Author: Zara Tan

January 22, 2022 | Weekly Update

January 22, 2022 | Weekly Update

“Understanding the Bible”

This weekend is the Sunday of the Word of God; according to Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, it “is to be devoted to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God.”  So let’s ponder briefly about the Bible as we prepare our hearts for Holy Mass this weekend.

In the 4th century, the Church assembled the “Canon of Scripture,” through much open and honest examination of the authenticity of many existing texts, ultimately selecting 46 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New.

Catholics believe that while the books of the Bible were written by humans over many centuries, it contains the inspired word of God. And the Holy Spirit inspired the creation of the Canon as well.

Uncover the strong, biblical focus of the Catholic Church in the short video on the Flocknote email with Word on Fire Institute Fellow Matt Nelson.

We hope to see you at the weekend Mass times where Father Don is preaching.  Or stop by and visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.

“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”


LOOKING AHEAD

Understanding Your Grief 1/31 and onwards
  • If you are grieving the loss of a loved one and would like companionship, prayerful support, and caring presence during this time, consider attending the in-person grief support sessions that will be guided by “Understanding Your Grief Exploring the Ten Essential Touchstones” by Alan Wolfelt, PH.D.
  • If you would like to attend sessions during the day, sessions will be on Mondays from 1pm to 2:30pm in the Ministry Room on January 31; February 7, 14, 21, 28; March 7, 14, 21 28 and April 4, 11, 18.  If you would like to attend sessions in the evening, sessions will be on Mondays from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the Ministry Room on January 31; February 7, 14, 21, 28; March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4, 11, 18.
Come Alive starts 2/2
  • Come Alive is back, it is a Christ led small group program that makes the connection between our spiritual and physical well-being. In our time together, we will discover spiritual practices to strengthen our relationship with God and gain new joy-filled perspectives as we weave healthy activities into the rhythm of our day. The focus is on HOW to change behaviors in the rhythm of our life for the long-term, to encourage each other, and to give grace when we stumble. The group meets for 90 minutes in eight sessions. The meetings are scheduled on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30pm in Room 218 on February 2, 9, 16, and 23 and March 9, 16, 23, and 30.
  • The guidebook for the program is $15 (scholarships are available) that contains recipes, spiritual practices, scripture, and nutrition information. If you have questions or would like to register please contact Jolene LeRoy RN Parish Nurse and Director of Pastoral Care at 331-707-5380 or at jolenel@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org.
Be a Part of the Synodal Church 2/5, 2/7, 2/8
  • In October 2021, Pope Francis has called the Church – you, me, Bishop Hicks, in other words, all the baptized into Synod, with the theme “For a Synodal Church –Communion/Participation/Mission” into a global “listening tour.” He also invites the world – believers, non-believers, the marginalized, the poor, the disenfranchised – to participate and talk about how the Church is living out its communion, participation, and mission. The aim of the Synod is to discern how we are “living the faith” and how, we as a Church, are achieving this together.
  • We look forward to your participation; come and help build up the body of Christ by taking part in one of the following 4 ways.
    1. Fill out this online questionnaire by Jan 30 or
    2. Fill out a paper questionnaire (these forms will be available through March 3).
    3. Participate in one of the following in-person listening sessions. Please register ahead of time at this link https://bit.ly/RegisterforListeningSession
    Saturday, February 5th from 1:30pm to 3:30pm or
    Monday, February 7th from 9:00am to 11:00am or
    Tuesday, February 8th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm (this Tuesday listening session has an online Zoom counterpart for those that can’t take part in person)
    4. Please don’t forget to invite others, a neighbor, a friend, a co-worker, someone you know who is from a different faith.
    ____
    To access any of the synod information and videos such as Father Don’s homily and a conversation with him on the listening process, go to https://olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/synod/
CRHP Christ Renews His Parish Men’s and Women’s Weekends 2/19 – 2/20 & 2/26 – 2/27
  • The weekends are just around the corner, come and be uplifted and strengthened at the Renewal Weekends: Men’s Renewal Weekend is on 2/19 thru 2/20. Women’s Renewal Weekend is on 2/26 thru 2/27,
  • Proceed to this link for details and sign-up.  We pray you sign-up soon.  COVID safety notes: we follow the Diocesan Covid guidelines.
  • Connect with Kevin Nemetz @ 630.301.2312 Kevin@tix4cause.com, Brian Cancio @ 847.571.6358 or Lauren Baier @ 630.267.6868 crhpolm@gmail.com for any questiions.
Open HEARTS Ministry 2/21
  • Open HEARTS Ministry is the mental and emotional health and wellness ministry of the parish. If you are a mental health professional or are a champion for mental health and wellness, please consider joining the ministry. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental and emotional health concerns, there is support and resources available at Our Lady of Mercy and in the community. The next scheduled in-person gathering for the Open HEARTS Ministry is Monday, February 21 from 7pm to 8:30pm in Room 218.
Invitation to Seniors to Defer Property Taxes apply by 3/1
  • Qualified senior citizens, aged 65 years and older are invited to apply for the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program. The program allows participants to defer property tax payment until the property is sold. The deferral is treated as a loan and accrues 6 percent simple interest until paid. To qualify, the applicant’s household income cannot exceed $55,000. Additionally, the property must be used exclusively for residential purposes. The application period closes on March 1, 2022. For more information, contact the DuPage County Treasurer’s Office at 630-407-5900 or www.dupageco.org/treasurer. Gwen Henry, Treasurer.
Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Grants apply by 3/1
  • The Diocese of Joliet is accepting applications for 2022-2023 for Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) grant. Please mail in your application by 3/1st.
  • Qualifications and details of the application process can be found at this link.
  • The Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops. Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through the promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education. The grants and education for justice program of the Campaign, implemented in collaboration with local dioceses, is supported by the annual collection received each November.
Alpha in-person new start date 3/3
  • Who will you bring with you to in-person Alpha on 3/3rd?  Experience the Alpha culture if you have not had a chance already.  Alpha isn’t just a program. It’s a tool for evangelization. We all know people who are far away from the Lord, who may be asking questions about whether or not God even exists.
  • Online Alpha has started and is still welcoming participants, join the online adventure with 30 other participants!
  • Details and registration are found at this link.
Salt and Light Grow Group 3/9
  • Be loved & be fed; come and experience family, hospitality, and intentional community at Salt and Light Grow Group.
  • We weren’t meant to do life alone. “Encounter/Grow/Witness” is the threefold dimension of the Christian life.  Once we encounter Jesus, we are then called to grow daily as His disciples.
    Grow Groups are one way Our Lady of Mercy (OLM) is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
    To follow Jesus is to commit to lifelong learning and growth. Like Jesus’ disciples, our walk with the Lord today is not one lived in isolation but rather one immersed in community and enriched by authentic friendship with others. At OLM and in the company of friends, Grow Groups provide a place of deep transformation where people can be known, loved, and cared for as they strive to deepen their friendship with Jesus and one another.
  • For more information, connect with Bob Maxwell our Salt and Light Grow Group Leader at bmaxwell@deltadentalil.com
  • Details and registration are found at this link.
Bishop Hicks’ Monthly Column
  • For January is now posted, it’s entitled “A New Year’s resolution: Re-educating ourselves on the Eucharist” read it here.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word CLOW Volunteers
St. Vincent de Paul Society Volunteers
  • Thank you for your support of our clothing drive. Your clothing donation, as well as your financial donations throughout the year, allows us to help our parishioners and neighbors in need. In 2020 over 120 people/families were provided assistance.
  • The ministry is always looking for volunteers to join our St. Vincent de Paul Society in assisting our neighbors in need. If you would like to volunteer or learn more, send an email at olmsvdp@gmail.com with your name and contact information.
Bulletin

  • Father Don speaks about his upcoming retirement!  Read all about it in his insightful weekly Bulletin article located here. 

Check out the January AMA with Father James
  • Checking-in, A Near-Death Experience, Is cohabitation sinful? – these are just some of the items we covered at the January AMA with Father James.
  • If you click on the YouTube description, it itemizes all the questions and talking points with the time stamp so you can jump ahead if you wish.
  • We will be hosting Father Don at a future AMA, do you have a question for him or both of them? Submit your question here!

Don’t Get Scammed by Fake Fathers!
  • Did you get an email or a text message from (a fake) Father Don this past week? Please remember, Father Don and Father James DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards.  If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Don or Father James, please discard it and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID.
For the Hispanic Community
  • Please proceed herefor the OLM Hispanic Ministry’s upcoming events and resources.
    Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
  • There will be Stations of the Cross in Spanish every 2nd Wednesday of the month after the 12pm Mass.
    A partir de la próxima semana, habrá Estaciones de la Cruz en español cada segundo miércoles del mes después de la misa de las 12 pm.
A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry
  • How can we be praying for you today?
    There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions. In those moments, hope can feel far away. The great thing about prayer is that it shifts our perspective toward the One who stands ready to listen. No matter what you’re facing, we’d love to pray with you. Submit your prayer requests at this link
  • Prayer Ministry takes place monthly at MAGNIFY and at the last weekend of the month Mass times.  Come forward after Mass by yourself, or with your family, friends, spouse, or in the place of someone you know who needs prayer. Prayer ministry is for all those in need of prayer, be it for spiritual, physical, or emotional need or thankful praise.
Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?
  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.


HALLOW – A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP

Hallow is a Catholic prayer & meditation app that helps users deepen their relationship with God through contemplative prayer and strengthen one’s mental health in the process. Easy-to-use, audio-guided sessions anywhere from 1 to 60 minutes long. Pray your own way with a personalized prayer plan pulling from 3,000+ unique sessions including the Lectio Divina on the Daily Gospel, Rosary, Examen, Night Prayer, Calm & Humility “Praylists” and much more. Hallow Light is free. Hallow Plus is $5 per month ($60 per year). Sign up for either one here.

January 14, 2022 | Weekly Update

January 14, 2022 | Weekly Update

“They Have No Wine”

This Sunday we celebrate the first miracle of Jesus at the Wedding Feast of Cana.

Remember that Jesus was fully human—He ate, He slept, He wept, He laughed, and He went to weddings. When the bride and the groom ran out of wine at Cana, Mary prompts Jesus to act: “They have no wine.”
But Jesus knows that with this first miracle His public ministry begins, a ministry that will ultimately lead to the Cross. Mary, aware of her son’s mission at hand, detaches herself and says to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

The symbolic nature of the water to wine foreshadows both the blood that Christ will pour out for us from the Cross and the “new wine” of the Eucharist that will nourish His Church and never run dry!

Consider watching the video on the Flocknote email of Rachel Bulman on how the Eucharistic meal echoes Jesus’ first miracle at Cana to help us prepare our hearts to go to Mass.

We hope to see you at the weekend Mass times where the Deacons are preaching.  Or stop by and visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.

“At Cana, Jesus’ disciples become his family and at Cana, the faith of the Church is born.”

Be a Part of the Synodal Church fill out forms on 1/15 – 1/16
  • In October 2021, Pope Francis has called the Church – you, me, Bishop Hicks, in other words, all the baptized into Synod, with the theme “For a Synodal Church –Communion/Participation/Mission” into a global “listening tour.” He also invites the world – believers, non-believers, the marginalized, the poor, the disenfranchised – to participate and talk about how the Church is living out its communion, participation, and mission. The aim of the Synod is to discern how we are “living the faith” and how, we as a Church, are achieving this together.
  • We look forward to your participation; come and help build up the body of Christ by taking part in one of the following 4 ways.
    1. Fill out this online questionnaire by Jan 30 or
    2. Fill out a paper questionnaire at the Mass times on Jan 15-16 (these forms will be available through March 3).
    3. Participate in one of the following in-person listening sessions. Please register ahead of time at this link https://bit.ly/RegisterforListeningSession
    Saturday, February 5th from 1:30pm to 3:30pm or
    Monday, February 7th from 9:00am to 11:00am or
    Tuesday, February 8th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm (this Tuesday listening session has an online Zoom counterpart for those that can’t take part in person)
    4. Please don’t forget to invite others, a neighbor, a friend, a co-worker, someone you know who is from a different faith.
    ____
    To access any of the synod information, go to https://olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/synod/
St. Peregrine Prayer Service 1/18
  • All are invited to attend the in-person St. Peregrine Prayer Service on Tuesday, January 18 in the church after the 6:30pm Mass (at 7pm) with Deacon Tony Leazzo and Jolene LeRoy RN Parish Nurse and Director of Pastoral Care.
  • St. Peregrine is the patron saint of the sick, especially those experiencing cancer, serious illness or chronic illness. Anyone experiencing physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual health concerns would benefit from attending the prayer service. The relic of St. Peregrine will be present.
Mobile Food Pantry OLM 1/19
  • The Mobile Food Pantry is back this week Weds Jan 19th with a time change of 4:30pm to 6:00pm.
  • The Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet Mobile Food Pantry delivers healthy food (meat, produce, and non perishable items) to people in need. No identification or information will be required or collected. This event is open to anyone in-need of food! Mobile Food Pantries use a “drive thru” method to distribute food during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please clear space in your trunk or backseat so volunteers can load boxes of food directly into your vehicle. Catholic Charities helps people of all faiths and beliefs. Mobile Food Pantries take place snow or shine!
Respect Life Ministry January Schedule
  • January 16 Mass for Life 10:30 AM at St. Raymond’s Cathedral
    Join us for the Joliet Diocese Mass for Life at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet.
    January 21, March for Life Rally
    The March for Life Rally will be held on Friday, January 21, 2022 on the National Mall in Washington, DC.  Please support with prayers and sacrifice.  EWTN does a wonderful live coverage, as do other national prolife organizations.  Please check out link below for more details https://marchforlife.org/
    January 19 – 27, Respect Life Novena
    Respect Life Novena will once again be said before all masses at our parish from Jan 19 -27.  Come early before the daily Mass start times and let us be in prayer together.January 22, Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn
    Take part in these additional offerings on this pivotal day.
    • In addition to the Respect Life Novena, we will also have a Rosary for Life before the 8:30 AM Holy Mass.
    • Following the 8:30am Holy Mass, is a showing of Roe v Wade the Movie at Room 114 at the PLC.  The movie is 111 minutes long. There will be an open discussion facilitated by Father James after the movie.  The event is estimated to end approximately at about 12:30 PM.
    • Please help spread the word.  Educating ourselves and having a respectful, candid conversation about this with our fellow parishioners, family, and friends is important in changing hearts and minds about abortion and promoting a culture of life in our society.  Check out The official trailer below.

AMA with Father James 1/21
  • We’ve learned so much through the questions you asked!  Thank you for submitting them.  Let’s continue to learn together as Father James answers more of your questions.  Submit any questions you may have at this link!  Hope to see you on Friday 1/21 @ 2pm.
Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship 1/22
  • On Saturday 1/22 at 9am is the Robert H. Weaver Knights of Columbus #12005 Free Throw Championship in the gym at the Parish Life Center.  Registration begins at 8:45am
  • All boys and girls aged 9 to 14, as of 1/1/2022, are invited to participate, please present proof of age during registration with written parental consent. Participants will compete in their respective age divisions, with the winners advancing to the district, region, and state competitions.  All contestants at this local event will be recognized for their participation.  The District competition will take place in February at a to be determined location.  For additional information call (630) 957-7559
Bring Your Bibles to be Blessed at Mass the weekend of 1/22 & 1/23
  • Next weekend is Word of God Sunday!  Bring your Bibles to Mass so it can be blessed.  The Sunday of the Word of God in the Roman Catholic Church takes place on the third Sunday in Ordinary Time, during January.  According to Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, it “is to be devoted to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God.” The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has created many resources to help celebrate the observance.


LOOKING AHEAD

Bishop Hicks’ Monthly Column
  • For January is now posted, it’s entitled “A New Year’s resolution: Re-educating ourselves on the Eucharist” read it here
MAGNIFY 1/26
  • “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for He has looked upon His handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” (Luke 1:46-49)
  • What a beautiful hymn of praise to God. Mary recognizes she is lowly. So are we! And yet, through her perfect co-operation with God’s grace she will become loved and lauded until the end of time. There is the lesson for us.
    In praising God, we reflect, we magnify, we radiate, we share in God’s great plan for His universe and all creation – you and I included. There lies the path to happiness as well as to Heaven.
  • Come, let us praise Him at Magnify!  Starts at 7pm through 8:30pm with Scriptural Reflection from Father James, Confessions, Adoration, and Praise.
Collection for Church in Latin America 1/28 – 1/30
  • Soon our diocese will take up the Collection for the Church in Latin America. This national collection supports many pastoral projects that benefit the faithful in Latin America and the Caribbean.  An important fact that you must know is that 25% of this diocesan collection goes to support our own diocesan mission work. Since 1994 our diocese has sent missioners to Sucre, Bolivia to not only offer our support with concrete actions, but to build relationships with the people who are so grateful for our presence and work there. We are blessed to have our Bolivian friends. Let us all become missionaries by strengthening the Church in Latin America with a donation to the second collection on the weekend of January 22-23.
Exploring the Priesthood Weekend at Mundelein Seminary 1/28 – 1/30
  • The Exploring the Priesthood Weekend at Mundelein Seminary is an “open house” to give men Junior in College and older an opportunity to learn about Mundelein Seminary and to hear about the priesthood. Private room and meals included. There is no cost for the weekend.
  • More details and registration is found at this link.  Connect with Father Steve Borello Joliet Diocese Vocation Director 815.221.6100 vocations@dioceseofjoliet.org for any questions.
  • Recall Father Steve’s homily in late August (found here) where he gives us reason to stop and consider asking those we know who would make wonderful fathers and mothers if they have ever given serious consideration to the joy of being with Jesus as a spiritual father or spiritual mother through the priesthood and religious life? Know of men Junior in college and older that would make a wonderful father, please let them know of the weekend.
Understanding Your Grief 1/31 and onwards
  • If you are grieving the loss of a loved one and would like companionship, prayerful support, and caring presence during this time, consider attending the in-person grief support sessions that will be guided by “Understanding Your Grief Exploring the Ten Essential Touchstones” by Alan Wolfelt, PH.D.
  • If you would like to attend sessions during the day, sessions will be on Mondays from 1pm to 2:30pm in the Ministry Room on January 31; February 7, 14, 21, 28; March 7, 14, 21 28 and April 4, 11, 18.  If you would like to attend sessions in the evening, sessions will be on Mondays from 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the Ministry Room on January 31; February 7, 14, 21, 28; March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4, 11, 18.
Come Alive starts 2/2
  • Come Alive is back, it is a Christ led small group program that makes the connection between our spiritual and physical well-being. In our time together, we will discover spiritual practices to strengthen our relationship with God and gain new joy-filled perspectives as we weave healthy activities into the rhythm of our day. The focus is on HOW to change behaviors in the rhythm of our life for the long-term, to encourage each other, and to give grace when we stumble. The group meets for 90 minutes in eight sessions. The meetings are scheduled on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30pm in Room 218 on February 2, 9, 16, and 23 and March 9, 16, 23, and 30.
  • The guidebook for the program is $15 (scholarships are available) that contains recipes, spiritual practices, scripture, and nutrition information. If you have questions or would like to register please contact Jolene LeRoy RN Parish Nurse and Director of Pastoral Care at 331-707-5380 or at jolenel@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org.

CRHP Christ Renews His Parish Men’s and Women’s Weekends 2/19 – 2/20 & 2/26 – 2/27
  • The weekends are just around the corner, come and be uplifted and strengthened at the Renewal Weekends: Men’s Renewal Weekend is on 2/19 thru 2/20. Women’s Renewal Weekend is on 2/26 thru 2/27,
  • Proceed to this link for details and sign-up.We pray you sign-up soon.  COVID safety notes: we follow the Diocesan Covid guidelines.
  • Connect with Kevin Nemetz @ 630.301.2312 Kevin@tix4cause.com, Brian Cancio @ 847.571.6358 or Lauren Baier @ 630.267.6868 crhpolm@gmail.com for any questiions.
Open HEARTS Ministry 2/21
  • Open HEARTS Ministry is the mental and emotional health and wellness ministry of the parish. If you are a mental health professional or are a champion for mental health and wellness, please consider joining the ministry. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental and emotional health concerns, there is support and resources available at Our Lady of Mercy and in the community. The next scheduled in-person gathering for the Open HEARTS Ministry is Monday, February 21 from 7pm to 8:30pm in Room 218.
Alpha in-person new start date 3/3
  • More time, prudence, and listening well.  What makes the Alpha experience wonderful is knowing that one is being heard.  With a handful of our 40+ guests getting sick and some of the team, we’ve decided to move the start date to Thursday 3/3rd.  This gives us time to heal, and time to invite and/or plan out what you would like to do for Lent this year (Ash Weds is on 3/2), perhaps this is your Alpha season to participate for yourself or bring a friend.
  • Online Alpha will start this Weds 1/19 as scheduled.
  • Details and registration are found at this link.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word CLOW Volunteers
St. Vincent de Paul Society Volunteers
  • Thank you for your support of our clothing drive. Your clothing donation, as well as your financial donations throughout the year, allows us to help our parishioners and neighbors in need. In 2020 over 120 people/families were provided assistance.
  • The ministry is always looking for volunteers to join our St. Vincent de Paul Society in assisting our neighbors in need. If you would like to volunteer or learn more, send an email at olmsvdp@gmail.com with your name and contact information.
Bulletin
  • Don’t forget to check out Father Don’s insightful weekly Bulletin article located here. 
Don’t Get Scammed by Fake Fathers!
  • Did you get an email or a text message from (a fake) Father Don this past week? Please remember, Father Don and Father James DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards.  If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Don or Father James, please discard it and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID.
For the Hispanic Community
  • Please proceed herefor the OLM Hispanic Ministry’s upcoming events and resources.
    Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
  • There will be Stations of the Cross in Spanish every 2nd Wednesday of the month after the 12pm Mass.
    A partir de la próxima semana, habrá Estaciones de la Cruz en español cada segundo miércoles del mes después de la misa de las 12 pm.
A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry
  • How can we be praying for you today?
    There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions. In those moments, hope can feel far away. The great thing about prayer is that it shifts our perspective toward the One who stands ready to listen. No matter what you’re facing, we’d love to pray with you. Submit your prayer requests at this link
  • Prayer Ministry takes place monthly at MAGNIFY and at the last weekend of the month Mass times.  Come forward after Mass by yourself, or with your family, friends, spouse, or in the place of someone you know who needs prayer. Prayer ministry is for all those in need of prayer, be it for spiritual, physical, or emotional need or thankful praise.
Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?
  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.


HALLOW – A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP

Hallow is a Catholic prayer & meditation app that helps users deepen their relationship with God through contemplative prayer and strengthen one’s mental health in the process. Easy-to-use, audio-guided sessions anywhere from 1 to 60 minutes long. Pray your own way with a personalized prayer plan pulling from 3,000+ unique sessions including the Lectio Divina on the Daily Gospel, Rosary, Examen, Night Prayer, Calm & Humility “Praylists” and much more. Hallow Light is free. Hallow Plus is $5 per month ($60 per year). Sign up for either one here.

December 25, 2021 | Merry Christmas

December 25, 2021 | Merry Christmas

From Father Don, Father James, the permanent Deacons, and staff at Our Lady of Mercy, Merry Christmas! 

May you and your loved ones, far and close, know the joy of being loved and the joy of loving.
And let us rejoice, for we have been rescued – our Savior has come!  

You are what makes Our Lady of Mercy special and we are so grateful you continue to worship with us, serve with us, be in community with us and support us.  Thank you and have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

A CHRISTMAS REFLECTION

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… for the Word became flesh…and made His dwelling among us. -John 1

This is a day for falling in love. This is the day when Mary and Joseph look up from the baby in the manger and invite us to gather around. Even as they savor the moment, they are eager to share it with us as well, this “good news of great joy

. . . for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

And so Joseph and Mary invite us to join them on their journey of discovery. Here, says Mary, as she lifts her newborn from the hay.

He is yours too—He came for you.

Take Him. Hold Him close. Share in the love that Joseph and I have for this little one.

Like the angels’ birth announcement, the invitation is for everyone. No one is left out—however unworthy, unspiritual, or unprepared we may feel. So whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever your state today, receive this gift of Jesus. Take the child in your arms. Like Father Don says in his Christmas homily about a newborn baby. Gaze on His face, and see how much He loves you. Let Him lock eyes with you, as babies will, so that He can search your heart and reveal you to yourself. Let down your defenses, and fall in love with this Christ child—with God-made flesh for you.

As a wise spiritual director has shared, falling in love with God in this “absolute, final way” is the most practical and far-reaching thing you could ever do:

“What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.”

Jesus has come. The Word has become flesh. Fall in love with Him. Stay in love with Him. It will decide everything.

“Mary and Joseph, thank you for bringing Jesus to me! Pray that I might love Him as you did—more and more each day.”

Take part in our community life
Alpha in January sign-up now; who will you bring with yoU?
Salt and Light Grow Group in January, find out more here\
A Mother’s Heart Grow Group find out more here
Consuming Fire Grow Group find out more here
Vine and Branches Grow Group find out more here

December 11, 2021 | Weekly Update

December 11, 2021 | Weekly Update

Joy


Second Collection for Retired Religious on 12/11 and 12/12

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass 12/12
  • Please join the Hispanic Ministry at the bilingual Mass celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 2pm on Sunday 12/12 in Spanish.  We hope to see you in person at the Mass (or at the livestream) which commemorates this wonderful feast day of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG), the patron saint of the Americas who appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico City in 1531.  For more on OLG watch Bishop Barron’s visit to the OLG shrine in Mexico here.
St. Peregrine Prayer Service 12/14
  • For those with cancer, serious or chronic illnesses, and their caregivers. As well as anyone experiencing physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and health concerns. Come to the In-Person St. Peregrine Prayer Service this Tuesday following the 6:30pm Mass.
Filling a Stocking for a Family In Need due 12/14
  • Visit the Ministry Room after all the Masses to grab a stocking to fill for a family in need! Stockings will benefit families receiving assistance through the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and Hesed House. Each stocking will come with a list of suggested items to purchase and stuff your stocking with!
  • Once you have filled your stocking with suggested “stocking stuffers,” please return it to our table in the Ministry Room after any of the Sunday masses OR return it to the main office during office hours by no later than Tuesday, 12/14. Please contact Lydia Schmitt, at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org or 331-707-5377, with additional questions.
Christmas With The Chosen: The Messengers 12/15
  • We hope to see you on Wednesday 12/15th at 6:30pm to watch this Christmas movie that is on limited release in the theaters here at Our Lady of Mercy!
  • This is the perfect opportunity to bring friends and family, including those who haven’t seen The Chosen, those who have not been to Church in a while, and those who don’t know Jesus, for a unique Christmas story experience.

  • LOOKING AHEAD

  • This Christmas we will decorate the church with poinsettias around the altar.  Flowers can also be memorialized by using one of the flower envelopes found in the narthex.  The recommended donation is $10.00.  Thank you for your generosity and for helping to make our church beautiful during the holiday season.
Angel Giving: Be an Angel to a Family In Need
  • This year for Christmas we are partnering with the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry Hesed House and St. Vincent de Paul to assist families in need throughout the holidays. Donations will benefit those individuals who are currently receiving aide through SVDP in order to assist the families with rent and utility payments. Donations will also assist the purchase of Christmas meals through the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and Hesed House to benefit those families whom they currently assist.

November 28, 2021 | Weekly Update

November 28, 2021 | Weekly Update

Waking Up

Advent Resources & Schedule 11/28
Amazon Smiles on Cyber Monday 11/29
  • Donating while shopping dating WHILE SHOPPING!  In this season of shopping please keep Our Lady of Mercy in mind.  Do you shop on Amazon?  Please go to SMILE.AMAZON.COM and select Our Lady of Mercy Aurora, IL as your charitable organization of choice, it is the same Amazon with the difference of shopping through Amazon Smiles allows for the donation of a percentage of the price of the item to be donated to Our Lady of Mercy.  This is an easy and quick way to support us.  We are grateful for any support.
Giving Tuesday 11/30
  • On Nov 30th is Giving Tuesday, it is a day when people all over the world financially support their favorite nonprofit causes. It’s celebrated annually the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.  As you prepare to open your hearts in support of worthy causes on Giving Tuesday, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Our Lady of Mercy.  
  • Currently we are not meeting our weekly Sunday goal.  
  • Your gift of any amount will enable us to live out our vision of offering every person a life-changing encounter with Jesus, grow disciples and send them on mission.  If you’ve been impacted by Our Lady of Mercy, please consider supporting us this Giving Tuesday, please select “Sunday Contributions” on the online OSV give link..
Pray and Fast to end Abortion Tues and Weds 11/30 & 12/1
  • There will be an hour of Eucharistic Adoration during confessions on Tuesday evening 11/30th from 7pm-8pm to pray for the Supreme Court hearing taking place the next day on the landmark case over the right of states to protect mothers and unborn life.  Be encouraged to observe a day of prayer and fasting on Wednesday 12/1 as the US Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization which could please God, hasten the end of Roe v. Wade, and legalized abortion in the United States.
  • [Jesus] said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer and fasting.” – Mark 9:29
    Please pray for the Supreme Court Justices, that the Holy Spirit will guide the proceedings and that the Court will find that there is no fundamental right to abortion found in the US Constitution. Also, for the unborn to be recognized as Constitutional Persons and for peace and healing.
First Friday and First Saturday Devotions 12/3 and 12/4
  • Respect Life 1st Friday Devotion on 12/3
  • We hope you can come out anytime from 8am to 4pm, to pray for the helpless, innocent unborn who can’t speak for themselves.  Pray in front of Planned Parenthood, at the public right of way access.  Connect with Lisa SanDiego for any questions (630) 258-0122 or sandiego_family@msn.com.    https://bit.ly/3yGSzmU
  • Confessions immediately following the 8am Mass
  • Every 1st Friday (in addition to the 8am Mass), we will have a 12pm Mass. We hope you join us.
  • 1st Saturday 12/4 after the 8:30 am Mass is the First Saturday Devotion
    • This devotion is one of the principal points of the Fatima message.  It consists of the following, on 5 consecutive first Saturdays: Going to Confession, receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion, praying five decades of the Rosary, and Meditating for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary.
      Find out the reasons why the five Saturdays from our Lord Jesus to Sister Lucia as well as additional details here.  We hope you incorporate this powerful devotion into your life. Please connect with Bonnie Ramirez 630-723-4289 for any questions.
Charismatic Healing Mass 12/4
  • On Saturday, 12/6 at 6pm is the Charismatic Healing Mass. A healing Mass is a normal Mass, but it has a special focus on God’s healing power; this will be reflected in the songs, prayers, and scripture readings. If you’re in need of God’s healing grace, come to the Charismatic Healing Mass.
Bring PADS food items to Masses on 12/4 and 12/5
  • PADS will be on Tuesday 12/7 to help our brothers and sisters in need. Check out the PADS board in the Atrium (the entrance to our building) for the food items needed.  We are also thankful for any funds donated via the Give page or checks payable to Our Lady of Mercy and note on the memo “Hesed House-PADS”. Thank you so much for your generosity.
    ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’— Matthew 25:40
Saint Nicholas visiting after the 10am Mass 12/5
  • Who is Saint Nicholas?  Calling all children, come to the church after the 10am Mass and hear from Saint Nicholas speak about his life and who really is the real Santa Claus.
Christmas Flower Memorials
  • This Christmas we will decorate the church with poinsettias around the altar.  Flowers can also be memorialized by using one of the flower envelopes found in the narthex.  The recommended donation is $10.00.  Thank you for your generosity and for helping to make our church beautiful during the holiday season.
Angel Giving: Be an Angel to a Family In Need
  • This year for Christmas we are partnering with the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry Hesed House and St. Vincent de Paul to assist families in need throughout the holidays. Donations will benefit those individuals who are currently receiving aide through SVDP in order to assist the families with rent and utility payments. Donations will also assist the purchase of Christmas meals through the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and Hesed House to benefit those families whom they currently assist.
  • Parishioners may make donations via our online giving portal under “Angel Giving” or checks can also be made payable to Our Lady of Mercy with “Angel Giving” in the memo and placed inside of the bin in the Narthex after mass. Please contact Lydia Schmitt, in the main office, with additional questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org or 331-707-5377.
Filling a Stocking for a Family In Need
  • Visit the Ministry Room after all the Masses to grab a stocking to fill for a family in need! Stockings will benefit families receiving assistance through the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and Hesed House. Each stocking will come with a list of suggested items to purchase and stuff your stocking with!
  • Once you have filled your stocking with suggested “stocking stuffers,” please return it to our table in the Ministry Room after any of the Sunday masses OR return it to the main office during office hours by no later than Tuesday, 12/14. Please contact Lydia Schmitt, at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org or 331-707-5377, with additional questions.

LOOKING AHEAD

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 12/8
  • The Mass times for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception are 6:30am, 8am, 12pm and 7pm.  We pray to see you at any of the Mass times; let us rejoice with the Immaculate Mother of God, for it is through her intercession that God has bestowed every spiritual blessing upon us.  
  • God chose Mary, the Immaculate Conception, to be our “model of holiness” by preserving her entirely from original sin, making her all-pure and all-holy. In doing this God also shows us what is possible for us, too, wounded by sin—the healing and restoration of our whole humanity. The intercession and maternal love of the Immaculate One, given to us as our Mother, is the special way God has chosen to bestow upon us the grace of such a healing. As the Mother of our Savior, Mary shares uniquely in His redemptive sacrifice. We turn to her with confidence, for she is “our life, our sweetness, and our hope.” Immaculate Mary, pray for us!
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass 12/12
  • The Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be at 2pm on Sunday 12/12 in Spanish.  We hope to see you at the Mass which commemorates this wonderful feast day of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of the Americas who appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico City in 1531.
St. Peregrine Prayer Service 12/14
  • For those with cancer, serious or chronic illnesses, and their caregivers. As well as anyone experiencing physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and health concerns. Come to the In-Person St. Peregrine Prayer Service this Tuesday following the 6:30pm Mass.
Christmas With The Chosen: The Messengers 12/15
  • Save the date on Wednesday 12/15th at 6:30pm because we will be showing the movie that is on limited release in the theaters here at Our Lady of Mercy!
  • This is the perfect opportunity to bring friends and family, including those who haven’t seen The Chosen, those who have not been to Church in a while, and those who don’t know Jesus, for a unique Christmas story experience.

November 20, 2021 | Weekly Update

 

November 20, 2021 | Weekly Update

Praise forever to the King of Kings! 

After honoring our dead and hearing this month of the apocalypse (“unveiling”) and end times, this November Sunday closes the Church’s liturgical year with the great feast of “Christ the King.”  


Pontius Pilate, and all the political rulers throughout history, have limited power.  But we profess faith and loyalty to a King who is truly just, merciful, fatherly, and loving to the point of death.  The ancestor of King David, Jesus, fulfilled every prophecy of the Old Testament and desires for us to spread this Good News until His Kingdom might finally be established here on earth.

Jesus declares in our Gospel reading:
“For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
 (John 18)

To prepare our hearts before we go to Holy Mass this weekend, hear Bishop Barron’s thoughts on the divine kingship of Jesus in the video in the Flocknote email.

We look forward to seeing you at any of the Holy Mass times this weekend where Father Don will be preaching.  Don’t forget to stop by to visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.


“He who prays for the coming of God’s kingdom prays rightly to have it first within himself.” -Origen, priest and Church Father

 

LOOKING AHEAD


Children’s Liturgy of the Word CLOW Volunteers

St. Vincent de Paul Society Volunteers
  • Thank you for your support of our clothing drive. Your clothing donation, as well as your financial donations throughout the year, allows us to help our parishioners and neighbors in need. In 2020 over 120 people/families were provided assistance.
  • The ministry is always looking for volunteers to join our St. Vincent de Paul Society in assisting our neighbors in need. If you would like to volunteer or learn more, send an email at olmsvdp@gmail.com with your name and contact information.

Supporting OLM through the CMAA

Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?
  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

GROW GROUPS | WE CONTINUE TO LAUNCH GROW GROUPS, ONE GROUP AT A TIME
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.

CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP

Mission. This group exists to grow a community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and twice a month for social gatherings.
Connect.  Reach out to Matt Kubanda and Mary Rysavy rysavyme@gmail.com
See what they have been up to at this video.

VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP

Mission.  Vine & Branches is a group at Our Lady of Mercy that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
Website.  Proceed here for details
Meets. Wednesdays @ 7pm with social gatherings.
Connect. The group leaders are looking forward to hearing from you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
John Frederick jdfredericj@icloud.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Check out the video to find out more about Vine and Branches

GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.

FORMED.ORG

Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet-connected device. Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies… there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

  1. Visit http://signup.formed.org/
  2. Enter our parish zip or name
  3. Enter your name and email

EUCHARIST RESOURCES

Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives and the great Feast of Corpus Christi.

AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP

From Augustine Institute comes this NEW & FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture. There is also Family Content: Enjoy and share family-favorite audio from the series Brother Francis and the Jesus Stories.  Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute.

WORD ON FIRE

Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library!   Check out this linkto watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.

HEROIC MEN

Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.

Learn about your faith from today’s best Catholic speakers—and do it all from the convenience of home. Stream-on-demand from your phone or tablet, too, for quality Catholic content on the go.

Get it all—for FREE – at HeroicMen.com

AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES

Have you wanted to get to know St. Thomas Aquinas and his writings more so as to grow closer to Jesus?
Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the Thomistic Institute seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher, and theologian.
Aquinas is a masterful interpreter of reality. His writings assist us in answering perennial questions on topics like God, man, the natural world, law, and morality, and questions of special relevance to our time like the relationship between modern science and faith or pursuing happiness in the digital era.

CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS CONFERENCE 

BE EQUIPPED TO DEFEND THE FAITH!
There are no shortages of assaults on the Church today. In a world of increasing challengers to the Faith, we need to know, now more than ever, why we believe what we believe.
This conference is about answering your tough questions on the Catholic Faith and equipping you with the knowledge to withstand the challenges that are sure to come.
Details and registration for this FREE virtual conference are found here.

PASTORAL CARE
If you have physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health concerns or questions about end-of-life issues, funeral planning, journeying through grief, caregiving for a loved one or are homebound, please contact Jolene LeRoy RN Parish Nurse and Director of Pastoral Care for support and resources at jolenel@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org or 331-707-5380.

OPEN HEARTS MINISTRY 

The next scheduled in-person gathering for Open HEARTS Ministry is Monday, November 8 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm in Room 218 in the Parish Life Center. The ministry is for anyone who is interested in emotional and mental health and wellness. The ministry has an interest in decreasing the stigma of mental illness and increasing the awareness of support and resources. The topic of discussion will be on MERCY – God’s mercy and how we are called to live a life of mercy in relationship to our faith and mental health and wellness. If you would like to learn more about the ministry, please send an email to Janice Hurtado Aeppli at olmopenhearts@yahoo.com

RESTORE

Do you find yourself struggling in overcoming your battle with pornography?   Restore is a weekly (anonymous) meeting where men lean on each other for support and accountability and share ideas as to how to strengthen our resolve to stay on God’s path of chastity.  All men are welcome, whether you have been free of pornography addiction for many years or struggle with it every single day.

If you are ready to start breaking free from the grips of pornography and want to Restore your life email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet.

Be encouraged; check out this Testimony.

 

 

November 12, 2021 | Weekly Update

 

November 12, 2021 | Weekly Update

Heaven & Earth Will Pass Away

We have a strange fascination with the apocalypse.

Whether it’s movies based on natural disasters, post-nuclear landscapes, or zombie outbreaks, there’s something strange and unnerving about “the End Times.”

The truest biblical understanding of “Apocalypse” though is “Unveiling,” as a bride is unveiled on her wedding day, a moment of revealing (and thus, “Revelation”). “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard,” tells us what our new reality will be, a time when we are reunited with our bodies, and God’s kingdom is finally established without any trace of evil or sin.

In our Gospel this weekend Jesus affirms:

“Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

(Mark 13)

To prepare our hearts before we go to Holy Mass this weekend and to break open that we are dealing with a great mystery here and this is why we are fascinated with the end times, hear Bishop Barron’s thoughts on the reality of Heaven in the video in the Flocknote email.

 

We look forward to seeing you at any of the Holy Mass times this weekend where we will hear from visiting priest from Malawi, Africa Reverend Father Kamia Tambala, who will be preaching this weekend. Don’t forget to stop by to visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.

 

“There, goodwill shall be so ordered in us that we shall have no other desire than to remain there eternally.” –St. Augustine

 

LOOKING AHEAD


Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?
  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

GROW GROUPS | WE CONTINUE TO LAUNCH GROW GROUPS, ONE GROUP AT A TIME
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.

CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP

Mission. This group exists to grow a community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and twice a month for social gatherings.
Connect.  Reach out to Matt Kubanda and Mary Rysavy rysavyme@gmail.com
See what they have been up to at this video.

VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP

Mission.  Vine & Branches is a group at Our Lady of Mercy that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
Website.  Proceed here for details
Meets. Wednesdays @ 7pm with social gatherings.
Connect. The group leaders are looking forward to hearing from you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
John Frederick jdfredericj@icloud.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Check out the video to find out more about Vine and Branches

GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.

FORMED.ORG

Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet-connected device. Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies… there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

  1. Visit http://signup.formed.org/
  2. Enter our parish zip or name
  3. Enter your name and email

EUCHARIST RESOURCES

Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives and the great Feast of Corpus Christi.

AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP

From Augustine Institute comes this NEW & FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture. There is also Family Content: Enjoy and share family-favorite audio from the series Brother Francis and the Jesus Stories.  Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute.

WORD ON FIRE

Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library!   Check out this linkto watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.

HEROIC MEN

Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.

Learn about your faith from today’s best Catholic speakers—and do it all from the convenience of home. Stream-on-demand from your phone or tablet, too, for quality Catholic content on the go.

Get it all—for FREE – at HeroicMen.com

AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES

Have you wanted to get to know St. Thomas Aquinas and his writings more so as to grow closer to Jesus?
Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the Thomistic Institute seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher, and theologian.
Aquinas is a masterful interpreter of reality. His writings assist us in answering perennial questions on topics like God, man, the natural world, law, and morality, and questions of special relevance to our time like the relationship between modern science and faith or pursuing happiness in the digital era.

CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS CONFERENCE 

BE EQUIPPED TO DEFEND THE FAITH!
There are no shortages of assaults on the Church today. In a world of increasing challengers to the Faith, we need to know, now more than ever, why we believe what we believe.
This conference is about answering your tough questions on the Catholic Faith and equipping you with the knowledge to withstand the challenges that are sure to come.
Details and registration for this FREE virtual conference are found here.

PASTORAL CARE
If you have physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health concerns or questions about end-of-life issues, funeral planning, journeying through grief, caregiving for a loved one or are homebound, please contact Jolene LeRoy RN Parish Nurse and Director of Pastoral Care for support and resources at jolenel@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org or 331-707-5380.

OPEN HEARTS MINISTRY 

The next scheduled in-person gathering for Open HEARTS Ministry is Monday, November 8 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm in Room 218 in the Parish Life Center. The ministry is for anyone who is interested in emotional and mental health and wellness. The ministry has an interest in decreasing the stigma of mental illness and increasing the awareness of support and resources. The topic of discussion will be on MERCY – God’s mercy and how we are called to live a life of mercy in relationship to our faith and mental health and wellness. If you would like to learn more about the ministry, please send an email to Janice Hurtado Aeppli at olmopenhearts@yahoo.com

RESTORE

Do you find yourself struggling in overcoming your battle with pornography?   Restore is a weekly (anonymous) meeting where men lean on each other for support and accountability and share ideas as to how to strengthen our resolve to stay on God’s path of chastity.  All men are welcome, whether you have been free of pornography addiction for many years or struggle with it every single day.

If you are ready to start breaking free from the grips of pornography and want to Restore your life email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet.

Be encouraged; check out this Testimony.

 

 

November 6, 2021 | Weekly Update

 

November 6, 2021 | Weekly Update

When it Hurts to Give

Sometimes it’s easy to give.  Our finances are steady, our time is abundant, and we have the energy to spare. 

Sometimes it hurts to give.  Times are tight, we feel stressed and burdened, and life seems to be against us. 

Do we still give, even when it hurts?  It’s easy to give out of surplus, but it becomes a true act of trust in God when we give out of our poverty, even the poverty of our being. 

In our Gospel this weekend Jesus states it clearly: 

“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”
(Mark 12:38-44)

To prepare our hearts before we go to Holy Mass this weekend and to lean in on the saints who are the “friends of God” who have gone before us and who we can imitate in their utter generosity, hear Bishop Barron’s description of the love of the saints on the Flocknote email.

We look forward to seeing you at any of the Holy Mass times this weekend where Deacon Tom will be preaching, or stop by to visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.

 

LOOKING AHEAD

Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?
  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

GROW GROUPS | WE CONTINUE TO LAUNCH GROW GROUPS, ONE GROUP AT A TIME
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.

CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP

Mission. This group exists to grow a community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and twice a month for social gatherings.
Connect.  Reach out to Matt Kubanda and Mary Rysavy rysavyme@gmail.com
See what they have been up to at this video.

VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP

Mission.  Vine & Branches is a group at Our Lady of Mercy that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
Website.  Proceed here for details
Meets. Wednesdays @ 7pm with social gatherings.
Connect. The group leaders are looking forward to hearing from you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
John Frederick jdfredericj@icloud.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Check out the video to find out more about Vine and Branches

GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.

FORMED.ORG

Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet-connected device. Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies… there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

  1. Visit http://signup.formed.org/
  2. Enter our parish zip or name
  3. Enter your name and email

EUCHARIST RESOURCES

Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives and the great Feast of Corpus Christi.

AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP

From Augustine Institute comes this NEW & FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture. There is also Family Content: Enjoy and share family-favorite audio from the series Brother Francis and the Jesus Stories.  Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute.

WORD ON FIRE

Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library!   Check out this linkto watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.

HEROIC MEN

Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.

Learn about your faith from today’s best Catholic speakers—and do it all from the convenience of home. Stream-on-demand from your phone or tablet, too, for quality Catholic content on the go.

Get it all—for FREE – at HeroicMen.com

AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES

Have you wanted to get to know St. Thomas Aquinas and his writings more so as to grow closer to Jesus?
Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the Thomistic Institute seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher, and theologian.
Aquinas is a masterful interpreter of reality. His writings assist us in answering perennial questions on topics like God, man, the natural world, law, and morality, and questions of special relevance to our time like the relationship between modern science and faith or pursuing happiness in the digital era.

PASTORAL CARE
If you have physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health concerns or questions about end-of-life issues, funeral planning, journeying through grief, caregiving for a loved one or are homebound, please contact Jolene LeRoy RN Parish Nurse and Director of Pastoral Care for support and resources at jolenel@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org or 331-707-5380.

OPEN HEARTS MINISTRY 

The next scheduled in-person gathering for Open HEARTS Ministry is Monday, November 8 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm in Room 218 in the Parish Life Center. The ministry is for anyone who is interested in emotional and mental health and wellness. The ministry has an interest in decreasing the stigma of mental illness and increasing the awareness of support and resources. The topic of discussion will be on MERCY – God’s mercy and how we are called to live a life of mercy in relationship to our faith and mental health and wellness. If you would like to learn more about the ministry, please send an email to Janice Hurtado Aeppli at olmopenhearts@yahoo.com

RESTORE

Do you find yourself struggling in overcoming your battle with pornography?   Restore is a weekly (anonymous) meeting where men lean on each other for support and accountability and share ideas as to how to strengthen our resolve to stay on God’s path of chastity.  All men are welcome, whether you have been free of pornography addiction for many years or struggle with it every single day.

If you are ready to start breaking free from the grips of pornography and want to Restore your life email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet.

Be encouraged; check out this Testimony.

 

 

 

 

October 29, 2021 | Weekly Update

 

October 29, 2021 | Weekly Update

Love the Lord with All Your Heart 

What do we love the most?  Our health?  Our career?  Our reputation or status online?
Where is our love directed?  Christian writer and former atheist C.S. Lewis wrote that we need to, “Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: put second things first & we lose both first and second things.”

The message of our Gospel echoes this message as well as the words of Moses from our First Reading this weekend: 
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6)

What’s more, Jesus challenges His followers to also, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12). When we love rightly, all other activities fall into place and we must prepare ourselves for the eternal life to come. 

To prepare our hearts before we go to Holy Mass this weekend and to get a glimpse of how Catholics understand “The Last Things” watch the short video from poet, actor, and friend of Word on Fire Jonathan Roumie who plays Jesus in ‘The Chosen’ series on the Flocknote email.

We look forward to seeing you at any of the Holy Mass times this weekend where the presider of each Mass will be preaching, or stop by to visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.

And praise God, Father Don is safely back from his cross-country road trip with Chardonnay!

LOOKING AHEAD


Open HEARTS Ministry 11/8
  • The next scheduled in-person gathering for Open HEARTS is Monday, 11/8 from 7pm to 8:30pm in Room 218 in the Parish Life Center. The ministry is for anyone who has an interest in increasing the awareness of mental health and mental illness and sharing resources and experiences with others. The topic of discussion will be on MERCY – God’s mercy and how we are called to live a life of mercy in relationship to our faith and mental health and wellness. If you would like to learn more about the ministry, please send an email to Janice Hurtado Aeppli at olmopenhearts@yahoo.com
Coping with Grief and Loss During the Holiday Season Gatherings starts 11/9
  • Coping with Grief and Loss During the Holiday Season will take place in Room 124 on Tuesday, 11/9 from 7pm to 8:30pm; Saturday, 11/20 from 9:30am to 11:00am; Wednesday, 12/15 from 7pm to 8:30pm. You can attend any or all sessions.
  • For some, holidays are a time to celebrate and get together with family and friends. For others, holidays are difficult and not a time to celebrate as they are dealing with feelings of sadness, loss, and emptiness. If you are looking for support to help you cope with grief during the holiday season, please consider attending.  And if you know of someone that would be helped by these gatherings, please let them know.
St. Vincent DePaul Truck at OLM 11/6 and 11/7
  • The St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) truck will be in our parking lot 11/6 and 11/7 for the clothing drive.  Pick up one of the SVDP bags to place your donated items.  Clear out your closets for a good cause; the items are sold at reasonable prices at thrift shops so needy families can shop with dignity. The sale proceeds from the thrift shops go into a general assistance fund where parishes source help for families needing assistance with rent, mortgage, or utility assistance.
Knights of Columbus Blood Drive 11/13
  • Schedule to donate blood at this link on Saturday 11/13 from 8am to 12pm. Every donor will save up to 3 lives!
  • While appointments are appreciated, walk-ins are welcome!
  • You DO NOT NEED the Covid-19 vaccine in order to donate.
  • Please make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating. Thank you!
Ladies Advent Tea 11/28
  • Please save the date for the annual Ladies’ Advent Tea on Sunday, 11/28 from 2pm to 4:30pm.  Plans are for an in-person event in the church and the PLC.  Details to follow.
Adopt a Family in Need for Thanksgiving Dinner!
  • This year for Thanksgiving we are partnering with the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and Hesed House to provide families that are currently being assisted by these two organizations with a Thanksgiving dinner!
  • We are now accepting donations to benefit those families in need of a meal. Parishioners may make donations via our online giving portal under “Angel Giving” or checks can also be made payable to Our Lady of Mercy with “Angel Giving” in the memo and placed inside of the bin in the Narthex after mass. Please contact Lydia Schmitt, in the main office, with additional questions lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org or 331-707-5377.
Young Men Ages 7th Grade and Older, Save the Date for Thursday 1/4/2022
  • Think of the image of empty black shoes at the center aisle of a church.
  • Who Will Fill These Shoes?  The image of empty shoes, a priest’s shoes, laying there by the altar.  It is a sharp reminder to all of us that without priests, there will be no Eucharist.
  • To all young men ages 7th Grade and older, please come to a day about the priesthood at the Blanchette Catholic Center from 9am to 3pm.  There is no cost to attend.  Please register through vocations@dioceseofjoliet.org or call 815-221.6141
Synod on Synodality 
Bulletin
  • Don’t forget to check out Father Don’s insightful weekly Bulletin article located here.  This week our guest writer is Father James whose article is titled “Ghostbusters.”
Don’t Get Scammed by Fake Fathers!
  • Did you get an email or a text message from (a fake) Father Don this past week? Please remember, Father Don and Father James DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards.  If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Don or Father James, please discard it and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID.
For the Hispanic Community
  • Please proceed here for the OLM Hispanic Ministry’s upcoming events and resources.
    Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
  • There will be Stations of the Cross in Spanish every 2nd Wednesday of the month after the 12pm Mass.
    A partir de la próxima semana, habrá Estaciones de la Cruz en español cada segundo miércoles del mes después de la misa de las 12 pm.
A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry
  • How can we be praying for you today?
    There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions. In those moments, hope can feel far away. The great thing about prayer is that it shifts our perspective toward the One who stands ready to listen. No matter what you’re facing, we’d love to pray with you. Submit your prayer requests at this link
Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?
  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

GROW GROUPS | WE CONTINUE TO LAUNCH GROW GROUPS, ONE GROUP AT A TIME
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.

CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP

Mission. This group exists to grow a community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and twice a month for social gatherings.
Connect.  Reach out to Matt Kubanda and Mary Rysavy rysavyme@gmail.com
See what they have been up to at this video.

VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP

Mission.  Vine & Branches is a group at Our Lady of Mercy that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
Website.  Proceed here for details
Meets. Wednesdays @ 7pm with social gatherings.
Connect. The group leaders are looking forward to hearing from you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
John Frederick jdfredericj@icloud.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Check out the video to find out more about Vine and Branches

GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.

FORMED.ORG

Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet-connected device. Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies… there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

  1. Visit http://signup.formed.org/
  2. Enter our parish zip or name
  3. Enter your name and email

EUCHARIST RESOURCES

Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives and the great Feast of Corpus Christi.

AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP

From Augustine Institute comes this FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture. There is also Family Content: Enjoy and share family-favorite audio from the series Brother Francis and the Jesus Stories.  Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute.

WORD ON FIRE

Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library!   Check out this linkto watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.

HEROIC MEN

Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.

Learn about your faith from today’s best Catholic speakers—and do it all from the convenience of home. Stream-on-demand from your phone or tablet, too, for quality Catholic content on the go.

Get it all—for FREE – at HeroicMen.com

AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES

Have you wanted to get to know St. Thomas Aquinas and his writings more so as to grow closer to Jesus?
Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the Thomistic Institute seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher, and theologian.
Aquinas is a masterful interpreter of reality. His writings assist us in answering perennial questions on topics like God, man, the natural world, law, and morality, and questions of special relevance to our time like the relationship between modern science and faith or pursuing happiness in the digital era.

 

 

 

 

October 2021

October 2021: The Art of Preaching

I love to preach. I love it! That may sound odd to you, especially since public speaking is one of the greatest fears in the world, partly because we become anxious about looking silly and being judged or rejected. Yet, every time I approach the pulpit, I am humbled and overjoyed to break open the Word of God and try to connect it to our daily lives.

While I am able to share my love for preaching now, I must admit that when I entered the seminary, I thought to myself, “I am not sure how I am ever going to preach!” Not only did I wonder how I would conquer my fear and stage fright,   but I also questioned, “How am I going to come up with new and relevant material day after day?”

Thankfully at the seminary, my  homiletics’ teacher was wise, brilliantly creative and humble. He encouraged me and my fellow seminarians to find our own voice. He gently helped us to develop our own authentic style instead of trying to pretend to be someone we were not.

Admittedly, my confidence has grown over the years. Yet there still remains the daily task of thinking of what to say. People have noticed over the years that when someone is telling a story in normal conversation, I will often say, “Now, that would make a good homily!” I am constantly listening to others and their experiences,  keeping track of how I might share them in my preaching one day.  In other words, I keep my eyes and ears open to the world around me and then try to connect those examples to Scripture and the spiritual life.

Before preaching, I also use the ancient tradition of “lectio divina” which Pope Benedict XVI referred to as “prayerful listening to the Word of God.” Basically, this four-step process of praying over Scripture includes:  1) Reading (lectio) 2) Meditation (meditatio)  3) Prayer (oratio) 4) Contemplation (contemplatio). The process allows me to move beyond myself and my own interpretation by encountering God, who is behind, in and beyond the text. In other words, by using lectio divina, I try to avoid preaching about the “Gospel according to me” and instead break open the Scriptures according to the “Word of the Lord.”

I remember this past Advent season, I started thinking about my Christmas homily. I wanted to share something fresh and relevant as the new bishop of Joliet. Yet, with all my reading, conversations and prayer, I was dry. Nothing! I started to think to myself, “Maybe I will just have to dust off a homily from a Christmas past?” Then, two days before Christmas Eve, I was doing my morning Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament and I said to Jesus, “I have nothing to preach about on Christmas. Please help me.” My prayer was answered almost instantly. Within two minutes of my asking the Lord for his help, he sent the Holy Spirit to me and deposited in my head a homily from beginning to end, which I joyfully preached two days later at our Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus.

Please know that most of my prayer petitions are not answered so quickly or so precisely. But I wanted to share that personal experience with you to remind all of us that Jesus is real and that God wants the best for us. He truly knows and loves us and wants us to know and love Him.

While I always try to preach well, I am aware of my own shortcomings and regret the times that I was not as good as I would have liked to have been or when I gave less than what the people of God deserve. I think most of us desire good preaching and long to be fed by the Word of God. I wholeheartedly agree with Pope Francis, who said, “The homily can actually be an intense and happy experience of the Spirit, a consoling encounter with God’s word, a constant source of renewal and growth.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 135)

One last thought … remember that we all preach. Most preaching does not come from a pulpit at Mass. Instead, we communicate much by our daily words, attitudes and actions. By raising our minds and hearts in prayer to God, let us all strive to preach well and follow the wise words of St. Teresa of Avila, “We must all try to be preachers through our deeds.”

Octubre 2021: El arte de predicar

Me encanta predicar. ¡Me encanta! Esto puede sonarles extraño, especialmente porque hablar en público es uno de los grandes retos que mucho tenemos, en parte nos preocupamos porque podemos parecer tontos y ser juzgados o rechazados. Sin embargo, cada vez que me acerco al púlpito, me siento humilde y lleno de alegría al poder abrir la Palabra de Dios y tratar de conectarla a nuestra vida diaria.

Si bien puedo compartir mi amor por la predicación hoy día, debo admitir que cuando entré en el seminario, pensé: “No estoy seguro de cómo voy a predicar”. No sólo me preguntaba cómo conquistaría mi miedo y temor al escenario, sino que también me preguntaba: “¿Cómo voy a encontrar material nuevo y relevante día tras día?”

Afortunadamente en el seminario, mi maestro de homilética era sabio, brillantemente creativo y humilde. Él nos animó a mí y a mis compañeros seminaristas a encontrar nuestra propia voz.  Dócilmente nos ayudó a desarrollar nuestro propio estilo auténtico en lugar de tratar de fingir ser alguien que no éramos.

Es cierto que mi confianza ha crecido a lo largo de los años. Sin embargo, todavía queda la tarea diaria de pensar en lo qué voy a decir. A lo largo de los años, la gente ha notado que cuando alguien está contando una historia en una conversación normal, a menudo digo, “eso haría una buena homilía”. Estoy constantemente escuchando a otros y sus experiencias, manteniendo un registro de cómo podría compartirlos en mi predicación un día. En otras palabras, mantengo mis ojos y oídos abiertos al mundo que me rodea y luego trato de conectar esos ejemplos a las Escrituras y a la vida espiritual.

Antes de predicar, también uso la antigua tradición de “lectio divina”, a la que el Papa Benedicto XVI se refería como “escucha orante de la Palabra de Dios”. Básicamente, este proceso de cuatro pasos de oración sobre la Escritura incluye: 1) Lectura (lectio) 2) Meditación (meditatio) 3) Oración (oratio) 4) Contemplación (contemplatio). El proceso me permite ir más allá de yo mismo y de mi propia interpretación encontrándome con Dios, que está detrás, dentro y más allá del texto. En otras palabras, usando lectio divina, trato de evitar predicar sobre el “Evangelio según yo” y, en cambio, abrir las Escrituras según la “Palabra del Señor”.

Recuerdo que en el Tiempo de Adviento pasado, comencé a pensar en mi homilía de Navidad. Como el nuevo obispo de Joliet deseaba compartir algo fresco y relevante. Sin embargo, con todas mis lecturas, conversaciones y oración, yo estaba seco. ¡Nada! Empecé a pensar, “¿Tal vez tendré que desempolvar una homilía de una Navidad del pasado?” Entonces, dos días antes de la Nochebuena, estaba haciendo mi Hora Santa de la mañana frente al Santísimo Sacramento y le dije a Jesús: “No tengo nada de qué predicar en Navidad. Por favor, ayúdame. Mi oración fue contestada casi instantáneamente. A los dos minutos de pedirle ayuda al Señor, me envió el Espíritu Santo y depositó en mi cabeza una homilía de principio a fin, que dos días más tarde, prediqué con alegría en nuestra Catedral de San Raymond Nonnatus.

Deseo que sepan que la mayoría de mis peticiones de oración no son respondidas tan rápidamente o con tanta precisión. Pero quería compartir esa experiencia personal con ustedes para recordarnos que Jesús es real y que Dios quiere lo mejor para nosotros. Él verdaderamente nos conoce y nos ama y quiere que lo conozcamos y lo amemos.

Aunque siempre trato de predicar bien, estoy consciente de mis propias deficiencias y lamento las veces que no he sido tan bueno como me hubiera gustado ser o cuando di menos de lo que el pueblo de Dios se merece. Creo que la mayoría de nosotros deseamos escuchar una buena predicación y anhelamos ser alimentados por la Palabra de Dios. Estoy de acuerdo, de todo corazón, con el Papa Francisco quien dijo: “La homilía puede ser realmente una intensa y feliz experiencia del Espíritu, un reconfortante encuentro con la Palabra, una fuente constante de renovación y de crecimiento”.  (Evangelii Gaudium, 135)

Un pensamiento final… recuerden que todos predicamos. La mayoría de la predicación no viene de un púlpito en la misa. Al contrario, nos comunicamos mucho a través de nuestras palabras, actitudes y acciones diarias. Elevando nuestra mente y el corazón en oración a Dios tratemos de predicar bien y sigamos las palabras sabias de santa Teresa de Ávila: “Todos debemos tratar de ser predicadores a través de nuestras obras”.

Mass Times

Weekend

Saturday 8:30AM Daily Mass and 4PM Sunday Vigil

Sunday 8AM | 10AM  | 12PM | 5:30PM

Weekdays

Monday 8AM
Monday in Spanish 6:30PM
Tuesday 8AM & 6:30PM
Wednesday 12PM
Thursday 6:30AM & 8AM
Friday 12PM
Saturday 8:30AM

Confession

Tuesdays 7PM until all are heard
Wednesdays 12:30PM until all are heard

Fridays 12:30PM
Saturday 9AM – 10AM | 1:30PM – 2:30PM

During Magnify last Weds of the month 7PM – 8:30PM
Or please schedule an appointment here.

Eucharistic Adoration

Monday through Friday 8:30AM – 10PM
Magnify last Weds of the month 7PM – 8:30PM

Private Prayer in Church

Open daily 8:30AM – 8PM
(Will close if there is a Funeral, Wedding, or Baptism as well as early closing when the safety and security are at risk as determined by the pastor.)

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Location

701 S. Eola Road
Aurora, IL 60504

Parish Office

(630) 851-3444

Monday thru Thursday
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Friday
8:30AM – 1PM

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