Category: Parish News

📅 Sunday, September 20 — Catechetical Sunday
📍 Our Lady of Fatima Mission Grounds, Jonestown
⛪ Outdoor Mass at 10:30 AM
🍽️ Picnic immediately following Mass

Come in your picnic attire, plan to stay, and enjoy FREE food, games, music, family and fun!

On the menu:
Sliced Chicken Breast • Pulled Pork • Hot Dogs • Mac & Cheese • Beverages

🥗 Each family is asked to bring one side dish to share. Please sign up, complete the form, and return it in any collection basket so we can prepare accordingly.

Adult beverages will not be provided, but you’re welcome to BYOB.

⚠️ IMPORTANT MASS SCHEDULE CHANGE:
There will be NO 9:00 AM Mass at Our Lady of Fatima and NO 10:30 AM Mass at St. Mary’s that Sunday.

Come celebrate Mass, share a meal, and enjoy an afternoon together with our parish community. ❤️

You may choose to sign up online. Or use the form in the bulletin.

Father Bob also gave us an early introduction to the Diocese’s new IGNITE! initiative, a capital campaign with a diocesan-wide goal of $70 million. The campaign will officially begin in our parish on January 1, 2027.

Father explained that IGNITE! is different from the Diocesan Annual Campaign (DAC). The DAC helps fund the Diocese’s regular yearly operating expenses, while IGNITE! is intended to build resources for longer-term needs.

Funds will help support areas such as:

• Care for retired priests
• Evangelization
• Catholic education
• Catholic Charities
• Needed renovations to the Cathedral

During this preliminary phase, some parishioners may receive literature or a telephone call from the Steier Group, which has been engaged to assist with the campaign.

Father Bob wants everyone to know that these contacts are legitimate and are not a scam.

Much more information about IGNITE! will be shared in the months ahead as we approach the January 1 kickoff. Anyone with questions is welcome to contact Father Bob or the parish office.

SANCTUARY FLOORING PROJECT

Thanks to the generosity of our Council of Catholic Women (CCW), improvements will soon be made to the sanctuary flooring.

The carpeting on the sanctuary steps and around the altar and tabernacle areas has become stained and worn and is also affected by humidity. It will be replaced with luxury vinyl plank flooring designed to resemble stone.

The new flooring will be a light, neutral color that should brighten the sanctuary, reflect more light and help the altar stand out beautifully. The project has received the required approval from the Diocese.

Work is expected to take place during the priests’ workshop in October, when Mass will not be celebrated here.

Many thanks to the ladies of the CCW who have spearheaded and generously supported this project!

Here are several important announcements shared by Father Bob after Mass this weekend:

🇺🇸 LABOR DAY MASS
Mass on Labor Day will be celebrated at 9:00 AM.

⛳ PARISH GOLF TOURNAMENT — FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
Our annual parish golf tournament is this Friday! Please pray for good weather and a successful day.

There will be no 8:00 AM Mass at St. Mary’s on Friday due to the golf tournament.

A Blue Mass honoring first responders and military personnel will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Cross at 10:15 AM. Everyone is welcome to attend.

🌼 FALL MUM SALE — SEPTEMBER 19
Orders for beautiful fall mums are being taken in the narthex.

$7 each or 3 for $20

Mums will be available for pickup on Saturday, September 19.

🧺 PARISH PICNIC — SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Our parish picnic will be held at the Our Lady of Fatima grounds.

Outdoor Mass begins at 10:30 AM, followed by the parish picnic. We hope you’ll join us!

🙏 CLERGY APPRECIATION DINNER — SEPTEMBER 22
The Clergy Appreciation Dinner will be held on Tuesday, September 22 at St. Paul’s. Tickets are available in the parish office for $25.

⛪ SANCTUARY FLOORING PROJECT

Thanks to the generosity of our Council of Catholic Women (CCW), improvements will soon be made to the sanctuary flooring.

The carpeting on the sanctuary steps and around the altar and tabernacle areas has become stained and worn and is also affected by humidity. It will be replaced with luxury vinyl plank flooring designed to resemble stone.

The new flooring will be a light, neutral color that should brighten the sanctuary, reflect more light and help the altar stand out beautifully. The project has received the required approval from the Diocese.

Work is expected to take place during the priests’ workshop in October, when Mass will not be celebrated here.

Many thanks to the ladies of the CCW who have spearheaded and generously supported this project!

🔥 IGNITE! INITIATIVE

Father Bob also gave us an early introduction to the Diocese’s new IGNITE! initiative, a capital campaign with a diocesan-wide goal of $70 million. The campaign will officially begin in our parish on January 1, 2027.

Father explained that IGNITE! is different from the Diocesan Annual Campaign (DAC). The DAC helps fund the Diocese’s regular yearly operating expenses, while IGNITE! is intended to build resources for longer-term needs.

Funds will help support areas such as:

• Care for retired priests
• Evangelization
• Catholic education
• Catholic Charities
• Needed renovations to the Cathedral

During this preliminary phase, some parishioners may receive literature or a telephone call from the Steier Group, which has been engaged to assist with the campaign.

Father Bob wants everyone to know that these contacts are legitimate and are not a scam.

Much more information about IGNITE! will be shared in the months ahead as we approach the January 1 kickoff. Anyone with questions is welcome to contact Father Bob or the parish office.

CCW FALL FEST & MUM SALE 🌼
Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 19, from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM in front of St. Mary’s Church on 8th Street!

👉🏽Mum preorders begin this weekend!
Orders will be taken after all Masses this weekend.
Please pay when ordering by cash or check payable to St. Mary’s CCW.

🌼 Mum Sale

• Pick up your preordered mums at the Fall Fest
• Extra mums will also be available
• $7 each or 3 for $20 (great deal!)

🌭 Food Available
Hot dogs, chips, water and soda will be available for purchase.

🧁 Baked Goods Needed!
Donations of brownies, cupcakes, muffins and other individual baked goods are requested for the Fall Fest. Please, no cakes.

Come out and support our CCW and enjoy a little taste of fall! 🍂🌼.

Pre-sale orders will be taken after ALL the Masses this weekend and next weekend.

$7 per mum.

Please pay when ordering.

Mums can be picked up on Saturday, September 19.

Thank you!

Please join us for a special evening honoring and showing our appreciation for the priests and clergy who faithfully serve our parishes and communities.

We are especially grateful to our own Father Bob and Deacon Wentzel.

The Clergy Appreciation Dinner will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Annville on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 5:30–9:00 PM.

🎟️ Tickets are $25 per person and will be available in the parish office.

Come enjoy a wonderful evening while showing our gratitude to those who give so much in service to the Church. We hope you’ll join us!

Join the upcoming Women of Faith group as we experience the Catholicism Program by Bishop Barron.

Women of Faith at St. Mary’s 9/15 ◀️more details here

Catholicism –  A Journey to the Heart of the Faith-a Multimedia Program by Bishop Robert Barron

 Starting  September 15th, 2026  

All Women are welcome.  We will gather to grow in our faith and community while we learn and share together.

✝️Starting from the essential foundation of Jesus Christ’s Incarnation, life, and teaching, Bishop Barron moves through the defining elements of Catholicism—from sacraments, worship, and prayer…… to Mary, the Apostles, and saints……to grace, salvation, heaven, and hell—using art, literature, architecture, personal stories, Scripture, theology, philosophy, and history to present the Church to the world.

Catholicism is a beautiful multimedia program designed to present what Catholics believe and why. Travel with us to over 50 locations in 15 countries, including Israel, Uganda, Italy, France, Spain, Mexico, India, and the United States.

The series aims to help adults gain a deeper understanding of the Catholic Faith through engaging storytelling and visual experiences. It explores a wide range of theological and spiritual topics, including: The Shocking Nature of Jesus’ Identity!

❤️  The Beatitudes and Parables 

❤️  Arguments for God’s Existence

❤️    Mary, The Mother of God 

❤️  Peter, Paul, and the Missionary Adventure

❤️  The Mystical Union of Christ and the Church

❤️ The Mystery of the Liturgy and the Eucharist

❤️  The Saints

❤️  Prayer and the Life of the Spirit 

❤️   Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell

This study is free to you – there is no book purchase required to join.

At St Mary’s:  Tuesdays 9am -11:00 am OR Tuesdays 6:30pm – 8pm.

Meetings are in St Joseph’s Hall at St, Mary’s Church. Enter through the church parking lot located behind the church and through the back door.

Contact:  Patty Price pprice1641@gmail.com  717- 274-2007 

Jane Kreider janekreider925@gmail.com 717-507-0186

More information will also be available in the narthex.  To register –Online below ⬇️, Email, text, or drop form in the provided box.