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Mass Schedule
Due to the coronavirus quarantine, by direction of Bishop David J. Malloy, all public Masses have been suspended until further notice. Fr. Ariel will be livestreaming the Palm Sunday and Holy Week Masses on Facebook from SS. Peter & Paul parish. Please see his article below for the schedule. -
Today's Readings
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Reading 1 Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56Gospel Jn 8:31-42
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Bp. Barron's Lent Reflections
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Friends, in today’s Gospel the Lord tells some Jewish leaders that they are enslaved to sin and that the truth will set them free. Jesus was distinguishing between sins and sin, between the...
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From the Desk of Fr. Ariel Valencia (March 29, 2020)
The Lion's Roar
Since public Masses are not allowed due to the coronavirus quarantine, I will be livestreaming Masses from SS. Peter and Paul on Palm Sunday and Holy Week. On Palm Sunday the Mass will be livestreamed at 9 AM. On Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper will be livestreamed at 7:30 PM. On Good Friday there will be a Passion of the Lord service livestreamed at 3 PM. The Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday will be livestreamed beginning at 7:30 PM and on Easter Sunday the Mass will be livestreamed at 9 AM. Please join me at:
https://www.facebook.com/ariel.a.valencia
We will also offer confessions at both St. Mary's and SS. Peter and Paul from 5 to 7 PM on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week. Confessions will be held in the sacristies of each church maintaining 6 ft. separation. However, note that no more than 10 persons can be present in the church at a time and proper separation must be maintained. -
Online Giving
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Parish Calendar
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March 30 - April 3All public Masses through Easter have been suspended per directive of the bishop.Read More
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Sunday, April 5Public Masses through Easter have been suspended per directive of the bishop. Palm Sunday Mass will be livestreamed from SS. Peter and Paul beginning at 9 AM.Read More
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Thursday, April 9Mass of the Lord's Supper will be livestreamed from SS. Peter and Paul beginning at 7:30 PM.Read More
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Friday, April 10Passion of the Lord service will be livestreamed from SS. Peter and Paul beginning at 3 PM.Read More
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Saturday, April 11Easter Vigil Mass will be livestreamed from SS. Peter and Paul beginning at 7:30 PM.Read More
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Sunday, April 12Public Masses through Easter have been suspended per directive of the bishop. Mass will be livestreamed from SS. Peter and Paul beginning at 9 AM.Read More
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From the desk of Msgr. Tom Dzielak (March 29, 2020)
Daily Prayer for our Country
Stations of the Cross 2
Stations of the Cross 3
YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF, O GOD, AND OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN YOU[St Augustine, THE CONFESSIONS]Today’s passage from the Gospel According to John tells us, When Jesus heard this (that Lazarus was ill) he said “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.[ 11:4-5].
This, of course, is the great story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Jesus deliberately delayed two days going to the aid of Lazarus, then went to raise him from the grave.
This incident in the life of Jesus reminds us that friendship with Jesus does not mean that someone who suffers has done something wrong, as many people apparently believed ages ago—or even today, in the case of some people. We are in the midst of a struggle against a great illness attacking the world, the Coronavirus. Like some others who have mentioned it to me, I am tempted to think that this pandemic is God punishing us for our sins. But I think we have to be cautious about that idea, since Jesus doesn’t portray our heavenly Father as someone who wants to take revenge upon us for our sins; just the opposite, for He sent His only-begotten Son to die for us to save us from our sins.
But a question might be raised: did God make Lazarus terminally ill so that Jesus could raise him from the dead? In his Commentary on the Gospel of John, St. Cyril of Alexandria (a Father of the Church) said: “This is not to say that the sickness came on Lazarus so that God would be glorified, for it would be silly to say this, but rather, since the sickness had come upon Lazarus, Jesus foresaw the wonderful conclusion to Lazarus’ illness.” [ANCIENT CHRISTIAN COMMENTARY ON SCRIPTURE, New Testament IVb, John 11-21, p. 4, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 2007].
Whatever else the situation might be in this time of our severe crisis of health, it is certainly a time to think about life and death, about any human decisions that brought about or aided the spread of this virus, and about the meaning of our lives. The work of so much dedication to control and conquer this attack show us the good that is found in humanity. At the same time, there is still much evil in the world that continues in the midst of this crisis. We would do well to remember that while many people are suffering and/or dying from the coronavirus, the grisly killing of unborn infants dwarfs the deaths from the virus: the Planned Parenthood Report for 2019 reported 345,672 abortions (947 abortions per day), an increase of almost 13,000 more than in 2018. Let’s pray to God that we find an answer to the coronavirus attack long before it even approaches such number...and let’s pray that unborn infants receive as much compassion as victims of the virus. May God, who does not cause us to be ill, use this crisis to bring about the good we need to gain from it. -
From the Desk of Deacon Greg Urban
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 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 the necessary additional funds.
The Diocese has granted us permission that donations we receive for “Stained-Glass” will be exempt from the diocesan assessment (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.
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Act of Spiritual Communion
It is a beautiful and praiseworthy tradition to recite an act of spiritual communion when one is unable, for whatever reason, to receive Holy Communion. Below is an act of spiritual communion composed by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri.
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen. -
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Parish News & Events
Updates due to Coronavirus Quarantine
Since public Masses are not allowed due to the coronavirus quarantine, Fr. Ariel will be livestreaming Masses from SS. Peter and Paul on Palm Sunday and Holy Week. On Palm Sunday the Mass will be livestreamed at 9 AM. On Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper will be livestreamed at 7:30 PM. On Good Friday there will be a Passion of the Lord service livestreamed at 3 PM. The Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday will be livestreamed beginning at 7:30 PM and on Easter Sunday the Mass will be livestreamed at 9 AM. Please join him at: https://www.facebook.com/ariel.a.valencia
Msgr. Dzielak and Fr. Ariel will offer confessions at St. Mary's and SS. Peter and Paul respectively from 5 to 7 PM on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week. Confessions will be held in the sacristies of each church maintaining 6 ft. separation. However, note that no more than 10 persons can be present in the church at a time and proper separation must be maintained.
IMPORTANT MESSAGES FROM BISHOP DAVID J. MALLOY
Bishop Malloy’s Holy Week, Easter Services Online Schedule
To comply with Vatican and state guidance about group gatherings during this time of pandemic, Bishop David Malloy has cancelled all in-person Masses and other prayer gatherings in the Rockford Diocese until further notice. In accord with general instruction from the Holy See in celebrating Holy Week and Easter, the following liturgies will be celebrated and streamed live from the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford. The Triduum and Easter celebrations can be seen via the Diocese Rockford Facebook page and at the diocesan website, www.rockforddiocese.org . (Note: Holy Thursday and Good Friday will also be streamed live on the Diocese of Rockford YouTube Channel)Bishop Malloy's Holy Week Schedule
** STATEMENT UPDATED AS OF 1:00 PM, 3/26/2020 **
Bishop Malloy issues new statment regarding indulgences.
Bishop Malloy's Letter & Indulgence Statement
** STATEMENT UPDATED AS OF 2:30 PM, 3/20/2020 **
Bishop Malloy issues new directives to priests for Churches, Holy Week and Easter
Bishop David J. Malloy today issued new directives to priests and pastors of the 104 parishes in the 11-county Diocese of Rockford. In an effort to cooperate with the ever-changing guidelines being issued by local state and national health and government authorities in regard to the coronavirus pandemic, Bishop Malloy is instructing his priests on compliance measures in regard to the celebration of the sacraments and other gatherings including all services planned for Holy Week and Easter. These directives may be changed at any time as new direction is received.
Bishop Malloy's Letter
Vatican Letter
Diocesan Cancellations AND Postponements
Easter Flowers Available to Purchase
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak and the suspension of public Mass in churches on Easter we have 22 lilies and 6 tulip plants in the need of a good home. If you are interested in having a plant, Anne Carson will be in the Novak Center on Saturday, April 4th from 4:00 to 5:00 pm and on Sunday, April 5th from 8:00 to 9:00 am. Since we still need to observe social distancing, please drive up to the back of the Novak Center and Anne will take your order. The suggested donation for the plants are $10 each, so that we can cover the cost of purchasing them. If you have any questions or would like to place an order please call the Parish Office 815-827-3205 and leave a message or call Anne Carson at 815-901-1764. God Bless!
Mass Intentions
Please remember your loved ones with a Mass intention. We can pray for anyone, they do not have to be deceased. It can be for a wedding anniversary or birthday, a Mass of Thanksgiving, or any other special intention. Weekend Masses fill up quickly, but we do have daily Masses each week that are available. You can also use these Masses while you are away and cannot be here to pray for those loved ones. Please call or stop in the parish office for more information.
New Parishioners Welcome!
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.
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! Contact Deacon Greg if you feel called to serve in a ministry.
Volunteers - We Need You!
Religious Education NewsClasses Sundays, 9:15-10:30 AM
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all RE classes have been cancelled until further notice.
Remember Your Parish...
Please remember St. Mary’s with a gift in your will or estate plan. -
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Word on Fire
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Catholic Link
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Catholic News Service
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Chaz Muth By WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Here is a sampling of Masses, Stations of the Cross, meditations and other devotions being livestreamed by dioceses and other groups around country...
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IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Margie Legows By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens and residents were abroad as news of the rapid spread of COVID-19 dispersed almost as...
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