St. Mary of the Assumption

Maple Park, Illinois

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

Weekday public Masses are currently being celebrated here on Wednesdays and Thursdays  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 will also be live-streamed on Facebook at 8 AM. 

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

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The Lion's Roar

Americans put a high priority on prayer. Studies consistently show that the vast majority of us pray frequently. 9 out of 10 persons pray at least once a week and 59 percent pray daily.

We have good reasons to pray. We intercede for others. An acquaintance contracted COVID19. A friend’s father died. Relatives of fellow parishioner got into an accident. A daughter gives birth prematurely. People in other states are suffering natural calamities. We bring all these to God in prayer.

We also pray for ourselves. To remain sane and holy in the midst of our current mess. To avoid giving into to despair. To suffer gently with a headache. To be able to let go. We ask God to hear our personal cries.

Jesuit spiritual writer Thomas H. Green suggests we characterize prayer as “opening the mind and heart to God.” With that description there is an element of responsiveness and receptivity, and that is what prayer leads us to—to do the will of the Father.

   

So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying “These last ones worked for only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’ s burden and the heat.” [Matthew 20:10-12] Another perplexing parable of our Lord! Who among us would not feel cheated when we have worked long and hard and were put on the same level as someone who worked just a small fraction of the time we put in? What’s going on here?

Two things are given for our consideration. One is the sin of envy.  Envy is different from its cousin jealousy. Jealousy focuses on things, while envy focuses on persons. Jealousy means there is something I want but don’t have. Jealousy doesn’t care if you have something as long as I can have it, too.

Envy goes beyond that, because envy not only wants something, but it doesn’t want you to have it. Envy is present when I’m unhappy because you have something, even if I also have it. Envy easily leads to sins of gossip and slander, and in extreme cases even to hatred and murder. That’s why Envy is called one of the Capital sins.

The second thing for our consideration is the generosity of God. It’s a reminder to us that nothing is due to us: everything, including our very lives, is a gift, a grace, from God. Everyone of us has to admit, “I didn’t ask to be born.” The very fact that I exist at all is only due to God loving me into existence.

Once I accept that as a fact, then I am free to live a life of gratitude for my life, without having to compare my situation with the situation of others. Since God is loving me into existence with every breath I take, I am never “cheated” by not having what someone else has or is. God’s love for me is personal and focused totally on what is good for me.

That’s not always easy to see when we find ourselves in distress, and we can well imagine ourselves echoing the words of Christ on the cross, My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? [Mark 15:34] But that prayer of Christ on the cross was answered by his resurrection, and that is the ultimate answer God gives to everyone who recognizes His sovereignty and trusts in His love. Those who put their trust in God will receive a reward far more than they can imagine.

COVID-19 Updates

• Mass on Sunday will be live-streamed on Facebook at 8 AM.
• Daily Mass: Public daily Masses are currently being celebrated on Wednesdays & Thursdays at 8 AM.
• Anchor: Episode 24 - Visit with our priests Thursday, September 24, on Facebook at 11:30 AM.
• Church Open Hours

• Confession Schedule

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St. Mary's Harvest Drawdown - November 7, 2020
Grand Prize $2500.00

We WILL be having our annual St. Mary’s Harvest Drawdown at the Novak Center on Saturday, November 7, 2020.  Like everything else this year, it will look a little different than past events.  The dinner will be a drive thru pick up from 4:30–7:00pm.  The Drawdown will be live-streamed on the parish Facebook page.

This is still our major fundraiser of the year.  Ticket prices have been reduced to $25.00 per ticket which includes your dinner and entry into the Drawdown.  The meal will be similar to the past.  You can choose 2 pork chops, 2 chicken pieces OR one of each.  If you buy additional tickets just to enter in the raffle just mark none under meal choice so we can get an accurate count for food.

The Grand Prize will be $2500.00 (with additional prizes awarded).

Tickets will be sold mainly online by way of our  Ticket Reservation Form.  After you submit the form you will need to either Pay Online by check, credit or debit card through our parish online giving system using "guest checkout" or by mailing a check to the parish office at: Drawdown, PO Box 70, Maple Park, IL 60151-0070.  When we receive your payment we will email you your ticket(s).  We will record and keep your stub for the drawdown, bring your email ticket for your dinner.  There will be limited physical tickets available for purchase from a committee member.  We encourage everyone to share this information on your social media.

We will try to hold an online silent auction as well.  All items must be dropped off by Sunday, Oct. 18th.  Please adhere to this deadline since it takes some time to enter everything into the online auction website.  We are looking for NEW items, gift baskets, and handmade items.  Please drop off on the table in the entry way when you come to Mass or in the kitchen of the Novak Center during office hours.

We are again asking for $25 Gift Cards/Certificates from stores, restaurants, etc.  Buying gift certificates from local businesses also helps them during this difficult time.  This year the gift certificates will be substituted for some of the cash prizes during the Drawdown.  Please drop off in the collection or at the parish office.
 

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Religious Education  2020/2021

One of the many precious gifts the Lord has given us are prayers to invite and praise God. All students MUST have our basic Catholic faith prayers memorized this coming year.

1. GLORY BE
2. HAIL MARY
3. OUR FATHER

We will also develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Rosary. YOU ARE THE PRIMARY TEACHER OF OUR FAITH. Please take time at home to say these prayers with your children everyday. Please pray for all our youth and volunteers.

God, our loving Father, thank you for all the ways you bless me. Help me to be aware that every person, place, and adventure I experience is an opportunity to love YOU more. Fill me with a desire to change and to grow, and give me the wisdom to choose to follow YOUR will.   AMEN
 

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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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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.

A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

Political Guidelines Brochure

As Catholics, we bring the richness of our faith to the public square. We draw from both faith and reason as we seek to affirm the dignity of the human person and the common good of all. With renewed hope, we, the Catholic Bishops of the United States, are re-issuing Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, our teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics, which provides guidance for all who seek to exercise their rights and duties as citizens.

Everyone living in this country is called to participate in public life and contribute to the common good.  In Rejoice and Be Glad [Gaudete et Exsultate], Pope Francis writes:

Your identification with Christ and his will involves a commitment to build with him that kingdom of love, justice and universal peace. . . .You cannot grow in holiness without committing yourself, body and soul, to giving your best to this endeavor.

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.