Estimados feligreses de la Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol: ¡Alabado sea Jesucristo! Al comenzar el tiempo de Adviento, la Iglesia dirige nuestra mentes y nuestros corazones a la segunda venida de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo para juzgar a los vivos y a los muertos. Los temas de preparación y de estar alertos abundan en las lecturasContinue reading “Carta de P. Geary, 11-29-2020 – Español”
Author Archives: St. James, Belvidere
Deacon Steven Johnson’s Homily 11-26-20
Homily for Ordinary Time-34th Week Thursday, 11-26-20, Year A – Thanksgiving DayREADINGS: 1st Reading Sir, 50:21-24; 2nd 1 Cor 1:3-9; Gospel Lk 17:11-19Theme: Thankful for Faith & Hope A young boy was talking one day with his father, “Father, will you always be here for me?” The father looked at his boy, put his handContinue reading “Deacon Steven Johnson’s Homily 11-26-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-23-20
503 11-23-20 34 th WOT Luke 21:1-4 Do you know the joy of selfless giving and generous love for others? True love does not calculate – it spends lavishly! Jesus drove this point home to his disciples while sitting in the temple and observing people offering their tithes. Jesus praised a poor widow who gaveContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-23-20”
RCIA
We believe in one God…we say it every Sunday…the Creed. We may know it by heart, but how must we live in light of having been given such a great gift, this Faith that demands that we make right moral choices, love and serve our neighbor and become saints along the way? The answer toContinue reading “RCIA”
First Sunday in Advent
During the Advent season, families should spend timetogether preparing for the approaching celebration of the Birth of Christ.During this time of waiting, pray together that through this Advent seasonyour family will be more prepared to receive Jesus when He comes again. God of Love, Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us.He is a signContinue reading “First Sunday in Advent”
Parish Office closed to Public!
EffectiveMonday, November 23, 2020,the St. James Parish Office will beclosed to the public until further notice,due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases.You may contact the office anytimeat (815) 547-6397 and leave a message.Messages will be checked frequently and your call will be returned.Thank you for your patience!
RCIA
There will not be RCIA class on Tuesday, November 24th. As we all turn to the Lord in this dedicated time of Thanksgiving, let us remember to thank Him always for the gift of His Church and the teaching that she has handed down to us. Also, please pray for those preparing to enter into communionContinue reading “RCIA”
Happy Thanksgiving to our St. James Parish Family!
Happy Thanksgiving to our St. James Parish Family!Thanksgiving Day Masses will be held at the following times: 7:30 a.m. in EnglishAnd9:00 a.m. in Spanish There will not be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament,Confessions, or a 6:30 p.m. Mass on Thanksgiving Day.
Fr. Geary’s Letter, 11-22-2020
Dear Parishioners of St. James: Praised be Jesus Christ! As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, I want to especially thank God for all of you. It is a joy to serve you as your priest. You have heroically continued to practice your faith during the pandemic. You keep us priests busy (thankfully) by coming to Confession regularly provingContinue reading “Fr. Geary’s Letter, 11-22-2020”
Carta de P. Geary, 11-22-2020 – Español
Estimados feligreses de la Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol: ¡Alabado sea Jesucristo! Al celebrar el Día de Acción de Gracias este año, quiero especialmente dar las gracias a Dios por todos ustedes. Es un gozo servirlos como su sacerdote. Han continuado heroicamente en la práctica de su fe durante la pandemia. Nos mantienen ocupadosContinue reading “Carta de P. Geary, 11-22-2020 – Español”
Deacon Steven Johnson’s Homily 11-19-20
Homily for Ordinary Time-33 rd Week Thursday, 11-19-20, Year AREADINGS: 1 st Reading Rv 5:1-10, Gospel Lk 19:41-44Theme: Be Prepare and Recognize the Savior We have been told to be prepared for we do not know the day or hour thatthe Lord will come, and we do not know when trouble will suddenly take overContinue reading “Deacon Steven Johnson’s Homily 11-19-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-16-20
497 11-16-20 33 rd WOT Luke 18:35-43St. Margaret of Scotland Gertrude, a Benedictine nun in Saxony, was one of the great mystics of the 13 thcentury. Together with her friend and teacher St. Mechtild, she practiced a spiritualitycalled “nuptial mysticism,” that is, she came to see herself as the bride of Christ. Herspiritual life wasContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Homily – 11-16-20”
RCIA
The life of Christ and of the Saints illustrate for us that prayer is an expression of our lived communion with God, a pathway to virtue that extends far beyond what we can gain from book learning and study. It is the Lord that begins this dialogue with us for the catechism teaches us that,Continue reading “RCIA”
Fr. Geary’s Letter, 11-15-2020
Dear Parishioners of St. James: Praised be Jesus Christ! The Church turns our attention to the faithful departed in this month of November. When we were baptized, we died with Christ and rose to new life. For those who keep faith and die in the state of grace (free of mortal sin) we Christians callContinue reading “Fr. Geary’s Letter, 11-15-2020”
Carta de P. Geary, 11-15-2020 – Español
Estimados feligreses de la Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol: ¡Alabado sea Jesucristo! La Iglesia dirige nuestra atención a los fieles difuntos en este mes de noviembre. Cuando nos bautizamos, morimos con Cristo y resucitamos a una nueva vida. Para aquellos que viven la fe y mueren en el estado de gracia (libre de pecado mortal)Continue reading “Carta de P. Geary, 11-15-2020 – Español”
Deacon Steven Johnson’s Reflection 11-12-20
Homily for Ordinary Time-32nd Week Thursday, 11-12-20, Year A – St Josaphat Bishop & Martyr READINGS: 1st Reading Eph 4:1-7, 11-13, Gospel Jn 17:20-26 Theme: Steadfastness in Unity of Faith Today we celebrate the Memorial of St. Josaphat Bishop and Martyr. He was born in 1580 in Ukraine but grew up in the Northern countryContinue reading “Deacon Steven Johnson’s Reflection 11-12-20”
Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 11-9-20
671 11-9-20 Lateran Basilica John 2:13-22 “They ask, ‘Add faith to us.’They do not ask simply for faith, for perhaps you might imagine them to be withoutfaith. They rather ask Christ for an addition to their faith and to be strengthened infaith. Faith partly depends on us and partly is the gift of the divineContinue reading “Deacon Jim Olson’s Reflection – 11-9-20”
The Last Things: Life, Death, Heaven and Hell
Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, crucified, died and buried. But -that’s not the final word. Resurrected and ascended into heaven, He will come again to judge the living and the dead. What does that mean for us? Join us Tuesday night at 6:30 PM in Connolly Hall as Fr. Geary guides us through our uncertainty onContinue reading “The Last Things: Life, Death, Heaven and Hell”
Fr. Geary’s Letter, 11-8-2020
Dear Parishioners of St. James: Praised be Jesus Christ! In the midst of this political season the work of the Lord continues. We are in the midst of a capital campaign to retire our church building debt called “Fulfilling Our Promise.” When we initiated this campaign at the beginning of 2020 we owed more than $1,600,000Continue reading “Fr. Geary’s Letter, 11-8-2020”
Carta de P. Geary, 11-8-2020 – Español
Estimados feligreses de la Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol: ¡Alabado sea Jesucristo! En medio de esta época política la obra del Señor continúa. Estamos en medio de unacampaña capital para cancelar nuestra deuda por la construcción del templo que se llama“Cumpliendo Nuestra Promesa”. Cuando iniciamos esta campaña a principios de 2020,debíamos más de $1,600,000 a laContinue reading “Carta de P. Geary, 11-8-2020 – Español”
Saint James Catholic Church 