St. Mary of the Assumption

Maple Park, Illinois

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.

Weekend Masses have resumed. 

Mass on Sunday will also be live-streamed on Facebook at 8 AM. 

Daily Masses are celebrated here on Wednesdays & Thursdays at 8 AM.
 

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The Lion's Roar

Step one to a life of prayer is showing up. Make that commitment to pray, to commune with God, to have a conversation with God. 

Fr. James Martin, SJ, offers in his book Learning to Pray several reasons to pray. Hopefully, one or more will get you going.
 

• First reason for prayer: God wants to be in a  relationship with you.
• A Second reason we pray: Because we want to be in relationship to God.
• A third reason: We have to. It is part of being human.
• A fourth reason: We are in need.
• A fifth reason: Prayer helps us. 
• A sixth reason: Prayer is a way to unburden ourselves when we’re feeling sad, angry, stressed or frustrated. 
• A seventh reason: Prayer helps us praise God. 
• An Eighth reason: Prayer is an act of solidarity.
• A ninth reason: We pray to be transformed. We are all human beings in need of God’s grace.

 
Okay, so why do you pray?

Have you signed up to receive St. Mary Flocknotes yet? We have a new system designed to keep our parishioners informed about the latest happenings, especially during this time when we can't meet in church. If you don't receive our Flocknotes click on the logo above to sign-up!

   

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! As we do each year on this second Sunday of May, we pay tribute to the natural institution of motherhood, recognizing the crucial importance of mothers in our lives. For those of us whose mothers have gone before us through the door of death, we offer our prayers that God will now have them in the fullness of His loving embrace. For our mothers who are living, we offer our prayers that they will continue to be blessed in their journey toward eternal happiness.

Like so many human occasions, the celebration of Mother’s Day means different things to different people, and stirs up different feelings and sensations. Each one of us has a mother or we wouldn’t be alive in the first place. For that we should be grateful, whatever our feelings.

For those whose mothers fulfilled their role with love, self-sacrifice and goodness, this day is rightfully a day to honor what they have contributed to our lives. Without disparaging the role of fathers, there is something about a mother’s love which is unique. G.K. Chesterton pointed out that “Nothing can ever overcome that one enormous sex (female) superiority that even the male child is born closer to his mother than to his father.” There are things we learn and experience from living with our mothers that come only from them.

Mother’s Day for others can be a painful day. Because mothers are human beings, none are perfect, and some are quite imperfect. To be rejected or harmed by one’s mother is among the most painful of human experiences. It takes prayer and a decision to trust in God’s love and mercy─both for dysfunctional mothers and those they have harmed─to be able to live a good life without being constantly burdened by past experiences of a lack of motherly nurturing.

It’s a sad aspect of our modern culture that motherhood is disparaged in so many circles. What healthy motherhood brings to society is crucial for the development of future generations, and we rightly observe it.

A word to anyone reading this who has had an abortion and is suffering from it. God’s forgiveness and love is there for every repented sin, including abortion. There is a wonderful post-abortion ministry of the Church called Rachel’s Vineyard for those suffering guilt and/or hurt from an abortion. It has brought peace to many mothers who suffered post-abortion effects. Perhaps aborted children are enabled by God to pray for their mothers; that would seem to be something our loving God would do.

Important News Items

• Anchor: Episode 54 - Visit with our priests this Thursday, May 13, on Facebook at 11:30 AM.
• Mass on Sunday will be live-streamed on Facebook at 8 AM.

• Daily Mass: Daily Masses are currently being celebrated here on Wednesdays & Thursdays at 8 AM.
• Church Open Hours

• Confession Schedule

• Year of St. Joseph - In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St. Joseph.”  It is a wonderful opportunity to increase our love for St. Joseph and knowledge, “to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal" (Patris Corde). Fr. Ariel has assembled a worship aid and we encourage you to Down-load it here and use it during the year. You may also pick-up a printed copy at church.

 

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2021 Diocesan Appeal

Every parish in our diocese participated in the 2021 Diocesan Appeal commitment weekend on May 1 & 2. This important campaign has a tremendous impact on the ministries and programs that are offered in each parish throughout the diocese. This year’s Diocesan Appeal theme is “Bear Much Fruit.” As Jesus teaches us, he is the vine and we are the branches. When we remain close to him, we are capable of incredible things in this world. Every year, the Diocesan Appeal raises money that directly supports many ministries, programs, and services throughout the diocese. These programs include Catholic Charities, seminarian formation, Catholic Schools, and so much more. Please prayerfully consider making a gift to the 2021 Diocesan Appeal. Every gift makes a profound difference in the life of our parish and entire diocese. We invite you to watch the Diocesan Appeal 2021 video which can be found near the top of this page.  Click here to donate or make a pledge online.
  

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Religious Education

Sundays 9:15-10:30 AM

Please pray for our Confirmation
students who were Confirmed
on Wednesday, April 21st at
St. Catherine of Genoa.
      

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Important Messages from Bishop David J. Malloy

Vaccines and COVID 19

See this important note from our Diocesan Ethicist, Fr. Ken Wasilewski, regarding the new COVID-19 Vaccines:

As concerns about the Coronavirus continue, and talk of an imminent vaccine becomes more prevalent, there are a few moral questions about the vaccine which have also arisen. These really come down to two basic areas: first, how a given vaccine is developed, and secondly, the morality of receiving that vaccine (or not receiving it). Generally speaking, the Church has long been a supporter of vaccine development and use. (more...)

Letter dated 3/5/21 from Bishop Malloy regarding use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine.
  

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Bishop David Malloy announced in a letter to all priests Oct. 8, a list of changes to the “Back in His Presence” guidelines issued in June of this year.

Bishop Malloy said in his letter that modifications to the original protocols are being made periodically “based in the experience that we gain as we live through this pandemic.”

After consultations with the Deans and with the Presbyteral Council, the following modifications have been made to “Back in His Presence.”   These changes were made effective for Masses beginning October 10-11, 2020.

Prior COVID-19 Statements from Bishop Malloy
Letter from Bishop Malloy and Executive Summary for reopening churches
Bishop Malloy's Dispensation Statement
Diocesan Cancellations AND Postponements

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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.
 

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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.
 

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Volunteers - We Need You!

The Catholic faith community of St. Mary, Maple Park is in need of people to be involved in our liturgy. During this time of COVID, we are in need of cantors, lectors, ushers, and greeters. Make an effort to actively participate at Mass and step up! Contact the parish office if you feel called to serve in a ministry.
 
 
  

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Remember Your Parish...

Just like for your family, during this time it is important that the parish continue paying its bills. While we are unable to gather in church, if you are able to continue your Sunday contributions to the parish, please mail them to: PO Box 70, Maple Park, IL 60151, or use our Online Giving service. Thanks and may God bless you and your family during this difficult time!

Please also remember St. Mary’s with a gift in your will or estate plan.

Church Stained Glass Window Work (Update)

We continue to raise funds to install exterior vented clear-glass on the remaining ten windows on the South and East (front) areas of the church. We just received a quote on finishing these remaining windows from the proposed contractor, Daprado Rigali, in the amount of $50,000. At the combined Pastoral Council and Buildings and Grounds on November 11, based upon recommendation of the committees, Fr. Ariel approved proceeding. The work will begin this coming spring or summer. Through your generosity and our fundraising activities (many thanks to our volunteers and donors!), we will have most of the funds to complete this phase of work. That being said, we will continue to raise funds to pay for this work and save for rebuilding the actual interior stained glass as it is deemed necessary.

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, 2024.  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.