Stand erect and raise your heads
Luke 21:28
because your redemption is at hand.
IMPORTANT DATES THIS WEEK:
- Wednesday November 20 – School Mass
- Friday November 22 – Second Quarter Interim
NEWS/EVENTS/NEED TO KNOW:
VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE HAVE YOUR CARPOOL SIGN VISIBLE
Saint Mary’s Parents and Guardians, please have your sign with your family name displayed clearly for carpool. It is our goal to have every student dismissed and loaded safely in their car. Please help us by doing your part and displaying your sign. Thank you so much!
ANNUAL THANKSGIVING BUFFET SIGN UP CLOSING SOON:
Don’t miss the opportunity to join us for our annual Thanksgiving Buffet on Tuesday, November 26th. Our buffet is always a special time for our students and families. Sign up here if you haven’t done so already in your Boonli lunch account. We love seeing our students and families at this wonderful event!
ANNUAL SAINT MARY’S ADVENT BRUNCH:
Please join us for the Saint Mary’s Catholic School PTO Advent Pancake Brunch
Sunday, December 15, 2019, Saint Mary’s Parish Hall. There will be two seatings:
10 a.m. and noon. Don’t miss this great annual event, Purchase your tickets now!
We are in need of many volunteers to make this wonderful, family friendly event happen!!! We have volunteer opportunities for middle school students, high school students and parents. We also are asking for small food item donations for our pancake topping bar. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated. We are also looking for volunteers to serve on the Advent Brunch Planning Committee. Please email Cristen Vehorn at cristenrvehorn@gmail.com if you are interested in helping! Please use this SignUpGenius below to volunteer!
SMCS ALUMNI CHRISTMAS POTLUCK DINNER
SUPPORT SAINT MARY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S ANNUAL FUND!
Start your holiday season by making a gift to support Saint Mary’s Catholic School’s Annual Fund! The SMCS Annual Fund goal for the 2019-20 school year is $65,000. This amount is built into the school’s operating budget, and ensures that our students and teachers have the tools and learning environment they need. Here’s where you can go to give! The Annual Fund link is available at the top right corner of the school homepage, or at www.saintmary.org/give.
For the third year in a row, an anonymous donor has issued an Annual Fund matching challenge around Giving Tuesday. From now through the end of the year, this donor will match any gift to the SMCS Annual Fund up to a total of $7,500. Please give generously to help us reach our goal of $65,000, and please give soon to double your dollars through this matching gift!
Speaking of which — please check with your employer to see if matching gifts through your workplace might be available too. Many Richmond companies support nonprofits this way, including Altria, Anthem, Bank of America, Brinks, Dominion Energy and Genworth. Another option for seniors: Saint Mary’s supports who are over 70.5 and have an Individual Retirement Account may want to consider giving their Required Minimum Distribution to the Saint Mary’s Annual Fund, so that the RMD does not have to be claimed as taxable income and is instead a gift to Saint Mary’s Catholic School.
For any questions about the Annual Fund, please contact Development Coordinator Jennifer Janus at jjanus@saintmary.org or 804.740.1048. Thank you for your support of the students and teachers of Saint Mary’s Catholic School!
LUNCHROOM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: 4TH & 5TH GRADE PARENTS WE NEED YOUR HELP AT LUNCH!
Parents – are you looking to get involved, see your child and help out in a much needed way? One way to volunteer is during lunch. Each grade level is assigned a month. Please consider helping!
Click on the month to sign up!
January 2020 – 2nd & 3rd grades
NEW FOR PAINLESS FUNDRAISING-COKE REWARDS:
Saint Mary’s is now live in the Coke Rewards Program. Refresh yourself and make great things happen for Saint Mary’s Catholic School. How do you do this you may ask, it’s EASY!
SAINT GERTRUDE SPECIAL STUDENT PRAYER SERVICE:
In celebration of Discover Catholic Schools Week, Saint Gertrude High School invites you to join then for a special student-led Prayer Service on Sunday, November 17 at 2 p.m. The service will include a student reflection and will give you a glimpse into how they celebrate chapel each week. For more information and to register to attend please visit their Prayer Service web page.
SAINT GERTRUDE 9TH ANNUAL HOLLY SPREE SHOPPERS MARKET:
Get a head start on Holiday Shopping at the Holly Spree! Read here for date, time and what exciting items will be sold!
ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH EVENT:
“Richmond Symphony Orchestra” “Songs of the Angels – A Celebration of the Music of Christmas” Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 7 pm. With special appearance by Saint Mary’s School Choir – Tickets: $25 per person, $40 for reserved seating – Available online at St. Mary’s Catholic Church HERE or in the parish office.
Discounted tickets available for Saint Mary’s Catholic School choir families – email Mrs. Heather Heishman at hheishman@saintmary.org
If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Vrtis in the Parish Office, 740-4044, ext. 22.
“From Sea to Shining Sea” Join us for a free concert on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 3 pm at St. Mary Church. Fiddle virtuoso, Michael Ferry, Tom Kaczmarek (piano) and Fr. Renninger (baritone) will explore the musical styles which were popular in America from the time of the 13 Colonies to the end of the Civil War. All are invited; reception to follow. RSVP at stmarysrichmond.org or call the parish office at 804-740-4044.
“Middle School Youth Group Nights” For Grades 6-8…Food, Friends, and Fun! Gatherings will focus on fellowship and building relationships. Open to ALL Saint Mary’s community middle schoolers and their friends. Participants must be registered for parish faith formation (select Attends Catholic School in the online registration at the parish website) to ensure parental permission. Nights are planned for Nov. 24, Dec. 15, and Jan. 5.
“Are You Interested in Becoming A Catholic?” If you have never been baptized, if you were baptized in another Christian denomination and would like to become Catholic, or if you were baptized Catholic, but never received the Sacraments of Eucharist or Confirmation, you are welcome to join our RCIA Inquiry Process. For more information, call Sr. Pat at 740-4044, ext. 13, or go to our parish web page, and click on “Interest in Becoming Catholic”.
“St. Mary’s Catholic Church Registration” Parish registration takes place monthly on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 pm or some weekdays at 7 pm in the Bishop Sullivan Room. During this one-hour program, you will meet other parishioners, our Pastor and staff, receive an introduction to St. Mary’s Parish and complete the registration documents. Childcare and refreshments are provided.
Our registration will take place on November 17, 2019.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Volunteer for Carpool Duty
Painless Fundraising
Flynn O’Hara Uniform information