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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) -
Ministry Schedules
Ministry Sign-Up Here
Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, and Ushers sign-up here for the October/November 2018 Ministry Schedule using SignUpGenius. We are testing this new method to schedule volunteers at Masses. Hopefully, this will make it easier for families to schedule to serve together. SignUpGenius sends you email to confirm when you schedule and a reminder a few days before you're scheduled to remind you that you're on. Give it a try! -
Online Giving
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Today's Readings
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Reading 1 Gal 5:1-6Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48Gospel Lk 11:37-41
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Parish Calendar
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Sunday, October 21Saturday, Adoration 2:45 PM, Confessions 3:00-3:45 PM, Mass 4:00 PM; Sunday, Mass 8:00 AM (RE Mass with Dedication of the new bell tower following Mass)
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Sunday, October 28Saturday, Adoration 2:45 PM, Confessions 3:00-3:45 PM, Mass 4:00 PM; Sunday, Mass 8:00 AM
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Saturday, November 3, 5:30 PMJoin us for this big event! Raffles, Silent Auction & More... Drawdown tickets available after weekend Masses.
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Sunday, November 4Saturday, Adoration 2:45 PM, Confessions 3:00-3:45 PM, Mass 4:00 PM; Sunday, Mass 8:00 AM
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Sunday, November 11Saturday, Adoration 2:45 PM, Confessions 3:00-3:45 PM, Mass 4:00 PM; Sunday, Mass 8:00 AM
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Sunday, November 18Saturday, Adoration 2:45 PM, Confessions 3:00-3:45 PM, Mass 4:00 PM; Sunday, Mass 8:00 AM
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Photo Albums
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Bell Tower - 2018
10 Photos
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Catholic News Service
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Farooq Khan, EPA By Anne Condodina ROME (CNS) -- At a time of technological and scientific progress, "we ought to feel shame" for not having advanced in "humanity and...
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Although bishops should make up the majority of voting members at a Synod of Bishops, the fact that the body is only consultative...
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National Catholic Register
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By Judy Roberts | When Philip Nielsen set out as a concerned Catholic layman to respond to what he saw as a lack of transparency in Church governance, he knew he could expect opposition. Indeed, he...
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By CNA/EWTN News | KIEV, Ukraine — The Russian Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow has cut ties with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, claiming his recognition of an independent..
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From the Desk of Fr. Ariel Valencia (October 14, 2018)
The Lion's Roar
Some people have informed me that they pray the rosary to help them fall asleep. They sheepishly confess that they do not finish the rosary because they eventually sleep. I assure them that their guardian angel finishes the praying the rosary for them.
This is to say that we can pray the rosary whenever and wherever we are, kneeling in church or lying in bed. I pray the rosary while driving. And it probably protected me from harm when I crashed on a cold winter night driving on black ice. I also pray the rosary while walking. Not only am I feeding my Fitbit Charge 2 with steps, I am also making it a spiritual experience.
Make an effort today and this month of October to pray the rosary daily. And pray the rosary as a family. As we say “The family that prays together stays together.” Don’t stop when November comes. Continue to offer that bouquet of roses to Mary, which is what rosary means. -
From the desk of Msgr. Tom Dzielak (October 14, 2018)
YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF, O GOD, AND OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN YOU[St Augustine, THE CONFESSIONS]Saint Ambrose, a great saint of the early Church and bishop of Milan, Italy, was the one who brought Saint Augustine into the Church through baptism. Saint Ambrose was known as a capable administrator and a great speaker and proclaimer of the Catholic Faith.
In one of his writings he speaks about prayer. He says,
The Catholic Faith has a deep and long heritage of prayer, as we see in the lives of the saints. Many of us were probably taught as children that “prayer is the lifting up of our hearts and minds to God.” While a simple statement, that description of prayer is very profound, in my opinion.
The Lord Jesus, in his divine wisdom, taught you about the goodness of the Father, who knows how to give good things, so that you might ask for the things that are good from Goodness itself. He urges you to pray earnestly and frequently, not offering long and wearisome prayers, but praying often, and with perseverance. Lengthy prayers are usually filled with empty words, while neglect of prayer results in indifference to prayer.
Sometimes people may feel guilty about “not saying my prayers.” But if your mind and heart are attuned to God, aware of His presence in all that you think, desire and do, than you are “saying your prayers.”
There are times when it is appropriate to use formal prayers, of course. “Formal prayers” are prayers like the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and those many prayer forms like the Rosary, novena prayers, litanies, etc. They can be of great help in keeping us aware of God, and the Our Father has always had a special place in Christian prayer because it comes from Our Lord himself, according to the Gospels.
In another part of the above-mentioned writing of Saint Ambrose, he says something else worthy of our consideration:He (Saint Paul) tells you that every place is a place of prayer, though our Savior says: Go into your room.
Our prayer is very important, not only for our own good but also for the good of others. Our prayer is our conversation with the One who created us and who loves us beyond all our imagining. May our practice of prayer grow stronger and more valuable to us each day.
But by “room” you must understand, not a room enclosed by walls that imprison your body, but the room that is within you, the room where you hide your thoughts, where you keep your affections. This room of prayer is always with you, wherever you are, and it is always a secret room, where only God can see you. -
Parish News & Events
The Drawdown is our biggest fundraiser for the year. Here’s where you are needed right now:
St. Mary’s Harvest Drawdown Saturday, November 3
- Buy a ticket and attend the event! The price has been reduced to $30 per ticket and still includes all food and drink!
- Help sell Drawdown tickets. All tickets need to be sold several days before the event. Just taking a turn selling after a Mass would help. Selling tickets to your family and friends would help even more.
- Donate items to the silent auction. We’re looking for some big ticket auction items such as timeshares, sports, concert or theater tickets in addition to baskets and handmade items.
- Donate or solicit $25 gift cards or certificates for the balloon raffle.
Volunteer Sign-Up
Sign-up to help using Sign-Up Genius HERE or use volunteer sign-up sheets in the church.
For more information contact Anne at 815-901-1764 or annecarson60@yahoo.com.
New Bell Tower Dedication set for October 21
The new bell tower construction in front of church is complete. Dedication will take place after the 8:00 AM Mass on October 21. You are invited to take a look at the pictures of the construction as it happened in the photo albums section on this page. The bell being used was removed years ago from the raised top section of the North tower of the church and has been refurbished by a parishioner. A big thank you to the many volunteers and generous donors that have contributed their time, talent and treasure to make this happen.
Religious Education Update
Religious Education classes will not be held on October 28, due to the Pancake Breakfast & Country Store at Saints Peter and Paul. Please join us for a fundraiser for our RE program from 7:00-11:00 AM next week in Virgil!
Please continue to pray for the families and children of our parishes as they continue their education. For more information or to register your children, please contact me, Sarah Poynton, R.E Coordinator.
Also, Please note that we have moved the Parish & Youth RE Mass to October 21st. -
From the Desk of Deacon Greg Urban
Church Stained Glass Window Work
The Buildings and Grounds Committee has proposed that we continue renovation work on the church’s 100+ year-old stained-glass and clear exterior windows.
The Committee presented a proposal to the Pastoral and Finance Councils at a combined meeting to finish rebuilding all the exterior clear windows that help protect the interior stained glass. This work should delay the need for rebuilding more internal stained-glass windows. This work has been completed on the stained-glass windows that have already been rebuilt.
The work will be done in two approximately equal phases. The combined cost for these two phases is estimated at $103,600. We have received permission from the Diocese to begin this work as funds become available. The Diocese has instructed us that only monies received for “Stained-Glass” for the next three years would be exempt from diocesan tax (used as a basis of setting our diocesan appeal goal).
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 generous support in this endeavor to help properly maintain our church.
And, please don’t forget your contribution to this year’s Diocesan Appeal. Help us meet our diocesan goal!
Please remember St. Mary’s with a gift in your will or estate plan! -
Safe Environment Program
The revised diocesan Safe Environment Program now requires all parish volunteers complete Protecting God’s Children, undergo a background check, and read a few important documents. Please contact the parish office for more details with any questions you may have. -
Seeking Music Director
Part-time Music Director position available at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Maple Park. Masses are on Saturday evening at 4:00 PM and on Sunday morning at 8:00 AM. 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. -
Word on Fire