THANK YOU FOR THE ALTAR FLOWERS

Thank you to the family of the late Donatas Nasvytis – daughters Audra and Rūta, and wife Rimgailė – for their generous donation for altar flowers this week. The flowers are in honor and remembrance of the late Donatas Nasvytis on the 2^nd anniversary of his passing.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Friday, February 3^rd is the First Friday of the month. We will have our monthly Holy Hour and Friday beginning after the 7:30am Mass until 9:00am. Stop in for some quiet time of prayer in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord. Our evening Eucharistic adoration will be on Wednesday, February 8^th, from 6-9 pm. Please consider committing to be in the Church for a specific time for adoration. A sign-up sheet is located on the table at the main entrance to the Church. Please sign up.

LATIN AMERICAN - EL SALVADOR OFFERING

Next weekend, February 4-5, we will accept donations for our Latin American Mission in El Salvador. It is the main support for two diocesan priests who work in two parishes served by our Mission Office. This appeal also makes a contribution to the Collection for the Church in Latin America that is managed by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and benefits projects and the formation of seminarians, religious and lay leaders in 23 countries across Latin America.

5^th ANNUAL “SOUP FOR THE SOUL”

Mark your calendars for February 11-12. That weekend, after all of the Masses, the Altar Society invites you to warm up your body (and soul) with a hearty bowl of soup - your choice of two kinds - at its 5^th annual “Soup for the Soul.” Come to the lower hall for a sit down meal or pick up a take-out container in the church lobby after Mass.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

In a few weeks, we will begin the 2017 Catholic Charities Annual Parish Appeal. This is a reminder to everyone who pledged in 2016, to complete your pledge payments as soon as possible. Letters will be mailed to most of you in the coming weeks to invite your support to this year’s appeal. Please be generous.

----- THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW -----

     Did you know that on an average week, over 400 people come into our church building? When you come to Church - whether it is for Sunday or a weekday Mass, for a wedding, or for a funeral or a baptism, what do you expect when you walk in? Most would say a comfortable, clean church.

     Did you ever look at the little things when you come in? Many bless themselves with Holy Water. Our Holy Water fonts are always clean and are sufficiently filled. When you go into a church pew, there is no clutter, and the worship aids (missalettes and music books) are neatly put in the pew racks. The floor is clean and dry. There are no burned out lights. The sanctuary is clean and decorated for the appropriate liturgical season. Those who drink out of the chalice at Communion time might notice that the purificator (the cloth used to wipe the chalice) is always clean and ironed. Each purificator is used for only one Mass and ten to twelve purificators are used every week. Other church linens are changed and cleaned regularly. Fresh candles are put in the shrines for those who light devotional candles.

     All of these things that we take for granted are maintained on an almost daily basis. This work, like so much other work, is done by our employees and dedicated volunteers. Mike, our maintenance man, takes care of the heavy cleaning in and around the church. All of the other work mentioned above is all done by volunteers: Marija Bartkus, Faye Roth, and Jackie Caruso-Taylor. During Christmas, Easter, and other holidays more volunteers, especially members of the Altar Society, come out to help. Rimas Minkunas and Joe Koeth stay after the 10:00 and 12:00 Mass every week to straighten up the church pews, pick up papers and look for items left by people to put in the lost and found. 

     A lot of people put in a lot of time to make sure that every time you come to St. Casimir’s, you will have a clean, comfortable place to spend time in prayer and in public worship. There are many tasks that need doing and we are always looking for additional volunteers to help with them. If you are interested in helping out, let me know what you would like to do, and I will put you in touch with the right person. 

God Bless!   Fr. Joe Bacevice

THROAT BLESSINGS

Friday, February 3^rd, is the Feast of St. Blaise, the day we traditionally bless throats. In honor of St. Blaise, we will bless throats after Mass on Friday and after all the Masses next weekend.

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS

Parishioner contribution statements for 2016 will be sent out on request. To request a statement, drop a note with your name and envelope number in the collection basket or call us during office hours (Monday through Friday, 10:00am to 6:00pm). Statements will be sent in the mail.