CATHOLIC CAFÉ LENTEN SERIES BEGINS! | SUNDAY, February 26th, 2023

Another exciting season of Catholic Cafe is coming your way! This lent we are starting a new series from ascension press:

The Lenten series begins @ 9:15 AM (after the 8 AM Mass) on Sunday, February 26th, 2023. All are invited to attend!

For more information please visit the Catholic Cafe page!

MIDDLE SCHOOL 4th ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER | Sunday November 6, 2022 | 9:00 AM- 10:30 AM | SOCIAL HALL

Join us on Sunday, November 6, 2022 for our 4th Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser – organized by the Middle School youth of HNM Parish. This year, our youth along with their parents & Catechists, will be cooking & serving pancakes, eggs, sausages & more after the 8:00 AM Mass ONLY from 9:00 AM-10:30 AM. A light lunch will be served as usual after the 11:00 AM Mass. 

All proceeds will benefit youth activities here at HNM as well as any local, community or Diocese youth programs. 

Pre-ticket sales began last Sunday Oct 16 and will be available thru Sunday Oct 30, 2022. Tickets may be purchased on Sundays after both Masses, or on weekdays through the Church office. 

For more information, visit our website at holynameofmary.net or get in touch with our Faith Formation Coordinator at the office.  Please consider supporting our youth and this wonderful cause!

CATHOLIC CAFÉ SERIES BEGINS! | SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

Another exciting season of Catholic Cafe is coming your way! This fall we are starting a new series called:

“Catholic Answers School of Apologetics: World Religions: A Snapshot Course”

In this course, Joe Heschmeyer (Catholic Answers’ newest apologist) tackles that question, looking at the biblical view of other religions to answer questions such as:

• Why care what other religions teach?
• How should a Christian view other world religions?
• How do we know that Christianity is uniquely true? What distinguishes it from the other religions of the world?
• What’s the difference between faith and religion?
• What should you do if you know nothing about the other person’s religion?
• What, if anything, can we learn from other religions?

Perhaps most importantly, what are some good icebreaker questions to help you find out more about where the other person is coming from and what he believes?

The series begins @ 9:15 AM (after the 8 AM Mass) on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. All are invited to attend!

For more information please visit the Catholic Cafe page!

Virginia Catholic Day at Busch Gardens | Saturday, October 1, 2022

It’s that time of the year again – ‘Virginia Catholic Day at Busch Gardens’ (Williamsburg) is here and many of us and especially our youth and teens, are excited and looking forward to attend!

What is Virginia Catholic Day at Busch Gardens?

For many years, the youth of the Diocese have gathered at Busch Gardens for a day of fun and fellowship! The day includes admission to the park, Sunday Vigil Mass, and dinner as a Diocese.

Check the Diocese website for ticket pricing options, to view the schedule for the day and more information about the event.

Who should attend?

The event is open to all youth, families, and young adults from around the Diocese. This year, in an effort to bring our whole diocesan community together, the Diocese is opening the event to families as well!

What are some of the logistics for me to be aware of?

Families will need to purchase tickets and register for Virginia Catholic Day at Busch Gardens on their own (online) through the Diocese website.

Parents who would like their unaccompanied Youth/teens (6-12th Grades ONLY) to participate in this event MUST register (Busch Gardens Ticket Purchase + Bus Reservation) through the HNM Parish. An adult Catechist/ Parent Volunteer will be assigned to travel with unaccompanied teens and will pick up the Parish Youth Group tickets at the gate on the day of the event.

The Bus will depart from Busch Gardens at 7:00 PM sharp. Those that plan to stay at the park after 7:00 PM (for Howl-o-Scream are advised to kindly make your own transport arrangements to and from the event. 

If you have a youth attending (unaccompanied by you/parent/guardian) and would like the assigned Adult Catechist/ Chaperone text you to coordinate a pick up time, please speak to the Parish Faith Formation Coordinator (Louella Sowards) prior to the event to arrange this.

How do I register and what are the registration deadlines?

This year, families from our Parish who are interested in participating are requested to purchase tickets and register for the event on your own through the Diocese Website. Click here to register online for the event through the Diocese Website. Registration to Busch Gardens is set to close September 18, 2022.

However, parents who cannot attend the event but would still like to register their unaccompanied Youth/teens (6-12th Grades ONLY) MUST purchase tickets through the Parish. An adult Catechist/ Parent Volunteer will be assigned to unaccompanied teens and will pick up the Parish Youth Group tickets at the gate on the day of the event.

While families are encouraged to register for Busch Gardens on their own this year and do not have to participate strictly as a youth group, travelling as a Parish is still encouraged and will give us an opportunity to get to know each other better and attend Mass as a Parish community.

We hope many of our families and youth will join in this Diocese event!

How do I get my tickets?

Tickets are not mailed to each parish or to families or individuals. Instead:

• Groups that registered as a parish group will have the parish coordinator pick up all the tickets for his/her parish from our Office for Evangelization table near ticket sales, prior to the turn-styles to enter the park. Please only send the parish coordinator to the table and have the rest of your group wait together.
• Individuals and families who registered unconnected to a larger group will pick up their tickets directly from our Office for Evangelization table near ticket sales, prior to the turn-styles to enter the park.

Ticket pick up will be available from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.  Any tickets not picked up by noon will be turned into the Busch Gardens Will Call office.  We will not release tickets to individuals who registered as part of a parish group without prior authorization, in writing, from the parish coordinator.

What is Holy Name of Mary offering to those interested in attending Virginia Catholic Day at Bush Gardens? 

• A CATECHIST/PARENT CHAPERONE – A Catechist will be available to accompany youth (6-12th Grades ONLY) who will be travelling without parents. In this case, parents will need to register their youth (6-12th Grades ONLY) through the Parish so that the Adult Chaperone can pick up the Parish Youth Group ticket at the gate.
• ORGANIZED BUS TRANSPORT – Don’t like driving? Ride the Parish Bus!! This year we have partnered with our sister parish Resurrection, Moneta to organize a bus for transportation to Busch Gardens. Keep reading below for more information on reservation guidelines and cost of seats on the bus.
• FREE!! BUS SEAT RESERVATION for all youth (6-12th Grades ONLY) We will pay the full cost of the bus for these teens. (Families will still need to be responsible for the full cost of the park admission & All-You-Can Eat Dinner Buffet ticket. Please see the Diocese website for ticket options.)

How do I reserve a seat on the Parish Bus and what is the deadline? 

• To reserve a seat on the bus, please contact the Parish Office or click here to reserve a seat online.

• Seats are limited and reservations must be made through HNM Parish by Wednesday, August 31, 2022. 

• Cost: $45/per person OR FREE for all youth (Grade 6-12 ONLY).
• Pick up Location/ Time: Back of the Bedford Walmart parking lot on 460 at 5:45 AM.
• Departure Time/Drop-Off Location: The Bus will depart Busch Gardens at 7:00 pm sharp and return to Walmart parking lot approx. 11:30 pm. Those that plan to stay at the park after 7:00 PM (for Howl-o-Scream are advised to kindly make your own transport arrangements to and from the event. 

What can I bring on the Bus and how should I plan my travel (mainly for Parish Youth Group travelling with Adult Catechist Chaperone)? 

• You may bring with you for the bus, snacks and drinks with a lid that seals. Youth are responsible for keeping up with their personnel items.
• Blankets, pillows and any personnel items you would like to bring are ok and can be left on the bus- but the bus company will not be held responsible for items so leave electronics at your risk.
• They will be stopping for breakfast (please have money for this if you want to purchase)
• Youth please wear tennis shoes or good walking shoes!  No flip flops!  We don’t want them falling off roller coasters and there will be lots of walking, park has lots of hills.
• To identify our group, please wear a BLUE t-shirt of some type (Resurrection is wearing red)
• For youth assigned to an Adult chaperone, Tickets and wrist bands (for dinner buffet) will be picked up by chaperones and distributed once arrived at the park.
• Bus will depart Busch Gardens at 7:00 pm sharp and return to Walmart parking lot approx. 11:30 pm.

What is HNM’s schedule of the day (Saturday, October 1, 2022) if I ride the Parish Bus?

Note: Howl-O-Scream event starts at 6:00 pm and Park closes at 11:00pm. Those intending to stay at Busch Gardens past 7:00 PM are kindly requested to make their own travel arrangements to and from the event.

Contact: 

Louella D’Souza Sowards
Faith Formation Coordinator

Beginning of the Year Catechist Meeting | Saturday, August 27

A beginning of the year Catechist meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 27 from 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM in the Social Hall with morning hospitality and breakfast served on arrival.

We will go over Faith Formation guidelines, syllabus, teaching tips and expectations for the year. After the meeting, classrooms will be open for organizing and decorating, in preparation of Faith Formation classes to begin on Catechetical Sunday September 18, 2022.

Hope all our Catechists and Catechist Aides will be able to join us!

RCIA Inquiry Session | Tuesday, August 23, 2022

FAITH FORMATION REGISTRATION 2022-23 IS NOW OPEN

FAITH FORMATION REGISTRATION 2022-23 IS NOW OPEN!! 

“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:16).

Faith Formation Programs at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church: 

If you have a student in grades PreK-12, now is the time to register them (preferably by the first week of August) for our awesome Faith Formation programs!

• CHILDRENS’ FAITH FORMATION – PreK to Grade 5
• LIFE TEEN (Middle School Youth) – Grades 6 to 8
• EDGE (High School Youth) – Grades 9 to 12
• SACRAMENTAL PREP FOR FIRST RECONCILIATION & FIRST EUCHARIST (2nd Grade)
• SACRAMENTAL PREP FOR CONFIRMATION (9th Grade)

Requirements:

All interested in participating in ANY of our PreK-12 Faith Formation Programs must be registered parishioners of Holy Name of Mary. Candidates preparing to receive the sacraments are encouraged to:

• attend Mass regularly and
• must attend their weekly Sunday Faith Formation classes in order to “have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation” before receiving the sacraments.

Faith Formation Classes will be held on Sunday between the masses. Sacramental prep classes will be held outside of Sunday classes but students receiving Sacraments must also attend their weekly Faith Formation classes.

Registration:

For the purpose of efficient planning & purchasing of supplies, please register as soon as possible, preferably by the first week of August, especially if you have a child due to make their Sacraments.

Click Here to view the 2022-23 Faith Formation Calendar and important updates, changes in class time/days & what to expect for this Faith Formation Year. The Sacramental Prep schedule will be shared later in the year once you have registered your child.

Click Here to register your child/ youth online! OR Hardcopy registration forms are also available in the Church commons. Please fill out and return these to the Parish office during office hours.

Faith Formation 2022-23 classes will begin on Catechetical Sunday, September 18, 2022. The Catechetical Theme for this year is “This is my body given for you” (Luke 22:19). Therefore, teach your children the ways of Our Lord by registering them for Faith Formation here at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church. We hope many of you will register and help us make our  Faith Formation program a successful, result-oriented one!

Contact: For more information please get in touch with our Faith Formation Coordinator Louella Sowards