Guatemala Project Sendoff Update

Busy week!  Join us tomorrow to bless a donated jeep, welcome international Maya visitor Domingo Alvarez Ajanel, president of 22 associated rural Maya communities in Guatemala, share Mexican and Guatemalan foods, and send off the three who will drive through Mexico diver the jeep.  The sign at St. Michael's says it all, except that the big "602" stands for 602 N. Wilmot Rd.

The week's highlights so far:

June 14 -- Domingo arrives in the late afternoon from Guatemala.  Attends a Tucson Samaritans meeting.

June 15 -- Donor vehicle is formally turned over to St. Michael's Project.  Pictured:  visitor Domingo, donor Michael, and Project coordinator Ila.

June 16 -- Domingo travels to the desert with Tucson Samaritans.  Photo:  He's holding a jug of lifesaving water, to which he has added a message in Maya Quiche.

June 17 -- Today!  Visits to congressional offices to talk about migration and in-country conditions that foster migration.  Preparations for the big day tomorrow.

June 18 -- You're invited!  Join our fab fiesta with serious purpose.  Learn how to bless a jeep (already blessed by the love and attention of many).  Savor green corn tamales, accompaniments, and Guatemalan chuchitos in the wonderfully cool Parish Center.  Hear Domingo, with translation.  Make a donation if you can.  If not, just come!  5 p.m., 602 N. Wilmot Road.

Casa Maria and Other Notes from the Parish Office

CASA MARIA News: The Last Gasp of Summer!

Friday Aug 22nd - it's time again for Casa Maria sandwich making!
Kitchen opens at 5pm, come anytime after that!
St. Michael's Parish Center, 602 N. Wilmot
BRING FRIENDS!!  COME join the fun!

Please bring 2 OR 3 dozen peeled eggs  We NEED extra eggs!

We need medium sized boxes for transporting the lunches.
Fruit boxes from Costco or banana boxes are ideal.

YOU ALL have been so FAITHFUL since April! THANKS ARE NOT ENOUGH! In Sept we'll have student help.

JILL will deliver the sandwiches.**  (Thanks to KARL for July!)
NEXT CASA MARIA: FRIDAY SEPT 19TH. Mark your calendars for 2014. Casa Maria is every 4 weeks...
Aug 22nd * Sept 19th * Oct 17th * Nov 14th * Dec 12th

IN MEMORIAM: STEVE COULTER

Some of you may know that our faithful driver for Casa Maria, Steve Coulter passed away on July 31st. Steve recruited volunteer drivers and proposed a yearly schedule to share the delivery responsibility so lunches would be arrive at Casa Maria promptly. Steve also served as Junior Warden at St. Michael's for many years, keeping the buildings sound and dry and the landscaping beautiful!

Steve was scheduled to deliver the lunches to Casa Maria this Friday. We are blessed that his loving and caring wife Jill has taken upon herself to do what Steve would have done. Thanks to Jill, to Steve and to God!

Steve's life will be celebrated on Saturday Sept 13th, 11 AM at St. Michael and all Angels Church.

PS. If you would like to lighten the load by becoming a driver once or twice a year, please let us know and we will add you to the schedule!  

PARISH LIFE: AN ITALIAN NIGHT BEFORE OUR GREEK NIGHT!

Please note:  The Parish Life gathering at Fronimo's has been changed to THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH AT 6:30.

THIS THURSDAY.....AUGUST 28, Parish life invites you to Viro's Real Italian Bakery, 8301 East 22nd Street, at 6:30 pm.  A special Spaghetti Dinner will be served.  Cost is $7 per person.  Join us for good food, lively conversation and fellowship. All are invited.  Sign-up sheets are i n the back of church.

SUNDAY FUNDRAISER: A MEXICAN LUNCH!

This Sunday, after the 10:15 am Mass, you are invited to a Mexican Lunch of chicken enchilada, beans and rice. The meal is prepared by Maria, a member of Mision San Miguel, to raise money for past-due house payments.  Several months ago, Maria's husband fell from a roof and broke eight ribs and his spine in three places and is unable to work.  They have three children and their son was confirmed here last year. Maria is working three jobs in order to keep their family afloat.  They are behind three months in their house payments.  The lunch is a free will offering.  The suggested donation is $5.  (Checks may be made out to Mision San Miguel with "Maria" place in the memo.)  Lunch will be served from 11 AM until 3 PM in the Parish Center. All are invited!

Special Easter Offering Letter From The Rev. John R. Smith

Dear Friends:

This Easter, I’m inviting everyone connected to St Michael and All Angels to participate in The Easter Offering. This is where we give above and beyond our regular giving. We’ll use 100% of this offering to fund the following areas:

1. Create Operating Margin
Due to higher than normal utility costs our church budget has been strained.  We need to bring up our available operating funds until the Solar system starts helping in May.

2. Mother Clare
It has been an answer to prayer that Mother Clare has come among us.  She is being called to assist us in the Parish and be Chaplain at our school.  This Offering will enable the parish to move forward when specially donated funds for her ministry run out.

3. Repair our Church wall damaged by the rains
The stucco wall by the church organ was damaged by the recent rains.  This offering will enable us to fix the damage.

On April 8 we will receive the The Easter Offering during each of our services. We’re providing special envelopes and encouraging everyone to come prepared to give on that day. I am 100% confident that if everyone does their part and gives as they’ve been blessed we will hit our goal of $10000.

If you’re going to be out of town that day, or if you’d like to go ahead and donate now, you can send a check to church and mark it “Special Easter Offering.”

God has given us the greatest mission ever and we’re blessed to be able to join him in serving our community for Christ and advancing the Gospel!

Father Smith

P.S. See you at the Vigil or Sunday or Easter morning services! Pray for Galit, George, and Wrigley who will be baptized at the Great Vigil of Easter.

Click here for Holy Week Schedule

Buy a Brick for the St. Michael's Parish Day School

Be a Part of St. Michael’s Past, Present, and Future…

As we celebrate our School’s 50th Anniversary, students, alumni/ae, parents, parishioners, grandparents, and friends of St. Michael’s have a wonderful opportunity to participate in the revitalization of a special place, the Sunken Garden. Remember when it was the social center for the Church? Now we can commemorate our relationship with the school and /or the church by purchasing a brick or paver. Bricks and pavers can be engraved with your name, a friend’s name, or the name of a loved one. Add a logo or the year to celebrate your graduation or wedding anniversary.

Our 50th Anniversary Mission:
To celebrate our school’s history and to strengthen the ties with our immediate and extended community in order to enrich the present and build a healthy future.

Specifications:
• 3 lines for a 4" x 8" Brick
• 6 Lines for an 8" x 8" Paver
- 4 lines if a logo is included
• 20 characters per line (includes spaces, punctuation, and suffix characters)
- 12 characters for 4" x 8" with bottom-center logo

A laser process is used to engrave each brick by applying intensive heat and transforming the clay to hardened glass, ensuring a beautiful, durable finish. Bricks will be red.

Click here for further details and order form.