St. Mary of the Assumption

Maple Park, Illinois

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Sometimes we may be tempted to be discouraged because of the many people who were baptized into the Catholic Church and raised in it by their families, but have now abandoned the Church either for no organized religious community whatever (the so-called “Nones,” who see themselves as “spiritual”, but not
“religious”), or to join other religious communities, Protestant or non-Christian. This should, of course, bring sadness into our hearts, for to reject Jesus as the one “Way, Truth and Life” is a serious matter. We rightly fear for the eternal salvation of those people and ought to pray for them daily.

There is plenty of negative news about the Catholic Church, and the Church is frequently blamed for almost anything wrong in the world.

But there is good news as well as bad news, for many people are embracing the Catholic Faith. A former Protestant pastor and convert to the Catholic Church, Marcus Grodi, established a ministry to help men and women come into the Church, or to “revert” (come back to the Catholic Church after leaving it). You may have seen his interviews on his EWTN television program, “The Journey Home.” His ministry is the Coming Home Network, and it is doing marvelous work.
 
Here’s some good news from Marcus Grodi’s work that ought to inspire us to turn to God with grateful hearts for our own faith.

Cecile, a Catholic convert says, “Today we celebrated my first year as a confirmed Catholic! What an ocean of grace I have received since them….I was thinking how rich I am as a Catholic...how much I am a spiritual billionaire! Praise God!”

Karen, a woman on the journey, says, “I grow in understanding and receive divine inspiration every single day. I only wish I could live another whole entire lifetime as a Catholic, but some of us are late bloomers.”

Dr Terry and Renee, a married couple who worked as medical missionaries for a Protestant Church and are now Catholic. Renee writes, ”When I walk into the Catholic Church in our town, I experience a sense of great reverence. He (i.e., Jesus in the Holy Eucharist) is worth everything I have given up. He is the Pearl of great price.”

As Jesus said, “The harvest is great, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2). In your prayers, ask the Lord to show our parish how we can be laborers of evangelization. That’s the mission of every parish. Ask God to show you how you can be a laborer in his harvest. We have a treasure from God that He wants to share with everyone.

Important Messages

• Parish Feast Day - This week on August 15th we celebrate The Assumption of Mary, our parish patronal feast day. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year as it falls on a Monday, but we encourage you to attend Mass here at 8:00 AM. To celebrate, please join us for a light refreshment of donuts and juice after the 8:00 AM Mass on Sunday, August 14th.
• The parish office will be closed for the feast day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Monday, August 15, 2022.
• COVID-19 Guidance - Masks are currently OPTIONAL for all church functions. Click here to view Bishop Malloy's memo to priests dated February 23, 2022.
• Church Cleaners Needed - Please follow the link to our Signup Genius page, Church Cleaning Schedule, if you are willing and able to help. 
• Daily Mass Schedule - Monday through Friday at 8:00 AM (unless otherwise announced)
• Confession Schedule - Wednesdays: 11:00 AM to 12:00 (Noon); Thursdays: 7:00 to 8:00 PM; Saturdays: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

 

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RCIA = Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

• Non-Catholics who want to find out more about the Catholic Faith
• Those who want to join the Catholic Church through Baptism, or Profession of Faith
• Those who were baptized Catholic as infants but never received religious education, Confirmation, or First Eucharist.

Are you or do you know someone who is interested in becoming Catholic? RCIA will begin in early September. Call the parish office. 
 

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Diocesan Appeal 2022

We encourage all parishioners to contribute to the 2022 Diocesan Stewardship Appeal.  See the video above from Bishop Malloy on the many ways this helps the Diocese and our parish. There are several ways to participate:

1. Complete the pledge envelope you received in the mail or pick one up at church and drop it in the mail
2. Give Online: www.rockforddiocese.org/donate
3. Text: “Donate” to 815-885-5806

Please accept our sincere thanks for all of your support to our parish and the Diocese through gifts of your time, talent, and treasure.
 

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Religious Education

Please return your Registration for our Religious Education Program for the 2022-2023 school year. You may pick up your registration forms in the back of the church, at the parish office or online at the link below. Tuition need not be paid at this time but please return them as soon as possible so that we know how much materials we need to purchase.

Classes are held on Sundays, 9:15-10:30 AM, in the Novak Center. Download the 2022/23 RE Calendar and Registration Form here. If you have questions, please call our RE Coordinator Leila Rivers at 815-827-3205 x3.
  

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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 hanksgiving, 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, it is important that the parish continue paying its bills. Please continue your Sunday contributions to the parish, by mail to: St. Mary Church, PO Box 70, Maple Park, IL 60151, or use our Online Giving service. Thanks and may God bless you!

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

Church Stained Glass Window Work (Update)

The latest phase of work installing vented clear protective glass over our beautiful sacred stained-glass windows is now complete. That being said, we will continue to raise funds for rebuilding the actual interior of our 100+ year-old stained-glass windows as this becomes 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 Annual 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.