Lent
During Lent, the time of Mass on Tuesday at St. John's, will be changed from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. We will pray the Rosary before Mass at 4:35 pm, and mediate upon the Stations of the Cross following Mass. At St. Mary's, we will pray the Rosary at our usual day, on Wednesday, after morning Mass. The Stations of the Cross we will celebrate on Friday after morning Mass and at 6:00 pm.
The Stations of the Cross is a pious way of honoring the Passion and Death of Christ. The term 'Stations of the Cross' derives from the method of performing this gathering: standing at fourteen different places while meditating and praying on the Passion of Christ.
Each year our diocese celebrates "BE RECONCILED DAY" - a day of opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This year it will be celebrated:
St. John the Evangelist church: Tuesday, April 8, from 9 am to noon and from 3-4:30 pm.
St. Mary church: Wednesday, April 9, from 9 am to noon and from 5 to 7 pm.
Daily Readings
Weekly reading
Readings for the week of March 30, 2025
- Sunday: Jos 5:9a, 10-12 / Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (9a) / 2 Cor 5:17-21 / Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
- Scrutiny: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a / Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 (1) / Eph 5:8-14 /
- Jn 9: 1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38
- Monday: Is 65:17-21 / Ps 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b / Jn 4:43-54
- Tuesday: Ez 47:1-9, 12 / Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9 / Jn 5:1-16
- Wednesday: Is 49:8-15 / Ps 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18 / Jn 5:17-30
- Thursday: Ex 32:7-14 / Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 23 / Jn 5:31-47
- Friday: Wis 2:1a, 12-22 / Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23 / Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Pastor Message and Prayer
Bulletin - Fourth Sunday of Lent
3/30
Bulletin - Fourth Sunday of Lent
Forgiveness? The sky's the limit
Read Matthew Chapter 18 Verses 1 To 35
Chapter 18 is commonly titled "Discourse on Community life." It includes several elements: a discussion between Jesus and his disciples about "who is the greatest in the kingdom," a warning about scandals, and instructions about brotherly discipline in the community as well as to parables to illustrate Jesus's teaching on these issues.
Yet, there are two major running through the chapter: the care ones and the necessity and measure of forgiveness. As for the first of these two themes, Jesus makes it clear that God shows preferential love for the little ones and wants us to do the same and to take greatest care of them.
"Should you not have mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?
MATTHEW 18:33
But the main teaching of this chapter is on forgiving. Peter thought that he was being generous in proposing a willingness to forgive his brother seven times. The number seven is a symbol of perfection or completeness in the Bible. But to Peter's greatest surprise, this seemingly generous proposal falls well short of Jesus' own way - and God's way - of looking at forgiveness. Jesus' reply raises the stakes much higher: seventy-seven times, which means as far as you can extend perfection. In other words: be ready to forgive at any time and without restriction.
When it comes to forgiveness, we're always in debt. There is no way we could say to someone: "Well, you know, I have forgiven you seventy-seven times. I warn you, next time will be last!" God has forgiven us an unlimited number of times, and he expects us to do the same to our brothers and sisters.
Do I owe forgiveness to someone around me?
Prayer Starter: Gracious and merciful God, I thank you for the many times you have
forgiven me. Deliver me from any wish for vindication and give me a forgiving heart.
Fr. Joachim
St. Mary Mass Times
Saturday 6:00pm
Sunday 8:30am
Daily Mass Times
Wednesday 8:30am
Wednesday: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 9am-9:30am
Friday 8:30am
First Friday 8:30am Healing Mass and Adoration
Confession Times
Saturday from 5:30-5:50 or
by appointment by calling the Rectory at 815-858-3422
St. Mary Office Hours
Wednesday 8:30 am- 3:30 p.m.. by appointment
Thursday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
