MISSION STATEMENT FOR ST. MARY'S CHURCH
St. Mary's Parish is a spiritual family united in faith by Christ Jesus, empowered by the love of God and committed to serve all with the help of the Holy Spirit. We are a friendly and inclusive Roman Catholic community that warmly welcomes people of every race, language and way of life to celebrate with us at the Eucharistic Table. Through the intercession of Mary, our patron and model, we strive to be faithful disciples of her Son by living and sharing the gospel message with joy.
How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked
and does not take a stand in the path that sinners tread,
nor a seat in company with cynics,
but delights in the law of Yahweh
and murmurs his law day and night.
Psalms 1:1-2
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to get directions to St. Mary's Southside - Elmira, NY
Click Here
2011 PARISH FESTIVAL
held on June 18th and 19th
Was a GREAT SUCCESS!!
JOIN US FOR NEXT YEAR!!
Thanks to everyone who made the
Third Annual St. Mary's Golf Tournament
a success!
The Tournament was held on Saturday, August 27, 2011
at Tomasso's Golf Course
CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR'S TOURNAMENT!!
- Religious Education
- RCIA (click to go to RCIA)
Religious Education
St. Mary's Religious Education programs consist of two groups:
Grades 1 through 5 -and- Grades 6, 7, and 8.
Classes for Grades 1 through 5 are held Sunday mornings from 9:00 - 10:15 am, using a lectionary curriculum, along with Catholic Identity. We follow the school calendar.
Classes for Grades 6, 7, and 8 meet for two hours once a month, usually on a Sunday from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm and follow a youth ministry model incorporating education, spiritual, social and service components. We follow the school calendar.
The Sacramental Programs are also under the direction of the Religious Education Office. We have restored the order of sacraments, so any child who presents themselves for First Eucharist will also receive their Confirmation. This is usually in the 2nd grade.
First Penance is celebrated at the 4th grade level, or sooner per parent request.
If a parent presents a child for Baptism at the age of 7 or above we offer the RCIC process. This process is a weekly program that is lectionary based. (Click the RCIA button to read more about this process.)
For all our programs, parents must be registered in our parish. All students who wish to participate in CYO programs must attend Religious Education or attend Catholic School.
We prepare and celebrate the Sacrament of Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation each school year under the direction of the Religious Education Office. Sacraments are celebrated according to readiness of the student. One of the criteria for readiness is that the child complete one year of Religious Education classes BEFORE preparation begins.
If you have any questions concerning our Religious Education program at St. Mary's feel free to contact the Religious Education Office at 734-5220.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is a carefully designed process for persons:
- Never baptized
- Baptized in another faith but interested in Catholicism
- Baptized Catholic but not presently involved in Church life
- Baptized Catholic but not confirmed or had little religious instruction
RCIA begins in September and will conclude with the welcoming of our new Catholic members at Easter Vigil.
If you or someone you know may be interested in learning more about the Catholic religion you may contact the rectory or David Biviano, RCIA coordinator at 733-5254 for information.
We also invite any children (first grade and up) who may wish to be received into the Catholic Church to inquire about the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC), which is offered here at St. Mary's. Parents should contact Donna Bennett at 734-5220.
Youth Group - Grades 9 through 12
MISSION STATEMENT
To bring God's light to others through our words and our actions,
To encourage participation in Parish life and to display Christian behavior through community service.
NEXT MEETING: Sunday, October 16, 2011 in the Marian Center after the 10:30 am Mass
Every High School student is welcome to join St. Mary's Youth Group - check us out! If you are interested in joining or would like to know more there are a few options for you. You can email Anne at Anne@Beebe1.com , text Anne at 607-481-3452, or contact Burt at Burt@Beebe1.com or text him at 607-481-3787. Whatever works for you, works for us!
YOUTH GROUP IS NOW ON FACEBOOK...CLICK HERE! 
You can view our entries without joining Facebook!
If you are interested in joining any of ministries please feel free to call the rectory at 734-6254 and let them know. ALL ARE WELCOME IN OUR CHURCH!
Liturgical Ministers
Lector proclaims Readings and Prayer of the Faithful at Mass on Sunday or Holydays
Eucharistic Ministers distributes Communion at Mass
Altar Server assists the priest at mass
Usher takes up the Collection Offering, ushers seats, occasionally passes out forms, straightens pews after congregation leaves
Sacristan cleans the sacred vessels after mass and sets up for the next service
Mass Coordinator checks to make sure everything is set up for mass and checks in mass Ministers
Greeters called to greet congregation entering church and occasionally passes out programs.
Communion Minister to the Sick is an outreach to take Communion to the sick or Homebound.
Church Helpers
Missalette Changers are called on about 4 times a year to change missalettes in the pews
Housekeepers clean and dust altar area; take care of holy water
Laundry Aids wash and iron altar linens and altar server robes
Seamstress mends and alters vestments, altar server robes, albs, etc.
Religious Education
Sunday Liturgy of the Word for Children helps with children for their Liturgy
Religious Education Teachers
Religious Education "Helpers" or "Aids"
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) helper
Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) helper
Vacation Bible Camp Helpers
Youth Ministry Aid
Children's Choir meets for practice and sings on the 1st Sunday of each month at 10:30 am Mass from October through June. This gives children Grades K through Junior High an opportunity to use their talents. Practice begins in church at 9:40 am the Sunday we sing.
Young Adult Choir sings once a month at the 4:00 pm Saturday Mass through the school season. This gives those in high school and up an opportunity to use their talents.
Folk Group sings at the 4:00 pm Saturday mass year round with the exception of when the young adult choir sings once a month. (Weekly practice)
Parish Choir sings at the 10:30 am Mass on Sunday from mid-September through June and on special occasions such as the Memorial Mass, Christmas,Holy Week, Easter, Confirmation, etc. New members are always welcome. NOW is the time to join.
Schola Brevis is a more contemporary choir which sings on occasion to fill in during summer time, special services and sometimes the Regional 5:00 pm Mass. This choir has opened to the Elmira Region with memberships from other parishes when singing.
Resurrection Choir sings for all funerals based on availability of its members.
Bell Choir is another form of music to praise God. They play for masses and special occasions. Bell ringers are welcome from any parish.
Instrumentalists are used at masses when available, especially around the holiday seasons and special occasions. If you are experienced on a musical instrument and would be willing to share your talents, please contact the office. Practice will be scheduled as needed.
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" Choir sings for one mass Christmas Eve and usually performs a Christmas Concert. Choir is open to High School through College "and beyond" from young adults returning home to visit family and friends for Christmas. Everyone is welcome.
Cantor leads music at masses when a choir is not in attendance and for special services.
Spiritual Needs
Social Ministry is to be of service to the parish and the community in two equally important ways, works of Charity and Justice. They provide direct service to those in need including our weekly food collection, our Christmas basket program, our work at the community kitchen, the Lenten coin box collection, providing luncheons for grieving families following funerals, and assisting with monetary aid for utility bills, rent, and prescriptions. Social Ministry also works on Justice issues in an attempt to remove the root causes of injustice in our government structures. Their goal is to educate our parish in basic Catholic social teaching and to provide avenues to use this education to improve the lives of those who live in poverty. They include organizing letter writing, postcard and petition signings, and phone calls to elected officials in order to bring about social reform.
Parish Council serves the parish in a ministry of leadership and consists of people who are committed to the life of the parish.It serves as a model of Christian community and leadership to the rest of the parish family, empowering its members and the members of the parish community to contribute to and to take ownership of the life of the parish. The Council conducts its ministry by assessing and studying parish needs, communicating with all members of the parish, actively involving in the decision-making process all those who will be affected by an action, and reaching consensus through open discussion, and then advising and endorsing policy decisions regarding the faith community. Council Meetings are held at 7:00 pm in the Rectory. All meetings are open to Parish Members, please call Rectory for appointment.
Parish Life helps with set-up, clean-up, etc. for Memorial Mass, cuts out leaves for the "Tree of Life", and helps with other activities or projects on a call basis.
Prayer Chain prays for called in intentions and for the sick.
Christmas Basket Help
Funeral Luncheon Help such as servers, bakers and cooked food donations.
Food Collection helps take collected food to the Samaritan Center.
Ministry to the Homebound visits homebound and elderly to keep them in-touch with the parish and to see if they need help.
Collection Counters count the collection on Monday mornings.
Fund Raisers such as Festival Committee, Golf Committee and Harvest Festival Committee.
Buildings and Grounds Committee
Finance Committee
SMILE TRAIN
WE HAVE REACHED OUR GOAL!!
When we launched our Smile Train project on October 5, 2008, we put out the coin boxes for the first time and collected $478. We were off and running with a two year goal of collecting $25,000 to support 100 cleft surgeries for some of the poorest children on earth. And we did it! Imagine...one hundred children can now smile, go to school, be accepted by their peers, and someday marry without the social scar of having been "cursed by God."
Exactly two years later...on October 10, 2010...we received our largest weekend collection of $903 (thanks to some generous donors) that brought our total to $25,149.
Here are some items of interest:
- St. Mary's earned the distinction of providing more support to Smile Train than any other single Catholic parish in the country.
- The date we reached our goal was 10/10/10. Biblical numerology says that the number 10 means completeness or wholeness that happens in divine order.
- Holy Family Primary School added a contribution of $379 during this past week. Imagine...our children helping other children around the world. What a great expression of caring for others.
Sunday, October 31 will be the final day that coin boxes will be available in church. If you wish to make a final donation, please do so then.
On behalf of Smile Train and the children of seventy-six nations being served, thank you...thank you...thank you. With the support of the Advisory Committee and the overwhelming generosity of so many parishioners, we have again shown that St. Mary's is truly a special parish.
David Biviano
Smile Train Coordinator
Check out their website for more information regarding their organization. www.SmileTrain.org.
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