Funeral Pre-Planning Form St. Mary's now offers the option to create a funeral pre-plan online! A funeral pre-plan is an excellent way to make advanced selections of the details for your own or your loved one's funeral service and to have a record of those selections kept on file at the St. Mary's Parish Office. To create a funeral pre-plan, complete a funeral pre-plan form below, and upon submitting the completed form, a copy will be emailed immediately to the person who completed the form, with a copy also emailed to St. Mary's Parish Office, where it will be kept on file.

Sacraments Baptism Baptism A Commitment to Grow in New Life With Christ Congratulations on the birth of your child! We are honored that you have chosen St. Mary's for this important sacrament in your child's life. Click here to begin Baptism preparations . First Reconciliation First Reconciliation Receiving Forgiveness for Our Sins The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the most unique and beautiful aspects of Catholicism. Jesus Christ, in His abundant love and mercy, established the Sacrament of Confession, so that we as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God and the Church. The sacrament “washes us clean,” and renews us in Christ. Click here to view the confession schedule . Click here to learn more about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, by viewing the Forgiven program on FORMED . Click here to teach your children about Reconciliation by watching Forgiven: The Blessings of Confession on FORMED . Click here to download the USCCB's short guide featuring step by step instructions on how to attend Reconciliation (Confession) . First Eucharist First Eucharist Receiving the True Body and Blood of Jesus Christ The Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, who is really and substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine, in order to offer himself in the sacrifice of the Mass and to be received as spiritual food in Holy Communion. It is called Eucharist, or "thanksgiving," because at its institution at the Last Supper, Christ "gave thanks," and by this fact it is the supreme object and act of Christian gratitude to God. Click here for details regarding First Eucharist preparation . Confirmation Confirmation Deepening Our Baptismal Life In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is "sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world. . . . We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service. ~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults Click here for details regarding Confirmation preparation. Matrimony Matrimony A Union Under God The Sacrament of Marriage is a covenant, which is more than a contract. Covenant always expresses a relationship between persons. The marriage covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife, a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each other and God. The celebration of marriage is also a liturgical act, appropriately held in a public liturgy at church. Catholics are urged to celebrate their marriage within the Eucharistic Liturgy. ~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults Click here for details regarding Matrimony preparation. Anointing of the Sick Anointing of the Sick Bringing Spiritual Strength During an Illness Anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness, especially near the time of death. It is most likely one of the last sacraments one will receive. Anointing of the sick conveys several graces and imparts gifts of strengthening in the Holy Spirit against anxiety, discouragement, and temptation, and conveys peace and fortitude (CCC1520). Does a person have to be dying to receive this sacrament? No. The Catechism says, "The anointing of the sick is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived" (CCC1514). The residents of Syracuse Home at McHarrie Place are anointed twice a year. If you would like to celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing, please call the Parish Office to set an appointment with the Pastor. Funeral Planning Funeral Planning Support During the Loss of a Loved One While no one can take away the pain of losing a loved one, our parish community is here to support you and yours through this difficult time. We are blessed to have a loving and supportive funeral ministry team who can help make this time just a little easier for those who are experiencing grief and loss. Click here for details to plan a funeral for your loved one. Click here for grief and loss resources, including our Bereavement Group.

Privacy Policy This privacy policy sets out how St. May's Church uses and protects any information that you give St. Mary's Church when you use this website as well as other information you may provide to us from time to time. St. Mary's Church is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website or through other mechanisms, you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy policy. St. Mary's Church may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. This policy is effective from July 1, 2019. Information We Collect We may collect the following personal information: Name Contact information, including email address Demographic information, such as zip code, preferences, and interests Other information relevant to customer surveys and/or events We use Google services such as Google Analytics and spam prevention to help manage our website. Please see the Privacy and Terms pages for more information on how Google uses and maintains user information. We use Wix services to host and deliver our website. Please see the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more information on how Wix uses and maintains user information. We use Flocknote services to collect contact information for our email marketing. Please see the Privacy and Security Policy and the Terms of Use pages for more information on how Flocknote uses and maintains user information. We use LPi WeShare services to process online donations and registration payments. Please see the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions pages for more information on how LPi uses and maintains user information. LPi is a certified Level 1 PCI 3.2 Service Provider. Please see their Data Security page to learn more. What We Do With the Information We Collect We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with better service. In particular, for the following reasons: To answer a question you have asked Internal record keeping To improve our services We may periodically send information emails about programs, events, or other topics we think will benefit you, using the email address you have provided Security We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. Links to Other Websites Our web pages may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have control over other, third-party websites. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information that you provide while visiting such sites, and this privacy statement does not govern such sites. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question. Controlling Your Personal Information You may choose to restrict the use of your personal data in accordance with this privacy policy. If you have any questions or further concerns relating to how we use your personal data as described above, or you believe that personal data we have is incorrect or incomplete, please contact us at: St. Mary's Church 47 Syracuse Street Baldwinsville, NY 13027 About Us Our Mission Our Team Contact U s Governance Parish Life

Sacraments Confirmation Confirmation preparation is a two year program beginning in the fall of the 9th grade year with Confirmation being celebrated in the spring of the 10th grade year. It is the policy of the Diocese of Syracuse that those young adults registering for Confirmation preparation must have been active in the Faith Formation Program for at least one year prior to their registration. This means that they must have been in class for their 8th grade year. Students who attend Catholic school are exempt from being in the program for one year prior to registering for the sacrament, however they must attend Year 1 and Year 2 of Sacrament Prep to be eligible for Confirmation. To register for this program, please visit sasmyouth.org or contact the Faith Formation Office at 315-635-5762, ext. 110. Resources for Teens: 8 Things You Need To Know About Confirmation Listen to a talk by Father Mike Schmitz - We Must Go Out: The Sacrament of Confirmation

IronMan Lake Placid Sunday, July 21, 2024 Father O’Connor competed in Ironman Lake Placid on Sunday, July 21, 2024. The 140-mile race began at 6:30am, and included a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and then a marathon (26.2 miles). Click here to view the Catholic Sun article

Creating a Family Prayer Space Creating a Prayer Space for Your Home By: Cathy Mackey Does your family have a Prayer Space? A Prayer Space, also known as a Prayer Corner or Sacred Space, is a designated place in your home that serves as your “church away from church.” It’s a place you can go to, alone or as a family, to pray or feel closer to God. The Bonacchi family has shared their Prayer Space with us. Watch this short video of their sweet children praying to the Blessed Mother! Here’s how you can make a Prayer Space in your home: Pick a place in your home where you can have your Prayer Space. Some people pick a windowsill, a corner of a low traffic room, or a space in a special room in the house or apartment. Choose items that are meaningful to your prayer life. I love religious statues and religious art. So, my prayer space would have statues of Jesus and the saints, as well as pictures of He and the saints. I also have a cross and a Bible. I also set up a comfy chair to sit on while I read Scripture, listen to the rosary recited online, or listen to our Director of Music, Ryan Schaffer, read the Stations of the Cross. It’s that simple! You can make your Prayer Space as simple or elaborate as you choose. For more information, click on the link below: https://buildfaith.org/creating-a-prayer-space-at-home/ We’d love to see your Prayer Space! Please send pictures to cmackey@syrdio.org We would love to feature your family’s space on our websites and in our newsletters.

Capital Campaign Corner Page Contents: Capital Campaign Reports Donate Online via Weshare Giving Feasibility Survey Fr. Cliff's March 3, 2024 Homily/Video Case Statement Capital Campaign Overview Video Capital Campaign Reception Video Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The Posters Feasibility Survey Feasibility Survey St. Mary’s is in the process of conducting a Feasibility Survey to prioritize our projects and help assess the potential results of a parish capital campaign. We would like to address numerous projects throughout our parish campus and these items were listed in last week’s bulletin insert; a copy of that case statement document can be viewed below or downloaded here . The major purpose of this survey is to obtain the feedback from as many parishioners as possible. Anyone who has not filled out a survey in church is welcome to complete one online by clicking the button below. If you did not hear my homily this weekend, you are encouraged to watch it below before completing the survey. With every prayerful wish, I remain, Prayerfully yours, Fr. Cliff (Rev.) Clifford Auth A note of thanks for the surveys we have received thus far. Of the 300 completed surveys, 95% have been in favor of a campaign for which we are very grateful! UPDATE: As of 4/17/24, the survey is closed. Thank you for your participation! Fr. Cliff's March 3 2023 Homily/Video Case Statement Case Statement Capital Campaign Overview Video Capital Campaign Overview Video Capital Campaign Reception Video Capital Campaign Reception Video If you weren't able to attend one of the capital campaign receptions, you can watch one here ! FAQs St. Mary’s Capital Campaign FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) The following is a list of Frequently Asked Questions from the survey responses we received. This information is provided to clarify any questions that you may have regarding the St. Mary’s Capital Campaign. For further information contact Mary Raymond at the parish office (ext. 110) or at mraymond@syrdio.org Question: What is the purpose of this campaign? Answer: This Capital Campaign is designed specifically to fund necessary repairs and improvements to the facilities here at St. Mary's. Money pledged during this campaign will go into a restricted account. Question: Why is now the time for a capital campaign? Answer: Two reasons: 1.) The present state of our facilities requires us to take action to preserve them. 2.) As Fr. Cliff shared in his homily last weekend, there are fewer than 15 priests under the age of 50 in the entire diocese. Priest personnel changes are a more frequent occurrence and there is a decent chance that Fr. Cliff will have different pastoral responsibilities after July 1st of this year. This is not the fault of the Bishop or the Diocese; it is simply where we find ourselves as Church. Diocesan priests will not have the luxury of staying in parishes for extended periods of time but rather minister where they are needed most. In the event of a change, we want to make St. Mary's attractive to a new pastor who will not want to be saddled with the headache of physical plant woes the minute he arrives. Having some of the necessary work underway, with a plan and the means in place to accomplish the rest will allow him to concentrate on his pastoral duties. Question: Has the St. Mary's Capital Campaign been approved by the Diocese? Answer: Yes, Fr. Cliff and the Finance Committee (including our Trustees) went through the normal process to gain the approval from the Bishop’s office. Question: Will any of the Capital Campaign donations be used for the diocesan settlement? Answer: The money that St. Mary’s must pay as part of the settlement has already been set aside. No donations to the Capital Campaign can or will be used for the settlement. Question: Will I be asked to make a HOPE Appeal Donation this fall? No, our 2024 obligation to support HOPE Appeal programs and ministries will be met through this campaign. Approximately, $56,050.00 will be reserved for those ministries. We will not conduct a separate HOPE Appeal campaign in 2024. Question: What is a "restricted account"? What does that mean? Answer: A restricted account allows St. Mary's to use the funds from this Capital Campaign to address the specific projects outlined in the proposal as well as those that may arise unexpectedly. Additionally, we will pay the 2024 HOPE Appeal Parish Assessment from this fund. These funds cannot be used to pay ordinary expenses such as salaries and utility bills, or to purchase materials outside of what is needed for maintenance projects. In other words, the money raised will be used for the areas on our campus in need of repair. Question: Why tackle these maintenance projects when other parishes are closing/consolidating? Answer: We make repairs on our own homes even though we might move some day. We need to do the same here. St. Mary's is a vibrant parish. We have been growing in members and programs. There was an interesting article in the February 15, 2024 edition of the Catholic Sun that reported statistics of all the Catholic parishes in Oswego County and north/northwest Onondaga County (Vicariate 1). The information can be found at https://syracusediocese.org/vicariates . St. Mary's statistics are very impressive and evidence that we are truly a vibrant parish. Maintaining our facilities is an important part of ensuring we can continue our ministry and mission. Question: How will the projects be prioritized? Answer: The order in which projects will be undertaken will be influenced by several factors including: the urgency with which the problem should be addressed, the promptness with which final estimates are provided, availability of reputable contractors, cost, and any other appropriate factor. The pastor will consult with the pastoral council, the finance committee, the capital campaign committee, the trustees, parish staff including the maintenance supervisor, the school principal and interested parishioners. Question: In what form may donations be made? Answer: Pledges will payable over the course of five years. Specific payment plans and methods will be addressed in the coming weeks. Capital Campaign Reports Capital Campaign Reports We've made tremendous progress on our projects! Here's an update of what we're currently doing, plus what's next on our to-do list! Click here to download this December 31, 2025 Capital Campaign Report. Click here to download the June 3, 2025 Capital Campaign Report. Click here to download the November 8, 2024 Capital Campaign Report. Posters We've made tremendous progress on our projects! Here's an update of what we're currently doing, plus what's next on our to-do list! See the Posters

Liturgical Ministries Bereavement Support Ministry Our Bereavement Support Ministry tries to be the compassionate heart and hands of our Lord Jesus. No one can really feel or remove another's pain, but everyone can walk beside and support another who is sorrowful. Those involved in our Bereavement Ministry find that in supporting others, our own faith is nourished and deepened. Volunteers are asked to attend funeral Masses held at St. Mary's to offer support to the family and friends of the deceased. We ask you to prayerfully consider this wonderful ministry. This ministry does not require special training, and the time commitment is one hour on an as-needed basis. Funeral Preparation Team The work done by the volunteers on our Funeral Preparation Team is highly valued by all involved. This ministry requires individuals who are good listeners, are patient, and who can exhibit compassion with those experiencing loss. Members of our Funeral Preparation Team meet with the family members of the deceased to plan the funeral liturgy, perform a brief prayer service during the calling hours if necessary, assist with Funeral liturgy preparation/set up, and attend the Funeral Mass as support to the family. Training is offered for volunteers who wish to join this ministry. Training takes approximately 2-3 hours. Volunteers do not need experience in this role, however they should have good listening skills, compassion, and the ability to lead prayers in a private environment. The time commitment for a Funeral Team member for one Funeral Liturgy is approximately 8 hours over the course of 3-5 days, depending on the needs of the family. Funeral Reception Team T his ministry provides receptions following a Funeral Liturgy for the family and friends of the deceased. Volunteers for this ministry can help in several capacities: Providing food for the reception (typically breakfast, lunch, or snack foods) Assist with set up or clean up (2 hour commitment each; 4 hours if you choose to do both) Assist with serving food at the reception Training for this ministry is provided and takes about 1-2 hours.

Our Mission Our Team As the Roman Catholic Faith Community of Saint Mary's, led by the Holy Spirit, we dedicate ourselves to proclaiming the Word of God, providing meaningful liturgy, serving God's people, and fostering devotion to the Blessed Sacraments and to our Blessed Mother. We are committed to Catholic education and faith formation for all ages, while also calling all to live a full sacramental life following the teaching authority of the Church. Through team ministry we strive to be present to the call of the Holy Spirit and serve to be the presence of Jesus for the wider Baldwinsville community. We hope that what you find here will enrich your faith and strengthen you on your personal faith journey. If we can answer any questions, don't hesitate to reach out! Our Team Bishop Douglas J. Lucia Pastor Read More Dc. Joseph Casper Deacon Read More Ryan Schaffer Director of Music Read More Teresa Nipper Parish Office Coordinator Read More Rev. Benjamin Schrantz Parochial Vicar Read More Sr. Marcia Barry Parish Outreach Read More Kristin Jankowski Parish Communications Read More Todd Bryant Building & Grounds Supervisor Read More Our Governance St. Mary's has three consultative bodies that serve to advise the pastor about pastoral issues. Their main purposes are to investigate, reflect, and research conclusions about pastoral matters to recommend to the pastor as appropriate. Members of these committees/councils are appointed by the pastor. Learn more about our governance. Contact Us Form Contact Us Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Address: 47 Syracuse Street | Baldwinsville, NY 13027 Phone: 315-635-5762 Fax: 315-635-8137 Email: stmarysbville@syrdio.org Or Complete the Form Below

Diocesan Reorganization Update July 27, 2023- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse and the official Committee of Unsecured Creditors announce that they have reached a settlement agreement in the Chapter 11 case filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of New York on June 19, 2020. The Diocese and the Committee believe this settlement is an important first step in forming a chapter 11 plan that will lead to the Diocese's exit from chapter 11. See more information below. Please scroll all the way down to see all the information presented by Bishop Lucia and the Diocese of Syracuse, and please join us at Mass at 4:00pm on Saturday, July 29 or 7:30am or 9:00am on Sunday, July 30 for more information from Fr. Cliff Auth. A Video Message from Bishop Lucia Joint Announcement (click here to download the print version) Letter to the Faithful (click here to download the print version) Frequently Asked Questions (cl ick here to download the print version) Link to Diocesan Website (For more information, c lick here to visit the official web page of the Diocese of Syracuse ) Parish Town Hall Meetings July 31, 2023: As mentioned during his homily at Masses this past weekend, Fr. Cliff will be having two town hall meetings to answer questions and hear concerns of our parishioners regarding the Diocese of Syracuse’s recently announced settlement agreement in the Chapter 11 case filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Due to the unexpected passing of a close friend of Fr. Cliff’s, there has been a slight change of schedule for the first town hall meeting: The town hall meeting originally scheduled to be held tomorrow, Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at St. Augustine’s will now be held on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 10:30 am before the senior luncheon in the St. Augustine’s Gathering Space. The town hall meeting being held at St. Mary’s will be held, as originally planned, on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 7pm at St. Mary’s Church. Parishioners from St. Mary’s and St. Augustine’s are welcome to attend either town hall meeting that works with their schedule. If you were unable to attend Mass this past weekend, you can find the information shared on this web page or at https://www.staugustinesparish.org/diocesan-reorganization. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the settlement agreement, we’ll look forward to talking with you on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 10:30am in the St. Augustine’s Gathering Space or on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 7pm at St. Mary’s Church. Town Hall Meetings

Funerals & St. Mary's Cemetery St. Mary's now offers the option to create a funeral pre-plan online! Click here to complete a funeral pre-plan form, and upon submitting the completed form, a copy will be emailed immediately to the person who completed the form, with a copy also emailed to St. Mary's Parish Office, where it will be kept on file. Funerals The Vigil—Wake—Calling Hours The Vigil Service for the deceased is an important part of the funeral rite and should not be eliminated. A priest, deacon or lay person may preside at this rite. At times this rite takes place approximately 20 minutes before calling hours begin. The ritual consists of scripture and intercessory prayer. The Funeral Mass The heart of the Funeral Rites is the Funeral Mass. The Funeral Mass focuses not on earthly life, but eternal life. This Mass celebrated for the deceased commends the soul to the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father. The prayers of the Church entrust the individual to the care of God who has called our loved one to Himself. Our prayers to God entreat Him to be gracious and merciful, not looking upon the sins of the past but to the glory they are to share with Christ. “Having been baptized into His death, we hope to share a resurrection like His.” (Romans 4) This liturgy also offers comfort and consolation to those who mourn. The Mass lifts our hearts to God who will strengthen us in the days ahead and give us the grace of His comfort as we continue our journey of faith. Music for the Funeral Mass As in all liturgies, music is sung prayer and plays an integral role in the Funeral Mass. It allows us to express our faith, love and hope, drawing us closer in unity to our faith. While favorite songs that are popular or secular may hold special meaning to the deceased and the family, this type of music is not appropriate for the Mass, nor is the use of recorded music. The family is invited and encouraged to be part of the music planning for the funeral liturgy. The Mass lifts our hearts to God who will strengthen us in the days ahead and give us the grace of His comfort as we continue our journey of faith. The parish musician, priest, or those assisting in the preparation of the funeral Mass can be helpful in assisting in the choice of suitable hymns and the placement of music selections. Many churches have soloists and choirs that sing at funerals, enhancing the liturgy and honoring our loved one through sung prayer. Rite of Committal The last of the rites in the Order of Christian Funerals is the Rite of Committal which includes a verse from the scriptures, a prayer of committal, intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer, and a blessing. If desired, music may be added to the Rite of Committal. This rite should take place directly after the Funeral Mass at the time of burial. A priest, deacon or lay person may preside at this rite. Cremation Canon Law states that the Church allows both cremation and burial as means of honoring the body of a deceased Catholic. The Church clearly prefers and urges that the body be present during the Vigil Service and Funeral Mass, and if cremation is selected, then it should follow the celebration of the Funeral Mass. The remains are to be placed in a worthy vessel which is then carried and transported with the same respect and attention given to a casket carrying the body. St. Mary's Cemetery St. Mary's Cemetery is located at 101 Tappan Street in Baldwinsville. Burial Lots are available in the new section of the cemetery. We follow the Diocesan Guidelines concerning the design of monuments, and all monuments need to be approved by the Parish Office before they are commissioned. For more information, please call the Parish Office at 315-635-5762. Click here to download the cemetery fee schedule . Click here to download the cemetery rules and regulations .

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