For more information about our parish’s response to the Coronavirus and additional faith opportunities during this time, please visit olcparishrockford.com/coronavirus

Digital Opportunities:

Digital Broadcast Mass:

Wednesday: 10:00 am

Sunday: 9:00 am

Church is closed and locked during these broadcasts.  Please participate by watching live on Facebook.  Click the Facebook Live Faith logo above to easily find the videos.

Sacrament of Reconciliation this week:

Tuesday: 7-8 pm

Saturday: 3:30-4:30 pm

Private reconciliations are available in person.  Please enter into the parish commons and space yourself 6 feet apart from each other.

Church is OPEN for private prayer.

The church office is open for private prayer in front of Christ in the tabernacle every day.

Monday , Thursday & Friday  9 am – 4 pm

Tuesday 9 am-8 pm

Wednesday 11 am-4 pm

Saturday  3 pm – 6 pm

Sunday  10 am – 1 pm

Song Suggestion

This week’s song suggestion is “Glorious Day” by Casting Crowns

Take time to listen to this song.  How is it speaking to you?

Click the image to learn more about each reflection area.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit
EXPLANATION

In the Book of Isaiah 11:2-3, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are described. In the passage the gifts are considered ones that the Messiah would have possessed. Through Jesus, we also receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Wisdom helps us recognize the importance of others and the importance of keeping God central in our lives.

Understanding is the ability to comprehend the meaning of God’s message.

Knowledge is the ability to think about and explore God’s revelation, and also to recognize there are mysteries of faith beyond us.

Counsel is the ability to see the best way to follow God’s plan when we have choices that relate to him.

Fortitude is the courage to do what one knows is right.

Piety helps us pray to God in true devotion.

Fear of the Lord is the feeling of amazement before God, who is all-present, and whose friendship we do not want to lose.

Each week we will dig deeper into the meaning of each of these gifts that we all received at the Sacrament of Confirmation.

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Corporal Works of Mercy EXPLANATION

The Corporal Works of Mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise. They “are charitable actions by which we help our neighbors in their bodily needs” (USCCA). They respond to the basic needs of humanity as we journey together through this life. 

• Feed the Hungry
• Give Drink to the Thirsty
• Shelter the Homeless
• Visit the Sick
• Visit the Prisoners
• Bury the Dead
• Give Alms to the Poor

Each week we will dig deeper into the meaning of each of these works that Christ himself calls us to do daily.

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Spiritual Works of Mercy

The Spiritual Works of Mercy have long been a part of the Christian tradition, appearing in the works of theologians and spiritual writers throughout history. Just as Jesus attended to the spiritual well-being of those he ministered to, these Spiritual Works of Mercy guide us to “help our neighbor in their spiritual needs” (USCCA).

• Counseling the Doubtful
• Instructing the Ignorant
• Admonishing the Sinner
• Comforting the Sorrowful
• Forgiving Injuries
• Bearing Wrongs Patiently
• Praying for the Living and the Dead

Facing Fear

Poust, Mary DeTurris. Rejoice and Be Glad 2020: Daily Reflections for Easter to Pentecost. Liturgical Press, 2020.

Readings: 

Acts 2:14, 22-33; Matthew 28:8-15

Scripture:

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed. (Matt 28:8)

Reflection:

Fearful yet overjoyed. That could probably describe a lot of moments in our lives. For me, it conjures up powerful and precious memories of childbirth – the anticipation of wanting to meet my baby, coupled with the fear of labor. Still, after each of my three children were born, how quickly the fear faded from memory leaving only softness in its place. I imagine for the women at the tomb, the experience in today’s Gospel was much the same, as the fear of Good Friday, still so fresh in their minds, is replaced with the realization that He is risen. They did not know what to make of it, and yet they knew enough to run and spread the news.

Maybe that’s why Jesus appeared first to the women. Because he knew that those fearless enough to sacrifice everything to bring new life into the world were sure to be fearless in the face of the impossible. Rather than hide, the women rejoiced; rather than question, the women believed. How easy it would have been to brush aside their encounter as a figment of their imagination, grief pangs taken to the extreme.

But they chose the more difficult path: the path of truth, the Way of Jesus. And they were not content to keep it to themselves. They knew they had to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all who would listen. Will we choose the same?

Meditation:

Think of a time in your life when you felt both fear and joy. Was it a new job, a new child, a move to another city, a relationship that required risk? What made joy win out over fear? Now think of a time in your life when fear made you shrink back, left you paralyzed. What did you do to shake out of it? Where was God in the midst of it? Was God obviously present, or perhaps only visible in hindsight? Today, let go of any fear that is holding you back, and, like the women at the tomb, let the joy of Easter flood your heart and shake you out of your spiritual slumber.

Prayer:

Risen Jesus, give us the courage to live with joy even when we are afraid, to know you are with us even when we feel alone, to take your message out into the world where it can heal, comfort, strengthen, save.

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