Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

News and Notes: We are starting a men’s Spirituality Group.  The current plan is that the group will meet on the first and third Saturday mornings each month from 7:45 to 8:45AM at St. Maria Goretti Parish Hall beginning on February 8.  I want to thank Chris Barrett and John DiBello for taking the initiative to organize this offering for the men of our two parishes.  The format for these gatherings is simple: some initial social time, the reading of the upcoming Sunday’s gospel, faith sharing and some intercessory prayer.  All men from both parishes are welcome and encouraged to give it a try!  We begin our observance of “Catholic Schools Week” today.  We’ll be hearing from students from Our Lady of the Assumption School at various Masses in both parishes the next few weekends on the meaning of a Catholic education in their young lives.  Vincent Mitchell, the longtime Music Teacher at OLA School, will be leading the OLA children’s choir at St. Maria’s at one or two liturgies, all of this to promote the value of a parochial school education in general and OLA School in particular.  I myself am a product of a Catholic education from Kindergarten through Seminary and Graduate School, and consider it to be one of the biggest blessings in my life.  Next Sunday, we will have baskets or buckets at the entrances of both parishes to receive free will donations for OLA School for those who were not able to give to this cause in the Special Collection last weekend.  Please be generous in supporting the mission of our excellent parish school.  Blessings to all of you in the week ahead!