MASSES: Saturday (Sunday Obligation) 5:30 PM, Sunday: 9:00 AM

WEEKDAY MASSES: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:30 AM

WEEKDAY RECONCILIATION: Monday and Friday after 8:30 AM Mass

Church: 5304 W. Main St., Monee, IL 60449 Rectory: 25942 So. Middlepoint Avenue

P.O. Box 217, Monee, IL 60449 (534-9682) Website: stbonifacemonee.org

eMail: office@stboniface.comcastbiz.net Church Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

8:30am—2:00pm

Saint Boniface Catholic Church Mission Statement

Saint Boniface is a welcoming, caring Church community united under one baptism. We encourage participation by all members in promoting

and sharing Christian and social values.

REV. ROGER KUTZNER, PASTOR DEACON: Mark Otten (815-469-7165) DEACON: Joe Bishop (708-747-4798) PARISH SECRETARY: Kathy Short

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORDINATOR: Deacon Mark and Anita Otten MINISTRY OF CARE: Erwin Bogs

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturdays After 5:30 Mass MARRIAGE: By appointment only. Normally made 6 months in advance. BAPTISM: To have a child baptized at Saint Boniface Church, you must be registered, active, member of the parish and attend a Baptism class. Baptisms are held the 2nd Sunday of the month at 12:00PM (Noon). Call the office to schedule an appointment. RELIGIOUS ED CLASSES: All classes meet Sundays from 10:00-11:30 AM

Page Two February 23, 2020

Saturday, February 22 5:30 PM—Melanie Valencia † by Leobardo and Ana Valencia Martinez Sunday, February 23 9:00 AM—Carol A. Beaudreau † by Shaughnessy’s Monday, February 24 8:30 AM—Growth in holiness of St. Boniface Parish Wednesday, February 26 Ash Wednesday 8:30 AM—Parishioner Intentions 7:15 PM—Parishioner Intentions Friday, February 28 8:30 AM—Souls in Purgatory Saturday, February 29 5:30 PM—Jim Males † by Camille Dancer Sunday, March 1 9:00 AM—Julia Przybyla † by Przybyla Family

February 23 5:30 PM Deacon Joe Bishop John Blazevich Tracy Sheehan Kathy Short 9:00 AM Deacon Joe Bishop Nancy Bishop Beth Daly Robert Gorz February 26 7:15 PM Celeste Lynch Marcy Phalen

March 1 5:30 PM Deacon Joe Bishop John Porpora Christine Semanovich Tracy Sheehan 9:00 AM Deacon Joe Bishop Nancy Bishop Terry Kwiatkowski Kathy Short

February 23 5:30 PM Rene Jurack 9:00 AM Barbara Mitchell February 26 7:15 PM Erwin Bogs

March 1 5:30 PM Rene Jurack 9:00 AM Karen Scrementi

February 23 5:30 PM Makenzie Albano

Alison Porpora 9:00 AM Ava Daly Grace Lovejoy February 26 7:15 PM Kasey Swanson Adam Swanson

March 1 5:30 PM Makenzie Albano

Alison Porpora 9:00 AM Ava Daly Grace Lovejoy

February 16, 2020 Sunday………………………$ 2124.00 Children’s Envelopes……… 2.00 Many thanks to all of you for your generous donations to our Parish. May God bless all of you!

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time February 23, 2020

Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy. — Leviticus 19:2b

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Wednesday: Ash Wednesday; Fast and Abstinence

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

LECTORS

ALTAR SERVERS

People who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they must pass if they are to

reach heaven; for everyone has a need to be forgiven. —George Herbert

Who has not forgiven an enemy has not yet tasted one of the most sublime enjoyments of

life. —Johann Kaspar Lavater

WEEKLY OFFERING

Page Three February 23, 2020

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — Take no revenge and cherish no

grudge; love your neighbor as yourself

(Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18).

Psalm — The Lord is kind and merciful (Psalm 103).

Second Reading — You are the temple of God, and

holy (1 Corinthians 3:16-23).

Gospel — Offer no resistance; love your enemies

(Matthew 5:38-48). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for

Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the

Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

Stewardship Thought In today’s first reading, the Israelites are urged to love their neighbors as themselves. In the Gospel, Jesus spells out how we are to do that — to give generously to those who ask of us and not turn our backs on those who seek to borrow.

Lent Schedule

Ash Wednesday Masses:

8:30am and 7:15pm

Fridays during Lent

3:00pm Mass, followed by

Stations of the Cross

Confessions during Stations

Monday & Wednesday Mass: 8:30am (There will not be Friday morning masses during Lent.)

Season of Lent is around the corner. I remember I used to be very anxious about the Lent. What should I do to show that I really participate? Should I

go with what Church asks me to do during Lent or do I go a little further with my efforts? Will I have courage to make a good confession? I believe many of

us have this kind of thoughts regarding Lent. We all know it’s meant to get us closer to the core of our faith, our unity with God, who offered His only

Son for our salvation. It’s a time to realize how deep our Christian faith really goes. This year I kind of see the practices of Lent for myself as an answer to people who criticize Christianity. They say that followers of Jesus are just wimps. They say that instead of

fighting for what’s right, Christians passively allow themselves to be taken advantage of. But

this is actually a very superficial criticism. And very unfair.

The most powerful force for change in this world full of conflict and sin is not vengeance or violence, but forgiveness. The Roman Empire was built by force and violence, but it passed

away a long time ago. Christ’s Kingdom, the Church, is built on the deeper power of forgive-ness and unconditional love, and it has not only outlasted the Roman Empire, but it is still growing today. It’s the longest lasting institution in the history of the world, even longer lasting

than the ancient Chinese Empires. And in the first centuries of Christianity, when the Roman Empire tried to destroy the Church by force, by persecution, it was precisely the Christian’s

power to forgive and endure that made the Church grow. Pagan Romans would watch the trials, tortures, and executions of the Christians. And no matter how unjustly the Christians

were condemned, no matter how cruelly they were tortured, they never condemned their enemies in return. Instead, they simply explained the gospel, and then lived it out by being faithful to Christ up to death. That example produced a steady stream of converts to the Chris-

tian faith, because the pagans had never witnessed such self-sacrificing nobility and courage. When we give in to bitterness, hatred, and the desire for vengeance, we lose the power

of God’s grace at work in our hearts. And that power is the only power capable of conquering

evil, of ending the cycle of destructive violence, of bringing resurrections out of crucifixions.

Whatever you decide to do this Lent, I simply wish and pray that we all find the courage

to live our faith, courage to follow the footsteps of Christ.

+ Father Roger

FOOLISHNESS Sometimes the idea of repentance seems old-fashioned, naïve, even foolish. But if you’re looking for real foolishness, you’ll find it in today’s readings. We begin with Leviticus and the admonition, “Take no revenge and cherish no grudge” (Leviticus 19:18). We’ve heard that message before, of course, so we might forget how far it is from the so-called “practical realities of life.” Saint Paul warns us about being practical, though. Whoever considers oneself wise had better “become a fool,” because “the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God” (1 Corinthians 3:18, 19). This “foolishness” continues in the Gospel: “Offer no resistance to one who is evil” (Matthew 5:39). In fact, offer the other cheek when you’ve been slapped. Hand over your coat as well as your shirt. Be like God, who sends sunshine and rain on the bad as well as the good. “So be perfect,” says Jesus, “just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (5:48). Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Page Four February 23, 2020

ASH WEDNESDAY Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving: these disciplines, prescribed by Jesus himself in the Sermon on the Mount, along with strict instructions not to flaunt them in public to win recognition and praise (Matthew 6:1-18), have been embraced by all the saints at the beginning of every Lent for almost two thousand years. But mention Lent, and many react with a grimace or slight shudder—even now, years after official obligations have been reduced to a minimum! No wonder the Eastern Rite’s “Lenten Announcement” sounds surprising: “Let us receive with joy, O faithful people, the divinely inspired announcement of Lent! The Lenten Spring shines forth! Begin the fast with joy! Let us fast from passions as well as food, taking pleasure in the good works of the Spirit, and accomplishing them in love!” Saint John Chrysostom, whose feast is September 13, elaborates: “Do you fast? Give proof by your works. If you see a poor person, take pity. An enemy, be reconciled. A friend gaining honor, don’t be jealous.” A positive approach! May the saints help us keep such a Lent! —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Dolly Richmond, Sebastian Blocker, Joane Males,

Karen Males, Laura Maggio, Julie Gurriell, Charna

Gurriell, Douglas Newbanks, SP4 Austin Wolf,

Bishop Conlon, Polly Schloss, Frank Majeski,

Sandra Phalen, Melanie Phalen, Loretta Cosman,

Carlene Kwasigroch, Jay Johnson, Helen Barrett,

and those that go unnamed.

Names will remain on the list for one month

unless otherwise requested. To have someone added to this list please call the parish office.

Financial Planning from

a Catholic Perspective The Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a

Financial Planning Seminar after both masses

next weekend. This Seminar is open to all people

of the parish whether you are a member of the

Knights or not. The Seminar will run for about

45 minutes. Topics to include: Legacy planning:

Avoid stock market risk, Retire in the Zero tax

bracket, Long Term Care Check list. Refresh-

ments will be served after the seminar.

St. Boniface Lenten Series THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

Thank you so much for participating in the St.

Boniface Lenten Series Parish survey conducted

during Masses last weekend after the homily.

Your response was awesome! Thanks to you we

now have a better idea what topics you would like

to know more about.

The first session will take place on Ash Wednes-

day after the 8:30 AM Mass AND after the 7:15

PM Mass. Both sessions will discuss the Lenten

Season and Fasting and Abstaining during this

time of penitential reflection. We will meet in the

original section of the church.

The second session will take place on the First

Sunday of Lent, March 1st at 12:00 Noon. The

topic will be “The Meaning of the Mass”. We will

then meet on each Sunday of Lent through Palm

Sunday. Each time we meet will discuss a differ-

ent topic, so please attend as many as you can.

Topics for upcoming Sundays will be published in

the bulletin. The presentations are primarily pre-

pared for teens through adults including singles,

couples, families and friends. Everyone is invited.

Thanks again – Deacon Joe

Page Five February 23, 2020

Of all human acts, repentance is the most divine. The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none.

There will be a Collection for the Church in Central/Eastern Europe on Ash Wednesday—

February 26

Things to give up for Lent

That aren’t chocolate!

Doubt

Self-pity Excuses

Fear of Failure Impatience

Blame Envy

Fear or Worry

Bitterness and Resentment Gossip and Negativity

Feelings of unworthiness The need to please everyone

Do you know the First Station? Join us this Friday to learn the answer! Mass will be at 3:00pm followed by Stations of the Cross. Come, walk with Jesus through his final moments and reflect on how much love he has for us. Father Roger will be available to hear confessions immediately after the mass, during the Stations.

Lent is a 40 day journey of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Each day during Lent we invite you to reflect on how your Lenten sacrifices can help families around the world

overcome the challenges of hunger and poor nutrition. An easy but effect way to help those who battle these issues is to take a CRS Rice Bowl you can find at the back of the church. Toss your loose coin or few extra dollars into your bowl throughout Lent, then bring it back to the church office the week before (or after) Easter. Consider taking an extra bowl for your children or grandchil-dren to fill as well. This is a great lesson in giving and helping others for them to participate in!

Lenten Regulations

1. Everyone 14 years of age or over is bound to

abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all

the Fridays of Lent.

2. All from the age of 18 years up to the beginning

of their 60th year are bound to fast on Ash

Wednesday and Good Friday.

3. On these two days of fast and abstinence, only

one full meatless meal is allowed. Two other

meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength,

may be taken according to each one’s needs,

but together they should not equal another full

meal. Eating between meals is not permitted on

these two days, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices are allowed. When health or ability

to work would be seriously affected, the law

does not oblige.

4. To disregard completely the law of fast and ab-

stinence is sinful.

5. Lent is the principal season of penance in the

Church year. Therefore, all of the faithful are

strongly urged to develop and follow a pro-

gram of voluntary self-denial. All Catholics are

encouraged to support generously the charita-

ble works of the whole Church, pray and per-

form works of charity and mercy.

6. Those who are sick, pregnant, or nursing, or

whose health would adversely be affected by

fasting or abstinence, should not consider

themselves bound by these norms.