With the current situation of self-distancing (Illinois stay at home order until April 30^th) and Bishop Malloy has cancelled all in-person Masses and prayer gatherings in the Diocese of Rockford until further notice, I thought a short weekly letter would be better than trying to plan a month out.  My goal is to send the weekly letter out on Tuesdays at noon and also have it posted to the parish website. Each week I will have a suggestion for an Activity, a Place and a Book along with what is happening that week and any postponements of previously scheduled events.
 
HOLY WEEK AT A GLANCE
The Masses/Liturgy this week will be live streamed on the parish Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/St-Mary-and-St-Patrick-Catholic-Church-103074128021732/. There is also a link on the parish website: www.stmarystpatrick.org. We will also be taping them and uploading to YouTube then posting on the parish website under “Schedules/Calendar – Watch Live Stream – Watch Passed Videos.” It does take me some time to down load and upload so please be patient.
 
April 9^th – Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m.
            -Normally we would have the washing of feet. Have each family member wash the feet of another as a sign of service to the family. While this is happening discuss ways you can work together this month to be of service to one another.
 
April 10^th – Good Friday with the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 12:10 p.m.  
            -Watch an age appropriate version of The Lord’s Passion. For younger children try: https://watch.formed.org/kids-1/videos/brother-francis-the-stations-of-the-cross on FORMED. If you are not signed up for a free account you can do so on the parish website. You will need a free account to watch this. For teens and adults, I like Mel Gibson’s The Passion of Christ (Warning - it is brutal and brutally honest in its depiction of the events).
 
The Divine Mercy Novena will be held at 3:00 p.m.
            -Read about the Divine Mercy and St. Faustina (see below). As a family begin the Divine Mercy Nine Day Novena today. If you are not familiar with it, the Divine Mercy Chaplet is on the parish app under the Prayers tile.
            -Today is a day of sacrifice. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us. Discuss ways that each one of us will need to make sacrifices in our family.
 
April 11^th – Easter Vigil Mass at 7:15 p.m.
            -If you haven’t already, plan your Easter meal. As a family work together in making some of the foods that need to be made ahead of time (cookies, cake, casserole, anything you can have ready to go in the oven or on the table.)
           
April 12^th – Easter Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.
            -Alleluia! Christ is Risen! This year Easter will be very different in the way we celebrate with family from previous years. If you are unable to share the Easter meal together with immediate or extended family, take time during the day for a video call with them.
 
First Holy Communion and the parent and student meeting are postponed until further notice. Please continue to work with your child on preparation for this sacrament and if you have any questions please contact me.
 
Place: Take a virtual trip to the Holy Land! https://www.p4panorama.com/panos/HOLYLAND/
 
Activity: If you don’t have a prayer corner or prayer space in your home, create one that you will use to pray with your family. This space should not require purchasing anything new but instead using items your family already has. Begin with an end table, TV tray or any type of small table. Add a candle, Bible, crucifix, statue, icon, Rosary, medal, photo, etc. Have each member of the family place something on the table that is meaningful to them. Then once a day (or more if you like) as a family pray here at whatever time is most convenient for you.
 
Book: “77Ways to Pray With Your Kids” by Jerry Windley-Daoust This book has helps for praying with children, icons for suggested ages and explanations about the prayers or devotions. You can order a paperback copy for just shipping and handling ($5.95) here: https://dynamiccatholic.com/77-ways-to-pray-with-your-kids-free-copy
 
DIVINE MERCY
Just what is the Divine Mercy all about? In 1924, when Helen Kowalska, a young Polish woman was 19 years old, she experienced her first vision of Jesus. Jesus instructed her to leave at once for Warsaw and join a convent. Helen packed her bags and left but it would be over a year until she would receive her habit and take the name Sister Maria Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1928 she would take her first religious vows as a nun. February 22, 1931, Jesus presented himself as the “King of Divine Mercy” and told Faustina to paint his image with the inscription “Jesus, I trust in You.” He also told her that the first Sunday after Easter is to be the Feast of Mercy. Jesus spoke to Faustina about his great mercy and the graces he wishes to give to souls but that many do not pay attention to him, busy themselves with other things and treat him as a dead object. Jesus said, “I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy.” (Diary: 1109) What an amazing gift our Lord wishes to give us if we only draw near him and ask! Want to learn more? Our parish has several informational booklets by the Divine Mercy shrine and on Good Friday at 3 p.m. the Divine Mercy Novena will be led along with a brief overview. If you have questions or would like to learn more about the Divine Mercy, this is a great opportunity.