Weekly eNews for

December 4, 2025

A MESSAGE FROM OUR INTERIM RECTOR

Dear Everyone,


John's brother Ron called him on Tuesday morning from Purcellville, Virginia. 


Their mother Diane Czarnetzky was in ICU and the doctor said she probably wasn't long for this world. So John did what a dutiful son does -- he dropped everything he was doing, packed a suitcase, and flew to Virginia that same afternoon. His flight got in late that night. The hospital called the family in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, telling them the end was near. John and Ron managed to get to the hospital in time to see their mother before she died. They were with her when she died. (Their sister Laurie couldn't get there in time; she lives in Tampa.)


So now John, Ron, and Laurie are planning her funeral.  It will be at the Guilderland Roman Catholic church -- the church the children grew up in. Then Diane's body will be laid to rest, beside her husband, in the cemetery in Guilderland.  Jack Czarnetzky died over forty years ago, when John was in college at MIT. So there's been a place for her there all these years, next to her husband in the cemetery in John's hometown in upstate New York, near Albany. Her three children will gather, to commit Diane to God's never-failing care. And so the circle closes. 


I will fly to New York tomorrow, and the funeral and graveside service will take place next week. It is bitterly cold up there, with temperatures in the single digits. (It may even snow!)  She has been, since 1998, the only living parent between us. (My father died in 1996 and my mother in 1998.). That is just about the end of that generation. Diane's brother, John's Uncle Michael, is the last one; and then, ready or not, John and his siblings move to the grown-ups' table!


Your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated. Diane's health had been failing for quite some time, so the children knew this day was coming. But it's never easy to say "good-bye" to your parents -- I don't care how old you are. We will be back next week, then John and I will both go back to work -- John back to Ave Maria School of Law and myself back to St. Monica's. And life will go on. We will move forward, a little older and a little sadder, as John, Ron and Laurie learn to navigate the world without their mother in it.

NEW THIS WEEK

As we prepare for the joy of Christmas, we invite you to take part in helping beautify St. Monica’s for our celebrations. Donations for Christmas flowers and greenery are now being received. These gifts allow us to adorn the church with fresh poinsettias and seasonal greens that create a warm and welcoming space for worship.


You may make a donation in memory of a loved one, in thanksgiving, or in celebration of a special person or blessing in your life. All names received by Wednesday, December 17 will be listed in the Christmas bulletin.


Forms are available in the bulletin inserts, the church office, and download here. Please print clearly so names appear correctly.


Completed forms may be mailed to the church, brought to the office, or placed in the offering plate at any service. If mailing, please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee arrival before the deadline due to mailing issues.


You can also submit your dedication & payment directly online using <this link>.


Thank you for helping us fill our worship space with beauty and love as we welcome the birth of Christ.




MEN'S BOOK GROUP

The group will conclude its reading of Living Buddha, Living Christ at its meeting Dec 8, 9:30 AM in the church conference room. We will take a holiday break from Dec 15 through Jan 5.


Our first meeting of 2026 will be January 12 where we will start a new book, The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagel. 


We remain open to any men of St. Monica's. The beginning of a new year and a new book would be an optimum time to join. Please address any questions to Ed Strong.




STEWARDSHIP UPDATE

We are now at 41 pledges totaling $207,000. We need your help especially this year. We need to demonstrate we are financially sound enough to attract a quality new rector. Pledges are a part of the Diocese's assessment of our financial health. Please remember this into account as you prayerfully consider your commitment to St. Monica's.


Some parishioners have already given for 2026. Please know we have counted those as pledges and we deeply appreciate your support.


For those of you who are planning on using IRA contributions, we expect you are waiting until early January to see what your required withdrawal amounts are. We will definitely be holding the campaign open so that you will have time to contribute.


Please address any questions to Ed Strong




GIVING TREE - FOR OUR FOSTER CHILDREN

To everyone who picked an ornament from our Giving Tree, thank you for your generosity. Your kindness is already bringing joy to our foster children this Christmas. Please remember that gifts need to be placed under the tree by December 10 so Fostering Success can pick them up on time.


As of our last count on Monday, December 1, we have received 26 gifts, and there are still 24 children waiting. Your support means more than you know.




DECEMBER OPEN PLATE

Supporting Meals of Hope

This weekend, as we gather for the first weekend of the month, we invite everyone to join in our monthly tradition of generosity. For December, the cash proceeds from our open plate collection will support Meals of Hope, an organization doing meaningful work right here in Collier County.


Meals of Hope operates several mobile food pantries each week and has provided more than one hundred million meals since its founding. They focus on offering nutritious food and fresh produce to families facing food insecurity, especially during seasons when the need is greatest.


As we move into the holidays, many families in our community struggle more than usual. Your gift this weekend can help provide meals, comfort, and a bit of hope to those who need it most.


Thank you for giving generously and for helping St. Monica’s shine a little more light this season.



PAUSE, REFLECT, PREPARE  –   December 6th @ 8:30AM


Advent Quiet Day with Bishop Douglas Schart

Saturday, December 6, 2025    8:30 AM - 12 PM

Trinity by the Cove, Naples


Everyone is invited to take part in a peaceful Advent Quiet Day led by Bishop Douglas Scharf. The Daughters of the King and Trinity by the Cove are hosting this time of spiritual reflection and preparation for the season ahead.


For centuries Christians have prepared for the celebration of Christ’s birth by remembering the voices of the ancient prophets who pointed toward the coming of the Messiah. One of the oldest traditions linked to this season is the singing of the “O Antiphons,” reflected in the well loved hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Each verse highlights a different name for the Messiah such as Key of David and Bright and Morning Star.


This Quiet Day will offer short meditations from Bishop Scharf, along with unhurried time for silence and prayer. There may even be a little singing along the way.


To register, click > HERE <



PHONE SYSTEM UPDATE

We want to share an update about the ongoing phone outage at St Monica’s. Many have asked whether the issue is with our provider, but the phone lines coming into the church are working. The problem is an internal control box that manages how our two main phone lines connect to all the office extensions and our voice messaging system. This equipment has been in place for many years and is no longer supported, which makes repairs challenging.


Our Junior Warden, Ralph Pike, has been reaching out to several companies to see whether the system can be repaired or if a full replacement will be needed. These evaluations take time, and we do not yet have a clear estimate for when our phones will be fully restored.


In the meantime, we want to be sure you can still reach us easily. You are always welcome to email the office at welcome@stmonicasnaples.org, and we have also set up a simple online form for your convenience.


Members can also find staff cell numbers in the church directory. We just ask that these numbers be used during office hours unless you have a pastoral emergency and of course those calls are always welcome whenever they arise.


We also want to reassure everyone that this outage does not affect our security or fire alarm system. These alarms run on the external provider line, which are functioning normally and do not rely on the internal phone hub that is currently down.


Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this. We know how important reliable communication is, and we are doing everything we can to get the system back online.



THINGS TO COME

MISIÓN PENIEL FRIDAY –  December 12th @ 1:30PM
Please join us while serve the hardworking farming community in Immokalee. We will spend the day, along with members of Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church, bagging and distributing food, clothing, and other goods to workers and their family members. What a great way to give back during the holidays! We will meet to carpool at the St. Monica’s parking lot at 1:30pm, and plan on returning by 6:00 pm. Please contact Debbie Corey to let her know if you would like to be part of this meaningful service mission. Her contact information is in the directory, or contact the church office for her contact.


POTLUCK & HOLIDAY CHEER  – December 13th

Our December Potluck is coming up on Saturday, December 13, and everyone is invited to join us for an evening filled with good food and warm company. We will gather right after the 5 pm service in the Parish Hall.


If you are bringing a dish or beverages, you can drop them off in the Parish Hall beginning at 4:30 pm. This makes it easy for our Hospitality Team to set everything out before the gathering starts.


The potluck is a simple way to share holiday cheer with one another during this busy season. Whether you bring a family favorite or simply come to enjoy the evening, we look forward to spending this time together as a community.


We hope to see you there.

COME HELP DECORATE THE CHURCH  – December 21st

Sunday, December 21, right after the 10am service


The Flower Guild is inviting everyone to stay after the 10am service on December 21 to help decorate the church and set up the Christmas tree. This is always a warm and joyful time as we prepare the space for Christmas together. All ages are welcome and there are plenty of simple tasks if you just want to lend a hand.


We would love to have you join us as we get the church ready for this beautiful season.



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.

Have You Filled Out the Directory Survey Yet?

We’re reaching out again to all members and friends of St. Monica’s with an important request. Our new Directory Survey was shared recently, but so far only a small number of people have responded. We’re very grateful to those who have already updated their information, but we truly need everyone to take a few minutes to complete the survey.


This isn’t just about keeping the Directory up to date. The survey also helps us confirm that everyone can access it correctly and that all contact details are accurate. Even if you believe your information is already correct, please fill out the survey so we can verify everything.


If you’ve had trouble accessing the Directory, there’s a place in the survey to let us know. Someone from the church office will follow up to help.


Please take a few minutes to complete the survey today. Accurate and accessible contact information helps us stay connected and ensures you don’t miss important eNews or church updates.


Thank you for your help as we continue to strengthen our St. Monica’s family connections.


For any questions, contact the parish administrator.

TAKE THE SURVEY

BULLETIN BOARD

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.

DEC. ANNIVERSARIES

12/4

Kelly Mankin & Mike Tonda


12/8

Gordon & Ruth Macdonald


12/11

John & Morgan Plocharczyk


12/26

Phil & Sue Baker

DEC. BIRTHDAYS

12/1

Jocelyn Chalick

Carole Nabbie


12/2

Cheri McCaslin


12/4

Jan Ward


12/11

Margaret Holt


12/16

Fred Groehl 

12/21

Ruth Kalwinsky


12/22

Ruth Macdonald


12/29

Tanya Buck

Emily Groehl


12/31

Deb Blatz


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!