November 6, 2021 | Weekly Update

 


November 6, 2021 | Weekly Update

When it Hurts to Give


Sometimes it’s easy to give.  Our finances are steady, our time is abundant, and we have the energy to spare. 

Sometimes it hurts to give.  Times are tight, we feel stressed and burdened, and life seems to be against us. 

Do we still give, even when it hurts?  It’s easy to give out of surplus, but it becomes a true act of trust in God when we give out of our poverty, even the poverty of our being. 

In our Gospel this weekend Jesus states it clearly: 

“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”
(Mark 12:38-44)

To prepare our hearts before we go to Holy Mass this weekend and to lean in on the saints who are the “friends of God” who have gone before us and who we can imitate in their utter generosity, hear Bishop Barron’s description of the love of the saints on the Flocknote email.

We look forward to seeing you at any of the Holy Mass times this weekend where Deacon Tom will be preaching, or stop by to visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.

 


LOOKING AHEAD

Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?
  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

GROW GROUPS | WE CONTINUE TO LAUNCH GROW GROUPS, ONE GROUP AT A TIME
Connect with zara@olmercy.com for any questions.

CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP

Mission. This group exists to grow a community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
WebsiteProceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and twice a month for social gatherings.
Connect.  Reach out to Matt Kubanda and Mary Rysavy rysavyme@gmail.com
See what they have been up to at this video.

VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP

Mission.  Vine & Branches is a group at Our Lady of Mercy that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
Website.  Proceed here for details
Meets
. Wednesdays @ 7pm with social gatherings.
Connect. The group leaders are looking forward to hearing from you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
John Frederick jdfredericj@icloud.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Check out the video to find out more about Vine and Branches


GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.

FORMED.ORG

Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet-connected device. Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies… there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

  1. Visit http://signup.formed.org/
  2. Enter our parish zip or name
  3. Enter your name and email

EUCHARIST RESOURCES

Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives and the great Feast of Corpus Christi.

AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP

From Augustine Institute comes this NEW & FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture. There is also Family Content: Enjoy and share family-favorite audio from the series Brother Francis and the Jesus Stories.  Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute.

WORD ON FIRE

Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library!   Check out this linkto watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.

HEROIC MEN

Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.

Learn about your faith from today’s best Catholic speakers—and do it all from the convenience of home. Stream-on-demand from your phone or tablet, too, for quality Catholic content on the go.

Get it all—for FREE – at HeroicMen.com

AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES

Have you wanted to get to know St. Thomas Aquinas and his writings more so as to grow closer to Jesus?
Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the Thomistic Institute seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher, and theologian.
Aquinas is a masterful interpreter of reality. His writings assist us in answering perennial questions on topics like God, man, the natural world, law, and morality, and questions of special relevance to our time like the relationship between modern science and faith or pursuing happiness in the digital era.


PASTORAL CARE
If you have physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health concerns or questions about end-of-life issues, funeral planning, journeying through grief, caregiving for a loved one or are homebound, please contact Jolene LeRoy RN Parish Nurse and Director of Pastoral Care for support and resources at jolenel@olmercy.com or 331-707-5380.

OPEN HEARTS MINISTRY 

The next scheduled in-person gathering for Open HEARTS Ministry is Monday, November 8 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm in Room 218 in the Parish Life Center. The ministry is for anyone who is interested in emotional and mental health and wellness. The ministry has an interest in decreasing the stigma of mental illness and increasing the awareness of support and resources. The topic of discussion will be on MERCY – God’s mercy and how we are called to live a life of mercy in relationship to our faith and mental health and wellness. If you would like to learn more about the ministry, please send an email to Janice Hurtado Aeppli at olmopenhearts@yahoo.com

RESTORE

Do you find yourself struggling in overcoming your battle with pornography?   Restore is a weekly (anonymous) meeting where men lean on each other for support and accountability and share ideas as to how to strengthen our resolve to stay on God’s path of chastity.  All men are welcome, whether you have been free of pornography addiction for many years or struggle with it every single day.

If you are ready to start breaking free from the grips of pornography and want to Restore your life email us at Restore.olm@gmail.com to find out more information on when and where we meet.

Be encouraged; check out this Testimony.


 

 

 

 

October 29, 2021 | Weekly Update

 


October 29, 2021 | Weekly Update

Love the Lord with All Your Heart 

What do we love the most?  Our health?  Our career?  Our reputation or status online?

Where is our love directed?  Christian writer and former atheist C.S. Lewis wrote that we need to, “Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: put second things first & we lose both first and second things.”

The message of our Gospel echoes this message as well as the words of Moses from our First Reading this weekend: 
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6)

What’s more, Jesus challenges His followers to also, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12). When we love rightly, all other activities fall into place and we must prepare ourselves for the eternal life to come. 

To prepare our hearts before we go to Holy Mass this weekend and to get a glimpse of how Catholics understand “The Last Things” watch the short video from poet, actor, and friend of Word on Fire Jonathan Roumie who plays Jesus in ‘The Chosen’ series on the Flocknote email.

We look forward to seeing you at any of the Holy Mass times this weekend where the presider of each Mass will be preaching, or stop by to visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.

And praise God, Father Don is safely back from his cross-country road trip with Chardonnay!

LOOKING AHEAD


Open HEARTS Ministry 11/8
  • The next scheduled in-person gathering for Open HEARTS is Monday, 11/8 from 7pm to 8:30pm in Room 218 in the Parish Life Center. The ministry is for anyone who has an interest in increasing the awareness of mental health and mental illness and sharing resources and experiences with others. The topic of discussion will be on MERCY – God’s mercy and how we are called to live a life of mercy in relationship to our faith and mental health and wellness. If you would like to learn more about the ministry, please send an email to Janice Hurtado Aeppli at olmopenhearts@yahoo.com
Coping with Grief and Loss During the Holiday Season Gatherings starts 11/9
  • Coping with Grief and Loss During the Holiday Season will take place in Room 124 on Tuesday, 11/9 from 7pm to 8:30pm; Saturday, 11/20 from 9:30am to 11:00am; Wednesday, 12/15 from 7pm to 8:30pm. You can attend any or all sessions.
  • For some, holidays are a time to celebrate and get together with family and friends. For others, holidays are difficult and not a time to celebrate as they are dealing with feelings of sadness, loss, and emptiness. If you are looking for support to help you cope with grief during the holiday season, please consider attending.  And if you know of someone that would be helped by these gatherings, please let them know.
St. Vincent DePaul Truck at OLM 11/6 and 11/7
  • The St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) truck will be in our parking lot 11/6 and 11/7 for the clothing drive.  Pick up one of the SVDP bags to place your donated items.  Clear out your closets for a good cause; the items are sold at reasonable prices at thrift shops so needy families can shop with dignity. The sale proceeds from the thrift shops go into a general assistance fund where parishes source help for families needing assistance with rent, mortgage, or utility assistance.
Knights of Columbus Blood Drive 11/13
  • Schedule to donate blood at this link on Saturday 11/13 from 8am to 12pm. Every donor will save up to 3 lives!
  • While appointments are appreciated, walk-ins are welcome!
  • You DO NOT NEED the Covid-19 vaccine in order to donate.
  • Please make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating. Thank you!
Ladies Advent Tea 11/28
  • Please save the date for the annual Ladies’ Advent Tea on Sunday, 11/28 from 2pm to 4:30pm.  Plans are for an in-person event in the church and the PLC.  Details to follow.
Adopt a Family in Need for Thanksgiving Dinner!
  • This year for Thanksgiving we are partnering with the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and Hesed House to provide families that are currently being assisted by these two organizations with a Thanksgiving dinner!
  • We are now accepting donations to benefit those families in need of a meal. Parishioners may make donations via our online giving portal under “Angel Giving” or checks can also be made payable to Our Lady of Mercy with “Angel Giving” in the memo and placed inside of the bin in the Narthex after mass. Please contact Lydia Schmitt, in the main office, with additional questions lydias@olmercy.com or 331-707-5377.
Young Men Ages 7th Grade and Older, Save the Date for Thursday 1/4/2022
  • Think of the image of empty black shoes at the center aisle of a church.
  • Who Will Fill These Shoes?  The image of empty shoes, a priest’s shoes, laying there by the altar.  It is a sharp reminder to all of us that without priests, there will be no Eucharist.
  • To all young men ages 7th Grade and older, please come to a day about the priesthood at the Blanchette Catholic Center from 9am to 3pm.  There is no cost to attend.  Please register through vocations@dioceseofjoliet.org or call 815-221.6141
Synod on Synodality 
Bulletin
  • Don’t forget to check out Father Don’s insightful weekly Bulletin article located hereThis week our guest writer is Father James whose article is titled “Ghostbusters.”
Don’t Get Scammed by Fake Fathers!
  • Did you get an email or a text message from (a fake) Father Don this past week? Please remember, Father Don and Father James DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards.  If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Don or Father James, please discard it and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID.
For the Hispanic Community
  • Please proceed here for the OLM Hispanic Ministry’s upcoming events and resources.
    Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
  • There will be Stations of the Cross in Spanish every 2nd Wednesday of the month after the 12pm Mass.
    A partir de la próxima semana, habrá Estaciones de la Cruz en español cada segundo miércoles del mes después de la misa de las 12 pm.
A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry
  • How can we be praying for you today?
    There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions. In those moments, hope can feel far away. The great thing about prayer is that it shifts our perspective toward the One who stands ready to listen. No matter what you’re facing, we’d love to pray with you. Submit your prayer requests at this link
Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?
  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

GROW GROUPS | WE CONTINUE TO LAUNCH GROW GROUPS, ONE GROUP AT A TIME
Connect with zara@olmercy.com for any questions.

CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP

Mission. This group exists to grow a community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
WebsiteProceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and twice a month for social gatherings.
Connect.  Reach out to Matt Kubanda and Mary Rysavy rysavyme@gmail.com
See what they have been up to at this video.

VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP

Mission.  Vine & Branches is a group at Our Lady of Mercy that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
Website.  Proceed here for details
Meets
. Wednesdays @ 7pm with social gatherings.
Connect. The group leaders are looking forward to hearing from you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
John Frederick jdfredericj@icloud.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Check out the video to find out more about Vine and Branches


GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.

FORMED.ORG

Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet-connected device. Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies… there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

  1. Visit http://signup.formed.org/
  2. Enter our parish zip or name
  3. Enter your name and email

EUCHARIST RESOURCES

Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives and the great Feast of Corpus Christi.

AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP

From Augustine Institute comes this FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture. There is also Family Content: Enjoy and share family-favorite audio from the series Brother Francis and the Jesus Stories.  Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute.

WORD ON FIRE

Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library!   Check out this linkto watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.

HEROIC MEN

Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.

Learn about your faith from today’s best Catholic speakers—and do it all from the convenience of home. Stream-on-demand from your phone or tablet, too, for quality Catholic content on the go.

Get it all—for FREE – at HeroicMen.com

AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES

Have you wanted to get to know St. Thomas Aquinas and his writings more so as to grow closer to Jesus?
Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the Thomistic Institute seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher, and theologian.
Aquinas is a masterful interpreter of reality. His writings assist us in answering perennial questions on topics like God, man, the natural world, law, and morality, and questions of special relevance to our time like the relationship between modern science and faith or pursuing happiness in the digital era.

 

 

 

 

October 2021

October 2021: The Art of Preaching

I love to preach. I love it! That may sound odd to you, especially since public speaking is one of the greatest fears in the world, partly because we become anxious about looking silly and being judged or rejected. Yet, every time I approach the pulpit, I am humbled and overjoyed to break open the Word of God and try to connect it to our daily lives.

While I am able to share my love for preaching now, I must admit that when I entered the seminary, I thought to myself, “I am not sure how I am ever going to preach!” Not only did I wonder how I would conquer my fear and stage fright,   but I also questioned, “How am I going to come up with new and relevant material day after day?”

Thankfully at the seminary, my  homiletics’ teacher was wise, brilliantly creative and humble. He encouraged me and my fellow seminarians to find our own voice. He gently helped us to develop our own authentic style instead of trying to pretend to be someone we were not.

Admittedly, my confidence has grown over the years. Yet there still remains the daily task of thinking of what to say. People have noticed over the years that when someone is telling a story in normal conversation, I will often say, “Now, that would make a good homily!” I am constantly listening to others and their experiences,  keeping track of how I might share them in my preaching one day.  In other words, I keep my eyes and ears open to the world around me and then try to connect those examples to Scripture and the spiritual life.

Before preaching, I also use the ancient tradition of “lectio divina” which Pope Benedict XVI referred to as “prayerful listening to the Word of God.” Basically, this four-step process of praying over Scripture includes:  1) Reading (lectio) 2) Meditation (meditatio)  3) Prayer (oratio) 4) Contemplation (contemplatio). The process allows me to move beyond myself and my own interpretation by encountering God, who is behind, in and beyond the text. In other words, by using lectio divina, I try to avoid preaching about the “Gospel according to me” and instead break open the Scriptures according to the “Word of the Lord.”

I remember this past Advent season, I started thinking about my Christmas homily. I wanted to share something fresh and relevant as the new bishop of Joliet. Yet, with all my reading, conversations and prayer, I was dry. Nothing! I started to think to myself, “Maybe I will just have to dust off a homily from a Christmas past?” Then, two days before Christmas Eve, I was doing my morning Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament and I said to Jesus, “I have nothing to preach about on Christmas. Please help me.” My prayer was answered almost instantly. Within two minutes of my asking the Lord for his help, he sent the Holy Spirit to me and deposited in my head a homily from beginning to end, which I joyfully preached two days later at our Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus.

Please know that most of my prayer petitions are not answered so quickly or so precisely. But I wanted to share that personal experience with you to remind all of us that Jesus is real and that God wants the best for us. He truly knows and loves us and wants us to know and love Him.

While I always try to preach well, I am aware of my own shortcomings and regret the times that I was not as good as I would have liked to have been or when I gave less than what the people of God deserve. I think most of us desire good preaching and long to be fed by the Word of God. I wholeheartedly agree with Pope Francis, who said, “The homily can actually be an intense and happy experience of the Spirit, a consoling encounter with God’s word, a constant source of renewal and growth.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 135)

One last thought … remember that we all preach. Most preaching does not come from a pulpit at Mass. Instead, we communicate much by our daily words, attitudes and actions. By raising our minds and hearts in prayer to God, let us all strive to preach well and follow the wise words of St. Teresa of Avila, “We must all try to be preachers through our deeds.”

Octubre 2021: El arte de predicar

Me encanta predicar. ¡Me encanta! Esto puede sonarles extraño, especialmente porque hablar en público es uno de los grandes retos que mucho tenemos, en parte nos preocupamos porque podemos parecer tontos y ser juzgados o rechazados. Sin embargo, cada vez que me acerco al púlpito, me siento humilde y lleno de alegría al poder abrir la Palabra de Dios y tratar de conectarla a nuestra vida diaria.

Si bien puedo compartir mi amor por la predicación hoy día, debo admitir que cuando entré en el seminario, pensé: “No estoy seguro de cómo voy a predicar”. No sólo me preguntaba cómo conquistaría mi miedo y temor al escenario, sino que también me preguntaba: “¿Cómo voy a encontrar material nuevo y relevante día tras día?”

Afortunadamente en el seminario, mi maestro de homilética era sabio, brillantemente creativo y humilde. Él nos animó a mí y a mis compañeros seminaristas a encontrar nuestra propia voz.  Dócilmente nos ayudó a desarrollar nuestro propio estilo auténtico en lugar de tratar de fingir ser alguien que no éramos.

Es cierto que mi confianza ha crecido a lo largo de los años. Sin embargo, todavía queda la tarea diaria de pensar en lo qué voy a decir. A lo largo de los años, la gente ha notado que cuando alguien está contando una historia en una conversación normal, a menudo digo, “eso haría una buena homilía”. Estoy constantemente escuchando a otros y sus experiencias, manteniendo un registro de cómo podría compartirlos en mi predicación un día. En otras palabras, mantengo mis ojos y oídos abiertos al mundo que me rodea y luego trato de conectar esos ejemplos a las Escrituras y a la vida espiritual.

Antes de predicar, también uso la antigua tradición de “lectio divina”, a la que el Papa Benedicto XVI se refería como “escucha orante de la Palabra de Dios”. Básicamente, este proceso de cuatro pasos de oración sobre la Escritura incluye: 1) Lectura (lectio) 2) Meditación (meditatio) 3) Oración (oratio) 4) Contemplación (contemplatio). El proceso me permite ir más allá de yo mismo y de mi propia interpretación encontrándome con Dios, que está detrás, dentro y más allá del texto. En otras palabras, usando lectio divina, trato de evitar predicar sobre el “Evangelio según yo” y, en cambio, abrir las Escrituras según la “Palabra del Señor”.

Recuerdo que en el Tiempo de Adviento pasado, comencé a pensar en mi homilía de Navidad. Como el nuevo obispo de Joliet deseaba compartir algo fresco y relevante. Sin embargo, con todas mis lecturas, conversaciones y oración, yo estaba seco. ¡Nada! Empecé a pensar, “¿Tal vez tendré que desempolvar una homilía de una Navidad del pasado?” Entonces, dos días antes de la Nochebuena, estaba haciendo mi Hora Santa de la mañana frente al Santísimo Sacramento y le dije a Jesús: “No tengo nada de qué predicar en Navidad. Por favor, ayúdame. Mi oración fue contestada casi instantáneamente. A los dos minutos de pedirle ayuda al Señor, me envió el Espíritu Santo y depositó en mi cabeza una homilía de principio a fin, que dos días más tarde, prediqué con alegría en nuestra Catedral de San Raymond Nonnatus.

Deseo que sepan que la mayoría de mis peticiones de oración no son respondidas tan rápidamente o con tanta precisión. Pero quería compartir esa experiencia personal con ustedes para recordarnos que Jesús es real y que Dios quiere lo mejor para nosotros. Él verdaderamente nos conoce y nos ama y quiere que lo conozcamos y lo amemos.

Aunque siempre trato de predicar bien, estoy consciente de mis propias deficiencias y lamento las veces que no he sido tan bueno como me hubiera gustado ser o cuando di menos de lo que el pueblo de Dios se merece. Creo que la mayoría de nosotros deseamos escuchar una buena predicación y anhelamos ser alimentados por la Palabra de Dios. Estoy de acuerdo, de todo corazón, con el Papa Francisco quien dijo: “La homilía puede ser realmente una intensa y feliz experiencia del Espíritu, un reconfortante encuentro con la Palabra, una fuente constante de renovación y de crecimiento”.  (Evangelii Gaudium, 135)

Un pensamiento final… recuerden que todos predicamos. La mayoría de la predicación no viene de un púlpito en la misa. Al contrario, nos comunicamos mucho a través de nuestras palabras, actitudes y acciones diarias. Elevando nuestra mente y el corazón en oración a Dios tratemos de predicar bien y sigamos las palabras sabias de santa Teresa de Ávila: “Todos debemos tratar de ser predicadores a través de nuestras obras”.


September 2021

September 2021: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!”

What is your favorite season? Even though I am a big fan of warm weather, my favorite season is the fall. I love the brilliant colors as the leaves change and the breezes at night become cooler. During my five years of living in El Salvador, I missed having four seasons. That country has just two seasons. Residents used to joke and say, “We have two seasons in El Salvador, ‘hot’ and ‘hotter.’” Actually, their two seasons are the dry and rainy seasons, and yet they are still both very “hot.”

In the Midwest, we are blessed with the four seasons. They provide us not only with changes in the weather and temperature, but they also serve as a reminder that as time moves forward, everything in life changes. The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.”

As Catholics, we believe with all the changes in our lives, God is constant. His love is unchanging and unwavering. St. Paul in his letter to the Hebrews proclaims boldly, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” And therefore, he exhorts us, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Many of you are familiar with the play and movie, “A Man for All Seasons.” Based on the life of St. Thomas More, it highlights someone who heroically remains true to God and to himself in the midst of a changing world. He demonstrates the ability to adapt to all circumstances and times around him, while never surrendering to the external pressures to reject or bend his principles and values.

Like St. Thomas More, we are called to be men and women of all seasons. The world around us not only seems to be changing at a rapid pace, but also at times it seems that our society and culture are going crazy as they shift their values and principles. Throughout this rollercoaster ride of changes, we are invited to keep our eyes focused on Christ. He is our Lord, Redeemer and Savior. His love, mercy and compassion never change. In other words, he is our rock, our solace in the storm of incertitude.

Every morning I begin my day with a Holy Hour. As I pray, I sometimes glance outside the window in my chapel that overlooks a grouping of trees, and I am reminded of the changing seasons. Currently, the trees are full of bright green leaves. Yet, I know they will not remain that way. Soon they will change colors, then die, fall to the ground and eventually bud back to new life. As I reflect on the changing seasons, sometimes I catch myself saying, “I cannot believe how quickly time is passing.”

At the end of this month, I will celebrate the completion of my first year as the bishop of Joliet. During this time, the seasons have changed, and I too, with the grace of God, have tried to navigate these changing times and issues. Like everyone in the world, my first year has been filled with ups and downs, triumphs and challenges, joys and sorrows. Again, it has gone by like a “blink of the eye.” Yet, throughout all the moments of rain and sun, I try to keep my gaze steady on Jesus. He helps me to carry the cross in my times of trial and rejoices with me in the times of joy. Therefore, when people ask me, “How do you feel about being the bishop of the Diocese of Joliet.” I consistently and wholeheartedly respond, “I feel both happy and blessed!”

As I approach my second year here in the Diocese of Joliet, I know that things will continue to change and the craziness in our world will take on different shapes and forms. However, as I take these next steps, I do so with faith, hope and trust in God and with great gratitude for all of you. We are in this changing world together, and truly, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!”

Septiembre 2021: ¡Jesucristo es el mismo ayer, hoy y siempre!

¿Cuál es tu temporada favorita? Aunque soy un gran fanático del clima cálido, mi temporada favorita es el otoño. Me encantan los colores brillantes a medida que las hojas cambian y la brisa por la noche se vuelve más fresca. Durante mis cinco años viviendo en El Salvador, extrañaba vivir las cuatro estaciones. Ese país tiene sólo dos estaciones. Los residentes solían bromear y decir: “En El Salvador tenemos dos estaciones, “caliente” y “más caliente”. En realidad, sus dos estaciones son seca y lluviosa, y sin embargo, ambas son muy “caliente”.

En el medio oeste de los Estados Unidos, somos bendecidos con las cuatro estaciones. Nos proporcionan no sólo cambios en el clima y la temperatura, sino que también sirven como un recordatorio que a medida que el tiempo avanza, todo en la vida cambia. El Libro del Eclesiastés nos recuerda, “Para todo hay una temporada y un tiempo para cada cosa bajo el cielo: Un tiempo para nacer y un tiempo para morir”.

Como católicos, creemos que en todos los cambios de nuestras vidas, Dios es constante. Su amor es firme e inquebrantable. San Pablo en su carta a los Hebreos, proclama con valentía: “Jesucristo es el mismo ayer, hoy y siempre”. Y por lo tanto, nos exhorta: “Por medio de él ofreceremos continuamente un sacrificio de alabanza a Dios, es decir, el fruto de los labios que reconocen su nombre. No descuides hacer el bien y compartir lo que tienes, porque tales sacrificios son agradables a Dios”.

Muchos de ustedes están familiarizados con la obra de teatro y la película, Un hombre para todas las estaciones (A Man for All Seasons). Basado en la vida de Santo Tomás More, destaca a alguien que heroicamente permanece fiel a Dios y a sí mismo en medio de un mundo cambiante. Él demuestra la capacidad de adaptarse a todas las circunstancias y tiempos a su alrededor, mientras tanto nunca se rinde ante las presiones externas para rechazar o doblegar sus principios y valores.

Al igual que Santo Tomás, estamos llamados a ser hombres y mujeres de todas las estaciones. El mundo que nos rodea no sólo parece estar cambiando a un ritmo rápido, sino que también a veces parece que nuestra sociedad y nuestra cultura se están volviendo locos a medida que cambian sus valores y principios. A lo largo de esta montaña rusa de cambios, estamos invitados a mantener nuestros ojos enfocados en Cristo. Él es nuestro Señor, Redentor y Salvador. Su amor, misericordia y compasión nunca cambian. En otras palabras, Él es nuestra roca, nuestro consuelo en la tormenta de incertidumbre.

Cada mañana comienzo mi día con la Hora Santa. Mientras rezo, a veces miro hacia la ventana de mi capilla con vista a un grupo de árboles, y recuerdo las estaciones cambiantes. Actualmente, los árboles están llenos de hojas verdes brillantes. Sin embargo, sé que no permanecerán así. Pronto cambiarán de color, luego morirán, caerán al suelo y eventualmente los árboles volverán a tener nueva vida. A medida que reflexiono sobre las estaciones cambiantes, a veces me encuentro diciendo: “No puedo creer lo rápido que pasa el tiempo”.

A finales de este mes, celebraré mi primer año como obispo de Joliet. Durante este tiempo, las estaciones han cambiado, y yo también; con la gracia de Dios, he tratado de navegar por estos tiempos y temas cambiantes. Como todos en el mundo, mi primer año ha estado lleno de altos y bajos, triunfos y desafíos, alegrías y tristezas. Una vez más, ha pasado como un “abrir y cerrar de ojos”. Sin embargo, a lo largo de todos los momentos de lluvia y sol, trato de mantener mi mirada firme en Jesús. Él me ayuda a llevar la cruz en mis tiempos de prueba y se regocija conmigo en los tiempos de alegría. Por lo tanto, cuando la gente me pregunta: “¿Cómo se siente ser el obispo de la Diócesis de Joliet?” Constantemente y de todo corazón respondo: “¡Me siento feliz y bendecido!”

Al acercarse mi segundo año aquí en la Diócesis de Joliet, sé que las cosas seguirán cambiando y la locura en nuestro mundo tomará formas y maneras distintas. Sin embargo, mientras doy estos próximos pasos, lo hago con fe, esperanza y confianza en Dios y con una gran gratitud por todos ustedes. Estamos juntos en este mundo cambiante y verdaderamente, “¡Jesucristo es el mismo ayer y hoy y para siempre!”


 

October 16, 2021 | Weekly Update

 


October 16, 2021 | Weekly Update

To Serve & Give His Life

What’s the point of power and authority?

Is power meant for its own sake?  Is authority solely to boss others around?  

For the Christian, power is meant to be used to serve others and any authority we receive is meant to bring about good for the least around us.

“For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many,” Jesus tells His disciples who are vying for the VIP seats in His heavenly kingdom.  Jesus’ mission was to die a lonely, humiliating death, a mission that would, through His sufferings, warrant for us new life.  

As St. Paul tells us, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help!” (Hebrews 4).

To prepare our hearts before we go to Holy Mass this weekend and to get a glimpse of how Catholics understand the story of salvation, watch this short video from Matt Nelson from the Word on Fire Institute on the Flocknote email.

We look forward to seeing you at any of the Holy Mass times this weekend where the presider of each Mass will be preaching, or stop by to visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.

LOOKING AHEAD


Brogan Family Coat Drive 10/24
  • 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.  They would literally pack up their car with donations to the point that they could barely see out of their car windows.
  • Once again this year the Brogan 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.
  • The collection will be on Sunday, October 24 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.  A trailer will be in the OLM parking lot accepting the donations.
Knights of Columbus Sunday Pancake Breakfast 10/24
  • Support the Knights of Columbus “Coats for Kids” Charity Campaign by joining them for a delicious pancake breakfast on Sunday 10/24 from 8am to 12pm in the gym.
  • Dine-in or take out, have some pancakes, eggs, sausage with coffee, tea or juice. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children 10 years old and under, free for children younger than 3 years old!
World Mission Sunday 10/24
  • World Mission Sunday, our annual celebration of the Church’s global missions, will take place on October 24 this year.  This is an opportunity for us to become missionaries by strengthening the Church abroad putting our faith into action by supporting World Mission Sunday. The second collection taken up will serve to strengthen more than 1,000 local churches in Asia, Africa the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe. Through the work of these churches and their witness to Christ, the poor receive practical help and experience God’s Love, mercy, and peace.
Sing your heart out to Jesus at MAGNIFY 10/27
  • Amen, we can now sing to Jesus through our masks!   Scripture reflection by Father James, adoration praise, and worship by Josh Goodman and his full worship band, confessions, and prayer ministry.  Save the date, bring the children, bring a friend and see you then.
Aurora Central Catholic High School Open House 10/28
  • Aurora Central Catholic High School (ACC) is happy to welcome parents and prospective students to an Open House, on Thursday 10/28th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Families come out and find out why you should consider the immeasurable value of a Catholic primary and secondary education.  Come to the Open House where you have an opportunity to tour their state-of-the-art campus and meet with ACC’s faculty and staff, representatives from various clubs and athletic teams.
  • ACC is a college-preparatory high school since 1926 with an enrollment of about 500 students, offering students a spiritual and educational foundation for life-long learning.
Trunk or Treating 10/30
  • TRUNK or TREATING w/the SAINTS is on Saturday 10/30 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Parents and children, come out and get to know the heroes of our church, see which saint is representing!
  • Social distancing protocols in place.
  • Volunteers are still needed, please consider helping out bringing joy to the children at this fun ‘Saint-filled’ gathering.  Connect with maryjot@olmercy.com.
Day of the Dead Altar Picture Drop Off 10/30 to 11/2
  • Join us to pray and remember our loved ones who have passed away.  Please drop off the photo of your loved ones who have passed away in a ziplock bag, placing them in a basket located on the front desk of the hallway. Please don’t forget to include your name and contact information in both the photo and the bag.
Waterleaf Baby Bottles for Life return by 10/31
  • Please return all donations in baby bottles or envelopes in the collection basket by the narthex.  Donations will be collected in the narthex until October 31. Thank you for your generosity.
Charismatic Healing Mass 11/6
  • On Saturday, November 6th at 6pm is the Charismatic Healing Mass. A healing Mass is a normal Mass, but it has a special focus on God’s healing power; this will be reflected in the songs, prayers, and scripture readings. If you’re in need of God’s healing grace, come to the Charismatic Healing Mass.
Open HEARTS Ministry 11/8
  • The next scheduled in-person gathering for Open HEARTS is Monday, November 8 from 7pm to 8:30pm in Room 218 in the Parish Life Center. The ministry is for anyone who has an interest in increasing the awareness of mental health and mental illness and sharing resources and experiences with others. The topic of discussion will be on MERCY – God’s mercy and how we are called to live a life of mercy in relationship to our faith and mental health and wellness. If you would like to learn more about the ministry, please send an email to Janice Hurtado Aeppli at olmopenhearts@yahoo.com
St. Vincent DePaul Truck at OLM – 11/6 and 11/7
  • The St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) truck will be in our parking lot 11/6 and 11/7 for the clothing drive.  Pick up one of the SVDP bags to place your donated items.  Clear out your closets for a good cause; the items are sold at reasonable prices at thrift shops so needy families can shop with dignity. The sale proceeds from the thrift shops go into a general assistance fund where parishes source help for families needing assistance with rent, mortgage, or utility assistance.
Knights of Columbus Blood Drive 11/13
  • Schedule to donate blood at this link on Saturday 11/13 from 8am to 12pm. Every donor will save up to 3 lives!
  • While appointments are appreciated, walk-ins are welcome!
  • You DO NOT NEED the Covid-19 vaccine in order to donate.
  • Please make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating. Thank you!
The weekend of September 11-12, Ertha Papillon, the founder, and director of an orphanage and school for the poorest of the poor in Duchity, Haiti, spoke at all the Masses. She sent the following thank you to the Our Lady of Mercy Community.
Dear Fr. Don, Parish Staff, and Parishioners,
Thank you, my brothers and sisters, from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity that you showed to me during my visit to your parish. You truly have a wonderful, welcoming community of faith!
I am now back in my beloved country of Haiti and I carry you in my heart. Thank you for your warmth, kindness, prayers, and financial assistance at this very difficult time in the life of Haitians. The Earthquake hit our area of Haiti very hard, and there is much work to be done, but you have given us hope! With your assistance, we can now begin to repair the school roofs, and care for the many needs of the children in the orphanage. God’s grace was showered upon us by your wonderful parish community! God is always faithful!
Please continue to pray for us. The road ahead is difficult, but we know if we pray for
each other, God will bless Our Lady of Mercy Parish and Our Lady of Perpetual Help
School and Orphanage in Haiti. We will continue to pray for Fr. Don and your entire faith community. I say thank you in Haitian Creole. Mesi anpil!
God bless you,
Ertha
___
As a sidenote, the parish collection for Ertha’s mission in Haiti totaled $38,333
There was also a $5,000 donation (not included in above total) from a former parishioner who lives out of state and was watching our livestream Mass the weekend Ertha spoke.
“Mesi anpil!”

Bulletin
  • Don’t forget to check out Father Don’s insightful weekly Bulletin article located here
Don’t Get Scammed by Fake Fathers!
  • Did you get an email or a text message from (a fake) Father Don this past week? Please remember, Father Don and Father James DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards.  If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Don or Father James, please discard it and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID.
For the Hispanic Community
  • Please proceed here for the OLM Hispanic Ministry’s upcoming events and resources.
    Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
  • There will be Stations of the Cross in Spanish every 2nd Wednesday of the month after the 12pm Mass.
    A partir de la próxima semana, habrá Estaciones de la Cruz en español cada segundo miércoles del mes después de la misa de las 12 pm.
A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry
  • How can we be praying for you today?
    There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions. In those moments, hope can feel far away. The great thing about prayer is that it shifts our perspective toward the One who stands ready to listen. No matter what you’re facing, we’d love to pray with you. Submit your prayer requests at this link
  • Prayer Ministry at MAGNIFY 10/27 and after all Mass times 10/30 &10/31
    Come forward after Mass by yourself, or with your family, friends, spouse, or in the place of someone you know who needs prayer. Prayer ministry is for all those in need of prayer, be it for spiritual, physical or emotional need or thankful praise.
Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?
  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

GROW GROUPS | WE CONTINUE TO LAUNCH GROW GROUPS, ONE GROUP AT A TIME
Connect with zara@olmercy.com for any questions.

CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP

Mission. This group exists to grow a community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
WebsiteProceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and twice a month for social gatherings.
Connect.  Reach out to Matt Kubanda and Mary Rysavy rysavyme@gmail.com
See what they have been up to at this video.

VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP

Mission.  Vine & Branches is a group at Our Lady of Mercy that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
Website.  Proceed here for details
Meets
. Wednesdays @ 7pm with social gatherings.
Connect. The group leaders are looking forward to hearing from you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
John Frederick jdfredericj@icloud.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Check out the video to find out more about Vine and Branches


GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.

FORMED.ORG

Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet-connected device. Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies… there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

  1. Visit http://signup.formed.org/
  2. Enter our parish zip or name
  3. Enter your name and email

EUCHARIST RESOURCES

Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives and the great Feast of Corpus Christi.

AMEN – CATHOLIC MEDITATION APP

From Augustine Institute comes this FREE Catholic prayer app that inspires your daily conversation with God through faithful meditations and nourishing Scripture. There is also Family Content: Enjoy and share family-favorite audio from the series Brother Francis and the Jesus Stories.  Please enjoy this latest offering from the Augustine Institute.

WORD ON FIRE

Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library!   Check out this linkto watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.

HEROIC MEN

Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.

Learn about your faith from today’s best Catholic speakers—and do it all from the convenience of home. Stream-on-demand from your phone or tablet, too, for quality Catholic content on the go.

Get it all—for FREE – at HeroicMen.com

AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES

Have you wanted to get to know St. Thomas Aquinas and his writings more so as to grow closer to Jesus?
Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the Thomistic Institute seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher, and theologian.
Aquinas is a masterful interpreter of reality. His writings assist us in answering perennial questions on topics like God, man, the natural world, law, and morality, and questions of special relevance to our time like the relationship between modern science and faith or pursuing happiness in the digital era.

 

 

 

 

October 7, 2021 | October is Respect Life Month


October 7, 2021 | October is Respect Life Month

We believe that all life is sacred, and that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. We must share the good news that every person is loved by God and that we are called to defend the dignity of life from conception until natural death.

Be encouraged to engage in one or several of the following ways to be an advocate for the innocent unborn who can’t speak for themselves, pray for the sanctity of life.  Please also share this message with anyone you know who is able to help or would like to participate.

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DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE FACING AN UNEXPECTED PREGNANCY?

  1. Share this video with them so they know they aren’t alone and that there is support for them and their beautiful baby.
  2. Invite them to Waterleaf, where they offer free pregnancy services and options consultation so they can make educated decisions about their pregnancy.
Waterleaf
3055 E. New York Street
Aurora, IL 60504
630.701.6270

 

HELP FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND FAMILIES RECOVER AFTER AN ABORTION

You may feel alone.  Maybe your abortion was some time ago, and you never told anyone.

At the time, you may have felt like abortion was your only choice. Some of us felt that way too. Many of us thought we were the only ones struggling afterwards.

But now we realize that other women regret their choice too. We’re now learning that abortion didn’t solve our problems, it just created different ones that it has a deep ripple effect. You may have chosen abortion personally, lost a child to abortion, or your life has been profoundly affected by abortion. SaveOne can help you through the healing process. Click here to start your journey today.

September 24, 2021 | Weekly Update

 


September 24, 2021 | Weekly Update

You Belong to Jesus


“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off!”

Many of us know well this teaching from Christ in our Gospel this weekend.  How many of us though take Him seriously?

It’s easy to note the problematic areas of our life and our habitual sin, but it takes work, (both from submitting to God and our own efforts), to identify and ROOT out our sources of sin.  The trappings of this earth will pass away; do we take seriously the health of our souls?

To prepare our hearts before we go to Holy Mass this weekend and to learn more about how God calls us to be fully alive in our relationship with Christ watch this short video from Father Stephen Gadberry (a veteran of the US Air Force, Cross-Fit coach, and pastor of St. Mary’s) on the Flocknote email.

We  look forward to seeing you at any of the Holy Mass times this weekend wherein the Deacons will be preaching, or stop by to visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.


LOOKING AHEAD

Thinking About Becoming Catholic?
October Respect Life Month Parish Activities
  • OLM PRAYER VIGIL OCT 1 (7 AM – 7 PM) We will be distributing Prayer Commitment Cards at all masses this weekend and next weekend.
  • ANNUAL OCTOBER WHITE CROSS MEMORIAL FOR ABORTION VICTIMS SET UP ON 9/25 AFTERNOON All help in setting up the crosses, banners and lighting for the White Cross Memorial for the Victims of Abortion is much appreciated.  We usually start about 1pm and try to finish before the 4pm Mass.  The more helping hands, the faster we are done!  This would be a great way to help fulfill service hours for teens.
Flu Shot Clinic at Our Lady of Mercy Church 10/3
  • Sunday October 3 2021 from 8:30am to 11:30am
  • Located in the Ministry Room of the Narthex of Church
  • Provided by AMITA Health Mercy Medical Center Health Institute
  • Cost: $25 (cash, check or Medicare Part B – please bring your Medicare card)
  • Walk-ins are welcome. If you would like to register for the clinic or have questions, please contact Jolene LeRoy RN atjolenel@olmercy.comor call 331-707-5380.
EDGE Night 10/4
  • Families with students in grades 6, 7, or 8 are invited to EDGE NIGHTS the next is on Monday, October 4h!  EDGE meets twice a month on Monday evenings from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Parish Life Center. We will have large group activities, games, prayer time, small group faith lessons, and a chance to grow in our Catholic faith with other teens your own age! Check out our EDGE webpage for details and session dates:https://olmercy.com/formation/edge/. Please register online as a family here:https://olmercy.com/family-registration-2021-2022/
  • EDGE Nights are also in need of adults and high school teens to help with various small groups and activities throughout the year. Please consider this awesome ministry to get involved with and contact Dave in the Youth & Family Office at 331-707-5371 or DaveM@olmercy.com
Speaker at Vines & Branches on 10/6
  • Is there life after divorce?
  • Vines and Branches are hosting a speaker who will share his story of isolation, loss of relationship with his children, loss of finances, of friendships, faith, feeling different about being at church, and living through what the new normal is.
    Come and hear from Mike Maude as he shares his story and answers the question “Is there life after divorce?” with a resounding Yes there absolutely is!
  • Come to OLM on Wednesday 10/6th @ 7:15pm, please share this invitation with anyone you know who is going through a difficult time right now in their divorce.

Happy 40th Anniversary of Father Don’s Priesthood 10/10
  • Come and celebrate Father Don’s 40 years of the gift of his priestly ministry!
  • Father Don will be offering a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday at 2pm with hors d’oeuvre reception immediately after.  He hopes to see you there.
  • To prepare adequately for the reception, please RSVP by 9/30 to frdon@olmercy.com
  • Also at all the Mass times on 10/9 and 10/10
    • Father Don will be preaching
    • And there will be a coffee and donuts reception in the PLC; please stop by after Mass to greet Father Don.
  • In addition, if you would like to greet Father Don with a Happy Anniversary video shout-out and well wishes, please submit with the following guidance
    • Send to this email address forfrdon@gmail.com by 10/7th
    • 10 – 15 seconds video (longer videos are harder to email and upload)
    • Landscape / horizontal orientation

Virtual Faith, Family and Financial Security 10/13
  • The Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring a virtual Faith, Family, and Financial Security event on 10/13 available to all in the Parish.  Register for this free event at this link.
  • The topic is “Financial Success Under Any Circumstance” which will cover compelling questions that will help you clarify how to have financial and retirement success such as
    • How can you maximize your social security?
    • Do you prefer to build a legacy for your family and business or the Internal Revenue Service?
    • If there was a way to reduce or eliminate the income tax liability on your IRA or 401K, when would you want to know about it. Before or after they charge the tax?
    • Can you build a wonderful retirement income if interest rates remain at zero and the stock market offers zero return for a decade?
Eucharistic Procession for Life 10/16th
  • 1pm start at Benet Academy | Welcome, Speakers and Prayer
  • 2pm Eucharistic Procession through Lisle & Naperville with Rosary
  • 3:30pm Closing Benediction at Sts. Peter and Paul Church
  • Guests include
    • Redwing for Life Leaders
      • Featuring Benet’s Redwings for Life Leaders as the pro life generation who will speak on the many aspects of forming pro life thought, winning the hearts and minds of individuals in order to build families and communities which respect life in all ages and stages! St. Joseph pray for us!
    • Students for Life of America
      • The nation’s largest youth pro-life organization
Undy Sunday 10/16 – 10/17
  • Did you know that NEW underwear and socks are the most-requested, but least-donated items at Catholic Charities? These basic items (new underwear, warm socks, a fresh diaper) are truly treasures to those who are living in poverty.
  • Collection Boxes will be placed in the Narthex for NEW underwear, undershirts, socks, and diapers for children and adults living in low-income households with the following special request
    • size 14 girl’s underwear
    • men’s size medium undershirts (all styles)
    • size 1 diapers (boys and girls)
  • Other ways to help out are
    • You can also purchase items to donate through the Undy Sunday Amazon Wish List
    • If you’d prefer to send a monetary donation, please mail it to:
      Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet/Undy Sunday
      16555 Weber Road, Crest Hill, IL 60403
Bishop Hicks Celebrating Mass on 10/17
  • In preparation for the work of the Synod of Bishops 2023, every Diocese in the world has been asked to gather on Sunday 10/17 to celebrate a Mass to begin praying for blessings upon the preparation for the Synod and upon the Diocesan consultation that will take place in each Diocese.
  • Two parishioners are invited to join Bishop Hicks as he celebrates this Mass on 10/17 at 2pm at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus to inaugurate the Diocesan consultation for the Synod of Bishops 2023.  If you are interested in attending please reach out to zara@olmercy.com
World Mission Sunday 10/24
  • World Mission Sunday, our annual worldwide Eucharistic celebration for the Missions and missionaries of the world, will be celebrated on 10/24 this year. This collection on the next-to-last Sunday in October is a unique, global effort for the entire Church to provide for the building up of over one thousand local churches in Asia and Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe. Through the work of these churches, and their witness to Christ, the poor receive practical help and experience God’s love and mercy, His hope, and peace.
Bulletin
  • Don’t forget to check out Father Don’s insightful weekly Bulletin article located here
Don’t Get Scammed by Fake Fathers!
  • Did you get an email or a text message from (a fake) Father Don this past week? Please remember, Father Don and Father James DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards.  If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Don or Father James, please discard it and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID.
For the Hispanic Community
  • Please proceed here for the OLM Hispanic Ministry’s upcoming events and resources.
    Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
  • There will be Stations of the Cross in Spanish every 2nd Wednesday of the month after the 12pm Mass.
    A partir de la próxima semana, habrá Estaciones de la Cruz en español cada segundo miércoles del mes después de la misa de las 12 pm.
A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry
  • How can we be praying for you today?
    There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions. In those moments, hope can feel far away. The great thing about prayer is that it shifts our perspective toward the One who stands ready to listen. No matter what you’re facing, we’d love to pray with you. Submit your prayer requests at this link
Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?
  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smartphones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

GROW GROUPS | WE CONTINUE TO LAUNCH GROW GROUPS, ONE GROUP AT A TIME
Connect with zara@olmercy.com for any questions.

CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP

Mission. This group exists to grow a community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
WebsiteProceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and every two weeks for social gatherings.
Connect.  Reach out to Matt Kubanda and Mary Rysavy rysavyme@gmail.com
See what they have been up to at this video.

VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP

Mission.  Vine & Branches is a group at Our Lady of Mercy that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
Website.  Proceed here for details
Meets
. Wednesdays @ 7pm with social gatherings.
Connect. The group leaders are looking forward to hearing from you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
John Frederick jdfredericj@icloud.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Check out the video to find out more about Vine and Branches


GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.

FREE HEALING AND FORGIVENESS VIRTUAL CATHOLIC CONFERENCE 10/8 through 10/10

Register for free.

There is hope in finding and giving forgiveness, and you don’t have to go it alone.

Discover how to encounter the forgiving love of Christ in the areas where you feel most broken, most ashamed, most unloved, and most forgotten, and see for yourself what God has planned for those who love Him.

The Worldwide Healing Event is a global gathering of men and women who are ready to stop postponing their healing with unforgiveness and take the first step in living their redemption story!
  • Releasing unforgiveness
  • Healing from addiction
  • Healing from generational wounds
  • The healing power of worship!
  • Encountering healing through all Persons of the Trinity
  • And more!
Some of the Conference speakers are
  • Matt Lozano
  • Neal Lozano
  • Dr. Bob Schuchts
  • Dr. Mary Healy
  • Fr. Chris Alar
  • Fr. Donald Calloway
  • Sr. Briege McKenna


FORMED.ORG

Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet-connected device. Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies… there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

  1. Visit http://signup.formed.org/
  2. Enter our parish zip or name
  3. Enter your name and email

EUCHARIST RESOURCES

Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives and the great Feast of Corpus Christi.

WORD ON FIRE

Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library!   Check out this linkto watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.

Not sure where to start? How about the episode of the Pivotal Players series of St. Ignatius of Loyola which covers Ignatius’ journey from a courageous and celebrated warrior to a passionate servant of Christ, and the influence he effected through the establishment of the Jesuit order and through his masterpiece, “The Spiritual Exercises.”

HEROIC MEN

Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.

Learn about your faith from today’s best Catholic speakers—and do it all from the convenience of home. Stream-on-demand from your phone or tablet, too, for quality Catholic content on the go.

Get it all—for FREE – at HeroicMen.com

AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES

Have you wanted to get to know St. Thomas Aquinas and his writings more so as to grow closer to Jesus?
Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the Thomistic Institute seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher, and theologian.
Aquinas is a masterful interpreter of reality. His writings assist us in answering perennial questions on topics like God, man, the natural world, law, and morality, and questions of special relevance to our time like the relationship between modern science and faith or pursuing happiness in the digital era.

This Wednesday and Thursday is the last week to invite people to Alpha for this fall session.  Extend the invitation, it can be life-changing like it was for Joe Glasgow.

 

 

September 4, 2021 | Weekly Update

 


September 4, 2021 | Weekly Update

The Deaf Hear and the Mute Speak


Have you ever witnessed miraculous healing?  Was it a friend, teammate, family member, or even yourself?  


God wants us healed!  He wants all of His creation whole again!  Signs of healing and wonders would accompany the Messiah, the Old Testament prophets affirmed: the blind would see, the deaf would hear, and the lame would leap!  When Jesus began His miraculous healings, many believed that this was indeed the evidence that He was the chosen one, the Son of God.

To prepare our hearts before we go to Holy Mass this weekend and to learn more about how God is offering the gift of healing to us all watch this short video on the Flocknote email.

We  look forward to seeing you at any of the Holy Mass times this weekend wherein Father James will be preaching, or stop by to visit Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.


 

LOOKING AHEAD


Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time.

Connect with zara@olmercy.com for any questions.

CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP

Mission. This group exists to grow a community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
WebsiteProceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and every two weeks for social gatherings.
Connect.  Reach out to Matt Kubanda and Mary Rysavy rysavyme@gmail.com
See what they have been up to at this video.

VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP

Mission.  Vine & Branches is a group at Our Lady of Mercy that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
Website.  Proceed here for details
Meets
. Wednesdays @ 7pm with social gatherings.
Connect. The group leaders are looking forward to hearing from you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
John Frederick jdfredericj@icloud.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Check out the video to find out more about Vine and Branches

GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.

FREE RECLAIMING FAITH AND FAMILY VIRTUAL CATHOLIC CONFERENCE 9/17 through 9/19

Register for free.

Learn to overcome the challenges of evangelizing those closest to you.

The Reclaiming Faith and Family conference is about helping you to enter into relationships and dialogue with those who are away from Christ and/or the Church, without losing your own peace in the process–starting with those closest to you.

Check out the following Conference Presenters

  • Jackie Francois Angel
  • Mark Brumley
  • Pete Burak
  • Josh and Lisa Canning
  • Fr. Martin Connor, LC
  • Jared Dees
  • Cathy Duffy
  • Tim Glemkowski
  • Dr. Ryan Hanning
  • Mark Hart
  • Trent Horn
  • Dr. Coleen Kelly Mast
  • Dr. Peter Kreeft
  • Marcel LeJeune
  • Dr. Anthony Lilles
  • Curtis Martin
  • Ralph Martin
  • Hector Molina
  • Fr. Michael  Nixon
  • Fr. Jorge Obregon, LC
  • Justin Reyes
  • Steve Ray
  • Fr. Larry Richards
  • Theresa Rickard
  • Jennifer Ristine
  • Steven Rummelsburg
  • John Sablan
  • Andrew Swafford
  • Dr. Kevin Vost
  • Joan Watson
  • Sherry Weddell
  • Krista Wilertz
  • Susan Windley-Daoust


FORMED.ORG

Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet-connected device. Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies… there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

  1. Visit http://signup.formed.org/
  2. Enter our parish zip or name
  3. Enter your name and email

EUCHARIST RESOURCES

Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives and the great Feast of Corpus Christi.

WORD ON FIRE

Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library!   Check out this linkto watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.

Not sure where to start? How about the episode of the Pivotal Players series of St. Ignatius of Loyola which covers Ignatius’ journey from a courageous and celebrated warrior to a passionate servant of Christ, and the influence he effected through the establishment of the Jesuit order and through his masterpiece, “The Spiritual Exercises.”

HEROIC MEN

Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.

Learn about your faith from today’s best Catholic speakers—and do it all from the convenience of home. Stream-on-demand from your phone or tablet, too, for quality Catholic content on the go.

Get it all—for FREE – at HeroicMen.com

AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES

Have you wanted to get to know St. Thomas Aquinas and his writings more so as to grow closer to Jesus?
Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the Thomistic Institute seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher, and theologian.
Aquinas is a masterful interpreter of reality. His writings assist us in answering perennial questions on topics like God, man, the natural world, law, and morality, and questions of special relevance to our time like the relationship between modern science and faith or pursuing happiness in the digital era.

 

September 2, 2021 | alpha

 


September 2, 2021 | who will you invite or go with to alpha on sept 16th?

Did you know that . . .

For millennials, disagreement is now interpreted as judgment, and that this interpretation is up over 100% from older generations.

Twice as many millennials outside the church are interested in learning more about Christianity and what it could mean for their lives compared to older non-Christians.

The top qualities they would look for in a person with whom to talk about faith are:
“listens without judgment” (62%)
“does not force a conclusion” (50%)

However, only a minority would say the Christians they know personally possess these qualities:
listens without judgment (34%)
does not force a conclusion (26%)

The future blueprint of our Church must create more space to listen.


This isn’t just the way forward… it’s been the way of Jesus all along.

 

Our current cultural moment finds many of us without connection and community and within an increasingly growing-hostile-to-Christianity secular society. Some may even wonder if God is there and if He cares. Like the shepherd in the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus is still seeking out those far from Him. He longs to be with them, to comfort them, and draw them near.  He invites us to seek them out, too.

Alpha at Our Lady of Mercy is upon us once again, it is where people have been hospitably welcomed to bring questions, disorientation, and even hostility to the table—and experience love through listening.

Who will you invite or go with to Alpha?

Or perhaps the guiding question is do any of the following resonate with you. . .

Are you tired of the negativity and divisiveness out there? Consider the fraternity that Alpha brings is a comfort, a unitive comfort in a culture that now interprets a personal disagreement on an issue as judgment. 
Alpha shakes us out of the divisiveness and brings us back to the unitive power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You come to realize that we are all on a journey, we are all in this together and that’s how we build up the body of Christ as one.
 
If you’re hungry literally (because it’s awesome free food being served), physically, spiritually, and mentally; you’ll want to come to Alpha.
 
If life’s just dull, gray, boring.
 
If you know someone skeptical, hostile, not sure of their purpose, identity, or where they belong.
 
Or maybe you got it all; the nice car, the nice house, a good family, living a good life but find you are hungry, restless… come to Alpha.
 

We are all restless in some way or form because we’re made for God. He’s the one who has created us and called us into friendship. And until “I know Him, I’m always going to be hungry, I’m always going to be restless.”  So if you’re experiencing this right now, Alpha is for you.  If you’ve got friends experiencing this right now, invite them because what they’re hungry for, even if they don’t know it, is Jesus.


Share the invitation graphic


Sign Up for

IN-PERSON Alpha

ONLINE Alpha

SPANISH Alpha

TEEN Alpha (Do you have or know of high school teenager(s)?)


Still can’t decide? Listening to the following stories may help

Here is an invite you can send out

So come and journey with the Holy Spirit this fall and begin sharing the life-shaping good news of Jesus that speaks into the deep questions around identity, belonging, and purpose by listening well with love,
because Love Listens.

Hope to see you soon at Alpha and happy inviting!

August 14, 2021 | Weekly Update

 


August 14, 2021 | Weekly Update

Our Story Is Real


Whether you’ve already started coming back to Mass or not, we hope these reasons will inspire you and your friends and family.


Why should you come back to Mass?  Because the story of our faith is REAL!

Jesus historically lived, died, and rose from the dead. The Biblical sites exist and can be visited today.  Our story of faith isn’t a myth, legend, or something in a galaxy far, far away.

What’s more, God wants us to take an active role in passing on this reality to others. We’re in the age of evangelization where the Holy Spirit wants us to be fueled by the Word and Eucharist at Mass and then go out to bring this real Jesus to others. And who better to aid us in doing this than our Blessed Mother, Mary.  Our Mother, who intercedes for us and cheers us on that we too might participate in this life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ and sharing it with others.


This Sunday is the Solemnity of her Assumption, of when Mary was assumed, body and soul, into heaven — it is the culmination of her faith-filled yes to the angel’s invitation to become the Mother of God.  As we celebrate Mary’s faithfulness this Sunday, let’s also think about our own yeses to the Lord, the small ones as well as the big ones. 

“Lord, give me the grace to say yes to You in every moment.”

Listen to the short 2-minute message on the Flocknote email from Bobby Angel that details the reality of our Christian story.

We look forward to seeing you at any of the Holy Mass times this weekend or stop by to visit Jesus at Blessed Sacrament Chapel or at daily Mass during the week.

 

THIS COMING WEEK


AMA with Father James Thursday 8/19
Biblical Institute Previews on 8/19 online & 8/28 in-person 
  • The Biblical Institute of the Diocese of Joliet (BIDJ) is for everyone who wants in-depth study of the Bible and prayerful reflection on Scripture within a Catholic faith community and with graduate-level instructors.
  • A brand new option is offering the class online!
  • There is also an on-site class here at Our Lady of Mercy this fall.
  • Bring your questions and check out the following previews
  • For further questions and details check out the diocesan website at this link or call 815-221-6147
Refresh our community and neighborhood parish life – Come out to the OLM Block Party 8/20, 8/21, 8/22!
  • Who will you invite to the OLM block party held on 8/20, 8/21, and 8/22.  Here is what is in the works.
    • Friday 8/20 Outdoor Movie Night at dusk
      • Parking lot opens up at 7pm. The movie starts at sunset estimated at 7:45pm
      • Please bring your folding chairs, lawn blankets, and dinner! Oh and bug spray!  Think Ravinia style set-up/gathering.
      • There will be a popcorn stand and a cotton candy stands for the children.
    • Saturday 8/21 Food Trucks and Concert after the 4pm Mass
      • Please bring your folding chairs, lawn blanket, and bug spray. Think Ravinia style set-up/gathering.
    • Sunday 8/22 Ministry Expo with Cookies & Donuts while you check out the Ministries and Groups at Our Lady of Mercy! See how our parish can be here for you spiritually, physically, and mentally.
  • For more details, check out the Block Party page at this link.
  • Interested in helping out with setup?  Please connect with Doug McIlvaine at da.mac94@att.net or Shirley Staples at shirleystaples@yahoo.com.

 

LOOKING AHEAD

Opening Your Heart Women’s Bible Study begins 8/23
  • CALLING ALL WOMEN – The Opening Your Heart Women’s Bible Study will begin on Monday, August 23rd @ 6:30pm.  There will be an in-person and virtual offering.  And if you’re seeing this past 8/23rd, no worries, you can still join!
  • Join this women’s Bible Study and journey closer to the heart of God.  Bring the women in your life; your mother, a sister, a friend, a daughter, a colleague, anyone – who you feel would like to explore questions, bible verses, personal testimonies to help them grow in their faith, please invite them. There is always a  seat available!
  • Opening Your Heart is filled with truth and beauty that assists each of us in filling holes in our spiritual foundations so that we have something firm to stand on when life brings us challenges.
  • Details and registration are at this link.  Or connect with Wendy Jo Burnett wendyburnett0907@yahoo.com, she would love to hear from you!

MAGNIFY is on 8/25
  • Our monthly MAGNIFY praise and worship adoration is on Weds 8/25th @ 7pm. Save the date.
Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry on 8/25
  • Keep an eye out for the social media posting so you can share the notification on your accounts; you never know who on your network of friends is in need of food.  It will be from 5pm to 6:30pm Weds 8/25th.
  • The Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet Mobile Food Pantry delivers healthy food (meat, produce, and non-perishable items) to people in need. No identification or information will be required or collected. This event is open to anyone in need of food!
  • Mobile Food Pantries use a “drive-thru” method to distribute food during the
    COVID-19 pandemic. Please clear space in your trunk or backseat so volunteers can load boxes of food directly into your vehicle.
  • Catholic Charities helps people of all faiths and beliefs.
  • Mobile Food Pantries take place rain or shine!
Registration is open for Fall Alpha!
  • Registration has begun for Fall Alpha, beginning September 16th!  The goal of Alpha is to grow in our personal relationship with Jesus, if you have not been through Alpha, or if you’d like to do it again, and most importantly if there is someone in your life that you could invite to Alpha, we encourage you to invite them, and come to Alpha!  Starts with an awesome free meal, video, and small groups. #Food #fellowship #faith #friendships, and a babysitting option if you need it.
  • Various pathways this fall are In-person, Online, Spanish, Young Adults, and Family Alpha.  Check out the details and registration at this link.
  • Be encouraged and hear about reasons for coming to Alpha, hear from Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Doctor Mary Healy, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Father Mike Schmitz, and Father James Mallon.

Thinking About Becoming Catholic?
Coming Soon is a full line-up of our Fall Offerings!
  • You can also check it out at the MINISTRY EXPO that is part of the three-day OLM Block Party Event on Sunday 8/22nd after all the Mass Times.
Bulletin
  • Don’t forget to check out Father Don’s insightful weekly Bulletin article located hereHe talks about how to help our seminarian Andrew Bogusz.  Recall Andrew was with us during the lockdown.  He is back living in the rectory.  Check out Father Don’s Bulletin article to see how you can help Andrew.

Meet and Support Father Don’s Friend Ertha Papilion from Haiti at the Masses RESCHEDULED to 9/11 and 9/12
  • In the summer of 2014, Father Don traveled to the small village of Duchity in the mountains of southwest Haiti. It was there that he met Ertha Papillon, a leader in her faith community of Ste. Marie-Madeleine. Ertha is the founder and director of an orphanage and an elementary school. She has dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor in the countryside near Duchity.
  • Ertha will return Father Don’s visit and will speak at all the Masses. She will share her story and the story of the people she serves.
  • A collection will be taken to benefit the orphanage and the school.
  • A promise from Ertha: “I am happy to visit you. We are all God’s children. Please pray for me and the children of Haiti and I will pray for you.”

Don’t Get Scammed by Fake Fathers!

  • Did you get an email or a text message from (a fake) Father Don this past week? Please remember, Father Don and Father James DO NOT send texts or emails asking for money or gift cards.  If you receive a message appearing to be from Father Don or Father James, please discard it and DO NOT SEND ANY ELECTRONIC MONETARY AID.

For the Hispanic Community

  • Please proceed here for the OLM Hispanic Ministry’s upcoming events and resources.Continúe aquí para conocer los próximos eventos y recursos del Ministerio Hispano de OLM.
  • There will be Stations of the Cross in Spanish every 2nd Wednesday of the month after the 12pm Mass.A partir de la próxima semana, habrá Estaciones de la Cruz en español cada segundo miércoles del mes después de la misa de las 12 pm.

A Note from the Intercessory Prayer Ministry

  • How can we be praying for you today? There are times when life is overwhelming when all we have is questions. In those moments, hope can feel far away. The great thing about prayer is that it shifts our perspective toward the One who stands ready to listen. No matter what you’re facing, we’d love to pray with you. Submit your prayer requests at this link
  • Prayer Ministry after all Mass times 8/28 & 8/29
    Come forward after Mass by yourself, or with your family, friends, spouse, or in the place of someone you know who needs prayer. Prayer ministry is for all those in need of prayer, be it for spiritual, physical or emotional need or thankful praise.

Have you downloaded our myParish App yet?

  • If you haven’t done so, we encourage you to download the Our Lady of Mercy app available to download for iPhone and Android smart phones.  Or text APP to 88202 to download.
    • Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

Grow Groups | We continue to launch Grow Groups, one group at a time.
Connect with zara@olmercy.com for any questions.

CONSUMING FIRE YOUNG ADULT GROW GROUP

Mission. This group exists to grow a community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.
WebsiteProceed here for details.
Meets. Tuesdays @ 7pm and every two weeks for social gatherings.
Connect.  Reach out to Matt Kubanda and Mary Rysavy rysavyme@gmail.com
See what they have been up to at this video.

VINE & BRANCHES GROW GROUP

Mission.  Vine & Branches is a group at Our Lady of Mercy that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
Website.  Proceed here for details
Meets
. Wednesdays @ 7pm with social gatherings.
Connect. The group leaders are looking forward to hearing from you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
Kim Harris kimharris73@yahoo.com
Mary LoGalbo logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com
John Frederick jdfredericj@icloud.com
Jim Marks jimm6351@yahoo.com
Check out the video to find out more about Vine and Branches

GROW YOUR FAITH
FREE ONLINE RESOURCES In this section, you will find free conferences, webinars, and studies that you can freely take part in that can grow your faith.

MARRIAGE TUNE-UP – EPIC Intimacy Challenge
Getting the marriage you want from the marriage you have is possible! 
Sign up for the EPIC Intimacy Challenge.  Hosted by Damon and Melanie Owens, the Intimacy Challenge brings together the most effective Catholic marital experts, including:
  • Dr. Greg & Lisa Popcak [Eight Marriage Friendly Habits]
  • Dr. Greg Bottaro [The Art of Making Love]
  • Dr. Monique Ruberu [The Science of Making Love]
  • Dr. Edward & Beth Sri [How Well Do You Know Your Spouse?]
  • Dr. Christopher & Wendy West [The Gift of Making Love]
  • Dr. Bob Schuchts [Opening Up Pathways to Emotional Intimacy]
  • Dr. Mario Sacasa [The 3 Styles of Attachment]
  • Fr. Tim Gallagher [Discernment of Spirits in Marriage]
  • Chris Stefanick [The Joy of Making Love]
  • Matt & Jenn Lozano [Prayer is the Foundation of Everything]
  • Byron & Francine Pirola [Teamwork: We’re in this Together!]
  • Nathan & Dr. Sarah Bartel [Dream Together Again!]
This FREE 4-day challenge is crafted to help you reignite the fire, increase satisfaction, avoid drift, and divorce-proof your marriage by introducing you to the four levels of Intimacy (Emotional, Physical, Intellectual, and Communicative).

 

FORMED.ORG

Diving into the beauty of the Faith has never been easier: at home, on the go, or from any internet-connected device. Discover thousands of books, audio talks, movies, documentaries, and studies… there is something for every member of the family to help them grow closer to Christ and His Church.

  1. Visit http://signup.formed.org/
  2. Enter our parish zip or name
  3. Enter your name and email

EUCHARIST RESOURCES

Check out our “Eucharist Resources” page to help us understand deeply the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives and the great Feast of Corpus Christi.

WORD ON FIRE

Did you know that you have complete access to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ENGAGE video library!   Check out this linkto watch any of the videos whenever you want without ever having to login.

Not sure where to start? How about the episode of the Pivotal Players series of St. Ignatius of Loyola which covers Ignatius’ journey from a courageous and celebrated warrior to a passionate servant of Christ, and the influence he effected through the establishment of the Jesuit order and through his masterpiece, “The Spiritual Exercises.”

HEROIC MEN

Looking for authentically Catholic content for men? Look no further than HeroicMen.com—the all-new, 100% FREE Catholic streaming platform for men.

Learn about your faith from today’s best Catholic speakers—and do it all from the convenience of home. Stream-on-demand from your phone or tablet, too, for quality Catholic content on the go.

Get it all—for FREE – at HeroicMen.com

AQUINAS 101 FREE COURSES

Have you wanted to get to know St. Thomas Aquinas and his writings more so as to grow closer to Jesus?

Sign up for any of the short and free courses at Aquinas 101 a project of the Thomistic Institute that seeks to promote understanding of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the eminent 13th-century philosopher and theologian.

Aquinas is a masterful interpreter of reality. His writings assist us in answering perennial questions on topics like God, man, the natural world, law, and morality, and questions of special relevance to our time like the relationship between modern science and faith or pursuing happiness in the digital era. 

Each Aquinas 101 video walks viewers through a different theme in just a few minutes. On Aquinas101.com, you’ll also find short readings and podcast lectures accompanying each video. We encourage you to enroll in a course to receive full lessons in your email inbox or browse the lessons at your own pace. Please help them spread the light of truth by sharing these videos with your friends and family — because it matters what you think!

Mass Times

Weekend

Saturday 8:30AM Daily Mass and 4PM Sunday Vigil

Sunday 8AM | 10AM  | 12PM | 5:30PM

Weekdays

Monday 8AM
Monday in Spanish 6:30PM
Tuesday 8AM & 6:30PM
Wednesday 12PM
Thursday 6:30AM & 8AM
Friday 8AM
Saturday 8:30AM

Confession

Tuesdays 7PM until all are heard
Wednesdays 12:30PM until all are heard
Saturday 9AM – 10AM | 1:30PM – 2:30PM
First Friday 8:30AM
During Magnify last Weds of the month 7PM – 8:30PM
Or please schedule an appointment here.

Eucharistic Adoration

Monday through Friday 8:30AM – 10PM
Magnify last Weds of the month 7PM – 8:30PM

Private Prayer in Church

Open daily 8:30AM – 8PM
(Will close if there is a Funeral, Wedding, or Baptism as well as early closing when the safety and security are at risk as determined by the pastor.)

Location

Parish Office

(630) 851-3444

Monday thru Thursday
8:30AM – 4:30PM

Friday
8:30AM – 1PM

Contact Us

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