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IMPORTANCE OF REGISTRATION:    Registration announces your arrival in the parish and assures you of full status as a parishioner.  This enables the parish priest and staff to make available to you the rights and privileges guaranteed by Church law, such as the administration of sacraments.  Registration is an effective initiation into the life of your new parish.

PARISH CENSUS FORM:    Please complete the census form and return it to the parish Church office as soon as possible.  By doing so you will be able to receive the Pastor’s monthly letter and keep you abreast of events, etc. in the parish.  Census forms are available at the office and in the Church narthex.  

PARISH WEEKLY BULLETIN:    The weekly Church bulletin is the best way to keep up with the events taking place in the parish.  It is a fountain of information, so please make sure you pick one up when you come to Church.  It lists all organizations and telephones.  The bulletin will give you a feel of parish community life.  The bulletin information should be turned in by noon on Wednesdays to be included for that week-end.

INSERTING INTO PARISH LIFE:    The back cover of the weekly bulletin lists the Church organization heads and their telephones.  Please feel free to call them to get information about a particular organization you might be interested in joining.

 

WEEKLY VOCATION and PEACE MASS:  Our Wednesday evening Mass at 6:30 p.m. at the Church is for the intention for vocations to the Church.  We ask all to try to attend this Mass at least once a month to pray for more vocations which are much needed in our Church.

 

FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION:   Our parish promotes first Friday Adoration.  Every first Friday of the month, we have an 8:00 a.m. Mass after which Adoration throughout the day begins.  We ask all our parishioners and families to try to come during the day for an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.  We have Vespers at 6:00 p.m., the closing of Adoration and a 6:30 p.m. Mass.

 

WEEKLY ROSARY GROUPS:  Praying the Rosary in our parish is very well promoted by our Rosary groups.  The Rosary is prayed in English on Mondays and Wednesdays  and in Spanish on Fridays after the 6:30 p.m. Mass.

 

PRAYER & HEALING:   Our weekly Prayer group meets on Tuesday evenings after the 6:30 p.m. Mass.  We also have a Prayer and Healing Service every 3rd Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Church.

 

 

PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS:   Religious education and youth ministry constitute one of the most important evangelical functions of the parish.  Enough cannot be said about the serious responsibility for parents to educate their children in the ways of the Faith.  This comes from the promise parents and godparents made at the child’s baptism.  Parents are obliged in conscience to take advantage of the parish religious education programs.  This can be a challenge because of the many sports and social activities taking place.  Nonetheless, this ministry becomes successful in direct proportion to the amount of time, interest, and concern displayed by the parents.

Parish religious educators form a partnership with the parents in the formation of their children.  Religious formation begins at home from the earliest years by teaching children how to pray.  They should gradually be introduced to the protocol of Sunday worship at an early age.  Rose Luera is the Religious Education Director and may be reached at the Church office, 312-2520.

 

ELEMENTARY / HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION:    Our parish programs begin in mid-September and end in mid-April.  Registration for these programs takes place in August.  Registration forms are mailed to all registered parishioners and may be picked up at the office or in the Church narthex. 

At present, we have classes on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings for students in Kinder through 5th Grade. Middle School meets on Wednesday evenings and the High School meets Sunday evenings. First Reconciliation and Communion preparation takes place in 2nd grade.  We also have a special class for students that are in 3rd grade or higher and have not yet received these sacraments.   Confirmation takes place in the 10 th grade or higher.

Acceptance into our programs is on a first-come basis because of limited space. 

 

ADULT EDUCATION:   Our Pastor conducts the Adult Religious Education class on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the Church hall.  These classes are preparation for all sacraments, for Converts and those wishing to learn more about the Catholic faith.  Couples not married in the Catholic Church wanting to have their marriages blessed by the Church are also invited to attend these classes.  Registration takes place throughout the year.  Just come to a class on any given Thursday and register.  You may also call the parish office, 312-2520.

 

YOUTH MINISTRY:   Our parish youth group meets on Sunday evenings in the parish hall after Sunday Evening Mass.  All high school teens are invited, urged, and welcomed to become part of our parish youth ministry. 

 

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS:  

 

BAPTISM:   Our parish requires attendance at one Baptismal preparation session before the Baptism takes place.  The preparation sessions are held every 4th Wednesday of the month from 7 pm to 9 pm.  The Baptisms are the Saturday immediately after the preparation session.  Baptisms take place after the Saturday evening 5:30 p.m. Mass.

The Spanish Baptismal preparation sessions are on the third Saturday of the month at 9:30 a.m.  The Baptisms are that same Saturday immediately after the 5:30 p.m. evening Mass.

 

Pre-registration is required for Baptism.  A copy of the child’s birth certificate, the state copy, is also required at the time of registration.  Registration can be done at the parish office or in the Church narthex.

 

1ST RECONCILIATION / 1ST COMMUNION / CONFIRMATION:   These sacraments take place through our Religious Education programs.

 

WEDDINGS:   It is necessary to contact the parish priest at least six months before the planned wedding date.  There are preparation sessions and certain documents required.  The priest will set a meeting with the couple to go over all the requirements necessary.

 

SICK CALLS:   Please call the Church office to relay the information of the person to be visited, whether at home or in the hospital or nursing home.  For emergencies, call 295-4236.

 

FUNERALS:   If a death occurs in the family, please contact the priest to making aware of it.  Also, the family needs to contact a funeral director to arrange, in concert with the family and the Church, the times and places for the wake and the liturgy.  The funeral director will then contact the Church.

 

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION:   Confessions are heard every Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Church and by special appointment.  They are also available before the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays.  Our parish also conducts seasonal Penance Services with extra Confessors available.  These services are usually scheduled during the Lenten, Advent, and Christmas seasons. 

 

QUINCE AÑOS:   All young ladies in our parish are welcomed and invited to celebrate their 15th birthday with a special Mass of consecration, thanks, and dedication.  You will need to contact the Priest at least six months in advance.  The young lady must already be attending Religious Education classes.  If already confirmed, she must be attending the high school Religious Education class.  Father will set a meeting with the family to go over all the requirements necessary for this celebration.

 

SUPPORT OF OUR PARISH:    While it is true that supporting the parish is a precept of the Church, being fair or even generous to one’s parish makes good sense.  We should remember that the parish functions under the same economic conditions as do the parishioners.

 

STEWARDSHIP:   Tithing is based on biblical foundations that parishioners should budget a percentage of take-home income for the parish.  Half of the percent would go directly to the parish in the weekly collection.  The other half would be budgeted for diocesan-sponsored second collections and other charities. 

When filling out the parish census form, please check the item necessary if you wish to receive the Church contribution envelopes.  IF REGISTERED, the parish will keep a record of your Church contributions through use of the contribution envelopes and your parish ID number.  Contribution statements will be mailed out at the end of the year.

 

FUNDRAISERS: 

 

ANNUAL PARISH FIESTA:    Our Church’s big fundraiser is our Annual Parish Fiesta which is held on the Church grounds on a designated week-end in June.  Raffle tickets are mailed out to all our registered parishioners who are encouraged to buy or sell these tickets.  We also urge all our parishioners to volunteer some of their time with this event, either by selling raffle tickets on location with our first prize (a new Sport Trac Truck), manning one of the many booths, and in other much needed ways.

 

WEEKLY PARISH BINGO:   Our parish operates a weekly Bingo on Sunday afternoons in the Church hall.  Games begin at 3 p.m.  We have a progressive jackpot for $500.  This Bingo is operated by parish volunteers donating their time on a monthly basis for the operation of the Bingo and/or the concession stand.  Volunteers are always welcome.  Just call the Church office.

 

POINTS FOR REFLECTION

 

CHURCH DECORUM:   Because Sunday Mass is a community celebration, we come to realize how important it is for the welfare of all that we arrive on time for Mass.  Better still, it is always wise to plan to spend some time in preparatory prayer and recollection before Mass, thus assuring our on-time arrival.  Our Church also has a “Cry Room” for those parents wanting one.

 

APPROPRIATE ATTIRE:    When one thinks of what transpires during Mass and Communion, we should want to dress for the occasion.  We really should come to Church in our proverbial Sunday best.  We should be well-groomed and properly clothed.  Jeans, cutoffs, shorts, tee shirts or tank tops are out of place.  Our Church has comfortable heating and air-conditioning systems.  Modesty of dress is a pre-requisite.  Chewing gum is also inappropriate.

 

WHEN DEPARTING:   We ask all to place the Missalettes back in their proper place and to take the Church bulletin home with them or return them to the narthex.  Please exercise caution while driving out of the parking area.