What's the Buzz?

Remember to utilize our SMS Google Calendar subscription (click here to view), or view the “Events” page on the SMS website.

Sept. 20: HSA “TGIS” Parent Social - CANCELLED due to scheduling conflict

Sept. 20: 9am School Mass led by St. Jerome Faith Family (Mrs. Hammond)

Sept. 23: HSA Bills Dress Down Day (bring $2 or purchase pass)

Sept. 25: 8th grade parent meeting - 6:30pm

Sept. 27: 9am School Mass led by St. Vincent de Paul Faith Family (Mr. Dolan)

Sept. 30: HSA Bills Dress Down Day (bring $2 or purchase pass)

Oct. 2: Sr. Sheila Memorial Marathon

Oct. 4: Blessing of the “stuffed” animals

Oct. 4: 9am School Mass led by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Faith Family (Mrs. Whipple)

Oct. 5: St. Mary’s Parish Oktoberfest! Click here for more info.

Oct. 7: HSA Bills Dress Down Day (bring $2 or purchase pass)

Oct. 8: HSA Meeting, all are welcome! 7 pm, Cafeteria

Oct. 10: 9am School Mass led by St. Sebastian Faith Family (Mr. Reeds)

Oct. 11: NO SCHOOL, Superintendent's Conference Day

Oct. 12: HSA Family Tailgate Party

Oct. 14: NO SCHOOL, Columbus Day & Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Oct. 18: 9am School Mass led by St. Thomas Aquinas Faith Family (Mrs. Baker)

Oct. 21: HSA Bills Dress Down Day (bring $2 or purchase pass)

Oct. 22: 8th Grade Mass at the Cathedral

Oct. 23: School Picture Day

Oct. 25: 9am School Mass led by St. Scholastica Faith Family (Mrs. Laderer)

Oct. 25: 6pm Trunk or Treat

Oct. 28: HSA Bills Dress Down Day (bring $2 or purchase pass)

Oct. 28: SMS Pumpkin Carving Party at Spoth's

Nov. 8: HERO BOX Dress Down Day for Veterans

Please note the following menu change for lunch on Sept. 23rd: Eggo Waffles & optional Jimmy Dean Pork Breakfast Sausage will be served instead of the Pancake Chicken Sausage & Cheese Sandwich.

Please note that a field trip is being scheduled for Tues., Oct. 1 for your children (more info & permission slips to come home soon), so you will need to pack a bagged lunch for them this day, please do not order lunches for 10/1/24 as they will not be in school to eat them.

Charges for lunches ordered for the month of September have been applied in your FACTS account. As a reminder, once submitted, lunch orders cannot be changed so please be careful when filling out the form, and also only submit one lunch order per student. Beginning in Oct. the lunch charges will be applied in FACTS earlier in the month. October Lunch orders are due by Monday, Sept. 23rd, at 12 Noon.

October Menu

If you are interested in helping out in the lunchroom and are VIRTUS trained please sign up below using the buttons. If you have any questions, you can email Mr. Mangione at attendance@st.maryschoolswormville.org.

Hello,

As some of you may know, I spent an extra year at seminary after ordination studying spirituality. Also, starting last October, I embarked on an Ignatian (Jesuit) retreat that lasted through the end of May. Very early on in that retreat I felt a call to delve further into the Eastern Spirituality of our Church. As God’s call continued to grow in my heart, I began to explore the options that would allow me to follow where He is leading me. Through much discernment in prayer and spiritual direction, I have requested a leave to discern this call further. Bishop Mike has granted that leave. That leave is scheduled to begin October 1st. As a result, I will no longer be assigned to this family. I want to thank each of you, including Fr. Tom, Fr. Walt, and Fr. Art, for embracing me and supporting me and journeying with me for the last year plus. We are each on a unique adventure, but all traveling together as God’s Church, in God’s Church, toward our final destination which is unity with Him. Please know of my prayers and gratitude, and please pray for me. We are all in this together, and we need one another to get to heaven. I hope our paths cross again soon.

God’s blessings,

Fr. Joe Franz

CLICK HERE TO SEE DATES FOR ALL OF THE UPCOMING HSA EVENTS!

Now is a great time to join in the fun!! More information to come for specific events with flyers, due dates, etc.

This is one of HSA’s biggest fundraisers of the year, we hope that each family will participate in the Marathon to the best of their ability. Click here for more information. Please note, the pledge sheets that came home stated you need a separate permission/pledge sheet for each student. This is not necessary, just write the name & grade of all your students on the line.

• The signed pledge sheet and ALL pledge money is due back on Fri. Sept. 27, 2024
• If each student raises at least $30 we will achieve our goal!
• Each class that raises 100% or more of its total class goal will receive a dress-down day!
• VOLUNTEERS are greatly needed for this event, SIGN UP HERE.

Save the date for the most fun you’ve ever had at a Meat Raffle! 11/2/24, 6-10 PM. In addition to the Meat Raffle there will be a 50/50 Split, & Basket and gift card raffles. Bring singles & all your friends! “Chuck Roast” returns as your zany, fun-loving host. Ticket price includes open bar of unlimited soda, draft beer & wine. Pesci’s pizza & craft beer will be available for purchase, snacks welcome. First spin at 7 pm. No outside alcohol permitted, this event is strictly 21 & older. Tickets will be available soon for online purchase and will be $15 Pre-Sale, $100 for a table of 8 (Pre-Sale Ends Oct. 23rd), $20 at the door. All proceeds support St. Mary School Swormville, funds raised are restricted to St. Mary School Swormville HSA. Click here to see photos of the great time we had last year!

- The Back to School Spirit Wear Sale has closed, thank you to those who purchased items! Stay tuned to the “Buzz” for your item(s) expected delivery date. -

Annual Pet Blessing - to celebrate The Feast of St. Francis will be held at St. Mary's on Friday, October 4th at 6:00PM on the front steps of the school, facing Transit Road. All furry, feathered and scaly pets are welcome! Please bring pets on a leash or in a pet carrier.

As Election Day (11/5/24) approaches, we’d like to encourage all adults in our school community to register to vote by the 10/26/24 deadline and then vote in the coming election. Elected officials can tell if a person has voted in an election and by doing so you add additional weight to any emails you might send to them with your opinions on Catholic School concerns. Information on voter registration can be found here, https://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingRegister.html, and at your county Board of Elections (https://www.elections.ny.gov/CountyBoards.html).

Please take a moment to read this statement from Most Rev. Michael W. Fisher, Bishop of Buffalo, and our other NYS Bishops on Prop. 1 - a proposed amendment to the NYS Constitution that is broadly written and could have dangerous consequences if enacted. For more information about Proposal 1, please visit https://www.protectkidsny.com/.

To read the Catholic Bishops of the United States document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, please visit https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship-title.

A number of our local Catholic high schools are holding Open Houses & offering shadow day experiences this Fall. Click the links below for more information.

Bishop Timon - St. Jude High School

Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart

Canisius High School

Cardinal O'Hara High School

Chesterton Academy of Buffalo

Mount Mercy Academy

Mount St. Mary Academy

Nardin Academy - High School

St. Francis High School

St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute

St. Mary's High School