St. Mary Catholic Church

DeKalb, Illinois

     

All parish volunteers need to complete Protecting God’s Children, undergo a background check, and read a few important documents. Please contact Mona O'Bryan at the parish office 815-758-5432 x 107 if you are unsure if you have completed all the requirements or to answer any questions you may have. Thanks for your prompt cooperation with this important US Bishop's initiative.

We need financial your support to complete future improvement projects! If you can help, please give what you can to our Capital Improvements Fund using the mailed envelopes or through our online giving system. God bless you in advance for your generous support! If you have questions, email Ann Hickey at annh@stmarydekalb.org.

Attention Volunteers!  An update to the Youth Guidelines (in sections E and F) requires all volunteers to sign a revised copy. You can do so by printing this document and returning a signed copy to the parish office by June 24th. Staff members will also collect forms after masses on June 23rd-24th. Please note that the Safe Environment protocol has been instituted for the safety of those most vulnerable. We appreciate your compliance as we work to protect our community.

“We aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

St. Paul says he does not know which to prefer, fruitful labors of love in this world or going to the Lord. “Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; because you will not abandon my soul” (Psalm 16: 9-10). St. Paul “would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord,” but he knows how he was delivered from arrogance and blindness by the Lord through His Body, the Church. St. Paul wishes others to experience the light of the Gospel that he received; and so he labors with all his heart for love of God and neighbor, longing for his reward. Saul had thought he was serving the Lord in his own mind. He had been self-convinced. He was not open to conversion.

He was not a “mustard seed” in God’s hands because he was too self-important.

Paul, humbled by the Lord, was able to open himself to a deeper understanding of God and neighbor. Pope Francis in “A Man of His Word” asks if we think Ghandi or Martin Luther King, Jr. are not holy because they are not priests or nuns as he shakes his head no! “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.” We priests have no special pass or “get out of jail free card” here, nor do Christians. We must love like Christ. Many of us, recognizing our many failings, hope to be someday with the holy men & women, boys & girls of different nationalities, professions, and age groups who have witnessed by their lives to us.


In Christ, Son of Mary,
Fr. Russell

2018 CONTINUING EVENTS @ ST. MARY

2nd & 4th Wednesdays - St. Mary Men's Group - "A Pope and a President"

Tuesdays - Teen Tuesday High School Youth Group 



SUMMER EVENT

Snack & Cinema - June 20th - 6:00pm in the Ministry Center Cafeteria
Movie: "Bella" - Please bring a snack to share!

SAVE THE DATES!
St. Mary Women at the Well RETURNS this Fall!  Please mark your calendars for September 13th and December 6th.  Watch the bulletin and parish Facebook page for details closer to the dates!