Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

* This weekend every family in our parish will be asked to complete a Bishop’s Lenten Appeal (BLA) pledge form at Mass. If you have already donated through the mail or online (Thank You!) or are not able to participate, there will be places to note that on the form. Please prayerfully consider how you might support this year’s Bishop’s Lenten Appeal.

* Celebrate Lent with Friends and BETRANSFORMED. This six-week program begins February 15. For more information and to sign up, visit www.lentenfriends.org.

 * SCRIP is on sale this weekend in the Parish Life Center after most Masses. Please use SCRIP and help our school.

* Don’t miss our Open Houses today at our Saint Mary Preschool (9:30am to noon, Parish Life Center) and at Holy Cross Academy (1pm to 3pm, at 250 Stafford Lakes Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA 22406).

* Calling all hosts who would consider hosting a small group in our Lenten Bible study program BETRANSFORMED. Signups will be this again this weekend, individuals who would like to join an existing group can do so after February 4. Please check out www.lentenfriends. org for information or ask people standing outside after Masses this weekend.

* This weekend’s second collection is the Diocesan Newspaper collection. Contributions help offset Saint Mary’s assessment due to the Diocese. Thank you for your generosity

 * SCRIP is on sale this weekend in the Parish Life Center after most Masses. Please use SCRIP and help our school.

* The special collection this weekend is for the Church in Latin America. Your gifts to the collection will fund catechesis, marriage and family life programs, and seminarian education in Latin America and the Caribbean. Thank you for your generosity.

* You will not want to miss the Called and Gifted Workshop Saint Mary is hosting Friday, February 6, and Saturday, February 7. See page 7 for the registration form.

* Join us in Arlington on Tuesday night for our diocesan observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with Bishop Loverde: January 27 at 7:30pm at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, 1500 Glebe Road.

* Catholic Advocacy Day in Richmond is this Thursday, January 29. Register at www.vacatholic. org and join us for a day of learning about issues and taking a personal role in doing something about educating our representatives about the Catholic faith.

 * SCRIP is on sale this weekend in the Parish Life Center after most Masses. Please use SCRIP and help our school.

* This weekend is the Council of Catholic Women’s Baby Shower to benefit our local Pro-Life groups. Please bring unwrapped gifts to the Parish Life Center before and after all Masses (and at HCA). Monetary donations MUST be in the form of a check made payable to the organization of your choice (Mary’s Shelter, Birthright, Catholic Charities, or Paul Stefan Homes).

* Buses for the March for Life Rally depart Saint Mary following the 9am Mass.

* You will not want to miss the Called and Gifted Workshop St. Mary is hosting Friday, February 6, and Saturday, February 7. Please register! Click on the link on the front page of our website and join us.

* SCRIP is on sale this weekend in the Parish Life Center after most Masses. Please use SCRIP and help our school.

Looking Ahead:

* Upcoming Events January 25-31, • Catholic Schools Week

* January 27, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity prayer with Bishop Loverde at Mount Olivet UMC in Arlington

* January 29, Catholic Advocacy Day in Richmond. Register online at www.vacatholic.org