“Do you want to Fast This Lent?” Pope Francis asks in 2023 and then replies:

Fast from hurting words and say kind words, from sadness and be filled with gratitude, from anger and be filled with patience, from pessimism and be filled with hope, from worries and have trust in God, from complaints and contemplate simplicity, from pressures and be prayerful, from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy, from selfishness and be compassionate to others, from grudges and be reconciled, from words and be silent so you can listen.

Dive into fasting and why this Lenten season:

Patriarch Pizzaballa: Lenten forgiveness is stronger than violent words of hatred – Vatican News
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-03/patriarch-pizzaballa-jerusalem-lent-message-conflict-holy-land.html

A Reflection on Lenten Fasting | USCCB
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/lent/catholic-reflection-on-lenten-fasting

Lenten practices designed to foster relationship with God, which brings true happiness – Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
https://dio.org/catholic-times/lenten-practices-designed-to-foster-relationship-with-god-which-brings-true-happiness/

Lent Fasting Rules: Catholic Rules for Fasting During Lent in 2025 – Hallow
https://hallow.com/blog/lent-fasting-rules/

Also, to satisfy our Friday obligation check out these meatless meals from around the world:

Lenten Recipes | CRS Rice Bowl
https://www.crsricebowl.org/recipe Continue reading →

2025 Spring and Summer Events

Deanery Meeting: March 18th 10AM
https://dio.org/event/women-invited-to-discussion-on-hshs-mission-outreach/
Women’s Prayer Breakfast: March 22nd – St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, 8a.m.-noon. Adoration/7 a.m., Rosary/7:30, Mass/8:00 a.m., catered breakfast /guest speaker Bishop Thomas John Paprocki. For more information: email womensbreakfast2025@gmail.com or text Rose Wascher at 847-274-3916. Pre-registration is required for breakfast. Register at stpaulhighland.org by March 15th.
Lenten Retreat: March 25-26 (Tuesday-Wednesday)
https://dio.org/event/sdccw-invites-women-to-two-day-lenten-retreat/
2025 Senior High School Girl Scholarship
https://dio.org/catholic-times/attention-2025-catholic-female-high-school-graduates-apply-for-sdccw-2000-scholarship-now/
Women of Distinction Mass and Luncheon: June 21st Cathedral of Immaculte Conception and Crowne Plaza

Please follow us on Facebook!
https://facebook.com/groups/561791791821229/

Prayer is as necessary to our souls as food is to our bodies. Perhaps the biggest prayer of all is the Mass, and more specifically the Eucharist, where we actually receive our Lord to nourish our soul.

Please sit with Jesus at St. Peter & Holy Family parishes this Lent!

St. Peter: 1st Friday Adoration 3/7 & 4/4. 8:30AM – 8:00PM, Benediction 7:45PM.
Stations of the Cross every Thursday 6PM, 3/13-4/10.

Holy Family: Every Tuesday Adoration. 2:00PM – 6:00PM, Benediction at 5:45 PM.
Stations of the Cross every Wednesday 5:30PM, 3/12-4/16.

Interested in attending World Youth Day in Seoul, South Korea in 2027? The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois is organizing a group to go!

Whether you want to go to World Youth Day, you are thinking of going, or would just like more information about possibly going, connect with the diocese to express your interest. Father Zach Samples, parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish in Springfield, is the lead organizer for the pilgrimage for those who are thinking about attending World Youth Day, which is intended for those between the ages of 16 and 35.

Go to dio.org/wyd and fill out the interest form. Note, the exact date of World Youth Day, the cost, and details have not been determined. This is simply an interest form so we can start to gather a group from our diocese now. You do not have to know for sure if you are planning to attend.

If you have any questions, email Fr. Zach at zsamples@dio.org.

“Totus Tuus is a weeklong Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, Christian witness, and eucharistic worship. The program inspires in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversion, and an openness to their vocation.
Three teams of college aged teachers are traveling to a different parish each week, hosting the five-day catechetical program for grades 1-12. The week is filled with faith, fun, and friendship. There are messy games and crazy skits, in addition to prayer, learning the Sacraments, and going to Mass. The college-age teachers also provide a witness to being an authentic disciple of Christ. The popular program sees hundreds of children participate every year in the diocese. “

If you or your high school seniors, college students are looking for a summer full of purpose and fun, please apply https://dio.org/totus-tuus-team-member-application/.

Criteria for application:
1) Ages of 18-25
2) He/She must have a good relationship with Jesus/active prayer life.
3) He/She must have a heart for mission (simply a desire to share their faith and bring Christ to others).
4) He/She must have decent social skills (eye contact, ability to hold a conversation, etc).

*Please note that prior teaching experience is not required!

Dear Parishioners of Holy Family and St Peter:
IF the weather man is correct, we will receive upwards of 11” of snow starting late Saturday night into Sunday and Monday.
With that said, we are encouraging parishioners to attend Saturday services at 4:30 PM St. Peter Petersburg, IL; 5:00 PM St. John Vianney Sherman, IL or a Catholic church of your choice in Springfield on Saturday evening ahead of the storm.
IF the weather is as bad as predicted, then travel conditions will be reviewed early Sunday morning by Father Sergio to determine what masses will be celebrated.
IF the weather is as bad as predicted, then the below classes will be Cancelled Sunday 1/5/25:
RCIA with Mike Hough at St. Peter Annex. *First class has been rescheduled for Sunday 1/12/25.
Sunday School at St. Peter Parish Center.
Please keep an eye on your email Sunday morning to watch for an update. The parish office is not open Saturday or Sunday to field calls.
May the storm blow over us and may we celebrate Sunday mass together.
Stay safe and God bless you,
– Rev. Sergio Lizama, S.A.C.

Wednesday, July 10th and Thursday, July 11th saw a variety of exciting happenings unfold around our Diocesan locality related to the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. The monstrance which has made its way along the “Serra Route” has been received by our Diocese, making appearances on Wednesday for a procession around the Corpus Christi Priory and St. Francis of Assisi Church campus, followed by a dinner for attendees with testimonials from those inspired by this time of Eucharistic Revival, along with all-night adoration in the Church. The next day, the monstrance was transferred to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where Bishop Paprocki was the lead celebrant of Mass, followed by a grand five mile procession throughout the streets of downtown then stopping at Blessed Sacrament Church, the Dominican Convent, and finally St. Agnes Church. It was a monumental two days of celebration in honor of our Lord in the Eucharist, attended by members of both St. Peter and Holy Family, including Father Maurice. The monstrance will continue on its route to Indianapolis, where the other traveling monstrances will converge, along with tens of thousands of Catholics for the National Eucharistic Congress on July 17-21.