anything you may want to share with our wonderful friends of St Anne.  I hope to see you all there.  

Blessings and be Praying and Pondering about Anxiety

March Meeting Recap

St Anne Meeting

Monday March 30th, 2015

Opening Blessing and Prayer Intentions

• 10 Minute Insight on How to Pray :  DynamicCatholic.com
• Best Lent Ever.  Be Bold. Be Catholic.

Welcome - Introduction of new individuals

Updates:

• Giron Family
• CHRP coming.  Still in process.
• Updates from Church Affairs, Community Service, Playgroup, Social, Publicity

Upcoming:

• Still in need of a St. Anne Chaplain.  Responsibilities include leading group in prayer/reflection pre and post meeting.  Helping with the spiritual growth of the group.  This can be done in a variety of ways:  books, speakers, rosary group, prayer partners…..
• Mindy Connor has offered to develop a way we can have an ongoing prayer intercessory line within the group.  Please email her if interested in participating.
• Sign up to help with bringing food/drink items to meetings and helping with the Newcomers Meetings
• Please forward any photos at events to Kirsten to put on the blog.
• Holy Week Schedule on Parish Website
• Easter:  Knights Easter Egg Hunt after the 11:00 am mass
• Sunday April 19th : Family Social 4:30 pm Colonies Clubhouse
• Friday May 1st 12:45 pm Check-in –St Mary’s Golf Outing to benefit St Mary’s School
• Sunday May 17th Donut Sunday at the Playground  After 9 am Mass.  Sugar Shack Donuts  and coffee.
• June 29-July 3 VBS – “Everest”
• July 4-11th CARITAS
• September 26th Parish Picnic
• Next meeting will coincide with our “A New Year, a New You theme”
• April 27th : Essential oils – Shannon Weinstein and Guest Speaker Sondra Acosta –Breedlove Owner of Breedlove Massage and Bodywork to demonstrate chair massage techniques
• Nutrition with Kathy postponed

• Invite a friend to attend ☺

Listening Session:

Thank you, Suly Salazar-Layton, for your time with the Pastoral Planning Committee

New Year: Beauty

Here are a few photos from our January meeting on beauty. I spoke to the group about skincare, important tools and demonstrated a makeup application.  The meeting would not be complete with out a little Q & A session too!

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise. walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." -Audrey Hepburn

January Meeting Recap

·         St Anne Meeting

Monday January 26, 2015

Opening Blessing and Prayer Intentions – Happy New Year to you all!!!

Welcome - Introduction of new individuals

Updates:

• Gift Baskets / Fair Trade: Thanks to Sarah and all volunteers after the masses.  Heart to Heart/REAP success.
• Sherbourne Toy Drive:  Kathy and Kelly thanks!!
• Community Cares Home:  Kathy and Kristin thanks!!  What a Christmas we provided to these individuals.  Thanks for all your donations.
• Family Christmas Party:  We had a great evening together.

Upcoming:

• In need of a St. Anne Chaplain.  Responsibilities include leading group in prayer/reflection pre and post meeting.  Helping with the spiritual growth of the group.  This can be done in a variety of ways:  books, speakers, rosary group, prayer partners…..
• Mindy Connor has offered to develop a way we can have an ongoing prayer intercessory line within the group.  Most likely prayers will be requested via nList and then posted via email.
• Sign up to help with bringing food/drink items to meetings and helping with the Newcomers Meetings
• Please forward any photos at events to Kirsten to put on the blog.
• Letter to Fr. Mike.  Waiting for response.
• Art of Marriage Series Saturdays Feb 7-March 21.  Please consider attending.  At least 3 couples from St Anne are attending.
• Thursday February 19th Casual Tacos and Movie Night
• Movie “Mom’s Night Out”
• At Trish’s home.   RSVP and sign up for dinner items on nList.
• Sunday April 19th : Family Social 4:30 pm Colonies Clubhouse
• Sunday May 17th Donut Sunday at the Playground
• After 9 am Mass.  Sugar Shack Donuts  and coffee.
• Next 2 meetings will coincide with our “A New Year, a New You theme”
• February Topic  Spiritual Health : Catholic Yoga
• March : Nutrition

Next Meeting February 23rd, 2014 7:00 pm Bishop Sullivan Room

• Guest Parishioner Linda Bugbee to present us a 45 minute Catholic Yoga class to the group
• Meeting in March – Nutrition
• Invite a friend to attend ☺

Inner and Outer Beauty:  speaker Kirsten Schaefer Makeup Artist

• Thanks Kirsten!!