Church guide

The Faith Formation Family Handbook and registration materials for 2019-2020 are available! Please feel free to contact the director of faith formation, Carolyn Houston ([email protected]), with any questions, or concerns. Thank you!

We are at 80% of our Appeal goal! Please consider contributing! Here are all the programs that benefit: https://portlanddiocese.org/Appeal

If you see parishioner Jim Pastorelli today, wish him a happy 99th birthday! St. Martha’s morning Mass attendees celebrated a few days early with a cake after Mass, and sang Happy Birthday, of course! Jim has the distinction of being one of the few remaining WWII vets, having served in the Army throughout the war in Europe. God bless you, Jim!

After a week of guiding our youngest parishioners through vacation Bible school, the teen crew leaders (and their adult chaperones) enjoyed a well-deserved outing to Funtown!

Many thanks to our amazing ROAR! Vacation Bible School crew. Each has generously offered her/his time, talent, and resources to present an amazing week of faith and fun for our parish children. We are blessed by their service!

Day Five of ROAR! VBS was filled with celebration! The children re-enacted the crossing of the Jordan by the Israelites, and learned about the memorial the Israelites built with stones collected during the crossing. The morning ended with Mass celebrated by Fr. Agustin with assistance from youth music ministers, lector, gift presenters, and servers. “When life is good . . . God is good!”

Do you wish to receive enlarged copies of weekend Mass music at Holy Spirit Parish in advance? Email Mark at [email protected].

While Day Four of ROAR! VBS was still fun and energetic, the children also grappled with some serious topics. They talked about Jesus’ death and resurrection, and about their own losses and sadness. They learned that “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted” (Psalm 34:18) and that “When life is sad . . . God is good!”

Do you know any Catholics ages 21 to 35 who live in Maine or New Hampshire? Encourage them to attend the “Live in God’s Time” Young Adult Retreat at the Notre Dame Spiritual Center in Alfred from Friday, August 23, at 7 p.m., to Sunday, August 25, at noon. The retreat will provide the opportunity for Catholic young adults to get to know each other and deepen their faith in a relaxed setting. A $120 registration fee includes two nights lodging, meals, snacks, and retreat resources. For more information, including how to register, visit www.portlanddiocese.org/olff/ya-retreat19. The retreat is sponsored by the Diocese of Portland’s Office of Lifelong Faith Formation and the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire. The Office of Lifelong Faith Formation is funded through the Catholic Appeal.

Day Three continued . . .

Day Three of Roar! VBS had the children pretending to wander in the desert just like the Israelites did after being freed from slavery. The kids learned that life is all about change -some change we’re happy about, but other change can make us uncomfortable or even anxious. No matter what change we face, God is our constant. God’s love, patience and mercy are never ending. So. . . “When life changes . . . God is good!”

During Day Two of ROAR! VBS, our Bible Adventure leaders made the story of Moses and the plagues in Egypt come alive! All of the Stations focused on the point that “When life is scary . . . God is good!”

Day Two continued . . .

Holy Saturday Vigil Mass