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.

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CAPITAL CAMPAIGN IS OFF TO A GREAT START. The receptions for the Honoring Our Past, Uniting in Faith Capital Campaign have been well attended, and about 15% of our goal has been reached. Click here for a short slideshow from the receptions.

All registered parishioners should have received an invitation by now. If you are unable to attend a reception at the Parish Center, you are invited to a reception at your church after Mass.  Click here to see the list of dates and locations.

 

ASH WEDNESDAY MASS SCHEDULE, FEBRUARY 22:

St. Katharine Drexel Parish Center, Martell	5:30 PM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
Immaculate Conception, Sutter Creek	8:00 AM - Mass & Ashes
Our Lady of the Pines, Pioneer	9:30 AM - Mass & Ashes 5:30 PM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Ione	7:00 AM - Mass & Ashes 7:00 PM - Mass & Ashes
St. Bernard Church, Volcano	4:30 PM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
St. Mary of the Mountains, Plymouth	6:00 PM - Liturgy of the Word & Ashes
St. Patrick, Jackson	8:00 AM - Mass & Ashes 7:00 PM - Mass & Ashes

 

STATIONS OF THE CROSS BEGIN FEBRUARY 24 AND CONTINUE EACH FRIDAY OF LENT:

Immaculate Conception, Sutter Creek - 6:00 PM
Our Lady of the Pines, Pioneer - 5:30 PM
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Ione - 7:00 PM
St. Bernard, Volcano - 4:30 PM
St. Mary of the Mountains, Plymouth - 5:30 PM
St. Patrick, Jackson - 6:30 PM

 

 FOLLOW THE CATECHUMENS.  The RCIA RIte of Sending is this coming Saturday, February 25, at the St. Katharine Drexel Parish Center 5 PM Mass.  Read about this important rite here and show your support for our candidates and catechumens who will come into full communion with the Catholic Faith at the Easter Vigil.

 

SATURDAY VIGIL MASS AND CONFESSIONS NOW AT ST. KATHARINE DREXEL PARISH CENTER. The Vigil Masses at Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart, and St. Patrick have been merged into ONE Vigil Mass at the Parish Center in Martell.  This Mass is celebrated Saturday evening at 5 PM.   Please note that the Saturday Vigil Mass at St. Bernard remains in place, at 4:30 PM, in Volcano.

CONFESSION times were also transferred to St. Katharine from Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart, and St. Patrick.  Confessions are heard each Saturday from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

NOW AVAILABLE:  Service schedules for our Mass Ministers are now available for download here: http://stkatharinedrexel.com/schedules-massministers/massministries.shtml   We hope to make schedules from all of our churches available soon -- bookmark the page!

 

  ST. VINCENT de PAUL WEBSITE IS NOW ONLINE.  Click here to visit the home of our local conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The Society provides crucial assistance to the needy during these uncertain times.  Read about their efforts and how you can help! 

 

LENTEN REFLECTION SERIES AT ST. KATHARINE. If you haven't found a group to participate in the Reflection Series, there are three groups meeting at the Parish Center:  Mondays from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM and 4:00 - 5:30 PM, and Thursdays from 12:00 - 1:30 PM.  You can download the series by clicking here or use the "originals" at the Center to make your own copies (please return them so others can use them).

 

CATHOLICS RETURNING HOME HAS BEGUN.  The six-week session Catholics Returning Home is now in session, from February 19 through March 25.  The two-hour sessions are held at the Parish Center in Martell, 2-4 PM.  Call the Parish Center for more information, 223-2970.

 

DINNER AT KATE'S.  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.  6 PM no-host beer and wine, 7 PM dinner.  St. Katharine Drexel Parish Center, Martell.  Music provided by Harry Jordan.  $30 per person or $50 per couple.   Call the Parish Center at 223-2970 or Maja Johnson at 304-1829 for tickets.

 

  MANY SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

YLI COLUMBIA #72, ST. PATRICK, is also offering a $500 scholarship, and the information is  at your high school counseling office.  Be sure to pick up your packet with all the information in it.  Deadline for submitting your application is March 15.  If you have questions, call Maja Johnson at 296-5911.

HOLY NAME SOCIETY is offering a $1,000 scholarship, and the information is at your high school counseling office.  Be sure to pick up your packet with all the information in it. Deadline for submitting your application is March 15.  If you have questions, call Eric Johnson at 296-5911.

YLI GEMMA #75, SUTTER CREEK, is offering a $500 scholarship.  The information is at your high school counseling office.  Be sure to pick up your packet with all the information in it and check with your school to verify the deadline date.  If you have questions, call Laurie Campoy at 304-7082.

OUR LADY OF THE PINES SOCIETY is now accepting applications for its annual $1,000 scholarship. Deadline is March 19, 2012.   Please click here for more information and the application.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL 1849 is now accepting applications for its annual $1,000 scholarship.  Deadline is April 15, 2012.  Application information is here.

FR. GEORGE THOMAS SCHOLARSHIP sponsored by YMI Chapter 137 at Our Lady of the Pines Church.  Applications for this $1,000 scholarship are due by April 30, 2012.  Click here for more information.  Apply to YMIScholarship137@gmail.com.

 

"DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME."   The final session of the three-part series about the history of the Mass will be held on Sunday, March 4, 1-3 PM, at St. Katharine Drexel Parish Center in Martell.  The focus of this last session is "Celebrating Mass Today."  Call Joan Nikolai at 295-5528 with questions and to register.

 

BISHOP SOTO URGES ACTION ON HHS RULING ON EMPLOYEES' HEALTH COVERAGE.  Please read the Bishop's letter here, which he released in response to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services decision that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception.