Five new members of the Church were confirmed at this year’s Easter Vigil, 4 candidates and 1 catechumen. José Martinez was St. Mary’s catechumen, meaning he was both baptized and confirmed. The other four candidates also received the Sacrament of Confirmation and included Fred Montkahaus, Jannetty Rodriquez, Oscar Martinez and Karina Rodriquez. The following slideshow contains photos from the Vigil:

Please join me in welcoming and congratulating the newest members of our community!

Prints Available from Walmart.com
You can order prints of these photos from Walmart.com. Simply select the photos and place your order for pickup at your nearest Walmart Photo Center, contained in every Walmart store. Click here to order prints.

Download Photos from Flickr
You can also selectively view and download photos from this “set” in our Flickr library. Clicking the photo of your choice displays a larger image. Click the “Actions” drop down menu directly above the image then select “View all sizes.” Now you can choose the photo size you’d like and click the download link to transfer it to your computer.

Bishop Stika celebrated a Mass for married couples of the Chattanooga Deanery on Saturday, February 9 at St. Mary’s. The Mass was followed by a reception where couples had their photo taken with the Bishop.

You’ll find the story at the East Tennessee Catholic.

View photos in the slideshow below or view them on our Flickr site. Photos by Stephanie Richer.

View and Download Photos
You can also selectively view and download photos from our Flickr library. The photos are organized in sets. Follow this link and click on any photo or photo set. Clicking the photo of your choice displays a larger image. Click the “Actions” drop down menu directly above the image then select “View all sizes.” Now you can choose the photo size you’d like and click the download link to transfer it to your computer.

The season of Lent is upon us! Take a few minutes to watch this informative video from BustedHalo.com to learn more about Ash Wednesday and the practices of Catholics during Lent.

The following Lenten observance information is taken from the USCCB website:

Our observance of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which falls on February 13 this year, and is a a day of fast and abstinence for Catholics.  At Mass on Ash Wednesday, the imposition of ashes replicates an ancient penitential practice and symbolizes our dependence upon God’s mercy and forgiveness.

During this Lent, the U.S. bishops are encouraging Catholics to make going to confession a significant part of their spiritual lives.  They  have issued a statement,“God’s Gift of Forgiveness: The Pastoral Exhortation on the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation” that can be distributed and shared in parishes.  Dioceses are encouraged to make the sacrament available often during Lent and to use these resources to promote participation.  We are also providing resources to help individuals who have not been to confession in a while “rediscover” the sacrament.

During Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.
The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The Church asks us to surrender ourselves to prayer and to the reading of Scripture, to fasting and to giving alms. The fasting that all do together on Fridays is but a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households: fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from other things and activities. Likewise, the giving of alms is some effort to share this world equally—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents.

The key to fruitful observance of these practices is to recognize their link to baptismal renewal. We are called not just to abstain from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ’s death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.

On these pages, you will find a variety of suggestions and resources to support your Lenten practice, enhance your prayer, and embrace your baptismal commitment.

The Aggie Catholics blog also offers some great information, suggestions and resources to enhance your observance of Lent.

These virtual Stations of the Cross videos provide a wonderful aide for your personal devotion of the Stations of the Cross.

This life-changing class taught by Dave Ramsey and the FPU teaching team on video and coordinated by Beth Pysell at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Athens, TN will help you achieve your financial goals by showing you how to eliminate debt, save for the future, and give like never before. You will be challenged and motivated to make a plan for your money and change your family tree forever.

Class begins February 12th at and meets weekly on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. for 9 weeks. Class schedule and online registration can be found here. Contact Beth Pysell at for more details.

The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring our first annual Super Bowl party on Sunday, February 3rd. Join us at the Parish Family Life Center any time after 5:30 p.m. to watch the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers battle for the national championship in Super Bowl XLVII.

For just $10 you’ll enjoy your fill of beer, wine and soft drinks with other adults of the parish. We’ll also have hoagies and we invite you to bring your best chili to enter our Chili Cookoff. If chili is not your specialty, just bring something tasty to share with the group. See the flyer below for additional details.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Leo Meyer on Tuesday, January 29th, at 1:00 p.m. There is a graveside service at the cemetary following the Mass, after which there will be a reception at the Parish Family Life Center.

The following message is from Leo’s daughter, Karel Lea Biggs:

This is Karel Lea Biggs, Leo Meyer’s daughter.  I met with Father William yesterday and the funeral for my father will be on Tuesday.  We will have the viewing at the church at noon, with the funeral mass at 1:00.  He will be buried in Athens as he loved his church and so many of his friends are there.  It just didn’t feel right to send him somewhere else.

If you would rather make a donation in his memory than flowers, please consider the following:

• The American Heart Association

• The Knights of Columbus at St. Mary.

• New Providence Middle School Angel Tree Program
  New Providence Middle School
  146 Cunningham Lane
  Clarksville, TN 37042
  (this is the school I teach at and every year Daddy made a donation to help our needy students at Christmas time.)

My father LOVED his church and loved all of you.  I heard so many stories about you all.  Thank you so much for being his friends.

Blessings,

Karel Lea (& Greg) Biggs

St. Mary Youth will be making homemade Valentines as a service project and fundraiser. We are making cards for all those in need of prayers on St. Mary prayer list and for all seniors receiving meals on wheels. We’re taking orders for those who would like a card sent to a loved one or friend by mail. Parishioners who have moved, those who have been away a little too long would be touched to received a homemade Valentine.

These cards will be beautiful and made with love. Please pass the word to all to stop by after Mass at the Valentine Box and fill out a card request. We are taking donations to cover cost of materials and postage.

Any crafts, old Christmas cards, stamps, etc would be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off in the Narthex. Thanks.

God bless all the children,
Sue and Kathy

John and Rosi Daly

A funeral Mass for St. Mary parishioner John Daly will be held Friday, January 25th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary.

John passed away Monday after a long illness with cancer. Visitation is at 10am. The mass will be followed by a reception in the social hall.

Beginning January 22nd, Fr. Tom Moser, Associate Pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, will celebrate Mass on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday monthly at 5:30 p.m. at the Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton, TN.

Mass will be held in the chapel housing 150+ first degree relics of Saints and surrounded by beautiful religious artwork and statues from around the world.

The retreat center was recently acquired by the diocese and is located on 52 acres on the Hiwassee River, between Etowah and Benton. Tuesday evening Mass at the retreat center would be a great Lenten activity.

Mission
St. Mary Catholic Church,  Athens, Tennessee believes a successful college or technical education can lead to better employment prospects and can be life-changing in scope.

The St. Mary Catholic Church Education Scholarship Program provides funding to qualified individuals for secondary education to achieve these life benefits.  The students and families who will benefit from this scholarship will in turn help other needy and vulnerable students and families.

The Program
The annual program awards at least two scholarships per year with a maximum of $20,000.00 per student per year.  Application is open to any incoming freshman or returning college student as well as any incoming or returning technical school student from Meigs, Monroe, or McMinn counties.

The deadline for applications will be accepted if complete and postmarked between January 1 and March 31 each year.

For More Information
You’ll find the complete guidelines, application process, and eligibility criteria at the bottom of our scholarship web page.