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I hope everyone enjoyed the retreat for year 1 confirmation.  If you were not able to make it for any reason, please contact Steve DiMotta, he has the information for your student to attend a make-up retreat.

Thank-you to Susan Falkner from the Women's Guild for hosting the Sunday morning coffee and fellowship on the weekend of November 2nd-3rd. Each week will be hosting coffee and this is wonderful way to meet fellow parishioners. Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to help host coffee on an upcoming weekend.

At our latest Women's Guild gathering we made Psalm 23 Bracelets. Some of the most poetic, comforting words in the Bible can be found in the Book of Psalms and the most familiar is Psalm 23. The image of a gentle shepherd, green pastures, still waters, we yearn for such peace and reassurance. If you are looking to be inspired, it doesn’t get any better than this. Different colored beads are strung together to make a bracelet, with each bead representing an image from the verses.

Thank you to everyone who has hosted coffee and fellowship after the 8:00 and 9:30 AM Masses. We are looking for more people to help host the coffee on Sunday morning. We have excellent instructions and it is a great way to meet new people. If you would like to host, please call the parish office (860) 658-7627.

We had a great time with messy game night. Thanks to all who came and played! The world can sometimes be a messy place, but it helps to know that God walks with us, even through that mess.

If you are an E-giver and your funds were being withdrawn from a Simsbury Bank account you will need to update your account information in our WeShare e-giving system. Now that Liberty Bank has purchased Simsbury Bank, parishioners will need to update their routing numbers so their donations are uninterrupted. E-giving transactions are still being honored during the transition but the correct routing number for Liberty Bank (211170282) will need to be updated. Please contact Joanne Dunn, our Finance Manager, if you need help making this change.

Stephen Ministers are ready to listen, care, and pray. Please contact the coordinator to arrange a time to learn about this ministry at St. Mary’s. Questions may be directed to Mary Ann Pappano at (860) 658-7532 or St. Mary’s office at (860) 658-7627. All conversations remain confidential.

There are so many ways to be a part of the community at St. Mary's! Consider the 9:30 Music Group. This ensemble plays a variety of music for the liturgy from classical pieces to Praise and Worship style music. Our regular rehearsal time is 8:30 Sunday mornings in the new music room. We also rehearse every other Tuesday night from 7 - 8:15 for those who are able to attend. Singers from 7th grade to adult are welcome to join us. Please contact Patty Lepak at lepakfamily@gmail.com for more information. We would love to have you join us!

The Women's Guild Service Committee is excited to have a full slate of activities planned for the year. Watch the bulletin for details on the following events: Giving Tree/Stocking Collection (December 1-14), Santa's Workshop & Breakfast (December 14), Easter Basket Collection (March 22-29) and Father's Day Bake Sale (June 20-21). All members of the parish are invited to join us for these events!

We invite you to pray for the 16 people who are committed to the coursework to become Stephen Ministers. Please ask God to bless them as they prepare, study and learn. They will rely on your prayers!

Thank you to all who attended and to those who helped at the Parish Family Picnic last Sunday. It was a huge success, with a wonderful turnout of over 180 people and ideal weather! Special thanks to Kane’s Market for grilling the hamburgers and hot dogs, the Picnic Committee for organizing the day, and all who helped with set up, serving, and clean up. Our volunteers are a valuable and integral part of the parish - you are always welcome here, and we could definitely use more help! Thanks also to everyone who brought the delicious side dishes and desserts to share! It was a great way to bring summer to an end with friends!

I would like to have coffee available for parishioners after the 8:30 and 9:30 Sunday Masses in our new vestibule area, but I need volunteers to help set it up and oversee it. I am looking for parishioners who have not been actively involved in the parish but now would like to be. If you can help, please contact the Office (860) 658-7627. Father Matera

Simsbury Community TV is featuring a program this month on our parish and school, focusing on the completion of our new facility. The program airs during the month of September on Tuesdays (2:30 pm & 9:30 pm) and Thursdays (9:30 am) or simply click on the title to watch the program now.

Join us on August 24th for a Sunset Mass and a movie under the stars! Please mark you calendars for a COMMUNITY WIDE parish event. In addition to the regular 5 pm Mass on Saturday, Fr. Matera is planning to celebrate an outdoor Mass at sunset followed by a family movie in the front parking lot. Mass will begin just before sunset and our church will be open for tours before we begin a family movie on an outdoor screen. Bring your friends, a chair and blankets. We will be providing popcorn and water to all. If you would like to volunteer to help, please see the parish website for a link or contact Sandy at 860-214-6557. Click the title for a link to volunteer.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in becoming Catholic, this is the time to learn more about RCIA. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process by which adults are initiated into the church. RCIA is for you if you were (1) never baptized, (2) baptized into another faith or (3) baptized Catholic but never received the Eucharist or Confirmation. For more information, click the RCIA link on the right-hand side of our home page.

All are invited to our annual parish picnic! This fun family event will take place Sunday, Sept. 22 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

Are you trustworthy, compassionate and willing to share your faith with another? Please consider becoming a Stephen Minister in our parish. Training is provided. Contact the parish office for more information.

Welcome to Saint Mary’s Parish. Please register with our parish community so that we can know and serve you better. You can register by calling 860-658-7627 or stopping by the Parish Office in the Magowan Center.

Would you like someone to bring you Holy Communion? Would you like a priest to visit you? Please contact the Parish Office and we will be happy to send someone out to your home.

If you want to become more actively involved in our parish community, please be in contact with Fr. Matera by calling the Parish Office (860-658-7627).