December 18, 2022:
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
PARISH NEWSLETTER
The Church of St. Mary :: 201 E. Illinois Lake Forest, IL 60045
Parish Office Hours: 8:30am to 4:00pm Monday - Friday
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From the Desk of Fr. Mike Nacius, Pastor |
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-------We come together on the Fourth Sunday of Advent to pray our way into the festivities and celebrations of our Savior’s birth. If you are traveling, I pray that your travels are safe, free from illness, and filled with the “Joy of Jesus” this Christmas season. If you are not traveling, I pray that you are able to join together in prayer with the guests, family members, parishioners, and friends that will grace the doors of the Church of St. Mary as we worship our newborn King and Lord. As Catholics we celebrate the season of Christmas. It is not possible to fill one single day with all of the feasts and celebrations that take a season to pray and to meditate upon each and every year.
-------Parishioners of St. Mary are very generous, not only to St. Mary’s, but also to many other worthy causes, during the Christmas season as well as all year long. The financial support offered throughout the year, by your Christmas offering and an end of year gift to the Church of St. Mary are very much appreciated. God continues to bless the community of St. Mary’s. We have welcomed 116 new families to our parish in 2022. We have said goodbye to parishioners who have moved closer to loved ones out of state.
-------The first church for St. Mary’s, a wooden structure, was built in 1875. It withstood the weather and elements for 35 years and then had to be torn down. The second church was built in1910, renovated in 1970 and expanded and enlarged in 1987. Over recent years, adjustments and improvements were made recognizable to the visible eye in the church and to things not as clearly seen such as the roofs, boilers, mechanicals etc. With the generosity of parishioners, we will continue to maintain and improve our church for current and future generations of worshippers.
-------For the past fifty years, as people of faith have come to welcome Jesus born in a manger as our Savior, celebrating the joy of Christmas, the interior of the church and sometimes the gym have been artistically, creatively, and wonderfully prepared by Lake Forest Flowers. Heartfelt thanks go out to John Looby and Eileen Looby Weber for their generous support to the Church of St. Mary. Below are pictures of some of the decorations that have enhanced our Christmas celebrations. Join me in praying that God may bless the Looby family for their commitment and dedication to the parish. We will all be blessed by the beauty of the creèche and altar decorations at Christmas because of the kindness, generosity and talent that the Loobys share with the parish at Christmas this year. You are invited to appreciate some of the altar arrangements that have been created over the years at our parish in the following photographs.
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-------Please plan to worship with us over the Christmas season.
-------May God bless us with hope filled hearts this Advent!
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St. Mary's 4:00pm Christmas Eve Mass at the Chapel at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart will be livestreamed. Click below to view. |
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CoSM Faith and Fellowship Men's Group
Please join the men of the Church of St. Mary as we begin a new initiative for men to grow our love of our Lord and faith as we come together and form the CoSM Faith and Fellowship Men's Group.
We will meet monthly with various speakers and topics. Our first meeting is Thursday January 12, 2023 from 6:45pm - 8:30pm in the Parish Center Conference Room.
Bill Wennington, a parishioner, and former 3 time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls will share with us about his faith journey and the Bulls then and now!
We look forward to seeing you on January 12.
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Children's Worship Bulletin for December 18, 2022:
Click for ages 3+ HERE and for ages 7+ HERE.
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SCHEDULE: Saturday, December 17 - Sunday, December 25, 2022
Saturday, December 17, 2022:
+ 7:30am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS with Rosary & Private Prayer after Mass until 8:30am
+ 8:00am: Confession - Church
+ 5:00pm: Livestream & PUBLIC Mass
Sunday, December 18, 2022:
+ 8:00am: PUBLIC MASS
+ 10:00am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS
+ 12:00pm: PUBLIC MASS
Monday, December 19, 2022:
+ 7:30am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS with Rosary & Private Prayer after Mass until 8:30am
Tuesday, December 20, 2022:
+ 7:30am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS with Rosary & Private Prayer after Mass until 8:30am
+ 7:00pm: Handbell Choir - Church
Wednesday, December 21, 2022:
+ 7:30am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS with Rosary & Private Prayer after Mass until 8:30am
+ 5:00pm - 6:30pm: Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction - Church
Thursday, December 22, 2022:
+ 7:30am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS
+ 7:00pm: Adult Choir - Church
Friday, December 23, 2022:
+ 7:30am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS with Rosary & Private Prayer after Mass until 8:30am
Saturday, December 24, 2022: ~ Christmas Eve
+ 7:30am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS with Rosary & Private Prayer after Mass until 8:30am
+ 8:00am: Confession - Church
+ 4:00pm: Livestream & Public Mass - Church
+ 4:00pm: Mass - Woodlands Academy Chapel
+ 4:15pm: Mass - UGC Gym
+ 6:00pm: Mass - Church
+ 10:00pm: Mass - Church
Sunday, December 25, 2022: ~ Christmas Day
+ 8:00am: PUBLIC MASS
+ 10:00am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS
+ 12:00pm: PUBLIC MASS
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FROM AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE
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To find ways to volunteer within our community and to seek assistance from the parish please click here.
Here is a List of Places You may watch Mass on TV, Radio or Online:
- Online:
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Church of St. Mary Livestream can be found on our Facebook Page. View past celebrated Masses or join us for a current Livestream Mass according to the schedule in this newsletter.
- TV: EWTN
- DirecTV Channel 370
- Dish Network Channel 261
- Verizon Fios Channel 285
- XFinity Channel 33, 291, 1668
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Relevant Radio:
- 1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am PT.
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These Masses will be broadcast live on your local station, on the Relevant Radio® app, at relevantradio.com, and on my Father Rocky Facebook page so you can tune in from wherever you are. The Mass will be rebroadcast each evening at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT on your local station.
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To read the Daily Scripture readings you may go to usccb.org and select "Daily Reading" at the top left menu.
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I Charles Gallagher and Anna Martin |
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PRAYER FOR THE SICK AND DECEASED
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Please remember in your prayers those who are sick, especially: |
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Germaine Arnson
Beni-de Dieu Atibalentja
Michael Caringello
Kelly Bukaty
Chris Decker
Joan Dolan
Tanya Dornik
Cathy Foley
Karl Grubert
Hannah Hodgson
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Christian Jenko
James Krueger
Caroline Lyczko
Carolina Martinez
Bob Matthei
Patty McQuinn
Kit O’Brien
Ricardo Pedemonte
Penny Peterson
Migdalia Reyes
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This new sick list began on December 1 and will continue through February.
If you would like to add a family member to the Prayers for the Sick, please call our Parish Office at: 847.234.0205.
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Please remember in your prayers those who have gone to their eternal rest with Our Lord, especially:
Dr. Eugene Trager
(husband of Mary Trager; father of Sharon Trager and Mark Trager)
Matthew Simon Moughamian
(son of Phyllis and Simon Moughamian)
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Mass Intentions will be prayed for during a private or public daily Mass.
Saturday, December 17, 2022:
7:30am: Anna & Carl Deckmeyer & Bob Pommer; Craigmile-Maurer Family; -
-----------Germaine Clifford
5:00pm: Philip Sheridan, Sr.; Maria & Sam Scopelliti;
----------Special Intention for Ashley & Dawson Van Winkle
Sunday, December 18, 2022:
8:00am: Joseph Milite; Cimarrusti-Valentino Family; Mary Fox
10:00am: Bill Archibald; James Skinner; James Kelly
Noon: Charles Del Grande; Jacqueline Roberti; Jack Dhamer; People of St. Mary’s
Monday, December 19, 2022:
7:30am: Murray Conzelman; Barbara Claeys; Joseph Milite
Tuesday, December 20, 2022:
7:30am: Thomas R. Kiwala; Ryan Stoll; Dale Jacobs
Wednesday, December 21, 2022:
7:30am: Frank Sylvester; Ryan Stoll; Peggy & Gene Mullin
Thursday, December 22, 2022:
7:30am: Cecilia & Francis Yoo; Yolanda Wilson; Joseph Milite
Friday, December 23, 2022:
7:30am: Sun Yoo; Peter Gillespie; Anne Leiser
Saturday, December 24, 2022: ~ Christmas Eve
All Masses for the People of St. Mary's
Sunday, December 25, 2022: ~ Christmas Day
All Masses for the People of St. Mary's
If you would like to request a special Mass Intention, please email our Parish Receptionists at: receptionist@churchofstmary.org and they will kindly assist you!
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“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” MATTHEW 1:24
Putting our complete trust in the Lord without expecting anything in return. Striving to put God first in all things and follow Him wherever He may lead us. As we prepare for the birth of our Lord, pray for the strength and courage to be a model of discipleship, just as Joseph was.
Sunday Collection-------------------------------------------Actual----------------Budgeted------Surplus/(Shortfall)
December 11, 2022-------------------- ---------------------- $30,780------- ----- -- $25,000 ---------- ( ($5,780
Total Sunday Collections Fiscal 2023 YTD---------- $591,616----------------$600,000---------------($8,384)
Total Retirement Fund for Religious
Collections Fiscal 2023 YTD ------------------------------ $6,002
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THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY
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We are grateful for the outpouring of support from parishioners while we navigate financially. Thank you for continuing to support your parish as well as our sharing parish, Most Blessed Trinity. Thank you for mailing your contribution to the Parish Office or scheduling your online donation. Offertory basket will be made available during Sunday Public Masses as well for your offering.
Ways To Give
+ Drop in the Offertory Basket during Public Mass at the end of Mass
+ Mail Your Contribution:
----- Church of St. Mary
----- c/o Business Office
-----201 E. Illinois
-----Lake Forest, IL 60045
+ Online Giving:
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Schedule your recurring donations via our online Giving safe and secure portal, GiveCentral Go to: Church of St. Mary GiveCentral or click the image to the left.
Thank you!
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Church of St. Mary Website
Bookmark our parish website for information on all parish ministries, events, contact information, and more!
Information on our Mass Schedule, Sacraments, School, Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Guild of St. Mary, Liturgical Ministries, Bible Study, RCIA, Bulletins, Gospel Reading Podcasts, Homily Podcasts, and more can all be found on our webpage.
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Like the Church of St. Mary Facebook Page
Like the Church of St. Mary Facebook Page to get notices on viewing Livestreamed Mass! Prior recorded Masses can also be watched via our Facebook Page.
Like the Church of St. Mary Facebook page to see regular updates from popular Catholic pages such as the Archdiocese of Chicago, Cardinal Blase Cupich, and the USCCB. See news from the School of St. Mary, Guild of St. Mary, Religious Education Program, Youth Ministry, and upcoming events at our parish!
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The Church of St. Mary has a YouTube channel! Once we have 1000k subscribers, we can stream live! Look for the black and white image of the Church of St. Mary when searching for the channel or click on either image here to go straight there! Don't forget to subscribe! |
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