Lenten Reconciliation Service
During Lent, the Church asks us to surrender ourselves to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We seek the Lord in prayer. The fasting that all do together on Fridays is but a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households: fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from other things and activities. Likewise, the giving of alms is some effort to share this world equally—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection.

In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.
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The key to fruitful observance of these practices is to recognize their link to baptismal renewal. We are called not just to abstain from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ. (USCCB)
Lent & Easter Schedule
Burning of the Palms
Tuesday, February 21
10:00 AM St Mary Church (front steps)
5:30 PM Mater Christi Church (Shrine)
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 22
8:00 AM Mater Christi Church Mass
8:30 AM St Mary Church Mass
10:00 AM-6:00 PM (Distribution of Ashes);
St Hugh Faith Formation Center (North Riverside) & Bishop Timothy J Lyne Center (Riverside)
3:30 PM Mater Christi Church-Bilingual Prayer Service
4:00 PM St Mary Church- Prayer Service
7:00 PM St Mary Church and Mater Christi Church- Mass
Feast of St. Hugh
Saturday, April 1
8:00 AM Mater Christi Church
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Saturday, April 1 and Sunday April 2
Regular Mass schedule at both worship sites
Triduum
NO MORNING PRAYER OR DAILY MORNING MASS ON APRIL 6, 7, or 8. 
​Holy Thursday, April 6, 2023
Mass of the Lord's Last Supper
  • 7:00 p.m. — St. Mary Church followed by 
  • Altar of repose and Adoration at Mater Christi Church until Midnight  
Good Friday, April 7, 2023
​Celebration of the Lord's Passion
  • 3:00 p.m. — Mater Christi Church; Service & Veneration
  • 7:00 p.m. — St. Mary Church; Service & Veneration
Easter Vigil, April 8, 2023
Vigil for the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord
  • No REGULAR Saturday Evening Masses
  • 12:00 p.m. — St. Mary Church; Blessing of Easter Baskets & Food
  • 12:00 p.m. — Mater Christi Church; Blessing of Easter Baskets & Food at the Mother of Mothers Shrine
  • 7:00 p.m. — ​Easter Vigil Mass at Mater Christi Church
Easter
Sunday, April 9, 2023
Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord
  • 8:00 a.m.  — St. Mary Church & Mater Christi Church
  • 9:30 a.m.  — Mater Christi Church
  • 10:00 a.m.  — St. Mary Church & Parish Center
  • 11:00 a.m.  — Mater Christi Church
  • 12:00 Noon — St. Mary Church
  • No 5:00 p.m. Mass​
Lenten Mission Speakers
Fr. Ed Shea, OFM
Monday, February 27
7:00pm; Encountering Christ through Scripture
St. Mary Church; 105 Herrick Rd., Riverside
"Come to theFeast of
​Heaven and Earth"
A Reflection on the three classic Gospel Stories of Lent:             Woman at the Well (John 4)
    The Man Born Blind (John 9)
    The Raising of Lazarus (John 11)
Monday, February 27, 2023 --  7:00 to 8:30 pm
 
St. Paul VI is delighted to welcome Franciscan Father Ed Shea OFM to share some reflections on these Gospel Readings which we will be hearing this Lent (Year A).
Franciscan Father Ed Shea is the third of eight children from St. Giles Parish in Oak Park.   A 1974 graduate of Fenwick High School and a 1978 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Father Shea joined the Franciscans in 1980 and was ordained a priest in 1987.   Father Ed has spent most of his priesthood in parish work, including four years as the priest-presider for the St. Giles Family Mass Community in Oak Park, IL and five years as the pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Joliet, IL.   He was also pastor of St. Joseph Parish, a predominantly Hispanic community in Chicago’s famous Back of the Yards neighborhood.   Father Ed has served on his Provincial Council and as Director of Vocations and Formation for the Franciscans of the Sacred Heart Province.  FrEd is currently stationed at St. Peter’s Church in downtown Chicago, and he’s been there since 2011.  During the past several years he has done a good deal of itinerant preaching, in the Chicago area and beyond; he has spent some time living and working in Teutopolis, IL, and he even went on a couple of pilgrimages to Tanzania, Africa!  A Franciscan priest who loves to sing and tell stories, more than anything he thrives on celebrating the sacraments of the Church.  A true follower of St. Francis, Father Ed finds reasons to rejoice often in the goodness of God’s presence in our world.
Fr. Brian Taber, SJ
Tuesday, March 7
7:00pm; Encountering Christ through Ignatian Meditation
St. Mary Church; 105 Herrick Rd., Riverside
Brian J. Taber, SJ, 34, is a native of Davenport, Iowa, where his family attended St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. After graduating from Assumption High School, Taber earned a bachelor’s degree in classical/Near Eastern civilizations at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he first met the Jesuits. As a student, he was active in a Jesuit discernment group and went on a “Six Weeks a Jesuit” trip during his sophomore year. After graduation, Taber worked for a year while continuing to discern his vocation, entering the Society in 2006. As a novice, he taught at St. Louis University High School and then earned a master’s degree in philosophy at Saint Louis University in 2011. Next, Taber was missioned to Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, where he taught history, was an assistant coach for the freshman football team and was the moderator of the student newspaper. In 2014, he was missioned to the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree while serving as chaplain of the Boston College men’s basketball team. Ordained a deacon in 2016, Taber served at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and St. Mary of the Assumption in Revere, Massachusetts. Highlights of his Jesuit formation include summers traveling, studying and working in India, Rome and Spain and homeless outreach through Saint Louis University. He was also involved in the Hearts on Fire mission band for the Apostleship of Prayer. After ordination, Fr. Taber will be teaching, serving as sports chaplain, and coaching at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, as well as helping at Saint Giles Catholic Parish in Oak Park, Illinois. He will celebrate first Masses at Three Holy Companions Chapel at Marquette University High School and at Christ the King Parish in Des Moines, Iowa.
Br. Charles Burris, OPraem
March 16
7:00pm; Encountering Christi through Visio and Lectio Divina
Mater Christi Church; 2401 S. 10th Ave., North Riverside
Charles Burris, O. Praem is a religious of St Norbert Abbey, located in De Pere, Wisconsin, just outside Green Bay. Charles has been a member of St Norbert Abbey, a community of the Order of Canons Regular of Premontre for the better half of five years. Before entering St Norbert Abbey, Charles was a multi-time world champion snowmobile racer, winning championships in the United States and Canada. He later earned a bachelor's in biology. Since then, he has continued his studies by participating in conferences and seminars on various scientific topics and their interplay with the Catholic faith and in studying for ordination to the priesthood. While a Norbertine, Charles has served as a high school teacher and completed an internship at the Mayo Clinic, focusing on clinical pastoral education. While Charles has found these activities deeply moving, the moments of silence and reflection that come from a life following in the example of Sts. Norbert and Augustine are the truly remarkable and momentous things in his life.
Guest Presenters
March 23
7:00pm; Encountering Christ through Pilgrimage, Adoration, and the Divine Office
Mater Christi Church; 2401 S. 10th Ave., North Riverside
Timothy Johnston
March 29
7:00pm; Encountering Christ through Music
Mater Christi Church; 2401 S. 10th Ave., North Riverside
Timothy Johnston will share with us on the topic of Encountering Christ Through Music.

St. Augustine has two famous sayings: “Singing is for the one who loves” (Sermo336, 1) and “He who sings prays twice” (see Catechism, 1156). Taking our lead from this doctor of the Church, we will explore the role music can have in our prayer life, and its power to draw us into the heart of Christ.
Timothy A. Johnston serves as a pastoral association at St. Thomas the Apostle in Hyde Park. He earned a Master of Arts in liturgical studies from St. John’s University, Minnesota and a Master of Arts in Christian doctrine from Marquette University, Wisconsin. His Bachelor of Science in music education was granted by Quincy University, Illinois. Originally from Old Mines, Missouri, Timothy previously served as the director of the office of worship for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, as an editor and liturgical training consultant for Liturgy Training Publications with the Archdiocese of Chicago, IL, as the director of the Office of Liturgy for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, as the director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of St. Cloud, and as director of Liturgical Programs at Marquette University. He has served as a high school teacher, written articles on pastoral liturgy, and presented workshops on liturgical formation, especially the Liturgy of the Hours and Christian initiation. Timothy is the author of Pocket Prayers for Times of Trouble (Twenty-Third Publications, 2014) and co-author of Guide for Celebrating Infant Baptism (LTP, 2020) and Disciples Making Disciples: Print and Digital Resources for Forming the Assembly (LTP, 2017).
 
Timothy likes to read historical fiction, hike in the Rocky Mountains, visit museums, and attend musical events like the symphony.
​Join us to meet Christ this Lent!

Each evening we will introduce you to a different way to talk and listen to Christ. 

St Mary Church- coffee and conversation to follow in Oak Room.

Mater Christi Church- coffee and conversation to follow in Marian Room.
Lenten Prayer & Reconciliation Opportunities
​ADORATION
Mondays at Mater Christi Church 6:00 -8:00 PM
Thursdays at St Mary Church 3:00 – 9:00 PM

CONFESSIONS
Mondays: February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27 and April 3,
6:00-6:45 PM Mater Christi Church (bilingual) and St Mary Church (English)

PARISH RECONCILIATION SERVICE
Tuesday, March 21
                6:30-8:30 PM St Mary Church    
                Please click here to view the recorded service on YouTube.     
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​STATIONS OF THE CROSS                                          
Fridays: February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
                7:00 PM Stations of the Cross at Mater Christi Church
Outdoor Stations available at Mater Christi by the Shrine
*Please check our website for more information about Soup Suppers before Stations

SOUP SUPPER STARTS AT 6PM

On Friday, February 24, the St. Paul VI Faith Formation Board will be hosting a soup dinner prior to the Stations of the Cross.

On Friday, March 3, the Bishop Ketteler Knights of Columbus will be hosting a soup dinner prior to the Stations of the Cross.

On Friday, March 10, the St. Paul VI Society of St. Vincent DePaul will be hosting a soup dinner prior to the Stations of the Cross.

On Friday, March 17, the St. Paul VI Holy Name Society will be hosting a soup dinner prior to the Stations of the Cross.

On Friday, March 24, the St. Paul VI Hispanic Ministry will be hosting a soup dinner prior to the Stations of the Cross.

On Friday, March 31, the St. Paul VI Women's Society will be hosting a soup dinner prior to the Stations of the Cross.
Other Lenten Opportunities
Family Faith Formation
Holy Moments Book Discussions
We hope everyone received their complimentary copy of Holy Moments. We cannot wait to see how this book impacts your lives and the life of our parish. There are limited copies still available in the churches and at the parish office.
 
For those of you who have received your copy, I hope it’s already inspiring you. If you haven’t started reading yet, I’d encourage you to take 15 minutes today to begin. That’s all it will take to see how God might be inviting you to collaborate with Him in a powerful new way. 
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Click here to for the signup and keep checking back for more times.
Blood Drive
Lenten Resources