Monday, August 31 is the first day of school at St. Mary's School. The priests and staff of St. Mary's Church welcome back all of our students! http://stmaryschoolrockville.org/

SACRIFICIAL CROSS PROGRAM – Starting on Ash Wednesday, February 18th through Good Friday April 3rd, a table on the left hand side of the main church will hold small crosses and cards suggesting Lenten commitments. The suggestions include acts of prayer, service, and almsgiving. Click here to see more.

St. Mary's Bicentennial Committee was selected to receive a 2014 Peerless Rockville Award for the St. Mary's Bicentennial Celebration. The Awards Committee was unanimous in wishing to recognize the committee for outstanding achievement in educational outreach.

On Sunday, November 23, at the 9:00 AM Mass we honored John Durbin with the Archdiocese of Washington's 75th Anniversary Award. This medal was given in special recognition of Mr. Durbin's service to St. Mary's parish community. Congratulations!

Learn about parish news and events by following St. Mary's Church on Twitter. @StMaryRockville

Our Blue Ribbon School has openings in preschool through grade eight. Click on the St. Mary's School tab to visit the site.

Sunday, May 4, 1:45 – 2:45 pm Join us for a traditional ladies tea in the Parish Hall followed by the May Crowning Ceremony at 3:00 pm. Tea, sandwiches and desserts will be served. Contact Barbara Williams at 301-518-4635 or nittanypcw@aol.com for information and reservations.

Parish Bazaar The parish will hold the Blessed by Less Bazaar on Saturday, April 12, 10 am – 2 pm, to benefit St. Mary’s and the poor in our community.

The St. Mary’s 8th grade girls basketball team is playing in the CYO City Title Championship game this Sunday March 9, at 1:00pm at St. John’s College High School. Please come out and support the girls in their bid to become only the 4th team in parish history to win a CYO City Title. It’s a WHITE OUT – wear WHITE to the game to support St. Mary’s.

Please join us on Sunday, December 15th! As part of our year-long bicentennial celebration, Bishop Martin Holley will come to our parish to celebrate the 12:30 pm Mass next Sunday, December 15th, the third Sunday of Advent or Gaudete Sunday. A reception follows in the Parish Hall.

Fundraiser at Gilly's Craft Beer and Wine on Dec. 3 from 5 - 8 pm. 10% of all sales on Tuesday Dec. 3 to St. Mary's School!

Gilly's Craft Beer and Fine Wine will be donating 10% of all sales on Tuesday Dec. 3 to St. Mary's School! Flying Dog Brewery is taking over the store with a tasting from 5-8pm and there will be live music. Come out to socialize with fellow St. Mary's parents, take care of all your holiday beer and wine needs, and support the school all at the same time. We'd like to get as many people out to this fundraiser as possible, so spread the word to friends, relatives, and co-workers. Hope to see you there! Remember, 10% of all sales will be donated to St. Mary's. So, if you can't make the evening social, stop by anytime during the day to do your holiday shopping. If you work nearby, grab a delicious sandwich from Gilly's for lunch then head back in the evening! www.gillyscbfw.com Gilly's Craft Beer and Fine Wine 2009 Chapman Ave Rockville, MD 20852

Gilly's Craft Beer and Fine Wine will be donating 10% of all sales on Tuesday Dec. 3, from 5 - 8 pm, to St. Mary's School!

As you may have heard from reports in the media, His Holiness, Pope Francis, recently announced the hosting of an Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme, Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization, which will take place in Rome next year, October 5-14, 2014. St. Mary's parishioners are asked to complete the questionnaire (by clicking on the survey above). You may download the Preparatory Document of questions and choose to answer all or part of the questionnaire. Please return to the box in the Main Church vestibule by December 8, 2013. Call the rectory for a copy if you cannot download the form at 301-424-5550.

The 2013 Annual Giving Campaign is underway. With your support, the tax deductible gift will provide Catholic education for a child in need. To donate visit www.stmaryschoolrockville.org.

Veterans Day is a Federal Holiday. We will have daily Mass at 7 am, 9 am and 12:10 pm in the Chapel. There is no Adoration.

Mass of Anointing on Saturday, October 26, in the Main Church at 1:00 pm.

Take a look under the News/Events tab to access the Bicentennial information. There are photos and links posted from the events that have already taken place.

Reservations for the St. Mary's Bicentennial Gala are due by Wednesday, October 9. Invitations are available at the entrances to the church at all Masses this weekend. This is sure to be a sold out event. Do not delay your response and miss this fun night of dinner and dancing to the music of the Fabulous Hubcaps!

Please see our "Links" tab under News and Events. Click on the link to read the full article.