GOOD WORKS AND GOOD FOOD

Help us to Feed the Hungry – Make a Dessert for a Local Community Meal!!!

“Manna" is an organization that serves community meals to those in need three days a week, and we can help out by contributing homemade desserts to them. As you know, Christ had a special relationship with those in need, and always was very mindful of feeding those who needed to be fed. How fortunate we are to have found a way to help in the feeding of other people!

Here is the Manna schedule:

            Wednesday at Edwards Church

                        Dinner, 6:00 PM – Bring a dessert at 4:00 PM

            Saturday at Edwards Church

                        Lunch, 11:30 AM – Bring a dessert at 10:00 AM

            Sunday at St. John’s Episcopal Church

                        Lunch, 11:30 AM – Bring a dessert at 10:00 AM

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO THE UNITED STATES

April 15 – 20, 2008

Prayer for the Holy Father

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to

Your shepherd, Pope Benedict, a spirit of

courage and right judgment, a spirit of

knowledge and love.

By governing with fidelity those entrusted to

his care, may he, as successor to the apostle

Peter and Vicar of Christ, build Your Church

into a sacrament of unity, love, and peace

for all the world.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You

and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and

ever. Amen.

PILGRIMAGE TO OBERAMMERGAU

Once in a lifetime opportunity, sponsored by Catholic Communications. From August 20th to 30th, 2010, diocesan Director of Vocations Father Gary Dailey will celebrate his Silver Jubilee as a priest by leading a pilgrimage to Oberammergau, Germany, for the 41^st performance of the world-renowned Passion Play. The Passion of Christ is re-enacted by some 2,000 townsfolk once each decade to fulfill a promise made to God while facing mortal threat. Attend an upcoming information session:

7:00 PM, Wednesday, May 14^th, Most Holy Redeemer Parish Center,

120 Russell Street (Rte. 9), Hadley

7:00 PM, Thursday, May 15^th, Bishop Marshall Center (rear of St. Michael’s Cathedral),

254 State Street, Springfield

or go to iObserve.org to learn more about this pilgrimage.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF REMEMBERING ST. MARY'S IN YOUR WILL?

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Religious Education Classes are as follows:

April 20th - No classes - School vacation

April 27th - Last class for Grades K-5, 6-9

May 4th - First Communion

Religious Education Registration for next fall will take place again on April 27^th after classes. Please don't wait to register!

A special thanks to the third and fifth graders who made Easter candy bags and chocolate pops to raise money for Tina's Pre-school in South Africa. Linda Forget helped to coordinate the effort. A total of $112 was raised!

THE NORTHAMPTON SURVIVAL CENTER

Please help to cheer and support the progress of the Northampton Survival Center by bringing an item of food to church each weekend. Our weekly donations are delivered to the Center each Monday by Bill Kenefick.

Many people are facing economic hardships and trade-offs that continue to worsen and require our help in putting nutritious food on their tables. Last year, the Center distributed 470,000 pounds of food to 16 communities in Hampshire County through its Northampton and Goshen pantries. That’s 2,000 pounds every weekday to almost 4,000 neighbors in need.

BLESSED VIRGIN SODALITY

Blessed Sacrament Church

Blessed Virgin Sodality will hold their Communion Supper on Monday, May 5, 2008, at the Northampton Country Club, Leeds. Rosary and Mass will precede the dinner at 5:45 PM at Blessed Sacrament Church. The speaker will be Sister Eleanor Dooley, S.J. Price is $20.00 and reservations must be received no later than April 24^th. Please call Betty Bogan, Treasurer, at 413-247-0256 with questions.

MASSES AND SANCTUARY CANDLE

There are dates available for Masses and the 7-Day Sanctuary Candle in memory of loved ones or for a special intention. One special way to offer a prayer for someone is to light a candle for them. Please contact the parish office for available dates at 584-7310.

LETTER FROM THE BISHOP

My dear friends in Christ,

Next weekend, Catholics across the nation will be asked to help the Catholic Home Missions Appeal.

Since 1998, this national collection has been a powerful and successful expression of stewardship and unity of our parishes across America, one with another. It has been a means of helping the poorest of our home missions especially in areas where no priests are available for hundreds of square miles.

The appeal offers us an opportunity to help our fellow Catholics in Alaska, Appalachia, the Deep South, the Rocky Mountain States, the Southwest, Puerto Rico and the island dioceses of the Pacific and Caribbean.

The Catholic Home Missions Appeal is a practical way for us to show our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Over 95 cents of every dollar donated to the Appeal goes directly to the missions.

I thank you for your generosity and for your support in this very important stewardship appeal.

Keep me in your prayers; you are in mine.

In Christ,

Most Reverend Timothy A. McDonnell

Bishop of Springfield

COMMUNITY SUMMIT ON HUNGER IN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

97 North Hatfield Road, Hatfield

Directions: www.foodbankwma.org

PRAYER LINE REQUESTS

Prayer line requests may be called in to Mary Lou Labarge at 413-531-4644. The person’s first name and the intention is all that is required. Intentions/petitions remain on the prayer line for two months.

DONATIONS

April 12 - April 13, 2008

Weekly - $2,910.71

Catholic Communications - $854.85

Special Collection - April 26/27 - Catholic Home Missions

THE WEEK AHEAD...

Sunday, April 20th                    Visitation Sunday

Monday, April 21st                    Parish Office Closed

Tuesday, April 22nd

                      7:00 PM                Meditation

Wednesday, April 23rd

                      7:00 PM                   RCIA

Thursday, April 24th

                    10:00 AM                  Church Cleaning

Saturday, April 26th

                      8:00 AM                  Church Cleaning

                      3:00 PM                  Reconciliation

PARISH OFFICE

The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, April 21^st, in observance of Patriot’s Day.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am, you also may be.” – Jn 14:1-3

READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 20, 2008

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