ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH

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Registration for the 2024-25 faith year is now available online for current and new families. To register, click Link to 2024-2025 Registration Form below.

Book of Remembrance

November is the month for remembering all the souls of the faithful departed. The Book of Remembrance will remain in the front of church for the duration of this month. If you have not already done so, you may write the names of all your departed loved ones in this book.

These souls will be remembered at all the Masses through the month of November. . You may also display a small picture of your loved one for the month of November on the table provided with the Book of Remembrance.

Christmas Food Basket Drive

Help us support families in need during this Christmas season. In past years, we have been able to provide 35-40 families a year with a full ham dinner and a Berkot's gift card to help make the holidays cheerful. Please call the church office at 815-468-3403 or send an email to stjosephmanten@gmail.com to let us know if you or someone you know is in need this season. Be prepared to share the family name, number of people to be fed, phone number and address for delivery.

This year we can only accept names of families living in Manteno. There will be NO deliveries outside of Manteno. We will accept names through December 10th. All information will be kept confidential.

We will be collecting monetary donations from parishioners between November 17th thru December 15th. The funds raised will be used to purchase the food and gift cards for families. Our goal is to raise $100 per family for 40 families. Therefore, our fundraising goal is $4,000. If you are able to contribute and make this Christmas memorable for those who need us the most, visit our website and click on the "Donate Here" button below to make your donation or bring donations to the church.

For questions about monetary donations please contact the parish office at 815-468-3403

Please consider supporting our parish “Giving Tree”.

The “Giving Tree” gives our parish family an opportunity to support Manteno individuals/families that are juggling challenging times during the holidays. In complete confidence, participating families submit ideas of what would be most welcome on Christmas morning and then our “Giving Tree” committee members go to work to help provide those gifts for them. If you know of a Manteno individual or family that could benefit from our “Giving Tree” gifts, please complete the form found on our website, or stop by the church to pick up a copy. Email or return to the parish office by Tuesday, December 10th, 2024. All information will be kept confidential.

The “Giving Tree” will be located in the narthex of the church starting in late November with tags on the tree inviting a specific gift. If you are interested in participating and helping others, please take a tag and return the gift ALONG WITH THE TAG unwrapped to the “Giving Tree” box in the narthex by Wednesday, December 18th. If you are not a shopper and would like to give a monetary donation, please drop an envelope in the collection basket labeled “Giving Tree” or go click or tap on the "Donate Online" button below to make an online donation and we will do the shopping for you!

Thank you and God Bless you!

Any questions contact Nancy at: 815-370-8144 or nkmanteno@gmail.com

First Friday Devotion: Honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The First Friday Devotion is a Catholic practice inspired by Jesus' revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century. Jesus promised blessings to those who honor His Sacred Heart by attending Mass and receiving Communion on the first Friday of each month for nine consecutive months. This devotion expresses love and seeks reparation for sins against His heart.

She wrote the following about Jesus’ revelation to her about First Friday: “I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that Its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under My displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, My divine Heart making Itself their assured refuge at the last moment.”

How to Practice the Devotion

1. Attend Mass and Receive Communion: On nine consecutive first Fridays.
2. Pray and Reflect on Jesus’ Sacred Heart: Offer prayers and acts of love.
3. Make Reparation for Sins: Pray for those who don’t know or love Jesus.

This devotion invites us to grow in faith, trust, and love for Jesus, drawing closer to His heart each month.

It is the desire of our pastor Father Thomas to make available to our people, and all who wish to join us, the opportunity to partake in the devotion of Five First Saturdays. Beginning May 4th, 2024, Mass will be celebrated on the first Saturday of each month at 9:00am.

In response to Our Lady of Fatima’s requests, the Devotion of the Five First Saturdays holds a special place in Catholic spirituality, offering believers an opportunity for grace and renewal. As directed by Our Lady during her apparitions to Sister Lucia of Fatima, this devotion is a powerful means of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Origins and Purpose of Devotion

The First Saturdays Devotion stems from the message of Our Lady at Fatima. In one of her appearances, she revealed her Immaculate Heart encircled by thorns, symbolizing the blasphemies and ingratitude of humanity. Our Lady requested this devotion as an act of reparation and offered a promise of grace and assistance at the hour of death to those who faithfully practice it.

The Five Requirements of the Devotion

1. Confession
   Go to confession within twenty days before or after the First Saturday, with the intention of making reparation.
2. Receiving Holy Communion
   This should be done on the First Saturday itself, offering it in reparation for offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart.
3. Recitation of the Rosary
   Five decades of the Rosary are prayed while meditating on its mysteries.
4. Fifteen-Minute Meditation
   In addition to the Rosary, participants spend an extra 15 minutes reflecting on one or more of the Rosary mysteries with the intention of reparation.
5. Intentions for Reparation
   All actions performed during this devotion must be carried out with the sincere intention of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

“Behold, my daughter, my heart encircled with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Give me consolation, you at least; and make known on my behalf that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all who on the First Saturday of five consecutive months: 1. Confess their sins, 2. Receive Holy Communion, 3. Recite five decades of the rosary, and keep me company for 15 minutes meditating on the mysteries of the rosary, with the purpose of making reparation to my Immaculate Heart.”

Why Five Saturdays?

The number five was chosen due to the five main types of blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

• Blasphemies against her Immaculate Conception.
• Blasphemies against her Perpetual Virginity.
• Blasphemies against her Divine and Spiritual Maternity. These involve offenses against her role as the Mother of all humanity and the rejection of her maternal care.
• Blasphemies involving dishonoring her images.
• Blasphemies leading to the neglect of instilling knowledge and love for Mary in the hearts of children.

May every Hail Mary we recite pull a thorn from her heart.

Schedule:

• Weekdays: After morning Mass
• Saturdays: 4:30 PM
• Sundays: 7:25 AM & 10:00 AM
• Wednesday Evenings: 6:00 PM (at the Grotto, weather permitting)

Come and join us in prayer and community!

We warmly invite you to be part of our weekly scripture study group, Jesus Talks! This adult faith gathering meets every Wednesday at 6:30 PM in the parish hall. Together, we reflect on the readings for the upcoming Sunday liturgy, share our faith journeys, and support each other in prayer and fellowship.

All are welcome!

For more information or to be added to the Jesus Talks email list, please contact the Parish Office at 815-468-3403. We look forward to growing in faith together!

Hello. I am Kris Fisher and I have lived in the Kankakee area for over 40 years with my husband Marc. We have five adult children and 16 grandchildren. I am a nurse by education and worked in the field of community health. Over the past three years, I have been working in the ministry of Spiritual Direction and have received certification from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, in partnership with the Diocese of Joliet.

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