In today’s gospel the poor widow is honored by Jesus because “she contributed all she had, her whole livelihood!”  Our nation pauses today to honor our veterans who gave their very selves to protect and preserve the freedom’s we enjoy as a nation.  So on this Veteran’s Day, we offer our thanks and gratitude to all our veterans living and deceased, and we pray for the safety of all who are serving in the armed forces today, putting their lives on the line.  Thanks for your service!

November is a time in which we remember our deceased loved ones.  All Saints Day was a celebration of those who lived the Christian life in such an inspiring way in their time, that their story gives hope for us as we try to live a Christian life today.  All Souls Day was a day we remembered and prayed for all our departed loved ones.  I especially want to thank our Hispanic Community for familiarizing the rest of the parish community with “Altar de Muertos – Day of the Dead Altar” that was displayed in the church narthex.  The poster board and sheets with the explanation of all the symbols was so helpful to understand this custom and tradition. I was personally touched by seeing a picture of Fr. Donald Kenny included on the second level of the altar with the pictures of so many deceased loved ones.  Nice to know he is not forgotten for his mission work in South America.  Thanks also to our art & environment committee for the lovely display of our Book of the Deceased.  Placed by the baptismal font and near the Paschal candle, we are reminded that “if we have died with Christ in baptism, we shall also rise with him.”  The Book of the Deceased will be there through November.  Please feel free to write in names of deceased loved ones to be prayed for as we remember our faithful departed this month.

And so, as the next couple of Sunday’s wind down the liturgical year, our focus will move to the reality that our lives on this earth will end.  In our heads we know that. But when I hear someone say “Oh well, no one lives forever” my response is “Oh yes we do!”  Those who believe in Jesus Christ and His resurrection do live forever!  So while our heads know the reality of death and our hearts may fear it, our minds should be at peace because eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has prepared for those who love Him!

Have A Blessed Week!

As you know, election day is this Tuesday, November 6^th.  Voting is one of our most important responsibilities as citizens and as Catholics.  Often times I hear some Catholics say that the Church should keep out of politics.  There couldn’t be anything further from the truth!  When our nation’s founders sought to “separate church and state” they did so to prohibit the establishment of any particular denomination as the official religious body of the nation – not forbidding religious organizations to address matters of grave importance to human welfare.  Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium, No. 183 states: “An authentic faith always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it….if indeed the just ordering of society and of the state is a central responsibility of politics, the Church, cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice.”  Also, it must be made very clear that the Church does not tell us whom to vote for.  The Church does not (and cannot) endorse any particular candidate or political party.  The Church can however, (and must) speak to the issues facing voters, and provide voters with information on candidate’s positions.  The Church also exhorts Catholics to study Scripture and Church teaching to gain and understanding why the Church takes a particular stance on an issue.  This is something that I suspect many of us don’t take the time and effort to do.  But our faith teaches us that “conscience is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us and calling us to do what is good while shunning what is evil.” (U.S. Bishops 2015 document on forming conscience and faithful citizenship).  It is our responsibility as Catholics to form our consciences by developing the virtue of prudence to discern true good in circumstances and to choose the right means of achieving it by maintaining a willingness and openness to seek what is right.  There are four key principles to keep in mind:  1) Promoting and defending the dignity of the human person; 2) Supporting the family and subsidiarity in local, state and national institutions; 3) Working for the common god where human rights are protected and basic responsibilities are met; 4) Acting in solidarity with concern for all as our brothers and sisters, especially the poor and must vulnerable.

There are many moral issues facing us today, but the most important is the direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death, and must always be opposed.  At the same time, issues such as war, the death penalty, racism and care for the poor and the immigrant are enormously important – they are not optional concerns which can be dismissed.  The moral teaching of our Church is about more than prohibitions.  We Catholics are encouraged to respond to the basic needs of human beings – food, shelter, health care, education and employment.  We are called to welcome refugees and immigrants, defend religious freedom, support marriage and family and protect the environment.

In today’s political environment, voting as a Catholic is hard word.  It takes serious reflection, knowledge of Church teaching, awareness of who the candidates are and where they stand on the issues.  But most of all it takes prayer!  Then get out and vote!

Have a Blessed Week!

Father Don

With Halloween coming this Wednesday, every year I get asked if it is OK for Catholics to celebrate Halloween?  My response?  ABSOLUTELY YES!  However, there is a caveat to my endorsement.  Celebrate Halloween as a Catholic holiday, not a secular one!!  There are plenty of ways that we can celebrate this occasion without violating any of the teachings of the Catholic Faith. Here are three practical ways to do this.

Remember the saints! Instead of focusing only on just fun and merriment, let us emphasize that Halloween is short for All Hallow’s Eve. Halloween is the vigil to the celebration of All Hallow’s Day or All Saints Day – a holy day of obligation. The word “hallow” means holy.  So the origin of Halloween is holy! It is a meaningful celebration of the lives of all the saints and these saints include our loved ones who are now in heaven. Halloween is an opportune time to remember the saints with our family and friends.  Celebrate Halloween by coming to our 7:00pm Mass on October 31^st, the vigil of All Hallow’s Day!

Talk about spiritual warfare! Halloween is full of references of evil spirits and dark forces. The occasion is an opportune time to evangelize others about the reality of these evil elements. We can talk to our friends and family about spiritual warfare. More importantly, we can share with them that God is powerful and He will faithfully protect us from harm. Halloween is a day to reflect on Christ’s triumph over sin, death, and Satan.  It is our day to laugh at Satan!

Dress appropriately! There is nothing wrong with wearing a costume to join in on the merriment but we need to keep in mind what the Bible says about dressing modestly. We can still participate in the fun without having to wear something that is shameful in the eyes of God. Similarly, we must be careful about costumes that glorify supernatural evil or superstition. Catholic parents can counteract the costumed characters of violence and darkness by sending their children dressed as one of the saints. Imagine that!  A saint showing up at your door instead of a gross bloody Dracula!!

It is true that Halloween has been badly corrupted and hyper-commercialized just like Christmas and Easter, but, just as that should never stop Catholics from fully celebrating the great feast of the Church, neither should it stop Catholics from enjoying Halloween as a celebration of the great feast of All Saints.  So, have some fun – and Happy Eve of All Saints!!

Have a blessed week!

Father Don

Also Known as Chardonnay W(h)ines…..

During the past several months there have been some changes in our staff.  In the event you haven’t had the pleasure to meet them yet, I want to give you a brief introduction through my bulletin article.  Please be sure to welcome them when you see them.

Mary Jo Tripaini, Director of Religious Ed (K-5).  Mary Jo joined our staff this June as our new Director of Religious Education for grades K through 5.  Mary Jo is a native of Rockford, IL. She has a Masters in Divinity and Pastoral Studies.  Her undergraduate degree is in Elementary Education.  She served as a DRE at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Madison, WI for 16 years where she loved facilitating family programs, liturgy of the word for children, and sacramental preparation for children and adults.

Zara Tan, Director of Evangelization & Communications.  Zara joined our staff in September filling a newly created position. Back in 2016, prior to the arrival of Fr. Mark and myself, a Communications Committee recommended the hiring of a communications director. Fr. Mark and I also saw the need to have a person to coordinate all our new evangelization and adult faith formations efforts.  Zara uniquely has the charisms, gifts, and talents to fill both of these positions. Zara graduated from the 2-year Lay Leadership program at Mundelein in 2016.

Frank Sauter, Director of Liturgical & Music Ministries.  Frank joined out staff the first of October.  Prior to coming to OLM, Frank served in a similar position for seven years at St. Francis parish in Bolingbrook where he directed and accompanied several choirs. Frank has a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Indiana University.

Robert Gancarz, Business Manager.  Bob joined our staff last year upon the retirement of Janice Cain.  Bob has a BS in accounting from Illinois State University and is a CPA.  Prior to working at OLM, Bob worked for 25 years at St. Patrick’s Residence, Naperville as controller.

The month of October is Respect Life Month.  The following reflection is from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In 1531, when the indigenous peoples of Mexico were subjugated and the practice of human sacrifice was still a recent memory, the Mother of God appeared to St. Juan Diego as a pregnant native woman, now known as Our Lady of Guadalupe.

She sent him with miraculous flowers in his cloak to tell the bishop to build a church where people could receive her Son and her loving, tender care. When St. Juan Diego opened the cloak before the bishop, an image of Our Lady was revealed that remains to this day. The chapel was quickly built, millions embraced Christianity, and the Church increased its protection of the indigenous peoples.

By embracing the mission entrusted to him, St. Juan Diego helped bring Christ’s transforming love to cultures gripped by oppression and death.

Today, we again see the dignity of human life disregarded. Unborn children are destroyed through abortion, and ill people are encouraged and assisted to take their own lives. How do we respond?

The essence of our identity is that we are created in God’s image and likeness and loved by Him. Nothing can diminish the priceless worth of any human life. Every person is cherished.

God creates every person for eternal union with Himself and continually invites us to embrace a

loving relationship with Him. Every person is chosen.

We are called to be messengers of God’s love, treating one another as cherished and chosen by Him. In doing so, we help build a culture that respects all human life. Every person is sent.

Like St. Juan Diego, let us embrace our daily mission to help others encounter God’s transforming, life-giving love.

To find out more about Pro-Life activities in our area or to join our Pro-Life efforts at Our Lady of Mercy, please contact Lisa SanDiego at: Lisa.SanDiego@rushcopley.com.

Have a Blessed Week!

Father Don