Weekly eNews for

March 12, 2026

NEW THIS WEEK


MESSAGE FROM OUR SR. WARDEN

Ed Strong

Please note we have added an additional location on our website of the link to the search process. It's located the top line with all the other important options. As of now there is good history of the process but no new updates. As we have mentioned before the job posting for a new rector went live February 27 and will be open until April 7. In the meantime, life at St. Monica's continues but now with a happy tune in our hearts as we welcome Allen Stock as our new music director. If you were in church last Sunday, I hope you recognized how enthusiastically the congregation was signing. It was a joy to hear.


MESSAGE FROM OUR DEACON

The Rev. Ken McCaslin

On Sunday morning, March 15, which is the fourth Sunday in Lent, I will not be able to join you for our regular services. Instead, I will be in Fort Meyers, participating in a special event alongside The Rev. Michael Rowe and our bishop, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Douglas Scharf. We will be conducting the blessing of the Fishing Fleet, beginning at the docks at 9:30 AM. Afterward, we will head out to sea to bless all the vessels anchored around the harbor.


This occasion marks a new experience for me, and I am looking forward to being part of it.


Blessings,

Your Deacon, Ken


STATIONS OF THE CROSS

FRIDAY'S AT 12 NOON

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. 


MARCH OFFERING PLATE


Thank you to everyone who supported our March plate offering for Baby Basics of Collier County. Because of your generosity, $628.00 was collected to help provide diapers for low-income working families in our community.


St. Monica’s is grateful to be part of this ministry by storing and distributing diapers each month to families who need them. Your gifts make a meaningful difference for parents who are working hard to care for their children.


We are thankful for the continued generosity and compassion of our parish community.


If you have questions, please contact Heather Williamson.


MEN'S BOOK GROUP

The Men's Book Group will continue its exploration of In the "Garden of Beasts" by Eric Larson at its next meeting, March 16 at 9:30 AM in the church conference room. We will cover Part III of the book. The book focuses on the story of the US Ambassador to Germany during the rise of Hitler. The book group remains open to any of the men of St. Monica's. Please address any questions to Ed Strong.



EASTER FLOWER DEDICATIONS

As we prepare to celebrate the joy of Easter and the resurrection of our Lord, we invite you to help beautify the church with Easter flowers by making a dedication in honor of a loved one or in celebration of a special occasion.


Flower dedications may be given in memory of someone, in thanksgiving for a blessing, or in celebration of a special person or milestone. The names you submit will be included in the Easter bulletin.

You may complete the dedication form online, or print the PDF version and return it to the church office by mail or by placing it in the offering plate.


Please submit all dedications by Tuesday, March 25 so they may be included in the Easter bulletin.


Thank you for helping make our Easter celebration beautiful for our parish community.


YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS SATURDAY

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.

THINGS TO COME

LADIES & GENTS LUNCHEON  – April 13th, 2026


Join us for a fun and relaxing lunch outing at Lulu B’s on Monday, April 13 at 12:30 PM.


Lulu B’s is located at 2374 Immokalee Road in Greentree Plaza, and it is a great place to enjoy good food and good company together. We would love for you to come along, share some conversation, and spend a pleasant afternoon with friends.


Everyone is welcome, and we hope you can join us.


For more information contact Linda Duffy (link is connected to the church directory, be sure to be logged in).

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. However, our regular 5 p.m. Saturday service on April 4 will still take place as a regular Easter service celebrating The Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord, and we will also celebrate on 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.


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.

SHARE THE eNEWS WITH OTHERS

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!