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AVOCA

November 8

Churches collecting food for needy at Thanksgiving

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many of us will anticipate enjoying a fantastic turkey dinner complete with cranberry sauce and all of the trimmings that accompany a traditional Thanksgiving feast. As we gather with family and friends, we will sit around a big table, bow our heads, and thank God for the food before us as well as the people who are sharing it with us. But for some people in our community, Thanksgiving doesn’t always serve as a moment blessed with family, friends, and food. For some, it serves as a reminder of lost jobs, a tough economy, or not having the means to purchase food to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for their family table.

Although many of us are feeling a financial pinch at this time, I think most of us can spare a canned good or two to help someone in need. And if you have that canned good, please consider donating it to St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s parish food bank. Non-perishable food items can be placed in the boxes of either of the church vestibules, which are located at 715 Hawthorne St. and 1000 Main St.

If you would like to make a monetary donation please mail it to St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St., and note on the envelope that it is for the food bank. For more information on this program or to notify the parishes of someone in need of food this Thanksgiving, please call St. Mary’s Rectory at 457-3412.

Pot of Gold

Congratulations to the winners of St. Mary’s Church’s pot of gold raffle for October 27-31: Doc McMahon, Carl Druffner, and Julianne Arasimowicz.

Daily Number

Congratulations to the winners of SS. Peter and Paul’s Church’s match the daily number raffle for October 27-31: Carole Vassello, Robert Schmidt, and Barry Lidy.

Tax Reminder

Avoca Tax Collector Therese Wrubel will not be collecting taxes at the Avoca Municipal Building while it undergoes some renovations. Residents can submit their taxes to Mrs. Wrubel by mailing them to her home office at 129 Factory St., Avoca PA 18641 or visiting her at this address Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m.

New Mass Added

Starting today, St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches will add an 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays at St. Mary’s Church.

St. Michael’s Feast

The Rev. G. Scott Boghossian and the parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel Byzantine Catholic Church invite the community to celebrate the feast day of their parish’s patron saint with a divine liturgy today at 9 a.m. at the church, 205 N. Main St., Pittston.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, the parishioners will have their annual St. Michael’s dinner from 1-3 p.m. in the church hall. The menu includes roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, cake, and coffee, tea, or a soft drink. The dinners are $8 for adults and $6 for children under 10. Takeouts will be available too. There will also be a raffle at the dinner. The public is invited to attend, and there is ample parking in the church lot.

Pastoral Council

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches will have a combined parish pastoral council meeting Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.

Finance Council

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church finance council will meet Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.

Pierogi Sale

SS. Peter and Paul’s Church altar and rosary society will prepare potato cheese flavored pierogies for advent November 12-16 at 9 a.m. in the lower level of the church, 1000 Main St. Anyone who is interested in helping in encouraged to attend.

Council Meeting

The Avoca Borough Council will have its regular monthly meeting and work session Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St. The public is invited to attend.

District Meeting

The V.F.W. Post 8335 Ladies Auxiliary will host a district meeting Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. in St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring St. Several visiting auxiliaries will be present at this meeting. District President Debra Wojslechowicz will preside over the meeting. Dinner will be served in the V.F.W. post home, 915 Main St., following the meeting. All members are urged to attend.

’40 Hours’

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches will have a 40 hours Eucharistic celebration November 15-17 at St. Mary’s Church, 715 Hawthorne St. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will take place each day following the 8 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s until the 7 p.m. service each evening. Rev. David Betts will be the guest homilist.

Youth Club

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ youth club will meet Sunday, Nov. 15 from 6:30-8 p.m. at SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, 1000 Main St. During this meeting, plans will be finalized for a children’s Christmas fun night. The fun night will be open to children of the parishes in kindergarten through fourth grade. A fall/winter fundraiser will also be discussed at this meeting.

HS Youth Group

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ high school youth group will meet Sunday, Nov. 15 from 6-9 p.m. in St. Mary’s Rectory meeting room, 715 Hawthorne St. All high school students are invited to attend.

Yard Waste

The Avoca Borough will have a yard waste collection Tuesday, Nov. 17 weather permitting. In addition to collecting grass clippings and leaves, the borough workers will also collect shrubs, hedge clippings, and tree limbs. Please note that grass clippings and leaves may be placed in the same container but other yard waste must be placed in a separate container. The tree limbs should not exceed three feet in length and one-half inch in diameter.

Please note that rocks, stones, dirt, and animal waste are not acceptable forms of yard waste and will not be collected. A maximum of three open containers, not exceeding 30 pounds, will be allowed per collection. Please do not put your collection items in plastic bags. They will not be collected.

Altar & Rosary

St. Mary’s Church altar and rosary society will meet Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. in St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring St.

Fundraising Group

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ fundraising committee will meet Monday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church auditorium, 1000 Main St. During this meeting, members will discuss the February night at the races, basket bingo, the annual golf tournament, the April chicken dinner, and the 2010 festival. All members are urged to attend. New members are welcome. For more information please contact Jimbo McMahon at JIMMCMAHON1@VERIZON.NET.

Prayer Group

There will be a charismatic prayer group meeting Monday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Mary’s School auditorium, 742 Spring St.

Christmas Trees

The members of the Avoca Hose Company will have their annual Christmas tree sale beginning Sunday, Nov. 29. If you would like to order a tree that is more than 10 feet tall, please call the hose company at 457-2894.

Stocking Stuffers

The parishioners of St. Mary’s Church are currently selling the stocking stuffer edition of their Pot of Gold Match the Daily Number raffle tickets. Tickets are $10 each. The winning number is based on the evening daily number of the Pennsylvania Lottery. Anyone who has a specific ticket number they would like to purchase or to just simply purchase a ticket may call St. Mary’s Rectory at 457-3412 or Ann Marie at 457-7602. The ticket will be mailed to you.

Christmas Party

St. Mary’s and SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches’ altar and rosary societies will have a Christmas party Sunday, Dec. 6 at the new Amadeo’s Restaurant, Birney Avenue, Moosic. The cost of the dinner is $25 per person. To make a reservation, please contact Betty Damiano at 562-1180 or Nancy Adomiak at 457-4092 by Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Eucharistic Adoration

St. Mary’s/SS. Peter and Paul’s Churches have Eucharistic Adoration Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in SS. Peter and Paul’s Church, 1000 Main St. The public is welcome to come and spend some time in quiet reflection and meditation. For more information please call Eucharistic Adoration Coordinators Ken and Ann Francis at 457-8241, St. Mary’s Rectory at 457-3412, or SS. Peter and Paul’s Rectory at 457-2483.

Al-Anon Meetings

Al-Anon, a support group offering hope and help to families and friends of alcoholics, meets Mondays at 7 p.m. in the basement meeting room of St. Mary’s Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St., and Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the basement meeting room of the Brick United Methodist Church, 935 Foote Ave., Duryea. Anyone who has been impacted by someone else’s drinking can find solutions that lead to serenity in the Al-Anon fellowship.

Until Next Time

That’s about it for this week! Drop me a line or e-mail me your latest news by Thursday at noon. You can call me at 457-3351 or e-mail me at avocahappenings@verizon.net. Please be sure to include your name and phone number with any correspondence in case I need to reach you.

Have a great week!