March 20: The Third Sunday of Lent

March 20, 2022:

The Third 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/

-----How is your Lent? How is your Lent, in 2022, going thus far?

-----Mr. Paul Dyer, the Upper Grade Center (UGC) religion teacher, asked the students of the UGC those and similar questions. As we near the midway point of our personal Lenten journey, how would we answer those questions?

-----In our growing and maturing faith, we know that Lent is not supposed to be easy. There is nowhere that I am aware of in the Bible, with the exception of the verses in Matthew’s Gospel “My yoke is easy and my burden light”, that we can find Jesus’ words assuring the disciples of all times that following him would be easy.

-----Mr. Dyer asked the students those questions as part of an after communion meditation. He reflected on the rich traditions of our faith in which we intentionally focus on getting rid of behaviors, food or drink, attitudes, and actions, that do not benefit us in our relationship with Jesus or one another. The more that we work at fasting from these things, the more time, energy, and money we have to re-focus on Jesus, on our faith, on our example and lived witness to others.

-----The ashes we received on March 2 have long been washed off of our foreheads. The desire and the resolve to make a “holy Lent” is still ever present before us. What is holding you back from fully entering into the tried and true practices of Lent? What are you convinced of that - if you were to change, if you were to stop, if you were to begin doing - would give you peace of mind, joy of Spirit, and hope in your heart as one of Jesus’ followers?

-----God gives all humanity on the earth, every living being, the gift of each day. Each day, every 24 hours provide us with the means to honor God and live as an example to one another of the importance of making sure that our faith is primary in our lives, not secondary.

-----The power of reflection is not, what have I done so far, in Lent 2022. The importance of reflecting and acting on the gift provided of what will I do with the remainder of Lent 2022 is the question to bring to prayer, to share with a trusted friend, peer, spiritual director, or parishioner. Yes, upon reflecting and then sharing with another, action is most important.

-----The saying “the proof is in the pudding” is what will truly demonstrate how we are grateful for the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives in Lent 2022. (Unless of course you gave up pudding for Lent.) May the energy of the Holy Spirit move us from complacency, laziness, procrastination, and sloth to make what remains a “holy Lent”!

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

Find many Lenten resources at usccb.org/Lent

Children's Worship Bulletin for March 20, 2021:

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

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 19 - Sunday, March 27, 2022

Saturday, March 19, 2022:

+ 7:30am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS

+ 5:00pm: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS

Sunday, March 20, 2022:

Donuts, coffee, and juice will be served

after the 8:00 & 10:00am Masses

in the Upper Grade Center Cafeteria

+ 8:00am: PUBLIC MASS

+ 10:00am: Livestream & PUBLIC MASS

+ 12:00pm: PUBLIC MASS

Monday, March 21, 2022: