October 31, 2021: The Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

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/

-------This coming week there are many opportunities for people of the parish to come together in prayer. Monday, November 1, All Saints’ Day, is a holy day of obligation. We will be offering Mass at 7:30am and 7:00pm. Tuesday is the Feast of All Souls, an important day in the life of the Church when we lift up to God all those who have died. Mass will be offered at 7:30am as well as a special Memorial Mass at 7:00pm. At the special Memorial Mass, we will be praying for all those in our parish community that have experienced the loss and death of a loved one this past year. May the celebration help strengthen those who are grieving the death of a family member. May we as a community be a witness and a model to all who “grieve in hope” in the promises of everlasting life through our Lord Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

-------There is a need for vocations to serve God and God’s people. The Archdiocese is very fortunate to have a major seminary where men from around the world are able to come and be formed and educated to serve the Church as priests. Men come from around the world to study, and upon completion of their studies they return to their local dioceses to serve as priests.

There is a decline in those discerning vocations to religious life or priesthood. There is a decline in the enrollment at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary. The current academic year began at Mundelein seminary with 118 men in priestly formation. There are 24 men at Mundelein studying to serve the local Church in Lake and Cook County, in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

-------Fr. Radley and my alma mater, the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year. There are many events that the seminary has in place to recognize this momentous occasion and to continue to invite people from across the Archdiocese and world to prayerfully, spiritually, and financially support Mundelein Seminary. Learn more about the rich history of the Seminary at 100.usml.edu/timeline/.

-------The Seminary is encouraging a Holy Hour for Vocations. St. Mary’s is joining Mundelein Seminary’s centennial celebration by holding a Holy Hour for priests on Wednesday, November 3 at 5:00pm. As we pray for vocations at St. Mary’s on the first Wednesday of November, the monstrance we will be using for adoration and prayer is the monstrance that was used at the 28^th International Eucharistic Congress that was held at Mundelein in 1926. You are invited to mark your calendars and come to join in the Holy Hour for Priests on November 3. This Holy Hour will be held during the regular scheduled time that we offer adoration at the Church of St. Mary, Wednesday, November 3 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

------The Archdiocese of Chicago has invited parishioners in every parish in Cook and Lake County to reflect on their life of faith, their relationship with Jesus and not only ponder but act on the way all of us are called to be missionary disciples. Since September of 2015, led by prayer and the Holy Spirit, parishioners and parish leadership across the Archdiocese have been engaged in conversation, prayer, and planning. The following prayer has been shared multiple times with you. I offer it again in this article as a reminder and an invitation to spiritually join together with parishes that are actively engaged in the “Decisions and Discernment” aspects of the Renew My Church initiative.

A Prayer for “Renew My Church”

Lord Jesus, you speak to us today,

as you spoke to holy men and women

who have gone before us.

In every age and in our own time,

you call to us and say: Renew My Church.

Pour out the gift of your Holy Spirit upon us,

and so enable us

to hear you clearly

to listen to each other attentively

to imagine our future boldly

to discern your direction wisely

to persevere in your holy will courageously

to stay together in charity

to surrender our own plans readily

to embrace the greater good

to hand on your gifts to future generations.

May we remain in the holy company of

the Blessed Virgin Mary, the apostles and all the saints.

May their example and presence

inspire us with patient confidence

in the work of your grace.

We ask this of you who live and reign

with the Father

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God,

forever and ever. Amen

-------Thank you to everyone who supported the Aid for Women Baby Bottle Project. Your donations help Aid for Women make great differences in the lives of women and children. Find more about the ministry of Aid for Women at www.aidforwomen.org.

-------Next weekend we will fall back an hour. Make sure you remind yourself of this time change next Saturday night so all can arrive on time to share in the Eucharist on Sunday, November 7.

-------May God bless us with compassionate hearts, respecting all life.

Mundelein Seminary is marking its Centennial year with special events to mark 100 years of priestly formation on the Mundelein Seminary campus. This fall, parishes across Chicago and neighboring dioceses will host a Holy Hour with the historic monstrance that was first used at the ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone of Mundelein’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in 1924 and was also used at the 1926 Eucharistic Congress held on the seminary grounds.

November 3, 2021

5:00pm ~ 7:00pm

St. Mary’s Catholic Church

175 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest

All are welcome to join in prayerful thanksgiving for the thousands of parish priests who have devoted their lives to the Church as well as in praying that more men will answer the promptings of the Holy Spirit to discern their call.

Learn more about Mundelein Centennial Events at:

100.usml.edu/events/

Remembering

our

Beloved Departed

In the Catholic tradition, November begins with the feasts of the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1 and the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’) on November 2.

This remembrance of all who have died continues through the month of November until the First Sunday of Advent. It is customary to inscribe the names of deceased persons who were beloved to members of the local community in a Book of the Names of the Dead. In writing the names and trusting that the people named will find a place in the community’s prayer, the living experience healing and consolation in the midst of their grief.

This book will be located near the Baptismal font. All of us are invited to read the names and to remember those who have died by name in our prayers. Thus the whole community prays that all who have died will find joy in God’s presence forever.

You are invited to add the names of your deceased relatives, friends, mentors, and co-workers in the Book of Remembrance, especially names of those who have died within the past year.

Children's Worship Bulletin for October 31, 2021:

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

Introducing Crusader Chats!

As we start to emerge from the

COVID-19 pandemic, the School of St. Mary wants to support families as they

navigate the social and emotional areas currently impacting their lives. After

two meetings and a survey to the community, the SOSM Parent Social/Emotional

Health Committee has utilized the feedback provided to offer the Crusader Chat

series. Over the 2021-2022 school year we will offer five virtual chats on

various subjects related to Social-Emotional Health. Watch for information on

the first chat in November! Please pray that these chats open up a healthy

discussion and help our parents navigate these trying times.

Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat!

The SOSM Parents Association would like to thank everyone who made our first event of the 2021 school year a success. We had over 150 kids come to our Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat on October 24. We had a great evening of fun and community building. Special thanks to Mr. Bill for helping us set up the parking lot and Dr. Brua and Fr. Radley for being our judges.

Learn more about the School of St. Mary!

Please join Mandy Castle, Director of Admissions, at one of our October Admissions events to learn more about the programs offered at the School of St. Mary. Most of the programs are virtual, current and prospective students are encouraged to attend.

Friday, October 29 - Virtual 4/5th Grade Information Session
Friday, November 5 - Virtual Middles School Information Session
Friday, November 12 - Virtual Preschool Information Session

All sessions start at 9:30 a.m. and can be accessed at this link. Please reach out to Mandy Castle, Director of Admissions, at mcastle@schoolofstmary.org for more information.

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, October 31. 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, October 30 - Sunday, November 7, 2021

Saturday, October 30, 2021:

+ 7:30am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS

+ 8:00am: Reconciliation in Church

+ 5:00pm: Livestream Sunday Mass & PUBLIC MASS

Sunday, October 31, 2021:

+ 8:00am: PUBLIC MASS

+ 10:00am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS

+ 12:00pm: PUBLIC MASS

+1:00pm: Communion to those in cars - enter by Oakwood parking lot

Monday, November 1, 2021: ~ All Saints Day