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 with limited capacity have resumed. 

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

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

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The Lion's Roar

A fruitful practice, to be really invested in the season of Advent, is to read the daily Scripture readings for Mass. It is very worthwhile to read God’s word everyday and to do so together with the whole church. Whether we attend daily Mass in-person or online, the Scripture readings draw us into the season and feed our souls.

What you will find in the daily Scripture readings is this tandem of prophecy and fulfillment. The first reading from Old Testament will feature a prophecy and the Gospel from the New Testament will show the fulfillment of that prophecy. A good example is the Scripture for Tuesday of the First Week of Advent. The prophet Isaiah in the first reading speaks of a feast on the mountain of the Lord, a feast of “rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.” In the Gospel, Jesus feeds the multitude on the mountain. There was abundant sustenance in that there were seven baskets full of leftovers.

What God promises God fulfills. Jesus said he will return and so we are confident that it will happen. Advent season is a time of waiting for and expectation of that promise. In the meantime, read the Bible. God wants to speak to you.

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The word of God on this second Sunday of Advent centers on the call to repentance. This is a continuous call for the Church throughout its history. Jesus warned that until He comes again in judgment the world will be filled with a mixture of good and evil (see Matthew 13:24-30 and 13:36-48). It is worth noting that throughout Christian history in the appearances of Jesus, as well as those of Mary, the message is consistently proclaimed: there is sin in the world and we are to repent for the human rebellion against the lordship of God. God’s mercy is there, but repentance is required.

The good news is that Jesus insists that God’s mercy is available to those who seek it. The bad news is that there are so many who refuse this message and the offer of mercy. For some it’s a matter of unbelief in God. For others it’s a matter of the enjoyment of sin, which always presents itself under the disguise of what is good.

Jesus pointed out that there is an enemy at work among us, a spiritual enemy we call Satan or the Devil. The word “Satan” in Hebrew means “the adversary,” or in our terms we might say “the prosecuting attorney.” Satan is not some comic figure with horns and a forked tail. Satan is a fallen angel, one with an intelligence far greater than ours. This angel wants nothing more than to draw us away from God, whom he hates and whom he wants everyone to hate. He preys on our human weaknesses and unholy desires.

The whole point of Jesus’ coming among us was to free us from our sins and to bring God’s mercy to us. Recall the words of 1 John 8: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Hear the words of St. Paul in Galatians 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

As we look forward to the celebration of the birth of Jesus, may we remember why He humbled Himself to assume our human nature. Let’s do works of repentance, both for our own sins and those of others. Eternal joy or misery is at stake.

Important News Items

• 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.
• Anchor: Episode 34 - Visit with our priests on Thursday, December 10, on Facebook at 11:30 AM.
• Church Open Hours

• Confession Schedule

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Religious Education

Five to Skydive (indoor!)

Fulfill the following:

1. Memorize the Ten Commandments in order. (Look at the Catechism.)
2. Recite the prayers: The Lord’s Prayer, The Hail Mary, The Glory Be, The Apostles’ Creed, The Act of Contrition
3. Narrate three Gospel parables. (What Gospel is the parable from?)
4. Talk about five saints. Where is the saint from? When did the saint live? What is the saint a patron saint of?
5. Be familiar with the responses at Mass.

When you are ready, make an appointment with Fr. Ariel. Send him an email at: avalencia@rockforddiocese.org.

The first five students to successfully fulfill the requirements will be rewarded with a spot to go indoor skydiving at iFLY, Naperville.

Day and time will be on an agreed upon schedule.
  

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Important Messages from Bishop David J. Malloy

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

“Prayer is an aspiration of the heart. It is a simple glance directed to Heaven. It is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy.” –St. Therese Lisieux

This continues to be a difficult year for so many as our world has been upended by a global pandemic. Even as we experience hardships, sadness and the stress of our sacrifices, we still recognize that God walks with us, seeks to heal our ills and loves us at all times, good and bad.

For that reason, despite being tried by so many challenges this year, we give thanks to God. Spending time in prayer allows us the opportunity to pause and recall the ways we see God’s goodness, mercy and love.

During this season of Thanksgiving, I invite you to submit your prayer intentions online or through the mail so that I can offer it up to the Lord in my prayers throughout the year, as well as during Masses offered at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in the Diocesan Administration Building.

Email: prayerintentions@RockfordDiocese.org

Mail:
Prayer Intentions
Diocese of Rockford
PO Box 7044
Rockford, IL 61125‐7044
 
May the Lord bless you and your loved ones.

Most Reverend David J. Malloy
Bishop of Rockford 

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.