April 17, 2016 4th Sunday of Easter – CSHEEP MAY SAFELY GRAZE

INTRODUCTORY THOUGHT We live in aworld where a person’s life can change for theworse in the twinkling of an eye. We can lose ourjobs because of changes in the stock market. We canlose our health because of hazards in the environ-ment. We can lose a family member because of anautomobile accident. If we place ourselves in God’shands, however, we have a transcendent security ineternal love.Reading I:Acts 13:14, 43-52 Paul and Barnabasattracted large crowds on their missionary journeys.Their message and their popularity, however, puttheir lives in jeopardy. They suffered persecution atthe hands of both the city leaders and the religiousleaders wherever they went. Only courage born ofgreat faith kept them true to their calling.Reading II: Revelation 7:9, 14b-17 God promisesthe faithful security in this world and in the world tocome. Revelation gives us a symbolic picture ofwhat heaven will be like. The huge crowd that isclosest to the throne of God is made up of those whosuffered for their faith. There is a special place in thekingdom of God for those whose courage keepsthem faithfulReading III John 10:27-30 Nothing in this worldcan make us ultimately secure because everythinghere below is temporal and perishable. But Christ isthe Good Shepherd who gathers his sheep into a safeplace where wolves cannot harm them and wherethieves cannot break in and take them awayCLOSING THOUGHT: Our faith can be a sourceof courage. But all courage is not the same. Physicalcourage that risks harm makes a person brave in oneway. Moral courage that risks criticism makes aperson brave in another way. In our hostile worldmost of us actually have less need of physical cour-age than moral courage. But both are necessary ifwe are to live creatively, conscientiously, and faith-fully

Mon. Apr18th,8amKathryn Murray@St. AgnesTues.April 19th, 8amJames Wanger@HolyFamilyWed. April 20th 8am Victoria Escallon @ St. AgnesThur.April 21st 8amCecil Millburg @ Holy FamilyFriday April 22nd 8am NO MASS @ St. AgnesSaturday April 23rd

4pm Hildegarde Eickhoff @ St. Agnes6pm Paul Meyer @ Holy family

Sunday April 24th8am for Mary Thunhorst @ Holy Family

10am for Dorothy Millburg @ St. Agnes

April 17th 10am First Communion @ St. AgnesApril 18th 6:30pm RCIAApril 21st 9:30am Montgomery NH Com.&Ros.April 23rd One Faith Experience - See bulletin articleApril 28th 9:30am Montgomery NH Ros.May 12th 6:30pm CCW Women’s Banquet

April 10th, 2016Weekend envelopes (119) $ 3713.50Weekend loose $ 258.00Easter offering $ 5.00Catholic Home Mission $ 5.00Seminarians $ 10.00TOTAL $ 6168.75St. Agnes Cemetery $ 271.00 St. Johns $ 45

Pleaselet us

know ifsome-one in

your family is ill or hospitalizedand wants to be visited or taken

communion by calling 532-5288.Pleaseleave adetailedmessage

Are you’re a practicing Catholic who has neverreceived the sacrament of Confirmation? If so,you are invited to talk with Char Modla about whatyou can do to be confirmed on Pentecost Sunday,May 15, 2016 at a special Mass at the Cathedral ofthe Immaculate Conception. More information canalso be found at our website: http://dio.org/catechesis/adult-confirmation.html

Congratulationsto those receiving theirFirst Communion!

Adoration is held on the 2nd and 4thWednesday 3-6pm. Please join us!

“I am the Good Shepherd. The GoodShepard lays down His life for Hissheep.” (John 10:11) Get to know theGood shepherd Who laid down Hislife for us. He waits for our visit inEucharist Adoration.

Trust in the mercy of God’s love. Do youknow someone who is carrying the grief and sorrow ofpast abortions?  Share with them the Good News ofGod’s merciful love.  Call Project Rachel for a confiden-tial referral to those who can help:  1-877-RACHEL-5.Pray that many will seek and receive the gift of God'sinfinite mercy.

Fourth Sunday in Easter Time –17 April 2Smell like sheep. This is what Pope Francissays: Shepherds should smell like the sheepthey shepherd. This is not a charge just tobishops and priests. It is told to all of us, too.All of us shepherd in little and big ways: inthe children we bear and raise, in the studentswe teach, in the workers we guide, in thecustomers we serve, in ________. To smelllike sheep, we must be unafraid, for we arepart of the one protected flock, we are all inthis together (Jew and Gentile – reread Acts13:14, 43-52). Sunday makes us one. Jesusmakes us one. Make a list: who do I shep-herd? How can I do this with greater love andcare?

Melody Ellinger Audrey German Kaleb Knodle Violet Lentz River Smith Hope Speiser

O Jesus, who hast loved us with suchexceeding great love as to give us theineffable gift of the Holy Eucharist, in-flame us with a burning zeal to promoteThy glory by preparing worthily the littlechildren who are to approach Thy holytable for the first time. Protect, O SacredHeart of Jesus, these young souls from theassaults of evil, strengthen their faith,increase their love and endow them withall the virtues that will make them worthyto receive Thee. Amen

Saint Agnes ParishMission Statement

RCIA: Adults interested in becoming members ofthe Catholic faith, call the Pastoral Associate Office532-2631.BAPTISMS: By appointment only after parentshave attended required classes. Parents must beregistered and active members of St. Agnes Parishfor at least 3 months.FUNERALS: Arrangements are to be made di-rectly through the funeral home. Funeral liturgiesare at 10:00 am.RECONCILIATION; Saturday 3:15 - 3:45 pm.,or by appointment. Consult the bulletin.ANOINTING OF THE SICK; Contact the Priestof the parish, 532-5288.COMMUNION FOR HOMEBOUND; ContactPastoral Associate Office at 532-2681.MARRIAGE; Arrangements must be made at least6 months in advance. REGISTRATION ANDACTIVE MEMBERSHIP AT ST. AGNES RE-QUIRED, plus attendance at a pre-cana conference.No weddings to begin later that 2:00 pm on Satur-day.

Very Rev. James L. Neuman, V.F., PastorDeacon Leland Johns 532-5288

Char Modla, Pastoral Associate 532-2631Angie Mizera,CRE Grade K-10 & Parish Secretary

Office & Parish House 217-532-5288Office hours M-T-W 8:45 to 12:30

Thursday 8:45 to 4:30Parish Center 217-532-2631

Parish Web site:www.stagneshillsboro.comDiocesan web site: www.dio.org

CHANGE OF ADDRESS. If you have a change of ad-dress will you please notify the parish office at 532-5288 oremail agnesone_chris@consolidated.net. You can leave a

phone message with your new address.Mass Schedule

Monday & Wednesday 8:00 am4:00 pm Saturday10:00 am Sunday

Confessions Saturday 3:15-3:45pm &By special appointment 532-5288.

Holy Week Ministry, April 23rd & 24thSaturday 23rd, 4pm Sunday 24th,10am

Reader Linda Sshroedter Mary Brown

Cantor Don Karban Jan Johns

Mass Server Terry Trader Josh Bauman

Mass Server Tad Daniels

Eucharist E Mary Reynolds Ali Luckett

Eucharist PB Anne Huber Deacon Lee

Eucharist PB Angie Karban Terry Trader

Usher Bob Moranville Henry Ernst

Usher Charles Peterson Curt Pocklington

Usher Kent Zimmerman Mary Berry

Usher Jim Reynolds Mike Ryan

Hospitality Linda VanGiesen Brenda Pocklington

Hospitality Norma Plowman Barb Ryan

Hospitality Jessie Chesser

Coming to Chaifetz Arena St. Louis April 23, 2016

What is the OneFaith Experience?OneFaith Experience is a unique, dynamic,full-day event that leaves you re-energizedin your faith and empowers you to help setthe world on fire for Jesus Christ. OneFaithExtreme will lift your spirit and ignite yourpassion for the faith through great music.The hosts of this life-changing event areJerry Usher and Debbie Georgianni, hostsof ‘Take 2’ with Jerry & Debbie on EWTNRadio. Featuring speakers will be TeresaTomeo TV and Radio Host, Fr. Larry Rich-ards Inspirational Speaker, Deacon HaroldBurk-Sivers Dynamic Deacon, Tim StaplesDefender of the Faith, Hector Molina Moti-vational Evangelist, and Adam Blai ReligiousDemonologist. Evening entertainment withWorld Renowned Recording Artist GMASongwriter of the year Matt Maher andCutting Edge Catholic Rock Group TheThirsting.

The conference is from 8:30 - 4pm. Theevening concert starts at 7pm. The dayand evening tickets are purchased sepa-rate. St. Agnes and Holy Family havepurchased floor seats! Please contactthe parish office for more details @532-5288. Don’t miss out on this

!

St. Louis School

Open House (K-8th grade)

At this week’s weekend Masses there will be speakersfrom St. Louis School to briefly give some informa-tion about their school. They will be available afterMass to answer any questions. The St. Louis Schoolregistration begins April 18th for the 2016-2017school year! You and your child are invited to comeand visit the classrooms. Students at SLS are given aChristian-based education and a State/Common Corebased curriculum. Small class size, art, music, com-puters, library, band, sports are just a few of theextra-curricular activities that SLS has to offer. ThePreschool program has two options, three/half days(Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) or five/halfdays. We do accept 3, 4 and 5 year old students. Weinvite all interested families and their children to comeand visit the school on May 2 at 6:30pm .Please callthe school office at 563-7445 for more information.