Confession for many can be the scariest sacrament of them all. Why should you go to

Confession and what do you need to know before you go to Confession?

There is no one who loves you more than God. No one. His love is always available to you and can never be taken away. He is God. As humans we have the ability to disappoint God with our behavior. We call it sin. When this happens we need to apologize to make thing right. Making things right, confessing that we were wrong and that we will try to do better in the relationship, is what helps us to grow in love.

�✁✂✄ ☎✆✁ ✝✞✄✟ ✁✆ ✞✠✡☛✁ ✟✆☞✂✌✝✍✌✆☎✎✏

It takes the virtues of courage and humility to admit when you are wrong. ✑✆✠✒☎✆✍✄ ✁✓☛✄✏ �✁✂✄✍✓✟

He gave us so many examples in scripture of people who admitted they were wrong and, after doing so, received forgiveness. Every time. God never holds back His forgiveness ✁✆ ☞✄✏ �✔ ✟✆☞ ✁✓☛☎✒ ✟✆☞✕✞☎✂✁ ✖✝ ✔✆✌✎☛✗✝☎ ✔✆✌✍✓✞✁ ✟✆☞✂✗✝✠✆☎✝✘ you are wrong. If you think the priest has never heard your sin before, you are wrong. If you think the priest will remember your sins, you are wrong. If you are even considering going to confession, God already knows and is giving you the grace to take the next step.

Next, find a quiet space to think about where you need forgiveness. This is called examination of conscience.

Then come to church to celebrate the sacrament. You can choose to sit face to face with the priest during your confession or kneel in front of a screen that separates you from the priest. The priest will welcome you with the sign of the cross. You will tell him, to the best of your ability, how long it has been since your last ✕✆☎✔✝✄✄☛✆☎✏ �✁✂✄ ✆✒✞✟ ☛✔ ☛✁✂✄ ✖✝✝☎✞

long, long time. Then begin to share your sins. Let the priest know when you are finished. He will ask you to pray the act of contrition. A copy of this prayer sits in the room. In ✙✓✌☛✄✁✂✄ ☎✞✡✝ ✁✓✝✚✌☛✝✄✁✍☛✛✛ ✁✓✝☎ absolve you of your sins and give you a penance. You have now reconciled your relationship with God and the feeling will be like no other.

BE RECONCILED SHOULD YOU GO TO CONFESSION? WHY? HOW?

© 2011 Liturgical Publications Inc.

MARCH 18, 2018 5TH SUNDAY OF LENT

St. Thomas More Catholic Church www.stthomasmorechurch.org

Inside Prayer Requests

Pontifical Collection

Spousal Loss

p3 p2 p4 Lent p5

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.STTHOMASMORECHURCH.ORG | 3

Bereavement Ministry Trained volunteers are available to provide spiritual support and comfort to all parishioners mourning a death loss. Please call the parish office at 847.888.1682.

Life Matters Any woman who is pregnant and in need can turn for

help to the pro-life movement. Never feel alone, call

Project Rachel at 800.593.2273 The Life Center at

847.622.1235 or Fox Valley Pregnancy at 847.697.0200.

On Palm Sunday, March 24/25, all

Masses will begin in the Gathering

Space with the blessing of palm branches,

followed by a procession into the

church. Please plan to meet in the

Gathering Space on Palm Sunday.

�✁✂✄ ☎✆✝✞✁✟

Pope Francis has asked our parish to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps Christians in the Holy Land.

Your support helps the church minister in parishes, provide Catholic schools and offer religious education. The Pontifical Good Friday Collection also helps to preserve the sacred shrines.

The wars, unrest and instability have been especially hard on Christians. In these times of crisis, the Pontifical Good Friday Collection provides humanitarian aid to refugees.

When you contribute to the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, you become an instrument of peace and join with Catholics around the world in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land.

PLEASE BE GENEROUS!

For more information about Christians in the Holy Land, visit www.myfranciscan.org/good-friday

Pontifical Good Friday Collection

2018 February Stewardship

Stewardship of Treasure ......................................... $80,885.00

Budget ...................................................................... $81,200.00

Variance ....................................................................... -$315.00

February Tithe

St. Vincent DePaul ........................................................ $650.00

PADS ................................................................................ $590.00

Easter Food Baskets ...................................................... $590.00

North. IL Food Bank ✠Feeding Greater Elgin ............ $590.00

DIAL Loan ✡ Parking Lot

February Principal Paid ............................................ $9,070.65

February Interest Paid .................................................. $476.38

2017 Diocesan Appeal

Balance Due on

Outstanding Pledges ............................................... $8,849.53

CALL OUR PARISH OFFICE ANYTIME AT 847.888.1682 | 5

High School students

are invited to attend this

popular Catholic Youth

Conference at Carthage College on July 20-22, 2018. Join 2,000 youth

along with 40 STM teens

at this high energy conference to hear great

music and speakers!

COST: $250 to include

Conference, Lodging,

Meals and Transportation.

Stations of the Cross � Friday, March 23rd .............. 2:00pm & 7:00pm

� Friday, March 30th ............... 7:00pm

Reconciliation � Every Wednesday ................ 9:00am - 10:00am

� Be Reconciled - A Diocesan Day of Penance Wednesday, March 21 ........ 9:00am - 8:00pm

� Saturday, March 24 ............. 3:00pm - 4:30pm

� Monday, March 26 .............. 7:00pm - 9:00pm

� Wednesday, March 28 ........ 9:00am - 11:00am

Holy Week Palm Sunday - Masses begin in the Gathering Space

� March 24 ............................... 5:00pm � March 25 ............................... 8am, 10am & 12pm

Holy Thursday - ✁✂✄✄ ☎✆ ✝✞✟ ✠☎✡☛☞✄ ✌✍✎✎✟✡ (with incense)

� March 29 ................................ 7:00pm

Good Friday - ✠✏✝✍✡✑✒ ☎✆ ✝✞✟ ✠☎✡☛☞✄ ✓✂✄✄✏☎✔

� March 30 ............................... 3:00pm

Holy Saturday

Blessing of the Easter Food � March 31 ............................... 11:30am

Easter Vigil Mass (with incense) � March 31 ............................... 7:30pm

EASTER SUNDAY

� April 1 .................................... 8am, 10am & 12pm

We invite you to continue your spiritual growth by participating in our Lenten activities.

Adoration � Every Wednesday(Chapel) ... 9:00am - 4:00pm

✕✖✗✘✙✘✚✗✘✛ ✜✖ ✢✘✣✤✥✜✖✦ ✧ ★Guardian of Adoration✩✪

Contact Sharon Hall 847.888.1682 for more information.

Rosary � Every Thursday(Chapel) ........ 6:30pm

Steubenville

on the Lake

Rocked By God

Overnight Retreat

Grades 6-7-8 Join

Youth Ministry teams

✆✡☎✫ ✌✬✁✭ ✌✝✮ ✓✂✝☞✄✭ ✌✝✮

Laurence and St. Gall

for a Lock-In retreat!

WHEN: Friday, April 6 at 7:00pm ✯ Saturday, April 7 at 2:00pm

COST: $25 to include Friday night snack,

Saturday breakfast and lunch, and a tee shirt.

WHAT: A Lock-In to include games, high energy

activities, skits, talks,

Mass, Holy Hour and

so much more!

Junior High Lock In:

AMPLIFY!

RSVP by Friday, March 30 to Lisa at

lgaston@stthomasmorechurch.org

RSVP by Monday,

March 26 to Mrs. Gaston

at lgaston@stthomasmorechurch.org

Parish Calendar

6 | CALENDARS & SCHEDULES

DATE TIME EVENT

Monday

March 19

4:30 pm

6:00 pm

Youth Choir �Lancaster Rm

Bell Choir �Cambridge Rm

Tuesday

March 20

12:00 pm

Fellowship �Chelsea Rm

Wednesday

March 21

9:00 am

9:00 am

4:00 pm

4:00 pm

6:00 pm

7:00 pm

7:00 pm

Be Reconciled �Church

Eucharistic Adoration �Chapel

Benediction �Chapel

Bible Study �Canterbury Rm

High School Choir �Lancaster Rm

RCIA �Chelsea Rm

Adult Choir -Lancaster Rm

Thursday

March 22

9:00 am

6:30 pm

6:30 pm

✁✂✄☎✆✝✞ ✟✆✠☎✡☛☎✞✞✂✡☞

Prayer Group �Tudor Rm

Rosary �Chapel

8th Grade Passion Play �Church

Friday

March 23

9:15 am

2:00 pm

7:00 pm

✁✂✄☎✆✝✞ ✌✂✞✍✡☞ ✎✡✂✏✑

�Canterbury Rm

Stations of the Cross �Church

Stations of the Cross �Church

Saturday

March 24

7:00 am

7:00 pm

That Man Is You �Chelsea Rm

Filipino Choir �Lancaster Rm

Presiders

5:00 pm Father Rich 8:00 am Msgr. Linster 10:00 am Father Rich 12:00 pm Father Deitz Altar Servers

5:00 pm W Dubanowski, A Martinez, A Meyer 8:00 am C Kriens, T Sheridan, L Menendez 10:00 am A Agbisit, T Talaga, M Terranova 12:00 pm A Mangoba, J von Rohr, A Matson

Lectors

5:00 pm M Cannizzaro, R Weishaar 8:00 am J Roder, M Aydt 10:00 am B Harrington, B Brown 12:00 pm M Joseph, L Lesniak

Musicians

5:00 pm High School Ensemble 8:00 am J Garza, M Weller, M Gumapas, M Zimmerman, JA Aukofer 10:00 am Handbell Choir & Adult Choir 12:00 pm T Pobojewski, M McCarty, S Ward, C Olson Eucharistic Ministers

5:00 pm K Stasukaitis, E Reckamp, R Seisser, F Celarek, J Taeyaerts, K Newton, L Asmussen 8:00 am K Sarto, J Sarto, D Velten, E Rafael, M Beyer, J Roder, S Beyer 10:00 am L Rakowski, B Cruz, I Janczak, A Williams, L Heuer, T Kovac, S Kovac 12:00 pm J McCreight, R Callahan, S McCallister, M Pechay, C Hopkins, M Hudson, S Matson

Sunday: Jer 31:31-34/Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15 [12a]/Heb 5:7-9/Jn 12:20-33 Scrutiny: Ez 37:12-14/Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8/Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 [7]/Rom 8:8- 11/Jn 11:1-45 or Jn 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 Monday: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16/Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 [37]/Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22/Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a Tuesday: Nm 21:4-9/Ps 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21 [2] /Jn 8:21-30 Wednesday: Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95/Dn 3: 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 [52b]/Jn 8:31-42 Thursday: Gn 17:3-9/Ps 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 [8a] /Jn 8:51-59 Friday: Jer 20:10-13/Ps 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7 [cf. 7] /Jn 10:31-42 Saturday: Ez 37:21-28/Jer 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13 [cf. 10d]/Jn 11:45-56 Next Sunday: Mk 11:1-10 or Jn 12:12-16/Is 50:4-7/Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 [2a]/Phil 2:6-11 /Mk 14:1-15:47 or 15:1-39

Mass Intentions for the Week

Liturgical Roles Weekend for March 24th & 25th.

Readings for the Week

Visit our website to see the complete schedule and calendar. If you would like to have a Mass said for someone, call the parish office to schedule. The contribution for reserving the intention of a Mass is $10.00.

Monday, March 19

8:30 am Jose Zamora, Breda Stout

Tuesday, March 20

8:30 am Frank Boras, Meek Families

Wednesday, March 21

8:30 am Patricia McGann, Leola Christopherson

Thursday, March 22

8:30 am St. Jude, Ed Frederick

Friday, March 23

8:30 am Christine Baczek, John Schorn Saturday, March 24

5:00 pm ✒✓✔✕✖✗ ✘✙✚✕✛✖✜✢ ✒✓✣ ✤✥ ✦✓✧★

Sunday, March 25

8:00 am Ray Matejcak, Louis Coulombe

10:00 am Viateur & Emily Saindon, Robert Olsen, Sr.

12:00 pm People of STM, Fred Schneider