Some Answers to Your Questions
Keep checking back as we will continue to post new questions as they come in!
Submit a question to an SMG priest, council member or parish administrator.
Click on a question below to see the answer.
 | Someone is having surgery today (Friday) but expects to be released later in the day. We were talking about this...if someone is having surgery, is allergic to fish and hates cheese over 60...can they have a pizza with pepperoni on a Lent Friday? Stop laughing! and help us settle this debate!
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| I have difficulty getting to the Thursday Reconcilation ...is it ok to go to a parish that has Reconciliation on Saturday mornings?
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| Why were the two trees chosen in the middle of the garden in front of our new statue? They may be miniature trees, but they will fill in outward and upward some. With the beautiful statue we should be able to see her from every window that faces out to the garden. I feel that anything planted in that area should not grow any higher than the statues knees. It would be great to be able to see her all the time and from all windows.
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| Could you please provide information regarding Mass intentions? Do you have to be a member to request them? Is there a limit per family per year? etc.
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| I am a certified Assistant Childcare Teacher and I was wondering if I could help SMG's childcare. I am an RCIA member so I am not sure if I am able to be part of the parish quite yet but I would still love to help in anyway I can. Thank you for your time!
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| What needs to be done to have "bells" at the Consecration again? When I have occasion to attend Mass at other parishes, I notice the chiming of bells at significant points in the Consecration ("... Let your Spirit come upon these gifts..."). I believe we used to ring bells at SMG, but not anymore. It adds so much to the import of that part of the Mass. How can we get them back again?
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| My Mom is 88 years old and following a fall resulting in a broken hip/surgery she is pretty much homebound. She was a daily Mass attendant before this...I wondered if I could bring her Holy Communion...do I need to take some training? Years ago I was an extraordinary Minister of Communion. Thanks!
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| What are the lyrics to the song sung before the Gospel? Other than "alleluia"...thanks!
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| It would be useful information if announcements of video presentations included whether or not the video is open captioned (visible to all) for hearing impaired attendees.
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| Does the parish have a conference room that could be rented out to a parishoner?
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| We have noticed the new statue in the commemorative garden! Is that St. Maria Goretti? Why is she so small?
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| Does the parish have a community bulletin board where I could post a notice about a home for sale? Thank You.
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| Is there any chance of having an 8:00 am mass during the week that is not focused on the children? Those homilies, of course, are focused on the kids but adults need homilies focused on them as well. Thanks.
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| We noticed the church parking lot had been repaved and painted. Why all the yellow curbs?
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| How can I obtain my sacrament records (baptism, first communion, confirmation)?
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| Can a grandparent actively caring for grandchildren be delegated a child's religious education sponsor if the parents can/will not? Can they also present a child for baptism with the parents' consent, and thereafter act as the Godparent?
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| If I elect to receive emails when the bulletin or Gatherings is posted, do I need to log in to read them?
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| Can only parents volunteer at school, or could a grandparent volunteer also?
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Why doesn't SMG have child care available during Mass?
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| Why does the Bishop need another priest to travel with him when we could use him in other parishes? Why doesn't he take a seminarian with him?
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| Why don't we see Fr. Chad at weekend Masses?
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Question: Why don't we see Fr. Chad at weekend Masses?
Answer: Fr. Chad Droessler is the master of ceremonies to the bishop and is with the bishop on weekends for Masses and confirmations. He is only at St. Maria Goretti Parish 50% of the time at most. (Tim Endres, Director of Administration)
Question: Why does the Bishop need another priest to travel with him when we could use him in other parishes? Why doesn't he take a seminarian with him?
Answer: Protocol for a bishop is to have a priest as a master of ceremonies to assist the bishop during liturgies and when administering sacraments. Also, seminarians are in school. (Tim Endres, Director of Administration)
Question: Is there any chance of having an 8:00 am mass during the week that is not focused on the children? Those homilies, of course, are focused on the kids but adults need homilies focused on them as well. Thanks.
Answer: At this time, there are no plans to add any more masses. Attending week day mass is a very important part of the children's catholic education. Homilies are directed at a level that children can understand, however, the content usually can apply to adults as well as children.
Question: Why doesn't SMG have child care available during Mass?
Answer: The parish’s insurance agent would require us to have a licensed facility and staff, which is not economically feasible for the parish at this time. (Tim Endres, parish administrator)
Question: Can only parents volunteer at school, or could a grandparent volunteer also?
Answer: Grandparents and other family members are always welcome to volunteer at SMG School! Anyone who volunteers at our school must first go through Virtus training. Please call our office at 271-7551. (Mrs. Elizabeth Young, school principal)
Question: If I elect to receive emails when the bulletin or Gatherings is posted, do I need to log in to read them?
Answer: The
bulletins,
Gatherings newsletter and school
Cardinal notes are all available to read on stmariagoretti.org without logging in. You would need to
log in to create your secure parishioner profile, which is where you elect to receive these email alerts. Your profile also provides you the opportunity to keep your family's contact information current, as well as sign up online to volunteer at events such as GorettiFest and more.
(Martha Doherty, coordinator of parish communications)
Question: Can a grandparent actively caring for grandchildren be delegated a child's religious education sponsor if the parents can/will not? Can they also present a child for baptism with the parents' consent, and thereafter act as the Godparent?
Answer: A grandparent can certainly present a child for baptism with the parent's permission. However, the parents do have to participate in the sacrament of baptism ceremony. The grandparent needs to speak with a priest first. A grandparent can assist their grandchildren in attending religious education. (St. Maria Goretti Parish)
Question: How can I obtain my sacrament records (baptism, first communion, confirmation)?
Answer: If you received your sacraments here at St. Maria Goretti, just call our parish office at 271-7421 and we can help you. If you received your sacraments at another church, you will need to contact that church. (St. Maria Goretti Parish)
Question: We noticed the church parking lot had been repaved and painted. Why all the yellow curbs?
Answer: It is important for people to remember not to park along those curbs. Emergency vehicles would need that clearance to get into and through the parking lot and the circular drive in case of emergency. (St. Maria Goretti Parish)
Question: Does the parish have a community bulletin board where I could post a notice about a home for sale? Thank You.
Answer: We do have a bulletin board but it is only used for parish/church/community service notices. With more than 6,000 people in our parish, private advertising would get out of hand.(Tim Endres, SMG Director of Administration)
Question: We have noticed the new statue in the commemorative garden! Is that St. Maria Goretti? Why is she so small?
Answer: Yes, that is our patron saint, Maria Goretti! The statue is her actual height, which was about 4'7" (remember she was only 11 years old at the time of her death). The bronze statue weighs more than 300 pounds; please visit
our web page about the statue to read more about her.
(Tim Endres, SMG Director of Administration)
Question: Does the parish have a conference room that could be rented out to a parishoner?
Answer: Sorry, we don't rent out any conference room, due to heavy usage by parish organizations, and other parish sponsored events. We only rent out the parish hall and the school cafeteria to active parishioners, for events. Call the parish office for details. (Tom Wildenborg, SMG Business and Facilities Manager)
Question: It would be useful information if announcements of video presentations included whether or not the video is open captioned (visible to all) for hearing impaired attendees.
Answer: Parish staff will try to determine if open caption is available from the person sponsoring an event. Also, the good news for the hearing impaired is that we now have an assistive hearing system in the parish hall. It works the same way the system in church works. (Tim Endres, SMG Director of Administration)
Question: What are the lyrics to the song sung before the Gospel? Other than "alleluia"...thanks!
Answer: The words after "Alleluia" are "Give the glory and the honor to the Lord," however, we change the music of the Alleluia with the change of the liturgical season. It is the musical version of the Alleluia that we are using this fall. In the Gospel Acclamation, the verse between the Alleluias is from Scripture. The text changes each Sunday in Ordinary Time, or with the Liturgical Season, or Feast Day being celebrated. These texts are from the Lectionary or the Gradual, which are the Scripture books for Liturgy. (Sr. Denise Herrmann, SMG Director of Liturgy)
Question: My Mom is 88 years old and following a fall resulting in a broken hip/surgery she is pretty much homebound. She was a daily Mass attendant before this...I wondered if I could bring her Holy Communion...do I need to take some training? Years ago I was an extraordinary Minister of Communion. Thanks!
Answer: Yes this can be arranged. Please contact Sr. Marge at the parish office, 271-7421, to learn how this can be done. (Tim Endres, SMG Director of Administration)
Question: What needs to be done to have "bells" at the Consecration again? When I have occasion to attend Mass at other parishes, I notice the chiming of bells at significant points in the Consecration ("... Let your Spirit come upon these gifts..."). I believe we used to ring bells at SMG, but not anymore. It adds so much to the import of that part of the Mass. How can we get them back again?
Answer: The return of the bells at mass can be considered. Due to the introduction of the new Roman Missal next Advent, we are planning to incorporate any and all changes to the Mass proper at that point rather than in a piece-meal manner. (Tim Endres, SMG Director of Administration)
Question: I am a certified Assistant Childcare Teacher and I was wondering if I could help SMG's childcare. I am an RCIA member so I am not sure if I am able to be part of the parish quite yet but I would still love to help in anyway I can. Thank you for your time!
Answer: Thank you for your offer! St. Maria Goretti parish does not provide childcare. (Insurance requirements). However, the religious education area is always needing help for different programs. You can call the director of the programs, Joe Rausch at 298-2098 and see if there is anything you would like to do. Again, thanks you for your offer. (Tim Endres, SMG Director of Administration)
Question: Could you please provide information regarding Mass intentions? Do you have to be a member to request them? Is there a limit per family per year? etc.
Answer: You do not have to be a member. The first year after a person dies they may have six Mass intentions. No more than one a month. Every year after the anniversary of death the may have three Mass intentions offered per year. If the Mass intention is for someone alive it will be worded "special intention." There should not be any more than two names on any one intention (ex. Mary & Joe Smith). Otherwise I can put "the deceased of the Smith Family" The stipend is $10.00 per Mass. If you have any other questions feel free to call the Parish office or refer to the
Mass Intention Policy.
(Rachel Hellen, SMG Office Staff)
Question: Why were the two trees chosen in the middle of the garden in front of our new statue? They may be miniature trees, but they will fill in outward and upward some. With the beautiful statue we should be able to see her from every window that faces out to the garden. I feel that anything planted in that area should not grow any higher than the statues knees. It would be great to be able to see her all the time and from all windows.
Answer: The plantings surrounding the statue and meditative area were designed by a landscape architect. We will definitely pay attention to the grooming of the plants and shrubs in this area. (Tim Endres, Director of Administration)
Question: I have difficulty getting to the Thursday Reconcilation ...is it ok to go to a parish that has Reconciliation on Saturday mornings?
Answer: Yes it if fine to go to another parish. (Tim Endres, Director of Administration)
Question: Someone is having surgery today (Friday) but expects to be released later in the day. We were talking about this...if someone is having surgery, is allergic to fish and hates cheese over 60...can they have a pizza with pepperoni on a Lent Friday? Stop laughing! and help us settle this debate!
Answer: Unless the person is under a doctor's care and told to have meat for some medical reason, the Church's rule of no meat still would apply. (Tim Endres, Director of Administration)