NOTES FOR FEBRUARY 1, 2024 | |
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Faithful can subscribe to the notes by contacting the parish office and providing their e-mail address. Thanks for your support of our border town parishes!!!
Please remember - Fr. Pete does not send out text messages, e-mails or social media posts to solicit
funds for himself or any organizations outside of the parishes he serves. Fr. Pete's emergency phone
number is (815) 685-1359 and his e-mail addresses
are either pjankowski@yahoo.com or pjankowski@stfrancis.edu.
Please do not trust any correspondences that
utilize any other phone number or e-mail address.
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Please support our parishes by clicking the ONLINE GIVING picture - these are your local homes where God is present! Let's share this grace with those of the next generation! | |
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News & Notes with Fr. Pete Jankowski
Happy End of Our Forty-Day Christmas Season with Candlemas!
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Feel free to contact Fr. Pete at email pjankowski@yahoo.com. If you have an emergency, please contact Fr. Pete at (815) 685-1359 | |
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“Some people think they are in community, but they are only in proximity. True community requires commitment and openness. It is a willingness to extend yourself to encounter and know the other.” – Spiritual Philosopher David Spangler.
On Saturday, February 10, our parish once again will sponsor a Complimentary Polka Mass & Appreciation Dinner, honoring those from both of our parishes who dedicate themselves to the service of our parishes. All are invited and encouraged to RSVP at St. Patrick’s office at (815) 472-2864 or at St. Anne’s Office at (815) 427-8265.
As in previous years, Ray Koncar and his Polka Mass-ters make their triumphant return to the parish, to play both at the Mass and at the reception that is to follow. JR’s Chicken will provide the standard fare, served up by St. Patrick’s Funeral Luncheon Committee. Secretary Ema Elvir will take care of decorations and Mauricio Vela from The Rosemary Café in Joliet will offer his complementary spread of Mexican beef, pork and chicken dishes with all the wonderful side foods that go with it.
Some years ago at one of the numerous parishes I have served, many parishioners would lament the one area of parish ministry we often neglect and that is the role of fellowship. I have been told on numerous occasions that the parishioners of St. Anne’s have tried parish picnics and socials but the lack of participation caused them to stop this practice (luckily, our religious education program, our Fish Fry and our St. Anne’s Day fill the gaps in this regard.
Over at St. Pat’s, we are now years removed from the annual “Beef Cookout” which used to be popular in the community life; before 2019, parish-sponsored social events were few. The Knights of Columbus run their own separate events and, until recently, we have found ways to get the Knights as a group to help at parish-sponsored events, such as the Irish Mass & Dinner that we will hold on March 9 and the various coffee & donut outings they have sponsored.
To build community, we cannot just talk about the spiritual life of the parish; we also must promote the social life as well. Please consider doing just that by supporting and attending the Parish Appreciation Mass & Dinner on February 10.
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Why are Catholics
so bad at fellowship?
George Martell Archdiocese of Boston (From www.Aleteia.com)
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In establishing the Church, Jesus made clear that we are not meant to navigate the Christian journey alone. Without a doubt, a common theme among fallen-away Catholics who are now happily nestled in bustling Protestant communities is that they felt unwelcome at their parish because there was a lack of fellowship. So, what is fellowship and why are we, as Catholics, so notoriously bad at it?
Fellowship, by its very definition, is merely a friendly association and the gathering of like-minded people. How is that so difficult? Yet the very concept brings disdain from some Catholics. In a group chat discussing this issue there was a common theme: We do not need fellowship; we go to Mass for the Eucharist. One commenter even said, “The difference is that Protestants need people; we don’t need people, we have Jesus.”
Really? Catholics do not need people? Yes, we do have Jesus in the Eucharist but it is a fallacy to espouse a spirituality without community. We are the Church, and that in its very essence means we are a people. The concept of fellowship is essential to our journey as Christians; Jesus Christ himself taught us this.
In establishing the Church, Jesus made clear that we are not meant to navigate the Christian journey alone. That we need the love and support of like-minded people to help us to stay the course — in the good times and when the waters get rocky. Yes, I do attend Mass to receive Christ in the Eucharist, but that does not mean my experience of Church should be limited to my moment of Communion.
Perhaps the biggest mistake that we Catholics make, and one we will be judged for, no doubt, is our lack of reaching out to people in the pews on Sunday. The Church is a body of believers, and what kind of body are we if we are not mindful of our obligation and mission to ease each other’s sufferings and lead our brothers and sisters to experience Jesus Christ? In fact the Mass is more beautiful and exponentially more powerful when experienced in its full purpose: drawing spiritual strength from the Eucharist and temporal strength from the experience of standing united with others in our belief that Christ is present with us.
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Join Us at Our Annual Polka Mass and Appreciation Dinner!
February 10, 2024
Polka Mass w/ Ray Koncar at 4 pm
Appreciation Dinner to Follow
This week, we started planning in earnest for our Border Town Mass and Appreciation Dinner in February (prior to our Ash Wednesday services and the Season of Lent), we just worked out details with JR's Chicken and Bill & Elina Dimitrious in Joliet (owners of four restaurants in that area), whose staff will also be preparing food for this event. Anyone who volunteers at the parish is invited to join us with their families. All you have to do is RSVP at St. Anne's [(815) 427-8265] or St. Patrick's (815) 472-2864] and you are all set to go - hope to see you there!!! We have included highlights from last year's celebration with this note.
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Last weekend, Brother Ender Jhobany Orduz-Duarte spoke about the good ministry from The Clerics of St. Viator. Brother Jhobany mentioned that this was the first time he spoke in English to a large community - HE DID GREAT! He also announced that on April 6 at 10:00 a.m., Bishop Christopher Glancy, CVS will ordain Brother Jhobany as a transitional deacon at Maternity BVM Church in Bourbonnais, to which you are all invited!!!
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Below are the reflections that Brother Jhobany offered
our community, both in English and in Spanish...
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Br. Jhobany's Reflection
on Vocations in English
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Br. Jhobany's Reflection
on Vocations in Spanish
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Mass for the Fifth
Sunday in Ordinary Time
Celebrated at St. Anne's Church - St. Anne, IL
Referencing the story of Job from this Sunday's First Reading, Fr. Pete Jankowski preaches about the importance that suffering and sacrifice, which often can result in growth of the faith (John 12: 24). So much good has taken place at St. Anne's through the sacrifices of the faithful from this little community with a HUGE heart!!!
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UPCOMING PROJECTS AT ST. PATRICK'S | |
WE HAVE REDUCED OURPARISH DEBT AT ST. PATRICK'S BY A FACTOR OF OVER $200,000 IN THE LAST TWO YEARS!!! | |
One of our seniors has taken it upon themself to take courses on writing grants. The US Government offers millions of dollars of grants that are accessible for those who apply for them. Since both parish halls are seen as "Community and Emergency Centers" by our respective cities, we need help in getting generators and internet on our properties to help the cities... and us!!! ... in our efforts to serve the people of our area. | |
ST. PATRICK'S / ST. ANNE'S
PHOTO DIRECTORIES
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Thanks to Ruth Sparenberg, Anne Andrade & Joanne Hermann for assembling, scanning and editing the follow Photo Directories from the Church History of St. Patrick's and St. Anne's Churches! | |
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The Holy Father provides a wonderful opportunity to receive an Apostolic Blessing for Birthdays, Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Weddings, Religious Professions, Ordinations and Anniversaries of these sacraments. | | |
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For weddings and such, Fr. Pete offers a special blessing on the first Sunday weekend of each month and is willing to purchase an Apostolic Blessing for anyone who asks (and if he can afford it... since he pays out of pocket!!!).
If you are interested in receiving an Apostolic Blessing, you can do so by clicking the link below or by calling the parish offices.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR OWN APOSTOLIC BLESSING!!!
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Parish Hotline... If you know of someone who is sick and in need of the sacraments or if you know someone who wishes a visit at the hospital or care facility, please contact the parish office or Fr. Pete Jankowski at (815) 685-1359.
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Fr. Pete offers the Anointing of the Sick at both parishes at the First Friday Masses every month (St. Patrick’s at 9:15 a.m. and St. Anne’s at 5:00 p.m. (English) and 7:00 p.m. (Spanish). | |
PULPIT ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS WEEKEND | |
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In your bulletins are flyers for Waterleaf Services, a Catholic organization that helps young Christian mothers during their pregnancy. We ask you to take a baby bottle, fill it with change, and return it to the parish on the last weekend of February.
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Please consider a donation of socks and slippers to Harbor House in January and towels and toiletries in February. More information can be found in the bulletin.
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Please call the office to RSVP for the complementary Parish Appreciation Dinner at St. Patrick’s Church, starting on Saturday, February 10th with a 4:00 p.m. Polka Mass and dinner / entertainment to follow.
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Next weekend is the kickoff to the Diocesan Ministry Appeal here at the Border Town. Please check the bulletin for more information.
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KEEP UPDATED WITH OUR PARISH BULLETINS!!! | |
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To View St. Patrick's Bulletin for
February 4, 2024
CLICK HERE!
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To View St. Anne's Bulletin for
February 4, 2024
CLICK HERE!
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PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Mary Kay Blankestyn, Ashley & Jesse Childress, Guadalupe Maria De Leon, Austin Fuhrmann, Ron Gall, Joel Hart, Karen Hensa, Joanne McCracken, Marilyn Peterson, Joanne Prather, Evelyn Provost, Ruth Sparenberg, Cynthia Vickery, Gary Witherall... and all those on our sick list.
At St. Anne's... Eva Bell, Paula Bertrand, Lola Billings, Duane Blanchette, Cheryl Boswell, Patrick Burns, Cindy Capriotti, Abraham Daily, Tom Dandurand, Aria Dionne, Carol Futcher, Raelynn Garrett, Val Lagacy, Bentley Lottinville, Linda Miramontes and John Wojnowski.
At St. Patrick's... P. Anderson, N. Atkinson, R. Bailey, D. Barth, Beedle Family, D. Brown, W. Bukowski, B & E. Coffman, S. Conner, M & D Cousin, M. Cruz, A. Delaney, D. Demack, M. Dionne, J. Dobbins, E. Duke, D. Dunlap, G. Field, C. Fritz, R. Gall, J. Grill, R. Harper, J. Hibbs, D. Hiller, C. Jones, L. Kane, R. Kazee, A. Kijewski, L. Lee, L. Leranth, E. Lopez, B. Love, J. Marcotte, W. Marten, L. McNulty, L. Mercado, R & V Morse, C. Ortman, D. Petronio, M. Peterson, C. Piec, C. Provost, E. Provost, R. Rehmer, P. Reising, D. Roberts, B. Ryan, A. Schaff, J. Schopf. Schmied, K. Simpson, B. Siwicki, B. Spagnola, M. Tolbert, M. Tolmer, H. Tousignant, M. Velazquez, C. Vickery, M. Williams, M. Witherspoon, S. Young, A. Zimmerman, M & L Zink and G. Zokal.
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Fr. Pete Jankowski posts his homilies online at the parish website for those who wish to keep up with the gospel message each week.
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PARISH REGISTRATION FORMS | |
FR. PETE'S TELEVISION SERIES | |
CLICK HERE to watch Fr. Pete’s Twelve Part Series “Stories on the Journey,” Broadcast on Shalom World TV! | |
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BOOK, BRICK & PEW DEDICATION PROGRAM | |
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For only $100, you can dedicate a brick to someone special at St. Patrick's Outdoor Grotto (where the Our Lady of Lourdes Outdoor Masses are celebrated)!!!
(815) 472-2864
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For only $25, you can dedicate a Journeysongs Pew Book from either parish. Please call (815) 472-2864 (St. Patrick's) or (815) 427-8265 (St. Anne's) for more information! | | |
LINKS TO CATHOLIC WEBSITES
CLICK ON PICTURE TO ACCESS SITE
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