Scripture Insights Today’s readings pose two questions that bring our Lenten journey into focus: “Is the Lord in our midst
or not?” and “What are you looking for?”
The First Readings comes from Exodus 17, the early stages of Israel’s forty-year journey in the desert. The Israelites had begun quarreling among themselves and grumbling against Moses, com-plaining about a lack of food and water. They even tested God, asking whether he was even in their midst. Moses pleads to God for intervention, and God responds by empowering Moses to draw water from the rock for the people to drink. Even though the Lord was indeed in the midst of the community during the desert journey, the Israelites’ fears, in-tensified by their grumbling and complaining, blind-
ed them to the Lord’s presence.
In today’s Gospel reading from John, Jesus meets a Samaritan women at a well. With the sim-ple request for her to give him a drink, Jesus initi-ates a dialogue that intrigues and transforms her. Just as she has come to believe in Jesus, the disci-ples return from their errand to a nearby town. John tells in an aside that on seeing the woman, they fail to ask her what she is looking for— the very ques-tion Jesus had asked the first disciples, the ques-tion that initiated their conversion (see John 1:38). In the Gospel according to John, true discipleship involves first and foremost bringing others to Christ. The distracted disciples fail to evangelize—in con-trast to the Samaritan woman, who, once she be-lieves that Jesus is the Christ, hurries to her town to
bring others to him.
As we continue through our Lenten journey, we are challenged to overcome fears and distrac-tions, to find the Lord in our midst, and to bring
others to him.
–Sourcebook for Sundays, Seasons, and Weekdays 2020: the
Liturgy Training Publications. All rights reserved.
Sacrament of Reconciliation During Lent
Fridays, 6:30–7:00 PM
Saturdays, 4:00 PM
Extended on April 4th : 3-5 pm
Stations of the Cross Fridays of Lent 6:00 PM Join other parishioners in an act of prayer, walking the way of the Cross.
Mass Intentions
Monday, March 16 8:00AM †Betty Natzke req. Warzchea Family †Salvatore & Michelina Panettieri req. The Family †Helen Hwang req. The family Tuesday, March 17 8:00AM Living For the Nold Family †Lorraine O’Connor req. Daughter Mary & Family Wednesday, March 18 8:00AM Living Duane & Fran Schmidt Family Living Lisa Clausen req. Shirley Monahan †Alice Donahue 5th Anniversary req. Victoria Hansen Thursday, March 19 8:00AM Living Mercedes Lenzen (B.D.) req. Victoria Hansen Living Joseph Olsen req. Mom & Jay †Karla Adams req. Parents Ed & Margaret Stahoviak †Bud Hansen req. Kathie Lackie Friday, March 20 8:00AM Living Shirley Monahan (B.D.) req. Victoria Hansen †Olivia Corpuz req. Pete & Donna Sonza-Novera †William Henrich †Mary Herbert req. Mary Jelen †Alan L. Lovas Saturday, March 21 5:00PM †Laura Smith req. Brian, Sheila & Maura Dalton †Rita Kompare req. Husband Karl & Family †Joseph Panetteri req. The Family †Sr. Grace Panetteri req. The Family †Marty Gaughan req. Matt & Marcey Gaughan Sunday, March 22 7:30PM †Joseph William Lenzen req. The Family †John Kerpan req. Wife & Children †Liam Nold req. Bernard & Mercedes Lenzen 9:30AM †Harold Crawford req. Steve & Debbie Knowles †Bob Zengeler req. Carol & Brad Hansen, Sr. †Amy Heinzinger req. Husband Russell & Family †Brad Hansen, Sr. & †Danny Hansen req. Carol Hansen & Family †Rosa Cruz-Elizondo req. Regan & Michelle Cruz Family †Dorothy Marecki req. Daughter Loretta †Marianne Sweeney req. Marguerite Guetkans 11:30AM For the Parishioners of St. Mary of the Annunciation
Deacons Deacon Howard-Preach Deacon Danny– Preach Deacon Bob Deacon Mike—Preach
Lectors C. Hendricks D. Prezell
K. Lenzen E. McPherson
T. Bartels C. Bartels
R. Melnick J. Matousek
Eucharistic Ministers
Deacon J. Murphy J. Koch P. Koch W. Pohl M. Pohl T. Kennedy D. Chin J. Schwartz
Deacon L. Bosshart J. Thompson J. Weiler R. Hegerle M. Manning M. Manning
Deacon C. Perelle K. Pannhausen K. Arta S. Monahan E. Leuthner, D. Leuthner H. Stumpf J. Fosselman J. Rutledge, J. Bruneau
Deacon C. Sims J. Lyman M. Schofield M. Ranchero J. Ranchero S. Scesniak S. Ropke
The Week Ahead
Sunday, March 15 9:30AM Childcare 9:30AM Liturgy of the Word for Children 10:45AM New Parishioner Welcoming Session Monday, March 16 8:00AM Mass 8:30AM Pray the Rosary 7:00PM Lectio Divina Pray Service Tuesday, March 17 8:00AM Mass 8:30AM Pray the Rosary 9:00AM Lectio Divina Bible Study 7:30PM St. Mary Moms Rosary Wednesday, March 18 8:00AM Mass 8:30AM Pray the Rosary 3:30PM Care for Our Common Home 6:00PM P.A.D.S. 7:00PM Why Do Catholics Go to Confession 7:00PM Parish Choir Rehearsal Thursday, March 19 8:00AM Mass 8:30AM Pray the Rosary 7:30PM Contemporary Choir Rehearsal Friday, March 20 8:00AM Mass 8:30AM Divine Mercy Chaplet 6:00PM Stations of the Cross 6:30PM Confessions Saturday, March 21 5:00PM Liturgy of the Word for Children Sunday, March 22 9:30AM Childcare 9:30AM Liturgy of the Word for Children 6:00PM Ignite High School Youth Group
Our St. Mary Vision Statement – Living Out the Great Commission by Jennifer Pepping
This January, Fr. Jerry revealed new vision and mission state-
ments for the parish. By now you have likely seen these state-
ments in the bulletin or on the banners in the narthex. So, what
do we mean that St. Mary has revealed a new vision and mis-
sion statement and why do we need one? A vision statement provides an organization, our parish, a clear sense of what we
are ultimately trying to accomplish. It should be broad and in-
spiring. It sets a big dream for the future and will help our par-
ish to stay focused on its purpose. The new St. Mary statements
were developed using input from many at the parish including
thoughts and ideas gathered during the Parish Transformation
process in 2015, hopes and dreams shared by parish leaders at
Leadership Summits 2016-2019, all guided by the leadership of
Fr. Jerry. As the vision and mission were created, discussion
was always grounded in Christ’s vision for His Church. Lucky
for us, Jesus himself already gave instructions commissioning
St. Mary, and all the Church, in the Gospel of Matthew:
The Great Commission
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fa-
ther and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with
you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)
As Christ’s church, this is where our vision and aspirations
must start, with the Great Commission.
St. Mary Vision Statement That all generations at St. Mary and in the surrounding com-
munity encounter Jesus and live as His disciples.
Just imagine if that were true! If all those in our community
lived in relationship with Jesus how different would our world
be? We live now in a world divided, a world desperate for
hope, peace and understanding. Jesus is that hope. He freely offers salvation and love to a weary world and to every person
in Him. As Catholic Christians we are called to share that mes-
sage of hope and love to a world in need. Because we have
experienced the love of Christ, our faith should fill our heart
with the desire to help all to know the peace and joy that can
come from knowing Jesus.
Mission the Work of all the Baptized
In Ephesians, Paul shares a message for Christian life as mis-
sion and sees ministry as a task of all the baptized. He states
that the church does not exist for its own sake but for the pur-
pose of mission and that we gain strength in that mission
through faith in Jesus.
“so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made
known through the church to the principalities and authori-
ties in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose
that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we
have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith
in him.” (Eph 3:10-11)
The church is founded by Jesus Christ as the instrument to
spread God’s plan of salvation. Through baptism, God has giv-
en us the gift of redemption, but there is more expected of us.
As members of the Church, we are expected to participate in
the mission to share God’s love and promise of salvation with
the world.
Working together as the Body of Christ
It seems like a daunting and impossible task, not to mention a
little uncomfortable. How can we possibly accomplish what
Jesus has asked us to do? It is easy to be overwhelmed by the
size of that mission and to see it as too much to accept. One
might think “how can I make a difference?” But we are not
asked to do it on our own. Through the sacraments we find
strength in the power of the Holy Spirit and when we are nour-
ished by the Eucharist. We are strengthened by one another in
community when we come together to pray and share witness.
Paul reminds readers of the diversity of gifts given to the body
of believers. As members of the Body of Christ we are called to use our individual gifts, given to us by God, for the good of the
church and its mission. It is only when all of us are working
together, each with our unique gifts that the church can func-
tion in the way in which it was intended. When we work to-
gether as the Body of Christ, we are most effective in that mis-
sion and many hands make light work!
Building Relationship with Jesus
In the gospel this week we heard the story of the Samaritan
woman by the well in which we hear a beautiful example of
evangelization. The Samaritan woman was touched by her en-
counter with Jesus and was inspired to share Jesus with others
in the town. She introduced Jesus and piqued the interest of the
Samaritans, but it wasn’t until she and the townspeople spent
time with Jesus, grew to know him better, that they recognized
him as the Messiah. The Samaritan woman told a few, and the
gospel tells us, “many of the Samaritans of that town began to
believe in him because of the word of the woman.” For each of
us, our initial encounter with Jesus was likely through someone else. Just as with the woman at the well, we too can share our
experience to pique interest about Jesus. It all starts with the
introduction, but all relationships take time and attention. Just
like the Samaritan woman, relationship does not happen with
one magical encounter but unfolds over time. For each of us to
know Jesus well enough to make the introduction we must con-
tinue to deepen our own personal relationship with Him. I have
the great privilege to share many experiences through adult
formation activities here at St. Mary and I am constantly
amazed by the many ways in which Jesus touches peoples’
lives. Sharing those experiences with other adults here at the parish makes Jesus feel closer. I have certainly learned that
there is never an end to the way in which He reveals Himself to
us.
Lenten blessings
Jen Pepping – Adult Faith Formation Ministry
Over the next sever-
al weeks we will
print a series of
reflections based on
the parish vision and
mission statements.
Featured Title for March
Theology for Beginners
By Frank Sheed Theology for Beginners is one of the most outstanding presentations of the central doctrines of the Christian
faith ever penned. After showing how God is Spirit, the author exam-ines God’s infinity and man’s creation from nothing, and then moves on to the Trinity, the Fall, the Incarnation and Redemption, the Mysti-cal Body, Grace and the Sacraments, and the Last Things. For those to whom these doctrines once seemed formidable, Sheed's is a fresh voice of lucid and carefully reasoned prose. To read Theology for Be-ginners is to have one’s mind awakened to the spiritual realities at the center of human existence.
Feature resources can be found at the wooden kiosk in the narthex. Free will donations of $3 per CD and $4 per book are greatly appreciated
to allow the parish to offer new material.
Pray the Daily Rosary Please join other parishioners in the Eucharistic Chapel fol-lowing the 8:00 AM Mass Monday through Thursday.
Pray the Divine Mercy Novena & Chaplet The Divine Mercy Novena & Chaplet is prayed in the Eucha-
ristic Chapel on Fridays immediately following the 8:00 AM Mass .and 3:00 PM during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Family Rosary Join us for Family Rosary Saturday Devotion, requested by Our Lady of Fatima, every First Saturday of the month at 4:30 PM.
St. Mary Childcare Virtus-trained adult volunteers and teen help-ers provide childcare for children 6 months–4 years of age during the 9:30 Mass. All are welcome! Please contact Kitty White: [email protected] if you have questions about the childcare ministry or are
Readings for the Week Monday: 2 Kgs 5:1-15b; Ps 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4; Lk 4:24-30
Thursday: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29;
Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22; Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or
Lk 2:41-51a
Friday: Hos 14:2-10; Ps 81:6c-11ab, 14, 17; Mk 12:28-34
Saturday: Hos 6:1-6; Ps 51:3-4, 18-21ab; Lk 18:9-14
Sunday: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps 23:1-6;
Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41[1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38]
Sip coffee, meet other moms, bring kids to play and make crafts! Please join us at St. Mary's Moms Monthly Meetings! Every second Tuesday of the month, from 9 am to 11 am, in the meeting rooms off the narthex. All moms welcome, come alone or with a child. We'd love to see new faces! Next three meetings are March 10th, April, 21st, and May 12th.
Pray for all who suffer illness, pain and grief:
Carrie Cimmarusti-Erickson, Mary Niemann
and for the repose of all who have recently died: Ben Rend, Merle Jakatis, Jack Corsello, Enrico Scala
REP NEWS! The registration forms for the 2020-2021 REP year are now on the parish web site and in the kiosk in the narthex. The summer session for 2020 is now closed and families who requested that option will be notified.
Our program cannot happen without the many volunteer catechists who share their time teaching the faith to the children. Our summer session, which runs July 6-17 from 9:00am to noon M-F, is in need of several catechists. Please contact Sue Matousek for more infor-mation at [email protected] or 847-223-0010.
Stewardship Report
Sunday Collection March 10, 2019 $ 20,498.68
Budgeted Weekly Collection $ 22,596.15
Difference $ (2,097.47)
Current Fiscal Year-to-Date* $ 820,997.35
Budgeted Sunday Collections To-Date $ 836,057.69
Difference $ (15,060.34)
Difference vs. Last Year $ (808.05) *Note: YTD amount reflects updates by bank to postings and adjustments.
Why Do Catholics Go to Confession? Experiencing God’s Love and Mercy Presented by Fr. Don Cambe Associate Pastor, St. Mary of the Annunciation Wednesday, March 18, 2020 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Center Meeting Rooms Would you like to feel closer to God? Have you been away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation for a long time and you are not sure how to come back? God longs for you and wants you to experience His immense love and mercy. Learn more about the beauty of the encounter with God and find answers to common questions and misconceptions about the sacrament:
Why do we need Confession? and Why do Catholics confess to a priest?
What is Confession designed to be, what is it not intended to be?
What is the best way to prepare for Confession?
What should I confess and what happens during confession?
Will I feel awkward and will the priest think less of me after hearing my sins?
If you have not been to Confession in a while, come and reac-quaint yourself with this beautiful sacrament of healing in this casual and open environment. There is no better time to start over with the Sacrament of Reconciliation than during the season of Lent! There is no cost to attend but registration is requested to plan for the session Please register online at the parish web-site or by returning this form to the parish.
Registration Form “Why Do Catholics Go to Confession?”
There is no cost to attend but registration is requested to allow the parish to plan for the session. • You may register online at the Adult Formation page on
the parish website www.stmaryfc.org or by returning this form along with payment to the parish office. • For questions call the parish office 847-223-
Name _____________________________________________ Phone ____________________________________________ Email address* ____________________________________ *Email address will be used for any necessary correspondence. Visit the website for information on more learning opportunities at St. Mary www.stmaryfc.org
Important Change in our Liturgical Practice In Regard to the Coronavirus The Archdiocese continues to monitor with concern questions that are arising about the spread of the Coronavirus. As a matter of pru-dence, the following guidelines, based on guidance from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, are to be implemented in all parishes within the Archdiocese of Chicago, effective immediately.
Priests, Deacons, Altar Servers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Are To: Wash their hands before Mass begins and use an alcohol
based anti-bacterial solution before and after distributing Holy
Communion
All vessels used at Mass, once purified, are to be thoroughly
washed with soap and hot water after each use
The People Are To: Refrain from physical contact during the Sign of Peace (note:
the Sign of Peace can be exchanged without physical contact)
Receive Holy Communion only under the species of the Host
(use of the Chalice is temporarily suspended)
Given the frequency of direct contact with saliva in the distribu-tion of Holy Communion on the tongue, and for the time being, each individual is strongly encouraged to receive Holy Com-
munion reverently in open hands
Refrain from holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer
Refrain from using Holy Water fonts
If they are sick or are experiencing symptoms of sickness, they are not obliged to attend Mass, and even that out of charity they ought not to attend. See The Catechism of the Catholic Church,
¶2181
Join in praying for all who are sick, particularly for those affect-
ed by coronavirus and other communicable diseases
Holy Week and Easter Liturgy Schedule
Monday–Wednesday, April 6–8 Daily Mass, 8:00 AM
Holy Thursday, April 9 8:00 AM, Morning Prayer
7:00 PM, Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Good Friday, April 10 8:00 AM, Morning Prayer
4:00 PM, Celebration of the Passion of the Lord 6:00 PM, Stations of the Cross
EASTER SUNDAY, April 12 Masses at 6:30, 8:30, & 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM
@youth_stmaryfc
@youth_stmaryfc St. Mary of the Annunciation
Youth Ministry
St. Mary Youth Ministry
F isch–ing Lines by Deacon Howard Fischer
The connection between water and life is not accidental, nei-ther in the physical nor spiritual sense. Physically, we cannot
live for very long without water. Spiritually, water appears throughout the scriptures as a metaphor for the life-giving power that comes from God. Disconnected from that spring, we are dead. These physical and spiritual realities shape today’s passag-es from Exodus and John. In our Gospel passage (one of my
personal favorites), the Samaritan woman goes to Jacob’s well seek-ing water for drinking and cleaning and ends up receiving living water, the Messiah. This story is rich and deep with many layers of meaning to ponder. The situation at the well is set in an atmosphere of conflict, of hearts hardened against each other for ancient reasons. Samaritans and Jews despised each other. And now some Jew wants a drink…from a Samaritan well…poured by a Samaritan woman! There is no reason this scene should end in a good way. Besides, drawing water is wom-an’s work, so ancient gender roles complicate the scene. Religious differences add even more fuel to the conflict. (Jews and Samaritans intensely differed on Moses and the prophets, and the proper place of worship, among other things.) It was downright unseemly for Jesus to be conversing in public with any woman, let alone a sinful Samaritan woman. Yet from the midst of this clash of differences, Truth emerges. Alice Camille writes: “What’s as important is that this woman – who knew herself to be a sinner in the eyes of her community, not one of God’s favorites by any means – discovered herself to be in the pres-ence of the Holy in the unlikely place and person and time…and knew it. She recognized where she was and who she was with, even though according to the rules she was the wrong woman, he was the wrong man, and the well was not where God was supposed to arrive. Funny – someone must have forgotten to tell God how inappropriate the whole arrangement was. And God remains blissfully unaware that sinners are the wrong kind of people to be seen with. Thank God for that.” One of the highlights of my life was visiting Jacob’s well in the Holy Land a few years ago. (It is located in what is now the Palestinian town of Nablus in the West Bank.) Drinking from the very same well where Jesus engaged the Samaritan woman in pointed give-and-take con-versation was very powerful. Passing and sharing a cup of the same water where Jesus promised living water had a strong Eucharistic feel. As I drank from the well I recalled another scripture verse from a differ-ent setting where Jesus asks James and John if they can drink from the same cup (of sacrificial love unto death) as he would. That’s a good question to ponder for all of us who claim to be his disciples, especially given that we do share in the cup of his blood at Mass. I was reminded in that moment at the well that sharing any cup with the Lord involves much more than quenching physical thirst. Ms. Camille goes on to observe, “People of faith will seek and find God anywhere, everywhere – the more unlikely, the better. God is most often found in the stranger, the enemy, the unholy hour, and the unseemly place. What we do with God once we find the Holy is the crux of the matter, of course. This woman dropped her bucket and ran home to spread the news. That was a good response. It may be the best one.”
“Truth” and “Holy” often appear at some unlikely well at an unlikely moment with some unlikely person amidst our daily turmoil, if you and I focus an observant eye and turn an attentive ear. This Lent may we grow to recognize the unlikely presence of God in our midst and acknowledge our need for repentance and forgiveness. Then, having encountered Christ and received his mercy, let us drop our buckets and spread the good news…and the forgiveness. May you and I be springs from which the Living Water flows to help quench the thirsts of a parched world. If you wish to contact me, please send an email to [email protected].
Help Needed for Easter Food Baskets St. Vincent de Paul Ministry will collect food for area clients and for the Holy Family Food Pantry. They will then prepare and deliver food baskets this Easter season.
Additional food items are needed to fill the baskets. Can you help? There will be a collection area in the Narthex for items beginning Sat-urday March 14th through Sunday March 29, 2020 Please check the expiration date on all food items. Items that are most needed are: Sugar (small boxes) Oil (small bottles) Diapers (sizes 5 & 6) Canned Vegetables Bags of Rice Bags of Dry Beans Canned Soups Other Items needed: Hams Pre-packaged dinners Canned Tuna Pancake Mix & Syrup Potatoes, onions– 5-pound bags Bread – rolls Breakfast Cereal Peanut Butter & Jelly Crackers, Cookies, Popcorn Juice boxes Flour Canned Fruit Pasta products & Sauce Paper Products (paper towels, toilet paper, etc) If you’d like us to do the shopping for you, place any local store gift cards (Jewel, Aldi, Target, or Goodwill), cash or check in the Alms for the Needy SVDP box. The box is located on the wall, next to the south entrance of the sanctuary. You may also give it to a SVDP member or hand it in at the parish office. Please make your check payable to St Vincent de Paul and indicate “Food Drive” on the memo line. Contact Jan Sinkovek at 847-561-8877 for more information.
Share Some Good News! Do you enjoy being a part of St. Mary? Help tell others about it! Our Communications ministry is looking for volunteer writers,
graphic designers, ministry ambassadors and social media consultants to share their talents with us. Give back to your parish community in a new, fun way! To learn more, contact Kirsten Bobber at [email protected]
V.B.S. SAVE–THE–DATE JUNE 15-19, 2020 Get on Board this summer’s Vacation Bible School and learn more about how Jesus’ Power Pulls us Through, as you get on board the Rocky Railway.
Watch the bulletin for more details on how to volunteer and enroll your
children.
The latest To Teach Who Christ Is capital campaign results are shown below. We continue to move closer to the funding level needed to regrade and repave our deteriorating parking lots. Trusting in the con-tinued commitment of our generous TTWCI donors to get us there, St. Mary has begun the process of preliminary testing and assembling information needed to request project and pricing proposals. Once the parking lots are done, hopefully by the end of summer, we will then direct our efforts towards upgrading the Little Church base-ment for use by PADS and other parish ministries. Thank you to all our TTWCI donors for your great generosity. We are very grateful for your gifts! If you have fallen behind on your payments, please take steps to catch up so that we can complete these important projects. Thank you again to all who have sacrificed for the benefit of our parish family! Results through February 29, 2020 Pledges Amount Goal $2,350,000 Pledges $2,844,565 121% of goal Pledges Made 560 Payments This Month $17,131 Total Payments Received $2,249,894 79% of pledges Balance Remaining $594,671 Campaign Allocations Target To Date Target % Archdiocesan Education $642,000 $642,000 100% and Formation St. Mary Construction Debt1 $1,200,000 $1,200,000 100% St. Mary Capital Projects2 $508,000 $407,894 80% TOTAL $2,350,000 $2,249,894 1. The Archdiocese matched our debt payment on a 3-to-1 basis, eliminating
$4.8m in loan principal. In addition, the AOC forgave $1.6m in unpaid back interest.
2. St. Mary Capital Projects to be funded by the campaign are: repaving our parking lots and remodeling the little church basement for use by PADS and parish groups.
18th Annual SVdP Pasta Party The St. Mary of the Annunciation annual Pasta Party was a great food, fellowship and fun event. Proceeds from meal, drink, door prize and cash raffles help Vincentians serve the poor and people in need by assisting with rent, utilities, food and transportation. Our thanks to Tina and Phil Gilardi Jr. for their generous donation of the dinner and their hard-working staff. Thanks to our parishioners and Maya’s Mexican Restaurant for donations of yum-my deserts. Also, thanks to all of our Vin-centians, adult and teen volunteers who did an outstanding job with setup, serving, takedown and cleanup af-terwards. It takes many hands and hearts to ensure a joyful event that draws our parish community together. Thanks again to all parishioners and friends for your generous support of our St Vincent de Paul con-ference at the Pasta Party and throughout the year.
See more pictures on the St. Mary of the Annunciation Website under
Ministries | Human Concerns Commission | St. Vincent de Paul | Pasta
Party.
Reflection from the Catechism A selection from The Catechism of the Catholic Church that pertains to either the partic-ular readings of the day or liturgical season or feast
“’If you knew the gift of God!’69 The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him”79
CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME Lenten Fast: Water is a precious life-giving resource requiring enormous energy for distribution/treatment. WEEK FOUR: How you use water can have a significant environmental impact over time. Low flow shower heads, washers, dishwashers and toilets reduce water waste (and cost), as does avoiding letting water run unnecessarily. Fully load washers and dishwashers for more efficient use of this important resource and to be good stewards of the environment God has given us. Water Waste and Energy Fast — Turn water heater to 120˚ F setting, shorter (3 mi-nute) showers instead of baths, cold water clothes washing, turn off water while brushing and shaving, fully load washers /dishwashers, and install low-flow fixtures. COME TO THE NEXT CFOCH MEETING ON WEDNES-DAY, MARCH 18 3:30-5:00pm all are welcome!
Make a difference. Be a mentor! Are you looking for a truly meaningful volunteer experience? Studies show that spending just a few hours a month with a mentor can have a lifelong impact on a young person. Catholic Charities is cur-rently recruiting volunteer mentors to work with youth ages 9-12 in Lake County.
Once you’ve been matched, develop a schedule and plan activities that work best for you and your mentee. Outings can happen during the week or weekend. Take in a movie, visit a museum, play a board game, or just spend a day in the park. Our Program Coordinator will be there every step of the way to offer guidance and help you develop a strong relationship with your mentee. Regularly scheduled special events bring all of our mentors and mentees together to engage in fun activities, share ideas, and build supportive relationships. For more information, con-tact: Beth Sheehan-Lucas, Youth Mentorship Program Coordinator 847-782-4224 or [email protected] Sue Fowler, Volunteer Coordinator 847-782-4126 or [email protected]
SERVING WITH LOVE AND
COMPASSION
THOSE IN NEED WHILE
BUILDING UP
A WORLD OF
JUSTICE AND PEACE
The Human Concerns Commission is actively inviting new members at large to join this commission.. Do you have a desire to know more about serving others with love and compassion? Are you looking for ways to connect with other parishioners? We warmly welcome you to come to our next meeting and see if it is a good fit for you. Mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 22 at 6:30pm! We look forward to welcoming you!
Save the date: EVENING OF PRAYER AND HOPE AFTER AN ABORTION: St. Francis de Sales will host a scripture-based prayer and reflection for women, men and relatives of those impacted. A quiet, respectful, private-like atmosphere will be created with love and kindness. Even if you have not had an abortion, consider attending if a friend or loved who had an abortion touched your life. Perhaps a student of yours, a college roommate, or someone you counseled had an abortion that affected you. A grandmother or grieving spouse may come. People affected by abortion come for many different reasons. Sometimes people come to be trained as lay ministers to help others. Everyone is welcome. March 30, 2020 at 7:00pm St. Francis de Sales in Lake Zurich 33 S.. Buesching Rd
People often don’t look forward to Lent. Words like “sacrifice,” “discipline,” and “self-denial” are often used in ways that suggest that Lent is something to be endured rather than a time of grace
and spiritual growth. Imagine for a minute that this Lent is going to be different than any other Lent. Imagine that God wants to transform our lives and that something wonderful is about to happen! Visit the Lent page on the parish web-site to make the most of this Lenten season of renewal.
www.stmaryfc.org/lent
Core Values As the people of Saint Mary of the Annunciation we strive to imitate Mary’s “yes” to God by:
1. Living in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, bringing the Good News of God’s love and salva-tion to the world.
2. Cultivating a life rooted in meaningful prayer and sharing in a sacramental life centered on the Eucharist.
3. Participating in life-long formation to grow in holiness and the Christian way of life.
4. Serving with love and compassion those in need while building up a world of justice and peace.
5. Creating a joyful and supportive Catholic com-munity that welcomes all to share in the life of Christ.
Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary March 19
Joseph, someone once joked, was indeed
the perfect husband: the only major char-
acter in Jesus’ story who never utters a
word! But the Gospel recounts and the
liturgy celebrates his silent witness of faith
-filled deeds: “With a husband’s love he
cherished Mary, the Virgin Mother of God;
with fatherly care he watched over Je-
sus” (Preface of Saint Joseph, Sacramen-
tary). Catholic devotion, therefore, hails
him as patron-protector of the universal
Church. Some cultures set a festive “Saint
Joseph’s Table,” welcoming the poor and
strangers to feast with family and friends. Tradition keeps today as the
anniversary of his death, which we presume was peaceful, with Jesus
and Mary present. Thus, Catholics invoke Joseph as Patron of a Hap-
py Death. Descended from David’s house, which God finished
“building” through Joseph’s provision of a home for Mary and Jesus,
he was, fittingly, a carpenter by trade; thus, patron of workers. Spring,
nature’s rebirth, begins between his feast and Annunciation (March
25), appropriately, since Joseph’s silent obedience and Mary’s “Let it
be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38) usher in humani-
Sacrament of Penance Saturdays 4:00—4:40 PM, and by appointment
Baptisms Ordinarily during the Mass on the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month and after the Mass on the other Sundays, outside of Lent. Parents are required to participate in a Baptismal Preparation class before scheduling a Baptism.
Adult Initiation Adults who wish to become Roman Catholics are enrolled in a formation process that includes prayer, dialogue, instruction, and introduction to the Church’s life and values, rituals and tradition. Call the parish office for more information.
Marriage St. Mary Parish rejoices with parishioners who are preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony. The Archdiocese of Chicago requires that a wedding be scheduled at least six months in advance so that the couple may receive necessary preparation. A parish wedding information packet is available at the parish office.
Ministry of Care Ministers of Care visit the homes of the sick, homebound, or hospitalized and bring Holy Communion to them. Call the parish office when a pastoral visit is desired. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered by the parish priest upon request.
New parishioners We welcome new members who wish to worship with us and support the parish’s work and mission. New Parishioner Welcome session is offered on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Time of registration is 10:45AM—11:25AM. If you are unable to make the Welcoming Session, please call the parish office to schedule time to register.
