January 2025
 

January, it’s the start of a New Year, new beginnings and new opportunities.  The family is the smallest but most fundamental unit of society. It is in the family that we experience love, forgiveness, community and relationships. But we also experience loss, hurt, pain and suffering. As parents, as mothers and fathers God has blessed you with your children and with the awesome responsibility of teaching your children. There is so much to teach your children! You teach them to take care of their bodies, provide schooling so they are educated, and teach them about our loving God and the Catholic faith. While you are teaching all these things, your children are watching you and your actions, and they are learning so much by them. Do not be discouraged in this task God has given you, for God does not call the qualified but qualifies those called. As a parish we are here to help one another to grow in love and faith. If things have seemed overwhelming at times, call on the help and support of others. This is a new year, a new beginning, a chance to start a new tradition, to learn something new as a family. Happy New Year!

Last month on Saturday morning, December 7^th was First Reconciliation for five students: Emma Drouare, Elizabeth Heck, Beckam Lange, Brandon Scherer and Leo Simmer.   Thank you to Fr. Canova and St. Anne’s CCW for providing brunch for the families. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare to receive their First Holy Communion in April.

There was some great conversation at the parent meetings this past fall, check them out if you were unable to make them. The Parent Meetings from September, October, & November are posted on the RE webpage or you may use the following links to watch: 

September – https://youtu.be/2lvOrVc_AUo

October – https://youtu.be/UE5lfadl0zQ, and

November – https://youtu.be/Ncg6bl0x8Mw. 

December will be available after January 3^rd.

Sunday, January 5^th – Epiphany of the Lord

• Religious Education Family Classes will be held today from 9-10:15am.

Sunday, January 12^th – Baptism of the Lord

• The Youth Group Lock-in Retreat at Apple Canyon Lake will be held this weekend, Friday-Sunday and will be filled with spiritual growth and development. We will go sledding, so bring snow gear. Don’t forget to bring your rosaries! Contact Renae for permission slips.
• The students preparing for First Holy Communion will meet with their parents from 9-10:15am in the church hall.
• Confirmation Class will be held today beginning with a potluck lunch at 11:30am – 12pm. Class will run from 12-2pm. Please register for class using the link on the class webpage. At this meeting we will discuss class dates for the rest of the year.
• The Christmas Season has ended. People of all ages are needed after the 10:30am Mass to help pack away the Christmas decorations at St. Mary. The Poinsettia plants decorating the sanctuary are ready for a new home. Please help yourself to one or more from in front of the Blessed Mother or the Joseph statues. Be sure to leave the plant’s plastic saucer behind so it can be re-used. Thank you.
• The Baptism of Jesus and ending of the Christmas season.  We will be in ordinary time until Lent begins on March 5^th– Ash Wednesday.

Tuesday, January 14^th

• St. Ann’s CCW will hold their monthly meeting at 10am in the church hall. All women of the parish are welcome to attend. 

Wednesday, January 15^th

• That Man is You will begin for the spring session. If you were unable to attend in the fall you are still welcome to join us. Join Deacon Mike and men of the parish at 6am this morning at St. Mary Church Hall. The morning begins at 6am with greeting & coffee followed by a presentation, small group discussion, and concludes at 7:10am. Any questions, call Deacon Mike at 630-269-7508.

Sunday, January 19^th 

• Religious Education Family Classes will be held today from 9-10:15am. Peer breakout groups will also meet for part of the class time. Parents will discuss Building Community and Raising children when only one parent is Catholic.
• Students in the 3-6^th grade class will participate in various ministries during the 10:30am Mass today.

February 2^nd  

• Boy Scout Sunday.        Boy Scouts who participate at Mass on February 1^st/2^nd should receive a Scout Sunday patch from their Pack or Troop. If your son is a Boy Scout and would like to participate in the weekend Masses, please call Terry Cravens at 248-2490.        (Girl Scout Sunday is March 9^th).

Saturday and Sunday, February 8^th/9^th

• Before and after all Masses a Souper Bowl Sunday collection of non-perishable foods and monetary donations will be taken to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.  Show your support by placing your donation in the “soup pot” for your favorite NFL team to win the Super Bowl or SVdP (All food and money collected will be donated to St. Mary/St. Patrick St. Vincent de Paul Society).

Christus Sitas

This summer Christus Sitas will be offered again at the parish. We need volunteers to teach the daytime break-out sessions, prepare lunch and snacks, etc. If you are interested, please contact me A.S.A.P. Christus Sitas is based on Totus Tuus, a week-long “parish mission” for Catholic youth entering grades 1^st – 12^th. It is dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, apologetics, Christian witness, the sacraments, Marian devotion, and Eucharistic worship. Please send me the best weeks this summer for your family to attend by January 31^st. Available weeks are: June 2-6 or June 16-20. More information will be available in the near future. 

The feast of Saint Blaise is on February 3. St. Blaise is the patron saint of throats and illnesses of the throat. You can read about this saint on page 35 in the “A Saint A Day” book.

In honor of his feast day, after all the weekend Masses February 1^st/2^nd, we will have the blessing of throats.