The façade in the rotunda above the tabernacle was refurbished when we installed this high altar back in the spring of 2011. Great care was taken to get as much of the original design as possible. The façade for ordinary time is the one we could not get to, so we decided to put the image of the Holy family on until we could get to it later. The image of the Holy family was made available to us by the person who restored it for us for free. It was pasted on so that it would come off without having to take a scraper to it, with the intentions of restoring it to the original. Since then, many people have become attached to this image, which makes it harder to let go of. This makes sense, since it is probably the only image a person can see from the pews. So I am not sure we will get around to restoring this façade to the original. Continue reading “Symbolism in the Church #10”
V domingo de Cuaresma ciclo C 2019
1. – No se puede obviar la capacidad descriptiva de San Juan en el fragmento de este Evangelio de hoy. Jesús escribe en el suelo con el dedo. Enfrente, un grupo vociferante arrastra a una mujer hasta Él para acusarla de adulterio. Jesús los ignora. Sigue trazando signos en la tierra. Continúa escribiendo ante el estupor de los que gritan. No se esperaban esa aparente pasividad. Está claro que no buscan ninguna clase de justicia y menos alguna suerte de perdón para la mujer que traen. Sólo pretenden atrapar al Señor al algún juicio no adecuado a la Ley oficial. Podían prever que la misericordia de Jesús buscaría argumentos exculpatorios divergentes con la mencionada Ley. Pero Jesús expresa lo único que se puede decir un grupo de hombres cuando intentar culpar o ejecutar a uno de sus prójimos. “El que esté sin pecado que le tire la primera piedra…” ¿Quién de nosotros puede juzgar como pecador a sus semejantes? Pues, nadie, porque todos somos pecadores. Y pobre de aquel que no repare en su condición de pecador. Jesús, a su vez, no minimiza, ni por un momento, el pecado, porque le dirá a la mujer: “Tampoco yo te condeno. Y en adelante, no peques más”. Jesús no tiene pecado, pero tampoco condena. Y le pide que no vuelva a pecar. Continue reading “V domingo de Cuaresma ciclo C 2019”
• • • Save the Date! • • •
May 3-6, 2019 will be the next Light of the World Retreat at the Holy Family Community Center. Many of you have been waiting patiently for this event, and the date has finally been set.
This retreat is highly recommended and very effective in evangelization and renewal in our Parishes. If you are still on the fence in regards to attending, pray on it and your prayers will be answered. Watch
the bulletin for more details.
Be the First to Watch Genesis to Jesus!
St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology,
Is offering a free video Bible Study this coming Lent 2019 titled: Genesis to Jesus!
If you have internet, you may register by contacting ‘mail@stpaulcenter.com’, and have it
streamed into your homes, and/or you can join us at the Holy Family Center every Saturday
at 10:30 until noon to watch and discuss this program. Saturday is the best time for
Fr. Barr to attend and help direct us in question and discussion. Please join us. This
program usually is not offered free, and it originates from St. Paul University Steubenville
with Dr. Scott Hahn and multiple theologians. This study presents the whole sweep of
salvation history, and helps you make sense of the Bible, literally. Skip the last minute
scramble to find a Lenten devotion and see the newest Journey Through Scripture study –
it’s a win-win.
Be Reconciled Day Confession Schedule
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
St Mary Church: 8:30-10:30am and 6:00-8:00pm
St Joseph Church: 12:00-1:30pm and 6:00-8:30pm
Presence St Joseph: 10:30-11:45am
Pro Life Corner
Regarding working in the pro-life movement: God is not so much interested in our ability as much as in our availability to Him. Surrender to God’s will, join pro-life today.
Family Feuds and the Father’s Love
Apr 5, 2019
Audio and Video
IV domingo de cuaresma ciclo C 2019
Si hay una palabra que resuma el mensaje de la Cuaresma de este año es ésta: “misericordia”. Normalmente identificamos la misericordia con el perdón o la compasión. Pero tiene también otros significados: en la parábola del Buen Samaritano se identifica con lo que hoy llamamos “solidaridad”. El origen etimológico de la palabra revela un sentido más rico y profundo. En hebreo “rahanim” expresa el apego de un ser a otro. Para la mentalidad semita este apego nace en el seno materno o útero, es decir en las entrañas. Nosotros diríamos que significa que una persona está en el corazón de otra: es el cariño, la ternura que se traduce en compasión y perdón ante el fallo de un hijo o de un hermano. El padre del “hijo pródigo” fue ciertamente misericordioso, porque llevaba a su hijo en el corazón, en sus entrañas más profundas. Demostró que le quería porque formaba parte de su ser. Por eso recibió a su hijo con los brazos abiertos, sin reprocharle nada. Le había perdonado incluso antes de que su hijo se lo pidiera. Así actúa Dios con nosotros. Espera que volvamos a su encuentro, porque es en su regazo, acogiéndonos a sus entrañas amorosas, como podemos ser felices. Continue reading “IV domingo de cuaresma ciclo C 2019”
Abortion-Expansion in Illinois Update
Many people in the parish are still worried about the horrific bills that are coming up in the Illinois House 2495 and 2467 and in the senate 1594 and 1942. These bills would make abortion at any stage (even if the baby’s head is the only part of the body still in the womb) and for any reason a must-do from medical personnel and insurance to our tax dollars. The law does not require anybody to feed a person who needs food, but abortion must be supplied to anybody who asks with no exceptions. I have called Andrew Chesney and Brian Stewart about these bills. They have committed to a “no vote” and reject these bills. I plan on having a meeting with them both very soon, as the House bill is under consideration on the 
day I write this. All parishioners will be invited to come along to lend support for a “no vote” on these bills. I do not have a day and time set up for this as of yet. Rumor is that these bills have the full support of the democrat party, who has the majority, though there are some on the fence. We are all citizens of Illinois, and I encourage those concerned to find those sitting on the fence on this issue and to convince them to vote no on bills 2495, 2467, 1942 and 1594. Please read up on these bills, be polite, and ask them to commit to vote no. — God Bless You! Fr. Timothy Barr
Photos from the trip to Springfield, IL on March 20 to meet with legislators, personally asking them to “Vote No” on these bills.
Planned Parenthood HQ Has Sent 15 Women in 26 Months to Hospital After Botched Abortions
Planned Parenthood’s flagship abortion facility, located in the heart of Manhattan, has apparently injured another woman, who required ambulance transport to a nearby hospital.
On March 6, 2019, two ambulances arrived at the Margaret Sanger Center Planned Parenthood, located at 26 Bleecker Street. One pro-life witness told Operation Rescue that the first emergency crew entered the Planned Parenthood high-rise with a gurney.
However, since…
Planned Parenthood HQ Has Sent 15 Women in 26 Months to Hospital After Botched Abortions