March 13: The Second Sunday of Lent

March 13, 2022:

The Second Sunday of Lent

PARISH NEWSLETTER

The Church of St. Mary :: 201 E. Illinois Lake Forest, IL 60045

Parish Office Hours: 8:30am to 4:00pm Monday - Friday

Phone: (847) 234.0205 :: Email: receptionist@churchofstmary.org

www.churchofstmary.org :: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchofStMaryLF/

------We welcomed Bishop Jeffrey Grob to our parish to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with our 8^th grade students in the Religious Education program and the School of St. Mary on Saturday, March 12. While praying over the students, Bishop Grob invited the Holy Spirit to come down upon them. Now, filled with the power and the peace of the Holy Spirit, they can go forth sharing the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit throughout their lives of lived faith. I invite you to join me in praying for them and for their sponsors and families; that faith may be lived, that faith may be shared, today as well as throughout their lives.

------At our monthly Parish Council meeting, Michael Lucas shared with the members of the Parish Council a little prayer he is using this Lent for his journey:

Almighty and ever living God,

you invite us deeper into your world, your people, your Lent.

May this time be one of outward focus;

seeking you in those we often ignore.

Help us live a Lent focused on freedom, generosity, and encounter.

Give us hearts hungry to serve you

and those who need what we have to give.

- Author Unknown

------When you turn to hymn number 490 in Today’s Missal – Music Issue you will find the music and verses for the hymn There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy. I share the words of the verses with you as an invitation to use in your prayer these Lenten days.

------There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, Like the wideness of the sea;

------There’s a kindness in his justice which is more than liberty.

------There is plentiful redemption, In the blood that has been shed;

------There is joy for all the members, In the sorrows of the Head.

------For the love of God is broader, Than the measures of our mind,

------And the heart of the Eternal, Is most wonderfully kind.

------If our love were but more simple, We should take him at his word,

------And our lives would be thanksgiving, For the goodness of our Lord.

------Troubled souls, why will you scatter, Like a crowd of frightened sheep?

------Foolish hearts, why will you wander, From a love so true and deep?

------There is welcome for the sinner, And more graces for the good;

------There is mercy with the Savior, There is healing in his blood.

------I find these words powerful and the melody one that is easy to sing and to use in prayer. Is there an invitation for you in the verses of this song as we journey in prayer and in faith these Lenten days?

------You may have already found and use the prayer that is on the back cover of Today’s Missal. This prayer for Lent is also offered to you today, to be used in your prayer these Lenten days:

------PRAYER FOR LENT – O God, bless us during this season of spiritual renewal. Fill our minds and hearts with love, that we may be a sign of Jesus to all those living in our midst.

------You are invited to join us for Mass, for the rosary, for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and for the Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent. You are invited to bring a friend or family member to pray with you at any or all of the above opportunities to gather with other parishioners.

------May God bless you with a spiritually enriching and renewing Lenten season,

Pope Francis' Prayer for Peace

Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.

Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).

Find many Lenten resources at usccb.org/Lent

Children's Worship Bulletin for March 13, 2021:

for ages 3+ HERE and for ages 7+ HERE.

ST. MARY'S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Confirmation Celebrations: Join us in a prayer of thanksgiving as the Most Reverend Jeffrey Grob, JCD confirmed 83 youth this weekend at our parish (Saturday, March 12). Let us always hold our young church in prayer as they continue to live out their Baptismal Call to be Disciples of Christ. We are also thankful for our Catechists, Teachers, Confirmation Team, prayer partners and families who helped prepare our students to joyfully celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth.

Religious Education Rice Bowl Challenge: Our students are currently participating in the CRS Rice Bowl Classroom Challenge. Please remind your student(s) to bring their offerings to class.

Reminders:

No Classes due to Spring Break:

Sunday: March 20, 27 & April 3
Tuesday, March 22, 29 & April 5

Save the Dates:

Intensives (Grades 6-8): June 13-17, 2022

Intensive classes are open for our students who are:

COMMITTED to attending longer class periods for Confirmation Preparation
CAPABLE of working independently between class sessions
And would benefit from a condensed schedule

Students will need to attend one week (June 13-17) and six Sundays throughout the school year.

If your student is currently enrolled in Intensives, all assignments (including Mass Reflection sheets) must be turned in prior to registering for 2022-2023. Registration will open mid-April.

Totus Tuus Summer Youth Camp, July 17-22, 2022: We are excited to welcome Totus Tuus this summer for our children entering 1st - 6th Grade (for the 2022-2023 School Year). The Totus Tuus program aims to inspire young people to long for holiness, develop a deep desire for conversion and personally renew their faith with a stronger prayer life. Through evangelization and catechesis, Totus Tuus seeks to foster openness to the sacrifices and blessings of the various Christian vocations. Totus Tuus is a program of the Archdiocese of Chicago. More information will be shared in the coming weeks.

religiouseducation.churchofstmary.org

Questions? Contact 847.234.0090 | religioused@churchofstmary.org

HOLY COMMUNION TO THOSE IN CARS

In the months ahead, we will be offering you the opportunity to come and receive the gift of the Eucharist in Holy Communion from your cars. This will take place on the last Sunday of each month, our next opportunity will be Sunday, March 27. All are welcome. This opportunity is especially for those who are not able to worship in person at St. Mary’s.

Please follow the directions below:

Starting at 1:00pm, after the congregation leaves the Noon Mass, cars may line up entering from the east Oakwood entrance.
Driving through the parking lot, proceed under the school breezeway and drive behind the church, stopping by the south church/elevator entrance where the priest will be.
Please stay in your car, with a mask fully covering your nose and mouth, waiting in prayer to receive the Eucharist.
The priest will process from car to car, offering the Eucharist.
After you receive the Eucharist you can pull over, parking your car in the parking lot, offering a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist.

CHURCH SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE: Saturday, March 12 - Sunday, March 20, 2022

Saturday, March 12, 2022:

+ 7:30am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS

+ 10:00am: Confirmation - Church

+ 2:00pm: Confirmation - Church

+ 5:00pm: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS

+ 5:00pm: Easter Sharing Basket Disribution

Sunday, March 13, 2022:

Easter Sharing Basket Distribution at all Masses

+ 8:00am: PUBLIC MASS

+ 10:00am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS

+ 12:00pm: PUBLIC MASS

Monday, March 14, 2022: