WELCOME TO THE PARISH COMMUNITY OF ST. MARY S CHURCH, BALLSTON SPA, & ST. MARY S CHURCH, GALWAY Fr. Thomas J. Kelly, Pastor ~ Fr. Francis Vivacqua, Assoc. Pastor ~ Deacon Ronald Hogan Mrs. Lynn Fitzgerald, Principal Sister Nancy Schmidt, RCIA Coordinator Mr. Jake Stomieroski, Youth Minister Mrs. Vicki Schuette, Dir. of Religious Ed. St. Mary s of Ballston Spa Parish Office: 167 Milton Ave. Ballston Spa, NY 12020 Hours: MF, 8:30 am 2:30 pm Emergencies call anytime. Phones: Parish Office 8857411 School 8857300 Religious Ed/Youth Ministry 8848479 Website: www.rcda.org/churches/stmarysballstonspa Masses: Sat. night for Sunday obligation 4:00 pm, Sunday 8:30 am, 10:30 am & 12 noon Confessions: Saturday 3:00 pm 3:45 pm. Every Tuesday evening after Novena Devotions & Mass 5:30 pm (except during Lent). Baptisms: Call the Office for confirmation of time (2nd & 3rd Sunday after 12 noon Mass), acceptance of sponsors & instruction for new parents. St. Mary s of Galway PO Box 536 2113 East St. Galway, NY 12074 Email: stmarygal@nycap.rr.com Religious Ed: Contact Bonnie Nicolosi @ 5880304 or bonnieznicolosi@gmail.com Website: www.rcda.org/churches/stmarysballstonspa Masses: Sat. night for Sunday obligation 6:00 pm (July 1st Labor Day weekend), Sunday 9:30 am (yearround) Baptisms: Please call Joe Novak at 8825412 at least 4 weeks in advance. Marriage Policy: If you are planning on getting married at St. Mary s, Ballston Spa, or St. Mary s, Galway, please call the parish office at 8857411, before you make any commitment to a reception site. We don t want anyone to be disappointed because the date is no longer available. Weddings can be scheduled for Fridays or Saturdays. No Sunday weddings are allowed.
S. M C, B S, NY SUNDAYDecember 24, (Vigil The Nativity of the Lord) 4:00 PM Church Calamanco & Starnes Families Mary Anne 4:00 PM School Patricia Krosky Terry, John, & Amymarie 7:30 PM Virginia Barron Family Laura Mangino Mohr Family MONDAY December 25, (The Nativity of the Lord) 8:30 AM Pro Populo 10:30 AM Elaine McElroy Husband, Samuel Annabell & Frank Chamberlain, Irene & Arthur Thayer, & Bill Miller Family 12:00 PM John & Jeff Melna, & Ron Campbell Family Alberta & Suzanne O Brien Family TUESDAY December 26, (St. Stephen) 5:30 PM Special Intentions of Fr. Nicholas Allen Dennis & Maribeth Johnson Theresa, Jenny, Sophie, & Kathryn Joe Monaco & Family WEDNESDAY December 27, (St. John) 7:45 AM Special Intentions of Fr. Joseph Fessenden Dennis & Maribeth Johnson THURSDAY December 28, (The Holy Innocents) 7:45 AM Unborn & Aborted Babies Mary Anne Robert J. Welch Family FRIDAY December 29, (5th Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord) 7:45 AM Mary Bogue Mary Beth & Sarah SATURDAYDecember 30, (Vigil The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph) 4:00 PM Robert Flatley Family Joseph Walsh & Fr. Broderick Marlene SUNDAY December 31, (The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph) 8:30 AM Pro Populo 10:30 AM Phil Knapp Peter & Joan Zacheus Scott Shepard Carol & Amy Howard 12:00 PM James Rizzo Son, David Theresa Miranda Burnham Family MINISTERS ALTAR SERVERS SAT., December 30 4:00 PM Michael Desmond, Christopher Desmond SUN., December 31 8:30 AM Veronica Higgins, Catherine Higgins 10:30 AM Eli Sutton, Michael Vogel 12 NOON Taylyn Markham, Rebecca Schnefel The sacrificial offering for Sunday, Dec. 17, will be noted in the Dec. 31 bulletin, & the sacrificial offering for Sunday, Dec. 24 & Christmas Day, Dec. 25, will be noted in the Jan. 7 bulletin. Father Kelly, Father Vivacqua, Farther Shanley, Father Fiore, Father Paulli, & Deacon Hogan wish to thank you all for your generosity during this holiday season. God bless you always. May God grant you all a Blessed Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. Eucharistic Adoration & Evening Prayer You re invited to spend a little extra time with Jesus by joining us for Eucharistic Adoration & evening prayer from 56 pm on Monday, Jan. 15, 22, 29. There will be NO Adoration on Christmas Day Dec. 25, New Year s Day Jan. 1, or Monday Jan. 8. Our Lady of Peace Prayer Group will meet on Tues., 1/2, at St. Mary s Church, 6:30 pm 8:15 pm. All are welcome!
F S A D 24, 2017 CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE @ St. Mary s, Ballston Spa Christmas Eve Sun., 12/24, 4:00 pm Church & School 7:30 pm Church Christmas Day Mon., 12/25, 8:30 am, 10:30 am, & 12 noon Church @ St. Mary s, Galway Christmas Eve Sun., 12/24, 5:30 pm Christmas Day Mon., 12/25, 9:30 am RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) Have you met Patrick Dunleavy? Patrick is preparing to be fully initiated in the Catholic Church at our EasterVigil on March 31, 2018. He was baptized at Immaculate Conception Church in Glenville but has not received his First Communion or Confirmation. Since October, he has been attending our RCIA sessions on Sundays to prepare him for these sacraments & introduce him to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jerry Todd, a good friend of Patrick's & a parishioner at St. Clement s, encouraged Patrick to come to Church with him. This encouragement lit a spark in Patrick that led him to St. Mary's & to the process that will welcome him into full membership in the Church. On a personal level, Patrick is 30 years old, works in his family business, & plays hockey. After the holidays, Patrick will be formally introduced to the parish at the RCIA Rite of Welcome. ~Sister Nancy & the RCIA Team. MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE May 10 21, 2018 www.pilgrimages.com/stanton Under the spiritual direction of Fr. Francis Vivacqua! Pamphlets located at the entrances of church. More info to follow... Faith & Fellowship, Saint Mary's women's book club will have their next meeting at Saint Mary's School on Wed., Jan. 10 at 6:30. All women interested in attending should read God in the ICU: The inspirational biography of a praying doctor by Dave Walker MD. If you have any questions please call either Mary Ann at8587589or Nancy at 8573927. We would love to have more members. For your gifts to St. Mary s Parish & School in memory of: Rose & Henry Nardi John & Carolyn Digman Karl Ruger Elizabeth Ruger Tom Ondreyko Cathy Ondreyko Benedict (BJ) Jacobs Rose Mary Jacobs Michele Ruzzo Groves Nancy Ruzzo Moira Klich Frank Klich Catherine McCauliffe Carol O'Dell St. Mary s School Lynn Fitzgerald, Principal Ongoing Registration Grades PreK5/(518)8857300 PreBaptism class for parents who will be having children baptized in February or March 2018 is Tuesday, February 6, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary s School (cafeteria entrance). Please call the office at 8857411 to register. Please note this class is for parents who have never had a child baptized. The Faculty, Staff and Students of St. Mary s School wish you PEACE, JOY and LOVE this Christmas Season! Merry Christmas and Blessings for the New Year!
December 24, Sun., 4th Sunday of Advent 9:30 am December 24, Sun., VigilThe Nativity of the Lord 5:30 pm Deceased Parishioners of St. Mary's December 25, Mon., The Nativity of the Lord 9:30 am Deceased Parishioners of St. Mary's December 31, Sun., The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph 9:30 am Anthony Lazzaro Family Volunteers are needed today to help decorate the Church for Christmas. As in years past, many volunteers make the decorating go quickly and smoothly. St. Mary s Community Service Group Please keep in mind that making baby Afghansfor Birthright is an ongoing parish project.any completed Afghans may be placed in the Food Pantry collection bins and they will be sorted out for Birthright. The sacrificial offering for Sunday, Dec. 17, will be noted in the Dec. 31 bulletin, & the sacrificial offering for Sunday, Dec. 24 & Christmas Day, Dec. 25, will be noted in the Jan. 7 bulletin. S. M M C, G, NY PLEASE JOIN US AFTER OUR 9:30 am MASS IN THE SOCIAL HALL for COFFEE, DONUTS, & FELLOWSHIP. Health Ministry: CHRISTMAS PRAYER For unto us a child is born. ~Isaiah 9:6 O Gracious God, unto us a Son You have given, unto us a Child has been born. We call Him Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace. We gather throughout this season in fellowship in remembrance of this Your gift to us, knowing that it is only through our belief in Him that we can really experience joy in this world. Bless now each of us. Heal our unbeliefstrengthen our faith that we may experience the true meaning of Christmas. Lord, bless this bounty of food that has been prepared. Make us evermindful of those less fortunate, and undergird us with Thy power that we may forget self enough to go out spreading good tidings to others. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. We remember as we celebrate this Holiday season that Jesus is the Christ in Christmas. He is the Love, Joy and Peace this Christmas Season. Ask yourself this question: Are you ready to receive the one and only that God is sending our way? Are you ready to make room for Christ, even when he comes in the form of a homeless child, a teenager in recovery, or an older adult who's slightly confused or physically impaired? It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you. It is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children? To remember the weaknesses and loneliness of people who are growing old? To stop asking how much your friends love you, and to ask yourself whether you love them enough? To bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts? To make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open? Are you willing to do these things for a day? Then you are ready to keep Christmas! Henry Van Dyke When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. Maya Angelou What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. Yet what I can give him I can give him my heart. Christina Rossetti Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!