COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE: Sponsored by Knights of Columbus, St. Mary’s Council #1470 will be Saturday, April 15th 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Knights Hall, 41605 Fenwick St., Leonardtown, MD 20650. HOW: Sign up at: WWW.REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG then insert KOC1470 into the box FIND A DRIVE in the upper right corner. Or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1 -800-733-2767). After registering for your donation appointment, use Rapid Pass the DAY of the drive to fast track your donation "check in."

QUEEN OF HEARTS--St. Michael’s School will be having the Queen of Hearts fundraiser at St. Michael’s School Gym every Friday. Tickets are $1 each and doors open at 5:00. Tickets on sale at 6:00pm. Drawing taking place at 8:00pm SHARP! Dinner will be available and there will be a 50/50 raffle each week. Come join in the fun! Check the school front sign for up to date info.

The Lyceum at St. Mary’s Ryken--”Being Human” Course description: Each of us has some deep experience with being human, but what does that actually mean? Could you explain what distinguishes us from other animals? What if you had to give an account of what a human being is, or what a human being does, could you? This course will be a modest attempt to provide some answers to these questions. These answers may not be definitive, but they will delineate a particular shape for what being human is. In focusing on the ways meaning informs all aspects of being human, we will point towards a more fully human life as the key to outrageous happiness and fulfillment. Location is St. Mary’s Ryken, Rupert Hall 220 from 7:00 to 9:00pm Wednesdays, January 25th-March 22nd. Cost is $95. For questions or more information please contact John Olon at [email protected]

Immaculate Heart of Mary--Community Baby Shower on Sunday, January 29th from 2:30pm5:30pm. Hosted by IHM Ladies Auxiliary in support of the Southern Maryland CareNet Pregnancy Center. All are welcome! Please bring a baby shower style unwrapped gift as admission. No food/formula, toys, stuffed animals, or books

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS— This year the Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass to Celebrate the Vocation of Marriage will be on Saturday, February 11, 2023, 10:00 a.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Couples must register with the parish office to attend the Mass and/or receive a certificate from Cardinal Wilton Gregory in honor of their anniversary year by January 20, 2023

The next Mass with healing prayers at Immaculate Heart of Mary will be Monday, January 23, at 7pm

The Food Pantry at St Cecilia’s is open on Monday’s and Thursday’s from 9AM until 12PM. It is available for all who live on Hermanville Road and South. The pantry provides household cleaning supplies, hygiene products and food. Any questions can be directed to Barbara at 301.481.0323. Thank you for your continued generosity to the Food Pantry. We have received many donations which have helped many people. Please, when you make a donation, check to make sure that the item is not expired.

19th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Celebration--January 16, 2023. Breakfast opens at 6:30am in the St. Mary’s College, Great Room in the Campus Center. Cost is $10 at the door. Keynote speaker will be Chris Haley, Director, the Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland at the Maryland State Archives Research Department and the Utopia Film Festival. Program will start at 8:00am. Day of Service from 10:00am-12:00pm. Demonstrate what matters to you by participating in the MLK Day of Service. Donate non-perishable healthy foods, school supplies and new clothing/shoes for children.

Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Spaghetti Dinner at the Ridge Volunteer Firehouse on Saturday, January 21st from 4:00pm-7:00pm. The cost is $15 Adults, $7 Kids (5-12) and 4 years & under is free

Men’s Night of Recollection - Tuesday, January 24th at 7:00pm- St. Cecilia Church, St. Mary’s City. This month’s talk is “In Remembrance of a Great Man - Pope Benedict XVI,” given by Fr. Larry Swink and visiting priest. In Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, he teaches us that the heart of Christianity is: God is love. What does this love look like? This month’s format includes 2 Talks, Adoration and Confession. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact me at 240-925-2157 or email at [email protected]

Friday, January 20, will be the March for Life in Washington DC. Sacred Heart in La Plata has buses leaving at 10:30am for the march. If you are unable to participate, please keep this important event and participants in your prayers.

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE: Sponsored by Knights of Columbus, St. Mary’s Council #1470 will be Saturday, 28 January 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Knights Hall, 41605 Fenwick St., Leonardtown, MD 20650. HOW: Sign up at: WWW.REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG then insert KOC1470 into the box FIND A DRIVE in the upper right corner. Or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1 -800-733-2767). After registering for your donation appointment, use Rapid Pass the DAY of the drive to fast track your donation "check in."

Women’s Night of Recollection--”Our Heart’s Epiphany: 20+C+M+B+23” an evening of Eucharistic adoration & Confessions(6:00PM), 2 talks and Benediction given by Fr. Larry Swink & visiting priest. Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 7:00PM at St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

Camp Covecrest--High school teens from St. Mary’s County are going to Lifeteen’s Covecrest from July 30 to August 5, 2023! Camp Covecrest is a Catholic summer camp in Georgia where parish youth groups from all over the country come together to experience summer camp at its best. Teens are given the opportunity to dive deeply into their Catholic faith and strengthen their relationship with Christ while having unforgettable experiences. For details and local registration, go to https://www.saintaloysiuschurch.org/camp.

This year’s WARM Program will be held at St. Peter Claver during the week of December 11th- 18th. St. Michael’s is asking for volunteers to help on the days we are assigned which are Thursday, Dec. 15th through Saturday morning, December 17th. We have arranged for food to be brought in for dinners and breakfast Thursday-Saturday. Please take a moment and sign up for a few hours to help with this much needed program. Thank you in advance.

Saturday-- 4:30pm Christmas Eve Saturday--10:00pm Christmas Eve Sunday--9:00am Christmas Morning Sunday--6:00pm Christmas Evening

Retirement Fund for Religious--Help aging religious senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who have devoted their lives to prayer, service, and works of mercy. Most ministered for little or no pay. Today, their religious communities do not have enough retirement savings. Your gift to today’s Retirement Fund for Religious collection helps to furnish medications, nursing care, and other necessities. Please give generously.

Christmas Middle School Movie Night on Friday, December 16th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The movie playing is “Elf”. RSVP at www.chestertonstmarys.org/events.

The week before Christmas, Monday, Dec. 19th thru Friday, Dec. 23rd from 5:00pm-6:00pm.

Breakfast with Santa--Come and enjoy a delicious breakfast and get a photo with Santa on December 18th from 8:30am-11:00am at SMS. Adults $10, Kids $5, and Family Package $30. Kids 3yrs. and under are free!