ALL ARE WELCOME
St. Mary’s is a Catholic school community that strives for academic, emotional, and spiritual growth for all students.
We welcome students of all faiths!
WHY
ST. MARY’S SCHOOL
Small Classes
Our 10:1 teacher to student ratio provides individualized attention with staff that are dedicated to each and every student’s success.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH & VALUES
SMS instills faith formation and values and provides many community activities and field trips outside of school.
Academic EXCELLENCE
Passionate teachers use creative lessons to inspire students to achieve beyond their expectations
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Saint Mary's Catholic School
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+JMJ+![]()
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SUNDAY BIBLICAL MASS READINGS AND QUESTIONS![]()
for Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion![]()
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Sixth Sunday of Easter – Sunday, May 25th, 2025![]()
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The First Reading- Acts 15:1-2, 22-29![]()
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Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved." Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. This is the letter delivered by them: "The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: 'It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'"![]()
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Reflection ![]()
The first Church council, the Council of Jerusalem we hear about in today’s First Reading, decided the shape of the Church as we know it. Some Jewish Christians had wanted Gentile converts to be circumcised and obey all the complex ritual and purity laws of the Jews. The council called this a heresy, again showing us that the Church in the divine plan is meant to be a worldwide family of God, no longer a covenant with just one nation. Today’s Liturgy gives us a profound meditation on the nature and meaning of the Church, as we will see in these reflections. In the First Reading we see that the Church is one: “the Apostles [bishops] and presbyters [priests], in agreement with the whole Church [laity].![]()
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Adults - Did you know that the first Church council was biblical? Does this change how you think about Church councils today?![]()
Teens - Why do you think we are no longer held to the Old Law, like the Jews were? Do some research on this from a Catholic perspective.![]()
Kids - Say a special prayer for the leaders of the Church this week, from your pastor all the way to the Pope. ![]()
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Responsorial- Psalm 67: 2-3, 5,6,8 ![]()
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R. O God, let all the nations praise you!![]()
May God have pity on us and bless us;![]()
may he let his face shine upon us.![]()
So may your way be known upon earth;![]()
among all nations, your salvation.![]()
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!![]()
May the nations be glad and exult![]()
because you rule the peoples in equity;![]()
the nations on the earth you guide.![]()
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!![]()
May the peoples praise you, O God;![]()
may all the peoples praise you!![]()
May God bless us,![]()
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!![]()
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!![]()
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Reflection ![]()
-The Church is catholic, or universal, making known God’s ways of salvation to all peoples, ruling all in equity, as we sing in today’s Psalm.![]()
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The Second Reading- Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23![]()
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The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.![]()
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Reflection![]()
The Church, as John sees in the Second Reading, is apostolic—founded on the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.![]()
Look of the unbroken lineage of the Popes, all the way from Saint Peter to Pope Francis!![]()
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The Holy Gospel according to John 14:23-29![]()
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Jesus said to his disciples: "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe."![]()
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Reflection![]()
The Church is holy, taught and guided by the Spirit that Jesus promises the Apostles in the Gospel. Notice that everybody, including Paul, looks to “Jerusalem [and] . . . the Apostles” to decide the Church’s true teaching. The Apostles, too, presume that Christian teachers need a “mandate from us.” And we see the Spirit guiding the Apostles in all truth. Notice how they describe their ruling: “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us.” Knowing these truths about the Church, our hearts should never be troubled. The Liturgy’s message today is that the Church is the Lord’s, watched over and guarded by the Advocate, the Holy Spirit sent by the Father in the name of the Son. This should fill us with confidence, free us to worship with exultation, inspire us to rededicate our lives to His Name—to love Jesus in our keeping of His Word, to rejoice that He and the Father in the Spirit have made their dwelling with us.![]()
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Adults - Try to get to know the Holy Spirit a little better this week - say a special prayer to Him, and keep an eye out for His presence in your life. ![]()
Teens - What brings you comfort when you are troubled or afraid? How can you take those feelings to God?![]()
Kids - What does it mean to have peace?![]()
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LIVING THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK! –“The Holy Spirit "breathes where he wills." He assists the local authorities in the Church. He inspires individual Christians if they call on him in their need. He inspires young people of both sexes to offer their lives to the service of the Church and their neighbor. He has inspired founders of orders and congregations to form institutes which would help the spread of the faith. He is at work today among us and among the separated brothers of the Church, helping and inspiring them towards that unity for which Christ prayed. There are moments of crisis in all our lives, moments when a vital decision has to be made. If that decision is wrongly made it may not only seriously interfere with our earthly welfare, but more important still jeopardize our eternal salvation. We should call on the Holy Spirit to help us daily, but we should call for his assistance especially when we have a serious decision to make. His role in the Church and in the lives of all Christians is to preserve and protect the revelation that God has given us. There are times in the lives of many of us when we are tempted to doubt about what we are called on to believe, or to hesitate with regard to what we are called on to do. It is on such occasions that the help of the Holy Spirit is especially necessary. He will not fail us if we turn to him earnestly and sincerely.” —Excepted from The Sunday Readings, Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.
✨SMS+Allendale Middle school dance! ✨![]()
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What’s more fun than glowing, snacks, music, balloons, games, getting fake tattoos and ending in an exciting round of glow in the dark hide and seek with Mr Lavely, the teachers and chaperones?! Not much! Someone said this was the most fun dance they’ve been to! 🥹![]()
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Thank you to the SMS parents for supplying the goodies!!