Please continue to join us during Lent as we walk the Way of the Cross on Fridays at 12 noon! As we move from station to station, we tell the story of Christ’s suffering and death. Stations of the Cross is an ancient practice. It’s a way to walk the Stations of the Cross without having to go to Jerusalem! Please consider making this part of your Lenten Observance.
Weekly eNews for
March 5, 2026
MENU
NEW THIS WEEK
MESSAGE FROM OUR SR. WARDEN
Ed Strong
We held our annual meeting last Sunday March 1 after the 10AM service. There was a lot of information shared with probably the biggest item being the search for a new rector took a big step forward. The job announcement went live on the national Episcopal church recruitment portion of its website as well as the employment section of our Diocese's website. You can find the relevant background documents on our own website at the bottom of the "ABOUT" menu. Ours is the only opening currently listed on the Diocesan website. The job announcement will be open until April 7, 2026. In the meantime, the Search Committee will work on organizing itself and scheduling the necessary orientations it will receive from the Diocese. You will receive scheduling updates as we continue our journey to a new rector.
Additionally, the annual meeting covered a large number of updates on where we stand on our past work and our work for the future, as well as our finances for the past year and the budget for this year. We elected two new members of the Vestry - Kathy Connelly and Betty Devlin and also elected two current members who are staying on for additional three-year terms - Margaret Holt and Dick Rumph. If you see them, please thank all four of them for joining us at this important point in the life of St. Monica's.
If you were not able to attend, you still have a chance to view the meeting. We left the recording on after the 10 AM service. You can go to St. Monica's YouTube channel located HERE. The meeting follows the recording of the service on March 1 (timestamp of meeting starting is at 1:24).
There is lots in progress, as noted at the meeting. We hope everyone will prayerfully consider how you might be a part of strengthening St. Monica's spiritual life and the everyday matters of keeping the lights on.
A big thank you to all who presented at the meeting. I hope those who attended felt, as I do, that we are moving forward nicely.
Ed Strong
Senior Warden
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
FRIDAY'S AT 12 NOON
MARCH OFFERING PLATE
THIS WEEKEND - March 8th & 9th
Our March plate offering will support Baby Basics of Collier County, a nonprofit organization that provides diapers to low income working families in our community.
St. Monica’s is proud to take part in this ministry by storing and distributing diapers each month to qualifying families. Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, distribution days are organized, welcoming, and impactful for the families we serve.
Diapers are a basic need that are not covered by most assistance programs. Your gift directly supports working parents who are doing their best to provide for their children.
Please consider placing cash or a check in the offering plate this weekend on March 7 or 8. If giving by check, kindly note Baby Basics in the memo line.
If you have questions, please contact Heather Williamson.
A NOTE OF GRATITUDE
A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful musical team who so faithfully shared their talents with us during the past several months while we searched for our new Director of Music. Their dedication helped ensure that our worship continued to be filled with beautiful music each week.
We are deeply grateful to Helen Tintes-Schuermann, Gordon Brown, and Susan Beauregard for their generosity, time, and musical gifts. What a blessing they have been to our parish.
LADIES & GENTS LUNCHEON – March 9th, 2026
Join us for a fun afternoon out at Bonita Beach Balloon on Monday, March 9, at 12:30 PM.
We will be gathering at Bonita Beach Balloon, located at 9070 Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs. Come enjoy great food, relaxed conversation, and good company in a casual setting.
Whether you are coming for lunch, fellowship, or both, we would love to have you join us for a cheerful and welcoming time together.
For more information contact Linda Duffy (link is connected to the church directory, be sure to be logged in).
MEN'S BOOK GROUP
The Men's Book Group is continuing its exploration of In the Garden of Beasts by Eric Larson. Our next meeting is March 9 at 9:30AM in the church conference room. We will discuss Part II of the book. This is a different read for us since, while this is a work of nonfiction, it reads like a novel. There is plenty discuss as we follow the life of William Dodd, the ambassador to Germany during the rise of Hitler. We are open to all men of St. Monicas. Please feel free to join at any time. Please address any questions to Ed Strong.
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND
SWFL Diocesan DOK Retreat at St. Monica’s
St. Monica’s will be hosting the SWFL Diocesan Daughters of the King Retreat, and everyone in our parish family is invited to attend. This is not just for Daughters of the King. Men and women are both welcome, and we encourage anyone interested in a meaningful morning of worship and fellowship to join us.
The retreat begins at 9:30 a.m. with the Daughters of the King Business Meeting in the church. While that meeting takes place, other attendees are welcome to arrive and gather.
Between 10:00 and 10:15 a.m., the Daughters will join everyone in the Parish Hall, along with members of the Messianic Congregation. During this time, we will enjoy coffee and light snacks together before the morning service.
At 10:30 a.m., the Messianic Worship Service will begin. This special service is a wonderful opportunity to experience a different expression of worship and to share in fellowship with others from across the diocese.
Whether you stay for the entire morning or join us at 10:30am for the service, we hope you will come and be part of this uplifting gathering.
Please see the flyer below for full retreat details. We look forward to sharing this special time together.
A THANK YOU FROM MISION PENIEL
THINGS TO COME
SATURDAY POTLUCK SOCIAL - MARCH 21st
Date Change for March
Please note that the March Saturday Potluck Social has been moved to a new date.
Because St. Monica’s will be hosting the DOK Diocesan Meeting on March 14, the potluck will instead take place on Saturday, March 21.
We hope you will still plan to join us for a relaxed evening of good food and fellowship. Bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy time together with your St. Monica’s parish family.
If you are bringing a dish, please drop it off in the Parish Hall starting at 4:30 pm so everything can be set up and ready.
Mark your calendars and come hungry. We look forward to seeing you on March 21.
IMPORTANT UPDATE - APRIL 2nd - 5th
FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
During Holy Week, our Maundy Thursday liturgy will take place on April 2 at 7 p.m., and our Good Friday liturgy will take place on April 3 at noon. This year, we will NOT have the Easter Vigil on Saturday night, April 4, because there simply is not time between now and then to plan it, put it together, and learn all the music. The Easter Vigil is a big service. So we will take a year off from the Easter Vigil and celebrate Easter Saturday, The Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord, at 5 p.m. on April 4, and Sunday at 10 a.m. on April 5. The Easter Vigil will be back next year. We thank you for your understanding.
LIFELINE SCREENING - MAY 14th
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.
CLICK > HERE < TO VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
Don't know how to follow us? Click > here < to find out how!
SUPPORTING FOSTERING SUCCESS EVERY THURSDAY
When you visit the 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 2 Locations:
Founders Square
8856 Founders St Naples
239.539.1559
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 (a requirement for the Diocese). 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 call the church office at 239.591.4550 or email 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.
MARCH ANNIVERSARIES
3/23
Bill & Ann Hoffman
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
3/1
Penny Jones
3/5
Anya Freigang
3/7
Ian Thompson
3/8
Carol Boyden
3/9
John Plocharczyk
3/10
Linda Flores-Rumpf
3/17
Donald Fuggi
Frank Dowd
Alexander Russell
3/18
Vickie White
3/23
Marilyn McIntyre
3/24
David Bronson
3/25
Dan Zeidman
3/26
Kelly Mankin
3/27
Joan Blessing
3/29
Heather Williamson
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: 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 viewable in the on the website nor added back to the eNews due to the public accessibility of both.
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.
If someone approaches you expressing interest in receiving our eNews, you can let them know that they don't need to wait for the office to handle it. The quickest and easiest way for them to sign up is by visiting our website at www.stmonicasnaples.org/ and registering themselves. By taking this simple step, they'll start receiving our updates promptly. If they've previously contacted the office to be added and haven't received the eNews the next week, advise them to reach out to confirm that their email address was correctly noted. We want to ensure everyone stays connected and informed about all the exciting happenings at St. Monica's. Thank you for helping others get connected to our eNews community!