St. Mary of the Assumption

Maple Park, Illinois

Weekend public Masses with limited capacity have resumed.  Mass on Sunday, August 2, will also be live-streamed on Facebook at 8 AM.

Weekday public Mass is currently being celebrated on Wednesdays at 8 AM.

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!

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, August 2, will also be live-streamed on Facebook at 8 AM. 

Public daily Mass is celebrated on Wednesdays here at 8 AM.

We will have a viewing and discussion on Bishop's Barron presentation on the sacraments. It will be on Sunday nights, 5:30 pm in the parish center. The dates are July 19, July 26 and August 2.
 

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The Lion's Roar

To continue our series on prayer, I want to share the five-finger prayer.

Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. “To pray for our loved ones is”, as C. S. Lewis once said, “a sweet duty.”

The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, educators and doctors. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction.

The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God’s guidance.

The fourth finger is our ring finger. This is our weakest finger. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

And lastly comes the little finger. Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

   

COVID-19 Updates

• Mass on Sunday, August 2, will be live-streamed on Facebook at 8 AM.
• Daily Mass: Public daily Mass is currently being celebrated on Wednesdays at 8 AM.
• Anchor: Episode 17 - Visit with our priests Thursday, August 6, on Facebook at 11:30 AM.
• Bishop Robert Barron's "The Sacraments" - We will have a viewing and discussion on Bishop's Barron presentation on the sacraments. It will be on Sunday nights, 5:30 pm in the parish center. The dates are July 19, July 26 and August 2.
• Church Open Hours

• Confession Schedule

   

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RE Registration for 2020/2021 Open!

Plans have been made to safely restart Religious Education for our families this fall! There will be two available Religious Education options: 1) In-person classes following appropriate safety guidelines at St. Mary's Novak Center, and 2) Home Schooling. Click on the picture at left for links to opening plans, calendar, and appropriate registration forms.
 

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IMPORTANT MESSAGES FROM BISHOP DAVID J. MALLOY

** Bishop Malloy Announces Plan to Reopen Churches for Public Mass **

Bishop Malloy has issued a new statement on May 13 about plans, procedures and restrictions for opening churches within the Diocese of Rockford.

Letter from Bishop Malloy and Executive Summary for reopening churches

** STATEMENT UPDATED AS OF 8:00 AM, 4/9/2020 **

Bishop Malloy has issued a new statement extending dispensation past Easter.

Bishop Malloy's Dispensation Statement 

To comply with Vatican and state guidance about group gatherings during this time of pandemic, Bishop David Malloy has cancelled all in-person Masses and other prayer gatherings in the Rockford Diocese until further notice. 

Diocesan Cancellations AND Postponements

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2020 Diocesan Annual Appeal 

Thanks to all of you who regularly participate in this annual appeal. Your gifts truly make a difference! Every gift, no matter how small, brings us closer to our diocesan goal of $11,487. We need everyone’s participation to achieve this goal! If you would like to donate you can do so at the diocese online giving system at: www.rockforddiocese.org/donate, or you can mail your donation to the parish office. We are truly grateful and blessed by all who hear His voice and give sacrificially of their treasure to St. Mary’s Parish and to this annual diocesan appeal.

NOTE: 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.
 

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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 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! Contact the parish office if you feel called to serve in a ministry.
 

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Religious Education News

Plans have been made to safely restart Religious Education for our families this fall! You can choose in-person classes following appropriate safety guidelines or home school.  The reopening plans document, RE calendar, and appropriate Registration Forms can be found by going to the RE web page by clicking on the picture at right or using the menu at the top of this page.
 

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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

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 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 the necessary 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.