This past Sunday, while standing in line at the Panda Express Fundraiser and waiting for a bowl of Orange Chicken, I noticed that the couple in front of me had our St. Mary's 20% fundraiser flyer in their hands. I thanked them for their support, and they told me that they were "just visiting" our parish but felt so welcomed that they wanted to support us. What a compliment to our celebrant and parishioners who made them feel so “at home”!
This coming Sunday marks the second week of Advent. It's a shorter Advent this year than in years past; in fact, liturgically speaking, Christmas falls on a Monday making this year's Advent (duration-wise) the shortest possible! Our Advent already feels shorter, as we managed to burn through our first purple candle in its entirety already!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the fires. Please stay safe; we are keeping track of the location of the fires (here is a continually-updated fire map), and pray for everyone impacted by, and those helping to fight, the fires.
Come Home for Christmas
We invite you to come home for Christmas here at St. Mary, Star of the Sea! Our parish is such a special place, and Father G shares the beauty of our church in this short Christmas video.
This Friday is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and is a holy day of obligation. Why do we celebrate Mary's conception? Church doctrine teaches us that God preserved Mary from original sin from the moment she was conceived; it was defined as a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church in 1854. Masses in English are on Thursday, December 7th at 6:00pm and Friday, December 8th at 8:00am and 12:10pm. Mass in Spanish is on Friday, December 8th at 7pm.
Retirement Fund for Religious (December 9-10)
This weekend at all Masses, we will be having a second collection for retired religious in our faith community. "Thanks for the support from the Retirement Fund for Religious; we are now in a much better position to care for our elders," writes a religious sister. Your donation helps her community, as well as hundreds of other religious communities, provide for aging members long term needs. You can donate either online or during the weekend collection at Mass.
Religious Christmas Cards
and Pancake Breakfast (December 10)
Need some Christmas cards? We do, too. The Knights of Columbus will be selling religious Christmas Cards at their pancake breakfast on Sunday, December 10th. Stop by after the 8:00am or 10:00am Mass to enjoy a delicious breakfast made especially for you by our Knights, and pick up your cards as we all "Put Christ Back into Christmas".
Reconciliation Services (Throughout December)
Whether you choose by date or location, take advantage of this opportunity to receive the graces of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We at St. Mary's, along with our neighboring parishes, are offering an opportunity for all North County Catholics to receive the gift that comes with the sacrament of reconciliation during Advent. See the full schedule for all dates and locations; services are offered throughout the month of December.
Provide a Christmas Dinner to a Parish Family in Need (December 16)
Feed My People Ministry will distribute family grocery bags on Saturday, December 16. In addition to our regular food fair, we would like to provide a WalMart gift card to each recipient. The denomination given will be based on the size of the family. If you would like to join us in providing a little something extra, please consider donating a WalMart gift card (in any amount). You can drop off the cards (or cash/check) at the parish office, donate online, or contact Kim at 760-271-8759 to make other arrangements. May God bless you for your generosity!
Family Portrait Registration
We'll be back on the church patio this weekend to assist you in registering for your complimentary LifeTouch photos. We've added additional photographers, and are happy to say there are now many more spots! Stop by our table after Mass this weekend to be a part of our 90th Anniversary Parish Pictorial Directory, receive a free 8X10 portrait, and receive a complimentary copy of the Directory when it is completed in the Spring.
Last weekend was such a special weekend for our second grade class! They each received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a beautiful step on their faith journey. For these students, this was the first sacrament they received on their own (as they were in the loving arms of their parents when they received the Sacrament of Baptism). We congratulate our students on this joyous occasion!
Hi, Mama!
St. Mary's Preschool knows how hard it is for first time parents to leave their children (their babies!) at school, often for the first time. Recently, our preschool rolled out "Hi Mama!", a wonderful application that keeps moms and dads completely in the know. Parents can access information such as nap schedules, what kinds of snacks their little one enjoyed, and receive ongoing information straight from the preschool. The response has been great, and helps moms and dads feel even more connected with their little ones throughout the day!
Our first meeting was a hoot! If you didn’t make it to our first Senior Breakfast Club get together, don’t worry, we’ll be there every First Friday of the Month in our Parish Center, drinking great coffee, eating treats, and telling stories. We introduced ourselves, and as an ice-breaker, shared about our favorite Christmas present as a child. We also talked about all the great resources and activities that are available in Oceanside for the over 55 crowd. Lots of hand outs were available about low cost classes from Mira Costa College, and upcoming senior activities at El Corazon and the Country Club Centers. We are an active group and are all interested in helping our parish and our community. Please join us Thursday, January 4 for our next meeting!
Meet Our Ministers!
Meet John Quintiliani! John’s voice and guitar gifts are present in weekend Masses here at St. Mary’s and much appreciated by all. He has been part of our parish community for over 13 years, starting out as a teenager involved in our youth group and choir activities. Now involved in the St. Mary’s Music Ministry, his love for our Lord and the music of the Liturgy is an excellent example of sharing our God-given talents with others and giving back in gratitude.
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