Christmas Schedule
Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
St. John the Evangelist church in Hanover - 4:00 pm (Fr. Stephen Wilbricht)
St. Mary church in Elizabeth- 4:00 pm (Fr. Tyrtania)
Wednesday, December 25 - The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
St. Mary church in Elizabeth 12:00 am (Midnight) (Fr. Tyrtania)
St. Mary chuch in Elizabeth - 8:30 am (Fr. Tyrtania)
St. John the Evangelist church in Hanover - 10:15 am (Fr. Thomas Cargo)
Decemenber 26 and December 27 - there will be no Mass.
December 28 and December 29 - regular weekend times
December 31st - New Years Eve
St. John the Evangelist church in Hanover 4:00pm
St. Mary church in Elizabeth 6:00pm
January 1st - New Years Day
St. Mary church Elizabeth 9:00am
No mass in Hanover
"Mothers Prayers"
Mothers who wish to pray together with other mothers for our children and grandchildren, please meet in the church hall following Friday morning mass on January 3rd. We will discuss setting up a timetable for meeting one hour once a week. Questions? Call Kathleen at 630-222-1184
Daily Readings
Weekly reading
Readings for the week of December 29, 2024
- Sunday: 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28 / Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10 (see a) / 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24 / Lk 2:41-52
- Monday: 1 Jn 2:12-17 / Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 / Lk 2:36-40
- Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:18-21 / Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13 / Jn 1:1-18
- Wednesday: Nm 6:22-27 / Ps 67:2-3,5, 6, 8 (2a) / Gal 4:4-7 / Lk 2:16-21
- Thursday: 1 Jn 2:22-28 / Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 / Jn 1:19-28
- Friday: 1 Jn 2:29—3:6 / Ps 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6 / Jn 1:29-34
- Saturday: 1 Jn 3:7-10 / Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9 / Jn 1:35-42
- Next Sunday: Is 60:1-6 / Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (see 11) / Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 / Mt 2:1-12
Pastor Message and Prayer
12/29
Holy Family
When husband and wife beofme parents, they are changed. Previously, they lived for one another, but when their child is born, their gaze is directed onto the baby and their love becomes fruitful in a new way. They direct all their hopes and anxieties and concerns onto their child so the new life becomes almost a reflection of their own-parents-character. Perhaps, that was the reason why those who witnessed the birth of John the Baptist asked: "What will this turn out to be?" (Luke 1:65-66).
Children need somone to set them good example, they need love, but above all, they need spirtual guidance. Our Gospel relates the episode in which they twelve-year-old Jesus got lost in Jerusalem. Interestingly, the story shows how even in the best of families, misunderstandings, sometimes hurtful can occur, bu the story gives us a glimpse of Jesus' unique relationship with God.
Catherine de Hueck Doherty (1896-19850 was a Russian born Catholic activist who founded the Madonna House Apostolate in 1947, she was a pioneer in the stuggle for interracial justice. She said: "I cry for parents so engrossed in giving their children all the material benefits of our affluent society that they negelece to give them the onlh thing that matters - God." Parents, having given life to their children, must not take it back, but must allow their children to live the life, God intended.
Mary and Joseph began to realize what a special child Jeus was. All who truly celebrate Jesus' birth, are changed. Previously we had a lived for ourselves and other people. But now we learn how to live for God. As we gaze upon the Child Jesus, we have to be changed. Truly, the crib softens our hearts, but we must look at the crib in the right way. The Child has come to win our hearts by a life of giving. Giving love for hatred and turning hatred into the final act of loving: arms stretched wide on the Cross to embrace the world.
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.
