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!!!

Thank goodness we don't have to do the following at St. Anne's!!! (Restoring One Parish is Stressful Enough!!!)

As many of you already know, when I first came to St. Patrick’s in Momence, the buildings under my care were not in good condition, to say the least. The piles of animal refuse and neglect were not sustainable even for the animals on the property, let alone those who walk on two legs! This last week alone served as a metaphor of what we had to address. A gas leak that haunted the church property finally was addressed by Nicor Gas… hopefully for good! The carbon monoxide leaks in the gymnasium and the deteriorating condition of the boilers in the gymnasium caused us to use all that wonderful grant money from the county and our December Drawing profits to purchase three new boilers in the gymnasium – Cousins Plumbing was kind enough to donate the fourth boiler themselves, as well as the repairs of the busted water pipes and overall sorry condition of our gym basement system. Van Drunen Farms decided to replace all the windows of the gym before glass prices rise 30% starting January 1st – we noticed that the windows were boarded up on one side of the gym, due to most likely the baseballs that were hit from the old ball field that no longer exists adjacent to the academy. The doors of the gym were in terrible need to getting fixed and the security in the gym was antiquated, to say the least. We had no first-floor bathrooms, as the video in these Notes would attest – seniors and those with special needs would have to climb stairs in order to utilize those facilities. Obviously, the floor of the gym had seen better days; we already spoke about the decrepit condition of the second and third floors of the gym, who were the victim of bat and insect refuse too disgusting to mention.



This week, we decided to address all those issues at the same time. Thanks to the various businesses and volunteers who helped in this cause. Hopefully by the end of the winter we will present to you a gym in Momence that would rival the one in St. Anne for cleanliness and upkeep!

Much thanks to those who attended the Masses with Bishop Hicks on December 4th. As I will discuss at the Masses this weekend, what Bishop Hicks offered at the end of the Masses during the social gave hope to a couple set of parishioners that our parishes are thriving… and are going nowhere!!!

Back in 1995 when I served as a deacon in West Chicago, the pastor informed me that our Easter Sunday Mass was so large that we needed to celebrate a simultaneous service in the basement of the Church. Because of the shortage of priests, I was asked to do that service. I was so excited at the time - this was my first solo effort as an ordained minister of the Church! I thought I had done everything right at the service - I followed the rules prescribed in the prayer books, I thought my homily was ok and I noticed that the tomatoes stayed under the pews for the time being. Unfortunately, I also learned my first hard lesson as a parish cleric - pastors are not so happy if you forget to take a collection at Sunday service! Christmas and New Year’s this year fall under one of those rare oddities when those services both fall on a Sunday, thus depriving this particular church of that much-needed second collection [ergo - the Associate’s Dream (one homily to prepare) and the pastor’s nightmare (one collection)]. Because those monies are used to pay our staff and services, we will need to take a second collection next Sunday - sorry!

Fr. Pete

A One Minute Tour of Our Gym Floor Renovation. To read the article from the Kankakee Daily-Journal about our Gym Renovation, CLICK HERE!

ONLINE VIDEOS THIS WEEK

WATCH THE MASS FOR THE

3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT ONLINE

RECORDED AT ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH - MOMENCE, IL

In his homily, Fr. Pete talks about the innocence and beauty of children, especially the one in the womb and the great potential for love that each child can offer the world if we allow that child to be born. Without Mary's gift to the world, we would have no Savior to offer us the gift of hope for an everlasting rest with God.

To get your Catholic Daily Reflections (based on the scripture readings of the day), CLICK HERE!!!

CLICK HERE for

Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent

From One of Our Online Friends...

Thank you for putting the parish mission online. I watched all three of Father McCarthy's talks. It meant so much to me. The end of November is my time of reflection. Three major things in my life took place at the end of this month - my grandmother's death (November 27) and my first pastor's death (November 28) and my parents wedding anniversary (November 30). These three individuals had the most influence on my life. I reflected on the old days the parish had missions similar to this one. You are doing a great job helping me bring back the beautiful memories. Thank you for everything you are doing. Everything is very much appreciated,

Thanks to all who supported the Border Town Parishes by joining us for Mass and social with our Diocesan bishop. Here is the Spanish Mass that bishop Hicks celebrate in Spanish (in its entirety) at St. Patrick's Church in Momence!

Asked to teach a new course for the University of St. Francis concerning the largest growing Catholic demographic in the United States, Fr. Pete offers the following videos that he used to teach his students for your consideration.

In an effort to build good will at the parishes, Fr. Pete badly produced a series of Christmas songs he once wrote for your edification and enjoyment. Have a blessed Christmas everyone!!!

1973 St. Patrick's Church Photo Directory

1981 St. Patrick's Church Photo Directory

1986 St. Patrick's Church Photo Directory

1993 St. Patrick's Church Photo Directory

2004 St. Patrick's Church Photo Directory

2006 St. Patrick's Academy 100th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet

2010 St. Patrick's Church Photo Directory

2016 St. Patrick's Church Photo Directory

1960s St. Anne’s Church Photo Directory

1970s St. Anne’s Church Photo Directory

1989 St. Anne’s Church Photo Directory

1998-2004 St. Anne’s Church Photo Directory

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!!!

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).

To View St. Patrick's Bulletin for

December 10-11, 2022



CLICK HERE!

To View St. Anne's Bulletin for

December 10-11, 2022

CLICK HERE!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Austin Fuhrmann, Jean Gibson, Evelyn Provost, Mary Kay Blankestyn, Ron Gall, Carmen "Butch" Florio, Cynthia Vickery, Joanne McCracken, Karen Hensa, Irene Budz... 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 & Lucy Houk, Val Lagacy, Bentley Lottinville and Linda Miramontes.

At St. Patrick's... N. Atkinson, R. Bailey, D. Barth, Beetle Family, D. Brown, B & T Cantwell, M. Cantwell, E. Cirks, 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. Gilbert, J. Grill, R. Harper, D. Haut, J. Hibbs, D. Hiller, R. Ilg, C. Jones, L. Kane, R. Kazee, K. Kelson-Laney, A. Kijewski, L. Lanove, L. Lee, L. Leranth, E. Lopez, B. Love, W. Marten, L. McNulty, L. Mercado, R & V Morse, C. Ortman, C. Palider, C. Piec, C. Provost, R. Rehmer, P. Reising, D. Roberts, A. Schaff, D. Schmied, T & J Settles, K. Simpson, B. Siwicki, B. Spagnola, M. Tolbert, M. Tolmer, H. Tousignant, M. Tedford, M. Velazquez, G. & L. Vlach, M. Williams, M. Witherspoon, C. Woosnam, S. Young, A. Zimmerman, M & L Zink and G. Zokal.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DECEASED: Teresa Dionne

CLICK HERE TO READ

ALL OF FR. PETE'S HOMILIES!

Click Here for the Parish

Registration Form in English

Click Here for the Religious Education Registration Forms FOR BOTH PARISHES

Click Here to Register for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

Click Here for the Time

& Talent Form in English

Click Here for the Link to All the Parish Forms

Help support our parishes buy purchasing copies of Fr. Pete’s Homiletic Books! You can purchase them at the parishes or online at Amazon.com!

Cycle A Homilies - Cycle B Homilies

Cycle C Homilies