Upcoming Events and General Announcements
Bible Study: Bible Study at 9 AM on Sundays in the conference room will conclude its study of the Book of Matthew on April 14th. It will begin an eight week study on the book of Philippians on April 21st. Please contact Stephen and Kristine Canter through the church office if you have questions. admin@hfec.org
Adult Forum: Through the months of April and May, Adult Forum (Sundays at 9 AM in the Parish Hall) will focus on grief in its wide and various forms. A helpful (but not required) book is Grief is for People by Sloan Crosley. Each week will focus on one aspect of grief, knowing that most will overlap with others. Contact Fr. Bruce for more information. All are welcome! bgray@hfec.org
Book Club: For the month of April, Reading the World book group will meet on Friday, April 19th at 3 PM. This is a switch from the usual Wednesday meeting. The book for the month is Daina Chaviano’s Island of Eternal Love, a story about the power of story, about the ways cultural connections change lives, and about (you guessed it) the power of love. Don’t forget: please fill out this survey to help determine a more broadly accessible meeting time for Reading the World. Questions can be directed to Cathy Gray via the church office. admin@hfec.org
Earth Day Event: On Sunday, April 21st, Holy Family will host an intergenerational event in honor of Earth Day. You are invited to gather at Holy Family at 1 PM that day for a walk on the Nickel Plate trail, interspersed with prayers and poems. After the walk, an Earth Day themed craft and snack will be offered for those who wish to participate. Please RSVP HERE so that enough supplies can be prepared. Please contact Ruth Everett youthministry@hfec.org or Jolene Johnston jjohnston@hfec.org for more information.
Support for Kairos Ministry: Holy Family members Stephen Canter, Scott Wilson, and Andy Wilson will be spending time with inmates at the Pendleton Correctional Facility leading the Kairos program on April 25-28, 2024. This program focuses on sharing God’s love, listening to the inmates, building up their spirits with love, helping them build and maintain a Christian ministry inside the walls, then successfully reenter the “outside world” after serving their sentences. Here are some ways that you can support this ministry:
- Sign up to pray for Kairos participants. Be sure to update your time zone before choosing a time to pray.
- Decorate a placemat or poster at church with messages of love and support. Supplies are available during hospitality time.
- Purchase approved snacks online for the event. Please bring approved snacks to church by April 20th.
- Make a financial donation. Each weekend costs about $3500 to host, and each team member is asked to contribute at least $350. You can write a check to Scott Wilson or send funds through Venmo, PayPal, etc. Kairos is a 501(c)(3) organization, so all donations are tax deductible. Please email the church office for Scott’s donation information. admin@hfec.org
- Attend the closing ceremony from 12-3 PM on Sunday, April 28th at the Correctional Industrial Facility in Pendleton. You must be preregistered to attend, so please notify the church office by April 20th.
Game Night: The next gathering of Game Night is on Friday, May 3rd at 7 PM. Feel free to bring games you are interested in playing. Please contact Fred Naatz through the church office for more information. admin@hfec.org See you there!
Spring Market & Flower/Plant Sale: On Mother’s Day weekend, Holy Family will host its annual Flower and Plant Sale on Saturday, May 11th from 9 AM – 3 PM. There will be a lovely variety of hanging baskets, garden plants, flowers, and herbs for sale. In addition, visit the new “Dirt Bar” and get help designing your very own planters and porch pots! Proceeds from the Flower/Plant Sale benefit fundraising efforts for Holy Family. Volunteers are needed! In addition, this year a Spring Market of vendors will be set up in the Narthex with plenty of crafts and gift items that are perfect for Mother’s Day. Many of the vendors are parishioners at Holy Family, so this is a great time to support their businesses as well as the church. Questions can be directed to the church office. admin@hfec.org
Prayer Group Meeting: Holy Family Prayer Group meets from 6:30 – 7 PM on the second Monday of the month. The next gathering is on May 13th. All are welcome to come and join in prayer. Contact Kristine Canter or the church office for more information. admin@hfec.org
Prayer Shawl Ministry: The Prayer Shawl Ministry is open to anyone who has the skills or desire to knit or crochet. Additional hands are always needed, and teachers are available! Prayer Shawls begin with the shawl maker saying prayers for the recipient. Prayers are continued during the creation of the shawl and shawls are blessed by the priest before they are given as gifts. Meetings are held in the Narthex of Holy Family at 7 PM on the second Monday of the month. The next gathering is on May 13th. Please contact Kristine Canter or the the church office for more information. admin@hfec.org
Senior Sunday: On Sunday, May 19th, Holy Family will celebrate its graduating high school seniors at the 10 AM service. All graduating seniors and their families are encouraged to attend. This will also be the final day for 9 AM Sunday school this year. Classes for PreK-12th grade will take a break for the summer.
Children, Food, and Education: They quite naturally go together! Now that kids and teachers are back in the classroom, the snack supplies are being nibbled down daily, so the Support a Teacher and Staff team is asking for help in filling up the snack box to feed the bellies and brains of kids at Fishers Elementary. Thanks to all who have (and will) donate to this special outreach!
Summer Mission Trip to Philadelphia: Holy Family youth are invited to participate in a weeklong service trip alongside the diocesan youth, from Sunday, July 7 to Sunday, July 14, 2024. The activities planned for the week encompass a blend of social and physical engagements, providing opportunities to immerse in the vibrant culture of Philadelphia. For further details and the registration link, please click HERE. Limited scholarships are available through the diocese (contact Heather Kenison, Diocesan Youth Minister, at heather@indydio.org) and Holy Family (contact Fr. Bruce Gray at bgray@hfec.org). For additional inquiries and to confirm attendance, please reach out to Ruth Everett, Holy Family Youth Director. youthministry@hfec.org
Missionaries of Charity Donations: Holy Family is collecting needed items to support women at the Missionaries of Charity shelter in Indianapolis. Items may be placed in the collection box in the Narthex. The following items are requested: women’s underwear (all sizes), summer sleepwear (all sizes), sanitary pads, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap bars, and deodorant.
Township Food Pantry: The food pantry has asked for the following items: sugar, oil, flour, juice, peanut butter/jelly,
spaghetti sauce, rice, dried beans, canned fruit, crackers, oatmeal, cereal, household cleaners, laundry detergent, bleach, personal hygiene items. This list includes suggestions, but any canned or nonperishable item is gratefully received.