Week of Oct. 23
New Catholic Times website – Your local Catholic source for news, inspiration, and learning about the faith just got better. Check out the new Catholic Times website for the latest news, videos, podcasts, interviews, Bishop Paprocki’s column, and more! dio.org/catholictimes/
Indulgences? My soul is 100% clean? Seems made up – Indulgences are a great treasure of the Church that too few take advantage of. But, you may be confused on how they work, what you have to do, what’s the point of doing them, and where you can find out what indulgences are available. Fr. Chris House answers all things indulgences! Go to dio.org/podcast or search “Dive Deep” on all the major podcast platforms to listen and subscribe.
Click here to download a graphic to include in your bulletins
Happy National Vocation Awareness Week! Please join the Dominican Sisters of Springfield for a virtual event, 7:00 p.m. Monday, November 6. Enjoy a premier video, then join the conversation with Sister Beth Murphy, OP, and Father Joe Molloy, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker in Chatham, as they share stories about their call to religious life and diocesan priesthood. Event is free, but registration is required to receive the meeting link. Register here today: https://springfieldop.org/meetoursisterstour/
Here are photos/graphics you can use to pair with this annoucement
Sangamon County Winter Clothing Drive – Donations of winter coats, hats, gloves, and mittens for those in need. Drop-off at St. Patrick’s School (1800 S. Grand Ave. E.) in Springfield from 9 a.m. – Noon on Saturday, Nov. 18.
National Catholic Youth Conference – NCYC is a powerfully unique three-day experience of prayer, community, evangelization, catechesis, service and empowerment for Catholic high school teenagers that will be hosted on November 16 – 18, 2023 at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The event includes inspiring keynote speakers, breakout sessions on a variety of topics for teenagers and the celebration of Holy Mass with people from all over the country. Registration for passes to NCYC is being coordinated through the Office for Catholic Education to get a discount. The price for passes increases October 1. For more information, please contact Kyle Holtgrave at (217) 698-8500, ext. 154 or email kholtgrave@dio.org.
Red Mass for those in the legal profession – Bishop Paprocki will celebrate a Red Mass for those in the legal profession such as lawyers, law students, judges, legislators, city council members, and others to invoke God’s blessings upon the members of the bench, bar, legislature, law enforcement, and governmental agencies and all protectors and administrators of the Law. Sunday, Nov. 19 at 10:15 a.m. at St. Boniface Church in Edwardsville.
Springfield Calvary Cemetery has opened its final block for plot sales – Calvary Cemetery of Springfield is pleased to announce the opening of new Block 19 for plot sales. Plots can be purchased for both immediate need and for pre-planning. Block 19 is the final Block of grave spaces available for purchase in Springfield Calvary Cemetery. For information about pricing and available plot locations or to make an appointment with us, please call our office at 217-523-3726 or e-mail us at director@calvary.dio.org. The Calvary Cemetery office is open Monday- Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Calvary Cemetery is open to visitors Monday-Sunday year-round from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Let us know how we can help you!
St. John’s Breadline Souper Friday Fall 2023 Fundraiser – The Souper Friday fundraiser benefiting Catholic Charities St. John’s Breadline will be serving up fresh soups to go. These made-from-scratch soups will be available on Friday, November 3 at the Catholic Pastoral Center circle driveway, 1615 W. Washington Street in Springfield from 4 to 6 p.m. or until sold out. Chicken noodle soup, steak & vegetable, and chili will be offered. The suggested donation is $5 for 32 oz. of soup. All proceeds will benefit the St. John’s Breadline.
Show off your talent! Art wanted for Year of the Eucharist art display at QU – Jessica Howell, the Campus Minister at Quincy University, is assembling a “Year of the Eucharist” art display in the Gray Gallery of QU’s Brenner Library in November. If you have created a piece of art (painting drawing, photograph, graphic design, sculpture, etc.) that depicts the Eucharist, the Mass, the person of Jesus, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the person of Mary, or the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and you would like to have your art featured in the display, please contact Jessica at howelje@quincy.edu.
Respect Life Essay Contest: The American Life League’s Culture of Life Studies Program is having an essay contest for middle and high school students. For essay prompts and information to submit essays go to: https://all.org/clsp/pro-life-essay-contest. Essays must be submitted by November 6, 2023.
World Mission Sunday
The Week After World Mission Sunday – October 29, 2023
Your Generosity Ignited Change on World Mission Sunday – Thank You! Your active participation on World Mission Sunday has been heartwarming! By extending your generosity to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, you’ve ignited change, supported missionaries worldwide, nourished the hungry, and aided the building of the Church in the Pope’s mission territories. Your gifts, combined with countless others, was the spark that set “hearts on fire”! God’s blessings be upon you for embodying the true missionary spirit!
¡Tu Generosidad fue motor del cambio este Domingo Mundial de las Misiones – Gracias!
¡La participación en el Domingo Mundial de las Misiones ha sido conmovedora! Al
extender tu generosidad a la Sociedad para la Propagación de la Fe, ha dado fuerza al
cambio, apoyado a misioneros en todo el mundo, alimentado a los hambrientos y
ayudado a construir la Iglesia en las misiones del Papa. ¡Tus donativos, junto con
innumerables otros, fueron la chispa que encendió los “corazones fervientes”!
Que el Señor te bendiga por haber encarnado el verdadero espíritu misionero.
Visit the Cathedral in Springfield or Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Alton, receive an indulgence! – The diocesan-wide Year of the Eucharist going on now has a heavenly treasure of our Catholic faith attached to it. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki received permission from the Holy See, granting a plenary indulgence to those who make a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield or Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Alton (the “Old Cathedral”) now through Dec. 8. One must also partake in the other usual conditions to receive this indulgence by going to Confession, receiving the Eucharist, and saying prayers for the intention of the Pope. These acts “may be carried out several days preceding or following the performance of the prescribed works. But it is more fitting that communion and the prayer for the pope’s intentions take place on the day the work is performed” (Handbook of Indulgences, Norms for Indulgences, 23.3). An indulgence a gift and grace that remits the temporal punishment due to a sin.
Project Rachel – Help for women and men to heal from the pain of abortion. For assistance call 1-877-RACHEL-5.
Retreat for married couples offered – Worldwide Marriage Encounter presents weekend experiences for married couples to rekindle romance, enhance meaningful communication, and deepen and renew commitment. Sign-up now! For more information or to apply, go to wwme.org or call Terry & Eric Engholm at 314-649-7317. Next one:
12/1/2023 – 12/3/2023, St. Peters, MO
2/2/2024 – 2/4/2024, St. Peters, MO
4/5/2024 – 4/7/2024, St. Peters, MO
Here is a logo you can use as well
STEWARDSHIP BULLETIN REFLECTIONS
October 29, 2023
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” – Matthew 22:37
Do you put other “gods” before God? Is your love of money, power, status, comfort or some personal possession greater than your love for God? Do you recognize that everything you have and that everything you are is a gift from God? Putting God first in everything helps keep us from becoming a slave to our possessions and to our pride.
November 5, 2023
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
”Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” – Matthew 23:12
The world celebrates people in the spotlight and those who have the most of everything. We think celebrity, money and possessions is the key to happiness. Yet, our world is filled with more loneliness, anxiety and depression than ever before. The key to a happy life is relationship. Relationship with God and each other. Trust is the foundation of any good relationship and humility is the seed of trust.
November 12, 2023
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” – Matthew 25:13
Many of us have put off doing something because we think we are too busy. We’ve all said, “I’ll do it later when I have time.” Unfortunately, too many of us apply this attitude to our Faith. Jesus’ call is urgent, in the here and now, in your current circumstances. How is God calling you to use your gifts today? Don’t delay. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow.
November 19, 2023
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.” – MATTHEW 25:21
God calls us to nurture and develop the gifts He has given us and then generously return a portion with increase. He doesn’t want us to waste or hoard the gifts He has given us. He expects us to grow our gifts, to use them wisely, and to be generous with them. Unfortunately, many of us are not generous in proportion to all that God has given us. God asks us to be generous with all our gifts, especially the one that means the most to you.
November 26, 2023
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
“…whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did for me.” – MATTHEW 25:40
Most of us are generous when it’s convenient for us. We are generous when we have the time or the money. But, real generosity is the opposite of that. It means giving of one’s time, money, compassion, forgiveness or mercy when it’s not convenient to us, when it’s not on our schedule, but on the other person’s timeline.
December 3, 2023
First Sunday of Advent
“Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” – Mark 13:33
We all take things for granted. In particular, we take time for granted. We make our lives too busy. We plan our days, weeks, months, even years in advance. Remember, our time on earth is a gift. None of us knows how long we will be here. Start today and begin thanking God for each and every day. Take time in silence, every day, and listen to how God is calling you right now to help build His kingdom on earth.
December 10, 2023
2nd Sunday of Advent
“Prepare the way of the Lord…” – MARK 1:3
We are all called to live a holy life. We are all called to invite others to live holy lives. Living a stewardship lifestyle, being grateful and generous with our gifts, puts us on the path to holiness and is an example for others to be holy, too. We are responsible not only for our own lives, but for the lives of others as well. How are you helping others get to Heaven?
December 17, 2023
3rd Sunday of Advent
“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 thessalonians 5:16 – 18
This scripture reading sums up Stewardship. “Rejoice always” means place your trust in God; He will provide all that you need. “Pray constantly” means prayer should be a running conversation with God throughout the whole day, every day. “Give thanks in all circumstances” means even in bad situations, thank God. Suffering a little bit helps build empathy for others in similar situations and shows our dependence on God.
December 24, 2023
4th Sunday of Advent
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” – Luke 1:28
After Jesus, we look to Mary as an ideal steward. Her entire life was lived in obedience to God’s call. Mary teaches us to live with joy for all we have been given. Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, Mary reflects the light of Christ. Like Mary, we are called to reflect Christ’s light to the world through our gratitude and generosity.
December 31, 2023
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
“…as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.” – colossians 3:13
Forgiving is one of the hardest things for people to do. We can’t give what we don’t have. We need to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness first before we can give it to others. Go to the sacrament of Reconciliation and receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. Then, share the gift of forgiveness with someone – a family member, a friend or a co-worker. Pick up the phone or text someone right now.