Due to the Diocesan Priests Convocation this week in Lansing the Mass schedule for Manchester has been changed. Monday’s Mass will be at 8:30 am. Mass is cancelled on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. October ~ The Month of the Rosary October is approaching and once again the Rosary will be said 30 minutes before each of the weekend Masses. Please consider leading the recitation of the Rosary. Call Marja Warner at 428-9506 for more details.

October 13, 2018 marks the day of the last of the 6 Apparitions of Fatima in 1917. Since October is the month of the Rosary – and to kick off the Diocesan Year of Prayer – St. Mary’s is sponsoring a Rosary Run. Come out and join us on Saturday, October 13th, at 9:00 am in front of the church to pray the Rosary while walking/running a mapped circuit. You can participate in three different groups: one to pray the Rosary in the church; another to walk while saying the Rosary outside in the mapped area; and the third to jog or run the mapped area. Each group will have a leader that will recite the rosary out loud. The Rosary Run is approximately 2.5 miles. Please dress according to the weather and wear good shoes. Rosaries and bottled water will be available. Cider and donuts will be served after the Run. Kids are encouraged to join in. Let’s come together to pray the rosary, enjoy God’s creations, and relish the exercise!

This Friday, October 5th, is the First Friday of the month. There will be Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following the 8:30 am Mass. Confessions will be heard beginning at 8:00 pm. At 10:00pm Benediction will close the time of Adoration. First Saturday Mass will be offered at 8:30 am October 6th.

Amazing Greys’ of St Mary’s Parish would like to invite you to the annual Candle Light Advent Dinner December 2nd. The evening starts out with a social hour starting at 5:00 pm. Dinner will be served at precisely 5:30pm and will include dessert. The evening will end with a variety of scriptural readings and songs. If you are interested in attending, please contact Connie Schaffer at 734-428-7271. Seating is limited so reserve early.

October is approaching and once again the Rosary will be said 30 minutes before each of the weekend Masses. Would you be willing to lead the recitation of the Rosary at one or more of the Masses? If so, please call Marja Warner at 428-9506.

Many of us are upset and angry at the abuse crisis in the Church and want to make our voices known to the bishops. WDEO has published a helpful list of tips on how to write to the bishop(s) ( https://avemariaradio.net/tips-write-bishop/ ) and a list of addresses to write to ( https://avemariaradio.net/sexual-misconduct-resource-page/ ). Check it out and make your opinions known.

Thursday, December 6th has been confirmed to attend ‘Gloria of Christmas’ at North Ridge Church. Tickets for this event are $20.00. We have reserved a 34 person bus for transportation at a cost of $17.50/ person if we fill all the seats. Seats are being offered to Amazing Greys members first. After September 25th the tickets will be made available to the Parish and friends. Please make your reservations by September 30th. Put your reservation and money ($37.50/person) in the collection basket or drop it off at the parish office.

50th Anniversary of Humanae Vitae Celebration This July marked the 50th Anniversary of Bl. Pope Paul VI’s landmark Encyclical, Humane Vitae. This Encyclical is often erroneously described as “the Church’s stance on Birth Control.” However, it is far more than a teaching on the use of contraceptives. It shapes our understanding of how God created married love to be and how spouses can live out that intention. Join us for a celebration of this beautiful encyclical. We will explore the past, the present and the future of it with Dr. Janet Smith, panel discussions and more! Start the day with Mass celebrated by Bishop Earl Boyea. When: October 27. Mass begins at 8am - Conference ends at 3:45pm Where: St. Patrick, Church, 711 Rickett Road, Brighton. Register at: www.dioceseoflansing.com/events Early bird tickets start at $15. All ages welcome! Childcare provided on a very limited basis so register early.

The Knights of Columbus are conducting a drive for school supplies. All items collected will be guven to local children in need. Please consider purchasing a few extra items while you shop. Gray bins will be at the entryway of the church until September 9th. Items needed include: dry erase markers, washable markers, Clorox wipes, baby wipes, glue sticks, Kleenex, crayons, 2 pocket folders, lined paper, backpacks, lunch boxes and pencils. Gift cards for the families to purchase clothes are also a great idea.

The Annual Senior Parishioners’ Recognition event hosted by the Washtenaw Catholic Council on Aging will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle in Ann Arbor on Friday, September 21st. Bishop Boyea will celebrate Mass at 11:00 am and luncheon will follow. Please RSVP to Dianne Schwab at 734-396-7063 no later than August 31st. Anyone wishing to carpool should meet at St. Mary Manchester at 10:00am.

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae. Deacon Dennis will be preaching on this topic throughout the month of July.

This week is the Peter's Pence Collection which provides Pope Francis with the funds he distributes around the world to benefit our brothers and sisters on the margins of society. Please be generous. For more information, visit www.usccb.org/peters-pence.

Parish Shirts will be available for pick up during the Masses on Saturday, June 16th and Sunday, June 17th. The Evangelization Team extends its gratitude to everyone who helped to make this first shirt sale such a huge success

Please take note of the schedule of ICS meetings before the event. All meetings are on Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm in the Fr. Fisher Hall. We are still in need of committee leaders. The next meeting is June 14th. Then....June 21st, 28th, July 12th, 19th. God bless you all for your undeniable support in making our ICS a great success as usual.

We have not yet reached our parish goal. If you have not yet made a gift or a pledge, please use the gift envelopes available in church or the parish office. You may submit your gift online at www.dioceseoflansing.org/dsa.

Thank you to everyone who has made a gift or pledge commitment to our Diocesan Services Appeal. Our gifts to DSA enable our diocese to provide services crucial to our parish. The programs and services funded by DSA offer direct assistance to individuals and families and to parishes, schools, and Catholic Charities agencies. Evangelization occurs through dozens of ongoing ministries made possible by our contributions to DSA. If you have not yet made a gift or a pledge, I invite you to do so today. Gift envelopes are available in church or the parish office. Or you may submit your gift online at www.dioceseoflansing.org/dsa. Your DSA gift will support the vital services and ministries that help bring the love of Christ to all we encounter.

A reminder that we have the opportunity each weekend to sponsor the flowers on the Altar. There is a minimum donation of $40, and the flowers can be in memory of a loved one, for the intentions of or to honor someone, or for a special occasion. A sign-up sheet is in the main vestibule with dates available in May. Or contact the parish office for more information.

This Friday is the first Friday of the month and the opportunity to spend time with the Lord exposed in the Blessed Sacrament on the altar. Please take this opportunity to spend an hour or half an hour with Him. Let Him speak to you in the silence of your heart. Adoration begins following 8:30 am Mass and continues until Benediction at 10:00 pm.

For years, the Knights of Columbus have been successfully helping homeowners spread Christianity in the Manchester and Saline areas, by placing simple white crosses on their lawns and in their gardens. These simple crosses are visible signs, to everyone who passes our way, of our faith in Jesus. The Knights are continuing to make these crosses. Crosses can be purchased at the Flower Garden in Manchester for a donation of $5.00.

Monday, April 9th, is also commemorated this year as the Solemnity of the Annunciation. This solemn feast is usually celebrated on March 25th, but it was moved this year because it fell on Palm Sunday. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation, but please attend Mass if you are able.