St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Parish will host its first-ever Weekend of Faith, Service and Social Justice on Nov. 8-11. The community event will feature a number of opportunities for parishioners and local residents to become engaged and educated on the diverse riches of our faith and how it connects with the world.

On Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m., St. Mary’s will host a special screening of “The Dark Side of Chocolate,” a documentary about the exploitation of child workers in West Africa. Following the movie, there will be an opportunity to taste and purchase free-trade coffee and chocolate. The event will take place in the Spiritual Formation Center at St. Mary’s, 280 Washington Ave. in Dumont.

On Friday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m., the parish will celebrate its rich diversity at International Night, an annual festival of music, dance and performance. The event will take place in Szelest Hall at St. Mary’s.

On Saturday, Nov. 10, there will be service trips to the Community Food Bank in Hillside and Habitat for Humanity in Paterson. Advanced registration is necessary. Please call 201-384-0557 for details.

Also on Nov. 10, the parish will recite the rosary following the 8:30 a.m. Mass and also celebrate a Mass of Faith, Service and Social Justice at 5:30 p.m.  At all weekend Masses, food will be collected for families in need. All are invited to join in these spiritual opportunities.

Finally, St. Mary’s will host its first-ever Fair Trade Holiday Market in Szelest Hall on Nov. 10 and Nov. 11. Merchandise and food will be available for purchase. Included among the items: ornaments, chocolate, coffee, bags, home décor, scarves, bowls, baskets, nativity scenes, jewelry, kitchen items and olive oil, among other gifts. All items come from international locations and are handmade by workers who have received a fair wage for their efforts.

The market will be open from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 10 and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 11. Szelest Hall will be decorated with student art projects that highlight the many countries where our products come from. Email deaconjohn@stmarysdumont.org for more details on submitting your child’s artwork.

Join St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Parish for the Weekend of Faith, Service and Social Justice. Visit us at 280 Washington Ave. in Dumont. Call us at 201-384-0557. Email us at deaconjohn@stmarysdumont.org