Virtual Bulletin
get the scoop on the latest going-ons at our parish
Fall Homily Series "The Kingdom of God"
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ALL ARE WELCOME!
St Francis de Sales Fall Homily Series
SMALL GROUP COMMUNITIES !
Thank you for a great kickoff to our Kingdom of God Small Group Homily Series. Sorry about the technical issue last night. I will make sure we can show a video with sound by next week. Thank you for your flexibility.
It was great to see so many people eager to meet in small group to discuss this homily series.
As we look ahead - the gatherings will include:
Introduction
Witness Talk (either in person or viewing a pre-recorded video)
Recap of the homily (or rewatching the homily)
Reading the Gospel out loud in small group
Discussion about anything that you decide is relevant, using the list of discussion topics and questions as you wish.
We are always open to new people joining us and can start new groups as we continue to grow.
If you hear from someone who is interested but unable to join in the meeting options we are offering, please connect them with Pam Lynch. This series is designed to be accessible anywhere and for anyone. All the resources will be available on the website (soon).
PS - The evening is scheduled for 7:00 - 8:00pm but as we meet and as you discuss in small groups, of course, you can choose to continue past 8:00pm.
Small Groups will meet on September 20 - October 18th
in person in the Ministry Center Wednesday 7:00 - 8:00pm
OR a group is meeting on Thursday 7:00 - 8:00
OR on Zoom Wednesday 6:30 - 7:30pm.
12:30 Sunday Mass is coming back!
/Returning on July 2nd, 2023
We are calling on Ushers, Lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers to help. Please reach out if you are interesting in serving.
Ushers: Karl Heerdegen 847-560-5929
Lectors: Cindy Blank 847-9247876
EME's: Deacon Bob 847-726-4712
Blood of Christ in the Common Cup Returns the weekend of June 9th & 10th
/Blood of Christ in the Common Cup Returns the weekend of June 9th & 10th
Holy Week 2023
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We would like to invite you to come and join us as we experience Holy Week here at St Francis de Sales Parish. See the schedule below.
Monday, April 3
8:30am & 12 Noon Mass
11:00am Confessions
Tuesday, April 4
8:30am & 12 Noon Mass
11:00am Confessions
6:30pm Living Stations of the Cross by SFS 5th Grade
Wednesday, April 5
8:30am & 12 Noon Mass (Noon Streamed)
2:00pm-3:30pm & 5:00pm-6:30pm Confessions
Holy Thursday, April 6
8:30am Mass
7:00pm Mass of the Last Supper
11:00pm Night Prayers
Good Friday, April 7 - The Lord’s Passion
10:00am-11:45am Confessions
Noon-3:00pm Tre Ore
(Stations of the Cross & Reflection on the 7 Last Words of Christ)
1:00pm-2:30pm Confessions
3:00pm Passion of the Lord Service
7:00pm Tenebrae
(Meditation Service of Darkness & Light)
Holy Saturday, April 8
10:00am–11:45am Confessions
12 Noon & 1:00pm Blessing of Easter Baskets
(1pm in Parking Lot)
7:00pm Easter Vigil Mass in the Holy Night
Easter Sunday
The Resurrection of Our Lord
6:30am Easter Mass - Church
9:00am Easter Mass - Church & Fr Valker Hall
(also streamed on Facebook & YouTube)
11:00am Easter Mass - Church & Fr Valker Hall
(also broadcasted to West Parking Lot)
12:30pm Easter Mass - Church
Lenten Gospel Series
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Join us for our Lenten Gospel Series
Each Sunday Mass this Lent will feature a homily as well as a witness talk from a fellow parishioner, both centered around the prayer
"Lord, Open My Eyes..." (Psalm 119:18)
Week 1 - To Become More Aware
Week 2 - To See the Light of Jesus
Week 3 - To Know God Accepts Me & Loves Me
Week 4 - To Come & See
Week 5 - To Have Hope in the Resurrection
Journey with us each week as we prepare our hearts for Easter!
Based on Scripture. This series will start February 25th / 26th.
Mass of Remembrance March 11th @ 11am
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Mass of Remembrance
Dear Parents of Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Christ,
On behalf of St. Francis de Sales Bereavement Ministry and Forever in Our Hearts Grief Support Group, we invite parents and family members to share in a liturgy to honor children now entrusted to God’s loving care. To reach out to parents who have lost a child and to help parents take another step on the long road to healing, a Mass of Remembrance to honor children who are deceased will be celebrated on Saturday, March 11th at 1pm. Whether death came recently or long ago, and whether they departed this life before birth, or as infants, young children or teens, or in adulthood, the lives of our beloved children were far too short. Please join us to pray with other parents who have also lost children and share our hope in the Resurrection. All bereaved parents and family or close friends are welcome. Please join members of our Forever in Our Hearts Grief Support Group and Bereavement Ministers in the Gathering Space following Mass for refreshments and fellowship.
God give you peace,
Fr. James Merold,
Parish Administrator
Ash Wednesday Services and Masses
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Masses @ 6:30am, 8:30am, 12 Noon (also streamed) & 7pm in church
4pm Ash Service (also broadcasted to parking lot)
St Francis of Assisi Pet Blessing is NOT A Mass
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The Pet Blessing Mass has been updated to just a blessing due to the shortage of priests this weekend.
BLESSING OF Our Young Adults who are bound for college, universities, community schools, trade schools or the military
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BLESSING OF Our Young Adults who are bound for college, universities, community schools, trade schools or the military
Beginning the weekend of August 6th & 7th Fr. Ryan will provide blessings for all the young adults who are bound for college or universities, the military, trade schools or community schools. The blessing will take place during the petitions throughout August.
Blessing of Your Wedding Anniversaries (for any year!)
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Fr Ryan, Deacon Bob, Deacon Tom & Deacon John would be honored to preside at your wedding anniversary with your family and friends (invitation is your choice) to celebrate your promises as man and woman in the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Contact Fr Ryan at (847) 726-4723 or any of the Deacons at (847) 726-4712.
Pentecost Email Blast 2022
/Happy Birthday, Church!
Join us this Sunday for one of our church's three high Holy Days, Pentecost! Make sure to wear your red to represent the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Saturday Vigil @ 5pm, Sunday @ 6:30am, 9am [Streamed], & 11am [West Parking Lot]
This weekend, the Church celebrates Pentecost, one of the most important feast days of the year that concludes the Easter season and celebrates the beginning of the Church. Here's what you need to know about the feast day:
The timing and origins of Pentecost
Pentecost always occurs 50 days after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and ten days after his ascension into heaven. Because Easter is a moveable feast without a fixed date, and Pentecost depends on the timing of Easter, Pentecost can fall anywhere between May 10 and June 13.
The timing of these feasts is also where Catholics get the concept of the Novena - nine days of prayer - because in Acts 1, Mary and the Apostles prayed together "continuously" for nine days after the Ascension leading up to Pentecost. Traditionally, the Church prays the Novena to the Holy Spirit in the days before Pentecost.
There is a parallel Jewish holiday, Shavu`ot, which falls 50 days after Passover. Shavu'ot is sometimes called the festival of weeks, referring to the seven weeks since Passover. Originally a harvest feast, Shavu`ot now commemorates the sealing of the Old Covenant on Mount Sinai, when the Lord revealed the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai. Every year, the Jewish people renew their acceptance of the gift of the Torah on this feast.
What happens at Pentecost?
In the Christian tradition, Pentecost is the celebration of the person of the Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles, Mary, and the first followers of Jesus, who were gathered together in the Upper Room.
A "strong, driving" wind filled the room where they were gathered, and tongues of fire came to rest on their heads, allowing them to speak in different languages so that they could understand each other. It was such a strange phenomenon that some people thought the Christians were just drunk - but Peter pointed out that it was only the morning, and said the phenomenon was caused by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit also gave the apostles the other gifts and fruits necessary to fulfill the great commission - to go out and preach the Gospel to all nations. It fulfills the New Testament promise from Christ (Luke 24:46-49) that the Apostles would be "clothed with power" before they would be sent out to spread the Gospel.
Where's that in the bible?
The main event of Pentecost (the strong driving wind and tongues of fire) takes place in Acts 2:13, though the events immediately following (Peter's homily, the baptism of thousands) continue through verse 41.
Happy Birthday, Church!
It was right after Pentecost that Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, preached his first homily to Jews and other non-believers, in which he opened the scriptures of the Old Testament, showing how the prophet Joel prophesied events and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
He also told the people that the Jesus they crucified is the Lord and was raised from the dead, which "cut them to the heart." When they asked what they should do, Peter exhorted them to repent of their sins and to be baptised. According to the account in Acts, about 3,000 people were baptised following Peter's sermon.
article taken from www.catholicnewsagency.com
“The name of the day itself is derived from the Greek word “pentecoste,” meaning 50th.”
artwork by Leanne Bowen
Everything that we believe in and do should lead us to unity with our Lord. The Holy Spirit flows into us and through us. This print shows the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit and the 12 fruits of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, faithfulness, modesty, gentleness, chastity and self control.” -Galatians 5:22-23
Prophet Isaiah writes about the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
“The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge, piety, and the fear of the LORD.” Isaiah 11:2