Emily Morris

Canning Volunteers For Advent!

Posted on by Emily Morris

Do you want to feel fulfilled this Advent? We have a volunteer opportunity coming up December 11th. The Freeport Mennonite Church is canning chicken for the poor, and they need all the help they can get to reach their goal of supporting as many as possible. Volunteering is a great way to give back to our community in the spirit of the season of giving, (and teenagers, activities like this look great on your future resumes!).

You can sign up, no matter what age or qualification you are, and you can even help out for however long you would like to. Any spare time you have will go a long way.

We hope you will consider lending your support!

God Bless!

Poinsettias For Christmas!

Posted on by Emily Morris

Every year, we offer the opportunity for families to order Christmas flowers. We will only be offering red poinsettias this year in two sizes, 6 inch at $20 and 8 inch at $30. Deininger Floral Shop provides us with the flowers, and these prices include shipping and handeling involved in the transport of plants. If you would like to order, please find the order form in this week’s bulletin insert, or print your own copy right from here.

In order to recieve the flowers on time for Christmas, please return your order sheets with payment no later than December 3rd. If you send in forms after this due date, your donation will go into the general flower fund for the year instead of poinsettias.

ORDER FORM BELOW:

SJ-SM-CHRISTMAS-FLOWERS-ORDER-FORM-2023Download

Thank you for helping us to make our church beautiful this holiday season!

HOLIDAZZLE!

Posted on by Emily Morris

Nov 18th at the Eagles Club

1200 Galena Ave

Freeport IL 61032

7:00 – 10:00am

Entertainment: “Rock Steady”

(a local band from the Lena/Stockton area)

Tickets: $12 (pre-event) or $15 (at the door)

Tickets available at the Madonna Renewal Center (815) 616-9672, Gemorifics (815) 232-0005 at 840 Meadows, Freeport IL, and also at local Catholic Churches after Saturday & Sunday Masses sold by MRC committee members

Food and drinks available for purchase from Eagles Club

Baked goods, door prizes, and 50/50 raffle

Proceeds go to help unwed mothers and their babies at the Madonna Renewal center!

Contact Mary Julius for more details (815) 238-0695

Choir for Christmas!

Posted on by Emily Morris

Come Share Your Voice For Christmas!

Every year, we strive to make our Christmas Masses the most special services of the entire year. To accomplish this, we assemble a full choir ensemble. We are welcoming anyone and everyone who wants to join us, no auditions required. If you are interested in singing with us this year, please join our rehearsals!

Weekly rehearsals begin in the St. Joe’s choir loft on Thursday November 9th at 7:00 pm.

Enter the church through the door in the breezeway on the west side of the church.

Call or text Mary Ann at (815) 990-0327 with any questions.  Please leave a message if she does not answer and she will call you back.

All Souls Vigil Candles

Posted on by Emily Morris

The Feast of All Souls Day is Thursday, November 2nd, 2023. Thursday Masses will be held at 8am at St. Joseph, 5:30pm at St. Mary, and 7pm at St. Mary (en español). Vigil lights will be lit for all of these Mass times on November 2nd.

Every year we offer vigil candles in memory of our departed loved ones. Vigil lights are lit November 2nd for all Masses. Below is a list of the names of all the departed souls for whom these candles are offered this year.

There is an envelope in your packet for All Souls Masses. Please clearly list your intentions on the back and return it for Holy Day collections. All deceased members of the parishes from the past year will be honored.

All-Souls-Day-Vigil-Names-List-2023-1Download

St. Joseph/St. Mary parish office

229 W. Washington Place

Freeport, IL 61032

R.C.I.A

Posted on by Emily Morris
Become Catholic (RCIA)

Welcome to the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)!

Classes are in session!

We will now meet every Saturday from 12:00 – 1:30pm, in the St. Joseph Dalieden Room.

If you would like to join the initiation, completely for free, then please fill out the registration forms now.

You may print the forms below, fill them out, and send them to the parish email contact: stjoseph-freeport@rockforddiocese.org, mail them to the office, or drop them off in our mail slot. Both are required in order to begin classes.

r.c.i.a.-registration-form1Download
st-joseph-st-mary-registration-english-form4Download

Hay formularios en español disponibles. Para las clases de RICA en St. Mary, llénelos y devuélvalos a la oficina parroquial: ESPAÑOL FORMA

st-joseph-st-mary-registration-hispanic-form1Download

Aquin News and Events!

Posted on by Emily Morris

AQUIN CATHOLIC SCHOOL

With Father McMorrow teaching over at Aquin, we are proud to announce news and events going on at the school that you might be interested in. We hope you will consider lending them your kind support for as long as their halls remain open!

 Every month, with the money raised from our Jeans Days we choose an organization to give back to. Donated by the Aquin student board on behalf of the entire Aquin Catholic school community we chose Freeport Area Church Cooperative We are so grateful for this opportunity to help the community.

Voices needs your kind donations of the following products;

  • Toliet paper
  • Napkins
  • Body Wash
  • Lotion
  • Conditioner
  • Toothpaste
  • Razors
  • Nail Clippers
  • Dryer Sheets
  • Fabric softener
  • Hand Soap
  • Trash Bags
  • Ziploc Bags
  • Diapers
  • Plastic wrap
  • Over-the-counter Medications (pain reliever, allergy medicine, cough drops and medicine)
  • Paper towels
  • Feminine Hygeine
  • Deoderant
  • Shampoo
  • Hairbrushes and Combs
  • Shaving Cream
  • Hygiene Cream
  • Hygiene Wipes
  • Nail Files
  • Laudry Detergent
  • Dish Soap
  • Swiffer Wet or Dry
  • All-purpose Cleaner
  • Disinfectant Spray
  • Baby Wipes
  • Aluminum Foil

Donations can be brought to Aquin Catholic Highschool

Support our Aquin Bulldogs!

Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children

Posted on by Emily Morris

September 9th is the National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children.

Special memorial services will be held throughout the diocese.

In the Rockford area, Bishop Malloy will be leading us in prayer for the victims of abortion at 10:00am at Calvary Cemetery on this day.

September Yellow

Posted on by Emily Morris

September Yellow – Suicide Awareness Month

As Catholics one of our fundamental beliefs is respecting all life from conception to natural death. There is much misunderstanding, confusion and heartache when we talk about suicide. It’s not an easy topic to address but a necessary one. In 2021, in the US alone, we lost 48,126 of our brothers and sisters in Christ, who died by suicide. Statistics tell us that over 90% of those who die by suicide exhibited signs of mental illness. Many go without diagnosis and treatment due to the stigma associated with mental illness. It’s up to each of us to get educated and understand mental illness for what it is … an illness! It does not define the person or make them any less loved by God.

Nationally September is recognized as suicide prevention awareness month. You are all invited to partake in a simple act of love that can save lives. Gather as a parish and pray a Living Rosary. When you pray include anyone experiencing suicidal ideation, anyone who has died by suicide and the suicide bereaved.

We will pray our Living Rosary on Wednesday, September 6th, at 6:00pm after regular Mass.

St. Joseph church 229 West Washington Place,

Freeport IL, 61032

– Please wear YELLOW as a sign of your support –