St. Mary's 150th Anniversary Calendar of Events
Join in our yearlong celebration of St. Mary Parish by participating in the following events commemorating our 150th Anniversary, Proclaiming Our Past and Heralding Our Future.
September 13, 2009: Opening Mass: Join your fellow parishioners in Proclaiming Our Past and Heralding Our Future at a special 11:30 a.m. Mass celebrating the kick-off to our 150th Anniversary year. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Roger W. Gries and concelebrated by Father Ed, Father John and by former St. Mary priests. The Dedication of the new Grotto will follow at 1:15 p.m. Then, all are invited to attend the Parish Picnic immediately following Mass. Picnic activities include children’s carnival games, great food and much more! Ride Lolly the Trolley to the Old Church on the Green and St. Mary/Markillie cemeteries and see other historic Hudson sites associated with St. Mary’s rich history.
October 3, 2009: Family Rosary: Families are invited to gather in the Church as we pray the Rosary on the first Saturday of the month after the 5:30 p.m. Mass beginning October 13, 2009 through May 1, 2010.
October 18 & 25, 2009: Ornament Sale: Commemorate this special year with the purchase of a St. Mary 150th Anniversary Christmas ornament designed by local artist Barbara Faulkner.
October 25, 2009: Exploring the Rich History of St. Mary Church: Join parishioners and historians Tom Vince, of Western Reserve Academy, and Polly Kurowski, for a tour and historical presentation at Hudson’s Church on the Green, which housed St. Mary Catholic Church from 1890-1968.
November 7, 2009: All Souls Prayer Service: Join us for a mid-day prayer service and historical overview of the unique stories of Hudson's St. Mary & Markillie cemeteries.
November 22, 2009: Children's Mural Unveiling: See how St. Mary’s youngest parishioners view our church’s rich history and bright future during the unveiling of the parish's 150th Anniversary Children’s Mural. Created by local artist George Woideck, the mural will be designed with tiles painted by children in preschool through eighth grade and will be permanently displayed outside rooms 101 & 102.
December 13, 2009: Ecumenical Community Holy Day Concert: Celebrate the spirit of the season as musicians and singers from Hudson’s faith communities gather to present a very special holiday musical performance. The concert will be held at St. Mary Church and is free and open to the public.
March 13, 2010: A World View of the Blessed Mother: Join us to hear the inspiring and fascinating ways in which cultures all over the world understand and view the Blessed Mother. Francois Rossier, a Marianist Brother serving at the University of Dayton, will present a fresh perspective of Mary and Scripture and discuss images of Mary, including statutes, artwork, and embroideries, from all over the world. Presentations will be held in the afternoon as well as after the 5:30 p.m. Mass.
April 24, 2010: Anniversary Gala: Enjoy a night of dinner and dancing with fellow parishioners at our 150th Anniversary Gala Ball at the Country Club of Hudson. Black tie is optional.
May 29-31, 2010: St. Mary Alumni Weekend: Calling all "St. Mary Alumni!" All current and former members of the parish are invited to celebrate our 150th Anniversary Year during this Memorial Day weekend event. Picnics will be held after each 5:30 p.m. Mass, with a fireworks show capping off the weekend. On Monday, join us at the Hudson Memorial Day Parade, where we will feature a 150th Anniversary float.
September 11, 2010: St. Mary Golf Outing: Hit the links with fellow parishioners during the St. Mary 150th Anniversary Year Celebration Golf Outing. Held at the Country Club of Hudson, the Golf Outing is open to everyone in the parish, with a picnic to follow. Plan to join us for golf, picnic or both!
September 12, 2010: 150th Anniversary Closing Mass and Formal Reception: Commemorate the end to our 150th Anniversary year at a special 11:30 a.m. Mass concelebrated by Bishop Richard G. Lennon, Father Ed, and Father John. A formal reception will follow.
In addition to the above events, other highlights of our yearlong 150th Anniversary Celebration include:
Time Capsule opening and sealing: The parish's time capsule from 1968 will be opened after the Closing Mass on September 12, 2010, and a new time capsule will be sealed.
Historical displays: A history timeline of the parish will be displayed in the church hallways.
Banners: Special 150th Anniversary Banners will adorn the church parking lots during the year.
Prayer Quilt: A special prayer quilt chronicling our parish’s vibrant history will be blessed at the Opening Mass and hung in the White Narthex for the entire year.
Calendar Magnets: Look for special magnets listing all the 150th Anniversary Events to be distributed in September 2009.
Commemorative Booklet and DVD: A specially designed booklet telling the 150-year story of our parish will be distributed in September 2009, followed by a DVD also commemorating our parish's rich history to be released in September 2010.