News


For our complete schedule of events, visit our Calendar page. See Oktoberfest updates here.

NEW: For the December 2011 - February 2012 schedules of ministry volunteers, visit our Bulletins page.


  • Feast of St. Blaise: After all Masses this weekend we will offer the traditional Blessing of Throats for the feast of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr.
  • Financial Overview: Jill King and Charles Hunt will present an overview of our parish finances at all Masses this weekend.
  • Lenten Simple Supper signups welcome: The 2012 Lenten Simple Supper signup sheet is available in the vestibule. If you or your group would like to host one of the Friday night Simple Suppers, please sign the sheet and indicate what simple supper you will be making. The key is to keep it “simple.”
  • MHR Knights of Columbus Wine Tasting Party: Join us Saturday, February 11 from 7-11 p.m. in the Church Hall. White and red wines will be judged. Come and meet your parish family, relax and have a good time! Please bring a snack to pass, and a bottle of wine to be judged. Winners will be announced that night. Beer, coffee, tea and water will be provided. For more information, contact Joe Voltz at 770-0068. Signup sheets are in the Church vestibule.
  • World Marriage Day: The 26th Annual World Marriage Day will be celebrated on February 12 at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. Most Reverend Robert J. Cunningham will celebrate Mass and renew the marriage vows of all couples in attendance. Bishop Cunningham will especially honor couples who will celebrate silver and golden anniversaries and all celebrating an anniversary beyond 50 years in 2012. All couples are encouraged to attend.
  • 2011 End-of-Year Statements have been mailed. Please check your statement when you receive it and call the Rectory during office hours if there is a discrepancy. Once we transition to 2012 on the data base, 2011 contributions roll into previous years’ total, making it difficult to separate for re-checking.
  • New adult study class: On Thursday, Jan.26, we started a new adult study class created and hosted by Fr. Robert Barron called “Catholicism.” The course will run each Thursday for ten weeks, and you have your choice of attending either the 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. class, whichever fits your schedule. Fr. Barron’s is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and is recognized as “one of the Church’s best messengers.” He is a prominent theologian, author, speaker and cultural commentator. The ten, 50-minute DVD episodes take viewers around the world and deep into the Faith, spanning over 50 locations in 15 countries. It promises to be an exciting ten weeks. Please use the signup sheet in the vestibule and let us know if you will be attending the 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. session.
  • Message from Your Parish Nurse: Greetings and Happy New Year! This is my second message to you on the MHR website. You can also find all of these updates on my blog, Parish Health Watch. There is a free program beginning this week and lasting through the week of February 13 on improving your nutritional health in 2012. For more information, click here.

    • ~ Kathy Tewksbury, RN, Faith Community Nurse

  • Our parish prayer chain: MHR has a “Prayer Chain,” the sole purpose of which is to pray for folks who are at a specific point in their lives; i.e., they are about to undergo an operation, or may have learned they have a serious medical condition, etc. We are starting fresh this year with what we hope will be a more efficient, streamlined way of getting the word out to Prayer Chain members. If you wish to be part of the Prayer Chain army, please indicate on the lists in the vestibule whether you would like to be contacted by telephone, e-mail, or text message. Your duty is to say a prayer or two for the person in need. It will no longer be necessary to call the phone list to notify the next person. Prayer Chain members also recite one Hail Mary and one Glory Be to the Father at 3 p.m. each Friday for world peace. Your telephone number, e-mail address or cell phone number will only be used by the MHR Prayer Chain. Once we get the member list put together, we can begin. To have someone prayed for, please call the Rectory during office hours and we will get the word out.
  • Make Pillow Case Dresses for the poor: We are ramping up work on the pillowcase dresses. We will meet every Monday at 1 p.m. in the Faith Formation Building, and an additional evening or two during the week (please check the bulletin for specific evening dates). We’re always looking for more helpers, so feel free to join us. If you have questions, please call Pat Krzyzewski at 785-8261.
  • Envelopes ready for pick up: The 2012 sets of Adult, Youth, and Children’s Envelopes are available at the back of the Church. Please take your set(s) as mailing envelopes is costly. Adult envelope sets are assigned to registered members of our parish. Youth envelopes are assigned to this year’s Confirmation class, as well as the class of 2010 and 2009. Children’s envelopes are assigned as they enter kindergarten and register for our Faith Formation classes. If we missed you or your child, please let us know. Just A Reminder: You do not need to put your name/address on your weekly envelope, BUT we do need you to write the amount of your offering on the front. Thank you.
  • Knit one–purl two: Thank you to those who responded to our call and have volunteered to knit or crochet a Prayer Shawl. This is an ongoing ministry, and we can always use extra help. Please call Pat Krzyzewski at 785-8261 if you can help.
  • High School Seniors: LeMoyne College Scholarship applications available in the vestibule. Deadline is February 1, 2012. Questions or more information, call 800-333-4733.
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  • Follow Sunday Mass with breakfast! Mark your calendar: Our K of C will resume their wonderful breakfast buffets on Sundays. Buffet prices: age 12 to adult-$6.50/person; age 5-11-$3/person; no charge for children under 5. Hours are 8:30-11:30 a.m.
  • Fatima Pilgrimage: Join Fr. Bill McCarthy (My Father’s House) on a pilgrimage to Fatima, visiting Lisbon, Santarem and Fatima. Trip is scheduled for November 2-10, 2012. Cost is $2,399 per person from New York. There is an early bird discount. Please call 860.873-1906 for more information or visit www.myfathershouse.com.
  • Continuing Community Flood Discussion Groups: St. Ambrose Church, 203 Washington Ave. in Endicott, invites all affected by the flood to come together at casual gatherings where you can share your experiences, concerns and thoughts about the recent flood. Everyone is welcome to the sessions: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria and Fridays at 1 p.m. in Msgr. Carey Hall. For information. call 754-2330.
  • Adoption Services Available: Did you know that Catholic Charities of Broome County provides adoption services? They offer confidential supportive counseling to birth parents to help them choose what is best for them and their baby. Please call 729-9166 for more information about their services.
Around Broome County:
  • Catholic Mom’s Group meets every other Tuesday at Our Lady of Sorrows Church Hall, Vestal. All are welcome & you may bring your children.
  • Sick & shut-in list update: If you or someone you know should be on our list, please call the Rectory or clearly print the name on a piece of paper and drop it in the collection basket marked “Sick and Shut-Ins” list. Don’t forget to let us know when to remove the name.
  • Aid for the hearing impaired: Hear Now is a national program of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which provides assistance to those in need of hearing aids but who are unable to afford them. Verification of the applicant’s financial status and proof of the need for a hearing aid are part of the application procedure. The applicant is responsible for the evaluation, a small program fee and the cost of batteries and repairs. Once qualified, an applicant will receive a hearing aid without any other costs. Since the program’s inception in 1999, the foundation has provided 70,620 hearing aids. For an application call 1-800-328-8602.
  • Help for caregivers: The B.C. Office for Aging is offering a new program for caregivers. Caring for someone can be stressful physically, emotionally and financially. Check the vestibule for information on this program or call them at 778-2411.
  • We now have Mass Cards for the Living! These beautiful cards make very special gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, and special intentions. The offering is $10, the same as for a Mass for the deceased.
  • Medjugorje message: On the 25th of each month, Our Lady appears to the Medjugorje visionary Marija to give us her message for the world. A prayer group will meet at 7 p.m. in our Church the first Thursday after the 25th of each month to read the monthly message and recite the Rosary.