Faithful can subscribe to the notes by contacting the parish office and providing their e-mail address. Thanks for your support of our border town parishes!!!

Please remember - Fr. Pete does not send out text messages, e-mails or social media posts to solicit

funds for himself or any organizations outside of the parishes he serves. Fr. Pete's emergency phone

number is (815) 685-1359 and his e-mail addresses

are either pjankowski@yahoo.com or pjankowski@stfrancis.edu.

Please do not trust any correspondences that

utilize any other phone number or e-mail address.

Feel free to contact Fr. Pete at email pjankowski@yahoo.com. If you have an emergency, please contact Fr. Pete at (815) 685-1359

First, I would like to thank all of you for prayers during my hernia operation this week. Everything went fine with the operation; once I got through COVID, the surgery took place on Wednesday; I now am in recovery. I will be going slow for a couple weeks but I can still offer the sacraments and God's grace, so all is well on that front! Thanks to Fr. John Peeters and Matt Pratscher for coverning the Masses I normally celebrate this week.

I also wish to thank Joe Kraus & Mike Plein for working on the Warming Kitchen Project at the St. Patrick's Gym and Community Center. Mike is installing the sinks and such and has unwrapped the two warming ovens and refrigerator that were donated for the kitchen anonymously. I also purchased out of pocket twenty-one more tables for the St. Patrick's gym to take care of upgrades for next year's community picnic, which was a rousing success this year!

Concerning generators for both church halls... If everything works out at St. Anne's, Mayor David O'Connell is working with the leaders of the city to help us purchase a generator for St. Anne's church hall; I am working to get funding for a generator at St. Pat's Hall as well. Each generator would cost about $15,000; since our respective communities look at our respective halls as "community centers" as emergency shelters, the need to upgrade our halls seem to be a priority.

We also are looking at Extending Internet Access at both campuses as well. We have a connection with a service over at St. George that might be able to help with us. More information is forthcoming.

We are in the midst of our October Mass Number Counts for our parishes, which the diocese requires us to complete. As the diocesan leaders assess the future of all the parishes in the diocese for the next generation, these counts are essential for their ongoing discussions. That said, the numbers at last weekend's Masses were phenomenal! Four years ago, our 10:30 Mass at Pat's had an average of 25-50 souls that came to Mass - last Sunday, that number was up to 163!!! We had no Spanish Mass at Pat's in 2019; this year, more souls generally attend our Spanish Masses than any other Mass on the weekends! The registration numbers are growing so much that DRE John Rehmer told me that we have so many students in Religious Education that we need to find additional catechists for our program! If you or someone you know can help, please contact the parish office.

David Surprenant and Ana Rivas are about to kick off the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults this month. If you or someone you know will turn fourteen or older by next year's Easter Vigil (March 30), you can take this one-year program to receive sacraments. As a general rule, students need to receive the sacrament of confirmation prior to their Quinceañera Mass. Please contact the offices or more details.

Because the leaders of the Church designate October as the Month for Life, we will be offering a special Rosary for Life at both parishes on Saturday - October 28 at St. Anne's Pavilion at 12:00 noon (inside Church during inclement weather) and at the St. Patrick's Grotto at 3:00 p.m. (inside Gymnasium during inclement weather). We will re-dedicate the St. Patrick's Gymnasium and Community Center at that time. We will hold off on re-dedicating our St. Patrick's Grotto in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes until our first outdoor Mass in May.

As donors have helped us install video camera at both parishes where our Online Masses are now recorded, we also have the ability to record special services as well. We still are tweaking the camera systems but for your consideration, below is the wedding liturgy for Sophia Menigoz and Whittaker Anderson on October 30 at St. Anne's Church. All videos can be accessed at our "Border Town Parishes" site on YouTube (you can subscribe to that channel to watch all our videos as well). This might be a selling point to have couples consider celebrating their weddings and receptions at our respective parish churches - we very much can be seen as a "one stop spot" for all kinds of events that we can host.

Finally, I have been told that one of the "pillars" at St. Patrick's - Jean Gibson - is in hospice care in Dyer, IN. I went to visit Lucia Houk at St. Anne's, who also is in hospice care (Lucia's visit plate an important role in Sophia & Whittaker's wedding on October 30). I also was asked to pray especially this week for Joanne Prather. A reminder - on the first Friday of each month (which happens to be TODAY!!!), we offer the Anointing of the Sick at all of our Masses (9:15 a.m. at St. Patrick's and 5:00 p.m. in English and 7:00 p.m. in Spanish at St. Anne's).

From September 6-15, Pilgrims from the Border Town Parishes Visited Marian Shrines in Medjugorje, Fatima and Lourdes. Below are the four homilies that Fr. Pete preached at these holy sites. Included with the homilies are video highlights of the holy sites the pilgrims visited.

Registration for Religious Ed. Begins this Weekend in Church at St. Patrick's and on September 10 at St. Anne's!

We have included Religious Education Registration Forms here in the Notes; you can also stop by the office to pick up the forms. RE Meets at both parishes on Sunday mornings – starting at 8:30 a.m. at Pat’s (starting September 10) and at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s (starting September 24). For students in Religious Education, two years of formation are required to receive First Communion and Confirmation. The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) begins in October with David Surprenant and Ana Rivas – any student aged 14 and over can sign up for RCIA, which is a one-year program, leading to the sacraments on Easter Weekend. Remember – confirmation is required for any young lady who wishes to celebrate their Quinceañera in church.

Registration

• Parish Registration
• Religious Education Registration

Formas de Registración

• Forma de Registración Parroquial
• Inscripcion Para Educacion Religiosa

RCIA

• RCIA Registration - English
• RCIA Brochure
• Forma de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos
• Folleto de RICA

Because of the power outage at St. Patrick’s last weekend, we ended up moving our wedding service etc. over to St. Anne’s (a smaller but newly painted church that very nicely fit the crowd that attended). Because we were at St. Anne’s for the Mass, we tried recording their wedding with our new video camera system (you can watch the video below).

In case you have not figured this out, since we have the capabilities now of recording special services (Quinceañeras, Weddings, etc.), this and the fact that both parishes have a hall to celebrate receptions and two wonderful campuses to take pictures etc., you might wish to pass the word that both parishes are like a “one stop experience” for the sacraments – a family can celebrate everything at one place!

Also because of the power outage, we realize the reason why both halls are so important to our small communities. The governments from the county, state and federal levels offer Grant Money for small towns like ours to upgrade and preserve what we have. Both parish halls could benefit from free-standing generators, parking lots and air conditioning. One industrious parishioner wrote me the following for our consideration…

I went to the website you provided for the USDA Grants and Loan program. I found that our gym at St. Patrick’s may qualify for a grant because it is a Community Center. In addition, the Hall at St. Anne’s may qualify for funds as well because the facility is being used for a food pantry. The information states that funding priorities are for communities with a population of 5,500 or less also that individuals should contact their State Director to apply and discuss their particular situation: Each state has their own individual office to contact.

Writing grants is a specialized skill; I can do this for the parishes but if anyone knows of a person who has experience with this particular discipline, please contact our office.

ONLINE VIDEOS THIS WEEK

Mass for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Celebrated at St. Patrick's Church - Momence, IL

Focusing on the process of making Italian wine, Fr. Pete reflects on the meals he has shared with the Cosenza family (on his mother's side) and the care that one takes in fermenting their grapes. A faith life needs to be cultivated in the same way - to be nurtured, loved and watched with great love.

For Catholic Daily Reflections (based on the scripture readings of the day),

CLICK HERE!!!

CLICK HERE for the Readings for This Weekend!

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

2023 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

2023 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).

1. Do you know of any adults who wish to receive the sacraments at Easter? The RCIA Process begins in October. Information is available in the bulletin and brochures can be found in the Narthex of the Church.
2. You are invited to include the names of your deceased loved ones in our Book of the Dead, which is located at the back of the Church, in remembrance of those who have died this last year. The Mass in Commemoration of All Souls will take place on Wednesday, November 1 at St. Anne’s (5:00 p.m.) and St. Patrick’s (bilingual at 7:00 p.m.). St. Pat’s will also offer the All Souls’ Day Service on November 2 at 9:15 a.m. All names of our beloved deceased will be honored at the weekend Masses on November 04-05.
3. After this weekend, all Sunday Masses will take place indoors.
4. St. Pat’s is sponsoring its “100 Bricks for Life!” Promotion, in honor of Rite to Life Month.
5. We begin our “December Drawing” at St. Pat’s at St. Pat’s – 1000 tickets at $20 a piece. Please check the bulletin for further information.
6. Our 2023 Rosary for Life will take place on Saturday - October 28 at St. Anne's Pavilion at 12:00 noon (inside Church during inclement weather) and at the St. Patrick's Grotto at 3:00 p.m. (inside Gymnasium during inclement weather). We will re-dedicate the Gymnasium at that time.

To View St. Patrick's Bulletin for

October 8, 2023



CLICK HERE!

To View St. Anne's Bulletin for

October 8, 2023



CLICK HERE!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Former Parish Business Manager Kathy Griffiths, Mary Kay Blankestyn, Sue Bonvallet, Ashley & Jesse Childress, Guadalupe Maria De Leon, Austin Fuhrmann, Ron Gall, Jean Gibson, Joel Hart, Karen Hensa, Joanne McCracken, Marilyn Peterson, Joanne Prather, Evelyn Provost, Ruth Sparenberg, Cynthia Vickery, Gary Witherall... 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.

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