Dear Friends,
Welcome to the St. James Parish website! You may think that because it is summer and because many people are traveling (like Fr. Bill) nothing happens in parish life. That is not the case at all! St. James has many summer activities that you will want to know about!
From a liturgical standpoint, every Sunday is a holy day! We all should know what time Masses at St. James are celebrated. If you are still wondering, please visit our calendar and check the Mass times and the current presider schedule posted on it. Don’t forget, there are two beautiful feasts coming up in the month of August - Transfiguration of the Lord on August 6th and the Assumption of our Blessed Mother Mary on August 15th.
At all of the Masses on August 8th and 15th, there will be special blessings for returning college students. Also on August 7/8, Mr. Teddy Ariniello, FOCUS Missionary and Team Director, will speak to our students and parents about how to engage and reach more students who would like to participate in the mission to college dorms. On August 15th, we will be celebrating the Feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother Mary into heaven, and on that weekend we will also be collecting school supplies for Marillac House in Chicago. I would like to direct a big THANK YOU, in advance, to the St. James Women’s Club for sponsoring this collection and to all of you who will contribute to the success of this collection for children.
Do you remember back to your dating days… the excitement you felt? I am asking, because there are 10 Great Dates going on at St. James every second Saturday of the month. For more information about the upcoming August 14th date please call the 10 Great Dates Hotline at 224-345-7200 ext. 8527. Also, if there is someone who is thinking about (or maybe talking with you about) joining the Catholic Church and he/she doesn’t know where to start, you might enlighten that person about R.C.I.A (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) at St. James. All information is available and provided by Jim Hamman at jhamman@rcgdirect.com
Jim is an excellent email writer who also returns phone calls promptly!
On August 27th, we will have the opening Mass for our school students. Another event that will be important to our parents and friends of St. James School will be a benefit dinner “Back to School” at Francesca’s Tavola. If you are planning to have dinner somewhere on August 30th pick Francesca’s, please bring in the ad from our bulletin, and 20% of your bill will go directly toward St. James. I hope to see you there!
Many blessings and enjoy the beautiful summer,
Fr. Chris