Items Currently Needed
Thank you for your continued generosity and support of Box of Joy!
The Meaning of Liturgical Colors
The colors of a priest’s vestments help reflect the meaning and spirit of each liturgical season or celebration.
🤍 White — Joy & Celebration
Used during Christmas, Easter, celebrations of the Lord (except those connected with his Passion), and feasts of saints who were not martyrs. White symbolizes joy, purity, and Christ’s victory over death.
❤️ Red — Holy Spirit & Sacrifice
Used on Pentecost, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and celebrations of martyrs. Red symbolizes the Holy Spirit, Christ’s Passion, and the blood of martyrdom.
💚 Green — Hope & Growth
Used during Ordinary Time. Green represents hope, life, and our continuing growth in faith.
💜 Violet — Preparation & Penance
Used during Advent and Lent. Violet symbolizes penance, preparation, and conversion of heart. It may also be used for funerals.
🩷 Rose — Joyful Anticipation
May be worn on Gaudete Sunday in Advent and Laetare Sunday in Lent. Rose expresses joy and encouragement as we continue our preparation.
🖤 Black — Mourning & Prayer for the Dead
Black may be used at funerals and Masses for the dead. It expresses mourning and our prayerful remembrance of those who have died.
Holy Days of Obligation are special solemnities on which Catholics are called to participate in the celebration of Mass, just as we do each Sunday. The Church sets aside these days so that we may celebrate and enter more deeply into some of the great mysteries of our faith and honor important events in the lives of Jesus, Mary, and the saints. The Catechism teaches that Catholics are bound to participate in Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation.
Holy Days of Obligation
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – January 1. We begin the new year by honoring Mary under her greatest title: Mother of God.
The Ascension of the Lord – Forty days after Easter. We celebrate Jesus Christ ascending into heaven and returning to the Father.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – August 15. We celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary being taken body and soul into heavenly glory.
All Saints – November 1. We honor all the saints in heaven, both those known to us and the countless faithful souls whose names are known to God alone.
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – December 8. We celebrate that Mary, from the first moment of her conception, was preserved from original sin by the grace of God.
The Nativity of the Lord – Christmas – December 25. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
What does “obligation” mean?
On Sundays and holy days of obligation, Catholics are called to participate in Mass and to set aside unnecessary activities that interfere with worship, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, and appropriate rest.
Every Sunday Is a Holy Day
Sunday remains the primary holy day for Christians because it is the day of Christ’s Resurrection. The Sunday Eucharist lies at the heart of Catholic life and worship.
Holy Days Link
The Spiritual Works of Mercy have long been part of the Christian tradition. Just as Jesus cared not only for the physical needs of those He encountered, but also for their spiritual well-being, we are called to do the same.
The Spiritual Works of Mercy teach us practical ways to love our neighbor by caring for the needs of the heart and soul:
These works remind us that mercy is more than feeling compassion for another person. Mercy calls us to action—to share truth with love, offer guidance and encouragement, forgive those who hurt us, patiently endure difficulties, comfort those who suffer, and bring the needs of others before God in prayer.
Some of these works can be challenging, especially admonishing the sinner. The Church does not call us to judge or condemn others. Rather, when appropriate, we are called to help one another recognize what leads us away from God—always with humility, charity, and concern for the other person’s good.
Likewise, bearing wrongs patiently does not mean that we must accept abuse or remain silent in the face of serious injustice. It reminds us not to respond to every hurt with anger, resentment, or retaliation.
Through the Spiritual Works of Mercy, ordinary conversations, acts of forgiveness, words of encouragement, patient listening, and prayer can become ways of bringing Christ’s mercy into the lives of others.
Being Catholic means not only receiving God’s mercy, but allowing His mercy to flow through us to others.
Read more hereThe Spiritual Works of Mercy
We are so grateful for the tremendous support of the St. Mary’s Charlie and Susan Middleton Golf Tournament, being held Friday, September 11, 2026, at Fairview Golf Course.
Many of these sponsorships were made in memory or in honor of loved ones, making their support especially meaningful. ❤️
MAJOR SPONSORS
🌟 GOLD SPONSORS
🥈 SILVER SPONSORS
🥉 BRONZE SPONSORS
❤️ Thank you to each and every sponsor for your generosity and support of St. Mary’s and Our Lady of Fatima Mission.
❤️ A very special note of gratitude to Susie Middleton, who continues to work faithfully to support this tournament and our parish. For many years, Charlie and Susie Middleton gave so much of themselves to make this fundraiser a success.
❤️And a special thank-you to Mike and Gina Groff, who continue to carry this treasured parish tradition forward year after year!
We are blessed by the generosity of our parish family, friends and community! ⛳❤️
In Catholic teaching, corporal works are acts of mercy that care for the physical and bodily needs of other people.
The word corporal comes from the Latin corpus, meaning body. So the Corporal Works of Mercy are ways we serve Christ by caring for the bodily needs of our neighbors—food, water, clothing, shelter, companionship in sickness or imprisonment, and burial of the dead.
They are rooted especially in Matthew 25:35–40, where Jesus says:
“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
They are called the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy:
Saturday, August 29th
Doors Open 6:15pm
BINGO Bell Rings at 7:00pm – St. Mary’s Frederick Hall
Proceeds Benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Play Bingo = Help Kids = Make a Difference
Click download button to print the registration form to hand in.
📚 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REGISTRATION ✝️
Registration forms for Religious Education are now available in the Narthex of the church.
Parents and families, please be sure to pick up a registration form for the upcoming year.
We look forward to another wonderful year of growing together in faith! 🙏❤️
There is always room for one more heart in prayer. ❤️
We are blessed to offer Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday at St. Mary’s, beginning immediately after the 8:00 AM Mass and concluding with the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Benediction at 10:30 AM.
We are looking for parishioners who are able to spend some time with Our Lord on Wednesday mornings. During Eucharistic Adoration, the Blessed Sacrament may never be left unattended, so having faithful adorers throughout the morning is an important ministry in the life of our parish.
Whether you can stay for the entire morning or just part of the time, your presence makes a difference. Even one hour—or a portion of an hour—helps ensure that someone is always there in prayer before the Lord.
If your schedule allows, please consider stopping by to spend some quiet time with Jesus.
Eucharistic Adoration
🗓 Wednesdays
⛪ Immediately following the 8:00 AM Mass
🙏 Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet & Benediction at 10:30 AM
“Could you not watch with me one hour?” — Matthew 26:40
Mark your calendars for these upcoming parish events at St. Mary’s and Our Lady of Fatima Mission! We hope you’ll join us as we gather in faith, fellowship, and fun.
📅 Saturday, August 15
Parish Feast Day – Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
🙏 8:00 AM Mass followed by a parish social
🍽️ Wednesday, August 19
Parish Feast Day Dinner Hebron Hall
🎉 Friday, August 29
Bingo with a Twist
🕡 Doors open at 6:15 PM
🎟️ $20 Pre-Sale • $25 at the Door. Frederick Hall at St. Mary’s
⛳ Friday, September 11 – 8:00 AM
Charles & Susan Middleton Golf Tournament Fairview Golf Course
🌼 Saturday, September 19 – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Mum Sale & Fall Fest
📍 St. Mary’s
🌳 Sunday, September 20 – 11:00 AM
Outdoor Mass & Picnic
📍 Our Lady of Fatima Mission, Jonestown
✨ More details for each event will be shared in the coming weeks. We look forward to celebrating with you!
