The Parish Scene

Week Beginning 6th/7th March 2010
Third Sunday of Lent

SWORDS TO PLOUGHSHARES: A CALL TO PEACE
Auditions for St Mary’s 2010 orchestral and choral concert “Swords To Ploughshares: A Call To Peace” will begin next Saturday 13 March from 10am to 4pm at the Music Studio. Directions to the music studio will be available during the audition period. Please visit http://concert.stmary.sg to register and select an audition time slot or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

TRAFFIC & CARPARKING PROCEDURES
Due to our ever increasing population at St Mary’s and the growing number of cars at masses, we ask all drivers for your fullest cooperation with our procedures and with our warden volunteers.

Cars are only able to exit immediately after mass times, and no announcements will be made at masses for moving of cars. If you are intending to stay after mass into another mass time, please consider parking in an HDB carpark unless you wish to leave only after the next mass time.

BASEMENT 1 (Carpark Entrance level) is available for double parking during mass times on the designated red lots only, after all the white lots are filled. Please do not park outside of designated lots and please display your mobile number on the dashboard if you are double or triple-parked.

BASEMENT 2 (Canteen level) is available for triple parking during masses after all white and red lots are filled, beginning 15 minutes before the start of Sunday 9am and 10.45am masses, as well as at all other major mass times. Please do not enter the ramp going down to Basement 2 after 8.45am or after 10.30am unless you are intending to park.

Double & triple-parked cars should be moved immediately after mass ends.

Please note the No Right Turn sign at the bottom of the hill into Avenue 2. Cars that attempt to turn right after Sunday morning masses and after masses with heavy traffic volume are actually causing a congestion behind them. Every few minutes counts, and all the minutes add up. Please be considerate.

THE WORK OF OUR FRIARS IN HAITI AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE
The three Fraternities of Port-au-Prince are places that welcome the Haitians. Saint Alexandre, for example, right in down town, is a point of reference for many sick people cared for by Br. Victor, a psychologist from Chile who is also a Medical Doctor. The Church was converted into a hospital pavilion with medicine and many patients. Br. Omar, a Salvadorian, in his small convent pitched many tents for homeless children to provide them with a place to eat and sleep. Br. Colombano, on the other hand, continues making his rounds in the “cloister” of poverty, that is, the market place, which has become a place of misery. Yet, this cloister, this market place is where many buy and sell without water or electricity.

Everybody calls out to Br. Victor and he, with a smile, gives to each as he can. The fraternity of Croix-les-missions is the only house of three that suffered damage. The Church lost its façade while the convent also suffered considerable damage. The Friars sleep out in the open in the little square between the Friary and the Church. Br. Jean Louis is the infirmarian, who passes the whole day caring for the sick crowded around there. Br. Dempsey, who is the President of the Haitian Foundation, Guardian, and Pastor hustles back and forth re-organizing Parish life. Lastly, Br. Antonio is, likewise, taken up with a thousand necessary logistics. The third fraternity located on a flat surface was untouched by the earthquake; it’s a secure house even if the Friars choose to sleep out in the open in the small red tents. This fraternity has 11 youth in initial formation who, together with the Haitian Br. Miguel are busy assisting the victims of the earthquake. Br. Walter is the driver taking people here and there as he did with us. The people of Haiti, who are resilient in suffering, rely on the Friars, who, in turn, love their people for whom they organized loads of food transported from Santo Domingo to the Convent of Lilavois. The money collected up to now is for emergency use only, such as food and medicine. As to the rebuilding, Divine Providence will see to it in time.

INFANT BAPTISM
Sunday 11 April7 Mar at 3pm

Preparation Course:
Thursday 8 April at 8pm in Main Church

Baptism Application Form available from Parish Office, church racks or website.
Submit completed form with a copy of child’s Birth Certificate to Parish Office 1 week before Baptism date.

The Catechetical Scene

REGISTRATION FOR CHILDREN BAPTISM
Classes for children from Pri1 to 6 who wish to receive baptism in 2011 will start on 11 April 2010 at 9am and end at Easter 2011.
Registration closes on 21 March
For more details, contact Agatha Cheong at 65673867 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

REGISTRATION FOR ADULT CONFIRMATION
Registration for adult confirmation starts on 20 and 21st Feb 2010. Registration closes on 20 March.
Forms can be obtained at parish office or download from the website .A copy of the baptism certificate is to be enclosed with the registration form. Classes start on 29/4/2010

CATECHETICAL CLASSES
No class on 13 & 14 Mar - Classes resumes for all levels on 20 & 21 Mar.

PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS LENT PROGRAMME
All Primary level students are encouraged to attend the Lent programme on 13 Mar from 10 – 11.30am at St Clare Hall.

Around St Mary's

FIRST AID COURSE AT ST MARY’S
Ever wanted to learn first aid and be officially certified as a Qualified First Aider? Now you can, right here in SMOTA. The Franciscan Scouts in partnership with the Red Cross Society of Singapore will be organising the Standard First Aid Course. The dates are 10th, 11th and 17th April from 9am- 6 pm. Calling all those interested, please call our Special Projects Director Geovenn at 9710 6764 for more details. Limited spaces available!  Cost per participant is $90.

7-STEPS: INTRODUCTION TO GOSPEL SHARING
All of us encounter the Word of God at mass and at bible study but do we really allow Scripture to truly influence and bear an impact upon our daily lives? Join us as we explore the 7-Steps method of Gospel Sharing – commonly used in SCCs – to find meaning in this essential source of nourishment for daily living.

12 March . Friday . 7.30-10.00pm
13 March . Saturday . 9.00am – 5.00pm
Classrooms 6-7

FAMILY LIFE - STATIONS OF THE CROSS
15 Stations of the Cross with Exposition & Benediction on Thursday, 25 Mar 4 pm to 5.30 pm at St Clare Hall. For more information pls call Rosemary @ 9699 3134

DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED!
We appeal to men and women of goodwill to volunteer in our carpark on Sunday mornings for one hour only to help co-ordinate traffic flow. Non-drivers are most welcome. Contact David Neo, 9632-9585 | This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

LITTLE ROCK SCRIPTURE STUDIES
Little Rock Scripture Studies will be running a 10-session Great Adventure Series scripture study programme on the Book on Revelation. The programme will commence 24 Mar and end on 26 May 2010. Please refer to LRSS Registration Desk for details. The LRSS Team will be at the Piazza taking registration over the next 2 weekends ie 6 & 7 March and 13 & 14 March Saturday Sunset Mass and between 8.45am to 12.15pm Sunday Masses

Register early as seats will be limited.

LENTEN REFLECTION FOR CHILDREN
13 Mar, Saturday, at 10am in St Clare's Hall. All children are encouraged to come for this reflection as it is specially prepared for them in preparation for Easter.

ST MARY’S NEW FACEBOOK FANS PAGE
Join us on Facebook!  Click on the link on this website.

Youth Office

SCOUTS JOB WEEK!
Wed, 17 - Fri, 19 Mar
The Scouts would like to appeal to all to take part in our Job week! If you need any help around the house cooking/cleaning, even in your office, during March, please contact us! Charmaine, 9786-0137 | Antony, 9326-8228

Young Adults Office

THE EMMAUS - EPIPHANY
The Emmaus Young Adult Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group is currently having their series on Epiphany.
It's a series that will reveal a different way of reflecting on the luminous mysteries of the holy rosary. Sessions will be held every Saturday at 7.45pm in Classroom 2

The session on "The Institution of the Eucharist" is on the 6 March 2010
Contact William: 9295 3590 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
You can also visit our website: http://stmary.sg/emmaus

LOVEWORKS
Loveworks Mission Trip to Cambodia, 31 July – 10 August 2010
Information Session for all interested participants on Sunday, March 21, Classroom B2, from 12 noon - 1 pm. To find out more, visit www.stmary.sg/loveworks or contact Celeste 96413830 / This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it