Easter Sunday is April 12, 2020
Please Note: All Public Activity is Suspended, and Masses and Triduum are not open for the assembly of people.
Masses and Triduum are streamed live online at stated times at
http://www.facebook.com/St-Thomas-Church-108131075895867
Easter Sunday, April 12
St. Thomas Church locked until Mass is completed at approximately 8:45 a.m.
8:00 a.m. - Mass of the Resurrection streamed live from St. Thomas
St. Mary's Church locked until Mass is completed at approximately 10:45 a.m.
10:00 a.m. - Mass of the Resurrection streamed live from St. Mary of the Assumption
Note: Holy Communion on Easter only by reservation/request. Contact Fr. Dean at 217/494-6326
May God bless you during this unusual Holy Week.
Fr. Dean
Masses and Triduum are streamed live online at stated times at
http://www.facebook.com/St-Thomas-Church-108131075895867
Easter Sunday, April 12
St. Thomas Church locked until Mass is completed at approximately 8:45 a.m.
8:00 a.m. - Mass of the Resurrection streamed live from St. Thomas
St. Mary's Church locked until Mass is completed at approximately 10:45 a.m.
10:00 a.m. - Mass of the Resurrection streamed live from St. Mary of the Assumption
Note: Holy Communion on Easter only by reservation/request. Contact Fr. Dean at 217/494-6326
May God bless you during this unusual Holy Week.
Fr. Dean
Lenten Journey: Katie Price reminded us that as disciples we give of ourselves to follow the Lord. May our Lenten Sacrifice help us to grow in holiness that lasts throughout our lives rather than simply 40 days.
Note: St Thomas Church will be open from 5:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for Private Reflective prayer.
St. Mary's Church will be open 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday.
- The Stations of the Cross devotion is available for private individual prayer.
- The Rosary can be offered individually or as a family at home or during the hours listed above at church.
Note: St Thomas Church will be open from 5:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for Private Reflective prayer.
St. Mary's Church will be open 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday.
- The Stations of the Cross devotion is available for private individual prayer.
- The Rosary can be offered individually or as a family at home or during the hours listed above at church.
Palm Sunday begins the Holiest Week for us as Christians. Christ enters into Jerusalem to acclamations of making Him "king." It turns into the Passion of our Lord.
St. Mary's - Mass will be streamed live at 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Blessed Palms are ready to be picked up on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
St. Thomas - Mass will be streamed live at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Blessed Palms are ready to be picked up on Friday at 8:30 a.m. - Saturday evening.
Holy Communion: You are requested to stay home and receive Spiritual Communion by offering the Spiritual Communion Prayer
"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"
--St. Alphonsus Liquori
Fr. Dean
4/3/2020
St. Mary's - Mass will be streamed live at 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Blessed Palms are ready to be picked up on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
St. Thomas - Mass will be streamed live at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Blessed Palms are ready to be picked up on Friday at 8:30 a.m. - Saturday evening.
Holy Communion: You are requested to stay home and receive Spiritual Communion by offering the Spiritual Communion Prayer
"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"
--St. Alphonsus Liquori
Fr. Dean
4/3/2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we begin the Lenten Season on Ash Wednesday, we are reminded that we are a sacrificial people united with Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus called us to take up the cross and follow him. To that end, we mark ourselves with the Ashes from the Palms of the previous Palm Sunday in which we hail Jesus as our King. The words “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel” remind us that if we claim Christ as our King and Savior, we are to listen to his words and put them into action.
During Lent we are called to deepen our prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is to unite ourselves more fully with the love of God and His mercy through Jesus. On the day of judgment Jesus tells us that we will be separated as sheep from goats. Whatever we have done for the least of our brothers and sisters, we have done for Him. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta would call us to remember Jesus’ words on the fingers of the hand, “You did it to me.”
Recently Katie Price, Director of our Diocesan Office for Discipleship and Stewardship, told a group of parishioners at a mini-mission focused on “Preparing for Best Lent Ever”, Discipleship and Stewardship is a way of life, not a focus on doing something for “40 Days”. Our Lenten sacrifices are to help us grow in holiness throughout our lives. The question likely for each of us to consider is “What do I need to do this Lent that reflects the Ashes in which I am marked? “Turn away from sin....and believe in the Gospel.”
This weekend we hear again the word of God. “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy” and “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The commands of Jesus: “You have heard it said, what I say to you: “Give to the one who asks of you” ... “love your enemies”. What increase in prayer, fasting and almsgiving will lead me to turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel, sharing in the Victory of Christ’s Cross at Easter?
I pray that your Lenten Season will unite you and myself more closely to Jesus. God Bless You.
- Fr. Dean
2/23/2020
As we begin the Lenten Season on Ash Wednesday, we are reminded that we are a sacrificial people united with Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus called us to take up the cross and follow him. To that end, we mark ourselves with the Ashes from the Palms of the previous Palm Sunday in which we hail Jesus as our King. The words “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel” remind us that if we claim Christ as our King and Savior, we are to listen to his words and put them into action.
During Lent we are called to deepen our prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is to unite ourselves more fully with the love of God and His mercy through Jesus. On the day of judgment Jesus tells us that we will be separated as sheep from goats. Whatever we have done for the least of our brothers and sisters, we have done for Him. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta would call us to remember Jesus’ words on the fingers of the hand, “You did it to me.”
Recently Katie Price, Director of our Diocesan Office for Discipleship and Stewardship, told a group of parishioners at a mini-mission focused on “Preparing for Best Lent Ever”, Discipleship and Stewardship is a way of life, not a focus on doing something for “40 Days”. Our Lenten sacrifices are to help us grow in holiness throughout our lives. The question likely for each of us to consider is “What do I need to do this Lent that reflects the Ashes in which I am marked? “Turn away from sin....and believe in the Gospel.”
This weekend we hear again the word of God. “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy” and “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The commands of Jesus: “You have heard it said, what I say to you: “Give to the one who asks of you” ... “love your enemies”. What increase in prayer, fasting and almsgiving will lead me to turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel, sharing in the Victory of Christ’s Cross at Easter?
I pray that your Lenten Season will unite you and myself more closely to Jesus. God Bless You.
- Fr. Dean
2/23/2020
Lenten Regulations
1. Abstinence - Everyone 14 years of age and over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
2. Fast - Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 is required to fast on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is permitted. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each person's needs, but together these two should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids (including milk and fruit juices) are allowed.
3. To Disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful.
1. Abstinence - Everyone 14 years of age and over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
2. Fast - Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 is required to fast on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is permitted. Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each person's needs, but together these two should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids (including milk and fruit juices) are allowed.
3. To Disregard completely the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful.