Don’t Eat Alone on Thanksgiving – Nov 28

Doors open at 2pm Thursday, November 28th

No family in town or no one to celebrate with on Thanksgiving Day? Join some of your parish friends who would otherwise be eating alone for “Don’t Eat Alone On Thanksgiving Day” Thursday, November 28 at the Historic St. Patrick Parish Hall. We’ll begin gathering about 2pm and we’ll eat at 3pm. Turkey will be provided.

Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Questions? Call Donna at 309-824-0857. 

Men’s Breakfast & Speaker – Dec 15

10am Mass on Gaudete Sunday, December 15th at Holy Trinity Church Lower Level *Registration Required

Inviting all Men of Faith in Celebration of the Mass, Sharing Breakfast & Inspirational Speaker 10am Mass Gaudete Sunday, December 15th At Holy Trinity Church (Registration required).

Please join your brothers in Christ for a 10am Mass celebrating Men of Faith in our community, followed by breakfast in the Church lower level, hosted and served by the women of our parishes. Guest speaker Mr. Matthew Faley, Director of Mission for the Peoria Diocese, will share his mission to help men grow in their relationship with Jesus. Providing opportunities for all men to be a guiding light to their families and communities; and to follow in the ministry of Bishop Lou’s mission, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”

We don’t always have the luxury of sharing time together, be it family or friends. Maybe this is the “tap on the shoulder or the nudge” to get together, to bring someone back, or bring them, to the faith.

Please join us for Mass, followed by a meal, good conversation, and an inspirational presentation. Please be invitational and invite other men to this blessed event.

Prayers for Priests – November 9

Prayers for Priests and Vocations

Mark your calendar for November 9, 2024.  That is the next date for our Prayers for Priests.  At 4 p.m. Prayers for Priests will be offered. We will say a Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and a collection of specific prayers priests and vocations. Think of all that Jesus has done for us, especially the gift of our priests.  Come and pray for them.  

Print a copy of the prayers here.

OCIA November Class Topics

Nov  7th                The Celebration of the Paschal Mystery of Christ:   

                             Fr. Loftus                                Sacraments 101

The Paschal Mystery of Christ; Christ, the last supper, the Passion, Easter Sunday, the dying and rising into eternal glory. The word liturgy means “public work or work done on behalf of the people” always referring to an organized community. All worshipers are expected to participate actively in each liturgy, for this is holy “work”.  Through the liturgical celebrations of the Church, the sacraments, we participate in the Paschal Mystery of Christ. We, the Church, have a vital role to play in shaping responsible citizens with moral character and a willingness to contribute to the wellbeing of society. Are you participating in this role ? Or are you a spectator sitting on the sidelines.  A participant has skin in the game. A spectator can leave early to beat the traffic. 

Nov 14th              Baptism: Becoming a Christian                           Dcn Al Lundy

In His dialogue with Nicodemus, Jesus taught that Baptism was necessary for salvation. “No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” (Jn 3:5) After his Resurrection, Jesus met with the eleven Apostles and gave then the commission to preach the Gospel and baptize, telling them, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (MK 16:16) The word baptism in its origins is Greek and means “immersion” and “bath.” Immersion is a sign of death, and emersion out of water means new life. Not unlike bathing where one undergoes a cleansing.  The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus who wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father.  In order to live a new life with the Father.  

Nov 21st               Confirmation: Consecrated for Mission:           Mark Landsly

                                Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Confirmation, together with Baptism and Eucharist, form the Sacraments of Initiation that are all intimately connected. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized person is “sealed with the GIFT of the Holy Spirit” and is strengthened for service to the Body of Christ. The New Testament reports many manifestations of the Holy Spirit, two of the most notable the outpouring of the Spirit on Easter night behind locked doors as Jesus breathed on the Apostles and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. Fifty days after His resurrection the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and they began to proclaim Gods mighty deeds. The Holy Spirit bestows seven gifts – Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Fortitude, Counsel, Piety, and Fear of the Lord to assist us in the same mission as witness to the same inspiration as the Apostles to spread the Good News of the Lord. The world is so in need of The Good News today.

Nov 28th              Thanksgiving Day

Holy Hour for Vocations – Nov 12

Tuesday, November 12th at Holy Trinity
Doors open at 5:45pm; Rosary at 6; Holy Hour at 6:30pm

“Could you not stay awake with me one hour?” Jesus asked Peter and the apostles. It can be considered the basis or reason why we Catholics make a Holy Hour: spending time with Christ before the Blessed Sacrament.

Please join us for a special Holy Hour for Vocations with Fr. Chase Hilgenbrinck, on Nov 12th at Holy Trinity parish (downtown Bloomington on Chestnut St.) from 6:30 to 7:30. Doors open @ 5:45. Reciting of the Rosary at 6:00pm.

“Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Jesus and ready to make reparation for the great evils of the world. Let your adoration never cease.” (Pope John Paul II, Dominicai Cenae)

ChristLife Following Christ starts Oct 29th

6-8pm Tuesday evenings Oct 29th thru Dec 17th in the HT Lower Level

Continue your ChristLife experience with Following Christ on Tuesdays. Dinner starts at 6pm, movie at 6:30 and discussion at 7. Class is scheduled to end at 8pm, however some table discussions go longer.

*Registration required. Register and learn more about ChristLife online at hsp-ht.org/christlife/ .