History of Recent Events at St. Mary

(2019–2024)

2024

Masses for the Nativity of the Lord were held on Christmas Eve at 4:00 p.m. with Fr. Linus, and on Christmas morning at 10:00 a.m.

Parish children performed their Christmas play before Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

The annual bake sale sponsored by the Ladies Altar Sodality was held following Masses on December 7 and 8.

The Altar Sodality held its annual Christmas dinner in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, December 3.

St. Mary and St John United Church of Christ held the 23rd year of holding our autumn church picnic on Sunday, September 15.

We had a booth at the 52nd Mid-Summer Classic at Borsch Park in Old Valmeyer.

His Excellency Bishop Michael McGovern bestowed the sacrament of Confirmation on children of St. Mary parish on Saturday, June 29 at 1:00 p.m.

Three children received First Communion from Fr. Linus at the 10:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 5.

The ladies’ spring dinner meeting was on Tuesday, April 2.

The best fish in Monroe County on Fridays in March from 4:00 p.m. to at least 7:00 p.m.

Palm Sunday: Sunday, March 24, 10:00 a.m.
Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Thursday, March 28, 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday with Stations of the Cross: Friday, March 29, 3:00 p.m.
Easter Vigil: Saturday, March 30, 7:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: Sunday, March 31, 10:00 a.m.

Lenten penitential season began with one of our most heavily attended liturgical Masses of the year.

2023

The Altar Sodality held its annual Christmas dinner in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, December 5.

Celebrating our 22nd year, St. Mary and St John United Church of Christ held our autumn church picnic on Sunday, September 17.
Our spectacular church picnic featured a silent auction, a country store, bake sale, raffles, games, bingo,
and live music in addition to our famous fried chicken dinner under the tents.

Parishioners came to the Gathering Area after Mass on Sunday, July 23, where Fr. John Kizhakedan blessed the tall cross that will be put outside on the roof of our church.

Many thanks to the parishioners who volunteered to serve fish, chicken and home-made potato chips over the Fourth of July weekend. The booth was a great success, and our home team won the 51st Mid-Summer Classic baseball tournament. Congratulations, all!

Children received the sacrament of their First Holy Communion at the 9:00 am Mass on Sunday, May 7.

The ladies' spring dinner meeting was held on Tuesday, April 11 at the Parish Center.

The following Holy Week liturgies were held this Lent.

• Palm Sunday: Sunday, April 2, 9:00 AM
• Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Thursday, April 6, 7:00 PM
• Good Friday with Stations of the Cross: Friday, April 7, 3:00 PM
• Easter Vigil: Saturday, April 8, 7:00 PM
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 9, 9:00 AM

Stations of the Cross were led by our confirmand at 6:30 PM every Thursday during Lent.

Children received the sacrament of First Reconciliation at 6:00 pm on Thursday, March 30, prior to the 7:00 pm Mass.

One of the graces of Lent is our Lenten fish fries at St. Mary’s parish hall.

Ash Wednesday Mass was held on February 22.

The monthly Altar Sodality meeting was held on Sunday morning following Mass.

Vigil Mass was celebrated at 5:00 pm at Tipton on December 31.
Mass was celebrated at 9:00 am on January 1.

The ladies' spring dinner meeting was held on Tuesday, April 14 at The Acorns.

Lenten Fish Fries were held March 18th, March 25th, April 1st, and April 8th.

Father John celebrated Mass on New Year’s morning in honor of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

2022

Christmas Vigil Mass was celebrated, Saturday, December 24, at 5:00 pm
and Christmas Morning Mass was celebrated Sunday, December 25, at 9:00 am

Father John offered the sacrament of Reconciliation.

The children of the parish performed the Nativity Play at the conclusion of the 9:00 am Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 18.
After Mass, coffee and donuts were served in the Gathering Area.

We got into the Christmas spirit and had fun while decorating St. Mary church for Christmas.

The Christmas Cookie Bake Sale was held Sunday, December 11.

Father John celebrated this Mass which was a holy day of obligation.

The Altar Sodality held its annual Christmas dinner in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, December 6.

All ladies of the parish were cordially invited to the monthly Altar Sodality meeting on Sunday morning following Mass.

Father John celebrated All Souls Day Mass at St Patrick Church, Tipton, for all three sharing parishes.

This Mass enabled us to honor all the saints of the church and was a holy day of obligation.

Celebrating our 21st year, St. Mary and St John United Church of Christ held our autumn church picnic on Sunday, September 18. Our spectacular church picnic featured a silent auction, a country store, bake sale, raffles, games, bingo, and live music in addition to our famous fried chicken dinner under the tents.

His Excellency Bishop Michael McGovern bestowed the sacrament of Confirmation on 10 children at St. Mary parish on Friday, May 6. The Altar Sodality hosted a reception afterward.

Children received First Communion on Sunday, April 24.

• Palm Sunday: Sunday, April 10, 9:00 AM
• Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Thursday, April 14, 7:00 PM
• Good Friday with Stations of the Cross: Friday, April 15, 3:00 PM
• Easter Vigil: Saturday, April 16, 8:00 PM
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 17, 9:00 AM

2021

Father John celebrated Mass on Christmas Eve.
Father Bill Spencer celebrated Mass on Christmas morning.
Father John celebrated Mass of the Holy Family on Sunday, December 26.

The children of PSR lit the candles of the Advent wreath each week of Advent.

The children of PSR performed the Nativity Play on December 19.

Father John offered individual confessions in the sacristy followed by Mass on Thursday, December 16.

The church was decorated on Wednesday, December 15.

Father John celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception at St Mary on Wednesday, December 8.

The Altar Sodality held its annual Christmas dinner in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, December 7.

The annual bake sale sponsored by the Ladies Altar Sodality was held following Mass on December 4th and 5th.

St. Mary and St John United Church of Christ held our annual autumn church picnic on September 19.

We celebrated our 20th year, returning to our usual and spectacular church picnic with a silent auction,
a country store, raffles, games, bingo, and live music, in addition to our famous fried chicken dinner under the tents.

Younger children enjoyed fishing for prizes, the bounce house, and facepainting. Older children played laser tag.

Most Reverend Michael McGovern, Bishop of Belleville, joined us to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of St. Mary on Saturday, August 28.

Coffee and donuts followed the Sunday morning Mass on both July 24 and 25.

Fr. John Kizhakedan became the pastor of St Mary, effective Tuesday, July 20.

The parish had a fish fry stand at the Mid-Summer Classic on Independence Day weekend.

Training was held on Saturday, June 26, 11:00 by Eddie Van Zandt.

The Altar Sodality washed and ironed the albs and surplices so they are all clean for your children.

Congratulations to our young parishioners celebrating their First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 2:
Brayden Eckenfels
Leigha Henerfauth
Elizabeth Schreder

The Annual Diocesan Spring Blessing of the Farm was held on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 2:00 PM at the Farm of Dale and Kay Haudrich.

On Chrism Tuesday, March 30, St Mary’s and all parishes send their representatives to the Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville to witness and celebrate this beautiful liturgy.

• Palm Sunday Vigil: Saturday, March 27, 5:00 PM
• Palm Sunday: Sunday, March 28, 9:00 AM
• Mass of the Lord’s Supper: Thursday, April 1, 7:00 PM
• Good Friday with Stations of the Cross: Friday, April 2, 7:00 PM
• Easter Vigil: Saturday, April 3, 8:00 PM
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 4, 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM

Every Friday in March the Knights had fish fries where you could order either a 1/2 pound or 1-pound of fish
with a side of the famous Knights’ chips.

St. Mary received 10% from Rural King on purchases parishioners made between March 14–27.

His Excellency Bishop Michael McGovern presided at Mass, concelebrated with Fr. Felix. After Mass, a receiving line was held.

Father Felix returned from his vacation and celebrated two Masses on Wednesday, February 17, at 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

Because of the coronavirus, instead of receiving ashes as a cross on the forehead, they were sprinkled on top of heads.

Mass was celebrated on January 1 at 9:00 am.

2020

St. Mary offered three Masses to celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.
The Masses were at 4:00 pm, 5:30 pm, and 10 pm on Thursday, December 24, and at 9:00 am on Friday, December 25.

Father Felix offered Reconciliation in the Cry Room on Friday, December 11, at 7:00 pm.

The collection was held December 10.

A scaled-down version of our usual picnic was held on September 20.
Activities included: Chicken Dinner Carryout, Two Colossal Raffles, and a Sealed Bid Auction.

PSR virtual learning began Sunday, September 13.

Following the Sports Hall of Fame we gathered at St. Mary’s Parish Center to meet and talk with the inductees. The Knights of Columbus offered pizza and wings.

2019

The children of PSR performed the Nativity Play on Christmas Eve.

We decorated the church and gathering area in preparation for Christmas.

St. Mary’s Parish Hall was the site for a delicious breakfast, cooked by the Knights of Columbus.

Breakfast included fresh pork sausage, pancakes, scrambled eggs, and fried potatoes.

We came to St. Mary’s Parish Hall for what may have been the best fish in Monroe County, cooked by the Knights of Columbus.

Fish dinner included your choice of side dishes: Valmeyer’s famous chippers, potato salad, cole slaw, and stewed tomatoes.

Each autumn since New Valmeyer was established on the bluff, St. Mary’s joins with St John United Church of Christ to have a church picnic with fried chicken, a silent auction, a country store, raffles, bingo, and live music.

Before the Flood, St. Mary’s picnic was on the second Sunday in September; St. John’s on the fourth Sunday.

Having come together to rebuild Valmeyer on the bluff after the flood, the parishes now come together for a Fall Church Picnic on the third Sunday each September.

We celebrated Valentine’s Day at our Parish Center.
Music was played by a new, talented local band, Dr. Fong and the Long Brothers.

Cash Bingo was held at our Parish Center.
Proceeds went to maintenance on our buildings.