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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 Wis 2:23–3:9Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19Gospel Lk 17:7-10
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From the Desk of Fr. Ariel Valencia (November 10, 2019)
The Lion's Roar
St. John Paul II once said: “Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence.” The saints have a lot to tell us about gratitude and they inspire us to develop this attitude. Here are more saintly quotes.- “Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward and learning to enjoy whatever life has, and this requires transforming greed into gratitude.” (St. John Chrysostom)
- “The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.” (St. Teresa of Calcutta)
- “The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness.”(St. Gianna Beretta Molla)
- “Jesus does not demand great action from us but simply surrender and gratitude.” (St. Therèse of Lisieux)
- “Thank God ahead of time.” (Blessed Solanus Casey)
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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 17Saturday, 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, 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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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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Sunday, December 15Saturday, 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/Bob Roller By Rhina Guidos BALTIMORE (CNS) -- In a brief presentation Nov. 11 to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Boston's Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley told the bishops gathered...
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Carol Zimmermann BALTIMORE (CNS) -- In his final address as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston told...
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Dennis Sadowski BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, said Catholic clergy and lay leaders can play a role in bringing together people along the...
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National Catholic Register
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By Victor Gaetan | The Law and Justice Party (PiS) has governed Poland since 2015 and retained control of the powerful Sejm, the lower house of Poland’s parliament, in mid-October parliamentary...
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By Patti Armstrong | In the aftermath of the Amazon Synod, many Catholics are still disturbed about the Pachamama statues which were bowed down to at Vatican events and later thrown into the Tiber...
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By Bree A. Dail | WASHINGTON — Four exorcists have issued a joint statement asking Catholics worldwide to dedicate Dec. 6 as a day of fasting, prayer and reparation, “for the purpose of driving...
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Parish News & Events
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.
Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets, made donations and volunteered at the Harvest Drawdown! The two lucky winners were: Steve Gonzalez and Michael Wurtz, and the winner of the Hawaii Vacation Raffle was Markelle Turk.
St. Mary’s Harvest Drawdown & Hawaii Raffle Saturday, November 2nd
Classes Sundays, 9:15-10:30 AM
Religious Education News
CALENDAR:
Sunday Nov. 10 CLASS
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.
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.
Giving Thanks Potluck Dinner
Saturday, November 23
Special Collection for Military Services
November 9th & 10th, there will be a special collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. This unique Archdiocese is faced with many challenges, including a severe shortage of Catholic priest-chaplains, a flock spread out among military installations across the world, and constant transitions. The AMS receives no funding from the military or the government and must rely solely on private donors. Catholic service members and their families, and veterans cared for in a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, deserve the same faith opportunities as Catholics here at home; their faith should not be part of the sacrifices they make. Please be generous in your support!
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.
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. -
From the desk of Msgr. Tom Dzielak (November 10, 2019)
YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF, O GOD, AND OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN YOU[St Augustine, THE CONFESSIONS]Over the course of my almost-56 years in the priesthood I have been privileged to fulfill many ministries in the diocese. One of them was as a part-time worker in the Diocesan Tribunal, where I served for some years as an Advocate and several years as an Associate Judge. The job of the Advocate was to write up and present the cases on behalf of those seeking a Declaration of Nullity (commonly called an “annulment,” although that term is not quite correct). The job of the Associate Judge was to meet with two other Judges and make decisions about whether a Declaration of Nullity was able to be granted or had to be rejected because the evidence of the case did not show that the grounds of the case were demonstrated.
I mention my experience in the Tribunal because there might be some people who read this who are wondering whether it would be possible for a Declaration of Nullity to be granted to them. As you know (or should know), someone who is divorced cannot re-marry validly in the Church unless a Declaration of Nullity has been granted. Without being validly married, a divorced and remarried person is not eligible to receive Holy Communion. Note that the fact that a person has been divorced does not in itself prevent him/her from receiving Communion unless they enter an invalid civil marriage after the divorce.
If anyone has any questions about the issue of a Declaration of Nullity, you are most welcome to contact me. I can ordinarily tell you whether you have a case for such a decision once I know the circumstances of your situation. I should also be able to answer most, if not all, of your questions about this process. I also encourage anyone who is divorced and knows for certain that the marriage cannot be reconciled to look into the possibility of a Declaration of Nullity as soon as possible, so that if he/she desires to marry again, their situation will be clear.
A Declaration of Nullity is not like a civil divorce, which usually is just up to the desire of the one seeking it, but rather is based upon the presence or absence at the time of the marriage of the conditions required for a marriage to be valid and binding for life. -
From the Desk of Deacon Greg Urban (October 27, 2019)
Church Stained Glass Window Work
The Buildings and Grounds Committee has proposed that we continue restoration work on the church’s 100+ year-old stained-glass and clear exterior windows.
Some time ago, the Committee presented a proposal to the Pastoral and Finance Councils at a combined meeting to finish rebuilding all the exterior clear windows that help protect the interior stained glass. This work should delay the need for rebuilding more internal stained-glass windows. This exterior work has been completed on the several stained-glass windows that have already been rebuilt.
UPDATE...
The work installing vented clear-glass on the five exterior 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 most of the funds on-hand to complete this work. We did NOT require borrowed funds. There are several more windows on the South and East (front) sides of the church that will still require this work when additional funds become available.
For your information, 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 generous support in this endeavor to help properly maintain our church. -
2019 Diocesan Annual Appeal
Your gift to the 2019 Diocesan Appeal supports ministries like these: Seminarian Education, Lay Ministry Formation, College Campus Ministry, Retired Priests, Life & Family Evangelization, Youth Ministry, Religious Education, Catholic Charities, St. Elizabeth Center, Deaf Apostolate Ministry, and many more!
It is important that every family participate. Thank you for giving generously!
Click here to view the 2019 Diocesan Appeal Video
Click here to securely donate online -
Word on Fire
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