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PARISH NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS |
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I pray this note finds you well and aware of God's profound and unending love for you! In late June of 2016, I was asked to help Fr. Greg and serve as Administrator of his parishes during his cancer treatments. In this role I sought to learn Fr. Greg’s vision and seek to implement his plan for his parishes. I learned about his zeal for evangelization and small groups. He was a seasoned priest that had served as pastor of big parishes and as the head chaplain at the St. John’s Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois. It was truly an honor to serve him and his parishes in this role. As Fr. Greg’s cancer progressed, Bishop Jenky named him Pastor Emeritus. On Easter Sunday of 2017, Fr. Greg installed me as pastor of St. Patrick Church of Merna and St. Mary Church in Downs. I recall Fr. Greg’s sisters sharing with me that though he didn’t show it outwardly, it was a difficult day for their brother. I also recall struggling with my own emotions that day. Though I was pastor, we were all still very much with our beloved Fr. Greg. For almost a year we journeyed with him and his family until God called him home. How honored and graced we were to have this time with them.
It was at this point where there was a change in my mindset. I was now a pastor with my full attention on this role. I recall Fr. Pica asking me what my vision was as pastor. I described how I felt called to bring a deeper love for the repeatable Sacraments, namely the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation, to St. Pat’s. These Sacraments are at the core of my relationship with Christ as a Catholic, and I desire all to experience this gift.
As time passed, I observed the needs of our parish and faithful. I prayed fervently, asking our Lord to reveal to me how I was called to pastor. I was drawn to my experience of Stewardship at a previous assignment. I asked some parishioners to join me and our staff as we dove deeper into what Stewardship was and how we could invite our parishioners to this way of life. “Rooted” became the image and theme we used to introduce Stewardship to our parish. Our Rooted Prayer was written and we began praying it before every parish Mass. We began to explain that everything is a gift from God and that we are called to share these gifts. We began inviting our parishioners to give their Time, Talent, and Treasure to God and others. As our parish settled into its life of Stewardship, it became evident to me that the skeleton crew that so kindly shared their Talent to get this going would need to be beefed up to ensure this as a way of life for our parish in the future. I began to ask other individuals to join our developing Parish Stewardship Council.
Then COVID caused virtually everything to come to a screeching halt. We began meeting virtually as a council: writing our by-laws, selecting officers, and continuing the work we had begun. We wrote a mission statement for our parish to give us a vision moving forward. We have used this newsletter to reveal and explain this mission statement to our parishioners. All of this brings me back to Fr. Pica’s question. Four years later I guess I am ready to truly answer his question.
Rooted in the Most Holy Eucharist and the other Sacraments, St. Patrick Church of Merna welcomes all to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through stewardship, by loving and serving others through our God-given gifts.
I pray that we strive to live this mission statement at our parish. How truly excited we should be for what God can do as we strive to be Rooted at St. Patrick Church of Merna!
In Christ,
Fr. Schultz
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Ash Wednesday Mass Schedule |
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Schedule of Masses for Ash Wednesday
March 2, 2022
St. Patrick Church of Merna
- 7am (with livestream)
- 12pm
- 4pm (with livestream & drive-up Communion and ash distribution)
- 6pm
St. Mary Church in Downs
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The Mass is nothing short of amazing. Through it, we encounter God in the most intimate way possible as we hear him speak to us in the Liturgy of the Word and as we receive him Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist. In this study we will explore the roots of the words and gestures we experience at Mass and explain their profound significance. This fascinating tour of the Mass will renew your faith and deepen your love for and devotion to the Holy Eucharist. This is a 6-week study and includes a teaching Mass. |
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This 6-week study was written for any woman who wants a true and deep connection that lasts. It’s about making sure God is the center of your friendships and realizing that our purpose is for relationships with others. The key is found in discovering God’s plan for friendship, which was meant to be a foretaste of Heaven. Let God reshape how you see and experience intentional relationships, deal with your past friendship wounds, and become a woman who is capable of the lifelong bond of true friendship. Three session times will be offered. |
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The Ascension Lenten Companion
God wants to give you more. How will you respond this Lent?
This Lent, pray and ask God to give you more perseverance so you can prepare for Easter more healed, fulfilled, and transformed. Readers will receive daily guidance as well as supplemental videos and a space for journaling to help you remain focused throughout the Lenten season and to create a habit of spending more time with Him. This book is appropriate to use individually or for small groups. To order the book, click here. For questions, please contact Marylynn Meredith at meredithmarylynn@yahoo.com.
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An Invitation to Create Time for God in Your day
Time is a gift and an essence of love. Giving our Time and Love to God is to welcome Him into our hearts and develop a deeper spiritual relationship with Him. Similarly, giving the gift of Time to your family and loved ones lets God’s brightness and love shine through you. We have 168 hours in one week. Consider praying for ways to explore creating a new habit this Lent that includes intentionally spending Time with God’s word and others. The link below has a helpful list of simple and easy ways to develop habits of giving our Time and Love to Him. God will continue to pursue each of us every hour, every day; and Lent is a good reminder of this.
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Special Needs Ministry
St. Patrick Church of Merna is developing a ministry that helps individuals with disabilities and their families know God in meaningful ways. It is important that individuals who are differently abled be included in our parish community. There will be a chance, with a special dimension, to participate during Mass. We want to promote inclusion for all individuals and enable them to find their place in faith. We will be opening up room 7 for families that would like to have an option to participate in Mass together. With this option, Mass will be live-streamed and this will provide a quiet and reduced sensory space. We will begin using this room February 20th at the 9:00am Mass.
“Show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so, you may be entertaining angels unaware.” Hebrews 13:2
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High School Youth Ministry
St. Patrick Church of Merna Youth Ministry exists to provide our teens with a space to grow in their relationships with Jesus. Our purpose is to help our youth understand that each of them are known, loved and chosen by God for a specific purpose. Through fellowship, we will nurture Christ-centered friendships both within our congregation and beyond the walls of our church. We will honor God and grow in our faith by serving our parish family and local community. With frequent opportunities to participate in the Sacraments and live out our Catholic faith, we hope our youth will take ownership of their own faith journeys, as they discover God’s purpose for their lives. Ultimately, we hope that they can take what they discover here as they grow into that purpose and apply it beyond their SPCM home.
Upcoming Events:
Youth Ministry Open House
We will have a youth ministry open house on February 27th from 6:00-8:00pm in Shamrock Hall for a time of fellowship, and food will be provided. This event will be open to parents and students alike as we get to know each other in this ministry and share our vision for the future. This will be open house style so please stop by anytime. To let us know that you’ll be joining us on the 27th, please fill out the form below:
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Cubs vs. Cards Bus Trip
WE ARE BACK! The annual Cubs vs. Cardinals parish bus trip to Wrigley Field is on Friday, June 3, 2022. The cost is $115 per person which includes an outfield reserved game ticket, first class coach bus with restrooms, and continental breakfast and snacks on the bus. Bus will leave from the St. Patrick Church of Merna parking lot in the morning and return late that evening. Registration will all be done electronically. To sign up, click below or call Jeff Lopez at 585-1707 or email jeff@stpatrickmerna.org. Payment is due at sign up to reserve your spot.
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Well Wishes for
Bishop Jenky
On March 3, Bishop Jenky will celebrate his 75th birthday, which is the age when bishops are required by canon law to submit their resignation to the Holy Father. Well wishes on the occasion of his birthday and his retirement may be sent to him at the following address:
Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C.
Spalding Pastoral Center
419 NE Madison Avenue Peoria, IL 61603
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1001 N Towanda Barnes Rd.
Bloomington, IL 61705
(309) 662-7361
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