Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As you have likely heard by now, Fr. Francisco has received a new assignment from our Bishop. Effective Dec 15, Fr. Francisco will be the new pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Greenwood. This is what every priest prepares for, so we are immensely happy for Father. At the same time, we are, of course, sad to see him move on.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First, please note that there will be no 5:00pm Sunday Mass today (Nov. 20), due to the Eucharistic Procession, so please plan accordingly.
Below, please find a summary of our recent Strategic Plan initiative by Parish Council chair, Liz Stewart. God bless! – Father Wilson

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Your Parish Council worked on facilitating a Strategic Plan for the Parish for almost a year. We are now at the most exciting stage – Implementation. Let’s look at how we got here and where we are going.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

November is Black Catholic History Month. “The presence and contributions of African Catholics range from the earliest centuries of the Catholic Church to the present. … Let Catholics from all the nations of the world rejoice in the Gospel and the gifts presented by members of every race who bear the name of Catholic.” (from an article by Fr. Raymond Petrucci) Let us help each other as brothers and sisters in one faith to create a glimpse of heaven, the “great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and language. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

November is a busy month! Here are several updates for you:

More and more hearing aids today are equipped with Bluetooth technology, allowing users to control their hearing aids even through an app on their phone. We are in the process of installing the necessary devices which will allow those with this technology to stream audio directly through our church’s sound system. Once installed, we will offer training sessions and other information on how to connect wirelessly through your smartphone. Stay tuned for more information very soon. As you hopefully know, since the 1950s, St. Mary’s has owned Calvary Cemetery at 1255 University Lane here in Aiken. I wanted to make you aware of some improvements happening there. First, we have installed new, concrete curbing throughout the main drive of the cemetery. Also, we are preparing to open up more of the usable land we have, which will make the area even more beautiful. Finally, in December, a columbarium for cremated remains will be added. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I’ve been so encouraged by those of you who have pledged to help build the new Science and Engineering Academy wing for our school. As of this past Monday morning, we have 87 pledges totaling $5,307,070. Wow! In order to receive diocesan approval to begin, we need about $1,500,000 more to make our goal. We can do that with your help! This parish has always outdone expectations in generosity. Please prayerfully consider a gift for the future of our children. Also, if you have any questions or concerns at all, please contact our team, who can help:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Don’t forget! This Sunday (October 23) immediately following the 11am Mass, we are excited to present to you the survey results for our Parish Strategic Plan, which you are helping to create. Please join us in St. Angela Hall a little after noon. Ultimately, the Strategic Plan is all about how best to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and how to nurture this in ourselves as the parish of St. Mary Help of Christians.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Please mark your calendars for some wonderful upcoming events:

- The results are in!  The information you provided over the last few months for our Parish Strategic Plan has been compiled.  Join us October 23 in St. Angela Hall at 12:15pm (immediately following the 11:00am Mass) as our Parish Pastoral Council presents the findings. Remember that this is not the end; it is only the beginning as these results will generate more ideas and help direct our beloved parish as we go forward. One finding that I thought was particularly interesting is that, overwhelmingly, parishioners would like more opportunities to gather and socialize.  This is such an important part of our faith – to help each other in our faith by connecting with others who share this same divine faith.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Regarding the future Science and Engineering Academy wing of our St. Mary’s School, thanks so much to our parish families who have pledged. With just a few, we now have an incredible $5,166,400 of our $6,900,000 goal! Two factors will close this gap and allow us to break ground on schedule: 1) The probability that some construction costs may be coming down; and 2) Your generous pledge. Our Diocese will allow us to begin once we have half the planned cost covered in cash and the rest in pledges, and we are very close. Thank you for your help!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We are so sorry, but the Blessing of the Animals had to be cancelled this year due a scheduling conflict. Don’t worry — St. Francis will still pray for and bless your dear furry friends!

Every year, the Church dedicates October as Respect Life Month. We take this month to spread awareness of the dignity of every human person and God’s call to cherish and protect life from conception to natural death. Let us be mindful of the great gift of life that we have been given and use it to serve God and neighbor. #berespectfulofalllife

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Don’t forget to stop into St. Angela Hall after whichever Mass you attend this weekend and receive more information and answers to any questions you might have about our new Science and Engineering Academy wing of our St. Mary’s School. With the generosity of a few, we have already covered well over two-thirds of the 6.9 million total cost. With your generosity added, we will reach our goal.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

From time to time, opportunities arise for you and me to effect change on a more monumental level. Such an opportunity has arisen here at St. Mary’s for our school, and I would like to invite you to join your fellow parishioners in making history.

St. Mary’s has been educating young minds since 1900, thanks to our past cherished religious Sisters. Our current parish school and its facilities were opened in September of 1955. Since then, we have had a modest expansion of its buildings, which have served us incredibly well over these past sixty-seven years. We continue to improve and maintain these important structures. However, state-of-the-art robotics, computer coding, and cyber security were not even words back in 1955, and so these buildings are woefully inadequate for our future needs.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) began last Tuesday, September 6, but there is still time for you to join. In case you are not familiar with RCIA, it is a series of classes for those interested in joining the Catholic Church, or for those interested in learning more. We meet on Tuesday nights, 6:00 to 7:30pm in Mother Teresa Hall (located in the rose garden on the north side of the church) from now until Easter. Our classes take time to explore the Catholic faith in its depth and beauty. RCIA is also for those Catholic adults who did not receive Confirmation and/or First Holy Communion, and for others who may have been away from their faith and need a “refresher.” If you know someone interested, please invite them with the words of Jesus Himself, “Come and see!” There is no obligation, just an opportunity to learn more and deepen your faith. For more information, please contact Mary Ellen Jackson at 803-642-2676, or mjackson@charlestondiocese.org .

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First, a few weeks ago, with great joy we prepared to send off Stasia Pierce from our parish to join the Northern Province of the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus. Unfortunately, due to the sudden death of the Order’s novice mistress (the Sister in charge of forming new Sisters), Stasia had to return home. Stasia is now praying fervently about where God might lead her, and we, of course, join our prayers with hers. God’s plan for our lives is not always easily discernable; but He still has one. It is true that when the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window. In the meantime, Stasia is loved by so many and brings great joy where she goes. Please pray for Stasia and for all those discerning a religious vocation, especially from our parish.