March   22  -  Trinity Episcopal
  29  -  St. Mary

April     5  -  Trinity Episcopal
  12 -   St. Mary
                                                                                       

Saturdays of Lent:  
3:30 PM to 4:30 PM at St. Mary (Fr. John)

Sundays of Lent
7:00 AM to 7:20 AM at St. Barbara (Fr. John)

 
Other Times:  
Wednesday, March 27, 6:30 – 7:30 PM, St. Barbara (Fr. John)
Wednesday, April 3, 6:30 – 7:30 PM, St. Barbara (Fr. John)
Sunday, April 7, 6:30 PM until all are heard, St. Mary, (4 priests)
Wednesday, April 17, Noon – 1:00 PM, St. Mary (Fr. John)
Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 – 8:00 PM, St. Barbara (Fr. John)
Thursday, April 18, Noon – 1:00 PM, St. Mary (Fr. John)
 
At Near-by Parishes:
Tuesday, April 9, 5:45 – 7:15 PM, St. Ann, Nashville (2 priests)
Thursday, April 11, 7:00 PM, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Posen
Sunday, April 14, 3:00 PM, St. Charles Borromeo, DuBois
Sunday, April 14, 6:00 PM, St. Michael, Radom
 
 
Please note:   A penance service with multiple priests is scheduled to take place at St. Mary on April 7, but not at St. Barbara. Instead, Fr. John has scheduled three hours of Reconciliation at St. Barbara, on March 27, April 3, and April 17. There are also penance services in DuBois and Radom on Sunday, April 14. Please take the opportunity to confess and be reconciled.
 



 

Holy Week Schedule: 

Tuesday, April 16, CHRISM MASS, 11:30 AM at St. Peter Cathedral
Wednesday, April 17, THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST, 6:00 PM at St. Barbara
Holy Thursday, April 18, MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, 7:00 PM at St. Barbara
Good Friday, April 19, GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE, 7:00 PM at St. Mary
Holy Saturday, April 20, EASTER VIGIL MASS, 8:00 PM at St. Mary
Easter Sunday, April 21, EASTER MASS, 8:00 AM at St. Barbara 
                                                                   10:00 AM at St. Mary

Each year the Lord Jesus calls the entire Church to a special season of penance and renewal. As we begin this holy time of Lent, we should reflect on our need for conversion of heart, prayer, charitable works and penance. The season of Lent extends this year from Ash Wednesday, March 6, to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, April 18, inclusive.

1. Everyone 14 years of age or over is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent.

2. Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 years of age is also bound to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

3. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only one full meatless meal is allowed. The other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one’s needs, but altogether they should not equal another full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted on these two days, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed. When health or ability to work would be seriously affected, the obligation of the law is modified. Because Lent is a special season for all Christians, we should not lightly excuse ourselves from these penitential practices.

4. To completely disregard the law of fast and abstinence is seriously sinful.

Pastor's Note: "Please pray for our neighbors in the newly enlarged St. John the Baptist Parish in Piopolis, especially for Fr. Slawomir Ptak who takes on the challenge of leading the parish through this time of change.  Also, please pray for the members of the now suppressed parishes--St. Clement Parish, McLeansboro and St. John Nepomucene Parish, Dahlgren--as they mourn the loss of their parish communities.  The same Christ who, by his resurrection, made holy the graves of all who believe in him can also bring new life from this period of mourning and change.  This is the faith that the whole church professes with you. Please strive to remember that we are not simply members of St. Mary, St. Barbara, or St. John the Baptist, but truly members of the Church of Jesus Christ--one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.  Wherever we find those four distinctive marks of the Church founded by Christ, we are truly at home.  Praying for peace and love for every troubled heart."

Father John Iffert, Pastor
St.  Mary the Immaculate Conception Churcn
 

March, 2019

2019 Lenten Fish Fry Dates

Click on link above for more information.

Book ClubTitle for March, 2019!



  "The Name of the Rose"
Author:  Umberto Eco
Date in March:  Monday, March 25, 2019
Discussion Location:  Neri Conference Room

Recognition of the Right of Christian Communities

Today, our modern society, which is so advanced, continues to persecute people because of their faith. There are people who die and who are persecuted for following Jesus Christ, not to mention the discrimination against Christians in so many countries where they are not acknowledged, or where their existence is subtly rejected through insults and unjust demands. Let us defend their rights! “It might be hard for us to believe, but there are more martyrs today than in the first centuries. They are persecuted because they speak the truth and proclaim Jesus Christ to this society. This happens particularly where religious freedom is not yet guaranteed. However, it also happens in countries where, in theory and on paper, they protect freedom and human rights. Let us pray that Christian communities, especially those who are persecuted, feel that they are close to Christ and have their rights respected.”
 

Hello!
Welcome to St. Mary the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

We are your neighborhood church.
The world is our neighborhood.
Come and see.

     
 

   Diocesan Policy:

All clergy, employees and adult volunteers must complete the following to be compliant with the Diocese's Child Protection Policy:

• Employment or Volunteer Application
• CANTS form (completed every 2 years via the IL Department of Children & Family Services)
• Initial Child Protection Policy Training
• Annual Refresher Course (online)
• Fingerprinting (all school employees hired on/after July 1, 2007)
• Criminal Background Checks (employees and volunteers in leadership positions or who have lived outside of IL in the last 5 years; updated every 5 years)                                             

         Child Protection Information

                      Abuse Hotline
 

Forms:

Please print out form, complete and return to the parish office - not the address on the form!

            CANTS  - Every 2 years

Criminal Background Check - Every 5 years