Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

* Religious Freedom Day 2015: Today (Sunday) is the 238th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s writing the later First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution here in Fredericksburg. Come: 2pm at the monument on Washington Boulevard (see p. 8).

* 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:

* On January 17 and 18, the Council of Catholic Women will host a baby shower to benefit our local Pro-Life groups: Mary’s Shelter, Birthright, Catholic Charities, and Paul Stefan Homes. Unwrapped gifts will be accepted after all Masses.

* Upcoming Events

• January 22, March for Life

• January 25-31, Catholic Schools Week

• January 27, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity w/Bishop Loverde at Mount Olivet UMC in Arlington

• January 29, Catholic Advocacy Day in Richmond

* Join us for Family Week in Religious Education as classes resume this week! All parents are asked to accompany their children to class for a special program.

* You were Given in Love; you are Called in Love. Visit our website—stmaryfred.org—to find out more about the Called and Gifted Workshop to be held Friday, February 6, and Saturday, February 7. Please register!

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

Looking Ahead:

* On January 17 and 18, the Council of Catholic Women will host a baby shower to benefit our local Pro-Life groups: Mary’s Shelter, Birthright, Catholic Charities, and Paul Stefan Homes. Unwrapped gifts will be accepted after all Masses.

* Upcoming Events

             • January 22, March for Life

             • January 25-31, Catholic SchoolsWeek

             • January 27, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity prayer with Bishop Loverde

                at Mount Olivet UMC in Arlington

             • January 29, Catholic AdvocacyDay in Richmond

* Thursday, January 1, is a holy day of obligation. The vigil Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God is at 6pm on December 31. January 1 Masses are at 7am, 8:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2 pm (Spanish).

*  You Were Given in Love; You Are Called in Love. Visit our website—stmaryfred.org—to find out more and register for the Called and Gifted Workshop to be held Friday, February 6, and Saturday, February 7 at Saint Mary.

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

* The second collection this week is our parish’s Christmas Collection for Special Charities. This year we are supporting (1) the Creche Orphanage in Bethlehem (in the Holy Land) through the Holy Land Christians’ Society, (2) two elementary school classrooms for the Oblate Sisters of Saint Francis de Sales’ school in Rocafuerte, Ecuador, and (3) building a fund to help pay for counseling for children whose families can’t afford it at Catholic Charities Family Services/Fredericksburg.

* Christmas Vigil Masses are at 4pm, (at the Church and HCA), 6:30pm (at the Church and HCA), and 8:30pm. A Festival of Carols will be held at 11pm before the Midnight Mass. Christmas Day Masses are at 7am, 8:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2pm (Spanish). Please note, there are NO Masses on Christmas Day at 5pm, nor 7:01pm.

* Parish offices will be closed from noon on Wednesday, December 24 through Friday, December 26.

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