PRIESTS ARE AT CONVOCATION THIS WEEK.

REMINDER:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5
GSH CHAPEL
8:30AM
WORD & COMMUNION SERVICES


 

Frank Kuenz

November 26, 1931 — September 30, 2023

Word has come to us of the passing of a dear and generous friend of St. Mary Immaculate Conception Parish, Frank Kuenz.  

Frank grew up in Mount Vernon in southern Illinois with three sisters and two brothers.

Son of Elmer Kuenz and Hildegarde Nies of St. Louis. After local high school, he attended Washington University, St. Louis school of architecture.

With the help of a scholarship he graduated with a professional degree in 1954. During the Korean War he served in the army 1954 to 1956. He was sent to south western Germany outside Stuttgart. As a SP3 he was assigned to headquarters 540 engineer group combat operations section with top-secret clearances.


In 1968, Frank married Mary Helen Barnidge of St. Louis. Deciding to make a change they moved to Denver Colorado and purchased a home on 7th Avenue Parkway. He had lived there for over 50 years till his passing. 

In 2002, Mary Helen died. For over 17 years, until the coronavirus pandemic stifled travel, he enjoyed month-long journeys to the places he was familiar in Europe including Paris and Germany often passing through New York City. 
 

He is survived by his two sons and seven grandchildren. 

- Daniel and wife Elizabeth, Amanda and husband Aaron, Jason, Nicolas, Samantha, Gavin, and one great grandchild Emberlee. 

- Ted and wife Brianne Jaxson, and Jazmyn. 

He is also survived by, his siblings Ruth (Kuenz) Jones, Dwyn, David, and his brother Thad. 
 

Arrangements are through Horan & McConaty Funeral Service and Cremation, Denver, Co.

Click on link below for additional information:

FRANK KUENZ

Visitation

Thursday, October 19, 2023

4:00 - 6:00pm (Mountain (no DST) time)

Horan & McConaty Funeral Service and Cremation

1091 S Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80246

Recitation of the Rosary

Thursday, October 19, 2023

6:00 - 6:30pm (Mountain (no DST) time)

Horan & McConaty Funeral Service and Cremation

1091 S Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80246

Funeral Mass

Friday, October 20, 2023

10:00 - 11:00am (Mountain (no DST) time)

Good Shepherd Catholic Church

2626 E 7th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80206

Additional Service to be held at Saint Mary Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois, at a date yet to be determined. 

His cremated remains are to be buried alongside his parents in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

Click on link below for information on
the test for October 4, 2023 at 1:20 pm CDT!

Nationwide Emergency Alert Test


 

Dolores Regina Ziarnek
July 12, 1928 - September 20, 2023
 

OCTOBER - MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY
 

From Mt. Vernon:
Tuesday evenings following Adoration and Mass, join the Knights of Columbus in praying the Holy  Rosary in church or online at 6:00pm.
  
Forty Days for Life is a period of focused awareness and prayer dedicated to reducing and eventually eliminating abortions.  The Forty Days will begin the last week of September this year.  Please join us about 30 minutes before the weekend Masses to pray the Rosary as part of our prayer to end abortion in the United States starting the weekend Sept. 30th - Oct. 1st and continuing through Sunday, Nov. 5th.  Contact Mary Wilson for more information.
 

From Radom:
St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Radom, will hold a Public Square Rosary Rally Saturday, Oct. 14th at 3 PM.  Please join us in praying for our nation.   We will meet on the east side of the church grounds.  Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before 3 PM.  Please bring a lawn chair if unable to stand.    In case of bad weather, the rosary will be prayed in church.
 

GIVING AND . . 









 

An anonymous donor will match any cash, check, stock, or on-line donation to the St. Mary Building Fund (Debt Reduction) Campaign during the period of Sept. 1, 2023 to January 15, 2024 up to $200,000.

If maximized, the church mortgage will be completely paid off!

So, if possible, please give generously!


                                      Building Fund Donations 

     Donations from September 1 - 23, 2023
$95,934.00

     Pledges as of September 23, 2023
$16,728.16

Current total to be doubled is: $ 112,662.16

FROM THE PEN OF FATHER STEVE

 Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
 
 

Reflection on the Synod of Synodality: A Priest's Perspective

                 The Church, in her timeless wisdom and guidance, has always been a vessel of change and adaptation, while concurrently staying rooted in the eternal truth of Christ. The Synod of Synodality, from my vantage point as a Catholic priest, is a poignant representation of this beautiful dichotomy.
 
                 The very name "Synod of Synodality" is intriguing. At its core, synodality is about journeying together, emphasizing the importance of listening, mutual understanding, and the shared responsibility of the clergy and the laity in the mission of the Church. This Synod is not just a singular event but a process; a process of discernment, wherein the whole Church is invited to reflect, discuss, and pray.
 
                The most noticeable element that resonated with me was the emphasis on 'listening'. In today's tumultuous times, true listening is becoming a rare art. Our world is filled with noise, distractions, and polarized debates. The Church's call to deeply listen, then, stands as a counter-cultural statement. Listening to the joys, struggles, doubts, and hopes of the faithful is a reiteration of Christ's compassionate ministry, who always had an ear for the marginalized, the suffering, and the lost.
 
               However, this journey is not without its challenges. As a priest, I am  aware of the varying opinions within our diverse and global Church. The concept of synodality could be met with apprehension, misunderstanding, or even resistance by some. The Synod is a reminder that the Church is not a static institution but a living organism. As the world evolves, the Church too needs mechanisms to understand and respond to the signs of the times, all while holding fast to the unchanging truth of the Gospel.
 
              In my daily pastoral ministry, I often encounter individuals who feel disconnected or even alienated from the Church. For them, the Synod offers hope. It sends a message that their voice matters, that they are a part of this grand, communal journey of faith.
 
              In conclusion, the Synod of Synodality, for me, is a profound moment of grace. It's an invitation to introspection, dialogue, and rejuvenation. As a priest, it challenges me to be more open, more listening, and more inclusive. It reminds me that the Church's strength does not lie in its might or structures, but in its ability to love, to understand, and to walk side by side with its people, journeying towards Christ. 
 
Fr. Steve Pautler

 

FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND CONSIDERATION:

FARM BILL

For more detailed information, please click on the link below:

Farm Bill Letter of Principles

This letter is supported by:
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Catholic Rural Life
Catholic Charities USA
Society of St. Vincent DePaul, USA





If you wish to send an email of support, click on the link below:

Letter of Support




 

FOOD FOR THE POOR

AS FAMINE LOOMS IN HAITI, WE NEED YOUR HELP

We work tirelessly at Food For The Poor to alleviate the suffering of impoverished children and families. In Haiti, looming famine is being reported in the wake of continued civil unrest, and most recently, severe flooding and deadly earthquakes.

If you’ve ever wanted to effectively help those stricken by poverty and disaster, this is your chance. Your gift to Food For The Poor will aid those who need your help the most. We have organized distribution centers throughout Haiti that are successfully delivering critically-needed food and other humanitarian aid directly to children and families

Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry children and families living in poverty primarily in 19 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. We provide emergency relief assistance, water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for vulnerable children, care for the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance.

Please share your most generous gift today.

For those who do not know, the parish directories are here.  They are on a table outside the parish office and there are pick-up sign-off sheets with the names of  those who had pictures taken or submitted pictures.  Please take only ONE directory and place a check or an X by your name.

For those who wish to purchase a directory, we have a waiting list sign-up sheet in the office. We have to be certain that those who had their pictures taken or submitted their pictures get their copies first. 

The cost:  $30.00.  Make checks payable to: St. Mary Church.  
 

A potpourri of spiritual refreshment and enlightenment.

Click on the link below to visit the Youtube Channel of the Most Reverend Michael G. McGovern, Bishop of the Diocese of Belleville

Bishop Michael McGovern's Youtube Channel

Volunteer Form

If you wish to volunteer at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Parish, please download the form, complete it and follow the return instructions at the top of the form.
 

CLEANING CREW

PLEASE!
NEW CLEANERS ARE NEEDED!  Call Cindy Montgomery if you're interested.





Please click on the link below!





OCTOBER
 

ALTAR LINENS



Click on the link below to view the schedule!

Adjusted 2023 Schedule

More volunteers are needed!  Washing, drying and folding altar linens 1 or 2 months a years is the time commitment.  Interested?  Please call  the parish office at 618.244-1559.
 

VOLUNTEERS

HOSPITALITY/LECTOR/
EM/SACRISTAN/SERVER  


Click on the links below:

Hospitality/Lector/EM/
Sacristan/Servers
Schedules

SERVERS

If you cannot make your scheduled date(s), please contact Deacon Steve.

Server Registration p.1

Server Registration p. 2

LET THERE BE MUSIC!

IF YOU LIKE TO SING THE PARTS OF THE MASS, THIS IS WHERE TO FIND THEM IN "BREAKING BREAD":

"Gloria" 
Setting:  "Spirit & Grace" #924 (not page, but #)

Remainder of Mass Parts:
Setting:  "Renewal"

"Allelulia"  #876
"Holy"  #878
"We Proclaim"   #879
"When We Eat"   #880
"Save Us, Savior"   #881
"Amen"  #882
"Lamb of God"  #883


MUSIC PEOPLE!

FOURTH QUARTER 2023

Following Chant!
 

Hospital Extraordinary Ministers -


See notes from Lori under:
 "Ministries>Pastoral Ministries>Hospital Volunteers

 

OCTOBER 2023

2023-2024 Adult Education Refresher Course:  Protecting Vulnerable Adults (Now Available 8-2-23)



NEW:  DIOCESAN INITIAL CHILD PROTECTION POLICY TRAINING - PROTECTING CHILDREN IN THE 21ST CENTURY
 

[Replaces the "In-Person" Initial Child Protection Policy Training]


   
 

   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
• 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 4 years)                             

Link to Updated Child Protection Policy

          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 4 years

  

     
                                                                                                           
                                         

Thurs.   Oct.  5            8:30am
                                    Word &                                                      Communion                                              Service
                                    @ SSM Hospital                                      Chapel

Fri.       Oct.  6             8:30am
                                    St. Mary School

Sat.       Oct.  7            5:00pm
                                    †John Barry                                              Jones, †Jim                                              Dolwick,                                                    †Charles &                                                †Jacqueline                                              Rodgers

Sun.     Oct.  8             10:30am         
                                    St. Mary                                                    Parishioners

Mon.    Oct.   9             8:30am
                                     †David Tennyson


Tues.    Oct. 10            5:30pm
                                    †Teressa Lynn                                          Morgan
                       
Wed.     Oct. 11           8:30am
                                    †Poor Souls
                                   
Thurs.   Oct. 12           8:30am
                                    †Paul & †Mary                                          Dickerson
                                    @ SSM Hospital                                      Chapel

Fri.       Oct. 13             8:30am
                                    †Elmer Kuenz

Sat.       Oct. 14            5:00pm
                                     St. Mary                                                   Parishioners

Sun.     Oct. 15            10:30am         
                                    †Rick May,                                                †Larry Rawls
                                    & †Larry & †Lucy                                      Manning

Mon.     Oct. 16            8:30am
                                    Dick Keegan

 
                                              

FOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE:

GO TO "MINISTRIES" IN THE GREEN NAVIGATOR BAR ABOVE,
THEN MOVE YOUR CURSOR TO "YOUTH."

Or "Faith Formation" then "Youth."
 

 

 Quest Retreat, Sacred Heart, DuQuoin,     November 4-5: 

Come join Belleville Quest for a JOY filled experience. Spend the weekend learning about the faith with a series of fun activities and testimony from speakers. 

Quest is a 33-hour Christian experience designed for high school freshmen and sophomores, but older students and adult observers are welcome.

It is a time to come together to find out about God, friendships, and self in a fun-filled, thoughtful, and carefree surrounding.  A time to meet new people while praying, playing, singing, and sharing with them. Quest gives you the chance to search for the real you. 

Applications are available at:                                         bellevilletec.org/applications

TO BENEFIT ST. MARY SCHOOL LIBRARY!




 

FOR LARGER TEXT AND PICTURE, GO TO "NEWS/EVENTS" ON NAVIGATOR BAR AND SCROLL DOWN TO "ST. MARY SCHOOL."