Keeping Us Connected Newsletter

September 5, 2025

St. Mary Family Fair, June 2025

Dear Saint Mary Friends,

Since our diocesan newspaper chose to put the face of a certain Ridgefield Pastor at the Family Fair on its most recent front page, I’d like to divert our attention back to the event itself.

The return of the parish fair as the “Family Fair” was a success in many ways. The name change was intentional. As regular Mass goers notice, we have a growing number of young families worshiping with us.

Some statistics on Baptisms bear this out:

2017 = 53

2018 = 58

2019 = 70

2020 = 38 (COVID)

2021 = 56

2022 = 87

2023 = 85

2024 = 87

2025 = 90+ (Projected)

What are we to make of this?

Yes, many come to Mass and parish events. No, all do not live in Ridgefield. Some return from out of state to baptize their babies where family is and where they were baptized.

No, all do not come to weekly Sunday Mass. That’s an important point. I don’t know about you, but I cannot stand before the Lord at my life’s end and hear him say, “I led them to St. Mary’s, and you ignored them.”

In speaking with many of them in their preparation for baptism, it’s clear they sense the need for something more. The writer of the 1999 James Bond film isn’t the only person to realize “The World is not Enough.”

So, many are seeking something more; dare I say, “Someone more”?

Ministry to Young Families

Because of this, we’ve developed a key parish ministry. The old religious education office has been expanded as the Office for Youth and Families. The St. Joseph Guild has been assisting this Office in planning ways to offer this “Someone more.”

Easter Egg Hunt

Gift Bags and Potluck Supper/Future Ushers and Catechists

Because some have little exposure to the Church and Faith, we’ve been offering social and faith events for them. Here is an incomplete list:

Christmas Movie & and Petting Zoo
Parent socials with clergy talks (1 on site and 1 at Silver Spring)
Rosary, Craft & Pizza night, with brief clergy talk
3 Family Fun Nights: assembled and donated over 120 Gift bags for the Patrons of the Thomas Merton Center Soup Kitchen, followed by pizza dinner and family bingo
Food Truck & Ice Cream Social with open gym
Mardi Gras & Potluck Dinner with craft, fun photo station and Lenten talk
3 Kings Hospitality Hour after Epiphany Mass in the Hall
2 Dads' Night Out
Twine & Chat nights for moms where we created hand knotted rosaries
Advent Wreath Making & Supper
Family Mardi Gras
Family Stations of the Cross
Family Blessing of the Christmas creche (and now the beautifully lit tree)
May Crowning
Easter Egg Hunt
Pet Blessings, Backpack Blessings
Small group gatherings at rectory for all 1st grade parents
Holiday Stroll: Parish table was kid and family friendly

The Family Fair was a large undertaking, and its main purpose and focus was to serve, reach out, and welcome young newcomers. In this regard, it was a great success.

One final and not unimportant success

My only charge to the Committee was for this first year not to lose money. They did much better. After expenses of $10,156, the Family Fair profited $14,974. I cannot thank the Committee enough.

Given all of the above, please be sure to watch the bulletins for reports on Youth and Family Events in this coming year.

Canonization of Carlo Acutis & Pier Giorgio Frassati

Many parishioners are aware that both Blesseds will be canonized this Sunday. We will have a parish celebration of these two young saints in October. Stay tuned. Click here for more info on these soon-to-be saints.