There is A LOT Going on in the Coming Weeks and Months

FM This Weekend

This Sunday at 9:00 am, we will celebrate our monthly multi-generational Eucharistic experience called FM. These Masses bring a particular energy and family unity as we encourage at least three generations of families to gather together and celebrate Christ’s REAL presence among us in the sacredness of the Eucharist. It provides a great opportunity for parishioners of all ages to be an active part of the liturgy. So, parents, encourage and invite your children to join us for these special Masses. Grandparents, encourage and invite your children and grandchildren to join you, and kids, invite your parents and grandparents to celebrate and pray with you regularly at Mass, but especially for our FM Masses.

40 Days of Kindness

We are beginning a unique and much-needed initiative called 40 Days of Kindness. I REALLY believe that amidst the tensions of our world, and particularly those of our nation, we need to GENERATE Kindness. What do I mean by GENERATE? Two things:

First, do simple acts of kindness. Please see the website and or the cards in the pews and in the Narthex for details and suggestions. I challenge you to be creative and intentional. Simple acts such as holding a door for someone or smiling at and greeting a stranger are certainly kind, but also things we should naturally do, even be expected to do, as Christians. For children, being kind to our siblings and doing our chores at home should be things we do as people of faith.

I will leave it up to you to count such acts in our kindness initiative, but the card and website give additional suggestions of how we might elevate the kindness that our world needs.  

Secondly, please encourage loved ones, family members, friends, and co-workers to join us in spreading kindness. Encourage them to visit our website, or give them one of the cards and have them fill it out, give it to you if they are not a regular part of our community, and you can place it in one of our collection boxes in the narthex.

Holy Family – How much KINDNESS can we generate with our own actions and by encouraging others to participate? See the display in the Narthex.

Let us extend Kindness …

To Our Archdiocese 

The Annual Catholic Appeal will kick off next Weekend, February 14 and 15. This is an opportunity to extend kindness to people right here in the Archdiocese of Chicago in Lake and Cook counties who need our support. Our Archdiocese has many agencies and ministries that are not rooted in a parish and therefore have no means of regular financial support. Your generosity helps them to carry out their ministries.

To Puerto Rico

This year’s Lenten Social Justice Project will help to rebuild Immaculate Conception Church and School in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico. Their church building was severely damaged in the recent earthquake. Part of the church structure actually fell on the school. This happened in January of 2020.  They were still recovering from damage sustained in Hurricane Maria in 2017, and then we all know what began in March of 2020. The pandemic further challenged this faith community, and the school enrollment plummeted as many people moved to the United States. But two courageous people remained faithful and committed to the community – their Principal, Carmen Alicia Rodriguez Echevarria and their Pastor, Fr. Melvin Diaz. They have been working tirelessly ever since. The community is resurrecting in the midst of these challenges. 

Sue Geegan and I, along with a contingency from Catholic Extension Society, visited and prayed with children and adults from this community recently in the tent that is now their temporary place of worship.

They have a long way to go, but their renewal will be greatly assisted by our generosity. Many more details will follow as Lent and the story of Immaculate Conception unfolds.

To Our Community Through This Year’s Gala

Saturday, March 7 at Concorde Banquets in Kildeer. Please plan on attending or contact Nick Fiddick (nfiddick@holyfamilyparish.org) from our staff for ways to help if you cannot attend.

Attend Our Parish Mission

This year’s Mission will be led by a nationally known presenter, Valimar Jensen on March 16,17 and 18.

And don’t forget Ash Wednesday, February 18, and our ongoing Conversations in the Spirit. 

Ash Wednesday will begin our Lenten journey, helping us to further embrace a spiritual dimension to kindness; and our ongoing Conversations regarding our future here at Holy Family.