St. Mary Catholic Church

DeKalb, Illinois

     

All parish volunteers need to complete Protecting God’s Children, undergo a background check, and read a few important documents. Please contact Mona O'Bryan at the parish office 815-758-5432 x 107 if you are unsure if you have completed all the requirements or to answer any questions you may have. Thanks for your prompt cooperation with this important US Bishop's initiative.

We need your financial support to complete future improvement projects! If you can help, please give what you can to our Capital Improvements Fund using the mailed envelopes or through our online giving system. God bless you in advance for your generous support! If you have questions, email Jim Glemkowski at jimg@stmarydekalb.org.

Attention Volunteers!  An update to the Youth Guidelines (in sections E and F) requires all volunteers to sign a revised copy. You can do so by printing this document and returning a signed copy to the parish office as soon as possible. Please note that the Safe Environment protocol has been instituted for the safety of those most vulnerable. We appreciate your compliance as we work to protect our community.

From the Desk of Pope Francis — (from his Homily at World Youth Day in Panama) “Now this is not something from a long time ago; it is current. Many people do not tolerate this attitude of Jesus; they don’t like it. First by complaining under their breath and then by shouting, they make known their displeasure, seeking to discredit Jesus’ way of acting and that of all those who are with him. They do not accept, and they reject this option of drawing near to others and giving them another chance. These people condemn once and for all, they discredit once and for all and forget that in God’s eyes they are disqualified and need tenderness, need love and understanding but do not wish to accept it. Where people’s lives are concerned, it seems easier to attach signs and labels that petrify and stigmatize not only to people’s past but also their present and future. We put labels on people: “this one is like that,” “this one did that thing, and that’s it,” “and he has to bear this for the rest of his days. That’s how people are who mutter - the gossips - they are like this. And labels ultimately serve only to divide: good people over here and bad ones over there; the righteous over here and sinners over there. And this Jesus does not accept; this is the culture of adjective; we delight in “adjectivizing” people, it gives us delight: “What is your name? My name is ‘good.’” No, that is an adjective. “What is your name?” Go to the person’s name: Who are you? What do you do? What dreams do you have? What does your heart feel? Gossips are not interested in this; they are quickly looking for a label to knock someone down off their pedestal. This culture of the adjective that discredits people. Think about that so as not to fall into what society so easily offers us.

From the Desk of Father Russell -

Deacon Armando Regalado informed me that he had accepted a position in religious education at St. John the Baptist Church in Somonauk to begin this Fall. He will remain a parishioner of St. Mary Church in DeKalb, but will be relieved of liturgical responsibilities while he takes on his new responsibilities in Somonauk. We thank him for his ministry and pray for him and his family during his transition, as well as for the people of St. John the Baptist, who called himself the “voice”. They will experience a beautiful new voice in Somonauk, and we pray it will be fruitful in Christ, Son of Mary. As Deacon Armando likes to say in the spirit of St. Louis de Montfort: “All to Jesus, through Mary.”