THIS WEEKEND AT ALL MASSES
This weekend, May 6-7, Br. Vagner and Br. Erlison will preach at all the Masses at St. Peter's about the ministry of their Franciscan Custody of St. Benedict of the Amazon in Brazil. A second collection will be taken up to help the ministry of the friars in their ministry in northern Brazil. Your generosity helps all the friars and their co-workers to continue to build up the growing presence of the Church in sometimes difficult circumstances.
Br. Vagner and Br. Erlison have been an important presence in the Franciscan Friar community and the parish community of St. Peter's for the past five years as they studied English and completed their studies for the priesthood. They have touched all our lives by their Franciscan life and being among us these past years. We would love to have them remain with us but it's now time for them to return to their community in Brazil. They already know that much work and ministry awaits them in the various communities along the Amazon River area. They both will graduate from Catholic Theological Union the end of this month and return to their home province of St. Benedict of the Amazon to begin their ministry as ordained Franciscans.
Br. Vagner will be ordained priest on June 24, 2023 at St. Anne Cathedral in Óbidos, Pará, Brazil and Br. Erlison will be ordained priest on June 29, 2023 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Santarém, Pará, Brazil. Both ordinations will be Live Streamed and we will place the contact information for the Live Stream in a future bulletin. Please keep both of these faithful friars in your prayers as they prepare for ordination. Please remember to pray daily that other young men and women will respond to God's call to serve the church as sister, brother or priest.
LITURGICAL MINISTERS NEEDED
Now that many of the restrictions of the COVID pandemic have been rescinded and more and more folks are returning to the celebration of Masses and the Sacraments, we are also reaching out to those who come on a regular basis to St. Peter's Church to consider serving as a Reader, Eucharist Minister or Greeter/Usher at our weekend and weekday Masses.
Those who read at Mass receive training in reading from the scriptures, use of the sound system in church and other responsibilities of proclaiming God's Word at Masses. We are planning on a training session for new Readers and Eucharist ministers in early summer. If you would like to consider being a reader at Mass, please fill out the form below and place it in the weekday/weekend collection basket at Mass. You also may leave your name at the Church Front desk or give the form below to one of the friars, to the Pastor (Fr. Mike F.) or the Sacristan (Mr. Phil Bujnowski).
MOTHER'S DAY NEXT WEEKEND
As we begin the month of May (a month traditionally dedicated to the Virgin Mary) we are given an opportunity to recall the important part of Mary in God's plan, as the Mother of God. As we celebrate Mothers’ Day next weekend (May 13-14), let us to do all we can to provide support for mothers and all women in creating an atmosphere of respect for them and all of God’s people. At each of our Masses next weekend, we will give a special blessing to mothers and those who show a mother’s love to others. May God bless all those who have given birth to each of us.
ST. PETER'S 9th ANNUAL GALA
After our successful return to an in-person Gala at the Union League Club last July 2022, we hope to provide another successful evening of enjoying one another's presence and raising funds to help St. Peter's continued important ministry here in the Loop. This year's Gala will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2023 once again at the Union League Club. This is our largest fund-raising effort of the year and it helps keep our ministry at St. Peter's operating. You can purchase tickets for this event at the church or by visiting our website. If you are unable to attend you also may make a donation to help us maintain our ministries here at St. Peter's Church.
LOOKING AHEAD
Here are some important Liturgical Feasts of the Church and holiday Masses that we will celebrate in the coming months. Be sure to plan on attending as we celebrate our faith. The ASCENSION of the Lord is celebrated the weekend of May 20-21. PENTECOST, the birthday of the Church, is celebrated the weekend of May 27-28. The feast of the SACRED HEART is Friday, June 16 and the feast of STS. PETER & PAUL is celebrated on Thursday, June 29 this year.
We join in prayer on MEMORIAL DAY, Monday, May 29 to remember all the deceased, especially those who have died in war. We will celebrate a special Mass at 9:00 am for Memorial Day. On Tuesday, July 4 we celebrate INDEPENDENCE DAY, the 247th anniversary of the beginning of the United States of America with a special Mass at 9:00 am.
A reminder to please note that there is only one Mass at 9:00 am on holidays. There are no confessions, church offices are closed and the church building is closed on holidays after the Mass concludes on holidays.
Fr. Michael