Is there a cost to attend ALO? No!

As we did last year, there will be no meeting fee.  Instead, we encourage attendees to bring a free will offering for a different charity each month.  Each charity has a suggested wish list of items they need.  And we can collect cash or check donations.

Please remember that donation is OPTIONAL.  You can also support people doing good works in our community through your prayer and service!  You should still attend even if you cannot or do not wish to support this charity.  We'll look forward to seeing you!

It was fun meeting you!

I had a great time at our first meeting of the new ALO year last night.  There were lots of tasty cookies and friendly moms.  Judy facilitated and got volunteers for a variety of things (baking, facilitating, setup, etc.).  If you weren't there but would like to help, there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved!  Let us know!  Then Stephanie got us started with an activity sharing our favorite things about being mothers, and our greatest challenges.  We all got to meet some new people and, for the returning members, reconnect with friends from prior years.  There were about ten kids in attendance too!  Remember that we WILL have child care at all future meetings, provided in an adjacent room.

On a sadder note we said farewell to Michelle, who is moving away at the end of the month with her husband and two darling daughters.  They've brought a lot of spirit to some meetings in the past and last night we saw where they got it from!  Michelle had everyone laughing with a stand-up comedy routine she had prepared about Catholic motherhood.  "Pope Francis has really changed a few things" is right!  Goodbye and God bless, Michelle and family!

How to find the ALO meeting spot

There have been some questions about finding the ALO meeting spot.  Admittedly, it's a bit hidden away. You can use Google Maps to find directions to St. Lawrence parish (158 West St., Essex Junction, VT).  Once you get there, park on the right hand side of the church and follow the path around the back of the rectory building; we meet on the lower level, and there's a separate entrance in the back.  Here's a map of the church grounds (sorry if I don't have great MS Paint skills!).  You can click on the picture to see a larger version.  Hope to see you there this Thursday at 7 pm!