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Home , Saint Boniface

MASSES: Saturday (Sunday Obligation) 5:30 PM, Sunday: 9:00 AM LENT WEEKDAY MASSES: Monday & Wednesday 8:30AM, Friday at 3:00PM WEEKDAY RECONCILIATION: Monday and Friday after Mass

PASTOR: Rev. Roger Kutzner DEACON: Mark Otten (815-469-7165)

PARISH SECRETARY: Kathy Short Email: [email protected]

MINISTRY OF CARE: Erwin Bogs Email: [email protected]

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORDINATOR: Nancy Email: [email protected]

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Call office. MARRIAGE: By appointment only. Normally made 6 months in advance. BAPTISM: You must be a registered, active, member of the parish and attend a Baptism class. Baptisms are held the 2nd Sunday of the month at 12:00PM (Noon). Call the office to schedule an appointment. RELIGIOUS ED CLASSES: All classes meet on Sundays from 10:00-11:30

Church: 5304 W. Main St., Monee, IL 60449 P.O. Box 217, Monee, IL 60449 (534-9682) Church Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30am—2:00pm email: [email protected] Website: stbonifacemonee.org Facebook: St Boniface Church Monee Church

Saint Boniface Mission Statement

Saint Boniface is a welcoming, caring Church community united under one baptism. We encourage participation by all members in promoting and sharing Christian and social values. Page Two February 21, 2021

Mass Intentions for the Week

Saturday, February 20—5:30 PM Barbara Marusin † Req by Bogs Family Mary Ann Mills † Req. by Joe Mills February 21 February 28 Sunday, February 21—9:00 AM 5:30 PM 5:30 PM Melanie Valencia † Req. by Leobardo and Schmidt Rene Jurack Ana Valencia Martinez 9:00 AM 9:00 AM Monday, February 22—8:30 AM Kathy Short Tracy Sheehan Souls in Purgatory Wednesday, February 24—8:30 AM Annie Vestal † Req. by Short Family Friday, February 26—3:00 PM AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Health Care Worker Intentions Sunday: First Sunday of Lent; Rite of Election; Saturday, February 27—5:30 PM Rite of Calling the Candidates to Barbara Marusin † Continuing Conversion; Rite of Req by Lloyd and Mary Pierce Sending Sunday, February 28—9:00 AM Monday: Washington’s Birthday; Mary Frances Giermak † Req. by Jeanne Bodnar Julian Calendar Lent begins Mass of Thanksgiving Req. by Parishioner Tuesday: St. Thursday: Purim (Jewish observance) begins at sunset Friday: Abstinence

Fridays during Lent: Mass will be at COLLECTION SUMMARY 3:00pm followed by the Stations of the Week of February 14, 2021 Cross. This year we will be reciting the Sunday Offertory $ 2066.00 Stations from copies of “The Way of the

We sincerely thank everyone still mailing in their Cross.” Each attendee will be given their contributions. If you can continue to give, know own copy. We ask that you bring it with that we are grateful. We do not wish to put any you each time you participate. Confessions financial burden on you. will be heard immediately following Mass. Please remember—DO NOT MAIL CASH! You are welcome to mail a check or call the office to arrange a day and time to drop off your donations. St. Boniface Church Lent Trivia P.O. Box 217 Who said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes Monee, IL 60449 away the sin of the world”?

What disciples were called the Sons of Thunder? Brothers James and John, perhaps because they Humanity is never so beautiful as when praying were aggressive , assertive, and not afraid of con- for forgiveness, or else forgiving another. —Jean P. F. Richter frontation (Mark 3:17)

First Sunday of Lent February 21, 2021 Your ways, O L, make known to me; teach me your paths. — Psalm 25:4 Page Three February 21, 2021

During Lent we are paying more attention than usual to the crucifix. The crucifix is a summary of the story of sin and salvation of humankind. Christ's wounds are vivid images of sin, of what sin does to ourselves, the world, and our relationship with God. But they are also vivid images of the intensity of his love for us: he suffered freely and willingly, to pay the price of our sins and give us hope for salvation. There is an anecdote from the American Revolutionary War that can help illustrate this. An important military message had to be sent through territory infested with the enemy - email wasn't available. A courageous corporal was chosen to accompany the messenger. They had not gone far when they drew fire from the enemy. The messenger was killed and the corporal severely wounded in the side, but he didn't abandon his mission. He grabbed the tightly wrapped dispatch from the dead messenger and rode on till he grew faint from loss of blood. Fearing the message would fall into the hands of the enemy, he squeezed the dispatch into the wound in his side until it closed around it. The next day, they found him with a smile on his lips, so weak he could not speak, but still able to point to the wound in his side. There they found the message. The surgeon who cared for him said that the wound itself was not fatal but putting the paper into it caused his death. The wounds of Christ contain a message for us, a message of love and sacrifice, a message of salvation from sin, a message of his unconditional and unfailing devotion to each one of us. Have a fruitful, peaceful, and safe Lent.

+ Father Roger

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — I will set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth (Genesis 9:8-15). Psalm — Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant (Psalm 25). Are you ready to encounter Lent 2021? Whether Second Reading — The water of the flood pre- CRS Rice Bowl is a tradition in your community or if figured baptism, which saves you now (1 Peter you are considering participating for the first time, 3:18-22). the Catholic Relief Services Ministry here at the Diocese of Joliet is ready to help you prepare for a — Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the season of encounter. We can’t wait for you to join angels ministered to him (Mark 1:12-15) The English of the Psalm Responses from the Lectionary the CRS Rice Bowl Movement in 2021! Rice Bowls for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in are available at the back of the church. the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

Stewardship Thought: “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” The waters of Baptism make us part of the covenant in Christ. — Winston Churchill But the ’ Pastoral Letter on stewardship reminds us that “there is a Dear God, fundamental obligation arising from the My mother said we used to eat fish on Fridays. Sacrament of Baptism…that people place Did you stop it because of the smell? their gifts, their resources — their selves — Very truly yours, Christa, Age 11 at God’s service in and through the Church” Dear God; Children’s Letters to God Page Four February 21, 2021

REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL Lent is the time of year we devote to scrutinizing our lives in the light of our baptism into the death and . Today’s readings are a nice shorthand catechism of what our baptized lives mean. As passed through the waters of the flood to a covenant with God, so did we enter into a covenant, a promised relationship with God through our baptism. Robert E. Ryley, Celeste Lynch, Pat Vestal, Vickie Peter’s letter gives an explicit explanation of Moore Westbrook, Marie Woods, Carol Orolin, what our baptism means: it is an appeal we make to God for a clear conscience. How do we obtain this Louise Kopaczewski, Sharon Blazevich, Gayle clear conscience? The words proclaimed by Jesus Males, Celia Munoz, Kathy Bertram, Vicki immediately following his temptation show us the Schmidt, John Kooyenga, Ken Zohlfeld, Jeanne way: “Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). It might be a good spiritual exercise to keep Bodnar, Eason M., Bernie Van Etten, Jason Brand- these readings before us throughout the entire stetter, Helen Barrett, Dolly Richmond, the safety season of Lent, a means to help us return to a life of all healthcare workers, all those battling the lived by our baptismal promises. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. Coronvirus, those who died this last week and those that go unnamed.

From Ashes to the Living Font

From ashes to the living font FEAST OF FAITH Your Church must journey, Lord, Seasonal Changes for the Liturgies of Lent Today is the First Sunday of Lent. During this Baptized in grace, in grace renewed season of preparation for Easter, our churches look By your most holy word. stark and simple—no flowers at the altar, no festive banners or decorations. And our liturgies feel Through fasting, prayer, and charity different, too. The organ is quiet except to Your voice speaks deep within, accompany the singing of the assembly. The Gloria, Returning us to ways of truth our Sunday song of rejoicing, is not heard except on And turning us from sin. solemnities, and we will not sing the Alleluia, our joyful acclamation of praise, until the Easter Vigil. “Alleluia cannot always / Be our song while here Come, purify our hearts and lives, below,” says an eleventh-century hymn. “Alleluia our Cast out our sinful ways; transgressions / Make us for a while forego; / For the As temples of the Spirit, cleansed, solemn time is coming / When our tears for sins Restore us for your praise. must flow” (Alleluia dulce carmen, J. M. Neale, trans.). From ashes to the living font These changes in the liturgy will catch our Your Church must journey still, attention, and make us eager for the festive Through cross and tomb to Easter joy, outpouring of joy that will return with Easter. This year, may the stripped-away liturgies of Lent remind In Sprit fire fulfilled. us to strip away what is not essential in our lives to make space for the crucified and risen One, and 2021 Word & Song Book, Hymn #474 thus to be ready to sing “Alleluia” once again when Easter returns. —Corinna Laughlin, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. Page Five February 21, 2021

GOOD MORNING! WELCOME TO LENT! You probably did not get that greeting from your priest today, and you probably did not expect it. Isn’t Lent a time of reflection and repentance? Somber purple, no “Alleluias”? Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; attending to one’s relationship with God? True enough; however, there are Lenten practic- Do you know the First Station? Join us this es that have a festive air woven into these penitential ele- ments. One example is in the Church’s retrieval of ancient Friday to learn the answer! Mass will be at Lenten practices that made up the final preparation of 3:00pm followed by Stations of the Cross. Father persons elected to receive the Easter sacraments of bap- Roger will be available to hear confessions tism, confirmation, and eucharist. Jesus’ urgent preaching in today’s passage from Mark comes soon after his own immediately after the mass, during the Stations. baptism and reminds us that these sacraments still signal a dramatic change in a person’s life: they have responded to Jesus’ preaching of the kingdom and are now publicly professing themselves to be disciples of the Lord and fully The Parishioner Personal Missal initiated members of his visible church. The prayer, fast- ing, and almsgiving during Lent were part of that prepara- We still have this years Missal available to any tion. Repentance was then, and remains today, important St. Boniface parishioner who also for those already fully initiated; the work of repent- would like one. Our goal is ance, of prayerfully examining our lives and making changes in anticipation of God’s reign, is an ongoing as- to promote safe and active pect of our life in Christ. participation in the liturgy, while attending mass or following a mass at home. To change and to change for the better are two Please contact the office if different things. you would like a copy. We —German proverb require you sign for your copy and write your name on the inside front cover.

Lent Materials Available Available at the back of church are free copies of this years Little Black Books, The Word Among Us (daily meditations during Lent, Rice Bowls, and the Lenten bulletin in- George Washington was an American political leader, serts (this year they have been published in military general, statesman, and Founding Father who one booklet—instead of the individual inserts served as the first president of the United States from as in past years). Please help yourself! 1789 to 1797. Previously, he led Patriot forces to There are also more wall calendars and victory in the nation's War for Independence. pocket calendars available at the back of the church. CURRENTLY SERVING Please pray for the safety, spiritual and physical It is with great pleasure and appreciation to let well being and that God will give His peace to the you know that we surpassed the 2020 CMAA parents and family of: goal and received a refund check in the amount Sgt E5 Christopher Blackwood U.S. Marine Corp of $881.30. We realize how difficult this past Airman First Class Anthony Dowling USAF year has been but you have been so supportive Major Patrick Farrell, Army National Guard and extremely generous once again! Thank you Sgt E5 Austin Wolf, U.S. Army Do you have a family member in the service that to everyone who donated this past year and we you would like to be included in our prayers? Con- pray we will all be able to continue to support tact the office with their name, rank and branch of our parish and the CMAA this year. service.