General Announcements

WEBMASTER'S NOTE:  With the proclamation of the new parish name and the unification of all six Catholic churches in the County, this website is under redevelopment.  Please check back periodically as pages are updated with current information about each of the churches.

Current and past issues of the parish bulletin are always available for download here.  The bulletin carries numerous announcements specific to each of our churches.

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CAPITAL CAMPAIGN NEWS. Last weekend, almost 200 parish families submitted volunteer cards!  Thank you all for your willingness to share your time and talents in our parish-wide effort.  If you didn't submit a card but still wish to volunteer in any one of numerous areas, there are still volunteer cards available in the churches, or contact our Campaign Director, Todd Koolakian at (209) 223-1147 ext 228. And be sure to visit our Capital Campaign page by clicking here to stay abreast of latest news about this critical campaign.

Also in Capital Campaign news, all registered parishioners will be receiving an invitation in the next few weeks to attend a campaign reception.  ALL parishioners are invited and encouraged to attend.  Please RSVP as soon as possible.

MASS SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR JANUARY 23-27.  Father Roland will be away from the parish from Monday, January 23 through Friday, January 27.  Mass schedule for that week:

	Mon, Jan. 23	No Mass
	Tue, Jan. 24	8:00 AM - Parish Center, Martell 9:30 AM - Our Lady of the Pines, Pioneer
	Wed, Jan. 25	8:00 AM - Parish Center, Martell
	Thu, Jan. 26	8:00 AM - Parish Center, Martell
	Fri, Jan. 27	8:00 AM - Parish Center, Martell 9:30 AM - Our Lady of the Pines, Pioneer
Mass schedule at Sacred Heart Church in Ione remains unchanged during this week.

NEW SATURDAY VIGIL MASS AND CONFESSIONS BEGIN IN TWO WEEKS, FEBRUARY 4. The Vigil Masses at Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart, and St. Patrick will be merged into ONE Vigil Mass at the Parish Center in Martell, beginning February 4, at 5 PM.  The Saturday Vigil Mass at St. Bernard will remain in place, at 4:30 PM.  Coordinators for the various Mass ministries (Sacristans, Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Altar Servers, Ushers, and Musicians) are being sought -- please contact Deacon Ed Pogue at 267-0775 if you have questions or are interested.

Confessions will also be transferred from Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart, and St. Patrick to the Parish Center and will be available from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM in a room adjacent to the temporary chapel area.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MEN'S CLUB CRAB FEED will be Saturday, February 4.  No-host bar at 6 PM, dinner at 7:15 PM.  Contact Ron at 223-3114 or 267-5346 for tickets.

CATHOLICS RETURNING HOME BEGINS IN FEBRUARY.  The six-week session Catholics Returning Home will run from February 19 through March 25.  The two-hour sessions will be held at the Parish Center in Martell, 2-4 PM.  Call the Parish Center for more information, 223-2970.

ATTENTION LADIES:  We need your help.  We are searching for women who would be interested in being part of a committee that will develop events to focus on enriching our spiritual walk in Christ and support unity within our community.  We hope to have at least one volunteer from each of our churches.  For additional information, or to help, please call MaryAnn Evans at 772-8630 or Carole Sooy at 257-1932.

OUR LADY OF THE PINES SOCIETY is now accepting applications for its annual $1,000 scholarship.  Please click here for more information and the application.

 AMADOR CATHOLIC CEMETERY BOARD FORMING SOON.  Plans are underway to form an advisory Catholic Cemetery Board to establish oversight of all seven Catholic cemeteries in the County.  If you are interested, please contact the staff at the Parish Center (223-2970) or Francine Pogue (267-0775).  Very little time will be required.

 "DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME."   Do you know the origin of the entrance procession at Mass, or why bells are rung at the consecration, or why all churches had altar rails at one time?  Come and learn these answers and much more in a three-part series that explores the history of the Mass:

	History of the Mass, Part 1	Sun, Jan. 22	1-3 PM
	History of the Mass, Part 2	Sun, Feb. 12	1-3 PM
	Celebrating Mass Today	Sun, Mar. 4	1-3 PM
All sessions are held at St. Katharine Drexel Parish Center.
Preregistration is necessary for planning purposes. If you missed the first meeting, you may still join us for the second and third gatherings.  Call Joan Nikolai at 295-5528 with questions and to register.

 SAVE THE DATES!  Two upcoming events:
Saturday, February 18
Knights of Columbus Annual Crab Feed at the American Legion Hall. 5:30 PM no-host cocktails, 6:30 PM dinner.   Adults $35, children 7-12 $18, under 7 free.  Tickets:  Bob Dominick 209-223-5312, John Bowling 209-245-6764, or Tony Campoy 209-304-7083.
Saturday, March 3
Tri-tip and Ravioli Dinner in honor of St. Katharine Drexel feast day! Hosted by Columbia #72 YLI. Proceeds benefit Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (the order founded by St. Katharine) and works of Columbia #72.

 LENTEN REFLECTION SERIES BEGINS SOON. During Lent, we are called to spend even a little more time reflecting on all that we are as Christians and Catholics. Small Christian Communities support that effort through the gathering of small groups of parish members to read and reflect on the Sunday readings and to consider how to put our practice into our lives. Groups are forming now! Click here for more information and to download the Lenten Reflection Series for 2012.