Weekend Masses

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This week our parish mission begins. It has been awhile since there has been a mission and my hope is that you will take a little time out of your busy lives to pray a little and reflect on what has been happening in your life. There will be two sessions every day 9.15 Mass in the Morning and 6.30 pm in the evening. There will be time for confessions and time for meeting Fr Michael. As a parish we are been offered this opportunity to “come away and pray’. Jesus went away to a quiet place to be with His Father and to reflect on his ministry. He was as it were recharging the batteries so that he could continue to function. All of us need to do this if we are to continue to live as Christians. We need to pray and we need to reflect. Nov 30th Monday’s Theme is GOD: Source of Love Dec 1st Tuesday’s Theme is JESUS: Instrument of Love Dec 2nd Wednesday’s Theme is CHRISTIANS: Participants of Love This is a unique opportunity to take time for renewal and prayer. Please try to come to one of the sessions every day and renew your life and the life of the parish Christ be with me, Christ before me Christ in my waking and in my sleeping. Christ be with us as we journey together in Faith.. Let the Journey continue. For more information call us 815 609 8077 or look at the Bulletin insert. Pray for me as I pray for you, Fr Karl

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving and for many years I have joined friends in Kansas City Mo for the holiday. The first time I was there were 80 people… Yes! 80. Many of them were college kids or foreign students learning English and friends of the family who had nowhere else to go. One of the fun parts was the peeling of 60 pounds of potatoes which was done as people came in the doors and everyone joined in. Another fun part was the collecting of car keys. No one was given back their keys if they were any little bit under the weather. Boys slept in the basement and girls upstairs and everybody went home next day on a full breakfast and with a doggy bag. There were no left overs for the house to struggle to eat for the next week. For me this a witness to the original event which inspired thanksgiving that reaching out to others in need and giving them help. Even though many of the people who were there did not celebrate thanksgiving in their own countries, the family felt it was important to invite them. Some of the college kids could not afford to go home so invite them. If we listen to Jesus in the gospel we see that attitude. God invites everyone. As we celebrate with family and friends this year let us count our blessings and be grateful for the blessings of the year past. Let us journey in confidence and faith for the Lord is always with us on the journey inviting us to share him with others. Let us give Thanks. Pray for me as I pray for you, Fr Karl