NOTES FOR OCTOBER 9, 2026 | | 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.
THE TERM FOR THIS SCAM IS "PHISHING,"
IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH
| | 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! | | PLEASE REMEMBER... In order to keep our parishes open and serving the needy, we need to average $3,000 a week at St. Patrick's and $2,000 a week at St. Anne's. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. | | |
News & Notes with Fr. Pete Jankowski
PLEASE SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH!
| | | | Feel free to contact Fr. Pete at email pjankowski@yahoo.com. If you have an emergency, please contact Fr. Pete at (815) 685-1359 | | |
"In the Christian view, our treatment of children becomes a measure of our fidelity to the Lord himself." - St. Pope John Paul II
An excerpt from this Sunday’s homily. You can watch the homily below at our Online Mass (subscribe to the Border Town Parishes YouTube Channel!) or read it in the homily section below…
When we celebrated our community picnic on September 13th with all the wonderful people that joined us at the event (with our horses dancing, our vendors selling, all our food vendor sales, and our procession of the Blessed Sacrament, our Rummage Sale, our kids’ activities, bingo and so much more… three of the from our community who attend our Catholic Mass in Spanish wanted to help at the parish. Their names are Valeria, Emily, and Lexi. These three young ladies also help us us as altar servers at the 12 noon mass.
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At this picnic, they were selling their wonderful trinkets that they had made, set up with all the vendors at their special table. At the end of the picnic, Valeria, Emily and Lexi (pictured with the trinkets they gave me) approached me and asked if they could be introduced to the crowd at the picnic. In response, I brought them in front when the last musical act was about to finish. I introduced them to the community and told them about how spectacular these kids were and what they wanted to do to do their part to help out the parish.
I then showed the community the trinkets they were selling, some of which they gave me. The key chains and bracelets were attached with words like, “I love you” and “You are important.” As the kids gave me a couple of these gifts (which I intend to keep!), I told them that we would always support them, and we would always take care of them. I told Valeria, Emily and Lexi that if parishioners ever want to call the parish office and buy these trinkets, these doodads, then I would fully support them.
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I believe in my heart that it very important to support these kids. I have talked at Mass about Marissa Facko (pictured above with KC Altar Servers), one of my servers from the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, who has been very diligent as a youth in this parish of being active and supporting this community in that particular way. After the 10:30 a.m. Mass, she and other youth at the parish love to play with my dog Gabby; Gabby plays the role of making all these kids feel welcomed and loved coming into church.
When people say to me, “Where are the youth of our next generation?”, then I point out these kids to them – there they are – they are playing with the dog and they are having a good time. We have talked about it before at church. The big complaints now that our adults lament is that we have too many candy wrappers on the property, not enough parking in our parking lots, and not enough room for all the kids in religious education. What a terrible dilemma to have over at St. Patrick’s.
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Over at St. Anne’s, we have an altar server named Christopher Chaca. His brother received confirmation a few years prior. Christopher is an altar server at our 9:00 a.m. Mass at Saint Anne’s and is a very kind soul, very dedicated to this ministry. I pick on poor Christopher mercilessly, and he responds with a wonderful a smile on his face, and a wonderful disposition.
Another student at St. Anne’s is named Ben Nicholson, who just received the sacrament of Confirmation this year. He and his mother often sit in the front row of our church, and Ben was the one on Mother’s Day who wanted a flower for himself so he could go to his grandmother’s grave at St. Anne’s Cemetery and place that flower on her grave. His mother saw what Ben did and then took her own flower and did the same as well, because Ben loves his church and he loves his family. In fact, one of our catechists named Dana Miramantes wrote me the following note concerning Ben Nicholson. She wrote,
Ben stood out from all our other confirmation service project leaders. He is the kid who leads by example. He is not a follower. Well, maybe the only person he follows is Jesus.
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All these individuals come to us because they want to be accepted, they want to be loved and they possess the innocent disposition each of us must possess if we wish to enter the kingdom of heaven. They want to have a purpose in life. They want to know that they have value. So they come to us.
So many people in our world are just outcasts and have been rejected and the entitled, the people who feel like they are entitled to whatever, they take it for granted. So they do not come, and they forget that just like in our scripture reading this weekend, when God is calling people to the feast and people do not come, he shuts the door. That said, when God welcomes the poor, the outcast, the lame, those who are on the outside, when they come, God welcomes them because they show God that they care.
We care about you! We LOVE you in God’s name! You are always welcome to join us in prayer, study, social and service! God bless all of you!
| | BY THE WAY... THE ST. ANNE'S RUMMAGE SALE NETTED US $1,887.00! THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE!!! | | |
Scott Crawford and his workers from Suburban Sealcoat completed the Parking Lot Project at St. Anne's! YAY!!! We just paved three parking lots in a year and a half at the Border Town!
We also were blessed that two wonderful souls donated over $5,500 TOTAL for the Parking Lot Project, bringing our $60,000 to the 85% mark! More good news is to come on parking lot front… stay tuned!
That is THREE parking lots we have done in our area in just over a year! What wonderful communities we have!
| STARTING THIS WEEKEND! MORE TO COME!!! | |
Hello everyone! St. Patrick’s parishioner Joanne Hermann felt so blessed that her Granddaughter Hannah Hermann was entering the convent that she asked if there was something special we could do for her. As a result, we created a card for her to thank her for her call to this vocation. (Hannah was blessed enough to attend the Beatitification Mass for Blessed Fulton Sheen last week!)
One of the parishioners in the Hispanic community at St. Patrick’s asked we do the same for former Secretary Ema Elvir, who left with her family to Mexico last year at this time to be with her mother.
Attached are the cards and the sentiments of the faithful at St. Patrick’s on behalf of Hannah and Ema!
| We also wish to thank St. Patrick’s Parishioner Phyllis Burwell, who quietly has led our 4-H Group for years at the parish! Ever since we completed the second-floor gym renovations (converting a shower room into a meeting place), Phyllis has been holding meetings for these young ladies in the gym. The kids decided to write a “thank you” card to the parish for allowing them to meet on our campus! | | |
Thanks to Business Manager Debby Absher and the members of the Finance Committees from Both Parishes, we have been able to take all monies from whatever “side accounts” we have and move them into a central account so that both parishioners and the diocese would be guaranteed of “Financial Transparency” – through a central computer processing system, the diocese now can see every cent that is put into our accounts and every cent taken out (no monies have been hidden and I certainly have taken none – my staff childes me for giving “everything” I earn away to the parishes the best I can, as God instructed me to do in Mt 19: 21.
As I stated in previous notes, the diocesan insurance office gave both of our parishes a 100% rating concerning maintenance. Below are the letters our respective Finance Committees are sharing with the diocese and parishioners, as required by diocesan policy; these letters can be found in our bulletins this weekend, both here Online and In-Church:
CLICK HERE to View the Letter about the 2025-26 Financial Status of St. Patrick’s Church
CLICK HERE to View the Letter about the 2025-26 Financial Status of St. Anne’s Church
ALSO... The University of St. Francis is at it again! The leaders of the university asked me to teach yet another Online Course for the students in Vietnam, this time in the realm of the Philosophy of Religion. As I have done with the other courses I teach, I will provide for you the Video Lectures and Activity Sheets (with Answer Keys) with the Notes this semester.
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As my birthday gift to you, I spent $1,800 out of pocket to purchase what is called the “Formed” Adult Education Program for your consideration. As summarized by AI, FORMED is an online digital platform created by the Augustine Institute that provides Catholic movies, video courses, audio talks, study programs, and e-books. Often called a "Catholic Netflix," it is designed to help individuals learn about and practice their Catholic faith. THIS SERVICE PROVIDES ONLINE CATECHESIS IN BOTH ENGLISH & SPANISH!
Key Features of FORMED
- Content Library: Features thousands of hours of content on Scripture, the sacraments, the lives of the saints, and church history.
- Trusted Partners: Includes resources produced by the Augustine Institute alongside materials from Ignatius Press, the St. Paul Center, Word on Fire, and Lighthouse Catholic Media.
- Access Options: Available via individual subscriptions or through local parish accounts that often provide free access to parishioners.
- Compatibility: Streamed through web browsers, mobile phones, tablets, and TV devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire Stick.
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Second, Campus Projects and the Capital Improvement Accounts
This week at St. Patrick’s, our air conditioning system went out… again! One of my predecesors went on the cheap with the last system – when it is working, few can hear the lectors or priest at mass because the system is so loud and many of the units are leaking or have stopped working altogether. We spent $40,000 last winter on replacing the church boiler that broke down; generous donors came forward to install generators on our property (hopefully this will get done by the end of the summer) and creating two parking lots that I personally thought would never get addressed.
Over at St. Anne’s water damage has corroded one wall in the church from what I was told had been at least ten years in the making. The repairs to the outer wall will run just under $10,000. We used to have a parking lot across the hall which, due to neglect and lack of funds, caused the lot to become corroded. We might have a way to address a portion of the lot at little to no cost but we probably will need $60,000 to re-do one portion of the lot to make it nice.
Regardless, the Capital Improvement accounts at both parishes have taken a hit and we will need to replenish them if we wish to continue functioning as parishes. If you can help us with any or all of these projects, please contact the office.
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Because of THREE SNOWSTORMS which swept through our area this winter, this has wreaked havoc on our finances, since we did not make up the finances in our collections needed to keep up afloat. Thanks to a couple of my "friends from the outside" who donated $3,000 total to help St. Anne's Church.
Please remember… the budgets that our Finance Committees established last June only work if St. Anne’s collects $2,000 a week in her collection and $3,000 a week at St. Patrick’s. We have been blessed that a couple major donors have assisted us in keeping the ships afloat but, if you can, please remember that the “Online Giving” Portal is always open Online and we continue to encourage you to remember St. Anne’s & St. Pat’s in your Will and Estate Planning. With a new bishop coming into the area later this year, a new bishop brings new and different ideas – let’s not let the bishop think about St. Patrick’s or St. Anne’s for a long time!
If any of our farmers might consider donating something “when the time comes” as part of an estate gift, if someone who attends our St. Anne Novena helps us maintain that Novena through a foundation gift, we would be well-served to allow the Lord to work through our communities to offer the same grace as has been offered since the 1850s.
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MASS FOR THE 28th SUNDAY
IN ORDINARY TIME (OCT. 11, 2026)
One of the constant battles any parish faces are finding the next generation of parishioners to fill the pews. "Where are the youth?" is a question always posed to the staff of any given parish. Focusing on experiences he encounters at both parishes, Fr. Pete highlights the good work of the youth in our community and our need to welcome them into our Church.
Today's Mass is preceded by a four-minute video highlighting the life of Gabby the Basset Hound, who turned nine years old on August 7 and was picked up by Fr. Pete on the Feast of the Archangels, September 29, 2017.
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To help preserve our churches, we need to encourage the faithful to Fill the Pews!!! We need parishioners to get invested in parish life by helping with Time & Talent Forms, which will be distributed next weekend.
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Do you know of any adults who wish to receive the sacraments at Easter? The OCIA Process begins This Month. Information is available in the bulletin and brochures can be found in the Narthex of the Church.
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You are invited to include the names of your deceased loved ones in our Book of the Dead, which is located at the back of the Church, in remembrance of those who have died this last year. The Mass in Commemoration of All Souls will take place on Sunday, November 1st at St. Anne’s (9:00 p.m.) and St. Patrick’s (10:30 a.m. in English and 12:00 noon in Spanish). All names of our beloved deceased will be honored on November 01-02.
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St. Pat’s is sponsoring its “100 Bricks for Life!” Promotion, in honor of Rite to Life Month.
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We will sponsor a “Rosary for Life” on October 24 (10:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s and 12:00 noon at St. Patrick’s). all are invited to join us.
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The 2027 Calendars for Both Parishes Have Arrived and are available at the back of church.
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ST. PATRICK'S / ST. ANNE'S
PHOTO DIRECTORIES
| | 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! | | | THE COMPLETED CEMETERY PROJECTS FOR BOTH ST. ANNE'S AND ST. PATRICK'S CEMETERIES | | | | The Holy Father provides a wonderful opportunity to receive an Apostolic Blessing for Birthdays, Baptisms, Weddings and Anniversaries, First Communions, Confirmations, Religious Professions and Ordinations. | | |
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.
| | | 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). | | |
To View St. Patrick's Bulletin for
OCT. 11, 2026
CLICK HERE!
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To View St. Anne's Bulletin for
OCT. 11, 2026
CLICK HERE!
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PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Rick Blanchette, William Brown, Mike, Ashley & Jesse Childress, Mike Cronk, Maria DeLeon, Dave Fieramosca, Herve Gomichon, Linda Goodman, Don Hout, Gustavo Lopez, Jesus Ariel Lopez, Bernardo & Linda Miramontes, Evelyn Provost, Art Schmidt, Frank & Louise Shainauskas, Ruth Sparenberg, Cynthia Vickery, Joe Wielgus and all those on our sick list.
At St. Anne's... Eva Bell, Paula Bertrand, Lola Billings, Duane Blanchette, Sue Bonvallet, Cheryl Boswell, June Burns, Cindy Capriotti, Ashley & Jesse Childress, Abraham Daily, Aria Dionne, Carol Futcher, Raelynn Garrett, Val Lagacy, Pam & Bentley Lottinville, Linda Miramontes, Josh Odelson, Ruth Sparenberg and John Wojnowski.
At St. Patrick's... P. Anderson, N. Atkinson, R. Bailey, D. Barth, Beedle Family, D. Brown, M. Cárdenas, P. Caro, B & E. Coffman, S. Conner, M & D Cousin, M. Cruz, A. Delaney, M. Dionne, J. Dobbins, E. Duke, D. Dunlap, G. Field, C. Fritz, A. Fuhrmann, Judy & Ron Gall, Tony & Adrianne Gallinaro, J. Grill, R. Harper, K. Hensa, J. Hibbs, D. Hiller, C. Jones, L. Kane, R. Kazee, A. Kijewski, Joe Kraus, L. Lee, L. Leranth, E. Lopez, B. Love, J. Marcotte, W. Marten, J. McCracken, L. Mercado, R & V Morse, C. Ortman, C. Piec, J. Prather, C. Provost, E. Provost, P. Reising, D. Roberts, M. Saldaña A. Schaff, J. Schopf. D. Schmied, K. Simpson, B. Siwicki, B. Spagnola, M. Tolbert, M. Tolmer, H. Tousignant, M. Velazquez, M. Williams, Gary Witherell, M. Witherspoon, S. Young, J. L. Zagal, 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.
| | | PARISH REGISTRATION FORMS | | CLICK HERE to watch Fr. Pete’s Twelve Part Series “Stories on the Journey,” Broadcast on Shalom World TV! | | | ITEMS FOR PURCHASE / DONATION TO HELP OUR PARISHES!!! | | Call the Offices at (815) 472-2864 or (815) 427-8265 for more information... | | Since 2019, We Have Raised Over $250,000 in Pew Donations!!! | | |
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
| |  | 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! | | |
St. Patrick's T-Shirts
$10 Each or
Three for $20
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St. Patrick's or St. Anne's Blessed Water / Oil $2 a Bottle
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Greeting Cards of These Images are Now Available for Purchase in the Parish Office.
$25 for Books of Twenty...
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St. Patrick's or St. Anne's Mugs
$10 Each or Three for $20
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LINKS TO CATHOLIC WEBSITES
CLICK ON PICTURE TO ACCESS SITE
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