Weekly eNews for

June 11, 2026

NEW THIS WEEK

LAST WEEKENDS OPEN PLATE OFFERING


WOW, ST. MONICA'S... YOU DID IT!


Last month, we challenged our parish family to double the $285 raised for Fostering Success during our May Open Plate Offering.


You didn't just meet the challenge.

You exceeded it!


Thanks to your incredible generosity, our June Open Plate Offering raised an amazing $538.00 for Fostering Success.


That brings our combined May and June

total to a remarkable $823.00!


What makes this even more exciting is that these gifts were received during the summer months, when attendance and giving are often lower as many parishioners travel. Your generosity demonstrates the caring spirit that makes St. Monica's such a special community.


These funds will help provide foster children with tutoring, school supplies, clothing, bedding, enrichment opportunities, and other essentials that help them thrive.


Every dollar represents hope, encouragement, and the reminder that these children are seen, valued, and loved.


From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for stepping up and making a meaningful difference in the lives of local foster children.


You truly knocked it out of the park!


A special thank you to everyone who contributed. Together, we are helping create brighter futures, one child at a time.


And for those who may remember my note last month, this cause remains especially close to my heart. As someone who was raised in foster care, I know firsthand how much it matters when a child is shown kindness, support, and love. Your generosity is making a difference in ways that may never be fully measured.


Thank you, St. Monica's.

You should be proud of what we accomplished together.

FOOD FELLOWSHIP & FUN

SATURDAY JUNE 13th


Everyone is invited to join us for our next Restaurant Social THIS Saturday, June 13, following the 5:00 PM service.


We'll gather at Sonny's Pizzeria & Sports Bar (formerly Zookies), located at 7740 Preserve Lane, Naples, for an evening of good food, fellowship, and conversation.


Whether you're a regular attendee or looking for a chance to get to know fellow parishioners better, we'd love to have you join us.


No reservations are needed. Just come hungry and enjoy the company!

We hope to see you there!

PARISH OFFICE UPDATE!

VACATION REMINDER


This is a friendly reminder that I am currently out of the office and will return on June 22.


For questions regarding pledges, contributions, or other financial matters, please contact our Finance Director, Joe Master.


For pastoral care needs, please contact The Rev. Sylvia Czarnetzky or Deacon Ken McCaslin.


For non-urgent matters that can wait until my return, I will be happy to assist you beginning June 22.


Thank you for your understanding. I am enjoying special time with my grandchildren and look forward to returning refreshed and ready to serve our parish community.


Blessings,

Laura Stamper

HAVE YOU SHARED YOUR SUMMER STORY YET?

YOUR STORY COULD BE FEATURED!


Last week, we invited you to share your summer stories, photos, and adventures with our St. Monica's family. We have a feeling many of you are busy making summer memories and simply haven't had a chance to send them in yet, so we're sending a friendly reminder that we'd love to feature your stories and photos.!


Photos are especially encouraged! Pictures of family gatherings, travels, service projects, pets, hobbies, outdoor adventures, or fellowship with friends from church all make wonderful additions to our Summer Highlights section.


Don't assume your story is too small or unimportant. Often the simple moments are the ones that inspire and encourage others the most.


Help us show that St. Monica's remains connected, caring, and active all summer long.


Please send your photos and stories to administrator@stmonicasnaples.org.


We look forward to featuring many of our parishioners throughout the summer months!


THINGS TO COME

Do you knit or crochet? Now to Nov 2026

CAN you help me, help sick and premature babies in Uganda?

Let me introduce myself, my name is Ellen Milan. I am a member of St Monica’s and a retired neonatal intensive care nurse and a volunteer with Health Volunteers Overseas, a private non-profit dedicated to improving the availability and quality of health care in developing countries through training and education of local health care providers. I have been teaching, and working with, Ugandan neonatal healthcare providers, and families of sick and premature babies, since 2001.


DID YOU KNOW… newborns (especially prematures) can lose a significant amount of heat from their heads (the largest surface area of their bodies), which puts them at risk for hypothermia (low body temperature). Hypothermia in the newborn period is considered an important contributor to newborn morbidity (illness) and mortality (death) especially in low-resource countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes newborn thermal care as a critical component of essential newborn care. 


Prematures are many in Uganda and other parts of Africa and this is do in part to the high rate of “natural twining”. Twins and higher order multiples (triplets or more) have an increase risk of being born prematurely.


Covering a baby’s head can make a substantial impact in avoiding hypothermia even in the smallest of babies. Knit and crochet hats can be life saving.


God willing, I will be returning again, to Uganda, in November 2026.


If you have any questions or would like more information, you can find me in the directory located HERE.


With gratitude, Ellen Milan

Why Join Education for Ministry (EfM)?

To deepen your Christian faith.

To learn how to articulate that faith.

To let that faith inspire you into action!


Through study, prayer, and reflection, trained mentors (Kathy Schillreff and Jean Hite) facilitate small group discussions and guide participants to examine life through an increasingly informed and inspired theological lens. More than Bible study, EfM participants read and discuss the Old Testament (year 1), the New


Testament (year 2), Church history (year 3), and theology and ethics (year 4).

You do not have to commit to all four program years nor complete in four years.

 

Our current participants were asked what the title of a book would be if they were to write one about their EFM experience this year. Here are a few of the responses:

  • From Legends to Love
  • EFM: Everything You Wanted To Know About Christianity
  • Finding The Way
  • Ever Changing - Ever New
  • Swept Away - How the Currents of Community, Joy &Love Rose to Embrace                     Me

If those “titles” intrigue you, we hope you’ll consider joining us when the new EFM year beings  on Sept. 8th. We meet most Tuesdays from 2:30 - 5 p.m. We look forward to welcoming new people.

We are a hybrid in-person and Zoom group so snowbirds are able to join us.

 

If you have questions, please contact Susan Docimo, Jean Hite  or Kathy Schillreff for more information.



LADIES & GENTS SOCIAL LUNCH OUTING!

MONDAY JULY  13th

COME JOIN THE FUN AT JASON'S DELI!


Looking for a great way to start your week? Join your St. Monica's friends for food, fellowship, and plenty of conversation at our next Monday Social Lunch!


📅

Monday, July 13


📍

Jason's Deli

2700 Immokalee Road

Located near Blue Jelly and Sam's Club


Whether you're a longtime member or new to St. Monica's, this is a wonderful opportunity to relax, enjoy a delicious meal, and spend time getting to know fellow parishioners outside of church.


No agenda. No speeches. Just good food, good friends, and good company!


Bring a friend, bring your appetite, and come enjoy a fun afternoon of fellowship. We always have a great time, and there's always room for one more at the table.


We look forward to seeing you there!


BULLETIN BOARD

DO YOU FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK?

If not, you’re missing out on all the fun things happening around St. Monica’s. Be sure to follow our page so you can stay connected with photos, events, and moments from our parish family.


SUPPORTING FOSTERING SUCCESS EVERY THURSDAY


When you visit Lake Park Diner in Founder Square on Thursdays, $1 will be donated to Fostering Success Naples as part of their giving initiative. This is a great opportunity for St. Monica’s to support one of the local organizations we also help.


Fostering Success is a nonprofit serving children and young adults in the foster care system here in Collier County. Their mission is to provide strategic education and enrichment opportunities that help foster youth reach their full potential. Programs include academic mentoring, scholarships, basic needs support like beds and diapers, and life skills training for young adults transitioning out of care.


Every dollar given through the Founder Square helps extend that mission. It’s another simple way to make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable children and families in our community.


     AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS

LOCATION 1

Founders Square

8856 Founders St  Naples

239.539.1559



LOCATION 2

Downtown Naples

944 7th Ave North  Naples

239.228.6351


COME PRAY WITH US

Your faith and scripture will come alive as we pray together. We invite you to spend a special hour with us each week.


All are welcome to gather in the church sanctuary every Tuesday at 10 am. We will praise God with song, read and pray with Scripture, share faith experiences, share intercessory prayer for our needs and the needs of others and also healing prayer.


For more information  contact Theresa Miller



NAME BADGES HELP KEEP ATTENDANCE

Please take a moment to find and wear your name tags because it makes it easier for visitors and other parishioners to recognize you by name and allows the office to note your attendance. As you leave the church, please leave them in the baskets near the doors and they will be placed back on the board for pick up the following weekend.

REGULAR CHURCH GATHERINGS


Zoom Only

  • Contemplative Prayer: Wednesdays, 11am – Zoom


In-Person and Zoom 

  • Bible Study: Fridays, 9am – Library
  • Men's Book Group: Mondays, 9:30am – Conference Room


In-Person Only   

  • Prayer and Faith Sharing: Tuesdays, 10am – Church   
  • Ladies & Gents Luncheon: 2nd Monday, 12:30pm – Different locations 

 

Please email the church office for the link and password to the Zoom meetings.

OFFERING ENVELOPES - Just as a Reminder

We are so grateful for your ongoing generosity and faithful giving. Every offering you give helps us continue the mission and ministry of St. Monica’s, and we truly appreciate it.


That said, we have a small but important request: please do not tape the flaps of your offering envelopes


As shown in the image, the envelope flaps are designed to stay closed once you seal them with the glue inside the flap. When tape is added, it makes it much harder for our office staff to open them quickly and carefully. It slows down the processing, increases the risk of tearing checks or cash inside, and adds extra steps to what is already a detailed task


We know the intention behind taping is likely to keep the contents secure, but we assure you the envelopes are kept safe and handled with care from plate to processing


Thank you for helping us by leaving the flap untaped, it’s a small act that makes a big difference.

A ST. MONICA'S PRAYER

Dear Friends,

 

In our Tuesday staff meeting we ended with St. Monica's prayer. It was for her son to return to the church. When he finally returned he became the future Saint and Bishop Augustine of Hippo who became a prominent Christian theologian and philosopher.

 

We thought we might share it with you:


St. Monica, I need your prayers. You know exactly how I'm feeling because you once felt it yourself. I'm hurting, hopeless, and in despair. I desperately want my child to return to Christ in his Church but I can't do it alone. I need God's help. Please join me in begging the Lord's powerful grace to flow into my child's life. Ask the Lord Jesus to soften his heart, prepare a path for his conversion, and activate the Holy Spirit in his life. Amen.

JUNE ANNIVERSARIES

6/1

Tom & Susan Gibson


6/3

Steve & Debbie Corey


6/8

Ian & Amy Thompson


6/10

Ed & Kathy Romatzick


6/17

Kyle & Heather Williamson


6/24

Richard & Patricia Traverse


6/27

David & Zannah Chalick


6/28

Jeff & Cindy Gault

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

6/1

Linda Butters-Freund


6/3

Joan Fuggi

Colleen Rossomando


6/4

Sandi Zeidman


6/8

Lynn Cutrone


6/12

Gale Neuner

6/13

Brenda Walsh


6/17

Laura Stamper


6/23

Dan Rabideau


6/24

Edward Segall


6/25

Richard Traverse


6/28

Sara Meekins

PRAYERS & VISITS

PASTORAL CARE
If you go to or are going into the hospital, or your spouse, partner, or family member is experiencing a pastoral or health care issue, please contact the church office during office hours after hours please reach out to:  Rev. Sylvia R. Czarnetzky at 662.645.8887 or Deacon Ken McCaslin at 610.608.0704.

PASTORAL CARE MESSAGE

Your clergy are here to walk with you. Pastoral care is an important part of the ministry of the clergy, so please don't be shy! At any time reach out to one of us and we would be happy to talk to you, anoint you, pray with you, or walk with you. If something is going on medically or otherwise in your life, let us know. If you are going into the hospital, let us know ahead of time so we can visit, and, more importantly, be praying with and for you.

ACCESSING THE PRAYER LIST:
For the safety and privacy of our members, the Prayer List will no longer be published on the website or included in the eNews, as both are publicly accessible.


We understand how important this list is to our church family, and we want to ensure you can still access it in the following ways:

 

1.   Online Access: Log in to our  Members Directory. Once logged in, click on "Additional Pages" and select "Prayer List".


2.   Printed Copies: Printed versions are available at any of our services or can be picked up from the front office.

 

Thank you for your understanding and support as we prioritize the privacy and safety of our members.

SHARE THE eNEWS WITH OTHERS

If someone would like to receive our eNews, they do not need to wait for the church office. The fastest way to sign up is to visit our website: www.stmonicasnaples.org, click the orange “THIS WEEK” button, and select “Sign up for the Weekly eNews.” Once they complete the form, they will begin receiving the eNews every Thursday at 5PM.


If someone has already contacted the office or signed up but has not received the eNews by the following week, please ask them to follow up so we can confirm their email address was entered correctly.


Thank you for helping others stay connected and informed about what is happening at St. Monica’s.