ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH & ST. MARY’S CHURCH OF PARIS, IL www.stmaryschurchparis.org MARCH 8, 2020 SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

24 HOUR EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

St. Mary’s Church

Every Tuesday starting at 3pm and ending on Wednesday at 3pm.

Everyone is welcomed and invited to spend some quiet time with the Lord anytime during these 24 hours.

“Every time we look at the Blessed Sacrament our place in heaven is raised forever.”

St. Gertrude, Quotes on the Most Blessed Sacrament,

Reprint by permission of therealpresence.org

Last Week’s Collection Thank you for your support!!

ST. MARY’S

SUNDAY OFFERING $5,027.00

DEBT $1,260.00

ASCA $55.00

EASTER FLOWERS $65.00

CENTRAL/EASTERN EUROPE $95.00

CATHOLIC TIMES $20.00

ST. ALOYSIUS

NOT AVAILABLE

Altar Schedule March 14th & 15th

Organist: Priscilla Hutton

Saturday 5:30 pm

Lector: Jim Moore

Cantor: Ellen Litteral

Servers: Lane & Levi Happ

EMC’s: Margaret Englum, Jim Moore

Gifts: Sandy Shanks, Ann Staats

Greeters: Sandy Shanks, Ann Staats

Sunday 8:30 am

Lector: Chris Wright

Cantor: Susi Willis

Servers: Anna & Luke Sullivan EMC’s: G. Goodwin, M. Sullivan, P. Warren

Gifts: Logan & Emily Fomera Fam.

Greeters: Phil & Mary Liz Wright

Collection Counters: Cheryl Curl,

Deb Kirsch, Cindy Sullivan

Monday, March 9 No Mass Tuesday, March 10 No Mass Wednesday, March 11 No Mass Thursday, March 12 5:30 pm June Deffenbaugh

Friday, March 13 8:15 am Priests & Seminarians

Saturday, March 14 8:15 am Connie & Ruth Ashley 5:30 pm Mary Frances & Roger Fruin

Sunday, March 15 7:00 am Marguerite Lenderman 8:30 am William & Mary Waller 11:15 am For the People of St. Aloysius & St. Mary’s

Please pray for the sick & recovering...

Christa Swinford, Mark David, Danielle Fox Lindsey, Christina McReynolds, Janet Vaught, Kara Kirby, Verna Lou Perisho, Kenneth Denson, Deanna Mason, Clayton Griffin, Kevin Farris, Mike Haase, Steve Osborne, Marge Chapa, Dan Bruner, Fr. Zimmerman, Lincoln Downing, Tilton Piper, Sharon Wilken, Francis Holley, Ruth Sullivan And all relatives & friends who are ill or

experiencing difficulties in their lives –

that they may know the healing of God.

Our Expectant Mothers:

Hannah (Warren) Abry, Amanda Tracy,

Chelsea Livesay, Beth Keys,

Lindsey (Sullivan) Balser

We pray that God will bless and protect

them during this time of waiting.

Our Military:

Nathan Gatlin, Caleb Machuca, Simon

Holzer, Joe Jenness, Richard Scott, Jus-

tin Vice, Joe Kachma, Zack Lueken &

Joseph Livesay, Raynell Kahala

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

For any changes or additions to this list,

Please call 466-3355 or email:

stmaryschurchparis@gmail.com

We welcome all visitors and new

parishioners to St. Mary’s and St.

Aloysius. Whether you're just

having a look, or are searching

out for a place to worship, we're

delighted to have you here.

Dates & Events

Monday, March 9 Office Closed/No Mass 6:00 pm ~ Choir Practice Tuesday, March 10 10:00 am ~ Decatur Deanery Mtg. 3:00 pm ~ 24 Hr. Ador. Begins NO MASS ~ St. Mary’s 7:00 pm ~ KC Meeting Wednesday, March 11 NO MASS ~ St. Mary’s 3:00 pm ~ 24 Hr. Ador. Ends 5:30-7:30 pm ~ Meal & Mass Class Thursday, March 12 5:30 pm Mass ~ St. Mary’s Friday, March 13 8:15 am Mass & Ador. ~ St. Mary’s 12:00 pm Stations & Potluck ~ STM 5:30 pm Stations ~ St. Aloysius

Saturday, March 14 8:15 am Mass ~ St. Mary’s 9-10 am - Lenten Class-STM Mtg. Rm. 5:30 pm Mass ~ St. Mary’s 5:30 pm KC Raffle ~ KC Hall Sunday, March 15 Third Sunday of Lent 7:00 am ~ Mass - NA 7:45 am ~ Choir Warm-up 8:30 am ~ Mass - St. Mary’s 9:45 am ~ PSR/YM 9:45 am ~ RCIA –Meeting Room

11:15 am ~ Mass - St. Mary’s

Second Sunday of Lent Genesis 12:1-4a. Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22. 2 Timothy 1:8b-10. Matthew 17:1-9

It Is Good to Be Here. God says to each of us today: I will bless you; live a holy life. Thus, it is good to be here in this holy Lent. Like the three apostles on the mount, we listen to Christ, we witness his divine glory, and we keep our eyes on the promise of heaven while living in merciful ways today.

How will the radiant Christ shine through my thoughts and actions? What will I do to listen more intently to Christ each day this week?

Because of God’s mercy to me, what mercy works will I do today and tomorrow?

Word of Life

“We are facing an enormous and dramatic clash between good and evil, death and life, the "culture of death" and the "culture of life". We find ourselves not only "faced with" but necessarily "in the midst of" this conflict: we are all involved and we all share in it, with the inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally pro-life” (The Gospel of Life 28).

Rice Bowl 2020

Meet Trinh ~ Trinh's family are farmers in Vietnam who have been

affected by climate change. What would you do if your source of

nutrition was threatened? How can we support those whose

livelihoods are vulnerable to weather? Visit crsricebowl.org for more.

Pope Frances says we should “see the poor among us”. The need in our community has never been greater than it is at the moment. It is time to take off our rose colored glasses and see the people in our own town. Many live way under the poverty level and many are homeless with no place to stay. They find whatever shelter they can in this cold weather. Jesus said that whatever we do to the least of the people we do for HIM. When is the last time you could not afford a roll of toilet paper or a bar of soap? Many of the people who come to the Compassionate Clothing Ministry consider both of these items a luxury and are very grateful to receive them.

St. Mary’s will be collecting rolls of toilet paper and bars of soap during Lent to be distributed at the clothing ministry the month of April which is St. Mary’s and St. Aloysius’ month to volunteer.

We are in need of food for our own food ministry and ask that during the Lenten Season you remember those in our community who struggle from day to day to find enough food for themselves and their families. When you grocery shop for your own family buy an extra item for someone who cannot afford it. Don’t say why do they not go out and find a job. Just remember they are hungry and Jesus asked us to take care of our brothers and sisters and not to judge and we would not be judged.

ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH & ST. MARY’S CHURCH OF PARIS, IL www.stmaryschurchparis.org MARCH 8, 2020 SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

A Note From Your Pastor

March 16

Amanda Yates

March 19

JoEllen Edmonds

Julie Gosnell

Levi Happ

Special Praying in the Middle of Lent. The whole Church prays in

intense ways on the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent with those

elected for Easter Baptism this year. Our parishioners are Emmy Dowden,

Tanner Laughlin, and Creighton Tarr. Because we stand in grace, we can

face sin with them and pray for healing and support. God is good. Grace is

good. Prayer with and for others is good.

St. Mary’s Food Pantry: We appreciate food & monetary donations to keep the pantry stocked.

Fruit, Veggies, Meat, Spaghetti Sauce, Ravioli, Soup, Boxed Cereal, Mac-n-cheese, Tuna Helper, Rice, Crackers,

Desserts, Powdered/Canned Milk, Peanut Butter, Jelly, & Snacks. The need in our community is ongoing.

Thank you for your generosity!!

Dear Parishioners,

For close to twenty years Choices Pregnancy & Health has served those within our community who have found themselves facing the uncertainties and challenges that often accompany an unplanned pregnancy.

This past January marked 47 years since the passage of Roe vs. Wade. Your faithful support throughout these past two decades has allowed for the ‘truth’, relating to the God-given dignity ascribed to each human life [from the moment of conception], to be lovingly shared with all who enter our doors.

Choices seeks to honor your congregation’s long-term commitment to our ministry, while gratefully recognizing your recent Sanctity of Human Life (boards) contribution of $2,163.

Please feel free to visit our center. Our door remains always open to you.

Appreciatively, Sue Sheeran

Paris Choices

The spring cleaning at St. Mary's

Cemetery will begin April 1, 2020. All

winter decorations including artificial

decorations will be removed. Please

remove what you wish to keep. Spring-

summer decorations may be placed the

second week of April.

Genesis 12:1-4a, 2 Timothy 1:8b-10, Matthew 17:1-9

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Now, a week and a half into Lent, we may be feeling like Peter on the season’s second Sunday: “Lord, it is good that we are here!” Perhaps we are genuinely grateful to be here this year in this joyful season of renewal, and we are catching glimpses already of a transfigured life. Or maybe our zeal for the Lenten disciplines taken up on Ash Wednesday is beginning to falter as we realize how far we still have to go; then the opportunity to pause for some encouragement with a transfigured Christ and a community of witnesses is immensely encouraging. We might recognize that sense of “here” as exactly where we most want to be. If instead, we’re still feeling a bit flat as we strive to settle into the season, possibly we just appreciate how good it would be if we were there. At the very least, a mountaintop climb with Jesus would provide some perspective on where we are with ourselves, with God, and with one another.

However, Lent may be going for us as individuals this year, we are already “ahead” of the momentous experience of Peter, James, and John at the transfiguration of Jesus because of our status as baptized members of Christ’s Body, the Church. With his temporary transfiguration, Jesus received reassurance through repetition of words he heard at his own baptism about his status as God’s beloved Son. He went down from that mountain to conquer death by his death and has now gone ahead of us. Jesus “destroyed death and brought life and immortality.” Now risen and glorified, Jesus the perpetually-transfigured one freely shares this life with us. On the day of our baptism, through God’s power over death and life, we came to share in Jesus’ status as beloved children of God, with the life of Christ and his Spirit now living and moving in us. We were freed from sin and death in the waters of baptism, clothed in a shining white garment, and entrusted with the light of Christ. The glory of God can now shine from our faces too.

Before we can fully claim the promise of risen, glorified, eternally-transfigured life ourselves though, we, like the disciples, are called to “Rise, and…not be afraid.” Wherever “here” is for us on the Second Sunday of Lent in the year of our Lord 2020, it would be best for us not to stay here but to continue growing into the fullness of the holy life to which God has called us. There is still hardship to bear for the Gospel. There are still communities that might find blessing — and perhaps even a transfiguring vision of hope — through us and God’s grace working in us. Lent is an excellent time for tuning our listening ears to the voice of Jesus still speaking in our lives, our Church, and our world. When our earthly mission is fulfilled, our hope now is not for a transitory tent where we can rest for a little while with the glorified Jesus but a seat in a banquet hall where we will feast with him forever.

Meanwhile, we pray to God (as in Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation I):

Help us to work together for the coming of your Kingdom, until the hour when we stand before you, Saints among the Saints in the halls of heaven, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, the blessed Apostles and all the Saints, and with our deceased brothers and sisters, whom we humbly commend to your mercy. Then, freed at last from the wound of corruption and made fully into a new creation, we shall sing to you with gladness the thanksgiving of Christ, who lives for all eternity.

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Peace and all good!

Fr. Valery Burusu

Parochial Administrator

Ninth Annual Women Of Distinction Award Celebration - Saturday, June 13, 2020, 10 a.m. Mass at the Church of the Little Flower followed by a Luncheon at the Crowne Plaza, Springfield, IL. This event honors one woman chosen from each parish in the Springfield Diocese who actively lives her Catholic faith by serving her parish and community. Honorees will be presented a certificate by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki. A luncheon will follow Mass for honorees, clergy, family, friends and parishioners.

If you would like to nominate a woman in St. Mary’s Church who exemplifies these characteristics, fill out the form found in the pews and drop it in the box in the gathering space. There will be a ballot box at St. Mary’s on the weekends of March 21/22 & 28/29. The Honorees will be announced on the weekend of April 4/5.

“Criteria for selection” - A woman must actively live her Catholic faith, display her spirituality and share her time and talents with a cheerful attitude by doing acts of service and leadership toward her parish and community. Our previous Women of Distinction Honorees have been: St Mary’s – Kaye Hayes, JoEllen Edmonds, Mary Ann Sullivan, Virginia Holley, Evelyn Ring, Mary Stoneburner, Rosemary Ogle, and Becky Kraemer. St. Aloysius – Lee Barrett, Linda Hahn, DeAnn Cash, Jerri Ricketts, Jeanette Waller, Mary Ann Morrisey, Rosemary Elsberry, and Mary Frisz.

ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH & ST. MARY’S CHURCH OF PARIS, IL www.stmaryschurchparis.org MARCH 8, 2020 SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Knights of Columbus Paris Council #860

Only 400 tickets sold!

$50.00 per ticket

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Doors open 5:30 pm

Dinner 7:00 pm

Drawing takes place after dinner.

Limit 2 dinners per ticket

Purchase your tickets from a Knight or from

the Parish Office.

Please make checks payable to Paris #860

Need not be present to win.

12 Prizes!

1 Grand Prize

1 - $5,000.00

1 - $1,000.00

10 - $150

Right To Life Rummage Sale

Knights of Columbus Hall Paris, IL Friday, April 3rd

3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

& Saturday, April 4th 8:00 am to 11:00 am

Items will be accepted

Wednesday, April 1st & Thursday,

April 2nd from 12 pm to 6 pm & Friday, April 3rd from 9 am to Noon

Call Mary Taylor (217) 264-5342 with questions.

JAZZ & JEANS

Saturday, March 28, 2020 / 6:00PM

Unique Suites / Charleston, IL

Hors D'oeuvres, Silent &

Live Auction, and Lots of Fun!

Serving: Coles, Douglas, & Edgar Counties

Catholic Charities Annual Fundraiser

Ticket price: $50

(includes a drink)

Purchase tickets at

cc.dio.org or call

217-235-0420

Put on your jeans, enjoy some

jazz, and help Catholic Charities

help those in need.

Religious Education News Next Wednesday, March 11th, is the Meal & Mass Class at St. Mary’s from 5:30-7:30 pm. The children will be praying the Stations of the Cross. This will be a good opportunity to earn service hours. Please join us for a fun and faith filled evening! A Confirmation checklist, questionnaire, & retreat permission form will be passed out this weekend at PSR & emailed to parents. The deadline to turn it in is Sunday, March 15, 2020.

On March 29th we will have our Confirmation Retreat. The Retreat will be held at St. Mary’s. Due to the size and diversity in the age of our children we will be breaking it up into two sessions, a morning and afternoon session.

Grades 1 through 5 will attend the morning session. This session will begin at 8:30 AM and will conclude following 11:15 AM Mass. We will have reconciliation for the children at this time as well.

Grades 6 and up will attend the afternoon session and need to be at the Church for 11:15 AM Mass. The afternoon session will conclude at 4:00 pm.

At this point there is not a plan to have a meal for the children as they will not be there all day. There will be snacks available, but we encourage you to have breakfast or lunch (as the case may be) prior to drop off.

The Children will be active participants in the 11:15 AM Mass. Please help them as they need.

Lent 2020: Lenten Blessings Await

This year as we journey through the 40 days of Lent we will meditate on “Lenten Blessings Await” Please pick up a copy from the table in the gathering space.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Is there someone in your life that you find irritating, hard to get along with, do you gossip about this person to others? This Lent try looking for the one good quality about this person that stands out. If there is not one, then look harder. Everyone has at least one good trait. Every time you get annoyed with this person concentrate on the one good trait and not dwell on the small irritating qualities. Keep this person in your prayers throughout the 40 days and maybe by Easter the small irritations will not seem as important as the one good quality.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ABSTINENCE – Everyone 14 years of age and over is bound to abstain from meat on all the Fridays of Lent. FAST – Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 is required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On the 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. To disregard completely the law of Fast and Abstinence is seriously sinful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stations of the Cross are prayed every Friday during Lent at 12:00pm and 5:30pm. This is a way to reflect on the events of Jesus’ journey to Calvary. You may come anytime and pray the stations as a family or an individual prayer (books are available in the church). A potluck will follow the Stations. Please sign up in the Gathering Space if you would like to bring a dish.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday Morning Lenten Class is on Saturday mornings during Lent at 9:00 am in St. Mary’s Meeting Room. Everyone is welcome. You do not have to attend every class. You can come whenever you are available. The book for the class is Sacred Space for Lent 2020. Books may be picked up in the church office or at the first class. It can also be ordered on Amazon, if you prefer to do that. The class will be facilitated by Priscilla Hutton.

KC FISH FRY

@ The (KC) Hall

Friday, March 20th

4:30pm – 7:00pm

Adults $9.00 – Children under 12 $6.00

Desserts available

Eat in or Use Drive up Service

April will be St. Mary’s & St. Aloysius month to work the “CCC” Compassionate Clothing Closet.

We will be looking for volunteers for Tuesdays from 1 to 3 to help check out the clients. And sort and hang clothing items on Mondays anytime from 11 to 2. We will also be collecting toilet paper and bars of soap. Please start bringing these items in and place them in the basket in the gathering space.