Weekly eNews for

Feb 26, 2026

NEW THIS WEEK


MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM RECTOR


Dear Everyone,


By the time you read this, our new Organist-Choir Master will have officially started work at St. Monica's. Allen Stock's first day of work will be Thursday, February 26. He will lead his first choir practice Thursday night, and he will play for the services this weekend. It is an exciting moment in the life of this church, and much longed for. We are so pleased that we found Allen Stock and equally pleased that he found us. I look forward to working with Allen on music for our liturgy. Please help us extend a warm welcome to Allen, our new Music Director, to the St. Monica's family.


The Annual Meeting will take place this Sunday, March 1, after the 10 o'clock service. The meeting will take place in the church. Our Senior Warden, Ed Strong, will preside at this meeting. Please make every effort to attend. We will look back at the year 2025, and we will look ahead to plans for 2026. There will be several matters for the congregation to vote on, including electing new Vestry members. This is a significant moment in the life of this church as we move forward on the search for a New Rector at St. Monica's. Please keep the search committee and the search process in your daily prayers.


Just to let you know, I am travelling next week to Portugal with my husband John to visit my brother Frank, who has moved to Porto. I am looking forward to seeing him and to meeting some of his fellow ex pats and friends. We will be gone March 2 to March 11. We will fly in and out of Lisbon and spend the weekend in Porto with Frank. I have never been to Portugal, and I've always wanted to go. I'm looking forward to the trip. The weekend I am gone, we will welcome The Rev. Stephen Gertz, who will preside and preach at St. Monica's March 7 and 8. Please give Stephen a warm welcome. And, if you have a prayer to spare, please send up a prayer for Travelling Mercies for us.




ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
THIS WEEKEND!   MARCH 1

This is a reminder that our Annual Meeting will be held following the 10:00 am service on Sunday, March 1, 2026, in the sanctuary.


Please plan to attend as we share reports on our 2025 accomplishments and review plans for 2026. This is an important opportunity to reflect on the past year and look ahead together as a parish community.


We also extend a that invitation to those who typically attend the Saturday 5:00 pm service. We would be grateful for your presence and participation, as the meeting will begin shortly after the 10:00 am service concludes.


We look forward to seeing you there.




JOIN THE CHOIR AS WE WELCOME OUR NEW ORGANIST

This weekend we welcome our new Organist and Choirmaster, Allen Stock, as he begins leading the music at St. Monica’s. We are grateful to have him with us and look forward to the gifts he will bring to our parish.


Our choir is excited to begin this new chapter and warmly invites new members to join. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 pm and Sunday mornings at 9:00 am.


If you have been considering joining the choir, this is a wonderful time to do so, especially as we prepare for Lent and Easter. Your participation will enrich our liturgy and deepen your own experience of worship.


If you would like more information, please speak with a choir member or with Helen Tintes after rehearsal on Sunday, which typically concludes around 9:30 am. We would be glad to connect with you.




STATIONS OF THE CROSS -  FRIDAY'S AT 12 NOON

Please join us 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. 


DID YOU ATTEND OUR PANCAKE SUPPER?

We are looking for photos!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Pancake Supper. The turnout was outstanding, and we continue to hear that it was a wonderful evening for all who attended. It was a joy to see so many gathered together in fellowship.


We are especially grateful to everyone who helped plan, cook, serve, clean up, donate supplies, and support the event in any way. Your generosity and hard work made the evening possible and truly special.


If you took photos during the event, we would love to receive copies. We hope to share highlights from the evening with the wider parish community and celebrate the spirit of the night.


Photos can be sent to the parish office. Thank you again for helping make this such a memorable gathering.




MESSAGE FROM OUR SR. WARDEN - Ed Strong

Please plan on attending the Annual Meeting to be held after the 10AM service, March 1st. We will elect new Vestry members, and appoint delegates to the Diocean convention, and receive updates from leaders in the church. We will also vote on two bylaw changes. Please plan on attending.




MEN'S BOOK GROUP

The Men's Book Group will take up its next book, In the Garden of the Beasts by Eric Larson at its next meeting March 2, at 9:30 AM in the church conference room. The discussion will cover Part I of the book, the first 50 pages. We remain open to any men of St. Monica's. You can join at any time. Address questions to Ed Strong.




SUPPORTING FOSTERING SUCCESS

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

THINGS TO COME


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).


MARCH OFFERING PLATE

NEXT 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 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.




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.

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.

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.

FEB. ANNIVERSARIES

2/1

Marc & Tanya Buck


2/2

Doug & Deb Blatz

Ralph & Julie Pike

Jim & Laura Stamper


2/5

James & Sue Lemons


2/8

Bill & Susan Docimo


2/20

Rob & Kathy Crevier

FEB. BIRTHDAYS

2/4

Jeff Gault


2/6

Susan Bench


2/7

Nancy Hennel


2/8

Lynn Swendeman


2/9

Jim Sarconi


2/11

Charlie Kalwinsky

Ralph Turley


2/12

Butch Yarusevich


2/13

Sue Adams

2/14

Ed Romatzick


2/15

Marciadee Newman


2/16

Marilynn Dessauer

Liam Freigang

Tom Gibson


2/21

Melanie Rose

Toni Strong


2/23

Gee-Gee Schilling


2/24

James York


2/25

Mark Giersch


MAR. ANNIVERSARIES

3/23

Bill & Ann Hoffman

MAR. 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!