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Mass Schedule
Sunday Masses:
Saturday: 4:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AMWeekday Masses:
Monday thru Thursday and First Fridays of each month: 7:15 AM
Other Fridays: Check bulletin (Either Mass or Communion Service @ 7:15 AM) -
Today's Readings
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Reading 1 1 Mc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158Gospel Lk 18:35-43
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From the Desk of Fr. Ariel Valencia (November 17, 2019)
The Lion's Roar
I recently received a letter asking our parish to host Treasures of the Church -150 relics. It is an event where 150 relics will be exposed for veneration and is led by Fr. Carlos Martins. He gives a presentation and teaching on relics before the exposition to lay the ground for our encounter with the relics. The main point of our veneration of relics is the Gospel of Jesus Christ—God is present and desires to encounter us through the sacred remains of His saints.
Among the relics are those of St. Maria Goretti, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Faustina Kowalska.
Exposition to relics has led to healing of cancer, heart disease, tumors and osteoporosis. There is also a greater appreciation of our faith, the intercession of the saints and deeper relationship with God and others.
If you are willing to coordinate this event please contact the parish office and we will help you to make this available to our faith community. Thank you for your stewardship! -
Ministry Schedules
Ministry Sign-Up Here
Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, and Lectors sign-up using SignUpGenius by using the following links:
Nov. 2019 Ministry Sign-Up
Dec. 2019 Ministry Sign-Up
We are using this method to schedule volunteers at Masses to allow you to choose dates and times convenient to you and make it easier for families to schedule to serve together. SignUpGenius will send you an email to confirm when you schedule and a reminder a few days before you're scheduled to remind you that you're on! -
Online Giving
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Parish Calendar
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Sunday, November 24Saturday, Adoration 2:45 PM, Confessions 3:00-3:45 PM, Mass 4:00 PM; Sunday, Mass 8:00 AMRead More
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Thursday, November 28, 8:00 AMThere is no 7:15 AM Mass today. Blessed Thanksgiving to all!Read More
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Sunday, December 1Saturday, Adoration 2:45 PM, Confessions 3:00-3:45 PM, Mass 4:00 PM; Sunday, Mass 8:00 AMRead More
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Sunday, December 8Saturday, Adoration 2:45 PM, Confessions 3:00-3:45 PM, Mass 4:00 PM; Sunday, Mass 8:00 AMRead More
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Safe Environment Program
There are several revised diocesan Safe Environment Program forms that all parish volunteers must complete. The forms are available in the vestibule of the church or at the parish office. If you have questions, contact the parish office. -
Catholic News Service
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The poor are the church's treasure because they give every Christian a chance to "speak the same language as Jesus, that of...
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Philippe Vaillancourt, Presence By Philippe Vaillancourt QUEBEC CITY (CNS) -- The great doorway to growing in the Christian faith is narrowing from year to year in Quebec as baptisms...
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National Catholic Register
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By Sarah Reinhard | Recently, I found myself “between books,” which in my world means there are plenty of books to read and no shortage of choices and yet — AND YET — nothing looks good. I’m overcome.
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Parish News & Events
If you are new to our parish or just visiting - WELCOME!! If you would like to officially claim St. Mary’s as your Parish Home - we would love to have you! Contact the Parish Office (815-827-3205) for information and a registration form. Forms can be mailed or emailed to you or you may stop in and pick them up.
New Parishioners Welcome!
Cenacle Guild Ladies Christmas Dinner December 4
This year's catered dinner will be at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, December 4, in the Novak Center. All ladies of the parish are invited that evening. Please join us for good food, fellowship and fun! Sign-up on the table in back of church.
St. Mary's annual sale will be held on December 14th from 9-11 AM in the Novak Center. EACH FAMILY IS ASKED TO DONATE AT LEAST 6 DOZEN HOMEMADE COOKIES. Drop off in the Novak Center all day on Friday, December 13th. People come from all over the area, every year, to our cookie sale. They love your cookies!
St. Mary's Annual Cookie Sale December 14
Volunteers - We Need You!
The Catholic faith community of St. Mary, Maple Park is constantly in need of people to be involved in our liturgy. We are very much in need of cantors, accompanists, choir members, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, lectors and altar servers. Make an effort to actively participate at Mass and step up! Online sign-up using SignUpGenius is available on this page.
Giving Thanks Potluck Dinner
Let us gather together and give thanks. Join us for a Potluck dinner after Mass on Saturday, November 23rd. We will have a family Advent wreath craft after dinner. Please see the sign up sheet in the back of church. If anyone has extra ribbon or other decorative items that you would like to donate, please feel free to leave at the back of church! Questions, please contact Sarah McGreer: sjc_runner@yahoo.com.
Saturday, November 23
Classes Sundays, 9:15-10:30 AM
Religious Education News
CALENDAR:
Sunday, November 17 CLASS
Sunday, November 24 NO CLASS
Sunday, December 1 CLASS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Advent youth reconciliation
December 15, 9:20-10:20 AM
Prepare: We have all probably helped prepare our children for reconciliation. We need to help them examine their conscience without overwhelming them. Pope Francis reminded us that the confessional “is not a torture chamber, but the place in which the Lord’s mercy motivates us to do better.” So very often our children just don’t know what to say. Or maybe they never have had somebody help form their conscience so they don’t see any sin. ( Project YM/ Fr M. Schneider) In the next few weeks, take time to go over the 10 Commandments with our youth. As a family, as Advent grows near, together renew our relationship with Christ.
Advent is just around the corner! Advent Reflection December 5
Do you know the names of the 12 apostles? They were Jesus’ closest friends and they should be some of our greatest friends too. Come to our Advent talk and listen to Fr. Randy Fronek to learn a sure-fire method of learning the names of the Apostles using Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper painting. You won’t believe how much fun it is to memorize the names of the Twelve. The Advent reflection will be on Thursday, December 5th at 7:00 PM at Sts. Peter and Paul Church.
Seeking Music Director
We are seeking a part-time Music Director. Services are on Saturday evening at 4:00 PM and on Sunday morning at 8:00 AM. Applicant also needs to be available for Holy Days of Obligation and occasional funerals and weddings. Please contact Fr. Ariel at 815-505-7471 or the Parish Office at 815-827-3205 for more information.
Remember Your Parish...
Please remember St. Mary’s with a gift in your will or estate plan. -
From the desk of Msgr. Tom Dzielak (November 17, 2019)
YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF, O GOD, AND OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN YOU[St Augustine, THE CONFESSIONS]In this Sunday’s readings we hear much about the fact that human history and human life will end at some time in the future. From the earliest days of Christianity people were curious about “when will it be?” And the only answer of Jesus, echoed by St. Paul and the writers of the early Church, is “You won’t know in advance. That’s not your business. Your business is to be occupied with following Christ and allowing Him to bring about the kingdom of God in this world through you. God the Father knows when the world will end, and it’s His business.” Of course, people still keep trying to find out, and always failing in their quest.
Our task in life is to open ourselves to a personal, living relationship with Jesus, and to do whatever we can to live as He teaches us. He warns us that following Him in this life will not be easy: It will lead to your giving testimony. ...You will be hated by all because of my name [Luke 21:13...17b] in today’s Gospel].
It may seem strange that people will hate us because of Jesus. How could anyone hate Jesus, who is so kind and forgiving and tolerant of sinners? Because He is always a challenge to the human sin of trying to be our own gods, which is the temptation of Original Sin in the heart of every person born into this world after our first parents disobeyed God’s authority. Jesus would have none of this rejection of God’s authority, even to the point of obedience unto death.
Human beings participate in Original Sin when they live by the idea that “I have the right to determine the meaning and purpose of my own life,” as one of our Supreme Court justices once expressed it. Jesus, and anyone who is faithful to Him, says, “No, you don’t. God created us and He tells us both why He created us and what is the purpose of our life.” Those are the two opposing attitudes that make the claim of how good and evil are to be defined. The attitudes are incompatible, and that’s why those who are faithful to Christ will be hated by all those who reject Him. -
From the Desk of Deacon Greg Urban (November 17, 2019)
Church Stained Glass Window Work
The work installing exterior vented clear-glass on the nine windows (five windows on the North side of the church and the four windows in the upper church sanctuary (altar area)) has been completed. The cost for this phase of work was $80,000. Through your generosity and our fundraising activities (many thanks to our volunteers and guests!), we had the funds on-hand to complete this work. There are ten more windows on the South and East (front) sides of the church that will still require this work when we raise additional funds.
The Diocese has granted us permission that monies we receive for “Stained-Glass” will be exempt from diocesan tax (used as a basis of setting our diocesan appeal goal) until December 31, 2020. Therefore, we ask that you use the “stained-glass” offering envelope, online giving selection, or write “stained-glass” on your checks for contributions for the window work. We sincerely thank you for your past donations and ask for your continued generous support in this endeavor to help properly maintain our beautiful church building. -
Word on Fire
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