We now have weekend Masses with limited attendance.

NEW MASS TIME - The Saturday Evening Vigil Mass here will begin at 4:00pm starting October 31st.
  
Mass on Sunday will also be live-streamed on Facebook at 8 AM.
 

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The Lion's Roar

“Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph that he may obtain for us a happy death.” (St. Alphonsus Liguori)

We do not know when or how St. Joseph died. Yet some saints provide insights into the manner of his death. St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444) writes: “It may be piously believed that at the moment of his (St. Joseph’s) death, Jesus and the Most Blessed Virgin, his spouse were present. What exhortations! What consoling words! In this moment of his passage toward eternity, what revelations on eternal good must he have received from his most holy spouse and from Jesus, the most loving Son of God! I leave the contemplation and consideration of all this to your devotion.”

In the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Notre Dame there is a beautiful painting depicting the death of St. Joseph in the arms of Mary and Jesus. What a blessing to die in the presence of the immaculate Mother of God and the Son of God! This is the reason St. Joseph is the patron of a happy death.

In the prayer of Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) “My dear St. Joseph, be with me living, be with me dying, and obtain for me a favorable judgment from Jesus, my merciful Savior.”

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.

 
He (Jesus) will answer them, “Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these you did not do for me.  And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteousness to eternal life.  [Matthew 25:45-46] This is the Lord’s teaching about the final judgment, when everyone will be called before the Lord to give an account of his/her conduct in life.
 
Notice the perspective here: these are sins of omission, and they center on the heart of all sin. St. Augustine called sin “curving in on oneself.” We could call it the attitude of “me first, let people take care of their own problems.”
  
We might notice that this omission of sin is not a sin of weakness, but a sin of choosing the wrong decisions of what to do in our lives.  In the Genesis account of the first murder — Cain slaying his brother Abel — Cain tries to justify himself: Am I my brother’s keeper? [Genesis 4:9c]  God answer is yes: The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground …. [Genesis 4:10b]
     
God’s teaching is that we are our brother's (and sister's) keepers. When someone is in need, we are called to respond to the need.  That is so important that when the Son of God took on our human nature, He told us that eternal glory or eternal punishment depend on how we have responded, or not responded, to those in need, with whom He identifies.
     
It has nothing to do with whether or not someone is worthy, or what their social status happens to be. In his earthly days in Palestine Jesus was accused of paying attention to the “wrong people.” We, the Church, are Christ living on in time after His ascension, and we are to give witness to His life and teaching. For us, that means no one is “unworthy” of help in their time of need.
     
But, you say, didn’t St. Paul tell the Thessalonians, If anyone will not work, let him not eat.  For we hear that some of you are walking in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work [2 Thessalonians 3:10b-11]?  Yes, he did. Neither Paul nor Jesus gave the okay to fraudulently sponging off people. But both Paul and Jesus called for true charity for those in real need of our love.  And if someone happens to get away with scamming us, theirs will be the punishment and ours the reward.
     
With the Christmas scene being thrown at us already (it has been going on even before Halloween!), we might take some time to think about how we can best respond to so many people in genuine need as a result of the social chaos brought on by the pandemic. To the extent you are able, please be “your brother’s/sister’s keeper” and know that the Lord will welcome you into eternal happiness.

• The Parish Office will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, November 25th and 26th. We wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
• Mass on Sunday will be live-streamed on Facebook at 8 AM.
• NEW MASS TIME - The Saturday Evening Vigil Mass here will begin at 4:00pm starting October 31st.
• Daily Mass: We are celebrating daily Mass here on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 AM.
• Anchor: Episode 32 - Visit with our priests this week on Tuesday, November 24, 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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Religious Education

The R. E. staff would like to wish everyone a Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving!

Just a reminder there are no classes on November 22nd & 29th. We hope to see everyone back on December 6.

Five to Skydive (indoor!)

Fulfill the following:

1. Memorize the Ten Commandments in order. (Look at the Catechism.)
2. Recite the prayers: The Lord’s Prayer, The Hail Mary, The Glory Be, The Apostles’ Creed, The Act of Contrition
3. Narrate three Gospel parables. (What Gospel is the parable from?)
4. Talk about five saints. Where is the saint from? When did the saint live? What is the saint a patron saint of?
5. Be familiar with the responses at Mass.

When you are ready, make an appointment with Fr. Ariel. Send him an email at: avalencia@rockforddiocese.org.

The first five students to successfully fulfill the requirements will be rewarded with a spot to go indoor skydiving at iFLY, Naperville.

Day and time will be on an agreed upon schedule.
    

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Important Messages from Bishop David J. Malloy

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

“Prayer is an aspiration of the heart. It is a simple glance directed to Heaven. It is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy.”
–St. Therese Lisieux

This continues to be a difficult year for so many as our world has been upended by a global pandemic. Even as we experience hardships, sadness and the stress of our
sacrifices, we still recognize that God walks with us, seeks to heal our ills and loves us at all times, good and bad.

For that reason, despite being tried by so many challenges this year, we give thanks to God. Spending time in prayer allows us the opportunity to pause and recall the ways we see God’s goodness, mercy and love.

During this season of Thanksgiving, I invite you to submit your prayer intentions online or through the mail so that I can offer it up to the Lord in my prayers throughout the year, as well as during Masses offered at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception in the Diocesan Administration Building.

Email: prayerintentions@RockfordDiocese.org

Mail:
Prayer Intentions
Diocese of Rockford
PO Box 7044
Rockford, IL 61125‐7044
 
May the Lord bless you and your loved ones.

Most Reverend David J. Malloy
Bishop of Rockford 

Bishop David Malloy announced in a letter to all priests Oct. 8, a list of changes to the “Back in His Presence” guidelines issued in June of this year.

Bishop Malloy said in his letter that modifications to the original protocols are being made periodically “based in the experience that we gain as we live through this pandemic.”

After consultations with the Deans and with the Presbyteral Council, the following modifications have been made to “Back in His Presence.” These changes were made effective for Masses beginning October 10-11, 2020.

Prior COVID-19 Statements from Bishop Malloy
Letter from Bishop Malloy and Executive Summary for reopening churches
Bishop Malloy's Dispensation Statement
Diocesan Cancellations AND Postponements

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