St. John the Baptist Newsletter — Mar/Apr 2022

MAR/ APR 20 2 2

St. John the Baptist CATHOLIC CHURCH

In this Issue: 2

S tewardship and Lent: How The Wise Men’s Gifts Symbolize Our Lenten Obligations

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The Joy of Lent

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Journeying With

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The Easter Basket Blessing: Looking Forward to a Cherished Parish Tradition

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Lent and Easter Schedule

Join Fellow Parishioners for Our Upcoming Lenten Mission Eucharistic Miracles, Sacred Cloths of the Passion and Life After Life

Christ Through the Stations of the Cross

GROWING IN HOLINESS DURING LENT

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“We Unite Ourselves With the Cross”

ent is an opportunity to recollect ourselves and take a closer look at the priorities in our lives. Fr. Butler points out that our lives are a battle between the voices of the world and the voice of God. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we can silence the voices of the world and give ourselves over to the love and the voice of God. “Lent is a time to try to clear all of that,” Fr. Butler says. “It’s different from other times in the year because our focus is on the Passion. We are focused on the cross and on love because the cross is the definition of love. We unite ourselves with the cross, and then our fasting and sacrifices are a little bit easier because we unite ourselves to Christ.”

The pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, but what do those pillars really mean for our Lenten journey? In our parish and in parishes across the world, we are all experiencing this time of growth together.

“During Lent, we try to increase our quality and quantity of prayer,” Fr. Butler says. “Our human nature reviles sacrifice and fasting, but it’s like lifting weights — no pain, no gain. We know it’s good for us.”

During Lent, it’s important to take small steps towards God and towards holiness. This means pushing ourselves to do what is hard. Prayer is the time that we give to God. If we allow ourselves to be continued on page 5

St. John the Baptist Stewardship and Lent:

How The Wise Men’s Gifts Symbolize Our Lenten Obligations

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e experience great joy when we celebrate the coming of the Magi at Epiphany each year. For many of us, it is the completion of Christmas. Yet, the gifts offered by the Magi — gold, frankincense, and myrrh — can serve to guide us on our stewardship journeys as we observe Lent this month.

The Wise Men’s Symbolize It may seem strangeGifts to connect the joyful Our celebration of Epiphany with the penitential season of Obligations Lent. But our spiritual life should not be divided into separate, unconnected bits, and in the same way, the Church’s liturgical year also flows from one season to another. The different feasts and seasons certainly have different emphases, but they are intended to build on each other.

So, let’s see if we can connect what the Magi gave Jesus with what we’re going to offer Him this Lent.

The basic ingredients for our Lenten rule come from what is termed the “Three Notable Duties” — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These, in turn, come from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). How do we connect the wise men’s gifts with the Three Notable Duties?

Frankincense is the basic ingredient in the incense used in the worship of God, in the ancient world, and in the Church today. Offering it to Jesus points out His divine nature, and so it symbolizes prayer — the stewardship of time. Our Lenten rule needs to include prayer and worship. Of course, we are bound to worship at Sunday Mass year-round. Maybe during Lent, we might add a weekday Mass. Perhaps we can increase the time we devote to private prayer at home or at adoration. Devotional reading from the Bible or another appropriate book can be added. In addition, don’t forget the possibility of adding family devotions during Lent so that the whole family prays together.

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When we offer our gold to Christ to build His Church and to help His poor, we are engaged in almsgiving — the stewardship of treasure. While giving from the treasure God has entrusted to us is a duty throughout the whole year, maybe this Lent, we can practice being a little more generous than usual. If our giving is Lenten a thankful response to the gift of eternal life that God has given us, we will find that the giving is indeed a means of grace.

For centuries, myrrh has been associated with fasting. In the ancient world, it was regularly used in embalming. Generations of theological writers have seen the gift of myrrh as a foreshadowing of Christ’s sufferings.

Fasting may be the most difficult of the Three Notable Duties for modern Americans. We usually think of fasting only under the heading of dieting to lose weight. Instead, try to think of fasting as a way to become more spiritually fit. Body and spirit affect each other. The whole sacramental system is built on the truth that we can receive spiritual grace through material things and physical actions.

Our specific requirements of fasting are limited — abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent and a reduction in the quantity of food we eat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. But the discipline of our physical bodies for our spiritual well-being does not have to be limited to Lent!

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were indeed valuable gifts for the wise men to present to the Child Jesus, which is stewardship as its very core. So, when we look at their symbolism, we can see their relationship to the Three Notable Duties of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. What gifts of our time, talent, and treasure are we going to offer to Jesus this Lent?

MAR/ APR 20 2 2

A Letter From Our Pastor

Joy Lent

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Dear Parishioners,

ave you ever thought about the joy in sacrifice that Lent provides? Most of us don’t delight in sacrifice; in fact, in our daily lives, we often do our best to avoid challenges and practices that push us outside of our comfort zones.

In Christianity, there is a beautiful irony between joy and sacrifice, and we are presented with a wonderful opportunity to embrace this uniquely during Lent. In one of his Lenten messages, Pope Francis shared, “Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty.”

While giving up sweets in favor of healthy snacks for Lent is a common and noble endeavor, the goal of Lent should not only be a spiritual excuse to lose weight! In choosing acts of self-denial, we are saying “no” to things in order to get into the practice of saying “no” when inclined towards sin, ultimately deepening our faith and our relationship with the Lord. Victory can be found when we deny ourselves and pick up our crosses and hardships in order to grow closer to Christ!

Therein lies the joy. When we grow closer to God by denying our will, we say “yes” to a life of abundance with Him. Our God is a good and kind and generous God; He will not hold back His grace from those who honor Him and choose challenging things to grow and give Him honor and praise.

Christ even tells us Himself, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Without question, Lent is a time for conscious regret for one’s wrongdoing and spiritual

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preparation for Easter. At the same time, Lent provides us an opportunity to make God a greater part of our life, and to take our faith to new levels. Stewardship is a God-centered way of life — a spiritual way of living that, above all, acknowledges God’s presence in all we do.

Lent is a time for every one of us to do more than simply deny ourselves; we need to welcome God into our lives in greater ways so that when we get to Holy Week and Easter, we have an even greater appreciation for the sacrifice the Lord made for us. Talk about pure joy!

May you and your loved ones enjoy a holy and joyous Lenten journey.

In Christ,

Fr. Butler, Pastor

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St. John the Baptist

Join Fellow Parishioners for Our Upcoming Lenten Miss Eucharistic Miracles, Sacred Cloths of th

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n the eighth century, a priest in Lanciano, Italy, doubted the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Right before his eyes during Mass, the wine turned into blood. In 1971, the blood was discovered to be from cardiac tissue. Even though it was 1,200 years later, the blood was fresh. This is just one of more than 100 Catholic church-approved Eucharistic miracles. You can learn more about other Eucharistic miracles at our upcoming Lenten Mission on April 9 and 10 at the St. John the Baptist Parish Center.

Two years ago, on the day Richard Bernatchez from Faith Based Communications Apostolate was going to present for the 2020 parish mission, everything In Illinois shut down due to the pandemic. So, we are especially excited to offer this mission in 2022.

Richard will present on three topics, each of which will have an accompanying exhibit. The exhibits will be open Saturday, April 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Saturday, Richard will present Eucharistic Miracles, Sacred Cloths of the Passion, and Life After Life. He will also present again on Eucharistic miracles to

Panels with Eucharistic miracles will be presented for attendees to view.

Religious Education students and anyone else on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

“Parishioners should attend because they will be exposed to material that they seldom have an opportunity to engage with,” Richard says. “Although some of these topics are available on public media, the problem is that they are prepared for entertainment value and often include significantly erroneous information.”

Richard will present the stories of approved Eucharistic miracles and review the Scriptural basis for belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Next, he will discuss three cloths associated with Jesus’s passion — the Shroud of Turin, the Sudarium of Oviedo, and

the Tunic of Argenteuil. Last, Richard will discuss reports of people who have clinically died and been resuscitated. Often, these people lose their fear of death because of what they glimpse in the afterlife.

These presentations and exhibits will hopefully impact every attendee.

“We live in a secular world that is constantly bombarding us with the message that science can explain everything about our existence,” Richard says. “This series will demonstrate that same science is actually proving the existence of God.” Richard wants every attendee to leave with a deeper understanding

“We live in a secular world that is constantly bombarding us with the message that science can explain everything about our existence. This series will demonstrate that same science is actually proving the existence of God.” — Richard Bernatchez 4

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sion he Passion and Life After Life and love for the Eucharist. He also hopes to inspire more people to seek Eucharistic Adoration.

Having been a presenter since 2012, it’s important to Richard to follow the directive in Mark 16:15, “He said to them, ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.’”

“It is heartwarming to obtain feedback from those whose lives have been changed through our ministry,” Richard says.

Parish secretary Denise Ramos says it is fitting to have this event during Palm Sunday weekend. As we experience the Triduum Masses, we will be reminded of what we heard and saw during the presentations and exhibits.

“I am looking forward to hearing about the many Eucharistic miracles and the Life After Life presentation,” Denise says. “These miracles can only come from God. I have always been interested in reading about near-death experiences to hear what these people have to say when they come back to life.”

Richard Bernatchez will present at our upcoming mission.

Don’t miss the upcoming Lenten Mission and exhibits on April 9 and 10 in the Parish Center. The free retreat will include breakfast and lunch.

Attendees need not attend all three talks.

Growing in Holiness During Lent distracted by television, news, social media, or our work, then we aren’t giving God the time to love us and to hear His voice. Fasting is the deliberate removal of some of these material distractions.

“Fasting is integral,” Fr. Butler says. “When we fast, it makes us more focused on the Lord, and we are less likely to get derailed or to focus too much on things of the world.”

We are always invited to take fasting one step further than our obligation, to fast from screens or to give up a luxury such as sugar, meat, or snacks. When we give alms to the poor, it can be a chance to stretch ourselves. We can give until it hurts. Our parish will participate in Hope for Haitians, an opportunity for all of us to give.

continued from front cover

Stations of the Cross are offered every Friday at 7 p.m. with a simple supper and fellowship beforehand.

Adoration will be held each weekday from 6 to 7 p.m. and all day on Friday. Bring yourself and your family to Confession at least once during the Lenten season ­— there are many opportunities. A Lenten Retreat will lead us into Holy Week. First and foremost, come to Mass. Come every Sunday and consider adding a weekday Mass into your routine. Be sure to refer to the bulletin for upcoming events.

“We yearn for intimacy, but we live in a culture of loneliness,” Fr. Butler says. “We need to let God love us. To do that, we have to quit pushing Him to the side and make these efforts. We do this together, as families, a parish, and the universal Church.”

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St. John the Baptist Journeying With Christ Through the

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Stations of the Cross

or Roman Catholics throughout the world, the Stations of the Cross are synonymous with Lent, Holy Week and, especially, Good Friday. This devotion is also known as the Way of the Cross, the Via Crucis, and the Via Dolorosa. It commemorates 14 key events on the day of Christ’s crucifixion.

The Stations originated in medieval Europe, when wars prevented Christian pilgrims from visiting the Holy Land.

Later, for the many who wanted to pass along the same route, but could not make the trip to Jerusalem, a practice developed that eventually took the form of the 14 stations currently found in almost every church. It was St. Francis of Assisi who devised the list of stations and started the tradition of reciting it as a type of devotional service. European artists created works depicting scenes of Christ’s journey to Calvary.

In 1761, St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote: “The pious exercise of the Way of the Cross represents the sorrowful journey that Jesus Christ made with the cross on His shoulders, to die on Calvary for the love of us. We should, therefore, practice this devotion with the greatest possible fervor, placing ourselves in spirit beside our Savior as He walked this sorrowful way, uniting our tears with His, and offering to Him both our compassion and our gratitude.”

Praying the Stations of the Cross is one of the most popular devotions for Roman Catholics, and is often performed in a spirit of reparation for the sufferings and insults that Jesus endured during His Passion. The object of the Stations is to help us make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer, through meditating upon the chief scenes of Christ’s sufferings and death.

This devotion may be conducted personally, by making your way from one station to another and saying the prayers, or by having the celebrant move from station to station while the congregation make the responses.

A plenary indulgence may be gained by praying the Stations of the Cross. If, for some reasonable cause, the Stations are interrupted, a partial indulgence may be gained for each station.

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PRAYING THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS For an online guide to praying the Stations below, visit www.catholic.org/prayers/station.php

Opening Prayer Station 1 - Jesus Is Condemned To Death Station 2 - Jesus Carries His Cross Station 3 - Jesus Falls The First Time Station 4 - Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother Station 5 - Simon Of Cyrene Helps Jesus To Carry His Cross Station 6 - Veronica Wipes The Face Of Jesus Station 7 - Jesus Falls The Second Time Station 8 - Jesus Meets The Women Of Jerusalem Station 9 - Jesus Falls A Third Time Station 10 - Jesus Is Stripped Of His Clothes Station 11 - Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross Station 12 - Jesus Dies On The Cross Station 13 - The Body Of Jesus Is Taken Down From The Cross Station 14 - Jesus Is Laid In The Tomb

Closing Prayer

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The Easter Basket Blessing:

Looking Forward to a Cherished Parish Tradition “More people learn about it, and they learn the purpose of the items in the basket, and they understand how they relate to the Easter message.” — Chuck Durancik

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he longstanding Catholic tradition of the blessing of the Easter basket will once again take place here at St. John the Baptist Parish.

Parishioners are invited to bring their Easter baskets to the church at 10 a.m. on Holy Saturday, April 16, for the blessing by Fr. Butler.

St. John the Baptist Parish has been observing this Eastern European custom for the last 20 years, and each year more families are taking part as they discover the meaning this practice holds for the Easter message of joy in Christ’s resurrection.

The tradition enables the sense of community to grow in our parish.

“More people learn about it, and they learn the purpose of the items in the basket, and they understand how they relate to the Easter message,” says Chuck Durancik, parish bookkeeper, who has fond childhood memories of the ceremony in his home parish.

According to tradition, on Holy Saturday morning, families bring their decorated Easter baskets

filled with symbolic foods. The baskets are placed on the steps leading to the altar and are blessed in a brief ceremony. The foods become part of the meal enjoyed after the Easter Sunday Resurrection Mass.

Tradition calls for the baskets to be lined with a white cloth and decorated with ribbons, flowers, and other greenery to call to mind renewal, spring, and Christ’s resurrection. Although some of the foods placed in the baskets may vary according to each family, the foods typically included are decorated hardboiled eggs, representing

Christ’s resurrection; lamb-shaped butter or sugar representing Christ as the “Lamb of God;” bread, a reminder that Jesus is the “bread of life;” meat, such as kielbasa or ham; horseradish, pepper, oil and vinegar that symbolizes the Passion of Christ and the bitter herbs of Passover; salt, standing for prosperity and justice; cheese; wine, symbolic of the Blood of Christ.

“We also put kolachis and pierogis in the basket, and a white candle is included,” Chuck says. “Some families will also put a little candy in the basket.”

Some families also prepare decorated baskets filled with Easter sweets for their children to bring to the ceremony.

After the basket is filled, it is covered with a white cloth to symbolize Christ’s shroud.

The Easter basket blessing ceremony offers an opportunity for parishioners to gather in celebration of the ending of the Lenten fast that once forbade meat, eggs, and fats.

Anyone who would like more information about the blessing may call the parish office at 815-498-2010.

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St. John the Baptist 320 S. Depot Street PO Box 276 Somonauk, IL 60552 Phone: 815-498-2010 www.stjbsom.org

MAR/ APR 20 2 2 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Somonauk, IL 60552 Permit No. 25

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Mass Times Saturdays — 5 p.m.

Sundays — 8 and 11 a.m.

Weekdays — Mon-Fri 8 a.m.

Sacrament of Reconciliation Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri — 6-7 p.m.

Saturdays — 4 p.m. or by appointment

Adoration Mon-Fri — 6-7 p.m.

Lent and Easter Schedule Corned Beef Dinner — March 12, 3:30-6:30 p.m. (drive-thru — $18 per dinner) Lenten Mission — April 9 and 10 Two Days of Miracles (Eucharistic Miracles, Sacred Cloths of the Passion, Shroud of Turin and Life after Life) Fridays During Lent Mass at 8 a.m.

All-day adoration, 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Simple Supper, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Stations of the Cross, 7 p.m.

Benediction at 7:30 p.m., except on March 4 and April 1 — Benediction will be the next morning, March 5 and April 2, at 8:30 a.m.

Adoration During Lent 6-7 p.m. — Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. — Fridays First Fridays, March 4 and April 1, adoration will continue all night from 8:30 a.m. Friday to 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

Confessions during Lent 6 p.m. — Monday, Tuesday and Friday 4 p.m. — Saturday Penance Service, 7 p.m. — April 11 Be Reconciled Day — Confessions heard all day from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on April 6. Confessions on Good Friday — 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Paschal Triduum Holy Thursday, Mass of The Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m.

Good Friday Service, 3 p.m.

Easter Basket Blessing, Saturday, 10 a.m.

Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday — 6:15, 8, and 11 a.m.

Divine Mercy Sunday Service April 24, 1-3 p.m. with adoration, Confessions and Sunday Chaplet