Second Grade students from our parish celebrated their First Communion at Masses on Saturday, May 4th and Saturday, May 18th! Our "Little Lambs" were lovingly supported by their families and parish community as they gathered around the table of our Lord. May you always know the peace of Jesus, the light of his love, and the joy of his life within you!

Cooking and serving meals for the homeless allows our teens experience true gratitude. They are always amazed by the sincerity shown through each interaction as we serve the meal we have carefully prepared. If your son or daughter has never participated in this mission, please click the title for more information. The Calcutta Project open to students in grades 7 - 12. It is an outreach effort of IGNITE Youth Ministry that was named for Mother Teresa of Calcutta who inspires us to serve.

IGNITE Youth Ministry will take its seventh annual trip to UMass-Lowell for this Catholic Youth Conference. All students currently in grades 8 - 12 are invited to join our group! This conference weekend has been a life-changing experience for so many of our teens. For travel information or to place a deposit, click the title.

"Advent is a time to welcome the Lord who comes to meet us, the time to look ahead, and to prepare ourselves for Christ's return." (Dec 2) "Advent is a time for renewing the faith, for purifying it, so that it can be more authentic." (Dec 3) "This Advent, make yourself small, make yourself humble, make yourself a servant of others, and the Lord will give you the ability to understand how to make peace." (Dec 4) "The beginning of faith is feeling the need for salvation: this is the way that prepares us to meet Jesus." (Dec 5) To view more quotes, click the title.

Throughout the summer months, teens in IGNITE served at the shelter. They gathered in the Parish Center kitchen to cook for 75 men who live at Immaculate Conception Shelter (ImmaCare). After preparing the meal, they prayed for those who would receive it. Our team of teens and adults transported and served the meal that evening. The Calcutta Project is an outreach effort of IGNITE Youth Ministry. It was named for Mother Teresa of Calcutta who inspires us to serve. We will be on mission at the shelter again throughout the year. For details, click the title.

Registration is required to to be placed in a class (grades 1-6) or a small group (grades 7-8 and high school). We want to take this opportunity to welcome families who are new to our parish and to our program! To find our registration button and to access more information about our programs, please click the title.

There will be a blessing of our graduating seniors during the celebration of Mass at 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 10. Please join us as we surround our graduates in prayer before they begin the next chapter of their lives. Graduates, we look forward to seeing all of you to congratulate you in person!

Teens in IGNITE will serve at the shelter again on Friday, May 25. Our teens will gather in the Parish Center kitchen to cook for 75 men who live at Immaculate Conception Shelter (ImmaCare). After preparing the meal, we will pray for those who will receive it. Our team of teens and adults will transport and serve the meal that evening. The Calcutta Project is an outreach effort of our ministry. It was named for Mother Teresa of Calcutta who inspires us to serve. We will be on mission at the shelter again in the spring. For details, click the title.

Congratulations to all our students who received the gift of the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation on April 21st. The Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford. Archbishop Leonard Blair and Bishop Peter Rosazza were the celebrants. Congratulations to all who received this Sacrament!

IGNITE will be selling baked goods after all Masses on April 21-22 and April 28-29. This fundraiser will help to cover costs for our annual trip to the Steubenville East Catholic Youth Conference. Over the past five years, our parishioners have been very supportive. We are grateful for your generosity! To learn more about this Catholic youth conference, click the title.

We are thrilled to announce that IGNITE will be heading to the XL Center to see Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher and four other artists perform live on May 5. This tour, Worship Night in America, has been advertised on K-Love (106.9 FM). Bus transportation will be provided. The trip will be led by our Youth Minister and four adult VIRTUS-trained chaperones. Sign up before February 25. For ticket information, click the title.

IGNITE is proud to announce the successful launch of the Calcutta Project, an outreach effort of our ministry. On January 19, our teens gathered in the Parish Center kitchen to cook for 75 men who live at Immaculate Conception Shelter (ImmaCare). After preparing the meal, we prayed for those who would receive it. Our team of teens and adults transported and served the meal that evening. This effort was named for Mother Teresa of Calcutta who inspires us to serve. We will be on mission at the shelter again in the spring. For details, click the title.

Please be sure to check out our new bulletin board at the main entrance of the Church. You will find news of up-coming events as well as some faith related points of interest...facts about the saints, why we celebrate certain religious traditions and more! The information is always changing so please visit our bulletin board often!

If you have not registered your child for our religious education program for the 2016-17 school year, do so this week and avoid the late registration fee! Click for details.

Thank you to all who have been praying for our 2nd graders as they prepare to make the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Cards are due by December 8th. Send your card addressed to the child c/o: St. Mary Church, PO Box 575, Simsbury, CT 06070.