FEBRUARY 21, 2021 First Sunday of Lent Saints James & Patrick Parish TO REMAIN IN CHRIST AND REVEAL CHRIST TO OTHERS Saint James Church Saint Patrick Church 742 E. Clay • Decatur, Illinois 62521 407 E. Eldorado • Decatur, Illinois 62523 Masses.... Sat 4:00 pm, Sun. 8:30 am Masses .. Sat. 5:30 pm, Sun. 10:00 am Office Hours .. M-Th 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Office Hours ....M-F 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Office........................... (217) 428-7733 Office ........................... (217) 429-5363 Fax .............................. (217) 429-8206 Fax .............................. (217) 429-8206 School ......................... (217) 423-4351 Parish Staff Pastor Fr. Chris Comerford Pastor Emeritus Fr. John C Burnette Office Manager Anita Olson Office Assistant Robin Canary Parish Communications Tom Prior Financial Secretary Carla Hahn Ministry Scheduler Sue Miller Maintenance Pete Brosamer Organist Kate Tiemann School Staff Principal Nicholas Blackburn Secretary Michelle Gillespie Parish Email: [email protected] Parish Website: www.ssjpparish.com Like us on Facebook Saints James and Patrick Parish (Page with logo) 2 2 From the Pastor’s Desk Scott Hahn’s Reflection on the Readings FR. CHRIS’ COLUMN Lent bids us to return to the innocence our A SEASON OF CHANGE baptism. As Noah and his family were saved through Lent is once again here for us. We usually are good at finding the waters of the deluge, we were saved through the things to give up. However that often means we just replace waters of Baptism, Peter reminds us in today’s that item with something else. Hopefully this Lent we can see Epistle. the whole picture. Devoting ourselves to prayer, fasting, and And God’s covenant with Noah in today’s First almsgiving is not just to prove we can make it 40 days. It is to Reading marked the start of a new world. But it also discipline ourselves to be better disciples of Jesus Christ. prefigured a new and greater covenant between God I encourage you as I challenge myself to really take advantage and His creation (see Hosea 2:20; Isaiah 11:1–9). of this time to grow closer to God. Please take the Little Black We see that new covenant and that new creation Booklet and the Rice Bowl home with you. It’s amazing what a begin in today’s Gospel. few minutes of prayer each day can do for our Spiritual life. Jesus is portrayed as the new Adam—the beloved Maybe sacrifice a takeout meal or a Starbucks run each week son of God (see Mark 1:11; Luke 3:38), living in and place the money in the Rice Bowl to help those who truly harmony with the wild beasts (see Genesis 2:19–20), are in need for food. Even 10 dollars a week can make a huge being served by angels (see Ezekiel 28:12–14). difference. My big focus is to limit my screen time on devices Like Adam, He too is tempted by the devil. But while especially by trying to stay off Facebook and Twitter. I probably Adam fell, giving reign to sin and death (see Romans don’t even realize how much time I spend that could be better 5:12–14, 17–20), Jesus is victorious. used. Allow the Scriptures to come alive for you this Lent. This is the good news, the “gospel of God” that He Maybe Listen to the Bible in a Year podcast or do one of the proclaims. Through His death, resurrection, and online bible studies on FORMED or the St. Paul Center. I will be enthronement at the right hand of the Father, the doing the study Parousia: The Bible and the Mass led by Dr. world is once again made God’s kingdom. Scott Hahn on the St Paul Center website. I do have a few extra In the waters of Baptism, each of us entered the copies of the study guide. The cost is $20. kingdom of His beloved Son (see Colossians 1:13–14). MAKE THIS THE BEST LENT EVER! We were made children of God, new creations (see 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 4:3–7). But like Jesus, and Israel before Him, we have passed through the baptismal waters only to be Featured Saint driven into the wilderness—a world filled with St. Polycarp (Feb. 23) afflictions and tests of our faithfulness (see 1 Corinthians 10:1–4, 9,13; Deuteronomy 8:2, 16). St. Polycarp was a second century We are led on this journey by Jesus. He is the bishop of Smyrna, a disciple of St. John Savior—the way and the truth we sing of in today’s the Apostle, and a friend of St. Ignatius Psalm (see John 14:6). He feeds us with the bread of of Antioch. He was considered the angels (see Psalm 78:25; Wisdom 16:20), and leader of Christians in Asia Minor, cleanses our consciences in the Sacrament of fearlessly spreading the faith despite Reconciliation. opposition from pagans. At 86 years old, As we begin this holy season, let us renew our Polycarp was led into the crowded baptismal vows—to repent and believe the gospel. stadium in Smyrna to be burned alive, but the flames didn’t harm him. He was finally killed by a dagger. His martyrdom is one of the earliest, fully reliable accounts of Christian martyrdom. He summarized his trust in God just before he died, writing “Father, I bless Thee for having made me worthy of the day and the hour.” Mass Schedule and Sacraments 3 3 BAPTISM Before an infant may be baptized, the parents are required to attend a Baptism Class. Please contact the Parish Office. Baptisms generally take place on a Sunday, the day of the Resurrection. MATRIMONY Arrangements must be made six months in advance with the Pastor. PENANCE (Reconciliation) Anytime by appointment or: at St. James: at St. Patrick: Monday 7:30-7:45am Friday 10:30-11:00am Wednesday 7:30-7:45am Saturday 11:00am- 12:00 Noon Saturday 3:15-3:40pm Ill or Hospital Bound? Please call the office so Father can anoint you if you have not been anointed recently. When you go to the hospital please register as a parishioner of Ss. James and Patrick. If you have not been visited by a priest within two days, please call the office. “St Patrick School admits students of any race, color, sex or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and school administered programs” MASS INTENTIONS Tabernacle Candle Diocesan Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation: (217) 321-1155. In Memory Of St. James: Welcome New Parishioners: Please register at the office during the week. St. Patrick: Monday, Feb. 22 8:00 am at St. James Don Sebok Rest in peace: May parishioners, family, and friends who have died be embraced with God’s love forever. Tuesday, Feb. 23 8:00 am at St. Patrick Harvey Phillips Daily Marriage Tip: “Love is a decision” is a maxim from the Wednesday, Feb. 24 Marriage Encounter (ME) movement. As 8:00 am at St. James wonderful as marriage can be, it’s not Mary Ann Blankenship always lived on an emotional high. Some days, we must just decide to Thursday, Feb. 25 love. The feelings will eventually follow. 2021 8:00 am at St. Patrick www.foryourmarriage.org John Buzan Friday, Feb. 26 11:15 am at St. Patrick Sanctity of Life Gift of Treasure Thank you for your generosity! Saturday, Feb. 27 4:00 pm at St. James Fiscal 2020-2021 Week Year to Date FY19-20 All Parishioners February 6/7 (32) $14,091 $528,771 $600,707 5:30 pm at St. Patrick Needed $18,500 $592,000 Bill & Mary Liz Downing Over (Under) ($ 4,409) ($ 63,229) Sunday, Feb. 28 Ash Wednesday $170 Catholic Charities $105 Catholic Times $135 8:30 am at St. James Fuel Collection $905 Misc $140 John & Kay Fitzgerald 10:00 am at St. Patrick Have you considered giving online? Sandra Nicholson Check out the possibility at: www.ssjpparish.com Long may you live, but please remember our parish in your will. 4 Parish News & Notes The pain and sorrow of a past abortion Parish School News need not endure for a lifetime. www.decaturstpatrick.org Call Project Rachel for a confidential, And on Facebook through the school website non-judgmental referral to those who can help: 1-877-RACHEL-5. Thanks to the generosity of so many parishioners and friends, we celebrate our 165th year! St. Patrick School Online Auction- The school’s online auction is from March 6-20. The auction will include more than 65 items to bid on. The ad book featuring the items will be distributed in late February, and you can begin purchasing tickets at that time too. Call the school or parish office for more information. Protecting God’s Children - All volunteers need to take a session one time and fill out a background check form. Visit our parish website at https:// www.ssjpparish.com/ to learn about an online version. Nominate a Teacher for St. Elizabeth ************************************************************** Ann Seton Award - Do you know a Lenten Regulations- Lent is the principal penitential season in the Church Catholic school teacher who strives for year. All the Christian faithful are urged to develop and maintain a voluntary academic excellence with a focus on program of self-denial (in addition to the Lenten regulations which follow), the Catholic mission? Know a teacher serious prayer, and the performing of deeds of charity and mercy, including who left a lasting impression on you or the giving of alms.