February 12, 2022 | Weekly Update

February 12, 2022 | Weekly Update

“Sent on Mission”

Last week Father James continued his 3 part series on faith, hope, and love as a lens for better understanding our vision statement. Join us this weekend for the last part as he shares about what love is and how we are called to be sent on mission.

If you missed Father James’ homily last week or would like to reflect on the second part of our vision statement to prepare to hear the last part, watch it below.
Father James has an awesome surprise as you leave Mass this weekend wherein he is giving out OLM swag bags to those who can recite the vision statement, so here’s to seeing you soon!

“To offer every person a life-changing encounter with Jesus, grow disciples, and send them on mission.”
—Our Lady of Mercy Vision


LOOKING AHEAD

Open HEARTS Ministry 2/21
  • Open HEARTS Ministry is the mental and emotional health and wellness ministry of the parish. If you are a mental health professional or are a champion for mental health and wellness, please consider joining the ministry. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental and emotional health concerns, there is support and resources available at Our Lady of Mercy and in the community. The next scheduled in-person gathering for the Open HEARTS Ministry is Monday, February 21 from 7pm to 8:30pm in Room 218.
MAGNIFY 2/23
  • Our monthly MAGNIFY adoration, praise and worship is on Weds 2/23rd @ 7pm. Save the date!

CRHP Christ Renews His Parish Women’s Weekends 2/26 – 2/27
  • The Renewal Weekends are just around the corner Men’s Renewal Weekend is on 2/19 thru 2/20. Women’s Renewal Weekend is on 2/26 thru 2/27
    The CRHP weekend is a time to relax, pray, discover new relationships, and improve your personal relationship with Jesus.
  • Proceed to this link for details and sign-up.  We pray you sign-up soon.  COVID safety notes: we follow the Diocesan Covid guidelines.
  • Connect with Lauren Baier @ 630.267.6868 crhpolm@gmail.com for questions on the Women’s CRHP weekend.
Bishop Robert Barron, Fr James Mallon, & Nicky Gumbel; come to the in-person watch party to see their conversation on 3/1st

Invitation to Seniors to Defer Property Taxes apply by 3/1
  • Qualified senior citizens, aged 65 years and older are invited to apply for the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program. The program allows participants to defer property tax payment until the property is sold. The deferral is treated as a loan and accrues 6 percent simple interest until paid. To qualify, the applicant’s household income cannot exceed $55,000. Additionally, the property must be used exclusively for residential purposes. The application period closes on March 1, 2022. For more information, contact the DuPage County Treasurer’s Office at 630-407-5900 or www.dupageco.org/treasurer. Gwen Henry, Treasurer.
Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Grants apply by 3/1
  • The Diocese of Joliet is accepting applications for 2022-2023 for Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) grant. Please mail in your application by 3/1st.
  • Qualifications and details of the application process can be found at this link.
  • The Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops. Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through the promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education. The grants and education for justice program of the Campaign, implemented in collaboration with local dioceses, is supported by the annual collection received each November.
Alpha In-Person Starts 3/3
  • Who will you bring with you to in-person Alpha on 3/3rd?  Experience the Alpha culture if you have not had a chance already.  Alpha isn’t just a program. It’s a tool for evangelization. We all know people who are far away from the Lord, who may be asking questions about whether or not God even exists.
  • Details and registration are found at this link.
  • Invitations can be intimidating, so we want to make inviting your friends and family to Alpha as easy as possible. Read some tips that can help you invite anyone in your life to join us for Alpha!  You can do it! We’re praying for you https://olmercy.com/alphainvitations/
Salt and Light Grow Group 3/9
  • Be loved & be fed; come and experience family, hospitality, and intentional community at Salt and Light Grow Group.
  • We weren’t meant to do life alone. “Encounter/Grow/Witness” is the threefold dimension of the Christian life.  Once we encounter Jesus, we are then called to grow daily as His disciples.
    Grow Groups are one way Our Lady of Mercy (OLM) is responding to our missionary identity where we are called to help parishioners grow continually in discipleship.
    To follow Jesus is to commit to lifelong learning and growth. Like Jesus’ disciples, our walk with the Lord today is not one lived in isolation but rather one immersed in community and enriched by authentic friendship with others. At OLM and in the company of friends, Grow Groups provide a place of deep transformation where people can be known, loved, and cared for as they strive to deepen their friendship with Jesus and one another.
  • For more information, connect with Bob Maxwell our Salt and Light Grow Group Leader at bmaxwell@deltadentalil.com
  • Details and registration are found at this link.
Parish Mission – Unbound 3/18 & 3/19
  • Save the dates for our 2 day parish mission on Friday evening 3/18 from 6:30pm to 9:15pm and all day Saturday 3/19 from 9am to 8pm (catered lunch & dinner included)
  • Led by Father Burke Masters, Father Steven Borello, and our very own Father James Guarascio! 
    Please keep an eye out for further details on the talks and registration (to help us in the materials and catering).
  • These past two years have been a difficult time for us and we need a place to process what we’ve been through; from a number of things from our past or from our time during the lockdown,/pandemic these past 2 years, that we had either forgotten about or had never really dealt with.  With this in mind and our vision of providing ways to encounter Jesus, grow as disciples, and experience more power for mission, our parish mission this year is an Unbound Conference. Looking forward to seeing you there.
  • Registration links will be released sometime this coming week. Please keep an eye out for the App Blast that will notify you when it is live.  Don’t have the myParish App yet?  Download it here for iPhone and Android smartphones. Or text APP to 88202 to download.

St. Vincent de Paul Clothing Drive 3/19 & 3/20
  • Clear out your closets for a good cause!  Pick up a St. Vincent de Paul bag and bring it back on before and after the 4pm Mass on Saturday and on Sunday until noon.
  • The Clothing Drive will accept clothing, shoes, linens, and books in good or bad condition. Unusable clothing, shoes, linens, and even books generate income for the needy because they are sold for rags or in bulk. No baby equipment such as cribs, walkers, strollers, playpens, etc. ALL BABY CLOTHES ACCEPTED! Small housewares and electronics – dishes, glassware, utensils, toasters, blenders, coffee makers, radios, cd players etc. Unfortunately, NO TELEVISIONS.
2022 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Champions
  • The Robert H. Weaver Knights of Columbus Council #12005 would like to congratulate the following winners of our free throw competition held January 22, 2022 at the Our Lady of Mercy Parish Life Center:
    • Gabriella Curcio.         Neto Akpuokwe
      Grace Grunloh            Daniel Callinan
  • We congratulate Gabriella, Grace, and Daniel who also moved on from the District competition, and wish them the best of luck as they will be representing our council and district at the Regional competition which will be held in March. We thank all the kids that came out for a fun morning of competition. Congratulation once again.
Support Our Teens Going on the Mission Trip
  • Every moment we walk alongside a young person as they join in the work God is doing is an opportunity to affirm their purpose and celebrate their gifts.  You have the opportunity to walk alongside our teens in a simple and good way by supporting them financially to offset the costs of the Misson Trip, any dollar amount is helpful.
  • Drop your donation in a marked envelope into the offertory baskets during Mass or donate online through Our Sunday Visitor platform here: https://www.osvhub.com/olmercy/funds.
  • Please also keep our teens, parents, and volunteers in prayer, as they prepare for and go on the Mission Trip to serve at a neighborhood in need in Ohio in July.  In a special way let us pray for our teens for God to bless their quest for purpose, joining them in prayer on their journey to discover what God is doing in their lives.
Did You Know We Have a Parish School?
  • All Saints Catholic Academy (ASCA) located at 1155 Aurora Ave, Naperville is our parish school!
  • Are you a parent with preschool, elementary and middle school-aged children struggling with the antithetical to Christian values the government schools are indoctrinating the children who attend the government schools?  You’re not alone.
  • Join a growing number of OLM parents who have made the movement!  Consider connecting with some of the families who have made the move from sending their child(ren) to public school to All Saints Catholic Academy.
  • Connect with Patty Bajek at (630) 961-6125, or pbajek@ascacademy.org to express your interest and to schedule a personalized tour.  Or peruse their website to explore your interest.


Bishop Hicks’ Monthly Column

  • For February is now posted, it’s entitled “Kindness: the antidote to a cold heart” read it here.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word CLOW Volunteers
  • Every Sunday at the 10am Mass is the beautiful ministry of the Children’s Liturgy of the Word.  Do you love children and caring for them while they listen to the Gospel?  Please connect with Mary Jo Trapani maryjot@olmercy.com or Jean Palasz jeanp@olmercy.com to volunteer.

St. Vincent de Paul Society Volunteers
  • Thank you for your support of our clothing drive. Your clothing donation, as well as your financial donations throughout the year, allows us to help our parishioners and neighbors in need. In 2020 over 120 people/families were provided assistance.
  • The ministry is always looking for volunteers to join our St. Vincent de Paul Society in assisting our neighbors in need. If you would like to volunteer or learn more, send an email at olmsvdp@gmail.com with your name and contact information.
Bulletin
  • Read Father Don’s insightful weekly Bulletin article located here. 
AMA with Father James

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 herefor 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 takes place monthly at MAGNIFY and at the last weekend of the month Mass times.  Prayer ministry is an opportunity for those in need of physical, emotional, or spiritual healing or with a specific intention. Come as an individual, as a couple, or as. a family and receive prayer for yourself or request prayers for someone in need. Listen and receive the prayers while being open to the Holy Spirit’s movement. Trained prayer ministers are available.
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.


HALLOW – A CATHOLIC PRAYER & MEDITATION APP

Hallow is a Catholic prayer & meditation app that helps users deepen their relationship with God through contemplative prayer and strengthen one’s mental health in the process. Easy-to-use, audio-guided sessions anywhere from 1 to 60 minutes long. Pray your own way with a personalized prayer plan pulling from 3,000+ unique sessions including the Lectio Divina on the Daily Gospel, Rosary, Examen, Night Prayer, Calm & Humility “Praylists” and much more. Hallow Light is free. Hallow Plus is $5 per month ($60 per year). Sign up for either one here.

Registration links will be released sometime this coming week.  Please keep an eye out for the App Blast that will notify you when it is live.

Don’t have the myParish App yet?  Download it here for iPhone and Android smartphones. Or text APP to 88202 to download.