Saturday, February 27, 2021

Kelley Christine Bula Memorial Scholarship



SAVE THE DATE!
Winner will be announced Friday, May 28, 2021
(after 9 a.m. Student Mass)

The Kelley Christine Bula Memorial Scholarship is awarded each year to one child who demonstrates the same qualities and attributes that Kelley had (a love of God, of life and of fellow man; a strong faith; happiness, courage, sensitivity and caring). The Scholarship recipient will receive a full tuition scholarship to St. Mary’s School for the 2021-2022 school year. This year the award recipient will be announced after the school mass on Friday, May 28, 2021.

Unfortunately due to the pandemic, the school has had to cancel the Annual Kelly Bula dance which is the largest fundraiser for the scholarship. Other fundraising events will occur in the school. Please consider making a donation online to support this scholarship.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Alumni of the Year - Fr. Mark Smith - Class of 1979


On February 6, 2021 at the virtual gala, Fr. Mark Smith '79 was given the 2021 Alumni of the Year Award. Fr. Mark was honored in recognition of his years of service in preaching the Gospel, sustaining the people of God, and celebrating the sacred rites of the Church. Fr. Mark is currently the pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in College Park, Md.

Due to the pandemic, the certificate that accompanies the award was presented on February 12 at Holy Redeemer Parish. Pictured above is Fr. Mark (left) receiving the award presented by Dinis Camara '91 (right) on behalf of St. Mary's Parish.

Fr. Mark Smith is truly humbled to receive the Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award for 2021. He jokes that in his early days at St. Mary’s, he distinguished himself only by low grades and poor behavior. But all that drastically changed, which he sees as living proof of the grace and goodness of God.



Fr. Mark's Bio

Fr. Mark Smith is truly humbled to receive the Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award for 2021. He jokes that in his early days at St. Mary’s, he distinguished himself only by low grades and poor behavior. But all that drastically changed, which he sees as living proof of the grace and goodness of God.

After he graduated from St. Mary’s in 1979, he went to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, and then earned a degree in Business Administration from Towson State University. Some years after college, Mark started and operated a small fitness training company in the Bethesda area. At the same time, he helped start a young adult group at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Gaithersburg with a few friends and with the help of Fr. E.J. Fliardi, who encouraged him to consider the priesthood. Fr. John Myslinski, while still a new pastor at St. Mary’s, had a strong influence and offered Mark much counsel and direction. With the strong example of many good priests and faithful people, Mark discerned and entered the seminary in 1999.

In preparation for the priesthood, Mark began studying Philosophy at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. On Saturday, May 29, 2004, Mark was ordained a transitional deacon, not at the Cathedral as usual, but at a regular parish Mass at his home parish of St. Mary’s.

Mark completed his priestly formation and Theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington on May 28, 2005. That very night he gathered family and friends in Our Lady’s Chapel and celebrated a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving, his first as a priest.

Fr. Mark first served as Parochial Vicar of Holy Redeemer Parish in Kensington. During that time, he also served as Assistant Vocation Director of the Archdiocese of Washington. He was then assigned to serve as Pastor of historic St. Joseph’s Parish in Pomfret; overseeing the parish’s 250th anniversary. He now serves as Pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in College Park and as an adjunct faculty member at Saint John Paul II Seminary in Washington, D.C.

St. Mary’s has always played an important role in the life of Fr. Mark and his family. They grew up close to the parish, and he fondly recalls walking with his family to Mass every Sunday. His parents, Leo and Nancy Smith, highly valued a Catholic education, sending not only Mark to St. Mary’s, but his 10 older brothers and sisters before him. He is deeply grateful for the love and wonderful example of his parents. They remain, in his mind, the most distinguished and even more deserving of an award and recognition. They certainly had a strong love and devotion for St. Mary’s Parish.

Monday, February 15, 2021

5 Fun Science Experiments for Kids (w/ Grover!) | #5facts


Our old pal Grover from Sesame Street stopped by the studio to conduct five fun science experiments you can do at home with everyday materials.

Friday, February 12, 2021

5 Reasons to Have the Devotion to the Sacred Heart | 5 Things with Fr. Bill Byrne


In this episode of 5 Things with Fr. Bill Byrne, Fr. Bill shares 5 Reasons to Have the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

EAT | 5 Homework Snacks Kids Can Make!!


Your kids can only eat so many pretzels. :). Here are 5 snacks, easy enough for kids to make, that will give them energy to finish their homework and won't leave them bouncing off the wall once it's done. 

Brown Paper Popcorn
Microwave 1/3 cup popcorn in a brown paper bag (folding down the corners of the bag so it doesn't open) for about 2.5 minutes. When popping slows down, remove. Be sure to monitor so nothing burns.

Semi-Homemade Pop Tarts
Unroll a can of crescent rolls, keeping them as rectangles. Pinch the seems closed. Spoon about 1 tablespoon jam in the center of rectangle, leaving about 1/4 inch empty along the edges. Place another rectangle on top and crimp edges with a fork. Bake at 425 for about 8-10 minutes.

Fruit Dip
Mix ¼ cup greek yogurt, ¼ cup almond butter, 1 tbsp honey, ¼ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp vanilla in a small bowl. Dip strawberries and apples!

Mug Cake
Mix 1 tbsp cocoa powder, 3 tbsp flour, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp sugar, 3 tsp coconut or vegetable oil, 3 tbsp milk, 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract and 1 tbsp kid-friendly protein powder in a bowl. Pour into a mug and microwave for 1-1.5 minutes.

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

DIY | Easy Handmade Valentines


Check out these simple and unique handmade valentines that are perfect for handing out on Valentines Day!