April 2023
 

The universal Church never “did away” with abstaining from meat “every Friday of the year” (Code of Canon Law, #1251).  Recognizing, that abstaining from meat no longer carried the same potential for spiritual growth in a nation of such plenty, the bishops of the United States issued a pastoral statement in 1966 that freed Catholics in this country from abstinence of Fridays outside of Lent.  At the same time, they strongly encouraged the faithful to find other penitential practices or ways of fasting on Fridays throughout the year that would better aid their spiritual growth.

In case you were unable to attend, here is the link to the last Parent Meeting on March 19^th: https://youtu.be/zi9jLcwDrOE.

HOLY WEEK AT A GLANCE
April 2^nd – Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of Holy Week.  As a family, please try to come and participate in many of the services/Masses taking place.
April 6^th – Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7pm with Adoration after Mass until 8:45pm at St. Mary Church, a brief prayer service at 8:45pm closing Adoration.
April 7^th – Good Friday with the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 12:10pm at St. Mary Church. The Divine Mercy Novena will be held at 3:00pm at St. Mary Church.
April 8^th – Easter Vigil Mass at 7:15pm at St. Mary Church.
April 9^th – Easter Sunday Mass, 8:00am at St. Mary Church and 10:00am at St. Patrick Church.

Sunday, April 2, 2023 – Palm Sunday

• Religious Education Family classes will be held today from 9-10:15am.
• Confirmation Class will be held today from 12-2 pm with a potluck lunch from 11:20-12pm. Lessons 22 & 23 will be covered during class. Please use the link on the webpage to sign up.

• Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7pm St. Mary Church. Adoration will follow and conclude with a short prayer service at 8:45pm.

• The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 12:10pm, St. Mary Church.
• The Divine Mercy Novena begins today. Join us at 3pm, St. Mary Church.

• Decorating of St. Mary Church for Easter will take place at 8am, all are welcome to help!
• The Youth Group will hold an Easter Egg Hunt beginning at 10:30 am at the parish center. Following the Hunt will be a breakfast for all attending.
• Easter Vigil Mass at 7:15pm, St. Mary Church.

• Masses today will be offered at 8am at St. Mary and 10am at St. Patrick.

• Religious Education Family classes will be held today from 9-10:15am.
• First Holy Communion at 10:30am, St. Mary Church.

• The Youth Group will meet today for Jesus & Java at the parish center from 9-10:15am.

• Today is the last Religious Education Family Class of the 2022-23 year.  We will kick the morning off with a Potluck Brunch from 9-930am. Following the brunch there will be a brief class and the selection of Catholic Family Sacramental Swag Bags.
• May Crowning will be held today, St. Mary Church at the 10:30 a.m. Mass.  Watch the bulletin for more information.

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.

FORMED
Would like to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you know someone who has fallen away from the Church, perhaps a friend, a family member, a co-worker, and you want reach them but you just don’t know how to?  This is why our parish has invested in FORMED, so that each of us might grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and in our desire to share our Faith with others, especially those closest to us.  FORMED has inspiring movies and video based studies, audio talks and e-books from the Church's most compelling speakers and authors. Some include:

• Prepare for Mass each week by watching an insightful five-minute video Opening the Word, on the Sunday Readings;
• Enjoy movies with your family that are both nourishing and entertaining;
• Enrich your marriage with the award-winning video program Beloved; and
• Help your children grow in faith and character with engaging children’s materials from toddlers to teens, alphabets, children’s catechism, saints, to Why Believe and YDisciple for teens just to name a few.

To register, please go to www.formed.org and click on the “Sign Up” button.  A screen will pop up asking “How would you like to sign up?” Click on the middle button, “Sign up as a parishioner.” In the search box under “Find your Parish or Organization” enter 61024, St. Mary, 606 W. Main St. should show below the search button. Click on St. Mary and then click on the “Next” button. A new screen will pop up asking you to register with your name and email address.  After that you will be registered and have access to all the resources available on the site free of charge.