Meet Our New Parish Administrator!
"I’m Joe Spreitzer and effective October 28th, I am the Parish Administrator here at St. Edward’s. I am a 30 year member of the parish, a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a resident of Southern Saratoga. My background and education is in Project and Operations Management.
I will be working closely with our Pastor, Father Patrick Butler, the Board of trustees, the various parish committees/volunteers and the St. Edward’s staff to oversee the operational aspects of the parish." If you see Joe around make sure you welcome him to our staff!
Our Parish Community will be sponsoring our annual Thanksgiving gathering following the morning liturgy on Thanksgiving Day. We will be gathering in the social hall beginning around 11:00 AM for some social time and appetizers. Thanksgiving dinner will be served around 12:00 PM. All are welcome to attend!
If you are away from family this Thanksgiving please join us. If you know of anyone who may be alone and would benefit from some fellowship and a good meal, please extend an invitation. If you, or anyone, need a ride to or from the meal make sure to give us a call at 518-371-7372 x225 and we will make arrangements to help.
We do request that all attendees register ahead of time. This can be done at the Welcome Center or by calling the office at 518-371-7372 x225. Please leave your name, contact info and the number of people who will attend. Thank you and best wishes for a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.
If you are away from family this Thanksgiving please join us. If you know of anyone who may be alone and would benefit from some fellowship and a good meal, please extend an invitation. If you, or anyone, need a ride to or from the meal make sure to give us a call at 518-371-7372 x225 and we will make arrangements to help.
We do request that all attendees register ahead of time. This can be done at the Welcome Center or by calling the office at 518-371-7372 x225. Please leave your name, contact info and the number of people who will attend. Thank you and best wishes for a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.
Dear Friends,
Each Thanksgiving, our annual collection supports St. Edward’s outreach program, which has been in existence for over 35 years. Year after year, your generosity has enabled our community to provide outreach to families and individuals in crises.
As the need has grown, we have formed partnerships with CAPTAIN, Catholic Charities of Saratoga, and various local faith-based communities, in addition to the local food pantries, to aid in this work.
In 2018, St. Edward’s, in conjunction with our partners, was able to financially serve 133 households as they struggled to make ends meet.
Unexpected expenditures like emergency car repairs, illness, prescription medication, loss of a job or reduced hours can be the beginning of a downward spiral. Your acts of kindness have prevented evictions and utility shut-offs, and have provided a bed for a young child, food for empty cupboards, warm meals and companionship, and refuge for victims of domestic violence.
We give thanks for each of you. You continue to use your gifts and talents time and again by volunteering and supporting in so many ways the multitude of ministries within our parish. You are the hands and feet of Jesus as you love and serve others in His name.
May God bless you and your families on this Thanksgiving and each and every day.
Mary Ann Sekellick
Each Thanksgiving, our annual collection supports St. Edward’s outreach program, which has been in existence for over 35 years. Year after year, your generosity has enabled our community to provide outreach to families and individuals in crises.
As the need has grown, we have formed partnerships with CAPTAIN, Catholic Charities of Saratoga, and various local faith-based communities, in addition to the local food pantries, to aid in this work.
In 2018, St. Edward’s, in conjunction with our partners, was able to financially serve 133 households as they struggled to make ends meet.
Unexpected expenditures like emergency car repairs, illness, prescription medication, loss of a job or reduced hours can be the beginning of a downward spiral. Your acts of kindness have prevented evictions and utility shut-offs, and have provided a bed for a young child, food for empty cupboards, warm meals and companionship, and refuge for victims of domestic violence.
We give thanks for each of you. You continue to use your gifts and talents time and again by volunteering and supporting in so many ways the multitude of ministries within our parish. You are the hands and feet of Jesus as you love and serve others in His name.
May God bless you and your families on this Thanksgiving and each and every day.
Mary Ann Sekellick
St. Edward’s EMBRACE ministry will be holding its 4th Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange on Saturday, December 14 at 9:00 AM in the Social Hall. Interested in helping out? Bring 3 dozen of your favorite Christmas Cookies to the Exchange so that together, we can package and deliver them to our home-bound parishioners. We’ll also provide more information about the EMBRACE ministry, including how you can sign up to help.
EMBRACE is a ministry of compassion, offering assistance to families and individuals who are facing difficult circumstances. Our goal is to ease the burden on people who are dealing with family crises by providing meals and offering support through our parish community. If you know of someone who needs our help, please contact us to initiate the process. If you know of someone who might enjoy some Christmas cheer, contact Beth Lee (518-727-0215 or leebee880@gmail.com) or Mary Jo Brue (518-371-7372 ext.223 or maryjo.brue@stedwardsny.org) with his or her name and address, or if you need assistance, if you’d like to volunteer, or with any questions.
We all need a little help now and then. Here’s our chance to EMBRACE someone who could use a hand. See you on December 14 for our Cookie Exchange!St. Edward’s
EMBRACE is a ministry of compassion, offering assistance to families and individuals who are facing difficult circumstances. Our goal is to ease the burden on people who are dealing with family crises by providing meals and offering support through our parish community. If you know of someone who needs our help, please contact us to initiate the process. If you know of someone who might enjoy some Christmas cheer, contact Beth Lee (518-727-0215 or leebee880@gmail.com) or Mary Jo Brue (518-371-7372 ext.223 or maryjo.brue@stedwardsny.org) with his or her name and address, or if you need assistance, if you’d like to volunteer, or with any questions.
We all need a little help now and then. Here’s our chance to EMBRACE someone who could use a hand. See you on December 14 for our Cookie Exchange!St. Edward’s
TIME TO GET THE DOUGHNUTS!
The Hospitality Ministry needs immediate volunteers to help setup for donuts before the 7:30 AM Mass on Sundays. The volunteers would need to be morning people because they are needed from 7:00 AM up until the 7:30 Mass. If you are interested please contact Scott Burral at sburrall@nycap.rr.com
We are running the CHRISTMAS BONUS RAFFLE again this year after each Mass in the Gathering Area beginning 11/30. Similar to last year we will award numerous prizes. Last year we awarded 23 cash prizes totaling $3,100! As last year, approximately half of the money collected will be given away while half will be used to offset the cost of our STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. Raffle tickets will be sold after Mass every weekend through December 22nd. Tickets cost $10 each or 3 for $20. The tickets will be drawn and the prizes awarded after the 11AM Mass on December 22nd. You DO NOT need to be there to win. We still have some bills to pay, so please buy some tickets for yourself and as stocking stuffers for your friends and family.
Whether you have given in the past, or this will be your first time, we have two worthwhile programs at St. Edward’s that need your help!
Christmas Gifts for Families in Need –These families are from the St. John/ St. Ann parish in Albany as well as the Clifton Park area. Our annual sign up will take place November 9th/10th, and November 16th/17th in the Atrium before and after each Mass.
Christmas Gifts for the Elderly – Individuals can sign up to buy Christmas gifts for the needy elderly of Saratoga County. The parishioners of St. Edwards are usually the only ones who remember these people at Christmas. Our annual sign up will be after each Mass November 16th and 17th in the Atrium.
Christmas Gifts for Families in Need –These families are from the St. John/ St. Ann parish in Albany as well as the Clifton Park area. Our annual sign up will take place November 9th/10th, and November 16th/17th in the Atrium before and after each Mass.
Christmas Gifts for the Elderly – Individuals can sign up to buy Christmas gifts for the needy elderly of Saratoga County. The parishioners of St. Edwards are usually the only ones who remember these people at Christmas. Our annual sign up will be after each Mass November 16th and 17th in the Atrium.
The Choristers, St. Edward’s Children’s Choir, will begin rehearsals for the 4:00PM Mass on Christmas Eve this coming Thursday, December 5, at 4:30PM in the Chapel. All children in Kindergarten through 6th grade are invited to sing with the Choristers. Other rehearsals for Christmas Eve will be held on Thursdays, December 12 and 19. Contact Mary Jo Brue maryjo.brue@stedwardsny.org or 518-371-7372 X223 with questions, or just come to rehearsal! ALL ARE WELCOME!
NEW LECTORS NEEDED! Help Spread the Good News! We need more help to proclaim the Word at the weekend liturgies. A workshop/training for adult lectors will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 16th in the Church. Please contact Chris Hannan at 518-852-9664 or chris.stedwardslectors@gmail.com to sign up or with any questions. If you can't make it but are interested, please contact Chris Hannan.
St. Edward’s has an ONGOING FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION year ‘round. We support the Mechanicville and Jonesville Food Pantries with your generous donations! With the winter weather upon us, the food pantries are especially in need of non-perishables. We have suggested food items in the Sunday bulletin (on page 3) each week. Please place your donations on the pews in the Atrium or Gathering Area. This time of year we are also accepting GIFT CARDS from area supermarkets. Please place gift cards in the offering basket or drop off in the Parish Office. Your donations will be appreciated by many families in Saratoga County!
It’s 2019! Do you pay most of your bills online? Why not your church offering? If you would like to contribute your offering electronically through a credit card or your bank account, please log on to www.faithdirect.net. Our church id# is ny113.
St. Edward's Lends a Helping Hand .... One of our parishioners made us aware that the Troy Street Soldiers needed a little help for the homeless with warm clothing. With our annual coat collection already in progress we were able help. The organization wanted to express their thanks to all of our parishioners for their amazing donation of coats, boots, hats, gloves and clothing that was delivered to them. They never expected to have this organized donation that will allow them to offer a coat to each and every person for their distribution day on November 7th. They should have over 85 friends walking away with a warm winter coat. It is often said it takes a village and St. Edward's has proven this statement to be true. We would not have been able to be this successful on this mission without your help. Please know from the bottom of our hearts how grateful we all are at Street Soldiers Troy.
CLOSING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER
For your safety and to adequately clean our parking lot and sidewalks, we cancel weekday morning Mass when Shen delays and cancels. (If Shen is on vacation please check the TV, parish app or website for our cancellations). Our inclement weather policy is posted on our website. If we close due to poor weather we always post our closings on our parish app, our website, and local TV channels.
St. Edward's Book of Remembrance is now directly outside the church during the month of November. You may inscribe the names of deceased family members and friends, to be remembered at the Masses celebrated throughout the month of November.
St. Edward’s is pleased to invite you to a special INTERFAITH SERVICE OF EVENING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING on Monday, November 18th at 7:00PM. Along with Father Pat, Dr. Chanan Markowitz, Rabbi at Congregation Beth Shalom, will be presiding at the service. Rabbi Markowitz will offer the reflection, centered on thanksgiving for the many blessings and graces that God has bestowed on us. Please join us in prayer and song during this season of Thanksgiving. ALL ARE WELCOME!
Please join the community of St. Edward’s for “COPING WITH THE HOLIDAYS AFTER LOSS” 7PM Tuesday, November 12th. Our presenter, Eileen Clinton is the Director of Bereavement Studies at Maria College. Prior to teaching at Maria College, Ms. Clinton worked as the Bereavement Coordinator at St. Peter’s Hospice. She provided support and education to an endless number of hospice families and members of the community through individual and group counseling as well as memorial services and educational programs. Following the program there will be refreshments and fellowship during which time you will be able to speak with Ms. Clinton. To register please contact Mary Ann Sekellick at 371-7372 ext. 224 or maryann.sekellick@stedwardsny.org.
ADVENT"LITTLE BOOKS" Will be available the weekend of November 17. They will be offered after the 9 AM mass on Sunday, November 17, and Sunday, November 24. They will also be available at Friday morning breakfast. During the week you may drop by the Faith Formation Office to obtain a copy. All donations received will be given to the Schenectady City mission. Thank you for your support.
CHRISTMAS WREATHS AND POINSETTIAS: Cub Scout Pack 4062 would like to help you decorate your home for the Christmas season with their fall fundraiser. The scouts will be selling certificates for an 8” POINSETTIA ($20) or a 24” DECORATED WREATH ($27) on November 24th after the 9 AM and 11 AM masses in the Atrium. Certificates are redeemable at any Hewitt’s store. Thank you for your support!
On November 8th, at 6:30 in the Atrium, we will be having Family Movie Night. The movie is The Star. It is the story of the first Christmas seen through a new set of eyes. Please bring your snacks and favorite blanket to relax on. It will be an enjoyable night for all.
Parents must stay with their children. This is not a drop-off event.
Evening Prayer during Advent will be begin Tuesday, December 3, at 7:00PM in the Church. Evening Prayer provides us time to contemplate, in prayer and in song, the many blessings that God has bestowed upon us. Please join us on Tuesday evenings during Advent at 7:00PM as we celebrate the light of Christ in our lives. ALL ARE WELCOME!
WORD ON FIRE FALL CLASSES
The second study from Bishop Barron's Word on Fire titled “Priest, Prophet and King” will be offered on Monday, November 18 and Wednesday, November 20. Be blessed and grow in your faith through the research and insights of Bishop Barron. ALL ARE WELCOME. Contact Rose Masterson for more info (or call the parish office).NOTE: There will be two
identical showings on each date:
10:00-11:30AM and 5:30-7PM in the Parlor.
Did you know that St. Edward's has a prayer chain? If you are in need of prayer, or know someone who may be, please submit your prayer request here and it will be sent to St. Edward's prayer chain so that we can pray for you.
Please join us for this fun event taking place Sunday, December 8th from 8AM to 1PM in the Social Hall. The breakfast event includes scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, and bacon, and a visit with our own St. Nicholas. Tickets will be on sale at the door in addition to pre-sale. The cost is: $5 a ticket for adults and children (children 5 and under free); families of 4 or more $20. Take out will be available too.
Teen volunteers are needed as
servers, runners, ticket takers, kitchen help, the activity center for children, and cleanup. Contact Eddie Trevino at 518-371-73472 ext. 237 or eddie.trevino@stedwardsny.org for more info or to help!
Come and have a nice breakfast, visit with St. Nicholas, and support Youth Ministry!
Teen volunteers are needed as
servers, runners, ticket takers, kitchen help, the activity center for children, and cleanup. Contact Eddie Trevino at 518-371-73472 ext. 237 or eddie.trevino@stedwardsny.org for more info or to help!
Come and have a nice breakfast, visit with St. Nicholas, and support Youth Ministry!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BULLETIN: Going to Florida all winter? Did you know that you can have St. Edward’s weekly Sunday Bulletin emailed to you? Please go to Parishes Online (www.parishesonline.com) and search for “St. Edward the Confessor 12065”. Click the “Subscribe” box and type in your email address. It’s that simple!
Would you like to grow closer to Jesus and His Blessed Mother? Bishop Ed is inviting everyone in the diocese to join him in a 33-day preparation period beginning Tuesday, November 5, 2019. The preparation will culminate on Sunday, December 8, at our cathedral in Albany. During the 11:00 Mass, participants will join others from around the Diocese in making or renewing, their Consecration to Jesus through Mary. To prepare for this Consecration day, Bishop Ed suggests the book 33 Days to Morning Glory, by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC. This is an easy-to-read and informative book, which requires just 10-15 minutes per day. In it, Fr. Gaitley uses the examples of Saints Louis de Montfort, Maximilian Kolbe, John Paul II, and Mother Teresa to lead his readers more deeply into the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a beautiful and life-changing spiritual practice.
Visit www.rcda.org/MarianConsecration for more information. The diocese has copies of Fr. Gaitley’s book available, using a coupon code on the website, for $5.00 (retail $14.95).
St. Edward's has 10 copies of the $5.00 books available; we also have a small number of magazine versions of the book; these contain the complete text of the book, minus the footnotes. They are free. If you are interested, contact Marie at krupmarie13@gmail.com.
Thanksgiving Mass
Thursday, November 28, 10:00 AM
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Monday, December 9, 9:00 AM
Advent Penance Services
Tuesday, December 17, 10:00 AM & 7:00 PM
Christmas Eve Masses
Tuesday, December 24, 4:00, 6:30, & 9:00 PM
Christmas Day Masses
Wednesday, December 25, 9:00 & 11:00 AM
Thursday, November 28, 10:00 AM
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Monday, December 9, 9:00 AM
Advent Penance Services
Tuesday, December 17, 10:00 AM & 7:00 PM
Christmas Eve Masses
Tuesday, December 24, 4:00, 6:30, & 9:00 PM
Christmas Day Masses
Wednesday, December 25, 9:00 & 11:00 AM
On November 8th, at 6:30 in the Atrium, we will be having Family Movie Night. The movie is The Star. It is the story of the first Christmas seen through a new set of eyes. Please bring your snacks and favorite blanket to relax on. It will be an enjoyable night for all. Click here to watch the trailer!
Parents must stay with their children. This is not a drop-off event.
The next High School Fire, Food & Fellowship (FFF) will be on Saturday, November 9 from 5:00-8:00 P.M. We will start the evening in the social hall for dinner, followed have a bonfire outside, Nintendo Switch on the big screen, and other games in the social hall. All youth grades 9 through 12 are invited. Bring some food to share and stuff to make s’mores.
The next Middle School TGIF will be on Friday, November 15 from 5:30-8:00 P.M. in the social hall. All youth in grades 6-8 are invited and welcome to bring a friend. All youth are encouraged to bring food or drinks to share. Please notify the chaperones at the entrance if food brought contains peanuts or gluten. If any youth have a peanut or gluten allergy please make a note of that on the sign-in sheet at the social hall entrance.
PICNIC DESSERT EXTRAVAGANZA WINNERS: We had 9 categories, and had a record number of 25 entries, and amazing representation in both the Under 12 and Teen categories. The winners are:
- Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate – Kirsten Treviño – Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes
- Teen, Age 12-17 – Ana Perez and Mary Bucciero – Lemon Raspberry Bites
- Under 12 – Kathan Cerniglia – Coconut Cream Pie
- Cheesecake – Michael Lee – Cheesecake
- Other – Janet Curtain – Lemon Squares
- Cakes and Cupcakes – Judy Morely – Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Special Dietary Needs – Halina Hawkins – Halina’s Special Brownies
- Cookies and Bars – Ryan Viele – Peanut Butter Cookies
- Pies and Hand Pies – Emily Bologna – Apple Pie
We had such a great time at our 2019 Bocce Tournament. For the second year in a row Pasta and Potatoes came out on top. Thank you Bryan Spence for your hard work building the Bocce courts for us to hold our championship matches on! Click here to see more pictures of the day!
We had such a great time at this year's "Cross Training" Summer Bible Camp! The campers and counselors had fun dancing, playing games, making crafts, and learning about their faith. Thank you to all who helped make the week fun!
If you missed this year's parish picnic, you missed a great time! Click here to see all the pictures from the wonderful day! If you have any pictures you would like to share contact Andrew Sutton at andrew.sutton@stedwardsny.org.
