Special Events & Announcements...
If a link is not provided for details, please refer to calendar and or bulletin.

Still have not made a New Year’s resolution? How about spending more time with Jesus, Praying the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet? Come join us and Jesus at Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays 8am-6pm. Join us on Sundays to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 2:45 PM or the Trinitarian Rosary at 4 PM.

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS-VENTANAS VIDRIERAS
The first phase of our stained-glass windows is in production, and we hope to have these 4 installed before Easter. We want to thank all of you who have made their donations and who continue to make payments on their pledges. We still need your help. If you would like to donate to this fund, you may pick up a donation slip, fill it out and return it to the parish
office or place it in the collection baskets at Mass or come by the parish office to make your donation. No amount is too small, every donation helps us get to our goal faster. If you made a pledge and have forgotten to make a payment, we ask that you please do so asap.

La primera fase de las vidrieras está en producción y esperamos tenerlas instaladas antes de la Cuaresma. Queremos agradecerles a todos ustedes que han hecho sus donaciones y que continúan haciendo pagos en sus promesas. Aún todavia necesitamos su ayuda. Si desea donar a este fondo, puede recoger un recibo de donación, llenarlo y devolverlo a la oficina parroquial o colocarlo en las canastas de colección en la misa o pueden pasar por la oficina parroquial para hacer su donación. Ninguna cantidad es demasiado pequeña, cada donación nos ayuda a llegar a nuestro meta más rápido. Si hizo una promesa y se ha olvidado de hacer un pago, le pedimos que también lo haga los más pronto posible.
Attention men: Do you feel a call to serve as a deacon? Men between the ages of 30 and 59 sensing God’s call to the permanent diaconate and
their wives are invited to attend one of the following Inquiry Sessions offered by the Office of Diaconal Formation. Feb. 13 – St. John the Evangelist Parish in Marble Falls – 105 Highway 1431 East, Marble Falls, TX 78654. March 13 – St. Joseph Parish in Killeen – 2903 E. Rancier Ave, Killeen, TX 76543. April 10 – Santa Cruz Parish in Buda – 1100 Main St, Buda, TX 78610
Applications for the Diaconal Formation Class of 2028 will be accepted starting Dec. 1, 2021. Additional information can be found at www.austindiocese.org/welcome.

Atención Hombres: ¿Sientes un llamado a servir como diácono? Los hombres entre 30 y 59 años de edad que sientan el llamado de Dios al diaconado permanente y sus esposas están invitados a asistir a una de las siguientes sesiones de información ofrecidas por la Oficina de Formación Diaconal. 13 de Febrero – St. John the Evangelist en Marble Falls - 105 Highway 1431 East, Marble Falls, TX 78654. 13 de Marzo – St. Joseph en Killeen - 2903 E. Rancier Ave, Killeen, TX 76543. 10 de Abril – Santa Cruz en Buda - 1100 Main St, Buda, TX 78610. Las solicitudes para la Clase de Formación Diaconal de 2028 se aceptarán a partir del 1 de diciembre de 2021. Se puede encontrar información adicional en www.austindiocese.org/welcome

Please Pray for Vocations to the Priesthood, Diaconate and the Religious Life.

Ethics & Integrity- We will be offering an Ethics & Integrity class here on Saturday, February 5th from 9am-11am in the parish hall. There is a list of volunteers who are non-compliant posted on the bulletin board in the church. If you are overdue or will be due for a class this year or are wanting to volunteer in any ministry or organization, please sign up to take this class. If you are a new volunteer, you must submit an application for a background check first before you will be able to sign up for a class. For help with filing an application or to sign up for a class please call our EIM Administrator Helen Juarez at the parish office at 512-398-4649 on Wed. or Fri. Or visit www.austindiocese.org/eim-compliance-status.
Volunteers Needed!
It’s a new year, how about saying Here I am Lord…I’m here to serve you. We are looking for new volunteers/members for the following Ministries and Organizations: We need a volunteer coordinator with great computer and communication skills for St. Mary’s website and Facebook page. The following groups are looking for new members to join them: The 2022 Jamaica Committee, Gabiel Project/Respect Life, Ladies Society, Arts & Environment, Bereavement Ministry, St. Vincent de Paul, Guadalupanos, Archicofradia,
Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Catechists, Knights of Columbus, & Clerical
Endowment, Choir and musicians. We are looking for coordinators to organize these new
ministries/organizations: -Hospitality & Welcoming Committee, American Heritage
Girls, Wedding & Quince coordinator, Men’s prayer breakfast, Council of Catholic Women,
Children’s Liturgy Ministry, Nursing home Ministry, Acolytes, Synod. More information to
come in the coming weeks.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIOCESE ETHICS OFFICEOnline EIM training is available until January 2, 2022 to update/renew EIM compliance.
Anyone who is due to update their compliance between now and June 30 and wish to use the online EIM training may do so, but you must complete and submit by January 2, 2022. Those of you who wait to update their compliance between January 3 – June 30, 2022 will need to attend an in-person EIM Workshop to do so. Go to at www.austindiocese.org/workshop or to complete the online training today!

Called By Name: DCYC 2022  Feb. 4-6, 2022 in Waco: St. Mary’s Teenagers join your friends from across the Austin Diocese for music and workshops that will lift you up and open your heart to Christ! RE students attending classes in the 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th grade are invited to register for the annual Austin Diocese Youth Conference.  This is a chaperoned trip to give dynamic faith leaders, their peers, and most importantly, Christ.  Late registrations are still available from Jan. 6-Feb. 4, 2022 -$85/person (meals included), If you are interested, contact the parish office. For  additional information.  AustinDCYC.com   Insta: AustinDCYC.]
A Background on Catholic Stained Glass- Stained glass has been used by the Catholic Church since ancient times to aid in devotion and to instruct. In 1563, the Council of Trent addressed the role of Sacred Art. “by means of the stories of the mysteries of our redemption portrayed in paintings and other representations the people are instructed and confirmed in the articles of the faith. These images ought to be borne in mind and
constantly reflected upon” The decree made it clear that the purpose of sacred art, including Catholic stained glass windows, was to educate the viewer in Catholic doctrine and to allow the viewer a physical illustration of the truths of the Catholic faith. In more modern times,the Church has recommitted to the long partnership between
art (including Catholic stained glass), and the Church. Pope John Paul II stated: “The Church needs art. In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art Art must make perceptible, and as far as possible
attractive, the world of the spirit, of the invisible, of God. It must therefore translate into meaningful terms that which is in itself ineffable. Art has a unique capacity to take one or other facet of the message and translate it into colors, shapes and sounds which nourish the intuition of those who look or listen. It does so without emptying the message itself of its transcendent value and its aura of mystery.” Will you join us in our efforts to beautify our parish with stained glass windows? There is still time for you to make your donation to sponsor a window. Please remember payment options are available. No donation is too small. Come by the parish office or call us at 512-398-4649 for more information.

The Trinitarian Rosary- All are invited to the praying of the Trinitarian Rosary for peace in our families and in the World. Join us every Sunday at 4 PM in our chapel and come spend an extra hour with God.
We need to expand our music ministry here at St. Mary’s. We need instrumentalists at both the 10:30AM-Sunday Mass and the 5:30PM-Saturday evening Mass. And we need
voices at both Masses. Singers DO NOT need to be able to read music- we can help you with that- just be able to carry a tune. Also, we are already beginning rehearsals for Midnight Mass at Christmas and would warmly welcome additional singers. If interested, please contact Pat Waldron a the parish office, or just show up at church on Mondays at 7 PM for rehearsals.
     Stewardship Report
           
           Jan. 8/9                          5:30 PM-                 $3,160.00   7:30 AM-                  $1,500.00  10:30 AM-              $1,944.00    Total-                      $6,604.00                             
                                                           Jan. 15/16
5:30 PM-                 $2,750.00
7:30 AM-                 $1,121.00
10:30 AM-               $1,403.00
Total-                       $5,274.00
St. Vincent-Total-    $1,669.00  
Building Fund-Total-
                                $1,438.00 Faith Direct for January-
Total-                       $6,912.00
+Thank you for supporting your parish