November 13, 2020 | Important Update from Father Don & Father James

November 13, 2020 | Important Update from Father Don & Father James

Dear Parishioners:

We apologize for this late notice.  This morning Fr. James and I learned that to be compliant with CDC and Diocesan guidelines we need to be in self-isolation through November 20 due to close contact with someone who has informed us that they tested positive for the Coronavirus. We both had had dinner at the home of this person a week ago. While Fr. James and I have not experienced any symptoms, and even though Fr. James just had a rapid test and the results were negative, we must still self-quarantine until the evening of November 20.

Please be aware of the following:

Currently, even though the state is in Tier 2 restrictions regarding the size of gatherings, we are still allowed the 225 capacity of OLM Church for weekend and weekday Masses, weddings, and funerals.

MASSES THIS WEEKEND, NOVEMBER 14 & 15 WILL be celebrated as scheduled.  Luckily, at this late notice, we were able to find priests available to help us out.  THANK YOU, GOD! AND THANK YOU Fr. Michael Groth, Fr. Michael McMahon, and Fr. Joseph Kappilumakkal!

Regarding weekday Masses: 

A Communion Service will take place at the regularly scheduled Mass times Saturday, November 14 through Friday, November 20.  The Communion Service will not be livestreamed.

Fr. James will livestream Mass from his residence at 8:30am on Saturday, November 14 and at 8:00am this coming Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday which will be celebrated for the 8:00am Mass intention scheduled that day. Fr. James will also livestream the Spanish Mass from his residence at 6:30pm on Monday, November 16. Fr. Don will offer a private Mass during the day on Tuesday and Thursday for the intention scheduled at 6:30pm on Tuesday, and 6:30am on Thursday.

Eucharistic Adoration: Eucharistic Adoration will take place as scheduled and Benediction will take place on Monday and Thursday as scheduled.

Magnify:  Wednesday Magnify Eucharistic Adoration, Adoration and Praise will be livestreamed only.

Confessions:
Cancelled on:  Saturday, November 14 / Tuesday, November 17 / Wednesday, November 18

Fr. James and I thank you for your prayers, understanding, and cooperation as we do what is best to keep everyone safe.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr, James and Fr. Don

Below is the Mass Sign-Up Reminder & Weekly Update

We pray to see you at any of the Mass times this weekend especially since we are still able to gather together with Jesus.  Let us continue to set Sunday apart as a day for prayer and rest whether in-person or at the livestream.

THIS COMING WEEK

Weekend Mass Links is live, these are live on Tuesday of each week

  • Please sign-in ahead of time online at this link https://bit.ly/3he0WxJ so we can adequately prepare for all who are attending Mass.
  • The presider at each Mass will be preaching this weekend.
  • Let us know where you are tuning in from, we’d love to acknowledge you.
  • The livestream of the Mass is courtesy of Alejandro’s loving family, in loving memory of Alejandro Giannattasio.
    Thank you so much.
  • If you are interested in sponsoring a Livestream of the Mass, please reach out to frdon@olmercy.com.  Cost is $750.
  • During the 10AM Mass, for those that are feeling uncomfortable about being inside the Church but would like to receive Holy Communion, you can watch the Mass while in your car in the Parking Lot, and then when it is time to receive Holy Communion, the parking attendants will guide you as to how to receive Jesus in the Eucharist.

Remembering our Departed Loved Ones Throughout November  

  • In the month of November, the Church has two traditional means of obtaining a plenary indulgence for the souls in Purgatory. (For the full post, proceed to this link https://bit.ly/35OD2DV)
    • The first is to visit a cemetery and pray for the dead during the Octave of All Saints’ Day, which is Nov. 1-8.  This year, the Vatican decreed that this plenary indulgence can be obtained on any day in November.
    • The second plenary indulgence is connected to the Feast of All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2 and can be received by those who piously visit a church or oratory on that day and recite the Our Father and the Creed.  The Vatican said that this plenary indulgence has also been extended and is available to Catholics throughout the month of November to reduce crowds.
    • A Catholic who wishes to obtain a plenary indulgence must also fulfill the ordinary conditions of an indulgence, which are sacramental confession, reception of the Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the pope. Sacramental confession and reception of the Eucharist can occur up to about twenty days before or after the indulgenced act.
    • The Vatican also said that, because of the health emergency, the elderly, the sick, and others who cannot leave the house for serious reasons can participate in the indulgence from home by reciting prayers for the deceased before an image of Jesus or the Virgin Mary.  They must also spiritually unite themselves to other Catholics, be completely detached from sin, and have the intention of fulfilling the ordinary conditions as soon as possible.

Catholic Moms Free Online Summit 11/13th & 11/15th

  • Don’t miss this unprecedented FREE event for mothers and grandmothers! The Catholic Moms Summit is FREE, online, and includes some of the most trusted and loved Catholic women experts as they go deep in to the issues mothers and grandmothers face every day.  It will be filled with powerful and practical sessions on everything from parenting, to prayer, work/life balance, health, and much more!  Over 80 presenters; Danielle Bean, Kimberly Hahn, Lisa Brenninkmeyer, Lila Rose, Pam Barnhill, Lisa Hendey, Crystalina Evert, Elizabeth Foss, just to name a few.  To learn more please click here https://bit.ly/3nS9SMx

Brogan Family Coat Drive 11/15th

  • Mike and Carole Brogan were icons at Our Lady of Mercy. Both passed away in 2019. One of the ways they supported our parish was a yearly coat drive. Their family and our church would like to continue this mission by asking for donations of new and gently used coats, hats, boots, and gloves. The donations for women and children will benefit Mutual Ground and the donations for men’s items will benefit Breaking Free.  On Sunday, 11/15th from 9am to 12pm a trailer will be in the OLM parking lot accepting the donations. Please support this mission to carry on this tradition that is near and dear to our hearts.
    Here is an ad you can share https://bit.ly/2Jkjjo7

Magnify on Weds 11/18th – LIVESTREAM ONLY

  • Due to the updated guidelines from the Diocese (which is reflective of the governor’s recent mitigation update), Adoration is being capped at 10.  With that said, Magnify this month will be livestream only.
  • During these trying times is the time our Lord Jesus desires for us to turn to Him, seek Him out at the livestream @ 7pm and share your heart with Him.

LOOKING AHEAD

Mass on Thanksgiving Day 11/26th

  • Join us in giving thanks to the Lord at the Thanksgiving Mass, Thursday 11/26th @ 9am.

Ladies Virtual Advent Tea 11/29th An Advent Season Rooted in Hope by Kate Wicker https://bit.ly/2IcQM3u

Bible Study – A Biblical Walk With the Blessed Mother  12/2/20 thru 1/27/20 https://study.ascensionpress.com/studies/52878/registrations/new 

  • How exciting;  a 7-week study on Wednesday evenings on the Blessed Virgin Mary!  Sign-up at the link.  Connect with Joe Wiacek at joewiacek@gmail.com or at 630-240-6993 for any questions.  Here are the details
    DATES. December 2 – January 27 (Dec. 23 and 30 are off)
    WHERE. Virtual or in person at the PLC (limited space)
    TIME. 7pm – 8:30pm except night 1 will be 7pm – 9pm

Alpha @ OLM registration https://olmercy.com/alpha/

  • Virtual Alpha registration is open-ended! It’s never too late to sign-up.  Do you have questions?  Are you looking for a place to find authentic community right now?  Try Alpha.

Bulletin

  • Don’t forget to check out Father Don’s insightful weekly Bulletin article is located here.

Supporting OLM | Parish Sacrificial Giving

  • OLM is only able to do any of this because of YOU! Your continued prayers and words of encouragement keep us going and your generosity continues to create more opportunities for OLM to keep our family connected and bring people to Jesus, form them as disciples and send them on mission.
  • If you are experiencing hardship during this time, please reach out and let us know how we can help, here is a private link.
  • If you are not experiencing hardship at this time, please consider supporting our efforts and support our community through your giving, our Give page is accessed here or text an offering amount to (630)647-8105, follow the rest of the instructions.
  • Do you shop on Amazon?  If so, you can help OLM just by shopping for yourself!  Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to charitable organizations. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know and love-same products, same prices, same service. There is no change to your user ID, password, wish lists, registries, or Amazon Prime benefits.  Here is how
    • Every time you shop on Amazon, please type the following web link in your browser from your computer or mobile device: smile.amazon.com then select Our Lady of Mercy Aurora, IL as your charitable organization of choice.
    • Please update your bookmark or favorites to use this link every time for every purchase.
    • Only purchases made through smile.amazon.com credit our account, not the main website or the app.

Angel Giving Program 2020

  • Our Angel Tree Giving Program Is Going Virtual!  Due to the pandemic, and in order to minimize contact, this year we have decided that there will not be tree tags available in the Narthex, but rather, all donations for our Angel Giving Program can be made online or by mail!
  • Who Will Benefit From Your Donation? Our Angel Giving Program will benefit Mutual Ground and Breaking Free clients and their families, Our Lady of Mercy parishioners who receive support from St. Vincent de Paul, and the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry.
  • Ways To Donate! Donations for the Angel Giving Program can be donated in one of the following ways:
    1) We encourage you to donate via our Online Giving portal under the “Angel Giving Program” fund. If you already have an Online Giving account set-up, then you can log into your account to make your donation HERE.
    2) You may also write a check made out to Our Lady of Mercy Church with “Angel Giving” in the memo line and mail it to 701 S Eola Road, Aurora, IL 60504 OR after Masses you may place your check in a bin in the Narthex that is labeled “Angel Giving Program.”
    It is important to remember to write “Angel Giving” in the memo of your check so that it goes to the correct fund and can be documented correctly for tax statement purposes.
  • All donations can be made thru December 31, 2020.
  • Thank you for your prayerful consideration to give to those in need who will benefit from your donations!

Thank you for being mindful about keeping each other safe by observing social distancing, wearing masks, and sanitizing your hands while inside the Church and PLC.  Your cautious way of following the social distancing parameters helps us to stay open and hold the Sacraments.

The reflection on the Mass continues to come from our Lord Jesus.

“He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life everlasting.”

  • The ultimate promise of the Gospel is that we will share in the life of the Holy Trinity. The Fathers of the Church called this participation in the divine life “divinization” (theosis). In this we see that God does not merely send us good things from on high; instead, we are brought up into the inner life of God, the communion among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  • St. Augustine informs us that the Catholic people in his Diocese called the Eucharist by the word “Life.” When they were to go to Holy Communion, they would say, “We are going to Life.”
Let us go “to Life” at the Mass this weekend, or join us at the 10am livestream.