Reflection

While riding on the train from Chicago this week, I thought about what to give up for Lent this year. Sacrifices in past years included: television, coffee, sweets, and alcohol. With Ash Wednesday looming large, deciding what to abstain from this year is at the top of the "to do" list. 

The sacrifices we make for Lent are often tangible reminders of what we can live without (soda pop, candy, going to movies) yet we quickly go right back to those treats once we reach Easter. If we take our cue from Pope Francis, however, we frequently hear the Holy Father encouraging people to reform their lives. Genuine reform is not just something temporary, but long lasting. So the question before us in 2019 might be: What would a more durable and permanent reform of my life look like beginning on Ash Wednesday? 

That's a bigger question than can easily be answered while riding the Metra train from Chicago to Grayslake, yet it's a question that begs an answer from each of us as Christians. Is there something I need to let go of permanently on Ash Wednesday, so that this Lent is the beginning of a genuine reform of my life in Christ? 

Fr. Mike McGovern 
Pastor

Lenten Schedule 2019

As Illinois faces so many pressing issues involving human life and dignity, it is incomprehensible that our elected officials have decided the pressing issue of the day is to enhance the chances that the lives of the most vulnerable and voiceless will be taken. Their efforts, similar to recent actions in New York and Virginia, focus on corrupting our God-given right to life and sowing unnecessary division.

St. Raphael The Archangel Family Lenten Mission
This year for Lent, St. Raphael will be offering a Lenten Mission that is family friendly. It will be from 7-8:00 pm in both the Church and the Fellowship Hall.

All 7th-12th grade students and all adults will be attending the talk in the Church. Toddlers through 6th grade students will be in the Fellowship Hall participating their own activity with Marirose Tan. The talk and the activity will be connected.

Below are the dates and topics:

Thursday, April 4 at 7:00 pm Faith and Forgiveness in Family Life with Fr. Brian Welter

If there are any questions, contact Marirose Tan at 224-256-6432 or 
straphaelmin@icloud.com.

• Confirmation Practice on Monday, April 22nd at 7 pm in the Church


• Confirmation Mass on Wednesday, April 24th at 7 pm in the Church

NOTE: NO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Classes on April 24th due to Confirmation

• First Holy Communion Practice on Saturday, April 27th at 9:30 am in the Church

• First Holy Communion Mass at 11 am on Sunday, April 28th in the Church

If you love to do your personal or gift shopping online using Amazon.com, please sign up and use Smile.Amazon.com instead https://smile.amazon.com— and designate St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church as your preferred charity! 

AmazonSmile.com | Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice

It works just the same as regular Amazon.com — same shipping, same Prime, same everything — but you provide a gift to St. Raphael Catholic Church in the process.