Dear St. Raphael Parishioners,
Passion Sunday: Palm Sunday starts the Church’s most important liturgical week of the entire year. The reading of the Passion is the longest gospel of any Sunday Mass, by far. (Palm Sunday and the Good Friday service are the only two times when the Gospel is read in parts by 3 readers and the congregation.)
The reading of the Passion gives us an overview, a sort of summary of what we commemorate in the Easter Triduum. Palm Sunday also invites us to participate in the special liturgies of the Triduum. They are not days of obligation, but each day has unique liturgical elements. I invite all of you attend each of the Triduum liturgies. You may enjoy the fictionalized television programs about Jesus or the bible that get broadcast this week, but taking part firsthand in the liturgies is much more enriching to your faith, because you are more than a spectator.
Bible Study finished: This past week saw us finish our study of Paul’s Second Letter the Corinthians. Thank you to Deacon John for leading the Tuesday evening sessions. The next Bible Study will probably be offered in the Autumn. I am open for input about which area of scripture you would like us to study. Once we decide on a particular book or topic, I will seek materials that include videos or lectures, so the participants can lead their own class sessions.
God Bless us all,
Fr. Matthew
Dear Friends,
As the Church enters into Holy Week, I encourage your participation as we celebrate the mysteries that are the core of our Catholic faith: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The schedule for confession and the liturgies of Holy Week are listed below. Please plan on joining us at St. Raphael as we give thanks to God for the victory of Christ over sin and death.
We have plenty of room to welcome your extended family and guests to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday together here at St. Raphael. Please join us in prayer during this Holy Week.
A Blessed Lent and Holy Week,
Father Matthew Kowalski Pastor
What does the Catholic Church teach about marriage & divorce? Are you feeling broken? Is your divorce making you feel stigmatized? Are you seeking healing?
What about your children? How can you heal from your divorce?
How can you use forgiveness to move on? How can God help you find new life? How does a Catholic annulment work?
Come join Deacon John Haderlein, Attorney at Law, for this Lenten series.
Saint Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church
40000 N. U.S. Hwy. 45, Old Mill Creek, Illinois 60046
& by Zoom/FaceTime
To register, call: 847-395-3474 or email: rectory@straphaelcatholic.org
(This series is limited to divorcing & divorced Catholic men and women only.)
Last weekend, the 4th Sunday of Lent, we celebrated Laetare Sunday. You may have noticed the music being slightly more festive, including a postlude, and other instrumental music. Being that the 4th Sunday is a reprieve from the usual Lenten rigors, the rubrics of the Mass allow for this change in music. Normally, the (instrumental) music during Lent should only go so far as to “support the singing”, which basically means: nothing fancy!
As we move to the 5th Sunday of Lent (historically known as Passion Sunday, now combined with Palm Sunday), we will start to get a taste of what is to come during Holy Week. A greater amount of music will be A Capella (with no instrumental accompaniment). This helps us prepare for the time between the Glorias, during the Triduum, when any instruments go silent.
Alex Fries, Director of Music
Alex's Full Introit Article
Introit Playlist
A St. Vincent DePaul (SVDP) trailer will be in the church parking lot before and after our Saturday 4 pm and Sunday 9 am and 11 am Masses the weekend of April 6 and 7. Please drop off any small household items, clothing, etc. They do not accept furniture, electronics or children's toys. Your donations will help many people in need.
The National Eucharistic Revival is a three-year initiative by the U.S. bishops that aims to inspire, educate, and unite the faithful in a more intimate relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist.
In a society where the Lord is often forgotten and even a majority of Catholics do not believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the revival is meant to rededicate the entire nation to the eucharistic Jesus.
The U.S. bishops hope to change the lives of Catholics and non-Catholics alike through a series of Eucharist-centric events including Eucharistic pilgrimages across the nation and a National Eucharistic Congress in 2024.
Where Can I Get More Information on this?Click on the Button Below which will take you to special Eucharist Revival Page for St. Raphael Parish Community, Including the National Eucharistic Revival Blog, Special Videos and Upcoming St. Raphael Events.