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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 Gn 3:9-15, 20Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4Reading 2 Eph 1:3-6, 11-12Gospel Lk 1:26-38
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From the Desk of Fr. Ariel Valencia (December 8, 2019)
The Lion's Roar
One Advent tradition is going to confession. Advent, like Lent, has a penitential element. We observe Advent and prepare for the coming of Christ by making space for Jesus in our lives and letting go of our sins, bad choices and mistakes, and we do that by celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Our parish reconciliation service will be on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00pm in church. In celebrating as a community, we are saying that we are all in this together. We confess that we are in need of God’s mercy and are confident that forgiveness is always available. St. Charles Borromeo said; “When we remove all obstacles to God’s presence, God will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his grace.”
The reconciliation service at Sts. Peter and Paul, Virgil is on December 9, Monday at 7:00pm. Please make an effort to be reconciled! -
Bp. Barron's Advent Reflections
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Friends, today’s Gospel presents John the Baptist as a revolutionary. Advent is best understood as a preparation for a revolution. The liturgical readings for this time of the year—focusing on Isaiah,
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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:
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, 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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Sunday, December 22Saturday, Adoration 2:45 PM, Confessions 3:00-3:45 PM, Mass 4:00 PM; Sunday, Mass 8:00 AMRead More
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Tuesday, December 24Christmas Masses today will be at 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM.Read More
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Wednesday, December 25Christmas Mass today will be at 8:00 AM. Blessed Christmas to all!Read More
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Sunday, December 29Saturday, 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/Tyler Orsburn By WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. Supreme Court Dec. 9 declined to take up a challenge to a Kentucky ultrasound law that requires a physician or qualified technician to...
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a move that may signal Pope Francis' plan for the reform of the Roman Curia is close to completion, the pope has named Philippine...
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Parish News & Events
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.
New Parishioners Welcome!
St. Mary's Annual Cookie Sale December 14
St. Mary's annual sale will be held on December 14th from 9-11 AM in the Novak Center. EACH FAMILY IS ASKED TO DONATE AT LEAST 6 DOZEN HOMEMADE COOKIES. Drop off in the Novak Center all day on Friday, December 13th. People come from all over the area, every year, to our cookie sale. They love your cookies!
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.
Religious Education NewsClasses Sundays, 9:15-10:30 AM
CALENDAR:
Sunday December 8, CLASS
Sunday December 15, CLASS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
2019 Christmas Children's Choir Practice Dates:
Sunday, December 8th from 10:30 to 11:45 AM in the Novak Center.
Sunday, December 15th from 10:30 to 11:45 AM in the Choir Loft.
Sunday, December 22nd from 9:15 AM to TBD in the Choir Loft.
Advent Youth Reconciliation:
Sunday, December 15, from 9:20-10:20 AM
Father Ariel and Father George will be available for Confessions.
Advent Reconciliation Services
Saints Peter and Paul: Monday, December 9 at 7:00 PM
St. Mary of the Assumption: Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 PM
Filipino Community's "Simbang Gabi"
You are invited to celebrate at the Simbang Gabi Mass on Monday, December 16th at 7:00 PM, at SS. Peter and Paul in Virgil. The Filipino community celebrates a nine day novena Mass from December 15 until December 23. Each evening the Mass is held at a church in the Fox Valley and DeKalb area. Come and experience the joy this Advent season.
Newman Student Center Annual Christmas Sale!
Rita Brown Book and Gift Store at the Newman Catholic Student Center in DeKlalb. 25% off all CHRISTMAS and Advent items, Including Nativity sets, ornaments, cards, and books. 20% off everything else in the store, including crucifixes, statues, rosaries and framed pictures. From Saturday, November 30th (after the 4:30 PM Mass ) until Friday, December 20th. Open daily from 10 AM—4 PM Saturday, before and after 4:30 PM Mass and Sunday, before and after 8:00 AM Mass & 10:45 AM Mass.
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. -
From the desk of Msgr. Tom Dzielak (December 1, 2019)
YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF, O GOD, AND OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN YOU[St Augustine, THE CONFESSIONS]This Sunday we celebrate the “New Year’s Day” of the Catholic Church: the first day of the season of Advent. I suspect that Advent gets lost today in the lives of many Catholics, for from even before Halloween we are beginning to be soaked in the secular “Christmas spirit.” The toys and gifts are in the stores, the Christmas music begins to be played, civic decorations are put up, and so forth.
In one sense all this to-do about Christmas which begins more and more earlier has an appropriate context. It is focused on the coming of Christmas on December 25, and so it unwittingly witnesses to the long yearning of the Jewish people for the coming of the Messiah.
But in the wonderful book Benedictus: Day by Day with Pope Benedict XVI (which would be a wonderful Christmas gift for someone!), our Pope Emeritus pointed out that our word “Advent” translates a Greek word that means “presence” or “arrival.” That means that Advent not so much about waiting for the coming of Christ, but rather recognizing that Christ has already come and is now present in our world, although His final coming is in the future.
During this Advent season preparing for December 25, how will you and your families celebrate the presence of Jesus in your lives now, and build a life that also looks forward to His final coming? -
From the Desk of Deacon Greg Urban (November 17, 2019)
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 on-hand 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 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. -
Word on Fire
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