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August 11, 2024 | Parish Update Gift of Love. Assumption Mass Times. Ministry Expo. Registrations for Alpha, Oremus, Chosen, & Family Faith Formation View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Pastor in Training (P.I.T.) When I was in FOCUS, I had the opportunity to work with many amazing and faithful lay men and women. I always enjoyed coming together for our summer training where we could reconnect and share the amazing ways that the Lord had worked in our lives. We would share everything from our daily struggles to the many graces we encountered in serving the Lord. One of the stories that remains with me to this day came from a missionary who was hesitant that she could even do this type of amazing work when she first arrived. Her dad was a deacon in the Church, and she came across FOCUS not through her own experience, but through outside recruitment. She was hired, but felt overwhelmed as she compared herself to the other missionaries. She felt like she didn’t have the ability to reach others for the Lord. However, she eventually overcame that fear and it literally changed her life. In her first couple of years, she gained confidence and grew to trust in the Lord. Her “yes” to missionary work would eventually lead her to find her vocation and her spouse. She encountered a man who was not practicing any faith. She doubted that her invitation to him to encounter the Lord would bear any fruit, but something happened. Grace entered him, his heart was opened to the Lord, and he had a conversion of faith – which led to a deepening of their friendship. Before she knew it they were dating, which led to a proposal, marriage, and now a beautiful family. What struck me the most was how she came back and shared her hesitancy of how she doubted that the Lord could work in her simple invitation. Clearly, the Lord had amazing and beautiful plans. Her story always strikes me because it highlights a common theme among all of us: How often do we put limitations on how God can work in our lives and in the lives of others? This isn’t anything new, and we see it in the Gospel as Jesus proclaims that he is the” Bread of Life” and the “Bread sent down from Heaven.” The people begin to question Jesus’ origin saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph?” Their doubt was that God could not work through someone they knew. They doubted that God could do something so personal in their own lives. Yes, they believed in the great stories of Moses and how the Israelites were provided Manna every day in the desert. However, when it came to something personal, they felt that God was far away! The Gospel, the good news, is that God is not far away. He comes to us every weekend in a deep and personal way in the Eucharist. Every time we receive the Lord in the Eucharist, we receive a profound gift of Love. Let us cast our doubts aside and realize the beautiful gift we receive in the Eucharist: the Body and Blood of Christ! Fr Michael ____ Candidacy Mass 8/11 Register now for Alpha in September @ OLM 8/12 Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group 8/13 Living with Grief Session 8/13 Mass Times for the Solemnity of the Assumption 8/15 Mama’s Grace Grow Group Pilgrimage to Assumption Church 8/15 Friday Mass Time is at 12pm 8/16 OLM Bowling League on Fridays 8/16 2024-2025 Faith Formation Starts in September Register Now! Faith Buddies Program for Children with Special Needs Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Come Visit Jesus in the New Adoration Chapel When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta OLM Volunteer Appreciation Dinner 8/17 Continuing on Fr. Don’s Legacy; Supporting Ertha’s Orphanage and School in Haiti 8/18 & 8/19 Manna for Marriage Ministry’s ONE GREAT PICNIC for Married and Engaged Couples and their Families 8/18 Senior Server Training 8/18 St. Peregrine Prayer Service 8/20 Salt & Light Pilgrimage to Champion, Wisconsin 8/22 through 8/23 OLM Ministry Expo 8/24 & 8/25 Altar Server Training 8/25 Mondays with Monica Summer Gathering 8/26 MAGNIFY 8/28 SoulCore Class on 8/31 Prayer Ministry After All Masses 8/31 & 9/1 Salt & Light Grow Group starts Alpha Begins 9/5 NFP: Up Close and Personal a Two-Part Series 9/6 & 9/13 Retrouvaille Weekend for Married Couples 9/13 – 9/15 OCIA (Becoming Catholic) Begins 9/16 Save the Date for the Our Lady of Mercy Anniversary Pig Roast 9/22 Catholic Bible Study on The Chosen Season 4 Begins 9/24 A Beautiful Ossuary Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? Totally Yours Pilgrimages Bulletin St. Vincent de Paul Society For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry 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. Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. MAMA’S GRACE GROW GROUP Mission. Mama’s Grace is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Each month for any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer. Connect. Reach out to Laura Reyes and Katelyn Wood for more information. 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 our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions. SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com. 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. FIT SHEPHERDS Fit Shepherds are formed through demanding workouts, fraternity, and discipleship. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Saturday mornings @ 7am & Wednesday mornings @ 5:30am Connect. For more information, connect with Dan Maxwell who is looking forward to hearing from you connect with him at 630.779.7114 Dannymax80@hotmail.com MANNA FOR MARRIAGE Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Throughout the year through date nights, marriage speakers, Manna Groups for married or engaged couples Connect. For more information, email us at m4m.olm@gmail.com 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. or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism App We consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store.Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture.Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute. HALLOW – A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP Hallow is a Catholic prayer & meditation app that helps users deepen their relationship with God through contemplative prayer. 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+ sessions including the Lectio Divina on the Daily Gospel, Rosary, Examen, Night Prayer, “Praylists” and much more. Hallow Light is free. Hallow Plus is $5 per month ($60 per year). Sign up for either one here. WORD ON FIRE Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith! Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login. Not sure where to start? Check out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ. BLESSED IS SHE Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful & accessible resources and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness 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. 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.. Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. The podcast has long-form discussions, debates and teachings on the Catholic faith. Checkout the podcast here. 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org 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 share ideas about strengthening 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 and want to Restore your life, email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony. MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org FAITH BUDDIES OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring! GOOD NEWS CONFERENCE 8/30 – 9/1 The 3-day, 2-night Good NewsConference will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, MN, from August 30 – September 1, 2024. The theme this year is “Mercy,” and through our incredible presenters, we will celebrate the Good News of God’s unending mercy to learn how we might extend his mercy throughout the world! Proceed to this link for further details are registration. Keynote speakers include: Along with… July 21, 2024 | Parish Update Rest in the Lord. Farewell to Topher. July~August Gatherings (Ministry Expo, Volunteer Dinner) View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Pastor in Training (P.I.T.) Have you ever come back from a vacation and felt like you needed another vacation from your vacation? As we work, we come to know our limitations and the need to take a break. However, I would argue that not many of us know how to refuel properly. For example, I’ll go for a run (once in a blue moon) only to come back and eat that candy bar, because I think I deserve it! As much as the candy bar tastes good, it is not exactly what my body needs after a run. Many of us exert ourselves, but then try to refuel with things that never satisfy. In these summer months, many of us find time to go on a vacation. However, I would encourage you to reflect on how replenishing your vacations actually are, or how you can make your vacations a real time of rest and growth in the spiritual life! When I was a missionary, we would encourage our students that when they go home for breaks, to not to take a vacation away from God. In a similar vein, how many of us travel and take a break from going to Sunday Mass? It is more than just fulfilling our Sunday obligation, but we should invite the Lord into our break, so that we can actually be fed and nourished. It is beautiful that in our Gospel, after the Apostles were sent on mission, Jesus personally took them to a deserted place so that they could rest. He wanted to reveal the importance of getting away from the world and spending time with him. Taking time for silence is important. Reading spiritual books, or listening to podcasts that lift the soul to God can be extremely fruitful. How many of us say that we don’t have time to pray as much as we should, but then on vacation we don’t make time to seek the Lord- even though we don’t have a million things to get done! As a priest, I am required by Canonical (Church) law to take a 5-day retreat every year! Luckily, I’m a rule follower and I took my retreat at the beginning of June. It was life giving. I slept, prayed, worked out, and read. I had the opportunity to pray the rosary and divine mercy chaplet every day with a group of holy cloistered nuns. I offered Mass every day for our parish. It also allowed me to examine my year as a priest. Just as our first reading calls out the bad shepherds of Israel, I prayed for forgiveness for the ways I may have failed as a shepherd, and I gave thanks to the Lord for the graces I have received as a shepherd (which are many at OLM). I hope you have seen the fruit of that retreat in my own life and priesthood since I have returned, and I encourage you to find the time to do the same. May the next vacation you take be an opportunity to rest in the Lord and be replenished by Him! Fr Michael Reflect on the National Eucharistic Revival 7/23 Salt & Light continues its experience at Healing the Whole Person 7/24 & 7/25 Mama’s Grace Grow Group Bible Study 7/25 Prayer Ministry After All Masses 7/27 & 7/28 Wedding Anniversary Mass Register By 7/28 Taste of Africa Cultural Event at St. Joseph’s in Aurora 7/28 Donut Sunday 7/28 Farewell Reception for Topher 7/28 Meet & Greet Gathering 7/28 2024-2025 Faith Formation Registration is OPEN! Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Come Visit Jesus in the New Adoration Chapel Every Holy Hour we make so pleases the Heart of Jesus that it is recorded in Heaven and retold for all eternity! St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Register now for Alpha in September @ OLM 7/29 Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group 7/30 Magnify Adoration 7/31 OLM Bowling League on Fridays 8/2 Respect Life Ministry First Friday Prayer 8/2 First Friday and Saturday Devotion 8/2 & 8/3 Charismatic Healing Mass 8/3 OLM Vacation Bible School 8/5 through 8/9 Mama’s Grace Grow Group Pray & Play 8/9 Candidacy Mass 8/11 Mass Times for the Solemnity of the Assumption 8/15 OLM Volunteer Appreciation Dinner 8/17 Continuing on Fr. Don’s Legacy; Supporting Ertha’s Orphanage and School in Haiti 8/18 & 8/19 Manna for Marriage Ministry’s ONE GREAT PICNIC for Married and Engaged Couples and their Families 8/18 Salt & Light Pilgrimage to Champion, Wisconsin 8/22 through 8/23 OLM Ministry Expo 8/24 & 8/25 Mondays with Monica Summer Gathering 8/26 Alpha Begins 9/5 NFP: Up Close and Personal a Two-Part Series 9/6 & 9/13 OCIA (Becoming Catholic) Begins 9/16 Save the Date for the Our Lady of Mercy Anniversary Pig Roast 9/22 A Beautiful Ossuary Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? Totally Yours Pilgrimages Bulletin St. Vincent de Paul Society For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry 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. Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. MAMA’S GRACE GROW GROUP Mission. Mama’s Grace is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Each month for any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer. Connect. Reach out to Laura Reyes and Katelyn Wood for more information. 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 our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions. SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com. 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. FIT SHEPHERDS Fit Shepherds are formed through demanding workouts, fraternity, and discipleship. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Saturday mornings @ 7am & Wednesday mornings @ 5:30am Connect. For more information, connect with Dan Maxwell who is looking forward to hearing from you connect with him at 630.779.7114 Dannymax80@hotmail.com MANNA FOR MARRIAGE Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Throughout the year through date nights, marriage speakers, Manna Groups for married or engaged couples Connect. For more information, email us at m4m.olm@gmail.com 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. or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism App We consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store.Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture.Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute. HALLOW – A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP Hallow is a Catholic prayer & meditation app that helps users deepen their relationship with God through contemplative prayer. 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+ sessions including the Lectio Divina on the Daily Gospel, Rosary, Examen, Night Prayer, “Praylists” and much more. Hallow Light is free. Hallow Plus is $5 per month ($60 per year). Sign up for either one here. WORD ON FIRE Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith! Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login. Not sure where to start? Check out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ. BLESSED IS SHE Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful & accessible resources and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness 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. 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.. Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. The podcast has long-form discussions, debates and teachings on the Catholic faith. Checkout the podcast here. 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org 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 share ideas about strengthening 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 and want to Restore your life, email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony. MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org FAITH BUDDIES OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring! 2024 WORD ON FIRE CONFERENCE 8/2 – 8/4 Join over 1,000 Catholics at the 2024 Word on Fire Conference, Wonder: Nature and the Human Body! This conference is for you if you love Word on Fire and want to become more confident in your conversations with friends, coworkers, or family members about some of the most pressing issues the Church faces today. Get 12% OFF your tickets here. Your ticket includes access to four keynotes (including one by Bishop Barron), three breakout sessions, two dinners, and two Masses. This year’s conference is in Bishop’s home diocese of Rochester, Minnesota! It will be at the Mayo Civic Center (which is also the event space of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic). This year’s theme is Nature and the Human Body. All humans are bodied creatures. The human body is at the core of today’s most controversial topics, including evolution, artificial intelligence, and gender ideology. It’s more important than ever to be confident when talking with friends and family about these topics. GOOD NEWS CONFERENCE 8/30 – 9/1 The 3-day, 2-night Good NewsConference will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, MN, from August 30 – September 1, 2024. The theme this year is “Mercy,” and through our incredible presenters, we will celebrate the Good News of God’s unending mercy to learn how we might extend his mercy throughout the world! Proceed to this link for further details are registration. Keynote speakers include: Along with… June 23, 2024 | Parish Update Be Still. July 4th Mass. New daily Mass schedule on Fridays. View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Pastor in Training (P.I.T.) Reincarnation is the belief that people after death will be brought back into the world, but with a different body and a new life. I’m so glad that as Catholics, who have the fullness of faith, we know this not to be true. This isn’t an attack on those who believe in reincarnation, but as I like to point out when it comes to a tenant of our faith, what loving God would allow someone to go through middle school more than once? I have to say, growing up as a middle school student, I was definitely driven by emotions and struggled with things of the heart and mind. I believe that everyone has experienced this in some way or another. Additionally, I believe most modern-day psychologists would call it healthy, and a time of self-discovery. However, I would argue that one other step that is necessary in our self-discovery, but typically missed, is knowledge that we are grounded in our identity as a son or daughter of God and awareness of the Lord’s presence. I believe my greatest struggles in middle school, high school, and beyond would have subsided if I only extended my trust in the Lord and truly understood his care for me. In our Gospel we hear that the disciples are in a boat with the Lord. A huge storm comes while Christ is sleeping in the stern of the boat. On a side note, the stern is usually the place that steers the boat. The disciples are afraid and they wake up our Lord saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” The Lord wakes up and says to the wind and sea, “Quiet, Be Still!” (Mark :38-39) Even though the command is directed at the wind and the sea, I’d argue that we need to ask the Lord to give the same command to our head and heart: “Quiet! Be Still!” How often we get caught up in the emotions of the heart, or in our heads, and it feels like everything is falling apart; we are terrified not knowing what is beyond the horizon. The Lord is a loving God; He desires for us to trust in him with faith, and rest in the knowledge that ultimately he is in control and always in our midst. What a beautiful gift to have this confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ who continues to reveal himself to us, especially in the gift of the Eucharist. May we walk away as the disciples did after he calmed the storms: with great awe. Fr Michael Healing the Whole Person Continues 6/26 & 6/27 “What’s the Big Deal with IVF?” by Deacon Tony Leazzo 6/27 2024-2025 Faith Formation Registration is OPEN! Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Come Visit Jesus in the New Adoration Chapel Every Holy Hour we make so pleases the Heart of Jesus that it is recorded in Heaven and retold for all eternity! St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Chicagoland Events 6/26 through 6/30 CLICK HERE for Event Information Chicago Young Adult Eucharistic Revival Event 6/28 SoulCore Rosary Walks Continue 6/29 Prayer Ministry After All Masses 6/29 & 6/30 Peter’s Pence Second Collection 6/29 & 6/30 Meet & Greet Gathering 6/30 July 4th Mass, Patriotic Rosary and Schedule 7/4 NEW Friday Daily Mass Schedule begins on 7/5 Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) Resumes 7/7 Mama’s Grace Mom’s Grow Group 7/12 Filipino Street Food Fair 7/14 Wedding Anniversary Mass Register By 7/28 Donut Sunday 7/28 Meet & Greet Gathering 7/28 Quo Vadis Days 7/28 through 7/31 OLM Vacation Bible School 8/5 through 8/9 Save the Date for the Our Lady of Mercy Anniversary Pig Roast 9/22 A Message from the Catholic Bishops of Illinois on Assisted Suicide Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? Totally Yours Pilgrimages Bulletin St. Vincent de Paul Society For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry 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. Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. MAMA’S GRACE GROW GROUP Mission. Mama’s Grace is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Each month for any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer. Connect. Reach out to 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 our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions. SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com. 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. 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. or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism App We consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store.Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture.Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute. HALLOW – A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP Hallow is a Catholic prayer & meditation app that helps users deepen their relationship with God through contemplative prayer. 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+ sessions including the Lectio Divina on the Daily Gospel, Rosary, Examen, Night Prayer, “Praylists” and much more. Hallow Light is free. Hallow Plus is $5 per month ($60 per year). Sign up for either one here. WORD ON FIRE Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith! Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login. Not sure where to start? Check out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ. BLESSED IS SHE Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful & accessible resources and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness 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. 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.. Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. The podcast has long-form discussions, debates and teachings on the Catholic faith. Checkout the podcast here. 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org 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 share ideas about strengthening 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 and want to Restore your life, email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony. MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org FAITH BUDDIES OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring! 2024 SUMMER SCRIPTURE CONFERENCE 6/5 – 6/8 “The EUCHARIST & the WORD” Conference will be held at the beautiful Loyola Lake Shore Campus. Loyola University Chicago has taken the reins to continue this tradition launched in 1974 out of the encouragement of Vatican II, to bring understanding and study of Scripture into the forefront of a wider Catholic audience. This will be the first year the Conference will be held at Loyola University’s beautiful Lake Shore Campus! In support of the USCCB’s efforts for National Eucharistic Revival, we are happy Opening Keynote will be Todd Williamson, Director of the Office for Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Scripture Scholars include Dr. Thomas Wetzel, 2024 WORD ON FIRE CONFERENCE 8/2 – 8/4 Join over 1,000 Catholics at the 2024 Word on Fire Conference, Wonder: Nature and the Human Body! This conference is for you if you love Word on Fire and want to become more confident in your conversations with friends, coworkers, or family members about some of the most pressing issues the Church faces today. Get 12% OFF your tickets here. Your ticket includes access to four keynotes (including one by Bishop Barron), three breakout sessions, two dinners, and two Masses. This year’s conference is in Bishop’s home diocese of Rochester, Minnesota! It will be at the Mayo Civic Center (which is also the event space of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic). This year’s theme is Nature and the Human Body. All humans are bodied creatures. The human body is at the core of today’s most controversial topics, including evolution, artificial intelligence, and gender ideology. It’s more important than ever to be confident when talking with friends and family about these topics. GOOD NEWS CONFERENCE 8/30 – 9/1 The 3-day, 2-night Good NewsConference will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, MN, from August 30 – September 1, 2024. The theme this year is “Mercy,” and through our incredible presenters, we will celebrate the Good News of God’s unending mercy to learn how we might extend his mercy throughout the world! Proceed to this link for further details are registration. Keynote speakers include: Along with… June 9, 2024 | Parish Update Foolish Acts of Love. Healing the Whole Person @ OLM. Meet & Greet on Sunday. And Save the Date for Corpus Christi Procession. View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Priest in Training (P.I.T.) One summer, I was teaching first and second graders about salvation history. I was teaching them about how Mary is the New Eve because, as we can see on so many statues of Mary, she crushes the head of the serpent. As I was saying this, all the first and second graders spontaneously stood up and began stomping on imaginary serpents. In some way, they had gotten the message But the First Reading which says, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” Doesn’t that mean that Jesus will crush the head of the serpent? Yes, but this passage traditionally reads (in the Latin Vulgate), “She will crush your head.” So which is it? As with many aspects of our faith, the answer is both. Mary crushes the head of the serpent in union with and through the victory of Jesus on the Cross. Jesus says, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” Even though Satan’s kingdom may not be divided, he delights in sowing division in others. Through the doubt that he has planted in the hearts of Adam and Eve, Satan has successfully divided them from God, from each other, from nature, and internally. They are unable to stand, and because of this, God promises them the woman and her offspring who will crush the head of the serpent, namely Mary and Jesus. This is what we see in the Gospel. Jesus gains a reputation for driving out demons, even saying that He has tied up the strong man, Satan, to plunder his house. He clearly demonstrates His coming victory over Satan. In the midst of this conversation, Mary and Jesus’ relatives arrive. At first glance, it might seem like Jesus is dismissing them, but we need to look carefully at what He says: “For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mary is Jesus’ mother not only in virtue of giving birth to Him but also because she does the will of God better than any other human person. We see this most clearly at the Annunciation when she says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done unto me according to your word,” but her entire life is a “yes” to God. In doing this, she also crushes the head of the serpent in union with Christ. This union of Jesus and Mary through doing the will of God undoes the division sown by Satan, and shows us that we also can crush the head of the serpent. If anyone who does the will of God is Jesus’ brother and sister and mother, then all we need to do is imitate Mary in staying in union with Jesus Who has already won the victory. When we do this, like my first and second graders, we can also stomp on the head of the serpent Fr Frank Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group on Tuesday 6/11 Living with Grief Summer Picnic 6/11 Healing the Whole Person Continues 6/12 & 6/13 Mama’s Grace Mom’s Grow Group 6/13 & 6/14 Knights of Columbus 2024 College Scholarship, Deadline is 6/14 2024-2025 Faith Formation Registration, Early Bird Special Through 6/14! SoulCore Rosary Walks Continue 6/15 Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Come Visit Jesus in the New Adoration Chapel Every Holy Hour we make so pleases the Heart of Jesus that it is recorded in Heaven and retold for all eternity! St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Return your Baby Bottle for Life 6/15 & 6/16 St. Peregrine Prayer Service 6/18 Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast 6/23 Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry 6/26 Magnify Adoration 6/26 Meet & Greet Gathering 6/30 Donut Sunday 6/30 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Chicagoland Events 6/26 through 6/30 CLICK HERE for Event Information Chicago Young Adult Eucharistic Revival Event 6/28 Wedding Anniversary Mass Register By 7/28 Quo Vadis Days 7/28 through 7/31 OLM Vacation Bible School 8/5 through 8/9 A Message from the Catholic Bishops of Illinois on Assisted Suicide Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? Totally Yours Pilgrimages Bulletin St. Vincent de Paul Society For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry 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. Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. MAMA’S GRACE GROW GROUP Mission. Mama’s Grace is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Each month for any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer. Connect. Reach out to 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 our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions. SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com. 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. 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. or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism App We consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store.Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture.Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute. HALLOW – A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP Hallow is a Catholic prayer & meditation app that helps users deepen their relationship with God through contemplative prayer. 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+ sessions including the Lectio Divina on the Daily Gospel, Rosary, Examen, Night Prayer, “Praylists” and much more. Hallow Light is free. Hallow Plus is $5 per month ($60 per year). Sign up for either one here. WORD ON FIRE Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith! Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login. Not sure where to start? Check out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ. BLESSED IS SHE Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful & accessible resources and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness 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. 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.. Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. The podcast has long-form discussions, debates and teachings on the Catholic faith. Checkout the podcast here. 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org 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 share ideas about strengthening 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 and want to Restore your life, email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony. MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org FAITH BUDDIES OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring! 2024 SUMMER SCRIPTURE CONFERENCE 6/5 – 6/8 “The EUCHARIST & the WORD” Conference will be held at the beautiful Loyola Lake Shore Campus. Loyola University Chicago has taken the reins to continue this tradition launched in 1974 out of the encouragement of Vatican II, to bring understanding and study of Scripture into the forefront of a wider Catholic audience. This will be the first year the Conference will be held at Loyola University’s beautiful Lake Shore Campus! In support of the USCCB’s efforts for National Eucharistic Revival, we are happy Opening Keynote will be Todd Williamson, Director of the Office for Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Scripture Scholars include Dr. Thomas Wetzel, 2024 WORD ON FIRE CONFERENCE 8/2 – 8/4 Join over 1,000 Catholics at the 2024 Word on Fire Conference, Wonder: Nature and the Human Body! This conference is for you if you love Word on Fire and want to become more confident in your conversations with friends, coworkers, or family members about some of the most pressing issues the Church faces today. Get 12% OFF your tickets here. Your ticket includes access to four keynotes (including one by Bishop Barron), three breakout sessions, two dinners, and two Masses. This year’s conference is in Bishop’s home diocese of Rochester, Minnesota! It will be at the Mayo Civic Center (which is also the event space of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic). This year’s theme is Nature and the Human Body. All humans are bodied creatures. The human body is at the core of today’s most controversial topics, including evolution, artificial intelligence, and gender ideology. It’s more important than ever to be confident when talking with friends and family about these topics. GOOD NEWS CONFERENCE 8/30 – 9/1 The 3-day, 2-night Good NewsConference will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, MN, from August 30 – September 1, 2024. The theme this year is “Mercy,” and through our incredible presenters, we will celebrate the Good News of God’s unending mercy to learn how we might extend his mercy throughout the world! Proceed to this link for further details are registration. Keynote speakers include: Along with… May 12, 2024 | Parish Update Foolish Acts of Love. Healing the Whole Person @ OLM. Meet & Greet on Sunday. And Save the Date for Corpus Christi Procession. View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Pastor in Training (P.I.T.) I’ve known a lot of foolish people in my life; in particular, I’ve known many foolish women. I should probably rephrase that. I’ve known many women who have loved greatly. Have you ever noticed that from the outside looking in, those who love seem to act foolishly? We see an example of this in our faith, as the Apostles left everything behind because of their love for the Lord. And we also see this “foolishness” in our daily lives. In my own vocation, I’ve had people ask me about choosing the celibate life of a priest, only seeing it as something that is foolish. Of course, my response is that it is not foolishness, but really a response to love, for the sake of the Lord and his people, and only possible with God’s grace to respond to the call. As we celebrate mother’s day, and a month dedicated to our Blessed Mother, I thought I would honor the “foolish” women in my life who loved radically. To my Grandmother, who allowed her husband to move to the United States to work for two years before reuniting with their 4 children. To my mother, who was engaged to another man, called off the wedding the night before, only to accept my Dad’s proposal three weeks later. To my sister, who after being firmly established in her practice and field, found a man online, picked up her life, and moved across the country to follow her heart and started a family of her own. From the outside looking in, these actions may seem foolish, but if you know their stories, you can see how greatly these women loved! I’ve also been lucky to know friends who have left everything to join religious communities: from my friend Sister Joshua Marie, who left Notre Dame her sophomore year (a sin to the Irish I’m sure) to pursue a life with the Missionaries of Charity (St. Mother Theresa’s order), to my friend Mother Marie Benedicta of the Cross, who after college decided to join the Carmelites in the Des Plaines cloister. (Meaning that she is never able to leave and is called to live a life of continual prayer) I look up to these women, and am grateful for their example of how to love. As we crown our Blessed Mother this weekend and celebrate Mother’s Day, I think it is only fitting to honor those who have loved so greatly, that to the world it seems foolish. May we be inspired by their “foolish” acts of love. May our Blessed Mother continue to bless us, guide us, and encourage us as we respond to her son, our Lord Jesus’ Christ and his beautiful call to bring the faith to all we meet. In the eyes of the world, our actions will look foolish but we know that it is all worth it because we are in love. Fr Michael Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here. Healing the Whole Person Register Now 5/13 Mondays with Monica and Augustine on Monday 5/13 Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group on Tuesday 5/14 Bible Study on the Book of Revelation 5/14 SoulCore Continues on Wednesday 5/15 Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry 5/15 Last Night of the 7 Great Dates on Friday 5/17 Knights of Columbus Blood Drive 5/18 Faith Formation End of the Year Picnic 5/18 Meet & Greet Gathering 5/19 Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Come Visit Jesus in the New Adoration Chapel Every Holy Hour we make so pleases the Heart of Jesus that it is recorded in Heaven and retold for all eternity! St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta St. Peregrine & St. Dymphna Prayer Service 5/21 Magnify Adoration 5/29 Rummage Sale Donations Accepted Starting 6/1 Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession 6/2 Knights of Columbus 2024 College Scholarship, Deadline is 6/14 2024-2025 Faith Formation Registration, Early Bird Special Through 6/14! Return your Baby Bottle for Life 6/15 & 6/16 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Chicagoland Events 6/26-6/30 CLICK HERE for Event Information Chicago Young Adult Eucharistic Revival Event 6/28 Wedding Anniversary Mass Register By 7/28 A Message from the Catholic Bishops of Illinois on Assisted Suicide Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? Totally Yours Pilgrimages Bulletin St. Vincent de Paul Society For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry 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. Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. Mission. A Mother’s Heart is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Each month for any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer. Connect. Reach out to Lydia Schmitt lydiadschmitt@gmail.com 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 our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions. SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com. 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. 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. or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism AppWe consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Now it’s here! Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store. Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND 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. 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. WORD ON FIRE Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith! Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login. Not sure where to start? How about checking out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ. BLESSED IS SHE Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and the highest-quality products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness 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. 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.. Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. The podcast has long-form discussions, debates and teachings on the Catholic faith. Checkout the podcast here. 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org 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 share ideas about strengthening 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 and want to Restore your life, email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony. MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org FAITH BUDDIES OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org faith. Checkout the podcast here. 2024 SUMMER SCRIPTURE CONFERENCE 6/5 – 6/8 “The EUCHARIST & the WORD” Conference will be held at the beautiful Loyola Lake Shore Campus. Loyola University Chicago has taken the reins to continue this tradition launched in 1974 out of the encouragement of Vatican II, to bring understanding and study of Scripture into the forefront of a wider Catholic audience. This will be the first year the Conference will be held at Loyola University’s beautiful Lake Shore Campus! In support of the USCCB’s efforts for National Eucharistic Revival, we are happy Opening Keynote will be Todd Williamson, Director of the Office for Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Scripture Scholars include Dr. Thomas Wetzel, 2024 WORD ON FIRE CONFERENCE 8/2 – 8/4 Join over 1,000 Catholics at the 2024 Word on Fire Conference, Wonder: Nature and the Human Body! This conference is for you if you love Word on Fire and want to become more confident in your conversations with friends, coworkers, or family members about some of the most pressing issues the Church faces today. Get 12% OFF your tickets here. Your ticket includes access to four keynotes (including one by Bishop Barron), three breakout sessions, two dinners, and two Masses. This year’s conference is in Bishop’s home diocese of Rochester, Minnesota! It will be at the Mayo Civic Center (which is also the event space of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic). This year’s theme is Nature and the Human Body. All humans are bodied creatures. The human body is at the core of today’s most controversial topics, including evolution, artificial intelligence, and gender ideology. It’s more important than ever to be confident when talking with friends and family about these topics. May 1, 2024 | Parish Update A hard question. Green & Fair Trade Fair. An Evening with Mother Mary on 5/11. And May Gatherings. View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). What does it mean to be a disciple? In today’s first reading, it is Saul’s boldness in Christ that makes the other Christians finally acknowledge him as a disciple. That boldness is a quality we are also called to have. In the second reading, we hear of Jesus’ commandment to believe in him and love one another as he commanded us. This commandment has two features, which we might be tempted to separate into two commandments, but it is a singular directive. We are told that our faith should bear fruit in our works, especially in the way we love others. Our faith should find expression in our actions. To believe in Christ is to entrust yourself to Christ. It would be odd to believe in Christ and not obey him. Rather, to not obey would shed light on an area in yourself that Christ needs to be brought into, and that other brothers and sisters should be consulted about. Therefore, the disciples of Christ obey his commandments, and that obedience is proof of their faith. The Gospel continues with the imagery of vines, branches, fruit, and pruning. Jesus makes the point through this imagery that it is impossible to grow in holiness without also producing good fruit for others. The Gospel takes a frightening turn when it says that anyone who does not remain in Christ will be thrown into a fire like dead branches! As previously mentioned, faith and works go together as one. Thus, believing in Christ but refusing to do anything he asks us to do for our own good is the same as rejecting Christ. Perhaps we are not rejecting him entirely, but the invitation is to completely surrender ourselves to Christ and trust in him. In the same respect, he has already given himself entirely to us. The disciple is, therefore, dependent on Jesus and his grace. This leads to a deep unity, which bears much fruit. As a man who has committed himself to Christ, is seeking to be his disciple, and strives to make others his disciples, this Gospel reminded me of many of the fears I had when surrendering to God and entering priestly formation. One of the fears I had was that in configuring myself to Christ, I would become a different person. Perhaps I would become a priest who prays abundantly, but has little personality left afterwards. While I have changed in many respects, the Lord has pruned certain aspects of my life to make me more fruitful. All those moments of pruning and letting go of things has resulted in deep happiness. I am becoming who God truly created me to be. It is when I begin to reach for that which has been pruned away, that I often lose my peace. My invitation today is to ask Jesus a hard question: “Jesus, are you asking me to do something in order to love you more?” Jonathan 7 Great Dates on Friday 5/3 First Friday and First Saturday 5/3 & 5/4 Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat 5/3 thru 5/5 PADS Board Drop-Off 5/4 & 5/5 First Communion Masses 5/4 & 5/5 Green Fair and Fair Trade Sale on Donut Sunday 5/5 Mondays with Monica and Augustine on Monday 5/6 Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group on Tuesday 5/7 Monthly Grief Group “What We Can Learn from Mary While Grieving” 5/7 Bible Study on the Book of Revelation 5/8 SoulCore Continues on Wednesday 5/8 An Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching 5/8 Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Come Visit Jesus in the New Adoration Chapel Every Holy Hour we make so pleases the Heart of Jesus that it is recorded in Heaven and retold for all eternity! St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Aurora Day of Service 5/11 May Crowning at 4pm Mass 5/11 An Evening with Mother Mary 5/11 Pick Up a Baby Bottle for Life 5/11 & 5/12 Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry 5/15 Meet & Greet Gathering 5/19 St. Peregrine & St. Dymphna Prayer Service 5/21 Magnify Adoration 5/29 Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession 6/2 Chicago Young Adult Eucharistic Revival Event 6/28 2024-2025 Faith Formation Registration is now OPEN! Knights of Columbus 2024 College Scholarship Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? Totally Yours Pilgrimages Bulletin St. Vincent de Paul Society For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry 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. Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. Mission. A Mother’s Heart is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Each month for any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer. Connect. Reach out to Lydia Schmitt lydiadschmitt@gmail.com 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 our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions. SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com. 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. 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. or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism AppWe consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Now it’s here! Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store. Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND 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. 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. WORD ON FIRE Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith! Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login. Not sure where to start? How about checking out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ. BLESSED IS SHE Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and the highest-quality products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness 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. 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.. Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. The podcast has long-form discussions, debates and teachings on the Catholic faith. Checkout the podcast here. 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org 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 share ideas about strengthening 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 and want to Restore your life, email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony. MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org FAITH BUDDIES OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org faith. Checkout the podcast here. 2024 WORD ON FIRE CONFERENCE 8/2 – 8/4 Join over 1,000 Catholics at the 2024 Word on Fire Conference, Wonder: Nature and the Human Body! This conference is for you if you love Word on Fire and want to become more confident in your conversations with friends, coworkers, or family members about some of the most pressing issues the Church faces today. Get 12% OFF your tickets here. Your ticket includes access to four keynotes (including one by Bishop Barron), three breakout sessions, two dinners, and two Masses. This year’s conference is in Bishop’s home diocese of Rochester, Minnesota! It will be at the Mayo Civic Center (which is also the event space of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic). This year’s theme is Nature and the Human Body. All humans are bodied creatures. The human body is at the core of today’s most controversial topics, including evolution, artificial intelligence, and gender ideology. It’s more important than ever to be confident when talking with friends and family about these topics. April 14, 2024 | Parish Update Confessions. St. Vincent de Paul Meeting and SoulCore on Wednesday. Faith Formation Open House after all Mass times this weekend. View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Pastor in Training (P.I.T.) From our daily confessions, which are many, to our week long confessions during the 5th week of Lent, our long Holy week confession lines, and our Divine Mercy service confessions, you would think that as a priest I would say, “Ok, no more confessions please!” However, I know that I will always both promote, and seek out the beautiful Sacrament myself. This is not only because it has a tremendous impact on my life, or because I’ve been consecrated as a priest of Jesus Christ to offer the Sacrament and forgiveness of sins. At an even more fundamental level, our Gospel today points out that repentance and forgiveness of sins is the foundation of our Church, and needs to be proclaimed to the whole world (cf. Luke 24:47). In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter recounts our Lord’s Passion to the crowds gathering after he performed a healing in the temple. He recalls the Israelite people choosing Barabbas, a murderer, over Jesus. What was St. Peter doing? He was encouraging those listening to “repent so that there can be forgiveness of sins” (cf. Acts 3:19). Barabbas has an interesting meaning in Scripture. Bar means “son of” and Abba means “father.” Hence, Israelite people were making a choice: which son of the father they would follow. Will they follow Barabbas, who followed his selfish passions, or Jesus, who surrenders himself completely as a self-gift? This same choice is offered to us every day. How many of us choose our own selfish desires over that of a sacrificial love like our Lord? And if we choose selfishness, what should our response be? Well, as the readings and Gospel point out, we need to repent (again) and receive the forgiveness of our sins (again)! As we journey in our faith together, can I encourage you to see the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a gift that the Lord desires you to receive? It is not a punishment, but a reception of great joy and love. The Lord is patient with us and always merciful. He is moving us by His grace to grow ever closer to him in this Sacrament. In receiving his mercy and love, we are able to respond in mercy and love to the world. Even with all our scheduled confessions times, as your pastor, I will always be open to finding more opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be celebrated and received. Fr. Michael … For reference, below is our current Confession schedule. Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here. SoulCore resumes 4/17 St Vincent de Paul Society 4/17 7 Great Dates Continues on Friday 4/19 Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Come Visit Jesus in the New Adoration Chapel Every Holy Hour we make so pleases the Heart of Jesus that it is recorded in Heaven and retold for all eternity! -St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Faith Formation Open House 4/20 & 4/21 Mission Trip Bake Sale after all Masses 4/20 & 4/21 Meet & Greet Gathering 4/21 New Teen Youth Group called Refuge Meets on 4/21, & 4/28 Mondays with Monica and Augustine 4/22 Bible Study on the Book of Revelation 4/23 Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group Continues on Tuesday 4/23 An Easter MAGNIFY Adoration, Praise & Worship 4/24 Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry 4/25 A Mother’s Heart, Women’s Bible Study 4/25 Diocese of Joliet Jeremiah Day 4/27 PADS Board Items on display 4/27 Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat 5/3 thru 5/5 An Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching 5/8 and 5/15 An Evening with Mother Mary 5/11 St. Peregrine Prayer Service 5/21 Chicago Young Adult Eucharistic Revival Event 6/28 Knights of Columbus 2024 College Scholarship Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? Totally Yours Pilgrimages Bulletin For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry 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. Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. Mission. A Mother’s Heart is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Each month for any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer. Connect. Reach out to Lydia Schmitt lydiadschmitt@gmail.com 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 our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions. SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com. 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. 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. or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism AppWe consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Now it’s here! Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store. Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND 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. 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. WORD ON FIRE Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith! Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login. Not sure where to start? How about checking out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ. BLESSED IS SHE Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and the highest-quality products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness 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. 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.. Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. The podcast has long-form discussions, debates and teachings on the Catholic faith. Checkout the podcast here. 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org 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 share ideas about strengthening 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 and want to Restore your life, email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony. MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org FAITH BUDDIES OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org faith. Checkout the podcast here. JOLIET YOUTH DAY 6/1 June 1, 2024 Register to attend at this link This exciting, first-of-its-kind youth event will be held at Lewis University on June 1, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. An unforgettable day conference dedicated to transforming the lives of 8th to 12th graders (current 7th to 12th graders) into passionate and joyful disciples, participants will: 2024 WORD ON FIRE CONFERENCE 8/2 – 8/4 Join over 1,000 Catholics at the 2024 Word on Fire Conference, Wonder: Nature and the Human Body! This conference is for you if you love Word on Fire and want to become more confident in your conversations with friends, coworkers, or family members about some of the most pressing issues the Church faces today. Get 12% OFF your tickets here. Your ticket includes access to four keynotes (including one by Bishop Barron), three breakout sessions, two dinners, and two Masses. This year’s conference is in Bishop’s home diocese of Rochester, Minnesota! It will be at the Mayo Civic Center (which is also the event space of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic). This year’s theme is Nature and the Human Body. All humans are bodied creatures. The human body is at the core of today’s most controversial topics, including evolution, artificial intelligence, and gender ideology. It’s more important than ever to be confident when talking with friends and family about these topics. March 28, 2024 | Parish Update Triduum; Holy Thursday-Good Friday-Easter Sunday. 7 Great Dates starts 4/5. The question is, this Easter. View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Pastor in Training (P.I.T.) If you go to the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis, you will actually be visiting the second largest mosaic in the world; thousands of small pieces of glass depicting the life of Christ adorn the church. When you walk down the center aisle and look to your right, you will see the following passage on the wall: “Christ is not risen, your faith is in vain.” When I first encountered it, I was confused as the statement was contrary to the faith. Why was this in the Catholic Cathedral Basilica? It wasn’t until I moved closer toward that side of the church that a very important word was revealed, which had been previously blocked by my field of vision: “If”. This word completes St. Paul’s quote from his first letter to the Corinthians, “If Christ is not risen, your faith is in vain.” Every time I walk into that Basilica, I have my own little April Fool’s day! Christ is not risen- April fools, just kidding, He has risen! However, what is St. Paul getting at with his rhetorical statement? He is declaring a necessary need for action. Because Jesus rose from the dead it changes everything. Our faith was never meant to be something idle, or something stagnant. It was never meant to be something that we just acknowledge for one hour a week on Sunday, or even once a year! It is meant to move our very being to its core! When you encounter love, do you just sit there? Or do you respond to it with your whole being? When someone tells you that they love you, what happens if you say nothing? It becomes very awkward. Why? … Because encountering truth and love requires a response! What do we celebrate this Easter? God’s unconditional love for us: that even in the midst of our sin and death, God conquers both for our sake! The question is: are we going to sit idle while God professes His love for us, or are we going to respond with our very being, saying a great yes, a great AMEN? Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! He has risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Fr. Michael Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here. Holy Thursday Schedule 3/28 Notice the ‘sound of silence’; 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀. At the conclusion of the Mass this evening, the Blessed Sacrament will be processed to the repository. We depart from Mass 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, remembering the impending arrest and Passion of our Lord. On Good Friday, we gather and depart 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 in commemoration of the Lord’s Passion. Finally, we gather 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 for the Easter Vigil in joyful expectation of the Resurrection. Good Friday Schedule 3/29 The starkness of Good Friday is profound because Jesus continues to obediently go to work against the powers of Sin, Death, satan, and hell, changing the course of the world and our destiny forever. Good Friday Collection for the Holy Land 3/29 Divine Mercy Novena starts on Good Friday 3/29 Holy Saturday Schedule 3/30 In the stillness of Holy Saturday morning, we are in the midst of the mystery of the Triduum; waiting at the Lord’s tomb in prayer as He makes the descent into Hell; holding our breathes, anticipating His Resurrection. Easter Vigil Mass 3/30 Easter Sunday Schedule 3/31 Experience the joy of Easter with us at any of our Easter Sunday Masses at 8am,10am and 12pm. Bring your friends and family to share in the warmth of our welcoming church and the beautiful liturgy. Check out the Easter page for FAQs, Easter invitations you can text to your family, friends, and neighbors. Parish Office is closed on Easter Monday 4/1 Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Come Visit Jesus in the New Adoration Chapel 7 Great Dates on Fridays starting 4/5 Divine Mercy Sunday 4/7 “On that (Feast) Day, the depths of My mercy will be open to all …. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” Our observance of the Divine Mercy Feast Day will include the following: New Teen Youth Group called Refuge Meets on 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, & 4/28 Mondays with Monica and Augustine 4/8 Walking Through Grief 6-Week Series Begins 4/8 Bible Study on the Book of Revelation 4/9 Annulment Information Session 4/10 Dr. John Bergsma on Roots of the Eucharist 4/13 St. Peregrine Prayer Service 4/16 Meet & Greet Gathering 4/21 Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry 4/25 Diocese of Joliet Jeremiah Day 4/27 Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat 5/3 thru 5/5 An Introduction to Catholic SocialTeaching 5/8 and 5/15 An Evening with Mother Mary 5/11 Saint Vincent De Paul Society – Welcoming New Members Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? Totally Yours Pilgrimages Bulletin For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry 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. Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. Mission. A Mother’s Heart is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Each month for any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer. Connect. Reach out to Lydia Schmitt lydiadschmitt@gmail.com 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 our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions. SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com. 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. 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. or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism AppWe consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Now it’s here! Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store. Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND 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. 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. WORD ON FIRE Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith! Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login. Not sure where to start? How about checking out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ. BLESSED IS SHE Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and the highest-quality products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness 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. 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.. Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. The podcast has long-form discussions, debates and teachings on the Catholic faith. Checkout the podcast here. 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org 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 share ideas about strengthening 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 and want to Restore your life, email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony. MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org FAITH BUDDIES OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org faith. Checkout the podcast here. JOLIET YOUTH DAY 6/1 June 1, 2024 Register to attend at this link This exciting, first-of-its-kind youth event will be held at Lewis University on June 1, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. An unforgettable day conference dedicated to transforming the lives of 8th to 12th graders (current 7th to 12th graders) into passionate and joyful disciples, participants will: 2024 WORD ON FIRE CONFERENCE 8/2 – 8/4 Join over 1,000 Catholics at the 2024 Word on Fire Conference, Wonder: Nature and the Human Body! This conference is for you if you love Word on Fire and want to become more confident in your conversations with friends, coworkers, or family members about some of the most pressing issues the Church faces today. Get 12% OFF your tickets here. Your ticket includes access to four keynotes (including one by Bishop Barron), three breakout sessions, two dinners, and two Masses. This year’s conference is in Bishop’s home diocese of Rochester, Minnesota! It will be at the Mayo Civic Center (which is also the event space of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic). This year’s theme is Nature and the Human Body. All humans are bodied creatures. The human body is at the core of today’s most controversial topics, including evolution, artificial intelligence, and gender ideology. It’s more important than ever to be confident when talking with friends and family about these topics. topics. March 3, 2024 | Parish Update Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr Hugh Fullmer. Registration deadlines for Holy Pause & 3/8th Fish Dinner. View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Priest in Training (P.I.T.) When I was a little kid, I would watch a show called The Big Comfy Couch, in which most of the adventures took place on the eponymous sofa. One of my favorite segments of the show was the “Ten Second Tidy.” At the end of the show, the characters would clean up the mess they made in ten seconds by comically shoving everything into the couch cushions. Of course, this show influenced how I cleaned as a child. One day, as we were leaving a friend’s house, my mom said I had to clean up my mess really quickly before we left. “Ten second tidy?” I said. She nodded, probably thinking I meant that I would clean really fast. When we got back home, my mom received a phone call from my friend’s mom. “We can’t find our remote control. Do you have any idea where it might be?” She looked at me for a second and replied, “Have you checked your couch cushions?” Even now as an adult, I still do not enjoy cleaning, and much of my “tidying” probably still resembles shoving everything out of sight into the couch cushions. During this Lent, we are called to do a kind of “spring cleaning” of our souls. But left to ourselves, our cleaning might look more like a “ten second tidy,” shoving problems out of sight rather than truly removing them from our lives. So how can we truly clean our souls? In the Gospel, where Jesus makes a whip and drives all the money changers out of the Temple. What does that have to do with us? John gives us a clue: “But he was speaking about the temple of his body.” Jesus refers to His body as a Temple, and because we are joined to His Body through Baptism, St. Paul can call our bodies Temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). We need to invite Jesus to cleanse the temples of our bodies and souls of any sin. We do this primarily through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but as we go to receive this sacrament during Lent, we should take Jesus as a model of the attitude we need to have toward sin. He doesn’t allow any of the money changers to remain in the Temple, but drives them completely out. In the same way, we cannot make any compromises with sin, but resolve to drive it completely out of our lives. This driving out of the money changers isn’t without purpose. The Temple is a place of communion with God, and even more so the Temple of the Body of Christ. So we allow Jesus to cleanse the temples of our souls so that we can enter more deeply into communion with Him, especially through the Holy Eucharist. As we prepare for Easter, let’s remember that going to Confession shouldn’t be a “ten second tidy,” but a true cleansing of our sins so that Jesus can fill us with His Presence. Fr. Frank For the Confession schedule for our parish and nearby parishes, please proceed to our Lent webpage or see the times in the “Looking Ahead” section below for our Reconciliation service and the upcoming 6 successive days of Confession times. Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here. Fr. Hugh Fullmer Holy Pause-Family Faith Formation Lenten Event Last Day to Register is 3/5 Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group Continues on Tuesday 3/5 Bible Studies Continue on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3/5 & 3/6 SoulCore’s Second of Three Classes on Wednesday 3/6 Vine & Branches Meets on Wednesdays 3/6 Salt and Light Grow Group Continues on Wednesdays & Thursdays 3/6 & 3/7 The Rescue Project Continues 3/7 Lenten Fish Dinner 3/8 & 3/22 Stations of the Cross on Fridays Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Come Visit Jesus in the New Adoration Chapel Sunday and Daily Mass Penitential Rite Responses Easter Bag Donations Collection 3/9 & 3/10 Charismatic Healing Mass 3/9 Men of Christ Half Day Retreat “Mastering WHAT Matters” 3/9 DisABILITIES Mass at Our Lady of Mercy 3/10 New Teen Youth Group called Refuge Meets on 3/10 Praying “The Way of the Cross for Loved Ones Who Have Left the Faith” at Mondays with Monica & Augustine Prayer Group 3/11 Discovering Divine Mercy Seminar 3/12 & 3/13 Living with Grief Monthly Meeting: “Grief & Your Lenten Journey” 3/13 Unbound Freedom in Christ Conference 3/15 & 3/16 Knights of Columbus Easter Egg Hunt 3/16 Meet & Greet Gathering 3/17 St. Joseph Feast Day 3/17 Parish Mission with Fr. Sean Grismer 3/18 & 3/19 Palm Weaving Workshop 3/18, 3/20 & 3/21 Confession Times 3/18 through 3/23 A MAGNIFY Lenten Reconciliation Service 3/20 FREE Online Lenten Retreat “Ecce Homo” 3/21 through 3/23 A Spring Clearing of Closets Could Benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Clothing Drive 3/23 & 3/24 Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter Sunday 3/24 through 3/31 7 Great Dates on Fridays starting 4/5 Walking Through Grief 6-Week Series Begins 4/8 Saint Vincent De Paul Society – Welcoming New Members Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? St. Vincent de Paul Society Volunteers Bulletin For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry 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. Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. Mission. A Mother’s Heart is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Each month for any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer. Connect. Reach out to Lydia Schmitt lydiadschmitt@gmail.com 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 our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions. SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com. 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. 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. or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism AppWe consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Now it’s here! Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store. Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND 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. 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. WORD ON FIRE Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith! Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login. Not sure where to start? How about checking out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ. BLESSED IS SHE Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and the highest-quality products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness 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. 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.. Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. The podcast has long-form discussions, debates and teachings on the Catholic faith. Checkout the podcast here. 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org 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 share ideas about strengthening 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 and want to Restore your life, email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony. MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org FAITH BUDDIES OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org February 18, 2024 | Parish Update Our Story. Families register for Holy Pause by 3/5th. Purchase tickets for Lenten Fish Dinners. View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Priest in Training (P.I.T.) As a kid, I loved to watch the Tobey Maguire Spiderman with my dad and my brother. Because of this, I was dismayed when they decided to reboot the series with a new actor, Andrew Garfield, and I refused to watch it. After this, it was rebooted once again with another actor, Tom Holland. I thought, “If I didn’t watch the Andrew Garfield reboot, I’m definitely not going to watch this one.” But in the most recent Spiderman movie, No Way Home, something surprising happened. (This movie came out in 2021, so I don’t feel guilty about giving spoilers). The filmmakers decided to bring back the two other Spiderman actors, and make them part of the story, as Spidermen from different universes. As a result, their stories continued and were even able to find satisfying conclusions. At first glance, it seems like God is trying to reboot humanity in the Great Flood, having Noah replacing Adam in the starring role of the father of humanity. And if this were the case, it would seem to be a mistake. Noah ultimately has his own fall like Adam, and evil still persists in the heart of man. But God is not really trying to reboot humanity. If anything, He is showing us that this is impossible. In the First Reading, God renews the covenant with creation that He had created with Adam and promises never to allow a Great Flood to destroy humanity in the future. He invites Noah to remember Adam, giving him an opportunity to return to Adam’s goodness while also having a chance to move beyond his mistakes. Throughout salvation history, we see many more figures arise like Noah, receiving a chance to enter into relationship with God, but to greater or lesser degrees falling short. Finally, in the Gospel, we come to Jesus, and perhaps once again, it seems like a reboot. Like Adam, Jesus is tempted by Satan, and like Adam, Jesus lives in harmony with angels and wild beasts. But unlike Adam, Jesus conquers Satan, and as He does this, He is not trying to erase the memory of Adam. Instead, He is beginning a new chapter in the story, in fact the culmination of the story. Jesus takes up everything that has come before Him, but rather than erasing it or repeating it, He fulfills it. As we begin Lent, it might seem like it’s time for a reboot, to give up what we’ve done in the past and start again. As tempting as it might be, we shouldn’t try to start with a blank slate. Instead, we should see it as a new chapter in our story, a chapter where we begin again, while also keeping in mind all that has gone before us to help us to avoid similar sins in the future. This Lent is the latest part of our story, and with God’s help, we don’t have to reboot it, but instead write the most interesting chapter so far. Fr. Frank … Lent Resources Come Visit Jesus in the New Adoration Chapel Parish Office and Adoration Chapel Hours on 2/19 Praying “The Way of the Cross for Loved Ones Who Have Left the Faith” at Mondays with Monica & Augustine Prayer Group 2/19 Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group Continues on Tuesdays 2/20 St. Peregrine Prayer Service 2/20 Bible Studies Continue on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2/19 & 2/20 Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry 2/21 SoulCore Begins on Wednesday 2/21 Vine & Branches Meets on Wednesdays 2/21 Salt and Light Grow Group Continues on Wednesdays & Thursdays 2/21 & 2/22 The Rescue Project Continues 2/22 Register for the Rescue Project Stations of the Cross on Fridays 2/23 Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Saint Vincent De Paul Society – Welcoming New Members Sunday Mass Penitential Rite Responses 2/24 & 2/25 CRHP Men’s Retreat 2/24 – 2/25 & Women’s Retreat 3/2 – 3/3 “Teen Youth Group 3:16” on 2/25 A Lenten Themed MAGNIFY 2/28 First Friday and Saturday Devotion 3/1 & 3/2 PADS/Hesed House Service Day 3/5 Lenten Fish Dinners 3/8 & 3/15 Men of Christ Half Day Retreat “Mastering WHAT Matters” 3/9 Holy Pause-Family Faith Formation Lenten Event 3/9 DisABILITIES Mass at Our Lady of Mercy 3/10 Discovering Divine Mercy Seminar 3/12 & 3/13 Living with Grief Monthly Meeting: “Grief & Your Lenten Journey” 3/13 Unbound Freedom in Christ Conference 3/15 & 3/16 Knights of Columbus Easter Egg Hunt 3/16 Meet & Greet Gathering 3/17 Donut Sunday 3/17 Parish Mission with Fr. Sean Grismer 3/18 & 3/19 Palm Weaving Workshop 3/18, 3/20 & 3/21 A MAGNIFY Lenten Reconciliation Service 3/20 FREE Online Lenten Retreat “Ecce Homo” 3/21-3/23 A Spring Clearing of Closets Could Benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Clothing Drive 3/23 & 3/24 Walking Through Grief 6-Week Series Begins 4/8 Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? St. Vincent de Paul Society Volunteers Bulletin For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry 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. Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. Mission. A Mother’s Heart is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family. Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Each month for any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer. Connect. Reach out to Lydia Schmitt lydiadschmitt@gmail.com 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 our Core Team at cfyagg@gmail.com for any questions. SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP Website. Proceed here for details. Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com. 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. Parish School | All Saints Catholic Academy Dear Friends, Welcome to All Saints Catholic Academy, and thank you for your interest in our school! We are grateful for your consideration and hope you find our website helpful in your discernment. As a parent, you have much to consider when selecting a school for your child. By choosing All Saints, you are providing your children with the learning environment and preparation they will need for a bright future. Our daily curriculum promotes each child’s academic, physical, spiritual, and emotional growth. We educate the whole child, helping each student become a well-rounded young adult prepared to meet the challenges of high school and beyond. At ASCA, we have a tremendously dedicated, highly qualified degreed and licensed faculty as well as superb academic and formation programs. As a Catholic school open to students of all faiths, our belief in Jesus Christ and His Church guide our faith formation program. Your son or daughter will find in ASCA a welcoming, inclusive, safe, disciplined, and academically rigorous program that offers high expectations in a supportive way. Whether through academics, preparation for sacraments, athletics, or a myriad of extracurricular programs, we have something to engage each student. All are welcome at All Saints! Please peruse our website, and contact us to schedule a personalized tour. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to the All Saints family. Our prayers are with you as you make this important decision for your child’s future. Yours in Christ, Marvin Booker, an OLM parishioner, shares the journey of his family’s decision to enroll their kids in All Saints Catholic Academy, our parish school. Discover why All Saints could be the perfect fit for your family in today’s dynamic world, schedule a tour! 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. or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism AppWe consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Now it’s here! Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store. Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND 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. 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. WORD ON FIRE Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith! Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login. Not sure where to start? How about checking out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ. BLESSED IS SHE Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and the highest-quality products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness 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. 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.. Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. The podcast has long-form discussions, debates and teachings on the Catholic faith. Checkout the podcast here. 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org 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 share ideas about strengthening 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 and want to Restore your life, email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony. MOMS WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org FAITH BUDDIES OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring! February 9, 2024 | Parish Update Embrace the Silence – Eucharistic Adoration Begins In the New Chapel Monday 2/12th View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). Peace be with you! We are delighted to share with you the joyous news that our new Eucharistic Adoration Chapel will open its doors for silent adoration starting Monday, February 12th. As we begin this new chapter of adoration at our parish in encountering the healing presence of Jesus amidst our trials through the peace that can be found in the silence, the profound words of Cardinal Robert Sarah comes to mind, “Christ lived for thirty years in silence. Then, during His public life, He withdrew to the desert to listen to and speak with His Father. The world vitally needs those who go off into the desert because God speaks in silence.” Before we begin, let us keep the following guidelines in mind. my recent homily, “Bringing Our Difficulties to the Lord at the New Adoration Chapel.” I share from my own experience of bringing my trials to Jesus during adoration which can lead to profound solace and healing. My prayer is that you find comfort in laying your burdens before the Lord in the sacred sanctuary of our new Adoration Chapel. Experience the transformative power of adoration by making a commitment to adore Jesus for an hour during the week. Simply sign up to become a committed adorer – available hours have a convenient “sign up” button next to them. It’s a commitment that will truly change your life. Just click on the graphic below to become a committed adorer. Encourage the entire family, including children, teenagers, college kids, and young adults, to partake in this beautiful experience of adoration. It’s an opportunity for them to encounter the presence of Jesus in a unique and special way. Join us for the Dedication of the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel by Bishop Hicks on Sunday, immediately following the 12pm Mass. The ceremony will be followed by a delightful cake and coffee reception. Let us celebrate this momentous occasion together as a community. “The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth.“ ____ Eucharistic Prayer Companion for Lent and Triduum. February 4, 2024 | Parish Update A Sacred Space. CMAA 2024. & Ash Wednesday. View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Pastor in Training (P.I.T.) I’m pretty good at throwing parties, in particular, pity parties. When I was 25 years old, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. As I look back, I know that the Lord uses all things for His glory because my diagnosis led to my priestly discernment. But, for selfish reasons, it added to my pity party; I was now a proud owner of “the cancer card”! I remember one time when my sister and I were discussing with my mom where we should all go to dinner. My sister and I had different ideas of which restaurant to go to, but ultimately, I won in the end. Why? Because I had cancer! I bring this up because in our first reading, Job is throwing his own pity party. “Job spoke, saying: ‘Is not man’s life on earth is a drudgery?’” (Job 7:1) Now, I don’t think it’s just Job or myself that tend to feel this way sometimes. Why? Well, when we are going through our crosses and trials, or when we are hurting, we typically feel isolated and alone. We may feel like no one can grasp or comprehend what we are actually going through. However, what our faith makes clear is that we are never alone, and the Lord knows exactly what we are going through. In our Gospel reading today, the Lord seeks out Peter’s Mother-in-Law who is sick. Not only does the Lord seek us out, but we are also able to approach Him and call out in our need. Later in Job’s story, he will cry out to the Lord and the Lord will hear his cry. In the Gospel, many people come to Lord seeking healing as the sun sets. May I invite us, especially with the crosses we bear, to seek out the Lord in prayer instead of throwing a pity party and feeling isolated. Next Sunday, February 11th, after the Noon Mass Bishop Ronald Hicks will dedicate our new Adoration Chapel. My hope is that this sacred space may become a place where many can come and bring their crosses before the Lord, knowing that they are never alone, and that the Lord is with them! Father Michael Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here. Mondays with Monica & Augustine Prayer Group Continues 2/5 Consuming Fire Young Adult Grow Group Continues 2/6 Bible Studies Continue on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2/6 & 2/7 Vine & Branches Continues 2/7 Salt and Light Grow Group Continues 2/7 & 2/8 Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Support the Teen Mission Trip & Help Raise $10,000 so that Fr. Michael Shaves Off his Beard! Catholic Ministries Annual Appeal 2024 on 2/10 & 2/11 https://www.youtube.com/embed/cWINlRjvTAQKnights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast 2/11 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel Dedication 2/11 Eucharistic Adoration Begins in the Chapel 2/12 Walking Through Grief 6-Week Series Begins 2/12 Living With Grief Session- “Caring For Your Heart While Grieving” 2/13 Join us on Ash Wednesday 2/14 The Rescue Project Begins 2/15 Register for the Rescue Project Winter Vianney Visit 2/15-2/17 Migrant Support Collection 2/17 & 2/18 Fill an Easter Bag for a Child in Need 2/17 & 2/18 Donut Sunday 2/18 St. Peregrine Prayer Service 2/20 Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry 2/21 CRHP Men’s Retreat 2/24 – 2/25 & Women’s Retreat 3/2 – 3/3 First Friday and Saturday Devotion 3/1 & 3/2 DisABILITIES Mass at Our Lady of Mercy 3/10 Unbound Freedom in Christ Conference 3/15 & 3/16 Knights of Columbus Easter Egg Hunt 3/16 2024 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Champions Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? St. Vincent de Paul Society Volunteers Bulletin For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry Have you downloaded our myParish App yet? Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. A MOTHER’S HEART GROW GROUP CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP FREE ONLINE RESOURCES and NEWS ON UPCOMING CONFERENCES 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 or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES THE ASCENSION APP Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP HALLOW – A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP WORD ON FIRE BLESSED IS SHE THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN HEROIC MEN AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES PINTS WITH AQUINAS 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org RESTORE WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED FAITH BUDDIES January 21, 2024 | Parish Update Hope. Save the Date for Eucharistic Adoration Chapel Dedication. & The Rescue Project. View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Pastor in Training (P.I.T.) For our comprehensive exam in seminary, we were given a pastoral scenario, and we were asked to write a homily responding to it. After we had submitted the homilies, we decided to see what the artificial intelligence bot, ChatGPT, would come up with. The homily it generated started pretty well: “In this reading, Jesus calls us to love God and to love our neighbor.” But things went downhill pretty quickly. “And you, as sinners, are in direct violation of the Church’s teachings.” The AI-generated homily might have been correct in essentials, but it lacked any sense of hope in God’s mercy. In the First Reading, we hear about Jonah’s preaching mission to the people of Nineveh. After he runs from God’s command to preach repentance, is swallowed, and spit up by a great fish, he preaches a hopeless sermon: “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.” But astonishingly, this pagan city repents before Jonah can even finish preaching, and God shows them mercy. In the Gospel, Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be fishers of men. Biblical scholar John Bergsma says that this is a fulfillment of a prophecy of Jeremiah: “I will send many fishermen to catch them. After that, I will send many hunters to hunt them out from every mountain and hill and rocky crevice” (Jer 16:16). The context of the original prophecy is judgment on Israel’s idolatry. But in Jesus’ fulfillment, something surprising happens. Rather than condemning sinners, the fishermen are sent to preach repentance. So what changes an oracle of judgment into an oracle of mercy? It is our response. We don’t change God, but He sends His messengers to preach repentance in order to change us. In both readings, we see people responding to the calls to repentance almost instantly. What moves them to respond in this way? It is the virtue of hope. Hope looks to the future good of our eternal happiness and believes it is possible. This hope is what leads the Ninevites and the apostles to believe that God wants to show them mercy and wants a relationship with them. But how can we live the same hope in our lives? We often think of hope as wishful thinking. But Pope Benedict XVI tells us that hope comes from the objective fact that God has come into our lives, making that future hope take root in our present. We have probably already accepted God into our lives. But this can always grow deeper so that we can truly believe that if we also turn to God in repentance of our sins, He will change us. Unlike the AI-generated homily of my classmates, today’s readings call us to new hope in God’s mercy, not only that God wants to forgive us, but that He is longing to forgive us when we repent of our sins. It might seem impossible, but if we open our hearts to God in repentance, then He will help us the rest of the way. Father Frank Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here. Mondays with Monica & Augustine Prayer Group Continues 1/22 Bible Studies Starts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1/24 & 1/30 Vine & Branches Continues 1/24 Salt and Light Grow Group Continues 1/24 & 1/25 Fit Shepherds 1/27 Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Weekly Adoration Sign up for Weekly Adoration as we Prepare for our New Chapel to Open! We’re almost there, we have the following time slots that do not have anyone signed up to spend time with Jesus; we’re praying you would be the one to sign up for any of the following time spots Prayer Ministry 1/27 & 1/28 PADS Items Drop-Off 1/27 & 1/28 Donut Sunday 1/28 Consuming Fire Talk “Faith & Reason” with Dr. Fernanda Psihas 1/30 Magnify 1/31 2023 Tax Statements will be mailed out no later than 1/31 First Friday and Saturday Devotions 2/2 & 2/3 Healing the Whole Person Weekend Retreat at St. Isaac Jogues 2/8 – 2/10 Adoration Chapel Dedication 2/11 Living With Grief – “Caring For Your Heart While Grieving” 2/13 The Rescue Project Begins 2/15 Register for the Rescue Project CRHP Men’s Retreat 2/24 – 2/25 & Women’s Retreat 3/2 – 3/3 DisABILITIES Mass at Our Lady of Mercy 3/10 Unbound Freedom in Christ Conference 3/15 & 3/16 Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? St. Vincent de Paul Society Volunteers Bulletin For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry Have you downloaded our myParish App yet? Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. A MOTHER’S HEART GROW GROUP CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP FREE ONLINE RESOURCES and NEWS ON UPCOMING CONFERENCES 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 or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES THE ASCENSION APP Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP HALLOW – A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP WORD ON FIRE BLESSED IS SHE THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN HEROIC MEN AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES PINTS WITH AQUINAS 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org RESTORE WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED FAITH BUDDIES December 31, 2023 | Parish Update Imperfect Holy Families. Encounter Jesus @ OLM thru Bible Studies, CRHP, Grow Groups. January Gatherings (such as ALICE Training). View the full posting at our Flocknote email (don’t forget to join so you can receive the update via email). News from Pastor in Training (P.I.T.) Because my dad’s name is Joseph and my mom’s name is Maria, they would always joke that we were the “holy family.” This joke developed over time. Because Jesus is God and Mary is without sin, if there were any problems, she would joke that it was St. Joseph’s fault. In the same way, since my dad is a permanent deacon and I am a priest, if there were any problems, it was her fault. Of course, she was joking, but as we see in the Gospel, the suffering that affects the Holy Family is not all caused by St. Joseph. Very often, we are tempted to see the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as distant from us. If they are so holy, how can they possibly relate to the problems that take place in our family? But this attitude is the exact opposite of the purpose of the Holy Family. The Word became flesh and dwelt in a human family, not in order to distance Himself, but to draw closer to us. During the thirty years of His hidden life, Jesus chose to live as part of a family in order to show us how important the family is, and in order to make it holy. But the fact that the life of this family was holy doesn’t mean that they got a free pass from everyday human life or even from suffering. At what should have been a joyful celebration of the birth of her son, Mary hears these words that no mother wants to hear, first, that her son will be a sign of contradiction, and second, that a sword will pierce her soul. So why does the Holy Family still experience suffering? They do it for us. In all our sufferings, we can turn to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, knowing that they know what it’s like. They are the Holy Family not in spite of their family life, but because of it. At this time of year, we often experience both the joys and the sufferings of family life. And maybe we feel that because our families aren’t perfect, because there are family members who have strayed from the faith, family members who like to fight, family members who won’t speak to us, that this disqualifies us from being a holy family. But far from being obstacles to this, they can be opportunities for us to become holy families. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph experienced the sufferings of family life, so we can turn to them for help and companionship. They did this for the sanctification of the family and the world, so when we unite our sufferings to Christ’s, it can make us—and the world—holy. We shouldn’t worry about being the “St. Joseph” of the family, but should instead strive to be like him in always being attentive to God’s plan for his family even though he isn’t perfect. Father Frank Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here. Piercing Hearts with Christmas Joy by Fr Michael Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 1/1 Registration Opens on 1/1 Consuming Fire Young Adult Group Continues 1/2 Vine & Branches Continues 1/3 First Friday and Saturday Devotions 1/5 & 1/6 Fit Shepherds 1/6 Knights of Columbus BloodDrive 1/6 Charismatic Healing Mass 1/6 Jail Ministry Volunteers Weekly Praying for Priests Restore Weekly Restore Confidential Meetings Weekly Adoration Sign up for Weekly Adoration as we Prepare for our New Chapel to Open! We’re almost there, we have the following time slots that do not have anyone signed up to spend time with Jesus; we’re praying you would be the one to sign up for any of the following time spots Pick Up an Epiphany Chalk & House Blessing Prayer Card 1/6 & 1/7 The Holy Mountain Singers at OLM 1/6 & 1/7 Family Faith Formation Epiphany Enactment 1/7 Come and Bowl for a Good Cause at “Rolling in the New Year” 1/7 Register Now and Help the children from Mozambique Living With Grief – “New Year, New Hope While Grieving” 1/9 FOCUS Priest Fr. Tim Anastos Speaks at Weekend Masses 1/13 & 1/14 Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast 1/14 St. Peregrine Prayer Service 1/16 Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry 1/17 Robert H. Weaver Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest 1/18 ALICE Training for the Parish 1/19 Literacy Tutor Volunteers Needed, Training on 1/20 Bible Studies Starts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1/24 & 1/30 Healing the Whole Person Weekend Retreat at St. Isaac Jogues 2/8-2/10 Adoration Chapel Dedication 2/11 Living With Grief – “Caring For Your Heart While Grieving” 2/13 The Rescue Project Begins 2/15 DisABILITIES Mass at Our Lady of Mercy 3/10 Have a Minister of Care Bring Holy Communion to Your Loved One that is Homebound Is God Calling You to the Priesthood? Bishop Hick’s Monthly Column Scam Emails and Text Messages Did You Know We Have a Parish School? St. Vincent de Paul Society Volunteers Bulletin For the Hispanic Community A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry Have you downloaded our myParish App yet? Donate Online Through OSV Giving Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time. A MOTHER’S HEART GROW GROUP CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP SALT AND LIGHT GROW GROUP VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP FREE ONLINE RESOURCES and NEWS ON UPCOMING CONFERENCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith. WORD ON FIRE – GOOD NEWS CONFERENCE Consider joining us at the beautiful JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, November 17-19, 2023 This is a conference for individuals, couples, and families who desire to grow closer to Christ through the Good News as preached by the world’s most dynamic evangelists Presenters include Bishop Robert Barron, Deacon Harold Burke-Silvers, Immaculee Ilibagiza, Dr. Peter Kreeft, Sr. Bethany Madonna, Fr. Dave Pivonka, and Tim Tebow Click HERE for more information 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 or Download the FORMED App through these links: App Store or Google Play EUCHARIST RESOURCES INTRODUCING THE ASCENSION APP A Catholic Bible and Catechism App We consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Now it’s here! Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store. Check it out HERE AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP HALLOW – A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP WORD ON FIRE BLESSED IS SHE THE CATHOLIC GENTLEMAN HEROIC MEN AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES PINTS WITH AQUINAS 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 the parish office at 630-851-3444 or parishoffice@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org RESTORE WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED FAITH BUDDIES
Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here.
This Sunday’s gospel wraps up the powerful “Bread of Life Discourse.” Fr. Michael encouraged us to take a moment to read John Chapter 6 in its entirety. Reflecting on this chapter offers a profound opportunity to deepen our understanding of the Eucharist as the Bread of Life. Consider reading it during Eucharistic Adoration at the chapel, where you can meditate on Jesus’ invitation to partake in His Body and Blood for eternal life. Perhaps even journal thoughts and insights. Here is a link to John Chapter 6. Let’s take this opportunity to deepen our relationship with Jesus Who offers Himself to each of us as the Bread of Life.
How exciting! This Mass will be officiated by Bishop Ronald A. Hicks, and celebrates the discernment and formation of our diocesan candidates entering the priesthood- including our very own Seminarian Topher! Come join us on this joyous occasion.
8,500 Alphas, reaching an estimated 200,000 participants. At OLM we have been bringing people to Jesus since the fall of 2018 so as to offer every person a life-changing encounter with Jesus, grow them as disciples so as to be sent on mission to be vessels of the Lord’s love, mercy, and forgiveness to others.
Check out their August calendar at the end of this email.
“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.” —St. Maximillian Kolbe
On the feast of The Assumption pack a sack lunch join us for our first “Adventure with Mary” a pilgrimage to Assumption Church in Coal city in honor of Our Lady on her special day. Meet for Mass at noon followed by a picnic in the grotto.
Join us for a mom’s night out at Riverside Pizza and Pub in Oswego and meet other mamas who are as beautiful and amazing as you are.
Join us for a relaxing and inspiring evening just for Moms! Every second and fourth Thursday of the month at 7 PM, we’re gathering to dive into the book “Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love” by Fr. Thomas Acklin and Fr. Boniface Hicks. This is a wonderful opportunity to grow in your faith, connect with other Moms, and find peace in the Father’s love. We’d love to have you with us!
We are super excited to introduce our “MASSive Adventure” series for children and their mamas. During this special time we’ll have stories, presentations and crafts on the different parts of the Mass.
This will allow Fr. Michael and Fr. Frank to be able to say Mass at local schools in the mornings, including at All Saints, Chesterton Academy, and Aurora Central Catholic as well as at the local jail and Waterleaf. This new schedule will also give OLM parishioners another opportunity for Confession.
Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of our priests who bring Jesus not only to our parish family but intentionally to the youth in our area at our local Catholic schools and the incarcerated men and women.
We are filled with gratitude and joy as we invite you to a special Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, August 17th, right after the 4pm Mass. This evening is dedicated to you—our cherished volunteers—who generously give your time, talent, and treasure to our parish community.
Join us in fellowship as we celebrate the incredible work the Holy Spirit is doing through each of you so that the people of Our Lady of Mercy and all who take part in the life of our parish, will encounter the love, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus in a profound way. Your dedication and service are the heartbeat of our parish, and we look forward to sharing this joyous occasion with you.
Fr. Michael, Fr. Frank, and the entire parish staff are honored to host this dinner as a small token of our appreciation. To help us prepare for this special evening, we kindly request that you RSVP by August 9th.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment and love for our parish community. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
In Christ through Our Lady of Mercy,
Fr Michael, Fr. Frank, and the Parish Staff
P.S. We want to ensure that all our wonderful volunteers are aware of the upcoming dinner. If you know someone who may not have received this invitation, please kindly forward this note or share the details with them. Thank you for helping us reach everyone!
Calling all engaged and married couples! We warmly invite you to the “ONE Great Picnic,” a delightful event following the Manna for Marriage Ministry’s Seven Great Dates series.
🌼 What to Expect:
#biblestudies #familyfaithformation #alpha #mamasgrace #saltandlight #padshesedhouse #justiceandpeace #lectors #vineandbranches #respectlife #soulcore #fitshepherds #olmgardenofhopeloveandmercy #walkingwithmomsinneed #mondayswithmonicandaugustine #liturgy #edge #lightchosen #familyfaithformation #svdp #lovinghands #greetingministry #divinemercy #olmsocialcommittee #rescueproject #adoration #magnify #consumingfire #intercessoryprayerministry #artsandenvironment #crhpchristrenewshisparish #reach
(time may fluctuate, please spare what you are able)
Saturday 8/10/2024 A Deeper Love for Our Mother Mary (Glorious Mysteries)Saturday 8/31/2024 For a Growth in Grace (Luminous Mysteries)
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 https://olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/prayerforme/
“Oremus – A Guide to Catholic Prayer” 9/4 & 9/5
Choose from Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm or Thursday afternoons at 1pm!
Our blessed Lord Jesus Christ said to Matthew “Follow me” and he rose and followed him. For Catholics, we respond in a similar way. The Christian way of life and becoming Catholic goes through a process of initiation, which is falling in love with Jesus and becoming His disciple. Through weekly meetings, we strive to help people learn how to respond to the prompting of God in their lives.
The best way to learn is by doing Catholic things and hanging around other Catholics. The way to practice being a Catholic and enter into this process is through entering a way of life, as an apprentice learns from a master and that master’s community.
Our blessed Lord Jesus is our master and becoming Catholic is a lot like being His apprentices. We call this process the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults often referred to as OCIA. It involves encountering the Word of God through the liturgies and personal study, engaging in a vibrant community at Our Lady of Mercy, worship with fellow believers in Christ, learning to pray and be of service to others.
Meetings will take the form of classes on Monday evenings led by our pastor, Fr. Michael Kearney and parochial vicar, Fr. Frank Pusateri and an invitation to fellowship gatherings on Thursday evenings starting in September.
If you are interested in being Catholic or know of someone who is interested, take the next step in responding to God’s call by completing the form on our webpage
Through both watching the series episode and breaking open the Scripture readings related to each episode, this Catholic Bible Study experience will enable you to imagine ourselves in the story. Sign up soon, and don’t forget to bring a friend.
When: Tuesdays starting 9/24 @ 7pm
Contact: Joe Wiacek and Joe Glasgow OLMBiblestudies@gmail.com
Registration: Please register here
This Catholic Bible Study about the life of Christ, is based on the TV series “The Chosen.” It portrays Jesus through the eyes of those who met Him. The study session will include an opening prayer, a brief introduction to the episode, scripture reading, episode viewing, discussion/reflection, and a closing prayer.We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 9/24th.
All you need to bring is your Bible; a study guide will be provided where you can jot down your answers or notes from the Bible Study.
Click this link to check out the trailer
𝘼 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚
The accompanying pictures showcase the exceptional craftsmanship of Illinois artisan, Steve Shannon, and his dedicated team. Their artistry and dedication are evident in every detail of this beautiful ossuary, created to honor and respect the memories of our loved ones.
𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨
This new ossuary will play a significant role in our funeral liturgies, offering a sense of beauty, comfort, and reverence. It will help our grieving families say their final goodbyes in a more meaningful and compassionate way, surrounded by the love and support of our parish community.
We invite you to join us in appreciating this new addition, which will undoubtedly become a cherished part of our parish funeral tradition.
𝑴𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒊𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔.
Feel free to like, share, and comment your thoughts on this beautiful addition to Our Lady of Mercy.
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 https://www.steveshannoncollection.com/ 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠!
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father Frank, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
child’s illness.
unexpected expense, like a car repair or medical bill can cause
them to get behind on rent or utility payments.
concerns.
monthly envelope or through online giving.
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions.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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Laura 904.472.0385. Katelyn 630.885.1099 or kmisdom2@gmail.com
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Mission. Fit Shepherds aims to have every man in our community be in the best physical and spiritual shape of their lives.
Mission. “Manna,” which means spiritual nourishment, is rooted in our name MANNA for MARRIAGE. Our ministry looks to help grow, ‘nourish’, and strengthen Catholic marriages. Our goal is to help married couples continue to build their marriages through the foundation of our faith. Through community, speakers, and small groups, we hope this opportunity creates conversation to help proactively grow your relationship. Whether you’re newlywed or have been married for years, we invite and welcome everyone!GROW YOUR FAITH
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 for quality content on the go. Get it all at HeroicMen.com
PASTORAL CARE
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
CONFERENCES
Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here.
Pray and Play date! Meet us outside by the statue of Mary after the VBS drop off and walk with us to the park as we pray the rosary.
On the feast of The Assumption pack a sack lunch join us for our first “Adventure with Mary” a pilgrimage to Assumption Church in Coal city in honor of Our Lady on her special day. Meet for Mass at noon followed by a picnic in the grotto.
Join us for a mom’s night out at Riverside Pizza and Pub in Oswego and meet other mamas who are as beautiful and amazing as you are.
We are super excited to introduce our “MASSive Adventure” series for children and their mamas. During this special time we’ll have stories, presentations and crafts on the different parts of the Mass.
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 https://olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/prayerforme/
8,500 Alphas, reaching an estimated 200,000 participants. At OLM we have been bringing people to Jesus since the fall of 2018 so as to offer every person a life-changing encounter with Jesus, grow them as disciples so as to be sent on mission to be vessels of the Lord’s love, mercy, and forgiveness to others.
Click here to volunteer and for more information: https://olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/vbs/
How exciting! This Mass will be officiated by Bishop Ronald A. Hicks, and celebrates the discernment and formation of our diocesan candidates entering the priesthood- including our very own Seminarian Topher! Come join us on this joyous occasion.
“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.” —St. Maximillian Kolbe
We are filled with gratitude and joy as we invite you to a special Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, August 17th, right after the 4pm Mass. This evening is dedicated to you—our cherished volunteers—who generously give your time, talent, and treasure to our parish community.
Join us in fellowship as we celebrate the incredible work the Holy Spirit is doing through each of you so that the people of Our Lady of Mercy and all who take part in the life of our parish, will encounter the love, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus in a profound way. Your dedication and service are the heartbeat of our parish, and we look forward to sharing this joyous occasion with you.
Fr. Michael, Fr. Frank, and the entire parish staff are honored to host this dinner as a small token of our appreciation. To help us prepare for this special evening, we kindly request that you RSVP by August 9th.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment and love for our parish community. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
In Christ through Our Lady of Mercy,
Fr Michael, Fr. Frank, and the Parish Staff
P.S. We want to ensure that all our wonderful volunteers are aware of the upcoming dinner. If you know someone who may not have received this invitation, please kindly forward this note or share the details with them. Thank you for helping us reach everyone!
Calling all engaged and married couples! We warmly invite you to the “ONE Great Picnic,” a delightful event following the Manna for Marriage Ministry’s Seven Great Dates series.
🌼 What to Expect:
We pray.
We reflect.
We venerate the Cross.
We surrender ourselves and our loved ones over to Him.
Our blessed Lord Jesus Christ said to Matthew “Follow me” and he rose and followed him. For Catholics, we respond in a similar way. The Christian way of life and becoming Catholic goes through a process of initiation, which is falling in love with Jesus and becoming His disciple. Through weekly meetings, we strive to help people learn how to respond to the prompting of God in their lives.
The best way to learn is by doing Catholic things and hanging around other Catholics. The way to practice being a Catholic and enter into this process is through entering a way of life, as an apprentice learns from a master and that master’s community.
Our blessed Lord Jesus is our master and becoming Catholic is a lot like being His apprentices. We call this process the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults often referred to as OCIA. It involves encountering the Word of God through the liturgies and personal study, engaging in a vibrant community at Our Lady of Mercy, worship with fellow believers in Christ, learning to pray and be of service to others.
Meetings will take the form of classes on Monday evenings led by our pastor, Fr. Michael Kearney and parochial vicar, Fr. Frank Pusateri and an invitation to fellowship gatherings on Thursday evenings starting in September.
If you are interested in being Catholic or know of someone who is interested, take the next step in responding to God’s call by completing the form on our webpage
𝘼 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚
The accompanying pictures showcase the exceptional craftsmanship of Illinois artisan, Steve Shannon, and his dedicated team. Their artistry and dedication are evident in every detail of this beautiful ossuary, created to honor and respect the memories of our loved ones.
𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨
This new ossuary will play a significant role in our funeral liturgies, offering a sense of beauty, comfort, and reverence. It will help our grieving families say their final goodbyes in a more meaningful and compassionate way, surrounded by the love and support of our parish community.
We invite you to join us in appreciating this new addition, which will undoubtedly become a cherished part of our parish funeral tradition.
𝑴𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒊𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔.
Feel free to like, share, and comment your thoughts on this beautiful addition to Our Lady of Mercy.
𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 https://www.steveshannoncollection.com/ 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠!
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father Frank, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
child’s illness.
unexpected expense, like a car repair or medical bill can cause
them to get behind on rent or utility payments.
concerns.
monthly envelope or through online giving.
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions.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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Laura 904.472.0385. Katelyn 630.885.1099 or kmisdom2@gmail.com
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Mission. Fit Shepherds aims to have every man in our community be in the best physical and spiritual shape of their lives.
Mission. “Manna,” which means spiritual nourishment, is rooted in our name MANNA for MARRIAGE. Our ministry looks to help grow, ‘nourish’, and strengthen Catholic marriages. Our goal is to help married couples continue to build their marriages through the foundation of our faith. Through community, speakers, and small groups, we hope this opportunity creates conversation to help proactively grow your relationship. Whether you’re newlywed or have been married for years, we invite and welcome everyone!GROW YOUR FAITH
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 for quality content on the go. Get it all at HeroicMen.com
PASTORAL CARE
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
CONFERENCES
Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here.
Join us either Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm or Thursday afternoons at 1pm, begin a new chapter in your life of healing, light and peace; invite the Holy Spirit for 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔.
Please register for this life-changing experience at this link
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 https://olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/prayerforme/
This will allow Fr. Michael and Fr. Frank to be able to say Mass at local schools in the mornings, including at All Saints, Chesterton Academy, and Aurora Central Catholic as well as at the local jail and Waterleaf. This new schedule will also give OLM parishioners another opportunity for Confession.
Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of our priests who bring Jesus not only to our parish family but intentionally to the youth in our area at our local Catholic schools and the incarcerated men and women.
Click here to register, and for more information: https://olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/vbs/
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father Frank, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
child’s illness.
unexpected expense, like a car repair or medical bill can cause
them to get behind on rent or utility payments.
concerns.
monthly envelope or through online giving.
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions.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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.comGROW YOUR FAITH
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 for quality content on the go. Get it all at HeroicMen.com
PASTORAL CARE
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
CONFERENCES
to announce this year’s theme – in a name: Jesus. Every word in Sacred Scripture tells of Him, the Word of God, and of His love for us. This love is remembered and celebrated – in fact, realized – in the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. Truly, Jesus, the Word made flesh, time and time again. Please join our conference as we seek to understand better the relationship between Sacred Scripture and the Word made flesh in the Eucharist, and how this relationship gives life to us and the world, now and forever. Amen!
Dr. Maria Barga and Dr. Joan Gorski.
Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here.
The course is divided into 8 talks 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙎𝙧. 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙢 𝙃𝙚𝙞𝙙𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙧. 𝘽𝙤𝙗 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙩s. The talks are meant to give hope and vision for the healing process, and the reflection times will be an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to prepare your hearts in very personal ways for an encounter with Jesus.
Join us either Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm or Thursday afternoons at 1pm, begin a new chapter in your life of healing, light and peace; invite the Holy Spirit for 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔.You can attend
This 8-week experience from June through July takes place Wednesdays 6/5, 6/12, 6/19, 6/26, 7/10, 7/14, 7/24, 7/31 or Thursdays 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27, 7/11, 7/15, 7/25, 8/1. Each participant will receive a workbook.
Please register for this life-changing experience at this link
Check out the trailer below from Sr. Miriam and Dr. Bob Schuchts.
For any questions, connect with Jeanine Malone comeadorejesus@gmail.com 630-670-4062 or Sophie Petrone pet791@aol.com 630-723-1888
Participation is so easy;
Click here to register, and for more information: https://olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/vbs/
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father Frank, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
child’s illness.
unexpected expense, like a car repair or medical bill can cause
them to get behind on rent or utility payments.
concerns.
monthly envelope or through online giving.
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions.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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.comGROW YOUR FAITH
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 for quality content on the go. Get it all at HeroicMen.com
PASTORAL CARE
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
CONFERENCES
to announce this year’s theme – in a name: Jesus. Every word in Sacred Scripture tells of Him, the Word of God, and of His love for us. This love is remembered and celebrated – in fact, realized – in the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. Truly, Jesus, the Word made flesh, time and time again. Please join our conference as we seek to understand better the relationship between Sacred Scripture and the Word made flesh in the Eucharist, and how this relationship gives life to us and the world, now and forever. Amen!
Dr. Maria Barga and Dr. Joan Gorski.
The goal of the Healing the Whole Person series is to facilitate a personal encounter with Jesus’ merciful love and healing truth in the areas where people have felt disconnected from love and bound by lies. God has worked powerfully in the lives of those who have participated in these series with an open heart.
The course is divided into 8 talks 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙎𝙧. 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙢 𝙃𝙚𝙞𝙙𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙧. 𝘽𝙤𝙗 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙩s. The talks are meant to give hope and vision for the healing process, and the reflection times will be an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to prepare your hearts in very personal ways for an encounter with Jesus.
Join us either Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm or Thursday afternoons at 1pm, begin a new chapter in your life of healing, light and peace; invite the Holy Spirit for 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅, 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔.
This 8-week experience from June through July takes place Wednesdays 6/5, 6/12, 6/19, 6/26, 7/10, 7/14, 7/24, 7/31 or Thursdays 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 6/27, 7/11, 7/15, 7/25, 8/1. Each participant will receive a workbook.
Please register for this life-changing experience at this link
Check out the trailer below from Sr. Miriam and Dr. Bob Schuchts.
For any questions, connect with Jeanine Malone comeadorejesus@gmail.com 630-670-4062 or Sophie Petrone pet791@aol.com 630-723-1888
In May, SoulCore is holding a fitness challenge that women can take part in called “Movement for Mary” commit to 30 minutes of movement per day (your choice…cardio, strength or stretch) and pray at least one decade of the rosary each day. The focus is on different titles of Mary. Each week you’ll receive an email containing 5 SoulCore Rosary single decade videos, with movements and reflection to accompany each title, you can sign up to take part in this challenge here.
https://donate.illinois.versiti.org/…/drive…/5607549
The bad hormone, that is suppressed when you sing, is cortisol which is produced in the body when we are stressed and singing is a natural de-stressing agent. In essence, singing to Jesus at MAGNIFY not only uplifts our spirits but also positively impacts our physical well-being. We hope to see you on 5/29.
drop off in the Parish Life Center.
(All items not sold will be donated to the SVDP society.)
(All proceeds from the sale benefit the Teen Summer Mission Trip!)
Come REGISTER your children for the 2024-2025 year, and take advantage of our Early Bird Pricing!
Come VOLUNTEER and help share our beautiful faith with children & their families
Participation is so easy;
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father Frank, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
child’s illness.
unexpected expense, like a car repair or medical bill can cause
them to get behind on rent or utility payments.
concerns.
monthly envelope or through online giving.
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions.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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.comGROW YOUR FAITH
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
PASTORAL CARE
CONFERENCES
to announce this year’s theme – in a name: Jesus. Every word in Sacred Scripture tells of Him, the Word of God, and of His love for us. This love is remembered and celebrated – in fact, realized – in the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. Truly, Jesus, the Word made flesh, time and time again. Please join our conference as we seek to understand better the relationship between Sacred Scripture and the Word made flesh in the Eucharist, and how this relationship gives life to us and the world, now and forever. Amen!
Dr. Maria Barga and Dr. Joan Gorski.
Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here.
This Friday and Saturday, all are invited to join the First Friday of Reparation and the Communal First Saturday!
from 1:30pm to 2:30pm
In May, SoulCore is holding a fitness challenge that women can take part in called “Movement for Mary” commit to 30 minutes of movement per day (your choice…cardio, strength or stretch) and pray at least one decade of the rosary each day. The focus is on different titles of Mary. Each week you’ll receive an email containing 5 SoulCore Rosary single decade videos, with movements and reflection to accompany each title, you can sign up to take part in this challenge here.
Participation is so easy;
The bad hormone, that is suppressed when you sing, is cortisol which is produced in the body when we are stressed and singing is a natural de-stressing agent. In essence, singing to Jesus at MAGNIFY not only uplifts our spirits but also positively impacts our physical well-being. We hope to see you on 5/29.
Come REGISTER your children for the 2024-2025 year, and take advantage of our Early Bird Pricing!
Come VOLUNTEER and help share our beautiful faith with children & their families 
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father Frank, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
child’s illness.
unexpected expense, like a car repair or medical bill can cause
them to get behind on rent or utility payments.
concerns.
monthly envelope or through online giving.
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions.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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.comGROW YOUR FAITH
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
PASTORAL CARE
CONFERENCES
In May, SoulCore is holding a fitness challenge that women can take part in called “Movement for Mary” commit to 30 minutes of movement per day (your choice…cardio, strength or stretch) and pray at least one decade of the rosary each day. The focus is on different titles of Mary. Each week you’ll receive an email containing 5 SoulCore Rosary single decade videos, with movements and reflection to accompany each title, you can sign up to take part in this challenge here.
child’s illness.
unexpected expense, like a car repair or medical bill can cause
them to get behind on rent or utility payments.
concerns.
monthly envelope or through online giving.
Joliet Youth Day Registration Deadline 4/21st
Fit Shepherds on Wednesday and Saturday mornings
Dads are encouraged to bring their sons 5th grade and older.
Get a glimpse of a Saturday morning work out and see the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiVMnLrRzf0
The bad hormone, that is suppressed when you sing, is cortisol which is produced in the body when we are stressed and singing is a natural de-stressing agent. In essence, singing to Jesus at MAGNIFY not only uplifts our spirits but also positively impacts our physical well-being. We hope to see you on 4/24th.
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father Frank, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions.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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.comGROW YOUR FAITH
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
PASTORAL CARE
CONFERENCES
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lewis University
1 University Parkway, Romeoville, IL 60446
Cost: $75/person
On Holy Thursday, we enter into the mystery of the Triduum, three days liturgically celebrated as one; these are the days that changed the world.
Enter the mystery with us in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper @ 7pm followed immediately with Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament until midnight.
For on this night, our Lord Jesus gave us three gifts by which He would remain with us always; Jesus gave us the gift of the priesthood of the new covenant, the gift of the Eucharist and the gift of His example of Love.
As we celebrate these Holy Days dwelling in the silence, let us keep watch with Peter, James, and John, but this time, wide awake and mindful of Jesus’ agony in the garden, and Jesus steeling Himself not simply to die but to enter into battle alone against the powers of Sin, Death, satan, and Hell.
As we take time today to be silent, here are powerful homilies for further reflection in the great silence of today: A Holy Saturday Ancient Homily
Homily on the Passion or Homily on the Pascha/Passover
Dads are encouraged to bring their sons 5th grade and older.
Get a glimpse of a Saturday morning work out and see the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiVMnLrRzf0
Starts Friday April 5th through May 17 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Further details, registration, and the trailer are found at this link
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father Frank, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions.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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.comGROW YOUR FAITH
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
PASTORAL CARE
CONFERENCES
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lewis University
1 University Parkway, Romeoville, IL 60446
Cost: $75/person
Funeral arrangements are pending, and we will update you as soon as the details are finalized (we will release information on the app first and the rest of our communications platforms will follow, so please download the app if you haven’t done so already).
Let us join in prayer for the repose of his soul and for strength and comfort for his family and friends during this difficult time.
During this time of reflection, let us remember the various ways he impacted our parish community and offer support to one another.
Eternal rest grant unto Your servant, Fr. Hugh Fullmer, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
The Bible Timeline® Study Program takes you n a guided journey through salvation history. Presenter Jeff Cavins shows you how fourteen of the Bible’s narrative books tell the biblical story from beginning to end and gives you the keys to understanding the amazing story woven through Scripture. Please purchase the study guide online at this link. Check out the trailer here.
No fitness level or experience is required. All are welcome!
This lenten themed fitness class will meet at 6:30pm on Wednesday 2/21, 3/6, and 3/13 focusing on the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com, Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
All participants will receive a free workbook, however, you must purchase the book “33 Days to Merciful Love” it is available on Amazon.
Saint Pope John Paul II emphasized that now is the time of mercy, now is a time of great and extraordinary grace, a time in which all of us can become great saints — if we tap into that grace. One of the ways we tap into that grace is by asking God to fill us with an ocean of His tenderness and mercy. And we do that by consecrating ourselves to His Mercy. Please consider joining us. All are welcome!
Check out the trailer
Dads are encouraged to bring their sons 5th grade and older.
Get a glimpse of a Saturday morning work out and see the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiVMnLrRzf0
Response “For we have sinned against You.”
Priest “Show us O, Lord, Your mercy.”
Response “And grant us Your salvation.”
The St. Michael venue is open to any interested man, not just parish members. We will enjoy prayer, fellowship, confession and world-class speakers. Proceed here to for further details, the agenda and registration. Video presentations by Bishop Hicks, Fr. Mark Bernhard and Sam Blair a former navy seal.
Blessed with fervor for his faith, a keen sense of humor, and a way with words, Fr. Grismer compels his audiences’ attention. He will dive into the great call upon each of our lives allow the joy of the Lord to be our strength.
In 2016, Fr. Grismer was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Rockford. Presently, he is the Assistant Principal and Spiritual Director at Aurora Central Catholic High School, Aurora. Fr. Grismer has led several pilgrimages to Lourdes, Rome, and serves as a parish retreat leader. He is a member of Our Lady of Lourdes North American Volunteers. He holds a License in Sacred Theology with a focus on Dogmatic Theology from Rome’s Pontifical Angelicum University.
𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟳𝗽𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝟴:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺
𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟵𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝟮:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺
Using the examination of conscience from the link below, ask the Holy Spirit to help you search your heart. Where do you sense God is calling you to repent? Remember, Jesus will never condemn you; He is always ready to forgive you.
https://bit.ly/ConfessionsatOLMPage
Begins Thursday, 3/21st at 3pm CST and ends Saturday, 3/23rd at 8pm CST
Whether married for six months or 40 years, whether in a good place or struggling, the date nights help couples navigate the modern challenges of marriage. It is based on Christian principles, but designed to help couples of all faiths strengthen their relationship.
The 7 Great Dates aka the Marriage Course is a series of 7 sessions encompassed with food, talk, and private discussion between the couple only. Each session features leading experts, teaching content, and stories from around the globe.
Topics for Each Date Night are Strengthening Connection, The Art of Communication, Resolving Conflicts, The Power of Forgiveness, The Impact of Family, Good Sex, and Love in Action.
Starts Friday April 5th through May 17 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Further details, registration, and the trailer are found at this link https://olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/m4m/
Secure your spot now for an unforgettable experience! Act swiftly, as our limited spots are filling up rapidly. Join us and invest in your relationship – register today!
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father Frank, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions.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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.comGROW YOUR FAITH
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
PASTORAL CARE
Did you miss one? View past news from the P.I.T. here.
www.olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org/lent2024/
Your presence and prayers can make a profound impact.
The Bible Timeline® Study Program takes you n a guided journey through salvation history. Presenter Jeff Cavins shows you how fourteen of the Bible’s narrative books tell the biblical story from beginning to end and gives you the keys to understanding the amazing story woven through Scripture. Please purchase the study guide online at this link. Check out the trailer here.
No fitness level or experience is required. All are welcome!
This lenten themed fitness class will meet at 6:30pm on Wednesday 2/21, 3/6, and 3/13 focusing on the Sorrowful Mysteries. 
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com, Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
All participants will receive a free workbook, however, you must purchase the book “33 Days to Merciful Love” it is available on Amazon.
Saint Pope John Paul II emphasized that now is the time of mercy, now is a time of great and extraordinary grace, a time in which all of us can become great saints — if we tap into that grace. One of the ways we tap into that grace is by asking God to fill us with an ocean of His tenderness and mercy. And we do that by consecrating ourselves to His Mercy. Please consider joining us. All are welcome!
Check out the trailer
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘕𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘙 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.”
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧.”
“𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰.”— Feedback from people who have experienced The Rescue Project
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗲’𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 held on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm with free dinner, followed by Fr. Riccardo breaking open The Rescue Project segments of Created, Captured, Rescued and Response. The evening ends with a small group discussion. Register at this link for this transformative experience of the gospel which gives you a deeper insight on the Mass!
Dads are encouraged to bring their sons 5th grade and older.
Get a glimpse of a Saturday morning work out and see the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiVMnLrRzf0
Response “For we have sinned against You.”
Priest “Show us O, Lord, Your mercy.”
Response “And grant us Your salvation.”
WHAT. Do you sense that something’s missing in your life? Do you feel that if you weren’t so busy you would be happier, healthier, more effective, more fulfilled, and maybe even a better person?
Come to the men’s and women’s CRHP weekend! It’s an incredible experience that will help you discover what’s missing in your life and what to do about it.
Whether you want to connect with other men or women in the parish, improve your prayer life, or just take a break from the craziness of your everyday to have fun and not have to cook or clean, work, shovel the snow, tackle the next item on the ‘to do’ list, you will find what you are looking for—and more.
WHEN. 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝟮/𝟮𝟰 – 𝟮/𝟮𝟱 & 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝟯/𝟮 – 𝟯/𝟯. The day on Saturday starts at 7:30am and goes through the evening at 8:30pm. We return the next day at the same time 7:30am ending at 3pm.
WHERE. In the Parish Life Center (PLC) at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 701 S. Eola Road, Aurora
WHO. Any individual over the age of 18.
WHY. Because you deserve to live with passion and purpose.
REGISTER. Please register today.
Lent is about filling our time with things that will draw us closer to God: may we suggest spending more time with Jesus at a lenten themed MAGNIFY? There will be a scriptural reflection, adoration, prayer ministry, confessions and worship; draw closer to Jesus during this special season of Lent at MAGNIFY.
The St. Michael venue is open to any interested man, not just parish members. We will enjoy prayer, fellowship, confession and world-class speakers. Proceed here to for further details, the agenda and registration. Video presentations by Bishop Hicks, Fr. Mark Bernhard and Sam Blair a former navy seal.
Blessed with fervor for his faith, a keen sense of humor, and a way with words, Fr. Grismer compels his audiences’ attention. He will dive into the great call upon each of our lives allow the joy of the Lord to be our strength.
In 2016, Fr. Grismer was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Rockford. Presently, he is the Assistant Principal and Spiritual Director at Aurora Central Catholic High School, Aurora. Fr. Grismer has led several pilgrimages to Lourdes, Rome, and serves as a parish retreat leader. He is a member of Our Lady of Lourdes North American Volunteers. He holds a License in Sacred Theology with a focus on Dogmatic Theology from Rome’s Pontifical Angelicum University.
Begins Thursday, 3/21st at 3pm CST and ends Saturday, 3/23rd at 8pm CST
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father Frank, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions.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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Margie Marshall
Principal
GROW YOUR FAITH
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
PASTORAL CARE
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
We warmly encourage you to listen to
A Life-Changing Commitment.
Don’t Forget the Children.
Hope To See You at the Dedication.
As we step into this new chapter of spiritual growth, let us remember the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta
Embrace the silence, and let the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel be a source of peace, grace and blessing in your lives.
With warm regards and excitement for this new journey for our parish,
Fr. Michael
P.S. To accompany you during the Lenten season, here is a Eucharistic Prayer Companion for Lent and Triduum. Feel free to download and print.
The Bible Timeline® Study Program takes you n a guided journey through salvation history. Presenter Jeff Cavins shows you how fourteen of the Bible’s narrative books tell the biblical story from beginning to end and gives you the keys to understanding the amazing story woven through Scripture. Please purchase the study guide online at this link. Check out the trailer here.
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com, Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁.
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘕𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘙 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.”
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧.”
“𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰.”— Feedback from people who have experienced The Rescue Project
𝟭𝟬 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂
1. Perhaps you would like to resonate with some of the feedback mentioned above.
2. If you are experiencing OR think of the Christian faith as a mere set of rules and disciplines.
3. If going to Mass is boring or attending a Church service is more a habit (a check the box) than something you feel a need to participate in.
4. If Jesus is only a figure in ancient history for you.
5. If you have been walking with Jesus for years and love Him.
6. If you want to experience the gospel surrounded by good food, conversation, and prayer.
7. If you want to experience beauty, authentic humanity, and accompaniment.
8. If you want to go into a deeper dive into your relationship with Jesus this Lent.
9. If you are at juncture in life and are uncertain of what to do next.
10. If you don’t know Jesus, want to know Him and recognize being known by Him.
𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 held on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm with free dinner, followed by Fr. Riccardo breaking open The Rescue Project segments of Created, Captured, RESCUED and Response. The evening ends with a small group discussion. Register at this link for this transformative experience of the gospel which gives you a deeper insight on the Mass!
Spend a winter weekend developing your prayer life and trust in God’s plan for you. The Vianney Visit provides high school sophomores through college age men (ages 16–24) the opportunity to take a closer look and experience college seminary. Attend Mass, prayer and spiritual conferences with SJV priests and hear testimonies from SJV seminarians. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱.For more information & registration forms, please click here: https://www.diojoliet.org/w/vianney-visit
𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀, 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝟰/𝟱/𝟲) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝟳𝘁𝗵 & 𝟭𝟴𝘁𝗵.
https://www.missionola.com/
https://www.franciscansoftheeucharistofchicago.com/ 
Pick up a Bag at OLM the Weekend of Feb. 17th & 18th
These Easter Bags will benefit children and families assisted by the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry. 
WHAT. Do you sense that something’s missing in your life? Do you feel that if you weren’t so busy you would be happier, healthier, more effective, more fulfilled, and maybe even a better person?
Come to the next men’s and women’s CRHP weekend! It’s an incredible experience that will help you discover what’s missing in your life and what to do about it.
Whether you want to connect with other men or women in the parish, improve your prayer life, or just take a break from the craziness of your everyday to have fun and not have to cook or clean, work, shovel the snow, tackle the next item on the ‘to do’ list, you will find what you are looking for—and more.
WHEN. 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝟮/𝟮𝟰 – 𝟮/𝟮𝟱 & 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝟯/𝟮 – 𝟯/𝟯. The day on Saturday starts at 7:30am and goes through the evening at 8:30pm. We return the next day at the same time 7:30am ending at 3pm.
WHERE. In the Parish Life Center (PLC) at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 701 S. Eola Road, Aurora
WHO. Any individual over the age of 18
WHY. Because you deserve to live with passion and purpose.
REGISTER. Please register soon
Gabriella Curcio, Aiden Gross, Juan Pablo Cordero, Giovanni Sanderlin
We wish them luck as they move on to the District competition in February, with the winners advancing to the Regional competition in March.
We thank all the kids that came out for a fun evening of competition.
Congratulations once again.
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father James, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. A Mother’s Heart is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Thursdays twice a month. For any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer.
Connect. Reach out to Lydia Schmitt lydiadschmitt@gmail.com for any questions.
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 Mary Kubanda at rysavyme@gmail.com
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm
Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com.
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
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.comGROW YOUR FAITH
Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives.
A Catholic Bible and Catechism App. Ascension Press consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Now it’s here! Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store.
From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND 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.
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.
Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith!Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.
Not sure where to start? How about checking out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ.
Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person.
Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and the highest-quality products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness
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
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.
Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. Check it out for long-form discussions, healthy debates, and teachings on the Catholic faith.
PASTORAL CARE
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 about strengthening 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 or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony.
Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Please see this infographic to be informed on how we are walking with Moms in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring!
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲….
It is a story of yesterday… and today. St. Monica faced the challenge of having a pagan husband and faced an even deeper grief when her oldest son, Augustine, turned away from the Church. In college, Augustine, a brilliant student, fell for a “New Age” like philosophy, along with a string of vices. He eventually returned home, accompanied by his girlfriend and their young son.
Throughout it all, St. Monica persisted in her prayers, which ultimately were answered beyond her imagining—though not quickly, nor in exactly the way she had thought. Still, God’s grace bore fruit in His time. After 17 years of spiritual wandering, Augustine experienced a profound conversion, becoming a great saint and one of the most influential theologians in Christian history.
Join us at OLM on Mondays at 7:30 pm, where we can find inspiration and companionship in the stories of St. Monica and St. Augustine. Together, let’s reflect on our family situations and navigate the challenges we encounter with our loved ones who may have strayed from the Church. See you there!
__
𝘏𝑒𝘳𝑒 𝑖𝘴 𝘱𝑎𝘳𝑡 𝑜𝘧 𝘵ℎ𝘦 𝘳𝑒𝘧𝑙𝘦𝑐𝘵𝑖𝘰𝑛 𝑡𝘩𝑖𝘴 𝘤𝑜𝘮𝑖𝘯𝑔 𝑀𝘰𝑛𝘥𝑎𝘺 𝘑𝑎𝘯𝑢𝘢𝑟𝘺 22𝘯𝑑 𝑎𝘵 7:30𝘱𝑚
The ache of having an estranged prodigal isn’t merely a sadness that comes and goes. It’s the whole experience of brokenness. we have held our prodigal children in our arms, in our hearts, and they still live there-even when they’ve grown, even when they’ve rejected what we hoped would be their greatest treasure. It’s hard not to feel as if we’ve failed in parenting, and those feelings can make it very difficult not to lose our temper, not to lash out. We will fail at times and say things that reveal our hurt.
The Bible Timeline® Study Program takes you n a guided journey through salvation history. Presenter Jeff Cavins shows you how fourteen of the Bible’s narrative books tell the biblical story from beginning to end and gives you the keys to understanding the amazing story woven through Scripture. Using a unique color-coded chart, you will learn the major people, places, and events of the Bible and discover how they all come together to reveal the remarkable story of our Faith. Please purchase the study guide online at this link.
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com, Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Tuesday 8:30am, 4pm
Wednesday 5pm
Thursday 8:30am
Friday 10am, 4pm
Our hope is that two individuals sign up for each of the hourly timeslots Monday through Friday from 8:30am through 5pm; please help us achieve this goal. It truly is the best time that you could gift yourself. Click here to sign up.
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘕𝘌𝘝𝘌𝘙 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.”
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧.”
“𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰.”— Feedback from people who have experienced The Rescue Project
𝟭𝟬 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂
1. Perhaps you would like to resonate with some of the feedback mentioned above.
2. If you are experiencing OR think of the Christian faith as a mere set of rules and disciplines.
3. If going to Mass is boring or attending a Church service is more a habit (a check the box) than something you feel a need to participate in.
4. If Jesus is only a figure in ancient history for you.
5. If you have been walking with Jesus for years and love Him.
6. If you want to experience the gospel surrounded by good food, conversation, and prayer.
7. If you want to experience beauty, authentic humanity, and accompaniment.
8. If you want to go into a deeper dive into your relationship with Jesus this Lent.
9. If you are at juncture in life and are uncertain of what to do next.
10. If you don’t know Jesus, want to know Him and recognize being known by Him.
𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 held on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm with free dinner, followed by Fr. Riccardo breaking open The Rescue Project segments of Created, Captured, RESCUED and Response. The evening ends with a small group discussion. Register at this link for this transformative experience of the gospel which gives you a deeper insight on the Mass!
WHAT. Do you sense that something’s missing in your life? Do you feel that if you weren’t so busy you would be happier, healthier, more effective, more fulfilled, and maybe even a better person?
Come to the next men’s and women’s CRHP weekend! It’s an incredible experience that will help you discover what’s missing in your life and what to do about it.
Whether you want to connect with other men or women in the parish, improve your prayer life, or just take a break from the craziness of your everyday to have fun and not have to cook or clean, work, shovel the snow, tackle the next item on the ‘to do’ list, you will find what you are looking for—and more.
WHEN. 𝗠𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝟮/𝟮𝟰 – 𝟮/𝟮𝟱 & 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝟯/𝟮 – 𝟯/𝟯. The day on Saturday starts at 7:30am and goes through the evening at 8:30pm. We return the next day at the same time 7:30am ending at 3pm.
WHERE. In the Parish Life Center (PLC) at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 701 S. Eola Road, Aurora
WHO. Any individual over the age of 18
WHY. Because you deserve to live with passion and purpose.
REGISTER. Please register soon
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father James, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. A Mother’s Heart is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Thursdays twice a month. For any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer.
Connect. Reach out to Lydia Schmitt lydiadschmitt@gmail.com for any questions.
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 Mary Kubanda at rysavyme@gmail.com
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm
Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com.
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
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.comGROW YOUR FAITH
Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives.
A Catholic Bible and Catechism App. Ascension Press consulted more than 1,000 Catholics on what would make the ideal Bible and Catechism app and collected their direct feedback for over a year. Now it’s here! Download the App for free today on the App Store or the Google Play Store.
From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND 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.
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.
Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith!Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.
Not sure where to start? How about checking out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ.
Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person.
Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and the highest-quality products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness
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
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.
Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. Check it out for long-form discussions, healthy debates, and teachings on the Catholic faith.
PASTORAL CARE
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 about strengthening 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 or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony.
Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Please see this infographic to be informed on how we are walking with Moms in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring!
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘆
The beautiful gift of Christmas is a pierced heart filled with Christmas joy. Fr. Michael candidly shares personal anecdotes, delivering a compelling call to self-reflection that urges us to open our hearts to the humility of Christ. From self-centeredness to self-sacrifice, discover the true beauty of Christmas as a season of profound personal and familial healing because the deepest cry of the human heart is the universal need for Jesus Christ to pierce through our barriers so as to bring about profound transformation.
CRHP Men’s Retreat 2/24 – 2/25 & Women’s Retreat 3/2 – 3/3
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com, Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Hebrews 13:3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body.
Tuesday 8:30am, 4pm
Wednesday 5pm
Thursday 8:30am
Friday 10am, 4pm
Our hope is that two individuals sign up for each of the hourly timeslots Monday through Friday from 8:30am through 5pm; please help us achieve this goal. It truly is the best time that you could gift yourself. Click here to sign up.
It is a tradition performed each year on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, where family and friends gather to ask for God’s blessing on their homes and those who live in or visit the home, while marking “20+C+M+B+24” on the front door of the house with blessed chalk. This is a time for prayer and an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in the home, our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows. Our home is where we find comfort and are most vulnerable. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲!
Arrival Time. 1:15pm starts 1:30pm
Cost (includes bowling, shoes, large pizza and a pitcher of beverage).
$25 from 12/3 thru 12/17
$35 from 12/18 thru 12/31
$45 from 1/1/ thru 1/6
$50 at the door
Why ALICE Training? Violent critical incidents can occur anywhere – even in places of worship which are seen as a sanctuary or safe haven. The reality of today is that places of worship are just as vulnerable to active shooter events as schools and businesses.
Father Michael is encouraging all of us to participate in this training so that we are equipped and can answer the question “How would we react if we came under attack from a violent intruder inside the church?”
People of all ages and abilities come to our liturgical gatherings. If violence occurs while at Mass, we must know what to do. ALICE Training has been adopted by thousands of institutions (school districts, workplaces, houses of worship) for this exact reason. The training will help us feel empowered to make the best decision should such an occurrence take place rather than hopelessly endure a difficult and traumatic situation.
Female volunteers (with high school diploma) are trained to help women students learn to read, write, and speak English. Tutoring sessions are 90 minutes, once a week, from Sept. to May, at 260 Vermont St., Aurora (behind St. Therese Church). Tutors do not need to speak Spanish or have teaching experience, but all volunteers must attend 7 hours of training in addition to viewing several training videos online.
The Bible Timeline® Study Program takes you n a guided journey through salvation history. Presenter Jeff Cavins shows you how fourteen of the Bible’s narrative books tell the biblical story from beginning to end and gives you the keys to understanding the amazing story woven through Scripture. Using a unique color-coded chart, you will learn the major people, places, and events of the Bible and discover how they all come together to reveal the remarkable story of our Faith. Please purchase the study guide online at this link.
Please note that Father Michael and Father Frank DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards. If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Michael or Father James, please discard it (any email that does not have “olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org” is a fake email) and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID. No one on the staff will personally ask for money in whatever form (gift cards etc). If someone sends you a private message asking for a donation of sorts, it’s undoubtedly a fake account. Please keep praying for us, and God bless you!
Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
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.
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
Connect with zara@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org for any questions.
Mission. A Mother’s Heart is a group for Catholic mothers with children ages 0-11 who are seeking to journey with other like-minded women of faith. Following the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, we strive to imitate her “little way” of growing in holiness through the lenses of motherhood and family.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Thursdays twice a month. For any of the following: book chats, podcast discussions, “Mom’s Night Out”, community service projects, fellowship, playgroups, prayer.
Connect. Reach out to Lydia Schmitt lydiadschmitt@gmail.com for any questions.
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 Mary Kubanda at rysavyme@gmail.com
Mission. “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 is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
Website. Proceed here for details.
Meets. Wednesdays 7pm to 8:30pm
Connect. For more information, connect with Geri Capulong at gericapulong@gmail.com or Bonnie Ramirez at bnnrmrz@gmail.com.
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
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.comGROW YOUR FAITH
Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives.
From Augustine Institute comes this NEW AND 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.
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.
Explore the goodness, truth, and beauty of the faith!Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library! Check out this link to watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.
Not sure where to start? How about checking out the short 5 episode series on The Eucharist This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, the sacrifice necessary for communion with God, and the real presence of Christ.
Blessed is She is a sisterhood of women who want to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through their Catholic faith. They create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person.
Founded in 2013, The Catholic Gentleman has become one of the most recognizable online men’s apostolate. Each week hundreds of thousands of men around the world visit our site for the insightful articles and the highest-quality products designed to encourage a life of authentic manhood. Their mission: To inspire men to holiness
Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.
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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.
Matt Fradd’s Pints with Aquinas is an online Catholic community of faith and truth… and maybe a pint or two. Check it out for long-form discussions, healthy debates, and teachings on the Catholic faith.
PASTORAL CARE
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 about strengthening 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 or call 331-684-7415. Check out the website for FAQs and further details. Be encouraged; check out this Testimony.
Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. Please see this infographic to be informed on how we are walking with Moms in need. Connect with Lydia Schmitt for further questions at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
OLM invites you to learn more about a new program for children with special needs that will be launching in the spring!
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or enrolling your child, please get in touch with Lydia Schmitt at lydias@olmercy.old.diocesanweb.org
