We now have weekend Masses with limited attendance.
  
Mass on Sunday, August 9, will also be live-streamed on  Facebook at 8 AM. 
 

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The Lion's Roar

Have you signed up to receive Sts. Peter & Paul Flocknotes yet? We have a new system designed to keep our parishioners informed about the latest happenings, especially during this time when we can't meet in church. If you don't receive our Flocknotes click on the logo above to sign-up!

It is a beautiful and praiseworthy tradition to recite an act of spiritual communion when one is unable, for whatever reason, to receive Holy Communion. Below is an act of spiritual communion composed by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri.
 
My Jesus,  I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.  I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.  Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.  I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.  Never permit me to be separated from You.  Amen.

 
In today’s Gospel story of Jesus he said to St. Peter, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? [Matthew 14:31b]. 

In the growing awareness of the early Church, Christians saw the story of the Apostles struggling on turbulent waters as an image of the Christian life.  The Church has long been called “the bark (ship) of Peter.”  While there have been times of relative peace in the history of Christianity, the overall story is one of struggle, sometimes dealing with persecutions from outsiders, other times with internal struggles.  Jesus, of course, warned his followers that following him would not be an easy journey.  There is no “cheap grace.”

Currently we are in a time of much chaos: a pandemic threatening our health, a surge of public anger and violence in the search for justice, a rejection of traditional morality and the traditional understanding of human nature. It certainly is much like being on a spiritual ship pounded by the waves of chaos.

People may wonder, “will things ever be the same again?”  Probably not exactly the same, but we are challenged to look to the only answer that can adequately address our current situation: Jesus Christ, who is remains with us just as surely as he was present to St. Peter and the Apostles on the Sea of Galilee. 

God always has a purpose in whatever he allows to happen in the world.  He does not will evil, but tolerates it because the world is not perfect and because he apparently believes that allowing the freedom of the human will is more important than forcing people to live virtuous lives.  He does not create human robots who can do nothing more than follow his will.  God desires that we love him and his goodness, and that can only happen if we freely give him our love, for “forced love” is not love.

But if we are free to love God, we are also free to reject him.  Rejection of his love will result in chaos to creation.  As the saying goes, “nature bats last.”  In the end God, the creator of human nature, will bring everything under his Lordship whether we want it or not.  In the meantime, we are offered the opportunity to choose to love or reject him, and in so doing we must accept the consequences of our choices.

In these days when faith can be challenged and we may feel helpless like the Apostles on the seas, Jesus says to each one who is tempted to distrust what God is allowing at this this time what he said to Peter: O you of little faith, why did you doubt?  

Jesus remains Lord of all creation.  May our constant prayer be, “Jesus, I trust in you.”

• Mass on Sunday, August 9, will be live-streamed on  Facebook at 8 AM.
• Daily Mass: We are celebrating public daily Mass on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 AM.
• Anchor: Episode 19 - Visit with our priests this Thursday, August 13, on Facebook at 11:30 AM.
• Confessions: Tuesday 8:30-9:30am; Wednesday 11:00-12:00am; Saturday 11:00-12:00am 

 

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RE Registration for 2020/2021 open! 

Plans have been made to safely restart Religious Education for our families this fall! There will be two available options: 1) In-person classes following appropriate safety guidelines at St. Mary's Novak Center, and 2) Home Schooling. Click on the picture at left for links to opening plans, calendar, and appropriate registration forms.
 

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IMPORTANT MESSAGES FROM BISHOP DAVID J. MALLOY

** Bishop Malloy Announces Plan to Reopen Churches for Public Mass **

Bishop Malloy has issued a new statement on May 13 about plans, procedures and restrictions for opening churches within the Diocese of Rockford.

Letter from Bishop Malloy and Executive Summary for reopening churches

** STATEMENT UPDATED AS OF 8:00 AM, 4/9/2020 **

Bishop Malloy has issued a new statement extending dispensation past Easter.

Bishop Malloy's Dispensation Statement

To comply with Vatican and state guidance about group gatherings during this time of pandemic, Bishop David Malloy has cancelled all in-person Masses and other prayer gatherings in the Rockford Diocese until further notice. 

Diocesan Cancellations AND Postponements

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