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Faithful can subscribe to the notes by contacting the parish office and providing their email address. Thanks for your support of our border town parishes!!!
Please remember - Fr. Pete does not send out emails or social media posts to solicit funds for himself or any organizations outside of the parishes he serves. Fr. Pete's e-mail is either pjankowski@yahoo.com or pjankowski@stfrancis.edu.
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Please support our parishes by clicking the ONLINE GIVING picture - these are your local homes where God is present! Let's share this grace with those of the next generation! | |
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News & Notes with Fr. Pete Jankowski
Bienvenidos y Hospitalidad
Feel free to contact Fr. Pete at email pjankowski@yahoo.com. If you have an emergency, please contact Fr. Pete at (815) 685-1359
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Weather permitting, Our Annual Memorial Day Liturgies will Take Place at on May 29 at St. Anne's Church (8:00 a.m.) and St. Patrick’s Cemetery (9:30 a.m.). An Honor Guard will Offer a Ceremony to Remember our Deceased Veterans Buried at Our Cemeteries.
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The week before Pentecost, I received a call from the family of Onesimo Chávez, the patriarch of a family that lived across the street from St. Patrick’s Church in Joliet for over fifty years. Similarly to what the Aguilar family has offered the faithful of St. Patrick’s in Momence, Onesimo and his wife Margarita visited my rectory, asked me to bless their home and offered their landscaping services to my last parish. Thinking that this couple was in their seventies at the time, I took them up on their offer.
The next Saturday, I was awakened early morning to the sound of what I called “bumblebees on acid.” This wonderful couple brought all thirty of their children to the parish grounds to cut grass, trim trees, build planters and offer their landscaping services for the duration of my time at the parish.
I keep telling people that if you want a parish to grow, we do not accomplish this solely through fundraising (BTW, St. Patrick’s Parish debt has been reduced from $330,000 to $150,000 because of our fundraising efforts and the work of Kathy Griffiths and her successor, Julia Bisaillon). We accomplish this task through two words I get the students in my Hispanic Ministry course at the University to memorize: Bienvenidos (welcome) and Hospitalidad (hospitality). If all parishes and the dioceses throughout the world learned about these two concepts (which is something I have tried to ingrain in every person I meet, ad nauseum), we would not be closing parishes; we would be building them up!!!
The Chavez family was kind enough to visit St. Patrick’s Church in Momence in 2019 and they have been sneaking onto our property ever since. I returned the favor by celebrating a Memorial Mass for Onesimo on Thursday, followed by a wonderful mole lunch (Ruben & Carmen Andrade in Momence offer this type of hospitality to me every Sunday by serving me enchiladas and tacos prior to every noon Mass at the parish, which they do out of love and thanksgiving for the services we offer this community.
Suddenly, I am celebrating seven baptisms on May 27-28 at a parish in Momence that practically had none prior to my arrival. Suddenly, I am celebrating enough weddings, quinceañeras and three-year-old blessings to make my head spin! Now suddenly, while the “diocesan purge” is taking place throughout the seven counties we serve, our own parishes have a wonderful future in store! At my last parish, the community offered a fall retreat with 1,200 souls in attendance and Masses had to be added on Sunday.
In the Hispanic Ministry course I teach, I have learned that the key to making a parish grow is by meeting people in the streets and their homes (with their altarcitas) and then bringing them to God’s house for the sacraments. This happens a lot in our area, where I celebrated a wedding anniversary Mass in one of the many makeshift chapels that families have built on their ranches in Pembroke.
I encourage all of you to learn about Bienvenidos (welcome) and Hospitalidad (hospitality); this is the key to helping our parishes grow! God bless all of you!!! – Fr. Pete...
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Among the FANTASTIC work that Aguilar Landscaping in Grant Park has offered St. Patrick's Church (they completed over $10,000 in landscaping work at our parish this last month alone, a good amount of it donated), they were kind enough to add two sections to our Right to Life Brick Walk. So many good souls have been donating bricks to our parish in honor of loved ones that we had to expand our walk to accommodate our donors! Outdoor Masses will begin at the grotto in June; the Rosary Walk is also accessible for private prayer as well. Below is a short video tour of the Brick Walk. | |
Outdoor Masses at
St. Anne's Pavilion
(230 N. 6th Ave. - St. Anne, IL)
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Every Wednesday Evening at 5:00 p.m.
Every Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
EXCEPT June 25, July 30,
August 27 and September 24
All Nights of the St. Anne Novena (Excluding Sundays) from July 17-25 at 7:00 p.m.
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Outdoor Masses at Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
(St. Patrick's Church - 119 N. Market St. - Momence, IL)
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Sunday 10:30 a.m. Mass on June 25, July 23, August 27 and the Parish Picnic’s Bilingual Mass on September 24 (with Blessing of the Animals)
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The person who significantly was responsible for addressing the debt was Kathy Griffiths, who made great inroads in attacking St. Pat's financial woes. This week, Kathy had to step away from her job at the parishes due to health issues; her doctor told her to pull back from so much work, so leaving the parishes was a hard but necessary decision she had to make.
Blessed for us, a business manager named Julie has stepped in for Kathy and seamlessly has continued Kathy's good work. Julie serves as a business manager in the diocese and is a wonderfully spiritual person. She and Ema are already fast friends (not so much with me... Julie seems to prefer the White Sox over the Cubs so pray for the conversation of her baseball soul...).
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St. Pat's Gymnasium Bathroom Project | |
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How far we have come with our Academy Gymnasium! Whereas we never thought we would be able to renovate that building, all of a sudden good souls have come forward to help us to make the impossible possible (prayer can do that at a parish!). We have spoken about the kindness bestowed on us from businesses like Momence Pallet, Van Drunen Farms, Cousins Plumbing and Joe Cohn and Boss Plumbing. Now... Rick Simpson (husband of of parishioner and Academy Alumnus Lorri) helped us tile the entry way and bathrooms of our new facility, which will allow Joe Kraus (another of our good souls) to install all the furnishings in the bathrooms and get them ready for use! | |
Meanwhile, thanks to Aguilar Landscaping in Grant Park (who are parishioners as well!), they removed the overgrown trees in front of the gym and have beautified both the grotto and gym area. Thanks to Juan and family for their dedication to the parish cause! | |
SHUFFLEBOARD COURT PROJECT
ON THIRD FLOOR OF GYM
Richard Perez and the wonderful folks at AA all of a sudden have renovated the third floor shuffleboard court with new lighting. Van Drunen Farms have commissioned our own Robert Piquet (professional painter) to drywall and paint the third floor room for our faithful.
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St. Patrick's Gym Tree Project | |
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ST. PATRICK BORDER TOWN PICNIC - SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 STARTING WITH THE 10:30 MASS | Parishioner Joanne Hermann suggested that we re-dedicate the gymnasium at the parish picnic, blessing a sign that should read "St. Pat's Academy Gym and Community Center." She is working on getting this project done while secretary Ema Elvir continues to line up vendors for the event (as well as at St. Anne's Novena - thanks for our newly installed video camera inside the church... and our wonderful donor who made this possible!!!). At present, we are working on having at the parish picnic a Vendor Fair, a Rummage Sale, a Car Show, the Illinois Migrant Council giving out free computers to migrants, as well as our games, music and all the stuff thjat goes with a parish picnic. If you are willing to help, please contact Ema at either parish (she is at St. Anne's on Mondays and Tuesdays and at St. Patrick's on Wednesdays and Thursdays). Thanks to Anne Andrade for helping us out in the summer as well at St. Pat's Office! | |
Watch the Video Highlights from Our Frist Communion Liturgies at St. Anne's Church (April 23) and St. Patrick's Church (May 7) | |
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Mark Your Calendars! Our Confirmation Masses
for the Border Town Parishes will take place on Saturday - April 27, 2024 at
St. Anne's (2:00 p.m.) & St. Pat's (4:00 p.m.)
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UPDATED 50/50 PROGRESSIVE RAFFLE PRIZE WINNING TICKET DRAWN AT PARISH PICNIC
(UPADATED MAY 12, 2023):
1st Prize $3,275
SECOND PRIZE $500; THIRD PRIZE $250
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The More Tickets We Sell, the Higher the First Prize of the Raffle Grows! | Help support St. Patrick's Church with our Inaugural 50/50 Progressive "Split the Pot" Raffle, which will be drawn during our Parish Picnic in September! We need your help in selling these tickets - please call (815) 472-2864 for more information. | |
WATCH THE MASS FOR
THE PENTECOST SUNDAY
RECORDED AT ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH
"HUMILITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF PRAYER." Utilizing this theme from the Catechism #2559 (among others), Fr. Pete offers a thanksgiving homily for all those in the Border Town community who allow the Holy Spirit to guide them into right action and helping the parishes under his care to grow.
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Fr. Pete's In-Church Holy Thursday Homily, focusing on how one cook honored one lonely friend that carries from this life to the next! | |  |
Fr. Pete's In-Church Easter Vigil Homily, focusing on the Holy Spirit found in the faces and hearts of those we serve that serve as our "leaven!" | |
UPCOMING PROJECTS AT ST. PATRICK'S | |
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ONE MORE PILGRIM AND THE TRIP IS GUARANTEED TO HAPPEN!!!
Pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Fatima & Lourdes: September 6-15, 2023 $4,649.00 ... To Read the Brochure and to Sign Up, CLICK HERE!
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Trip Includes Flights from anywhere in the United States and flights between countries as per your itinerary. (all necessary flights on your trip are included)
- Daily Mass will be scheduled.
- Airport Taxes, Security Fees & Fuel Surcharges Saving you an average of $400-$600!
- Transfers as per itinerary.
- 4 or 5 star hotels in downtown areas.
- Transportation with luxury bus.
- All breakfasts and all dinners. Wine included with all dinners.
- All tips to driver, hotel, and tour guide. If you feel that the tour guide did a great job, offering them extra tips is greatly appreciated.
- Guided Tours and Tour Fees ~ Our tour guides are very caring, licensed, and well educated. Many of our guides have their PhD's.
- Luggage handling (1 suitcase and 1 carry-on per person)
- Single Supplement (as long as the passengers is willing to room with someone and allows us to provide them with a roommate. If the passenger wants a guaranteed room to of their own, then they have to pay the $900 single supplement)
- Remember: Our trips are not more expensive during high season ~ Passengers will never be expected to pay extra for anything while on the trip.
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NOTE: If you wish to deepen your knowledge of the Catholic Faith as a preparation for this pilgrimage, we recommend the following book as it is faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church (Imprimatur by ARCHBISHOP FELIPE AGUIRRE FRANCO): The Catholic Faith in Easy Terms. Introduction, Nihil Obstat, and Imprimatur by Archbishop Felipe Aguirre Franco.
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ST. ANNE NOVENA - JULY 17-26, 2023 | |
ST. PATRICK'S / ST. ANNE'S
PHOTO DIRECTORIES
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Thanks to Ruth Sparenberg, Anne Andrade & Joanne Hermann for assembling, scanning and editing the follow Photo Directories from the Church History of St. Patrick's and St. Anne's Churches! | |
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The Holy Father provides a wonderful opportunity to receive an Apostolic Blessing for Birthdays, Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Weddings, Religious Professions, Ordinations and Anniversaries of these sacraments. | | |
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For weddings and such, Fr. Pete offers a special blessing on the first Sunday weekend of each month and is willing to purchase an Apostolic Blessing for anyone who asks (and if he can afford it... since he pays out of pocket!!!).
If you are interested in receiving an Apostolic Blessing, you can do so by clicking the link below or by calling the parish offices.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR OWN APOSTOLIC BLESSING!!!
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Parish Hotline... If you know of someone who is sick and in need of the sacraments or if you know someone who wishes a visit at the hospital or care facility, please contact the parish office or Fr. Pete Jankowski at (815) 685-1359.
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Fr. Pete offers the anointing of the sick at both parishes at the First Friday Masses every month (St. Patrick’s at 9:15 a.m. and St. Anne’s at 5:00 p.m. (English) and 7:00 p.m. (Spanish). | |
PULPIT ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS WEEKEND | |
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Weather permitting, the first Outdoor Weekend Masses at St. Anne will begin this Sunday.
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The St. Patrick’s Parish Picnic will take place on Sunday, September 24. We are looking to have an Auto Show, Vendor Fair, Rummage Sale, the Illinois Migrant Council and whatever else we can put together. If you would like to help or if you have any ideas for the Picnic, please call the Parish Office at (815) 472-2864.
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We are asking you to help us sell our 50/50 Progressive Raffle Tickets which will be sold on behalf of St. Patrick's Church. Currently, the grand prize stands at $2,575. The winning tickets will be drawn at the Parish Picnic. Tickets are available in the sacristies of our churches and at the parish offices.
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The St. Anne Golf Outing on June 10 is booked and has reached its capacity! The St. Patrick’s Golf Outing on June 24 still has spots available. Both outings will be held at the Oak Springs Golf Club. Please check the bulletin for more details
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On Memorial Day, we will offer two Cemetery Masses on May 29 – at St. Anne’s Cemetery at 8:00 a.m. and at St. Pat’s Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. (weather permitting). We will have an honor guard ceremony following both Masses.
- The offices will be closed on Monday, May 29th in observance of Memorial Day.
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KEEP UPDATED WITH OUR PARISH BULLETINS!!! | |
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To View St. Patrick's Bulletin for
May 28, 2023
CLICK HERE!
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To View St. Anne's Bulletin for
May 28, 2023
CLICK HERE!
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PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Former Parish Business Manager Kathy Griffiths, Mary Kay Blankestyn, Irene "Reney" Budz, Ashley & Jesse Childress, Carmen "Butch" Florio, Austin Fuhrmann, Ron Gall, Jean Gibson, Karen Hensa, Joanne McCracken, Marilyn Peterson, Evelyn Provost, Ruth Sparenberg, Cynthia Vickery... and all those on our sick list.
At St. Anne's... Eva Bell, Paula Bertrand, Lola Billings, Duane Blanchette, Cheryl Boswell, Patrick Burns, Cindy Capriotti, Jesse & Ashley Childress, Abraham Daily, Tom Dandurand, Aria Dionne, Carol Futcher, Raelynn Garrett, Jack & Lucia Houk, Val Lagacy, Bentley Lottinville, Linda Miramontes, Cynthia Vickery and John Wojnowski.
At St. Patrick's... P. Anderson, N. Atkinson, R. Bailey, D. Barth, Beedle Family, D. Brown, W. Bukowski, B & E. Coffman, S. Conner, M & D Cousin, M. Cruz, A. Delaney, D. Demack, M. Dionne, J. Dobbins, E. Duke, D. Dunlap, G. Field, C. Fritz, R. Gall, J. Gibson, J. Grill, R. Harper, J. Hibbs, D. Hiller, C. Jones, L. Kane, R. Kazee, A. Kijewski, L. Lee, L. Leranth, E. Lopez, B. Love, J. Marcotte, W. Marten, L. McNulty, L. Mercado, R & V Morse, C. Ortman, D. Petronio, M. Peterson, C. Piec, C. Provost, E. Provost, R. Rehmer, P. Reising, D. Roberts, B. Ryan, A. Schaff, J. Schopf. Schmied, K. Simpson, B. Siwicki, B. Spagnola, M. Tolbert, M. Tolmer, H. Tousignant, M. Velazquez, C. Vickery, M. Williams, M. Witherspoon, S. Young, A. Zimmerman, M & L Zink and G. Zokal
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DECEASED: Angelica Vasquez Mesh (sister of Fr. Moises Mesh, CSV), Onesimo Chavez
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Fr. Pete Jankowski posts his homilies online at the parish website for those who wish to keep up with the gospel message each week.
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PARISH REGISTRATION FORMS | |
FR. PETE'S TELEVISION SERIES | |
CLICK HERE to watch Fr. Pete’s Twelve Part Series “Stories on the Journey,” Broadcast on Shalom World TV! | |
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BOOK, BRICK & PEW DEDICATION PROGRAM | |
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For only $100, you can dedicate a brick to someone special at St. Patrick's Outdoor Grotto (where the Our Lady of Lourdes Outdoor Masses are celebrated)!!!
(815) 472-2864
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For only $25, you can dedicate a Journeysongs Pew Book from either parish. Please call (815) 472-2864 (St. Patrick's) or (815) 427-8265 (St. Anne's) for more information! | | |
LINKS TO CATHOLIC WEBSITES
CLICK ON PICTURE TO ACCESS SITE
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